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.

Topic: When God Opens Prison Doors… [Seeds of Destiny Friday July 13, 2018]

Scripture: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. Acts 16:25-26.

Thought For The Day: The door of captivity termination opens to grant liberty to the oppressed.

The Scripture makes it clear that the termination of captivity (and the guarantee of liberty) is real when God opens the doors (Acts 16:25-27). Our anchor Scripture gives us a practical example. Paul and Silas were arrested and kept in the prison because of their passion and works for God. As they prayed and worshipped God, at midnight, there was an earthquake and the prison doors were opened and they were ushered into their freedom.

Beloved, when this door opens, wherever a person is kept under bondage; he is released and set free. The door of captivity termination opens to grant liberty to the oppressed; it sets free locked personalities and caged destinies.

There are many people who are behind closed doors in life; their lives and destinies are closed and locked up. The door of captivity termination is what makes people come out of the prison of life – be it the prison of sinful bondage, satanic oppression, witchcraft spells, occult manipulation; alcoholism, lesbianism, tobacco smoking, lying, cheating, stealing, insanity, marital delay, barrenness, etc.

Beloved, by the apostolic mantle of fire on my life, I decree the opening of every door of captivity and bondage in your life; every door that has locked up your destiny is opening right now. I decree the breaking of every yoke on your neck in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: The door of captivity termination opens to grant liberty to the oppressed.

Assignments:
1. Identify the areas of your life you are experiencing captivity.
2. Ask God to break every captivity, oppression, yoke or addiction in your life.
3. Connect to the mantle of your pastor for the breaking of every bondage in your life.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask that You terminate every captivity in my life. Open every prison door that has kept my life and destiny in bondage, Lord, in Jesus Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE DIMENSIONS AND DEMANDS OF OPEN DOORS (PART 6)

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 15:1 to 16:36, Romans 1:18-32, Psalm 10:1 to 15, Proverbs 19:6 to 7

Amazing Fact: Not only can turtles live to be more than 150 years old, they can also feel through their shells.

Today In History: 13/07/1875 – David Brown patented the first cash-carrier system.

Quote: The number of captives that you are being used to snatch from the camp of darkness into the camp of light is the measure of your effectiveness as a weapon of war. Culled from THOU ART MY BATTLE AXE by Dr. Paul Enenche.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Home church meeting tomorrow by 6pm at the Centre nearest to you. Come with your friends and loved ones.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to 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: He Knows Us [Our Daily Bread 13 Friday July, 2018]

Read: Psalm 139:1–14, Bible in a Year: Psalms 7–9; Acts 18

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. Psalm 139:1–2

Did God know about me as I drove at night on a 100-mile journey to my village? Given the condition I was in, the answer was not simple. My temperature ran high and my head ached. I prayed, “Lord, I know you are with me, but I’m in pain!”

Tired and weak, I parked by the road near a small village. Ten minutes later, I heard a voice. “Hello! Do you need any help?” It was a man with his companions from the community. Their presence felt good. When they told me the name of their village, Naa mi n’yala (meaning, “The King knows about me!”), I was amazed. I had passed this community dozens of times without stopping. This time, the Lord used its name to remind me that, indeed, He, the King, was with me while I was alone on that road in my ailing condition. Encouraged, I pressed on toward the nearest clinic.

God knows us thoroughly as we go about our everyday chores, at different locations and situations, no matter our condition (Psalm 139:1–4, 7–12). He does not abandon us or forget us; nor is He so busy that He neglects us. Even when we are in trouble or in difficult circumstances—“darkness” and “night” (vv. 11–12)—we are not hidden from His presence. This truth gives us such hope and assurance that we can praise the Lord who has carefully created us and leads us through life (v. 14).

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You always know where I am and how I am doing. You know me inside and out. I’m thankful I can count on You to care.

No matter where we are, God knows about us.

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

This message was written By Lawrence Darmani [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Don’t Overlook the Blessings [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Friday July 13, 2018]

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17

It’s easy to get your spiritual eyes fixed so firmly on the problems in your life, you overlook the blessings completely! As a result, you end up suffering through situations that should have you rejoicing.

Let me show you what I mean. Not long ago, this ministry was facing some great financial pressures. I stood in faith against them. I battled against them with the Word and in prayer.

What I didn’t realize was this: During that time when the problems seemed so great—the blessings were even greater. This ministry was growing faster, ministering to more people, writing more letters, printing more publications, sending out more teaching tapes than ever before! It was a breakthrough time…a time for rejoicing. But I didn’t know it because I was too busy thinking about the problems.

I was so “tunnel-visioned”, all I could see was the pressure, and I suffered through some hard times when I should have been shouting the victory.

But thank God, He woke me up before it was over. He woke me up to the blessings and reminded me that the problems are temporary, or subject to change, but God and His Word of victory are never subject to change!

If you’ve been suffering through some hard times lately, wake up to the blessings around you. You’ll be much more effective in battling the problems if you’re giving God the glory for the solutions He’s already provided. Take your eyes off the trouble and look around you. You’ll soon be shouting the victory!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 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.