DCLM DAILY MANNA - AN UNRULY TONGUE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017

AN UNRULY TONGUE

-PSALM 12:1-8

KEY VERSE:

"They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak" (Psalm 12:2).

Disappointments, disagreements and destructions are some of the tragic occurrences in human history. These are often associated with the misuse of the tongue. Yet, it is quite surprising that many people have not learnt to refrain from unguarded speech. The Psalmist raised some issues that are crucial to the happiness of all people. With genuine concern, he observed the absence of godly and faithful persons whose presence would have sanitized society and enhanced high morality among the people. Alas, their presence bred vanity, flattery, proud talks and oppression. They say: "With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us" (verse 4). God answered them and rose to the help of the oppressed. It may sometimes take long, but God will not fail to come to the rescue of the oppressed and the less privileged. Instead of destroying lives through thoughtless words, we can bless others. We can comfort and not curse. We can use this "comely part" to benefit others. Why use your tongue recklessly and risk God’s anger? Remember, "...every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matthew 12:36). Let us bless God and His creatures at all times with our tongue; therein is our blessings.

Thought for the day: Those who have the mastery over the tongue, tame the monster.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 SAMUEL 3-5

Our Daily Bread - A Chuckle in the Darkness

A Chuckle in the Darkness

February 28, 2017

Read: John 11:17–27 | Bible in a Year: Numbers 20–22; Mark 7:1–13

 
 
 
 

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For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

In a Washington Post article titled “Tech Titans’ Latest Project: Defy Death,” Ariana Cha wrote about the efforts of Peter Thiele and other tech moguls to extend human life indefinitely. They’re prepared to spend billions on the project.

They are a little late. Death has already been defeated! Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25–26). Jesus assures us that those who put their trust in Him will never, ever, under any circumstances whatever, die.

Jesus, help me to live a life that is pleasing to You.

To be clear, our bodies will die—and there is nothing anyone can do to change that. But the thinking, reasoning, remembering, loving, adventuring part of us that we call “me, myself, and I” will never, ever die.

And here’s the best part: It’s a gift! All you have to do is receive the salvation Jesus offers. C. S. Lewis, musing on this notion, describes it as something like “a chuckle in the darkness”—the sense that something that simple is the answer.

Some say, “It’s too simple.” Well, I say, if God loved you even before you were born and wants you to live with Him forever, why would He make it hard?

Dear Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I want to accept You as my Lord and Savior and follow You. Please forgive my sins and help me, from this moment on, to live a life that is pleasing to You.

Christ has replaced the dark door of death with the shining gate of life.

INSIGHT:

Often when confronted with death, we are tempted to either deny how painful it is or to live without hope, only seeing the grief. In this passage, Jesus holds together both the horror of death and the sure promise of life. Because death is a tragic distortion of God’s good creation, Jesus as the Resurrection and Life is all that is opposed to it. If we read the whole story of Lazarus’s resurrection, we see a fuller picture of how Jesus responds to death and grief. He is “deeply moved” and “troubled” (John 11:33) and He weeps (v. 35). Seeing death in all its horror, He defiantly overcomes it and raises Lazarus to life. Jesus’s shout, “Lazarus, come out!” (v. 43) points to the hope of our own bodily resurrection.

CGMG ABOVE ONLY - STIR UP THE SPIRIT

Stir Up the Spirit

TUESDAY FEB. 28

Isaiah 32:15, Daniel 6:3Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. *Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

---

So many believers fail to put a demand on the Holy Spirit in certain areas of their lives because they are ignorant of the fact that the Spirit of God in them can empower them to be divinely fruitful and excellent, particularly in those areas of their lives. Exodus 31:2-5 says, “See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.” The Holy Spirit can make you more productive in your work and He can make you a better father, mother, child, friend, student and leader.

The anointing of God does not only manifest while you are in Church; it manifests whenever God wants you to do good works. The anointing of God makes you strong in any area of your life where you may be weak or barren. Where you failed before, you will succeed and win by the power of the Holy Spirit. He will manifest His fruit in your character, Gal.5:22-23. You will not only solve problems; you will create great things. When Jesus said that out of your belly will flow rivers of living waters, He was referring to the divine abilities and manifestations that the Holy Spirit will produce in your life, John 7:38-39. Start relying on the empowerment of the Spirit in more areas of your life. Keep being filled with the Spirit, Eph.5:18. Worship and spend time in God's presence and pray, especially in tongues. Deliberately exercise your faith in the power of the Spirit in those areas of your life where you want to see Him manifest.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray and ask God to stir up His Spirit in you. Speak in the Spirit and declare the areas where the anointing of His Spirit is causing you to become more fruitful.

      BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING:  NUM 11-13   Empowered to do Exploits... - See more at: http://www.cgmglobal.org/aboveonly/index.php#sthash.JUsetC7K.dpuf

CGMG ABOVE ONLY - STIR UP THE SPIRIT

Stir Up the Spirit

TUESDAY FEB. 28

Isaiah 32:15, Daniel 6:3Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. *Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

---

So many believers fail to put a demand on the Holy Spirit in certain areas of their lives because they are ignorant of the fact that the Spirit of God in them can empower them to be divinely fruitful and excellent, particularly in those areas of their lives. Exodus 31:2-5 says, “See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.” The Holy Spirit can make you more productive in your work and He can make you a better father, mother, child, friend, student and leader.

The anointing of God does not only manifest while you are in Church; it manifests whenever God wants you to do good works. The anointing of God makes you strong in any area of your life where you may be weak or barren. Where you failed before, you will succeed and win by the power of the Holy Spirit. He will manifest His fruit in your character, Gal.5:22-23. You will not only solve problems; you will create great things. When Jesus said that out of your belly will flow rivers of living waters, He was referring to the divine abilities and manifestations that the Holy Spirit will produce in your life, John 7:38-39. Start relying on the empowerment of the Spirit in more areas of your life. Keep being filled with the Spirit, Eph.5:18. Worship and spend time in God's presence and pray, especially in tongues. Deliberately exercise your faith in the power of the Spirit in those areas of your life where you want to see Him manifest.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray and ask God to stir up His Spirit in you. Speak in the Spirit and declare the areas where the anointing of His Spirit is causing you to become more fruitful.

      BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING:  NUM 11-13   Empowered to do Exploits... - See more at: http://www.cgmglobal.org/aboveonly/index.php#sthash.JUsetC7K.dpuf

Open Heavens Devotional - IMPEDIMENTS TO PRAYER

Open Heavens 2017 Tuesday 28 February 2017

IMPEDIMENTS TO PRAYER – Tuesday February 28^th 2017

Memorise: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66:18

Read: Isaiah 59:1-4 (King James Version)

1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

² But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

³ For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

⁴ None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Bible in one year: Genesis 25-26, Isaiah 47:1-13, Hymn: Sing hymn 6

MESSAGE:

The fact that God answers prayers is without doubt. Anytime you call on Him, as long as it is in the Name of Jesus, you can be sure the answer will come. Jesus in John 14:14 said,

“If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

To God, answering prayers is a question of keeping His word. He said if you call upon Him when you are in trouble, He will deliver you, and He is bound by His word (Psalm 50:15, Hebrews 6:18). There was once a contest between the prophet of God, Elijah, and 450 prophets of an idol called Baal (1^stKings 18:19-24). Each side was to call on their God or god; the goal was to see which side would receive a response by fire. The prophets of Baal called on their god from morning till afternoon, but there was no answer. The moment the man of God called on the Lord, fire fell from heaven. God is still in the business of answering prayers, but are you still in the business of obeying Him? Be assured that God is still in the business of stilling raging storms. If you remove iniquity from your heart, you will call on Him and He will answer and deliver you.

As much as God desires to answer your prayers, if you still enjoy a life of sin, your prayers cannot be answered. We must make conscious efforts to remove all impediments to our prayers. Such impediments include what the Bible describes as “the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1). The pleasures of the flesh run against God’s expectations (Galatians 5:17). Such pleasures will not allow us to receive answers to our prayers. We must be weary of gossip because there is great danger in every idle word we speak (Matthew 12:36). Jesting should also be avoided (Ephesians 5:4). Jesting refers to unholy jokes. God is not against laughter and humour as some people wrongly believe. He is pleasantly humorous, but we must keep ourselves from unhealthy jokes that hinder holy living or make fun of the Holy Spirit. The Lord is not just looking for those who are calling on Him for miracles and signs; He is searching for those who will lift up holy hands and a pure heart before Him (Psalm 24:3-5). He is looking for those who are ready and committed to walking in His footsteps. God is holy, and He has called us to holy living. We are to do as He commands because we are light of the world. God in Heaven is glorified when our light shines in the midst of the darkness of this world. If you don’t want any impediment of your prayers from now on, you must amend your ways. If you have been stealing, repent and steal no more. If you have been involved in questionable transactions and dealings, you have to repent and forsake such ways. If your life is right with God, your prayers will not be hindered.

Action Point

Confess every pleasure of the flesh you have yield to, asking for grace to live above them.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye

Faith Food Devotional - PROMISE OF PROTECTION

February 28

PROMISE OF PROTECTION

Read Psalm 91.

Paul said, in writing to the Church “. . . ye are God’s husbandry [garden, farm], ye are God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9). That means we belong to God. Now, if you have a building worth anything, even your own home, you are going to protect it every way you possibly can. And God, in His Holy Word, has promised us protection. I think the greatest such promise is Psalm 91. Many years ago, I read this Psalm from a Swedish translation. I found that verse 10 translated in the King James Version as “There shall no evil befall thee . . . ,” was translated in the Swedish version as, “There shall no accident overtake thee . . . .” I researched it and found that this meaning is, indeed, included in the original text. I then claimed this protection. Some years later, I did some checking and found that I had driven nearly two million miles preaching the Gospel without having a single accident! Understand, I’m not bragging on my driving; I’m bragging on the Word — Psalm 91. Verse 10 continues, “. . . neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” I claimed that part of the verse, as well as verse 11: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” God has made promises and provisions for us. If our faith is not in God’s promises, we live way beneath our privileges.

Confession: (Make your personal confession of Psalm 91.)

Our Daily Bread - RING OF INVISIBILITY

Ring of Invisibility

February 27, 2017

Read: John 3:16–21 | Bible in a Year: Numbers 17–19; Mark 6:30–56

 
 
 
 

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Everyone who does evil hates the light. John 3:20

The Greek philosopher Plato (c. 427–c. 348 bc) found an imaginative way of shining light on the dark side of the human heart. He told the story of a shepherd who innocently discovered a golden ring that had been hidden deep in the earth. One day a great earthquake opened up an ancient mountainside tomb and revealed the ring to the shepherd. By accident he also discovered that the ring had the magical ability to enable the wearer to become invisible at will. Thinking about invisibility, Plato raised this question: If people didn’t have to worry about being caught and punished, would they resist doing wrong?

In John’s gospel we find Jesus taking this idea in a different direction. There, Jesus, known as the Good Shepherd, speaks of hearts that stay in the cover of darkness to hide what they are doing (John 3:19–20). He isn’t calling attention to our desire for cover-up to condemn us, but to offer us salvation through Him (v. 17). As the Shepherd of our hearts, He brings the worst of our human nature to light to show us how much God loves us (v. 16).

God in His mercy calls us out of our darkness and invites us to follow Him in the light.

God in His mercy calls us out of our darkness and invites us to follow Him in the light.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the light of Your presence in my life. May I walk obediently in the light of Your truth in all that I do this day.

Sin’s darkness retreats when Christ’s light is revealed.

INSIGHT:

Often we think of judgment and eternal life as primarily future realities, but John’s gospel emphasizes that each person experiences either judgment or eternal life now, based on how we respond to Jesus. People experience judgment, are “judged already” (v. 18), when they reject Jesus—through the pain and emptiness of life outside of the fellowship of God. This judgment is not because God is eager to judge. If He was, He would not have sent Jesus (v. 17). Jesus was a pure gift from the heart of a God who loves His creation (v. 16). Those who reject Jesus condemn themselves by rejecting the only solution to the evil and brokenness in the world (v. 18), choosing darkness when God has made His light freely available in Jesus (vv. 19–20). But when anyone turns to Jesus, they experience life—overwhelming, overflowing, abundant life (see 4:14, 10:10).

Questions to consider: Why do we sometimes struggle to believe that God is more eager to show us love than judgment? How can we be more rooted in Christ’s love? 

CGMG ABOVE ONLY - THE FLOODLIGHT OF GOD'S TRUTH

The Floodlight of God's Truth

MONDAY FEB. 27

 Ephesians 1:18 – 20 (NLT)
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.

---

When floodlights are installed and switched on in a hall or a stadium, people are able to see clearly and carry on their activities in that hall or stadium; regardless of whether it is night and dark. This is how we are empowered when God's truth floods our lives. In the same way, we are able to walk in the fullness of His life and power despite the darkness of evil and ignorance prevailing around us. Psalm 119:130 says, the entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. God's truth will set you free and it will empower you with God's divine strength. It will build you up and give you access to your divine inheritance in God, Acts 20:32.

You will be empowered to stand against the deceptions of the devil and pull down imaginations that attempt to exalt themselves against what God's Word says about you in Christ, 2Cor.10:4-5. The abundance of God's truth in you will enhance your prayer life, John 15:7. Be passionate about knowledge; especially the knowledge of God's Word. Let the revelation of Christ dwell in you richly (Col.3:16) and not scantily. The Holy Spirit breathes upon the revelation of God's truth and causes it to become flesh in our lives. As you delight yourself in God's Word, you will be able to meditate on it as you should and it will make you blessed and prosperous in all that you do, Psa.1:2-3. As God fills you with the knowledge of His will, you will be more fruitful, be stronger and joyful, Col.1:9-11. You will do exploits.

PRAYER FOCUS: Tell God that you are hungry and thirsty for His truth. Ask Him in faith to fill your heart and flood your life with His truth.

      BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING PLAN:  NUM 8-10   Empowered to do Exploits... - See more at: http://www.cgmglobal.org/aboveonly/index.php#sthash.nKMNNm4e.dpuf

DCLM DAILY MANNA - TWO DESTINIES, ONE WAY

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017

TWO DESTINIES, ONE WAY

-MATTHEW 7:13-20

KEY VERSE:

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:14).

One of the difficulties travelers on first visit usually face is finding their way. The difficulty becomes complex if the traveler comes to a crossroads where he/she has to take a decision which way to go. At such a time, it becomes imperative to seek a guide. The same is true of every person who is a stranger in the journey of life. Two ways are before us all. One is straight and narrow which leads to eternal life; the other is broad with a wide gate. The first way leads to eternal life with God but the latter to hell with Satan. The text gives an example of broadway travelers - the false prophets and their followers. These are easily identified by the evil fruit they bear. Their evil character and conduct are manifest to them, to onlookers and God. Jesus Christ is the true and only way to life. To find Him, you must humble yourself, turn from your sins and accept Him as Lord and Saviour. That is why the way is narrow but not impassable. When you come on this way, your life is transformed and you are able to bear fruit of righteousness. You cannot be born into this way nor come on it by good works. Entrance is only through repentance and faith in Christ. The broadway is the way of the world. It is so wide that there is no restraint. All men are born into it. Broadway travelers are also known by the works of the flesh they manifest. The choice is yours today, and your choice will ultimately determine where you will spend eternity; either in hell or in heaven. Are you on the narrow or on the broadway? Are you living a righteous or sinful life? If you are still on the broadway, it is not difficult to come into the narrow way. Jesus has paid the price for your redemption. Come now, for all things are ready for you.

Thought for the day: The way of the cross leads home.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 SAMUEL 1-2

Open Heavens Devotional - SINCERITY

Open Heavens Devotional 2017 Monday 27 February 2017

SINCERITY – Monday February 27^th 2017

Memorise: In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. Titus 2:7

Read: 2^nd Corinthians 2:14-17 (King James Version)

¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

¹⁵ For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

¹⁶ To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

¹⁷ For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Bible in one year: Genesis 24, Isaiah 46, Hymn: Sing hymn 9

MESSAGE:

Insincerity is one of the greatest reasons behind the downfall of many believers today. Some people claim to love God, but the kind of fruit they manifest makes people question the genuineness of their salvation. Loving God is not just by words, it must reflect in all that we do and in our approach to life. The moment we are saved, we should no longer walk as those who are heading for eternal damnation. The word of God must be obeyed in its entirety. There are believers today who cherry-pick the aspects of the Bible they want to obey. This should not be so! After we are saved, it is expected of us to immediately renounce all the hidden things of dishonesty (2^nd Corinthians 4:2). We cannot afford to be careless in our Christian walk, because we have an adversary (1^st Peter 5:8). To be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, we must be sincere with ourselves. One of the things that gave David victory over Goliath was his sincerity. Although King Saul offered David his armour, David was sincere enough to admit that he had never tired that approach (1^st Samuel 17:38-39). His sincerity made him stick to his familiar strategy of using smooth stones and a catapult, rather than wasting his time on an untested line of attack that would not produce results.

Today, there are many ministers of the gospel who have abandoned the true gospel for a social message. They believe that people are not interested in hearing the truth. This is false! Some believe that if they preach the true gospel to people, they will find it very hard and most will turn away, hence, they water down their messages. Such ministers need to learn from Jesus (John 6:60-67). If Samson had been sincere with himself, he would not have died the kind of death he died (Judges 16:21-30). The devil had tested Samson several times and had found out that he had no wisdom. Samson knew he had a weakness for women, but he refused to admit it. He felt things would always remain as they were (Judges 16:20). If he was sincere, he would have built a wall of defence between himself and his weaknesses. He kept a relationship he knew God did not approve of. He kept visiting places he should not visit, just like some Christians today who visit bars; even though they know ungodly things happen there. Are you finding it difficult to stop stealing, yet you still join others in counting offering money? Are you finding it difficult to keep your eyes off your female secretary, despite speaking in tongues, and yet you have not eased her out? Are you competing with the grace of God in other people’s lives, despite the fact that God has told you your own area of strength? If any of these describes you, then you are not being sincere with yourself!

Prayer Point

Father, grant me the grace to sincerely deal with every weakness in my life.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye,