Bishop David Abioye Devotional - GOD IS CLOSER TO US THAN THE ENEMY IS

GOD IS CLOSER TO US THAN THE ENEMY IS

Today: 2016-12-29

…Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Matthew 28:20

Contrary to man’s thinking that God is far away in time of
problems.  God is the very present help in trouble. Ps 46:1.

Solution is closer to us than problems are.Gen.21:19

Light is closer to us than darkness is. Psalm 27:1

Solution is closer to us than question is.

God is closer to us than satan is. Psalm 46:1-11, Matthew.28:20.

The door is closer to you than the barrier is.

Whenever you are face to face with the enemy, turn aside and
you will see God.

That is what made the difference between Moses and the
children of God. Exodus 14:10-16

When you look at the enemy you see an end but when you see
God you see a new beginning.

When you set your eyes on the enemy you end as dwarf, but
when you look at God you grow as giant.

As the children of Israel looked at the sea and the pursuing
Egyptians, they feared but as Moses looked at God he returned bold.

When you see the invisible you dare and do the impossible.
Hebrews11:27

When you see the invisible God you endure the existing trying
opposition.

Now begin to see opportunities in adversities.

Our Daily Bread - SIGNET RING

Signet Ring

December 29, 2016

Read: Haggai 2:15–23 | Bible in a Year: Zechariah 9–12; Revelation 20

 
 
 
 

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“I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,” declares the Lord. Haggai 2:23

When I first made the acquaintance of a new friend from abroad, I noticed his posh English accent and that he wore a ring on his little finger. Later I learned that this wasn’t just jewelry; it revealed his family’s history through the family crest engraved on it.

It was a bit like a signet ring—perhaps like the one in Haggai. In this short Old Testament book, the prophet Haggai calls for the people of God to restart the rebuilding of the temple. They had been exiled and had now returned to their homeland and begun rebuilding, but enemy opposition to their project had stalled them. Haggai’s message includes God’s promise to Zerubbabel, Judah’s leader, that he had been chosen and set apart as their leader, like a signet ring.

Father God, may I know my true identity as Your heir this day.

In ancient times, a signet ring was used as a means of identification. Instead of signing their name, people would press their ring into hot wax or soft clay to make their mark. As God’s children, we too make a mark on the world as we spread the gospel, share His grace through loving our neighbors, and work to end oppression.

Each of us has our own unique stamp that reveals how we’re created in God’s image and expresses our particular mix of gifts, passions, and wisdom. It’s our call and privilege to act as this signet ring in God’s world.

Father God, may I know my true identity as Your heir this day. (See Luke 15.)

We are God’s heirs and ambassadors, sharing His love in the world.

INSIGHT:

Just as Zerubbabel is likened to a signet ring, each Christian is marked by God’s authorized acceptance in Christ (Eph. 1:4–5, 11). As such, we are identified as Christians (Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:14–16) and authorized as envoys or carriers of the most important information in the entire world (Matt. 28:18–20). How can we be more effective disseminators of that truth this week? How could we have a more valuable New Year’s resolution than to act like God’s signet rings in this upcoming year?

DCLM DAILY MANNA - A NATION IN DECAY

Thursday December 29, 2016

A Nation In Decay

- EZEKIEL 8:1-6

Key Verse:

"He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations" (Ezekiel 8:6).

The dictionary meaning of syncretism is the amalgamation of different religions, cultures or schools of thought. Syncretism among Christians is the dilution of the essential truths of the gospel with the incorporation of non-Christian elements. The addition of seemingly harmless elements like Christian songs with worldly beats, stand-up comedy and beauty pageant, can just be the right tools the devil uses to corrupt the gospel. From our text, prophet Ezekiel was in a meeting with the elders of Israel when suddenly, the glory of God was revealed. He was lifted from his house in Babylon by a supernatural hand and taken to the temple in Jerusalem! The first thing he saw in the temple was an idol called: "the image of jealousy", because idolatry provokes the Lord Who is jealous over His spiritual wife, the people of Israel. Other abominations were hidden everywhere in the temple. This was a period of spiritual decay in the nation's history. As things went out of hand, their leaders incorporated into the temple rituals, the worship of other gods. These were idols worshiped by the heathen nations around them. The base practices of neighbouring countries complete with wholesale and open immoral rituals, appealed to their fleshly appetites, and before long, they become the mode of worship. Idolatry is like "religious prostitution" among the Lord's people. Just as a husband or wife would be jealous if a strange lover invaded a marriage, so the Lord's jealousy is stirred when we depart from true worship. We must discard and delete all additions to the pure gospel. Christ crucified, risen and glorified is our gospel. Any addition to this is unscriptural and can result into a departure from the faith. Beware of being bowled over by superfluous but deadly syncretic practices.

Thought for the day: A little pint of poison can poison an ocean of water.

Bible Reading in one Year: REVELATION 15 - 17

Faith Food Devotional - HOW MUCH MORE

December 29

HOW MUCH MORE

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" — MATTHEW 7:11

Would you, as a parent, plan, purpose, and will for your children to go through life poverty-stricken, sick, downtrodden, downcast, down-andout, with their nose to the grindstone? No! Assuredly not! My younger brother had a difficult time getting his education. Our father left when this brother was only six months old. He graduated from high school during the Depression by working the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at a local cotton mill and then going to school immediately after work. In time, this brother married, had a son, and became a very successful businessman. He said to me — and I guess this has been a driving force in my brother’s life — “I’d rather let my boy die now than to have it like I had it. But I’m going to see to it that he doesn’t have it rough like I did.” My brother worked hard to provide a better life for his family than he had known growing up. Just looking at it from the natural standpoint, he did all this because he loved them. And that’s what Jesus meant when He said that if natural men know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will our loving Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him!

Confession
"Even good natural fathers know how to give good gifts to their children. HOW MUCH MORE will my Father in Heaven give good things to me when I ask Him?"

CGMI ABOVE ONLY DEVOTIONAL - YOU SHALL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH

Above Only Daily Devotional
http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly

Thursday, December 29

You Shall Continue to Flourish

Psalm 92:12-14
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.
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This wonderful year may be ending, but God's faithfulness over your life does not end. Just like the palm tree, you will continue to stand out in every area of your life. Because of your trust in God you will continue to be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, Jer.17:7-8. No matter the prevailing circumstances and conditions around you, you will remain fruitful and flourishing because you have a divine source of nourishment and strength.

Your roots will continue to get deeper in God and you will have the ability to be strong and to endure, just like the palm tree. You will survive and even thrive in circumstances and terrains that other people find it hard to survive and thrive in.

Just like the palm tree, heavy winds and storms that break others may cause you to bend for a while but they will never break you. After the winds and storms subside, you will emerge even better on the other side. In fact, it will be difficult for people to believe you when you reference the things that you have been through. 1Peter 5:10 says, but the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

God will satisfy you with long life and show you His salvation, Psalm 91:16. You shall not die, but live to declare the works and the glory of God, Psa.118:17. You shall see the goodness of God in the land of the living, Psa.27:13.

PRAYER FOCUS: Decree and declare God's promises of strength and long life over your life. Pray that your roots will keep growing deeper in God.

BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: Revelation 1-5

Empowered to Occupy Till He Comes...

Open Heavens Daily Devotional - RESIST THE DEVIL

Open Heavens Devotional 29 December 2016:- Resist the devil

RESIST THE DEVIL – Thursday December 29^th 2016

Memorise: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Read: James 1:12-16 (KJV)

¹² Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

¹³ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

¹⁴ But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

¹⁵ Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

¹⁶ Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Bible in one year: Numbers 5-6, Psalms 139:1-16

MESSAGE

The Bible presents the devil as the accuser of the brethren, but more importantly, the devil is also in the business of presenting God in a bad light to human beings at every opportunity he gets. He usually puts questions in the heart of men in order to cast doubt on God’s acts of love towards humanity. He successfully did that in the Garden of Eden, and he is still using the same trick today. The Psalmist, in the midst of his troubles asked questions.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

Psalms 42:5

There is a difference between questions and queries. He asked why his soul was feeling downcast. In other words, he expected his soul to look up to see the brighter side in the midst of gloom. When you ask God questions, but still demonstrate faith in Him and His ability, it is okay. But when your questions do not reflect your past experience of what you enjoyed from God’s mercies and faithfulness, you are already issuing God a query. Before any child of God issues out a query to God, the fellow must have changed his view about God and how powerful He is, if not, he wouldn’t dare query God. After all, you cannot issue a powerful king a query. Romans 9:20 says,

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?”

Similarly, the one who would query God is in doubt of God’s love and good intentions. He believes God is negligent, carefree and irresponsible. At such a time, he has believed the lies of the devil.

Beloved, God loves you much more than anything else, He is the One who gave Himself for your salvation and washed you clean in His Blood. No matter the situation, His love for you will never diminish as long as you remain in His Kingdom. Believe the best about Him. Believe His good intentions even when you do not understand. The One who died for you will not work against you when you are in a good relationship with Him. Never query God; it will worsen your situation.

Prayer Point

Father, please forgive me for all the queries I have issued through doubt in Jesus’ name.

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

Bishop David Abioye Devotional - DO NOTHING AND GET NOTHING

DO NOTHING AND GET NOTHING

Today: 2016-12-28

The formula for getting nothing is simple and straight forward: just simply do nothing.

This is the line between success and failure.

Successful people keeps doing something while failures are watching, doing nothing whatsoever.

If what you do is nothing then don’t expect something.

Doing nothing disqualifies you from getting something.

Those who do nothing are not expected to have anything.

No man ever reaps from where he did not sow!

What you do determines what you get

Our Daily Bread - LOCKED INTO LOVE

Locked Into Love

December 28, 2016

Read: Romans 8:31–39 | Bible in a Year: Zechariah 5–8; Revelation 19

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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

In June 2015, the city of Paris removed forty-five tons of padlocks from the railings of the Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge. As a romantic gesture, couples would etch their initials onto a lock, attach it to the railing, click it shut, and throw the key into the River Seine.

After this ritual was repeated thousands of times, the bridge could no longer bear the weight of so much “love.” Eventually the city, fearing for the integrity of the bridge, removed the “love locks.”

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

The locks were meant to symbolize everlasting love, but human love does not always last. The closest of friends may offend each other and never resolve their differences. Family members may argue and refuse to forgive. A husband and wife may drift so far apart that they can’t remember why they once decided to marry. Human love can be fickle.

But there is one constant and enduring love—the love of God. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever,” proclaims Psalm 106:1. The promises of the unfailing and everlasting nature of God’s love are found throughout Scripture. And the greatest proof of this love is the death of His Son so that those who put their faith in Him can live eternally. And nothing will ever separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38–39).

Fellow believers, we are locked into God’s love forever.

I’m grateful for Your unending love, Father. I’m locked into Your love by the Holy Spirit who is living in me.

Christ’s death and resurrection are the measure of God’s love for me.

INSIGHT:

Christ’s work on the cross to secure our salvation has been completed. With a triumphant proclamation, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus returned to the Father. Now seated at God’s right hand, the exalted Christ continues His redemptive and sanctifying work as our eternal High Priest (Heb. 4:14–16). He is our “Advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:1–2; 1 Tim. 2:5), always defending and interceding for us (Heb. 7:24–25; 9:24). Paul confidently writes, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). No one can successfully bring a charge of condemnation against those who are in Christ (vv. 33–34).

DCLM DAILY MANNA - A CITY WITHOUT PARALLEL

Wednesday December 28, 2016

A City Without Parallel

- PSALM 87:1-7

Key Verse:

"The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God" (Psalm 87:2,3).

Lance Lambert described Jerusalem as "a city located among mountains which present a breath- taking view. It can be seen at sunset when the colours of her stone glows with ethereal light. But the real beauty of Jerusalem is of the spiritual ideal, a thought out of the mind of God crystallised in stone and history". Jerusalem is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world; it is the melting pot of culture and religion. The psalm for our consideration today was written in praise of Zion, the city of God. The psalmist presents Zion as a unique city without parallel. Other cities like Rahab (Egypt), Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia are mentioned, but none equaled in status with Zion the very dwelling place of God. The psalmist believes and sees a future Jerusalem that will be a capital city where all nations of the earth will gladly associate and identify with. Jerusalem or Zion is significant in many ways. David chose Jerusalem for his capital city (2 Samuel 5:6-10), and the Lord confirmed and validated it by putting His temple there. Jesus died and rose again outside the walls of Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit descended on the church meeting in Jerusalem at Pentecost. It was from Jerusalem that the early Jewish believers scattered to carry the gospel to other nations. The city is significant in its future. It will be the capital city of the Antichrist's regime and the citadel of Christ's millennial Kingdom. Even so, the new heaven and earth, the eternal abode of all saints is referred to as the New Jerusalem. The question then is, which Jerusalem are you preparing for? The one of the Antichrist during his diabolical short reign or the New Jerusalem that will descend from above? The choice is entirely yours.

Thought for the day: A man's decision will eventually determine his destiny

Bible Reading in one Year: REVELATION 12 - 14

Faith Food Devotional - THE FATHER'S LOVE

December 28

THE FATHER’S LOVE

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." — JOHN 14:21-23

Two things are emphasized in today’s text: 1. Jesus said,“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them . . .” Keep in mind what Jesus’ commandments are. He said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you . . .” (John 13:34). There’s no reason for you to worry about any other commandments. Walking in love sums up the whole business, because the Word of God says, “. . . love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10). (If you keep Jesus’ commandments, you will have fulfilled the rest of the commandments.) 2. “. . . Shall be loved of my Father . . . .” If you walk in love, you are walking in God’s realm, because God is love. God’s very nature, because He is love, compels Him to care for us, protect us, and shield us!

Confession
"I have Jesus’ commandments, and I keep them. I love others as God has loved me. I walk in love toward my brethren. I show my love for Jesus by keeping His love commandment. I am loved of the Father!"

Open Heavens Daily Devotional - SPIRITUAL WARFARE PART 2

Open Heaven Devotional 28 December 2016:- Spiritual Warfare II

SPIRITUAL WARFARE II – Wednesday December 28^th2016

Memorise: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James 5:15

Read: Ephesians 6:16-18 (KJV)

¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Bible in one year: Numbers 3:5-4:49, Psalms 138

MESSAGE

Spiritual warfare is an invisible battle that is waged in the spirit realm. The enemies cannot be seen with the physical eyes and the weapons of warfare are not physical as well. What is even more significant is that it is what happens spiritually that determines the physical manifestation that will be experienced by humans. A person overpowered in a spiritual war may become sick, paralyzed, or mad in the real world. Many that are attacked at night may develop an incurable sickness that will lead to their death within days. Some may be physically alright health-wise, but may begin to operate under a terrible demonic bondage that hampers growth of any kind, and this may go on for years unnoticed. These are prisoners living within invisible prison walls while appearing to be normal and free. Isaiah 49:25says:

“But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: For I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, And I will save thy children.”

The worst type of imprisonment is being within invisible prison walls while appearing to be free. Nobody will offer to help you out because there will be nothing physical to suggest that you are imprisoned. The lame man in Acts 3:1-18, was physically born into a prison of sickness and was there for over 40 years, he was in a physical prison, obvious to everyone, but most people are in spiritual prisons, invisible prisons. One of my uncles, who studied in Britain returned, and in an attempted to protect himself from forces of darkness, went to meet an herbalist and obeyed the man’s instructions to the letter. He got seven leaves of a particular plant, spread them on the floor and defecated on them. thereafter, the herbalist gave him a particular power to spray on his faeces and instructed him to eat it. After this, he returned home boasting that since nobody touches faeces, nobody could touch him. He almost died of cholera! Some professors, despite all their Western education, still bow to trees and worship various objects because they are in a spiritual prison. A medical doctor who knows and teaches people about the danger of smoking but still smokes himself is imprisoned spiritually.

It is not enough to point accusing fingers at somebody somewhere, consider your life and find out if there is any trace of imprisonment. Prayerfully take steps to break loose from it. When you are free from physical and invisible prisons, then you are truly free.  Open heavens devotional 2016

Prayer Point

Father, please break every prison wall around me in Jesus’ name.

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

The Faith Banquet - The Believer's Life In Christ Jesus. Part 10

The Who You Are In Christ. Part 2

1 John 4:4 KJV
(4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
The new creation is the offspring of God and belongs to God alone. He has the Greater One – the Almighty God – inside him. He is an overcoming one and more than a conqueror.

A Partaker of Divine Nature – By the reason of our redemption in Christ, we are partakers and sharers of the natural production of God Himself. We are partakers together with Him. Now, what He says you are you are, what He says you have you have and what He says you can do you can do. We are producers in the likeness of the natural production of God.
2 Peter 1:2-4 KJV
(2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

You are the exact copy of Jesus Christ; you are His ambassador on the earth. You have His authority to reign and rule over Satan and his demons. You are of the seed of God. God’s life is flowing in you right now. His love has been shed abroad in your spirit. You can love as God loves. You can talk as God talks. You can act as God acts. You can produce what He can produce. You are partaker of His nature and partner with His nature. You are heir of God. God belongs to you as much as you belong to Him. You are God’s inheritor. All of God is yours. You have as much rights and privileges as Jesus Christ have in the family of God. You have the same right standing with Jesus in the presence of the Father. Because you are God’s righteousness in Christ.

Hebrews 2:14 MSG
(14) Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death

Jesus Christ took on the human nature so that we might take on the divine nature. So if Jesus Christ took on my nature, and having redeemed and delivered me He gave me His nature that I might take on His nature. I am a partaker of the divine nature.

He Himself took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses that I might take His divine healing and bare His divine health. That is the reason I shout I cannot be sick because I refuse to be sick. Matthew 8: 17. He was made sin for me though He knew no sin that I might be made the righteousness of God in Him. He was made sin for me and I was made the righteousness of God. That is the reason I confess that I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I have the ability to fellowship with the Father and the Son on the level and class of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 21.

Though He was rich, yet for my sake He became poor, and through His poverty I was made and became rich. I am rich just as much as God is rich. He is my Source. I am rich because my Father is wonderfully and exceedingly rich. I can never be poor again. Jesus Christ has taken away my poverty therefore I refused to take it back. My poverty is gone forever. My broke days are over forever. My days of lack are over forever. I have the power to get wealth. My God is able to make all grace abound toward me, that I, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work. This is who I am and who you are in Christ. Rise up to your status in Christ. Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

Colossians 1:12 ALT
(12) Giving thanks to the Father, the One having qualified us for the portion of [or, to share in] the inheritance of the holy ones in the light,
Knowing your identity in Christ will make you to be thankful to the Father Who makes you strong enough to take part and share in everything bright and beautiful that He has for you. What a glorious inheritance we have in Christ through the redemption purchased in His precious holy blood.

Bishop David Abioye Devotional - HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

Today: 2016-12-27

First of all realize that problems are real; don’t be surprised by it.

To be confronted by a problem is not strange. It is normal.

Have a right attitude, never react, rather respond to problems.  

Approach problems don’t avoid or dodge them.

Identify the cause of the problem

In the church, problem arose because, their widows were neglected.         

Never assume that the problem will take care of itself.

Then the twelve called the multitude

Take practical steps.

Brethren, look ye out among you

Solution is available right at the problem spots. Where the murmuring rose from is the same place where solution will rise from.

Get people to look into the problem on ground.

Give problem a business approach to be able to solve them.

Every problem is a spring board to increase. When they face you, phase them out to access your new phase of life.

And the word of God increased; and the number of disciples multiplied. Acts 6:7