Topic: Face The Truth [Tuesday March 7, 2017]

Text: Isaiah 30:1-17

Key Verse: “Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isaiah 30:10).

Many people prefer words that bring comfort to them in their settled conditions, even when it neither makes sense nor is in line with the commands of God. In fact, anyone who insists on speaking the truth is soon considered as an enemy, and promptly avoided. It was so with the people of Israel. They had rebelled against God and formed an alliance with heathen nations. They also angered God when they sought protection from the kings of those nations.

They no longer reckoned with the Lord their God. In a mixture of sadness and anger, God warned them of the consequences of the choices they had made: they would suffer shame, trouble and confusion. They would seek help in vain from the Egyptians. Regrettably, they dug deeper into rebellion, rejecting the truth and preferring lies and deceits. They cast off anyone or anything that tended to remind them of God, in the vain hope that this would silence their guilty conscience. The result was that they were stripped of all divine protection, and became a free game for the enemy. Their only chance of escape was to return to God. But because they would not budge, what they feared most came upon them. The enemy they thought they were fleeing from swiftly overtook and defeated them.

The truth of God’s word in us must be strong to repel the preference for lies, deceits and illusions. We should only seek comfort, advice and solution from God. Where we have gone astray, we should return to Him in repentance, daily draw strength from His Word and ask for His guidance in whatever challenge we may face. He will, without fail, stabilise our situation.

Thought for the day: Much to be preferred is facing reality than living in a lie.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Samuel 17-18

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: Ruler of the Waves [Tuesday March 7, 2017]

Read: Job 38:1–18, Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 3–4; Mark 10:32–52

[The Lord said], “This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt.” Job 38:11

King Canute was one of the most powerful men on earth in the eleventh century. In a now-famous tale, it is said that he ordered his chair to be placed on the shore as the tide was rising. “You are subject to me,” he said to the sea. “I command you, therefore, not to rise on to my land, nor to wet the clothing or limbs of your master.” But the tide continued to rise, drenching the king’s feet.

This story is often told to draw attention to Canute’s pride. Actually, it’s a story about humility. “Let all the world know that the power of kings is empty,” Canute says next, “save Him by whose will heaven, earth and sea obey.” Canute’s story makes a point: God is the only all-powerful One.

Job discovered the same. Compared to the One who laid Earth’s foundations (Job 38:4–7), who commands morning to appear and night to end (vv. 12–13), who stocks the storehouses of the snow and directs the stars (vv. 22, 31–33), we are small. There is only one Ruler of the waves, and it is not us (v. 11; Matt. 8:23–27).

Canute’s story is good to reenact when we begin feeling too clever or proud about ourselves. Walk to the beach and tell the tide to halt or try commanding the sun to step aside. We’ll soon remember who is really supreme and thank Him for ruling our lives.

Prayer: You are high and above all, Lord Almighty. I bow to You as the Ruler of my life.

God is great, we are small, and that is good.

Insight:

The book of Job reflects on the question that continues to trouble the human race: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Job’s friends accused him of having some secret sin that resulted in divine punishment. But God rebuked this unfounded view. The question of why the righteous suffer is not answered. However, because God is supreme over all creation (38:2–40:2; 40:7–41:34), we can trust Him even when we don’t understand. What can you trust God for today?

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

Topic: The River of the Holy Ghost – A Weapon of War [Tuesday March 7, 2017]

Scripture: They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. Judges 5:20-21

Thought For The Day: The River of the Holy Ghost is stronger than human weapons of war.

From our anchor Scripture, we see that the River of Kishon was involved in the battle between the children of Israel and their enemies. Studies show that the location of River Kishon was where that particular battle took place. River Kishon was a windy river. So, God appointed the river to sweep the enemies of Israel away during the battle.

Now, that was in the physical. In the spiritual, the Bible has made us to understand that we carry a River in us… out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). It is the River of the Holy Ghost. This River is critical to the sweeping away of the armies from hell. The River of the Holy Ghost is stronger than human weapons of war.

Now, when the River answers the enemy what happens? It marks the end of all pressure.

Maybe the enemy’s conspiracy and hostility have put your life under pressure. But now, the River of the Holy Ghost will go to work in your life and your enemies shall be swept out of existence; the pressures around you shall come to an end, in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: The River of the Holy Ghost is stronger than human weapons of war.

Assignment(S):

1. Pray in the Holy Ghost for at least one hour daily and anticipate the destruction of your enemies.

2. Make demands on the River of the Holy Ghost to work in every area of your life.

3. Make your life a conducive place for the Holy Ghost; live a sin-free life and a life of worship.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE POWER OF THE RIVER (PART 4).

Prayer: O LORD, thank You for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I make demands on the Ministry of the Holy Ghost to sweep away the enemies of my life and destiny, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: Numbers 8:1 to 9:23, Mark 13:14 to 37, Psalm 50:1 to 23, Proverbs 10:29 to 30

Quote: Those who ask for higher ‘anointing’s’ are actually asking for higher battles. Culled from THOU ART MY BATTLE AXE by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: Every time you recall a memory or have a new thought, you are creating a new connection in your brain.

Today In History: 07/03/1876 – Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for an invention he called the “telephone”.

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: The Divine Standard [Tuesday March 7, 2017]

For salvation that comes from trusting Christ . . . is already within easy reach of each of us . . . — Romans 10:8 (TLB)

Christ said there is a happiness in that acknowledgment of spiritual poverty which lets God come into our souls. Now, the Bible teaches that our souls have a disease. It causes all the troubles and difficulties in the world. It causes all the troubles, confusions, and disillusionments in your own life. The name of the disease is an ugly word. We don’t like to use it. It is “sin.” All of us have pride.

We do not like to confess that we are wrong or that we have failed. But God says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We have failed to live up to the divine standard. We must confess our sin as the first step to happiness, peace, and contentment.

Prayer for the day: Pride kept me so long from acknowledging my need of You, Lord. Each day, help me to realize I am nothing without You.

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: Mind Blowing Miracle [06/03/2017]

And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. Luke 7:16. Read: Lk 7:11-17

Do you feel rejected and hated by those you think should care for you? Do you feel God has abandoned you in that predicament? No, God has not forgotten you. Others can, but God cannot. This is what He said concerning you, “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron”: Isaiah 45:2. God will pass through your land and life today and give you mind blowing miracle. When Jesus entered the city of Nain, the hopeless widow suddenly became hopeful because, Jesus the Transformer has brought her only son back to life.  the people saw it, they were startled and said, God has visited his people. In John 9, the man born blind without eye sockets also received mind blowing miracle. The abandoned man at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem for thirty-eight years also received a mind blowing miracle. John 5:1-14

The children of Israel never thought they would be freed from their bondage, so when God visited them and delivered them, it was like a dream to them. Ps 126. Listen to me, you’re the next in line for a mind blowing miracle in Jesus name. Now is your set time for God’s divine visitation.

#BiblePromisesPrayer

* Father, visit me and give me a mind blowing miracle in Jesus name

Topic: Partakers Of [Monday, 6th March 2017]

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature…  – 2 Peter 1:4

We were not only saved, we were brought into oneness with the Father. Jesus is the  first born of the Father (John 3:16), and this indeed, not only made Jesus equal with God (John 5:18), He is also one with the Father (John 10:30). Jesus even went further to say that if we see Him we have already seen the Father (John 14:9). We, like Jesus are born of God (John 1:13), which makes us one with the Father, and are a perfect representation of the Father, that is, when the world see us, they have seen God the Father. Yeah! You read that right. When the world see us, they have seen God the Father.

We have been called into fellowship, that is, a joint participation with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9), and not just only Jesus Christ, but with the Father and the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:3, 2 Corinthians 13:14). We are joint participant with the Father and Son and Holy Spirit of what? Of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We are partakers of the very essence of the Godhead; what makes God God. We are sharing with God His very essence. We have to wrap our head around this. Because some folks just think their lives to be very ordinary. No, you are not ordinary. You are a partaker of the divine life.

This was what God intended from the beginning, and through Jesus, He made it manifest. 2 Timothy  1:10 says – “but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality…” Life here is translated Zoe in Greek, which means the life of God. And it is this divine life – nature – that you partake of. This life makes you indestructible, undefeated and immortal; you cannot die. No aspect of your life can experience death. Even physically, you can’t die, you are only translated to the real world where you will be with God physically forever. You are a partaker of the divine nature that is in God.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You for making me a partaker of the very essence of Your life. Thank You for bringing me into the place of immortality and life, where I experience Your divine life flowing through me always. And this life is made evident in every area of my life, where I remain undefeated and keep winning always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Topic: Power Of Identity [Monday March 6, 2017]

Your identity is your confidence.

Your identity is your strength.

It is your authority and audacity.

Loss of identity is the erosion of destiny.

Satan will challenge your identity in order to make you loose your confidence.

To Christ, He queried, “If thou be son of God, turn this stone to bread.”

But, Jesus never compromised His identity. He openly and without apology declared His identity everywhere and everytime.

So, protect your identity in redemption so as to preserve your destiny.

Never compromise your identity otherwise you will water down your destiny.

Protection of your identity is the key to preservation of your destiny.

Topic: Lay It on the Altar [Monday March 6, 2017]

…God tested and proved Abraham and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. [God] said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you. — Genesis 22:1-2

Once the Lord said to me, “Joyce, do you love Me? If so, will you still love Me and serve Me even if I don’t do everything just the way you want or just when you think I should?” At the time of the Lord’s visitation, I had been asking God for a huge ministry. He also said, “Joyce, if I asked you to go down to the riverfront here in St. Louis and minister to fifty people for the rest of your life and never be known by anyone, would you do it?” My response was, “But, Lord, surely you can’t really be asking me to do that!”

We always have such grandiose plans for ourselves. If God asks us to do something that isn’t prominent, we aren’t always sure we are hearing Him correctly or that it is His will for us! When God asked me those questions about my ministry, I felt the way I imagined Abraham must have felt when the Lord asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac through whom He had promised to bless him and all nations of the earth (see Genesis 22).

It seemed God was asking me to give up the very work He had given me through which He blessed many others as well as me. But God wasn’t asking me to give up that ministry. He was just asking me to lay it on the altar, just like Abraham laid Isaac on the altar before the Lord.

We must not let anything—even our work for God—become more important to us than God Himself. To keep that from happening, from time to time God calls upon us to lay it all on the altar as proof of our love and commitment. He tests us by asking us to lay down our most treasured blessing as proof of our love for Him.

Topic: Stealing And Lying! [Monday 6, March 2017]

Memorise: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, – Hebrews 12:1

Read: 2 Kings 5:20-27 (KJV)

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 36-37, Isaiah 51:17-52:12

MESSAGE:

Holiness is so integral to the person of the Holy Spirit that the word “holy” is attached to His Name. You cannot live the Christian life without having a relationship with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9); but to have a good relationship with the Holy Spirit, you need to understand that He detests sin. Part of His assignment in this world is to liberate you from the power of sin and to help you live above it (John 16:8, Romans 8:2, Galatians 5:16). Two sins entangling a lot of Christians today and fast eroding their character are stealing and lying. Stealing has its origin in covetousness and it leads to betrayal. The life of Judas Iscariot, a man who walked with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, is a case study of this (John 12:6). Today, due to covetousness, even ministers of God are stealing from the Church purse, thereby betraying the huge trust reposed in them by God. Have you been stealing from God or from men? Repent, restitute and turn a new leaf today (Ephesians 4:28)!

In today’s Bible reading, Gehazi lied to Naaman and received the gifts his master had rejected. Thereafter, his master sent for him and asked him where he had been. He lied again saying he went nowhere. He however did not get away with that lie. There are lies you tell and it may appear you got away with them, but there are also lies you will tell that will leave their sting on you perpetually. Gehazi lied to his master and his life changed negatively and irreversibly from that day. Similarly, Ananias and Sapphira may have told lies in the past and escaped the consequences.  However, on the day they lied to Peter, they never lived to tell another lie (Acts 5:1-10). If you consider the punishment that followed the supposedly “little” lie of this couple, many people would be of the opinion that it far exceeded their offence. Why? It is because they see lying as a regular, common sin that is inconsequential if weighed on a scale with “heavier” sins like murder. This is why many people engaged in it, even those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. Some people have even categorised lies by colour and size! If God could bring leprosy on Gehazi and kill Ananians and Sapphira because of lies, it means that He does not take lies lightly as we do. God even says He will exclude all categories of liars from the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27). Run away from lies and embrace Jesus Christ, the Truth!

Action Point: That seemingly harmless lie has grave repercussions that you may not see today. Ask God for grace to flee from every lie.

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: The Strongest Animal [Sunday February 5, 2017]

In the kingdom of animals, it is a common knowledge that the lion is the king of the jungle.

But by Biblical rating of animals the strongest is not the lion but the sheep.

The lion, even though is considered to be the strongest is vulnerable to unimaginable dangers such as hunger which leads to death. Ps 34:10.

Even though no animal escapes the strength of lion. But what cheaply strangulate it to death however is the invisible and invincible force of hunger.

Hunger is an internal torture that cannot be fought by physical strength. Food is the only cure to hunger and food for all living being comes from God. Ps 145:15, 16

It is an historical fact that most lions die for lack of prey.

But, it is not so with the sheep who suffers no want or hunger nor protection because she has a shepherd guiding and watching over her. Ps 23:1-6

That is why the guided usually end as the strongest.

Therefore, never be tired of following the dictates of your Shepherd in order not to be depleted of strength.

Don’t struggle with the Shepherd nor rebel at His guidance because He knows the way in which He lovingly guides you.

By sheepishly following Him, you commit Him to your ceaseless supply and heavily fortified defence.