Topic: Double Blessing [Joyce Meyer Devotional 18 October 2018]

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. — Zechariah 9:12

Hope is a powerful force that will bring you through any storm. Our hope is in God; therefore, we can hope without any natural reason to do so. Hope is a positive expectation of good.

Practice saying, “Something good is going to happen to me today, and something good is going to happen through me today.” God is good, and He wants to shower His goodness on you.

There are times of difficulty, loss, illness, and disappointment in life, but if we will endure with hope in our hearts, we will be rewarded with a double blessing for our former trouble.

Let me strongly encourage you to refuse to be hopeless. Put your hope in God and things will always come around to being right in due time. I can’t guarantee how long it will take, and it may not be quick, but hope will strengthen you to face life with joy even in the midst of trouble.

Live daily thinking, Today may be the day of my breakthrough. It could happen suddenly…at any moment.

Hope is the anchor of our souls. It keeps us from giving in to wild emotions that attempt to lead us to do things we will regret later on. The wise man puts His hope in God. He listens for God’s voice and follows it, knowing that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. God is that Light, and He is urging you to be a prisoner of hope.

Prayer Starter: Father, anytime I feel discouraged or weary, help me remember that there is always hope. Help me to be filled with hope in You and positive expectation. You are good, and I believe You want to be good to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

David Abioye Devotional 18 October 2018 – How To Maintain Relevance

Topic: How To Maintain Relevance [18 October 2018]

Standing firm and fast at your God ordained duty post is the only way to maintain your relevance.

Refuse to be attracted to what is popular.

Stay at your appointed place if you don’t want to suffer disappointment in life.

If you don’t want to loose your defence, stay in your place.

Your safety, defence and security is in your place.

Rather than looking for position abide in your already found place. Your stardom is tied to your place.

Instead of looking for recognition, maintain relevance. Relevance is far more important than recognition.

Your fruit is tied to your root, remain rooted to remain fruitful.

Everyone has his God given capacity to shine in his place of assignment. Therefore, stand in your place, take root downwards and bear fruits upward.

“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor David Abioye”

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 18 October 2018 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Receiving Breakthrough Power

TOPIC: Receiving Breakthrough Power (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 18 October 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Luke 11:21-22

MEMORY VERSE: “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” – Zechariah 4:7

The MESSAGE:

A door way is a gate or an entrance into a place. A door is a movable, usually solid barrier for opening and closing an entryway, building, cupboard, cabinet etc. In the Fire Scripture, we have a warehouse with a wide and open door or a gate. This is our spiritual warehouse with a spiritual open door. Every one of us has this (warehouse) where all goods pertaining to our lives are kept, and we are expected to walk in there and pick what we need at every stage of our life. Unfortunately, the devil had succeeded in closing the wide open door to many people’s warehouses and handed the keys over to the “strongmen” to watch over the doors of the warehouse. Thus, pitiably, so many Christians are standing outside their warehouses, looking for ways to move in to possess their possessions.

A sister had a dream after serious prayers for marital blessings. She saw herself standing at the gate of a big beautiful house. Suddenly, the gate opened with a blast and she entered and saw a young man walking up to her. The man asked, “where have you been all these while?” The ‘old strong woman’ who kept me here died just now and I had my way out”. This was interpreted to mean that her husband has been locked up in that house, while she was busy looking for whom to marry. That was the warehouse Jesus talked about. When the sister entered with the young man, she saw so many beautiful things that were meant for her, apart from her husband. Most of us are presently standing at closed gates without the keys. Our assets to make it in life are locked up inside while we are crying for help, moving from one deliverance place to another with no solution. What are your needs? Where are they? Where is the money? Where is your marriage? Where Are your virtues? Where is your job? Where is your partner? When you have no access to any of these, then your warehouse might have just been shut. Jesus knew this could happen so He asked us to bind the ‘strongman’, collect the keys and open the doors to possess your needs.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
THE POWER OF GOD IS NOT FREE: THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY.

PROPHETIC WORD:
By the reason of the anointing, receive the power to break and pass through to possess your possession.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING
1. Father, I thank You for giving me the mandate to break through, in Jesus’ name.
2. The doors of affliction and confusion opened unto me, instead of doors of success, be closed forever, in Jesus’ name.
3. Gates of death opened to swallow me and my virtues, swallow your owners, in Jesus’ name.

EVENING
4. Every desire of satanic agents for my life unto destruction, die, in Jesus’ name.
5. Power to break through into the heart of my helpers, come upon my life, in Jesus’ name.
6. Power to break through to the next level and be celebrated, come upon my life, in Jesus’ name.
7. Anointing of ease to break the backbone of the ‘strongman’ in charge of my stolen possessions and to possess them, come upon my life, in Jesus’ name.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

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: Who’s The Waiter? [Teens Open Heavens 18 October 2018]

Memorise: Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. – Proverbs 27:18

Read: Isaiah 40:29-31 (KJV)

Bible In One Year: Isaiah 65-66, 2 Thessalonians 1

MESSAGE:

Although prayer cannot change God, it can however change weakness to strength. Our Bible reading for today says that there is an exchange of strength when you wait on the Lord in prayer. This means whenever you access God’s presence, go with all your weaknesses and failings. Go in as an empty vessel that is ready to be filled.

Never enter His presence with the notion that you have it all, that you have arrived or that you do not really need Him. You may lose what you think you have and return empty. When you wait on the Lord, you are to the waiter and He your Guest. Serve Him only what He likes and not what you like. Unfortunately, because many of us do not understand what it is to wait on Him, we turn Him into the waiter and we the guest; we bombard Him with orders. From today, go into God’s presence and be the waiter.

Key Point: When you genuinely wait on God, men will wait on you.

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 16:

1. Christian, seek not yet repose
Hear thy gracious Savior say;
Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray.

2. Principalities and power
Mustering their unseen array
Wait for the unguarded hours:
Watch and pray

3. Gird the heavenly armor on,
Wear it ever night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one:
Watch and pray.

4. Hear the victors who o’ercame,
Still they mark each warrior’s way;
All with one sweet voice exclaim,
Watch and pray.

5. Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou loves to obey;
Hide within thy heart His word:
Watch and pray.

6. Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down:
Watch and pray.

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.

Handling Family Challenges (Part 2) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Handling Family Challenges (Part 2)

Dear Reader,

You are most welcome to another interesting edition of these series of teachings. Last week, I started a teaching on the topic: Handling Family Challenges. I also defined some terms and gave an example of the challenge of unforgiveness and how to properly handle it in the family. This is simply through unconditional forgiveness. This week, I shall be showing you another challenge and how to handle it for a successful family life.

There are millions of families hurting because they are ignorant of God’s plan for their family. Some are undergoing untold heartaches, breakdowns and physical combats; yet seeking for peace, joy and fulfilment and at the same time groping in darkness. Some end up breaking up the family only to experience hurts and wounds while others stay married because of the children but go through shameful and hurtful experiences.

God’s utmost desire for married couples and the family unit is peace, joy, fulfilment, expansion and increase. It is no secret that families these last days are under attack (I Timothy 4:1-3). However, God is not caught unawares, but has an escape route prepared for all who are willing to assume responsibility. Since He is the Sole Manufacturer of the union, whatever He says, if followed, produces the best result. The Bible says: And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: (Deuteronomy 28:1).

Also Read: Prudent Family Life (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

When you refuse to hearken to God’s commandment about a thing, it amounts to pride. It is written: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).That is why in this edition, I will be teaching on the danger of Pride in the family.

Challenges of Family Life

PRIDE

Pride and destruction are twins; they go hand-in-hand. Wherever you see pride, know that its companion, destruction, is also close by. The devastating effect of pride can be seen in the life of Lucifer. He was the son of the morning, the anointed cherub that covereth. He was beautiful, made of all manner of precious stones, a commander of a third of God’s angels, but the moment God spotted pride in him, He cast him down to hell (Isaiah 14:12-15).

Pride abases. It leads to a fall. It brings destruction. Anytime you give room to pride, you are indirectly inviting destruction. It sets God against a man, because God resists a proud man and if God resists a man, who can help him? The Bible says: Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Pride is very devastating. It begins from the heart and has destroyed many homes. My husband often says, if you’re proud, you know it; you don’t need a prophet to tell you. Jesus, the pattern Son, never spoke proudly of Himself, He never boasted. Everything He said and did pointed to God the Father. The Bible says: …Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise (John 5:19). Jesus had cause to brag about His works, humility and kindness, but His eyes were focused on God and on the ones He had come to save.

It is pride that makes a man treat his wife as a slave, because he sees her as nobody but sees himself as the lord of all, and the “lion of the tribe of his home”. Every member of his family is scared of his presence. Some husbands also tend to get carried away with the things they provide in the house and are misled to think, “I am the breadwinner in this house, I do so and so, I give and give and give!” However, when you realise that you have, only because He (God) provided, your language will change. This is one great secret I have learnt from my husband. As we both acknowledge God as the Doer and keep walking in humility, God keeps supplying all our needs. That can become your own testimony too.

It is pride that makes a woman despise her husband, because she is better educated or paid. In fact, some ladies are not married yet, not because no man has shown interest in them, but because pride makes them see the men that come to ask for their hands in marriage as not being up to their standard. They look at them arrogantly and conclude that they cannot cater for them. She wants a man with a big car, a high-paying job, a house, etc. She is so full of herself and thinks she is too much for every man, and, therefore, looks down on them. But, the Word of God says: For who hath despised the day of small things? (Zechariah 4:10). Pride will make such a lady a spinster for life. Walk in humility and God will visit you.

Some parents are stumbling blocks to their children’s marital breakthrough. They size up their daughter’s suitors and conclude that she cannot marry him, perhaps because of his “low” social or academic status. Beware, because pride is a major hindrance to a glorious home.

How Then, Can You Overcome Pride?

The Bible says: The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way (Psalm 25:9). God has nothing to do with the proud and arrogant. The cheapest way to having a sweet home is to make yourself of no reputation. Take on a meek spirit, not minding what name people call you. You have a lot to gain by being meek. God will not only guide you, He will also teach you His ways.

However, for God to guide you and teach you His ways, you have to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour by being born again. To be born again, say this simple prayer in faith: 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 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: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home 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.

Topic: A Piercing Thorn [Our Daily Bread 18 October 2018 Devotional]

Read: Isaiah 53:1–6, Bible in a Year: Isaiah 53–55; 2 Thessalonians 1

But he was pierced for our transgressions . . . and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

The thorn pricked my index finger, drawing blood. I hollered and then groaned, drawing back my hand instinctively. But I shouldn’t have been surprised: trying to prune a thorny bush without gardening gloves was a recipe for exactly what just happened.

The pain throbbing in my finger—and the blood flowing from it—demanded attention. And as I searched for a bandage, I found myself unexpectedly thinking about my Savior. After all, soldiers forced Jesus to don an entire crown of thorns (John 19:1–3). If one thorn hurt this much, I thought, how much agony would an entire crown of them inflict? And that’s just a small portion of the physical pain He suffered. A whip flogged His back. Nails penetrated His wrists and ankles.

But Jesus endured spiritual pain too. Verse 5 of Isaiah 53 tells us, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him.” The “peace” Isaiah talks about here is another way of talking about forgiveness. Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced—by nails, by a crown of thorns—to bring us spiritual peace with God. His sacrifice, His willingness to die on our behalf, paved the way to make a relationship with the Father possible. And He did it, Scripture tells us, for me, for you.

Prayer: Father, I can’t imagine the pain Your Son endured to wash away my sin. Thank You for sending Him for me, to be pierced for my sins that I might have a relationship with You.

Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced to bring us spiritual peace with God.

INSIGHT
Isaiah 53:1–6 is part of a section of the book known as the Servant Songs. There are four Servant Songs in Isaiah that describe the service, suffering, and triumph of the servant of the Lord—Jesus the Messiah. These songs are found in Isaiah 42:1–9, 49:1–13, 50:4–11, and 52:13–53:12.

This last servant song describes the suffering and triumph of the servant. Though He is pierced, crushed, punished, and wounded, it’s His suffering that brings us peace and healing (53:5). The ultimate purpose for this suffering is outlined in verse 10—His life is an offering for sin. The servant takes our place—suffering for us and bearing our sins. And by His suffering and death, we are given life and peace. But death is not the end for the servant: “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life” (v. 11). In His suffering and resurrection, Jesus reconciles humanity to God (see Matthew 8:17; Acts 8:30–35; Romans 10:15–17; 15:21).

How can you celebrate the life that Jesus died to give you?

For more on the book of Isaiah, see Old Testament Survey: Ecclesiastes–Isaiah at christianuniversity.org/OT224.

J.R. Hudberg

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Adam Holz [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Grace Will Work For You [TREM 18 October 2018 Daily Devotional]

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”. 1 Corinthians 15:10

All through in the scriptures, we see grace at work. Have you ever wondered why Moses was preserved? The rest of the little Hebrew children were killed, but grace kept him. God then took Moses into the very camp of the enemy and yet they couldn’t touch him. They were touching other children but not Moses. Why? Grace says, “this one is untouchable”. God went a step further to ensure that they used their resources to bring him up in Egypt; in the very camp of the enemy.

As a believer, you should not go about as though you are naked. You have the highest levels of arsenals. The devil is not powerful than we are. All power belongs to our God and He has deposited this power in His word. The word of God carries grace. It was grace that made Vashti make a mistake. There was no reason why she shouldn’t have answered her husband’s call. After all, she was also having her party. The natural thing to do was to answer him but grace had zeroed in on Esther. I see grace relocating you.

Heaven had already packaged Esther to be a Queen. So, grace was at work directing every affair. Somebody may be working with you in the same place and he doesn’t know that grace is working for you. David was forgotten even by his father but grace was looking for him. The prophet Samuel said this matter will not be complete until he arrives. There are certain things that will never take place until you appear. So, don’t bother about the delay. It will never happen until you show up. That same grace that worked for others will work for you. I will hear your testimony.

Further reading: Esther 2:1-17; 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Isaiah 53-55; Evening- 2 Thessalonians 1

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’

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: Understanding What It Means to Give One’s Life to Christ [Seeds of Destiny 18 October 2018 Devotional]

Scripture: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Luke 9:23-24

Thought For The Day: A life outside Christ is a life full of crises; a Christ-less life is a crisis-full life.

In our churches today, many people give their lives to Jesus when a call is made to do so but take their lives back from God by the way they live. This is because they do not understand what it really means to give one’s life to Christ. The way they live outside the church contradicts their profession of Christianity. Hence, it is very important to know what it really means to give one’s life to Christ.

Now, what then does it mean to give your life to Christ?
1. Saying NO to Sin and All forms of Unrighteousness
To give your life to Christ is to say NO to sin and all forms of unrighteousness. It is to embrace the Godly life of holiness, righteousness and uprightness in conformity to the life of Jesus Christ.

2. Relinquishing the Control of your Life to God
This is coming to a point where you completely hand over the control of your life to God and you cannot claim to own yourself any longer.

3. Allowing God to have the Final Say
To give your life to Christ is to allow God to have the final say over your life; it is coming to a point where you can take no decision in life without God.

4. Ceasing to Live for Yourself but for God Alone
To give your life to God is to cease to live for yourself; you start living for God. It is coming to a point like Paul the Apostle who said, ‘For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.’ (Philippians 1:21).

Beloved, a life outside Christ is a life full of crises; a Christ-less life is a crisis-full life. But that shall not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.

Remember This: A life outside of Christ is a life full of crises; a Christ-less life is a crisis-full life.

Assignments:
1. Handover the totality of your life to God by making up your mind to give your life to Christ today (if you have not done that).
2. Decide to develop a quality spiritual life of prayer and study of the Word of God.

Prayer: Lord, I surrender the totality of my life to You. Give me the grace to be a Christian not by confession but by character, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: GIVE YOUR LIFE CHRIST

Quote: Disconnection from God is disconnection from good. Culled from 365 WISDOM CAPSULES by Dr Paul Enenche

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 31:27 to 32:44, 1 Timothy 3:1 to 16, Psalm 88:1 to 18, Proverbs 25:20 to 22

Amazing Fact: Chameleons change colour not to camouflage; they change colour according to their mood or health

Today In History: 18/10/1922, British Broadcasting Company (BBC) founded, later called British Broadcasting Corporation

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

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.