Topic: Pathway To Peace [Wednesday April 19, 2017]

Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God… – 1 Peter 1:2

Peace is a redemption commodity that we received at new birth. Romans 5:1

The birth place of peace is order.

Chaos exists only when order is out on break.

Until order exits chaos does not exist.

Chaos will only fill a vacuum that order creates. Order comes via the channel of instruction.

Whenever you embrace instruction, you have naturally attracted order and peace subsequently.

I will hear what the Lord will speak to me for He will speak peace to His people only let them not turn back to folly (of disorderliness). Psalm 85:8

Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165

God speaks to instruct us to create order and to establish peace to us in the ultimate.

Topic: Avoid Worldly Competition [Wednesday April 19, 2017]

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). —Hebrews 13:8

Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another. — Galatians 5:26

According to the world’s system, the best place to be is ahead of everyone else. Popular thinking would say that we should try to get to the top no matter who we have to hurt on the way up. But the Bible teaches us that there is no such thing as real peace until we are delivered from the need to compete with others.

Even in what is supposed to be considered “fun games,” we often see competition get so out of balance that people end up arguing and hating one another rather than simply relaxing and having a good time together. Naturally, human beings don’t play games to lose; everyone is going to do his best. But when a person cannot enjoy a game unless he is winning, he definitely has a problem—possibly a deep-rooted one that is causing other problems in many areas of his life.

We should definitely do our best on the job; there is nothing wrong with wanting to do well and advance in our chosen professions. But I encourage you to remember that promotion for the believer comes from God and not from man. You and I don’t need to play worldly games to get ahead. God will give us favor with Him and with others if we will do things His way (see Proverbs 3:3-4).

What God does for you or for me may not be what He does for someone else, but we must remember what Jesus said to Peter, “Don’t be concerned about what I choose to do with someone else—you follow Me” (see John 21:22).

Topic: Backslider-In-Heart I [Wednesday 19, April 2017]

Memorise: The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. – Proverbs 14:14

Read: Judges 14:1-3 (KJV)

1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 7, Jeremiah 16:1-13

MESSAGE:

Backsliding is not an event but a gradual process that occurs over a period of time until is gets to a noticeable stage. At that stage, people will begin to say an individual has backslidden, but what they fail to realise is that it did not start at that point. Backsliding begins in the heart. When a believer becomes filled with his or her own ways, that believer has begun to backslide. That person would always be right in his or her own sight, and others would be wrong. Such a person would no longer take advice from anybody, becoming a loner. In today’s Bible reading, we see the case of Samson, an anointed Nazirite to the Lord, who began to backslide right from his heart. The way today’s Bible reading begins is significant: “And Samson went down….” When a person begins to go down, may the Lord have mercy on him or her. As he went down, he saw an abomination that enticed him: a Philistine woman. He came to his father and mother to tell them of his intention to marry the Philistine woman. His parents counselled him against this abominable desire, but regardless of their warning, Samson said “Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.”

When a child of God begins to nurse the idea of getting engaged to an unbeliever, no doubt, he or she has started backsliding in the heart. An unbeliever should not be an attractive option for a genuine child of God. A female child of God should find it repugnant for a smoker or drunkard to become her husband; after all, such a person will get intimate with her after wedlock with smoky lips or a mouth saturated with alcohol. A Christian brother should also see it as degrading to be married to a lady operating under the influence of the spirit of Jezebel – knowing full well how Jezebel destroyed her husband (Ephesians 2:2, 1 Kings 21:25). You are influenced by the environment you live in and the people you are intimate with. An unbelieving woman or man will act as a weight around your neck, dragging you down to the pit of hell. The different abominable things going on in the world are enough to deter a genuine child of God from marrying a person who is not under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Such a person is not restrained from doing whatever the devil suggests to his or her heart and does not share the same standard of the word of God as a moral compass for life. Today, we hear of wives sleeping with drivers and domestic staff, and we also hear of husbands sleeping with housemaids and their wife’s sisters – things that are abominable in the sight of God. Do you know that an unbeliever might not find these things abominable? It is a terrible thing to be associated with an “uncircumcised Philistine” in these end times. Beware of backsliding!

Prayer Point: Father, completely destroy the works of the devil in my life and in your Church.

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: You Must Be Fruitful (3)

Dear Reader,

Last week we had a wonderful time in God’s presence, I pray today will be more glorious. Last week, we discussed about people facing physical unfruitfulness and what could be done to come out triumphantly. Today, we shall be looking at another wonderful subject: Pregnancy Made Easy

Praise the Lord! His Word can never be broken. God declared you fruitful and you are indeed fruitful. Now that you are pregnant, what next? This may sound funny to you, maybe because this is not your first pregnancy or you are already a grandmother, or probably, you are not married yet. I want you to know that there is always something new in the Word of God. Pregnancy, as it were, might be seen by some people as traumatic and hectic; but, by the Word, it can be quite exciting and filled with ease. This shall be your own experience in Jesus’ Name! Amen. If we are to groom children for greatness, we must begin with their conception, through delivery, and to adulthood. After all, the Bible in Psalms 139:13-16 says that right from conception, God knew us. In the entire Bible, it was never recorded that any woman had a traumatic pregnancy period due to some medical anomalies. The Bible is our perfect guide and blueprint for successful living. We must not, as covenant children, give excuses for the lies of the devil. If we follow the instructions contained in the Bible, we shall not experience what the people of the world experience. So, what are the blueprints for Pregnancy made Easy for God’s covenant children?

Be Joyful

The Bible says: Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). Make joy a lifestyle. As you wake up in the morning, whether you feel like it or not, praise God. Let every thing within you spell joy. As you form the habit of letting joy surge from within you, every part of your body system is revitalised. The Bible says: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22). It has been said that mood swings occur during pregnancy: you are up now, but down the next minute. You frown at everyone and you are easily irritated. This shouldn’t be with a covenant child of God. The Bible says the Hebrew women were lively. For you to be lively on the delivery table, joy must have been part and parcel of you.

Consider this− the Bible says in Luke 1:44: For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. If the mother was not joyful, how would she have known that the baby in her womb was leaping for joy at the instance of that greeting? Don’t let the time of pregnancy be a time of depression for you; remain joyful, glorifying God for the wonderful experience of procreating with Him. I tell you, women are most privileged of God; it is just a unique experience that cannot be absolutely described. Joy is an important ingredient in the school of healthy living. It is better to stay healthy by remaining joyful, than spending money on drugs by being moody or sad.

Be A Student Of The Word Of God

The Word of God is the bedrock of all things in life. The Bible says: He upholds all things by the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). “All things,” including you and the baby in your womb. Therefore, read the Word, study it and meditate on it. This is the time to drink in the juice of the Word, for your ‘health’ and that of the baby. The Word is the maker of all things: it has power to create. The Bible says: In the beginning was the Word…. And nothing was made without the Word (John 1:1, 3 paraphrased). Fill your belly with the Word of God; speak it to the baby in your womb and sow the seed of God’s Word into his/her life.

Be Prayerful

No one can pray for you like you. So, commune with God on the basis of His Word, which you have received. The Psalmist exclaimed: O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come (Psalms 65:2). Soak yourself and the baby, in the Blood of Jesus. Destroy the hold of the enemy upon the developing child in the womb and on yourself. Commit and dedicate the child to God, even while inside the womb. Pray concerning the delivery day. Cover yourself, the baby, the birth attendants, the clinic, the materials to be used, etc., with the Blood. Commit his/her life, school, career, marriage, life, etc., into God’s hands. Pregnancy is not a license to go from house to house, talking and gossiping with neighbours and friends, just because you no longer have a business or place of work to go, or you want to take time to rest. Invest your time in prayers, and secure your environment from any form of evil.

Keep Right Company

Show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are. Don’t keep company with negative talkers. People who only remember those that died during pregnancy or childbirth are dangerous. Those who only talk about babies born deformed are to be feared and run away from. Saturate and clean your environment of any negative talking. Negative talks don’t edify; so, flee from such companies. Foolish talks bring disasters. In fact, the Word of God says foolishness kills. Anywhere you see people talking negatively, draw away and fill your heart with positive reports.

As you combine all these with personal hygiene, taking a lot of rest, a balanced diet meal, (not just eating any junk that comes your way), and adhering to the advice from your medical personnel (I mean qualified medical personnel in the field of gynecology and obstetrics), you are set for the easiest time of pregnancy and delivery, as you bring forth a godly seed to the glory of God.

Are you born again? If your answer is no and you want to be born again and called a child of God, say this prayer of faith: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today acknowledging that I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I believe You died for me and rose again on the third day. Forgive me of my sins, wash me with Your Blood and write my name in the Lamb’s Book of life. Thank You Lord for saving me.”

If you prayed this simple prayer, 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).

Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, 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: When Afflictions Are Comely [Wednesday April 19, 2017]

Text: Psalm 119:65-72

Key Verse: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better…” (Psalm 119:71,72).

Nothing happens accidentally in God’s economy. Every event or circumstance that occurs to God’s children are ultimately for their good. Even in the seeming negatives of life, God uses everything to His and to our advantage. You probably must have learnt about Job. God used his affliction to bless and to train him. In this wonderful Psalm 119, the writer discovered that there is something good in his afflictions. He had said “before I was afflicted I went astray”.

He saw God using his afflictions to make him better than he was. How do we react to adversity? People often wonder why bad things happen to good people. We learn from the Psalmist that good people may need to become better, and that’s why affliction sometimes come. Also, our affliction may be direct answers to prayer. It is good to always find out something good about our cloudy day. It pays to learn from the Psalmist. We should know that God loves us and is concerned about our travails. The adversity He allows in our lives is for a purpose. If you are going through something hard and wonder where God is, always remember that the teacher is always quiet during a test.

God will always come to promote you from good to better and from better to great! Your afflictions will never be in vain. Even so, no child of God is exempted from afflictions for God always trains those dear to Him, in the furnace of affliction.

Thought for the day: Weeping endures only for a night.

Bible Reading in one Year: Joshua 22-24

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 Destiny Of Greed [Wednesday April 19, 2017]

Scripture: But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 1 Timothy 6:9

Thought For The Day: There is no destiny for the greedy and there is no future for the covetous.

Greed is an overwhelming or rapacious urge to have something especially money. Greed is an unconquered and selfish quest to get more, irrespective of who gets hurt.

The truth is, there is no destiny for the greedy and there is no future for the covetous. To focus on money is to crash in destiny.

The love of mammon has made many monuments. Achan lost his life on the altar of greed (Joshua 7:1-26). The calamity of Gehazi was rooted in his greed (1 Kings 5:20-27). Judas Iscariot punctured his destiny on the frequency of greed. Imagine this, what level of desperation would make a man sell his Master, his Saviour and the Saviour of the whole world? Unknown to him, it was a set-up for his damnation. No wonder he died like a mad-dog and lost his place in time and in eternity.

Beloved, greed is the foundation for destruction. If you must have a future on earth and an eternity with God, you must embrace CONTENTMENT.

I prophesy on you the grace to overcome the spirit of greed, in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: There is no destiny for the greedy and there is no future for the covetous.

Assignment(S):

1. Determine to be contented with what you have per time.

2. Ask God daily for the grace to consistently defeat the spirit of greed.

Prayer: O LORD, I thank You for Your Word to me today. Uproot every root of greed and covetousness from my life and baptize me LORD with the spirit of contentment, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: SATANIC WEAPONS OF MASS DEFILEMENT, DEVOTION AND DESTRUCTION- PART 3B    

Daily Reading: Joshua 19:1 to 20:9, Luke 19:28 to 48, Psalm  88:1 to 18, Proverbs 13:12 to 14.

Quote: If you have no control over your desire, then, you cannot have control over your life. Culled from 22 LAWS OF LIFE, VOLUME TWO by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: At birth, babies do not have kneecaps. When babies are born, they have 300 bones but adults have 206 bones.

Today In History: 19/04/1971 – Sierra Leone became a republic.

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: Sweet Scent [Wednesday April 19, 2017]

Read: 2 Corinthians 2:14–16, Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 6–8; Luke 15:1–10

Thanks be to God, who . . . uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2 Corinthians 2:14

Author Rita Snowden tells a delightful story about visiting a small village in Dover, England. Sitting outside a café one afternoon enjoying a cup of tea, she became aware of a beautiful scent. Rita asked a waiter where it was coming from, and was told it was the people she could see passing by. Most of the villagers were employed at a nearby perfume factory. As they walked home, they carried the fragrance that permeated their clothes out into the street.

What a beautiful image of the Christian life! As the apostle Paul says, we are the aroma of Christ, spreading His fragrance everywhere (2 Cor. 2:15). Paul uses the image of a king returning from battle, his soldiers and captives in tow, wafting the smell of celebratory incense in the air, declaring the king’s greatness (v. 14).

We spread the aroma of Christ in two ways. First, through our words: telling others about the One who is beautiful. Second, through our lives: doing deeds of Christlike sacrifice (Eph. 5:1–2). While not everyone will appreciate the divine fragrance we share, it will bring life to many.

Rita Snowden caught a scent and was driven to seek its source. As we follow Jesus we too become permeated with His fragrance, and we carry His aroma into the streets through our words and deeds.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make us carriers and communicators of Your beauty to the people in our homes, offices, and neighborhoods.

We are the aroma of Christ to others.

INSIGHT:

When a Roman general won a significant victory, he would be granted the honor of a triumphal parade in the streets of Rome. Citizens of Rome would line the streets and shout words of praise. Pagan temples would offer up fragrant incense that flooded the parade with sweet-smelling aromas in honor of the event. Paul uses this imagery to stunningly illustrate the spiritual victory of Christ in securing our redemption. Having won the victory over sin and death, Jesus is our triumphant leader. The spiritual aroma of Christ is sensed by the spiritual condition of those we encounter. For those who are to be saved, new life in Christ carries spiritual vitality. But for those who reject God’s light, the aroma is objectionable.

What are some ways you can spread the aroma of Christ to others?

This message was written By Sheridan Voysey [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Be of Good Cheer [Wednesday April 19, 2017]

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer. – Acts 27:22

What do you do when you’re in a really perilous situation?

If you’re like I used to be, you cry out to God in desperation. One afternoon when I was squalling to God about something, He interrupted me and said, Kenneth, did you know I don’t hear the cry of My children when they cry out in desperation?

“What?” I said. “I thought You did.”

He said, No, I hear the desperation cry of a sinner because that’s all he can cry about. But once you get born again, son, you ought to be crying out of faith. I hear the faith cry.

What is a faith cry? It’s calling things that be not as though they were (Romans 4:17). It’s what the Bible means when it says, “…Let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10).

The Apostle Paul knew how to use the faith cry. That’s why, in Acts 27, he exhorted the men on that battered, sinking ship to “be of good cheer.” He was telling them to start acting by faith. Can’t you imagine what those sailors thought when he said that? Listen to that stupid preacher. We’re sinking and he says be of good cheer. We’ve thrown everything we have overboard and he says be of good cheer.

You may feel just like those sailors did, right now. You may feel like your ship’s going down. You may feel like crying out in desperation. But don’t do it. Instead, do what Paul said and be of good cheer!

Cry out to God in faith and say, “Lord, I’m not going to panic. I’m not going to despair. I’m going to be of good cheer because Your Word says You’ll deliver me from this situation” (Psalm 34:19).

Then start being cheerful. It may take more determination than anything you’ve ever done before, but God will give you the strength to do it. He’ll give you the power to be cheerful in the middle of the most ungodly darkness the devil can bring up.

Instead of crying out in desperation, take a faith stand. Sing and rejoice and praise God for your deliverance. Be of good cheer and you can be sure God will bring you through the storm just fine!

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:4-9

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: Depend on Him [Wednesday April 19, 2017]

I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to. — Galatians 5:16 (TLB)

To walk in the Spirit is a challenging and inspiring exercise, for it combines activity with relaxation. To walk means to place one foot in front of the other. If you stop doing this, you are no longer walking-you are standing still. Walking always implies movement, progress, and direction. Sin shall no longer rule or dominate you when you are allowing the Holy Spirit to live Christ’s life through you. It is living by faith, living by trust, living in dependence upon God.

If we look to our own resources, our own strength, or our own ability, as Peter did when he walked on the water, we will fail. You cannot live the Christian life by yourself. The Holy Spirit must live in you and express Himself through you. Living for Christ is a day-by-day experience. It is a continuous dependence upon the Spirit of God. It is believing in His faithfulness.

Prayer for the day: Lord, so often I have walked on my own instead of walking in Your Spirit. Guide my footsteps this day, I pray in Jesus’ name.

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.