by dailyd | Sep 21, 2018 | More
Topic: Unity of Faith
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. – Ephesians 4:11-13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith. What this scripture means is simply this: If we’re ever going to become truly powerful in the kingdom of God, if we’re ever going to be any great threat to the devil, we’re going to have to grow up—together.
It won’t be enough for just a few of us to grow up on our own and say, “Too bad” about everyone else. It doesn’t work that way. We’re a part of each other. The Bible calls us one body…the Body of Christ.
Let me give you an example. When I began teaching God’s revelation on the laws of prosperity, I started getting an amazing amount of flack. Preachers started calling me and chewing me out because I wouldn’t borrow money and things like that. Finally God said to me one day in prayer, Don’t teach on the laws of prosperity anymore until I tell you to.
“Why not?” I asked.
There’s strife in the camp, He told me. Other preachers are mad at you and in strife over it.
I didn’t realize then that the level where we stopped would affect us all. I didn’t realize that even I wouldn’t be able to go on and operate in the additional laws of prosperity until the rest of the Body would go with me.
We’re not islands unto ourselves. I can’t do anything without affecting you. You can’t do anything without affecting me. We’re joined together by God but held together by one another (Ephesians 4:16). We can only grow up…together!
Learn to walk in love. Refuse to fall prey to division and isolation. Feed on the Word daily and encourage your brothers and sisters by feeding it to them too, so we can all grow up to be “a perfect [or mature] man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:13-28
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.
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by dailyd | Sep 21, 2018 | More
Topic: Unexpected Ways
Read: 1 Kings 19:1–12, Bible in a Year: Ecclesiastes 7–9; 2 Corinthians 13
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9
In 1986, five-year-old Levan Merritt fell twenty feet into the gorilla enclosure of England’s Jersey zoo. As parents and onlookers cried out for help, a full-grown male silverback, named Jambo, placed himself between the motionless boy and several other gorillas. Then he began to gently stroke the child’s back. When Levan began to cry, Jambo led the other gorillas into their own enclosure as zoo-keepers and an ambulance driver came to the rescue. More than thirty years later Levan still talks about Jambo the gentle giant—his guardian angel who had acted in a shockingly unexpected way, changing his perception of gorillas forever.
Elijah may have expected God to act in certain ways, but the God of gods used a rock-shattering wind, a powerful earthquake, and raging fire to show His prophet how not to think of Him. Then He used a gentle whisper to show His heart and to express His presence (1 Kings 19:11–12).
Elijah had seen God’s power before (18:38–39). But he didn’t fully understand the One who wants to be known as more than the greatest and most fearsome of gods (19:10, 14).
Eventually, that quiet whisper found fullness of meaning in the powerful gentleness of Jesus, who said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Then He quietly allowed Himself to be nailed to a tree—an unexpected, compassionate act by the great God who loves us.
Prayer: Father in heaven, please help us to find courage in Your whisper—and in the ways of Your Son. Have mercy on us for not seeing beyond Your power to a love we’ve barely begun to know.
God won’t shout if we only need a whisper.
This message was written By Mart DeHaan [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]
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by dailyd | Sep 21, 2018 | More
Topic: Rebellion Is Punishable
Text: Numbers 16:23-35 (KJV)
Key Verse: “They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation“ (Numbers 16:33).
MESSAGE:
One of the strategies Satan employs to draw people away from following God is to make them focus on their present problems and inflate their unpleasantness. This was the case with Korah, Dathan and Abiram. While still on their way to Canaan, they saw more problems than the goodness of God; they lost sight of Him. Therefore, they rebelled against God by making weighty and false accusations against His servants.
God commanded the congregation of Israel to depart from the tent of these wicked rebels and the punishment for their rebellion was immediately executed. The punishment was unparalleled, terrible and severe upon them and all that appertained to them. They all went down alive into the earth, which closed up on them. The men who joined them were also consumed by fire. God does not condone rebellion of any kind among His children. Although we are under the dispensation of grace, we must know that “the wicked shall not go unpunished”.
Believers must never be involved in any form of rebellion. We must watch our utterances concerning our leaders and the church of God in order to avoid evil speaking and murmuring. Those who have been rebelling by secretly speaking against God’s servants should repent without delay and ask God for forgiveness and grace to make amends.
Thought For The Day: Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.
Bible Reading In One Year: Zechariah 1-7
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
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by dailyd | Sep 21, 2018 | More
Topic: Marriage Is For This Life
Luke 20:33-34 “Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:”
Text: Luke 20:27-40
It is very doubtful that the situation that the Sadducees were relating ever took place. It is more probable that they were stating a hypothetical case to complicate the understanding of the resurrection and thereby discredit it.
If you accept their basic supposition (marriage continues in heaven), then their reasoning was correct. It would not be possible to administer marriage in heaven with multiple mates as their story described. Their reasoning wasn’t flawed, but rather the “facts” that their reasoning was based on were not scriptural.
The scriptures speak of two becoming “one flesh” in marriage, and angels are not flesh. Paul said, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:50). Therefore, marriage is an earthly institution limited to flesh and blood mortals and will not exist in heaven. Marriage, as is death, is temporary for mortals while they are on earth. This is why a person whose mate has died, is free to remarry. Marriage pertains only to this life.
That is not to say that a couple who have loved each other deeply here on earth will love each other less in heaven. God forbid. They will love each other infinitely more, but it will be God’s “agape” love (not romantic love) and it will not be limited to just one person. We can be sure that heaven will surpass any expectations that we may have so that no one will be disappointed.
Today, many people use logical reasoning to try to discredit God’s Word. But Jesus said, “They err because they do not know the scriptures.” Therefore, their arguments have no merit; only reasoning based on scripture has any merit.
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).
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Andrew Wommack 20 September 2018 Daily Devotional – Heaven
by dailyd | Sep 20, 2018 | More
Topic: No More Same Old Same Old
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever. — John 14:16 (AMP)
In today’s Scripture, God says He is doing a new thing. As you move into the future He has for you, you will encounter all kinds of new opportunities, and challenges. The days ahead will be full of new experiences, things you have never done before. You may not know how to do them, but you will learn. Everything you are doing today was new to you at one time—and look, now you can do it.
Continuing to face new challenges and develop new abilities is extremely important to your growth and maturity. As you walk with God into your future, you will hear Him say, “You have not done this before, but don’t be afraid. I’m taking you to a place you have never been before. I’m going to ask you to do something you don’t know how to do!” God has already been where He is leading you, and He has prepared the way. Step out in faith, and you will experience the faithfulness of God.
We think and say, “It’s time for a change! I need something new,” and then we hesitate to embrace that new thing when it comes. If you are ready for something new and fresh, don’t be afraid to embrace it when it comes.
Don’t stay trapped in the past. Let go of what lies behind and press into the great future God has planned for you. I can promise you: God is with you. He will lead you. He will strengthen you. He will help you.
Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for constantly bringing about change and new beginnings. Help me to embrace every new thing You bring into my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.
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KENNETH & GLORIA COPELAND 20 SEPTEMBER 2018 – TIME TO GET SERIOUS
by dailyd | Sep 20, 2018 | Seed of Destiny
Topic: Don’t Gamble with your Life
Memorise: “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”- Psalm 25:9
Read: Psalm 25:8-14 (KJV)
8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Bible in One Year: Ecclesiastes 4-7, Mark 10:35-52
Open Heavens 20 September 2018 Thursday MESSAGE:
From the beginning, God’s plan for mankind has been that we should live our lives guided by His counsel and direction in the place of fellowship. When we refuse to consult with God before taking decisions, we end up gambling and fumbling, which more often than not damages a fellow’s destiny irreparably. The reality of this truth is visible in the lives of our first parents and Abraham. It would have been a different story completely, if Adam and Eve had told the devil to allow them confirm from God the truth of his counsel. It would have also been a different story if the father of faith had consulted with God before consenting to Sarah’s proposal to have a child through Hagar. The world would have been saved the ordeal of the violent tribe which troubles the nations of the world today (Genesis 16:11-12).
You must be divinely guided in your endeavors if you will not fumble. As revealed in today’s memory verse, it takes a heart of meekness to receive God’s guidance. The proud will not seek guidance, and even if the guidance offered freely, the proud will reject it with impunity. For this reason, Proverb 9:8 says:
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”
Beloved, God can only guide the meek because He does not waste His time with those who despise His counsel. In accordance with His principles, when His people despise His counsel, God leaves them alone (Hosea 4:17).
We are told in today’s Bible reading that the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him (Psalm 25:14). In other words, the fear of the Lord will also earn us divine guidance, so that we do not gamble with our lives. An example of someone who did not gamble with his life is King David. In 1 Samuel chapter 30, after his camp at Ziklag was raided and he wept with his men for the calamity that had befallen them, David not only encouraged himself in the Lord, he also inquired from Him on the next line of action to take. 1 Samuel 30:8 says:
“And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
This assurance from the Lord motivated him to pursue and recover all. This is praiseworthy because he did not allow the emotions of their great loss to push him into taking a gamble by pursuing the raiders without consulting God first. Beloved, I encourage you to begin to entrust your life into God’s hands and never pursue a course of action without first seeking divine counsel about it.
Open Heavens 20 September 2018 Thursday Prayer Point:
Father, please guide me in my entire life’s journey, in Jesus’ Name.
Also Read: Open Heavens 19 September 2018 – The Window of the Heart
Open Heavens 20 September 2018 Thursday Hymn 4: Trust And Obey
1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Open Heavens 20 September 2018 Thursday 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. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heavens 20 September 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional.
Open Heavens 19 September 2018 – The Window of the Heart
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