Topic: An Ordinary Man [Our Daily Bread 7 January 2019 Devotional]
Read: 1 Samuel 16:1–7, Bible in a Year: Genesis 18–19; Matthew 6:1–18
People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
William Carey was a sickly boy, born to a humble family near Northampton, England. His future didn’t look too bright. But God had plans for him. Against all odds, he moved to India, where he brought incredible social reforms and translated the Bible into several Indian languages. He loved God and people, and accomplished many things for God.
David, son of Jesse, was an ordinary young man, the youngest in his family. He was seemingly an insignificant shepherd on the hills of Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:11–12). Yet God saw David’s heart and had a plan for him. King Saul had been rejected by God for disobedience. While the prophet Samuel mourned Saul’s choices, God called Samuel to anoint a different king, one of Jesse’s sons.
When Samuel saw the handsome, tall Eliab, he naturally thought, “surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord” (v. 6). However, God’s strategy to select a king was much different than Samuel’s. In fact, God said no to each of Jesse’s sons, except the youngest one. Selecting David as king was definitely not a strategic move from God’s part, or so it seemed at first glance. What would a young shepherd have to offer his community, let alone his country?
How comforting to know that the Lord knows our hearts and has His plans for us.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You care more about my heart’s attitude toward You than my outward beauty, possessions, or achievements.
God’s priority is your heart.
INSIGHT Samuel, whose name means “heard by God,” was Israel’s last judge as well as a priest and prophet. Samuel was born during the time of the judges at a turning point in Israel’s history. The son of Hannah and Elkanah, Samuel was dedicated to the Lord by his mother. As a little boy, Samuel went to live in the “house of the Lord at Shiloh,” the tabernacle (see 1 Samuel 1:24–28). There he was trained under the guidance of the priest Eli, and there he received a special calling from God (3:1–21). Samuel anointed the first king, Saul (chs. 9–10); and in today’s passage we see him preparing to anoint David, Saul’s replacement (16:1–13). Alyson Kieda
Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Lessons from the Fig Tree II
Topic: Lessons from the Fig Tree II (Open Heaven 7 January 2019)
Memorise: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”- Acts 5:3
Read: Luke 13:6-9, Acts 4:36-Acts 5:5 (KJV)
Luke 13:6-9: 6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Acts 4:36-Acts 5:5: 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 5:5: 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Bible in One Year: Matthew 14-15, Isaiah 5:24-6:7
Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday MESSAGE:
Just as the Lord Jesus Christ cursed the fruitless fig tree in our lesson yesterday, we see a similar scenario playing out in today’s Bible reading. These two examples are indicative of heaven’s standpoint of zero tolerance for fruitlessness. This principle is laid bare by the Master Himself in John 15:2, where He says:
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
Heaven values fruitfulness and would rather preserve and purge a fruitful tree to make it bring forth more fruits. On the other hand, every unfruitful tree stands the risk of being uprooted and done away with.
In continuation of the subject matter studied yesterday, we must never loose sight of the lesson learnt not to lead a fake life. Acts 5:1-5 tells of a man in the early Church who attracted capital punishment to himself by living a pretentious life. One thing we learn from the story of Ananias and Sapphira is that the lie they told was unnecessary. This fact was buttressed by Peter’s question to Ananias in Acts 5:4, saying:
“Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”
In other words, “Ananias, why should you lie to the Holy Spirit who knows everything? The land belonged to you. If you gave 50% and chose to keep the remaining 50% for your personal use, nobody would query you for doing so.” The problem with Ananias and Sapphira was that they wanted to be recognised to have a virtue they did not actually possess. Prior to their unfortunate act, Joses Barnabas had sold his land, brought the total proceeds and had been commended by the apostles. He was even given a nickname: “The Son of Consolation”. Ananias and Sapphira wanted to receive the same level of commendation but they could not do what Barnabas did, and so they lied to earn it. Romans 12:3 says:
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
You must therefore learn from the fig tree and from Ananias and Sapphira that living a fake life can only earn you a bad reputation, shame and untimely death. This will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday Prayer Point:
Father, please cause me to be fruitful in Jesus’ Name. Please remove vanity from my heart and don’t let me die before my time.
Open Heaven 7 January 2019 Monday 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 7 January 2019 Monday 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 7 January 2019 Monday 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.
The actress from the 90s series Sabrina the Teenage Witch and God’s Not Dead 2, discussed how she lives as a Christian on the Journeys of Faith with Paula Faris podcast.
The mother-of-three said after trying to read the book of Revelation as a teenager and not understanding it, she continued “searching”.
“I always had faith in Jesus as my Saviour and that God was out there looking out for me, and was always very faithful in prayer,” she continued.
“I was always trying to read the Bible and trying to figure out how can I learn more.”
She explained how her doubts actually help her to have more faith.
“Without doubt we don’t explore,” Hart explained.
“When I have these big questions like, ‘was Jesus a cool dude?’ Or ‘Was He the son of God?’…’Why would God care about my little life when He has this whole Earth and universe?’ Then I close my eyes and tap into the Holy Spirit and let Him speak to me.
“And you feel that warmth and you feel that change. And all of sudden you can just go off of that blind faith. Of course I believe.”
Dear Melissa Joan Hart, posing the antisemitism you are teaching your children as a question, does not make you any less of an anti-Semite. https://t.co/xG88Z5hmXg
Fast Facts: Church by the Fort launched in 2009, the Sunday before the Fort Hood shooting that killed 13. The church is now comprised of more than 80% active duty military or veterans and has consistently drawn more than 70% previously unchurched attendees since beginning 9 years ago. The church meets in a movie theater where the seats recline (and people do use that feature during the sermon).
They also partner with Iron Horse Disciples Motorcycle Ministry and minister in a local women’s jail conducting Celebrate Recovery and life skills training for transitioning out of the prison. Please pray for the leaders to have energy for ministry and for the ladies to have a positive transition as many simply get out and find themselves right back in the prison.
As you can imagine, due to the military connection, CBTF loses 30-40% of attendees each year due to military moves or job changes. The discipleship and evangelism challenge is higher than normal due to the typical short term nature of the attendees. Because of this, leaders come and go making ministry consistency more difficult. Also, the stress of military life and the absence of soldiers for deployment and training exercises take an enormous toll on the marriages in the congregation. Please pray for the members and for the church as they walk through that journey.
The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I signed on Saturday the decree of independence which formalised a split that has been brewing for months.
The Ukrainian church has formally been under the Russian Orthodox Church for centuries.
The Russian Orthodox Church has severed ties with Istanbul and suggested they will no longer attend gatherings by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople – the nominal head of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Bartholomew I said in his address at the Patriarchal Church of St George in Istanbul: “The pious Ukrainian people have awaited this blessed day for seven entire centuries.”
Epiphanius I of the Orthodox Church of #Ukraine arrives in Istanbul to receive the Tomos or letter of autonomy from the Patriarch of Constantinople. This break from Moscow will enrage #Russia and flare up tensions in orthodox world. pic.twitter.com/mlGGfpqwok
In a sermon on 31st December, Rev Owusu-Bempah made 18 prophecies for the upcoming year, including the death of either Imam Sharabutu or Ghana’s Muslim Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia.
The pastor was reportedly asked by some Muslims to apologise to the Imam but he refused to do so.
As a result, armed with machetes, the group destroyed an organ, windows and chairs in the pastor’s Glorious Word and Power Ministry in Accra on Wednesday.
They even streamed their attack live on Facebook.
Imam Sharabutu has called for calm.
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A letter signed by the Bishop of Croydon, Archbishop of Wales and other leaders from the Anglican, Baptist, Quakers and United Reformed Church stated they were “dismayed by the current debate around immigration”.
It reads: “As representatives of faith communities, we are dismayed by the current debate around immigration.
“The long-awaited Immigration white paper is misguided and disjointed, the promised engagement unclear, and the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination Bill a missed opportunity.”
The home secretary recently appeared to suggest asylum seekers should be deterred from crossing the Channel in small boats by making it harder to gain asylum – despite that being a right enshrined in international law.
Speaking on a visit to Dover, Sajid Javid questioned why a “genuine asylum seeker” making the journey wouldn’t seek asylum in the first safe country they entered.
However, the faith leaders in the letter said “the first reaction to those arriving in boats should not be to disbelieve their stories”.
It went on to suggest: “Urgent action is needed to create a more humane system.
“Refugee families must be kept together, and close family members allowed to join their children in the UK.
“The right to work after six months should be extended to all people seeking asylum.
The ministry said the blast, which occurred late on Saturday in the Egyptian capital, also wounded the commander of the bomb squad.
It came just two days before the Orthodox Coptic Church, the dominant denomination among Egypt’s estimated 10 million Christians, celebrates Christmas.
The incident is likely to force authorities to further tighten security around churches.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State group.
IS has targeted Christians in Egypt over the past years, killing more than a hundred of them in attacks on churches and buses carrying pilgrims to remote desert monasteries.
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Topic: The Written Word of God [Joyce Meyer Devotional 6 January 2019]
Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. — Luke 6:38 (AMPC)
In order to know God—what to expect from Him and what He expects from you—you must know His Word. It’s not possible for God to say one thing but do another. He cannot lie, and He’s always faithful to perform what He has promised.
I know many people who have studied God’s Word diligently and whose lives have been changed, but I also know many who, although they would like their lives to improve, won’t discipline themselves to study and learn the Word or to speak the Word.
Spending time with God by studying the Word is your choice, and only you can make it. When you make that choice to seek Him with your whole heart, it won’t take long before the desire to really know God and His Word becomes a natural response.
Prayer Starter: Lord, help me to take steps today to make Your Word a priority in my life. As I move forward, give me a true hunger and desire to know You more intimately. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Fitting the Pieces to Form a Whole (Part 4) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Topic: Fitting the Pieces to Form a Whole (Part 4)
Dear Reader,
Happy Christmas in advance! It is my pleasure to welcome you to a wonderful time of encounter with the Word of God today. I stated earlier in the first edition that all through the month’s teaching, I will be looking at vital aspects that, if paid attention to, will lead to a glorious family life. I have considered being joyful as a major catalyst to family peace and an atmosphere for attracting God’s blessings into your home. I have also stated that when you understand and do what would attract your husband or wife to you continuously, it creates togetherness and lasting peace in the home. Last week, I discussed on major challenges to family finance and this week, I want you to free your home from anxiety. Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. The enemy always uses anxiety to steal your joy, kill your peace and destroy your confidence in God. The Word of God says: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).But as he comes, Jesus also comes to supply more joy, more peace and more confidence in God! Anxiety-causing situations will arise, but what it takes to overcome them is already deposited within you. Jesus has given you power and authority over all situations and circumstances! Since anxiety has its roots in the spiritual, its remedy is also spiritual. To overcome anxiety, you need the following keys:
1. The Word of God: The Word of God being the manufacturer’s manual is the all-time cure for anxiety. Jesus, our example, was able to judge situations, circumstances and crisis by the Word. He was able to deal with everything that would have caused anxiety. The Word of God says: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). This scripture can be paraphrased thus, “And you shall know what to do when anxiety strikes and the knowledge of what to do, when applied, shall make you free from anxiety’s grip!” Most often, anxiety arises as a result of concern of what to eat, drink or wear, but God has made in His Word how to receive them. For instance, the Word of God says: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things (Matthew 6:31-32).You may be wondering about what your family will eat and wear; the Lord says you should not think about them. When anxiety knocks on the door of your heart, speak the Word of God that is relevant to that situation. Here is a testimony on anxiety:
“After my first child in May, 1981, I went from church to church in search of another child, not really knowing the word of God. I was anxious, desperate, worried and lacked good relationship with people. This almost caused me my marriage, because my husband did not believe. However, I got another baby in December 1991, (10 years later), and I thought peace had come to the home. But no! Until I started coming to this church in July 1994. I gave my life to Christ in October 1994. I started hearing the Word of God in a way I had never heard it before! I started seeing changes in my home and in the relationship between my husband and I. Peace, joy, harmony and great love were restored to me. Then I was still anxious for another child, since my baby was now over four years old. Then, I read the book You Can Overcome Anxiety. Anxiety died in me, because I now know God is able to do all things. My husband, by His grace, is now a man, husband and father. There is now peace in my home and office and my relationship with other people in excellent.” –Hart, C. I.
2. Put your Trust in God: Anxiety does not increase anyone; it only reduces your confidence in God. If you lose confidence in the One who is for you, you open the door for all that are against you. The Word of God says: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward (Hebrews 10:35). Confidence is an uncompromising trust in God. Be confident that He will supply all your needs as He has promised in Philippians 4:19; His Word does not fail. Since you know the origin of the truth that Jesus has dealt with it, you should be confident that you have what it takes to be absolutely free from it.
3. Cast your Cares on Him: I want you to know that God cares about all your needs as a family. He wants to reach out to you, but there is a door which must be unlocked if you want Him to intervene in your situation. Cast all your care upon Him. The Word of God says: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:7).The way to cast your cares on Him is through prayer. The Word of God says: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3). When you call out in prayer, God answers with a solution to the anxiety causing-situation. Prayer is necessary for anxiety to be uprooted.
You can’t however, walk in agreement without accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. The grace to walk in agreement and dominion come from God and is readily available to His children. If you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, then say this prayer in faith:
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom. Congratulations!
If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
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