Billy Graham Devotional 24 January 2019 – Meeting Spiritual Needs

Topic: Meeting Spiritual Needs [Billy Graham Devotional 24 January 2019]

Go and make disciples in all the nations . . . — Matthew 28:19 (TLB)

Christian missions is unique in the aggressive movements of history. Christianity in its pure form has no “axe to grind,” no system to foster, and no profit motivation. Its job is simply to “seek and to save that which is lost.” Nothing more, nothing less. The words “apostle” and “missionary” mean the same thing: “One who is sent.” The word apostle is from the Greek; and the word missionary is from the Latin.

The New Testament is a book of missions. The Gospels tell of Jesus’ missionary accomplishments, and the Acts tell of the missionary endeavors of the apostles. The disciples were launched into the world by the power of the resurrection, and the Gospel made its impact upon the world’s people. Peter went to Lydda, Joppa, Antioch, Babylon, and Asia Minor. John went to Samaria, Ephesus, and to the cities on the Mediterranean. Thomas journeyed to far away India. Paul, the peer of all early missionaries, used the roads Rome had built to take the Gospel through the Empire. Today the need for missions is greater than ever before! The world is shrinking in size but expanding in population. We live in a world of conflicting, confusing beliefs! We live in a world of complex problems! But, more important, we live in a world of dire spiritual need.

Prayer for the day: Father, help me to be a light in this world of darkness, ready for each opportunity to share Your love with those whose spiritual needs are great.

“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.

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Open Heaven 24 January 2019 – Benefits of Waiting on the Lord

Open Heaven 24 January 2019 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Benefits of Waiting on the Lord

Topic: Benefits of Waiting on the Lord (Open Heaven 24 January 2019)

Memorise: “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”- Isaiah 40:31

Read: Daniel 2:10-23 (KJV)

10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

15 He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

Bible in One Year: Luke 1, Isaiah 23

Open Heaven 24 January 2019 Thursday MESSAGE:

Many blessings are attracted to the lives of those who wait on the Lord. The story in today’s Bible reading shows what it means to wait on the Lord. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that he could not remember, and this created a problem that was impossible for man to solve. Naturally, the king took his problem to his “wise men” and astrologers, expecting a swift solution from them. He was however shocked by their response to his problem. In Daniel 2:10-11, the astrologers and “wise men” said to the king:

10…There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

The king was furious at this response, and in his rage, he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his colleagues. Faced with this dilemma, Daniel and his friends waited upon the Lord, who alone could solve the great problem they were confronted with. Not only did the Lord reveal the hidden dream to them, He also gave them its interpretation. Some of the secret benefits of waiting upon the Lord and seeking His face in prayer, praise and adoration with total submission to His Lordship are revealed in Daniel’s prayer in today’s Bible text.

From Daniel and his friends, we learn that sometimes waiting upon the Lord at night is more effective than during the day time (Daniel 2:19). This is so because there are fewer things to distract us at night. Job 33:14-16 says:

“14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,”

Furthermore, we also learn that waiting upon the Lord gives us access to divine wisdom, knowledge and understanding. When we wait on the Lord, secret information from the throne room of heaven is released to us, and hidden things are laid bare before us. Finally, note that Daniel was only described as one of the “captives of Judah” (Daniel 2:25). What a lowly description for a man who was to later deliver all the “wise men” of Babylon from death. The lesson here is that your current situation does not diminish the grace of God upon your life; neither can your present location determine the extent you can get to, provided you learn to wait upon the Lord. As you wait upon the Lord from today, you will never know limitations again in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 24 January 2019 Thursday Action Point:

Cultivate the habit of waiting upon the Lord in praise, worship and prayer regularly and you will be loaded with the abundant blessings it attracts.

Also Read: Open Heaven 23 January 2019 – Deferring Gratification?

Open Heaven 24 January 2019 Thursday Hymn 7: My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less

1 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

3 His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

4 When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Open Heaven 24 January 2019 Thursday 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 24 January 2019 Thursday Daily Devotional.

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Lesbian Couple Plans to Help Their 5-Year-Old Boy Become a Girl

Lesbian Couple Plans to Help Their 5-Year-Old Boy Become a Girl



A married lesbian couple in Britain says they will help their 5-year-old boy transition to a girl in a few years.


According to RedState.com, Greg Rogers, a woman who identifies as a male, and wife Jody, have a 5-year-old son, Jayden, who “hates everything about being a boy.”


Greg told the Daily Record that Jayden needed an operation to correct her hearing, but when she began talking she told her parents she hated wearing boys’ clothes.


“At first, we thought it was probably just a phase but it’s been consistent ever since,” Greg said. “She is adamant she’s a girl.


“We’ve had people saying we’re using Jayden for attention and that she just wants to be a girl because I changed sex. It’s ridiculous. Jayden knows nothing about my past. She just knows me as dad.


“She has no idea that I’m transgender,” Greg added. “Having been through this myself, I have conflicting emotions about her deciding she doesn’t want to be a boy anymore. It’s not an easy life. People will always judge you and I don’t think there is a single transgender person on the planet who would push that on a child.”


According to the Daily Record, some concerned neighbors called social services in Britain, claiming Jayden was being abused, but officials reported no concerns.


Jayden is now signed up for counseling at the Young People’s Gender Service, a group that works with…

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Agnostic Writer Shares Surprising ‘God Wink’ Moment With His Readers

Agnostic Writer Shares Surprising ‘God Wink’ Moment With His Readers



An agnostic columnist for the Chicago Tribune had a shocking experience and people are comparing it to the popular TV show God Friended Me.


Jerry Davich for the Chicago Tribune shared the confounding moment when the word “God” appeared on his phone as he picked it up in a hospital bathroom with his readers and social media followers. 


In an article titled “‘God’ text befuddles this agnostic,” Davich recalls that he was standing in a hospital restroom, updating his fiancée via text about a loved one’s condition who been brought in for emergency surgery, when his phone slipped out of his hand. 


Frustrated and worried that his screen may have cracked in the fall, Davich quickly flipped his phone over to look at the screen and when he did, he noticed a text, which he had not typed or spoken, was sent to his fiancée. Sprawled across his phone screen in a blue text bubble was “God.” 


Davich said he was shocked to see God’s name on his screen. He wrote, “I stood in front of the mirror…

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Christian Acquitted of Blasphemy Charge after Two Others Sentenced to Death in Pakistan

Christian Acquitted of Blasphemy Charge after Two Others Sentenced to Death in Pakistan



LAHOREPakistan, January 23, 2019 (Morning Star News) – A judge in Pakistan has acquitted a Christian accused of blasphemy one month after two Christians were sentenced to death in an online blasphemy case, sources said.


Kasur District Additional Sessions Judge Ijaz Ahmed Bosal dropped charges against Pervaiz Masih, 38, on Jan. 15 after prosecutors failed to submit any evidence against him.


Masih’s attorney, Aneeqa Maria of The Voice Society, told Morning Star News the prosecution failed to present even one witness against him during the three-year trial in Punjab Province. The case against him was registered on Sept. 2, 2015.


Maria said this was also one of the rare cases under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws in which the accused was granted bail just 20 days after the submission of the charge-sheet against him.


“The acquittal is good news for Masih and his family, but they have suffered a lot in the last three years,” she said. “Even though Masih is free from the charges, I have serious concerns for his security. He has been declared a blasphemer by the local Muslims, and his life will always be at risk.”


Masih’s family has said area Muslims entrapped him in a false blasphemy case after he obtained a sand contract in Garra village, near Mandi Usmanwala in Kasur District. Pervaiz Masih’s brother, Jamshed Masih, told 

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NY Legalizes Abortion up to Moment of Birth, Defines Person as Someone ‘Who Has Been Born’

NY Legalizes Abortion up to Moment of Birth, Defines Person as Someone ‘Who Has Been Born’



New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law Tuesday a bill that goes beyond Roe v. Wade by making abortion a “fundamental right” up to the day of birth and banning limitations on abortion that the Supreme Court has permitted.


The new law, known as S240 in the state Senate and A21 in the Assembly, passed both houses and was signed by the governor all on the same day — the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The Senate passed it by a vote of 38-24, the Assembly 92-47. Both are controlled by Democrats. 


It was called the “Reproductive Health Act.”


“May almighty God have mercy on the state of New York,” someone from the public gallery shouted after it passed the Senate.


New York State Right to Life and other pro-life groups called the law “extreme.” 


“Supporters of RHA claim it merely seeks to update New York’s laws to make them consistent with Roe v. Wade. This claim is false,” the New York group said. “The changes this bill would make instead would authorize abortion through all nine months, for any reason, with no restrictions, up until birth, and even after birth if a child is born during the course of an abortion (i.e. infanticide).”


The new law prohibits limitations on abortion that the Supreme Court has permitted, such as waiting periods, parental involvement…

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‘Puberty Blockers’ Can Be Given to 10-Year-Old Transgender Kids, Medical Journal Says

‘Puberty Blockers’ Can Be Given to 10-Year-Old Transgender Kids, Medical Journal Says



The authors of a major new medical journal article say children wanting to change their gender can begin taking puberty blockers as early as age 10, although the authors urge doctors to avoid “influencing” the child down a particular path.


The peer-reviewed article appeared in a special edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal spotlighting transgender health. It was co-authored by Joey Bonifacio, an adolescent medicine specialist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. 


Children can begin taking hormone or puberty blockers when puberty starts, which is, on average, age 10.5 for girls and 11.5 for boys, the authors say. The drugs suppress the body’s production of estrogen or testosterone and block common changes that accompany puberty, such as facial hair growth, voice-changing, breast growth and periods. 


Puberty, the authors write, often solidifies the diagnosis of gender dysphoria. It also can lessen a child’s desire to change gender. 


“Some youth find that their dysphoria abates as puberty starts, making it important to allow initial pubertal changes to occur,” the authors write. “On the other hand, some youth may find their gender dysphoria increases with puberty, corroborating their need for further care.”


The next step for children and youth would be cross-sex hormones, in which biological girls are given…

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Texas church attack killer found not guilty due to insanity

Marco Moreno, 29, was accused of attacking four people during a service held at a home by the Kingdom Acts Ministries in February.

Among them was 61-year-old Frank Castillo, who died after being stabbed in the chest and abdomen.

Moreno was charged with murder and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Mental health professionals had previously found that Moreno was insane at the time of the attacks, which was not contested by the prosecution or defence during the trial.

State District Judge Sandra Watts said Moreno will next undergo a series of evaluations and will not be released in the meantime.

She added that a hearing will be held later in the 117th District Court, and Moreno will likely be sent to a maximum-security institution.

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Pastor’s 12-Year-Old Daughter Dies after Being Trapped under Collapsed Snow Fort during Church Service

Pastor’s 12-Year-Old Daughter Dies after Being Trapped under Collapsed Snow Fort during Church Service



Two girls, one 12 and the other nine, were buried under a heap of snow after a snow fort collapsed on them outside of a Chicago church, killing the 12-year-old.


Over the weekend, Chicago was hit by a snowstorm that left several inches of snow on the ground. 


According to Faithwire, 12-year-old Esther Jung, the daughter of the Rothem Church pastor where the girls were found, went outside during a church service Sunday morning to play in the snow with her friend. An hour after going outside, the girls’ parents noticed that their daughters had not yet come in from the cold and began to worry. Together, the parents decided to go outside to look for their children.


Faithwire reports that when the two were discovered, Jung was in cardiac arrest and her nine-year-old friend was suffering from hypothermia.


According to Jung’s neighbor Peg Gradl, Jung loved to play in the snow and regularly built snow forts. Sadly, the fun went deadly wrong, this time, when the fort collapsed, trapping Jung and her friend underneath it.


According to ABC-7, Jung’s great -uncle Jae said the pre-teen yelled out for help, but no one heard her. He said, “She cried out, ‘Help me. Help me,’ but nobody heard it.”


Police were called to the scene and the girls were transported to a nearby hospital. Upon investigating the incident, Police have ruled…

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‘People are shell shocked’, sport chaplains supporting Cardiff City over player in missing plane

Rescue workers are scouring the English Channel after a light aircraft carrying the 28-year-old disappeared while en-route from northern France to Wales on Monday evening. The aircraft’s pilot is also unaccounted for.

Martin Lewis, the director of Sports Chaplaincy Wales, told Premier’s News Hour he had spoken with numerous people at the club.

 

He said: “I’ve spoken with many and many have text me; people are just shell shocked and totally stunned.

“Sadly, the longer time goes on without finding the plane the more desperate, perhaps things will come.”

AP Photo/David Vincent

 

It has emerged Sala sent a WhatsApp voice message to friends during the flight, saying he was “getting scared” and “aboard a plane that seems like it is falling to pieces”.

Mr Lewis continued: “I was able to speak with some of the key club members yesterday and offer our support and encouragement and prayers during this difficult time…”

Ben Birchall/PA Wire

 

Rescue workers have been prioritising their search around the possibility the plane – a US-registered Piper PA-46 Malibu – landed on water and its life raft was deployed, police in Guernsey said.

They added that the chances of survival were “slim”.

Ben Birchall/PA Wire

 

Click here to listen to Premier’s Cara Bentley speaking with Martin Lewis at Sports Chaplaincy…

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