My father’s life was one of longing. He longed for wholeness, even as Parkinson’s disease gradually crippled more and more of his mind and body. He longed for peace, but was tormented by the deep pain of depression. He longed to feel loved and cherished, but often felt utterly alone.
He found himself less alone when he read the words of Psalm 42, his favorite psalm. Like him, the psalmist knew a desperate longing, an unquenched thirst for healing (vv. 1–2). Like him, the psalmist knew a sadness that felt like it never went away (v. 3), leaving times of pure joy merely a distant memory (v. 6). Like my dad, as consuming waves of chaos and pain swept over him (v. 7), the psalmist felt abandoned by God and asked, “Why?” (v. 9).
And as the words of the psalm washed over him, assuring him he was not alone, my father felt the beginnings of a quiet peace enter in alongside his pain. He heard a tender voice surrounding him, a voice assuring him that even though he had no answers, even though the waves still crashed over him, still he was dearly loved (v. 8).
And somehow hearing that quiet song of love in the night was enough. Enough for my dad to quietly cling to glimmers of hope, love, and joy. And enough for him to wait patiently for the day when all his longings would finally be satisfied (vv. 5, 11).
Today’s Reflection Lord, we know that You have carried all our suffering and will one day turn it around into resurrection life. Still, there is so much healing that we wait and long for. As we wait for that morning, help us to rest in Your song of love in the night.
Topic: Under Your Feet [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 14 January 2019]
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. – Acts 2:34-35
Even though Satan lost all his authority on this earth the day Jesus rose from the dead, for the past 2,000 years he’s been running around as a spiritual outlaw—continuing to kill, steal from and destroy all who will let him. But, you know, he’s not going to be able to do that much longer. There’s coming a day when he’s going to be put out of business completely. There’s coming a day when the evil he’s done here on earth will be put totally underfoot by the power of God.
Most believers know that’s true. They’ve shouted and rejoiced over it—but they haven’t really understood how it’s going to happen. They haven’t realized that they are the foot that’s going to trample down the works of the devil!
Jesus is the Head of the Church. You and I are the feet. We are the ones who are going to take His authority and power and stomp on sin and sickness and every other demonic thing in this earth. We are the ones God is going to use, as Acts 2:35 says, to make Jesus’ enemies His footstool.
That’s what Jesus was telling us when He said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature…cast out devils…lay hands on the sick” (Mark 16:15-18). He was saying, “Go ye and be My foot.” He was saying, “All power and authority has been given unto Me, both in heaven and in earth. Therefore, you take it and use it to put the devil under.”
But instead of obeying Him, we’ve waited around wondering when God was going to do something about this mess here on earth. We’ve sat around wondering why it’s taking so long for Jesus to come back.
We’re the reason it’s taking so long! Jesus is waiting on you and me. He’s waiting on us to step out in His power, put the devil in his place, and win the world. He’s waiting on us to drop our silly doctrinal differences and get busy doing what God said we would do.
The Bible says that one can put a thousand to flight and two can put 10,000 to flight. Every time we get together, we increase our strength astronomically. If we’d just get together and figure out who we are, if we’d realize that we’re the feet of Jesus, we could kick Satan out of earth’s affairs with ease.
Do you want to hasten Jesus’ return? Then quit sitting around staring at the clouds! Start stomping around in the spirit. Start putting the works of the serpent under your feet and we can wrap this thing up and go home to glory real soon!
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: Peace with God [Andrew Wommack Devotional 14 January 2019]
Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Text: Luke 2:8-20
In another instance, Jesus said He did not come to send peace on the earth, but a sword. Then He prophesied that those who received Him would experience persecution, even from their own family (Mt. 10:34-36). How do these verses fit together?
The peace the angels were singing about was not a peace between men; they were rejoicing that there would be peace between God and man. When Jesus prophesied division and war in Matthew 10, he was speaking of relationships between men.
Through the Old Testament law, God began to release His wrath on man’s sin (Rom. 4:15). It wasn’t the wrath of Satan that Jesus suffered on the cross.
He suffered the wrath of His Father (Isa. 53:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:21). The Father placed His punishment for our sins on Jesus. This ended the war between God and man. This is the peace that the angels were proclaiming.
As a result of men receiving this peace from God there have also been many cases of reconciliation between men, but that is an effect; not the actual peace that was spoken of. These effects are secondary.
Today, through Jesus, we now have peace with God (Rom. 5:1). God is not mad at us. He isn’t even upset. We have been accepted through Jesus (Eph. 1:6).
Believe the good news that through Jesus, the war between God and us is over.
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).
Unless God is revealed to us through personal experience, we can never really know God. Most of us know about God, but that is quite different from knowing God. We learn about God through the agencies of the church, the Sunday school, the youth activities, the worship services. Many people stop in their quest for God at this point. It is one thing to be introduced to a person, but quite another thing to know him personally.
Prayer for the day: Lord, You are, indeed, the good Shepherd, who leads me each day. Help me to love and know You more deeply so that others may be drawn into Your fold.
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.
Open Heaven 14 January 2019 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – You are not Alone
Topic: You are not Alone (Open Heaven 14 January 2019)
Memorise: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”- Matthew 28:20
Read: John 16:5-13 (KJV)
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Bible in One Year: Matthew 27-28, Isaiah 11:6-12:6
Open Heaven 14 January 2019 Monday MESSAGE:
One comforting assurance we have from our Lord Jesus Christ is that we are not alone. The devil wants you to feel you are alone and abandoned, but it is a lie. In today’s Bible reading, we are reassured that even though the Master has gone away to be with His Father, He did not leave us without a Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit includes reproof concerning sin, encouragement into a life of righteousness and giving sound judgement in difficult situations. He is to guide us into all truth, which includes the truth that we are not alone, neither can we be deserted or abandoned. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ in our lives by doing what only Christ can do in and through us. There are things that Jesus Christ commanded us to do that are impossible to execute except we are divinely aided, such as the command in Matthew 5:11-12 to rejoice when we are persecuted. The Holy Spirit helps us with this and much more.
Sometimes, you may experience some situations which the devil may capitalise on to malign our loving Master as having abandoned you, but it is not true. I have also experienced this. Many years ago, the devil came to tell me that I was abandoned and not appreciated, but God proved him wrong when a little girl came from several kilometers away to give me a cake as appreciation for what God was doing with my life. After receiving that cake, I forgot all the feelings of abandonment. Another time, I was travelling somewhere and the aircraft got into a very turbulent weather. There was so much commotion in the plane, to the extent that many people abandoned their complimentary meals for fear of a possible crash. In the meantime, my Daddy spoke with me, telling me to keep calm because He was in the plane and it was impossible for a plane He was travelling in to crash. Immediately I heard this, I relaxed and settled down with my meal. When I was done, I asked the rich man who was seated beside me if he would not mind me having his meal. He obliged, all the while looking at me strangely and wondering if I had heard and understood the announcement made by the pilot of a possible emergency landing! He passed his tray to me and I settled down again to enjoy the meal. I had hardly finished when the announcer came back on air to tell us that the turbulence was over. Glory be to God!
Beloved, always remember that one of the names of Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). You have no reason to feel abandoned or neglected if Jesus Christ is your Master and Lord.
Open Heaven 14 January 2019 Monday Key Point:
Stay with Christ so that He can stay with you. He will not abandon you unless you turn your back on Him.
Open Heaven 14 January 2019 Monday Hymn 9: In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Open Heaven 14 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 14 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.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
It is estimated 30 people in Mansfield Woodhouse are still collectively owned the sum after they give cash to help stage ‘Heaven on Earth’.
Some leaders from the village’s International Church created Eden International Productions Limited to stage the production.
But the musical ran out of money after accumulating debts of £2.6 million. The show went bust in late 2017, just weeks before the first performance was due to take place.
Yessika Oakley, 34, said her family contributed thousands of pounds towards the project.
She told the BBC: “They weren’t asking for £5, they were asking for large amounts of money from people that didn’t have much.
“But because they did it in the name of God, they were put under the pressure that if you didn’t give, you’re not being faithful and God isn’t going to be very happy with you.”
Information kept by the Government’s registrar of companies confirm the production company is undergoing “liquidation”.
A six-month tour of ‘Heaven on Earth’ had been scheduled – with venues including the Wembley Arena in London.
Singer, Russell Watson was among those who had agreed to take part, along with a 30-strong cast.
The International Church has since closed.
One of the musical’s directors told the BBC they were sorry for everyone who had lost out but insisted it “was always stressed there was no…
In one note, Rev Stephen Coles (pictured below, second in from the right) was invited by the radical cleric to visit him at the so-called supermax Florence jail (pictured) near Colorado Springs.
The vicar of St Thomas the Apostle Church in north London described fondly a summer holiday he took to Spain in another.
He was quoted by the Sunday Times as saying: “One of the oddest things in my life is that I have this odd relationship with somebody like Hamza.
“But better that I should have an odd relationship with him than nobody should have any relationship with him.”
Hamza, who was sentenced to life in prison by a court an American court in 2015 for supporting terrorism, is a former Iman of Finsbury Park mosque – close to Rev Coles’ church.
The two men first came into contact when Rev Coles confronted Hamza after he publicly praised the actions of those behind the September 11th terror attacks in 2001
Dear Hamza…Here’s a letter Rev Stephen Coles wrote to Abu Hamza on US Independence Day pic.twitter.com/TTNgOBaKUV
They went on to stay in touch, with Rev Coles visiting Hamza at Belmarsh prison during a legal battle over whether the Egyptian should be extradited to the US to face trial.
The pair lost contact when Hamza was extradited in 2012. That was until Hamza contacted him last year.
Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian…
The Presiding Bishop of the US Episcopal Church imposed an immediate partial ban on the ministry of the Bishop of Albany in New York and warned a canonical offence may have been committed.
It comes after William Love wrote to churches within his diocese, saying he did not support a resolution which allowed clergy to conduct same-sex ceremonies even if their bishops disagreed.
Bishop Michael Curry said: “While I am persuaded of the sincerity and good will of Bishop Love in these difficult circumstances, I am convinced that Resolution B012 was intended by the Convention to be mandatory and binding upon all our dioceses…
“I am therefore persuaded that, as Presiding Bishop, I am called upon to take steps to ensure that same-sex marriage in The Episcopal Church is available to all persons to the same extent and under the same conditions in all Dioceses of the Church where same-sex marriage is civilly legal.”
Bishop William Love (pictured below) is not allowed to discipline clergy who participate in same-sex weddings, under the restriction. The limitation will be ongoing until the matter is resolved, Bishop Michael Curry said.
In his November 2018 letter, Bishop William Love said the same-sex marriage rites approved by The Episcopal Church’s governing body “shall not be used anywhere in the Diocese of Albany by diocesan…
Dr John Shepherd’s appointment last week as interim director of the Anglican Centre in Rome affectively makes him the Church of England’s representative to the Holy See.
But his suitability for the role has been questioned after video footage emerged of him appearing to question the traditional Christian understanding of Christ being raised from the death.
During a sermon delivered in Easter 2008, he said: “The resurrection of Jesus ought not to be seen in physical terms, but as a new spiritual reality.
“It is important for Christians to be set free from the idea that the resurrection was an extraordinary physical event which restored to life Jesus’ original earthly body.”
The comments – made when the Dr John was dean of St George’s Cathedral in Perth, Western Australia – attracted criticism from the Anglican evangelical group Church Society.
Director, Dr Lee Gatiss wrote on Twitter: ” We need clergy who actually believe that Jesus rose again from death – so basic!”
Dr John Shepherd continued: “…Jesus’ early followers felt His presence after His death as strongly as if it were a physical presence and incorporated this sense of a resurrection experience into their gospel accounts.
“But they’re not historical records as we would expect history to be written today; they are symbolic images of the breaking through of the resurrection spirit into human lives.
Member of the Church of England’s governing body,…
Figures reveal remarkable growth since 2009 – when leaders feared dwindling congregations and reserves might force the landmark to close.
Dr Neal Barnes said: “When we get visitors coming through, it’s an opportunity to build a relationship. It’s an opportunity for people to have an encounter with Jesus even if they’re quite sure that’s what they’re getting…
“Therefore, from those relationships, you do start to build an outreach programme, an opportunity for discipleship and bringing people to faith.”
Approximately 225,000 visited or attended events at the 14th century church – while only 14,000 guests were recorded in 2010.
Exhibitions proved particularly successful for Hull Minster, with 82,000 people coming to see a seven-metre lunar model installed as part of the Museum of the Moon attraction.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
… Read More 