Topic: Child’s Training (Part 1)

Dear reader,

You are welcome to this great month of grace. Grace is defined as God’s unmerited favour upon man; therefore, God’s divine favour will locate you and your family this month and beyond in Jesus name. God has been very faithful ever since the year began and I believe you have also experienced His faithfulness. This month, we shall be looking at the all-important subject of ‘Child’s Training’

I termed it “all important” because if every home gives quality training to its wards, our society will be a better place to live in. Child training refers to the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. Every parent has the responsibility to train their children aright, as the Bible commands that we train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).

Parents must bear in mind that the children of today are the adults of tomorrow who constitute the future generation. Christian parents must ask themselves what legacy they are leaving behind for their children. Nothing can be compared with a sound upbringing.

Things to note on Child Training

1. God owns your Child:
Every child is owned by God the Creator but given to individuals, called parents, to be caretakers on the earth. The Bible clearly states: Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward (Psalm 127:3). If all children belong to God and He has made you a caretaker, then you will surely give account of your stewardship as a caregiver to the child (ren) given to you. In order to give a good record and be rewarded for it in return, you must take child training as a responsibility to be excelled at.

2. It is a commandment:
Child training is not a piece of advice, a suggestion or a thing you do at your convenience. It is a commandment from God. You are commanded to nurture your child (ren) in line with God’s principles for life as stated in the Bible. If you refuse to do so, you are disobeying God’s commandment, and as far as God is concerned, disobedience is as terrible as witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). If you are not bringing up your children in the way they should go, you are cutting short the number of your days. Receive grace from God now to be obedient to this commandment on child training in Jesus’ name.

3. It is the responsibilities of both parents:
Take a look at Proverbs 22:6 again. God did not mention here who particularly should do the training, but definitely it is the parents. I mean both parents because neither the father nor the mother alone can give birth to a child. It is the combined efforts of both parties;therefore, the training must be done by both parents.

Both parents must create time for their children so that those children will not become thorns in their flesh tomorrow. Training your children in the fear of the Lord is your primary responsibilities. Do not lay it aside. Both parents ought to fulfil their parts, if this must be successful. The Bible says: Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour(Ecclesiastics 4:9).

As parents, pay close attention to your children, create time to listen to them, fellowship together with them, give them opportunities to ask you questions that are bothering them. Learn to create time for fun and excitement and all tension will be diffused. Do not allow your children to become products of neglect and do not be too busy to attend to them. I pray for a release of grace upon you now for fulfillment in Jesus’ mighty name.

4. It requires the Investment of Time:
In a bid to make it in business or career, some parents neglect spending time with their children. They are too busy making money. They leave their homes early in the morning and return late at night; particularly those in the cities. They keep busy trying to make ends meet financially, but unfortunately, they seldom do.

The destinies of many children have been marred because they were left to house helps to raise. The Church is being robbed of her future great men and women, because many godly parents are producing ungodly children. Our responsibility is to stop the intention of the devil over the lives of our children, by investing time into their proper upbringing. So, parents, must wake up to this responsibility.

However, if you are not in Christ, it is impossible to bring up godly children. It only takes the grace of God to instill the right character in your children and see them manifest this. You can get this grace by being born again. The question then is, have you ever asked Jesus to come into your heart? If your answer is “NO”, or you are not sure, please pray this prayer with all sincerity and confidence: 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: Raising Godly Children, Understanding Motherhood, Building a Successful Family and A Living Witness.

“Please click 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.

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Topic: Shake It Off! [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Wednesday May 9, 2018]

Acts 28:3-5 contains a powerful lesson.

It says: But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, Justice [the avenging goddess] has not permitted him to live.” Then Paul [simply] shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

When Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Malta, a deadly snake that was driven out by the heat of the fire bit him. He simply shook the creature off into the flames. You should follow Paul’s example and do the same in your own life. Whatever may be troubling you, shake it off!

God has great things planned for you. The dreams of the future leave no room for the snakebites of the past.

Prayer Starter: Father, right now I ask for Your help to “shake off” the disappointments, offenses, and issues from the past. Help me each day to forget what lies behind and press on toward the great things You have for my future (see Philippians 3:13). In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

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Topic: Sensitivity To The Right Things [Andrew Wommack Wednesday May 9, 2018]

Mark 6:52, “For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for theirheart was hardened.”

Text: Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21

Most of the time, we think of a person with a hard heart as being someone who is in terrible rebellion to God. While it is true that a rebellious person does have a hardened heart, in this instance, the Word is referring to the disciples’ hearts being hardened. They were, “sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered” at Jesus walking on the water.

The word “hardened” as used here, means “to make calloused, unyielding or cold in spirit, or insensitive to.” The disciples were not God haters, but rather they had become so sensitive to the natural world and its limitations that they were overwhelmed to see Jesus supersede these laws. Therefore, they had a hardened heart.

If they had kept in mind the miracle they had just seen Jesus perform (the feeding of the five thousand), then they wouldn’t have been amazed to see Jesus walking on the water toward them. After all, He had constrained them to get into the ship and was therefore responsible for them. He was just a short distance away from them, and was in the same storm himself, so they knew He was aware of their situation. They should have been expecting Jesus to come and save them, even if He had to walk on the water to do it.

Many of us are more sensitive to fear and doubt than we are to the truths of God’s Word. This is because we have thought more on things that minister fear and doubt. We can take these laws about hardening our hearts and use them in a positive way. We can actually harden our hearts to doubt by considering only God’s Word. It is a possible and obtainable goal to become just as sensitive to God and faith as we have been to Satan and doubt. Meditate on God’s Word today.

“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).

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Topic: Can Satan Rightly Accuse You? [Teens Open Heavens 9, May 2018]

Memorise: Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. John 14:30

Read: Luke 22:31-34 (KJV)

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Bible In One Year: 1 Kings 19-20, John 2

MESSAGE:

A weapon Satan uses often against believers is their weakness. He simply studies an individual for a period of time and not long after, he identifies the fellow’s weakness and capitalises on it. Take for instance Peter. Satan discovered that Peter was a cowardly person – lacking in courage. He discovered this on the day Peter set out to walk on water with Jesus. He kept this discovery close to his heart until Jesus was about to be crucified; then he arranged the circumstances and Peter eventually denied his master thrice. This denial was so bad that if not for the Lord’s intervention, it could have kept Peter permanently separated from the Lord.

Are you committing certain sins secretly which you cannot openly tell another person? Deal with that weakness now before the devil hijacks it and gets you to deny Christ. If Satan should have any grounds for accusing you today, he will rightfully quote scriptures to back up his claims. This is why you must overcome your weaknesses and quit sinning secretly so as not to give him anything to charge you with.

Action Point: What property of the devil (sin) is with you right now? Dispose of them and be completely free like Jesus.

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

Hymn 16:

1. Christian, seek not yet repose,
Hear thy gracious Savior say;
Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray.

2. Principalities and power,
Mustering their unseen array,
Wait for the unguarded hours:
Watch and pray.

3. Gird the heavenly armor on,
Wear it ever night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one:
Watch and pray.

4. Hear the victors who o’ercame,
Still they mark each warriors’s way;
All with one sweet voice exclaim,
Watch and pray.

5. Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lovest to obey;
Hide within thy heart His word:
Watch and pray.

6. Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down:
Watch and pray.

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.

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Topic: New Heaven, New Earth [Billy Graham’s Devotional Wednesday May 9, 2018]

The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. — Revelation 11:15

Christianity is a Gospel of crisis. It proclaims unmistakably that this world’s days are numbered. Every graveyard and every cemetery testify that the Bible is true. Our days on this planet are numbered. The Apostle James says that life is only a vapor that appears for a moment and then vanishes (James 4:14). The prophet Isaiah says that our life is like the grass that withers and the flower that fades (Isaiah 40:6,7).

There is no doubt that nations also come to an end when they have ceased to fulfill the function that God meant for them. The end will come with the return of Jesus Christ. He will set up a kingdom of righteousness and social justice where hatred, greed, jealousy, and death will no longer be known. That is why a Christian can be an optimist. That is why a Christian can smile in the midst of all that is happening. We know what will come. We know what the end will be: the triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Prayer for the day: While the world around me is in such turmoil, Your peace lives in my heart, as I look for Your triumphant return!

“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.

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Topic: The Point of No Return [Our Daily Bread 9 Wednesday May, 2018]

Read: James 3:1–12, Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 7–9; John 1:1–28

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body. James 3:6

It wasn’t as simple as just crossing another river. By law, no Roman general could lead armed troops into Rome. So when Julius Caesar led his Thirteenth Legion across the Rubicon River and into Italy in 49 bc, it was an act of treason. The impact of Caesar’s decision was irreversible, generating years of civil war before Rome’s great general became absolute ruler. Still today, the phrase “crossing the Rubicon” is a metaphor for “passing the point of no return.”

Sometimes we can cross a relational Rubicon with the words we say to others. Once spoken, words can’t be taken back. They can either offer help and comfort or do damage that feels just as irreversible as Caesar’s march on Rome. James gave us another word picture about words when he said, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).

When we fear we have crossed a Rubicon with someone, we can seek their forgiveness—and God’s (Matthew 5:23–24; 1 John 1:9). But even better is to daily rest in God’s Spirit, hearing Paul’s challenge, “Let your conversation be always full of grace” (Colossians 4:6), so that our words will not only honor our Lord, but lift up and encourage those around us.

Prayer: Lord, please guard my heart and my words today. May I speak only words that please You and bring health and healing to others.

When words become weapons, our relationships soon become casualties.

Insight:

The very practical book of James contains much instruction about the wise use of our words:

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (1:19). “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (1:26). “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another” (4:11).

Why is James’s teaching to watch our words crucial for honoring God and people? Arthur Jackson

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

This message was written By Bill Crowder [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

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Topic: The Father’s Heart [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Wednesday May 9, 2018]

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. – Luke 15:20

How much love do you have for sinners?

That may sound like a strange question, but it’s one I want you to think about today. All too often, once we get saved and get our lives cleaned up a little bit, we lose our compassion for those who are still lost. We look at the drunk stumbling down the street or the guy at the office who lies to the boss and tells dirty jokes and turn up our spiritual noses.

But if we ever truly understood the heart of our heavenly Father, we’d never do that again. Jesus told a story that can give us a glimpse of that heart. It’s the story we call the prodigal son.

You’ve probably heard it many times, how the son rebelled and dishonored his father, and how the father, in spite of it all, received him home with joy when he repented. But there’s one phrase in it I want to draw your attention to today. It’s this one: “But when [the prodigal son] was yet a great way off, his father saw him.”

That phrase gives such a moving glimpse of the heart of that loving father. It tells us that even before his boy had repented, even during those long days when he was up to his eyebrows in sin, that father was watching for him, longing for him to come home.

Every morning he scanned the horizon, hoping to see the silhouette of his returning son. And the last thing every night, he’d look again…straining his eyes in hope. His son was constantly on his mind, and his heart was always full of love for him. The kind of gut-wrenching love that, on the day his son came home, drove that father to run to him and kiss him.

That’s the kind of heart our heavenly Father has for those who are lost. It’s the kind of heart He had for you while you were still wandering in the world. It’s the kind of heart that embraced you with open arms even when you were still covered with the grime of sin.

There’s a whole world full of weary people out there who haven’t yet found that embrace. They’re more than just “sinners,” they’re our potential brothers…lost ones in desperate need of a loving heavenly Father. God forbid we should ever turn up our noses at them. May He help us instead to start bringing them home.

Scripture Reading: John 8:1-11

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.

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Topic: Become A Stable Believer [TREM Devotional Wednesday May 9, 2018]

“Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou went up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.” Genesis 49:4

The church is like a family; children are never the same, even twins have their differences. There are children who will call you ‘daddy’ but you know that it is lip-service. They don’t believe in the vision of the house but they are your children. But there are those who will call you Daddy and you know they are committed until death. The same thing applies to the church.

Jacob had 12 sons and they were all different. Joseph was close to his father and will tell him his dreams. Not much is said of the others. If you read the story of Jacob’s family in a hurry, you will think that Jacob never knew the atrocities some of his sons committed. However, when it was time for him to die and he was ready to bless them, he remembered what Reuben had done; he said you are my first born, you are my strength. But I can’t trust you. I know you slept with my concubine and you didn’t even repent. You pretended as if it never happened and you still came back and called me daddy. What a betrayal! Are you like Reuben or Joseph? Be the judge!

If indeed you belong to a Ministry, and you are stable, then no matter the fad going around, you will stand on the Word that you are taught in your church. For instance, if you are a member of TREM but you are practising other things that are not done in TREM, no matter the Ministry you copied it from, you are unstable! This is because every Ministry has a peculiar assignment and God understands your purpose so He rightly planted you in a church; why run helter-skelter and get mixed up in traditions and rituals of men? The orange fruit cannot grow on the Apple tree; you are planted in a particular Ministry for a purpose, sit down, follow the instructions and watch God bless you there.

Further reading: Genesis 49:1-4, James 1:5-8

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- 2 Kings 7-9; Evening- John 1:1-28

“If you missed yesterday devotional click to read “TREM’s 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.

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