The apostle Paul was consumed by a passion that was even greater than his desire for life or the dread of suffering. He had a ministry to fulfill and a message of salvation to deliver. His words in Acts 20:24 help us understand the foundational concept involved in our salvation. Paul called it “the gospel of the grace of God.”
We’re saved simply because the Lord is gracious. He knew we could never be good enough to bridge the gap between our sin and His holiness. That’s why you will never hear of “the gospel of the Law of God.” That would not be good news at all! Can you imagine singing, “Amazing law, how fearful the sound, that saved a wretch like me”? We could never fulfill the requirements, especially the way Jesus enlarged the meaning of the law in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). But grace—that’s totally different. It has nothing to do with our worthiness or good performance but is solely based on God’s unmerited favor towards us.
What’s most amazing is that the avenue for our salvation is through faith alone. The grace that God extends in saving us is His gift, and there’s nothing we can add by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Otherwise, we’d have to clean up our lives in order to be saved, and that would nullify grace.
Praise the Lord for His wonderful plan of salvation. Christ paid our sin debt with His death, and all we have to do is believe it. Even after salvation, God’s grace keeps flowing. We never have to worry that we aren’t good enough and will fall out of favor. His grace is forever.
Open Heaven 28 January 2019 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Are You Battle-Ready?
Topic: Are You Battle-Ready? (Open Heaven 28 January 2019)
Memorise: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”- Ephesians 6:12
Read: Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Bible in One Year: Luke 7, Isaiah 26:20-27:13
Open Heaven 28 January 2019 Monday MESSAGE:
The warfare of life is not like regular sports where you can win, lose or draw. In life’s battles, you either win or lose, and you have to be battle-ready if you want to win. The battles of life transcend the physical realm and are often more of a spiritual enterprise. This is established in today’s memory verse.
Principalities and powers belong to the realm of the spirit. Moreover, the rulers of darkness of this world are wicked and dwell in high places! High places could mean palaces, government houses, councils of lawmakers, boards of industries and armed forces. Incidentally, these high places control both the political and economic landscape of territories. A classical example of principalities and powers at work in battle, unnoticed by many, is seen in Goliath’s offensive against the people of Israel. On the surface, one may think that Goliath relied on his stature, mighty spear, long sword, elaborate shield and thick armour. On closer inspection however, you will realise that this was not so. 1 Samuel 17:43 says:
“And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”
Why did he curse David by his gods? It is because Goliath, unlike many children of God, knew that victory is neither by power nor by might but by divine power! Incidentally, David himself was divinely battle-ready. He responded to Goliath’s spiritual attack with his own spiritual counter-punch in 1 Samuel 17:45:
“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
Beloved, are you battle-ready to face the onslaught of the enemy this year? To be battle-ready, you need to put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:11). The good news is that this armour is very much available to all those who know their God. As a matter of fact, Jesus Christ is the whole armour of God (Colossians 2:9). He is the Truth, the Righteousness of God, the Gospel of Peace, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, the Ark of our Salvation, and the Word of God. No wonder 1 John 5:5 says:
“Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Do you believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and do you have Him in your life? If you do, you will be victorious in every battle that life throws at you.
Open Heaven 28 January 2019 Monday Prayer Point:
Father, clothe me with the glory of Your Son and grant me victory over every battle of life.
Open Heaven 28 January 2019 Monday Hymn 13: I Am A Victor
1 Yes, I know I am a victor
For the Bible tells me so
God made me more than a conqueror
Much stronger than all my foes
Chorus:
Jesus loves me and I love Him
Together we rule the world
Christ with me I will overcome
By His Blood, His Name, His Word
2 Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than demons I am
To Satan I am a terror
I am free, o yes, I am
3 Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than lack, poverty
All my needs Jesus provides for
I have life abundantly
4 Yes, I know I am a victor
Barrenness no more indeed
Fruitful is the God I live for
All my dreams shall be fulfilled
5 Yes, I know I am a victor
By His strength I shall succeed
No more loss and no more failure
Glory to glory proceed
6 Yes, I know I am a victor
No more sorrow, no despair
Jesus Christ is my own Succour
Tomorrow is joy and cheer
7 Yes, I know I am a victor
Very soon I’ll reign with Him
His promise is my sure anchor
He’s coming to take me home
8 Jesus loves me and I love Him
We rule this world together
As He is so right now I am
Hear me shout Halleluyah
9 Jesus loves me Halleluyah Hear me shout Halleluyah Halleluyah, Halleluyah Glory be to God on high.
Open Heaven 28 January 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 28 January 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.
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St Margaret’s church in Rainham has hosted a Holocaust exhibition this week to remember the six million Jews that were murdered by the Nazis during the Second World War.
Rev Nathan Ward from the church told Premier about how the community has responded to ‘The Promise’ exhibition that’s on loan to the church from the Jewish Museum in London.
“We’ve had really positive feedback from all sorts of people in the community,” he said.
“But what’s more interesting as well is that people that have never walked into the church building have been coming in for the first time and actually experiencing a warm, friendly church and hopefully will build on those relationships moving forward.”
The church also organised an online exhibition that has already attracted over 5,000 views.
Rev Ward said the exhibition offered a lot for people to think about.
He explained: “We think it’s important to give the local community an opportunity to come and think through the issues that the Holocaust raised.
“Learn from history but also think through how precious stability in society is and how quickly it can disappear.”
The exhibition also features the story of 89-year-old Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, who spent years in hiding and internment in Auschwitz.
After her return home she visited the place where her brother Heinz and father had hidden only to discover they had died only weeks before…
The National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE) surveyed over 500 primary teachers from across the country.
A quarter of teachers reported that colleagues within their schools have a lack of confidence in teaching RE, both in terms of what to teach, but also how to teach RE.
Ben Wood, NATRE Chair said: “It is undoubtedly disheartening to hear such news, but not surprising. We know there are wonderful examples of high quality RE going on in primary schools, with excellent teachers who use the subject to help their students grow up with a broad understanding of and open-minded attitude to the world and the people who inhabit it.
“But we also know that there are too many students who don’t get the quality of RE they deserve and are entitled to receive. This not only risks students’ own futures but also the future cohesion of our wonderfully diverse country.”
Wood added that the concerns are not limited to primary education.
He explained: “A similar account emerges about secondary schools.
“It angers me that young people are being denied an important part of their education, that colleagues are losing their jobs, that the superb examples of high quality RE in some schools are not replicated in the school down the road and that government that speaks warm words about the value and importance of RE, but then does little…
Fast Facts: Life Church Smyrna is celebrating 66 years of ministry with a rich history and a promising future. As a multi-generational and multi-cultural church, with families from more than 30 nations from around the world, their diversity has allowed them to reach people from all walks of life. Life Church Smyrna partners with more than 85 local and global missionaries and 36 local organizations which afford them the opportunity to take the gospel from our neighbors to the nations. Please pray that they will have an even greater impact upon their city by reaching more children, students, and families for Christ. Finally, pray that they will continue to become the church that God has designed them to be by His grace.
“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.
Earl L. Gresham, 73, attempted to cross the six lanes of Interstate 65 to reach Indiana State Police troopers who were waiting with his daughter on the highway’s northbound shoulder around 4 a.m. when he was struck by two cars.
The former US Army veteran’s family have been paying tribute to the long-time preacher at the Faith and Love Church in New Albany.
“My husband was just a really good man,” Cynthia Gresham, told the Indy Star.
“He would help anybody. It didn’t matter what time they called, he would try to help them.”
Police have said that Gresham made it across three lanes of the highway but was struck by a car before being hit by a semi tractor-trailer.
Tributes have also poured out on social media for Gresham, who was well known in the small, rural community.
“Faith and Love Church lost a Saint last night, but Brother Earl earned his wings,” New Albany resident Jeff Hardin wrote on Facebook.
“Fly high we’ll take it from here. One of the best Clergyman to have lived.”
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The non-profit Liberty Counsel represented the teacher
The Christian non-profit group Liberty Counsel, represented the teacher whose name, school and church has not been disclosed.
Liberty Counsel argued that the “Midwest teacher” should be allowed to attend the event because the teacher and students were all members of the same church.
They also claimed the attempt to ban the teacher from the church event violated the First Amendment of the US constitution.
“Unfortunately, this was not the first incident,” Liberty Counsel explained in a statement.
“A year ago, this same principal tried to prevent the teacher from leading an after-school, adult-led Bible club which met with parent permission, under the same terms the Scouts meet.
“After the teacher was prevented from leading the club, a student sought to lead it as a student-led club. Even this was not allowed by the principal, so the teacher contacted Liberty Counsel.”
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Witnesses said the first blast inside the Jolo cathedral in the provincial capital sent churchgoers, some of them wounded, to stampede out of the main door.
Army troops and police posted outside were rushing in when the second bomb went off about a minute later near the main entrance, causing more deaths and injuries.
The military is checking a report that the second explosive device may have been attached to a parked motorcycle.
The initial explosion scattered the wooden pews inside the main hall and blasted out windows, and the second bomb hurled human remains and debris across a town square fronting the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, witnesses said.
Police said at least 20 people died and 81 were wounded, correcting an earlier toll due to double counting. The fatalities were 15 civilians and five troops, and the wounded were 14 troops, two police and 65 civilians.
Troops in armoured carriers sealed off the main road leading to the church while vehicles transported the dead and wounded to the town hospital. Some casualties were evacuated by air to nearby Zamboanga city.
Defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said: “I have directed our troops to heighten their alert level, secure all places of worships and public places at once, and initiate proactive security measures to thwart hostile plans.”
Topic: Break the Mediocre Mold [Joyce Meyer Devotional 27 January 2019]
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. — Hebrews 11:31
The world is not hungry for mediocrity. This world needs 10s. I believe everyone can be a 10 at something, but we often work so hard on trying to overcome our weaknesses that we never develop our strengths.
Whatever we focus on grows larger in our eyes—too large, in fact. We can turn something into a huge problem when, in reality, it would be a minor nuisance if only we viewed it in perspective with our strengths.
For example, let’s say you are not a “numbers” kind of person. You could obsess about your inability to “do the math” and maybe even take a class at the community college.
But that obsession could eat up time that could be devoted to stuff you’re great at—like teaching Sunday school, creative writing, or raising funds for charity. You rob time and effort from the 10s in your life just to bring a lowly three up to a mediocre five.
Prayer Starter: Lord, I dedicate myself to developing and using my strengths for Your honor and glory. I want to excel at what I am gifted to do. Help me to know my strengths and to handle my weaknesses in a way that does not distract me from being effective for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I confess that one of the first questions I always ask is, “Why?” When a Christian leader whom I respect falls into sin, I’m always left looking for some clue that I missed. I scroll through their social media feeds; I dig up past blog posts. The shock of it all makes me
think that I should have knownThe reality, though, is that I shouldn’t be. We humans have ways of justifying our sin—whether we’re a well-known Christian leader or just the guy in the back pew. No matter how long we’ve walked with Christ, sin always crouches at the door and waits for us to open it (Genesis 4:7). Only by constantly walking in the Spirit and keeping our eyes on Jesus can we ever hope to run this race of life (not to mention relying on His grace when we do mess up).
But rarely does sin happen all at once. Usually, we slowly slide into it by allowing our standards to fall one by one, little by little. That, according Pastor Shane Idleman, is at the heart of 7 dangerous things that Christians do. When we follow these steps, we’re already on the road to failure. Here’s his list from Charisma News:
1. Say, “It Will Never Happen to Me”
Pride makes Christian leaders believe that they would never lie, steal, or commit adultery. But it’s precisely when we begin to think that we’re not susceptible, that we fail to keep our guard up. We ignore conviction and the voice of the Holy Spirit.
2. Claim They’re “Too Busy”
According to Idleman, “Nine times out of 10, when a leader falls, he or she has no meaningfulprayer or devotional life.” Busyness can become the excuse we use not to seek God and spend time with Him in prayer. But we cannot face the temptations of the world without this crucial practice. In other words, get on your knees more.
3. Compromise Holiness
Failing leaders often think of holiness as another word for “legalism.” But holiness is the very defense we need against the attack of our enemy (Ephesians 6:14). Without striving to live a life of purity, we begin rationalizing our moral failures instead of seeing the need to repent. “Sadly, Hollywood, not the Holy Spirit, influences many. We cannot fill our mind with darkness all week and expect the light of Christ to shine in our lives.”
4. Build Unhealthy Relationships with the Opposite Sex
When Christian leaders fall into adultery, we often find out that they had slowly developed a relationship with someone of the opposite sex—usually through small compromises here and there. They failed to build in the accountability structure that could have prevented the failure.
5. Fail to Strengthen Weak Areas
It’s much easier for us to hide our weak areas or to act like they don’t exist. But we all have temptations that are especially difficult for us, whether drugs, alcohol, anger, pornography, or others. Denying those weak areas, however, will only allow Satan a foothold into our lives. We must get help right where we need it.
6. Breach Accountability
No accountability system is perfect. We humans have ways of getting around just about anything when we want. Sometimes embarrassment keeps leaders and Christians in general from asking for prayer when the temptation arises or for allowing others to ask hard questions.
7. Use Loneliness as an Excuse
When leaders feel lonely, they often use that as a reason for bad choices. But we must choose a better path, as Idleman says: “Sin can be silenced in a thankful heart set on worshipping God. God has given us the privilege to serve Him, proclaim His truth, and help others. Don’t allow frustration and negativity to lead you down the wrong path.”
“Five years into my marriage to David, those same fears were suffocating me. It took far too long to arrive at the conclusion that I was the common denominator in the two marriages. That morsel of humility helped me begin crying out to Jesus for help. The simple ‘Help me Jesus’ prayers were the beginning of a beautiful story of healing and restoration.
“God answered my prayers with opportunities for biblical counseling and extended Bible study. Time in His Word revealed a God I could trust. I had learned about God for thirty plus years, but I had not been relying on Him the way Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego modeled for me. I had not been honoring Him the way Daniel chose to when he risked his life by praying to Him. But today, I believe with my whole heart that nothing is impossible with God. And I’m positive that doing marriage His way is the only way.”
Your turn. What steps and reasons would you add to this list? How can we better protect ourselves from moral failure?
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