Topic: Are You Growing? [Saturday 25, March 2017]

Memorise: For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. – Hebrews 5:13

Read: Hebrews 5:11-14 (KJV)

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 28, Jeremiah 2:1-19

MESSAGE:

Attaining maturity in the Kingdom of God is a process that occurs in stages, the first of which is babyhood. When a person becomes born again, he or she has to first learn the basic principles of life in Christ. Believers at this stage are fed with the milk of God’s word (1 Peter 2:2). They cannot take anything hard because they are babies. They depend on others to simplify processes for them. Just like babies in the natural realm, other people must carry them and clean them up; all they do is eat, play and sleep. If you are too dependent on others, you are most likely still in the babyhood stage spiritually, irrespective of your biological age. If you are very selective of the word of God you read, believe and practice, you are a baby. If you are always complaining about other people, what they did and how they did it, you could just be a baby. Spiritual babies are so dependent on the prayers of others. When confronted by the storms of life, if instead of going on your knees to pray, you find yourself pursuing one pastor or prophet around to pray for you, it is because you need to grow up.

Another level of maturity is adulthood. Christians in this stage are mature and no longer depend on milk but eat strong meat. Hebrews 5:14 says this about them:

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

One major difference between those in babyhood and those in the adulthood stage of maturity is their level of discernment. Babes cannot discern anything. Anywhere people erect a signpost and call it a church, a babe will go there to worship. To him or her, every church is a Church of God. On the other hand, adults are more discerning. They are able to test every spirit they come in contact with by comparing the character of such spirits with the Holy Scriptures. They are also able to apply the “fruit test”, for every tree will be identified by the fruit it produces. An adult Christian is able to differentiate between good and evil. He or she can tell who is a servant of God and who is not. Can you call yourself an adult Christian? How sharp is your ability to discern? Are you able to discern between right and wrong? It is amazing that some Christians, who claim to have been saved for several years, still cannot discern between true and false prophets. Are you fellowshipping with people you should not be fellowshipping with? Can you differentiate the Holy Spirit from unclean spirits at any point in time?

Prayer Point: Father, grant me grace to grow to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

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: Behold His Greatness and Glory [Saturday March 25, 2017]

Text: Psalm 113:1-9

Key Verse: “The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens” (Psalm 113:4).

A songwriter beheld the glory and the greatness of the Most High and rightly described Him in this manner: “The Ancient of Days, Pavillion’d in Splendour, And girded with praise.” The psalmist in our text today commands all the servants of the Lord to praise Him.

True servants of God are those who appreciate His ownership over their lives through creation and redemption. Praise is a necessary and most excellent duty we have towards God. He is the supreme Ruler over the earth and heaven. No matter how powerful a kingdom on earth may be, it must have its boundary. But God’s Kingdom is boundless and universal. David through the Spirit of God searched for whom he could compare God with but found none.

Great men he had known could not be forever but God lives forever whose beginning and end no mortal can know. He is the Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent and infallible God. His humility is extolled and His power to change all unfavourable conditions to favourable ones is mentioned here. Many people like Joseph, Jabez, David and Jeremiah were raised up from their low estates to the state of renown. Sarah became the mother of great nations and a one-time barren Hannah who prayed for a male child received several more male and female children.

Think about His majesty today; appreciate and give Him the due praises. He will prove Himself to you as a God who can do all things and eternally you will behold His Majesty. If you have not yet cultivated the habit of loud and uproarious praises to the Most High, begin to do so today.

Thought for the day: As God is matchless in all things, He deserves praises in all things.

Bible Reading in one Year: Galatians 1-3

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.

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: Angels In Human Form [24/03/2017]

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2. Gen 18:1-10

After been born again, one of the things God expects from his children is that they be good or zealous for good works. Note that, good works is not a substitute for salvation. We are not saved by good works but by grace through Christ Jesus. Every good works outside salvation will end here on earth. Hospitality is one of the hallmark of Christianity. One of the reasons God wants us to be hospitable is because there  are angels in human form who walk about. The above scripture says, many have entertained angels unawares. Be it strangers, God expects you and I to treat them as if we knew them before. You might not have the solution at hand, but be kind to attend to people. It was hospitality and generosity that brought back Dorcas to life. Acts 9:36-43. It’s also hospitality and same generosity that made the barren Shunammite  woman to have a son. 2 Ki 4:8-10

Father Abraham entertained angels in human form, his hospitality hastened the coming of his Isaac. Be kind to all and sundry. You that need a child, don’t be harsh to children, embrace, bless and entertain them. Don’t underrate anyone. Not only angels can take human form, Jesus Christ can also visit you in human form. Matt 25:31-46

#BiblePromisesPrayer

* Father, help me to be kind to all and sundry and visit me this season in Jesus name.

Today’s Scripture: “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” – (1 Chronicles 16:34, ESV)

Topic: Constant Gratitude [Friday March 24, 2017]

What are you grateful for today? Are you grateful for His love, mercy and kindness? Are you grateful for the sun that shines and brings us a new day? Are you thankful for the gift of eternal life?

Gratefulness is a powerful force in the life of the believer. No matter what may be happening in the world around you, you can always find something to thank God for. Gratefulness and faith go hand in hand. When we are grateful, it shows that our faith is in Him. We can thank Him for what He’s done in the past and what He will do in the future!

Remember, faith pleases God; it causes Him to move on your behalf. Work to develop an attitude of constant gratitude and give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. As you do, you’ll experience His mercy and loving-kindness in greater ways and move forward into the blessing and victory He has prepared for you.

A Prayer for Today: “Father, today I declare my thanks to You for all You have done in my life. Help me see Your hand of blessing as I continually acknowledge and praise You for all You have done in Jesus’ name! Amen.”

Topic: When Does God Work? [Friday March 24, 2017]

…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up  a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19

You don’t know how strong your God is until you are faced with strong men.

God is strongest when the battle is toughest.

Whenever you are confronted by mighty men, remember the almighty God.

God steps into your matter when you don’t know what next to do and where next to turn as human. 2 Chronicles20:1-24.

You don’t know what God can do until you acknowledge that you don’t know what to do.

He is described as the very present help in trouble, and that is when we think He is absent. Psalm 46:1.

The anointing became strongest on Samson when the Philistines shouted the loudest on him. Judges 15:14-17; 14.5-6.

God rises to scatter His enemies only when they have gathered. Psalm66:1. God does not engage in small fight.

God is too big to be invited into a small fight.

God rises only to challenge.

What it takes to move God against your opposition is faith that is demonstrated by the combination of rest, (calmness) and action.

Topic: Just for Today [Friday March 24, 2017]

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one. — Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I don’t have to tell you that the world is full of problems. Hunger, disease, poverty, the oppression of women, and the exploitation of children are taking place in every country on earth right this minute. Heartbreaking stories are unfolding while you and I drink our morning coffee. I’ve seen so much of the world’s anguish in my ministry travels, and it is truly overwhelming. I have also committed to do whatever I can do to relieve suffering and make the world a better place in any way I can. I challenge you today to do the same.

You may be thinking, Joyce, what I can do won’t even make a dent in the problems we have in the world. I know how you feel, because I once felt the same way. But if we all think that way, nobody will do anything and nothing will change. Although our individual efforts may not solve the problems, together we can make a major difference. God won’t hold us accountable for what we could not do, but He will hold us accountable for the things we could have done.

I realize that you can’t do everything; I don’t question that at all. You must say no to some things or your life will be filled with stress. I think the question each of us must answer is, “What am I doing to make someone else’s life better?” And perhaps a better question is, “What have I done today to make someone else’s life better?”

Nothing good ever happens accidentally. If we want to make the world a better place, each of us must say: Change begins with me!

Loving Others Today: Go ahead and say it: “Change begins with me!”

Topic: Reopening Closed Cases [Friday 24, March 2017]

Memorise: He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. – Psalm 2:4

Read: Daniel 6:10-17 (KJV)

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 26-27, Jeremiah 1

MESSAGE:

The Lord of hosts never loses a war. If He gives up a battle, it is because He wants to use that medium to win a war. Our God is always full of surprises. When Daniel’s enemies were plotting against him, God knew about it but He kept quiet. By the time Daniel fell into their trap and was thrown into the lion’s den, God did nothing about it. After the entrance to the lion’s den was shut behind Daniel, everyone thought he was finished. By the following morning however, God sprang some surprises on them all. The fellow they thought was dead and digested in the bellies of the lions came out alive. You are coming out from wherever the enemies placed you – alive, stronger, richer and better! All the mischief makers who thought Daniel’s case was closed received a rude shock: his case was reopened, and what they thought was in their favour turned against them. That case that was decided against you in your office or in your extended family shall be revisited in Jesus’ Name! What they thought was closed shall suddenly be reopened. The Lord will spring surprises on your enemies this season! In addition, the table turned for Daniel’s enemies. Not only were they now to become food for the lions, so also were their family members. This season, all those plotting against you shall be completely wiped out! None of them shall escape in Jesus’ Name!

Another surprise God sprang on the enemies of Daniel was that, by the reason of Daniel’s miraculous deliverance from the lion’s den, the God of Daniel became officially recognised and feared all over the kingdom as the true and living God. In Daniel 6:26, the king said,

“I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.”

Beyond this, after the coast was clear, Daniel prospered in the kingdom. He remained relevant in the corridors of power in successive governments and was recognised as a man that could not be ignored.

Daniel 6:28 says,

“So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

If you are prepared to pay the utmost price for the Kingdom of God, you can be sure you will receive divine compensation beyond your imagination. How are you living today? Can you take a stand for the Lord in righteousness and refuse to compromise with sin?

Prayer Point: Father, upturn every case the enemy has judged and concluded against me, my loved one and members of my local assembly 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.