by dailyd | Sep 14, 2018 | More
TOPIC: SAY NO TO ENVY
Text: 1 Samuel 22:6-10 (KJV)
Key Verse: “That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” (1 Samuel 22:8).
MESSAGE:
The notion of wanting to be in same situation as somebody else or wanting to have something that belongs to another has been in vogue since the beginning of the world. Satan wanted to take the place of God but became a castaway. Cain killed his brother, Abel and Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery out of envy. King Saul, in the text under consideration, had become very displeased with David since the day the women of Israel ascribed more glory to him (1 Samuel 18:7-9). At this point, the killer-instinct had become so ingrained in Saul’s life that he left the business of the kingdom in pursuit of David’s life.
The word of God stands against envy. It is numbered among the works of the flesh “…envy slayeth the silly one” (Job 5:2). “…But envy the rottenness of the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). Believers who are looking heavenward, must thoroughly guard their loins against the spirit of envy. This is only made possible when self is crucified. You must seek the Lord for the circumcision of the heart so as to be set free from self-indulgence. Remember that envy, if allowed, is dangerous to the wellbeing of the soul. It tends to pride; it debases and can eventually lead to self-destruction as it did to King Saul.
The Bible enjoins that we keep the heart with all diligence. Envy is the gateway to many other vices. It is the midwife of jealousy and grandparents to character assassination and murder. Endeavour to make your calling and election sure by earnestly meditating on God’s word, fighting the good fight of faith, praying and guarding your heart against envy.
Thought For The Day: One possessed by envious spirit will miss heaven.
Bible Reading In One Year: Daniel 1-3
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.
ALSO READ
DCLM Daily Manna 13 September 2018 – Putting First Things First
by dailyd | Sep 14, 2018 | More
Topic: True Friendship
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. — John 13:35
The human soul is a lonely thing. It must have the assurance of companionship. Left entirely to itself, it cannot enjoy anything. God said in the beginning, “It is not good that man should dwell alone” (Genesis 2:18). The creation of Eve was the beginning of human companionship. God’s people are a body, not intended to function separately, not intended to be unconcerned for one another.
The only true body in the world is the Church. The world may talk grandly of brotherhood, but in reality its philosophy is “each man for himself.” God’s children are guaranteed the richest and truest friendship, both here and hereafter. Only in a true friendship and a true love do we find a genuine basis for peace. Only God can break down the national and racial barriers that divide men today. Only God can supply that love that we must have for our fellowman. We will never build brotherhood of man upon earth until we are believers in Christ Jesus. The only true cohesive power in the world is Christ. He alone can bind human hearts together in genuine love.
Prayer for the day: Father, teach me true brotherhood in Jesus Christ.
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.
ALSO READ
Billy Graham 13 September 2018 – Where Is Jesus Christ?
by dailyd | Sep 13, 2018 | Open Heavens
Topic: Wise but Foolish
Memorise: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”- 1 Corinthians 1:27
Read: Isaiah 35:4-10 (KJV)
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Bible in One Year: Proverbs 13-15, Mark 6:53-7:23
When you expound the things of God to the “wise men” of this world, they will consider you to be a fool. When you talk about the resurrection of the dead and the outcome of Jesus’ death and resurrection, they will use their limited knowledge of the natural world to demonstrate your “foolishness”. It is ironic that those who profess themselves to be wise in this world are declared to be fools before God (Romans 1:22). As a believer in Christ, you should therefore not be offended if you are classified as foolish by the “wise men” of this world. Based on the words of our memory verse, if the world considers you to be foolish because your life is based on the principles of God’s word, you are blessed indeed. Remember that the devil came to our first parents disguised as a loving guidance counselor. He advised them to follow his diabolical wisdom, and this led them into a state of foolishness. They realised belatedly that the wisdom the devil was introducing them to was actually foolishness in disguise, and ever since then, the wisdom that fills the hearts of men is the perverted wisdom of the devil, otherwise known as craftiness (1 Corinthians 3:19). This manifests as wisdom to cheat and get ahead of a neighbour, wisdom to defraud the government, wisdom to pervert the course of justice and wisdom to do diabolical things. In contrast to this, the wisdom of God cries out in Proverbs 8:5-8 saying:
“5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.”
This scripture reveals the nature and character of godly wisdom. You will observe that these characteristics are in direct opposition to what the children of this world consider as wisdom. Any wisdom that does not cut corners is considered foolishness by the children of this world. What they consider to be wisdom leads to both earthly and eternal perdition. A good example of the wisdom of the world is what Absalom exhibited against his father. The Bible says he stole the heart of an entire nation away from his father the king (2 Samuel 15:6). This is the way of the world. In contrast to such ways, today’s Bible reading speaks of the highway of holiness, through which the unclean shall not pass. It is equally interesting to read that although those passing through it may be considered fools by the world’s standard, they shall not go wrong in it (Isaiah 35:8). They will not err, because their Guide is the Lord of hosts (John 14:6). Beloved, do you seek wisdom? Do you want to be wise in things pertaining to godliness? The way to profitable wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and Jesus Christ is that wisdom that you need.
Father, please let the character of your wisdom begin to manifest in my life, in Jesus’ Name.
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 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 13 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 13 September 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional.
ALSO READ
Open Heavens 12 September 2018 – Great God II
by dailyd | Sep 13, 2018 | More
Topic: Putting First Things First
Text: Haggai 1:1-15 (KJV)
Key Verse: “Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built. Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?“ (Haggai 1:2,4).
MESSAGE:
One of the most challenging tasks we have in life is making choices. The problem really is not in choosing between the good and the bad. Many of us are already wise enough to know how to do this. But the challenge really is in choosing between the good and the best. This is where many people stumble and this is where we need to display the highest form of discretion.
Prophet Haggai challenged the people of Judah to set their priority right. They had the mental belief that God was first, supreme and above all. Yet this belief was not reflected in the way they were living. The house of God laid waste and unattended to, while theirs were luxurious mansions. God rebuked them for this. God’s house must be built first otherwise their labours will result in futility.
This is the same challenge the Lord is giving us today. Many of us believe that God should take the first place in our lives but practically, we are not demonstrating this. When it comes to building the house of God or giving our time, talent and resources for the service of God, we tend to consider ourselves first. Make a comparison of your personal house to the church of God; which takes your first consideration? Do you not rather consider your work, business, career, family, and so on first before you think of God and His service?
If we want the best from God, then we must give Him the first place in our lives. Many people experience inexplicable failures and loses in life because they have not truly accorded God the first place. Repent now; do the right thing and God will bless you beyond your imagination.
Thought For The Day: God will grant true blessings when we put Him first.
Bible Reading In One Year: Joel
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.
ALSO READ
DCLM Daily Manna 12 September 2018 – Standing Tall
by dailyd | Sep 13, 2018 | More
Topic: Real Intercession
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. – Isaiah 59:16
When someone hurts us, our natural human reaction is to strike back…to ask God to clobber them. But that’s not God’s way.
I realized that one time when some relatives of mine got robbed. I was praying about the situation and puzzling over it. “Lord,” I began to ask, “why did You let that happen? Why didn’t You just knock that thief over the head when he tried to do that?”
Suddenly, God enabled me to back up from that situation and look at it with spiritual, instead of just purely natural, eyes.
When I did that, I knew the answer to my question almost as quickly as I had asked it. It was because of His mercy. God has great, great mercy. Not just for me and my family but for others too.
Think about that next time someone does you wrong. Instead of asking God to knock that person in the head, like I did, consider the fact that—as ornery as he may be—he may well have a grandmother somewhere who’s praying for him to be saved. Stop and remember that God loved him enough to die for him, that He’s longing to pardon—not punish him.
Then you can begin to pray for him instead of against him, uniting yourself with his grandmother (or anyone else who happens to be praying for him). You can go to the Lord for mercy for him and you can go up against the devil on his behalf. That’s real intercession and it throws the forces of darkness into total confusion. They have absolutely no defense against it.
The Lord is looking for people who are bold enough, committed enough to do that. Dare to be one of them. When you’re tempted to clobber someone, dare to change his life instead.
Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-36
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.
ALSO READ
Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 12 September 2018 – Change the Image
Recent Comments