Matthew 21:26 “But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.“
Text: Matthew 21:23-27
Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” These men were seeking to snare Jesus in His words, but they couldn’t because He was safely trusting in the Lord. It was easy for Jesus to “turn the tables on them” and catch them because they feared man (Jn. 5:44).
Jesus had already shown that all of their works were done so that they could be seen of men (Mt. 6:5). They were not really seeking to please God, but were doing all their religious works for the praise of men. It is totally vain for a man who is bound by the fear of man to try to intimidate a man whose trust is totally in the Lord.
When David fought Goliath (1 Sam. 17), everyone mocked him because of his belief that he could win. Goliath was a giant and he was only a small boy. But David said something very important in his defense. In 1 Samuel 17:34-37, David revealed that this was not the first time he had depended on God for a victory against something bigger than himself. He had already killed a lion and a bear with his bare hands. He KNEW he could defeat Goliath with God’s help. Faith must be developed much like a muscle. Those who wait until the day of the contest to start training are going to lose. That’s not the way it works in the natural or the spiritual.
What is life all about? What is the purpose of one’s existence? What is to be gained in life? What do people live for? When we say “so and so” is my life, we mean that all of our attention, our focus, and our purpose for living, is directed towards and revolves around that person. In a similar way, we need to be totally consumed with Christ and His life. True life is only to be found in Christ. It is not to be found in prestige, fortune, fame, or things, but only in the one who is life – Jesus Christ.
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).
Key Verse: “Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe” (Numbers 18:26).
MESSAGE:
From God’s instruction to Moses, the Levites were not to have any inheritance of their own among the children of Israel. The Lord was their portion and inheritance forever because of their office. Therefore, the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offered unto the Lord, were given to the Levites to inherit. It is noteworthy that God commanded them to give tithe out of the tithes which the other Israelites gave unto the Lord. No one was exempted from giving to God a portion of what was received from Him.
Tithe, as it is known, is one tenth of a person’s income. God expects believers, like the children of Israel, to supply the material needs of His house and of those who have devoted their lives to meeting the spiritual needs of His people. One of the ways to ensure this is through regular offering and tithes (Malachi 3:10). The Levites of today are not exempted from giving to God. Like the Levites of old, they are to give tithes of their God-given portions. Believers must attach importance to tithes because faithfulness in giving of tithes attracts blessings: “…prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing…” (Malachi 3:10).
Additionally, our giving to God in the New Testament must not be limited to a mere one-tenth of our incomes, neither must it rest on pecuniary matters alone. God gave His Best. Therefore, we must, in return, give our all: time, talents and treasure.
Thought For The Day: Withholding from God His due portion is limiting God’s goodness in one’s life.
Bible Reading In One Year: Daniel 4-6
If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE
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: Doing the Ridiculous (Open Heavens 15 September 2018)
Memorise: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”- Hebrews 11:6
Read: Hebrews 11:17-19 (KJV)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Bible in One Year: Proverbs 20-22, Mark 8:11-30
OPEN HEAVENS 15 SEPTEMBER 2018 SATURDAY MESSAGE:
As a mathematician, when I first gave my life to Christ, the paying of tithe to God was ridiculous to me, and I saw it as a subtle way through which the pastors wanted to swindle me of my hard-earned money. Prior to this time, my 100 percent was not enough; by the middle of any month, I had to borrow money from my driver to buy fuel. I then wondered within myself that if 100 percent was not enough, how then could 90 percent be? Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit won this argument, and today, I am a living testimony of the faithfulness of God to every person who pays tithe. Hebrews 11:6 reveals that without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith in God enables a person to do the ridiculous. God asked Gideon to go to the battlefield with a “ridiculous” number of soldiers (three hundred) against the thousands of Midianite soldiers opposing them. As if that was not enough, even the three hundred soldiers were not to carry any weapon of war, but rather an earthen vessel each (Judges 7:7-25)! Gideon complied with these instructions in faith and he got a miraculous victory.
Moreover, concerning the salvation of our souls, it takes believing the “ridiculous” before the miraculous can be experienced. The Bible in John 3:16 says
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Bible further states that the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). That the scripture says “all sin” and not just few sins! This truth is what the unbelieving people of this world cannot understand. In fact, nobody can explain it. It belongs to the realm of faith. In addition, many of those who have ever experienced the miracle of healing have a testimony of doing the ridiculous before they got the miraculous. An example of this is the story of the ten lepers (Luke 17:12-19). In spite of the fact that leprosy was still visible on their skin, Jesus told them to go and present themselves to the high priest to show that they were healed of their leprosy, because they needed to be certified as being free of leprosy before they could reintegrate into their communities. They proceeded to show themselves to the high priest. In order to get the miracle of healing, they confronted the risk of being stoned to death for coming out of isolation as lepers. However, they got healed on their way: their “ridiculous” faith earned them miraculous healing! My experience in my Christian walk and particularly as a minister of the gospel have taught me that unless you agree to do whatever God asks you to do, however ridiculous it may sound, you cannot experience the miraculous. Beloved as you exercise faith in Jehovah-Rapha today, your healing shall be made manifest in Jesus’ Name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, increase my faith to the level of being able to do the ridiculous in order for my miracle to manifest.
SATURDAY 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 alter we lay;
For the favor He shows,
For the joy He bestows,
Are from 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 15 September 2018 Saturday 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 15 September 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional.
Read: Psalm 119:65–72, Bible in a Year: Proverbs 22–24; 2 Corinthians 8
You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Psalm 119:68
Because I like dark chocolate, I once Googled “Is dark chocolate good for you?” I got a variety of results—some good, some bad. You can do the same for almost any food product. Is milk good for you? Is coffee good for you? Is rice good for you? There is a dizzying array of answers to these questions, so you have to be aware that the search itself may not be good for you. It may give you a headache!
But if you’re looking for something that’s one-hundred percent good for you all the time, can I recommend the Word of God? Listen to what it can do for the follower of Jesus who is seeking to build a relationship with God.
It can keep you pure (Psalm 119:9, 11).
It blesses you (Luke 11:28).
It makes you wise (Matthew 7:24).
It gives light and understanding (Psalm 119:130).
It helps you grow spiritually (1 Peter 2:2).
Our God is good: “The Lord is good to all,” says Psalm 145:9. And in His goodness, He’s provided those who love Him with a guide that helps us see how to enhance our relationship with Him. As we try to decide how to live in a world full of choices, praise God that He’s told us in Scripture what’s good for us. Let’s say with the psalm-writer: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psalm 119:103).
Prayer: God, thank You for leaving us Your inspired Word. Help us to read it carefully, interpret it correctly, and apply it enthusiastically in our lives.
God’s Word is the only sure foundation for life.
This message was written By Dave Branon [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]
The cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless. – Mark 4:19, The Amplified Bible
Did you know that the seemingly innocent things in your everyday life can suffocate your spiritual life if you allow it?
A friend of mine said the Lord told her in prayer one day that this nation had become a nation of maintenance men. You have so many things to maintain, He told her. You maintain your house. You maintain your car, your yard, your machines, your hair….
It’s true. You can become a maintainer of so many natural things that you don’t have any time left to maintain your own spirit!
When you find yourself in that situation, it’s time to simplify your life. I’ve had to learn that myself. Now when I’m considering something I think I need, I don’t just count the cost in dollars and cents. I think about how much time it will take to maintain it. I check to see if I can spiritually afford it.
Second Timothy 2:4 tells us not to get entangled in the affairs of this life. One thing I’ve learned over the last 45 years: Nothing is as important as spending time in prayer and in the Word with the Father. Absolutely nothing in my life is as vital as that.
Scripture Reading: Mark 4:18-24
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.
You are watching the Friday LIVE Service tagged “Covenant Hour of Prayer Service, September 14, 2018 with Bishop David Oyedepo at Living Faith Church, aka Winners’ Chapel, Faith Tabernacle Canaan Land Ota Nigeria. (Please, reload this page for the latest live event)
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