Topic — Fruit of the Spirit; Goodness [Open Heavens for Teens 15 December 2018]
Memorise:As we have therefore the opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6:10
Read: Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
Bible In One Year: Amos 4-6, Revelation 6
MESSAGE:
Goodness is the essence of God’s nature. God is the only one that is filled with true goodness and hands it out to everyone, even people who are not in alignment with His will. Men on the other hand are naturally bad. Because of our sinful nature, it is simply impossible to exhibit true, undiluted goodness to everyone around us just for the sake of it and not for what we will get in return. Our natural urge is to defy God with sins and override fellow men into getting our own way.
However, there is good news for us! The Holy Spirit was sent to eradicate the wickedness in our flesh and replace it with goodness! Now it is very possible for a sinful man to do good and be truly goo through the help of the Holy spirit. Being good entails knowing the right thing to do and then doing it. It means exhibiting the love of God to fellow men. It means being fair, considerate and gracious to everyone at all times. And this can be possible only by relying solely on the Holy Spirit and obeying Him completely.
Prayer Point: Sweet Holy Spirit, please fill my heart with goodness.
Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready His service to do?
Chorus:
Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing, I pray;
My life possessing, my service blessing,
Make me a channel of blessing today.
Is your life a channel of blessing?
Are you burdened for those that are lost?
Have you urged upon those who are straying
The Savior who does on the cross
Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is it a daily telling for Him?
Have you spoken the word of salvation?
To those who are dying in sin?
We cannot be channels of blessing
If our lives are not free from sin;
We will barriers be and a hindrance
To those we are trying to win.
Daily Devotional for Teen’s 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.
Topic: Sure Hiding Place [DCLM Daily Manna 15 December 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Psalm 102:1-11 (KJV)
Key Verse:“Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily” (Psalm 102:2).
MESSAGE:
As humans, as long as we still carry this corruptible body, we are exposed and prone to different physical (health), social, financial and environmental hazards capable of inflicting injuries upon our flesh and minds. In certain instances, these afflictions are from the conditions of living in the society. They challenge our faith, confession and profession.
Afflictions come in different shades and forms. They can take the form of serious sicknesses, plague, infirmities, depression, recession, oppression, social isolation and constriction, hostile environment and incessant family squabbles. These afflictions draw tears from our eyes but we should not allow the tears to form a cloud of darkness to blind us from discerning the source of the problem and sourcing for respite. Rather, it should produce sparkles of stars to lead us to God, the One who can give us support, succour and final deliverance from affliction.
Seeking help from the wrong sources is like groping in the dark during a storm. God is the only Source of respite. He is omniscient: He knows the very source of the affliction. He knows the solution and has the power to stop the affliction.
God’s panacea has no side-effect and no strings attached. When He delivers His own, He secures them under His protection, away from the power behind the affliction. He is worthy to be called upon and awaits our call when life around us is dark and dreary.
Thought For The Day: Prayer and faith are the antidotes to the storms of life.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
Topic: The Life of Sacrifice – A Way of the Covenant [Seeds of Destiny 15 December 2018 Devotional]
Scripture: The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. Psalms 20:1-3
Thought For The Day: Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God.
A sacrificial life is a life that is committed fully and wholeheartedly to the things of God. A sacrificial person is one that is ready to give his/her life, time, resources and energy for the purpose of the Kingdom of God. Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God. This means that whatever God demands of us per time is releasable to him.
To be in covenant with God is to live the life of sacrifice.
Now, what does the life of sacrifice do in a life of a person?
Sacrifice facilitates the reversal of curses
When God saw the sacrifice of Noah, He promised not to curse the ground again for man’s sake (Genesis 8:21). This implies that your sacrifice can neutralise every generational, family or witchcraft curse against your life. A person of sacrifice is not be-witchable, curse-able or charm-able.
Sacrifice and covenant living activate the intervention of God in times of trouble (Psalm 50:5, 14-15).
God remembers your sacrifice and intervenes in times of trouble.
Beloved, my counsel is, maintain an unwavering commitment to God by living a life of sacrifice. Be so committed until God bears you witness and can even boast about you. Do not move about looking for human approval because most times, human approval does not equal Divine verdict. God can never do serious things with unserious people. Be serious with God in your covenant walk with Him.
Remember This: Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God.
Assignments:
Use your gift, talents, time, resources etc. to serve God faithfully.
Avoid the lifestyle of grumbling and complaining
Prayer: O Lord, I ask that You help me to live a life of sacrifice. I refuse to murmur and complain. I lay my all at Your Feet, Lord in Jesus Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE COVERING OF THE COVENANT
Quote: Do not do anything at all, if you are not willing to do it well. Culled from 21 UNCOMMON KEYS TO FINANCIAL OVERFLOW by Dr Paul Enenche
Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 19:1 to 21:30, Romans 2:25 to 3:8, Psalm 11:1 to 7, Proverbs 19:10 to 12.
Amazing Fact: You share your birthday with at least 9 million other people in the world.
Today In History: 15/12/1891 – James Naismith invented the sport of basketball.
Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
Topic: A Carefree Christmas [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 15 December 2018]
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. – Philippians 4:6
Can you really have a merry Christmas even when you have a thousand and one pressures bearing down on you? Yes, you can—and you don’t have to leave the country to do it. No matter how intense or how trivial the problems are that you’re facing right now, you can have the most wonderful, most carefree Christmas season you’ve ever had in your life; and you can start having it today.
As a believer, you’re probably familiar with that scripture that says to be anxious for nothing. But, have you ever taken it seriously enough to put it into action? There’s a good chance you haven’t because you haven’t understood just how dangerous those anxieties are. You probably haven’t realized that they’re a deadly part of the devil’s strategy against you.
That’s right. Worry is one of the chief weapons of his warfare. If he can get you to worry about them, he can use the financial pressures and family pressures and scheduling problems that are just a “normal” part of everyday life to weigh you down and drag you into more trouble than you think possible.
Medical science tells us that a high percentage of the people hospitalized in the U.S.A. are there with ailments caused by worry and tension. Yet, a great many believers worry without even thinking about it. They’ll worry about being too short or too skinny. They’ll stew over this and that and not even realize they’ve been sinning.
“Sinning, Brother Copeland?”
Yes! For the born-again, Spirit-filled believer who owns a Bible—worrying is a sin. So, even if the Christmas cards are late and 45 people are coming to your house for Christmas dinner, don’t worry.
Instead, do what the Bible says to do. Pray, making your request known to God…and praise Him for the answer. Then you’ll have peace.
Now, go ahead and have a truly merry Christmas, you carefree thing you!
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.
Topic: Proof Of The Resurrection [Andrew Wommack Devotional 15 December 2018]
Matthew 28:11“Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.”
In the Jews’ efforts to prevent anything from happening that would cause people to believe that Jesus was resurrected, they gave one of the most sure proofs of His resurrection. They sealed the tomb so it would be obvious if it had been opened and they obtained a guard of soldiers to protect it.
This removes all doubt that the followers of Jesus could have stolen His body. Therefore, the enemies of Jesus became a historical witness that Jesus literally rose from the dead.
The guards told the chief priests everything that happened at the tomb. This means that they had a complete account of the earthquake, the angels rolling away the stone, and the angels giving the message to the women that Jesus was alive from the dead. They may have even seen Jesus walk out of the tomb.
The very ones that the Jews had secured to guarantee there would be no rumors of Jesus being raised from the dead, became the first witnesses and heralds of the resurrection. Yet, with the testimony of impartial, non-religious eyewitnesses, they chose not to believe (Lk. 16:31).
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).
Lord Chesterton once said, “I believe in bedside repentance, but I do not want to depend upon it.” During a serious illness a person’s mind does not function normally. Getting right with God is something one should do in the bloom of health. However, as far as the Lord is concerned, “His ear is not heavy that He cannot hear, nor His arm shortened that He cannot save.” He loves us equally, in sickness or in health; while we are living, or while we are dying. In my experience, I have not known of too many people who found Christ on their deathbed. When we come to Christ in our youth, a life is saved. When we come in old age, a soul is salvaged and life eternal is assured; but the opportunity to live a life for Christ has been lost.
Prayer for the day: Lord God, burden my heart to reach out to the young persons starting their adventure in life—and the old persons dreading the end of their journey. Let me tell them the message of Your saving love.
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.
Open Heaven 15 December 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Pay Attention to the Heart
Topic: Pay Attention to the Heart (Open Heaven 15 December 2018)
Memorise:“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”-Matthew 23:28
Read: Matthew 23:24-28 (KJV)
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Bible in One Year: Hosea 5-9, John 11:44-12:8
Open Heaven 15 December 2018 Saturday MESSAGE:
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” – Matthew 22:39
For us not to lose our reward from God, we need to pay close attention to the words He uses when He speaks to us. The words in the above scripture say, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” and not “Acts as though you love your neighbor as you love yourself” I have come to observe that the Christian life of many professed Christian has become a stage play. They act out characters that are completely different from who really are. If God was to show the state of your heart to those you relate with, will they still see you the same way you have always portrayed yourself to be?
God not recognize humility by how many people you call “sir” or “ma”; He looks into your heart to see if you have a humble heart. He does not recognize love by the sweet words you say; He checks your intentions. God cannot be deceived, and even if you deceive your pastor, my God sees your heart and knows those who are His and those who are not (2 Timothy 2:19). I wonder why a person will try to look holy when looking holy does not count at all before God? Looking holy will not take anyone to heaven, but being holy will. Which is most important to you: how God sees you or how your fellow human beings see you? To me, it does not matter how holy people say I am; I am only interested in what my God says. Sometime ago, at a Christian conference, the organizers asked that soft music be played while we all mediate. While meditating, I went into a trance and saw myself in a place that looked like the throne room of God. All the angels were so pure that they were transparent, and I looked extremely dirty in their midst. When I got out of that trance, I determined that if I was to enter that room again in a trance, I would not look the way I saw myself that day. I was already a holiness preacher by then, and people all around said I was holy man, but that did not matter to me. All that matters to me now is how Jesus sees me. Stop pretending to be holy; rather, live a holy life for real!
On the other hand, some people dress and act like unbelievers, and then they turn around to say their outward appearance does not matter, because God looks inward. This is true, but what is on the inside will show on the outside. Stop deceiving yourself; if you like to look and talk like an unbeliever, then you are just the same as them. It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Your outward life needs to reflect the transformation you claim has occurred inside your heart. Is your life reflecting this transformation?
Open Heaven 15 December 2018 Saturday Action Point:
Pay attention to how God sees you and not what people think of you.
Open Heaven 15 December 2018 Saturday Hymn 12: Take My Life, And Let It Be
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose, Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne, It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee, Ever, only, all for Thee.
Open Heaven 15 December 2018 Saturday 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 15 December 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional.
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
China Cracks Down on Unofficial Church, Arresting Pastor and 100 Members
December 13, 2018 (Morning Star News) – Authorities in China have detained the pastor and more than 100 members of a prominent, unofficial church since Sunday (Dec. 9), according to media and advocacy agencies.
Security authorities raided the 800-member Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan Province at about 6 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 9) and also took some church leaders and members from their homes or off the streets, according to the South China Morning Post. Pastor Wang Yi was reportedly detained on Sunday night for allegedly “inciting subversion of state power,” and officials also seized his wife, Jiang Rong, from her mother-in-law’s home; her whereabouts were unknown at this writing.
Chen Yaxue, Wang’s 73-year-old mother, told the SCMP that the couple’s 11-year-old son remains with her while security personnel maintain 24-hour surveillance outside her home.
The charge against Pastor Wang calls for a sentence of up to five years, or 15 years in extreme cases. Wang has reportedly yet to be allowed to meet with lawyers or family members.
Advocacy group China Aid said in a statement that Chinese Christians are often charged with “inciting subversion of state power.”
“The Communist Party views religion as a threat to their ideological control and, as such, their rule,” the group noted. “However, China’s Christians practice their…
Joni Eareckson Tada, founder and CEO of Joni & Friends, was struck by tragedy as she received her second cancer diagnosis in November. The 69-year-old, who is known internationally for her work as an advocate for those with disabilities, has proven that she isn’t one to give up when faced with adversity; she battled stage 3 breast cancer in 2010 and emerged victorious, being declared “cancer-free” 5 years later. After learning that a small cancerous tumor had formed within a nodule that had developed over the site of her mastectomy, she responded by smiling and reaffirming her trust in God. Eareckson underwent surgery to have the cancerous nodule removed on November 26th. The very next day, she took to social media to share her appreciation for those who offered prayers, writing “Everything went so smoothly, so quickly, that I felt every path was paved on your prayers.”
Yvonne Orji, star of the HBO show “Insecure”, is another testimony to God’s neverending love. As the actress was struggling to make it in the entertainment business, she found herself consumed by depression. After experiencing an epiphany that came from reading Psalm 31:14-15, her life changed dramatically. From that point on, Orji has found renewed motivation and was convicted by the Holy Spirit. Shortly thereafter, she got the call from HBO offering her the role of Molly in “Insecure”, giving her career the push she’d been praying for.
Police in Laos Arrest Grandmother, Three Other Christians During Worship
December 14, 2018 (Morning Star News) – Police in Laos arrested a grandmother and three other Christians while they were worshipping last month, according to an advocacy group.
Raiding a church service in Keovilai village, Vilabouly District in Savannakhet Province, local police on Nov. 18 arrested the 78-year-old woman identified as Grandma Bounlam and three men identified by the surnames Duangtha, Khampan and Ponsawan, according to advocacy group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF).
The four Christians have since been released, an HRWLRF source told Morning Star News. The three men had been held in handcuffs and feet stocks. Bounlam was released for medical treatment for a heart condition.
Police also evicted them from their homes and property, according to an HRWLRF press statement.
Villagers said the worshippers were arrested for believing in Jesus Christ, according to the rights group, and they face the threat of unspecified criminal charges. Area Christians said police have threatened more severe punishment if the Lao Christians do not renounce Christianity, which is considered an enemy of the single-party, Marxist-Leninist country, according to the HRWLRF.
The three officers who made the arrests were identified by their surnames as Don, a police major stationed at Vilabouly District, and two police officers stationed in Vang…
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
