*DAILY DEW 21/JUNE/2023* *EXHORTING YOU TO CONTEND* (IV) _Key Bible Text:_ *"For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."* (2 Timothy 3:6-7 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ In the book Habits of the Heart, Robert Bellah and his colleagues wrote about an interview with a young nurse named Sheila Larson, whom they described as representing many American’s experience and views on religion. Speaking about her own faith and how it operated in her life, she said: “I believe in God. I’m not a religious fanatic. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. My faith has carried me a long way. It is ‘Sheilaism.’ Just my own little voice.” We might say that this highly individualistic faith is the most popular religion in the world, but the idea that we can or should put together our own faith is wrong. Christianity is based on one faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints. We need to contend for the faith because there are dangerous men among Christians. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Certain men have crept in unnoticed: In part, this is what makes them so dangerous – they are unnoticed. No one noticed that they were dangerous. They didn’t wear a “Danger: False Teacher” name tag. These certain men probably claimed to be more Biblical than anybody else was. Crept in means, “To slip in secretly as if by a side door.” (Robertson) “Satan knows right well that one devil in the church can do far more than a thousand devils outside her bounds.” (Spurgeon) Who long ago were marked out for this condemnation: These certain men have a destiny – the destiny of every false teacher and leader. They are marked and destined for this condemnation, and it is enough to say that they are ungodly men. They are ungodly simply in the sense that they are not like God and no matter the outward appearances, they disregard God. _MEDITATION:_ *“They were unnoticed by men, but not by God. The Lord is not wringing His hands in heaven, worrying about those who deceive others through their teaching and through their lifestyles. They may be hidden to some believers but as far as God is concerned, their condemnation was marked out long ago. Their judgment is assured. The truth will win out; our responsibility is to be on the side with the truth."* *#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 20/JUNE/2023* *EXHORTING YOU TO CONTEND* (III) _Key Bible Text:_ *"Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people."* (Jude 1:3 (NIV)) _Bible Insight:_ Few points to note about the faith we are to contend for:- i. “The faith” doesn’t mean our own personal belief, or faith in the sense of our trust in God. The phrase the faith means *“The essential truths of the gospel that all true Christians hold in common.”* The faith is used in this sense repeatedly in the New Testament (Acts 6:7, 13:8, 14:22, 16:5, 24:24; Romans 1:5 and 16:26; Colossians 2:7, and 1 Timothy 1:2 are just some of the examples). We must contend earnestly for the truth. “The faith is the body of truth that very early in the church’s history took on a definite form (cf. Acts 2:42; Romans 6:17; Galatians 1:23).” (Blum) ii. Once means that the faith was delivered one time, and doesn’t need to be delivered again. Of course, we distribute this truth again and again. But it was delivered by God to the world through the apostles and prophets once (Ephesians 2:20). God may speak today, but never in the authoritative way that He spoke through the first apostles and prophets as recorded in the New Testament. “There is no other gospel, there will be none. Its content will be more fully understood, its implications will be developed, its predictions will be fulfilled; but it will never be supplemented or succeeded or supplanted.” (Erdman) iii. For all means that this faith is for everybody. We don’t have the option to simply make up our own faith and still be true to God. This faith is for all, but today, it isn’t popular to really believe in the faith once for all delivered to the saints. *Instead, most people want to believe in the faith they make up as they go along and decide is right for them. More people believe in “the faith that is in my heart” than the faith once for all delivered to the saints.* _MEDITATION:_ *“The faith” doesn’t mean our own personal belief, or faith in the sense of our trust in God. The phrase the faith means *“The essential truths of the gospel that all true Christians hold in common.”* *#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 19/JUNE/2023* *EXHORTING YOU TO CONTEND* (II) _Key Bible Text:_ *"Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people."* (Jude 1:3 (NIV)) _Bible Insight:_ 2. Exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith: If we emphasize the word YOU, we see that this was something that Jude wanted each individual Christian to do. There are many ways that every Christian can contend earnestly for the faith. i. We contend for the faith in a positive sense when we give an unflinching witness(evangelism), distribute tracts, make possible the training of faithful ambassadors for Jesus, or when we strengthen the hands of faithful pastors who honor the Word of God in their pulpits. These are a few among many ways that we can contend earnestly for the faith in a positive sense. ii. We contend for the faith in a negative way when we withhold support and encouragement from false teachers. iii. We contend for the faith in a practical sense when we live uncompromising Christian lives and give credit to the Lord who changed us. iv. Obviously, faithful missionaries and evangelists contend earnestly for the faith. But so does the Sunday School teacher or the home group leaders, who is faithful to the Scriptures. People like this contend for the faith just as much as a front-line missionary does, and each one of us should contend for the gospel wherever God puts us. _MEDITATION:_ *"Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints: Here, Jude tells us what we are contending for. There is a lot of earnest contention in the world but usually not for the right things. The faith once for all delivered to the saints is something worth contending for.* *#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 18/JUNE/2023* *EXHORTING YOU TO CONTEND* _Key Bible Text:_ *"My dear friends, I really wanted to write you about God's saving power at work in our lives. But instead, I must write and ask you to defend the faith that God has once for all given to his people."* (Jude 1:3 (CEV)) _Bible Insight:_ 1. Exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith: This was the great need that Jude interrupted his intended letter to address. The ancient Greek word translated “contend” comes from the athletic world – from the wrestling mat. It is a strengthened form of the word meaning “to agonize.” Therefore “contend” speaks of hard and diligent work. i. The verb translated contend earnestly is (in the grammar of the ancient Greek) in the present infinitive, showing that the Christian struggle is continuous. ii. We contend earnestly for the faith because it is valuable. If you walk into an art gallery and there are no guards or no sort of security system, you must draw one conclusion: there is nothing very valuable in that art gallery. Valuables are protected; worthless things are not. _MEDITATION:_ *"How have I contended for the faith today? Can I do better tomorrow? What exactly do I do as a means of contending for the faith?"* *#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 16/JUNE/2023* *SERIOUS SALVATION* (X) _Key Bible Text:_ *"Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."* (Jude 1:8-9 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ Still calling out the shortcomings that serious believers must seriously contend against, Jude cited how these "certain men" who "crept in unawares" are filthy dreamers who defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignitaries. He contrasted them with the archangel who when contending with the devil over the body of Moses, was quite modest and restraint and rather called upon God to rebuke the devil. We learn again that God does not approve of defilement of the flesh, despising of dominions and speaking evil against dignitaries. New Living Translation rendition of Jude 1:8-9 is helpful: *In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses' body.)* We understand that immoral living (defilement of flesh), defying authority, and scoffing at supernatural beings are practices we see around us today. We must be wary. But even more importantly, we must be wary to conclude that we are discussing certain men and not "some of us". Check the list again, of the things Jude warned against. Anyone can be guilty of this. No believer should assume they are above the errors on the list. The devil takes advantage of the unsuspecting the most. Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Check your life again! Do you subscribe to any known immoral living? How do you deal with issues against authorities!? Note that authorities may be wrong but there is a God approved way to address such errors. Also how do we speak when dignitaries or highly placed spiritual or supernatural beings are involved? This calls you to examine our approach and our lives. And not just assume it does not concern you. May we not participate in things that will bring us to destruction. _MEDITATION:_ *"But these people sneer at anything they can't understand, and by doing whatever they feel like doing--living by animal instinct only--they participate in their own destruction."* Jude 1:10 (The Message) *#David_Joshua_Egbochuo* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ 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 15/JUNE/2023* *SERIOUS SALVATION* (IX) _Key Bible Text:_ *"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.* (Jude 1:7 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ The faithfulness of God demands consistency. God is consistent in His principles. Jude reminds us of how God did not spare those he saved from Egypt but later gave up due to their unbelief. He equally did not spare the angels who failed to keep to their duty post, but have them under judgment of everlasting chains. Likewise Jude reminds us that even Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, as they gave themselves over to fornication and fleshy and sensual practices, were not spared by God. They suffered judgment for their sin. God plainly leaves us in no doubt of what he won't tolerate or overlook. Salvation will always mean cessation and rejection of sinful lifestyles. To think otherwise is to ignore obvious red lights and serious warnings. If you think salvation means deliverance from judgment and condemnation even when you continue in sinful practices and lifestyle, you have clearly been deceived. You are following another Gospel. Repent! _MEDITATION:_ *"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."* (Titus 2:11-12 (KJV)) *#David_Joshua_Egbochuo* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ 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 14/JUNE/2023* *GWR vs GWR* _Key Bible Text:_ *"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."* (2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ Hilda Baci started the cooking on Thursday 11th may and ended on Monday 15th may. Since she finished, everybody have been celebrating her with reservations including herself because it's not victory yet until the right quarters says so. It doesn't take Hilda to approve herself neither does it take the onlookers. In one of her posts she was praying for the GWR to acknowledge her success and announce her as the record breaker. Nobody's acknowledgement will ever satisfy her except that of Guinness. No matter the book you write her name, it won't be satisfying to her as it would be to her when it appears inside the Guinness book of record. When they finally want to give their results, what they announced turned out to be different from what we all had in mind. From their own findings, the hours were reduced and it turned out to be different from all our assumptions because they don't judge the way we judge. What does all of these teaches us because we learn from everything and everywhere as wise Christians. It is God who justifies.... It is God who will give results to men. He doesn't see the way we do. It's unwise to rejoice because men approved you when you have not received heavenly approval. It's dangerous to be rejoicing because your name is filled in all the books and registers in your church whereas it's not present in the lambs book of life. It's unwise to judge things before the time. There will surely be great surprises on the last day because the people you think would be in heaven because of your human assessment might be conspicuously absent. If Samuel at the level of his prophetic would have mistakenly anointed Eliab instead of David then get ready for more surprises. _MEDITATION:_ *"Calm down. Be conscious of what heaven is saying. Don't be carried away by the eulogies and encomium Men might be pouring on you here. All those more grace sir, ride on sir, I celebrate grace sir, talk to me sir, I hear you papa, it's working sir and all those religious praises of men will not matter if God hasn't approved you for only by him(God) actions are weighed.* Like having your name feature on Guinness World Records, you rather be on the good side of God's World Records! *#Stanley_Uju_Robinson* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ *#GuestMessage* 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 13/JUNE/2023* *SERIOUS SALVATION* (VIII) _Key Bible Text:_ *"And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."* (Jude 1:6 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ As God so loves the world, so also he so loves his justice and righteousness. You can't bribe God with his love for you. You can't please God with who you used to be. You must please God with who you are, and who you are becoming. You can't please God by your faith of yesterday, you must stand firm in faith to please God today or tomorrow. For now, faith is! As it is with men so it is with angels. God won't spare men neither will he spare angels. Once you stop being right with God, and you fail to heed all calls to repent, God ceases to owe you His salvation's protection. If even angels who forgot to keep their right standing with God, were not spared, God will not spare the very humans who fail to KEEP being serious about their salvation. Whatever you don't value, God is not committed to grant unto you. Just as *"Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men"* (John 2:24 (KJV)) He knows those who are not ready! He knows those who are not serious. He knows those who are not faithful. *"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."* (2 Timothy 2:19 (KJV)) Take your salvation seriously. _MEDITATION:_ *"If you are not taking your salvation seriously, don't expect God to take your salvation seriously too. Remember: God's faithfulness does not answer to your weakness (that is to say, his faithfulness is not measured against your weakness); His faithfulness answers to His righteousness (His faithfulness is measured against His righteousness)* *#David_Joshua_Egbochuo* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ 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 12/JUNE/2023* *SERIOUS SALVATION* (VII) _Key Bible Text:_ *"I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that THE LORD, HAVING SAVED THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AFTERWARD DESTROYED THEM THAT BELIEVED NOT."* Jude 1:5 (KJV) _Bible Insight:_ Remember: Salvation is continuous. You were saved yesterday. (Romans 10:1,9, 13) You are being saved today (1 Tim 4:16; Heb 7:25; James 1:21). And you are to be saved tomorrow (Rom. 5:9,10;8:24; 1Cor3:15;5:5). Selah! If you ever forget this fact, you will lose salvation. *"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."* (2 Peter 1:9 (KJV)) Salvation does not last with the forgetful! God wants you to keep remembering and not be forgetting that THE LORD, HAVING SAVED THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AFTERWARD DESTROYED THEM THAT BELIEVED NOT. That you once believed never guarantees you will always believe. That you once got saved, never guarantees that you will always be saved. That you were once on fire, is not a guarantee you will always be on fire. That you were once righteous, does not guarantee you are still righteous or that you will always be righteous. Behold, we must never forget this:- THE LORD, HAVING SAVED THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AFTERWARD DESTROYED THEM THAT BELIEVED NOT. Don't ever forget to stay REMEMBERING! Don't ever forget or be tired to stay BELIEVING! _MEDITATION:_ *He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.* (Revelation 22:11 (KJV)) *#David_Joshua_Egbochuo* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ 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 11/JUNE/2023* *SERIOUS SALVATION* (VI) _Key Bible Text:_ *"I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not."* Jude 1:5 (KJV) _Bible Insight:_ Salvation demands that we keep REMEMBERING certain things. One of the things to ALWAYS remember is that salvation is not one off, is not once saved always saved, and it is not to be taken for granted. That something belongs to the class of *"Though ye once knew this"* should not make you think you should not be reminded! That you KNOW some truth does not mean you will always know them. Don't be too comfortable or confident about things you already know to the point that you think you got it all covered and DO NOT need to be reminded. For instance if you are to listen to the same message by the same preacher for every Sunday of the month, don't assume you already know or heard enough of the message, rather attend all the same way and strive to give your rapt attention like you are just hearing for the first time. Yes! Don't get to the point of knowing some truth so much that you lose your wonder and gaze over such truth. Always allow God's word to minister to you as though you are just encountering it for the first time. This is the practice of trembling at God's word; it is ensuring you don't become hardened and thickened to God's word. Do you still ponder over scripture you have memorized over the years? Do you still go over your notes taken from God's word or some message or sermon? Do you still go back to your own message that God gave you to prepare and preach? Do you approach the Bible or the word or the gathering of believers with a readiness and willingness to receive, or to be corrected or to be blessed? Or you come in like some masters who know no need of any further appreciation of God's word and truth? Go back and force yourself to REMEMBER God's dealings in your life over the years! Force yourself to REMEMBER "past" warnings, rebukes, promises, encouragements and dealings! Force yourself to learn something new again or be renewed in knowledge as you REMEMBER... _MEDITATION:_ *I'm laying this out as clearly as I can, even though you once knew all this well enough and shouldn't need reminding. Here it is in brief: The Master saved a people out of the land of Egypt. Later he destroyed those who defected.* (Jude 1:5 (The Message)) *#David_Joshua_Egbochuo* *#Daily_Wisdom_for_living* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#The_Rise_of_An_Army* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Hello_JUNE,2023* ❤ 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.....