Topic: Better Days [Friday, 12th May 2017]

The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18

There is one thing that you must never forget about the life of God you have, it is its ever progressive tendencies. Its progress and growth is a constant occurrence. Nothing can hinder the growth that it engenders. It can only get better. No matter what you are experiencing now, be rest assured that better days are ahead of you. God has already programmed it into your life. Better days are just around the corner.

Sometimes, you may want to despair. Anxiety may get the best of you, but don’t let it take you off course. Apostle Paul faced these situations, that was why he said in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that “we are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” Don’t stay down, no matter how hard the knocks you are taking in life. Stand up. Better days are at hand.

The storms of life can’t do you in, no matter how strong they are raging. Jesus has already declared peace to them. You are crossing to your better days. You are coming into your place of rest. There is a gleam of dawn already. The sun is rising. You might not see it because of the cloud, but I can assure you that the full light of day will certainly come. Hold fast to the profession of your faith, because He is faithful that promised (Hebrews 10:23). Better days are here.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Thanks Lord for the better days which You have already prepared for me. I hold on to the profession of my faith. I trust Your faithfulness. I declare that my better days are here, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Topic: No Man Is Self-Sufficient [Friday May 12, 2017]

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” – 2 Corinthians 3:5

Deficiency results when a man begins to think he is self sufficient.

When you think you are capable you become incapable. When you think you are able you become disabled.

When Nebuchadnezzar began to think of his efficiency he lost his throne (Daniel. 4: 29-36).

Rely On Him!

God does not call people who are able, He calls the unable so that He can enable them. He looks for people who will rely and even the disabled on Him. “…that no man may glory in the flesh” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

If Jesus, said, “I can of myself do nothing” (John 5:30), then we need God’s help much more.

If you don’t want life to be a burden, let God carry it for you. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Rely on God and let the whole world know He is your sufficiency.

Topic: Identify Who You Are [Friday May 12, 2017]

Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] —1 Peter 3:11

Paul said, “I want to do what is right, but I can’t” (see Romans 7:15-25). He was a new person on the inside because he was born again, but he still had to resist the temptation to sin.

Paul explained that “the sin [principle]” (v. 20) continues to dwell in us. We want to do right, but we don’t have the power to perform it, because evil is ever present to tempt us to do wrong. Only God can deliver us from this tendency to sin; that is why we must ask Him to deliver us from evil each day.

Topic: Lessons on Vow [Friday 12, May 2017]

Memorise: That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. – Deuteronomy 23:23

Read: Judges 11:29-36 (KJV)

29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 16-17, Jeremiah 29:24-30:9, Hymn: Sing hymn 14

MESSAGE:

Sometimes, some people promise God one thing, but when the time comes to redeem the pledge, they bring something else. Do you think that God does not have records in Heaven? Once you make a pledge to God, don’t try to change it. Ecclesiastes 5:6 says,

“Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?”

After you have committed yourself to a particular thing as a vow, if you later return to say, “It was a slip of the tongue, God will understand”, you are only deceiving yourself. Such an excuse is not acceptable to God. God expects you to stand by your word. Hence, as part of the requirements to stand in God’s holy place, Psalm 15:4 says if you make a vow, you are expected to do everything possible to redeem it, no matter the cost, sacrifice or inconveniencies involved. Do you have this quality? It is part of the integrity we must have as believers.

Another lesson on vows is that you must be extremely careful before making a vow. Think very well before pledging a commitment to do a particular thing, because once it has gone out of your mouth, you may not be able to beat a retreat. Some people get carried away with zeal and make a mouth-watering vow but later find it difficult to redeem it. Be careful! Only vow to give up what is within the limit of your capability and not what you know you cannot cope with! The story of Jephthah is a very touching one. He needed victory so badly that he vowed to sacrifice to God whatever first came out of his house to meet him on his return. After the battle was over, as he returned home with great joy, it was his only child – his virgin daughter – that came out first to welcome him. He felt so bad. He realised the rashness of his vow, but he could not turn back from his promise. Finally, one more lesson on vows is that God does not like to hear the voice of vow-defaulters, and He would ultimately destroy their efforts (Ecclesiastes 5:6). Is God fighting you over a vow you have defaulted on? Repent now and restitute. If need be, seek the guidance of a Spirit-filled Christian counsellor or pastor.

Action Point: Unpaid vows are debts that can hinder you from making heaven. Prayerfully recall your unpaid debts and redeem them fast.

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: Let the Captives Go [Friday May 12, 2017]

Text: Deuteronomy 15:12-23

Key Verse: “And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee” (Deuteronomy 15:12).

Generally in life, there are two broad categories of captives: the lawful or willing captive (slaves/servants) and the forced or unwilling captive. Some servants give themselves over to their masters to serve them for a particular period of time on an agreed wage or salary as seen in the case of Jacob with Laban, his uncle. However, at other times, servants are bought as captives of war or from parents or guardians who cannot support them with the basic necessities of life, as a means of raising money for themselves.

These are bond slaves who most often, will have to serve their masters till death or until when they are strong enough to pay for their freedom. In Israel at one time, God gave a commandment specifically about slaves/servants/captives who were Hebrews and were bought or purchased by a Hebrew master. His directive was that they be freed and properly settled on release after six years of faithful service. They, the Hebrew masters, must not see this as a hard thing to do or be grieved at heart when releasing their brethren who had served them faithfully for six years. Obedience to this injunction of God attracted great blessings from Him.

Similarly, today’s masters who are believers and have believers working under them as apprentices, house-helps or workers at their homes, businesses or companies are to faithfully release and settle their subordinates properly, after their service term. They are not to cheat or defraud them or subject them to scorn or ridicule. If Jesus Christ fully forgave ours sins and identified with our frailties, we must also bear with those under us, irrespective of the pressures we face.

A believer cannot revel in acts of slavery and servitude towards others, for Jesus, our Saviour, calls His disciples “friends” and not slaves or servants. If Christ so treats us, so must we also relate with those under us.

Thought for the day: A Christian is he who lives as he that serveth.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chronicles 18-21

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: Dead Works [Friday May 12, 2017]

John 6:28, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?”

All throughout history, mankind has been seeking ways to do the works of God. Everyone has a knowledge within them of the reality of God (Rom. 1:18-20), and a desire to be right with Him. However, just as with these Jews, few agree with the Lord as to how to do it. These Jews were willing to do something to obtain salvation, but they were not willing to commit themselves to Jesus and accept His gift.

This is one of the major differences between Christianity and the religions of the world. Religion is willing to make sacrifices to obtain right standing with God, but Christianity recognizes our complete inability to ever do enough to save ourselves and calls for total faith and reliance on what Jesus did for us.

No one deserves salvation. It cannot be earned by what the Bible calls “dead works” (Heb. 6:1; 9:14). Dead works include all religious activities, good deeds, or charity that one may do as a means of being justified before God.

Faith towards God and what He has done through Christ Jesus is the only means of receiving His free gift of salvation. He only asks us to believe.

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: River of Revelation [Friday May 12, 2017]

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. – James 1:22

Have you ever been in the position in the past where every time you opened the Bible you received a river of revelation? Does it seem lately that the river’s run dry? If so, I strongly suggest that you backtrack to the last revelation God gave you. Back up and see if you acted on it, if you did what God showed you to do. If you didn’t, start again, digging in to that revelation and then putting it into action in your life. You’ll soon find new revelations are beginning to flow.

You see, revelation is most prolific when you are acting on the Word. I’ve discovered that for myself again and again. The more I act on the Word, the more I see into it. That’s why James 1:22 tells us to not only hear God’s Word but to do it!

It may seem that the things God has revealed to you are very insignificant. They may not even make good sense to your natural mind. But do them anyway! If you had insight into the spirit realm, you’d see they’re far more important than you think.

Open God’s Word anew today. Come before Him with expectancy of a fresh revelation of the Scripture and commit to Him to follow it up with actions of obedience. Be a doer of God’s revelations and not a hearer only and your river will never run dry.

Scripture Reading: James 1:22-27

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: He Changes Us [Friday May 12, 2017]

. . . that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. — Ephesians 6:19

The word “mystery” means beyond human knowledge or understanding. God’s mysteries baffle the unbelieving, but bless the believer. The mystery of righteousness, like some of the other great mysteries of God, we cannot comprehend, but we know it works. We stand amazed at this great mystery which enables God to change the human heart, its attitudes, its desires, and its nature.

God, a holy God, who loves righteousness and hates wickedness, through a process of redemption has refashioned us in the image of Himself. How marvelous! For generations He has been applying His righteousness to the hearts of men. Even in our time, with its complexities of living, God is in the business of changing men and women by the mystery of righteousness.

Prayer for the day: Give me Your boldness to tell others the secret of eternal joy in Jesus Christ.

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 Advocate [Friday May 12, 2017]

Read: John 16:7–15, Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 15–16; John 3:1–18

When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. John 16:13

As I boarded the airplane to study in a city a thousand miles from home, I felt nervous and alone. But during the flight, I remembered how Jesus promised His disciples the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’s friends must have felt bewildered when He told them, “It is for your good that I am going away” (John 16:7). How could they who witnessed His miracles and learned from His teaching be better off without Him? But Jesus told them that if He left, then the Advocate—the Holy Spirit—would come.

 Jesus, nearing His last hours on earth, shared with His disciples (in John 14–17, today known as the “Farewell Discourse”) to help them understand His death and ascension. Central in this conversation was the coming Holy Spirit, an advocate who would be with them (14:16–17), teaching (15:15), testifying (v. 26), and guiding them (16:13).

We who have accepted God’s offer of new life have been given this gift of His Spirit living within us. From Him we receive so much: He convicts us of our sins and helps us to repent. He brings us comfort when we ache, strength to bear hardships, wisdom to understand God’s teaching, hope and faith to believe, love to share.

We can rejoice that Jesus sent us the Advocate.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to save us and Your Spirit to comfort and convict us. May we bring You glory as we thank You for Your goodness and love.

The Holy Spirit fills Jesus’s followers.

Insight:

When Jesus comforts His disciples before His impending crucifixion and eventual ascension (going back to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father), Jesus says He must go away so the Holy Spirit will come. The disciples didn’t know the Holy Spirit, so how would His coming comfort them? Jesus offers the answer. The Spirit will continue what Jesus started. He will bring conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He will speak to the disciples not simply on behalf of Jesus, but He will speak to them the very words Jesus speaks (John 16:13–15). The Spirit would be with them in a way that Jesus couldn’t be. No matter where each of them went, together or separately, the Spirit—and therefore Jesus Himself—would be with them.

This message was written By Amy Boucher Pye [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic — The Mystery of the Blood: A Key to Dissolving Mystery [Friday May 12, 2017]

Scripture: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11.

Thought For The Day: Approach the Communion table with faith and expectation for the dissolution of mysteries.

God is the God of answers and solutions. He has the answer to any difficulty right in His Hands. There is no mystery of life that God cannot dissolve.

Previously, we have identified the prayer of enquiry and the revelation of God’s Word as two potent ways of dissolving the mysteries of life.

Today, we want to look at another potent weapon of mystery dissolution. It is called the Blood of Jesus Christ! Mysteries can be dissolved by the application of the Blood of Jesus Christ. This is where you prayerfully plead or apply the Blood of Jesus on any mystery surrounding your life.

The Blood of Jesus Christ can be used to dissolve the mysteries of your life – chronic singleness, barrenness, HIV/AIDS, joblessness, chronic struggle, iniquity, etc.

So, every time you partake in the Communion Bread and Wine, do not just approach it religiously; trust God for the opening of your spiritual eyes to see what you should see (Luke 24:30, 31).

I have realised that everywhere the Blood is applied, fire falls. When we plead the Blood, the fire of the Holy Ghost is provoked.

Beloved, my counsel is, apply the Blood on every endeavour of your life. Approach the Communion table with faith and expectation for the dissolution of mysteries.

Remember this: Approach the Communion table with faith and expectation for the dissolution of mysteries.

Assignment(s):

1. Partake in the Communion Bread and Wine always.

2. Endeavour to present in the Communion services.

Prayer: O LORD, dissolve every mystery of my life by the mystery of the Blood in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: UNVEILING MYSTERIES.

Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1 to 2:21, John 5:1 to 23, Psalm 105:37 to 45, Proverbs 14:28 to 29.

Quote: The Blood of Jesus sets one free from sin, sorrow, shame, sickness and captivity; the Blood of Jesus washes as white as snow. Culled from UNVEILING AND DISSOLVING MYSTERIES by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: The penguins have supra-orbital gland above their eyes which helps to remove sodium chlorides from their blood stream; it functions like the kidney.

Today In History: 12 May 1903 – After successful military operations in Sokoto and Kano, Britain adds 260,000 km square to its Nigerian territory.

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.