Topic: Let Love Flow [TREM Devotional 13 December 2018]

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7

The issue of love for the believer is not optional; God demands that we not only love one another, but that we show His love to the dying world. As believers, we are not the salt of the church, but the salt of the earth and the light of the world. If you can only show love to your friends and your inner circle, wherein is the love of God?

Remember, the love of God you are enjoying today is not earned. You did nothing to deserve it. He loved you while you were totally unlovable, you practically spat on His face, yet He loved you enough to die for you. Why then are you waiting for others to earn your love before you can reach out to them?

Beloved, the scripture for today makes it clear that love is of God and for you to claim you have God, or you are born of God, then love must be natural to you just as it is to God. The love of God is not the love that reaches out to you because you have earned it; it is love that reaches out despite your errors and shortcomings. Yes, you were unlovable, but He chose to love you and has called you as His ambassador to the world. Who have you shown His love to? Throughout this year, who is in the church today because of you?

It is so easy to profess love. Many believers are simply professors; but God does not want you to profess love, He wants His love to radiate through you. He wants you to reach out to those around you in love. You may not be able to give money, but you can give a smile, you can give a word of encouragement, you can give moral and physical support. Love is not just a function of words, actions they say, speak louder than words. The world is watching and waiting to see Jesus in you; will you deny them?

Further Reading: 1 John 4:7-12

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Hosea 12-14; Evening- Revelation 4

“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.

Topic: Prayer and Preservation [Seeds of Destiny 13 December 2018 Devotional]

Scripture: And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 1 Kings 17:1

Thought For The Day: Let prayer become an attitude instead of an action, an atmosphere instead of an incidence.

Prayer is a tool for Divine preservation. It is instrumental to the preservation of life and destiny. The lifestyle of prayer is a guarantee for the preservation of life and destiny.

Just as darkness cannot overcome light, so, prayerful people are not easily wastable. One example of a prayerful personality in Scriptures was Elijah. A major identity of Elijah was the identity of prayer. Elijah could not be killed by King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel; he enjoyed so much preservation that he went to Heaven bodily without tasting death.

To have an identity of prayers is to have the security of the future.
Now, one way in which prayer preserves is that prayer establishes the prayerful in the Presence of God. Prayerful people carry unmistakable Divine presence. When you are around them, you feel God.

So, prayer establishes you in the Presence of God and the Presence of God is a defence for life and destiny (Psalm 91:1-2). The Presence of God is a preservative of life and destiny. Prayer keeps you beyond the reach of harm because places of high authority are places of high security.

Beloved, my counsel is, let prayer become an attitude instead of an action, an atmosphere instead of an incidence. Let your heart be in a permanent mood of hunger for God.

Remember This: Let prayer become an attitude instead of an action; an atmosphere instead of an incidence.

Assignments:

1. Be a praying Christian.
2. Separate yourself from everything that would distract your prayer and devotion to God.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask for more hunger for You. Help me to be more committed and devoted to You, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: PRAYER AND PRESERVATION.

Quote: Those who pray to God are never preys for the devil. Culled from PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 15:1 to 16:36, Romans 1:18 to 32, Psalm 10:1 to 15, Proverbs 19: 6 to 7.

Amazing Fact: Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system.

Today In History: 13/12/1835 – American clergyman and composer Phillips Brooks was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He wrote the lyrics for the popular Christmas Carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem.

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.

Topic — Fruit of the Spirit; Long Suffering [Open Heavens for Teens 13 December 2018]

Memorise: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Read: Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

Bible In One Year: Joel 1-3, Revelation 4

MESSAGE:

Long suffering comes from a place of deep strength; emotional, spiritual, intellectual and even physical strength. It is the courage to bear harsh realities of life. It means self-restraint in the face of anger, hunger, frustration or any other bad situation. Long suffering is the ability to patiently forebear and wait for the promises to God to come to pass even when all the signs say otherwise.

Long suffering also comes with the ability to quickly let go, forgive, and move on no matter how much we are being treated unfairly. In this present world, long suffering is very far-fetched, but it is an attribute that every Christian must possess to be able to run the race successfully to the end. The good news is that the Holy Spirit is ever present to help us, and absolute obedience to His leading births long suffering in us. Every time you choose to go with the prompting of the Holy Spirit rather than the promptings of your flesh, you build up your long suffering.

Prayer Point: Sweet Holy Spirit, please fill my heart with patience and strength.

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 5:

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!
Christ, the Royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banners go!

Chorus
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

At the Sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!

Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
All one body we
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.

Onward, then, ye people,
Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song;
Glory, praise and honour,
Unto Christ the King;
This, through countless ages
Men and angels sing.

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.

Topic: Shun Inordinate Ambition [DCLM Daily Manna 13 December 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Mark 9:30-37 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

MESSAGE:

It is truism that “pride goes before a fall”. The Christian life is filled with various paradoxes such as ‘the way up is down’, ‘the way to live is to die’, and ‘the way to receive is to give’. The uniform teaching of the word of God is against self-seeking, self-projection, self-exaltation, inordinate ambition and pride of life.

The projection of self in every endeavour describes what sin itself is: Selfishness In Nature. No doubt, God is interested in our progress, success, breakthrough and advancement. He says, “we shall be the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath”, that “whatsoever we do shall prosper”, and many more! However, our motives, modes and methods of actualising this are of great concern to God.

In the world today, people seek a place of prominence in the workplace and the neighbourhood. In several instances, they take steps that are ungodly to attain the desired position, thereby losing the presence and favour of God. This reminds us of a certain young man who coveted the position of his boss and felt that the boss had stayed too long there and must give way to him. He travelled to the village and mentioned it before his fetish father. His father promised to look into the case. Back in the place of work the following week, his boss just got to his office in the morning, slumped and died. His father called him and told him he had “finished” the work. What a world!

Bribing our way to success, cutting corners to reach the top and defying all Christian ethics including using undue influence popularly called “long leg”, run contrary to God’s word. His word, way and time are the best in achieving the desired best for our lives.

Thought For The Day: Making haste outside God’s plan attracts His displeasure.

Bible Reading In One Year: Acts 24-26

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

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.

Topic: The “Hope for a Baby” Tree [Our Daily Bread 13 December 2018 Devotional]

Read: Lamentations 3:1–3, 13–24, Bible in a Year: Hosea 12–14; Revelation 4

His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22–23

After wrapping the tree with clear twinkle lights, I tied pink and blue bows on its branches and christened it our “Hope for a Baby” Christmas tree. My husband and I had been waiting for a baby through adoption for more than four years. Surely by Christmas!

Every morning I stopped at the tree and prayed, reminding myself of God’s faithfulness. On December 21 we received the news: no baby by Christmas. Devastated, I paused by the tree that had become a symbol of God’s provision. Was God still faithful? Was I doing something wrong?

At times, God’s apparent withholding results from His loving discipline. And other times God lovingly delays to renew our trust. In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah describes God’s correction of Israel. The pain is palpable: “He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver” (3:13). Through it all, Jeremiah also expresses ultimate trust in God’s faithfulness: “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (vv. 22–23).

I left the tree standing well beyond Christmas and continued my morning prayer. At last, on Easter weekend, we received our baby girl. God is always faithful, though not necessarily on our timeline nor always according to our desires.

My children are now in their thirties, but each year I set up a miniature version of the tree, reminding myself and others to hope in God’s faithfulness.

Prayer: Dear God, help me trust You today even when I can’t see what You are doing. You are faithful.

The best reason for hope is God’s faithfulness.

INSIGHT
The book of Lamentations expresses the grief of Jerusalem following the 587 bc invasion of Babylon. With her walls broken, her children exiled, and survivors living in the rubble of better times, it bares the soul of a once-proud people.
In its original Hebrew language, the book is composed of five chapters of carefully constructed poems. Its finely polished composition provides literary relief to the overwhelming confusion of a nation that has lost control of its own emotions and destiny. The only hope left is in the belief that above the clouds of this dark night of a nation’s soul, there is a God who has in the past shown that His mercies and love will never end.
Mart DeHaan

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

This message was written By Elisa Morgan [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]