Topic: What Do You Treasure? [DCLM Daily Manna Thursday July 12, 2018]

Text: Matthew 13:44-52 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matthew 13:44).

MESSAGE:

The quantum and quality of resources a person invests in his quest for a prize determines how he values the goal. If the goal is a priceless treasure, he pumps in all his time, energy, skill, money and other materials needed to achieve his ambition. Less cherished purpose does not merit much attention.

The lessons from the parable in the text teach us that the vicarious death of Jesus for the salvation of mankind is an investment which portrays Him as a wise spiritual Entrepreneur desirous of harvesting souls in line with the promise of the Father (Psalm 2:8). This lesson is similar to a corn of wheat in John 12:24, which cannot bring forth fruit unless it invests itself by being sown in the ground dies, germinates, grows, and buds. Life in the Kingdom is all about sacrifice to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Genuine believers follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ by investing their resources in Kingdom work.

There is reward beyond what the world offers. Which is better? The short-lived reward from service to mortal man or the everlasting reward God gives to those who spend for the furtherance of the gospel? The choice is yours to make. Even so, a saint renders services to Christ not for any tangible or intangible rewards. He serves Him as a token of appreciation for his salvation and as an acknowledgement of being privileged to be a witness for Christ: an unconditional service to the Master in the instinctive response by he who has profited from Christ’s reservoir of grace.

Thought For The Day: Serve God selflessly and expect His best.

Bible Reading In One Year: Amos 6-9

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: Be Skillful [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Thursday July 12, 2018]

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. – Psalm 34:10

Did you know that, according to the Word of God, there is no lack in the Body of Christ? Everything we could ever need, every problem we could ever face has been covered by the blood of Jesus. His exceeding great and precious promises have supplied it all.

Why then do many of us keep on suffering lack? Because we haven’t, as Hebrews 5:13 says, become skillful in the Word of righteousness.

It takes skill to apply the Word of God. Most of us don’t realize that. We just sling the Word around and try to use it any old way. We pray some ignorant prayer and then say, “Oh well, God knows what I mean” and expect it to be answered.

It’s funny though. We’d never stand for that kind of carelessness in the natural realm. If our doctor came in and just threw a bottle of pills at us and said, “Here, take that,” without even trying to find out what’s wrong with us, we’d leave his office and never come back. Yet, we’re shocked when that same careless attitude in the spiritual realm keeps our prayers from being effective.

We live in an “instant” society where everything is quick and easy. And too many of us are letting that instant mentality leak over into our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. When someone needs healing, we bust through the hospital door, dab a little oil between their eyes and say, “Glory to God!” and out the door we go. Sometimes it doesn’t take any longer than “In the Name of Jesus be healed!” But sometimes there is something else that must be done.

The time has come for us to shake off that “instant” mentality and realize that there are situations where we’re going to have to take some time and pray in the Holy Ghost. Times when we’re going to have to sit there and listen for God’s instructions.

If you’ve come up short in any area of life—whether it be healing or finances or anything else—determine to develop your Word skills where that area is concerned. Get out your Bible. Read all through the healing scriptures. Read all through the miracle scriptures. Read all through the promises of God. Read all through the blessings of Abraham.

Meditate on them. Ask God to speak to you through them and to enlighten you about the situation you’re facing. Don’t just sling the Word around. Dig in to it. Fellowship with your Father over it. Let Him show you how to apply it skillfully, and eventually, you’ll lack no good thing.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23

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: An Anchor When We’re Afraid [Our Daily Bread 12 Thursday July, 2018]

Read: Isaiah 51:12–16, Bible in a Year: Psalms 4–6; Acts 17:16–34

I, even I, am he who comforts you. Isaiah 51:12

Are you a worrier? I am. I wrestle with anxiety almost daily. I worry about big things. I worry about small things. Sometimes, it seems like I worry about everything. Once in my teens, I called the police when my parents were four hours late getting home.

Scripture repeatedly tells us not to be afraid. Because of God’s goodness and power, and because He sent Jesus to die for us and His Holy Spirit to guide us, our fears don’t have to rule our lives. We may well face hard things, but God has promised to be with us through it all.

One passage that has helped me profoundly in fearful moments is Isaiah 51:12–16. Here, God reminded His people, who had endured tremendous suffering, that He was still with them, and that His comforting presence is the ultimate reality. No matter how bad things may seem: “I, even I, am he who comforts you,” He told them through the prophet Isaiah (v. 12).

I love that promise. Those eight words have been an emotion-steadying anchor for my soul. I’ve clung to this promise repeatedly when life has felt overwhelming, when my own “constant terror” (v. 13) has felt oppressive. Through this passage, God reminds me to lift my eyes from my fears and in faith and dependence to look to the One who “stretches out the heavens” (v. 13)—the One who promises to comfort us.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes the struggles we face in life seem so big. But You are bigger. Help us to cling to Your promise of comfort in fearful moments and to experience Your loving provision as we trust You.

God’s comforting presence is more powerful than our fears.

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

This message was written By Adam Holz [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Grow In Grace [Andrew Wommack Thursday July 12, 2018]

Luke 11:38 – “And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.”

Text: Luke 11:37-41

A sure sign of the error of legalism is misplaced priorities, as we see here with these Pharisees. It is not recorded in Scripture that the Pharisees marveled at the wonderful works of Jesus. They were too busy looking for something to criticize (Mark 3:2). But they marveled at Jesus not washing His hands. This is a classic example of straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel (Mt. 23:24).

Those who seek to earn righteousness through keeping the Law are consumed with “doing,” while those who receive righteousness by faith are simply confessing what has already been done. This is a simple and yet profound difference. If we are still “doing” acts of holiness to get God to move in our lives, then we are still operating under a “Law” mentality that is not faith (Gal. 3:12). When we simply believe and confess what has already been provided through Christ, that’s grace.

A person who is living under the Law and a person who lives under grace should have very similar actions of holiness, but their motivations are completely opposite. The legalist has their attention on what they must do, while the person living by faith has his attention on what Christ has already done for him. For instance, the Scriptures teach us to confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts, and we will receive from God. The legalist thinks, That means I can get God to heal me by confessing, ‘By his stripes I am healed.’ However, the person who understands God’s grace will not confess the Word to get healed. They will confess, “By His stripes I am healed” because they really believe it has already been done.

Analyzing our “mind set” is the simplest way of discerning whether we are operating in true Bible faith or a legalistic counterfeit. If the motive for our actions is to be accepted with God, that’s legalism. If we live wholly out of faith and gratefulness for what God has already done, that’s grace. Grow in grace!

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

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: A Genuine Hero [Billy Graham’s Devotional Thursday July 12, 2018]

Jesus saith . . . I am the way, the truth, and the life . . . — John 14:6

With much of society a disappointment, young people have begun to search for answers on their own. Everywhere I travel, I find young people who are asking: What is truth? Who says so? What is right and what is wrong? Is there a final authority? Yes! There is an authority! There is a moral law! It has been exemplified in a real Person. There is a genuine Hero in whom you can believe, who will never let you down. His name is Jesus Christ. He was born into a world as jumbled and riddled with injustice as yours, but He changed it by changing people.

Prayer for the day: You, Lord Jesus, are the Supreme Authority; and my soul praises 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.