Topic: Strive For Excellence Prt 1 [Saturday May 13, 2017]

Excellence can be defined in two ways.

With God, it is a perfect state.

With human, it is an improvement process.

Excellence don’t come cheap, you have to strive for it.

The word strive is used as it relates to sport or competition.

To strive means to struggle; The struggle is not altogether vile or vain word. It means a violent effort or vigorous contest. i.e. to contend with an adversary.

To make effort.

It is human effort that produces divine effect.

To push forward; to press through.

Topic: The Condition of Our Minds [Saturday May 13, 2017]

…But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. — 1 Corinthians 2:16

I reached the curb in front of the airport, where my friend would pick me up. I was calm and relaxed and thought of the great conversation we would have. To my surprise, she wasn’t there yet. That was odd because she’s the kind of person who is never late for anything. I remained calm and peaceful. I spotted what I thought was her car and took a step forward, but the car went past me, and there was a stranger in it.

Not more than three minutes had passed, but I realized I was anxious and worried. What had happened to her? Had she been in an accident? Did she forget me? From calmness to anxiety in less than three minutes, and nothing had changed—nothing except my mind. Worried thoughts struggled inside me.

I pulled out my cell phone and started to dial, when I heard a car honking, as she pulled up to the curb. My mind shifted once again to calmness, even joyfulness. How quickly my emotions had shifted in that short period of time.

My mind had quickly changed when my circumstances did. Sometimes I find it easy to hear God speak . . . and to believe without any difficulty. Yet at other times, worry and anxiety push their way into my mind. The Bible says we are to walk by faith and not by sight, but that day at the airport, I was definitely being led by what I saw. When we worry, we are not walking in faith and trusting God.

For a long period of my life, I had a critical, suspicious, and judgmental mind. That may seem normal for many nonbelievers, but I was a Christian. I was going along with the same thinking and mindset that I had known for years. It was normal to me—it was just the way I was. For years, I had no awareness that my wrong thinking was causing any problems.

Because no one had taught me, I didn’t know I could do anything to change my thought life. It simply had not occurred to me. No one had taught me about the proper condition for the believer’s mind. God offers us a new way to think and a new way to live.

God has called us to renew our minds (see Romans 12:2). For most of us, it is an ongoing process. We don’t control our thinking all at one time.

One day I read 1 Corinthians 2:16, where Paul says we have the mind of Christ. What could he have meant? I pondered that verse for days. I concluded that for us to have the mind of Christ doesn’t mean we’re sinless or perfect. It does mean we begin to think the way Christ thinks. If we have His mind, we think on those things that are good and honorable and loving.

I confessed to God how many times my mind had focused on the ugly, the mean, and the harsh.

In 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul wrote, But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him . . . because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. Yes, I thought, that’s exactly how it works. The natural mind—even that of the Christians whose minds are tampered with by Satan—doesn’t grasp what God is doing. Those things seem foolish.

We must remind ourselves that we have Christ’s mind—we have the ability to think loving and caring thoughts. We can defeat Satan’s attacks.

Holy God, I want to live with the mind of Christ. I ask You to enable me to think positive, loving, caring thoughts about myself and about others. Help me to see and think on the good things in life and not the bad. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Topic: Forbid Extension! [Saturday 13, May 2017]

Memorise: But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. – 1 Peter 5:10

Read: Genesis 15:10-15 (KJV)

10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.

12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 18-20, Jeremiah 30:10-24, Hymn: Sing hymn 4

MESSAGE:

One assurance you have as a believer is that the boat of your life and endeavours cannot sink. Be assured that every storm, contrary wind and wave that is working against you is only for an appointed time. The Holy Spirit made this clear in 1 Peter 5:10 when He said,

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Beloved, don’t believe the lie of the devil that things will continue to get worse. They will not! Don’t believe that the unpleasant situation you find yourself in will persist. It will not! Every pain, sorrow or distress is for a set time and it will definitely expire. After its expiration, the imperfect shall be perfected, the unstable shall be established, the weak shall be strengthened and there shall be divine settlement. These shall be your portion from now in Jesus’ Name!

However, sometimes, the devil attempts to extend the period of a trial of faith beyond what was originally sanctioned by God. This is why we need to know God’s will concerning a situation and thereafter stand on it. You need to know your kingdom rights and insist on receiving them. The devil is rightly called a thief in John 10:10. He steals what does not belong to him. Any ground you fail to conquer in the Kingdom will be lost to the enemy’s camp. Any promise of God you do not know and lay claim to shall be lost to the enemy. How much of God’s promises and prophecies do you know? How many of them have you laid claim to? Do you know that God can allow you go through a trial of faith situation for three years, but if you fail to know the exact duration or are not sensitive enough, the devil can take advantage of that situation and prolong the hardship? This was the case in today’s reading. God spoke of Abraham’s descendants going into slavery in a strange land for a period of 400 years and thereafter they would come out with great wealth; but do you know that by the time the Israelites were delivered, they had spent an extra 30 years in slavery (Exodus 12:40)! Even today, many believers have allowed the devil to enjoy extra time afflicting them. They have moved from the preset trial period to a period of satanic affliction, thinking they are still going through the God-ordained trial of faith. How can you check this? Ask God. Seek His face over it. Use all the weapons you have as a Christian: the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, the promises of God and a life of holiness to combat that unpleasant situation. If the situation stops, it means your trial is over.

Prayer Point: Every Satanic extension to my “trial of faith” period is terminated now in Jesus’ Name.

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: Take Your Place [Saturday May 13, 2017]

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection. – Philippians 3:10, The Amplified Bible

The more you fellowship with God around His Word, the more you’ll know the “power outflowing from His resurrection.” You’ll develop joy. You’ll develop faith. You’ll start developing God’s own characteristics…just by fellowshiping with Him. You’ll begin to understand who you really are in Jesus.

I remember one day I was reading the story of the woman with the issue of blood who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed.

I’d read the story many times and pictured myself as almost everyone in the story, just experiencing how it would feel to be someone in the crowd or even the one who was healed.

Suddenly God spoke to my spirit and said, Read that again and this time picture yourself as the one wearing the garment.

I was stunned. “Lord,” I said, “how can I do that? I can’t take Your place!”

That’s just what’s wrong with the Body of Christ, He told me. That’s the reason the world doesn’t know anything about Jesus. You identify with everyone except Me. But I sent you to be My witnesses, to imitate Me, to stand in My place…not everyone else’s!

So, I read that story again. This time I pictured myself in the role of the one with the Anointing of the Holy Ghost. Instead of crawling up to touch the hem of His garment, I was the one wearing the garment, freely giving what God had given me. After all, the Bible does say, “Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Do you know who scares the devil most of all? Believers who’ve found out they can do that. Believers who, instead of begging for a little touch from Jesus, are letting His very life flow out to others.

Come on, give the devil a scare. Fellowship with your Father around the Word and start discovering who you really are today.

Scripture Reading: Luke 8:40-48

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: Undone Cake [Saturday May 13, 2017]

Text: 2 Kings 13:3-7

Key Verse: “Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria” (2 Kings 13:6).

“Some often repent, yet never reform; they resemble a man traveling in a dangerous path, who frequently starts and stops, but never turns back,” so said Bonnell Thornton. He might have been referring to Israel, as did Charles Spurgeon who noted that, “Israel’s repentance was only half-hearted; they repented because they suffered.

They repented because of the suffering rather than because of the sin. They went back to the sin after they escaped from the sorrow.” The ascension of Jehoahaz to the throne was the beginning of the fulfillment of a promise made to Jehu (2 Kings 10:30). This dynasty – though founded on a violent overthrow of the previous royal house – continued because Jehu came to the throne doing the will of God, though, he later relapsed into the idolatry of Jeroboam (2 Kings 10:31). Jehoahaz followed in the footsteps of his father Jehu and his idolatrous lifestyle attracted the divine displeasure and judgment of God who delivered them over to be punished by the kings of Syria. Therefore, when in suffering, he cried unto the Lord in seeming repentance, God listened to his prayer because of His great mercy and care for Israel.

Although God answered the prayer and sent a deliverer, Israel continued in their false worship. This attitude, after God gave a respite, was proof that his prayer did not mark a lasting or real revival in his life. His repentance was like a cake not well baked. False repentance hinders the needed striving towards true, godly transformation of life and attitude.

Not only will it keep you from enjoying the fruit of repentance (the blessing of abiding in Christ), it also leads to enduring enslavement to sin. The sobering reality is that unabated false repentance will result in spiritual death (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance is essential for the Christian life. When someone truly repents from sin and turns to God by faith in Jesus, he receives pardon from God. Such repentance is genuine and He expects that from you today.

Thought for the day: Repentance without righteousness is like a car without an engine.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chronicles 22-25

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: The Power of Fasting In Dissolving Mysteries [Saturday May 13, 2017]

Scripture: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance. Acts 10:10.

Thought For The Day: Fasting has the capacity to open your eyes in the spirit to see the mysteries around your life.

Fasting is one of the strongest weapons of a Christian. Jesus Christ defeated the Devil in the wilderness by the power of fasting and the Word (Matthew 4:1-4). Fasting puts one on the fast lane in life, and to fast is to last.

One of the powers of fasting is the dissolution of mysteries.

Fasting is a confirmation of desperation; fasting intensifies your desire and prayer fire. If you have prayed for a mystery to be dissolved and it seems that the situation remains unchanged, the only way you can enforce change is to embark on a fast.

How does fasting dissolve mysteries?

It is by connecting us to the frequency of revelations. Fasting is a secret of receiving insights to dissolve the mysteries of life.

Beloved, whenever you fast, you are positioned in the realm where God can give you the direction to dissolve the mysteries of your life. Fasting makes your light to break forth (Isaiah 58:6, 8). Fasting has the capacity to open your eyes in the spirit to see the mysteries around your life.

Beloved, my counsel is: embark on periodic fasts to break the mysteries around your life.

Remember this: Fasting has the capacity to open your eyes in the spirit to see the mysteries around your life.

Assignment(s):

1. Embark on periodic fasts.

2. Pray adequately in the spirit as you fast.

Prayer: O LORD, give me a strong appetite for periodic prayer and fasting for the dissolution of the mysteries around my life.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: UNVEILING THE MYSTERIES OF LIFE.

Amazing Fact: In Canada, the most productive day of the working week is Tuesday.

Today In History: 13/5/1888 – Slavery was abolished in Brazil.

Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 2:22 to 4:22, John 5:24 to 47, Psalm 106:1 to 12, Proverbs 14:30 to 31.

Quote: The power of mystery is lost when it is revealed. Culled from UNVEILING AND DISSOLVING MYSTERIES by Dr Paul Enenche.

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: Bread of Heaven [Saturday May 13, 2017]

John 6:34, “Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.”

It is probable that these Jews were expecting Jesus to rain down manna on them the way God did before in the wilderness. After all, anyone who could feed five thousand men with one small lunch should be able to produce manna. They were still thinking of physical food.

The word “manna” means literally “what is it?” The children of Israel said, “It is manna: for they wist (or knew) not what it was.” (Ex. 16:15) Manna was a nutritious food which appeared on the ground every morning shortly after the children of Israel left Egypt and began their 40-year wandering in the wilderness. Moses called it “bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.”

The Lord, in speaking to Moses, called it “bread from heaven.” It was small and round, like coriander seed, and was white in color or yellowish, like bdellium. The people, after gathering it, ground it in mills or beat it in a mortar, baked it in pans and made cakes of it. It tasted like wafers made with honey or fresh oil. It was gathered every morning and had to be used up that day or it would stink and have worms. An exception was on the sixth day. It could be gathered for the Sabbath and wouldn’t spoil (Ex. 16:22-26).

Although they were looking for pieces of bread to materialize, which would have been a great miracle, it would have been insignificant compared to the miracle of God being manifested in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16). They were talking to the greatest miracle that God had ever performed, but they were blind to it. Many times, we get so intent on seeking God in one area that we forget the greatest miracle of all, which is the love and redemption given to us from God through His Son.

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: Camping Psalms [Saturday May 13, 2017]

Read: Psalm 8:1–9, Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 17–18; John 3:19–36

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:1

When my husband and I go for nature walks, we bring our cameras and take close-ups of the plants at our feet, which are like microcosms of the world. What amazing variety and beauty we see, even in the fungi that spring up overnight and dot the woods with splashes of bright orange, red, and yellow!

The snapshots of life that surround us inspire me to lift my eyes to the Maker who created not only mushrooms but also the stars in the heavens. He designed a world of infinite scope and variety. And He made you and me and placed us in the very middle of this beauty to enjoy and to rule over it (Gen. 1:27–28; Ps. 8:6–8).

My thoughts turn to one of our family’s “camping psalms”—psalms we read as we sit around the fire. “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. . . . When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Ps. 8:1–4).

How amazing that the great God who created the world in all its splendor cares for you and me!

Prayer: O Lord, our majestic Maker, our hearts turn toward praise when we see snapshots of Your beautiful world. Thank You for creating us! Help us to rule Your world with wisdom.

A God wise enough to create me and the world I live in is wise enough to watch out for me.  Philip Yancey

Insight:

The power God displayed in creation (Ps. 8) is not limited to creation alone. God also expressed His power when He raised Jesus from the dead, proving that Christ was (and is) the Son of God (Rom. 1:4). We also have the assurance that His power is available to work in and through us to carry us during the challenges of life. In fact, our weakness is the perfect platform to exhibit His power. Paul wrote, “[The Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Cor. 12:9).

Are you struggling with weakness? Reflect on the expansiveness of God’s power and then ask Him to help you discover that power in your situation.

This message was written By Alyson Kieda [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: God Provides [Saturday May 13, 2017]

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. — John 13:13

He (the Spirit) will never lead you contrary to the Word of God. I hear people saying, “The Lord led me to do this. . . . The Lord told me thus and so . . . ” I am always a little suspicious unless what the Lord has said is in keeping with His Word. God never directs us to do anything contrary to His Word.

The prophet Samuel once said, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” The Scripture teaches, “He that willeth to do His will shall know the doctrine.” When you find yourself up a blind alley, not knowing which way to turn, if you are willing to do His will, He will reveal Himself. He conceals His will only from those who, before they consent to do His bidding, seek to know what He is going to say. Be an obedient Christian. Remember that “where God guides, He provides. Where He leads, He supplies all needs!”

Prayer for the day: Let me be acutely attuned to Your Word, so that each decision I have to make will be in Your will, almighty God

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.

Today’s Scripture: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” – (John 15:11, KJV)

Topic: Be Full of It [Friday May 12, 2017]

Jesus came to give you joy and joy to the full! When your joy is full, it can be seen by others. Joy is supposed to be displayed. As believers, we should have a smile on our face and a spring in our step. We should be kind and friendly. We should be fun to be around. We should be full of His supernatural joy!

Have you allowed the pressures of life to push you down? Have you been more focused on your circumstances than on your God? If you’re not enjoying your life or relationships, it’s time to refocus and tap into the full joy within. It’s time to draw the line in the sand and say, “That’s it. I’m not going to live another day negative, discouraged, sour or grumpy. I’m going to put a smile on my face. I’m going to let my joy be seen so I can brighten somebody else’s day. I’m going to live my life happy and full of joy!”

Friend, when you take that step of faith and choose to trust God with your future, something changes on the inside. Your feelings will soon line up. Your faith will tap into His supernatural joy. And when you tap into joy, you tap into His strength and victory so you can live the full, abundant life He has prepared for you!

A Prayer for Today: “Father, thank You for the gift of joy. Thank You for lavishing Your love and grace on me. Fill me with Your power, strength and virtue so that my joy will overflow and be a blessing everywhere I go in Jesus’ name. Amen.”