Topic: You are a Candidate for Mercy and Grace [TREM Devotional 22 December 2018]
“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fails not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”Lam. 3:22-23
Although the year is coming to an end, I have a word for you: You are a candidate for God’s mercy and grace. No matter the lies the devil has magnified to you, I come today to announce to you that you are still a candidate for God’s mercy. It does not matter the challenges that you have faced this year, your tomorrow is better because the mercy of God is available to you today. The interesting thing is that God is very much aware of your past, present and future and loves you all the same. Don’t let the devil rob you of His mercies; whatever it is, simply confess it, forsake it and embrace His mercy and grace.
Mercy is God not giving you what you deserve – you deserved to die, but mercy says no; you deserved to be disgraced, frustrated and humiliated but mercy says no; you deserved not to have a child but mercy says no; you deserved to die of lung cancer because of the several sticks of cigarette you have taken, but mercy says no – mercy says no to judgment. Grace is God giving you what you do not deserve – you do not deserve to live, but grace gives you life; you do not deserve health, grace gives you health; you do not deserve peace, but grace gives you peace; you do not deserve a place in the presence of God, but grace gives you a seat right in the throne of grace – grace says ‘yes’ to God’s goodness on your behalf.
So if God has made mercy and grace available to you, why would you ever yield to the lie of the devil? Today, I challenge you to embrace mercy and grace and see them at work in your life for good. Don’t let the devil intimidate you any further, you are a candidate for God’s mercy and grace. So come to Him just as you are and let the blood speak for you today.
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: Respect Your Younger Ones [Open Heavens for Teens 22 December 2018]
Memorise: Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;Romans 12:10
Read: 1 Peter 2:17 (KJV)
Bible In One Year: Nahum 1-3, Revelation 13
MESSAGE:
Maintaining a respect-based relationship with people younger than you (especially your younger siblings) can be difficult, especially since what you have grown up to learn is that the younger ones are the ones to respect the older ones. But as we mentioned yesterday, the Bible asked us to respect all men, not just those older than us.
Moreover, everyone was created in the image of God, including children, and they are of high value to God. So they are to be treated with respect too. Don’t talk down at them, don’t send them on errands even you won’t like to be sent on, don’t correct them harshly, don’t use their things without kindly asking them for permission. Very soon, both you and they will become adults and then the age difference wouldn’t matter so much, how you treat them now will determine how they will treat you then.
Prayer Point: Father, please give me the grace to respect my younger ones.
Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready His service to do?
Chorus:
Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing, I pray;
My life possessing, my service blessing,
Make me a channel of blessing today.
Is your life a channel of blessing?
Are you burdened for those that are lost?
Have you urged upon those who are straying
The Savior who does on the cross
Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is it a daily telling for Him?
Have you spoken the word of salvation?
To those who are dying in sin?
We cannot be channels of blessing
If our lives are not free from sin;
We will barriers be and a hindrance
To those we are trying to win.
Daily Devotional for Teen’s 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.
Topic: True Wisdom [DCLM Daily Manna 21 December 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (KJV)
Key Verse: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory“(1 CORINTHIANS 2:7,8)
MESSAGE:
Scripturally, wisdom is defined as the ability to assess and judge issues and situations correctly; the ability to follow the best course of action on the basis of sound knowledge and understanding. This ought to be contrasted with the wisdom of the world which seeks to measure all forms of wisdom merely on the basis of human knowledge, understanding and rationality.
The Biblical concept of wisdom is quite a distance away from the standard view which is subjected to philosophical and rational thought in explaining the deep mysteries of human existence. This has been described variously in the Scriptures as the wisdom of this world; human wisdom; the wisdom of men; the wisdom of this age and man’s wisdom.
In our text, Paul the apostle, in proffering answers to the questions of the Corinthian church, made it clear that there is a world of difference between biblical wisdom and the wisdom of the world. The first principle of biblical wisdom is that people should humble themselves before God in total obedience and accept the message of the cross as real and final.
Unbelievers do not see the gospel as the power of God unto salvation. Your decision to follow the Lord seems foolish and silly to them. The world still clings to the wisdom of this age which eliminates God from their knowledge. God’s wisdom is a mystery. He chooses both base and foolish things to confound the worldly wise. You must understand that the only true option open to you is to stop rationalising the message of salvation and accept Christ today and retain Him in your life forever. This is the only true type of wisdom that humanity needs.
Thought For The Day: True wisdom is that which enables fallen man to reconcile with his Creator.
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: The Blessing of the Righteous [Seeds of Destiny 22 December 2018 Devotional]
Scripture:For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.Psalm 5:12
Thought For The Day: Whatever attacks your conscience attacks your blessing.
From our anchor Scripture, we see that God is eternally and committed to the blessing of the righteous. To be righteous, therefore, is to be blessed. In other words, the righteous cannot escape the Blessing of God.
Now, for the Blessing to be released on the righteous, there are conditions the righteous must meet. Let me give you three of such conditions:
Avoidance of Defilement: To be blessed, defilement must be avoided. Whatever defiles a person destroys the blessing. Whatever attacks your conscience attacks your blessing (Psalm 119:1-2).
Walking in the Law of God: To be blessed, you must walk in the Law of the Lord. The Word of God must guide our steps and not the opinion of people, the feelings of the flesh or the approval of society (Psalm 94:12; Psalm 119:1-2).
Keeping His Testimonies: To be blessed is to keep His testimonies. Do not take the Acts of God in your life for granted, otherwise, the blessings stops flowing (Psalm 119:1-2).
Now, how does God bless the righteous?
The Righteous does not beg to be blessed
It is natural for the righteous to be blessed. People like Abraham, Daniel, Esther etc., who stood for God were the most blessed in their generation (Psalm 5:12).
The Blessing is in the agenda of God for the righteous
The Blessing is in the package of redemption paid for by Jesus Christ on the Cross (Revelations 5:12).
Today, I declare that the Blessing secured in the shed Blood of Jesus on Calvary is released upon you, in Jesus’ Name.
Remember This: Whatever attacks your conscience attacks your blessing.
Assignments:
Endeavour to walk with God in the covenant in order to attract the Blessing of God.
Live in uprightness; avoid sin and guilt
Prayer: O Lord, I thank You for Your Word to me today. I ask that You release Your Blessings that will swallow up every curse in my life, Lord in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE BLESSING OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Quote: The more you walk in love, the more like God you become and the more victory you will experience on the earth. Culled from REASON FOR LIVING by Dr Paul Enenche
Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 6:12 to 8: 10, Romans 7:14 to 8:8, Psalm 17:1 to 15, Proverbs 19:24 to 25.
Amazing Fact: Your brain does not feel pain, it has no pain receptors.
Today In History: 22/12/1989 – Chad adopted its Constitution.
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 Effects Of Sin [Andrew Wommack Devotional 22 December 2018]
John 20:23“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”
The meaning of this verse has been hotly debated for centuries. One thing is certain, it does not mean we have the power to justify a person from his sins so he can be born again; only God can do that.
Many people have taught that Jesus is saying, that if we fail to witness to others, we are retaining their sins unto them, and if we do share His love with others, then we are remitting their sins. Although there is truth in this statement, it is not what this verse is teaching. Rather, this verse deals with the temporal effects that sin has on a person’s life. Not only is there a future death penalty for sin, but sin destroys us emotionally and physically in this life too. It is this present destruction that sin brings into a person’s life that Jesus gave us the power to remit.
Through intercession we can remit a person’s sins, so even though he has sown to the flesh and deserves to reap corruption (Gal. 6:8), he will not reap what he has sown. This is done for the purpose of loosing a person from the bondage that Satan desires to hold him in, until he sees the light and repents. This is only a temporary situation and must be continually repeated if the person we are praying for continues to live in sin.
On the other hand, there are times when it is not in the best interest of the individual to remit his sins. There are times when he needs to be made painfully aware of the consequences of his sins. In these cases, we have power to retain his sins; that is, we withdraw our intercession and he reaps what he sows in hope that this will cause him to turn back to God.
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: The Giver of the Gift [Billy Graham Devotional 22 December 2018]
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not . . . freely give us all things? —Romans 8:32
God is the Giver of the gift. The capability of the donor usually gauges the value of the gift. We don’t usually think of a person as a gift, but actually interpersonal relationships are the most valued and cherished gifts of all. But the Bible teaches that God gave a Person as a gift to every one of us, and that Person is Jesus Christ. One day a six-year-old boy in a southern town answered a knock at the door.
It was his father, just returned from Southeast Asia. He didn’t ask, “Daddy, what did you bring me?” He threw his arms around his father’s neck and said, “Oh, Daddy, this is the best Christmas present I’ve ever had!”
Prayer for the day: Your costly gift of Jesus, Father, fills all the longings and desires of my heart.
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.
Planned Parenthood Accused of Unfair Treatment of Pregnant Employees
Some pregnant employees of Planned Parenthood are saying the organizationdiscriminates against expecting moms.
According to a report from the New York Times, managers have been accused of “sidelining, ousting or otherwise handicapping pregnant employees.”
Ta’Lisa Hairston told the New York Times that when she told the human resources department at the Planned Parenthood clinic where she worked that she was pregnant and her doctor advised taking frequent breaks, her managers would not let her take breaks.
“I had to hold back tears talking to pregnant women, telling them to take care of their pregnancies when I couldn’t take care of mine,” Hairston said. “It made me jealous.”
According to the report, most Planned Parenthood clinics do not provide paid maternity leave for full-time employees. Many, however, allow women to take partially paid disability leave.
Planned Parenthood has some 12,000 employees nationwide.
Leana Wen, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said the organization is investigating the discrimination claims. She also said they “must do better than we are now” because of an “obligation to do better, for our staff, for their families, and for our patients.”
Natera, a company that sells genetic tests for pregnant women, and Avon have also been accused of discrimination against pregnant…
For Survivor of Attack on Christians in Nigeria, a Lonely Christmas
JOS, Nigeria, December 21, 2018 (Morning Star News) – Nearly three months after Muslim Fulani herdsmen in north-central Nigeria shot and killed his wife and four children, Samuel Wah will spend Christmas in his hospital bed, a bullet still lodged in his back.
Since the Oct. 3 attack on Ariri village, 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Miango in Plateau state, that killed 19 Christians, the 45-year-old member of St. Williams Catholic Church has remained in the hospital with the bullet lodged near his spinal cord. Doctors at Enos Hospital in Miango are not equipped to remove it safely, and Wah lacks the resources to transfer to another hospital for the advanced surgery, he said.
Wah was ill with fever the day of the attack, and he and his family had gone to bed when they were awoken at 11 p.m. by the sounds of stones hitting their roof, then sporadic gunshots, he told Morning Star News from his hospital bed.
“I forced myself to stand up while my wife was saying the gunmen are Fulani herdsmen,” he said. “I moved to the door of my living room and then opened it, only to find a Fulani man standing and aiming the gun towards where I was standing. He shot me.”
As he went down, Wah said, he heard the shooter call another armed Fulani over.
“They were speaking Fulfulde, and since I understand the language, I overheard what they were saying to each other,” he told…
Police Dept. Blames Murders on Godlessness, Gets Criticized
A rural Alabama police department is being applauded and criticized for blaming a series of murders on young people who rejected God.
The police department in Opp, Ala., posted a message on its Facebook page Tuesday noting that five people have been murdered in the county in 2018. Among these was a mother shot and killed Monday and a man who was killed the previous day. “Young people,” the message said, were the murderers.
“This is happening because we have turned away from God and embraced Satan,” the message, written in all-caps, read. “We may have not meant to do so but, we have. It is time to ask for God’s help to stop this. It is time to be parents and raise our children, not have them raise us. It is time to fully support law enforcement and stand by the officers and deputies that are far too often having to walk into these dangerous situations and clean up the mess.”
The atheist Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) said the police department’s post crossed a line.
“The department has very directly endorsed one religious ideology to the exclusion of minority religions and atheism, and decried Satanism,” said FFRF attorney Sam Grover. “Neither message is permissible.”
But many on Facebook approved the police department for speaking out.
“We’ve raised an entire generation of ‘entitled’ children who weren’t made to go to…
Open Heaven 22 December 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Prince of Peace
Topic: The Prince of Peace (Open Heaven 22 December 2018)
Memorise:“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”– Mark 4:39
Read: Mark 4:35-41(KJV)
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Bible in One Year: Micah 1-4, John 15:18-16:15
Open Heaven 22 December 2018 Saturday MESSAGE:
One of the great titles of our Lord is “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He is the possessor of peace and He has bequeathed this peace to us all. In John 14:27, he said:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus demonstrated to us that His ability to instill peace was no fluke. After a successful preaching assignment, He told His disciples that they should sail to the other side of the sea in order to continue their assignment there. On their way, a great storm arose on the sea that was about to cause their ship to capsize. Interestingly, the Prince of Peace was in the inner part of the ship, sleeping. Out of fear, the disciples woke Him up, indicting Him for not showing concern about their situation. With the benefit of hindsight you might say, “What a faithless group of disciples these were”. However, if you were to be sincere with yourself, have you not also been in situations that have caused you to indict Jesus in your heart? Nevertheless, Mark 4:39 says:
“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
That is our Master for you – compassionate, loving, omniscient and understanding of our frame. After He stilled the storm, He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. Do you also feel that He does not care about you? He is also rebuking you today. I found myself in such a situation some years ago. I thought that I had been forsaken and nobody cared about me. Nevertheless, the Lord sent a little girl to give me a cake like He did for Elijah (1 kings 19:6). Beloved, Jesus cares. He will not leave you in that situation. As a matter of fact, His peace will overwhelm the current storm in your life and there shall be great calm. This calmness will surpass the rage of the storm, and it shall be as though you never experienced a storm in your life.
One truth you can learn from this story is that working for God does not make you immune to the storms of life. Jesus and the disciples had just had a successful outreach and there came a storm. As a matter of fact, the storm came because their exploits wrecked havoc on the kingdom of Satan. What worked in favor of the disciples was that the stiller of storms was with them. He promised us also that He would be with us till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Learn from this story that you must always keep Jesus in the boat of your life at all times. Don’t ever undertake a journey or project without His involvement. Moreover, we should not be faithless to the point of indicting our Lord. We should outgrow crying like babies in Christ. He has given us authority to still storms ourselves, but not without abiding in Him (Luke 10:19, John 15:4).
Open Heaven 22 December 2018 Saturday Action Point:
Apply your authority in Christ to still every storm raging against you or around you.
Open Heaven 22 December 2018 Saturday Hymn 8: The Great Physician Now Is Near
1. The great Physician now is near, The sympathizing Jesus; He speaks the drooping heart to cheer, Oh, hear the voice of Jesus.
Chorus:
Sweetest note in seraph song,
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.
2. Your many sins are all forgiv’n, Oh, hear the voice of Jesus; Go on your way in peace to heav’n, And wear a crown with Jesus.
3. All glory to the dying Lamb! I now believe in Jesus; I love the blessed Savior’s name, I love the name of Jesus.
4. His name dispels my guilt and fear, No other name but Jesus; Oh, how my soul delights to hear The charming name of Jesus.
Open Heaven 22 December 2018 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 22 December 2018 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.
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