Topic: No Bullying [Teens Open Heavens 25, April 2018]

Memorise: Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgement and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: Jeremiah 22:3a

Read: Jeremiah 22:3-5 (KJV)

3 Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

4 For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.

5 But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel 13-14, Luke 20:1-26

MESSAGE:

Bullying is the act of intimidating and oppressing someone because they seem less powerful than you are. A bully goes around looking for people that are less powerful than them so as to intimidate and oppress them. The devil is described in 1 Peter 5:8 as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour. From this, we see the link between the devil and the attitude of bullying. Bullying is a devilish attitude. Jesus said in Mark 12:30-31 that the greatest commandments are first to love the Lord our God with all our heart and second to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Children of God always show love to others rather than intimidate and oppress them. If you have been bullying anyone before, whether with your words, actions or possessions, turn a new leaf today and begin to show the person love. Prove that you are a child of God and not a child of the devil.

On the other hand, if you are a victim of bullying, then you must report the bully to the appropriate authority. Don’t listen to their threat, report the bully to your parents, teacher or pastor. Don’t be afraid, be bold and report them. Also, you must not hate the bully, pray for him or her to change and God will touch their heart.

Action Point: A person who bullies another person is a coward and a child of the devil, such a person does not have the love of Christ in him/her

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.

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Topic: Speak The Truth Always [DCLM Daily Manna Wednesday April 25, 2018]

Text: Genesis 20:1-18 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah” (Genesis 20:2).

MESSAGE:

Words are mostly consequential. They determine the direction of our lives, they have far reaching effects on other people, and they are weighed seriously by the Almighty God. We cannot afford to speak carelessly or twist the truth to suit our interests. Jesus Christ warns, “that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

This fact was lost on Abraham at this point in his life. The fear that he would be killed made him devised a plan he thought would protect him from the heathen nations. Abraham convinced Sarah to tell everyone that asked that she was his sister, and not wife. Usually, kings of heathen nations had their pick of any beautiful woman that caught their fancy; therefore, Abimelech took Sarah to his house with the intention of adding her to his harem. By divine intervention, he had no immoral relationship with Sarah before God warned him in a dream that she was the wife of Abraham. Frightened, Abimelech chastised Abraham for his deception, and promptly sent Sarah back to him along with gifts. Now sober, Abraham explained that Sarah was indeed his half-sister, but above all, his wife. But his half-truth would have put his wife in danger of being defiled, and personally lose God’s promise.

God will not accept any justification for lying. Outright lies or half-truths told with the intention to deceive are considered lies. You should not lose sight that your lies can jeopardise the spiritual and physical well-being of others. Above all, you must never forget God’s warning that, “all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone”. Therefore, whatever the pressure, tell the truth at all times.

Thought For The Day: Only the truthful shall abide in God’s holy Hill.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Chronicles 3-5

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.

The post DCLM Daily Manna 25 April, 2018 by Pastor Kumuyi – Speak The Truth Always appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic: Obsessed With Fashion? [Open Heavens 25 April 2018, Wednesday]

Memorise: “And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” – 1 Corinthians 7:31

Read: 1 John 2:15-17 (KJV)

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Bible in One Year: Judges 20-21, Hebrews 2:5-3:6

MESSAGE:

Fashion is based on culture, and so people’s taste for fashion differs from one culture to another. Every form of culture and its attendant fashion must be subjected to the light of God’s word because they are all creations of mankind. Today’s memory verse reminds us that the fashion of this world is transient. Consider the fact that most things that were in vogue ten or twenty years ago are no longer desired today, and yet some people shipwrecked their faith while pursuing them. As Christian pilgrims, transient things should not enslave us. Every by-product of culture that is not in alignment with the tenets of God’s word is dangerous and should be avoided.

Today’s Bible text warns us against being obsessed with fashion. The Christian life is a life of modesty and we must not lose sight of this for anything. Philippians 4:5 says,

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”

It is unfortunate that some teachers now teach that moderation is relative. They teach that what is moderate to one person based on his or her level of wealth might not be moderate to some other persons. Such teachers and those seduced by their teachings choose to ignore that when the Holy Spirit said we should be moderate, He added the clause that our moderation should be apparent to all men and not just to those who belong to our class of wealth. The Holy Spirit also teaches us to be content with whatever we have (Hebrews 13:5). Furthermore, the Lord said we should beware of covetousness, because a person’s life does not depend on the abundance or variety of goods he or she possesses (Luke 12:15). Covetousness enslaves people and drives them into being obsessed with fashion. Thankfully, the cure for this is given in 1 Timothy 6:17-18 which says:

“17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;”

The good thing about the above admonition is that when you have material possessions and you do good with them by distributing to the needy, there is no way these possessions will intoxicate you to the level of abuse. Sister, what are you doing with a thousand pair of shoes? They should be distributed to those in need, particularly those of the household of faith. If you are a hoarder of things, or you are enslaved to fashion, godliness with contentment is the panacea prescribed by the Holy Spirit for your deliverance (1 Timothy 6:6-8). Willingly submit yourself to His remedy, and you will be free.

Action Point: Ask the Lord to deliver you from the enslavement of fashion and give you contentment.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Open Heavens 24th April 2018 Tuesday — Power In The Word

Hymn 9: The Old Rugged Cross

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

o Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

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.

The post Open Heavens 25 April 2018 Wednesday — Obsessed With Fashion? appeared first on Flatimes.