Topic: Fight The Battle In The Spirit [Andrew Wommack Devotional 20 November 2018]

John 18:10 “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.”

Text: John 18:10-11

It is the apostle John who reveals Peter as the one who cut off the servant’s ear and also identifies the servant. It is very doubtful that Peter was aiming for Malchus’ ear. It is more probable that he was making a horizontal swing at the servant’s head and as the man ducked, Peter cut off his ear.

Peter was very vocal about never denying the Lord, and his actions proved that he meant what he said. There were only two swords among the disciples, yet Peter was willing to take on these six hundred soldiers. This spelled certain death or imprisonment.

Peter wanted to stand with the Lord, but he was not prepared spiritually. He was still strong in his own ability. If the battle would have been in the physical realm, Peter would have fought to the death as he proved here. But when Jesus told Peter to put up his sword and not resist with his physical power, Peter was confused.

Peter only knew how to rely on the flesh. When Jesus refused to allow Peter to fight with his sword, he was defenseless. If he would have been praying with Jesus, as instructed, Peter would have been built up spiritually and able to stand with Jesus spiritually without denying Him. As the prophet Zechariah said, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zech. 4:6).

Likewise, we may sincerely desire to never deny our Lord, but it takes more than desire; it takes preparation. We all have been taught how to rely on ourselves, but we have to learn anew how to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). Just as in the physical realm, where muscles have to be exercised to become strong, so we have to exercise ourselves unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:7).

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

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: Heaven [Joyce Meyer Devotional 19 November 2018]

When the righteous cry [for help], the Lord hears and rescues them from all their distress and troubles. The Lord is near to the heartbroken and He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin). — Psalm 34:17-18 (AMP)

Heaven is the abode of God, the angels, and the souls of those who are granted salvation.

Heaven, the eternal home of the believer in Jesus Christ, is described in the Bible as not only totally peaceful, but also stunningly beautiful (see Revelation 21 and 22).

Having faith that this is our destiny delivers us from the fear of death. Death is not an unknown nothingness, but a graduation into better things than what we have experienced on earth.

As Christians, we can truthfully say, “I will live in heaven forever!” Your address will change someday from earth to heaven, but you will never really die.

What a joy to know that we have the hope of a beautiful, peaceful place where there will be no more tears, pain, or dying, and we will live in the actual presence of God.

Prayer Starter: O, Lord, thank You for eternal life through Jesus! When life is difficult, help me to remember that it won’t last forever, but I will one day know the joy of living with You in heaven. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

IMPARTATION SERVICE – 18TH NOVEMBER 2018
ANCHOR SCRIPTURE(S): GENESIS 32:24-28
MESSAGE TOPIC: THE WAY TO SPIRITUAL POWER
BY: DR. PAUL ENENCHE

SERVICE OBJECTIVE: Understanding the way to spiritual power

THINGS TO NOTE:
1. The power of God is a most vital necessity for the child of God
2. The power of God is desired by many but never experienced by many
3. Salvation is free but spiritual power attracts some demands

THE DEMANDS OF THE POWER OF GOD:
1. Total consecration (Gen. 32:24-28; Acts 2:1; 1 Kings 17:1; Ps. 24:3-5; Isa. 59:1-2; 2 Cor. 6:14-18)
i. ‘And Jacob was left alone…’ was the beginning of Jacob’s journey into power (Gen. 32:24-28)
ii. The Apostles were separated from all else but God, then power fell (Acts 2:1-5)
1a. Total Consecration means separation from every habit or lifestyle that keeps us out of God’s Presence (1Kings 17:1; Ps. 24:3-5; Isa. 59:1-2)
1b. Total Consecration means separation from every association or relationship that keeps us away from God (2Cor. 6:14-18)

2. Desperate desire (Gen. 32:24-28; Acts 2:1-5; Ps. 63:1-2; Hos. 6:3; Phil. 3:10)
i. Jacob through desperate desire secured power with God (Gen. 32:24-28)
ii. Through desperate desire the apostles in the upper room tarried with God until they were endued with power (Acts 2:1-5)
2a. Desperate desire is desire for God and His Presence (Ps. 63:1-2; Hos. 6:3; Phil. 3:10)
Anything you do more than what you do for God becomes a god in your life
2b. Desperate desire is desire and passion for the fullness of God’s Power; it is the rejection of the status quo (Phil. 3:10; Ps. 63:1-2)

3. Intense supplication (Gen. 32:24-28; Acts 4:31, 33; Matt. 6:9-10; Isa. 62:1-2, 6-7; Ps. 63:1-2; Phil. 3:10)
i. Jacob, at the point of intense wrestling in prayer, passed from pressure to power
ii. The apostles, experienced unusual power that materialised into explosive signs and wonders at the place of prayer (Acts 4:31, 33)
3a. Intense supplication involves praying and supplicating wholeheartedly for the establishment of
God’s authority in the earth (Matt. 6:9-10; Isa. 62:1-2, 6-7)
3b. Intense supplication involves praying and demanding for personal spiritual power (Ps. 63:1-2; Phil. 3:10)

4. Absolute surrender (Gen. 32:24-28; Exo. 3:5; 4:17)
i. Jacob had to surrender his strength before connecting power from God (Gen. 32:25)
ii. Moses had to put off his shoes which was a sign of surrender then he secured power with
God to go and deliver the Israelites (Ex. 2:5; 4:17)
4a. Absolute surrender is the yielding of man’s will to the Will and plan of God (Luke 22:42; Acts 21:14)
4b. Absolute surrender is the yielding of man’s effort, strength and ability to the Almightiness of God (Eccl. 9:11; Rom. 9:16; Zech. 4:6)

Also Read: The Products of God’s Power by Pastor Paul Enenche

5. Intense Word Insight (Eccl. 8:4; John 1:1-5; Acts 19:11-12; 20:32; 2Pet. 1:3-4; Dan. 11:32; Hos. 6:3)
i. Jesus Christ our Saviour was the Word of God personified and he moved in the realm of power that could not be quantified (John 1:1-5)
ii. Paul the Apostle was an apostle of power and an embodiment of the Word and he moved in the realm of power (Acts 19:11-12)
5a. Intense Word Insight is the knowledge of God – Who He is and what He can do; it explodes people in Power (Dan. 11:32; Hos. 6:3)
5b. Intense Word Insight is the knowledge of our rights, privileges and inheritance in God especially as it pertains to spiritual power and authority (Acts 20:32; 2 Pet. 1:3-4)

6. Vibrancy in the Holy Ghost (2 Tim. 1:7)
i. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was an initiation into power for the Apostles (Acts 1:8)
ii. Paul the Apostle of power was a man of the Spirit (Eph. 5:18; Acts 19:11-12)
6a. Praying and fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit intensifies spiritual power (Acts 4:31,33; 2Tim. 1:6-7)
6b. Following the guidance and direction of the Spirit is following the pathway of sonship and power (Rom. 8:14, 1:4)

CONCLUSION:
1. God does not release His power carelessly, He releases His power for those who meet the demands (Hos. 6:3)

2. God’s power is not cheap to access but it is more than worth the cost at the end of the day

PRAYERS
Father, I am here before You to experience Your power and Your anointing, in Jesus’ Name

Father, I come before You at the place of prayer and absolute surrender to walk in Your power, in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER FOCUS FOR THE FORTHCOMING 3-DAY FAST (Monday 19th – Wednesday 21st November 2018)
1. Father, frustrate every agenda of the gates of hell and the forces of evil organized against this program (Matt. 16:18-19)
2. Father, let the allocated and ordained glory for the Glory Dome be fully released at the dedication, in Jesus’ Name. Let every necessary mantle drop on that day Lord, in Jesus’ Name. (2Chron. 5:13-14)
3. Father, bring everyone coming for the dedication and conference safely and take them back safely, in Jesus’ Name (Luke 10:17)

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:
– Receive the grace to be totally consecrated unto God and free from all distractions
– Everything belonging to you in the hands of the devil is released to you now!
– Poverty, wretchedness and emptyhandedness is not your portion
– Every smell of reproach around your life and destiny is flushed out, you are preserved! You shall not be lost before your time in Jesus’ Name.

Also Read: Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche

The above MESSAGE 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.

Having a Healthy Relationship with In-Laws (Part 3) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Having a Healthy Relationship with In-Laws (Part 3)

Dear Reader,

Peace and Blessings in Jesus name! Last week, I explained to how to place your priorities, when caring and giving to your in-laws. Today, I will be sharing on forgiveness.

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye (Colossians 3:13).

To love your in-laws effectively, you must be ready to forgive them for the wrong they did to you in the past. I discovered from God’s Word that forgiveness is not a feeling, but it is a decision. Love is a healthier way for building and sustaining a marriage than bitterness and hatred. Unforgiveness will only spread its poison to family life, causing a gradual loss of happiness. You may have had terrible experiences with your in-laws and this may have even affected your marriage, but you must decide to forgive them.

NEGATIVE EFFECT OF UNFORGIVENESS
There are two major evils of Unforgiveness.

1. It Draws you to the Past
When you live in unforgiveness, you are trapped by the wrongs of the past. You are tied down by what your mother-in-law did, or what your sister-in-law said against you. Unforgiveness keeps bringing you back to your past. My husband once gave this illustration, if you are driving a vehicle and you keep looking backward, you may have an accident. The reason many people are not going forward in life, even after praying, reading the Bible and confessing Scriptures, is unforgiveness. This sister’s testimony is remarkable:

“Today marks three years since I started attending this church. What brought me here was my spiritual lack. I was born again five years before I came here and was attending a living church. But since I started worshipping here, God has given me the spirit of understanding, so that the Word of God and my faith have been on the increase. Most importantly, there has been captivity turn-around in my life, particularly in my marriage.

My marriage technically broke down on the wedding day, at the reception table! But I stayed on in it for almost a decade. It was a thorn in the flesh. Eventually, I had to leave. Right inside my matrimonial home, I got a SAN to prosecute the divorce.

Also Read: Handling Family Challenges (Part 3) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

I got born again after then, but the Word never came to me until I got to this church. There was a teaching on forgiveness. One day, which I realized that I had been living in self-righteousness all along. I forgive, but don’t forget. I got this corrected in my mind and through the anointed book Marriage Covenant, and anointed preaching’s and counseling of the men of God, my marriage was miraculously healed, and right now, I’m having a honey moon – Olaleye

Remember that your in-laws are humans too, and forgiveness should be done out of love. I don’t know who that person is that you have vowed never to forgive due to past negative experience, but you must let him or her go, so that your destiny in God will be realized.

2. It opens the door to the tormentor
Another evil of Unforgiveness is that it opens the door to the tormentor. A man in the Bible was described as wicked as a result of his unforgiving attitude. The Bible states: Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him (Mathew 18:32-34)

Unforgiveness is wickedness! An unforgiving wife, husband or sister-in-law is a wicked person and the Bible says that God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). Do you want to be identified with the wicked? That man was handed over to the tormentors because he refused to forgive. There are quite a number of people being tormented by the devil and his agents; they opened the door to these tormentors through Unforgiveness. Husbands, wives, when you hold on to Unforgiveness, you are saying, “Welcome” to the tormentor of life. As you clear out all forms of unforgiveness in your heart, God will restore you of all the tormentor may have stolen in Jesus’ name.

I remember the case of a certain woman who had been barren for many years. She went to see a doctor who told her that she needed to be operated upon. Fortunately, the doctor was a believer. On the day of the surgery, this woman was wheeled into the theatre ready for the operation. Then God spoke to the doctor that the reason she had been barren was because she had been holding a grudge against her brother-in-law. The doctor confronted the woman with that word and she opened up to him. She released her brother-in-law and the surgery was no longer necessary. Today, she is a joyful mother of children!

The tormentor of life can come in various forms, such as confusion among family members, depression, sickness, failure, etc., but you will not be a victim anymore! Allow the past to pass, so you can lay hold on your colourful destiny. Don’t you know that there are three days in a man’s life? Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yesterday is gone, you can’t bring it back anymore, so let it go! Today is where you are right now and what you do in your today determines what you find in your tomorrow. Your tomorrow is great, don’t let anything keep you from it!

You need Jesus in your life to be able to truly forgive. You want to be born again please pray this prayer with faith in your heart. Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Building a Successful Home, Making Marriage Work and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored)

“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.