Handling Family Challenges (Part 1) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Handling Family Challenges (Part 1)

Dear Reader,

Happy New Month! It is the first edition for the year and it holds many blessings for you. It is my prayer that all that God intents for your family this year be achieved in Jesus’ name! From recent observations, it is clear that topmost on the counselling list of churches and centres are family-related issues. Many people have questions on the family for which few people seem to have adequate answers to. The general impression is that no human being can enjoy total success in family life. However, this is far from the truth. God, the originator of marriage and the family, designed it to be successful and enjoyable. His purpose for instituting marriage remains the same. Nothing can alter it – not even civilisation, technological advancement or philosophical reasoning. However, the fact that many are frustrated, unhappy, fed up and failing does not tamper with the truth of God’s Word. Marriage is designed for success. This truth must be appreciated in order to appropriate it in your marriage. The key to family success can only be found in the Word. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8). Success in all areas of life is God’s will for you, but it does not come by chance, it must be consciously acquired from the Word.

Also Read: Dwelling In Understanding (Part 2) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

A successful family is where there is joy, abundance, rest and love. This is God’s utmost desire for you. Just like every game or sport has rules guiding it, there are rules to follow in order to have a successful family life. To break any of these rules does not only disqualify you from having a successful family, but also results in challenges in the family. Throughout this month, I shall teach on this important topic: Handling Family Challenges.
What Are Challenges?

Challenges are defined as difficult tasks that test someone’s ability. So, handling family challenges can be said to be the ability to deal with, manage or control some difficult situations in the family. In other words, it means taking care of the family by removing every destructive element in it.

There are some little foxes that serve as threat to family peace, joy and happiness. The Bible says:

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes (Songs of Solomon 2:15). Foxes are usually identified with destruction in the Scripture. They are little things that some may consider too insignificant to merit any attention. But, amazingly, those seemingly insignificant things can destroy unity in the families, if not properly handled. All through this month, I shall examine some of them and how they can be successfully handled.

Challenges of Family Life

Unforgiveness
This is the seed that breeds bitterness. The Bible says: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:15). The term “springing up” connotes a thing that starts small and then suddenly explodes. Bitterness starts from very little things. Perhaps, your spouse or a family member has done something to hurt you and you refuse to forgive him or her, every remembrance of the incident brings pain to you. Watch it! That’s a root of bitterness springing up gradually. If it is not handled immediately, it will ultimately trouble the peace of your home.

Unforgiveness has many negative effects ranging from lost of peace and rest, to falling short of God’s grace. Not only does it trouble individuals, it goes beyond that to defile the person (Acts 8:23). Unforgiveness and bitterness torments. It opens the door to certain devourers such as poverty, barrenness, sickness, etc., in the family. Now that we know the effects of unforgiveness and bitterness, wisdom demands that we properly handle them in order to experience family success.

How Then, Can You Overcome Unforgiveness?

Someone may ask what must I do to overcome unforgiveness and bitterness? The answer is simple, forgive! The Bible says: Let all bitterness…be put away from you, with all malice (Ephesians 4:31). Forgive whosoever has offended you. Don’t wait for the person to come and apologise to you, because he may not. Learn the secret of instant forgiveness. That is, forgive as soon as you are offended, whether the offender asks for it or not. This is one of the secrets of success in family life. The Word of God has this to say about strife and envy: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work (James 3:16). Many have lost their families to bitterness; you don’t have to join them. This principle of instant forgiveness has helped me a great deal. My husband and I practice it and it pays off for us. It pays to forgive!

Before you can forgive, firstly, you need to be forgiven by God by accepting Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour. If you desire His forgiveness, say this 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: The Power Of Apostolic Benediction [TREM 15 October 2018 Daily Devotional]

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

In almost all Christian gathering you go to, we make the above declaration. Either the pastor or priest will say it or the entire congregation will say it at the end. And that sort of signals the end of the service. I Am sure you are familiar with the phrase: “Let’s share the grace in fellowship”. We have also added “surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives…” And it is all wonderful, but my challenge is that it is fast becoming a ritual and a religious exercise rather than understanding the power behind it.

The Apostolic benediction is not something we just say in other to close service. You know, we just had a wonderful service, the word of God has been preached with the power of God present; healing has taken place. And then you are being discharged to go and confront your confrontation and to face a real world. It was Apostle Paul who received this revelation from God. Remember Paul was so religious. But at a time, God had to meet him on his way to Damascus and from then God began to make him see from the realm of the Spirit.

Paul was taken to the third heaven and was able to receive revelation so mighty that we are still gleaning from it long after his death. You can scarcely preach a full message without mentioning Paul, because of the deposit of God in his life. So, Paul is the one who made this declaration when he wrote to the church in Corinth, telling them it is a greeting. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.’’

We need these tripartite anointing upon our lives as we go about our daily activities. The Grace of God. The Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Spirit.

Further reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Isaiah 45-46; Evening- 1 Thessalonians 3

“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: The Heart of the King [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland Devotional 15 October 2018]

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. – Proverbs 21:1

Think about that for a moment! God has reserved the right to override the will of a nation’s leader, if need be, to see that His people are governed according to His will.

What’s more, God will hear the prayer of any government leader. Even if he’s the worst reprobate in the whole world. He heard the prayer of old King Nebuchadnezzar. Believe me, that means He’ll listen to any leader!

You see, Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. He was an ungodly ruler of an ungodly nation. However, he’d taken captives from the land of Judah. He had some of God’s people under his authority. So, God began to deal with him.

Again and again, God warned him, Nebuchadnezzar, you’re going to lose your mind if you don’t straighten up. And, sure enough, he went just as crazy as could be.

He stayed that way for years too. Then one day he cried out to God and God heard him.

Despite his status as a heathen king of a heathen nation, God intervened repeatedly in Nebuchadnezzar’s life and heard him when he finally cried out for help. Why? Because he had God’s people under his control!

That same principle still holds true today. If we’ll open the way through prayer, God will deal with our leaders!

If we will humble ourselves in unity and pray, God can change the injustice and corruption that exist in our country, or any country for that matter. He’ll change the hearts of everyone from the White House on down to make sure His children are governed justly.

Make it a point to pray for our leaders today!

Scripture Reading: Daniel 4:1-37

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: Trust Him First [Our Daily Bread 15 October 2018 Devotional]

Read: Isaiah 46:3–13, Bible in a Year: Isaiah 45–46; 1 Thessalonians 3

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19 nlt

“Don’t let go, Dad!”

“I won’t. I’ve got you. I promise.”

I was a little boy terrified of the water, but my dad wanted me to learn to swim. He would purposefully take me away from the side of the pool into a depth that was over my head, where he was my only support. Then he would teach me to relax and float.

It wasn’t just a swimming lesson; it was a lesson in trust. I knew my father loved me and would never let me be harmed intentionally, but I was also afraid. I would cling tightly to his neck until he reassured me all would be well. Eventually his patience and kindness won out, and I began to swim. But I had to trust him first.

When I feel “over my head” in a difficulty, I sometimes think back on those moments. They help me call to mind the Lord’s reassurance to His people: “Even to your old age . . . I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you” (Isaiah 46:4).

We may not always be able to feel God’s arms beneath us, but the Lord has promised that He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). As we rest in His care and promises, He helps us learn to trust in His faithfulness. He lifts us above our worries to discover new peace in Him.

Prayer: Abba, Father, I praise You for carrying me through life. Please give me faith to trust that You are always with me.

God carries us to new places of grace as we trust in Him.

Insight:
For further reading on trust in God during difficult times, see the free booklet Anchors in the Storm at discoveryseries.org/hp073.

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

This message was written By James Banks [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic — Spirituality: The Greatest Need Of Life [Seeds of Destiny 15 October 2018 Devotional]

Scripture: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.

Thought For The Day: You have not succeeded in life until you have succeeded with God.

Spirituality implies the intensity of Divinity around Humanity. It is the quality or state of being spiritual.

One of the greatest needs of anyone in life, is true and quality spirituality. In fact, spirituality is the greatest need of life. It does not matter if the person is an employer, employee, father, mother, white man, black man, professor, illiterate, etc., his/her strongest need in life is true spirituality.

The truth is, what you need most in life is not more money, name or fame; what you need most in life is God. Irrespective of what you seek in life, seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness (Matthew 6:33). You have not succeeded in life until you have succeeded with God. The spirituality of a man is like the root of a tree, and the welfare of a tree is determined by its root; if the root is in good shape, the tree must flourish. In the same manner, the spirituality of man is the root and source of sustenance of man’s life. Thus, any venture outside Divine direction has no future. Any progress devoid of spirituality has no destiny.

Beloved, my counsel is, invest in your spirituality; investment in your spirituality is not a waste of investment. Attend to the welfare of your spiritual life above anything else. You shall make it, in Jesus’ Name.

Remember This: You have not succeeded in life until you have succeeded with God at the place of prayer.

Assignments:

1. Decide to fight against a dry state of spiritual life.
2. Revive and maintain your spiritual fire and intensity via prayer and fasting, the study of the Word, worship, etc.
3. Endeavour not to venture into anything or take any step without God.

Prayer: Lord, deliver me from spiritual dryness or lethargy. Help me to be vibrant spiritually and know You more, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE VALUE OF SPIRITUALITY

Quote: Sensitivity is a product of spirituality; when you are spiritually charged you take charge. Culled from REASON FOR LIVING by Dr. Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 26:1 to 27:22, 2 Thessalonians 3:1 to 18, Psalm 85:1 to 13, Proverbs 25:16

Amazing Fact: There are some species of lizard that spurt blood from their eyes just to protect themselves from the predators.

Today In History: 15/10/1948 – 38th US President Gerald Ford (35) weds department store fashion consultant Elizabeth (Betty) Bloomer Warren (30) at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Ford.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Healing and Deliverance Service tomorrow by 9:00am. Invite your friends and loved ones. God bless you

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.

Topic: New Revelation Of Love [Andrew Wommack Devotional 15 October 2018]

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.“

Jesus previously stated that all the law and the prophets were dependent on loving God first, and then loving your neighbor as yourself. These truths were already in the law but people missed them. So, this commandment was not new in the sense that it had never been given before, but it was brought to the forefront and given new meaning through the example of Jesus. Jesus not only loved His neighbor as Himself, He loved us more than Himself.

John, the apostle who wrote this gospel, later wrote about the new commandment of love. No doubt, he received his inspiration from this teaching of Jesus. John wrote, “Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth” (1 Jn. 2:7-8). He then goes on to speak of loving one another.

This commandment, or the revelation that God gave to man through His Word, wasn’t new, but was never clearly seen by men because of the darkness that separated them from God. In the light of Jesus’ life, the darkness was removed and the old commandment of love became new through the example of Jesus in a way that mere words could never express.

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: Experience Jesus [Billy Graham Devotional 15 October 2018]

The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. — John 6:63

To one of the most religious men of His day, Jesus said, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). Nicodemus could not substitute his profound knowledge of religion for spiritual rebirth, and neither can we. I have read a book on water skiing, and it did not take long for me to learn that I could never learn to water ski by reading a book-I would have to experience it.

I have read a number of books on golf, but none of them seems to improve my game; I must get out on the golf course and play. You may study theology and religion, but there comes a time when you must experience Christ for yourself.

Prayer for the day: Lord, You have given me life and I praise You!

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

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 15 October 2018 Monday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Learn To Trust God

Topic: Learn To Trust God (Open Heaven 15 October 2018)

Memorise: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”– Romans 8:28

Read: Psalm 37:4-6 (KJV)

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 65-66, Luke 6:46-7:17

Open Heaven 15 October 2018 Monday MESSAGE:

Trusting God is one of the best things a child of God can ever learn to do. The moment you learn to trust God, life will become beautiful because you will begin to experience a kind of peace you never knew existed. Initially, it can be quite hard for us to trust God due to the fact that His ways are higher than our ways, and until we get to know Him well, His instructions and commands might seem strange. Nevertheless, as a child of God, it is important that you learn to trust God blindly. Even if you cannot see around the bend, you should trust Him enough to know that He will always lead you aright. No matter how unconditional God’s ways are, one thing is sure: He has your best interest at heart. Jeremiah 29:11 says:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Trusting God involves taking the backseat and letting God handle the major decisions and situations in your life. It involves letting your will be so lost in His will until you start to see things from His perspective and feel things through His heart. It takes a lot of trust in another individual to be able to let go of your own will and let that person’s will prevail in your life. You can only trust someone that you love; so if you don’t love God genuinely, you cannot trust Him.

There was a day I was driving down from Ilorin to Lagos and the fuel tank was almost empty. Unknown to me, a fuel scarcity was on, and so all the filling stations I saw along the way had no fuel. I cried to God and He asked me to take my eyes off the fuel gauge and continue driving to Lagos. Although my fuel tank was already on reserve at the time He told me to do this, I said to Him ”Yes Lord”, and I kept driving. To the glory of God, I kept on driving till I got my house in Lagos. After I parked the car, I looked at the fuel gauge and it read empty! If I did not trust God completely, I would have parked my car in a safe place along the way and gone through the stress of finding an alternative means of getting home, instead of taking the risk of getting stranded along the way.

The devil specializes in sowing seeds of doubt in our hearts so that our faith in God will diminish, because he knows that the moment you start doubting God, you will not be able to receive anything from Him (James 1:6-7). For this reason, it is very important to remind yourself of the good things God has done for you and others in the past. Encourage yourself with these testimonies in order to rekindle your faith. Learn to trust God, because it shows your love for Him!

Open Heaven 15 October 2018 Monday Key Point:

If you don’t learn to trust God, then don’t expect anything from Him.

Also Read: Open Heaven 14 October 2018 – Mercy Prevails Over Judgement

Open Heaven 15 October 2018 Monday Hymn 11: O God Our Help In Ages Past

1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

4. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.

6. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

Open Heaven 15 October 2018 Monday 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 15 October 2018 Monday 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.