Topic: Value Christ Higher Than Self [Andrew Wommack Devotional 14 December 2018]
Matthew 28:9“And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.”
Self-denial is embraced by much of Christianity today. Historically, self-denial has always been a big part of false religion. Most religions of the world teach an abasement of self, but they do it as penitence in order to obtain salvation. This is not the denying of self that the Bible advocates.
True self-denial as the scriptures promote is not self hatred or masochism, but rather an enthroning of Christ above self. We have a new identity in Christ that replaces the old self. We don’t deny self in order to obtain salvation, but it is a love response to what Christ has already done for us. He gave His all for us and we willingly give our all back to Him.
Denying self in an attempt to earn salvation is most always motivated by guilt and characterized by rigid rules. True Christianity, on the other hand, is not the observance of rituals, but a relationship that produces holiness as a fruit and not the root of salvation.
Holiness doesn’t come from the outside and work its way inside. When we are born again we become righteous, and we work that holiness out into our physical lives.
Trying to destroy the power of self through harsh laws actually arouses and strengthens sin. Christians must not let life become a set of rules, but rather a response to a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.
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: He Hears You [Billy Graham Devotional 14 December 2018]
If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. — 1 John 5:14
God has said, “If my people . . . pray . . . then will I hear from heaven.” Before three thousand people were brought into the Church on the day of Pentecost, the disciples had spent ten days in prayer, fasting, and spiritual travail. God desires that Christians be concerned and burdened for a lost world. If we pray this kind of prayer, an era of peace may come to the world and the hordes of wickedness may be turned back.
Prayer for the day: Almighty God, burden my heart for those in the world who have not experienced Your peace in their lives.
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 December 2018 Friday Daily Devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Need for Discernment
Topic: The Need for Discernment (Open Heaven 14 December 2018)
Memorise:“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”– 1 John 4:1
Read: Joshua 9:1-16, Acts 16:16-18 (KJV)
Joshua 9:1-16: 1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
Acts 16:16-18: 16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
Bible in One Year: Hosea 1-4, John 11:27-44
Open Heaven 14 December 2018 Friday MESSAGE:
There are so many con-artists in the Church and in the world today, so much so that the gift of discernment has become a necessity in the life of every believer. In your business dealings, if you do not want to fall victim to the cankerworm of cheats and frauds, you need to rely on the Holy Spirit to help you exercise discernment over business opportunities that are brought your way. In your job, if you do want to escape from agents of darkness looking for every opportunity to milk their employers dry and implicate innocent people along the way, you need the gift of discernment to begin to operate in your life. The stories narrated in our Bible readings are good life lessons on the need of the gift of discernment. Joshua was hasty in entering into a pact with the Gibeonites without first consulting God and he ended up falling for a lie; the impact of which continued to affect the Israelites generations after (2 Samuel 21:1-9). Be wary of any deal or matter that is brought before you which requires you to make a hasty commitment. Also, at your work place, be careful when a document is brought for your signature and pressure is being applied on you to sign it quickly without thoroughly scrutinizing its contents.
In contrast to Joshua who fell for the lies of the Gibeonites, we also read of Paul who was able to detect the spirit of divination at work in the supposed “public relations secretary” who volunteered to serve his missionary team in Thyatira. She followed Paul and his team for several days, publicizing what Paul and his team came to do in that locality. Thank God that Paul, through the gift of discernment, detected after many days that it was a demonic spirit at work in her. If this was not found out, many people would have assumed that she was operating with the same spirit as Paul and his team, luring them to follow her and enabling the evil spirit in her to make merchandize of them. This would have brought shame to the Name of Jesus Christ, and the message of the gospel would have been adulterated. This is a great lesson for evangelist and missionaries: volunteers should be handled with caution. Free services may not be free at the end of the day. We have had such experiences in our ministry, where people have come to tell us that there are openings in some countries for missions, only for us to later find out that they were just trying to use the church to realize their dream of getting out of the country, or even trying to swindle the church of her money. We therefore, need the gift of discernment to be able to detect the wily moves of the enemy. This gift is freely given when you thirst and ask God for it in prayer. Ask for it today.
Open Heaven 14 December 2018 Friday Prayer Point:
Father, please endow me with the gift of discernment so that I can always distinguise falsehood from the truth.
Open Heaven 14 December 2018 Friday Hymn 15: Nearer My God To Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!
There let me see the sight, an open Heaven;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!
Open Heaven 14 December 2018 Friday 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 December 2018 Friday 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.
An article from CBN reports that the vocal 72-year-old didn’t hesitate when responding to the critique that “reading it feels like being upbraided by a passionate preacher.”
“The Publishers Weekly review is exactly what I hoped for. I decided from the very beginning that I would tell it like it is because I have not—and will not—be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s truth is always right, and I’m very proud that this notable publication has accused me of preaching it,” Robertson stated in a press release.
“And preach I will—more of it, and louder. That’s exactly why I wrote The Theft of America’s Soul to begin with. It is one long sermon from my heart to the soul of America,” he added.
The Theft of America’s Soul is set to be released on February 5th, 2019. Those interested in a preview are welcome to download the first chapter here.
Robertson is best known for his time on the former A&E series “Duck Dynasty.” Joined by various other members of the duck-calling Robertson clan, the…
Terrorist Yelled ‘Allah is Great!’ during Fatal Christmas Market Shooting
A manhunt is taking place in France as officials search for a gunman who opened fire on the crowded Christmas shopping center in Strasbourg close to the border with Germany. The man was heard yelling Allahu Akbar, which translates to “Allah is great” in Arabic.
The attack left two dead, one brain dead, and a total of 12 individuals receiving wounds. Many of the victims are in critical condition.
According to French police, the suspect in question is Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a lengthy criminal record in France and Germany. Chekatt has a total of 25 cases against him and is regarded as an “extremist.”
The nation remains on high alert as more than 700 officers are deployed in the manhunt along with an additional 1,800 soldiers that have been given the task of guarding the streets.
Tensions were high as the military managed to corner Chekatt at one point, only to have him escape shortly after.
One onlooker mentions that when the shots were first fired, he wasn’t sure what was taking place. “I heard gunshots outside. I heard like 2 or 3 gunshots at first, which I thought were just firecrackers,” Maurice stated.
Reactions to the shooting were varied, with some recording videos of the area with the gunshots echoing in the background, and others scrambling to take shelter in an effort to protect themselves.
President Donald Trump Signs Relief Act to Help Iraqi Genocide Victims
Religious minorities displaced in Iraq and Syria will have more help after President Donald Trump signed the Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act.
The act is being praised by human rights activists and religious leaders, saying the bill will help Christians and other religious minorities facing violence and persecution in Iraq and Syria.
“We hope that this will mean that we will now begin a time of sustained and clear help to our struggling minorities and also that we will see a focus on true justice and accountability for what has happened,” Bashar Warda, the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Erbil, Iraq, whose archdiocese is responsible for aiding thousands of Christians displaced in Kurdistan, told The Christian Post.
Under the act, the government can fund nonprofits, charities and non-governmental groups, such as faith-based groups. The act also directs the government to address humanitarian needs in those areas.
Trump signed the act this weeks surrounded by religious leaders in the Oval Office.
Said Warda: “I said to him ‘Mr. President, we need to implement this bill as soon as possible and I know you can do it because you are a man who gets things done.’ He answered me directly ‘We will.’”
The bill had passed unanimously through the Senate in October and unanimously through the House in November.
According to the Christian Post, Courtney Bingham, 35, served as a youth leader at Bethany Baptist Church in Loudon, TN where she met the boy and was later arrested.
According to local news station WVLT, the local police were informed on the illegal relationship on December 3 and made the arrest the following day. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the boy’s father reported the relationship to the sheriff’s office.
Reportedly, Bingham had had sex with the teen in her home and sent him several “pornographic” photos of herself.
WVLT reports that Bingham did admit to police to having the sexual relationship with the boy but recalled that they had sex no more than four times.
In a statement released by the sheriff’s department, Sgt. Jason Smith urged the seriousness of the case saying, “It’s very serious. You’re dealing with somebody that’s 35 years old and has sent pornographic images of herself with inappropriate comments to a juvenile. Not only that, was also having sexual intercourse with him as a member of a self-described youth leader of the church.”
Chip Gaines Is Finally Opening Up about the Real Reason ‘Fixer Upper’ Had to End
When Chip and Joanna Gaines decided to walk away from their wildly popular HGTV show Fixer Upper, the news left fans shocked and disappointed. But it made a lot more sense when Joanna announced she was pregnant. But Baby Crew’s arrival is only part of the story. And now, Chip Gaines is opening up about the real reason Fixer Upper ended.
Part of what makes Chip and Joanna Gaines so loveable is how, no matter how popular they get, they remain down-to-earth, normal folks. Fame has a way of chancing people. But despite their celeb status, they don’t act differently. They just act like Chip and Jo.
In fact, it’s their genuine passion and raw talent for home renovation and design that got them “discovered.” The couple never set out seeking the limelight.
“We came into this whole thing sort of shock and awe,” Chip explained when the couple appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “And we had never had any inspiration to be on television. We didn’t know anything about the business.”
And while becoming a TV star sounds like a dream come true to most, the Gaines family soon found it can be equal parts burden and blessing. And now, Chip Gaines is opening up more about their decision to leave HGTV.
The Real Reason Fixer Upper Ended
Certainly, the success Chip and Joanna Gaines experienced on HGTV is something they’ll always…
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) is examining if there were failings across a range of organisations in protecting children from harm, including the Catholic Church.
As part of the investigations into the church’s handling of child sexual abuse allegations, the inquiry team has looked at the Archdiocese of Birmingham as a case study.
This phase of the London hearings has been looking at whether there were any institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.
Cardinal Nichols, who was archbishop of Birmingham between 2000 and 2009, will appear on Thursday.
The hearing, which is public, is part of the inquiry’s work into examining the church’s responses to disclosures of allegations of sexual abuse.
Panel members are looking at the nature and extent of any failures by the church, the archdiocese, the police, or other public authorities to protect children from harm.
It has also been looking at the adequacy of the church’s response to such allegations, including what steps were taken in investigating, learning lessons, implementing changes and providing support to victims and survivors.
Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.
Christians Win Back Right to Spread Gospel at Alaska Fair
An evangelical team has won the right to distribute Christian literature and share their faith at an Alaskan fair after being banned from the 2017 event.
The father-daughter tandem of David Grisham and Tina Watson reached a settlement with the city of Anchorage that permits them to pass out literature at the public park used by the Forest Fair in Girdwood, Alaska. When they tried handing out literature in 2017, they were surrounded by volunteers and threatened with arrest, according to KTUU-TV.
“On July 8, 2017, my dad, my nephew Airric, and I drove to the park to share the Gospel with Fair attendees, intending to pass out tracts and visit with people,” Watson said in a sworn statement. “We didn’t bring any signs, and I didn’t plan to preach.”
“Virtually any other topic could be discussed in the public park, but Grisham’s and Watson’s evangelism was considered a crime,” the Center said in a news release.
The city agreed to a settlement on Dec. 3. A judge then approved it.
“The court order ensures that Grisham and Watson maintain their right to share their faith at events free and open to the public,” said Center for Religious Expression chief counsel Nate Kellum. “Finally, Grisham and Watson have freedom at the Girdwood Forest…
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.
