Topic: Because You Are God’s Dear Child 2 — Sunday September 3, 2017.

Text: Isaiah 54:14-15 & 17(NIV)
In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you…no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

Last month we established that it is not only the Jews that are God’s special people; everyone who believes in Jesus is special, Eph. 2:11-14. This means that the way God showed His mercy, kindness and power to the Jews in the Bible is merely symbolic or a foreshadowing of how He will show His greater mercies, kindness and power to us who are now in Christ Jesus. Consider this: while Haman was planning evil against Mordecai, Esther 6:13b notes that “…his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him — you will surely come to ruin!” If this can be said of a single Jew, what do you think will be said of you who believe in Jesus?

In the same way Mordecai’s victory was already predetermined simply because of his Jewish heritage, your victory is similarly predetermined because you believe in Jesus and because you are a dear child of God. So, do not be afraid, dear child of God, regardless of who may be ganging up against you. In the King James Version, the first verse of our text above says: “behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.” Our text above is actually addressed to God’s servants. However, can I ask you a question? Given a choice between your beloved child and your servant, who would you protect and defend more aggressively? By virtue of your status as a dear child of God, you are guaranteed victory and safety in every area of your life.

Prayer Focus: Express gratitude to God for your victory and the safety that have been predetermined and guaranteed because you are His child.

Bible In A Year Reading Plan: Psalm 140-142; 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

Empowered to do exploits…

CGMI Above Only Daily Devotional, was written by Most Rev. M.E. Benson-Idahosa, Archbishop of Church of God Mission International, CGMI.

Topic: God’s Country [Sunday September 3, 2017]

The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. – Luke 18:27

Right now you and I are standing face to face with situations in our nation that need to be changed. Some of those situations look totally impossible. But they’re not. Because this country belongs to God.

He’s the One who brought the United States of America into existence. He had a special purpose for it. He needed a country where the gospel could be preached freely and not suppressed.

It was God Himself who stirred the heart and mind of Christopher Columbus and planted within him the dream of charting a new course to the West. Columbus said so in his own journals: “It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel His hand upon me) the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There’s no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures….”

Who brought Christopher Columbus to America? God brought him. This is God’s nation. He raised it up, and it’s not going to be taken away from Him.

The next time you’re tempted to look at situations in this country as impossible, remember who it belongs to. Then you can discover America just like Christopher Columbus did—by faith.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 106

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: The Responsibility of Discipleship — Sunday September 3, 2017

Even while we were still there with you we gave you this rule: ‘He who does not work shall not eat.’ — 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (TLB)

One of the Christian’s responsibilities in following Christ is to have a new attitude toward work. So many young people want Christ without responsibility. Jesus was not a drop-out. As a carpenter, He worked hard with His hands. The Apostle Paul made tents for a living while he carried on the work that God assigned him. Whatever work a Christian does is done unto the Lord. He should do his best at whatever his trade or vocation. He should be faithful, clean, and honest.

Prayer for the day: Thank You for teaching us that work is a blessing, Lord Jesus.

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: The Power of Praise and Worship – Sunday September 3, 2017.

Luke 19:39-40 “And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Text: Luke 19:29-40

There is nothing wrong with praising God. It is encouraged and commanded thousands of times in the scriptures. The reason the Pharisees were so upset was because they didn’t accept Jesus as God. Indeed, it would be blasphemy for Jesus to accept worship if He wasn’t God. This is another confirmation of the deity of Christ.

Only Luke records this instance of the Pharisees’ objection and Jesus’ answer. This was the triumphant entry of Israel’s King that was prophesied and anticipated for centuries. The excitement could not be contained. If people refused to praise Him, the creation would have broken out in spontaneous praise. No rock should have to do what God created us to do.

By compiling all of the writers’ accounts of what the multitudes were saying, we have this record: “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Mt. only). “Blessed is he” (“the King”–Lk.; “the King of Israel”–Jn.) “that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Mk. only). “Hosanna in the highest” (Mt. and Mk. only). “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest” (Lk. only).

Pride was what caused Satan’s original sin according to Isaiah 14:12-14. He wanted to be like the most High. One thing reserved for God alone is worship, and the devil has always sought that. If he can’t be the one to receive worship, then he seeks to turn others away from giving true worship to the most High God. This is the reason why praise and worship to the Lord are such powerful tools against Satan. He can’t stand to see God worshiped. Worship Him with all of your heart today.

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: Priceless Worship — Sunday September 3, 2017.

Read: Mark 12:38–44, Bible in a Year: Psalms 140–142; 1 Corinthians 14:1–20

She, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on. Mark 12:44

I use writing to worship and serve God, even more so now that health issues often limit my mobility. So, when an acquaintance said he found no value in what I wrote, I became discouraged. I doubted the significance of my small offerings to God.

Through prayer, study of Scripture, and encouragement from my husband, family, and friends, the Lord affirmed that only He—not the opinions of other people—could determine our motives as a worshiper and the worth of our offerings to Him. I asked the Giver of all gifts to continue helping me develop skills and provide opportunities to share the resources He gives me.

Jesus contradicted our standards of merit regarding our giving (Mark 12:41–44). While the rich tossed large amounts of money into the temple treasury, a poor widow put in coins “worth only a few cents” (v. 42). The Lord declared her gift greater than the rest (v. 43), though her contribution seemed insignificant to those around her (v. 44).

Although the widow’s story focuses on financial offerings, every act of giving can be an expression of worship and loving obedience. Like the widow, we honor God with intentional, generous, and sacrificial gifts given from whatever He’s already given us. When we present God the best of our time, talents, or treasure with hearts motivated by love, we are lavishing Him with offerings of priceless worship.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for never comparing us with others when we offer You the best of the gifts You’ve first given to us.

Sacrificial offerings motivated by our love for God will always be priceless expressions of worship.

Insight:

Do you ever feel like you have little or nothing to offer? It’s a lousy feeling, isn’t it? Maybe that’s one reason the gospel of Mark tells us about the day Jesus sat down by the collection box in the temple to watch people drop in their offerings. He noticed those who gave out of their wealth, and then he watched as a poor widow stopped by to drop in her two-cent offering. Why did she even bother? Even more important, what was she thinking? She put in everything she had. Jesus’s disciples must have been nearby, because He called their attention to this poor woman and made a point of the largeness of her gift.

Now maybe you’re wondering, What was Jesus thinking? He didn’t actually say we all should be like this woman who dropped everything she had in the collection box. What our Teacher did imply, though, is that God counts differently than we do. There was something about that woman’s heart that determined the value of what she had to offer to God.

This message was written By Xochitl Dixon [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Never Mind Who Is Against You [Saturday September 2, 2017]

…If God be for (you), who can be against (you)? – Romans 8:31

Thinking of who is against you is of no use because it will make no difference to you.

Thinking of him won’t make him change his mind in your favour.  Focus your thought on Who is for you.  Because the more you focus on Him the more the help and support he will give to you.

Focusing on who is for you expresses your confidence in Him to help you.

God is for you, no man can be against you.

Refuse to listen to the noise of opposition rather pay attention to the voice of your Defender.

Topic: Divine Order — Sunday 3, September 2017.

Memorise: Let all things be done decently and in order.  – 1 Corinthians 14:40

Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 (KJV)

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Bible in One Year: 2 Chronicles 5-6, Ezekiel 34:25-35:15, Hymn: Sing hymn 14: Take My Life

MESSAGE:

Through the Lord’s Prayer, we understand that everything that happens in Heaven is nothing short of God’s will. Matthew 6:10 says,

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

This implies that Heaven is not a place where you go and sin, disobey or do anything that God does not approve of. Heaven is not for haters of God but for those who truly love Him. For this reason, anyone who cannot fit into God’s will on earth would not be allowed to pass through the gates of Heaven. (Revelation 22:15). To enter into God’s place of abode, God expects you to start living the life of Heaven right here on earth. It is possible to achieve this when you give your life to Jesus Christ and allow Him to live His life through you (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, if there is one thing you must do in order to make Heaven, it is to fit into God’s plan for your life and pursue nothing short of His will, just as Jesus Christ did (John 4:34). If you cannot walk in His will throughout your lifetime on earth, there is no way for you to get into Heaven.

In the same vein, it is very important to do things in order. God is a God of order. To do things in order means to follow the format, principles and protocols laid down by a higher authority. There is order and protocol in Heaven. To do well in your race to Heaven, you need to understand and follow this divine order and protocol (1 Chronicles 15:12-13). Although the Bible says there is only one God, it further reveals that this God is in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. In John 10:30, Jesus declared that He and His Father are one, and yet while referring to the persons of the Trinity, in Matthew 28:19, He followed a certain order; He said:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

When we therefore baptize believers in Christ, it must be done following the order declared by the Lord Himself. We do not say because Jesus Christ has a Name that is above every other name, that the order should be changed to read: God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and God the Father. When you violate the law of order, you violate the will of God. Nothing is done just for fun in Heaven; everything there is done to reflect God’s will, law or order. There is a divine arrangement in place in Heaven: God is on His throne, the four living beings come next, and then the 24 elders (Revelation 4:2-6). That is divine order. In serving God, you must do everything decently and in order. How compliant are you in this?

Prayer Point: Father, grant me grace to live by Your principles in this world and to follow Your guidelines in all that I do.

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: A Wasted Life — Saturday September 2, 2017.

Text: 2 Chronicles 21:12-20

Key Verse: “Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings” (2 Chronicles 21:20).

Mark Twain, became morose and weary of life. Shortly before his death, he wrote; “A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle… they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow… those they love are taken from them, and the joy of life is turned to aching grief. It (the release) comes at last—the only unpoisoned gift earth ever had for them – and they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence, …a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever.”

The name Jehoram means, ‘Jehovah is exalted’. So, what brought a man with such a noble name to be identified as a man whose death ‘nobody regretted’? From the text, it’s a pity that Jehoram followed Ahab’s (father in-law’s) wicked ways instead of the more godly ways of his own father and predecessor, King Jehoshaphat. Further, the Scriptures add that he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.

He forsook the God of his ancestors and slid into idolatry which spread across the nation. The events that marked his death signified that his departure was not regretted by the people of Israel. It’s sad to note that a man like Jehoram who had a pious father and godly heritage could not live right or follow a godly pattern. It is important to realize that sin, like a cord, can bind anyone who is not careful and watchful. There’s therefore no such thing as unconditional eternal security.

The consequences of sin are always painful as seen in the life of King Jehoram, fallen contemporary Christian leaders and atheist like Mark Twain who also said: “Let us endeavour so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry”.

Thought for the day: Only what we have done will count for eternity.

Bible Reading in one Year: Leviticus 5-7

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: Go for Revelation Knowledge [Saturday September 2, 2017]

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. – 2 Peter 1:2

If you were to look up the Greek word that’s translated “knowledge” in that scripture, you’d find out that it means more than just a mental understanding of something, more than the kind of knowledge that can be gained through your senses. It means exact knowledge. Knowledge that’s been revealed directly to your heart by the Spirit of God. I call it revelation knowledge.

The lack of that kind of knowledge has caused more faith failures than anything else I know. That’s because most Christians believe the Word with their minds, but they haven’t meditated on it enough for it to “light up” in their hearts. If they had, that Word would absolutely revolutionize their lives. Nothing in heaven or earth would be able to shake them loose from it.

I know a widow who got hold of that kind of revelation one afternoon. She’d been meditating in the scriptures that say if you’re a widow, God Almighty has taken His place as your provider and leader of your household.

She’d been feeling a little sorry for herself up until then. But when she received the revelation that God was actually head of her household now, she started talking to Him like she would a husband.

“I’m telling You, Lord, the plumbing in this house is pitiful. Will You please get it fixed?” she said. From that moment on, she never had any more trouble with her plumbing.

If you need something from God, determine right now that you’re going to do what that widow did. Determine that you’re going to meditate the Word until you get a revelation like that. Keep that Word before you until you receive a revelation of Jesus as your healer or your deliverer or your financier—whatever you need Him to be. Don’t settle for a shallow mental understanding of Him. Get a deep revelation and His grace will be multiplied to you!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 1

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: You Are Christ’s Choice Ambassador — Saturday September 2, 2017.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV)

Today, we have a clientele of believers who do not understand the purpose of salvation. Yes, salvation is free. It is God’s gift to mankind. But it came at a cost: Christ’s death. And his death was not in vain. If God’s singular intention for you was to get you saved, then he would have called you to heaven immediately after you got born again. You then would have no business being here on earth. But he has not done that and there’s a reason.

From our scripture today, Peter writes that as believers, we are a chosen, royal, holy, and peculiar people. But the important question is, “for what”? What have I been chosen for? Why has God, in his wisdom, separated me from the pack? Child of God, there’s a reason! God is a God of plan, purpose and objectivity. There is a purpose for everything he does! The continuing part of that verse spells out this plan clearly. You have been chosen so “that ye should SHEW FORTH the praises of him…” Did you see that? You are called out to be God’s Ambassador on earth!

As God’s ambassador here on earth, there’s a standard that he expects of you. Your lifestyle, conduct, language, and actions must conform to his identity. Just like in the natural, an ambassador of a country is an official envoy and the highest-ranking diplomat that represents his country in a foreign land. By reason of his appointment, he is duty-bound to protect the interest of his country, and should at every point portray his country of origin in good light, through his lifestyle, words, actions and general conduct. In the same vein, as a believer, you are duty-bound, irrespective of where you find yourself, to be a good representative of God’s kingdom.

Further Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Peter 2:9-10

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 137-139; Evening- 1 Corinthians 13

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.