Topic: Rejoice in Him [Billy Graham Devotional 16 January 2019]
I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. — Habakkuk 3:18
Christians are supposed to be happy persons! Our generation has become well versed in Christian terminology, but is remiss in the actual practice of Christ’s principles and teachings. Hence, our greatest need today is not more Christianity but more true Christians. The world can argue against Christianity as an institution, but there is no convincing argument against a person who, through the Spirit of God, has been made Christlike.
Such a person is a living rebuke to the selfishness, rationalism, and materialism of the day. Jesus said to the woman at Jacob’s well, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” This sin-sick, disillusioned woman was the symbol of the whole race. Her longings were our longings! Her heart-cry was our heart-cry! Her disillusionment was our disillusionment! Her sin was our sin! But her Savior can be our Savior! Her forgiveness can be our forgiveness! Her joy can be our joy!
Prayer for the day: My soul delights in You, my God, and my Redeemer.
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.
An Ohio University Changes 23 Restrooms across Campus to ‘All-Gender’ Facilities
An Ohio public university has converted 23 restrooms into “all-gender” bathrooms.
Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio also instilled a new policy last month allowing people to use whatever bathroom facility “they deem they need to use” on the campus.
The change, which complies with the university’s discrimination policy, allows “individuals to use the restroom that corresponds to their sex, gender identity, and/or gender expression,” their website stated.
“In some instances, a designated all-gender restroom may contain multiple stalls,” the webpage reads. “For those who do not wish to use an all-gender single stall or all-gender multi-stall restroom, there will be gendered restrooms located in every building,” it continued.
Wright State University’s Chief Diversity Officer Matthew L. Boaz wrote in a letter to the campus that the changes to their restroom policies further the school’s mission of “diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.”
“By providing greater access to restroom facilities, we strive to create safer and more accessible spaces for people with children of a different gender, people with disabilities who need assistance in the restroom from someone of a different gender, and people who identify as transgender and nonbinary,” he continued.
Meanwhile, critics of gender-neutral bathrooms say policies…
Open Heaven 16 January 2019 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Baptized in the Holy Spirit?
Topic: Baptized in the Holy Spirit? (Open Heaven 16 January 2019)
Memorise: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”- Ephesians 1:13
Read: Act 2:1-4 (KJV)
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Bible in One Year: Mark 3-4, Isaiah 13:17-14:11
Open Heaven 16 January 2019 Wednesday MESSAGE:
“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” – 1 Corinthians 2:11
To remain in tune with Jesus Christ requires the help of the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. You need His help because He is the only one who can grant you access to the thoughts and workings of the Lord at any point in time. In Acts 1:8, Jesus said to us:
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
We see from these words of the Master that the Christian life is only empowered by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so it amazes me when any Christian organisation refuses to embrace the doctrine of baptism in the Holy Spirit. The truth is that you cannot be a lasting Christian without experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, neither can you effectively do the work of the ministry without this experience. This is why Jesus instructed the early disciples to wait for the promise of the Father before proceeding to evangelise the world (Acts 1:4-5).
There are some points about the Holy Spirit that are worthy of note in today’s memory verse. One of these is that salvation comes before baptism in the Holy Spirit. Although these two experiences may follow each other almost immediately, you cannot be baptised in the Holy Spirit if you are not first born again by accepting the gospel of truth and salvation. The benefits of being baptised in the Holy Spirit are numerous, one of which is that your salvation is sealed to the end, provided you do not grieve the Holy Spirit to the extent of Him leaving you alone (Ephesians 4:30). Another benefit is the renewing of your body, soul and spirit by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11, Titus 3:5). As we journey through life, a lot of issues confront us daily, discouraging, nauseating or even defiling us. It is a blessing to be baptised in the Holy Spirit, who renews and encourages us to forge ahead. Beloved, have you been baptised in the Holy Spirit? If not, you can be baptised right now as you read this. All you need to do is ask the Lord to baptise you with His Holy Spirit and believe that He will. Regardless of whether your church believes this truth or not, because it is the word of God, it will become reality in your life today if you receive it.
Open Heaven 16 January 2019 Wednesday Action Point:
If you have not been baptised in the Holy Spirit, ask Jesus to baptise you today. If you have experienced this, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you anew right now.
Open Heaven 16 January 2019 Wednesday Hymn 11: When The Power Of God Descended
1 When the power of God descended
On the day of Pentecost
All the days of waiting ended
They received the Holy Ghost.
Chorus:
O Lord, send the power just now;
O Lord, send the power just now;
O Lord, send the power just now;
And baptize, every one.
2 Tongues of flame came down upon them,
And they preached the world in power,
Listening multitudes awakened
Turned to God that very hour.
3 We are waiting, Holy Spirit
We are all of one accord
Lord fulfil just now the promise
That is given in thy word.
4 Fill and thrill us with thy presence,
Grant the blessing that we need
Flood our souls with wondrous glory,
While the prayer of faith we plead.
Open Heaven 16 January 2019 Wednesday 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 16 January 2019 Wednesday 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.
Federal Judge Issues National Injunction, Stops Trump’s New Religious Exemption Rules on Birth Control
A Philadelphia federal judge has issued an injunction to stop the Trump administration’s rules which would broaden religious exemptions for the birth control mandate in health insurance plans, from going into effect on Monday.
According to the New York Times, U.S. Federal District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone issued a nation-wide injunction Monday to stop the Trump Administration’s contraception rules from going into effect, only one day after a California Federal Judge issued a 13-state injunction.
The Washington Examiner explained that the new rules would allow employers to choose if they would offer health care coverage that would include contraception based on their religious or moral values.
The National Review reports, only churches and small private employers are currently exempt from the Obama-era policy that requires all employers to provide health-care coverage for birth control at no additional cost to the employee.
According to the New York Times, representatives for the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey challenged these new rules before Beetlestone, saying that the rules would cause the states a great deal of hardship as they would have to provide contraception to women who lost coverage.
Caitlin Oakley, spokeswoman for Health and Human Services, made a statement about the injunction calling it a violation…
He’s put down an Early Day Motion claiming that parliamentary prayers are “not compatible with a society which respects the principle of freedom of and from religion”.
The practice is believed to have started in 1558.
In the Commons, the speaker’s chaplain normally reads the prayers. The main prayer asks for God’s guidance that MPs “never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals”.
In the House of Lords, one of the Church of England bishops takes a lead.
There have been numerous calls for a rethink to the prayers over the years.
This latest call comes with the backing of four other MPs and the National Secular Society (NSS).
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: “Religious worship is for individuals who choose it – not for nations or legislative bodies.
“Members of parliament are of course free to pray in their own time, but institutionalised prayer doesn’t belong in the legislative process. Parliament should reflect the country as it is today.
“Ending this anachronism would be tangible example of the reform needed in the house and represent a positive step forwards for modernity, equality and freedom of conscience.”
An early day motion is a formal proposal calling for a parliamentary debate on an issue at the earliest opportunity, but rarely does it achieve that.
School Bans Students’ ‘Bring Your Bible to School Day,’ Flyers, Suit Says
An elementary school violated the U.S. Constitution when it prevented students from passing out “Bring Your Bible to School Day” flyers during lunch and recess, according to a new lawsuit.
The students, who are brothers in the fifth and second grade, wanted to had out the flyers to their friends at John R. Peterson Elementary School in Huntington Beach, Calif., but were told that both hours are considered “instructional blocks.”
Bring Your Bible to School Day is an annual event each October and sponsored by Focus on the Family.
“Plaintiffs believe that they have a constitutional right to distribute their Bring Your Bible to School Day promotional flyers at John R. Peterson Elementary School during recess, lunch and other non-instructional times,” says the federal lawsuit filed by the religious legal group Freedom X.
The suit was filed on behalf of their parents, Jason and Holly Bausch. It claims the school’s policy violates the students’ constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and religion.
“Students, regardless of grade level, have a First Amendment right to express a religious viewpoint to another student, including the right to distribute religious flyers, without fear,” said Freedom X president and chief counsel Bill Becker. “One wonders how school administrators come to believe that the voluntary expression of…
The Living Hope Ministries programme for mobile phones and tablets seeks to support those seeking help for unwanted feelings.
While it’s been available for several years, it’s recently come under criticism with some claiming it to be homophobic.
One article on the app suggests finding a counsellor who has a “biblical understanding that homosexuality is changeable through the power of Jesus Christ”.
“The views contained in this app have the potential to cause huge damage to LGBT people who might come across it,” said Laura Russell, head of policy at UK LGBT equality charity Stonewall.
“Any form of ‘therapy’ that attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity is unethical and wrong.
“These so-called ‘therapies’ have been condemned by all major UK health organisations as they try to shame a person into denying a core part of who they are, and this can have a seriously harmful impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
“We urge Google to take swift action to remove content advertising the practice.”
Apple, Microsoft and Amazon have already made the app unavailable on their platforms.
“It is unconscionable that Google is still offering an online platform to an organisation that seeks to marginalise and stigmatise LGBT people,” said Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Outs, which aims to tackle…
Ark Encounter Founder Offers Free Admission to Public Schools after Atheist Group Threatens to Sue Schools Who Visit it
The Wisconsin-based atheist group, Freedom From Religion Foundation, warned public schools not to take their students to the Creation Museum or the Ark Encounter Park because of their “overtly religious atmosphere.”
CBN News reports that the FFRF sent over 1,000 letters to school districts across the country, many of them in Kentucky, warning them to stay away from these Christian attractions writing, “Public schools cannot organize trips for students to either the Creation Museum or the Ark Park. It is unacceptable to expose a captive audience of impressionable students to the overtly religious atmosphere of (Ken) Ham’s Christian theme parks.”
When the Ark Encounter founder Ken Ham heard about the FFRF’s letters, he decided to challenge them, noting that he would not stand for their “bullying and intimidation.”
Ham offered free admission to all public school teachers and students that come for “official public school trips.”
He told Fox News, “The atheist groups like American Atheists and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have been increasingly aggressive to restrict the free exercise of religion — particularly Christianity — and they’ve tried to brainwash people with an interpretation of the First Amendment…it does not mean that Christians are second class citizens.”
US District Judge in Pennsylvania, Judge Wendy Beetlestone, blocked plans by US President Donald Trump this week.
He wanted to provide a caveat for businesses or non-profits organisations who didn’t want to give out birth control pills (or similar) for free – a policy that came in under Obama.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) created a mandate that employers provide contraceptive coverage in health insurance with no co-payment.
Trump wanted to introduce exemptions from this on the grounds of moral and religious beliefs and was meant to be introduced on Monday across the country.
The district judge said Obamacare prohibited the creation of these exemptions and argued that about 70,500 women would not have access to free contraception if this exemption was rolled out.
Beetlestone also said that it would lead to increased use of abortion services.
This follows another judge making the same decision on Sunday in 13 states.
The US Department of Justice, which has defended Trump’s rules in court, is expected to appeal her injunction.
“Religious organisations should not be forced to violate their mission and deeply held beliefs,” it said in a statement.
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.
Church Removes Pastor for Sign Declaring Homesexuality a Sin, Bruce Jenner a Man
A Presbyterian pastor who posted a sign calling homosexuality a sin and Bruce Jenner a man has been forced out of his California church.
Justin Hoke of Trinity Bible Presbyterian Church in Weed, Calif., said most members of the small congregation had promised to leave if he stayed.
“It was determined that it would be in the best interest of the local body for us (TBPC and the Hoke family) to part ways,” Hoke wrote on his Facebook page Saturday. “I would like to add this, I did not want to leave, I did not quit, and I was willing to stay.”
Hoke had posted a sign in front of the church that read: “Bruce Jenner is still a man. Homosexuality is still sin. The culture may change. The Bible does not.”
It drew protests outside the church building and sparked coverage in local media, too, including a story in The San Francisco Chronicle and The Sacramento Bee. About two dozen people protested outside the church Jan. 6. The church is located about four and a half hours north of San Francisco.
“We’ve really had to refine our message to be one strictly of love and support for anyone who feels like they are the target of the sign,” protester Amelia Mallory told The Chronicle. “Debating religion is unproductive, for one, and we also don’t want anyone to feel like we are against Christianity as a whole. People are welcome to their own…
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.
