Nigel Evans believes the rule, which was announced ahead of the 2020 Lambeth Conference in Canterbury next year, could equate to workplace discrimination.
The Conservative representative for Ribble Valley told The Daily Telegraph: “I’m wondering whether that’s discrimination. It could be tested in the courts.
“If it wasn’t for the gays in the Church, the Church would crumble!
“If it is tested in the courts, we would be doing the Archbishop of Canterbury a favour.”
The newspaper also quoted an employment lawyer who suggested the bar on gay spouses could contravene the Equality Act of 2010.
The Lambeth Conference – held every ten years – will see Archbishop of Canterbury Most Rev Justin Welby welcome bishops from national Anglican branches across the world.
For the first time, leaders have been invited to bring their spouses along.
But the organiser of the conference, the Anglican Communion, was forced to clarify the invitation by explaining partners of gay bishops were not included.
General Secretary Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon (pictured above) has said in response to criticism: “The invitation process has…needed to take account of the Anglican Communion’s position on marriage which is that it is the lifelong union of a man and a woman.
Corporate prayer is instrumental in shaping the DNA of a church. A praying church is often one who realizes that they are fully dependent on God’s power. Today, we discuss five ways you can increase the power and frequency of prayer in your church.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Responsive readings and corporate guided prayer have declined in popularity in worship services. Maybe we contemplate bring them back.
“Publicly declaring the excellencies of Christ and the greatness of God—what pastor wouldn’t want that in their church?”
God is in the business of answering prayers.
An effective prayer ministry follows up with requests.
The five ways we discuss are:
Incorporate intercessory worship prayer warriors.
Make options clear in the worship services.
Have two minutes of praise for answered prayers.
Pray over prayer walkers
Show prayer responses from an intercessory prayer site.
The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div —Midwestern Seminary’s flagship degree program — is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours, the Midwestern M.Div offers a complete foundation for full-time…
You are most welcome to another interesting edition of these series of teachings. I started this teaching series on happy family and so far we have learned about love the foundation for a happy family. I also said that love is the master key and the foundation of a happy family. Love is not just of words or feelings, it is a decision expressed in deeds, and has to be worked out by members of the family. This week I will be sharing with you some hindrances/attitudes that can cause unhappiness in the family.
Bitterness
This is the seed that breeds from unforgiveness. The Bible says: Looking diligently lest any man fails of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled (Hebrews 12:15). The term “springing up” connotes a thing that starts small and then gradually explodes. Bitterness starts from very little things. Perhaps, your spouse or a family member has done something that hurt you and you refuse to forgive him or her. Every remembrance of the incident brings pain to you. Watch it! That’s a root of bitterness springing up gradually. As a husband or wife, learn to forgive your spouse immediately if not, it will ultimately trouble the peace of your home. Unforgiveness has many negative effects ranging from loss of peace and rest to falling short of God’s grace. Not only does it trouble individuals, but it also goes beyond that to defile the person (Acts 8:23). Unforgiveness and bitterness torment and it opens the door to certain devourers such as poverty, barrenness, sickness, etc., in the family. Now that we know the effects of unforgiveness and bitterness, wisdom demands that we properly handle them in order to experience a happy and successful family.
Ingratitude is the act of taking someone’s act of benevolence for granted. In our context, it is failing to acknowledge or appreciate acts of kindness of your spouse. This act is very common among the women folk; they tend not to appreciate their husband’s provision for the family. They believe that it is the responsibility of the husband; so, they use words like “Is this all you can do?”, instead of saying thank you. Some husbands too out of arrogance fail to appreciate their wives for their financial and homely support, and such is very bad. Therefore, every act of goodness done in the home by any member of the family must be appreciated and then you will see how exciting your marriage will become. Appreciating one another’s act in the family goes a long way in sustaining the home. One of the main reasons for ingratitude in most cases is “unhealthy comparison”. The Bible says …they that compare themselves with themselves are not wise (2 Corinthians10:12).
The grace to carry out your responsibility in your home is available and can only be given by God. Do you need God’s grace in your life? Then, surrender your life to Christ. However, if you are already born again, rejoice because your case is settled. If you are not born again yet and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: 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 now born again and 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.
Topic: Express Your Emotions Honestly Before God [TREM Devotional 1 March 2019]
“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Psalm 62:8 KJV
You must understand that man is made up of three parts. You are a spirit, you have a soul and you live inside this container called body. What you are looking at is not the real you. The real you is your spirit. With the spirit, we contact God. With our souls we are able to know ourselves. Your soul is the seat of your mind, will and emotions. Your will is where you take decisions and where cognition takes place. The spirit and the soul are not visible. But your body, which is the third part, is what we see.
We express emotion in different ways. Laughter, fear, hate and anger are all emotional expressions. We must develop the capacity to master our emotions, especially the negative emotions. How well we master our emotions will determine how much of victory we will walk in. In order to master your emotions, you must learn to express it honestly before God, especially the negative ones. Don’t look for a man to vent your anger upon. It is important that you tell it to God. That is how God designed us to function.
In the book of Genesis 4:3-8, when God declared that Abel’s offering was accepted unto Him, Cain didn’t like it. ‘Why must my own not be accepted?’ God noticed it and said ‘Cain, why are you upset with me? “Why is your countenance fallen?’ God expected Cain to talk to Him. But what did Cain do? “And Cain talked with Abel his brother…”(Genesis 4:8). Rather than express his emotions honestly before God, he went in a fit of anger to confront his brother. And that led to the first recorded murder in the bible.
Beloved, there is always going to be something that will make you unhappy. Don’t hurt and destroy the people around you simply because you are unhappy. Go to God and let it out.
Further Reading: Genesis 4:3-8, Psalm 62:1-8
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Numbers 20-22; Evening- Mark 6:41-56,7:1-13
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: Watch That Appetite [Open Heavens for Teens 1 March 2019]
Memorise: “And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.” – Proverbs 23:2
Read: Proverbs 23:1-3
1.When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
2.And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
3.Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
Bible In One Year: Numbers 26-27, Mark 8:22-38
MESSAGE:
Storing excess fat in the body leads to being overweight which in turn leads to high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and other diseases. Don’t think that these diseases can only occur in adults, teenagers can also suffer from them. One major cause of obesity is over-eating. Food is good, but too much food is injurious to the health. If you cannot stop your mouth from salivating whenever you see food, watch it. If you eat even when you are not hungry, you need to watch your appetite.
Avoid eating junks and foods with lots of sugar content. Proverbs 24:13 confirms that natural honey is good for the body. However as good as honey is, it should be taken with moderation. According to today’s memory verse, if you love food too much, you must exercise great restrain against that love for food. Learn to say ‘no’ to offers of food. Learn to eat right, it is not only the quantity of food that matters but the quality too. Learn to fast. Fasting not only has spiritual benefits, it is also good for cleansing the body of harmful toxins.
Key Point:
If fruits and vegetable are not in your everyday diet, you are not eating right.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:
Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone,
And our defense is sure
Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received its frame,
From everlasting you are God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in your sight
Are like an evening gone
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream
Does at the opening day.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Still be our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home!
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: Understanding Prayer [Seeds of Destiny 1 March 2019 Devotional]
It has been confirmed that prayer is a necessity in the life of a child of God; the lifestyle of a Christian is the lifestyle of prayer. However, many people do not actually understand what prayer is all about; they think that prayer only happens when there is a problem or need.
SCRIPTURE: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Communion between man and His Maker happens on the platform of prayer.
It has been confirmed that prayer is a necessity in the life of a child of God; the lifestyle of a Christian is the lifestyle of prayer. However, many people do not actually understand what prayer is all about; they think that prayer only happens when there is a problem or need. Beloved, prayer is an act that should be done beyond just meeting one’s personal needs. Therefore, it is important to understand what prayer is all about.
Now, what is prayer?
1. Prayer is a platform for communion between God and man
Communion between man and His Maker happens on the platform of prayer (Matthew 6:9)
2. Prayer is the platform for the offering of Thanks, Praise and Worship to God (Matthew 6:9)
Another aspect of prayer is the prayer of thanksgiving, praise and worship; this is called the prayer of adoration. We do not only pray when we have needs; praise is part of prayer.
3. Prayer is the platform for the establishment of the Rule and Will of God in the Earth (Matthew 6:10)
Prayer is an avenue to establish the Will, Rule and Purpose of God in your life, family and the nation; it is the platform where you dethrone the purpose of the devil and enforce the rule of God.
4. Prayer is a platform for accessing our inheritance in God (Matthew 6:11).
At the place of prayer, you connect what God has in store for you. Prayer gives us access to our inheritance and what belongs to us in God.
Beloved, my counsel is, make up your mind to maximize the hour of prayer by focusing on the points outlined above whenever you pray.
Remember this: Communion between man and His Maker happens on the platform of prayer.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Go through today’s message again.
Maximize the hour of prayer by focusing on the points outlined above whenever you pray.
PRAYER: O LORD, thank You for the fresh understanding of the subject of prayer. I receive the grace to pray according to Your Will, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: UNDERSTANDING PRAYER.
DAILY READING: Leviticus 24:1 to 25:46, Mark 10:13 to 31, Psalm 44: 9 to 26, Proverbs 10:20 to 21.
QUOTE: What you know determines what you experience. Revelation determines preservation. Culled from 15 KINGDOM STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL by Dr Paul Enenche.
AMAZING FACT: Humans sleep for about a third of their lives.
TODAY IN HISTORY: 01/03/1995 – Yahoo! was incorporated.
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: Brevity of Life [DCLM Daily Manna 1 March 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Judges 12:7-15 (KJV)
Key Verse: “And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead” (Judges 12:7).
MESSAGE:
For every man, life is short and uncertain. Only the near approach of death is ever so sure. It is therefore necessary that we place priority on living a life that counts for eternity.
The story of Jephthah shows that God can use anyone to accomplish His purpose. Through his boldness and faith in the God of Israel, he obtained great deliverance for Israel against the Ammonites.
Jephthah was firm in his decision and vow to God. His steadfastness is a lesson to contemporary believers. Although, he died after only six years of his victory over the Ammonities, that victory brought peace that lasted over 31 years to Israel. The three judges that ruled immediately after Jephthah had no wars to fight for their reign were peaceful.
However, after the death of Jephthah, Israel soon went back to their sinful lifestyle. The three succeeding judges passed away quickly after their respective short reigns that God might again visit Israel for their sin and backsliding. When iniquity abounds in the land, and righteous leaders become few, it is a sign that evil days are near.
The lessons in today’s passage are many. First, we must come to term with the brevity of life. No matter how long we live, our life is short in view of eternity. Second, it is unwise to bask endlessly in the joy of any earthly victory or success; we must not lose focus of eternity. Third, the peace we make or the row we cause today may have effects running on after us for some generations after. We must therefore endeavour to make peace with men at all times.
Thought For The Day: The righteous is taken away from the wrath to come.
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.
MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 1 March 2019 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – God Turns Garbage to Treasure
TOPIC: God Turns Garbage to Treasure (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 1 March 2019)
Bible In One Year: Numbers 20-22; Mark 7:1-13
FIRE SCRIPTURE: John 4:27-42
MEMORY VERSE: “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
The MESSAGE:
When the Samaritan woman, the village filth, set out to draw water from the village well that fateful day, little did she know that she was about to become the village treasure. She probably went to the well in the hot afternoon because she was trying to avoid contact with fellow villagers, who had nothing but contempt for her, because of her shameless adultery. Suddenly, in her worthlessness, she came face to face with the Fountain of Life, and suddenly became an evangelist and a blessing to her village.
This scenario was repeated many times during Jesus’ earthly ministry:
The Gadarene demoniac was relegated by demons to living among the dead. He could no longer communicate with fellow men because the only voices he heard in his spirit were the voices of wicked spirits telling him to destroy himself.
Bartimeus, whose blindness made people believe that he was not entitled to anything good in life. So, instead of helping him, people actually tried to silence him when he called out to Jesus.
Matthew the tax collector, who got nothing but contempt from his fellow men because of his fraudulent ways.
Simon Peter, the hopeless failure of a fisherman who toiled all night and caught nothing.
Mary Magdalene, whose life had been converted into a luxury hotel by demons.
The thief on Jesus’ right side on the cross, who had been condemned to eternal damnation for his thieving ways.
The woman caught in adultery, who was about to be condemned to eternal damnation for her inability to control her lust.
Lazarus, who had become a stinking corpse in the grave, bound from head to toe by the bands of wickedness. Jesus wept when He saw what the devil had done to this man!
Even a helpless donkey, tied down by human wickedness, was suddenly liberated because the Lord had an assignment for it.
In each of these cases and more, an encounter or visit from Jesus turned their lives completely around and they became stars.
Beloved, what about you? Arise, call upon the name of the Lord today. Whatever your situation, He wants to turn your life around. Like Bartimeus, Lazarus, the donkey, shake off the shackles of wickedness holding you down. Like Simon Peter, Mary Magdalene and the thief on the cross, put your faith into full gear. Like the woman caught in adultery and Matthew, repent, take up your cross and follow Jesus. Suddenly, your star will shine, in this life and the next.
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: CALL UPON JESUS, HE WILL DEFEND YOU AGAINST YOUR ACCUSERS, AND GIVE YOU A NEW ENVIABLE LIFE.
PROPHETIC WORD: Your voice shall matter where you once had no voice.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
Merciful God, I praise You for Your determination to give me abundant life, in the name of Jesus.
Omnipotent God, visit me today and loose the bands of wickedness designed to make my life meaningless, in the name of Jesus.
Holy Spirit, possess me, and help me to cast off all hindrances in my quest for the Way, the Truth and the Life, in the name of Jesus. EVENING
Every strange spirit dumped into my life by my foundation, my errors, witchcraft and spiritual wickedness, catch fire, in the name of Jesus.
The God of new beginnings, visit me today and turn me into Your treasure, in the name of Jesus.
Lord Jesus, help me to take up my cross and follow You, without looking back, in the name of Jesus.
Lord Jesus, take control of my life and empower me to surrender my all for Your service, in the name of Jesus.
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.
Senator Kamala Harris Advocates for Legalization of Prostitution
Senator Kamala Harris recently shared that she is in favor of decriminalizing prostitution and sex work.
According to Life Site News, the 2020 presidential hopeful said that despite her previous crack down on sex work when she was California’s Attorney General, she would like to see prostitution – between two consenting adults – decriminalized.
In an interview with The Roots, Harris noted that when she was a District Attorney in California some fifteen years ago, she was advocating for the prostitute and against the “johns” and “pimps.” Harris said, “I was advocating then that we had to stop arresting these prostitutes and instead go after the johns and the pimps.”
According to Life Site News, Harris supported two laws – 2017 Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) and Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) – which tightened restrictions on those who willingly facilitate, support or assist in sex trafficking and on online sex trafficking.
In the recent interview, however, when asked if she believed sex work should be “decriminalized” Harris responded, “I think so. I do.”
Harris clarified why she supported the above-mentioned laws noting that, to her, there are distinct differences between which types of sex work should be legal and which types of sex work should not. Harris noted that in the case of…
At Least 40 Christians Killed in Two Attacks in Kaduna State, Nigeria
JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – At least 32 people were killed in a Muslim Fulani herder attack on a Christian area of north-central Nigeria on Tuesday (Feb. 26), sources said.
The early morning assault on villages in and around Maro, in Kajuru County of Kaduna state, came after a Feb. 10 herdsmen attack on Angwan Barde, in the same county, that killed 10 Catholic Christians along with an unborn child.
In this week’s attack in Maro, the Fulani herdsmen also damaged church buildings and property, and the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) reported that many of its missionaries working among the area Adara (known as Kadara by the Hausa) and Katari ethnic groups have been displaced.
A boarding school for the missionaries’ children in Kufana town has been closed, said the Rev. Bakari Ibrahim, director of the ECWA’s Evangelical Missionary Society (EMS).
“Please pray for peace in Kaduna state – hundreds have been displaced and hundreds killed by the Fulani jihadists,” he told Morning Star News in a text message. “We evacuated about hundred EMS kids from Kufana for safety. Many of our missionaries working among the Kadara tribe and some in Katari areas have been displaced. Please keep praying for our nation.”
A women’s fellowship leader of the ECWA congregation in Maro who requested anonymity told Morning Star News that women were…
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