Deputy First Minister of Scotland tells Christian youth conference they are a “great example of Christian service”

The Deep Impact conference, held annually is a national training weekend in Scotland for Christian youth workers, organised by youth agencies and the Evangelical Alliance. 

This year, Nicola Sturgeon’s deputy and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills – John Swinney MSP – joined the 350 volunteers to deliver a speech of encouragement. 

In a keynote speech, the Deputy First Minister said that the Deep Impact conference was a “great example of Christian service” and that the Scottish Government “appreciates the valuable contribution our Christian communities make to Scottish society, including supporting many of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities”.

Swinney said: “Deep Impact is a wonderful celebration of best practice in the Christian youth and children’s work sector, and I look forward to opening the conference this weekend. It is a great opportunity to thank volunteers in person for the valuable work they do across a range of different projects throughout Scotland.

He praised them for promoting interfaith dialogue, “a goal the Scottish Government strongly shares and promotes as a way to strengthen and enhance connections across communities, lower barriers, eliminate fear and increase understanding.

“It is extremely welcome to see the partnership the conference has with YouthLink Scotland, the national agency for youthwork….

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Govt’s special envoy for freedom of religion asked about detained pastor in China

In a series of questions directed at the Foreign Office, Lord Alton of Liverpool, a peer and Christian, asked in the House of Lords on Friday: “what representations they have made to the government of the People’s Republic of China following (1) the destruction of crosses and shrines, (2) the closure of Christian churches, and (3) the arrest of pastors, including the detention of Pastor Wang Yi and his wife Jiang Rong of Early Rain Covenant Church, just before Christmas 2018.”

In December last year, Chinese police detained 100 members of the Protestant Early Rain Church in Sichuan province, including the Pastor Wang Yi. Later, all apart from twelve were released, with the preacher and his wife Jiang Rong still detained. 

The congregants were charged with ‘inciting subversion’, a national security charge used frequently against religious leaders. 

David Alton, a former Liberal Democrat MP, was answered on this issue by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Government’s special envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. 

Lord Ahmad said: “We are concerned by the arrest and detention of Pastor Wang Yi and his wife Jiang Rong. We believe the restrictions placed on Christianity and other religions in China, that include individuals being harassed or detained for their beliefs are unacceptable. The freedom to practise, change or share ones faith or belief without…

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Week of prayer for Christian unity underway

18th-25th January has been designated the ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ since 1908. 

This year, Christian Aid have written daily reflections and prayer points have been prepared by churches in Indonesia – where about 10% of the population are Christian and 86% Muslim.

Each day has a Bible reading, a prayer and some reflections on how to pray for the more than 17,000 Indonesian islands, including praying for justice, against corruption and for unity in such a diverse nation. 

Rev Peter Colwell, Deputy General of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland told Premier the week is put on “so that we might be might be better at Christian witness.

“Let me quote the great Desmond Tutu, when he speaking to the World Council of Churches some years ago during the struggle for apartheid he said a divided church was not strong enough to resist apartheid. So if we’re about evangelism and mission and service to the world…we can’t do that if we’re divided.”

Rev Peter acknowledged that churches inherit a lot of historical divisions for all sorts of reasons, because of matters of faith, politics and conflict within society: “sometimes they relate to how we understand the Christian faith, it’s a matter of emphasis, sometimes it’s some of those very difficult issues, for example, do we agree that one should be pacifist or that we can justify war in some cases?

“They’re are…

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Enjoying Distinction in Family by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Enjoying Distinction in Family by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Topic: Enjoying Distinction in Family

In life, until you dare to be different, you cannot make any difference; the family that must make a difference must do things differently. God never consulted man before He instituted marriage and the family.

When God steps into a family no matter how battered and shattered the family is, it turns out to be great. Without God in a family, every effort will be futile. Every family that must have life must have God; God can bring something out of nothing. The Word of God (as a Spirit) is what guarantees life, beauty and elegance in every successful family.

John 6:63 (KJV) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

God has given us the manual to operate the family which is the Bible. The word of God must be your foundation in life and family. To be different in life and family is dependent on the attention you give to God and His Word. No man will make any impact until he accepts change; ability to change has great rewards. Your ability to change is an evidence of maturity and maturity is not of age but of understanding of the Word of God.

Also Read: Be A Life Long Learner By Pastor David Ibiyeomie

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The Word of God is an effective key for establishing a family with a difference and so it must be your guiding tool. You must value the word of God because it is the compass of your life. You must come to a conclusion that whatever God’s Word says is final.

Genesis 2:18 (KJV) And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Marriage is for help and not for hurt. Husband and wife are meant to be helpers in all areas of life; spiritually, mentally, socially, physically, financially and otherwise.

Genesis 2:15, 19 (KJV) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Any man who is not productive in life should not go for a wife. You must develop yourself and be able to accept responsibility and take decisions. In marriage, you must be able to develop yourself mentally in order to be of help to your spouse. Your family cannot enjoy distinction if you remain idle. Idleness breeds poverty. God believes in work; He created the earth and gave man work to till the garden and name the creatures before He gave him a wife (Eve); so it is work before marriage. Abraham was a very intelligent worker; joblessness is an enemy of distinction.

Proverbs 10:4 (KJV) He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

No lazy man has a future in God’s kingdom. Idleness leads to begging and begging is not noble. As a woman, don’t be idle irrespective of how wealthy your husband may be. Engage yourself in work. For a man to depend on his wife for livelihood is not wise. If Jesus could work and you do not work, who will you then look like? Idleness is a barrier that hinders the possibility of God blessing you; it does not matter if you are a giver. God does not reward idleness; he rewards and blesses the work of your hands.

Ensure you are doing something; God will use that work to enlarge and announce you to your world. Rather than waiting for who will employ you, you can discover how to do your own business by being creative. By so doing, you discover your potential thereby increasing your worth; provision will be guaranteed and you help others instead of waiting for who will give you money. As you apply these principles from today, your family will always be distinguished in Jesus name –Amen!

God bless you

Also Read: Other Inspiring Messages by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

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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Our Daily Bread 19 January 2019 Devotional – Where Are You Headed?

Topic: Where Are You Headed? [Our Daily Bread 19 January 2019 Devotional]

Bible in a Year: Genesis 49–50; Matthew 13:31–58

Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord. – Psalm 121:1–2

Today’s Scripture & Insight: Psalm 121:1-8

What determines our direction in life? I once heard an answer to that question in a surprising place: a motorcycle training course. Some friends and I wanted to ride, so we took a class to learn how. Part of our training dealt with something called target fixation.

“Eventually,” our instructor said, “you’re going to face an unexpected obstacle. If you stare at it—if you target fixate—you’ll steer right into it. But if you look above and past it to where you need to go, you can usually avoid it.” Then he added, “Where you’re looking is the direction you’re going to go.”

That simple-but-profound principle applies to our spiritual lives too. When we “target fixate”—focusing on our problems or struggles—we almost automatically orient our lives around them.

However, Scripture encourages us to look past our problems to the One who can help us with them. In Psalm 121:1, we read, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?” The psalm then answers: “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. . . . The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (vv. 2, 8).

Sometimes our obstacles can seem insurmountable. But God invites us to look to Him to help us see beyond our troubles instead of letting them dominate our perspective.

Today’s Reflection
Father, help me not to “target fixate,” but to look to You whenever I face fearful obstacles as I seek to follow You along life’s road.

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

This message was written By Adam Holz [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

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MFM Daily Devotional 19 January 2019 – Peace Is Not The Absence Of Trouble

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 19 January 2019 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Peace Is Not The Absence Of Trouble

TOPIC: Peace Is Not The Absence Of Trouble (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 19 January 2019)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Philippians 4:4-8

Bible In One Year: Genesis 46-48; Matthew 13:1-30

MEMORY VERSE: “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee. – Jeremiah 1:19

The MESSAGE:

In Jeremiah 1:19, God gave the warning that the enemy would surely attack us, but he would not prevail against us because He is with us to defend us. No wonder He says in Philippians 4:7 that no matter the situation, His peace will always keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

How can we be at peace when wicked powers are waging incessant wars against our bodies, souls and spirits, finances, marriages, children etc, sometimes attacking several areas of our lives at the same time? I know a man who lost his wife and his job within three months.

Revelation 12:12 tells us that the devil is filled with great wrath against the inhabitants of the earth. Every time he unleashes malicious attacks on man, knowing how much God loves us. God is however unfailing in His promise and has resolved to defend His people.

Jesus says

  1. Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me (John 14:1).
  2. In this world, you will have tribulation. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

The enemy can package troubles, afflictions, tribulations, as he likes, but Jesus knew about them before hand and has nullified them upfront. This is why in Philippians 4:4-7, we are commanded to ensure that no package from the enemy troubles us, but to prayerfully and earnestly make our situation known to God with thanksgiving.

Beloved, Jesus accompanies His confirmation of lots of tribulation with the assurance that He is bust fighting for those who believe in Him.
If peace is not the absence of trouble, what then is peace? It is the presence of God in your life! Our God -Jehovah Shalom -is the Peace that passes all understanding!

Peace is knowing that God is in total and complete control of all things and at all times. We can only access this peace if we walk with God in obedience at all times, trusting Him no matter how hot the fire of the enemy burning us is. It is being in constant touch with our God, studying His word to know His will, His attributes and what He can do. It is praying without ceasing, knowing God is bigger than any problem. It is seeking God to know Him and to please Him, while holding on tight to Him alone.

Beloved, he assured that no matter what awaits you, Jesus has overcome for you. Ensure that you regularly audit your walk with God, to be sure that He is still with you. That is all!

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
WITHOUT INNER PEACE, OUTER PEACE IS IMPOSSIBLE.

PROPHETIC WORD:
The peace of God shall saturate your life.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

  1. Omnipresent God, I praise You for Your awesomeness and Your love that make me Your child, in the name of Jesus.
  2. Father, let Your inner peace that passes all understanding fill my life, in the name of Jesus.
  3. Lord Jesus, go into foundation again and again and with Your blood, flush out anything that is not compatible with You, in the name of Jesus.
    EVENING
  4. Holy Ghost fire, consume anything in me that will take away the presence of God from my life, in the name of Jesus.
  5. My God, open my eyes to see You in every situation and empower me to hold on to You, no matter what I see around me, in the name of Jesus.
  6. Omnipotent God, I lay the following at Your feet (tell Him all your troubles etc), fight for me, in the name of Jesus.
  7. O God of peace, give me peace always and by all means, in the name of Jesus.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

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.

The post MFM Daily Devotional 19 January 2019 – Peace Is Not The Absence Of Trouble appeared first on Flatimes.

Open Heaven 19 January 2019 Prayer Points on Today – Our Heavenly Father

Open Heaven 19 January 2019 Prayer Points on Today – Our Heavenly Father

Our Heavenly Father

1.Lord, I worship and adore You, You’re the king of kings, the Lord of lords, the Ancient of Days, the Everlasting and Compassionate Father.

Also Read: Open Heaven 19 January 2019 Daily Devotional

2.Thank You, Father, for the salvation of my soul, and for creating me in Your image and likeness.

3.Thank You, Father, for the privilege, grace and honour to be called the son of God.

4.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus name.

5.Father, sanctify and purify me daily, and empower me to live a holy and righteous life, in Jesus name.

6.Father, please, uproot from my life and destiny, anything that does not reflect Your image, in Jesus name.

7.Father, quicken my entire being to reflect Your complete and full image, of purity, holiness, power, authority and dominion, in Jesus name.

8.Father, please, help me to live through today, without committing a single sin, in Jesus name.

9.Father, let Your Kingdom come, and let Your Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, in Jesus name.

10.Father, continue to glorify Yourself in the life, and ministry, of Your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, in Jesus name.

11.Father, bless Your son, that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures; help him to overcome every challenge of getting these prayer points across to Your children timely, on daily basis, in Jesus name.

12.Your Personal petitions. (Philippians 4:6)

13.In Jesus name I pray. (John 14:13-14; 15:16)

14.Thank you Father for answered prayers. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

These prayers have no expiry date! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus name.

Kindly, purchase your own hard copy or online version of the Open Heavens devotional & buy for your friends too, as a potent evangelism tool. God bless you, as you sow, into Pastor E.A. Adeboye’s book Ministry, in Jesus name.

Open Heaven 19 January 2019 Prayer Points on Today – Our Heavenly Father

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TREM Devotional 19 January 2019 – Call Forth Your Desires

Topic: Call Forth Your Desires [TREM Devotional 19 January 2019]

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1:3 KJV

Everything that we are looking at today came because God spoke. He said let there be and there was. God was not intimidated by the darkness. He looked at the darkness and He opened His mouth and said let there be. Before now the light was there but darkness had overshadowed the light. Child of God, your baby is already there, it is the devil that came with barrenness to cover it up. So, what should you do? Call it forth!

There are always two sides to things. A ‘yes’ and a ‘no!’ For instance, if you had submitted an LPO and they said to you ‘no’, call forth ‘yes!’ God said let there be light and there was light. Don’t settle for Satan’s words. He does not have the final say. Your God is the Alpha and the Omega. He alone has the final say. There are always two sides. The enemy produces the negative. But your part is to call forth the positive. Let there be light! Let the earth produce animals! That means the animals were there, but He needed to open His mouth and call them forth

The authority we have is to call things forth. God will not do it for you. The heaven of heavens belong to our God and He has given the earth to the sons of men. It is time you opened your mouth to declare what you want to see. When there was famine in the land, Elisha, the ancient prophet of God said: “…Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.” (2Kings 7:1 KJV) What an audacity! We are talking about a time when things had gone upside down and women were beginning to eat their children. Can I tell you a secret? The devil doesn’t want you to know that heaven has been waiting for you to speak. But I have come to tell you this day that God is waiting for you to call forth your miracles.

Further Reading: Genesis 1:1-27, 2Kings 7:1-20

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Genesis 46-48/ Evening- Matthew 13:1-30

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

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Seeds of Destiny 19 January 2019 Devotional – Walking with God

Topic: Walking with God [Seeds of Destiny 19 January 2019 Devotional]

Scripture: And Enoch walked with God after He begat Methuselah, 300 years and begat sons and daughters and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him, he walked with God. Genesis 5:22-24.

Thought For The Day: To walk with God is to allow God’s Word order your steps in life.

It has been confirmed that dedication to God has many profits and benefits in life. One of the benefits of dedication to God is standing out from the rest of the people. You cannot give God the best and be among the rest of the people; you cannot put God first and come last in life. Therefore, it is important to look further at the subject of dedication.

Now, what is dedication to God?
From our anchor Scripture, we understand that dedication to God is synonymous with walking with God; to be dedicated to God is to walk with God (Genesis 17:1).

What then does it mean to walk with God? Walking with God means:
i. Going in the same direction with God (Luke 24:13-15)
Walking with God means going in the same direction with God. When a person is walking with God, he cannot go in a direction that is contrary to where God is. To walk with God is to travel in the same direction with God.

ii. Being in steps with God
Walking with God means being in step with God; the steps and the moves of those who walk with God are ordered by God (Prov. 37:23).

iii. Ordering one’s steps in the Word of God
Walking with God or being dedicated means ordering your steps in the Word of God (Psalms 119:133).

Beloved, you cannot claim to be walking with God when you do not go in the same direction with Him, being in step with Him or ordering your steps and moves according to His Word. My counsel is, decide to walk with God totally and completely.

Remember this: To walk with God is to allow God’s Word order your steps in life.

Assignments:

  1. Make up your mind to go in the same direction with God.
  2. Ask God to reveal His steps for your life and make up your mind to follow them.

Prayer: O Lord, I receive the grace to walk with You by going the same direction with You, being in step with You and ordering my steps in Your Word, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: UNDERSTANDING DEDICATION (PART 2).

Today In History: 19/01/1883 – Thomas Edison’s first village electric lightings system using overhead wires began operation in Roselle, NJ.

Daily Reading: Genesis 39:1 to 41:16, Matthew 12:46 to 13:23, Psalm 17:1 to 15, Proverbs 3:33 to 35

Amazing Fact: Dogs cannot distinguish between red and green.

Quote: At the place of prayer, man is enabled to see his life from God’s perspective. Culled from PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Sunday service tomorrow by 9am at the Glory Dome, the Lord’s Garden, Airport Road, Abuja. Come with your friends and loved ones.

Also Read: Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche

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.

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Watch Winners’ Chapel LIVE: 2019 ONE NIGHT WITH THE KING Part II

Watch Winners’ Chapel LIVE: 2019 ONE NIGHT WITH THE KING Part II

It’s happening tonight, the second of the three “One Night with the KING” Service, ordained by God for this season of 21 days of prayer and fasting comes up today 18th January 2019.

Again, It’s “One Night With The King”, Time: 11.00pm (Nigeria), 22:00 GMT and LIVE from the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

Ministering: Bishop David Oyedepo and other anointed men of God.

Watch Winners’ Chapel LIVE: 2019 ONE NIGHT WITH THE KING Part II

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