Topic: Receive What God Has Already Given — Saturday September 30, 2017.

“He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of miry clay, and set my foot upon a rock, and established my goings.” (Psalms 40:2 KJV)

I was in the depth of sin, I was in the pit of death but he came there and raised me up and planted my feet in high places. He reached out to me and showed me mercy. Who am I? The Psalmist says: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalms 8:4 KJV) Who is this man? This man that you have so planned for, what is he?  What really is it, that you care so much about him? He spat on your face. He is not living right, he is not doing well, and yet you love him.

The more I study the scriptures, the more I see the love of God. And it makes me cry. We have not fathomed it at all. God’s desire has always been to do all for you and for you to just rest. All you need to do is understand what he has done. Believe it and receive it. That is your own assignment. This should be the basis of our prayers in the month of October, locate the promises of God concerning whatever it is you are trusting him for, and just thank him for it because it is already done.

Somebody said ‘I am waiting for God to move’. The day Jesus said, “it is finished”. That was the end. He is no more moving. He has moved already. The next move is yours. And that move is called faith. Faith is not trying to get God to move. No! That is not what it is. Faith is receiving what God has already given by grace. Faith receives what God has already given. He has given it by grace and all you need to do is to receive it. It is not about your performance. Enough of struggle! Abundant provision has been made for you. That is why this period of fast is very crucial, to enable you to position yourself to receive what God has already provided. Therefore don’t joke with this period. Be at the different prayer sessions, because they have been specially packaged for you. This season, there shall be outstanding testimonies in your life.

Further Reading: Ephesians 1:3-23, 2:4-9

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Isaiah 9-10; Evening- Ephesians 3

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

Topic: Forget Not His Benefits — Saturday September 30, 2017.

Text: Psalm 103:1-22

Key Verse: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

The story was told of a young boy who was given writing materials to write everything God and Satan had done for him within an hour. He set out to write about the blessings he received from God. He kept on remembering new things to write about the goodness of God in his life, and by the time he was done with that, the entire time was taken. So he wrote at the bottom of his script “NO TIME FOR SATAN”.

It is difficult to itemize all benefits we receive from God as His children. David, in the text, listed several of them, but the list is endless: He forgives all our sins, heals all our diseases, redeems our lives from destruction, satisfies our mouths with good things, provides justice for the oppressed, shows mercy to people, and retains not His anger forever. Attention was then shifted to His throne in heaven, where the angels worship Him and do all His commandments.

His dominion is universal and His Kingdom rules over all. David, the psalmist, wrote this psalm from his wealth of experience as Israel’s king. He could tell and sing of God’s mercies because he experienced it. He spoke from personal experience when God took him from following the sheep as a shepherd to set him up as king in Israel. He saved him from the many battles he had to fight to maintain as well as expand the nation’s territory. And when he fell into sin, with the devastating consequences on his family and kingship, he cried to God in penitence and received forgiveness. David knew that God’s kingdom is not like that of man. He reigns and rules over the entire universe. Like David, we should sit down and count our blessings, naming them one by one.

We must deliberately focus our attention on the wonderful things He has done for us and stop worrying over the unresolved problems in our lives. As we praise God for His past mercies and blessings, we can be sure that He will arise and do more in our lives.

Thought for the day: Don’t count your loses, count your blessings.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 & 3 John

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: You Need Someone [Saturday, 30th September, 2017]

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? Ecclesiastes 4:9‭-‬11

Sometimes, we get into some messy situations, seemingly too deep that we don’t want any other person in on it. In such instances we imagine that staying away from people and trying to deal with the issues on our own is the best option we’ve got. The truth is, when we isolate ourselves things may get even worse, as the issue bears down on us more, if we dont get access to those who can help us through it. Paul understood this, and in Hebrews 10:25, he admonished us not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Having someone with you through your messy situations is very helpful, as you don’t only get support through the circumstances, you come out of them faster. Yes, the first person we should run to when we are in uncomfortable circumstances is God. We however need people around us to refresh, strengthen us and exhort us, as noted in Romans 15:32 and Hebrews 10:25. It’s okay to feel vulnerable, but you must trust that the brethren are placed by God for mutual exhortation and strengthening. Ecclesiastes 4:12 concludes it thus: “and if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

No matter how terrible the situation is, there’s someone placed in your life to help you through it. Reach out to them.

Keep winning daily.

Wise Action:

Whenever you’re going through a situation that makes you feel like running or going under the radar, prayerfully seek out the person positioned by God to support you and help you through it.

By Esun Tekeme

Topic: Responsibility; The Ladder To Greatness [Saturday September 30, 2017]

Scripture: Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Isaiah 52:1

Thought For The Day: Taking responsibility is knowing the right thing to do, doing it at the right time and without being told.

In one of my books, ’30 Secrets To The Top’, it was clearly stated that one of the ladders to the top in life is accepting responsibility. There is no greatness without responsibility.

This was what God saw in David and he became a candidate for the anointing.

Now, what is responsibility?

It is rising up to the occasion. It is the state of being accountable or answerable to someone for an action or for the successful execution of a duty.

David was not the only son of Jesse his father, yet all his brothers probably abandoned their father’s work and left only him to do it. None of them appeared to be willing to work, so the little boy David rose up to the occasion.

Responsibility means proactivity; it is not waiting to be told what to do. It is knowing the right thing to do and doing it without being told.

Responsibility means taking the initiative and the lead; it is rising up to the occasion. This is what it means to demonstrate leadership.

Beloved, make up your mind to embrace responsibility. Do not avoid responsibility or evade duty. Rise up as the occasion demands. When you do this, you are climbing up to greatness.

Remember this: Taking responsibility is knowing the right thing to do, doing it at the right time and without being told.

Assignment (s):

1. Read the book ‘30 Secrets To The Top’ by Dr Paul Enenche.

2. Make up your mind to take responsibility.

Prayer: O LORD, I ask for the grace to take responsibility daily in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: MAXIMIZING YOUR LIFE.

Quote: There is no greatness without responsibility. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 60:1 to 62:5, Philippians 1:27 to 2:18, Psalm 72:1 to 20, Proverbs 24:11 to 12.

Amazing Fact: You can actually sharpen the blades on a pencil sharpener by wrapping your pencils in aluminum foil before inserting them.

Today In History: 30/09/1777- The Congress of the United States moved to York, PA, due to advancing British forces.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Sunday Service in 6 over-flooded services by 6:00am, 7:20am, 8:40am, 10:00am, 11:20am and 12:40pm tomorrow. Endeavour to come to Church with your friends and loved ones. God bless you.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and 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: Don’t Be The Guinea Pig! — Saturday 30, September 2017.

Memorise: Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. – 1 Corinthians 10:6

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 (KJV)

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Bible in One Year: Romans 1-3, Daniel 1, Hymn: Sing Hymn 9 – On The Hill Far Away

MESSAGE:

As we run the race that is set before us on the straight and narrow way to Heaven, it is possible to slip and fall. You should however note that falling or making mistakes along the way does not signify that an end has come to your life, ministry or destiny. There is no depth you can sink to that the mercy of God cannot draw you out of. If you genuinely ask God for forgiveness and mercy, His grace will surely lift you up. If you are still down in sin, it is time to come up into righteousness. Are you in a situation where it appears all hope of you ever rising again is lost? No matter where you are, God’s touch of mercy at this very moment and come up again in Jesus’ Name!

Coming up next: Open Heavens 1 October 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – The Mercy & Grace Of God

There are ways to handle mistakes. One way is to learn from the mistakes of others so that you do not become the guinea pig. A Nigerian proverb says, “The one who falls into a pit is a lesson to others following from behind.” You can scream after seeing that fellow fall into the pit, but make sure you don’t end up in it yourself. Today’s reading tells us that the children of Israel who disobeyed God and were overthrown in the wilderness are lessons to us who are now on our way to the Promise Land of Heaven. It says we should not lust after evil things, because the Israelites did so and became causalities in the wilderness. It also says the reason why we should not serve other gods and commit fornication is that 23,000 of those Israelites who did the same perished in one day. It further says we should not tempt Christ like the Israelites did and died of snake bites. It even warns us of the dangers of murmuring, which some of us do very often. The Israelites murmured and were destroyed. When you see the pit your predecessors have fallen into, a wise follower will tread a lot more carefully to avoid ending up where they ended.

If you learn from the mistakes of others, you will not fall where they fall, and you will not perish where they perished; but if you fail to learn, you too will soon become a signpost that tells other not to follow the path you followed. How ironic it is for someone who was aware of the pitfalls that consumed others to end up in the same pit. This is what happens to those who never take warnings seriously. Are you like that? Do you say “it doesn’t matter “Yes, it does!

Prayer Point: Father, let me never be a guinea pig. Make me an excellent example for others to follow.

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 Tremendous Power in the Name of Jesus [Friday September 29, 2017]

For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. — Romans 8:29 (AMP)

Many people—including Christians—don’t have a clue about the tremendous power in the name of Jesus.

Have you ever thought about the importance of a name? A person’s name represents and personifies his character, setting him apart from everyone else. When we call someone by name, we are declaring something about that person.

In the same way, when we say the name of Jesus, we are not just speaking a name. We are declaring a name that embodies power—not human power, but all the power and authority of God (see Colossians 2:9-10).

When we speak that name, we are describing the Person. Jesus means “Savior,” and we are calling Him according to what He does for us—He saves us from sin, from our failures and from circumstances that are not in His will (see Matthew 1:21).

Many people want to experience spiritual power, but they don’t understand that in order to release it, they must speak the name of Jesus in faith. That wonderful name has been given to those who believe.

As a child of God, speak His name in faith today.

Prayer Starter: Father God, over every circumstance in my life, I declare the name of Jesus in faith. Thank You for the saving power of Your Son.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries

Topic: Growing Through Adversities [Friday September 29, 2017]

The challenges we face prepares us for different phases of life.

You never enter into next phase of life without facing the next challenge.

Faith on fire is what perfects the faith.

You must know how to turn adversity into advancement.

Adversity is not meant to destroy us but to serve as catalyst for our advancement.

Adversity will never leave you the way it met you.

Therefore take advantage of adversity for advancement.

Topic: Do Not Compromise [Friday September 29, 2017]

Out of his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you the mighty inner strengthening of his Holy Spirit. — Ephesians 3:16 (TLB)

Horace Pitkin, the son of a wealthy merchant, was converted and went to China as a missionary. He wrote to his friends in America, saying, “It will be but a short time till we know definitely whether we can serve Him better above or here.” Shortly afterward, a mob stormed the gate of the compound where Pitkin defended the women and children. He was beheaded and his head was offered at the shrine of a heathen god, while his body was thrown into a pit with the bodies of nine Chinese Christians.

Sherwood Eddy, writing about him, said, “Pitkin won more men by his death than he ever could have won by his life.” Christ needs people today who are made of martyr stuff! Dare to take a strong, uncompromising stand for Him.

Prayer for the day: Thank You, Lord, for the examples of those who have gone before us. Help me to take hold of Your unlimited strength, too.

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: God’s Mercy Is A Gift  – Friday September 29, 2017.

Matthew 23:23 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

Text: Matthew 23:23

One of the ways that God’s goodness is revealed is by His mercy. We may describe mercy as the readiness of God to relieve the misery of fallen creatures. Many times, mercy is called compassion or lovingkindness. It is expressed toward the sinner because of the misery that sin has brought upon him.

God’s mercy to the believer is revealed by God taking away the misery of sin’s consequences through the New Covenant of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Mercy is not something merited or earned, but a gift, as the apostle Paul states, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS MERCY He saved us” (Ti. 3:5).

Paul speaks of the heavenly Father as “The Father of mercies.” The word father is used many times in scripture as an originator or as a source of something. For example, the devil is called the father of lies (Jn. 8:44), i.e. he is the author and originator of lying. Likewise, our heavenly Father is the author, originator, and source of all mercy. Each time that mankind cried out in faith, God’s mercy reached out and met their need.

God is said to be rich in mercy because of His great love wherewith he loved us (Eph. 2:4), and to have a throne called grace whereby we may come and obtain mercy. God wasn’t motivated to save us through pity or a sense of obligation as our Creator. He was motivated solely by love. God loves us.

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

Topic: Fresh Faith — Friday September 29, 2017.

Read: John 20:24–29, Bible in a Year: Isaiah 7–8; Ephesians 2

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

When our son was struggling with heroin addiction, if you had told me God would one day use our experience to encourage other families who face these kinds of battles, I would have had trouble believing it. God has a way of bringing good out of difficult circumstances that isn’t always easy to see when you are going through them.

The apostle Thomas also didn’t expect God to bring good out of the greatest challenge of his faith—Jesus’s crucifixion. Thomas wasn’t with the other disciples when Jesus came to them after the resurrection, and in his deep grief he insisted, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were . . . I will not believe” (John 20:25). But later, when Jesus appeared to all the disciples together, out of the dust of Thomas’s doubts God’s Spirit would inspire a striking statement of faith. When Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (v. 28), he was grasping the truth that Jesus was actually God in the flesh, standing right in front of him. It was a bold confession of faith that would encourage and inspire believers in every century that followed.

Our God is able to inspire fresh faith in our hearts, even in moments when we least expect it.  We can always look forward to His faithfulness. Nothing is too hard for Him!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that Your love is stronger than our greatest difficulties—even our worst doubts or fears!

God can change our doubts into bold statements of faith.

Insight:

Though God may seem silent or even out of sight, He is never absent (Heb. 13:5). He is sovereignly working out things for our good; nothing is ever wasted in the hands of our God (see Rom. 8:28). In 1 Corinthians 10:13 the apostle Paul assures us that God will most certainly work things out for us: “The [trials] in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the [trials] to be more than you can stand. [God] will show you a way out so that you can endure” (nlt). When going through the difficulties of life, let us in faith see “him who is invisible” because “he who promised is faithful” (Heb. 11:27; 10:23).

For further reflection, read 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and 2 Timothy 2:13. Allow the faithful God to embrace you and give you fresh faith.

This message was written By James Banks [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]