Topic: Relishing Marital Harmony (Part 4)

Dear Reader,

For the past three weeks now, we have been examining what it takes to enjoy marital harmony in the home. Today, we shall be looking at: The Benefits of Marital Harmony.

The Benefits of Marital Harmony

God believes in profiting. God’s Word is meant to profit us. It is very important to understand that when you live in harmony in your family life, you are the one primarily to benefit. Below are some of the benefits of marital harmony.

Personal and Career Success

When you live in harmony with your spouse, you will be able to plan with him and you will move forward in your family; you will enjoy personal and career success. A harmonious family life is a good place for you to enjoy personal and career success. God created the family to enjoy fruitfulness in all area. So, living in harmony with your spouse and family members is a sure foundation for career success in life.

Marriage is designed to help you maximize your life, because God does not take His people backwards, He takes them forward. So, God has designed marriage, among other things, to enable you grow to your maximum. Thus, when you live in harmony in your family, you are the primary beneficiary.

How does this work? In Genesis we see how wonderful it is to live in harmony. “ And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” (Genesis 11:6).

When a man and a woman agree to build a home, both of them are dedicated to each other. They love each other, support each other, encourage each other; and because of that, they enhance each other’s performance.

There are even some jobs that when you apply for they want to know whether you are married or not? This is because some level of responsibility is attached to marriage. For instance, you must have noticed that if a man leaves home with trouble and concerns in his heart and goes to work, he carries those problems to his work place. He may not even have to discuss those problems with his colleagues, but you will find out that those problems automatically affect his performance. That is why if there is harmony in the home, it becomes a foundation on which to enjoy personal and career successes.

Church Building

We are all aware that the church of Jesus Christ is made up of families. Every member of the church represents a specific family here on earth. Individual families make up the church. When I talk about the church, I am talking about the body of Christ at large. So, when families enjoy harmony in the home, automatically, there will be unity and harmony in the church.

Nation Building

Automatically, when families enjoy unity, it will affect the nation. There is so much of negativism going on across the nations of the earth today. Every nation experiences a great deal of this negativism and the root cause of it all is disharmony in the home. So, when the families or homes begin to enjoy harmony, it will affect the nations.

I read sometimes ago the story about a man called John Owen, a British Anthropologist. He conducted some studies over eight different civilizations that have come and gone. Then, he found out something outstanding that runs through all these eight civilizations; the fall of families resulted in the fall of the nation. Therefore, if our nation must be built, the responsibility is on us as a church and as individuals. I curse every spirit of disharmony and disagreement in your home today in Jesus name!

You need wisdom to build your home and God is the source of that wisdom. If, peradventure, you are not born again and you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, then say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored)

“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

Topic: Bitter Addictions [DCLM Daily Manna Monday June 25, 2018]

Text: Proverbs 23:29-35 (KJV)

Key Verse: “They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again” (Proverbs 23:35).

MESSAGE:

A bitter story was told of a young man who would have become an Army officer, but was rejected and later became a garage tout because of addictions to hard drugs. One day, while trying to chant for passengers to fill a vehicle, the young man came across a well-dressed Army officer of high rank who happened to stop by the motor park to ask for directions. To his utter amazement, the high-ranking officer had been his very classmate while in military college. What a shame!

Every day, people make decisions and take actions that will either increase their importance or decrease their worth in life and in eternity. Sorrows, contentions, confusions, wounds and injuries to human organs are all consequences of the use of strong drinks and hard drugs.

The way of sinners is often laden with consumption of life-destroying substances that would not only harm body parts, but also damn the soul. Medical sciences have come to the conclusion that most of the life-threatening illnesses today are triggered by the lifestyle of the sufferers. People still engage in such ill behaviours despite knowing the attendant consequences. “They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.”

We are counselled to be filled with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18), instead of being filled with wine. The base nature in man would always want to subject him to eat, drink or engage in self-damning addictions. But a saved man must possess the power, through the Spirit of God, to get addicted to profitable, life-changing ventures that can add value to life and society.

Thought For The Day: Be filled with the Holy Ghost and not with new wine or strong drink.

Bible Reading In One Year: 1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13-16

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: Profane Like Esau? [Teens Open Heavens 25, June 2018]

Memorise: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. – Hebrews 12:16

Read: Hebrews 12:16-17 (KJV)

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Bible In One Year: Job 4-6, Acts 7:20-43

MESSAGE:

Esau was described as a profane person who despised or looked down on holy or sacred things. In his ignorance, he rated material things such as food of more value than spiritual things. He was blinded to the potentials that awaited him with a first born blessing. If only he realised that the nation of Israel would bear the name of his younger brother because of that thoughtless act, he would have preferred to starve.

Genesis also made this terrible mistake. He was spiritually blind, if his eyes were open, he would not have taken the gift that would transfer the sickness of Naaman on him and his generation. Are your priorities right? Are you focused on the right things? How important are the things of the Spirit to you? Ask God to open your eyes today.

Prayer Point: Lord Jesus, change my mindset regarding the material things that I have exalted above spiritual things.

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

Hymn 1:

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire !

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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: Forget To Be Fruitful [TREM Devotional Monday June 25, 2018]

“And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Genesis 41:51-52

Joseph had gone through so much in the hands of his brothers. His brothers hated him so badly that they sold him into slavery. They connived to get rid of him because his father openly loved him more than them all. So much for siblings’ rivalry. This should be a lesson for all parents, to beware of creating obvious favouritism in the family. Every child has a part to play and don’t make one child feel preferred than others. It is a dangerous thing.

Jacob had flaunted his love for Joseph so much that it created a sharp enmity between him and his brothers who sold him to slavery. Joseph went from challenge to challenge – from slavery he went to prison for no fault of his; but from prison, God looked upon him and took him to the throne.

The natural person will be bitter and begin to seek the opportunity for revenge; but not Joseph. He understood the fact that for him to move forward, he needed to forgive and forget, and ensure there is no root of bitterness in him. His decision is seen clearly in the names of the children and the order of their names is instructive. The first one is “Forget”, and he said, “God has made me to forget all my toil and slavery” and the second is Ephraim which means ‘to be fruitful’. In other words, you must learn to forget to be fruitful.

Dearly beloved, is there anything you are holding back on? Let it go today. Forgive and move on and see God come through for you as you become fruitful in the land.

Further Reading: Genesis 41: 44-52

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Job 3-4; Evening- Acts 7:44-60

“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: Major Indicators Of Time Wastage [Seeds of Destiny Monday June 25, 2018]

Scripture: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Ephesians 5:18.

Thought For The Day: Focusing on our past mistakes and errors ruins today and frustrates our tomorrow.

Previously, we looked at time and life wasting activities; we identified procrastination, idleness, plan-less living and aimless socialization as what should be avoided in order to maximize our lives on earth.

It is also important to mention other activities that serve as indicators of time wastage.
1. Garbage Intake
This refers to an intake of what does not edify you for example, aimless watching of the television. Statistics show that aimless watching of programs on television has the potential to reduce the intelligence quotients of people drastically; it destroys learning activities like reading, studying and listening. Garbage intake is detrimental to life and destiny. Just as garbage attracts flies, aimless watching of the TV, movies and video games is dangerous. Garbage intake is a time and life waster.

2. Poison intake
This is the intake of morally poisonous things like the reading or watching of pornographic materials, immoral movies or books; surfing the internet to watch nude pictures, drinking of alcohol and tobacco smoking, etc. Many people have lost their jobs because of internet addiction and pornography. An addict may start with spending thirty minutes daily on the internet, then one or two hours, then he graduates to spending five hours daily out of his official time on the internet. Accessing the performance of an employee who is addicted to the internet may reveal little or no productive output to his credit. This is not correct. Beloved, if you think that you are not being monitored at your place of work and you use the official time for something else, one day, it will catch up with you in life. Alcohol or tobacco damages the brain.

3. Focusing on the past
Focusing on the past ruins the present; focussing on our past mistakes and errors ruins today and frustrates our tomorrow. Anything that is in the past has passed; so, let it pass. Focusing on past failure, hurts, and mistakes kills a destiny.

Beloved, make up your mind not to waste your life; avoid time wasters.

Remember this: Focussing on our past mistakes and errors ruins today and frustrates our tomorrow.

Assignments:
1. Avoid the intake of garbage and poisonous things like pornography, alcohol, tobacco and aimless watching of the Television.
2. Refuse to live in your past in your present and future; forgive and forget the negative past.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask that You deliver me from the intake of poison and garbage. Help me to forgive and forget my negative past, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: PROFITABLE USE OF TIME.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 8:1 to 9:13, Acts 16:16 to 40, Psalm 143:1 to 12, Proverbs 17:26

Amazing Fact: A cow gives nearly 200,000 glasses of milk in a lifetime.

Today In History: 25/06/1580 – The Book of Concord was first published. The book is a collection of doctrinal standards of the Lutheran Church.

Quote: Those who dwell in the past leave their place in the future. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

“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.