Topic: Commitment and Purpose [Friday May 19, 2017]

. . . serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope . . . — Romans 12:11,12

Each generation becomes more addicted to the sedatives of life, to dull the pain of living. Oppressed by a sense of triviality and thwarted purpose, men find no great goal or commitment to draw them, and no inner stimulation to give meaning to their existence. Christ can save you from the bane of boredom.

He waits to give you a fresh sense of direction and to take dissatisfaction out of your life. I talked recently with a man in my own community who was converted to faith in Christ. “I hadn’t known what to do with my leisure time,” he told me, “but now I have a sense of commitment and purpose that I never knew before.”

Prayer for the day: Even the smallest job I do today is part of my service to You, Lord. Help my heart to be so filled with Your Spirit I will rejoice whatever task is set before me.

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: No Half-Hearted Worship [Friday May 19, 2017]

Text: 2 Kings 17:24-41

Key Verse: “They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence” (2 Kings 17:33).

You cannot serve God halfway and expect to please Him. Jesus Christ our Lord puts it more comprehensively: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. Later, Apostle Paul told the Galatian brethren: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked”.

The leaders of the heathen Assyrian nation which conquered and destroyed Israel, came face to face with the harsh realities of how not to mix idol worship with worship of the true God. After God allowed them overthrow Israel because of the latter’s repeated disobedience to Him, the Assyrians sent the Israelites into exile and captivity. They then brought in the idol-serving Assyrians to settle in Israel. What followed was most disgusting.

The new inhabitants appeared to be worshipping God, but they did not give up their grip on their gods and pagan lifestyle. They added the God of Israel to their collection and pantheon of idols. In their hearts, they placed God side by side with man-made images. It provoked the anger of God, moving Him to prove His superiority as recorded in 2 Kings 17:25. It was a just recompense to whip them into line, just as God had done to discipline the erring children of Israel. We should beware not to proclaim faith in the Lord and at the same time, holding on to worldly values and sentiments not in accordance with the way of righteousness and holiness.

God cannot accommodate such dual loyalties. He must take the entire space in our hearts and lives. His Word must form the basis of our projections and perception of life. Anything short of this cannot prepare one for the Second Coming of Christ and heaven. Aspiring to receive Christ and the place of abode He has prepared for His believers demands absolute preparedness both outwardly and inwardly. There must be no room for the believer to have one leg in the world and another in the Kingdom.

Thought for the day: It is unwise and the height of folly to serve God with other “gods”.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Thessalonians 1-3

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Topic: Vital Ingredients of Proof-Producing Prayer [Friday May 19, 2017]

Scripture: Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously…. Hosea 14:2

Thought For The Day: If you want to pray meaningfully, you must always be in possession of the Bible.

This year, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, has been declared as Our Year of Divine Proofs. We are grateful to God for the proofs we have seen so far in confirmation of His infallible Word.

Notably, one of the keys to seeing Divine proofs in our lives is the knowledge of God. This knowledge of God is assessed at the place of prayer.

Now, what are the things you need for your prayer to produce divine proofs?

a) The revelation of the Word: This is praying with revelation from God’s Word.

b) The atmosphere of worship: Worship provokes Divine Presence at the place of prayer.

c) A listening or hearing attitude: This enhances the receptivity of Divine signals and instructions at the place of prayer

d) Faith expectation: This is praying with expectation and faith.

e) The availability of scripture and scriptural aids: If you want to pray meaningfully, you must always be in possession of the Bible.

f) The testimonies of previous acts of God: What God did for you or for someone else previously is a tool that produces Divine proofs at the place of prayer.

Beloved, as you embark on these proof-producing prayer exercises, I decree the manifestation of Divine proofs in your life; you shall see God’s terrible things in righteousness (Psalms 65:5) in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: If you want to pray meaningfully, you must always be in possession of the Bible.

Assignment (s):

1. Always be in possession of the Bible at the place of prayer.

2. Pray God’s Word as revealed in the Bible.

Prayer: O LORD, baptize me afresh with the Spirit of prayer, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: PRAYER TOOLS

Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 24:1 to 25:44, John 10:22 to 42, Psalm 116:1 to 19, Proverbs 15:20 to 21.

Quote: At the place of prayer, a man is enabled to see himself from God’s perspective. Culled from PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: The average person has 10, 000 taste buds, with 2,000 of those under the tongue, inside the cheeks, on the roof of the mouth.

Today In History: 19/5/1819 – Henry Knot baptizes King Pomare 11 of Tahiti. In a short time, the Tahitians pass laws that forbid cruel murders and the islands begin to experience peace.

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: Don’t Waste Time Wondering [Friday May 19, 2017]

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. – Ephesians 5:17

So many believers wring their hands and worry about whether or not they’re praying according to God’s will. “Oh, dear me,” they say, “I certainly can’t expect God to do something for me that’s outside His will.” And they’re absolutely right.

But they don’t need to waste time standing around looking puzzled. They need to grab their Bibles and find out what the will of God is.

God has made some very specific promises in His Word and it’s His will to fulfill every one of them in your life. In fact, those promises are divinely guaranteed by a contract that’s been signed in the blood of Jesus.

Think of it this way. Your Bible is the last will and testament of Jesus Christ. It is a record of your inheritance. Everything that belongs to you has been written down in that Book and the smartest thing you can do is to find out what is in it. Don’t leave it lying on the coffee table and hit the floor crying, “Oh, God! Oh, God! I’m searching for the truth.”

Pick up your Bible from the coffee table and find out what belongs to you! Find out how you need to change to get in line with God’s will.

Most people don’t do that. They try to change God instead. They’ll go on and on trying to convince God just how badly they hurt or how poor they are. They’ll beg and plead and wheedle, all the while acting as though they had to somehow change God’s mind about the situation. Those folks are in for a long wait.

God is never going to change. The Bible says He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. His will is too. So don’t waste your time wondering if your prayers are in line with it. Get the Book and base your prayers on it. Then you can rest assured the answer is on the way!

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 2:1-12

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.

Topic: Prepare the Child [Friday May 19, 2017]

Read: Psalm 78:1–8, Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 7–9; John 6:22–44

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. Psalm 78:4

A phrase on many parenting websites says, “Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.” Instead of trying to remove all obstacles and pave the way for the children in our life, we should instead equip them to deal with the difficulties they encounter on the road ahead.

The psalmist wrote, “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes . . . , which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them . . . and they in turn would tell their children” (Ps. 78:4–6). The goal is that “they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands” (v. 7).

 Think of the powerful spiritual impact others had on us through what they said and how they lived. Their conversation and demonstration captured our attention and kindled a fire in us to follow Jesus just as they did.

It’s a wonderful privilege and responsibility to share God’s Word and His plan for our lives with the next generation and the generations to come. No matter what lies ahead on their road through life, we want them to be prepared and equipped to face it in the strength of the Lord.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we seek Your wisdom and guidance to prepare the children we know and love to walk with You in faith.

Through conversation and demonstration, help prepare children to follow the Lord on the road ahead.

Insight:

Psalm 78 is an “historical psalm” (a psalm full of historical facts). Other historical psalms are Psalm 105–107, 114, 135, and 136. In Psalm 78 Asaph recounts key events covering 450 years of history, reminding the Jews that God has commanded them to teach their children and children’s children about Him so that future generations will love and worship Him (vv. 5–8). In His covenant with Abraham, God said Abraham was chosen for this same purpose: “so that [Abraham] will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord” (Gen. 18:19). Deuteronomy also emphasizes that parents have been entrusted with the sacred duty and divine privilege of teaching their children about God (4:9; 6:6–9; 11:19–21).

Look for opportunities this week to talk with your children, grandchildren, or others in your life about God and His Word.

This message was written By David C. McCasland [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: Seven Abominations Unto God. Pt Five [18/05/2017]

A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, Proverbs 6:18. Read: Jer 17:9-10

Blessed be the Lord God Almighty who has given us this life on a platter of gold, may His name be praised forever. Today we will be looking at the number five abomination unto God.

5) Feet that be swift in running to mischief. Do you know that there are many people, every of their thoughts is full of evil and they cannot give their eyes sleep until they execute their evil thought. They’re very quick in taking revenge, unforgiving and believe forgiveness belongs to God alone. They’re like Cain who hated his brother Abel for doing good and as a result, killed him.

Their hearts are desperately wicked and you can’t know it because, they laugh with you, eat with you, yet their thought towards you is evil. To those people, they see evil as a sport, hobby, vocation and a purpose to live with. They’re passionate about doing evil to their fellow. To such people, they are an abomination unto God and heaven is far from them until they repent and turn to God. God hates evil schemer that pretend to be innocent. If you’re in this category, repent and obtain power to be free.

#BiblePromisesPrayer

* Father, every evil thought lurking in my heart against my neighbour, uproot it now in Jesus Mighty Name.

Topic: Control Your Thought [Thursday May 18, 2017]

Control your thought to control your life, to control your habits to control your action; to control all the happenings in your life.

Satan can’t make to happen in your life what he hasn’t succeed in making you to think, so also is God.

Satan can’t make you evil unless you have subjected yourself to think about it.

Whatever controls your thought will in the end control your life.

Do not think of anything that you don’t want to see happen in your life.