DCLM Daily Manna 13 September 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Fury On Rebels

TOPIC: Fury On Rebels (DCLM Daily Manna 13 September 2022)

TEXT: Ezekiel 20:1-9 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and sat before me.

2 Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,

3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.

4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God;

6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

KEY VERSE: “But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt” (Ezekiel 20:8).

MESSAGE:

According to Charles R. Swindoll, “When a man refuses to yield himself to God, he creates certain conditions, not only for himself but for others as well, which God has ordained for harm… The absence of God is destructive to human life. That absence is God’s wrath. And God cannot withhold it. He sets man’s sin and His wrath in the same frame.”

Certain elders of Israel, in our text, came to Prophet Ezekiel to inquire from the Lord of the affliction they were going through. The Lord, through the prophet, informed them that they did not need to inquire of Him but to cast off their abominations and forsake the idol of Egypt. The Lord had given Israel this warning whilst they were in the wilderness but they rebelled and would not hearken unto Him. Though the Lord promised to pour out His fury upon them to accomplish His anger, He restrained Himself because of His name’s sake that it should not be polluted among the heathen.

This shows the merciful nature of the God we serve. But the problem with man is that he always misconstrues this merciful characteristic of God. He forgets that He is a consuming fire and that He is able to unleash judgment upon the rebellious in accordance with their deeds. Wrongdoers, if they fail to repent, will taste of God’s fury.

It is imperative that we heed God’s warnings and steer clear of abominations and idolatry. Failure to do so will lead to condemnation and judgment. We must avoid the mistakes of the nation of Israel, who pretended to seek God’s will while they practically disobeyed it. God loves sincerity. Hypocrites cannot abide in His presence. We need to seek Him with a genuine heart and motive before we can find Him.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Rebellious and unrepentant sinners will taste God’s fury.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 11-13

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

DCLM Daily Manna 12 September 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — The Lord Knows Your Situation

TOPIC: The Lord Knows Your Situation (DCLM Daily Manna 12 September 2022)

TEXT: 2 Kings 14:17-28 (KJV)

17 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

18 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

19 Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.

20 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.

24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.

26 For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.

27 And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

KEY VERSE: “For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel” (2 Kings 14:26).

MESSAGE:

When you look at birds in a cage, you will notice that these creatures entirely depend on those who feed them. They cannot help themselves; if grains and water are not supplied, they will die. Yet, they sit and sing with all their might. They never think that their keeper will fail them.

From the text, we read of the reign and death of Amaziah in Judah and the coronation of his son Azariah, who built Elath and restored it to Judah. During the reign of Jeroboam II, the son of Joash, he did evil in the sight of the Lord but he was used to restore the coast of Israel, from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the plain. This was done to fulfil the word of the Lord, which He spoke through Jonah, the prophet. He had compassion on Israel because of their affliction and they had no one to help them. That being the case, God used Jeroboam to restore the coast so that Israel could return and inhabit the land without fear.

Believers in Christ, though assured of God’s continual favour, protection and other manifold blessings, may have experiences contrary to what they expect. Most times, these stormy situations are orchestrated by the devil to divert their attention from what the Lord has ordained them to do and to divert the plan of God for their lives.

The Lord, in His infinite knowledge and mercies, has made available to you many promises in the Bible, which you can hold on to in times of turbulence. You need to trust the Lord and rely on His precious promises no matter what betides. Remember, God knows your situation. His mighty providence cannot fail as long as you commit yourself and your needs to Him in faith.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God’s providence never fails His children at any time.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 8-10

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

DCLM Daily Manna 11 September 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — By Sin Hinders Prayers

TOPIC: Sin Hinders Prayers (DCLM Daily Manna 11 September 2022)

TEXT: Ezekiel 20:27-38 (KJV)

27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28 For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name whereof is called Bamah unto this day.

30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.

32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

33 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.

37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

KEY VERSE: “For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you” (Ezekiel 20:31).

MESSAGE:

Prayer is a great gift from God, which many saints of old have made effective use of, to rewrite destinies, restructure situations and turn around negative circumstances.

In our text, Israel had gone into idolatry and built high places where they go to worship idols and make their sons to pass through the fire. They forgot the mighty deliverance from Egypt and the disobedience of their fathers which led to their destruction in the wilderness. Whenever they were oppressed by other nations, they would remember God and seek Him temporarily. The Lord, in His wrath, pronounced judgment on the rebels and refused to be enquired of by them.

Truly, sin is the greatest hindrance to prayers and a greater enemy of the soul than the devil himself. It is the root cause of sicknesses and afflictions. It exposes the sinner to satanic manipulations and demonic influences. God told the children of Israel, “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you” (Jeremiah 5:25). Sin will block the way to progress and promotion for anyone who indulges in it. Little wonder many prayers are not answered today.

The quickest way to get out of satanic bondage and affliction is to come out of sin. Salvation is strictly a personal experience. It is not transferable or obtained by proxy. The sinner must confess his sins and forsake them. Those who have right standing with God do not need intermediaries to talk with Him; all they need is simple faith. By so doing, their prayers will be steadily answered and situations changed.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The greatest hindrance to prayers is sin; not Satan.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 5-7

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

DCLM Daily Manna 10 September 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — By Choice, Not By Chance

TOPIC: By Choice, Not By Chance (DCLM Daily Manna 10 September 2022)

TEXT: Ezekiel 20:10-26 (KJV)

10 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.

13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

19 I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.

21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.

KEY VERSE: “And I gave them my statutes, and showed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.” – (Ezekiel 20:11).

MESSAGE:

Israel, the chosen nation, was delivered by God’s strong and mighty hand from Egyptian bondage and taken to a land flowing with milk and honey. Instead of being grateful for their deliverance and live in obedience to His commandments, Israel rebelled and went into idolatry. The statutes and judgments given by God were for the well-being of the people. The Sabbaths were also given as a sign between God and the nation to make them know that He is the Lord that sanctified them. Israel’s choice of rebellion and disobedience incurred God’s wrath and many of them perished in the wilderness.

Life is about choices, which shape our lives. There are choices over which you have no control such as when, where and how you are born; the family you are born into, your life during childhood, the schools you attend as a growing child, and so on. Aside these, there are several other significant choices you make in life, which have the potential to transform you. Therefore, there is need to be wise in your choices.

The most important life-impacting choice everyone has to make is where to spend eternity, with no opportunity to change one’s mind after death. Today, you have a choice of living according to the word of God, obeying His statutes and commandment or living to suit yourself.

Many, who have not been saved, live in self-will, rebellion and disobedience to the commandments of God. But the great day of God’s wrath is coming. A sinner must make a choice to repent and receive forgiveness from God, live in obedience and yield completely to His will. That is the only way to avoid His impending wrath on unrepentant sinners and backsliders.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Choices shape life and determine eternity.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 3-4

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

DCLM Daily Manna 9 September 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Modelling The Right Behaviour

TOPIC: Modelling The Right Behaviour (DCLM Daily Manna 9 September 2022)

TEXT: 2 Kings 15:27-38 (KJV)

27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.

28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

33 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

35 Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the Lord.

36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

37 In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

KEY VERSE: “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.” – 2 Kings 15:34.

MESSAGE:

The process of teaching by example is called modelling. It is the best form of child training as it moulds children’s behaviour more than issuing commands and far more than corporal punishment. When parents fail to model biblical and godly behaviour before their children, they will be confused and misled; and as a result, they will become unprofitable to God, their parents and the society.

The passage today reveals the lives of two kings of Judah and Israel. Pekah, the son of Remaliah who reigned in Israel, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He continued in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin by worshipping idols. Pekah modelled his reign after Jeroboam. Reigning almost simultaneously with Pekah was Jotham, the son of Uzziah. His mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok, the priest. He “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done”. Jotham modelled his life and reign after his father and godly mother.

Modelling Christian virtues such as honesty, respect, meekness, goodness, love, forgiveness, patience, giving, compassion, etc., is crucial to effective parenting. Just as Jesus Christ is the perfect Model for all Christians to emulate, every Christian parent ought to be a model or pacesetter, who influences their children in positive ways according to biblical standards.

You can never model biblical behaviour until you realise that godly parenting is a ministry full of different experiences. Therefore, allow God to teach you how to impact your children’s lives through a practical Christian lifestyle.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Be a biblical model children can imitate.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 1 – 2

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.