Topic: Pleasant Words, Healing Words [Joyce Meyer‘s Devotional Friday July 6, 2018]

“I am a Jew… being zealous for God as all of you are this day.” — Acts 22:3

Our thoughts can either get us into trouble or elevate us above our problems. Too often, however, we allow our minds to linger over and ponder the wrong kind of thoughts. In the verse above, it says the mind (or the heart) of the wise teaches his mouth. This proverb means that the thoughts on which we dwell will eventually come out in our words. If our words are good and uplifting, they encourage others and us.

Those thoughts aren’t just about others—they are also about how we reflect on ourselves, as well. One of the smartest friends I had in school confessed one day that she felt intellectually inferior. Her words shocked me, and I told her so. I learned that her father used to call her stupid when she didn’t grasp something the first time he explained it to her. Eventually, her own thoughts said to her, You aren’t intelligent enough to understand this.

That’s a good example of how our words can tear down others. But we can also uplift others with our words. When we focus on the good, we see in people and tell them, we may well be God’s messenger to them.

For example, I’ve stood in front of a crowd and spoken many times. Because I have victory, they assume I’m always in victory, and that I never have to struggle the way they do. Sometimes a person will come to me and say, “Joyce, God really used you tonight. I came here discouraged and kept asking God what I should do. Right in the middle of your teaching, I heard God speak through you.”

Those are pleasant words—as sweet as a honeycomb. Those people who speak to me are often unaware of how hard I’ve fought the enemy and struggled to free my mind from his influence. When they tell me what a blessing I’ve been to them, they often don’t sense how much their words mean to me.

Everyone needs to hear pleasant and healing words. It’s too easy to assume certain people don’t have the same struggles or severe battles that we experience. All of us struggle, and for some, it’s worse than for others. I believe that the more God wants to use us, the more forcefully Satan exerts his power against us.

We can help each other. When we sincerely speak pleasant words, healing words, we are not only diffusing our enemy’s power, but we are building up one another. We need to build up others as much as we need others to encourage us.

I can remember times when I’ve wanted to say a kind word to someone, and I would think, Oh, she knows that. She’s heard that before. Then I would say to myself, Yes, maybe she knows, and perhaps she’s heard it before, but she hasn’t heard it from me. It’s not that my words are better than anyone else’s, but it is the Holy Spirit who takes our words, anoints them, and brings healing and help to others.

What if each of us decided, I am God’s servant to bring healing words to wounded and hurting hearts? What if God chose us to strengthen and build up people by speaking soothing, kind, and thoughtful words to them? Not only do we put the devil to flight, but our friends’ joy soars, and ours does, too—¬because we’ve been used as God’s instruments of healing. I learned long ago that it takes so little to do so much good. Often, it’s only a word of encouragement, a hug, or just saying the words, “I care.”

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit of God, please remind me of the words that dwell inside me. Remind me to hold on to the good, the kind, and the uplifting thoughts, and empower me to push away those that can hurt and tear down others—and myself. I ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

TOPIC: Death [Sunday, 8th July 2018]

MEMORY VERSE: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” – John 5:24 (scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 8TH JULY, 2018 HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 5:17-27 (Sunday School STUDENT Manual July 8, 2018)

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

INTRODUCTION:

What is death? Death is the opposite of life, the departure of life and the cessation of life. To humans, death is the separation of body, soul and spirit. The body goes to the grave and disintegrates; the spirit goes back to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7), and the soul goes to one of two places: The soul of the wicked to hell (Luke 16:23) and the soul of the righteous to paradise (Abraham’s bosom)(Luke 16:22).

LESSON OUTLINES

1. What is the origin and cause of death?
2. How can we describe death? What is the remedy for death?

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF LIFE?

There are principally two kinds of death and both of them come from the Garden of Eden.
1. Spiritual death, which means separation from God (Genesis 2:17). In Eden, Adam and Eve did not die physically immediately they ate the forbidden fruit. However, they were separated from God and driven out of Eden. They died spiritually.

2. Physical death, which is cessation of life also originated in Eden when God killed some animals to get skins to cover Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). The first human to die was Abel, the son of Adam (Genesis 4:8).
Spiritual death was caused by disobedience to God (James 1:15). Death is the direct result of sin (Ezekiel 18:4). In the case of physical death, the doctor may write any one of many things on the death certificate, but the real answer is SIN (Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 6:23). Sin is the basic cause and disease is the immediate agent that God uses to execute the sentence that was pronounced on mankind in the Garden of Eden.

HOW CAN WE DESCRIBE DEATH? WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR DEATH?

Physical death is described in various ways in the Bible. For example, it is described as: sleep (John 11:11); the requiring of the soul (Luke 12:20); putting off this earthly house (2 Corinthians 5:1); going to a place of no return (Job 16:22); going down in silence (Psalm 115:17); yielding up the ghost (Acts 5:10).

Spiritual death is known as banishment from God, as everlasting destruction from the presence of God (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It is also called alienation from God, that is, becoming a stranger to God (Ephesians 4:18).
Regardless of what modern science and doctors may achieve, we are ‘’appointed to die’’ (Hebrews 9:27). We are born with an appointment to meet physical death. We must keep that appointment unless the Lord returns soon.

However, we can avoid spiritual death simply by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour (John 5:24). Physical death can be avoided by the rapture of the Church but if we meet our appointment with death before the Lord returns, there is still hope. Christ has promised to walk with us (Christians) through the experience of death (John 14:1-3). If you can truthfully say, ‘’The Lord is my shepherd,’’ then, you do not have to fear death (Psalm 23:4).

CONCLUSION:

Why did Jesus die on the cross? Was it an accident? Certainly not. God’s word said that someone must die for sin. Jesus volunteered to be One to die. He died that you and I may live (Hebrews 2:9). He tasted the bitter dregs for you and me. Do not let His death be in vain over you. Reconsider your stand today.

QUESTIONS:

1. What happens to the body, soul and spirit of man at death?
2. What is the basic cause of death?

Click to read previous RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual July 1, 2018 Lesson 44 — Life

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: Delisted [Teens Open Heavens 6, July 2018]

Memorise: And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Exodus 32:33

Read: Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV)

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Bible In One Year: Job 33-34, Acts 13:24-52

MESSAGE:

The story of Mordecai is an interesting one with several lessons for us today. The first thing that comes to mind is that every organized kingdom keeps records. Just as king Ahasuerus kept records of events, so does the Kings of kings, heaven has lots of books out of which are registered for human beings.

Revelations 20:11-15 tells of two sets of books; the book of life and the book of death. Wherever your name falls is where your deeds will be recorded.

Everyone who is born again and lives right until the time of death or the Second Coming can be assured that his or her name is in the book of life. It takes your daily righteous living to sustain your life there. Hence, you have to do everything in your power to retain your name in this glorious book.

Prayer Point: Father, please help me to keep my name in the book of life. Let your grace abound unto me.

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

Hymn 7:

1. I am Thine 0 Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

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: God’s Kind Of Peace [DCLM Daily Manna Friday July 6, 2018]

Text: John 14:21-31 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

MESSAGE:

In 1555, Nicholas Ridley was burned at the stake because of his witness for Christ. On the night before the execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to comfort him, but he declined the offer, saying that he meant to go to bed and sleep as quietly as ever he did in his life.

Jesus spent the remaining part of His earthly ministry to develop and train His disciples. He prayed for peace to abide with them and promised them the Comforter who shall comfort and assist them to succeed in ministry. He told them not to be afraid or troubled when persecutions come. He shared and imparted all of Him to His disciples.

The kind of peace Christ promised differs from the world’s understanding. The peace of God is not the absence of crises and troubles. Evidently, all but one of the disciples suffered martyrdom of different forms. John, the only disciple who died a natural death, was banished into the island of Patmos after miraculously escaping death in a pot of boiling oil. Christ Himself was crucified. Yet, His peace abides with His people with joy unspeakable.

Present-day believers are not immune to trouble. The faith of our fathers still resides in us in spite of dungeon, fire and sword. The more a believer is persecuted, the more he rejoices in hope because of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. It is a mystery to the world how we rejoice in the midst of crises. To enjoy this kind of peace, sinner and backsliders must turn to the Saviour in genuine repentance while believers must remain uncompromising.

Thought For The Day: God’s peace abides even in times of trouble.

Bible Reading In One Year: 2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25

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: Accessing Divine Opportunities and Possibilities [Seeds of Destiny Friday July 6, 2018]

Scripture: Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. Job 3:10.

Thought For The Day: The opening of the door of opportunity and possibility is the secret of achieving unthinkable, unfathomable, unperceivable and incomprehensible results in life.

We are in our season of Open Doors; God has promised to open every closed door in our lives (Revelation 3:8). He is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent (Numbers 23:19); whatever He says, He will do. So, it is important to understand the different dimensions of doors God has promised to open for us so we can access them. This is because what is not understood can never be possessed.

The first dimension of door God promised to open for us in this season is the door of possibilities and opportunities. This door is necessary in order to fulfil destiny.

Now, what is the door of possibilities and opportunities?
This refers to a situation where God grants a person opportunities, privileges and possibilities for destiny in all realms of life. When God opens the door of opportunities and possibilities for a person, that person is not only empowered to do what others have not done, he also finds things possible where they have been impossible before. The door of opportunity and possibility enables one to break unprecedented records in life. If it has been said that no one from your family, lineage, community or generation could do what you want to achieve in life, you can do it effortlessly when God opens for you doors of opportunities and possibilities.

Doors of opportunities and possibilities refer to the opening of doors that never existed before. The door of opportunity and possibility gives a person breakthroughs where other people attempted and failed; the door of opportunity and possibility gives one rare privileges in life; it makes possible what others consider unthinkable, unfathomable, unperceivable and incomprehensible. This means the opening of the door of opportunity and possibility is the secret of achieving unthinkable, unfathomable, unperceivable and incomprehensible results in life.

Beloved, my counsel is, make demands on God for the opening of this door in your life as He has promised.

Remember this: The opening of the door of opportunity and possibility is the secret of achieving unthinkable, unfathomable, unperceivable and incomprehensible results in life.

Assignments:
1. Rely on God alone for the opportunities, privileges and possibilities of life.
2. Ask God to open the door of opportunities and possibilities for you.
2. Maximize every opportunity and possibility God has given you to impact lives for God.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask for the opening of the door of opportunities and possibilities in my life. Help me to maximize every privilege, opportunity and possibility You have given me, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE DIMENSIONS AND DEMANDS OF OPEN DOORS (PART 1).

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 2:18 to 4:4, Acts 24:1 to 27, Psalm 4:1 to 8, Proverbs 18:16 to 18.

Amazing Fact: Giraffes clean their ears with tongue.

Today In History: 06/07/1905 – Fingerprints were exchanged for the first time between officials in Europe and the U.S. The person in question was John Walker.

Quote: If there is no opportunity, you must create it. Culled from MAKING FULL PROOF OF MINISTRY 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.