*DAILY DEW 1/JULY/2023* *THE ERROR OF BALAAM* (I) _Key Bible Text:_ *"Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed."* (Numbers 22:6 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ HIRING THE ASSASSIN OF A CURSES After the Jewish people wandered 40 years in the desert, they camped at the border of Moab as they got ready to enter the Promised Land. The Moabites were scared because the Jews had defeated the Moabites’ guardians, the Emori. Moab and Midian banded together and appointed a Balak as king over them. Balak recognized that this was a supernatural power struggle as much as anything else, so he hired Balaam "from Aram, out of the mountains of the east," to curse them. Balak asked him to curse Israel in exchange for a reward. Balaam said he needed God’s permission. God said, “Who are these men?” He wasn’t confused; it’s an invitation to a conversation, much like, “What have you done?” (Adam) and “Where is your brother?” (Cain) And Balaam actually steps up to the plate. He’s honest. He tells God they want him to curse the Israelites so they can drive them out. God’s response is very clear: “You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed” (verse 12). So Balaam tells the men he can’t go, but he doesn’t tell them that he’s not allowed to curse them. He just says God said no. _MEDITATION:_ *"You can't stop some people from trying to harm or curse you but you can stop being worried or bothered about them because only God has the final say"* *#TheChurchofTheLivingGod* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JULY,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....

*DAILY DEW 30/JUNE/2023* *The Way of Cain* (IV) _Key Bible Text:_ *"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."* (Hebrews 12:24 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ Spurgeon has a great summary of why the blood of Abel is supposed to turn our eyes toward the blood of Christ. There is a cry heard in heaven, the angels are astonished; they rise up from their golden seats, and they enquire, "What is that cry?" God looketh upon them, and he saith, "It is the cry of blood, a man hath been slain by his fellow; a brother by him who came from the bowels of the self-same mother has been murdered in cold blood, through malice. One of my saints has been murdered, and here he comes… And then the cry was heard, loud and clear and strong; and thus it spoke—"Revenge! revenge! revenge!" And now, beloved, just contrast with this the blood of Christ. That is Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God; he hangs upon a tree; he is murdered—murdered by his own brethren. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not, but his own led him out to death." He bleeds; he dies; and then is heard a cry in heaven. The astonished angels again start from their seats, and they say," What is this? What is this cry that we hear?" And the Mighty Maker answers yet again, "It is the cry of blood; it is the cry of the blood of my only-begotten and well-beloved Son!" And God, uprising from his throne, looks down from heaven and listens to the cry. And what is the cry? It is not revenge; but the voice crieth, "Mercy! mercy! mercy!" Did you not hear it? It said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Herein, the blood of Christ "speaketh better things than that of Abel," for Abel's blood said, "Revenge!" and made the sword of God start from its scabbard; but Christ's blood cried "Mercy!" and sent the sword back again, and bade it sleep for ever. _MEDITATION:_ *"Blood hath a voice to pierce the skies, 'Revenge!' the blood of Abel cries; But the rich blood of Jesus slain, Speaks peace as loud from every vein."* *#TheChurchofTheLivingGod* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....

*DAILY DEW 29/JUNE/2023* *The Way of Cain* (IV) _Key Bible Text:_ *"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."* (Hebrews 12:24 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ But I see a God of grace in this story (of Cain and Abel) as well. 1. “Lift up your face,” God says to Cain after his rejected sacrifice even while knowing his heart. You get to try again when you fail in the Kingdom of God. God does not intend for your downcast face to remain downcast. He gives a warning: “If you continue to be angry, you will walk right into the demon crouching outside the door. Lift up your face. Look at me.” 2. God will give you a chance to own your sin (“Where is Abel?”) Repentance is always an option. Always. When God says, “What have you done?” don’t shrug your shoulders or point at someone else. Say what David said in Psalm 51:4: “I have done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” 3. See the promise of the Big Picture: God’s promises and purposes cannot be thwarted. Keep in mind that as Moses wrote or compiled these accounts while they were in the wilderness between the land of slavery and the land of promise, he was reminding them of their history. Time after time it looked like the promises of God would fail— like in the murder of Abel, when Cain, the firstborn, was supposed to crush the head of the serpent and instead began the line of the serpent. But then there was Seth, which brought about Noah, who brought about Abraham… God’s promises and purposes will not be thwarted. Lift up your face. 4. And finally, the Messianic connection: there is spilled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Heb. 12:24). _MEDITATION:_ *“See the promise of the Big Picture: God’s promises and purposes cannot be thwarted"* *#TheChurchofTheLivingGod* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....

*DAILY DEW 28/JUNE/2023* *The Way of Cain* (III) _Key Bible Text:_ *"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."* (Galatians 6:8 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ No scripture sheds one gleam of hope upon the way of Cain. Direct reference is only made twice to him in the New Testament, and in both instances he is held up as a warning, and nothing else. His last descendent recorded, Lamech, is so violent his only words in Scripture are traditionally called “The Song of the Sword.” His line is so bad they even absorb the line of Seth – the line of promise - to such a degree that only Noah is righteous when the Flood hits. The way of Cain, which is the way of false teachers, leaders, preachers, & followers: · a rebellious heart clothed by religious rituals · worship (obedience) on their own terms · disdain of the those worshipping rightly · destruction of others · unrepentant rebellion at (God’s) correction · resentment at the consequences of sin · lack of appreciation of God’s ongoing mercy · legacy of corruption If you read through Jude, you see this “way of Cain” over and over in the description of the false teachers, leaders, preachers, & followers: · God wants obedience? Nah · God wants our bodies as a living sacrifice? What about parts of our bodies, but not other parts? · God wants our money? How about we take money? · God wants humility? Nope. · God wants gratitude? Grumbling. · God wants us to respect authority? Nah, just me. I’m the authority. · God expects me to honor people? How about I slander them? · God wants his shepherds to feed others? We will stuff ourselves, thank you. Church is about me! _MEDITATION:_ *“Jude was written for our guidance. For me as a pastor, I need to see what not to do in the service of Christ. For you, it’s a punchlist of warning. When this begins to characterize those in spiritual leadership, confront them or run"* - *#David_Guzik* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....

*DAILY DEW 27/JUNE/2023* *The Way of Cain* (II) _Key Bible Text:_ *"But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."* (Genesis 4:5 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ Here the parallels between Genesis 3 and 4 become even more pronounced. God questions Cain just as He questioned Adam. To Adam: “What have you done?” To Cain: “ Where is Abel your brother?” God gives him a chance to come clean. Cain could have confessed. But Cain says, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9-10)[6] There is a Jewish parable that goes something like this: “A thief who stole things in the night and was not caught. In the morning the gatekeeper caught him. He said to the thief, “Why did you steal those things?” He said, “I am a thief and I didn’t let down my profession, but you, your profession is to guard the gate, why did you let down your profession? And now you ask me this?” In other words, Cain is blaming God. “You are the guardian. You are the shepherd of that shepherd. He was your responsibility.” Like father like son. Adam: “The woman you gave me gave me the apple.” Cain: “This happened on your watch. You are the “shepherd” of this shepherd. You could have stopped it.” So Cain, rather than confessing, becomes belligerent and insulting. God explains consequences: Just like the serpent was cursed min (relative to) the other animals, Cain was cursed min (relative to) the ground. The ground Cain love has soaked up the blood of his brother. Cain sowed death into a ground meant to give life. And you sow what you reap. If you want to sow death, the ground will only yield death to you. _MEDITATION:_ *“If you want others to value you, place value on yourself & what you do. Do things that give value, and value will come back to you. If you don't give value, you will not be valued* EDJ *#David_Guzik* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....

*DAILY DEW 26/JUNE/2023* *The Way of Cain* _Key Bible Text:_ *"Woe unto them! for they have gone in THE WAY OF CAIN, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core."* (Jude 1:11 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ Let’s revisit the story of Cain. It contains a warning – the way of Cain – but in the telling you will see that God also reveals the way of Life. Cain (Genesis 4) was the firstborn of Adam and Eve, brother – perhaps twin brother – of Abel. Cain followed in his father’s footsteps and became a farmer; Abel tended flocks. The rabbis speculate that there was tension between them for a variety of reasons. It doesn’t help that Cain’s name means “gotten” – “I’ve gotten a man” says Eve, a man who will be the serpent crusher God promised - while Abel’s name means “vanity, vain, meaningless, empty.” In Ecclesiastes, when Solomon says “all is vanity,” Abel’s name and the word for vanity are derived from that word. Because names were associated with character, many rabbis speculated that this vain and empty Abel was trying to undermine Cain and get what belonged to the first born. Think Jacob and Esau. The story picks up in Genesis when Cain offered vegetables to the Lord as his way of worshiping (Genesis 4:3) and Abel offered animals from his flock (Genesis 4:4). The Lord accepted Abel's offering, which was offered in faith (Hebrews 11:4), but He rejected Cain's offering (Genesis 4:4–5).[1] What does “offered in faith” mean? It appears to simply mean that Abel followed instructions. He believed God had the authority to determine the path of life. When God later confronts Cain, the language suggests that Cain knew what to do and just didn’t do it. He had experience knowing what it was like to have his offering accepted. Depending on the translation that you read, God tells Cain that he rejected his offering because it was not divided correctly. Assuming that food in these offerings was not wasted (the priests under Moses were fed by the food offerings), it seems Cain did not properly divided his offering for others per God’s instructions (or so the rabbis speculated). He also chose “some” of his crop rather than his choice crop (Genesis 4:3-5). _MEDITATION:_ *“Having faith is having the obedience to do what you know is right. As James 4:17 says *"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."* EDJ *#David_Guzik* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....

*DAILY DEW 25/JUNE/2023* *EXHORTING YOU TO CONTEND* (VIII) _Key Bible Text:_ *"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,* son of the morning! [How] you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High."* (Isa 14:12-14 (NKJV)) _Bible Insight:_ i. The warning through Jude is clear. The people of Israel started out from Egypt well enough. They had many blessings from God along the way. But they did not endure to the end, because they did not believe God’s promise of power and protection. ii. This example gives two lessons. First, it assures us that the certain men causing trouble will certainly be judged, even though they may have started out well in their walk with God. Jude says, “The certain men might have started out well. But so did the children of Israel, and God afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” Secondly, it warns us that we also must follow Jesus to the end, and never be among those who did not believe. *The final test of our Christianity is endurance. Some start the race but never finish it.* The example of the angels who sinned should never be forgotten in a hurry. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; a. The angels who did not keep their proper domain: Jude’s letter is famous for bringing up obscure or controversial points, and this is one of them. Jude speaks of the angels who sinned, who are now imprisoned and awaiting a future day of judgment. b. Angels who did not keep their proper domain: There is some measure of controversy about the identity of these particular angels. We only have two places in the Bible where it speaks of angels sinning. First, there was the original rebellion of some angels against God (Isaiah 14:12-14, Revelation 12:4). Secondly, there was the sin of the sons of God described in Genesis 6:1-2. _MEDITATION:_ *“The final test of our Christianity is endurance. Some start the race but never finish it."* *#David_Guzik* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....

*DAILY DEW 24/JUNE/2023* *EXHORTING YOU TO CONTEND* (VII) _Key Bible Text:_ *"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."* (Luke 10:19-20 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ b. The Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt: Jude reminds us of what happened in Numbers 14. God delivered the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. They went out of Egypt and without unintended delays came to a place called Kadesh Barnea, on the threshold of the Promised Land. But at Kadesh Barnea, the people refused to trust God and go into the Promised Land of Canaan. Therefore almost none of the adult generation who left Egypt entered into the Promised Land. i. Think of what God did for the people of Israel in this situation, and then how they responded to Him. They experienced God’s miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea. They heard the very voice of God at Mount Sinai. They received His daily care and provision of manna in the wilderness. *Yet they still lapsed into unbelief, and never entered into the place of blessing and rest God had for them.* c. Afterward destroyed those who did not believe: Those who doubted and rejected God at Kadesh Barnea paid a bigger price than just not entering the Promised Land. They also received the judgment of God. Psalm 95 describes how the Lord reacted to them: For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, “It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways. So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest” (Psalm 95:10-11). _MEDITATION:_ *“The blessings we experience on the way in this life, in the course of journeying towards the eternal rest of heaven is not to be compared with actually entering that heavenly rest. May we stay believing and true to the end"* -E.D.J. *#David_Guzik* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....

*DAILY DEW 23/JUNE/2023* *EXHORTING YOU TO CONTEND* (VI) _Key Bible Text:_ *"Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest."* (Hebrews 3:10-11 (KJV) _Bible Insight:_ Three examples that show the certainty of God’s judgment against the certain men. 1.The example of the people of Israel. But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. But I want to remind you, though you once knew this: Jude knew he wasn’t telling them anything new. They were already taught this example, but they needed to hear it again and to apply it to their present situation. i. Ideally, every Christian would read these allusions to the Old Testament and say, “Yes Jude, I know exactly what you are talking about.” If we don’t know what Jude wrote about, it shows we need to deepen our understanding of the Bible. ii. “As for the root facts, the fundamental doctrines, the primary truths of Scripture, we must from day to day insist upon them. We must never say of them, ‘Everybody knows them’; for, alas! everybody forgets them.” (Spurgeon) iii. “The use of God’s Word is not only to teach what we could not have otherwise known, but also to rouse us to a serious meditation of those things which we already understand, and not to suffer us to grow torpid in a cold knowledge.” (Calvin) _MEDITATION:_ *“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."* (Hebrews 3:12 (KJV)) *#David_Guzik* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....

*DAILY DEW 22/JUNE/2023* *EXHORTING YOU TO CONTEND* (V) _Key Bible Text:_ *"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."* (Galatians 5:13 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ Who turn the grace of our God into lewdness: These certain men had received something of the grace of God. But when they received it, they turned it into an excuse for their lewdness. The idea behind the ancient word lewdness is sin that is practiced without shame, without any sense of conscience or decency. Usually the word is used in the sense of sensual sins, such as sexual immorality. But it can also be used in the sense of brazen anti-biblical teaching, when the truth is denied and lies are taught without shame. Jude probably had both ideas in mind here, because as the rest of the letter will develop, these certain men had both moral problems and doctrinal problems. These words of Jude show that there is a danger in preaching grace. There are some who may take the truth of God’s grace and turn the grace of our God into lewdness. But this doesn’t mean there is anything wrong or dangerous about the message of God’s grace. It simply shows how corrupt the human heart is. And deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ: These certain men deny the Lord Jesus Christ. They do this by refusing to recognize who Jesus said He was, and therefore they also deny who God the Father is also. _MEDITATION:_ *“We are not told specifically how these men deny the only Lord God. It may be that they denied Him with their ungodly living or it may be that they denied Him with their heretical doctrines. Probably both were true.”* *#David_Guzik* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#Guest_Message* Links To Visit: *FB Pages* https://www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ https://www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ https://www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *Telegram Group:* https://t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you.....