DCLM Daily Manna 10 June 2021 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Faithfulness, Please!

TOPIC: Faithfulness, Please!

TEXT: 1 Chronicles 9:14-22

14 And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;

15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;

16 And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.

17 And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;

18 Who hitherto waited in the king’s gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.

19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.

20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.

21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

22 All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.

KEY VERSE: “And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.” – (1 Chronicles 9:20)

MESSAGE:

Some people came to this life unsung, unknown and without any impact in the kingdom of God. Many struggle so much to have their names in the book of “Who is Who” in the world while others want to be renowned in the fields of sports, science, literature and poetry, technology, politics, entertainment and social media. All these will pass with time. Christians should strive more to ensure that their names are in God’s record.

The writer of the book of Chronicles listed some notable people as officials in the house of God. God recognises everything we do for Him whether great or small. He recognised His servants in the city and the ones that dwelt in the villages. There is no place, no matter how remote to man, that is hidden from God. He recognised even the ‘porters’ and the gate keepers! God also acknowledged the ‘rulers’. He acknowledges and rewards only faithfulness in service (Matthew 25:21). The Lord was with Phinehas because of his faithfulness and zeal. Finally, the Chronicler noted that even occupiers of the office of porters in the villages waited in their numbers as ordained by their successive leaders – Samuel and later, David.

All believers today are called to God’s service. Whatever we are called upon to do, we should do it heartily, knowing that God is the rewarder of our service. Even if what we are called to do is insignificant from the human perspective, God’s balances are different from men’s and He is the rewarder. Therefore, in our diligence, we should remain in His service, since we serve God and not man.

Are we mindful of serving God and ensuring that our names are in His book? Are we faithful in service? Let us learn the more excellent way; consistent faithfulness is all He wants.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
It’s not how big but how well.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 13-14

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 June 2021 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Transient Life

TOPIC: Transient Life

TEXT: Job 14:14-22

14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.

19 The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.

20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

KEY VERSE: “For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?” – (Job 14:16)

MESSAGE:

A lot of people spend their life as if it would not be accounted for. There are a number of things that should be noted about life. Life could be very good or very unpleasant, sweet or bitter, joyful or full of challenges, filled with opportunities or deprivations and so on. However, life is brief, momentous and transient. Life itself is a loan or an investment that we have to pay back or account for.

In the passage under consideration, Job mused, “if a man die, shall he live again?” Pondering over afterlife is the most important thing in life; and living our life in the light of eternity is the wisest decision ever. Job decided to stand up to the challenge of life and the way he chose to do that was to respond to God’s call and yield to His entreaties. His reasoning was premised on very rational grounds: God watches over every man’s acts, all iniquities are in God’s records.

Many forget God or treat Him as minor in their life whilst in riches and pleasures in this world. ‘God first’ should be the daily thought of every believer. Life is short and limited. God is going to judge every man’s act. The judgment is not going to be on our earthly acquisitions or deprivations but on our relationship with God who loaned our life to us.

What then should be our mindset? Like Job, we should desire a heart-change and respond to God’s call; sinners should genuinely repent and believers should press to a mark of a higher calling in the Lord. Only what is done with God and for God will last. Do not live only for now; live for the future, live in the light of eternity.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Who are you spending your life for? God or self?

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 11-12

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 8 June 2021 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Righteous Indignation

TOPIC: Righteous Indignation

TEXT: Amos 3:1-3

1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

KEY VERSE: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” – (Amos 3:2)

MESSAGE:

“Spare the rod and spoil the child” is a popular maxim. God called Israel His first born (Exodus 4:22). Through signs and wonders and a ‘strong hand’, He planted them in the land of Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. Like one would do to a firstborn, God satisfied Israel with good things. He protected them, supplied their needs and fought against their enemies. But like a spoilt child, Israel took God’s love for granted. God would have none of that because He has eyes too pure to behold iniquity.

Prophet Amos was sent by God to deliver His message to erring Israel. God reminded them of the redemptive work in Egypt. Because Israel had gone into unrighteousness, God asked them an obvious question: “Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

There is nothing like eternal security (that is, the idea that once we are saved, we remain forever saved irrespective whatever we do). The soul that doeth presumptuously shall be cut off from among his brethren. We need to be careful. If God spared not Israel that He referred to as the ‘only family’ He had known of all families of the earth, how can anyone imagine that God would put up with his sins and iniquities?

The fact that God has not executed His judgment upon His erring children now is because He is giving a window of opportunity, so that the sinners and backsliders may repent. If one fails to repent eventually, God will severely punish all iniquities. Remember, God is no respecter of persons.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God does not condone sins even in His children.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 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 7 June 2021 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — God’s Omnipotence

TOPIC: God’s Omnipotence

TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 2:1-11

1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

KEY VERSE: “The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up” (1 SAMUEL 2:6).

MESSAGE:

To set one’s hope on a source that turns out to be false is a most harrowing experience in life. No doubt, disappointment, failure, depression, frustration and even death result from trusting a source that is not the Ultimate Power. Challenges of life have driven many to rely on man, money, powers of darkness, self and other forces.

That passage today centres on the eye-opening prayer of praise by Hannah declaring the eternal truth about God. She started by extolling God’s holiness virtue and confirming that He is the only confirmed Rock. Hannah had been a beneficiary of God’s omnipotent power as she received a male child, Samuel, at an old age after praying to the Lord. By experience therefore, she declared the Lord God as the Source of genuine joy, the Giver of victory over the enemies, the Owner of salvation, the incomparable Rock, the ultimate Source of life and living, the Determiner of richness over austerity, the triumphant Lord over all adversaries and Lifter-up of all that trust in Him.

How then does one tap into God’s omnipotent power? How does one benefit from this ultimate Source of power? Hannah knew God as the only solution to all of life’s problems. She had strong faith in the ability and willingness of God to hear and answer His children. She therefore prayed earnestly and fervently to Him, without wavering or doubting. She made a pledge to give the product of her prayer back to God, to serve Him.

The lessons here are invaluable. God only is the Source of the ultimate and unlimited power. Trusting in Him only is the duty of all believers. He is the only one that gives freely.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Trust God to do the impossible.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 SAMUEL 6-7

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.