Topic: Everyone Is Liable [DCLM Daily Manna 6 September 2020 Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Ezekiel 18:1-18 (KJV)

1 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?

3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

8He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

10 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,

12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,

13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife,

16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

Key Verse: “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” – (Ezekiel 18:4)

MESSAGE:

According to Charles Spurgeon, “If in the courts of justice, a thief, when called up, should argue, ‘Well, I am not so great a thief as some; there are to be found some who have been thieves longer than I and if there be one conviction in the book against me, there are some that have a dozen convictions against them.’ No magistrate would acquit a man on such an excuse as that, because it would be tantamount to his admission of a degree of guilt, though he might try to excuse himself because he had not reached a higher degree”. It is so with every sinner. All have sinned. Another man’s sins cannot excuse you; you must stand on your own feet at the day of judgment.

The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel in the text to stop an erroneous belief paraded with a popular proverb. The saying was that when the fathers sinned, the punishment would be transferable to their children. God declared that all souls belong to Him – the soul of the father, as well as the soul of the son. Any soul that sins and does not repent will surely die. Everyone is liable for their sins.

Despite the diversity of human goals, aspirations and means of survival, one thing remains universally essential: the well-being of the soul. This is one area of life that you will never be excused for neglecting. While everything else that matters to us in this life will someday cease to be, our immortal souls will continue to live on, whether in eternal bliss or eternal grief.

That you attend church regularly, do charitable works in the community and give alms to the poor does not automatically translate into getting the approval of God in heaven. Repentance and faith in Christ are necessary because no one can bear your sins for you: everyone will stand in judgment one day.

Thought For The Day: All souls will face God individually at judgment.

The Bible In One Year: Psalms 92-100

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: A Prophet Like Moses [DCLM Daily Manna 4 September 2020 Devotional By Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Deuteronomy 18:15-22 (KJV)

15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Key Verse: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” – (Deuteronomy 18:18)

MESSAGE:

Our text reveals the promise of God to give His people a Prophet that will instruct, direct and warn them. This became necessary so as to teach them how to inquire from God and learn His ways. Though God sent other prophets after Moses, none of them fits the description of the promised Prophet. After the ministry of Moses, the Scripture affirms that none of God’s prophets was like him. Thus, this promise can only be applied to Christ, the Messiah.

Moses was faithful to God but Christ “was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house” (Hebrews 3:3). Christ and Moses both have mediatory, prophetic and priestly offices. Other similarities are their peculiar excellence of ministry, as well as variety and magnitude of miracles. They were acknowledged as prophets mighty in deeds and words before God and all the people. They had closeness and familiar communion with God, including great followings as leaders of the people of God. Moses was a divine instrument used by God in giving the Law. Christ gave the new commandments in the gospels and Acts of Apostles on which the Christian Church is founded.

The implication of Christ as the promised Prophet is that He would be the patent Mouthpiece of God as contained in the original promise. Jesus Christ is, therefore, the eternal Word from God. To believe that He is a Prophet is right but to fail to do what He says is bad. Acceptance of and obedience to this great Prophet is obligatory. Therefore, anyone who neglects the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Prophet and Word of God, is doomed eternally.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Acceptance of, and obedience to Christ is obligatory.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 85-88

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.