Islamic State defeated from Syria but Christians warned it’s not ‘mission accomplished’

Early on Saturday morning, Mustafa Bali, from the Syrian Democratic Forces, tweeted: “Syrian Democratic Forces declare total elimination of so-called caliphate and %100 territorial defeat of Isis.

“On this unique day, we commemorate thousands of martyrs whose efforts made the victory possible. #SDFDefeatedISIS”

 

It brings an end to five years of violence at the hand of the extremists who blitzed across vast swathes of Syria, seizing Raqqa, and spread into north and western Iraq, capturing Mosul and even advancing to the edges of Baghdad.

Since then there have been concerted international efforts to destroy the extremists, seeing the fall of the self-proclaimed caliphate that once stretched over an area the size of Britain.

Many Christians fled the region following the IS invasion but some small pockets remain in Syria.

PA

 

Dr Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer and Middle East consultant to numerous church groups, says it’s right that today is celebrated but we shouldn’t be fooled into thinking this is the end.

Speaking to Premier, he said: “While you eliminate a physical reality you do not necessarily eliminate the concept from the minds of the peoples who backed this whole Daesh (IS) concept.”

Hagopian experts IS to move into “clandestine operations” and has warned believers about celebrating prematurely.

“The…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Notable Voices and the Week in Review: March 23, 2019

3 Mistakes Pastors Make During the Easter Season — Mark Dance

Each year I am tempted to allow Easter to sneak past me without taking time to really enjoy it. That probably sounds strange since it seems like everyone else enjoys Easter: parents, kids, church members—even the unchurched, to a degree. Even though Easter is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our freedom from sin and death, for too many years I let three things rob me, and consequently others, of Easter joy.


Why Church Leaders Need Ministry Friends Outside Their Congregation — Facts & Trends

When I first began my ministry, I had no way of knowing about the stress that would come over the next several years. Let’s take stock of what a church leader’s life can look like:


7 Tips on Sermon DeliveryChuck Lawless

Recently, I posted some general thoughts about sermon delivery based on almost four decades of preaching. Today, here are some practical tips that I’ve found helpful for me:


What Was It Like to Pastor at 17?H.B. Charles, Jr.

There I am, preparing to speak. Someone introduces me who does not know me personally. So, he reads from my bio. Two things capture the congregation’s attention:


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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Get Moving – Joyce Meyer Devotional 23 March 2019

Topic: Get Moving [Joyce Meyer Devotional 23 March 2019]

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” — 2 Kings 2:9-10

Just as under-confidence comes with its list of symptoms, the same is true of confidence. A confident person believes they are loved, valuable, cared for, and safe in God’s will. When we feel secure, it’s easy to step out and take a chance on failing in order to try to succeed.

When we know we are loved for ourselves and not just for our accomplishments or performance, we no longer need to fear failure. We realize that failing at something does not make us a failure at everything. We are free to explore and find out what we are best suited to do. We are free to find our own niche in life, which is not possible without stepping out.

Trial and error is the road to success, and you can’t drive that road as long as your car is parked. So, get moving, and God will direct you. When people are confident, they try things, and they keep trying until they find a way to be successful in what God has called them to do.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I want to explore all that You have for me, and I accept there may be failures. Show me the way to be successful for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

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Your Divine Helper by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Your Divine Helper by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Topic: Your Divine Helper

Psalm 37:23 -The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

The day God wants to give you a miracle and change your story, He will order your steps to the right place to meet the right people because nothing takes God unawares. May God order your steps to the right place in the name of Jesus Christ!

No matter how long the devil has held you down; tormenting and harassing your life and your loved ones, I command him to lose his grip off you now in the name of Jesus! I decree your freedom from sickness and every disease! I decree your freedom from every family unrest! That stagnation, failure, frustration, joblessness, indebtedness, etc; they all come to an end now in the name of Jesus! That barrenness, lack and want comes to an end now! If you believe it, receive it in the name of Jesus!

God has programmed you to read this blog today because He wants to change your story. For the sake of the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus passed through Samaria. For the sake of the mad man of Gadara, Jesus came down from the ship in Mark 5:2

Mark 5:2 -And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Because nothing takes God unawares, that is why I know that today marks the end of that situation in your life! Jesus is the only one who will show up when men give up on you. That is why I know that where men cannot help you, my God will help you today! Where men have given up on you, my God will change your story! My God will make a way for you in the name of Jesus!

Psalm 121:1-2 -I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Your situation might be beyond human help; that is the situation my God specializes in and He will step in to help you in the name of Jesus! As one sent from God, I decree your freedom from every terminal disease in the name of Jesus! You will not die but live; and no trace of that disease will be found in you anymore in the name of Jesus!

The helper of the helpless will intervene in that situation right now miraculously concerning that your situation! You are the reason I am writing this today; your case will be turned around!

Mal.3:6a -For I am the Lord, I change not…

Today, I announce to you, my God will intervene concerning you today in the name of Jesus the Christ –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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How to Pray and Study God’s Word – Seeds of Destiny 23 March 2019 Devotional

Topic: How to Pray and Study God’s Word [Seeds of Destiny 23 March 2019 Devotional]

SCRIPTURE: Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Daniel 6:10.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: To be persistent is to keep on pressing on even if you seem not to see immediate results.

The importance of prayer in the life of the child of God cannot be overemphasized. Previously, we saw the importance of prayer and the study of God’s Word in the life of a Christian: we saw that when prayer and the study of God’s Word are combined appropriately, a Christian becomes balanced spiritually and in all other areas of life. Anyone who neglects prayer and the study of God’s Word lacks spiritual balance and stability in God. This is why many Christians experience ups and downs always in their spiritual life.

Today, we shall look at how to pray and study God’s Word in order to be stable in God and His purpose for our lives.

Now, how do we pray and study God’s Word?
i. Pray and study the Word of God habitually
Prayer and the study of God’s Word are to be done habitually. It was the habit for Daniel, for instance to pray three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Pray and study the word habitually; let the habit of prayer and study of the Word be formed in your life. Form a habit of not allowing food to enter your mouth in the morning until the word of God has entered your spirit like Job (Job 23:12). Make a habit of studying the Scripture daily and meditate on them. Do this habitually.

ii. Pray and study the word of God persistently
To be persistent is to keep on pressing on even if you seem not to see immediate results. When it appears as if you are not seeing results in prayer and the Word, just be persistent (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Pray and study God’s word persistently, tenaciously and restlessly.

Beloved, when you keep on praying and studying God’s consistently and persistently, then, a time would come when what you eat would begin to eat you up.

Remember this: To be persistent is to keep on pressing on even if you seem not to see immediate results.

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. Make prayer and study of God’s a habitual act in your life.
  2. Pray and Study God’s Word persistently.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DEDICATION TO PRAYER AND THE WORD.

PRAYER: O LORD, I receive the grace for a habitual and persistent prayer and study of God’s Word.

DAILY READING: Numbers 36:1 to Deuteronomy 1:46, Luke 5:29 to 6:11, Psalm 66:1 to 20, Proverbs 11:24 to 26.

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

AMAZING FACT: The human skull is made up of 29 different bones.

TODAY IN HISTORY: 23/03/1888 – In England, The Football League, the world’s oldest professional association football league, meets for the first time.

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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Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heaven 23 March 2019

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heaven 23 March 2019 – Fasting or Starving?

1.I worship and adore You, my Father, because Your foundation standeth sure, and the gates of hell will never prevail over Your church. (Click HERE for Open Heaven 23 March 2019)

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

3.Father, please, help me to avoid any act that will foster or encourage sexual immorality in Your church, in Jesus’ name.

4.Father, let me never lower the standard of Your word, in order to accommodate the world, in Jesus’ name.

5.Father, arise, and terminate, every subtle move of Satan and his agents, to impose his will and ways, upon Your church and on ignorant Christians, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, please, give me the grace to run away from iniquity, that I may not bring reproach to the name of Christ, that I have been called to preach, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, let every spirit of sexual pervasion, lusts, formication and adultery, in the body of Christ, be consumed by Your fire, in Jesus’ name.

8.Father, let every plan of Satan to ensnare innocent souls into committing, adultery and formication, through immoral and indecent dressing, be scattered, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, let evil arrows of quarrels, confusion, immorality, infidelity, separation, divorce, prayerlessness, etc, fired into my home and marriage, go back to sender, in Jesus’ name.

10.Father, let all the spiritual and biological children of Pastor E.A. Adeboye, excel in all their endeavours and be greater than him, in life’s accomplishments, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, bless Your son, that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus’ name.

12.Father, let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus’ name.

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

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

15.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.

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heaven 23 March 2019 – Fasting Or Starving?

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Leave That Place – Open Heavens for Teens 23 March 2019

Topic Leave That Place [Open Heavens for Teens 23 March 2019]

Memorise: “Blessed is the man that walketh in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” – Psalm 1:1

Read: Proverbs 13:20

20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Bible In One Year: Joshua 9-10, Luke 3

MESSAGE:

Teenagers always tend to underestimate the power of bad company. It is either they are thinking that they can’t be influenced by bad company or they are thinking that just sticking around bad company who isn’t really their friend will cause no damage. You need to realise that humans, especially teenagers, get influenced easily; they see something often enough and unknowingly start copying what they see. If you have good habits and hang around those with bad habits, you will soon find yourself developing bad habits.

You have to be very careful of the friends you keep. You have to be even more careful of those who you can’t necessarily call your friends, but you hang around often. The devil uses such people to put damaging ideas in the minds of God’s children. Those ideas eventually tear down the lives of many previously good children and it then takes the special grace of God to bring them back.

Action Point: Always deliberately leave location of bad company.

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 7:

1. I am Thine 0 Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Chorus:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

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.

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The Black Bride and the ‘Beautiful’ Bridegroom – Anglican Communion 23 March 2019

The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 23 March 2019 – The Black Bride and the ‘Beautiful’ Bridegroom

TOPIC: The Black Bride and the ‘Beautiful’ Bridegroom

READ: Songs of Solomon 1:1 -17 King James Version (KJV)

1 The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.

9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.

15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.

16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

THE MESSAGE:

This book is usually accepted as an allegory between Christ (the King) and His Church (the bride). Today’s passage contains a beautiful illustration of God’s salvation plan and our expected response.

The original colour of the bride was thwarted by her angry stepbrothers who made her to work in the sun as a keeper of vineyards (verse 5). Similarly, God’s divine plan for us is to be righteous. Unfortunately through our inherited Adamic nature, the enemy made us keepers of vineyards of lies, theft, immorality, bribery, etc.

This changed our heavenly colour of righteousness just as the bride became black as a result of her activities. But thank God for our King and Lord, Jesus Christ who came to draw us away from sin into His chamber of love at Calvary (verse 4). He sees a beauty in us, worthy to be harnessed for His glory (verse 15). Like the bride in today’s passage, we are expected to respond positively by running after Him (verse 4)

Have you responded to His love or are you still satisfied with being a keeper of vineyards of sin? The King still calls today. Repent and accept Him into your life.

Dwell in contentment (verses 16-17) in His chamber through daily prayers, bible study, worship and commitment and it shall be well with you.

Prayer: I am tired of being a keeper of the vineyard of unrighteousness. I repent today and ask You Lord Jesus to take over my life as my King, Lord and Saviour.

Click HERE to read previous messages

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The Divine Life In You – Rhapsody of Realities 23 March 2019

Rhapsody of Realities 23 March 2019 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – The Divine Life In You

Topic: The Divine Life In You

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life(1 John 5:13).

As a Christian, what you have isn’t a combination of the divine and human life; you don’t have two lives, but one—the divine life. This divine life and nature of God in your spirit has an impact on your physical body. The human life is sustained by blood (Leviticus 17:11). That’s the reason blood diseases are very deadly, because they attack the whole body.

When Jesus died on the Cross, something interesting transpired. A Roman soldier thrust a spear through His side, and “blood and water gushed out.” His heart had ruptured, and all His blood drained out. His body was buried without blood. When He was raised from the dead, the resurrected body of Jesus had no blood.

Where then did the life of the body of Jesus come from? After all, He didn’t come back to life as a Ghost, He resurrected in flesh. The Bible tells us He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father; that’s the Holy Ghost! The Holy Ghost overshadowed the dead body of Jesus, quickened it, and Jesus came back to life; His body being without blood.

Now that you’re born again, you have the same life with which Jesus was raised from the dead. Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” This has already happened! Your physical body, your hitherto death-doomed and death-prone body has been rejuvenated, reinvigorated, and vitalized by the Holy Ghost who lives in you.

This is the reason sickness, for the Christian, is estranged; it’s an anomaly; it’s not supposed to be, because the life in you is divine. Hallelujah! Meditate on this truth, and endorse it in your personal life and you’ll forever live above sickness, disease, defeat and all the depravities that affect the human nature.

CONFESSION
I’ve got the life of God in me; it’s in every fibre of my being, in every cell of my blood and in every bone of my body. I live above sickness, disease, defeat and all the depravities that affect the human nature, as a result of the divine life and nature of God in me. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 4:17; 1 John 5:11-13

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 5:1-16 & Deuteronomy 25-27

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 25:1-13 & Exodus 32

Click HERE to Read previous Messages

Rhapsody of Realities 23rd March 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.

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The God-Kind Personality (II) – MFM Daily Devotional 23 March 2019

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 23 March 2019 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – The God-Kind Personality (II)

TOPIC: The God-Kind Personality (II) (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 22 March 2019)

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 13-15; Luke 1:57-80

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Genesis 41:33-40

MEMORY VERSE: “My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.” – Psalms 49:3

The MESSAGE:

Great men and women of destiny are not determined by the type of materials they wear or the type of shoe they put on, but something inside them calls for attention.

Nebuchadnezzar saw the evidence of God in the life of Daniel, and he came to a conclusion that there was an aura different from what he had always encountered. Joseph’s life too called for attention. His life experienced a three-P transformation: from the Pit to the Prison and then to the Palace.

The presence of Joseph provoked Pharoah to say, “So it is possible to see somebody like this, someone who is an embodiment of God himself.” Without wasting time, the promotion of Joseph that was due was given to him. He soon took charge. Pharoah could not do anything without him. Even when his brothers came to him, they could not recognise him.

Joseph became a voice and an answer to the problem of the world in his time. Your life too must speak and no one would be able to shut it. I pray that the Lord will give you a mouth and wisdom that the enemy cannot resist nor gainsay, in Jesus’ name.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
NO ONE CAN LOOK DOWN ON YOU WHEN YOU ARE TALLER THAN THEY ARE.

PROPHETIC WORD:
May your life become the solution to world’s problems.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

  1. O God, baptise me with the Spirit of excellence, in the name of Jesus.
  2. O Lord, make me a voice to be reckoned with, in the name of Jesus.
  3. O Lord, make my life a divine solution, in the name of Jesus.
    EVENING
  4. Holy Ghost, ignite Your fire of revival in my soul, in the name of Jesus.
  5. O Lord, make my life a divine showroom, in the name of Jesus.
  6. The eagle of my calling shall mount up by the power in the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus.
  7. Power to prevail in the place of prayer, fall on me now, 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 The God-Kind Personality (II) – MFM Daily Devotional 23 March 2019 appeared first on Flatimes.