Topic: Nineveh’s Fasting Experience [Sunday 14, May 2017]

Memorise: So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. – Jonah 3:5

Read: Jonah 3:1-10 (KJV)

1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 21-22, Jeremiah 31:1-14, Hymn: Sing hymn 6

MESSAGE:

Fasting is a spiritual exercise every believer should often engage in because of the several benefits that can be derived from it. When the Lord was teaching His disciples about fasting during His earthly ministry, what He said to them was “When you fast” and not “If you fast” (Matthew 6:16). The Lord’s choice of words shows that He takes it as a given that you will have to fast. However, if you engage in a spiritual exercise such as fasting but lack an understanding of the basis for doing so, you may not be able to optimise your gains from it. In other words, it is important to know why you should fast and to know what you stand to gain from fasting. Knowledge plays a key role here.

Why should you fast? Prayer and fasting can help to restore spiritual fervour in your relationship with God. You can fast whenever you feel estranged or separated from God, whenever your heart is spiritually cold or when you sense that you lack sincerity in your humility. You can also fast as a mark of repentance, and to seek pardon and restoration from sin. Sin separates anyone from God, but if fasting is properly engaged, the estranged fellow can be drawn into God’s presence for mercy. If you take a look at Nineveh, you will see the effect of fasting in action. The people of Nineveh lived a very riotous life. They were engaged in several atrocities and abominable acts they called for God’s fiery judgment, like it happened in Sodom and Gomorrah. However, because of His righteous and merciful nature, God sent Jonah to go and warn them of His intention to destroy them because of their wickedness. As soon as Jonah sounded the warning, the people of Nineveh received the word and immediately declared a national fast. Nobody was exempted from this fast: the king, the nobles and even all their animals joined in the fast. Besides the fast from food and water, they abstained from all those things that provoked God’s anger, humbled themselves and cried out to God for mercy, and He heard them. Jonah 3:10 says,

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”

If you realise you are far from God, you can set aside the things that gives the body pleasure; fast and pray earnestly, asking God for His mercy and you will see His hand. If done according to heaven’s pattern, fasting is an exercise that can easily cause God to notice you as a candidate of His mercy. How often do you fast?

Key Point: Fasting is a work of faith because it takes faith to fast and pray to a God you cannot physically see.

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.

As much as beans are nutritional powerhouses that are great for the body, there are certain potential and surprising health risks that beans pose. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 surprising health risks beans pose.

It Can Cause Migraines

Some people have an allergic reaction to beans, though this isn’t common. When these people eat beans it can trigger migraines for them. If this happens, it important to see a doctor and possibly eliminate it from your diet depending on what the doctor advises.

It Can Interfere With Vitamin Absorption

Some beans, like soy beans, contain substances that can interfere with the absorption of betacarotene, vitamins B12 and vitamins D. However, the heat from cooking renders most of these substances inactive which makes vitamin absorption more likely. Nevertheless, it is still advisable to compensate for potential vitamin loss by consuming fresh fruits, green vegetables and lean meat.

It Can Make You Gassy

Well this isn’t exactly a health risk, but beans, especially dried beans, lentils and peas, can cause embarrassing flatulence (excessive gas) problems. You can reduce the gas production of beans by changing the water several times during the soaking and cooking process, and always rinse canned beans. It might seem like a lot of work but when you consider the potential embarrassment it might save you from, it might in fact be worth it. Adding herbs like lemon balm, fennel and caraway can also help to reduce the gas production of beans.

It Can Cause Cramping

Beans contains fiber and this component is not easily digested by the body. If you overdo the quantity of beans you consume, the fiber in the beans can temporarily slow down your bowels (because it is indigestible) and cause cramping.

It Can Cause Constipation

Typically, the fiber in beans is meant to help prevent constipation by moving food through your intestines. However, the flip side to this is that if you do not drink enough liquids after consuming beans, it can actually constipate you. This is because beans are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, and soluble fibers need liquid to move through your system as it should.

Recommendation

The solution for most of the health risks or side effects of beans is simply water. Boiling beans well helps to soften its fiber content, and drinking plenty of liquid after consuming beans helps it to move around in your digestive tract more efficiently which helps to eliminate flatulence, cramping and constipation. You should ensure you eat beans in moderation too, don’t overdo your quantities no matter how much you love beans.

By Damilola Ojo
PR Associate Jumia Travel
+2348101556883

Topic: There is Hope for You [Sunday May 14, 2017]

Text: Jeremiah 31:18-23

Key Verse: “Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 31:20).

Present experiences, especially when they are not pleasant, tend to influence our character and conduct in a moment of time. We form the impression that all is lost and that help can no longer come to us. This pushes us into self-pity and sometimes we literally begin to weep for ourselves in the face of what we perceive as a hopeless situation. But, just when we least expect it, God steps in to help us. Israel, represented here by the tribe of Ephraim, had been taken into captivity.

Their lives had been characterised by lamentation and bitter weeping, as they daily watched the destruction of their young ones. It was at such a time that God sent a message of comfort to them through prophet Jeremiah to stop weeping and that He had not forgotten them. In fact, He promised to reward their work, bring them back from captivity and show mercy to them because He remembered and yearned to fellowship with them again.

They would become a pleasant testimony to the justice and holiness of God. They would prosper and flourish in their land again. With such good news, they needed no other encouragement to repent of their sins and turn again to God. Irrespective of how deep in sin anyone may have gone, God still loves him or her. He does not enjoy a sinner’s pain and sorrow.

It saddens Him to see anyone suffer. He has gracious and glorious plans for everyone. All He is waiting for, is for the penitent seeker to abandon all sinful ways and turn to Him whole-heartedly. The ball is in everyone’s court now. Make the first move and return to God, and watch Him unfurl His blessings upon you.

Thought for the day: Hope is the best tonic for a sick heart.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chronicles 26-29

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: Scattering Seeds [Sunday May 14, 2017]

Read: Matthew 13:1–9, Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 19–21; John 4:1–30

The seed falling on good soil . . . produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:23

I received a wonderful email from a woman who wrote, “Your mom was my first-grade teacher at Putnam City in 1958. She was a great teacher and very kind, but strict! She made us learn the 23rd Psalm and say it in front of the class, and I was horrified. But it was the only contact I had with the Bible until 1997 when I became a Christian. And the memories of Mrs. McCasland came flooding back as I re-read it.”

Jesus told a large crowd a parable about the farmer who sowed his seed that fell on different types of ground—a hard path, rocky ground, clumps of thorns, and good soil (Matt. 13:1–9). While some seeds never grew, “the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it” and “produces a crop yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (v. 23).

During the twenty years my mother taught first grade in public schools, along with reading, writing, and arithmetic she scattered seeds of kindness and the message of God’s love.

Her former student’s email concluded, “I have had other influences in my Christian walk later in life, of course. But my heart always returns to [Psalm 23] and [your mom’s] gentle nature.”

A seed of God’s love sown today may produce a remarkable harvest.

Prayer: Lord, today I want my life to sow good seeds in those around me. Help me to give out what You have put into me.

We sow the seed—God produces the harvest.

Insight:

We see the agricultural metaphor of “sowing seed” again in the book of 1 Corinthians. The apostle Paul taught the Corinthian believers for eighteen months (see Acts 18:1–11) and then Apollos watered the spiritual seed Paul had sown (Acts 18:27; 1 Cor. 3:4–9). Paul made it clear that those who spread the gospel are only God’s servants doing the work the Lord has assigned them to do (1 Cor. 3:5). While Paul planted the seed in the hearts of the Corinthian believers and Apollos watered it, it was God who made it grow.

At different times in our life we may be the one who is planting the message of God’s truth and love, and at other times we are the one who is watering. What’s important is that it is God who makes the seed grow.

As God’s worker, what seeds can you plant in someone’s life?

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

Topic: Dissolving Mysteries through Prayer Watchfulness in the Night [Sunday May 14, 2017]

Scripture: Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel 2:19.

Thought For The Day: The night time is a season for high frequency spiritual transmission.

It has been confirmed that most great men, especially men of God, are men who are watchful at night. It was in the night that Jesus instructed his disciples to watch and pray in order not to fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41).

One of the ways of dissolving the mysteries of life is through watchfulness in the night season. From our anchor scripture, we understand that the secret to the mystery behind Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. It was not revealed to him in a dream but through a night vision as he was awake in prayer.

The night time is a season for high frequency spiritual transmission; it is a season for the transmission of Divine signals. Angelic and demonic activities are intense at night. The night time is a time for revelation and vision. The night time is a time for dreams and visions for strategic events and directions.

Instances where people encountered God at night abound throughout scriptures: Jacob’s name was changed at night (Genesis 32:28), Paul and Silas encountered God at night (Acts 16:26).

Beloved, I counsel you to maximize the night season. Keep a pen and a paper nearby in order to write down revelations you receive so you do not lose them; and so that God can entrust you with more.

Remember this: The night time is a season for high frequency spiritual transmission.

Assignment(s):

1. Deal with the every slumbering spirit that plans to rob you of the benefits of wakefulness and watchfulness at night.

2. Be vigilant and focused at night in order to connect divine signals.

Prayer: O LORD, break every addiction to excessive sleep in my life. Help me to be alive, awake and alert during the night season to connect revelations and inspirations, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: UNVEILING MYSTERIES.

Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 8:1 to 9:27, John 6:22 to 42, Psalm 106:32 to 48, Proverbs 14:34 to 35.

Amazing Fact: The brain is more active at night than during the day. Scientists don’t know yet why this is.

Today In History: 14/5/1846 – The Rockefeller Foundation was created by John D. Rockefeller with a gift of $100,000,000

Quote: Angelic and demonic activities are intense at night. Culled from UNVEILING AND DISSOLVING MYSTERIES by Dr Paul Enenche.

Prophetic Parental Blessing: By the mantle of God on my life, I decree the reversal of every satanic or witchcraft verdict against your life and the lives of your loved ones. I spoil the works of satanic prognosticators or demonic forecasters and enchanters, they shall not succeed in your life, in the Name of Jesus Christ.

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: Priorities of Prosperity [Sunday May 14, 2017]

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. – Matthew 6:24

God isn’t against your having money. He’s against money having you. He’s against your making it your priority and putting your trust in it instead of in Him.

Why? Because He knows money makes a lousy god. Its power is limited. It will only buy so much. It will only go so far.

If you need healing from an incurable disease, money won’t help you at all. If your family is falling apart, money won’t mend it. But if you’ll seek God first, His prosperity will reach into every area of your life.

God is so generous that He desires you to have the best on this earth, just as you desire the best for your children. His plan is for you to have all of your needs met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Get in on that plan by keeping your priorities straight. Seek Him first and His righteousness.

Make pleasing God your No. 1 priority. Set your eyes on Him above all else and all these things will be added to you.

Scripture Reading: Mark 10:17-27

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: Revelation Knowledge [Sunday May 14, 2017]

John 6:45, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

The Old Testament prophets prophesied of a new covenant where we would all be taught of God. This is speaking of revelation knowledge that comes from within, through our spirit. Under the Old Covenant, God dealt with the Jews through the outer man. He did this because an Old Covenant man (who was not born again) could not perceive the spiritual truths revealed in the New Covenant by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14). This difference between the old and new covenants is the reason why there had to be two covenants.

The Old Testament man was comparable to a child in his ability to grasp spiritual truth. It is impossible to explain spiritual truth to a young child, and yet, a child must be restrained from submitting to evil. So, the Word of God teaches us to use the “rod of correction” (Prov. 13:24; 19:18; 22:15). The child may not understand resisting the devil, and yet, when the devil tries to entice him to steal, he will say “No!” because he fears he will get the rod if he does steal. Likewise, Old Testament saints were restrained from sin by a fear of the wrath and punishment of God. This curbed sin, but it also hindered them from receiving the goodness and love of God (1 Jn. 4:18).

Under the New Testament, which Jesus is speaking of in this verse, the punishment for our sins was laid on Him. We no longer serve God out of fear of punishment like once we did when we were “children” under the law, but we serve Him out of love; because He has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, making us His sons. We serve Him because our nature has been changed through the new birth. Today, be taught of God through the indwelling presence of Christ.

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: Live Creatively for Christ [Sunday May 14, 2017]

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love . . . — Romans 12:10

Living creatively for Christ in the home is the acid test for any Christian man or woman. It is far easier to live an excellent life among your friends, when you are putting your best foot forward and are conscious of public opinion, than it is to live for Christ in your home. Your own family circle knows whether Christ lives in you and through you. If you are a true Christian, you will not give way at home to bad temper, impatience, fault-finding, sarcasm, unkindness, suspicion, selfishness, or laziness. Instead, you will reveal through your daily life the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, and all the other Christian virtues which round out a Christ-like personality.

Prayer for the day: My family, Lord, knows the real me—they deserve so much more. May I live so close to You that Your love will flow through me to them.

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.

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: When Violence Is The Last Option. Pt Four [13/05/2017]

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3. Read: 2 Tim 4:1-8

From generation to generation, the message of God and His only begotten Son Jesus Christ has been passed on – even to this dispensation. Many have fought vigorously and gallantly to preserve the message of the cross. Some were even killed as a result of defending their faith. Stephen the first martyr was killed for his faith, James and John the Baptist were beheaded for their common faith. Many other disciples were also killed for their faith. Today, the killings continue in our society, the world wants nothing to do with God and His people.

Beloved, we must keep the profession of our faith to the end, we must earnestly contend for our salvation that we received the very day we gave our lives to Jesus because this is our passport to heaven. If you don’t earnestly contend for your salvation, the world will take it away from you. The mundane things of this world will overshadow it and the science of this world will take over your faith. Like Paul, you must be able at the end to say, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. You must preserve the faith and pass it on to your children and unborn children. Don’t allow Jesus be taken away from you by this world because this world will pass away but those that do the will of God attract his reward here on earth and in heaven above.

#BiblePromisesPrayer

* Father, help me to fight to defend my faith and my salvation to the end in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen

Topic: Enlist Help [Saturday, 13th May 2017]

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14

While we understand that God has made us sufficient in all things (2 Corinthians 9:8), it is pertinent for us to know that we’ve got to look beyond ourselves and what we are capable of doing sometimes, and enlist the help of people, especially when we are facing difficult situations that we can’t pull through. Enlisting people’s help won’t do any damage to your personality or confidence, it will, at the end, get the job done or fix the difficult situation.

I had a friend in school, when I was studying for my masters degree. We were in the same department, but he was in the post graduate diploma program. This young man was writing his thesis but was having challenges. I sensed that he was struggling with it, so I approached him and ask him how he was doing with his thesis. He answered fine. Several times I asked him, but his answer was always the same: fine. So I decided to allow him be.

About two years on from that time, I got a call from him, telling me that he couldn’t write his thesis then, and after so many struggles, he stopped the program. This is a classic example of what some folks are going through. But they will rather die than to ask for help. Classic pride. But they don’t know that “where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Don’t be too proud to enlist the help of people when you can’t pull through some difficulties. That’s one of the reasons you have them in your life. Enlist help.

Keep winning daily.

Wise Action:

Are you in any difficult situation now, and you’ve tried all you can to come out of it by yourself, but keep failing repeatedly, beloved, call for help now. You will be glad you did.