daily devotional by Oswald Chamber

The Call of God
February 1, 2017
The Call of God

Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel… —1 Corinthians 1:17

Paul states here that the call of God is to preach the gospel. But remember what Paul means by “the gospel,” namely, the reality of redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are inclined to make sanctification the goal of our preaching. Paul refers to personal experiences only by way of illustration, never as the end of the matter. We are not commissioned to preach salvation or sanctification— we are commissioned to lift up Jesus Christ (see John 12:32). It is an injustice to say that Jesus Christ labored in redemption to make me a saint. Jesus Christ labored in redemption to redeem the whole world and to place it perfectly whole and restored before the throne of God. The fact that we can experience redemption illustrates the power of its reality, but that experience is a byproduct and not the goal of redemption. If God were human, how sick and tired He would be of the constant requests we make for our salvation and for our sanctification. We burden His energies from morning till night asking for things for ourselves or for something from which we want to be delivered! When we finally touch the underlying foundation of the reality of the gospel of God, we will never bother Him anymore with little personal complaints.

The one passion of Paul’s life was to proclaim the gospel of God. He welcomed heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation for only one reason— these things kept him unmovable in his devotion to the gospel of God.

Wisdom From Oswald Chambers

I have no right to say I believe in God unless I order my life as under His all-seeing Eye.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 27-28; Matthew 21:1-22

OUR DAILY BREAD DAILY DEVOTIONAL, February 1 2017

Always in His Care

 February 1 2017

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalm 32:8

On the day our youngest daughter was flying from Munich to Barcelona, I visited my favorite flight tracking website to follow her progress. After I entered her flight number, my computer screen showed that her flight had crossed Austria and was skirting the northern part of Italy. From there the plane would fly over the Mediterranean, south of the French Riviera toward Spain, and was scheduled to arrive on time. It seemed that the only thing I didn’t know was what the flight attendants were serving for lunch!
Why did I care about my daughter’s location and circumstances? Because I love her. I care about who she is, what she’s doing, and where she’s going in life.
In Psalm 32, David celebrated the marvel of God’s forgiveness, guidance, and concern for us. Unlike a human father, God knows every detail of our lives and the deepest needs of our hearts. The Lord’s promise to us is, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (v. 8).
Whatever our circumstances today, we can rely on God’s presence and care because “the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him” (v. 10).

Dear Father in heaven, thank You for watching over me in love and guiding me along Your path today.

We are never out of God’s sight and His loving care.

INSIGHT: Psalm 32 is an interesting look into the covenant relationship the believer has with the living God. King David, the writer of this psalm, is aware of his own personal sins and the need for confession and forgiveness. This spiritual connection with the living God is not simply a positive experience but includes God’s chastisement that leads to confession and restoration (vv. 4–5). Yet even within the ups and downs of our walk of faith, we have the assurance of God’s watchful care and provision.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

On the day our youngest daughter was flying from Munich to Barcelona, I visited my favorite flight tracking website to follow her progress. After I entered her flight number, my computer screen showed that her flight had crossed Austria and was skirting the northern part of Italy. From there the plane would fly over the Mediterranean, south of the French Riviera toward Spain, and was scheduled to arrive on time. It seemed that the only thing I didn’t know was what the flight attendants were serving for lunch!
Why did I care about my daughter’s location and circumstances? Because I love her. I care about who she is, what she’s doing, and where she’s going in life.
whatever our circumstances today, we can rely on God's presence and care
In Psalm 32, David celebrated the marvel of God’s forgiveness, guidance, and concern for us. Unlike a human father, God knows every detail of our lives and the deepest needs of our hearts. The Lord’s promise to us is, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (v. 8).
Whatever our circumstances today, we can rely on God’s presence and care because “the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him” (v. 10).

Dear Father in heaven, thank You for watching over me in love and guiding me along Your path today.

We are never out of God’s sight and His loving care.

INSIGHT: Psalm 32 is an interesting look into the covenant relationship the believer has with the living God. King David, the writer of this psalm, is aware of his own personal sins and the need for confession and forgiveness. This spiritual connection with the living God is not simply a positive experience but includes God’s chastisement that leads to confession and restoration (vv. 4–5). Yet even within the ups and downs of our walk of faith, we have the assurance of God’s watchful care and provision.

 
 Read Psalm 32:1-11, Bible in a year: Exodus 27-28; Matthew 21:1-22

by David McCasland

DCLM DAILY MANNA

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017

The Defender Of The Destitute

-1 SAMUEL 22:1-5

Key Verse:

"And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men" (1 Samuel 22:2).

 

Our text today dwells on the travails of David in the hands of Saul, who was envious of his military exploits, especially the defeat of Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Spurred by jealousy, Saul persecuted David, "the man after God’s own heart." He wanted to kill David and made several attempts on his life. But David had a Defender and a place of Refuge that foiled all the attempts of Saul, the human king of Israel. David’s Defender is the King of all kings. At this point, he fled to "the cave Adullam" and upon the prophet’s counsel, he came "into the forest of Hareth that is in Judah. Despite his being persecuted by Saul, the virtues of David and his leadership qualities were well appreciated by the Israelites especially the house of Judah. Hence, when he "escaped to the cave Adullam" as revealed in out text, the people "went down thither to him." The incident confirms the Scriptures which say that the gift of a man will make a way for him. The people recognized God’s call in the life of David and so they flocked to him. He became the captain of the destitute and the vulnerable people in society. This role of becoming the captain of the helpless, the destitute and the vulnerable points to the role the Lord Jesus Christ plays in our lives today. David has gone but Christ is here for you and me. He is the Saviour of man, the Defender of the defenseless and the destitute. He is the Friend of sinners. Jesus is our Burden Bearer, the One Who can help you in a way no one else can do. Run to Him and you will find solace.

Thought for the day: Jesus is the indispensable Helper that we all need to run to.

Bible Reading in one Year: PSALM 1-10

 

Pastor W.F Kumuyi

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS

FREE INDEED – Wednesday February 1^st 2017

Memorise: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36
Read: John 8:31-36 (KJV)

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Bible in one year: Luke 12-13, Isaiah 28:14-29, Hymn: Sing hymn 11

MESSAGE

A lot of people go to unbelievable an unimaginable places seeking for solutions to their numerous problems and challenges, but all to no avail. Some people even go to the devil to find freedom. How can you seek freedom from an entity in bondage? Today, I pray for you that every wrong avenue from which you have been seeking freedom will be shut in Jesus’ Name. The Almighty God will show you solutions to the challenges confronting you in Jesus’ Name. It is often said that you cannot give what you don’t have. This is very true, and that is why you need to run to Jesus for all of your needs. There is no question in your life that He does not have an answer to. There is no problem He cannot solve, no sickness He cannot heal and no negative report that Jesus cannot overturn. There is no pit dug for you that He cannot close, neither is there any weapon fashioned against you that He cannot raise a standard against.


Beloved, it’s only in Jesus that you can have true freedom. If you really want to be free, you need to become a disciple of His. A disciple of Jesus is a follower of His person and principles. Open Heavens 2017 Wedne There are many people who go to church and deliverance meetings who are not disciples of Jesus. They are just among the multitudes who are interested in His miracles and blessing, and yet have no interest in making Him their personal Lord and Saviour. Becoming a disciple of Jesus is a personal decision wherein an individual has to make up his mind to respond to the love of God. It is accepting to be on the Lord’s side. It is a deliberate intention to pay close attention to the word of God and allowing your life to be guided by it. This is the only way your freedom can be guaranteed. Over and over again you hear in adverts that tobacco smoking is dangerous to health, yet some people have remained under its bondage. Even some medical doctors, who know the serious negative effects of smoking, cannot help themselves from the bondage of this habit. Today, there shall be an end to every habit that is injurious to your life in Jesus’ Name. Come to Jesus and surrender to Him absolutely. Only after doing this will you enjoy total freedom from all bondage of strange voices, satanic oppression, obsession, suppression and depression. He is the only Truth that can set you free. Once you are set free in Jesus and you continue to abide in Him, no one can put you back in bondage again. An end has come to all the works of the devil in your life. Now is the dawn of a new beginning. No matter how much you have been afflicted by the agents of hell, your freedom has finally come in Jesus’ Name. I release the power of God to deliver you from all demonic attacks right now, in Jesus’ Name. Open heavens 2017

Prayer Point

Thank you Father for the victory You have given me through Christ Jesus.

Wednesday 1 February 2017 ,Open Heavens Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye