Topic: Give Your Soul A Break [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Sunday April 29, 2018]

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. — Psalm 62:5 NIV

When you take a vacation, do you give your soul a break, just as you give your body some rest, recreation, and refreshment?

Your soul is comprised of your mind, will, and emotions, and it is a very important part of your entire being. You are a spiritual being, and you live in a physical body. But if you don’t understand your soul’s needs, you will not be a whole, healthy individual.

When we are weary, exhausted in strength, endurance, and vigor, we need help. We need to be refreshed not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Being weary is not something to be ashamed of; it’s simply a sign that we need a break.

You can take a vacation thinking you need a physical rest, but if you don’t let your soul rest at the same time, you will return home just as exhausted as you were when you left. Lying on the beach worrying does not equal a day of vacation. If you take a day off and spend it trying to deal with personal problems, traffic, high prices, and rude people—you’d have been better off at work!

Learning to let our souls rest is vitally important. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28–30 that if we are overburdened, weary, and worn out, we should spend time with Him and see how He handled life. He promises to give us rest. The Amplified Bible’s translation of these verses indicates that the type of rest He is talking about is refreshment, renewal and blessed quiet for our souls. Jesus is really offering us a vacation for our souls, our inner lives.

Prayer Starter: Father, I take this moment to offer You all of my stress, worries, and cares. Please refresh my mind and emotions. Help me to run to You when I am weary and worn out from life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

The post Joyce Meyer’s Daily 29 April 2018 Devotional — Give Your Soul A Break appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic: Don’t Let the Devil Put One Over on You [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Sunday April 29, 2018]

And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee. – Exodus 3:11-12

When [the devil] speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. – John 8:44

Some people find it difficult to believe God’s promises because they’ve seen so many things in the natural world that seem to contradict them. They’ve seen faithful tithers go broke. They’ve seen sick Christians fail to receive their healing.

In reality, it would be more accurate to say that they think they’ve seen those things. Because, you see, there’s a deceiver at work in the world. A deceiver who’s busily doing the same thing he’s been doing ever since the Garden of Eden: tricking mankind into believing God’s Word isn’t true.

And, after working on it for thousands of years, he’s a master at it. Think about that the next time he tries to make things look as though God’s Word is not going to work for you, when he makes it look like all hope is lost. Say, “I don’t care about appearances. I believe the Word and I refuse to doubt it.”

Let me show you what I mean. Have you ever seen a magic show where someone crawls inside a box and then is sawn in half? You can see it with your own two eyes. The guy’s feet are sticking out one end of the box and his head is poking out the other, and the box is plainly cut in two. Then the magician slides the two halves back together and the sawed-apart fellow jumps out of the box in one piece.

Now tell me, did you really believe, even for a moment, that fellow was truly cut in half? Of course not! You knew that you’d seen a trick, a deception, something that appeared one way when, in reality, it was a different way altogether. You may not have known how it was done. You may not have been able to explain it. But you knew a person couldn’t be sawn in half, then put back together, so you refused to believe your eyes.

That’s exactly the way you need to be where the Word of God is concerned. You need to learn to trust it and rely on it to such an extent that when Satan shows you something in the natural world that appears to contradict it, you just say, “Well, I saw that, but I’m not going to be gullible enough to believe it. I’m just going to stick with the Word.”

If you’ll do that, the father of lies will never be able to put one over on you.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:89-104

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 & Gloria Copeland Devotional 29 April 2018 – Don’t Let the Devil Put One Over on You appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic: Opposition To The Gospel [Andrew Wommack Sunday April 29, 2018]

Matthew 10:34, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

Text: Matthew 10:34-42

This statement seems like a contradiction to some prophecies concerning Jesus and some of Jesus’ own statements concerning peace, as well as what was written of Him in the New Testament Epistles. However, the peace that Jesus purchased was peace between God and man. We have peace with God (Rom. 5:1). We are exhorted to take this peace and extend it to all men, but it is also made very clear that not all men will receive it.

Peace can only come when we relate to God on the basis of faith in what He did for us, instead of what we do for Him. A person who is thinking that he must perform up to some standard to be accepted by God will have no peace. That puts the burden of salvation on our shoulders, and we can’t bear that load. We were incapable of living holy enough to please God before we were saved, and we are incapable of living holy enough to please God now that we are saved (Heb. 11:6). We were saved by faith, and we have to continue to walk with God by faith (Col. 2:6). Not understanding this has made many Christians, who love God, unable to enjoy the peace that was provided for them through faith in Jesus.

The Gospel will always produce opposition from those who don’t receive it. This “sword of division,” even among family members, is not God’s will, nor is it God that causes it. But, it will inevitably come, and Jesus was simply preparing His disciples for that time. As much as we would like everyone to receive the good news, we must not think it is strange when even our loved ones don’t receive it. Jesus was rejected by His own, and we will be also. We must remain faithful to continue preaching the Gospel, for there are others who will receive. Keep sharing the “Good News!”

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack’s Daily Devotional HERE

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

The post Andrew Wommack’s Devotional 29 April 2018 – Opposition To The Gospel appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic: Questioning [Billy Graham’s Devotional Sunday April 29, 2018]

Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. — Psalm 51:12 (TLB)

It is not unusual for persons in their early twenties to defect from their early teaching. The reasons are many. Perhaps their exposure to unbelief “took” better than their exposure to belief. This is often the case, for the Bible says, “The heart of man is deceitful above all things.”

The human heart is as prepared by sin to accept unbelief as faith. Some person they regard highly has undoubtedly influenced their thinking; and for the time being they look on their early training as “bunk.” As someone has said, “A little learning may take a man away from God, but full understanding will bring him back.”

Some of the staunchest Christians I know are people who had periods in their life when they questioned the Bible, Christ, and God. But as they continued to examine the matter, there was overwhelming evidence that only “the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”

Prayer for the day: I pray for all the questioning people today, Lord, remembering times in my own life when unbelief reigned.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

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.

The post Billy Graham Devotional 29 April 2018 – Questioning appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic: Take Another Look at Jesus! [Our Daily Bread 29 Sunday April, 2018]

Read: Hebrews 3:1–6, Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 6–7; Luke 20:27–47

But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. Hebrews 3:6

If there ever was a faithful person, it was Brother Justice. He was committed to his marriage, dedicated to his job as a postal worker, and each Sunday stood at his post as a leader in our local church. I visited my childhood church recently, and perched on the upright piano was the same bell that Brother Justice rang to notify us that the time for Bible study was about to end. The bell has endured the test of time. And although Brother Justice has been with the Lord for years, his legacy of faithfulness also endures.

Hebrews 3 brings a faithful servant and a faithful Son to the readers’ attention. Though the faithfulness of Moses as God’s “servant” is undeniable, Jesus is the one believers are taught to focus on. “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters . . . fix your thoughts on Jesus” (v. 1). Such was the encouragement to all who face temptation (2:18). Their legacy could come only from following Jesus, the faithful One.

What do you do when the winds of temptation are swirling all around you? When you are weary and worn and want to quit? The text invites us to, as one paraphrase renders it, “Take a good hard look at Jesus” (3:1 The Message). Look at Him again—and again and again. As we reexamine Jesus, we find the trustworthy Son of God who gives us courage to live in His family.

Prayer: Father, through Your Spirit, empower us to courageously love, honor, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Looking to Jesus can give us courage to face the challenges in our lives.

Insight:

The book of Hebrews was written to encourage Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and hardship for their faith and who were now in danger of drifting away and reverting back to Judaism. The writer warns them against abandoning Christ (2:1–3; 3:7–15; 6:4–6; 10:26–31) and presents the absolute supremacy of Jesus as Savior. Jesus is superior to the angels (chs. 1–2), to Moses (chs. 3–4), and to the Aaronic priesthood (chs. 5–7), and He is the perfect High Priest (chs. 8–10). In today’s passage Moses is compared with Christ. While Moses was one of God’s most faithful servants, Jesus is far greater than Moses because Jesus is God’s Son (3:5–6).

How does reflecting on the supremacy of Jesus encourage you to trust Him in your trials? K. T. Sim

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

This message was written By Arthur Jackson [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

The post Our Daily Bread (ODB) Devotional 29 April 2018 – Take Another Look at Jesus! appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic: Keep Speaking The Word Of God [TREM’s Devotional Sunday April 29, 2018]

“And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also”. (Exodus 12:31-32 KJV)

Moses did not relent in issuing God’s command to Pharaoh to “let my people go”, but Pharaoh refused. However, that did not deter Moses nor intimidate him, he persevered despite going against a brick wall. Moses’ confidence was borne out of his encounter with God, and for that reason, he did not entertain any doubt about what God had said; as far as he was concerned, Pharaoh was fighting a lost battle, in trying to keep God’s people in slavery. Moses had an understanding that he was not going to Pharaoh in his capacity as Moses, but as the representative of God, therefore He had the backing of Heaven. Ever before Moses even stepped out to confront Pharaoh, God told him in Exodus 7:1 (KJV), “See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh…” That meant that every word of God from Moses’ lips carried the full authority of God’s power. Beloved, you are God’s ambassador here on earth, and your words carry power. If any word is to fall to the ground, it must be the word of the enemy, not yours, because God cannot fail.

The key here was that Moses was consistent in declaring what God told him to say. Many times, believers get intimidated when they come against any form of resistance. A situation does not appear as if it is conforming to God’s word in that moment, and we get weary and stop speaking. Listen, Moses never kept quiet; he kept speaking until Pharaoh gave in and said, “Go serve the Lord as you have said”.

What Pharaoh are you contending against, and what have you been saying to him? Remember that Pharaoh did not say, “Go as God has said”. He said go as you have said. Child of God, you must understand that your words carry weight. If you read that account too fast, you will think that Pharaoh is saying it in anger. No! He was actually pleading. That was why he asked Moses to bless him. It was also the reason why the children of Israel could go back and demand their silver and gold. It was not that they were rushing. No! It was the enemy that was terrorized. I declare that your terror will be upon your enemy, in Jesus’ name.

Further Reading: Mark 11: 12-23, Proverbs 18:20-21

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- 1 Kings 6-7; Evening- Luke 20:27-47

“If you missed yesterday devotional click to read “TREM’s 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.

The post TREM Devotional 29 April 2018 by Dr. Mike Okonkwo – Keep Speaking The Word Of God appeared first on Flatimes.