Topic: Responding To Challenges [Sunday April 16, 2017]

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. – Proverbs 24:16

In the journey of life challenges will certainly come.

They don’t require your opinion or invitation.

They will come without prior notice. Therefore, live ready for them.

They come as waves on their own not necessarily to hurt, damage or destroy.

While some are swept off and fizzle out with challenges, some others glide over them as if nothing ever happened or ever came their way.

It’s all a matter of attitude, the mindset, mentality and expectations.

You can glide over the waves while some others are swept away by it.

Even if you are ever swept off your feet by the floods of life, you can come over the waters again by the scriptural provision that you will rise again, even after seven times of fall if you ever fell up to seven times!

Topic: Be Blessed [Sunday April 16, 2017]

Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all. — Proverbs 31:28-29

A virtuous and worthy wife [earnest and strong in character] is a crowning joy to her husband…(Proverbs 12:4). She enjoys the praise of her children and husband. They rise up to call her blessed. Her husband says that many daughters have been virtuous and noble but that she exceeds them all. In other words, he says that she is the best wife anyone could ever have. He applauds and celebrates her strength of character and goodness.

One year my birthday happened to be during one of our conferences, and my husband, Dave, stood up and read Proverbs 31 to me in front of a room filled with people. Then my children one by one rose up to say kind and edifying things to me. There is no better feeling than to spend years raising your children, and then have them tell you that they honor you, love you, and don’t believe they could have had a better mother. Or to have your husband say you are the best wife in the world. Those comments certainly were confidence boosters for me.

Lord, whether anyone ever gives me these commendations, I want to live my life in a way that brings joy and blessing to others. Build strength into my character. Amen.

Topic: Grieve Not The Holy Spirit [Sunday 16, April 2017]

Memorise: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. – Ephesians 4:30

Read: Acts 5:1-6 (KJV)

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Bible in One Year: Numbers 3, Jeremiah 14:13-22

MESSAGE:

One of the attributes of the Holy Spirit that confirms to us that He is a person is that He can be grieved. Indeed, the Holy Spirit can be abused to the point of being grieved. At this point, He can decide to show His Almightiness like the other two personalities of the Godhead. This is the reason why Apostle Paul admonished us not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30)

There are many reasons why it is dangerous to grieve the Holy Spirit. One of such reasons is located in today’s memory verse. We are sealed unto the day of redemption by the precious Holy Spirit in our lives. This seal serves as a covering that shields us from the activities of Satan and his cohorts. If you make your Covering annoyed to the extent that He deserts you, in that case you will be left without a shield protecting you against evil spirits. This is very dangerous because we cannot pass through this world of evil as pilgrims without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Another reason why it is dangerous to grieve the Holy Spirit is that His wrath could be very devastating. The story in today’s Bible text confirms that no man can withstand His wrath. Ananias and Sapphira his wife grieved the Holy Spirit and they were punished by death. What did they do to grieve the Holy Spirit? They lied to Him. Many so-called believers would regard this as a “simple lie”, but it was enough to grieve the Holy Spirit, and He struck them dead. Cooperating with a liar can also grieve the Holy Spirit as in the case of Sapphira, Ananias’ wife. It is dangerous to keep company with liars because the same punishment meted out to the original liar would be received by the accomplice. In times past, Christians used to be persecuted in various establishments because they would not cooperate with liars who would get to work at 10 a.m. but register 7 a.m. as their resumption time. Today, some Christians are doing worse, even in Church offices.

Rebelling against the Lordship of the Holy Spirit over your life is another way through which He can be grieved. When you get to a point where you refuse to take instructions from the voice of the Holy Spirit within you, then you have rebelled against His Lordship. The Bible in Isaiah 63:10 says,

“But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.”

Beloved, let us heed the admonition of Paul and desist from grieving the Holy Spirit by all means.

Prayer Point: Father, please pardon me in anyway I have grieved Your Holy Spirit, and give me the grace never to do so again until I see you in glory.

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: At Table With The Saviour [Sunday April 16, 2017]

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Key Verse: “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27).

It is often the lot of man to turn God’s sacred practices to fads and fashion. Yet, God’s standards remain unalterable. The wise keeps to them and rejoices. The Lord’s Supper is a practical demonstration of the gospel, a vivid illustration of the death of Christ, for the sin of mankind. Through it, believers are reminded of the death of the Saviour and of the imminence and hope of His return.

The celebration of the Lord’s Supper in the early Church also incorporated a love feast. This was a form of sharing and caring which preceded the actual celebration and in which all believers freely participated. Sadly, the Corinthian church soon lost this admirable tradition. It was replaced by wanton discrimination between the rich and the poor. Paul promptly rebuked this anomaly and again, presented to the Church the significance and process of conducting the Lord’s Supper, as given by the Lord.

The bread and wine (emblems used at the Supper) are symbolic representations of the body and blood of the Saviour. It took the sacrifice on the cross to make our new relationship anchored not on the law, but on the amazing grace of God’s love. Partaking in the Lord’s Supper shows that we are remembering Christ’s sacrifice for us and renewing our pledge of service to Him. Taking the ordinance unworthily portrays ignorance of the implications of Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary.

How then do we partake in the Lord’s Supper? First, we do so prayerfully and thoughtfully, mindful of Christ’s death and sacrifice for our sins. Second, we partake, not presumptuously, but with honour and due reverence to God. Third, we yield ourselves to critical self-examination, so that no sinful attitude is found in us. In addition, we partake with due deference to the body of Christ, celebrating it in an orderly, decent and cooperative manner. And finally, we do so with humility and contrition of heart. On these platforms, anchor the blessings of God in time and eternity.

Thought for the day: To please God, all things must be done decently and in order.

Bible Reading in one Year: Joshua 11-14

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 Passage of Time [Sunday April 16, 2017]

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

Thought For The Day: The wastage of time equals the wastage of life and the loss of time is the loss of life.

Time is the indefinite continued progress of existence and events that occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.
It is confirmed that time is one of the greatest and most vital ingredients of life. That is why the wastage of time equals the wastage of life and the loss of time is the loss of life.

The truth is, this world is not here to stay; it will pass away one day. At the end of time, all the things that people are striving to acquire today will become valueless. A time will come where a person’s wristwatch will become useless because time would have stopped.  The time will come where no car will be moving on the busy streets of Lagos, Abuja, New York city or Paris because time would have come to an end.

Beloved, at the end of time, what would matter is THE IMPACT YOU MADE ON THE SANDS OF TIME AND ETERNITY.

So, live for impact rather than for income; live for eternity rather than for vanity. And at the end of time, you will be glad that you did not waste your time but invested it to guarantee your eternity with God.

Remember this: The wastage of time equals the wastage of life and the loss of time is the loss of life.

Assignment(S):

1. Always live with the consciousness that time is transient.

2. Live ready.

3. Let the making of impact in the lives of people and the kingdom of God be a matter of urgency to you.

Prayer: O LORD, deliver me from the pursuit of materialism. Give me the grace and the spirit of urgency to impact the Kingdom of God and people for Your glory, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.  

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: MARKED FOR DEMOLITION.

Daily Reading: Joshua 13:1 to 14:15, Luke 18:1 to 17, Psalm 85:1 to 13, Proverbs 13:7 to 8

Quote: If you understand the time, you will end up a commander in your generation. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: Some dogs can detect whether a room is infested with bed bugs or not.

Today In History: 16/04/1705 Queen Anne of England knighted Isaac Newton at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Prophetic Parental Blessing:

Today, I silence every voice of wickedness speaking against your life, destiny or against your loved ones. By the Blood of Jesus, I blot out every handwriting or ordinances made against you; I decree their cancellation, in Jesus’ Name.

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: He Understands and Cares [Sunday April 16, 2017]

Read: Isaiah 53:1–8, Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 30–31; Luke 13:23–35

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. Isaiah 53:4

When asked if he thought that ignorance and apathy were problems in modern society, a man joked, “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

I suppose many discouraged people feel that way about the world today and the people in it. But when it comes to the perplexities and concerns of our lives, Jesus fully understands, and He deeply cares. Isaiah 53, an Old Testament prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus, gives us a glimpse of what He went through for us. “He was oppressed and afflicted . . . led like a lamb to the slaughter” (v. 7). “For the transgression of my people he was punished” (v. 8). “It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand” (v. 10).

On the cross Jesus willingly bore our sin and guilt. No one ever suffered more than our Lord did for us. He knew what it would cost to save us from our sins and, in love, He willingly paid it (vv. 4–6).

Because of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, He is alive and present with us today. Whatever situation we face, Jesus understands and cares. And He will carry us through.

Prayer: Lord, we give thanks for Your knowledge of our circumstances and Your care for us. Today we want to walk with You and honor You in all we do.

 He is not here; He has risen! Luke 24:6

Insight: As Isaiah prophetically describes the crucifixion of Jesus, we see it all from the perspective of people at the foot of the cross. In verse 3, “we” held Him in low esteem. In verse 4, He bore “our” suffering. This perspective is critical because Isaiah anticipates the hostility with which Jesus would be viewed. As Jesus died for the sins of the world, the anger directed at Him by the people for whom He died brings new significance to His loving words, “Father, forgive them . . .” (Luke 23:34).

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

Topic: Take Some New Ground [Sunday April 16, 2017]

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 18:19

As believers, you and I are part of a conquering army, constantly claiming new ground for the kingdom of God. Right?

Well, yes, that’s the way it should be. But just about the time the army tops the hill and is ready to advance, it seems that Satan pulls out his big gun—division—and scatters believers in every direction.

How can we strike back against the strategy of division? By launching an even more powerful attack of our own. By using one of the most powerful resources given us by the Lord Jesus: the prayer of agreement.

Jesus said that if any two of us would agree as touching anything we ask, it shall be done! That statement is so powerful that most people don’t really believe it. If they did, you’d find little groups of Christians huddled up in every corner agreeing together in prayer.

Find someone to agree with in prayer this week. Be sure to base what you pray on the Word of God. You may have differing opinions about everything else, but you can be in agreement about the Word.

Also, be sure your agreement is total—spirit, soul and body. Cast down arguments, theories and imaginations that are contrary to the Word. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Keep a watch over your thoughts and your words.

Then get your body in line by speaking the thing you’ve agreed on. Act like you’ve already received the answer. Don’t keep asking but thank God for it. Stay in agreement and take some new ground for the Lord!

Scripture Reading: Acts 4:1-31

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: Wisdom to Understand [Sunday April 16, 2017]

Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest. — Genesis 28:15

When Jesus uttered His words of comfort in the first few verses of the fourteenth chapter of John’s Gospel, concluding with, “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know” (John 14:4), Thomas said unto Him, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Jesus answered him with a statement which has in it the ring of eternity. It was sublimely simple and yet profoundly deep. Its surface meaning was clear to all, and yet the great theologians have never completely sounded its mighty depths. This is that statement, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

In one majestic sweep, these words silenced Thomas’ questioning tongue and brought reassurance and peace to the hearts of the other disciples. Within the marvel of that authoritative sentence from the lips of the Son of God, there was enough comfort to assuage the sufferings of the tormented, enough wisdom to satisfy those who yearned for understanding, and enough power to set the great Christian movement in motion.

Prayer for the day: Knowing You are with me is all the comfort I need, Lord.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: He Defeated Death [15/04/2017]

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15. Read: 1 Cor 15:55-58

In John 9:4, Jesus said, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. During His earthly ministry, He was going about destroying every works of the devil because for this reason He came to put an end to every molestation of His children. Acts 10:38, 1 Jn 3:8. Even after His Death, His mission of destroying devil’s work continued. While in the heart of the earth for three days, He confronted the devil who held the key of death, defeated him and collected the key from him and freed those who through their lifetime subject themselves to the fear of death. Rev 1:18

Beloved, don’t be afraid of death because Jesus has defeated it. In fact, disciples don’t die they only sleep because on the last day, Jesus will wake us up. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Jn 11:25-26. We have passed from death to life because Jesus Christ defeated death for us. 1 Jn 3:14. Hallelujah!

#BiblePromisesPrayer

* I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. Psalm 118:17

Topic: 4-Fold Dynamic Effects of Faith [Saturday April 15, 2017]

…The just shall live by his faith. – Habakkuk 2:4

Faith commits God.

Wherever faith goes, God performs. Luke 1:45.

Faith charts the path that the power of God follows. Luke.17:19; 18:42.

God can do all things, but will only perform to the measure of your belief. It’s unto you according to your faith.

Faith is intoxicating.

You can’t believe and not show it in your speech and attitude.

You can’t believe it and not behave it.

Your faith determines your state.

It moves one who believes to act. Mark 5:25-30

Intoxication is final evidence of faith.

Faith puts you in charge of everything that charges against your faith in God.

No door is shut against faith.

It quenches all fiery darts.

It subdues all opposition.Hebrews.11:33-35

It attracts followership of humans and help from them. John.2:11, Exodus.19:9

Men of faith are men of fame, because they get exceptional results.

The world follows a man of faith.