Topic: Your Blessings Are Reserved [Sunday August 9, 2015]
Memorise:The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant place; yea, I have a goodly heritage. –Psalm 16 :6 Read: Psalm 16:5-9 (KJV)
5. The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7. I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Bible In One Year:Genesis 3-4; John 11:1-27
MESSAGE:
One thing that robs many people of peace is the uncertainty of the future. If you are living in right standing with God, your future is guaranteed not by man or by the economy of your nation, but by God. Hence, Isaiah 3:10 says:
“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”
Are you saved, sanctified and living a life that pleases God daily? If you are, then you have no reason to be worried about your tomorrow. Your future is secured in Christ. This is the reason why Jesus charged His own not to worry over what to eat, drink or wear (Matthew 6:25-34).With this assurance, Apostle Paul also inPhilippians 4:6 said:
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.”
Are you afraid of what your future will bring? Fear not! Your tomorrow will be great. If you are truly in Christ and you are not toying with sin, your tomorrow shall be far greater than your today! Your end shall be glorious.
Another reason why the righteous have peace is the assurance that they will prosper. Our Heavenly Father in Isaiah 1:19 promised that:
“If ye be willing and obedience, ye shall eat the good of the land:”
If you are holy, your portion of divine blessings is reserved for you. Part of the wealth of this world has been reserved by God just for you. Nobody can take your portion from you. When you know this, you will not be moved or be afraid, no matter what you go through. No wonder today’s Bible reading says that while God was sharing land to His children, a good portion, very fertile and fruitful, was allotted to you. It also assures you that God is the One who secures your blessing so that no one can steal it from you. As you live in righteousness before Him, simply put your trust in Him. Ask Him to lead you to your reserved land. Nothing will take your reserved portion of blessings away from you. Simply please God by regularly worshipping and thanking Him; win souls and support the expansion of His kingdom on earth. As you do these, He will surely lead you into the portion of divine inheritance reserved for you.
Action Point: Thank God for reserving a blessing for you in His safe heaven.
Open Heavens 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.
Topic: Valiant Soldiers Of Christ [Saturday August 8, 2015]
Text: 1 Chronicles 11:26-47
Key Verse: “Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem”(1 Chronicles 11:26).
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) once said: “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they lie in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” A brave spirit like this, if found in an army, could be the determinant for victory, if God is in it.
This, then, was the privilege of David as God prepared him to be king over all Israel. Great men came to David and serve with him to make his kingdom strong. The list is long but they are all referred to as valiant men in our text. They were tough and no seekers of pleasure. They preferred rejection, danger and every hardship of life than living under the oppressive hands of King Saul. They fought alongside David until he was made king and the kingdom was established under him.True Christians are not only followers but also soldiers of Christ. We are to be brave and steadfast in our faith and service to the Lord. A steadfast Christian soldier is never a deserter. He endures hardness and is never a lover of the world or the attraction it holds. He loves the Lord. We cannot compare with valiant men of our text whose names are in the Book of Life and are now gone to their rewards if we are often cast down in despair and gloom at the slightest experience of pain and difficulty in life.
As David’s great men individually distinguished themselves in battle, and were qualified to be included in the list of great men by their deeds of bravery, so must we fight the good fight of faith and overcome sin, self and Satan. We must manfully fight on to rescue perishing souls in spite of persecution and intimidation that will become common in these last days.
Bible In One Year: John 19-21
Thought For The Day: There is a divine roll call, strive to enter in.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
Topic: Favour Brings Divine Focus [Saturday August 8, 2015]
Memorise: And as Jesus passed by he saw a man which was blind from his birth.– John 9:1
Read:John 9:1-7
1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Bible In One Year:Genesis 1-2; John 10:22-42
MESSAGE:
John 9:1 talks about a man who was born blind. He had been blind for over 40 years, but when his day of favour came, Jesus saw him. This was not an accidental glance; rather, God directed the attention He gives to the whole universe to this blind man. The favour of God brought this blind man under divine focus. Through this same favour, Esther also came under special focus (Esther 5:1-8). King Ahasuerus did not just see Esther; he focused his attention on her. This was not ordinary king; he was a very busy king overseeing 120 nations. As busy as he was, when he looked at Esther, it was not just a passing glance but a life-changing glance of favour.
Similarly, in John 5:2-6, in the midst of a multitude of sick but expectant folks, there was a man who had been there for 38 years without help. Jesus saw him and singled him out of the crowd. Among all the multitude of people having your particular type of problem, favour will locate you today and you will be singled out for a miracle in Jesus’ Name. There was a particular man who had two PhDs but still could not get a job for more than six years. By the time he was brought for prayers, he looked like a mad man. He looked like someone who never stepped into a school, because he had gone through a lot. We introduced him to Jesus and he willingly accepted Him into his life. Not long after, the people in his local government, who had been looking for someone to employ, suddenly took interest in him. What several application letters could not do became settled when God focused his attention on him, and his long pressing need was met. For so long it might appear you have been going unnoticed. You have called out to God, fasted, praised and worshipped Him sincerely from your heart, but it appears as if God has either turned a deaf ear or your prayers have never passed the ceiling of your house.
You are becoming discouraged as a result of this, and you are wondering if your prayer efforts are of any use. Do not be discouraged! God is not only looking towards your direction right now, He is also paying proper attention to you. Your situation is about to turn around for good. Hold on to the Lord in faith. Give Him more thanks, praise, worship and adoration. Wait on God until your change comes!
“If a man die, shall he live again? all the days on my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” –Job 14:14
Action Point: Ask God to remember all innocent people who are unjustly awaiting trial in prisons. Ask Him to grant them favour and set them free.
Open Heavens 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.
This past Sunday the Grand Ballroom of the historic Mayflower Hotel, nicknamed the hotel of Presidents, was transformed into a church sanctuary as entertainment industry executives and music personalities testified about the life and ground-breaking television career of the Ambassador to Dominica, otherwise known as Dr. Bobby Jones, the founder and host of Black Entertainment Television’s (BET) “Bobby Jones Gospel,” the longest running program in cable television history.
The biggest names in gospel music from multi-platinum artist Kirk Franklin to eight-time Grammy Award nominated singer Vickie Winans, who served as mistress of ceremonies, crammed the luxurious ballroom to tell humorous anecdotes about Jones and how he gave gospel artists a national television platform while also serving as the cornerstone for the then fledgling BET cable network in 1980.
BET founder Robert Johnson sent a videotaped message about how Dr. Jones’ program was the network’s first show and was just what it needed when it was getting off the ground. Current CEO Debra Lee recalled first meeting Dr. Jones when she was BET’s general counsel and was charged with conferring with Dr. Jones’ on a new contract during intense negotiations. BET Networks’ President of Music Programming and Specials Stephen Hill was on hand and explained how Dr. Jones approached him several months ago to plan “an exit strategy” for the program. He also affirmed that the program was not cancelled and that Dr. Jones was not forced to retire. “I wanted to leave at the top of my game,” Dr. Jones told a studio audience between show tapings at BET during the weekend.
As guests dined on savory salmon, haricot vert and New York cheesecake with a passion fruit glaze, the room was serenaded by the likes of singer Isaac Carree, Season Two “Sunday Best” winner Y’Anna Crawley and Dr. Jones’ own Nashville Super Choir performing a medley of songs. Dr. Jones closed the evening with appreciative remarks that teetered between tears and laughter.
Over the course of the last three and a half decades, Dr. Jones has not only given household gospel names such as Yolanda Adams and Franklin their national TV debuts; but he has also hosted an assortment of mainstream celebrities ranging from country music legend Loretta Lynn to R&B Diva Patti LaBelle on the show. The show just taped it’s final season of shows over the last two weeks with big name performances by current gospel megastars such as Casey J, Pastor Charles Jenkins, Israel Houghton alongside legends such as Adams, Franklin and Fred Hammond. The new and final season of “Bobby Jones Gospel” premieres in October.
Wouldn’t you like to pray effective prayers that are always in line with the will of God and which always hit the mark? Well, when you pray in the Spirit, you can.
You see, when we pray in English or our known language, and according to our limited understanding, we can pray amiss. Sometimes, our heads get in the way and we find ourselves asking, “Isn’t it selfish of me to pray like this?” or “Am I praying in line with God’s will?”
My friend, that is why God gives us the gift of praying in tongues. When we pray in tongues or in the Holy Spirit, we can never pray out of God’s will because the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God”.
In other words, we pray perfect prayers in line with God’s will when we pray in tongues. And the Bible goes on to tell us that “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him”. (1 John 5:14–15)
Isn’t it wonderful that God has put in you the Holy Spirit who prays perfectly? He knows the heart of God and precisely what you need. And He makes intercession for you because He loves you very much.
The Holy Spirit is like your lawyer or legal counselor. He knows what belongs to you legally. He knows what your blood-bought rights are in Christ. Best of all, He knows exactly how to enforce them in your life!
Beloved, when you pray in tongues, you allow the Holy Spirit to pray perfect prayers through you. He pleads your case before God. He knows where you have gone wrong and what the root of the problem is. He also has the wisdom, solution and power to win your case. With the Holy Spirit on your side, you cannot but come out victorious!
Thought For The Day
We pray perfect prayers in line with God’s will when we pray in tongues.
In a Post via the Social Media on Instagram Chris Brown the award-winning singer blamed the devil for trying to ruin his life and also claims he’s heard God speak to him for the very first time.
Here is the Message By CHRIS
“When u tired of the fucking devil ruining your life and u hear God speak for the first time.
No one knows what I deal with on a day to day. The average man wouldn’t hesitate to blow his fucking brains out but that’s the cowards way out… Most won’t understand the genius and beauty in change and learning and the people who have devilish intentions will win in the short term. My soul will always be pure of heart.
What’s on the surface always looks like one big party but inside there is a little boy looking for help and guidance. People say “be a man”. Yeah, that’s right but it doesn’t take away any pain you really go through. I just wanna stay out the way and do music. Most importantly and great father.
Here @Triumphant we say to Chris …Serving God Pays and we Believe that seeking God first should be the ultimate goal of any living individual on Earth..
R&B singer Chris Brown, left, appears in Los Angeles Superior Court with his attorney Mark Geragos, on Monday, March 17, 2014. Brown will spend another month in jail after a judge said Monday he was told the singer made troubling comments in rehab about being good at using guns and knives. The singer was arrested on Friday, March 14, 2014, after he was dismissed from a Malibu facility where he was receiving treatment for anger management, substance abuse and issues related to bipolar disorder. (AP Photo/Lucy Nicholson, Pool)
Nigeria Gospel Pop Singer, Frank Edwards and Legendary American worship Singer, Don moen have collaborated to produce a five track EP that will be released this year.
Frank Speaking “it’s more like a father and son relationship because i grew up watching Don moen on Tv and listening to his music”Frank Also revealed “His music inspired my writing and creativity and it is exceptional and am sure you will love to hear Don sing in Igbo and he just sang like an Igbo man.
Don Moen Also Said “We’ve been talking about a project together for over a year now and it worked out for me to be in Lagos today.We are working on an EP, five songs, we were all day today at the studio and we did three songs. we wrote a song together.. we are exited about the Project.
The Ministry of Music is one of the most vital ministries in the local church and should be viewed as a sacred office. Discovering your call begins with a DESIRE to be used by God to impact the local church and the world around you.
There are two words that will help you understand the call and vision God has for your music ministry.
Call: A divine appointment to ministry or service.
Vision: A supernatural revelation that conveys the plan and purpose of God.
Webster’s New World Dictionary defines “vision” as “a mental image, the ability to perceive something not actually visible, as through mental acuteness or keen foresight.”
The following outline is designed to help you discern where you are and to navigate where you need to be.
Prerequisites:
1. You must belong to a local church (Heb. 10:25). No church, no ministry!
2. You must be in good-standing with your church (Mat. 18:15-17).
Twelve Steps To Discovering Your Call:
1. Know that you’re a vital part of the body of Christ. No one else can do what YOU do, you are unique and an essential part of the body of Christ (Rom. 12:4,5; 1 Cor. 12:12-21).
2. Seek the Lord for a vision (Prov. 3:6). Know the nature of music ministry the Lord has called you to (church choir, worship-team, prison, studio, etc.).
3. Entrust your vision to God (Prov. 16:3). The Amplified Bible states, “He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to his will.”
4. Share your vision with people you can trust (Prov. 11:14; 12:15; 15:22). Wise counsel provides safeguards in your life.
A. Pastor
B. Minister Of Music
C. Friend
5. Surround yourself with people that share your vision (I Cor 3:9). You should not be working for God ALONE, find someone to help you launch and develop your ministry.
6. Stay in an atmosphere of teaching and training (Eph. 4:11,12). Keep yourself exposed to sound biblical teaching. Sound: that which is suitable for practical Christian living.
7. Seek to glorify God (Col. 3:17). This is an ATTITUDE. Your motive must be pure. The phrase “in the name of” means, to express the thoughts, or
speak with the authority of the named individual. To glorify God literally means to DEMONSTRATE HIS ATTRIBUTES.
8. Be ministry minded (Mat. 20:28). Be sensitive to the NEEDS of the people. Your sensitivity to people is solely based on your sensitivity to God.
9. Depend on the Spirit of God to empower you (1 Sam. 16:11-23). The anointing of God is essential to you functioning in the Ministry of Music. When you’re anointed by God, other people can VERIFY it (vs. 18). You will be identified as one whom God is with (vs. 18).
10. Maintain a life of purity (2 Tim. 2:19-21; 2 Corinthians 7:1). Right-living insures your usefulness to God.
11. Don’t neglect your gift (1 Tim. 4:14). The gift that God has given you is to be GIVEN AWAY! The body of Christ is depending on your contribution to the kingdom of God.
12. Keep your family BEFORE your ministry. Maintain balance between family and ministry. Be careful not to do ministry at the expense of your family. There’s a difference between serving God and serving God so much that you are neglecting your family. The Lord never intended for us to serve Him and let our families suffer in the process. You will know when your priorities are out of order when your wife and children begin to complain about your excessive absence. Your family is your FIRST ministry!
The Four Voices:
As you begin to sense the direction you should be going in, understanding the Four Voices will help provide a level of guidance.
1) The Voice of the Spirit (inward impression)
You always know when God is speaking to you because His prompting will burn within you.
2) The Voice of Reason (common sense)
Often times we don’t use common sense when making decisions. For example, common sense would involve looking at your skills relative to the area of ministry you’re interested in.
3) The Voice of Friends (trusted friends)
If you surround yourself with people that have your best interests at heart, they will provide the necessary guidance you need (Prov. 11:14; 12:15; 15:22).
4) The Voice of Opportunity (circumstances)
Be aware of the doors the Lord will open for you. He specializes in orchestrating circumstances around you so that you can see His provision (1 Cor.16:9; Col. 4:3). The word “doors” in scripture are symbolic of opportunities. Remember, vision precedes provision!
KEY VERSE: “Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:19).
Being on God’s side entails a life of righteousness; and His Word states that “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD.” If your steps are ordered by the Lord, you are guaranteed a delightful destiny.
David was tucked away in a Bethlehem pasture land, tending sheep when God spotted him as replacement for King Saul. Even when God sent Prophet Samuel to Jesse’s house to anoint the chosen one, Jesse fielded all his sons except David, the youngest. At Samuel’s insistence, the young lad was fetched from the field and got anointed. At that time, God’s Spirit departed from Saul and he was troubled with an evil spirit. He accepted the recommendation of his servants to have a skillful musician to administer musical therapy whenever he got emotionally unstable. They recommended David because he was proficient, plucky, prudent and pious. The most important of these was that “the LORD is with him.”
By that arrangement, God brought David from pasture land to the palace – to get used to palace life and governance. Similarly, Joseph trod the tortuous path of hatred by his brethren, household servant and eventually prisoner in Egypt before God made him a prime minister in the then most powerful nation. Moses was a hopeless fugitive, rusting in the backwoods of Midian when God called him to go and deliver Israel. Gideon, the least in a poor family, was timidly threshing wheat in the valley when God picked him to save Israel from the Midianites.
All these people and others were godly and had their paths charted by God Himself. If you are truly on God’s side, you do not need to secure good ranking by struggle, eye-service, craftiness or other carnal means. Do your work and wait on Him, He will order your steps to a delightful destiny.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOHN 16 – 18
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If you desire to get to where God is leading you, go at His pace.
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Topic: Your Blessings Are Reserved [Sunday August 9, 2015]
