Open Heavens 24th June 2018 Sunday — The Two-Legged Instructions

Topic: The Two-Legged Instructions [Open Heavens 24th June 2018, Sunday Daily Devotional]

Memorise: Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.Hebrews 1:9

Read: Romans 1:28-32 (KJV)

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Bible in One Year: 1 Chronicles 4-5, Acts 16:16-40

MESSAGE:

During a Solemn Assembly at the Redemption Camp, Nigeria, the Lord instructed me to teach my children who were present some pairs of “two-legged” divine instructions which every Christian should adhere to. What we see today is that most Christians are obeying one of these instruction pairs while deliberately ignoring the other. Today, we will be considering the pair instructions revealed in our memory verse.

While it is easy for every Christian to love righteousness, hating iniquity is what is beginning to fade away. Christians are beginning to give consideration to and show sympathy for iniquity. Issues that are clearly called out as iniquity in the Bible are being tolerated by Christians and have even become subjects of discussion in the Church of God. Such acts of iniquity include sexual immorality like fornication, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality and the likes. These two passages of Scripture reveal the danger of harbouring such disposition:

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” Romans 1:28

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:32

Based on the truth contained in these verses, a lot of Christians have fallen from the position of grace, and God has given them over to a reprobate mind. Although they are usually still able to speak all the right Christian words and phrases, their doctrines and principles are no longer in line with the Scriptures. Some have even gone ahead to start their own congregations where these false doctrines are being taught. The Lord warns us against false prophets in Revelation 2:20. The only way to avoid falling prey to false prophets and ensure you remain on the straight and narrow path is to have a personal relationship with God. You need to study the word of God yourself to know what it says is right and wrong. Your Christian life should not be built on your pastor’s interpretation of Scriptures. I pray that you will grow in your knowledge of God as you study your Bible more.

Prayer Point: Father, please grant me grace to be diligent in doing Your bidding when it is convenient and when it is not.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click HERE to read Open Heavens 23 June 2018 — Defiance Is Allowed!

Hymn 4: Trust And Obey

1. When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey

Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Open Heavens 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.

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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.

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David Platt Shares Advice He’d Give to His 20-Y-O Self

(Photo: Facebook/Official David Platt Page)Pastor David Platt of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., is seen in this photo shared on his Facebook page in 2012.

David Platt, teaching pastor at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Virginia, who will soon turn 40, said he has three points of advice he’d give to his 20-year-old self, if he could. 

“Three words come to mind: surrender, abide and rest,” responds Platt in the latest episode of the Ask Pastor John podcasts on Desiring God.

Talking about the need for a young person to surrender, Platt continues: “Lay your life before the Lord every day. Deny yourself. Cry out, ‘Lord save me from myself, save me from my dreams, my plans. Make me want to do whatever you want me to do. Help me to want to go wherever you want me to go.'”

Abiding in Him, in His Word and in prayer is “the key,” Platt adds. “I’ve not regretted any time in the last 20 years — or 40 years, for that matter — that I spent in the Word, praying, fasting, and walking in obedience to His commands.”

Platt, author of the New York Times best-seller Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, says he doesn’t know what the coming years with the Lord…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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Brian Houston Calls Hillsong a ‘Contemporary Church,’ Not ‘Classic Pentecostal’

(Screenshot: TBN.org)Pastor Brian Houston speaks on an episode of TBN’s “Praise,” June 8, 2018.

Hillsong Church Senior Pastor Brian Houston said while his influential church, which has locations around the world, has been described as “Pentecostal,” he would prefer to be considered a “contemporary church.”

“To be honest, we are not classic Pentecostal. .tic, yes. We believe in the gifts of the spirit, we believe in the freedom of the spirit, absolutely,” Houston said in an interview with Christian Cultural Center Pastor A.R. Bernard on TBN earlier this month. 

The church’s website describes the ministry as a “contemporary Pentecostal church,” but Houston said he likes to label his church a bit differently now.

“I would describe myself, if I could, [as a] contemporary church,” he said.

“I say ‘if I could’ because every time we put that in Wikipedia, that we’re a contemporary church, somebody changes it back again that we’re a Pentecostal church,” he laughingly explained.

The church’s Wikipedia reads: “Hillsong Church is a global Pentecostal megachurch.”

Houston said he grew up in a Pentecostal home and his father was “a full-on Pentecostal preacher.”

“He was more Pentecostal than Acts Chapter 2 I think,” he continued. “That’s my background.”

But he noted that…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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Al Mohler Expresses Concern Over Gay Christian Revoice Conference

(Photo: Facebook/Albert Mohler)President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, Albert Mohler.

Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, has expressed concern about an upcoming conference centered on LGBT Christians.

Called the Revoice Conference, the multiday event is scheduled for July 26–28 at Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Missouri, with hundreds expected to attend.

In an episode of “The Briefing” podcast released Friday, Mohler said his “biggest concern” about the conference is the event’s apparent acceptance of the idea that sexual identity “becomes a defining issue that isn’t changed by the Gospel and isn’t transformed by sanctification.”

“I did not say that coming to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ results in any kind of immediate transformation of sexual desire,” explained Mohler.

Expand | Collapse
(Screenshot: revoice.us)The first-ever Revoice Conference, scheduled for July 26-28, 2018 at Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

“What I am arguing is that holiness and sanctification as revealed in the New Testament means that progressively whatever sinful desires mark us should become less a part of us and we should seek to identify with them in…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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I didn’t want to be the Arsene Wenger of Bible Principals

He reflected on leading the Bible college in the West Country for almost 20 years: “It’s just been a wonderful long-term joy party – with a few blips here and there.

“The highlights of course are always the students…to see hundreds and hundreds of men and women of different ages and backgrounds going out to be passionate about Jesus, to share the gospel, to see the church increase and the kingdom come – that’s just an ongoing privilege.”

He said one of the highlights for the college during his time was the change of their courses into a recognised degree qualification. 

Explaining why he is leaving Brady said: “There is a time and season for all sorts of things and I’m get to that point where I’ve been in situ for almost 20 years as Principal. There’s lots of big opportunities beckoning now for colleges like our because of a big shake up and the Higher Education Research Act was recently passed which means that Moorlands can continue to develop, if it so desires, into its own university type status eventually.

“For that I think we need somebody coming in who’s certainly younger and with a decade to spend to make sure that we continue to aim to be a place of excellence…My own feeling was that regardless of the next stage it was probably time to pass the baton.”

“Somebody said, ‘Steve, for goodness sake, get out while you’re…

… Read More



Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Tearfund launch emergency appeal for Berundi

Christian charity Tearfund have launched an emergency appeal for the people of Berundi, as over half the population face severe food shortages due to droughts, flooding and political chaos. 

Recent elections and the referendum in May has given little hope as the existing administration under President Pierre Nkurunziza are now able to extend the length of time they can remain in power.

Desire Majambere, a Berundian himself and Tearfund’s Country Manager in Burundi described seeing malnourished people: “it’s not easy…the women are left behind struggling to get food to feed their families but also it’s not easy to see children who abandon school because they are hungry, they are weak.”

“We can avoid the situation” he said “currently what we’re doing is providing porridge with some ingredients to feed the malnourished people for the short term but also for the long term we are providing seeds,”

They are also training people in making meals that are balanced and in modern farming techniques. 

They’ve set up temporary feeding centres distributing nutritious food, vitamins and supplements to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under five.

The appeal will help families to become self-sufficient and healthier in the months and years to come by teaching new farming techniques, educating people on nutrition and helping develop better hygiene practices…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Notable Voices and the Week in Review: June 23, 2018

Three Must-Haves of Every Church Revitalization — Sam Rainer

Regardless of the amount of work required, whether it’s one ministry area or the entire congregation, there are three must-haves of every church revitalization. These three must-haves apply to churches of any size or denominational background. Most churches will require more work beyond these three items, but the vast majority of revitalizations will include them.

 


Your 5 Biggest Volunteer Recruiting Questions Answered — Facts & Trends

Encouraging the people of your church to step forward and serve can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be, according to LifeWay’s Todd Adkins, Daniel Im, and Eric Geiger, hosts of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast. Recently, Adkins, Im, and Geiger released five episodes specifically related to recruiting volunteers in churches, providing church leaders with practical advice and answering some of their top questions. Here are some of the highlights from their conversations.

 


Five “Short-Timers” Who May Not Stay Long at Your ChurchJoel Rainey

Sometimes, no matter what you do, people are going to leave. In my experience, there are five types of individuals who are most likely to not stay very long. I’m afraid there is nothing in this article that will help you keep them. But perhaps, if you have advanced warning, their departure won’t hurt so much.

 


8 Reminders for Believers in the Bible BeltEric Geiger

The common leadership counsel to focus on your strengths…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Elvis Presley ‘sings duet’ with daughter Lisa Marie Presley on new gospel album

The new record, titled Where No One Stands Alone, is being released to celebrate Presley’s love of gospel music, and will feature 14 original performances recorded by him.

Each track will include newly-recorded instrumentation and backing vocals from those who worked with the King of Rock and Roll, including Darlene Love, Cissy Houston, The Imperials and The Stamps.

The title track is a reimagined duet, in which Lisa Marie sings with her father.

In her notes for the album, Lisa Marie wrote: “It was a very powerful and moving experience to sing with my father.

“The lyrics speak to me and touch my soul. I’m certain that the lyrics spoke to my father in much the same way.”

Singer-songwriter Lisa Marie also produced the album with Joel Weinshanker and Andy Childs.

The tracklisting, which was inspired by Presley’s great love of gospel music, includes Amazing Grace, You’ll Never Walk Alone, He Touched Me and Crying In The Chapel.

Presley, who died in 1977, once said: “Since I was two years old, all I knew was gospel music.

“It became such a part of my life, it was as natural as dancing. A way to escape my problems, and my way of release.”

Where No One Stands Alone will be released on August 10.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Nigerian Christians warn that Christianity could be wiped out there by 2043

The Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), Bosun Emmanuel, said the present generation of Christians risk being the last because of the Nigerian government, the killings of Christians and the poor collaboration of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), an umbrella organisation made up of various Christian denominations. 

Emmanuel said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari: “is openly pursuing an anti-Christian agenda that has resulted in countless murders of Christians all over the nation and destruction of vulnerable Christian communities”.

He said: “Due to the inability of CAN to forge Christians into one indivisible army of the Lord, the Church has been weakened and unable to stand before its enemies. Realistically speaking, Christianity is on the brink of extinction in Nigeria. The ascendancy of Sharia ideology in Nigeria rings the death toll for the Nigerian Church,” according to The Eagle Online. 

Issuing an appeal to splinter denominations, he called for the Catholic Church to return to the CAN collective and said Nigeria would become ‘like Turkey’ if the church wasn’t careful.

“In 2018, we can say in 25 years from now, we are facing the risk of being the last Christians in Nigeria. Therefore, Christians should be in the frontline of defending democracy in Nigeria. The Church is the bastion of democracy. A divided CAN cannot defend democracy and promote…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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I didn’t want to be the Arsene Wenger of Bible Principles

He reflected on leading the Bible college in the West Country for almost 20 years: “It’s just been a wonderful long-term joy party – with a few blips here and there.

“The highlights of course are always the students…to see hundreds and hundreds of men and women of different ages and backgrounds going out to be passionate about Jesus, to share the gospel, to see the church increase and the kingdom come – that’s just an ongoing privilege.”

He said one of the highlights for the college during his time was the change of their courses into a recognised degree qualification.

Explaining why he is leaving Brady said: “There is a time and season for all sorts of things and I’m get to that point where I’ve been in situ for almost 20 years as Principle. There’s lots of big opportunities beckoning now for colleges like our because of a big shake up and the Higher Education Research Act was recently passed which means that Moorlands can continue to develop, if it so desires, into its own university type status eventually.

“For that I think we need somebody coming in who’s certainly younger and with a decade to spend to make sure that we continue to aim to be a place of excellence…My own feeling was that regardless of the next stage it was probably time to pass the baton.”

“Somebody said, ‘Steve, for goodness sake, get out while you’re…

… Read More



Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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