PARADOX of the 21ST CENTURY! By AJIBOLA, Damilola Segun

THE Paradox of the 21st century is in a world so religious and yet at the peak of immoralities of all ages.

What do we have these days…?
It’s such that wrong, abnormal deeds have become so normalized to the extent that the very few who tries to be ‘normal’ are now tagged the abnormal ones –

Or, how else do you explain it when you’re seen as the ‘bad guy’ by your colleagues simply because you decided as a student not to aid malpractice in the exam hall?

Today if you are not dressed looking “sexy” as a lady or wearing some offensive hair style with dropping pants as a guy even in the church, then, you’re simply not acceptable!

Bribery (a.k.a. tips, “appreciation” etc, as it is now being re-branded) at official and unofficial levels in order to get some favour, ranging from the school to the workplace, government parastatals and even in the church is now the norm in our society. Parents are the ones who now help their children to pay for ‘special centers’ where malpractices are aided during examination and change their birth certificates to suit certain requirements. I was alarmed during my NYSC compulsory service in 2013 somewhere in the south-eastern Nigeria when I saw a man on orientation camp who apparently should at least be in his forties, claiming 25yrs of age on his I.D. card because the requirement exempts persons above 30yrs.

You’re supposedly now the fool if you decide to be courteous enough to stay on the queue – and on and on. What a paradox!

Also Read: Serving God with Your Family by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

What do we have these days…?

It’s a “worldly church in a churchy world”! The church have become so worldly that you can hardly differentiate a supposed Christian brother/sister from those the bible referred to as the ‘heathen’ – after all they now dress the same way, wear the same looks, listen to same cadre of music, make a practice of bad habits and live the same untoward lifestyles etc; and when you challenge some on these issues, they are quick to tell you “it’s the heart that matters”. Makes one wonder what the bible is speaking of when it says “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good…” – Luke 6:45. If one’s heart is truly right with God, there is no way it will not reflect on the outward. If the inside of the cup is first clean, then the outside will be clean – Matt.23:26 (NIV).

It’s the days when worldly dance step, song lyrics and rhythms from polluted sources are now reedited or directly imported into the church for our praises; and then we start to ‘dance azonto and choki for Jesus’ and ‘sing yahooze’ to God whose name is Holy. What a paradox!

These days, the only difference our so called ‘gospel singers’ have from the worldly musicians is probably the “Jesus” included in their song lyrics. Virtually nothing else stands them out, from their appearances to their lifestyle!

The Word of God couldn’t be clearer in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. It says:

14 DO NOT BE YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

17 Therefore, “COME OUT FROM THEM AND BE SEPARATE, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” [NIV]

Beloved, it is high time we sat down to examine ourselves in all sincerity and truth, whether we are actually on this highway of HOLINESS, without which no one shall see God (Hebrews 12:14). Or, we are just being deceived and blindfolded by the lies of the devil. Note what the scripture says in Revelations 21:27; “AND THERE SHALL IN NO WISE ENTER INTO IT (heaven) ANY THING THAT DEFILETH, NEITHER WHATSOEVER WORKETH ABOMINATION, OR MAKETH A LIE: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

The question therefore is; ‘Is “my” name written in the Lamb’s book of life?’ Ask yourself this and be true to yourself in answering it. If the answer is ‘No’ or you are in doubts, then you can become sure now simply by calling Jesus Christ into your life afresh now, accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour. If you want to be born again, you want all your sins forgiven and completely written off irrespective of what your past looks like, say this prayer of faith with all your heart:

Father, in the name of Jesus, I come to you this moment Lord Jesus having realized myself as a sinner. I confess my sins before you Lord Jesus and I ask that you forgive me. Please Lord write now my name in the Lamb’s book of life. I promise to walk in holiness through your word and by the help of the holy Spirit from today onward. Thank You Jesus for saving me. In Jesus Mighty Name. Amen.

If you have said that prayer, congratulations! You are now a child of God. You should now begin to make conscious effort to live your life from today as a child of God indeed. Make the word of God a must feed daily, while you avoid things, persons or places that can lead you back into the mud of sin. Ask God to baptize you with the promised Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in new tongues.

God bless you.

PARADOX of the 21ST CENTURY! By AJIBOLA, Damilola Segun
For enquiries or questions please call/text/WhatsApp: +234 8037302495.
E-mail: [email protected]

Topic: Having a Willing Heart [Joyce Meyer Devotional 10 February 2019]

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. — Psalm 34:13

A willing heart is a heart that “wants to.” If there is something we want to do strongly enough, somehow we will find a way to do it.

With God’s help and a willing heart, we can have a close relationship with Him, keep our house clean, save money, get out of debt, or reach any other goal in life we may have set for ourselves. Our victory or defeat has a lot to do with our “want to.”

Many times we lay the blame for our failures on the enemy, other people, the past, and on and on. But the bottom line may be that we just don’t have enough of the right kind of “want to.”

If you really want to be closer to God, I believe you will be. Your willing heart will cause you to seek Him with a new passion. You’ll choose to spend time each day in prayer and studying the Word. God will see your heart and draw close to you even as you are drawing close to Him.

Prayer Starter: Lord, help me to have a willing heart to seek You and make wise decisions for my life. Help me to not be led by my emotions but instead be motivated by what I know is right to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Refuse Failure by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Topic: Refuse Failure

You need to know that God did not create you to be a mediocre on earth nor did he create you to struggle through life; your redemption in Christ makes you a person of value.

Romans 8:30 (KJV) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Matthew 5:14 (KJV) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

You are not a man to be pitied; you are created to command the envy of the world. Though many have come across failure, the Bible assures that all things will always work together for good to them that love Him. If you are a lover of God, a testimony is coming out of that seemingly hopeless situation for you. There’s room for you at the top, do not settle for failure — react against it! If your desire is to make a mark in life, you must be prepared to go beyond the average and be determined to crush whatever wants to cheat you out of your own place at the top.

Also Read: Time Management by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Matthew 11:12 (KJV) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Let failure instigate you to fight back and be determined to be the best you can be in life. Rise up now, react and refuse to be a failure! React against failure, because it takes a reaction to experience a manifestation. Forget past failures. God has no remembrance of your past failures so you also have to stop counting them.

Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Failure is an event, so let it pass away like other events. Do not allow it to keep you on the floor. The past is gone; learn from it, live in the present, and look forward to the future.

Luke 15:20 (KJV) And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

The prodigal son got to the lowest ebb in life. He was begging for pigs’ food to eat, it was not available! Productive thinking brought him out of pigsty state. Friend, you need to know how to reason to come out of every prison of life. You must be a divine think-tank. If something confronts you, sit down and think your way out. Your reasoning will definitely bring solution.

Also, find out what others are doing to succeed. Ask questions and observe those who have gone ahead of you. Listen to people who have made it following God’s principles and learn from them. Be strengthened by them and enrich your information bank.

By observation, your thinking is upgraded. Listen to tapes. Read anointed books. Build your life on proper information. Do not run your Christianity on outdated information. By doing this, you react to failure and it births your revolution — a product of conscious reaction. No reaction, No revolution!

I prophesy to you that that issue that has kept you on the floor will birth a testimony in Jesus name –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.

A Glorious Beginning (Part 4) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: A Glorious Beginning (Part 4)

Dear reader,

Hope you are being blessed by the series of teachings this month. We shall continue the topic we began last week: Do you have a Financial Budget? However, today, under this umbrella, we shall be considering the need to invest for the future and be accountable.

Invest for the Future

Foolish spending is one major cause of borrowing and lack. To avoid such spending, occasional investments must be made. Setting aside some amount from earnings is necessary. Even the Lord Jesus had a treasurer (John 13:29), who kept some amount in case of need. The Lord Himself admonishes: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? (Luke 19:23). in order to avoid begging or borrowing tomorrow. Benjamin Franklin said “…He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.” Don’t bring sorrow into your home by being a borrower. Impulsive or foolish spending does not demonstrate your honour for God concerning the finances He placed in your care (James 1: 17)

Also Read: Mysterious Facts About Midnight

Be Accountable

God believes in accountability and budgeting. How do I know? He stated so in His Word (the Bible). We need to “count the cost “ (Luke 14:28) of our financial transactions. God Himself keeps records and accounts of things (Acts 10:4) and passed on this practice to men on earth (Esther 6:1). We shall be asked to give account (Romans 14:12).

You need to be accountable, not just to yourself, but to God, Who is the supplier of all your provisions including money; and to your spouse who is your partner in the home. Women, wives, mothers, choose to be accountable, list out your income, expenses and review them from time to time to assess whether your financial transactions are prudent or whether you need to adjust your spending pattern. Make a budget monthly, weekly and daily, and record your spending. I have a little dairy I carry around with me and record any money spent. That way at the end of the month I can easily recollect all I spent money on during the month. “Accountability pays. The Lord says: …thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many… (Matthew 25:21). Being faithful financially qualifies you to receive more money from the Lord, and from men too. I always make sure I submit a breakdown of expenses to my dear husband whether he asks for it or not.

I remember one day, many years ago, my husband came to my office with a cheque book and said “I have watched you over the years, you have been so faithful financially. You are so different from many other women, so prudent in spending and not a waster. God wants to lift you. This is the cheque book to our accounts all the leaves have been signed, any time you want money, don’t ask, I trust you absolutely and the Spirit of God is inside you.” Then he left. I said to myself “God, this is an awesome responsibility” and the Lord said to me “Because you have been faithful in little, you have been promoted. How faithful you are with this responsibility will determine how great your promotion will be tomorrow.” Up till today, my dear husband does not ask me how I spend money because he trusts me. He had watched me and found me faithful in time past. Because of his trusting me, I see to it that I don’t transact money in any area without his knowledge.

You need the grace of God to do what is required to enjoy a glorious financial future. If you are not yet born again 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 born again and 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)

“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”

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: Beware Of Deception [TREM Devotional 10 February 2019]

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matthew 24:4 KJV

You see, the enemy can perform what seemingly looks like a miracle but in the end, you would suffer the consequences. This is because whatever the devil does will not last. If the devil gives you money, he doesn’t only give you money, it must be conditional. There must be conditions that you must fulfil in order to sustain and keep that money. And this applies to many other things. So when people fail to understand how God functions, they are susceptible to deception and they open themselves wide to the adversary to destroy them.

My heart bleeds when I see so many Christians who because of long-standing conditions, allow themselves to be taken to places that negate the Word of God. If their practices negate the Word, then God is not there, because God cannot contradict Himself. Beloved, don’t take away your eyes from the real thing simply because you are experiencing delay and challenges.”Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29 KJV) According to our Lord Jesus, the reason you go into error is ignorance of the scriptures.

The reason you are easily deceived and the enemy has held you captive is that you don’t know the scriptures. You don’t know the power of God. It is not because God is powerless. Delay is not denial! That you are being delayed doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. It is all about timing. So you must understand the timing of God. You do err, not knowing the scriptures. In other words, ignorance of the scripture will cause you to err. When you don’t know what God has said concerning you, concerning his promises and concerning where you stand in Him, you will go into error. Anything the Word cannot validate can never be the truth. The Word of God is the acid test for anything, no matter the manifestation.

Further Reading: Matthew 24:4-11, John 8:30-32

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 8-10; Evening- Matthew 25:31-46

“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.

Open Heaven 10 February 2019 Prayer Points on Today – The Path To Greatness

The Path To Greatness

1.I worship and adore You, my Father, because You are the One, that rules in the kingdom of men, and You give it to whomsoever You will. (Click HERE to read Open Heaven 10 February 2019)

2.Thank You, Father, for opening my eyes to the truth that the sin of fornication or adultery, is not a sin against my spouse but a sin against You, my God.

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

4.Father, please, let me live the rest of my life, in godly fear, in Jesus name.

5.Father please, give me the grace to run away from iniquity and from every appearance of evil, in Jesus name.

6.Father, empower me to be able to pay the price, that will cause the seed of greatness in me, to germinate, grow and blossom, in Jesus name.

7.Father, as I work for You, cause the sun of righteousness, with healings in his wings, to arise upon me; and grant me accelerated journey to greatness, in Jesus name.

8.Father, by Your grace, take me to that height of greatness and position in life, that You have destined me to reach, in Jesus name.

9.Father, please, help me to live through today, without committing a single sin, in Jesus name.

10.Father, continue to increase Your son Pastor E.A. Adeboye, in wisdom, power, influence, and greatness, in Jesus name.

11.Father, bless Your son, that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures; help him to overcome every challenge of getting these prayer points across to Your children timely, on daily basis, in Jesus name.

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

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

14.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.

Open Heaven 10 February 2019 Prayer Points on Today – The Path To Greatness

Topic: Pathways to Living in Abundant Health [Seeds of Destiny 10 February 2019 Devotional]

SCRIPTURE: Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The end of life is life without vision; people die when they have no vision for living.

We have been exploring keys to living in permanent Divine health. This is very important because there is no success without secrets. Divine health does not happen by chance; rather, it is released by the understanding of its secrets.

Now, further keys to Divine health are:

1. Maintaining a clear positive vision for the future
   People only perish where there is no vision (Proverbs 29:18). When you outline what you will do for God in the future, He cannot allow death or sickness to take you before your time. Life becomes a burden to people who lack vision; the end of life is life without vision. People die when they have no vision for living.
2. Maintaining upright living and a clear conscience
   There are faults that can block one’s healing (James 5:16). For example, a drunkard or smoker does not need the devil’s effort to have liver cancer. Does a fornicator need the assistance of a witch to be afflicted with HIV? Upright living is a key to living in Divine Health.
3. Maximizing the privilege of the communion table
   The communion communicates the life of Christ to us; it symbolizes the body and blood of Jesus Christ (John 6:55-57). So, every time you take the communion, you are in touch with the sick-less life of Jesus Christ. However, the Holy Communion must be taken with revelation for it to produce results.

Beloved, my counsel is, maintain a life of vision, live with a pure conscience and always maximize the privilege of the Holy Communion.

Remember this: The end of life is life without vision; people die when they have no vision for living.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Cultivate a vision of what to live for.
2. Maintain an upright and clear conscience
3. Maximize the privilege of the Holy Communion

PRAYER: O Lord, I ask that You give me a vision to live for. I receive the grace to live uprightly and to always partake in the Communion Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: ACTIVATING THE FORCE OF DIVINE HEALTH.

DAILY READING: Exodus 30:11 to 31:18, Matthew 26:47 to 68, Psalm 32:1 to 11, Proverbs 8:27 to 32.

AMAZING FACT: When a human being is confronted by a lion and he goes down flat on his face or stands erect like a log of wood, the lion would just sniff around him and walk away without hurting him

TODAY IN HISTORY: 10/02/1985 – Nelson Mandela rejected South African president, P. W Botha’s offer of a conditional release.

QUOTE: A Vision is what keeps you going. Culled from 15 KINGDOM STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL by Dr Paul Enenche.

PROPHETIC PARENTAL BLESSING: Today, I prophesy on you the power to make progress. Every spell of limitation, stagnation, restriction, refrainment or confinement at work in your life is over forever, in Jesus’ Name.

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.