DCLM Daily Manna 24 February 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Caring For The Brethren

TOPIC: Caring For The Brethren

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (KJV)

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

KEY VERSE: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” – (1 Corinthians 12:13)

MESSAGE:

The human body has many parts. The visible ones include the legs, arms, eyes and so on. There are others, which we cannot see like the heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, etc. Though different in their various functions, they are all coordinated and supportive of one another. None of them can be independent of others. God has so crafted the human body that there is no schism among them.

The body of Christ, the Church, is likened to the human body. With various members of different backgrounds and skills, they are supposed to work together and support one another to fulfil the will of Christ, the Head of the body.

The Church of Christ should be a place of refuge, rest and renewal, where the believer should have peace and assurance that all shall be well, irrespective of the challenges he may be facing. The psalmist said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalm 122:1). As each member of the human body concentrates on its function and does it effectively, so must every member of the body of Christ exist for the good and upliftment of one another to the glory of God.

Every believer must find out his calling and fit in for the good of all. Our work in the church must not be to pull down others, criticise or fight one another. Rather, we should “follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19). Are you contributing your quota towards the building of the body of Christ?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Together, everyone achieves more.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Corinthians 1-4

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 22 February 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — The Lord’s Supper

TOPIC: The Lord’s Supper

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (KJV)

17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

KEY VERSE: “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” – (1 Corinthians 11:25)

MESSAGE:

Many people today wonder why we should be having the Lord’s Supper. The reason is simple. Jesus Christ was about to die for the salvation of the world, ushering in a new covenant with His blood. And He desired that believers should not forget the import of this event in their fellowship.

The Lord outlined the modalities for the proper observation of the Lord’s Supper. It is to be done with unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, signifying His body and blood offered as sacrifice on the cross at Calvary.

He instituted it “the same night in which he was betrayed”. The church in Corinth had turned the Lord’s Supper into an occasion where the privileged displayed their affluence and all other forms of disorderliness. But the Apostle wrote to set things in order as to how it must be observed. This includes the directive to those that are hungry to eat at home before coming to the church to avoid coming together “unto condemnation”. Also, everyone must examine himself before partaking of it because “he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself…” (verse 29). Many fell sick while some others died for carelessly partaking in the Lord’s Supper.

Each time we come to the Lord’s Table, we must appreciate what it costs for us to be reconciled to God. We must approach the ordinance with solemnity, with hearts full of gratitude to God and with renewed resolve to follow Christ without wavering. It must be an opportunity to ensure that we are living without sin, and are ready for eternity.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What can hinder you from the Lord’s Supper will bar you from heaven.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Judges 14-17

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 21 February 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Use God’s Gifts Wisely

TOPIC: Use God’s Gifts Wisely

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 (KJV)

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

KEY VERSE: “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” – (1 Corinthians 14:19)

MESSAGE:

The arrival of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost marked the beginning of a new era. It was in fulfilment of the Lord’s promises to send “another Comforter”. It also marked the beginning of the “latter days”. The 120 disciples, who tarried in Jerusalem as the Lord had commanded, were all baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

Apostle Paul, in our text, gave instructions to the Church on the proper usage of the gift of speaking in other tongues. He counsels the Church to specialise in prophesying to edify the brethren rather than speaking in a language people will not understand except there is an interpreter. A person speaking in unknown tongues will look like “a Barbarian” to an audience that does not understand him. So it is better to speak a few meaningful words that edify than “ten thousand words in an unknown tongue”.

The essence of communication is to convey messages that can be understood. If the message is not clear or understandable, then that essence is lost. In many assemblies, language churches are established to make the message of God clearer to those who may not understand English. God wants us to understand His purpose for us so that we can benefit from His power, mercy and grace.

Speaking in tongues, therefore, is not for showmanship or a mark of high spiritual attainment. Since the mysteries of God may be revealed through tongues, believers are admonished to “forbid not to speak with tongues”, but to ensure it is done decently and in order.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Make your message simple and understandable.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Judges 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.