I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. – Deuteronomy 30:19
God’s going to get you for that! Most of us have said that kind of thing jokingly for years. We’ve somehow believed that God slaps us down with pain and punishment every time we sin. But that’s just not true. There are deadly wages for sin, but God is not the one who’s doling them out.
You see, the Bible tells us there’s been a curse in effect for thousands of years. And the devil is the cause of it, not the Lord God. God gave warning of it in Deuteronomy 30:19. After describing in detail the blessings that fall upon those who followed God and the terrible suffering that would befall those who separated themselves from Him, He said, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”
Think of it this way. Curseville is out there. God warned us about it and urged us not to travel the road that leads there. But He has promised to give us freedom, and He’ll allow us to choose our own way. If we get on the road to Curseville and don’t get off of it, we’re going to wind up there. Is that because God sent us there? No! He urged us not to go.
The vital thing to realize is this: At any point of the journey—whether you’re on the road to Curseville or living right in the middle of it—God will save you from it. He’ll take you out of there and deliver you. He’ll deliver you from diseases, addictions, or anything else that’s been holding you captive.
Today if you find yourself on the wrong road and see destruction ahead, just repent and get on the right road. Just commit your way to Jesus and He’ll deliver you from whatever may be holding you captive. You can begin by praying, “Lord Jesus, I’ve chosen the wrong road and right now I ask You to forgive me. Today I choose life by choosing Your way. Please deliver me from this bondage and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord!”
Remember this: No matter what you’ve done, God doesn’t want to get you for it, He wants to forgive you of it. He doesn’t want to slap you down, He wants to save you and lift you up. Trust Him and let Him put you on the road of life today!
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 30
This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.
Luke 8:11, ‘Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.’
Luke 8:4-11
This parable illustrates the importance of the Word of God. God’s Word contains total power, but it has to be planted in our hearts and allowed to germinate before it releases that power.
The seed is God’s Word, and the types of ground are the four major categories of men’s hearts. The Word was the same in each situation, but there were different results in each case because of the condition of men’s hearts – not because of the Word. The Word doesn’t work for everyone because not everyone will allow the Word to work. The variable in this parable is the condition of these hearts. God’s Word is always the same. It has the same potential in every heart.
Good ground doesn’t just happen; it must be cultivated. This is the reason why only one out of four persons in Jesus’ parable brought forth fruit. It takes a lot of time, effort, and diligence to be a fruitful Christian. The Christian life is not like a hundred-yard dash but rather a 26.2 mile marathon. It’s quicker and easier to raise weeds than it is to raise tomatoes or corn.
In this whole parable, it was the Word that produced the fruit. The ground simply gave it a place to grow. If we will simply put God’s Word in our hearts, protect it, and give it priority in our lives, the Word will produce fruit of itself. Satan has deceived many people into thinking that they don’t have the talents or abilities to be fruitful Christians, but they are not the ones who bring forth fruit; it’s God’s Word. When we protect the Word sown in our hearts, it will do the rest.
This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).
Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin. — John 1:29 (TLB)
At the cross of Christ, sin reached its climax. Its most terrible display took place at Calvary. It was never blacker or more hideous. We see the human heart laid bare and its corruption fully exposed. Some people have said that man has improved since that day, that if Christ came back today, He would not be crucified but would be given a glorious reception. Christ does come to us every day in the form of Bibles that we do not read, in the form of churches that we do not attend, in the form of human need that we pass by. I am convinced that if Christ came back today, He would be crucified more quickly than He was two thousand years ago. Sin never improves. Human nature has not changed.
Prayer for the day: Father, take away my thoughts and deeds that crucify Jesus afresh.
Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.
So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me (Ezekiel 3:14).
Not many in the Church are yet acquainted with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in divine transportation. Read about John in the Book of Revelation; he was in the isle of Patmos, and suddenly, he was divinely transported to God’s presence (Revelation 1:9-11).
Another example is Philip. Acts 8:39 says, “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” The Spirit of the Lord carried Philip physically and took him somewhere else (Acts 8:40). Remember, Philip was born again and had the Holy Spirit in him. The Spirit carries out this ministry in us to achieve His purposes in the earth through us.
2 Corinthians 13:14 declares: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” The word translated, “communion” is from the Greek “koinonia” and it means, amongst other synonyms, communication, in which is transportation. The Apostle Paul was praying that the Church would actively experience divine Holy Ghost transportation.
As you yield to the sway of the Spirit in your life, there’s no telling how mightily He’d use you. Beyond inspiring and blessing you, He can divinely transport you in the spirit to accomplish divine tasks in distant lands. Right in your closet, as you pray by the Holy Ghost, you can touch lives and change things thousands of miles away. Hallelujah!
PRAYER Dear Father, what a privilege and blessing it is to enjoy deep, heartfelt, passionate, and intense fellowship with you through the Holy Ghost! Through this fellowship, I’m divinely transported to higher realms of influence, glory and blessings. Thus, I touch lives, transform nations and impact the world with the Gospel, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 11:5; Acts 8:39-40; Genesis 5:24
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 11:37-54 & Judges 5-6
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 28:1-10 & Leviticus 8
Rhapsody of Realities 8th April 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
Topic — Sorrow: An Arrow in Satan’s Quiver (Open Heaven 8 April 2019)
Memorise: “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”- Proverbs 15:13
Read: Nehemiah 8:8-12 (KJV)
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
Bible in One Year: 1 Peter 1-4, Jeremiah 13:15-14:12
Open Heaven 8 April 2019 Monday MESSAGE:
Sorrow is a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment or misfortune suffered by a person directly or by loved ones. It is the human response to painful and heartbreaking life situations involving loss or other tragic circumstances. Sorrow is characterized by weeping, mourning, bitterness, depression, disappointment, failure, sadness, regret and discouragement. It is indeed an arrow in quiver of Satan and his agents, and their aim is to use it to break men’s spirit and determination to move forward in life. In God’s original plan, sorrow and its attendant problems were not meant to be part of the human experience, and that is why there will be no more sorrow in the new heaven and new earth that God is preparing for His people. Speaking on this truth, Revelation 21:4 says:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Sorrow became part and parcel of the human experience because of our descent into sin and the pronouncement of God’s judgement that subsequently followed (Genesis 3:16-20). The consequence of this is laid bare in Ecclesiastes 2:22-23, which says:
“22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.”
Today, the devil is still shooting the arrow of sorrow all over the world through sickness, poverty, childlessness, terrorism, natural disaster, calamities of epic proportions, separation and divorce, untimely death, and a much more. However, we thank God that the compassionate Jesus became a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”, so that we can experience the joy of the Lord right here on earth (Isaiah 53:3-4). I therefore decree that sorrow will cease in your life from today in Jesus’ Name. God provides comfort for the sorrowful and promises eternal deliverance from sorrow (Isaiah 35:10). He is mindful of our fame, and that is why He sent us the Holy Spirit to continually comfort and strengthen us (Psalm 103:14, John 15:26). Through His work in our life, Satan’s evil arrow of sorrow is rendered powerless over us. Have you recently suffered any form of loss, disappointment or pain? I encourage you today to yield to the comfort of the Holy Spirit, pick yourself up from the ashes of discouragement and face life with renewed vigour. The devil’s aim is to break your spirit and make you give up on life. Please don’t give in to him, neither should you contemplate suicide. The joy of the Lord is your strengthen. Hallelujah!
Open Heaven 8 April 2019 Monday Action Point:
Reach out to anyone you know is discouraged or grieving today with the words of hope and encouragement.
1 Yes, I know I am a victor
For the Bible tells me so
God made me more than a conqueror
Much stronger than all my foes
Chorus Jesus loves me and I love Him Together we rule the world Christ with me I will overcome By His Blood, His Name, His Word
2 Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than demons I am
To Satan I am a terror
I am free, o yes, I am
3 Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than lack, poverty
All my needs Jesus provides for
I have life abundantly
4 Yes, I know I am a victor
Barrenness no more indeed
Fruitful is the God I live for
All my dreams shall be fulfilled
5 Yes, I know I am a victor
By His strength I shall succeed
No more loss and no more failure
Glory to glory proceed
6 Yes, I know I am a victor
No more sorrow, no despair
Jesus Christ is my own Succour
Tomorrow is joy and cheer
7 Yes, I know I am a victor
Very soon I’ll reign with Him
His promise is my sure anchor
He’s coming to take me home
8 Jesus loves me and I love Him
We rule this world together
As He is so right now I am
Hear me shout Halleluyah
9 Jesus loves me Halleluyah
Hear me shout Halleluyah
Halleluyah, Halleluyah
Glory be to God on high
Open Heaven 8 April 2019 Monday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven 8 April 2019 Monday Daily Devotional.
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Safe Car Wash was launched by the C of E’s anti-slavery campaign The Clewer Initiative and the Catholic Church’s Santa Marta Group last June.
New analysis by the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab also reveals the application was downloaded 8,225 times during its first six months.
Chair of The Clewer Initiative, Bishop Alastair Redfern said: “This research shows that the Safe Car Wash app has made an excellent start towards mapping the extent of modern slavery and labour exploitation in hand car washes, and, crucially raising public awareness of this issue.
“Sadly, the findings so far confirm what we already feared – that many car washes do not protect their workers.”
Customers concerned by working conditions at a hand car wash have been urged to download the Safe Car Wash app and complete a survey which includes key indicators of modern slavery.
It asks the user to consider whether staff members are equipped with appropriate protective clothing – such as gloves and boots – and whether there is evidence of staff living on site.
Today a report from the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab into the data from the Safe Car Wash app is published! Read the highlights and download the report: https://t.co/UqGox1ybHfpic.twitter.com/VsxtOj2oTJ
The newspaper spoke to leaders from a number of schools in the city and Manchester about strong opposition families have expressed about guidance recently brought in by the Government.
It makes teaching on relationships compulsory in primary schools and lessons on sex and relationships compulsory in secondary schools.
The curriculum, which teaches about LGBT lifestyles and same-sex relationships, has raised questions over whether children should be taught about certain subjects contrary to the wishes of their parents.
Parkfield has since dropped its Outsiders programme – an in-house programme incorporating books including one about a boy who dresses as a boy – following opposition.
In the face of fierce criticism from some parents, the school has called upon the Government for support.
It sent a letter to the education secretary Damian Hinds which said: “We are not allowed to mention LGBT… Bullying has increased and homophobic incidents have risen.
The Department for Education warned against protests frightening children and being “hijacked by vested interests.”
A spokesperson told the Sunday Times: “There is no reason why teaching…
The Communities Department said Qari Asim did not intend to “endorse” Khadim Rizvi when he published a statement on Facebook in 2017 apparently expressing solidarity with the controversial preacher.
A spokesman told the Mail on Sunday: “Imam Qari Asim did not intend that publication to be an endorsement of Rizvi and so took the article down, which he replaced with one calling for tolerance for all”.
The response came after the newspaper claimed that the Leeds-based imam “supported” Mr Rizvi – a leader in Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Labbaik political movement.
A Catholic, Ms Bibi always denied the claim she insulted the Islamic prophet Muhammad following an argument with a group of Muslim women over a water cup. But hardliners demanded she be publicly executed.
Mr Asim, who is a member of the interfaith group Christian Muslim Forum, joined the Communities Department’s Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred.
First established in 2012, the group advises ministers and civil servants on how to tackle Islamophobia.
In Eastern #Europe, meeting people from countries that have taken a large number of #Refugees, in…
Fast Facts: Stonington Baptist Church is a rural Baptist church located in the village of Stonington, just off PA Route 61, between Shamokin and Sunbury, PA. The church has a rich heritage dating back to 1794 when it was founded as the Shamokin Baptist Church by Rev. John Patton under the direction of the Philadelphia Baptist Convention. The church became known as the “Mother church” because it was the first Baptist Church in Central Pennsylvania. From its membership or through its influence, many other Baptist churches were founded throughout the region. Today the members and friends of the Stonington Baptist Church endeavor to maintain and expand the impact of the ministry begun long ago, prioritizing the gospel message, and striving to provide a friendly welcome for sinners by pointing them to the Friend of sinners. Please pray for their upcoming Easter services and festivities, that God would continue work in and through the lives of the church to reach the community with the message of the risen Christ.
“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.
Examining hundreds of Easter products sold online by the so-called Big Four supermarkets in the UK, the Sunday Mirror found only one-in-five named the Christian festival.
Dave Male, the Church of England’s director of Evangelism and Discipleship, told the tabloid: “It’s a pity but we’re confident most people call them Easter eggs”.
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s dominate the UK groceries market.
Of them, Tesco was found to offer the least Easter products which directly referenced Easter – 40 out of 202.
Similarly, only 26 of the 150 items available at Asda featured the word ‘Easter’ in their packaging.
The Sunday Mirror says “egg makers and sellers insist they heavily market the religious message”.
Handout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of @DCollingwood40 of an Easter Eggs display in a Tesco Metro on Deansgate, Manchester.
Earlier this month, Humanists UK said customers should not be “duped” into believing criticism that marketing and packaging for chocolate Easter eggs do not go far enough to promote the season’s Christian roots.
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