Billy Graham Devotional 4 November 2018 – A New Birth

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Topic: A New Birth [Billy Graham Devotional 4 November 2018]

We started out bad, being born with evil natures. . . . But God is so rich in mercy . . . he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead . . . — Ephesians 2:3,4 (TLB)

I am reminded of a period when all the agonies that afflict modern minds were felt by another generation, the young people who lived during the first century after Christ. They too sought change, but they directed their efforts at individuals, not at the Roman Empire, not at City Hall. And eventually the whole social and political structure felt their impact. In short, those renewed men and women became filled with a unique dynamic force.

Today this same force is available to all people. Over the centuries it has worked in the lives of millions. I personally have seen thousands of people changed. Jesus called it “a new birth.” The Scripture tells us that you need not continue as you are. You can become a new person. Whatever your hang-up—guilt, anxiety, fear, hatred—God can handle it.

Prayer for the day: I delight in knowing, Lord Jesus, that there is nothing in my life that is incapable of being changed through Your redemptive power.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

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.

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Open Heaven 4 November 2018 – Blessings Associated with Banqueting

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Open Heaven 4 November 2018 Sunday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Blessings Associated with Banqueting

Topic: Blessings Associated with Banqueting (Open Heaven 4 November 2018)

Memorise: “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”- Proverbs 15:13

Read: Esther 7:1-7 (KJV)

1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.

2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.

5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?

6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 40-42, Luke 16:1-18

Open Heaven 4 November 2018 Sunday MESSAGE:

The topic of today’s devotional may be surprising to you. Indeed, some Christian zealots discredit banqueting, and they tend to glory in not associating themselves with parties. Trying to justify themselves, you will hear some say, “I am not a party person.” Yes, there is no crime in not being a party person; I am not a party person either. However, there are benefits associated with banqueting found in God’s word, and because of these blessings, I attend parties once in a while and get blessed by doing so, because it is in the word of God. I thank God for my wife; even when she is fasting, you will always see her cooking. The word of God has inspired her to continually host banquets, culminating in the birth of an annual outreach programme christened ‘Feast of Esther’! The Lord be praised!

According to today’s memory verse, one of the blessings of banqueting is a cheerful spirit. The children of this world know this secret and they take advantage of the blessing of joy brought on by getting together. Although they mostly misuse the opportunity of merriment, they still get the associated blessing of a cheerful spirit because it is the word of God. In today’s Bible reading, Queen Esther took advantage of the blessings associated with banqueting to fight a war that could otherwise have been lost if fought on the battlefield. Using her privilege as queen, she perfectly hosted the king to a sumptuous dinner party and got his attention for the salvation of her people from annihilation.

The effect of good meals is obvious in the Bible. Good meals have either made or marred people’s destinies. Delicious pottage destroyed the destiny of Esau, while a good meal placed irreversible blessings on Jacob (Genesis 25:29-34, Genesis 27). Also, a good meal prescribed by God Himself delivered the Jews from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:5-10). Beloved, when occasion warrants you to hold a banquet, go ahead and do it. You can use Nehemiah 8:10 as a template of what festivities for children of God should look like. This scripture verse says:

“…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.”

Are you planning to host a banquet and the devil is putting doubts in your heart? Go ahead with that joyful gathering, and there shall be no problem, rather you will come back with unimaginable testimonies of victories over those who don’t want you to celebrate in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 4 November 2018 Sunday Prayer Point:

Father, please give me a reason to host a celebration this season in Jesus’ Name.

Also Read: Open Heaven 3 November 2018 – Are you a worthy Associate?

Open Heaven 4 November 2018 Sunday Hymn 6: A New Thing
(Tune: There shall be showers of Blessing)

1. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because GOD will do new things
Sinners will soon be forgiven
Prodigals will come home soon.

Chorus:
Shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Rivers in desert now flowing
Halleluyah to our king.

2. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Sickness and sorrow will be gone
Bondage will be forgotten.

3. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
The barren will be fruitful soon
Failure will be forgotten

4. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Poverty will be forgotten
Stagnancy will soon be gone.

5. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
To all miracles are given
There shall be celebrations

6. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Many will have testimonies
Of prayers answered fully

7. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
One of us will chase a thousand
Two will conquer ten thousand.

8. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Songs of praises we will sing
Halleluyah to our King.

Open Heaven 4 November 2018 Sunday 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 4 November 2018 Sunday 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.

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Diocese of Salisbury becomes first Eco Diocese

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Diocese of Salisbury becomes first Eco Diocese

Salisbury Cathedral Spire will be lit in green on Saturday night to celebrate the award, which has been given by the Christian environmental group A Rocha UK.

To award the status of an eco diocese, a diocese or parish’s green credentials are looked at in five areas: worship, teaching, buildings, land, community engagement and lifestyle.

Andy Atkins, CEO of A Rocha UK said: “When we launched Eco Church in 2016 we had high hopes and expectations. To have reached this far so quickly is humbling, exciting and such a huge encouragement that so many churches in a diocese are working together to care for God’s earth should be an encouragement to us all”.

The Eco Diocese award is part of the wider Eco Church scheme. To achieve an Eco Diocese Bronze Award, 10% of Salisbury diocese’s 500 local worshipping communities, which are spread across Dorset and Wiltshire, engaged with Eco Church and 5% obtained an Eco Church Award.

In addition, the whole diocese met Eco Church Bronze Award standards for its management of buildings and land. There was also a requirement for ethical investment of diocesan funds and for the inclusion of care for creation in training for ministry.

The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam said: “I am delighted and very encouraged that the Diocese of Salisbury is the first to win this award. As the lead bishop on the environment for the Church of…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Notable Voices and the Week in Review: November 3, 2018

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What Is Appropriate To Wear In Church? — Karl Vaters

There are some rules for how Christians should dress. And they are a matter of the heart far more than the clothes themselves. As believers, we should not dress immodestly, pridefully, or rebelliously.

7 Steps to Getting (and Keeping) Loyal Volunteers — Facts & Trends

It’s a reality of ministry as persistent as it is disappointing. And as if the 80/20 rule wasn’t bad enough, the 20 percent doesn’t remain constant. Different people “rotate” through serving, so seems that just when you get a volunteer in place and on their feet, they walk away. It can be one of the most frustrating experiences of ministry.

5 Reasons Church Lighting Matters to Older Adults — Chuck Lawless

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m now in the older generation at my church. I don’t feel old, though, and I prefer contemporary praise choruses or well-done hymns with a contemporary feel. To be honest, I most think about my age when the lighting is so low in a church that it’s tough for me to see. Here are some reasons the lighting really does matter to older folks:

3 Principles for Pastors Addressing Politics — Bruce Ashford

It’s an age-old question, made more relevant by the insistence of media outlets and political pundits: Should pastors directly address contemporary political issues? Some commentators argue that Christianity offers a moral framework that is directly relevant to policy issues and thus the pastor should speak to…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Religious programme ‘Something Understood’ cut by BBC

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Religious programme ‘Something Understood’ cut by BBC

Something Understood is an ethical discussion programme on early Sunday mornings and repeated Sunday evenings, exploring religious themes through music and guests from a variety of backgrounds. 

Episodes are made by various independent production companies, such as TBI media, 7Digital and Falling Tree productions. 

However, the slot will be filled with old episodes from April 2019, with no new ones being made. 

The show started in 1995 and is presented by Sir Mark Tully, a BBC journalist, as well as other contributors. 

The corporation said it was to do with budget issues, saying: “The BBC continues to face significant financial challenges, and has to save £800 million by 2012; so Radio 4, like the rest of BBC Radio, has to make tough choices.

“We’ve broadcast Something Understood for nearly 24 years, and we know the decision to no longer make this programme will disappoint our audience.

“But we have a full and rich back catalogue of the programme, and we propose to fill the schedule with the best of the archive for the foreseeable future.”

It appears to contradict the intention to produce more religious content next year. 

In December 2017, the BBC said: “We also plan for landmark series and programmes to reach wide audiences, with a Year of Beliefs in 2019; diversifying our range of contributors and enhancing portrayal in mainstream programming; improving…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Coffins arrive in church of Egyptian Christians murdered in bus attack

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Coffins arrive in church of Egyptian Christians murdered in bus attack

The vehicle was ambushed on their return from St Samuel the Confessor monastery, South of Cairo, after a family baptism for a child.

Seven people were murdered and 20 people were also injured and taken to Magaghah hospital and Sheikh Fadl Hospital. The Interior Ministry says it was the work of Islamic militants.

It’s the second attack on pilgrims near St Samuel the Confessor monastery in two years. The previous attack in May 2017 left 28 people dead.

On Saturday, the coffins of those who died on Friday arrived at the Church of Prince Tadros in the city of Minya, where clergy prayed and conducted the funerals.

Bishop Youssef, the Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States said in a statement: “No one can take away our joy in the Lord. For now, we may shed some tears and grieve for a while in sorrow for the faithful martyrs and confessors and their heart-broken families.

“Tomorrow is a new day, but God will not forget one drop of the blood of His saints. All Egyptian citizens must strive together to condemn these radicals from trying to take our beloved country hostage.”

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Four out of five Christians have ‘taken action’ on poverty this year

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Four out of five Christians have ‘taken action’ on poverty this year

87% Christians have taken action on poverty in the past year and see it as a core part of discipleship, according to a poll of 2,958 UK adults by research firm Barna Group for the poverty charity Tearfund.

Christians Who Make a Difference, the report released on Friday, looked at the connections between Christian beliefs, practices and priorities in relation to their response to poverty.

The research shows that Christians are more likely to donate to charity, with 73% Christians saying they did and 63% of all other UK adults.

49% believers gave food, clothing, furniture or other resources to someone in need.

Christians were slightly more likely to make consumer lifestyle changes, such as recycling, reducing meat consumption and using a green energy provider, with 39% of Christians saying they did so and 35% all other UK adults.

Among those who regularly attended church (at least once a month), the percentages were even higher.

Those who held a high regard for doing something about poverty also prioritised spiritual practises like reading the Bible and praying. Two-thirds said reading the Bible was essential for growing their faith, compared to half of regular churchgoers who said they didn’t serve people in poverty.

The top five activities that Christians believed help to grow their faith included: praying (57%), being part of a church community (51%), reading the Bible (42%), donating to the poor (42%) and worshipping God through songs (33%).

The study also…

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Asia Bibi not allowed to leave Pakistan

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Asia Bibi not allowed to leave Pakistan

Despite her lawyer Saif ul-Malook, saying “A person alleged to have committed blasphemy cannot live in Pakistan”, authorities are taking action to put her on the Exit Control list. 

Malook, who successfully won her court appeal, has now fled Pakistan for safety after violent Muslim rioters who had threatened to kill him along with Asia Bibi and other people who supported her. 

Fleeing may not be an option for Asia Bibi though, as the government made an agreement on Friday with Islamist protesters to begin the process of stopping her leaving the country. 

There has been rioting in the country since her acquittal from accusations of blasphemy on Wednesday. 

In 2010, Asia Bibi was accused of blaspheming against the prophet Muhammad. After nearly a decade away from her family and on death row, she was cleared of the accusation this week and told she would not face the death penalty. 

This caused unrest throughout Pakistan for those who still believe she insulted Islam, leading to the government striking a deal with rioters to limit her movement. 

Also part of the agreement was a promise to not reject a petition to review her acquittal and to release those arrested at the protests. 

Supporters have expressed their dismay at this, saying it does not follow legal processes and that the government are bowing to pressure from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, an Islamist…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Joyce Meyer Devotional 3 November 2018 — Get Up and Get Going

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Topic: Get Up and Get Going [Joyce Meyer Devotional 3 November 2018]

For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature…. — James 3:2 (AMP)

Even before we are totally awake, Satan is bidding to deceive us and is ready to plant defeating thoughts in our mind. He wants us to be hopeless, faithless, and negative.

He definitely doesn’t want us to be positive when we get up. He wants us to have a bad attitude and be selfish and self-centered, full of hatred, bitterness, resentment, doubt, unbelief, and fear—to be mad at everybody.

But thank God, through Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed from all of those negative patterns. We can resist Satan and trust God’s power in or­der to live victoriously today.

Prayer Starter: Father, this is the day You have made! Help me to approach it with a positive attitude, full of faith and hope, knowing You have great things in store. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

The post Joyce Meyer Devotional 3 November 2018 — Get Up and Get Going appeared first on Flatimes.

Teens Open Heavens 3 November 2018 – Blasphemy Severs Link

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Topic: Blasphemy Severs Link [Teens Open Heavens 3 November 2018]

Memorise: “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:“ Mark 3:29

Read: Mark 3:48-30 (KJV)

Bible In One Year: Jeremiah 36-37, Philemon 1

MESSAGE:

As long as the branch is connected to the vine, what flows in the vine will automatically flow into the branch. If you want the life of God to continue to flow through your veins, do all it takes to stay connected to Him. You will observe that most trees do not produce fruits except through their branches. In other words, when the tree passes nutrient to the branches, it is to nurture it and keep it alive as well as to make it fruitful. There is no way a branch will produce fruits if it is severed from the vine. If you notice that you are becoming dry and no longer feel His presence, check yourself to see if you are still connected to the Vine. If you are a talkative person, you might not be sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit to hear Him when He tells you to stop talking. This could strain your relationship with Him to a point where the link between you and Him becomes broken.

Have you talked carelessly or gossiped to a point of emptiness? Go to the Lord and cry for help in bridling your tongue. Don’t let your tongue destroy what the blood of Jesus has purchased for you.

Prayer Point:

Lord Jesus, please let the link between you and I never be broken. Pray for orphans all over the world to experience God’s love and come to Him.

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 7:

1. I am Thine 0 Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

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.

The post Teens Open Heavens 3 November 2018 – Blasphemy Severs Link appeared first on Flatimes.

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