Topic: Pathway to Complete Restoration [Open Heavens 14 July 2018, Saturday Daily Devotional]

Memorise: Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: – Joel 2:12

Read: 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 (KJV)

8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Bible in One Year: 2 Chronicles 24-25, Acts 27:33-28:10

Open Heavens 14 July 2018 Saturday MESSAGE:

The Bible teaches that any form of restoration must start with true repentance. Repentance is a radical change of one’s thinking, personality and behaviour from a state of rebellion against God’s commandments to obedience to God’s word. A repentant person turns a new leaf through a new relationship with God, after attaining a new understanding of his or her nature and character. Repentance is usually demonstrated by remorse, mourning over sin, weeping, wearing of sackcloth, making restitution for wrongs committed and humbling oneself before God. However, the emphasis must be on taking a new course in life that proceeds from a new relationship with God. God always responds positively to a broken heart. Psalm 51:17 says:

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

In Joel 2:12, God specifically called His children to approach Him in repentance with fasting, weeping and mourning wherever they needed restoration, saying:

“…turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:”

God still honours genuine weeping and mourning in repentance. It is a pity that such open declarations of repentance are no longer “fashionable” in contemporary churches. There are two aspects to true repentance: it looks upon the errors of the past with a weeping eye and unto the future with a watchful eye. To fast, mourn and shed tears of sorrow because of sin was the normal practice of the founding leaders of many Christian denominations. The wonderful effect of such expressions of deep genuine remorse of sin is that it usually marks a permanent departure from a sinful lifestyle. Although repentant people may still fall into error in the future, sin and immorality cannot remain a lifestyle for them because they will not want to go through the experience of deep remorse again. The determination to life in holiness therefore becomes their life ambition. In contrast, those who come to God for salvation with levity, while chewing gum and chatting with friends, may not have given any deep thought to their sinful past and the implication of the decision they are making. Such people may not place much value on their salvation. They usually don’t take sanctification seriously and therefore stand the risk of falling back into sin. How genuine is your repentance?

Action Point: Approach God with a broken and contrite heart in repentance over any secret sin you may be harbouring in your heart.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click HERE to Open Heavens 13 July 2018 – Doubt & Indecision

Open Heavens 14 July 2018 Hymn 3: What Can Wash Away My Sins

1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Chorus:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my cleansing this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my pardon this my plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

3. Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, ’tis all of grace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

4. This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Open Heavens 14 July 2018 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.

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: Develop Your Potential [Joyce Meyer‘s Devotional Friday July 13, 2018]

For who are you, O great mountain [of human obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who with Joshua had led the return of the exiles from Babylon and was undertaking the rebuilding of the temple, before him] you shall become a plain [a mere molehill]! And he shall bring forth the finishing gable stone [of the new temple] with loud shoutings of the people, crying, Grace, grace to it! — Zechariah 4:7 (AMPC)

Before the days of digital cameras, cameras had film that had to be taken to a processor or a darkroom for development. Just having the undeveloped film didn’t do you any good. But once you went through the process of development, you had beautiful pictures for yourself and others to see.

It’s the same with you. God placed potential inside you, but just having potential is not enough. Be willing to let God work daily to bring you to spiritual maturity in Him. It takes time and a willingness to let God work in your life to develop your potential, but I guarantee you can make a difference in the world and enjoy an amazing life as you learn to be led by the Holy Spirit rather than by your own will and ways.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the great work You are doing in my life. Help me to continually cooperate with You to develop my potential and the gifts You have placed inside of me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

TOPIC: Resurrection [Sunday, 15th July 2018]

MEMORY VERSE: “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” – Job 19:26 (scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 15TH JULY, 2018 HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 15:1-23 (Sunday School STUDENT Manual July 15, 2018)

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 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.

11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

INTRODUCTION:

The question of whether or not there is life after death is as old as man himself. For example, Job asked the question several years before Christ was born… ‘’If a man die, shall he live again?’’ (Job 14:14a). Somehow, man knew the answer to the question…’’And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God’’ (Job 19:26). Yes, there is life after death. The dead shall rise again. Let us study the scriptures for answers to the following questions to the following questions on resurrection.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Did Christ resurrect? Has the Christian any hope of resurrection?
2. What happens at the resurrection of the dead? How about the body?

DID CHRIST RESURRECT? HAS THE CHRISTIAN ANY HOPE OF RESURRECTION?

Paul gives a definite answer to this question in 1 Corinthians 15:20. Apart from Paul, there were many who witnessed the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20:17) and to the women (Mark 16:1-9). He also appeared to Peter and to the disciples on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:14-16). He appeared to the eleven disciples (Luke 24:33) and to about five hundred brethren (1 Corinthians 15:6). He certainly appeared to the eleven at Bethany where He ascended (Luke 24:36-51).

The entire faith of the Christian rests on the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:17-18). If Christ did not die and rise from the dead our faith is in vain, we are yet in our sins, all who have died in the Lord have perished and there will be no future re-unions with loved ones. Praise the Lord, Christ did rise from the dead. Because Christ rose from the dead, every man, woman and child shall rise from the dead.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD? HOW ABOUT THE BODY?

The resurrection is to be in stages: Christ was the first to rise (1 Corinthians 15:20). The saints who slept before that first resurrection morning rose next (Matthew 27:52-53).

On the second resurrection morning, there will be the resurrection of all Christians who had slept since Christ rose from the dead. This is called the resurrection of life (John 5:28-29). Only dead born-again Christians shall rise at this time. The wicked dead shall ‘’sleep’’ on for another 1000 years before they resurrect to face eternal damnation (Revelations 20:5).

There are some who deny the resurrection of the body, saying that the post-resurrection product will be a spirit only. 1 Corinthians 15:44 says it is raised a spiritual body, not a spirit without a body. In 1 Corinthians 15:35, there are two questions: How are the dead raised up? With what body do they come? According to 1 Corinthians 15:

1. It is not the same body, but a transformed one, just as the plant is different from the seed that was planted (v.37). It is a God-given body.

2. It will be a body suited in every way to the individual spirit (v.38).

3. It will be an incorruptible body incapable of death or decay (v.42). Those condemned in hell will have this indestructible body because the normal human body will just disintegrate in hell.

4. It will be a glorious body for Christians (v.43) and a body with power.

5. Finally, it will be a spiritual body (v.44).

CONCLUSION:

Will we recognise one another in Heaven? Of course yes, because we will be known there as we are known on earth (1 Corinthians 13:12). For example, Peter, James and John recognised Moses and Elijah in Matthew 17:4, though they had never met before.

On the resurrection morning, the Redeemed of the Lord shall sing a song of victory, 1Corinthians 15:54-57: ‘’Death is swallowed up in victory. The sting of death is gone. The grave has lost its victory. Victory is ours through Christ’’. Will you be there?

QUESTIONS:

1. How do we know that Christ rose from the dead?
2. List the four stages of the resurrection.

Also Read: RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual July 8, 2018 Lesson 45 — Death

SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN

1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?

Topic: When You Are No Longer In The Spotlight [TREM Devotional Friday July 13, 2018]

“Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia….” Acts 13:13

“Now when Paul and his company….” It didn’t say Barnabas and his company. But in Acts 13:2, it was “Barnabas and Paul” It means, therefore, that at a certain point, Paul began to play a leading role. You will notice the scripture says; Paul and Barnabas, not Barnabas and Paul (Acts 13:43, 46, 50). Why is that important? It is important because some of us don’t know that those that you raised will at a stage attain the spotlight. And when they are in the spotlight, what is your reaction? How do you behave? When the people you raised are now in the spotlight and you are not there, do you quench their light?

Barnabas knew his role. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Some of us have just refused to decrease. And so what happens is that if you fail to decrease, you will be disgraced. That’s a revelation you must have once and for all and settle in your heart. If you fail to humble yourself, you will be disgraced and God will humble you.

Barnabas was content and never a time did he say: “Before you preach, tell them that I helped you. That should be your first testimony” Stop that! What do you have that God did not give you? Why will you build it and be killing it? You are called to build and not to destroy. The man was contented to be the second figure. He was content to play the second fiddle to Paul. Remember that it was Barnabas who mentored Paul. It was Barnabas that introduced Paul to ministry.

Beloved, we are called to build not to destroy. I should be happy to sit and watch you. I should be happy to become your cheerleader. When the people you poured your life into are making it all over the place, that’s your glory. Nothing changes and your reward remains the same.

Further reading: Acts 13:1-52

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 7-9; Evening- Acts 18

“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: Dethroning Yourself? [Teens Open Heavens 13, July 2018]

Memorise: And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 1 Samuel 24:5

Read: 1 Samuel 24:8-17 (KJV)

Bible In One Year: Psalm 10-12, Acts 17:16-34

MESSAGE:

From the Bible reading for today, we see that whenever a fellow believer deliberately pursues, persecutes or plots the destruction of a fellow believer, that individual has rejected his or her throne of power and glory. This accounts for loss of power in the lives of Christians. Every effort at destroying or bringing down a fellow human being erodes your power base in Christ.

All the time that King Saul went chasing David, he could not have peace of mind. He lost comfort, honour and sanity. It is only a mad man that will fight the ones for whom Christ died. Fighting that believer drives God from you and puts you against God’s Kingdom.

Action Point: What have you done to dethrone yourself? Undo it and ask God to reinstate you today.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Teen Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye’’

Hymn 13:

1. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready His service to do?

Chorus:
Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing, I pray;
My life possessing, my service blessing,
Make me a channel of blessing today.

2. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Are you burdened for those that are lost?
Have you urged upon those who are straying
The Savior who does on the cross

3. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is it a daily telling for Him?
Have you spoken the word of salvation
To those who are dying in sin?

4. We cannot be channels of blessing
If our lives are not free from sin;
We will barriers be and a hindrance
To those we are trying to win.

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.

Topic: Acceptable Offering [DCLM Daily Manna Friday July 13, 2018]

Text: Leviticus 22:17-25 (KJV)

Key Verse: “But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you” (Leviticus 22:20).

MESSAGE:

The earliest record in the Scripture about sacrifice to God was the offerings made by Cain and Abel. This ended in the acceptance of Abel’s offering and the rejection of Cain’s because Abel offered according to God’s will – no blemish; best of his flock, “firstlings of his flock”.

God called Israel unto a life of separation and instructed them on how to offer oblation for all vows and freewill offerings.

Every Israelites or any stranger in the nation was to offer at his own will, a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goat. “But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you”. No blind animal, broken or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, superfluous or lacking in his part, bruised or crushed, would be accepted by God.

For a believer to offer acceptably, the sacrifice must meet the standard of God. It must be without blemish, offered according to God’s word, as desired by Him.

Having given-up the sinful life, a saint must spend his time for God and for His service without complaining. His talents must be used for the expansion of the Kingdom by serving as a worker in the church without seeking remunerations, while gratefully presenting his treasures, resources and valuables for the things of God.

All these offerings must be given without blemish so that they would be acceptable by God. Beyond this, believers must always be available for God’s service and demonstrate faithfulness in all they do, whether supervised or not. To serve God grudgingly or of necessity is to render a service that will be burnt to ashes in the fire test. Our service to God must be voluntary, sacrificial and wholesome.

Thought For The Day: Unblemish service and sacrifice are an aroma of sweet smell to God.

Bible Reading In One Year: 2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12

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.