Topic: Let Peace Rule [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 4 February 2019]
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from the Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds…. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always.] – Colossians 3:15, The Amplified Bible
Have you been praying that God will let you know whether a certain action you want to take is agreeable to His will or not? Let this peace of Christ be your guide. Let it help you settle the issue. If you start to take that action and you realize you don’t have peace about it, don’t do it.
Remember, though, that this inner leading of the Holy Spirit, this subtle sense of uneasiness or peace He gives you, is something you have to watch and listen for carefully. He generally won’t just come up and knock you out of bed one morning and tell you what you need to do. The primary way He speaks to you is by what the Bible calls an inward witness.
So, you have to listen. You can’t just stay busy about the things of the world all the time. You have to give Him time and attention.
Also, watch out for strife. If you’re irritated and upset about things in your life, it will be very hard to receive that quiet guidance from the Holy Spirit. So take heed to the instructions at the end of this scripture and “be thankful… appreciative, giving praise to God always.” Maintain a thankful, grateful heart. You’ll find it much easier to hear the “umpire of peace” when He makes a call.
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.
Topic: Leaders Also Give [DCLM Daily Manna 4 February 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Nehemiah 7:70-73 (KJV)
Key Verse: “And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments” (Nehemiah 7:70).
MESSAGE:
A cleric who doubled as a writer decided on a discreet way of giving to the church and his immediate community. As he was not on salary but generously supported by the Household of God, he began to churn out great books that were instant best-sellers. When asked to take possession of the huge fortune that was coming his way through his writings, he demurred. He turned over the enormous proceeds to the church and the needy saying: “I need also to give to God the same way I serve Him through pastoring.”
He was following in the footsteps of Nehemiah, who with Ezra the priest, championed the rebuilding of Jerusalem after its destruction. It was a most troublous time. There were external and internal enemies that obstructed the work of God being undertaken by the Jews.
It is instructive that the leadership style of Nehemiah and Ezra attracted the cooperation of the people, notably in the matter of giving for the work of God. In addition to his work as the governor of the land, he was not behind in also giving for the project. He and the leaders gave generously.
True stewards in God’s service do not rest on their oars while there is work to do in the Lord’s vineyard. They roll their sleeves and plunge themselves neck-deep in work the same way their brothers and sisters are doing. By so doing, they build His church in readiness for the imminent return of His Son.
Thought For The Day: Armchair leadership easily wrecks the ship of the church.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
Topic: The Born Again Experience [Andrew Wommack Devotional 4 February 2019]
John 3:10, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”
Text: John 3:1-21
The Greek word translated “master” here actually means, “an instructor, doctor, teacher”. Nicodemus was a very educated man in religious matters, yet he didn’t have the slightest idea what Jesus was talking about.
Nicodemus’ relationship with God had all been academic. He knew a lot about God, but he didn’t know God personally. Jesus had a union with God that was unique and Nicodemus was intrigued. God was Jesus’ father. This was foreign to Nicodemus.
Jesus had not been educated by man and yet He knew God in a way that the theologians and seminary graduates of His day didn’t. He shocked Nicodemus when He told him that the only way to truly know God was through an experience of becoming born again.
The number one thing that sets Christianity apart from religion is this born again experience. We don’t just have a different doctrine than the others.
We have been born from above. We have Jesus Himself living in our hearts. Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. We truly fellowship with God as our father. A man with a born again experience is never at a loss when confronted by a man with an argument.
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).
Topic: What Is God Like? [Billy Graham Devotional 4 February 2019]
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there . . . — Psalm 139:8
I believe it is possible to know what God is like. The Bible declares that God is Spirit, that He is not limited to body; He is not limited to shape; He is not limited to force; He is not limited to boundaries or bonds; He is absolutely immeasurable. Thousands of people are trying to limit God to certain spheres, and relegate Him to certain categories that are the product of their own speculation.
There is no limit to God. There is no limit to His wisdom. There is no limit to His power. There is no limit to His love. There is no limit to His mercy. Men change, fashions change, conditions and circumstances change, but God never changes.
Prayer for the day: I limit You so many times, Lord. Forgive my finite mind and fill me with Your wisdom, power, and mercy, so that I can touch those You love this day.
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.
Topic: All I Can See [Our Daily Bread 4 February 2019 Devotional]
Bible in a Year: Exodus 34–35; Matthew 22:23–46
He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30
Today’s Scripture & Insight: John 3:22-35
Krista stood in the freezing cold on a winter day, looking at the beautiful snow-encased lighthouse along the lake. As she pulled out her phone to take pictures, her glasses fogged over. She couldn’t see a thing so she decided to point her camera toward the lighthouse and snapped three pictures at different angles. Looking at them later, she realized the camera had been set to take “selfies.” She laughed as she said, “My focus was me, me, and me. All I saw was me.” Krista’s photos got me thinking of a similar mistake: We can become so self-focused we lose sight of the bigger picture of God’s plan.
Jesus’s cousin John clearly knew his focus wasn’t himself. Right from the start he recognized that his position or calling was to point others to Jesus, the Son of God. “Look, the Lamb of God!” he said when he saw Jesus coming toward him and his followers (John 1:29). He continued, “The reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed” (v. 31). When John’s disciples later reported that Jesus was gaining followers, John said, “You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ . . . He must become greater; I must become less” (3:28–30).
May the central focus of our lives be Jesus and loving Him with our whole heart.
Today’s Reflection How can I love Jesus best? Who might He want me to love?
Open Heaven 4 February 2019 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Embrace Truth
Topic: Embrace Truth (Open Heaven 4 February 2019)
Memorise: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”- Ephesians 4:25
Read: Proverbs 25:2-5 (KJV)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Bible in One Year: Luke 18-19, Isaiah 31:1-32:8
Open Heaven 4 February 2019 Monday MESSAGE:
In the Bible, truth is presented as the nature of God which is opposed to falsehood, deception and lies. As Paul demonstrates in Romans 9:1, whenever truth is in operation, there is agreement between the human conscience and the witness of the Holy Spirit. Living a life of truth is desirable by God and receives commendation from Him. Proverb 12:22 says,
“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
God is the essence of truth, and he expects this nature of His to reflect in the character of His children. He condemns falsehood in all forms, but takes pleasure in truth and honesty, which He regards as the hallmark of an upright person.
Truth always paints the picture of things without filtering them to suit personal preferences or vested interests. Unfortunately, one of the problems of leadership in the world today is the shortage of sincere counsel. To their undoing, the allure of office has proved to have a strong corrupting influence on many people around great leaders, including ministers of God. Even the best of men and women begin to exhibit sycophancy, flattery and systematic manipulation soon after introduction to the corridors of power, and as a result, most leaders today are either starved of the truth or presented with filtered, edited or colored version of it. The Bible refers to this act as “holding the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). Those behind this deception often claim to be acting in the best interest of their masters. They claim that keeping bad news away from them reduces their exposure to stress. Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit who always strengthens and guides His children into all truth! There is therefore no need to filter the truth presented to leaders acting under God’s unction.
Sycophants and flatterers who are in the habit of editing or suppressing truth are definitely not working in the best interest of their masters. This practice is such a terrible act before God, and Romans 1:18 tells us that God’s wrath is against those who perpetrates it. Armed with the knowledge that any decision based on truth held back in unrighteousness is likely to be faulty, leaders in all spheres of life have the responsibility of ensuring that they are furnished with the truth at all times. Leaders should therefore endeavor to eliminate the dross of sycophancy and there shall come forth vessels of honor for the success of their God-given assignment. Whenever a leader works with the raw material of pure truth, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the end product is always a perfect result that is pleasing and acceptable to God.
Open Heaven 4 February 2019 Monday Prayer Point:
Father, please remove obstacles and hindrances to truth in my life in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heaven 4 February 2019 Monday Hymn 5: Let Others See Jesus In You
1. While passing thro’ this world of sin, and others your life shall view, Be clean and pure without, within; Let others see Jesus in you.
Chorus:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.
2. Your life’s a book before their eyes, They’re reading it thro’ and thro’ Say, does it point them to the skis, Do others see Jesus in you?
3. Then live for Christ both day and night, Be faithful, be brave and true, and lead the lost to life and Christ. Let others see Jesus in you.
Open Heaven 4 February 2019 Monday Daily Devotional 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. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven 4 February 2019 Monday Daily Devotional.
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.
Rhapsody of Realities 4 February 2019 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – Embrace the Picture of the New You
Topic: Embrace the Picture of the New You
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Did you know that as one who’s born again, it’s wrong for you to keep seeing yourself as “a sinner?” Many live with this mentality and it reveals why they’re ineffective in their Christian walk. Now that you’re born again, your life is new and divine; therefore, embrace the picture of the new you. You’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; as Jesus is, so are you in this world.
Have a greater consciousness of your new life in Christ. That life gives you power to live above sin. You may ask, “If this is true, why do I still do wrong things and think wrong thoughts?” It’s because you haven’t fully yielded and subjected yourself to the dominion of the Word, to live in, and by the Word.
It reminds of the account in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, part of which we read as our theme verse. The Apostle Paul rebuked some of the Christians in Corinth because their way of life didn’t reflect the new nature of righteousness they had received. Yet, he didn’t call them “sinners.” He writes, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Notice he didn’t say, “And such are some of you…”; rather, he says, “…and such were some of you,” because now that you’re in Christ, you’ve been cleansed of all unrighteousness. You’ve been washed; separated from sin unto God, and declared righteous, in the Name of the Lord, and by the Spirit of our God!
Recognise your new identity; see the picture of the new you and live accordingly. Study and meditate on the Word; it shows your real glory; it reveals your true personality. You’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!
CONFESSION I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; therefore, I live with boldness without any sense of fear, guilt or condemnation, being confident in the Lord who is my righteousness, and in His righteousness, justifies the ungodly. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 24:36-51 & Exodus 28
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 12:22-30 & Genesis 35
Rhapsody of Realities 4th February 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
Ella Bruccoleri who plays Sister Frances gave up her faith when she left home at 18.
Speaking to the Mirror she explained how she became agnostic.
“I didn’t know what I believed in so I would figure it out along the way. I became open to everybody’s religious beliefs,” she said.
When she landed her new role as a TV nun, she said she returned to church for research.
“I went to visit nuns. I started going to church services again, reading the Bible, watching a lot of documentaries.
“I tried to look at the world through different eyes.”
Despite claiming she has “much respect” for the faith Bruccoleri says there’s too many rules which stop her returning to it.
She says she was amazed to get to the part and has already signed up for the next series.
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Coats Memorial, built in 1894 held its last Christian service in October last year and closed due to declining attendance.
In its prime it was described as “the Baptist Cathedral of Europe”.
It’s hoped the former church could be saved through a fundraising campaign in which £1.5 million is needed.
The building would then be used a multi-purpose venue which will host, music, theatre and banquets.
Ian Henderson from the Coats Memorial Steering Group, said: “Coats Memorial is an architectural marvel.
“As proud local people, the team holds a firm belief that if we do not do everything in our power to save this magnificent building then we have failed our ancestors and future generations who have and will go on to create wonderful memories here.”
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Francis spoke on Saturday at the Vatican to an Italian Catholic anti-abortion group.
He praised their efforts but stressed that defending life also means assuring that people have health, education and job opportunities.
Francis encouraged politicians to defend the unborn for the common good, saying that the young bring hope and a future to society.
The pope decried “their killing in huge numbers” as undermining “the foundations of the construction of justice, compromising the proper solution of any other human and social issue”.
Catholic teaching forbids abortion.
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