Open Heaven 1 February 2019 – Watch your Appetite

Open Heaven 1 February 2019 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Watch your Appetite

Topic: Watch your Appetite (Open Heaven 1 February 2019)

Memorise: “Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:”- Proverb 23:6

Read: Genesis 25:28-34 (KJV)

28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Bible in One Year: Luke 12-13, Isaiah 29:15-30:7

Open Heaven 1 February 2019 Friday MESSAGE:

In His infinite wisdom, God designed the human body to require food and water for sustenance. Being the Maker of all things, He is conscious of the fact that He created us with the basic need for food and drink, and He promised to provide these for us. As a child of God, you therefore need not to allow the anxiety of what to eat or drink overwhelm your heart in any way (Matthew 6:25-32).

Delicacies are expensive, mouth-watering meal received for kings, rulers, wealthy individuals and their companions. They are so temping because they are specially packaged to make them irresistible, and they typically have a lovely aroma, sumptuous appearance and fantastic taste. Although delicacies or dainties are not in themselves evil, they are often associated with evil because Satan and his agents tend to use them as a bait to lure innocent souls into developing an unhealthy appetite for them. In Proverbs 23:1-3, the wisdom of God teaches us not to desire the delicacies of leaders and wealthy people because they are more often than not deceitful meal. The story of Daniel and his compatriots in Daniel 1:8-18 clearly shows that basic food and drink are sufficient and not inferior to exotic delicacies and wine in providing the energy and nutrition that our bodies need to function effectively. Psalm 141:4 also teaches us that eating the delicacies of leaders or rich people can lead to covetousness and lure us into participating in their evil acts. Consequently, children of God need to watch their appetite, knowing that God only promises us daily bread and not special delicacies, because He knows what is best for us (Luke 11:3). Let us therefore not develop a taste for delicacies or become addicted to them, so much so that their availability or lack therefore become a major determining factor in our lifestyle decisions, choice of association and general worldview. As a child of God, be satisfied with what you have, so that you can live in total obedience to God instead of being at the mercy of the rich and powerful. For this reason, Hebrews 13:5-6 says:

“5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

The unhealthy appetite for delicacies and dainties has turned many Christians into sycophants and puppets, doing the bidding of wealthy and powerful leaders in order to keep up with certain levels of comfort. I pray that God will deliver anyone in this kind of situation today in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 1 February 2019 Friday Prayer Point:

Father, please don’t let my life be controlled by the need for food or drink, and preserve my life and destiny from being destroyed by my appetite in Jesus’ Name.

Also Read: Open Heaven 31 January 2019 – The Price of Being a Standard

Open Heaven 1 February 2019 Friday Hymn 5: Let Others See Jesus In You

1. While passing thro’ this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

Chorus:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.

Open Heaven 1 February 2019 Friday 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 1 February 2019 Friday Daily Devotional.

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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.

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Christian leaders question government plans to ban knife crime suspects from social media

Home Secretary Sajid Javid unveiled the new Asbo-style orders designed to tackle spiralling knife violence on Thursday.

The Knife Crime Prevention Orders could be issued to children as young as 12 and could also make suspects abide by curfews and geographical restrictions.

Violating the orders could land an offender in prison for up to two years. 

Nims Obunge, a pastor and the chief executive of the Peace Alliance told Premier he doubted if any positive difference would be made.

Speaking on Premier’s News Hour, he said: “There is never a single premise to deal with what we are seeing across our communities.

“And to assume that addressing it from the context of social media will finally cut down the knife crime I think – it maybe could be a pie in the sky but at the same time it’s not something that we should ignore.”

Knife possession rose by almost a third in five years, the latest figures show and concerns have been repeatedly raised that material posted on the internet fuels feuds that spill out into violence on the streets.

Police will apply for the orders in the courts and, if approved, they will last for a maximum of two years, with reviews carried out after 12 months for adults or more frequently for juveniles.

Toyin Onibokyun is a Christian and founder of Youth Against Crime Not Crime Against Youth.

Sharing her doubts over the new plans, she told Premier what…

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Church of England to Reconsider Transgender Affirmation Guidance

Church of England to Reconsider Transgender Affirmation Guidance



The Church of England says it is giving “serious consideration” to an open letter from more than 2,000 clergy that says the church’s guidance on transgender affirmation needs to change.


The letter, which was signed by 2,251 clergy, asks the Church of England’s House of Bishops to “revise, postpone or withdraw” the pastoral guidance released in December. The guidance allows Anglican clergy to perform Affirmation of Baptismal Faith ceremonies that symbolize a person’s gender transition.


In the Church of England, the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith is for Christians who have already been baptized but want to reaffirm their dedication to God.


In a statement, the Church of England said the bishops would discuss the clergy’s concerns to prepare for the church’s release of a set of teaching and learning resources on identity, marriage, sexuality and relationships.


“Transgender matters will be covered in those resources and the pastoral guidance does not pre-empt the work of the ‘Living in Love and Faith’ process. The guidance is not a restatement or a new statement on matters relating to gender, nor does it change the Church of England’s teaching.”


The guidance also says clergy may call transgender people by their chosen name and preferred pronouns.


The letter, however, says that evidence of gender dysphoria, or confusion about personal gender, can…

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96-day-long church service ends as family are allowed to stay in the Netherlands

The Tamrazyan family have lived in Holland for the last nine years but are originally from Armernia and had not obtained a residence permit to stay. Sasun Tamrazyan also feared for his family’s safety becuase he had previously been political in Armenia.

On Tuesday, it was decided that the Tamrazyan family would be pardoned, alongside hundreds of other families in a similar position.

A caveat on deportation law called kinderpardon is meant to apply to children who have lived in the country for over five years but it is not enforced consistenty and many who apply are rejected.

The parents and three older children (21, 19 and 15) were at threat of being deported but Dutch law states that the police cannot enter a building “intended for religious or reflective meetings of a philosophical nature, during the worship or reflection meeting”.

The Protestant Bethel church in The Hague therefore initiated a non-stop service on 26th October 2018, with hundreds of preachers across the country travelling to preach there and filibuster with sermons.

Chair of the General Council of the Protestant Church in The Hague, Theo Hettema said: “We are extremely grateful for a safe future for hundreds of refugee families in the Netherlands. For months we have held up hope and now that hope is taking shape.

“We are deeply impressed by all the predecessors, volunteers and others who have…

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Democrats May Delete ‘So Help Me God’ from Oath in Committee

Democrats May Delete ‘So Help Me God’ from Oath in Committee



Democratic leaders on a key House committee are moving to strike the language requiring witnesses to agree to tell the truth “so help you God” in a change that has surprised even some Republicans. 


Draft rules in the House Committee on Natural Resources obtained by Fox News show the phrase in red and in brackets, meaning it is to be removed. 


Previously, witnesses were required to affirm an oath reading, “Do you solemnly swear or affirm, that the testimony that you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?” 


The proposed new oath deletes “so help you God?” and adds “under penalty of law.” It would read, “Do you solemnly swear or affirm, under penalty of law, that the testimony that you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”  


The Hill also covered the potential change. 


Oaths with the phrase “so help you God” are common in the House and Senate. Last year’s televised hearings with Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford included the phrase. 


“It is incredible, but not surprising, that the Democrats would try to remove God from committee proceedings in one of their first acts in the majority,” House GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (Wyo.) told Fox News. “They really have become the party of Karl Marx.”


Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva…

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Our Daily Bread 1 February 2019 Devotional – Restored

Topic: Restored [Our Daily Bread 1 February 2019 Devotional]

Bible in a Year: Exodus 29–30; Matthew 21:23–46

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten. – Joel 2:25

Today’s Scripture & Insight: Joel 2:18-27

A 2003 infestation of Mormon crickets caused more than $25 million in lost crops. The crickets came in such numbers that people couldn’t so much as take a step without finding one underfoot. The grasshopper-like insect, named for attacking the crops of the Utah pioneers in 1848, can eat an astounding thirty-eight pounds of plant material in their lifetimes, despite being merely two to three inches long. The impact of infestations on famers’ livelihoods—and the overall economy of a state or country—can be devastating.

The Old Testament prophet Joel described a horde of similar insects ravaging the entire nation of Judah as a consequence for their collective disobedience. He foretold an invasion of locusts (a metaphor for a foreign army, in the minds of some Bible scholars) like nothing previous generations had seen (Joel 1:2). The locusts would lay waste to everything in their path, driving the people into famine and poverty. If, however, the people would turn from their sinful ways and ask God for forgiveness, Joel says the Lord would “repay [them] for the years the locusts have eaten” (2:25).

We too can learn from Judah’s lesson: like insects, our wrongdoings eat away at the fruitful, fragrant life God intended for us. When we turn toward Him, and away from our past choices, He promises to remove our shame and restore us to an abundant life in Him.

Today’s Reflection
What can you ask God’s forgiveness for today?

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Kirsten Holmberg [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

The post Our Daily Bread 1 February 2019 Devotional – Restored appeared first on Flatimes.

Kenneth Copeland Devotional 1 February 2019 – Hit Him With the Rock

Topic: Hit Him With the Rock [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 1 February 2019]

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. – Psalm 23:1-2

Have you ever thought about David and wondered how a shepherd boy could become a man after God’s own heart—a man so strong in spirit that God chose him to be king of Israel? I have.

In fact, I asked God about it, and He showed me that revelation was what turned David into such a spiritual powerhouse—revelation that came to him through hours of thinking about the things of God. I imagine the day he wrote Psalm 23 he was just sitting and singing praises to God and meditating on His goodness. Just fellowshipping with Him when suddenly the anointing of the Lord came upon him and he said, “The Lord is my Shepherd!”

Suddenly he thought about the sheep he watched over as a boy, I faced death for those sheep. I led them where pastures were green and waters were cool, clean, deep, and peaceful. He kept on meditating on that until it started to thrill him. When the lion and the bear came, didn’t He prepare a table before me in the presence of those enemies? He gave me victory. My God! My God will fight for me. The Lord is my Shepherd! I shall not want!

That revelation welled up in David so strong that the devil couldn’t beat it out of him. So when Goliath tried to make a fool out of Israel, David went after him. Goliath was able to scare off everyone else, but he couldn’t shake David because he had a revelation inside him that said, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for my God is with me. That revelation enabled David to say, “I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts” and to send a rock sailing into that giant’s brain.

Is the devil out to destroy you? Do what David did. Meditate on God and His Word. Sing praises to your King. Fellowship with Him until the revelation of who He is in you starts to thrill your soul. Then tell the devil, “You’re not going to kill me. The Lord is my Shepherd!” Hit him with the rock of revelation knowledge, and you’ll knock him flat every time.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

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.

The post Kenneth Copeland Devotional 1 February 2019 – Hit Him With the Rock appeared first on Flatimes.

Zimbabwe pastor leaves prison on bail, says hundreds in jail need aid

Mawarire was one of more than 1,000 people arrested recently in a government crackdown on protests against dramatic fuel price hikes in Zimbabwe.

He has been charged with subversion and faces 20 years in prison if convicted.

 

Mawarire told reporters that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government was no better than that of former leader Robert Mugabe.

With the country’s flag wrapped around him while he held a Bible, he said: “Once again we have to run and hide. It breaks my heart.

“I was locked up with over 300 young men whose limbs were broken after being beaten by soldiers and police. It is a tragedy, it is a shame.

“There are 16-year-olds who have been locked up.”

It is unclear if any of the prisoners in the jail on the outskirts of the capital, Harare, have received any medical care.

AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi

 

Action by the police and army followed a breakdown in law and order in Harare and Bulawayo two weeks ago which led to some looting and rioting.

Twelve people were shot dead by police while many more were assaulted amid the worst violence seen in Zimbabwe in ten years.

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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Pelosi, DeVos Address Christian Educators on Policy and Faith

Pelosi, DeVos Address Christian Educators on Policy and Faith



WASHINGTON (RNS) — Hours before post-shutdown conversations began on immigration and border security on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a group of Christian educators gathering in the nation’s capital this week that she intends to uphold her responsibility to “act upon our beliefs in the dignity and worth of every person.”


Those people include refugees seeking to cross our borders, Pelosi told the Presidents Conference of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities on Wednesday (Jan. 30).


“We’re hoping that we can find common ground as soon as possible so that we can not only meet the responsibility to protect our border and treat people coming here with dignity and respect but also to keep government open,” she said.


The opening session of the three-day CCCU conference, held at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, also featured a talk with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. Both spoke of their faith as an integral part of their work as government leaders.


Pelosi said she hopes decision-makers on both sides of the debate over the wall at the Southern border can agree on funding for key needs in Latin America as well as the U.S.: food and medical care for people crossing the border, assistance for the countries from which they are fleeing and additional federal judges to adjudicate their cases.


“One of the things that we have to convey…

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Somerset street preacher arrested and charged

Michael Overd was detained in Fore Street, Bridgwater on Saturday 26th January. He is accused of breaking the conditions of a dispersal order – Section 35 direction which barred him from entering the town centre.

The 54-year-old from Arundells Way in Creech St Michael is scheduled to appear at Taunton Magistrates Court on 28th February.

 

According to the This Is The West Country news website, Mr Overd says he plans to plead not guilty.

Dispersal orders allow police to move individuals on from an area and stop them from returning for up to 48 hours (not including residential areas).

 

They can be issued in order to remove or cut the likelihood of members of the public becoming “harassed, alarmed or distressed” or “the occurrence of crime or disorder”.

 

Included in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, they also gave officers greater powers to break up groups of people. Dispersal orders are granted by local councils – with input from partner organisations.

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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