Topic: Run to God, Not from Him [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Thursday August 16, 2018]

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they tried to hide from God, and they sewed some fig leaves together hoping to hide their nakedness (see Genesis 3:7).

I seem to be very impacted lately by remembering that we never have to run from God, we never need to hide, and we can be totally honest with Him about everything. In fact, instead of running away, He invites us to do the opposite and run to Him! He promises to never reject anyone who comes to Him, no matter their condition.

If you feel guilty about something or have failed miserably, run to God as fast as you can and get a hug from Him. He will forgive, restore, and set you right again. God is the only one who can help us in our times of discouragement, failure, and fear, so it is foolish to run away from the only help we have. Even if you are a little angry with God because of disappointments in your life, run to Him anyway. Tell Him how you feel and ask for His help.

Jesus is able to understand us because He was tempted, tested, and tried. He shared the feeling of our weaknesses and infirmities, and yet He never sinned (see Hebrews 4:15). Jesus knows exactly how you and I feel, and we have an open invitation to come into His presence anytime. We can come just as we are!

Prayer Starter: Father, I am so grateful for Your love and acceptance. It is wonderful to know that You will never reject me. I need You! Help me to always run to You and never to run away. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Open Heavens 17 August 2018 Friday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Making A Spectacle

Memorise: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”- Colossians 2:15

Read: Luke 10:17-24 (KJV)

17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 21-26, Matthew 21:28-46

Open Heavens 17 August 2018 Friday MESSAGE:

In order to show that our Father is in charge of the affairs of this world, it may be necessary for children of God to engage in some spiritual fireworks that would lead to a spectacle. To demonstrate His supremacy over Satan before the whole world, our Lord Jesus Christ made a public spectacle of Satan while He was on earth. He cast demons out with just a word, He commanded unclean spirits and they obeyed Him, and to crown it all up, He made their master, Satan, fall as lighting from heaven (Matthew 8:16, Mark 1:27, Luke 10:18). To show that His superiority over the devil was not a fluke, He also empowered His disciples to make a spectacle of the kingdom of darkness, which they did. Not only did Jesus make a spectacle of Satan in this world, He went to the domain of the kingdom of darkness when He died, and boy, were there fireworks! The highlight of this event is seen in Colossians 2:15:

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

Hallelujah! Our Lord triumphantly made an open show of Satan and his cohorts in the spirit realm to show that He reigns supreme in both the natural and spiritual world. To demonstrate the superiority of our God, we also have been mandated to make a spectacle of the kingdom of darkness and their works, just as our Master did.

Elijah was a prophet of God who engaged in a spiritual spectacle that disgraced the kingdom of darkness on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:21-39). Elijah had given the prophets of Baal the chance to showcase the power of Baal, whom they claimed to be supreme. Although they prayed to Baal from morning till evening, nothing happened. 1 Kings 18:27 says:

“And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.”

It was an interesting display which culminated in all onlookers confessing the lordship of the God of Elijah (1 Kings 18:39). After disgracing the devil and making a spectacle of him, our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 10:19 fortified us with all that we need to victoriously put up a spiritual spectacle like Elijah did. He said to us:

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

With this mandate, instead of the devil making a mockery of us, the reverse should be the case. In your affairs today, use your God-given authority to put the devil down and exalt our God.

Prayer Point: Open Heavens 17 August 2018 Friday

Father, prove Yourself in my life. Let those the devil is using to look down on me begin to look up to me for help as they acknowledge Your supremacy manifesting through me.

Also Read: Open Heavens 16 August 2018 – Pains without Gain

Open Heavens 17 August 2018 Friday Hymn 18: Conqueror and Overcomers Now Are We

1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing ‘gainst His mighty power can e’er prevail.

Chorus
Conquerors are we, thr’o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.

2. In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.

3. Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.

Open Heavens 17 August 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 17 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: Heart Hunger [Our Daily Bread 16th August 2018 Devotional]

Read: John 6:32–40, Bible in a Year: Psalms 94–96; Romans 15:14–33

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Riding along with my husband on some errands, I scrolled through emails on my phone and was surprised at an incoming advertisement for a local donut shop, a shop we had just passed on the right side of the street. Suddenly my stomach growled with hunger. I marveled at how technology allows vendors to woo us into their establishments.

As I clicked off my email, I mused over God’s constant yearning to draw me closer. He always knows where I am and longs to influence my choices. I wondered, Does my heart growl in desire for Him the way my stomach did over the idea of a donut?

In John 6, following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, the disciples eagerly ask Jesus to always give them “the bread that . . . gives life to the world” (vv. 33–34). Jesus responds in verse 35, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” How amazing that a relationship with Jesus can provide constant nourishment in our everyday lives!

The donut shop’s advertisement targeted my body’s craving, but God’s continuous knowledge of my heart’s condition invites me to recognize my ongoing need for Him and to receive the sustenance only He can provide.

Prayer: Dear God, remind me of my need for Your daily bread of presence.

Jesus alone offers the only bread that truly satisfies.

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

This message was written By Elisa Morgan [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: A Firm Foundation [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 16 August 2018 Daily Devotional]

These things I command you, that ye love one another. – John 15:17

In Luke 6:47-48, Jesus said: “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”

That’s probably a familiar scripture to you. But today I want you to do something new with it. I want you to put it together with what Jesus said in John 15:17: “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

Love. That one word sums up all Jesus said for us to do. If you’ll build your life on it, even the most violent storms of this world will be unable to shake you. It will make you solid in every area of your life.

If you’ll build your family on love, you can win back those the devil has stolen from you. You can win them to Jesus with the love of God.

If you’ll build your business on love, you’ll prosper beyond your wildest dreams. I had a friend who did that. He went into a television and radio business in his church. He wanted to buy a station from a Jewish man and he offered such a good price for it that the owner was stunned.

“Why would you offer me such a wonderful price?” asked the Jewish owner.

“Because the Word of God says that if I will bless you, God will bless me. So I’m going to see to it that you get the better part of this deal,” answered my friend.

Before it was all over, that Jewish station owner had made Jesus Lord of his life. He and my friend ended up prospering and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ together on the radio.

When love rules, prosperity can flow!

Commit to living the life of love today. Commit to building your house upon the rock. Then when the storms of life begin to blow—at home, at work or in any situation—you can enjoy the solid security of knowing that love never fails.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

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: Divine Compassion in Full Armour [DCLM Daily Manna 16th August 2018 Daily Devotional]

Text: Exodus 22:18-31 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child” (Exodus 22:21,22).

MESSAGE:

God’s compassion for man has been in full light even before the advent of His Son Jesus Christ. This flows from a God of love who throws His might on the side of the weak, the humble and the disadvantaged. Noticing how the wicked system of a Satan-controlled world has deprived the vulnerable his lot, He decided to roll out laws to moderate society and put oppressors in check.

Therefore, the code of conduct presented to the children of Israel shortly after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea is just an instance of the great love God has for His people.

As they headed for the Promised Land and with more challenges ahead, the Lord put into place a divinely guided system of justice superior to what they were used to in Egypt. He demonstrated more of His love when He commanded that there should be no tyrannical treatment of widows, the fatherless, orphans, the poor and strangers. These are the class most trampled upon and deprived. But they are also creatures of the Almighty, whom Christ died for. God doesn’t want them to be denied the essential things of life.

God’s concern for the poor was repeated by Jesus throughout His earthly ministry. It was the opening point of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3). When there was murmuring among the disciples over the issue of leadership, He told them not to relate to each other on a master-servant basis. Both the Old and New Testaments speak volume of the love of God for man. It is a long unbreakable thread of guidelines dealing with divine compassion. This must flow freely from the hearts of saints unto others.

Thought For The Day: God is clothed in the garment of mercy.

Bible Reading In One Year: Jeremiah 32-34

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.