Topic: Reflect Jesus [Teens’ Open Heavens Thursday 8th, February 2018]

Memorise: let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:4-9

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 4-6, Matthew 25:1-30

MESSAGE:

God is calling every believer to rise and shine. You can shine like the moon. The moon receives light from the sun and reflects it to the world. Shortly before His ascension, the Lord gave an instruction to His disciples in Mark 16:15-18. He was simply asking them to go in His Name, take the light from Him and reflect it to the world just like the relationship between the sun and the moon. You need to reflect His light because of the gross darkness that has covered the earth.

One characteristics of light is that it attracts all kinds of things. If you turn on a light bulb in the midst of darkness, it will attract good people, like readers, it will also attract different kinds of insects. Just as light attracts good things, so does it also attract bad, ugly and evil things, in effect, the moment you begin to shine, be on your guard. consciously consider everything before you allow them around you. Ask the Holy Spirit to increase the intensity of light around you and make it a blazing fire, so that nothing evil will come near you.

Action Point: Ask the Holy Spirit to increase the light inside you and ask Him to make that light bright enough to light up the world around you.

Hymn 7:

1. I am Thine 0 Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

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: Shattered Dreams [DCLM Daily Manna Thursday February 8th, 2018]

Text: Proverbs 11:1-9 (KJV)

Key Verse: “When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth” (Proverbs 11:7).

MESSAGE:

Sarah Winchester’s husband had acquired a fortune by manufacturing and selling rifles. After he died of influenza in 1918, she moved to San Jose, California. Because of her grief and her long-time interest in spiritism, Sarah sought out a medium who told her, “As long as you keep building your home, you will never face death.” Sarah believed the spiritist, so she bought an unfinished 17-room mansion and started to expand it. The project continued until she died at the age of 85. It cost 5 million dollars at a time when workmen earned 50 cents a day. The mansion had 150 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, and 10,000 windows. And Mrs. Winchester left enough materials so that they could have continued building for another 80 years. Today, that house stands as no more than a tourist attraction. It is a silent witness to the dread of death that holds millions of people in bondage.

The book of Proverbs presents the many contrasts of life. Our text decries the evils of cheating through the use of false measurements and the dangers of amassing wealth and pursuing profits without integrity and uprightness. While the passage presents many advantages of righteousness and uprightness through a changed heart, it warns that death will eventually stop the wicked from his plans and projections.

Like Sarah Winchester, many are pursuing projects after projects today in hope that death may never come. Some corrupt people steal so much money they and their families hardly ever need, plunging millions of people including the unborn children in their nations into poverty, only to leave all behind when death comes.

Seek spiritual rebirth through penitence and faith in the sacrifice of Christ, and thereafter live to positively impact other lives for God.

Thought For The Day: True treasures are found only in Christ.

Bible Reading in a Year: Exodus 28-29.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late.

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.

Topic: The Products Of Passion [Seeds of Destiny Thursday February 8, 2018]

Scripture: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you… James 4:8

Thought For The Day: You cannot be passionate for God and be powerless spiritually. Passionate people are powerful people

It has been confirmed that a person’s passion determines his portion in life. Passion for God is profitable in time and in eternity.

In our world today, there are people who are not interested in the state of their spirit. They are not interested in a message or a book about the Holy Spirit or the Anointing; it does not mean anything to them. But if there is a new fashion, they can even borrow money to buy it because fashion is their passion.

Previously, we looked at some of the profits of passion for God, and today we shall be looking at more of them.

1. Passion for God determines power with God.

Passionate people are powerful people (Psalm 63:1-2). You cannot be passionate for God and be powerless spiritually. Passionate people are powerful people. Show me a man of passion and I will show you a man with power.

2. Passion for God determines the release of potentials.

The healing anointing and all manner of graces came forth in Jesus’ life because of his passion for His Father. David was one of the most passionate people in the Scripture (Psalm 63:1-2, Psalm 42:1-2), and he carried heavy potentials – he was an instrumentalist, a song writer, a king, a prophet, a people developer, an inventor of music equipment, etc.

The truth is, the closer you get to God, the more your potentials come under pressure to be released; everything inside you is pushed out. Passion for God puts your potential under pressure for manifestation.

Beloved, any endeavour, pursuit, or relationship that interrupts your devotional life or commitment in Church is a threat to your life and destiny.

Remember This: You cannot be passionate for God and be powerless spiritually. Passionate people are powerful people.

Assignment(S):

1. Endeavour to be always close to God; be consistent in heartfelt communion with God, studying His Word and worshipping Him intimately.

2. Avoid living a life of vanity.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: PASSION FOR GOD.

Prayer: O LORD, draw me close to You. You are All I need Lord. Help me to be passionate for You all the days of my life, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: Exodus 28:1 to 43, Matthew 25:31 to 26:13, Psalm 31:9 to 18, Proverbs 8:12 to 13

Quote: Any step taken outside God is a step into disaster. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off.

Today In History: 08/02/1837 – Richard Johnson became the first Vice President of the United States chosen by the United States Senate.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late.

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.

Topic: You Are Wired To Overcome [TREM’s Daily Thursday February 8, 2018]

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4 (KJV)

Beloved, you are wired to overcome every challenge and whatever the world throws at you. There is no situation that confronts you that you cannot overcome. None! If Christ could overcome it, you also can because as He is so are you. Stop accepting failure and stop saying your environment is not working for you. You are a spirit and you are not limited. There is nothing like fatal failure for the believer. If your God cannot fail, you too cannot fail because you are His image.

You will be surprised how many of us have failed to attain the height that God has ordained for us simply because we have maintained the status quo. You are not a thermometer.  You are a thermostat so stop reading the weather. Determine the type of weather you want by yourself. If you want cool weather, be a thermostat. If you want to die with others be a thermometer. Refuse to accept ‘qui sera sera’ (what will be, will be). Refuse to live your life with what will be will be. Challenge the status quo! Any man who wants to amount to anything in life must challenge the status quo.

The challenges of life are stepping stones. Situations will answer to you. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Abraham against hope believed in hope. Others may fail, but you won’t fail because you believe in hope. Those who win in battles are those who have the victory before the victory.

Whatsoever is born of God does overcome and the victory that overcomes the world is our faith. When you have the victory before the victory, nothing moves you. How do you have the victory before the victory? It is simply by standing on what God said because what God said is the final authority.

Further reading: 1 John 5:4-5, 2 Corinthians 2:14, John 16:33

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 4-5; Evening- Matthew 24:29-51

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: The Problem with Pride [Our Daily Bread 8 Thursday February, 2018]

Read: Proverbs 16:16–22, Bible in a Year: Leviticus 4–5; Matthew 24:29–51

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

People who achieve an extraordinary level of fame or reputation while they are still alive are often called “a legend in their own time.” A friend who played professional baseball says he met many people in the world of sports who were only “a legend in their own mind.” Pride has a way of distorting how we see ourselves while humility offers a realistic perspective.

The writer of Proverbs said, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). Viewing ourselves in the mirror of self-importance reflects a distorted image. Self-elevation positions us for a fall.

The antidote to the poison of arrogance is true humility that comes from God. “Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud” (v. 19).

Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26–28).

There is nothing wrong with receiving accolades for achievement and success. The challenge is to stay focused on the One who calls us to follow Him saying, “for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (11:29).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us Your humility as we interact with others today. May we honor You in all we do and say.

True humility comes from God.

Insight:

The account of King Nebuchadnezzar is an example of how pride can lead to a fall. The prophet Daniel reminded him that God had given him “dominion and power and might and glory” (Daniel 2:37). Nebuchadnezzar initially acknowledged Yahweh was “the God of gods and Lord of kings” (v. 47), but pride got the better of him when he ordered everyone to worship a ninety-foot-tall gold statue of himself (3:1–6). Ignoring God’s warning, he persisted in his pride and said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built . . . by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (4:30). Just as he was boasting about this, he was suddenly struck down by an illness, believed to be boanthropy, a rare mental disorder where a person believes he is a cow or ox (vv. 31–33). After seven years, God restored Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity. Then he humbly confessed, “Now I . . . praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven. . . . Those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (v. 37). The arrogant king learned that “when pride comes, then comes disgrace” (Proverbs 11:2) and “pride brings a person low” (29:23).

When have you seen pride lead to disgrace? K. T. Sim

This message was written By David C. McCasland [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]