Our Daily Bread - Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

April 2, 2017

Read: Daniel 10:1–14 | Bible in a Year: Judges 16–18; Luke 7:1–30

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Your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. Daniel 10:12

My daughter sent a text message to a friend, in hopes of having a question answered quickly. Her phone’s messaging service showed that the recipient had read the message, so she waited anxiously for a reply. Mere moments passed, yet she grew frustrated, groaning her annoyance at the delay. Irritation eroded into worry; she wondered whether the lack of response meant there was a problem between them. Eventually a reply came and my daughter was relieved to see their relationship was fine. Her friend had simply been sorting out the details needed to answer the question.

The Old Testament prophet Daniel also anxiously awaited a reply. After receiving a frightening vision of great war, Daniel fasted and sought God through humble prayer (10:3, 12). For three weeks, he received no reply (vv. 2, 13). Finally, an angel arrived and assured Daniel his prayers had been heard “since the first day.” In the meantime, the angel had been battling on behalf of those prayers. Though Daniel didn’t know it at first, God was at work during each of the twenty-one days that elapsed between his first prayer and the angel’s coming.

God is always at work on behalf of His people.

The confidence that God hears our prayers can cause us to become anxious when His reply doesn’t come when we want it to. We are prone to wonder whether He cares. Yet Daniel’s experience reminds us that God is at work on behalf of those He loves even when it isn’t obvious to us.

Lord, help me to trust Your care for me even when I can’t see it.

God is always at work on behalf of His people.

CGMG ABOVE ONLY - Pray for God's Ministers

Pray for God's Ministers	SUNDAY APR. 2

2Thessalonians 3:1-2, Colossians 4:2-4 (NIV)
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. *Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

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Are you knowledgeable of the great power and effect that your prayers have on God's servants and ministers of the gospel of Christ? Praying for ministers of the gospel is so important that Apostle Paul severally implored believers to embark on this spiritual discipline on his behalf and on behalf of other ministers. This is because the devil is ready to do everything possible to strike God's servants so that the sheep scatter and go astray, but your prayers can restrain the enemy and preserve the servants of God.

Pray for God to shield His servants with His glory and pray that they continually walk in His ways. Pray for God to breathe upon them and their ministries. Pray to God to increase His anointing upon them, to inspire them and to give them utterance and boldness to continue to speak His truth; no matter the challenges, persecutions and opposition that they face. Pray for God to open doors of ministry unto them and pray that their message will be well received whenever they minister. Ask God to deliver them from the hands and plans of wicked and unreasonable men. Pray for God to bless them and their families. Pray for God to prosper and preserve them in every area of their lives.

In Philippians 1:19 (NIV), Apostle Paul said, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. Intensify your prayers for God's servants if you have already been praying for them or commit to praying for them if you have not started doing so.

CONFESSION: Intercede earnestly right now for God's servants and ministers of the Gospel as you are led by the Spirit of God.

      BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING PLAN:  JUDGES 8-9   Empowered to do Exploits... - See more at: http://www.cgmglobal.org/aboveonly/index.php#sthash.Y6hAi3ui.dpuf

DCLM DAILY MANNA - INALIENABLE INHERITANCE

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017

INALIENABLE INHERITANCE

-JOSHUA 17:1-7

KEY VERSE:

"And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan; Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead" (Joshua 17:5,

Sir Joshua Reynolds once said, "Make no dependence on your own genius. If you have great talents, labour will improve them, if you have poor talents, labour will increase them. Nothing is denied to well-directed labour. Nothing is to be obtained without it". God’s gift is without discrimination. As every mortal approaches God, He will never say no, most importantly on the issue of salvation. We should all approach the throne of grace for every spiritual gift, for He says "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). In this passage, we see the distribution of the land among the remaining families of the tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh was the first born of Joseph. There was a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families. Even Zelophehad who had no sons but only daughters was not left without inheritance. It was unusual for women to receive inheritance. But our God who does not discriminate, had to give directives through Moses to give them an inheritance. This, Joshua put into action by conceding to the request of Zelophehad’s daughters. Our God is a God of justice. He does not discriminate. As Christians, we also have an eternal inheritance with God. Jesus said "…I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). Right in heaven, Jesus has sufficient space and mansions suited for every Christian. The narrowness of Joseph’s boundaries teaches us that there is nothing perfect here on earth. It is only in heaven that we can have our desires wholly met. Those who desire larger possession should cultivate the habit of making the best use of what they have. The little you have becomes great when God is in it. As you obey God and invest in His Kingdom, He will enlarge your coast.

Thought for the day: The Christian’s unpolluted inheritance is in heaven.

Bible Reading in one Year: HAGGAI 1-2

Faith Food Devotional - UNDER OUR FEET

April 2

UNDER OUR FEET

". . . And set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." — EPHESIANS 1:20-23

The Church is the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are the Body of Christ. Now for a question: Where are the feet? Are they in the head, or are they in the body? They’re in the body, of course. Look again at today’s text. It describes positionally where we are seated. God has put all things under Christ’s feet. Christ’s feet are in His Body. Therefore, all things have been put under our feet! What are the “all things” Paul is talking about? Principalities, powers, might, and dominion. In other words, all the power of the enemy is under our feet!

Someone has said that if we have anything to say to Satan, we should write it on the bottoms of our shoes!

Confession: I am seated with Christ in heavenly places. I am a member in particular of the Body of Christ. All the power of the enemy is under my feet!

Open HEAVENS Devotional - CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW COVENANT I

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW COVENANT I – Sunday April 2^nd2017

Memorise: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

Read: Matthew 5:21-24 (KJV)

²¹ Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

²² But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

²³ Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

²⁴ Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Bible in one year: Leviticus 4-5, Jeremiah 6:6-21

MESSAGE:

The Lord Jesus Christ came to this world to manifest the nature and character of God to us. He also came to establish a new covenant between God and mankind through His blood (Luke 22:20). By establishing a new covenant, He did away with the old, Hebrews 8:7-8 says,

“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:”

He showed us the character of this new covenant through the relationship He had with the Father while here on earth. And through the words that He spoke. For this reason, we need to pay close attention to the things He said, if we want to reap the full benefits of the new covenant in His blood.

In today’s Bible reading, Jesus reveals some of the characteristics of the new covenant. He said that being angry with your brother without a genuine reason is tantamount to murder in the sight of God! For this reason, the Bible in Ephesians 4:26 says:

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

It is even better not to be angry at all because being angry can degenerate into having murderous thoughts. We tend to say things that engender strife when we are angry. For this reason, the wisdom of God in Proverbs 15:1 admonishes us, saying:

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

Of course you know that most times, you don’t speak soft words when you are angry.

Similarly, Jesus said if you call your brother a fool, you will be in danger of Hell Fire. There are many ways a man can call his brother a fool – not necessarily by the words of mouth alone. When you take a person for granted and take advantage of him or her, you are calling that person a fool. When you cleverly cheat on your spouse, you are calling him or her a fool. In light of these truths, if you have done anything synonymous to murder, you need to repent and make restitution. You may have angrily destroyed the career of a man who has mouths to feed. You have killed such a fellow, because he can no longer perform his obligations as a bread winner. If you are guilty of such, your salvation lies in repentance and restitution: seeking forgiveness from God and the wronged fellow. Whoever had ears, let him give heed to the message of Jesus Christ. 

Action Point

Father, keep me away from the spirit of anger, and grant me the grace not to use curse words on people.

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

DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL - We Know God’s Truth Through Careful Consideration

We Know God’s Truth Through Careful Consideration

BY RICK WARREN — MARCH 31, 2017

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“Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established” (Proverbs 4:26 HCSB).

When you tell God, “I want the truth more than anything else,” he will reveal his truth to you in a variety of ways, such as through creation or your conscience and also through careful consideration.

In other words, truth is knowable. You can test it. You can experiment with it. You can prove it.

If I want to go to San Francisco and I follow a map that takes me to San Francisco, and the next week I follow the same map to San Francisco again, eventually I figure out that the map is true.

The same is true of the Bible: If you follow its map again and again, you’ll find it to be true. It always takes you where it says it’s going to take you. You may not always like where it takes you, but it always takes you where it says it’s going to take you.

Often people say, “Why won’t God just write it in the sky?” Why would God do that? He gave you a brain. But most people never slow down long enough for such careful consideration. Most people just drift through life.

The Bible tells us, “Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established” (Proverbs 4:26 HCSB).

Spend some time in careful consideration and thoughtful observation, and ask yourself: “Am I on a true path?”

Talk It Over

• How does the pace of your life affect your ability to carefully consider or examine truth?
• Why is it important that you can test the truth?
• How can you use the Bible as part of your careful consideration?

Our Daily Bread - When Yes Means No

When Yes Means No

April 1, 2017

Read: Romans 8:22–28 | Bible in a Year: Judges 13–15; Luke 6:27–49

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I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. Psalm 120:1

I thanked God for the privilege of serving as my mom’s live-in caregiver during her battle against leukemia. When medicines began to hurt more than help, she decided to stop treatment. “I don’t want to suffer anymore,” she said. “I want to enjoy my last days with family. God knows I’m ready to go home.”

I pleaded with our loving heavenly Father—the Great Physician—confident He could work miracles. But to say yes to my mom’s prayers, He would have to say no to mine. Sobbing, I surrendered, “Your will be done, Lord.”

We can trust Him to answer every prayer according to His will.

Soon after, Jesus welcomed my mama into a pain-free eternity.

In this fallen world, we’ll experience suffering until Jesus returns (Rom. 8:22–25). Our sinful nature, limited vision, and fear of pain can distort our ability to pray. Thankfully, “the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (v. 27). He reminds us that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (v. 28), even when His yes to someone else means a heartbreaking no for us.

When we accept our small part in His greater purpose, we can echo my mom’s watchword: “God is good, and that’s all there is to it. Whatever He decides, I’m at peace.” With confidence in the Lord’s goodness, we can trust Him to answer every prayer according to His will and for His glory.

God’s answers are wiser than our prayers.

INSIGHT:

The theme of Romans 8 seems to be the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Paul encourages us to set our minds on the Spirit (vv. 5–6), to see Him as vital to our spiritual identity (v. 9), to embrace His indwelling (v. 11), to follow His leading (v. 14), to see Him as assurance of our security in Christ (v. 16), and to rest in Him with our prayers (vv. 26–27). This theme is important to the life of God’s child because, as John wrote, “This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13). The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is God’s promise of the future (Eph. 1:13) and His enabling for the present (Gal. 5:16). May we trust the Spirit to continue His wonderful work in us, making us more like the Jesus He came to honor (John 15:26).

CGMG ABOVE ONLY - Shake It Off

Shake It Off

SATURDAY APR. 1

Acts 28:3-6 (NIV)
Paul gathered … brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper… fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said …, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. …, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

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Immediately after surviving a major shipwreck, Apostle Paul gathered some sticks to intensify the fire which the inhabitants of the island they had become shipwrecked on had ignited for them. While placing the sticks on the fire, Apostle Paul was bitten by a snake which held on to his hand. The inhabitants of the land deemed this a bad omen. They speculated that Apostle Paul was destined to die because of some wrongdoing in his past and that since he had miraculously survived the shipwreck, the snake was intended to kill him. They were surprised when Apostle Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire.

Never allow what happens to you to shake you. Instead, by the glorious strength of God, shake them off and continue to focus on conducting the exploits that God has called and empowered you to do. Resist the urge to allow what others may think and/or say about your past to shake you. Also remain vigilant in shaking off negative thoughts. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all, Psa.34:19. You will go through whatever may come your way and emerge better on the other side. Jesus has given you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy with the assurance that 'nothing' shall by 'any means' hurt you. In Isaiah 43:2, God promised that He will be with you and that when you pass through waters, they will not overflow you; when you pass through the fire, it will not burn you.

PRAYER FOCUS: Thank God for His presence and power which resides with you and guarantees your protection and safety. Declare that nothing will ever shake or stop you from doing exploits.

      BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING PLAN: JUDGES 6-7   Empowered to do Exploits... - See more at: http://www.cgmglobal.org/aboveonly/index.php#sthash.yEuaizTg.dpuf

DCLM DAILY MANNA - DIVINE CLEANSING

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017

DIVINE CLEANSING

-LEVITICUS 14:21-32

KEY VERSE:

"This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing" (Leviticus 14:32).

As leprosy is off-putting to people, so is sin odious to God. Our text for today narrates how a person having a leprosy disease could be healed. When somebody plagued with leprosy was identified, he was excluded from the camp. Before he could be called back into the camp, he must have been healed. The plague of leprosy should be healed before the ceremony of purification starts and this has to be done with the sprinkling of blood and water. The cleansing of the leper is a representation of the absolution of a sinner. Until the leper is cleansed, he cannot enjoy fellowship with either members of the family or the entire society. In the healing and cleansing of the leper, it is to be noted that it is God who did the healing, while the cleansing was done by the priest. It is a complex ceremonial act whose result was not only to deliver from the leprosy, but to serve as an assurance to the man himself and to the whole community into which he was restored. It is in God’s position to heal and to forgive sins. We can see the cleansing of sin as illustrated in the cleansing of the leper. After cleansing, he is admitted into the congregation of God’s people. Our Lord Jesus directed the cleansed leper to go and offer for his cleansing what Moses commanded in the Old Testament. Therefore, our Saviour is the Great Physician who cures all ailments, physical or spiritual. Cleansing from sin proceeds from the blood of Jesus Christ. A leper was not accepted into the fold on the ground of his cure but on the basis of sacrifice. Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary for our sins. A mere confession of sins without the recognition and acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus will amount to a mere religious observance. As somebody who had leprosy could not have access into the congregation in the Old Testament’s dispensation, so also no sinner would be allowed into the kingdom of God. But when such comes to Jesus Christ, he will receive divine cleansing and pardon for sins committed. Repentance and cleansing from sin makes a sinner a heir of God’s family.

Thought for the day: There is divine pardon and cleansing for every sinner through the blood.

Bible Reading in one Year: MICAH 5-7

Faith Food Devotional - SEATED TOGETHER

April 1

SEATED TOGETHER

"Even when we were dead in sins, [God] hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." — EPHESIANS 2:5,6

The very act that raised the Lord from the dead also raised His Body. (The head and the body are naturally raised together.) Furthermore, the very act that seated Christ also seated His Body. Where are we sitting? In heavenly places! Right now! We’re not going to sit there sometime; God has made us sit together now in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Christ is seated at the Father’s own right hand. Therefore, we are seated at the Father’s own right hand! (The right hand is the place of authority. God carries out all of His plan and program through His right hand — through Christ, through His spiritual Body, which is the Church.) The right hand of the throne of Majesty in the heavens is the center of power of the whole universe (Heb. 8:1)! The exercising of the power of that throne was committed to the ascended Christ — and that authority belongs to us.

Confession:
God has quickened me with Christ. God has raised me up together with Him. God has made me sit together with Christ in heavenly places. As I go about in the earth, working with God in carrying out His plan, I am seated, as far as authority goes, at the Father’s right hand.

Open HEAVENS Devotional - THE HEALING NAME

THE HEALING NAME – Saturday April 1st 2017

THE HEALING NAME – Saturday April 1^st 2017

Memorise: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17

Read: Acts 3:1-9 (KJV)

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

² And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

³ Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

⁶ Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

⁷ And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Bible in one year: Leviticus 1-3, Jeremiah 5:18-6:5, Hymn: Sing hymn 2

MESSAGE:

There are many great things the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ can do in our lives, one of which is healing. It is unfortunate that many believers today, like Gehazi of old, prefer financial and material gains to power in the Name of Jesus. They trade the precious Name of Jesus Christ for the ephemeral things of life. It is also highly regrettable that this divinely exalted Name, which God the Father gave to His Son, is being despised by many today.Philippians 2:9-10 says this about the Name:

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and give him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”

Here’s good news for you: every kind of sickness in this world is included among the things that bow at the mention of the Name of Jesus.

Today’s Bible reading shows us one of the reasons why we need to give pre-eminence to the Name of Jesus Christ. Peter and John, two of the Lord’s apostles, were entering the temple at the hour of prayer, and a lame man (who was born lame) looked up to them for alms. Although they had no money, but because they knew and cherished the Name, they used its healing power to give what money could not buy to this man. In Acts 3:6^b, Peter said:

“Sliver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:  I the name of Jesus Christ of Nazarethe rise up and walk.

The result of this effective use of the Healing Name is that a lame man, who never walked all his life, began to walk and to leap! I therefore command every storm raging in your life to be still in Jesus’ Name. Have doctors written off your case? I command that sickness to leave you alone right now in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

Beloved of God, I am introducing the Healing Name to you today, and that Name is Jesus. If you have not encountered the owner of that Name, may I introduce Him to you as the Saviour of the spirit, soul and body. Through His Name, He can deliver you ailing body from the grip of any terminal disease. All you need to do is to accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour. Believe He can heal you, and He will surely heal you by His Name.

Prayer Point

Jesus the Healer, I believe in Your Healing Name; please have mercy on me and heal me today through Your Name.

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