Topic: Count Your Blessings [Wednesday May 24, 2017]

. . . when troubles come . . . sing his praises with much joy. — Psalm 27:5,6 (TLB)

Christians are not altogether immune from depression. The fact is: the trend of events and the mounting tide of evil are enough to give one sobering thoughts—Christian or not. David, the sweet singer of Israel, was not always on top of his depression. Sometimes his glad song was turned to a depressive mourning. “My tears have been my meat day and night, while continually they say unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted in me?” I find that the cure for depression is praise. In other words: be so busy counting your blessings, that thoughts of gloom and despair will be crowded out.

Prayer for the day: Thank You, heavenly Father, for the Psalms which help me see that even in the depths David talked with You. Whatever my circumstances, I will learn to praise You.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: The Ministry of The Holy Spirit [Wednesday May 24, 2017]

Mark 8:12, “And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.”

The Greek word used here for “sighed deeply” means an intense grieving, inaudible prayer, or groan. This is intercession of the Holy Spirit, with groanings that cannot be uttered. Some Spirit-filled Christians believe this means groanings that cannot be uttered in normal speech and that this refers to speaking in tongues. However, this actually refers to a type of intercession different than speaking in tongues.

In John 11:33 and 38, Jesus groaned in the Spirit twice, and in those cases there were no words uttered. It was exactly as the Scripture states, a groaning in the Spirit. Everyone who has the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit has or will have this happen to them. Paul was referring to this in Galatians 4:19 when he spoke of travailing in birth for the Galatians. This groaning of the Holy Spirit is not just a grief but a groan of anger and resistance against Satan’s devices in our lives. Many times, Christians don’t discern this because they think it is just their own grief over the situation. But, this is the Holy Spirit desiring to intercede with us against our problems.

Jesus drew on this ministry of the Holy Spirit. John 11:33 and 38 says, that Jesus groaned in the Spirit twice when He raised Lazarus from the dead. What infirmity did Jesus have that He needed this ministry of the Holy Spirit? Jesus had no sin, but He did have an infirmity. It was His physical mind.

Even a sinless human mind could not comprehend raising a man from the grave after four days. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to help Him when He didn’t know how to pray, then this should certainly be an important ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net)

Topic: Redeeming Time Through Personal Development [Wednesday May 24, 2017]

Scripture: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Thought For The Day: Any investment of time in personal development to enhance your value is an investment to your destiny.

It has been established that the loss of time is the loss of life. When time is passing and it is not utilized with profitable activity, life is being wasted. Therefore, it is important to redeem the time that has been lost and prevent further loss of time.

One of the ways of redeeming time is personal development. This involves the sharpening of your talents and skills for destiny fulfilment.
There are people who cannot be employed because their market value is low.

Personally, I know that if I were not a preacher, I could be a worshipper, a saxophonist, a medical doctor, etc. because of personal development.

David was a man who developed himself to fit into many callings. He was a king, shepherd, instrumentalist, singer, song writer, war strategist, military general, political leader, inventor of music equipment, etc.

Beloved, instead of squandering your lifetime on aimless ventures, invest your time in the development of your life. Any investment of time in personal development to enhance your value is an investment in your destiny.

Remember this: Any investment of time in personal development to enhance your value is an investment in your destiny.

Assignment(s):

1. Make up your mind not to waste your time. Develop yourself through personal studies.

2. Develop yourself by going for trainings that will enhance your self-worth when the opportunity for such arrives.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: PROFITABLE USE OF TIME.

Prayer: O LORD, I ask that You restore all the years I have lost. Grant me the grace to use my time wisely, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 4:1 to 6:23, John 13:31 to 14:14, Psalm 119:17 to 32, Proverbs 15:31 to 32.

Quote: Thought is a seed that produces harvest after its kind.” Culled from 22 LAWS OF LIFE by Dr Paul Enenche (Part 2)

Amazing Fact: A blue whale’s tongue weighs more than an elephant.

Today In History: 24/5/1738 – The Methodist Church was established.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and Dr Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities.

Topic: Lookalikes [Wednesday May 24, 2017]

Read: 2 Corinthians 3:17–4:2, Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 22–24; John 8:28–59

We all . . . are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

They say we all have one: Doppelgangers some call them. Lookalikes. People unrelated to us who look very much like us.

Mine happens to be a star in the music field. When I attended one of his concerts, I got a lot of double takes from fellow fans during intermission. But alas, I am no James Taylor when it comes to singing and strumming a guitar. We just happen to look alike.

Who do you look like? As you ponder that question, reflect on 2 Corinthians 3:18, where Paul tells us that we “are being transformed into [the Lord’s] image.” As we seek to honor Jesus with our lives, one of our goals is to take on His image. Of course, this doesn’t mean we have to grow a beard and wear sandals—it means that the Holy Spirit helps us demonstrate Christlike characteristics in how we live. For example, in attitude (humility), in character (loving), and in compassion (coming alongside the down and out), we are to look like Jesus and imitate Him.

As we “contemplate the Lord’s glory,” by fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can grow more and more like Him. What an amazing thing it would be if people could observe us and say, “I see Jesus in you”!

Prayer: Lord, help us to gaze on You, to study You, to know You. Transform us into Your image by what we say, how we love others, and how we worship You. May others see Jesus in us.

Love is the family resemblance the world should see in followers of Christ.

Insight:

After having communed with God for some eighty days and nights (Ex. 24:18; 34:28), Moses’s face shone, reflecting and radiating the holiness and glory of God (34:29–35). When he came down from Mt. Sinai with the law, the people were afraid to come near him. Thereafter, Moses wore a veil over his face, seemingly to protect the Israelites from prolonged exposure to God’s glorious holiness.

Thousands of years later, the apostle Paul adds that Moses veiled himself to prevent the Israelites from seeing that this glory was fading away (2 Cor. 3:13). Using Moses’s experience, Paul reminds us of the great privilege Christians have today. Just as Moses was able to enter God’s holy presence without the veil (Ex. 34:34–35), anyone who believes in Jesus also has this privilege (2 Cor. 3:14, 16). The Holy Spirit gives us unencumbered and unrestricted access into God’s holy presence (v. 17) and will enable us to “see and reflect the glory of the Lord, [making] us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (v. 18 nlt).

In what ways are you like your heavenly Father? How is exposure to God’s holiness through His Word changing you to look more like Christ?

This message was written By Dave Branon [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Sure to Win in Him [Wednesday May 24, 2017]

Wherefore remember, that…at that time ye were without Christ…having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2:11-13

Have you ever really thought about what it truly means to be in Christ Jesus? Have you ever gotten a clear revelation of that? Once you do, it will revolutionize your life.

You see, it’s in Him that we’re raised up from our sins. It’s in Him that we’re made to sit in heavenly places so that God can show us the exceeding riches of His grace. It’s in Him that we’re made the righteousness of God!

If you want that revelation to explode in you, start searching out scriptures that refer to being in Christ. Watch for the words in Him, with Him, through Him or in whom. Mark those and meditate on them until the truth of them gets down into your spirit man. They’ll give you some powerful ammunition against the attacks of Satan.

When he tries to tell you, for instance, that you’re just a sinner and God doesn’t want to be bothered with your problems, you’ll know he is lying. You’ll be able to answer him boldly and say, “Thank God, I was a sinner, but now I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I’ve been raised up to sit with Him in heavenly places. Now I’m in Him and you can’t touch me at all!”

Be prepared the next time Satan comes at you with doubt, unbelief and condemnation. Be ready to fight back with the scriptures about who you are in Jesus. You’re sure to win once you truly know you’re in Him!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:1-14

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Today’s Scripture: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” – (Hebrews 13:15, NKJV)

Topic: The Sacrifice of Praise [Tuesday May 23, 2017]

Have you ever thought about what it means to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise? That word “sacrifice” means that it cost you something. It means doing something when you don’t feel like it. It’s when you say, “God, I’m hurting, but I give You praise.” “God, I’m lonely, but I give You praise.” “God, it wasn’t fair. They did me wrong, but I give You praise.”

When you praise God beyond your feelings, that’s when praise becomes your faith at work. That’s when praise becomes a weapon. Nothing gets God’s attention any more than when you call on Him in your time of trouble. When most people would become negative and bitter, you have a song of praise. You’re thanking God for who He is and what He will do in your life. You’re not talking about how big your problems are; you’re talking about how big your God is!

Today, understand that praise activates God’s power. He commands us to praise because it opens the door to His victory and blessing. No matter what is happening around you, worship Him! Declare His goodness and see His restoration in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today: “Father, today I choose to praise You. I choose to give You glory no matter what’s happening in the world around me. I know that You are good and faithful, so I give You all the praise in Jesus’ name! Amen.”

A Promise For You From Bible Promises: [23/05/17]

Topic: Light Expels Darkness. Pt Two

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:79. Read: Jn 1:1-9

There’s nothing good in darkness but sorrow, pain, misery and anguish. Gnashing of teeth is the portion of them that find themselves in darkness. We are called out of darkness to His marvellous light, therefore as children of light, we are to live and walk in this light. 1 Pe 2:9, 1 Jn 1:5-7.

The purpose of Jesus’ coming to the earth was to give light to them that sit in darkness because He is the light of the world. Men hate light because light exposes their evil deeds. When light comes, darkness disappears instantly. Light is the antidote to darkness because you can’t use darkness to fight darkness, but light. Through the light Jesus brought into this world, men have life and when this light shines in darkness, it could not comprehend it. Jesus Christ is the true light and when you give Him a chance to come into your life, you would be glad you did. He is at the door of your heart knocking, open for Him.

#BiblePromisesQuote

* You need enough light of God’s Word to reign and rule in this dark world.

Topic: Impact Starts With Vision [Tuesday, 23rd May 2017]

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakkuk 2:2

The Lord’s impact on the earth, in Genesis 1, started with a vision. It was glaring from the onset that it will take extraordinary effort to fix a messed up world, that was filled with darkness and covered with water. But, that did not deter the Lord. He knew what He wanted. He already had a predetermined goal in His mind. He already had a picture of how He wants the world to look like after He was done fixing it. No wonder every time He accomplished part of His vision, He always acknowledged that it was good. That’s because at every point of implementing his vision for the earth, it was indeed full of impact. Until He created a beautiful world.

For us to also create the kind of world we want, through the impact we will make, we need vision. We will never have the kind of world, society, community we want without us making impact. But impact starts from having a predetermined goal; a vision. A clear-cut goal. A picture of what you want the world to look like, through the impact you are creating. Notice in Habakkuk 2:2, it was after the vision was seen and read that the running began. Vision propels us to do the needful so we can make permanent impact in our world.

For example, there is nothing stopping you from having a political vision. If you do, and you work towards adjudging it, you will end up making so many impact through politics. But it start with you having the vision, and the passion with commitment to see it come through. Right now, there is a paucity of political leaders that will really make impact and create value in the life of the citizens of his/her leadership sphere. Apart from politics, all area of lives where impact must be made must be envisioned by us.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for the vision You gave me. With it, I make considerable impact in my sphere of influence. The Holy Sprit spur me with His wisdom always, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Topic: Keep Sowing [Tuesday May 23, 2017]

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy, he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. – Ps.126:5-6

Seeds don’t die,

A wise farmer is a focused sower.

He doesn’t look here and there for harvest. He trusts the earth enough to bring forth by itself. Mk 4:26-29

He is too sure that his earth will soon its fruit.

He believes that the earth doesn’t consume his seed but rather enhances it.

Don’t look for harvest.

It’s a natural products of seeds sown.

He that goes forth sowing his seeds will doubtless return with singing bringing in the sheaves. Ps 126:5,6

The farmer’s major duty is to keep sowing, weeding and trust God the Owner of the earth to send the rain and subsequent increase.