Topic: Rip the Heavens [Our Daily Bread 28 January 2019 Devotional]

Bible in a Year: Exodus 21–22; Matthew 19

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down. – Isaiah 64:1

Today’s Scripture & Insight: Isaiah 64:1-8

In a recent conversation, where a friend shared with me that she’d abandoned her faith, I heard a familiar complaint: How can I believe in a God who doesn’t ever seem to do anything? This gut-wrenching question appears for most of us at one point or another, as we read of violence in the news and as we carry our own heartbreak. My friend’s distress revealed her intense need for God to act on her behalf, a longing we’ve all likely felt.

Israel knew this terrain well. The Babylonian Empire overwhelmed Israel, crushing them with an iron fist and turning Jerusalem into smoldering rubble. The prophet Isaiah put words to the people’s dark doubt: Where is the God who’s supposed to rescue us? (Isaiah 63:11–15). And yet from precisely this place, Isaiah offered a bold prayer: God, “rend the heavens and come down” (64:1). Isaiah’s pain and sorrow drove him not to pull away from God, but to seek to draw closer to Him.

Our doubts and troubles offer a strange gift: they reveal how lost we are and how much we need God to move toward us. We see now the remarkable, improbable story. In Jesus, God did rip the heavens and come to us. Christ surrendered His own ripped and broken body so that He could overwhelm us with His love. In Jesus, God is very near.

Today’s Reflection
What questions or doubts do you have to talk with God about?

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

This message was written By Winn Collier [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Fill Your Space and Be Productive [TREM Devotional 28 January 2019]

“Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground”? Luke 13:7 KJV

According to this parable, as recorded in the 13th chapter of the book of Luke, a certain man had a fig tree planted but it was not fulfilling its purpose. It was not bearing fruits! The whole essence of life is purpose. Everything about you and indeed everything about life is tied to purpose. The owner of the vineyard said ‘why is it occupying the ground?’ Beloved, you have a responsibility to fill your space and be productive there. Don’t just be there as a number. No! You must be a valuable number that is doing something and adding value to your family, your society, your business, and adding value where you are employed.

Being productive and fulfilling purpose will not just happen. The vinedresser said: “I will dung it”. In other words, I will work on it. I am ready to dirty my hands. I am ready to do extra work on it. I am ready to stretch myself. I am not going to leave it the way it is. No! I will do more things. I am going to look for areas to get it better. I am going to pay the price if need be. I am going to fast and pray. I am going to make a sacrifice. I am going to consult people. That is how to become productive and fruitful.

Often times, Christians are guilty of trying to be spiritual in areas where they ought to use their brains. Why, for instance, do you want to drive a car, or drive a taxi when you have not thoroughly learnt how to drive? Someone would say ‘the Holy Ghost will make me drive.’ It is not true! You will end up killing people. Let us remember, beloved, that life is involved here. In everything we do, we should endeavour to always do something extra.

Further Reading: Luke 13: 6-9, John 15:16

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Exodus 19-20 / Evening- Matthew 18:21-35

“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.

Topic: Living For God [Seeds of Destiny 28 January 2019 Devotional]

Scripture: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Thought For God: To be dedicated to God is to make God the Centre of your life.

It has been confirmed that dedication is the doorway to stardom. In the Bible days, people who were dedicated to God, like Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Job, etc., were stars and prominent figures in their generation. Therefore, in order to become a star for God, dedication is the pathway. This makes the understanding of dedication very important. Insight determines conduct and conduct determines outcome.

Therefore, what is dedication? Dedication is living for God.
Now, what does it mean to live for God? It means:
i. Making God the reason for your life (Isaiah 43:21)
Dedication to God means making God the reason for your life. When you are dedicated to God, pleasure, money, fame, and popularity are not the reason for your living. God is the reason for your living.

ii. Making God the Centre of your life (Luke 2:49)
God is the Centre and Controller of people who are dedicated to Him. On the other hand, God is not the central focus of people who are not dedicated to Him. They do not consider or consult God in what they do. To be dedicated to God is to make God the Centre of your life.

iii. Making your life revolve around God
Living for God means making your life, relationship, job, career, business, etc., revolve around God. This means, everything you do in life, you consider your relationship with God first. Your life revolves around God (Matthew 6:33).

iv. Allowing your decisions and actions to proceed from God
Living for God is coming to a point where your decisions and actions proceed from your relationship with God. When you live for God, you do not just make decisions or take actions that revolve around God but you make decisions and take actions that are sponsored by God. God is the One who tells you what to do and the steps to take (Acts 9:5).

Beloved, make up your mind to come to the point of dedication where Jehovah will prove Himself that He is God in your life.

Remember this: To be dedicated to God is to make God the centre of your life.

Assignments:

1. Make up your mind to make God the Centre of your life.
2. Do not be involved in decisions and actions that God is not involved in.

Prayer: O Lord, I receive the grace to make You the Central Focus of my life. I ask for the grace to make all my decisions and actions revolve around You, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: UNDERSTANDING DEDICATION (PART 6).

Daily Reading: Exodus 5:22 to 7:25, Matthew 18:21 to 19:12, Psalm 23:1 to 6, Proverbs 5:22 to 23.

Today In History: 28/01/1878 – The first telephone switchboard was installed in New Haven, CT.

Amazing Fact: A sneeze travels about 100 miles per hour

Quote: When you pray, God begins to direct your steps. Culled from PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Healing and Deliverance service tomorrow by 9am at the Glory Dome, the Lord’s Garden, Airport Road, Abuja. Come with your friends and loved ones

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.

Topic: Heart’s Treasure [DCLM Daily Manna 28 January 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Nehemiah 1:1-3 (KJV)

Key Verse: “That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 1:2).

MESSAGE:

A man’s heart is upon what he treasures most. He carries it in his heart, sleeps and wakes with it and goes about with it day and night.

Nehemiah’s patriotism and fervent love for the holy land was something deep in his heart but it is seen in his passion and quest for information concerning Jerusalem. Though he appeared to have lived all his life in exile, he loved the holy city, Jerusalem, and was in waiting expectation of a return to the homeland to help remove the reproach of the broken down walls. Nehemiah’s comfortable position in the palace did not reduce his interest and commitment to Jerusalem. His inquiry concerning the state of the inhabitants and of the city itself revealed a heart burdened for the people of God. He appeared to have no other burden outside his necessary daily duties but this. No wonder, the Lord sent those men his way to satisfy his heart that was longing and praying for the city.

If we have such intense yearning and desire for God and His word as Nehemiah did toward Jerusalem and its people, we would become recipients of His grace, holiness and great power. We fail to receive definite inspirations and answers to prayers because our hearts are filled with earthly cares instead of God’s word.

Bad dreams, evil thoughts, fear, defeats, etc. do not abide in a heart like that of Nehemiah. If our hearts will always look heavenward, our visions shall be of the Lord of glory and great possibilities. Therefore, “…set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1,2).

Thought For The Day: Lay up treasures in heaven, that thine heart be heavenwards.

Bible Reading In One Year: Exodus 39-40

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

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: Don’t Be Stony Ground [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 28 January 2019]

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. – Mark 4:16-17

There seems to be an abundance of “stony ground” Christians these days. Initially, they get excited about the Word of God. They’ll hear a message on prosperity, for instance, and they’ll go home saying, “Hallelujah! I’m going to prosper in the Name of Jesus!” But then, somehow, things don’t work out like they thought they should.

Their bank balance doesn’t double overnight. They go through some disappointments. They suffer some criticism. Then, before you know it, their faith has withered away.

If you don’t want that to happen to you, make up your mind right now that you’re not going to let the rough times defeat you. Decide now that you’re going to hang onto the Word even when the persecutions and afflictions come—because, I can guarantee you, they will come.

When you decide to walk by faith, you don’t get rid of trials. You learn to overcome them.

When you let the Word of God get down into your heart, you’re going to learn more about the devil than you ever wanted to know because he’s going to do his best to see to it that the Word is unfruitful in you. He’s going to be trying to mess you up every time you turn around. You’ll have problems, but the difference is now you have the answer—the Word of God.

Thank God, however, through Christ Jesus you have the power to defeat Satan. When he brings problems and disappointments your way, you don’t have to lie down and let them steam roll over you. Just keep fighting the good fight of faith until you win.

Sure you’ll get knocked down sometimes. But when you do, get back up and say, “Look here, Devil, I’m not going to let you steal the Word out of my heart. It’s in there and I’m meditating on it. I’m saying it with my mouth, and I’m acting on it until God’s blessings overtake me. If you don’t believe me, just hide and watch!”

If you’ll take that attitude, no matter what that devil does, he’ll never make a “stony ground” Christian out of you!

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:6-18

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: Knowing God’s Plan [Andrew Wommack Devotional 28 January 2019]

John 1:23, “He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”

Text: John 1:19-36

John knew who he was and what he was called to do. This was one of the keys to his success.

Unlike most of us, John did not have an identity crisis growing up. He knew God’s plan and purpose for his life from the beginning and he spent his entire life preparing for it.

God has a plan for your life just as surely as he did for John the Baptist. To succeed in life, you must find God’s plan for your life and then devote yourself to fulfilling that plan.

It is not enough to simply “do your own thing” and then ask God’s blessing upon it. Once you know you are doing God’s will, you never have to ask for God’s blessing. God’s will is already blessed.

The Lord created you with a purpose in mind. Your talents and abilities were given you to fulfill His purpose. Although you may find limited success using these talents for your own uses, you will never find your true potential until they are directed by and for the Lord.

The good news is that God wants to reveal His perfect plan for your life to you more than you want to know it. You can rest assured that if you ask for knowledge of His plan for your life, you will receive (Mt. 7:7). He will show you His good, acceptable and perfect will (Rom. 12:1-2).

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

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: Jesus Is Our Comforter [Billy Graham Devotional 28 January 2019]

. . . our Lord Jesus Christ . . . which hath loved us . . . comfort your hearts . . . – 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17

Christ is the answer to sorrow. When Harry Lauder, the great Scottish comedian, received word that his son had been killed in France, he said, “In a time like this, there are three courses open to man: He may give way to despair and become bitter. He may endeavor to drown his sorrow in drink or in a life of wickedness. Or he may turn to God.” In your sorrow, turn to God.

There are thousands of people who have turned to God, but you may be still carrying your burdens. God begs of you, “Cast all your cares on me, for I care for you” (1 Peter 5:7). You who must go through the valley of the shadow of death, you who must say goodbye to those whom you have loved, you who suffer privation and misery, you who are unjustly persecuted for righteousness’ sake-take heart, take courage. Our Christ is more than adequate for sorrow.

Prayer for the day: In sorrow, Jesus, Your comfort will take all the bitterness and longing away and give me courage to face the heartache. Your grace will console me and Your arms will support me. Thank You, dear Lord.

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

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.