Read: 2 Chronicles 33:9–17, Bible in a Year: Genesis 13–15; Matthew 5:1–26
Then he restored the altar of the Lord. . . and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 33:16
Tani and Modupe grew up in Nigeria and went to the UK to study in the 1970s. Having been personally transformed by God’s grace, they never imagined that they would be used to transform one of the most deprived and segregated communities in England—Anfield in Liverpool. As Drs. Tani and Modupe Omideyi faithfully sought God and served their community, God restored hope to many. They lead a vibrant church and continue to run numerous community projects that have led to the transformation of countless lives.
Manasseh changed his community, first for evil and then for good. Crowned king of Judah at the age of twelve, he led his people astray and they did great evil for many years (2 Chronicles 33:1–9). They paid no attention to God’s warnings and so He allowed Manasseh to be taken prisoner to Babylon (vv. 10–11).
In his distress, the king humbly cried out to God who heard his plea and restored him to his kingdom (vv. 12–13). The now-reformed king rebuilt the city walls and got rid of the foreign gods (vv. 14–15). “He restored the altar of the Lord and . . . told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel” (v. 16). As the people observed the radical transformation of Manasseh, so too were they transformed (v. 17).
As we seek God, may He transform us and so impact our communities through us.
Heavenly Father, transform our lives that we may be used by You to bring transformation to others.
Welcome to Ruth O’Reilly-Smith! Meet all our authors at odb.org/all-authors.
Your transformation by God brings transformation to others.
INSIGHT Second Kings 21:1–18 parallels 2 Chronicles 33:1–20, but the version in 2 Kings curiously omits Manasseh’s repentance. Both accounts share how Manasseh rebuilt the obscene shrines his father Hezekiah had destroyed, desecrating God’s holy temple and sacrificing his own son. Second Kings prophesies Jerusalem’s coming judgment (21:10–15), while 2 Chronicles shows us a larger story—the fulfillment of that prophesy and God’s hand in bringing Judah’s worst king to eventual repentance (33:10–17). Tim Gustafson
Topic: Supplication for A Lift and Shift In Life [Seeds of Destiny 5 January 2019 Devotional]
Scripture: And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. Luke 9:29
Thought For The Day: When people are desperate for God, they express it at the place of prayer.
It has been confirmed that there are demands for supernatural liftings and shifting in life. God is interested in lifting His children, but not many people are lifted by God because not everyone meets the demands for supernatural lifting. Now, one of the demands of lifting and shifting in life is supplication.
Supplication is done at the place of prayer; desperation leads to supplication. When people are desperate for God, they express it at the place of prayer.
Now, let me give you two key thoughts on supplication:
i. Prayer changes people more than it changes things.
People think that the purpose of praying is just to change a situation but the man who prays is changed by his prayer (Luke 9:29).
ii. Supplication and intercession would lead to intensification, magnification and amplification.
This means, your life cannot remain little if you know how to pray. Jacob prayed until he was changed from being Jacob to becoming Israel (Genesis 32:28). Jacob is a person, but Israel is a nation. Jacob is a capacity and Israel is also a capacity; Jacob is an individual capacity while Israel is a nation’s capacity. A change in capacity happens at the place of prayer.
My Counsel is, first, be specific in prayer. Jacob made up his mind not to let God go until He had blessed him (Genesis 32:26). Second, refuse to quit until the answer comes (Genesis 32:26).
Beloved, if you are specific in prayer and you refuse to quit or give up on God, you will surely experience a lift and shift in life.
Remember this: When people are desperate for God, they express it at the place of prayer.
Assignments:
Make up your mind to pray continually.
Depend on God at the place of prayer for a lift and shift in life.
Prayer: O Lord, pour on me the Spirit of grace and supplication in Jesus’ Name (Zechariah 12:10).
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: COME UP HITHER – SUPERNATURAL LIFTS AND SHIFTS.
Today In History: 05/01/1933-In California, construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began.
Daily Reading: Genesis 11:1 to 13:4, Matthew 5:1 to 26, Psalm 5:1 to 12, Proverbs 1:24 to 28.
Amazing Fact: The world’s largest passenger plane is the Airbus A380. It is a double-decker four-engine jetliner. It made its first flight on April 27, 2005.
Quote: It pays to be near God and it costs to be far from Him. Culled from 15 KINGDOM STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL by Dr. Paul Enenche.
Don’t Forget To Attend: The Destiny Recovery service tomorrow by 9:00 am at the Glory Dome, the Lord’s Garden, Airport Road, Abuja.
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: The Biggest Question [DCLM Daily Manna 5 January 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Psalm 15:1-5 (KJV)
Key Verse: “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1).
MESSAGE:
For years of sitting in a classroom at high school, it was often frowned upon for a student to be the one asking questions ceaselessly for further explanation. In many cases, there was an unspoken rule among students: they must do their work, learn something, and leave when the bell rang, though some might not understand what was taught. But students who ask questions, benefit the most.
David asked the greatest question about what it takes to live with God eternally in heaven. And the answer quickly came from God, describing a life that is worthy of His presence. The list of requirements includes an upright walk and a righteous work. Not backbiting and slandering others, and not doing evil to one’s neighbours; complete the list with an unflinching consecration and hatred for bribes.
Definitely, David must have been thinking about the life beyond to contemplate this kind of question. Those whose thoughts and focus are only about the present world and how to get the best out of it will not spend their time thinking about the afterlife, let alone the expectation that they will be be required to give an account of their stewardship on judgement day. They consider a life of piety, holiness and righteousness unprofitable.
For a sitting king, with so much riches and honour, to reason to this extent about the afterlife is certainly food for thought. Those who are thinking there is still plenty of time to leave and savor the pleasures of this earth should have a rethink and borrow a leaf from David. Only the heart that has experienced the truth can speak the truth, live by the truth, obey the truth and appropriate the truth.
Thought For The Day: Good questions engender good answers
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.
3.Father, as many who are still ignorant of the magnitude of the consequences of defiling Your temple, please, open their eyes by Your mercy and save their souls, in Jesus name.
4.Father, let every sin of sexual perversion and immorality, in the body of Christ and in our Nation, be destroyed by Your fire, in Jesus name.
5.Father, let my virtues, blessings and glory, that have been stolen or destroyed, as a result of the sin of formication and adultery, in my life, be restored, today, in Jesus name.
6.Father, let every garment of shame, reproach and limitation, that the sins of fornication and adultery have brought upon my life and destiny, be removed and burnt to ashes, in Jesus name.
7.Father, from now on, whenever the temptation to defile Your temple, shall come my way, please, make a way of escape for me, in Jesus name.
8.Father, let every Delilah, that has be assigned to destroy my life and destiny, be frustrated, from above, in Jesus name.
9.Father, please, help me to live through today, without committing a single sin, in Jesus name.
10.Father, please, uphold Your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, by Your right hand of righteousness, till the end, in Jesus name.
11.Father, bless Your son, that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures; help him to overcome every challenge of getting these prayer points across to Your children timely, on daily basis, in Jesus name.
12.Your Personal petitions. (Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus name I pray. (John 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
These prayers have no expiry date! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus name.
Kindly, purchase your own hard copy or online version of the Open Heavens devotional & buy for your friends too, as a potent evangelism tool. God bless you, as you sow, into Pastor E.A. Adeboye’s book Ministry, in Jesus name.
Open Heaven 5 January 2019 Prayer Points on Today – Lessons From The Sower 3
Open Heaven 5 January 2019 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Lessons from the Sower III
Topic: Lessons from the Sower III (Open Heaven 5 January 2019)
Memorise: “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.”- Proverbs 6:32
Read: Luke 8:5, Proverbs 5:15-20 (KJV)
Luke 8:5: 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
Proverbs 5:15-20: 15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
Bible in One Year: Matthew 11-12, Isaiah 3:24-5:7
Open Heaven 5 January 2019 Saturday MESSAGE:
Over the past two days, we have been learning from the Parable of the Sower. The importance of this parable is underscored by the fact that Jesus referred to it as the key to understanding the mysteries of His other parables. In Mark 4:13, He said:
“And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?”
Today, we will reflect on this teaching from the perspective of marital faithfulness and fruitfulness. When a man sleeps with a woman, he is sowing seeds into her. In light of this truth, the Holy Spirit makes us understand in Malachi 2:15 that there is a difference between godly and ungodly seeds resulting from this act. Let every man therefore beware of where he sows his seeds, and let every woman be cautious of the type of seeds she receives into the ground that is her body. Sow wisely for your godly seeds to come at God’s appointed time. Proverbs 6:32 profoundly says:
“But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.”
In other words, when you have illicit sexual intercourse with a woman other than your wife, you lack understanding of the fact that you are sowing into a wrong soil. As a woman, it is foolhardy for to allow weeds to be sown into your vineyard through adultery.
“3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.” – Proverbs 5:3-5
Another lesson to learn from the Parable of the Sower is that keeping a concubine is very costly. What your spouse cannot demand from you, a concubine will. If you are engaged in adultery or fornication, you are sowing into grounds that cannot bring forth any profitable harvest. Some men build houses for their concubines and expend resources on training children that don’t belong to them. Sex workers and concubines are always disrespected and abused by men who are merely using them. The motive of these men is not to hold on to them forever but to use and dump them as they choose. Eventually, they will have to face the consequences of their sinful way of life. If you are caught in the web of this lifestyle, call on Jesus to deliver you before it is too late. Remember, today is the day of salvation; tomorrow may be too late.
Open Heaven 5 January 2019 Saturday Action Point:
Separate yourself from all strange men or women engaging your life in fruitless sowing today, and keep only to your lawfully wedded spouse.
Open Heaven 5 January 2019 Saturday Hymn 4: Take My Life, And Let It Be
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose, Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne, It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee, Ever, only, all for Thee.
Open Heaven 5 January 2019 Saturday 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 5 January 2019 Saturday 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.
NFL Star Benjamin Watson Family Testifies to God’s Grace in Both Victory and Tragedy
New Orleans Saints’ tight end Benjamin Watson hopes to end his NFL career with his second Super Bowl win.
Watson has played for four NFL franchises during his 15 years in the NFL but is looking to devote more time to the growing team in his home. He and his wife Kirsten recently announced that they are expecting twins–their sixth and seventh children.
The astonishing news that they were welcoming twins came after months of heartbreak. Kirsten suffered two miscarriages in four months last year. The first came at the end of the 2017 football season. They had told no one about the pregnancy and didn’t speak about the miscarriage either. When Kirsten experienced the second miscarriage, she told the world about their pain but also testified to God’s sustaining grace in her sorrow.
She said in a Facebook post that, “As I sit in a crowded room of pregnant women, I wait to see the doctor 2.5 weeks after my second miscarriage in 4 months. I rest on 2 Corinthians 12:9. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. I know that I’m not alone in this room. The sadness of losing a baby has been felt by many women that live on without uttering a word about it. They suffer in silence. Today, right…
Federal Grant is Funding Meditation in Public Schools, ACLJ Says
The controversial use of meditation in public schools is being partially funded by a federal grant, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) says.
Christian Headlines previously reported that schools across the country are incorporating meditation in the classroom as a way to boost a child’s self-awareness, self-control and academic success.
Teachers use curriculum from companies such as Inner Explorer and MindUpas part of the meditation lessons. It’s often called “mindfulness.”
ACLJ reported on a $3.3 million federal grant for researchers at Penn State University to study the impact of meditation on children.
“Students are subjected to real-time audio in the classroom, instructing them with directives such as to clear their minds, watch their memories and emotions float away, and feel their connection to the universe,” ACLJ reported.
In one Connecticut elementary school, students practice yoga and use flameless candles.
“I want to see if you can feel that light in your life and light in your heart,” Michelle Brown, a kindergarten teacher at Consolidated School, told children, according to the News Times newspaper. “Because each one of you has that. I want you to feel it. I want you to believe it. I never want you to forget it.”
Schools in at least 10 states are using the programs, ACLJ said. Jay Sekulow, ACLJ’s…
Scotland County Detective Division said 28-year-old James A Morman III (pictured left) visited Scotland County jail in the guise of a minister.
A search of the Bible he was carrying revealed strips of opioids inside.
Authorities conducted a sweep of the detention facility and a number of illegal substances and contraband were found.
It is unclear whether Morman had visited the jail before with other drug-filled Bibles. Morman and inmate Bryson Brown (pictured right) have been charged in connection with the operation.
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Pop Singer Britney Spears Shares a Bible Verse with Her Followers on Instagram
Grammy Award-winning pop sensation Britney Spears recently took to Instagram to share a popular bible verse with her 21.6 million followers.
Spears, who is known for her revealing outfits and provocative performances, was raised Southern Baptist, but throughout her more than two-decades-long career has dabbled in Hinduism and Kabbalah, Christian Today reports.
According to Light Workers, while Spears’ mother and famous sister, Jamie Lynn Spears frequently speak about the importance of their Christian faith in their lives, Spears has not been particularly outspoken about her faith practices, until now.
The post reads, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
In her 2008 book, Lynne Spears, the pop singer’s mother, wrote to her…
Pastor Evan Risher said he was preaching at Ramp Church in Fort Worth when a bullet landed on the ground in front of him.
About 300 people were inside the church at the time.
No-one was hurt.
Mr Risher said he picked up the .40-calibre bullet and incorporated it into his sermon.
The bullet was fired from outside the church.
Mr Risher said police believe the bullet came from people firing celebratory gunshots shortly before midnight.
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