Topic: Characteristics of the New Covenant I [Sunday 2, April 2017]

Memorise: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:20

Read: Matthew 5:21-24 (KJV)

21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 4-5, Jeremiah 6:6-21

MESSAGE:

The Lord Jesus Christ came to this world to manifest the nature and character of God to us. He also came to establish a new covenant between God and mankind through His blood (Luke 22:20). By establishing a new covenant, He did away with the old, Hebrews 8:7-8 says,

“7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:”

He showed us the character of this new covenant through the relationship He had with the Father while here on earth, and through the words that He spoke. For this reason, we need to pay close attention to the things He said, if we want to reap the full benefits of the new covenant in His blood.

In today’s Bible reading, Jesus reveals some of the characteristics of the new covenant. He said that being angry with your brother without a genuine reason is tantamount to murder in the sight of God! For this reason, the Bible in Ephesians 4:26 says:

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

It is even better not to be angry at all because being angry can degenerate into having murderous thoughts. We tend to say things that engender strife when we are angry. For this reason, the wisdom of God in Proverbs 15:1 admonishes us, saying:

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

Of course you know that most times, you don’t speak soft words when you are angry.

Similarly, Jesus said if you call your brother a fool, you will be in danger of Hell Fire. There are many ways a man can call his brother a fool – not necessarily by the words of mouth alone. When you take a person for granted and take advantage of him or her, you are calling that person a fool. When you cleverly cheat on your spouse, you are calling him or her a fool. In light of these truths, if you have done anything synonymous to murder, you need to repent and make restitution. You may have angrily destroyed the career of a man who has mouths to feed. You have killed such a fellow, because he can no longer perform his obligations as a bread winner. If you are guilty of such, your salvation lies in repentance and restitution: seeking forgiveness from God and the wronged fellow. Whoever had ears, let him give heed to the message of Jesus Christ.

Action Point: Father, keep me away from the spirit of anger, and grant me the grace not to use curse words on people.

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: Use Your Mind [Sunday April 2, 2017]

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind . . . — Mark 12:30

Christ touches every area of our lives. He touches our minds and we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. God invites people to use their minds, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18). We are told in Scripture not to be like the horse or mule, “which have no understanding” (Psalm 32:9). Christ declared that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. We are told to fear God, to love Christ, and to hate sin.

Fear, love, and hate are emotions. Dr. Leslie Weatherhead, preaching at the City Temple in London, said, “What is wrong with emotion? Christianity is falling in love with Christ. Has anyone ever fallen in love without emotion?”

Prayer for the day: May my love for You embrace my whole being, Lord Jesus. Teach me true love.

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: What a Future! [Sunday April 2, 2017]

[God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. – Ephesians 2:6-7

All my life people told me the reason God saved us was so that when we got to glory, we could spend the rest of eternity loving Him and worshiping Him. But, you know, that’s just not so.

It sounds pretty good, but it’s just something someone made up. God isn’t selfish. He’s just the opposite. He’s the ultimate giver. The ultimate lover. He doesn’t do anything just so He can get something in return.

Why then did He save us? The Word of God tells us He did it so that in the ages to come, He could show us the exceeding riches of His grace.

Think about that! God is going to spend eternity showing the riches of His grace to you and me.

That’s why He sent Jesus into the world. He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God gave Jesus so that He wouldn’t be His only son. He sent Jesus so He could have more sons to love and give to—and He plans to spend the eons of time doing just that.

As a believer, you have the most glorious future ahead of you that anyone could ever ask. But don’t wait until you get to glory to enjoy it. You can start right now. You’ve already been seated!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-8

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: Inalienable Inheritance [Sunday April 2, 2017]

Text: Joshua 17:1-7

Key Verse:  And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan; Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead” (Joshua 17:5,).

Sir Joshua Reynolds once said, “Make no dependence on your own genius. If you have great talents, labour will improve them, if you have poor talents, labour will increase them. Nothing is denied to well-directed labour. Nothing is to be obtained without it”. God’s gift is without discrimination. As every mortal approaches God, He will never say no, most importantly on the issue of salvation.

We should all approach the throne of grace for every spiritual gift, for He says “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). In this passage, we see the distribution of the land among the remaining families of the tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh was the first born of Joseph. There was a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families. Even Zelophehad who had no sons but only daughters was not left without inheritance. It was unusual for women to receive inheritance. But our God who does not discriminate, had to give directives through Moses to give them an inheritance.

This, Joshua put into action by conceding to the request of Zelophehad’s daughters. Our God is a God of justice. He does not discriminate. As Christians, we also have an eternal inheritance with God. Jesus said “…I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). Right in heaven, Jesus has sufficient space and mansions suited for every Christian. The narrowness of Joseph’s boundaries teaches us that there is nothing perfect here on earth. It is only in heaven that we can have our desires wholly met.

Those who desire larger possession should cultivate the habit of making the best use of what they have. The little you have becomes great when God is in it. As you obey God and invest in His Kingdom, He will enlarge your coast.

Thought for the day: The Christian’s unpolluted inheritance is in heaven.

Bible Reading in one Year: Haggai 1-2

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 Riches of God’s Grace [Sunday April 2, 2017]

Scripture: But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

Thought For The Day: The grace of God covers our errors (weaknesses) and colours our efforts (strengths).

Grace has been defined as God’s unmerited, undeserved favour. God sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary to make grace available to us. Grace is God’s seal of approval and acceptance through the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The grace of God is a difference maker. For instance, the difference between Paul the apostle and the other apostles was the level of grace he had access to.
No wonder, we are admonished in 2 Peter 3:18 to grow in grace. This implies that if you desire the result of your fellow brother, all you need to do is to connect to the grace with which he operates.

What then are the benefits of grace?

1. Grace is the grease for ease

Grace is a mountain leveller (Zechariah 4:7). Where there is grace, there is ease; where grace is lacking, there is trouble. The grace of God covers our errors (weaknesses) and colours our efforts (strengths)

2. Grace is the companion of mercy

Grace is a companion of mercy and it is mercy that keeps you from the danger and judgement that you deserve.

I prophesy on your life today, the grace of God on your life will make a difference in your life in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: The grace of God covers our errors (weaknesses) and colours our efforts.

Assignments:

1. Always make demands on the grace of God at the place of prayer.

2. Make the study of the Word of God your daily habit to enable you grow in grace.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE RICHES OF GRACE

Prayer: O LORD, I apply for your grace today. Help me LORD to fully benefit from the grace that is embedded in the shed Blood of Jesus Christ, LORD in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 21:1 to 22:30, Luke 9:51 to 10:12, Psalm 74:1 to 23, Proverbs 12:11

Quote: To qualify for the purpose of God, you must surrender your popularity. Culled from REASON FOR LIVING by Dr Paul Enenche

Amazing Fact: Two-thirds of the people on earth have never seen snow.

Today In History: 02/04/1889 – Charles Hall patented Aluminium.

Prophetic Parental Blessing
In this fourth month of the year, I pronounce you blessed. I break every chain that has hitherto tied your life, career and destiny. I decree to you that you shall make visible progress in this month, in the Name of Jesus.

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: Behind the Scenes [Sunday April 2, 2017]

Read: Daniel 10:1–14, Bible in a Year: Judges 16–18; Luke 7:1–30

Your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. Daniel 10:12

My daughter sent a text message to a friend, in hopes of having a question answered quickly. Her phone’s messaging service showed that the recipient had read the message, so she waited anxiously for a reply. Mere moments passed, yet she grew frustrated, groaning her annoyance at the delay. Irritation eroded into worry; she wondered whether the lack of response meant there was a problem between them. Eventually a reply came and my daughter was relieved to see their relationship was fine. Her friend had simply been sorting out the details needed to answer the question.

The Old Testament prophet Daniel also anxiously awaited a reply. After receiving a frightening vision of great war, Daniel fasted and sought God through humble prayer (10:3, 12). For three weeks, he received no reply (vv. 2, 13). Finally, an angel arrived and assured Daniel his prayers had been heard “since the first day.” In the meantime, the angel had been battling on behalf of those prayers. Though Daniel didn’t know it at first, God was at work during each of the twenty-one days that elapsed between his first prayer and the angel’s coming.

The confidence that God hears our prayers can cause us to become anxious when His reply doesn’t come when we want it to. We are prone to wonder whether He cares. Yet Daniel’s experience reminds us that God is at work on behalf of those He loves even when it isn’t obvious to us.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust Your care for me even when I can’t see it.

God is always at work on behalf of His people.

This message was written By Kirsten Holmberg [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and alternative finance that basically involves funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people. It allows entrepreneurs raise capital without giving up too much equity. It has over the years become an effective alternative for raising funds for business ideas. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 9 things entrepreneurs should know about crowdfunding to take full advantage of it.

Plan

It is difficult to plan a crowdfunding campaign because you don’t know what to expect and can hardly predict the kind of reaction your campaign might get. Your campaign may or may not go viral but either way, you should be prepared to handle possible press attention and to respond to your growing community. You should be able to manage things immediately as they come up.

Choose the Right Platform

Spend time researching on the different internet-mediated registries or online platforms for crowdfunding, and choose the one that is right for you. Choose a site that fits your project and the industry you are in.

Pay Attention to the Deal

You should pay attention to the details of the terms of the platform, the percentage the platform takes and when you get the money. This is to avoid nasty surprises down the road. Pay attention to the deal of your crowdfunding platform and find the one you are comfortable with.

Think About Your Messaging

It is easier to raise money for an idea that touches a lot of people whether or not the venture is for-profit or not-for-profit. Consider the message of your campaign and think of how you can make it relevant to as many people in your target group as possible.

Learn from Others

Check out and analyze other successful crowdfunding campaigns to see and understand what worked for them and how you can apply it to your campaign. However, you should be realistic about how much of what you learn from these campaigns you can apply to yours, considering your resources. Adapt ideas in a way that fit your budget, target group and brand.

Be Prepared to Tell Your Story (Be Transparent)

You need to be authentic with your campaign and be as transparent as possible. Without these, people are less likely to respond positively to your campaign, they’ll remain skeptical and unbelieving. Be as communicative, engaging and as open with your community as possible, let them know as much as they want to know and have as much evidence as they need to believe your campaign.

Get Early Adopters

Get friends, family and people you know to invest right away. This is because people are more likely to invest when they see others investing and people tend to trust a campaign when it seems to be doing well. Investors are also likely to develop an interest to invest when they see your campaign is something the public/community are interested in and responding positively to.

Have a Strategy for Marketing

You need a consistent and persistent marketing plan that will help you reach far beyond your circles – asking two or three friends to help you repost or share your campaign isn’t enough. Research and figure out where to find the people in your target community and create eye-grabbing, heart-grabbing and convincing social media posts and ads to grab their attention, generate interest and incite a positive response to your campaign.

You can also create genuine relationships with influencers and reach out to as many of them as you can to support your cause and help you get the word out.

Crowdfunding Can Fail Very Easily

You should be prepared for this reality. You need to know when to crowdfund and when to approach other resources. Not all businesses are suited for crowdfunding. However, once you have considered these and work towards the proper execution of your crowdfunding campaign, its chances of failure are reduced.

By Damilola Ojo
PR Associate Jumia Travel
08101556883

Topic: Decision [Saturday April 1, 2017]

…Thou art…my might… the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power; unstable a water, thou shalt not excel… – Genesis 49:3-4

Excellence in life results from decision.

Indecision is the cause of instability and mediocrity. Genesis 49:3-4

Indecision makes one lose his place in destiny.  Reuben was Jacob’s first born but because of his instability, he did not excel in life.

The brother of the prodigal son remained stagnated and insignificant as a result of instability. Luke.15:27-30.

Make right decisions and take great stePsalm

No area or season of life is void of risk.

Dare your fears if you want to gain new grounds.

The raw material for decision is information.

When your information is adequate, your decision will ever be strong.

Make a decision today, and take steps unto higher grounds.