Foursquare Gospel Church Igbosere (Chapel of Blessing)

OUR DAILY BREAD October 20, SUNDAY NOT SECOND RATE Peter Chin Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles.  Romans 16:7 Romans 16:3–13 Isaiah 59–61; 2 Thessalonians 3 After the conclusion of the First World War, US President Woodrow Wilson was recognized as one of the most powerful leaders on earth. But few knew that after a devastating stroke in 1919, it was his wife who managed nearly all of his affairs, determining which issues should be brought to his attention. In fact, modern historians believe that for a short while, it was really Edith Wilson who served as the president of the United States. If asked to name the leaders of the early church, most of us would list Peter, Paul, and Timothy as a handful possessing well-documented gifts. But in Romans 16, Paul lists nearly forty people of diverse backgrounds—men, women, slaves, Jews, and gentiles—all of whom contributed to the life of the church i...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 19, SATURDAY STEEL AND VELVET Bill Crowder Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.  John 8:7 John 8:1–11 Isaiah 56–58; 2 Thessalonians 2 Poet Carl Sandburg wrote of former US president Abraham Lincoln, “Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, . . . who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect.” “Steel and velvet” described how Lincoln balanced the power of his office with concern for individuals longing for freedom. Only one person in all history perfectly balanced strength and gentleness, power and compassion. That man is Jesus Christ. In John 8, when confronted by the religious leaders to condemn a guilty woman, Jesus displayed both steel and velvet. He showed steel by withstanding the demands of a bloodthirsty mob, instead turning their critical eyes upon themselves. He sai...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 18, FRIDAY WHEN WE PRAISE Remi Oyedele At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.  Acts 16:26 Acts 16:25–34 Isaiah 53–55; 2 Thessalonians 1 When nine-year-old Willie was abducted from his front yard in 2014, he sang his favorite gospel song  Every Praise  over and over again. During the three-hour ordeal, Willie ignored the kidnapper’s repeated orders to keep silent as they drove around. Eventually, the kidnapper let Willie out of the car unharmed. Later, Willie described the encounter, saying that while he felt his fear give way to faith, the abductor seemed agitated by the song. Willie’s response to his dire situation is reminiscent of the experience shared by Paul and Silas. After being flogged and thrown into jail, they reacted by “praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken....

OUR DAILY BREAD October 17, THURSDAY TRUTH : BITTER OR SWEET? Kirsten Holmberg So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.  Ezekiel 3:3 Ezekiel 2:4–3:3 Isaiah 50–52; 1 Thessalonians 5 I’d had the spot on my nose for the better part of a year when I went to the doctor. The biopsy results came back days later with words I didn’t want to hear: skin cancer. Though the cancer was operable and not life-threatening, it was a bitter pill to swallow. God commanded Ezekiel to swallow a bitter pill—a scroll containing words of lament and woe (Ezekiel 2:10; 3:1–2). He was “to fill [his] stomach with it” and share the words with the people of Israel, whom God considered “obstinate and stubborn” (2:4). One would expect a scroll filled with correction to taste like a bitter pill. Yet Ezekiel describes it being “as sweet as honey” in his mouth (3:3). Ezekiel seems to have acquired a taste for God...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 16, , Wednesday FINDING A QUIET LIFE John Blase Make it your AMBITION TO lead a quiet life.  1 Thessalonians 4:11 1 Thessalonians 4:9–12 Isaiah 47–49; 1 Thessalonians 4 “What do you want to be when you grow up?” We all heard that question as children and sometimes even as adults. The question is born in curiosity, and the answer is often heard as an indication of ambition. My answers morphed over the years, starting with a cowboy, then a truck driver, followed by a soldier, and I entered college set on becoming a doctor. However, I can’t recall one time that someone suggested or I consciously considered pursuing “a quiet life.” Yet that’s exactly what Paul told the Thessalonians. First, he urged them to love one another and all of God’s family even more (1 Thessalonians 4:10). Then he gave them a general admonition that would cover whatever specific plow they put their hand to. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” (v. 11...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 15, TUESDAY HAYSTACK PRAYERS Poh Fang Chia You help us by your prayers.  2 Corinthians 1:11 2 Corinthians 1:8–11 Isaiah 45–46; 1 Thessalonians 3 Samuel Mills and four of his friends often gathered together to pray for God to send more people to share the good news of Jesus. One day in 1806, after returning from their prayer meeting, they got caught in a thunderstorm and took refuge in a haystack. Their weekly prayer gathering then became known as the Haystack Prayer Meeting, which resulted in a global mission movement. Today the Haystack Prayer Monument stands at Williams College in the US as a reminder of what God can do through prayer. Our heavenly Father is delighted when His children approach Him with a common request. It’s like a family gathering where they’re united in purpose, sharing a common burden. The apostle Paul acknowledges how God helped him through the prayers of others during a time of severe suffering: “He wi...

Theme of the Year: Covenant of Peace (Isaiah 54:10) Theme of the Month: Love One Another (John 13:34) Topic: Love as Practiced in The New Testament Church (Part 1) Love for mankind was the major reason that propelled our Lord Jesus Christ to leave His most exalted position to come in human form to show us how to live a life of true love. He demonstrated the measure of love expected to be shown by believers. Of course, there was love on earth before Jesus came to live in human form on earth. He came to raise the standard of love. In the days of Old Testament, it was reasonable and acceptable to love those who love you and hate those who hate you. But Jesus came to raise the bar such that love to other people should not be predicated on conditions. Going by the theme of this month – Love One Another, I want you to sincerely answer this question in your mind. Who is the “one another” that you must love and how do you show and live in “love” we are talking about? If the “one ...

OUR DAILY BREAD  October 14, Monday OUR DAILY BREAD STRENGTHENED IN SONG Patricia Raybon I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress.  Psalm 59:16 Psalm 59:1, 14–17 Isaiah 43–44; 1 Thessalonians 2 When French villagers helped Jewish refugees hide from the Nazis during World War II, some sang songs in the dense forest surrounding their town—letting the refugees know it was safe to come out from hiding. These brave townspeople of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon had answered the call of local pastor André Trocmé and his wife, Magda, to offer wartime refuge to Jews on their windswept plateau known as “La Montagne Protestante.” Their musical signal became just one feature of the villagers’ bravery that helped save up to 3,000 Jews from almost certain death. In another dangerous time, David sang when his enemy Saul sent nighttime assassins to his house. His use of music wasn’t a signal; rather, it was his song of gratitude to God h...