Topic: Demands of the Soul [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought . . .  — Isaiah 58:11

The soul demands as much attention as the body. It demands fellowship and communion with God. It demands worship, quietness, and meditation. Unless the soul is fed and exercised daily, it becomes weak and shriveled. It remains discontented, confused, restless.

Many people turn to alcohol to try to drown the cryings and longings of the soul. Some turn to a new sex experience. Others attempt to quiet the longings of their souls in other ways. Nothing but God ever completely satisfies, because the soul is made for God, and without God it is restless and in secret torment. The first step to God is a realization of your spiritual poverty. The poor in spirit do not measure the worth of life in earthly possessions, which fade away, but in terms of eternal realities, which endure forever. Wise is the man who openly confesses his lack of spiritual wealth and in humility of heart cries, “God, be merciful unto me, a sinner.”

Prayer for the day: As I look to You, my Lord and my Redeemer, the strivings of my soul will be satisfied. You alone bring lasting joy.

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 Professor’s Confession [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

Read: 1 John 3:11–18, Bible in a Year: Psalms 60–62; Romans 5

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 1 John 3:16

Horrified by his students’ poor writing habits, renowned author and college professor David Foster Wallace considered how he might improve their skills. That’s when a startling question confronted him. The professor had to ask himself why a student would listen to someone “as smug, narrow, self-righteous, [and] condescending” as he was. He knew he had a problem with pride.

That professor could and did change, but he could never become one of his students. Yet when Jesus came to Earth, He showed us what humility looks like by becoming one of us. Stepping across all kinds of boundaries, Jesus made Himself at home everywhere by serving, teaching, and doing the will of His Father.

Jesus loved us by serving.

Even as He was being crucified, Jesus prayed for forgiveness for His executioners (Luke 23:34). Straining for every anguished breath, He still granted eternal life to a criminal dying with Him (vv. 42–43).

Why would Jesus do that? Why would He serve people like us to the very end? The apostle John gets to the point. Out of love! He writes, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” Then he drives that point home. “And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16).

Jesus showed us that His love eradicates our pride, our smugness, our condescension. And He did it in the most powerful way possible. He gave His life.

Prayer: Father, we are so prone to look down on each other. Please forgive us. Give us the heart of love Your Son showed to us.

Jesus loved us by serving.

Insight:

In today’s reading, John uses the word love six times. He begins his teaching on love by stating the disastrous consequences of not loving each other. It is interesting that John correlates death with hate. His argument seems to go like this: If you don’t love, you hate (and here John means continuing to hate, not just an angry response); if you hate, you’re a murderer; no murderers have eternal life; therefore, if you love, you have life.

What does love look like? Verse 16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” But it’s the practical examples that drive the point home: If we don’t take care of those in need, love is not in us.

People around us have many needs—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. How can you show Christ’s love by serving someone today?

This message was written By Tim Gustafson [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

You are watching the Annual International Youth Alive Convention 2017 tagged “Empowered For The Throne” from Tuesday 1st- Saturday 5th, August, 2017 at Faith Tabernacle, the headquarter of Living Faith Church a.k.a Winners’ Chapel, Lagos Nigeria.

Click HERE to watch live broadcast

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: Month of Visitation [01/08/2017]

And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground. Genesis 18:2. Gen 18:1-14

Welcome from the month of perfection to the month of  visitation and new beginning. In this new month, God’s Visitation in your life shall make the evidence of His perfection visible. God Himself will visit and leave astounding blessings behind, mouth opening blessing and mind blowing miracle. As the name of this Month is always regarded “August visitor”, God Himself shall pay you August visit in Jesus Mighty Name. The purpose of God’s visitation to men is to stop embarrassing issues in their lives. When God visits, miracles happen. There’s always a blue print of His Visitation. This month, you shall experience God’s Visitation and men shall see the evidence of such visitation.

The Visitation of God to Abraham in the above scripture hastened the fulfilment of the birth of the promised child – Isaac in Gen 21. When Hannah visited God in Shiloh and God visited her in return, Samuel and other children were the evidence. When Jesus visited the city of Nain, the evidence was that the dead son of the widow was restored back to life. Lazarus came back to life after four days at the Visitation of Jesus. In this Month, you are the next in line for God’s Visitation with evidence that will shock the world.

#BiblePromisesPrayer

* God’s Visitation this new month shall bring you into limelight

*Your blessing shall be permanently permanent in Jesus Mighty Name. #HappyNewMonth*

Topic: Want Your Prayers Answered? [Wednesday 2, August 2017]

Memorise: Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.  – Proverbs 21:13

Read: Psalm 22:1-5 (KJV)

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 12-13; Ezekiel 18:30-19:14, Hymn: Sing hymn 9: On The Hill Far Away

MESSAGE:

There was a popular Mexican soap opera on the Nigerian television scene a few years ago titled “The Rich Also Cry”. The title of this drama gives credence to the fact that every human being, no matter how intelligent, wealthy, powerful or highly placed, would at one time or the other in life require assistance to deal with circumstances beyond human capability and control. The situation that renders a person of great means incapacitated is usually the type that money, authority and influence cannot resolve. At such times, a call for supernatural assistance or divine intervention through desperate prayers to the Almighty God is the only option left. I pray that as you call on the Name of the Lord in the day of trouble, He will answer you by fire in Jesus’ Name. However, if you want your prayers to be answered, you have a responsibility to ensure that you are not in the habit of blocking your ears to the petitions of the poor and needy ones around you. Our memory verse says that a person who heartlessly disregards the needs of the feeble, weak and helpless is wicked. The prayers of such a person will be disregarded in the day of trouble, no matter how desperate their cry for help may be.

It is common knowledge that many African nations and some developing countries around the world have suffered and are still suffering under corrupt, selfish and tyrannical leaders. Officials are known to be crooked, and a bribe is required before any service is rendered. Salary and wages are not paid when due, and they are sometimes delayed for months on end by government and corporate employers. We have also seen some Christian ministers and clerics showing more interest in monetary gain than in serving God and the people. It is time for everyone involved in such evil acts to note that eternal damnation awaits them if they fail to repent. One of the terrible realities of our time is the fact that even the Church is falling short of fulfilling her responsibilities to the poor and needy. The Church must not leave the less-privileged persons in our communities at the mercy of politicians and government officials, irrespective of their promises and political agenda for the poor. This is because God has neither suspended nor revoked our mandate to care for the poor. The Body of Christ must wake up to the responsibilities of a loving and caring Church, if we want our collective prayers to be answered by God. I live my life in total dependence on the Almighty God as the Source of my life and all that I do; I am nothing without Him. I therefore cannot even bear to imagine what my life would be like if God ceased to hear me when I call Him. I decree in the Name that is above all other names that heaven will never ignore your cry for help in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please give me the grace to be a great source of assistance to impoverished people around the world 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.

Topic: Transformation [Tuesday August 1, 2017]

So that they [even] kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, [in the hope] that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. And the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured. – Acts 5:15–16

Peter was a man with a past. He was bold and not afraid of change, but he also had many faults. In Matthew 16:22–23, we see Peter trying to correct Jesus. In Matthew 26:31–35, we see that Peter thought more highly of himself than he should have. In Matthew 26:69–75, it is recorded that Peter denied even knowing Jesus.

Once Peter realized the depth of his sin, he wept bitterly, which showed that he had a repentant heart (v. 75). God is merciful and understands our weaknesses. In John 21, we see Jesus lovingly restore Peter. Peter had been included in God’s plans for the future even though he had a past record of foolishness and failure. Peter had denied Christ, and yet he became one of the best-known apostles. Peter could have spent his entire life feeling bad about his denial of Jesus, but he pressed past that failure and became valuable to God’s kingdom.

Lord, You are a God of transformation. Help me to press past my failures and become a valuable servant of Yours today. Thank You for including me in Your plans for the future. Amen.

Topic: He Weighs The Spirit [Tuesday, 1st August 2017]

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Proverbs 16:2

When we set out to do things, no matter how noble, spiritual and how much social impact we make with them, it is very important that the spirit behind them is genuine. God actually wants to reward the good deeds of people. Everything we do is a seed and we are certainly going reap the harvest. Remember, seed time and harvest shall not cease as long as the earth remains (Genesis 8:22). When the spirit of what we do is not right, no matter how pure or clean, that is, how acceptable it is to us, God will not reward it.

And, you see, it is God that weighs the spirit of our ways or actions. Spirit here means motives. The NLT version put the scripture this way: “people may be pure in their own eyes, but the lord examines their motives” (Proverbs 16:2). We don’t set the standard for how pure our ways and actions are, no matter how good intended they are, only God has that prerogative. Even though in the eyes of people, we are doing something great, as long as the motive doesn’t pass the stardard of God’s measuring tape, it’s value is lost, and reward from God will be a distant reality.

So, what’s God’s standard? One is, it must be for the advancement of the kingdom. All that we do must aid the advancement of the kingdom of God. It should not be because we want the world to know us or what we are doing, but to advance God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:16). That is, the recipient of our good deeds should, through our act, experience the love, mercies, and grace of the kingdom of God, that they would be drawn to and be engrafted into it. Two is, it must be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:14, Apostle Paul admonishes us to “do everything with love.” This is very essential, for without love we cannot make a lasting impact in the lives of people. This is how God weighs the spirit of our ways, and we should always have these as our guide at all times.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for showing me how you weigh the intentions of my actions. Help me to always have these as a guide in all I do, and help me to make impact for our kingdom and share Your love with people, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

HAPPY NEW MONTH OF AUGUST ALL!!!!!!!!!
Challenges are suppose to be speed boosters and not speed breakers!

Topic: Nobody Is A Nobody! [Tuesday 1 August, 2017]

(Jeremiah 29:4-14)

Welcome to another new month in the 3rd quarter of 2017! There was once a boy who while in the eighth grade, failed his subjects repeatedly. His performance in high school wasn’t much better; he failed Latin, Algebra, English and had a zero in Physics. The boy managed to make school’s golf team and he lost the most important golf match of the season. Even in class, he was not liked by his peers. Despite his failures, there was a talent that this boy held on to: The love of drawing. While in high school, the boy was so sure of his artistic talent that he approached Walt Disney Studios in the USA. With drawing samples. Again, he was criticized and rejected. Despite his gross lack of success, this boy did not give up! He then decided to write his own biography in Cartoons about a little boy who was regarded as a loser and a nobody.

The name of this boy was Charles Schutz- founder of now famous Charlie Brown and Peanuts Comic Show. Peanuts Comic Show is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by that so-called nobody- Charles shutz, which ran from October 2nd, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing now in reruns. Amazing! See what God can do with a NOBODY! You must realize that in God’s eyes, nobody is a nobody! Do you know that there are many positive traits in you? Stop seeing your weak points! Do you know that all the great people you admire have weak points? Never give up on yourself! Jacob Reinhat said: “Never give up! No matter how many times you tried, or how many times you failed; always keep trying and always believe.”

God’s plan for you are great! Ignore people’s opinions of you. Did men give David a chance? Even Prophet Samuel never believed in him. Challenges are suppose to be speed boosters and not speed breakers! Nobody is a nobody! Learn from Charles M. Schutz! Learn from David!

THE 2017 UK ANOINTING SERVICE IS AUGUST 5TH!

Theme: THIS DELAY MUST DIE! Venue:City Temple Conference Center Holborn Viaduct, London ECIA 2DE. For booking details, call : +447818555808. Date: Saturday ( August 5th 2017). Time: 3pm. BUSES NO: 242, 25 & 8. I SHALL LAY HANDS ON EVERYONE PRESENT AS DIRECTED BY MY “THREE FRIENDS” – THE TRINITY!

Prayer Points: Take your best worship song now.

1. Worship God for the gift of life and pray about today’s message as led.

2. LORD, use my life, family and ministry to show that NOBODY IS A NOBODY!

3. Lord, uproot the obstacles on the pathway to my Promised Land. Pray about this new Month seriously today. Pray about the Uk service!

4. Pray the morning and evening devotional prayers daily. SEE PAGES 7-9 now.

5. Encourage someone! Share today’s message with someone before you go to bed.

By Bishop (Dr) Chris E. Kwakpovwe (Cek)
Publisher/Writer Of ODM And

Rev (Mrs) Flora E. Kwakpovwe (Fek)
Co-Publisher/Writer Of ODM.

Topic: No 1 Step to Advancement [Tuesday August 1, 2017]

Appreciation is application for acceleration.

It is appreciation of God that leads to appreciation of man.

You may not have arrived at where you desire to but you are not where you use stop be.

Appreciate God for where you are in anticipation for where you ought to be.

Thanksgivers can never be tied to the same spot.

You’ll never come back to meet a thanksgiver where you left him.

Thanksgiving is a lift,

Thanksgiving is appreciation in anticipation of acceleration.

Thanksgivers are never murmurers and so they can never be destroyed.

Thanksgiving inspire hope and instigates faith and establishes trust.

If you don’t must to suffer depreciate engage in appropriation.

Thanksgiving is the glide on which you move forward.

Topic: The Single Life (5)

Dear Reader,

This Week, I will be sharing with you some vital tips that will help you to live a glorious life as a single person. Some single persons find it difficult to fulfill their destinies because of these points I want to share with you today.

Dealing with Sin Problem

Many single persons have problem with sin in their lives. This makes it difficult for them to fulfill their destinies in a grand style. The sin problem has an answer. The Bible says: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). The price for sins has already been paid for by Jesus Christ.

Engaging your Will-Power

Will-power is a very strong determination to do something. The will is a God-given force able to determine your habits and choices. Also, your will is a force of deliverance and a force of liberty. You can stop that deadly habit of masturbation and fornication in your life by a will. It is a potent force in every mortal being. You can “will” to refuse defilement by sin. Legally, a will is a document that becomes operational, only after the death of the testator. You are dead in Christ (Colossians 3:3). Man is a free moral agent; he has the ability to make a will which is stronger than desire. Joseph exercised his will-power (Genesis 39:9). Daniel stood firm on the power of the will, not even a threat of death in the lion’s den could shake him (Daniel 1:8; 6:16-22).

Stop the thoughts

Until you stop the thoughts, you cannot stop the act. If you think filthy thoughts, you cannot but live a filthy life. It is impossible to think impure and expect to live pure. Isaiah 55:7 says: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. This Scripture means that until an individual forsakes evil thoughts, he invariably will have evil ways. But my joy is that you can cast down every imagination or thought that is unrighteous. You can rebuke those evil thoughts once you sense them coming. Not just only that, fill your inner-man with the right things. Stuff your mind with God’s Word and anointed materials. Then your actions also will be right.  Remember, “Garbage in, garbage out” and I say, “Word in, Word out!”  It is time to take control of your thoughts and be in charge!

Meditate on the Word

By the Word of God, you strip sin naked and send it away. Lay up the Word of God in your heart so you don’t sin against God. Psalm 119:11 says: Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. You destroy sin by firing the Word contacted by revelation at it. The Word is the sword of the spirit; you can use it as an offensive and defensive weapon.

The Blood of Jesus

The blood of Jesus purges and sanctifies us (Romans 5:8-10, Hebrews 9:12-14). When you are in a conflict with sin, plead the blood, it’s a stronghold (Zechariah 9:11-12). You can overcome sin via the instrumentality of the blood. Revelation 12:11 says:  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb…..

The name of Jesus

When you are in a conflict with sin, call on the name of Jesus and that evil thought or imagination will bow. Every knee bows to the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:10).

The help of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is our dependable helper in time of battle. The Word of God says:  For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live (Romans 8:13). By the help of the Holy Spirit, you mortify the deeds of the flesh. He is your superior helper, engage Him!

Mind your Association

The company you keep can either make or mar you; it doesn’t leave you neutral. A wise man once said, “You will remain what you are today in five years time, except for the books you read and the company you keep.” The one who keeps company with wise men is the one who will be wise, but the companion of fools will not only be foolish but will, ultimately be destroyed. Walking with a foolish man is as bad as being foolish. One thing some Christians fail to understand is that one cannot flow together with every believer, simply because the person calls himself a believer. Some believers have wonderful titles (Apostles, pastors etc.) but are appallingly lacking in Christian character.

The story of Amnon and his subtle friend Jonadab is a good example of wrong association. The Word of God says: And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.  But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man (2 Samuel 13:2). Amnon paid for it with his life. After his death, Jonadab, the same “friend” who gave him wrong counsel, was the one who announced his death.

It is impossible to amount to anything outside the company you keep. You cannot expect to live a better life than your companions. The Word of God says: 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 (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

If you want to be born again, please say this simple prayer of faith with me: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, congratulations, you are born again! You are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name. Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).