Topic: Avoiding The Wasters Of Time And Life [Seeds of Destiny Sunday June 24, 2018]

Scripture: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16

Thought For The Day: The best time to do what you are thinking about now was yesterday; today is almost too late and tomorrow is unthinkable.

Time is an indispensable element of life. To waste time, therefore, is to waste life. It has been confirmed that there are wasters of time and life. Apart from human wasters of time, that is, people who encroach into your time with the mission to waste it, there are other things that can waste time, and must be, therefore, avoided like plagues.

Now, let me give you few examples of these time wasters:
1. Procrastination
This is putting off something that should be done today till tomorrow. Procrastination is a waster of life. The best time to do what you are thinking about now was yesterday; today is almost too late and tomorrow is unthinkable. You do not have a spare life and the life you are living now is not a rehearsal for another life; it is the real life. The greatest wisdom is to do it now! Delay equals decay.

2. Idleness
This is non-engagement of time. Idleness is more demanding than diligence; Idleness is more tiring than diligence. A house that is not occupied would begin to crack; Lizards and flies would occupy it. It has been proven even medically that when your hand is not used after a while, it begins to reduce in seize. Idleness is a waster of time.

3. Plan-less living
This is a situation of having no plan for one’s life. Imagine a person who wakes up in the morning and has no plan or schedule of what to do for the day. Beloved, if you do not engage time, time will engage you in ways that can only bring regrets to you. If you do not have a plan for your day, you will run another person’s plan. To live a plan-less life is to be a victim of social vices like campus cultism, prostitution, smoking, drinking etc.

4. Undue, undefinable and aimless socialization
When you give attention to someone who has no tangible thing to say or does not respect your personal schedule, your time is being wasted. When you are very busy in undue socialisation, your time is being wasted. Everything should be done in decency and with moderation.

Beloved, my counsel is, do not be a victim of procrastination, idleness, plan-less living and aimless socialization. Plan your time and maximize your life.

Remember this: The best time to do what you are thinking about now was yesterday; today is almost too late and tomorrow is unthinkable.

Assignments:
1. Avoid procrastination; do it now.
2. Avoid idle and plan-less living.
3. Avoid association that will not enhance your life.

Prayer: O Lord, I refuse the lifestyle of procrastination, idleness and aimlessness. I receive the grace not to waste my time associating with aimless and unserious people, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

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

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 6:1 to 7:20, Acts 15:36 to 16:15, Psalm 142:1 to 7, Proverbs 17:24 to 25

Amazing Fact: It takes a sloth two weeks to digest its food.

Today In History: 24/06/1922 – The American Professional Football Association took the name of The National Football League.

Quote: The easiest way to get a destiny rotten is by being inactive. Culled from 21 FOOLISH THINGS PEOPLE DO’ 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.

Topic: Blessed In The Place Of Service [TREM Devotional Sunday June 24, 2018]

“And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.” Ruth 2:2

The book of Ruth has many key lessons; I encourage you to read the entire book during your devotion. Today, let us look at Ruth, a Moabitess – a foreigner, who knew nobody in the land. The easiest thing for her to do was to sit at home and hope her mother in law will make some contacts for her. After all, Naomi is a daughter in the land, but not Ruth. Ruth got up and went in search of food for herself and her mother in law. Ruth knew something a lot of people neglect today and that is service.

Ruth understood the power of service. She knew that blessings do not come on idle hands. She knew that though she was a foreigner, the God she saw in Naomi was able to grant her favour in the land. She knew that she had a part to play if she wanted to enjoy the favour of God.

Are you there, sitting idly and expecting a miracle? Are you there wallowing in self-pity and looking for God’s blessings? It does not work that way. I have said this over and over again and it still bears repetition: the blessings of God will not fall like a bag of cherries. Any miracle that depends 100% on God is not going to happen. There is your part to play and until you play your part, you cannot activate Heaven to move on your behalf.

Ruth went into the field to glean. She chose to walk by faith and God not only blessed her with food for her mother in law and herself, God also gave her a husband and much more than a husband, she came into the lineage of Jesus. Beloved, there is a blessing in the place of service.

Further Reading: Ruth 2:2-23

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Job 1-2; Evening- Acts 7:22-43

“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: A Friend’s Comfort [Our Daily Bread 24 Sunday June, 2018]

Read: Job 2:7–13, Bible in a Year: Job 1–2; Acts 7:22–43

No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. Job 2:13

I read about a mom who was surprised to see her daughter muddy from the waist down when she walked in the door after school. Her daughter explained that a friend had slipped and fallen into a mud puddle. While another classmate ran to get help, the little girl felt sorry for her friend sitting by herself and holding her hurt leg. So, the daughter went over and sat in the mud puddle with her friend until a teacher arrived.

When Job experienced the devastating loss of his children and became afflicted with painful sores on his entire body, his suffering was overwhelming. The Bible tells us that three of his friends wanted to comfort him. When they found Job, “they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was” (Job 2:12–13).

Job’s friends initially showed remarkable understanding. They sensed that Job simply needed someone to sit and mourn with him. The three men will begin to speak in the next few chapters. The irony is that when the friends do begin to speak, they end up giving Job poor advice (16:1–4).

Often the best thing we can do when comforting a hurting friend is to sit with them in their suffering.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be a good friend to those who are hurting. Thank You that You promise to be near to those who are suffering and provide encouragement through Your Holy Spirit.

A friend’s presence in the midst of suffering provides great comfort.

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

This message was written By Lisa Samra [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Don’t Tell It Like It Is [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Sunday June 24, 2018]

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. – Proverbs 18:21

Words are serious business. And, as believers, we need to get serious about learning how to use them. We need to begin to put them to work for us like God Himself does. The Bible tells us that He uses words to “call those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17).

Most of us don’t have the faintest idea how to do that. We’ve spent our lives “telling it like it is.” We’ve constantly used our mouths to report on the sorry state of affairs around us. Thus, the very thought of calling “things which be not as though they were” seems a little crazy.

“You mean I’m supposed to say, ‘I’m healed’ when I’m feeling sick? I’m supposed to say, ‘I’m prosperous’ when I’m penniless? That sounds like lying to me.”

No, no. There’s a vast difference between lying and speaking by faith. A lie is meant to deceive someone. It’s designed to make someone believe something that’s not true. But to speak by faith is simply to speak words that agree with the Word of God instead of the circumstances around you. It’s speaking from your spirit instead of from your mind.

As the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:13, “We have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak” (The Amplified Bible).

Now that’s important. Read that verse again. “I have believed, and therefore have I spoken.”

There are some folks who speak the words, but they don’t have the faith to back it up, and as a result, they fall flat on their spiritual faces. They didn’t actually “call things that be not as though they were.” They called things that be not the way they wished they were.

Those are two very different things. The words may be the same. But just wishing and hoping won’t get the job done. You’ve got to believe.

Begin today bringing both your tongue and your heart in line with the Word. Stop “telling it like it is” and start speaking and believing the promises of God. Put the power of words to work for you.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 15

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: It’s Who You Know [Andrew Wommack Sunday June 24, 2018]

John 9:30 “The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.”

Text: John 9:28-30

The “acid test” of whether or not someone is of God is by his actions. Jesus’ actions were so miraculous and overwhelmingly consistent with God’s Word that any reservations about whether or not He was of God should have been set aside. But, as in Mark 7:13, they had exalted their own traditions above God’s Word, thereby making the Word of God of no effect in their own lives. Just as in this instance nearly two thousand years ago, theologians today are sometimes the last to accept a move of God if it violates their traditional beliefs. “The common people heard him gladly” (Mk. 12:37). “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Cor. 8:1).

In spiritual matters, a person can educate himself in theology to the degree that it does more harm than good. It is possible to win a theological battle and yet lose the war for a person’s heart. Arguments over points of theology often distract from the more important issues. There is no premium on ignorance, but love is infinitely superior to knowledge. We should learn all we can, but we must make our knowledge a servant to love. “The greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).

If anyone’s quest for knowledge leads them away from knowing God, then it would have been preferable for them to stay ignorant. What we know is not as important as who we know (speaking of the Lord). Our most important goal in life must be to love God and be known of Him.

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: An Angry World [Billy Graham’s Devotional Sunday June 24, 2018]

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. — James 3:17

The world, in the last few years, has reverted to a sort of barbarism. As practical Christianity has declined, rudeness and violence have increased. Neighbors quarrel with neighbors. Fighting is a major problem in our schools and the “gang wars” of the teenagers have come to present a serious menace in our cities. Fathers and mothers wrangle and bicker. Homes are disintegrating. High government officials in Washington engage in name-calling and in heated disputes not at all in keeping with the dignity of their office. Why and how has all this savagery crept into our social life? It is because we have forgotten Jesus’ words, “Happy are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” I have seen tough, rough, hardened men open their hearts by faith, receive Christ as Savior, and become gentle, patient, merciful gentlemen.

Prayer for the day: Fill me with Your mercy and love, Lord. In an angry world let me be used to bring peace where there is strife.

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.

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.

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.