Open Heavens 23 August 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – The sacredness of Life

Topic: The sacredness of Life

Memorise: “Thou shalt not kill.”– Exodus 20:13

Read: Genesis 21:9-21 (KJV)

9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 51-56, Matthew 24:36-25:13

Open Heavens 23 August 2018 Thursday MESSAGE:

Life is very sacred of God. It is so sacred to Him that its sanctity is guaranteed in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13). Our Lord Jesus Christ also emphasized the sanctity of life in Luke 9:56a, where He said:

“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

As children of God, we must therefore ensure that we uphold the sanctity of life, irrespective of the philosophy or ideas in vogue in the world.

Today’s Bible reading shows in vivid terms how precious life is to the Almighty, who is the Giver of life. Hagar and her son Ishmael had been ejected from the household of Abraham by God’s instruction, and with a limited provision of water, they wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. When their water got finished, the child became so dehydrated that it cried for survival. At the brink of death, God heard the cry of the lad and He supernaturally provided a well of water for them in the midst of the wilderness. One would have thought that the circumstances surrounding the birth of Ishmael would have made him a total outcast in the sight of God. Instead of being an outcast, God heard his cry as the cry of an innocent lad, and this caused God to come to his rescue. God did not only save his life, He also made him an astonishing promise of greatness, saying in Genesis 21:18:

“Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.”

One lesson from the story of Hagar and Ishmael is that while God was instructing their ejection, He was also preparing for their survival in the wilderness. Another lesson here is for those who abort unborn babies because they do not want them. Such people should know that they are making a grievous mistake against their own future and they are committing a grievous sin against the Giver of life. What they don’t seems to understand is that although they did not prepare for the pregnancy, God who saw what led to the pregnancy has a plan for the life they are bringing to the world, even though they may not know it, and for this reason, you must be careful about what you do to lives with your sphere of influence. Why take a life you did not and cannot create? Takers of life will not be guiltless before God. Therefore, in whatever form you are taking lives, stop it today and cry to God for forgiveness.

Prayer Point: Open Heavens 23 August 2018 Thursday

Father, in whatever way I have disregarded the sacredness of life, please forgive me and help me to appreciate lives around me as you do.

Also Read: Open Heavens 22 August 2018 – Performing Below Potential?

Open Heavens 23 August 2018 Thursday Hymn 12: Take My Life, And Let It Be

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Open Heavens 23 August 2018 Thursday  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 23 August 2018.

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: God’s Care for Us [Our Daily Bread 22 August 2018 Devotional]

Read: Genesis 3:1–13, Bible in a Year: Psalms 110–112; 1 Corinthians 5

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21

My young grandsons enjoy dressing themselves. Sometimes they pull their shirts on backwards and often the younger one puts his shoes on the wrong feet. I usually don’t have the heart to tell them; besides, I find their innocence endearing.

I love seeing the world through their eyes. To them, everything is an adventure, whether walking the length of a fallen tree, spying a turtle sunning itself on a log, or excitedly watching a fire truck roar by. But I know that even my little grandsons are not truly innocent. They can make up a dozen excuses about why they can’t stay in their beds at night and are quick to yank a wanted toy from the other. Yet I love them dearly.

I picture Adam and Eve, God’s first people, as being in some ways like my grandchildren. Everything they saw in the garden must have been a marvel as they walked with God. But one day they willfully disobeyed. They ate of the one tree they were forbidden to eat (Genesis 2:15–17; 3:6). And that disobedience immediately led to lies and blame-shifting (3:8–13).

Still, God loved and cared for them. He sacrificed animals in order to clothe them (v. 21)—and later He provided a way of salvation for all sinners through the sacrifice of His Son (John 3:16). He loves us that much!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for loving us, despite our sin, and for making a way for us to be with You forever!

For help in your spiritual growth, see this course: christianuniversity.org/spiritual-life-basics.

Jesus loves us so much He sacrificed Himself for our sins.

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

This message was written By Alyson Kieda [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Remember not the Former Things [TREM 22 August 2018 Daily Devotional]

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18

The ‘former things’ here is not just referring to the things of old. It’s also referring to good things because success can sometimes become a problem. You will stop succeeding the day you say you have succeeded and so you are comfortable and you do nothing. As long as you are breathing you need to set new visions. Even God does new things. Don’t ever get to a point where you are easily satisfied because I know He still has better things in stock for you. No matter how high you have climbed on the ladder of life, there is still a higher place and no matter how low down the ladder you are, God is ready to bring you out no matter the obstacles.

Our text says ‘Remember ye not the former things’. Why should I forget the former things? Behold God is about to do a new thing in your life and now it shall spring forth. The word “spring forth” here means it will break every barrier. You are unstoppable, and you are coming to the limelight. When God says, He will do a new thing; it is new, not refurbished, not renovated, not adjusted, it is something that you have never known.

Paul was writing to the church in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature”. Stop looking at yourself based on your family background, anyone who has received Christ as Lord is in-Christ and anyone in-Christ is a brand-new specie of being that has never existed before. You are different: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. That means you will make progress. You are a supernatural being. God says don’t worry, keep on being in Christ, I will take care of things. Expect a brand-new thing in your life every day; expect it in your health, expect that where you have failed before you will succeed.

Further Reading: Isaiah 43:14-21

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 110-112; Evening- 1 Corinthians 5

“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: No Consolation Prize [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 22 August 2018 Daily Devotional]

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. – James 1:4

I talk a lot about faith. But there’s another force that goes along with it that’s just as important. It’s patience—the ability to stand fast on the Word of God even when your victory seems slow in coming.

Patience is not automatic. It won’t go to work unless you let it go to work. So many people don’t understand that. They somehow think faith and patience will go to work for them without their help. They just let the devil tear their lives apart and then they say silly things like, “Well, I guess God sent that trial to strengthen my faith.”

Don’t you ever get caught saying that!

In the first place, James says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God…” (James 1:13). And in the second place, that trial isn’t going to make your faith stronger. In fact, it’ll destroy it if you’ll let it.

If I were to give you a set of weights, would that set of weights make you any stronger? No. As a matter of fact, if you dropped one of them on your foot, you could end up painfully weaker. It’s what you do with them that counts, right?

Well, the same thing is true when you run into some kind of trying circumstance the devil’s brought your way. If you just lie down and let it run over you, it will damage you. But if you’ll let patience have her perfect work, if you’ll remain consistently constant, trusting in and relying confidently on the Word of God, you’ll end up perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

“Wanting nothing.” That phrase alone should convince you that patience is no consolation prize. It’s a first-rate power that will put the promises of God within your reach. It’s a force that will make a winner out of you.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 26:15-22

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: Receive the Gift of Salvation [Andrew Wommack 22 August 2018 Daily Devotional]

Mark 10:21 “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”

Text: Mark 10:21-27

Notice that the scripture makes special mention of Jesus loving this rich young ruler. This is stated after this young man said he had kept all of God’s commands, which was not the truth. Jesus was showing him that he had broken the very first commandment that states, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3), and also the tenth commandment that says, “Thou shalt not covet…” (Ex. 20:17). Jesus’ tough answer of “sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor” was not intended to hurt this young man. It was said from a heart of love and intended for his own good. This man’s money had become his god and it had to be dethroned before Jesus could become Lord.

The one thing this young man lacked was faith in Jesus as his Savior. This young ruler was trusting in his goodness and not in the salvation that Jesus offered as a gift. Millions of people are making the same mistake today. They trust in themselves instead of God.

Jesus only came to save sinners. Unless an individual acknowledges that he is a sinner, he cannot be saved. Because the whole world is guilty before God, He has provided one way of salvation for everyone. In the same way that everyone is guilty, everyone also has been justified freely by God’s grace.

That does not mean everyone is saved. Everyone has had the sacrificial offering of Jesus made for their sins by grace but grace alone doesn’t save.

We have to put faith in what God has provided for us by grace. Although the price has been paid for the sins of the whole world, only those who receive it by faith will benefit from the salvation that Jesus offers.

Also 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: Sin is a Vast Debt [DCLM Daily Manna 22 August 2018 Daily Devotional]

Text: Matthew 18:23-35 (KJV)

Key Verse: “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?” (Matthew 18:32, 33).

MESSAGE:

According to Benjamin Keach, “Sin is a vast debt, considering what wrong it hath done to God. It is a crossing of His will, a violation of His sovereign and dominion, a defacing of His image, resisting of His Spirit, abuse of His patience, a slighting fall of His love, mercy and goodness. Sin is a great debt because all men, yea, all saints of the earth can’t pay its debt. It damns the sinner to eternal wrath and vengeance.”

A servant owed his master ten thousand talents. His debt was too heavy to pay. In his dismay, he begged for pardon at the feet of his master. Out of mercy, the master forgave him completely. In like manner, God forgives freely and fully the penitent sinner. He gave, not a half pardon, but complete pardon to whosoever will ask for forgiveness.

Meanwhile, the forgiven debtor’s conduct towards his fellow servant was odious. With cruel harshness and brutal insistence, he wanted the fellow servant to pay back and went on to mete out punishment. Consequently, the master recalled the pardon and sent the debtor to the tormentors.

Christians should rejoice at the great clemency of God in forgiving them their vast debt. The depth and height of His love and forgiveness should melt their hearts and lead them to forgive others. Yet, the commitment of many believers is sorely tested when others offend them. Some forgive but cannot forget. A so-called believer who finds it difficult to forgive has indeed never received the mercy and forgiveness of the Saviour. For if he has, it becomes much easier to unreservedly forgive when offended. If you cannot forgive, then there is no spark of light in you.

Thought For The Day: He who is forgiven much easily loves more.

Bible Reading In One Year: Jeremiah 46-48

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE 

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: Dealing With The Lifestyle Of Laziness [Seeds of Destiny 22 August 2018 Daily Devotional]

Scripture: Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? Isaiah 51:9

Thought For The Day: A lazy person has no deadline and when there is no deadline, there can be no headline.

Laziness is a destroyer of life and destiny. Lazy people are not active people. Lazy people are not smart people. Through laziness, time is wasted and destinies are ruined.

A lazy person has no deadline and when there is no deadline, there is no headline. Lazy people do not make headlines for positive and impactful news in life. That is why the lifestyle of idleness and laziness must be totally dealt with.

Now, how can a person deal with idleness and laziness?
i) Destroy idleness by all means
Refuse to sit down doing nothing; ensure that you are busy for God and with your life. Do not watch time move and nothing is happening; work for God; give out a tract; lead a soul to Christ; do something!

ii) Do what you find until you get what you want to do.
Do what is findable. Many people are too selective, that is why they have found nothing to do with their lives. Sometime ago, a young man went to an office where they were looking for dispatch riders to distribute letters. When he gave them his credentials and they discovered that he was a graduate, they told him that they were looking for a Senior School Certificate (SSCE) holder and that he was over qualified for their employment. He told them that he was available to do the work. When they saw his willingness to work, they employed him and made him a supervisor and still went ahead to look for another person to do the dispatch rider job. They saw in him unusual sense of responsibility and they could not let him go; they needed someone like him in their workforce.

Beloved, my counsel is, do what you find until you find what you want.

Remember this: A lazy person has no deadline and when there is no deadline, there is no headline.

Assignments:
1. Avoid idleness by all means.
2. Do what you find until you find what you want.
3. Be busy for God; evangelize and share tracts.

Prayer: O Lord, I make demands on Your Power to destroy idleness from my life. I receive the grace to be busy for You, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DEADLY ENEMIES OF DESTINY (PART 5)

Daily Reading: Job 4:1 to 7:21, 1 Corinthians 14:18 to 40, Psalm 32:30 to 40, Proverbs 21:27

Amazing Fact: Swell shark is a species of shark that can bark like a dog

Today In History: 22/08/1865 – A patent for liquid soap was issued to William Sheppard.

Quote: The easiest way to get a destiny rotten is to be inactive. Culled from 21 FOOLISH THINGS PEOPLE DO by Dr Paul Enenche.

Also Read: Seeds of Destiny 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: God Provides [Billy Graham Daily Devotional 22 August 2018]

For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down-when we die and leave these bodies-we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore, made for us by God himself, and not by human hands. — 2 Corinthians 5:1 (TLB)

Death, to the Christian, is the exchanging of a tent for a building. Here we are as pilgrims or gypsies, living in a frail, flimsy home; subject to disease, pain, and peril. But at death we exchange this crumbling, disintegrating tent for a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. The wandering wayfarer comes into his own at death and is given the title to a mansion which will never deteriorate nor crumble. Do you think that God, who has provided so amply for living, has made no provision for dying? The Bible says we are strangers in a foreign land. This world is not our home; our citizenship is in heaven. When a Christian dies, he goes into the presence of Christ. He goes to Heaven to spend eternity with God.

Prayer for the day: Dear Lord, today keep me mindful that as Your child my real home is not on this earth, but that one day I will exchange this tent for a house made by You in heaven.

“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.