Topic: Put Away The Weight [Wednesday, 17th May 2017]

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

What is the need to carry luggages with you, on a journey, that are not needed? What is essence of frolicking with people that won’t aid you or make your life worthwhile? What’s the advantage of carrying weight with you that will only make you trip up as you set out on the journey to destiny fulfilment? Interestingly, our lead scripture compares sin to “weight that slow us down.”

Any time a runner trips in the course of his race, he not only stops his motion, the tripping eats up valuable time, especially when the race is timed. Tripping also kills his momentum, that, if he was on top speed before, he would have to start his race from the lowest of speeds. Momentum is very essential in a game, and when the pendulum of momentum swings the direction of a team, like during a football match, especially if an equalizing goal was scored, there is every possibility that the team with the momentum will go on to win the match. This is why losing momentum in a sport is a key reason for defeat. And this is what sin does to us.

Instead of allowing that sin that so easily trips you to fester on, strip it off you. You do this by looking at the example of Jesus, Who is the Instigator and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He was tempted by Satan but did not fall for it, because He was after the joy that was set before Him. Let the joy of the crown and the prize that is at the end of the race cause you to strip yourself off every tripping sin, and run with endurance the race God has set before you.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thanks You for setting Yourself as an example to follow in the race God has set before me. I trust You to help me put away every sin that makes me trip on the way to the prize that is set before me, in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Topic: No 1 Step to Advancement [Wednesday May 17, 2017]

Appreciation is application for acceleration.

It is appreciation of God that leads to appreciation of man.

You may not have arrived at where you desire to but you are not where you use to be.

Appreciate God for where you are in anticipation for where you ought to be.

Thanksgivers can never be tied to the same spot.

You’ll never come back to meet a thanksgiver where you left him.

Thanksgiving is a lift,

Thanksgiving is appreciation in anticipation of acceleration.

Thanksgivers are never murmurers and so they can never be destroyed.

Thanksgiving inspire hope and instigates faith and establishes trust.

If you don’t want to suffer depreciation engage in appreciation.

Thanksgiving is the glide on which you move forward.

Topic: Always Available [Wednesday May 17, 2017]

…The upright shall dwell in Your presence (before Your very face). — Psalm 140:13

The fact that the Holy Spirit lives inside of us proves His willingness to always be available to speak to us and help us when we need Him. As we continue to grow spiritually, we will experience temptation, but God has given us the Holy Spirit to enable us to resist it and make right choices instead of wrong ones.

Nevertheless, no human being is perfect and we will make mistakes. But God’s forgiveness is always available to us through Jesus Christ. Receiving this forgiveness strengthens us and enables us to keep moving forward with God. It also puts our hearts at peace, sets us free, and helps us hear God’s voice clearly.

Feeling defeated and condemned by every mistake we make weakens us. Instead of using our energy to feel bad about ourselves, we should use it to make sure ours hearts are tuned to God’s voice as He leads us into greater strength and deeper relationship with Himself. His forgiveness and His Presence are always available to us through the Holy Spirit. As you seek God today, I encourage you to receive His love and mercy. His arms are open and He is waiting to spend time with you.

God’s word for you today: Remember that the Holy Spirit is always available to you.

Topic: Blessings with Sorrow [Wednesday 17, May 2017]

Memorise: And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. – Psalm 106:15

Read: Genesis 16:1-5 (KJV)

1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 28, Jeremiah 32:1-15, Hymn: Sing hymn 9

MESSAGE:

A lot of people have gotten their fingers burnt in the place of seeking an alternative to God’s promise. When God’s promise is seemingly delayed, some Christians do not have the strength of character to keep waiting on the Lord and holding on to His promises; they therefore seek out and accept man’s alternative to God’s precious promises. Not only does man’s alternative take you off God’s course and provide you with quick fixes that cannot really fix anything, they also give you momentary joy that cannot absolve you of sorrow. This was the experience of Sarah. In today’s Bible reading, after Sarah gave her maid, Hagar, to Abraham to raise children through her, she was happy and relieved that her problem of barrenness seemed solved. But her relief soon turned into grief as her happiness became sorrow. Genesis 16:4 says,

“And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.”

Sarah took good care of Hagar, in expectation of using her as a means to an end. For the purpose of child-bearing, she exempted her from the usual chores that her fellow maids would perform. However, the moment Hagar conceived, the tables turned against Sarah. Suddenly, all attention shifted to the new queen of the house. Everyone and everything had to be at her beck and call. She no longer had regard for her mistress. Realising she now had what Abraham earnestly wanted; she used her pregnancy as an excuse for gross misbehaviour. She took over Abraham’s attention and the poor man hardly even had time for Sarah anymore. When she was disobedient and her mistress tried to correct her, she would simply tell her, “Madam, if you were ever pregnant, you would understand what I am going through.” That was the beginning of Sarah’s sorrow.

When you are tired of waiting for God’s will, plan or timing, and you decide to follow one of the alternatives that comes your way, you will only be hurting yourself. May you not use your own hands to undo yourself! When God blesses you, He removes every form of sorrow from it (Proverbs 10:22), but whatever blessing you think you can derive from substituting God’s plan with an alternative will only be short-lived and will definitely come with sorrow. Some people who knew and turned down God’s will in marriage, following the dictates of their flesh, ended up in sorrow. A good number of them are secretly weeping today. They cannot cry out because people warned them before venturing into such marriages, but their ears were deaf to those warnings. In your own interest, take time to find out God’s will for you in every area of your life and patiently follow it. In years to come, you will understand why that was the best decision you ever made.

Key Point: It is better not to be blessed, than to be blessed and have sorrow with it.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: Renewing Your Marital Relationship (2)

Dear Reader,

I welcome you to another edition of our series on Renewing Your Marital Relationship.  Last week, we were made to understand that one of the things to do to renew your marital relationship is, having the right expectation. This week, by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, we shall examine the topic: How to Build Strong Intimacy in Marriage.

It is the responsibility of the man and his wife to build and develop a strong and healthy intimacy in their marriage; because intimacy is the pillar of every successful marriage. A loving and joyful marriage is one in which both partners are intimate with each other. Intimacy is crucial for strong family and marital relationships.

Intimacy means a warm, close, confidential or private relationship, which develops through long association, friendship and familiarity. Many couples wistfully remember the sweet, innocent times before marriage, when they were so interested in each other. When we talk about intimacy in marriage, it is that warm, close, confidential or private relationship between husband and wife.

When we talk about intimacy, a woman or man should be the most intimate person with their spouse. They should be best of friends. Neither of them should be as close to anyone else as they are to each other. Intimacy indicates the deepest level of privacy that one can think of. It is what makes marriage successful and enjoyable.

Without intimacy, marriage becomes horrible, cold and lonely.  Intimacy in marriage needs to be promoted, for the marriage to remain enjoyable and last a lifetime.

God has commanded that the husband cleave to or cherish his wife. He is expected to spend time with her to ‘know’ her more.  For intimacy to be developed in marriage, both husband and wife should depart from all forms of interferences and cleave to one another to enable them become one flesh.  God’s Word says: For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). Therefore, you must “leave” so that you can “cleave.”  When you do, you are sure to enjoy intimacy in marriage.

HOW TO ENHANCE INTIMACY

You Must be Open

To be intimate with your spouse, there must be no hide and seek game. You must be ready to open up to your spouse, so as to earn his/her trust.

Embrace Trust

Trust is an essential ingredient in our daily living. The very essence of life depends on trust. A marriage cannot survive without trust. Trust is not a gift; rather, it is a virtue that must be built through experience over a period of time. Trust is reciprocal. The more you express your trust, the more your spouse responds to you in trust. You must endeavour to believe in your spouse.

Be faithful

To enhance intimacy in your marriage, you must be faithful to your spouse. Learn to keep secrets concerning everything your spouse tells you (Proverbs 28:20).

Express Love

Be willing to express your love to your spouse, more than anyone else. Let your spouse be your close confidant.  Communicate and discuss issues with your spouse.

Be A Good Listener & Communicator

You must be a good listener.  When your spouse is talking, you must not be too busy to listen to him or her. Be ready to listen, discuss and make contributions as well. Engage in an open communication. Open communication is the ability to discuss anything with your spouse. It includes sincere expression of thoughts, feelings, as well as careful listening.

Be Available

You must be willing to make yourself available to your spouse, whenever he/she needs you. No matter how choked up you are in activities, you must create room for him/her, by making yourself available.  Learn to spend quality time with your spouse. Engage in fun activities like, taking a stroll together, playing games etc. (Songs of Solomon 2:4).

You Must be Caring

You must be ready to express a genuine concern for your spouse’s well-being. If you do things you know hurt your spouse, you cannot have a healthy intimacy. You can develop a more caring heart and mind, by learning to think of your spouse’s feelings before yours. Always ask yourself before acting or speaking, “If I do this or say this, will I hurt my spouse?”

BENEFITS OF INTIMACY

• It brings about unity, which promotes God’s presence and blessings in a marriage. The Bible says: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalms 133:1).
• It brings about free flow of communication (Proverbs 27:19).
• It promotes longevity in a marriage (Proverbs 31:11).
• It makes marriage more enjoyable (Isaiah 62:5).
• It brings about greater spiritual strength (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

The grace to build a strong intimacy with your spouse is only available when you are saved. You get saved by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.  If you are ready to be saved (born again), please say this prayer: : “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

If you prayed this simple prayer, congratulations, you are born again and you are now a child of God! He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through [email protected]; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

Topic: Knowing the Signs of the Times [Wednesday May 17, 2017]

Text: Luke 19:41-48

Key Verse: “And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation” (Luke 19:44).

A couple of times in the holy Scriptures, God laments the ignorance of His people concerning weighty matters. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” while in Isaiah 5:13, God says, “…my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.”

Our Lord Jesus talked of the same theme as He wept for the ignorance that had enveloped the people and their leaders. They did not foresee the doom ahead, when according to prophecy, Jerusalem and its temple would be razed by the invading Roman forces. God foretold this in Daniel 9:24. But the people of Israel still lived in ignorance in the days of our Lord, when during a private discussion with the disciples, He spoke of a time that “there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Mark 13:2). Rather than take note of the Lord’s prophecy and make changes, the children of Israel compounded their impending woes by defiling the temple.

Swiftly, Jesus moved in to cleanse it and cast out the agents of filth. Spiritual defilement and subsequent death arise from lack of knowledge about the true nature of the Kingdom of God. The vacuum where the laws of God should be seated in the heart is filled by false doctrine. This drives a person into sin and a misleading sense of security that Jesus will not come again.

The Lord’s expectation is that such would repent and turn to God. But this divine patience and mercy would not be forever. Today’s believer should also not be ignorant of the fact of the imminent return of Jesus. They must prepare for Him by living righteously, preaching the word of God to sinner and taking the DAWN (Discipling A Whole Nation) project seriously.

Thought for the day: Spiritual ignorance is the sinner’s graveyard.

Bible Reading in one Year: Colossians 1-4

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: Prayer; The Identity Changer [Wednesday May 17, 2017]

Scripture: And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:10

Thought For The Day: Prayer does not only affect a man’s environment; it also affects his ‘invironment’

Prayer is the flow of communication between man and God proceeding from a healthy and lively relationship. There are a lot of benefits a person enjoys when he prays: they include access to power, purity, purpose, direction, wisdom, favour, Divine resources, etc.

As crucial as all these benefits could be, the greatest benefit of praying is what prayer does to a man’s identity. Prayer is an identity changer. Prayer does not only affect a man’s environment; it also affects his ‘invironment’ (his internal Environment; his spirit).

The person who prays is changed by his prayer. Jacob was a supplanter whose identity was changed at the place of prayer. He was changed from Jacob, a person to Israel, a nation.

Jabez, like Jacob, also experienced a change of identity; his identity was changed from Jabez, a man of sorrow to Jabez, an honourable man; Jabez also became the name of the city he founded (1 Chronicles 2:55). He became more honourable than all his brethren. He was changed from being a miserable Jabez to an honourable Jabez (1 Chronicles 4: 9,10).

Jesus’ appearance was transfigured at the place of prayer; the fashion of his countenance was altered (Luke 9:29).

Beloved, engage in persistent prayer, not only for what it can do for you but for what it will do to you and in you.

Remember this: Prayer does not only affect a man’s environment; it also affects his ‘invironment’

Assignment (s):

1. Remain in persistent, unbroken relationship with God.

2. Fight every form of laziness at the place of prayer.

Prayer: O LORD, baptize me with fresh prayer power. Give me the grace for unbroken relationship with You, LORD in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER.

Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 2:12 to 3:39, John 13:1 to 30, Psalm 119:1 to 16, Proverbs 15:29 to 30.

Quote: Prayer is the most crucial engagement of a Christian in his relationship with God. Culled from: PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche

Amazing Fact: Typewriter is the longest word that can be made only using one row on the keyboard.

Today In History: 17/5/1877 – The first telephone switchboard burglar alarm was installed by Edwin T. Holmes.

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: Walk in the Light You Have [Wednesday May 17, 2017]

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. – 2 Timothy 3:14

If you’re born again and have the Word of God in your heart, you can live in victory. You may not have all the answers. There may be a great many spiritual things you don’t understand. But it’s not those things that are most likely to destroy you. It’s the things you know to do—but don’t—that usually make you fall.

Just think about walking at night down a dark, unfamiliar path in the middle of a jungle. The guide up ahead has a flashlight to keep you on the right path. But then, you just decide to wander off into the darkness by yourself. What do you think will happen to you? You’ll probably stumble and fall. Very likely, you’ll get hurt.

That’s exactly the same thing that can happen in your walk with the Lord. He knows what’s ahead and He shines just enough light for you to take one step at a time. You have to continue walking in that light in order to get where you’re going.

You may not know why He’s leading you a certain way. You may not understand all the things involved. But God will make up for your ignorance by the Holy Spirit. He’ll see to it that you have victory if you continue in what you know.

It’s good to keep studying. It’s good to keep learning. But, remember, it’s not the great revelation you haven’t yet had that will cause you the most trouble. It’s failing to walk in the ones God has already given you. So be faithful in those things. Continue in them day after day after day. You’ll make it through just fine!

Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:2-11

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: The Spirit and the Word Are One [Wednesday May 17, 2017]

John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

Jesus is stating that our spirit, not our flesh, is where our life comes from. These people were so dominated by their physical lives that they were missing all the spiritual significance of His words. Although God’s Word does benefit our physical man, the Word is spiritual and must be understood through the spirit. God’s Word is spirit and it takes our spirit to illuminate its truths to our minds.

The Word of God is not paper and ink. Jesus is the Word, and He existed in spiritual form long before any words were inspired to be written down by the Holy Ghost. The Bible is simply a physical representation of Jesus and spiritual truth. It is inspired of God and therefore, totally accurate and reliable, and yet, until we receive the Spirit expressed in these words the Bible will not profit us. This is why many people have read the Word, maybe even memorized it, and yet aren’t reaping its benefits.

Just as our physical man receives life from the food he eats, so our spiritual man receives life as we partake of Jesus, the “bread of life. Jesus plainly stated that the words He spoke were spiritual – not physical.

If we want to know what spiritual truth is, we must believe the Bible, for it is spirit and life. If we want to be led by the Spirit, then we must follow God’s Word. If we want to hear from the Spirit of God, then we must listen to what God says in His Word. The Spirit (Holy Spirit) and the Word (Jesus – Jn. 1:1) are one.

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: Faith Produces Works [Wednesday May 17, 2017]

. . . doing service as to the Lord . . .  — Ephesians 6:7

A true sacrament is not a mere creed, or ordinance, or form, but it is a life of service to God and to man. The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless. The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.

There must be a practical outworking of our faith here in this present world, or it will never endure the world to come. The Pharisees majored on show but minored on service. We need fewer words and more charitable works; less palaver and more pity; less repetition of creed and more compassion.

Prayer for the day: Talk so often drowns out the cries for help—I am guilty of this, Lord. I would worship You in everything I do. Extend my hands with Your mercy, Lord.

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.