Topic: Kinds Of Evangelism [Monday December 18, 2017]

Luke 24:48 “And ye are witnesses of these things.”

One of the great mistakes of the modern church is to think that evangelism is something done within the four walls of the church building. Acts 8:1-4 makes it apparent that evangelism was not done by the pastor or clergy but by believers that went everywhere preaching the Word (Acts 8:4).

Some methods of evangelism mentioned in scripture are: (1) House to house evangelism – “…and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42). (2) Personal one-on-one evangelism – Philip ministered to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-38), Paul to Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7), Jesus to Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, the woman at the well, the thief on the cross, and others.

There are around 35 such instances recorded in the Gospels alone. (3) Evangelism to large crowds – Peter ministered to the crowds in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2) and Paul at Lystra (Acts 14:8-18). (4) Evangelism to entire cities – “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5). (5) Public debate and preaching – Paul disputed in synagogues and market places (Acts 16:17), Peter and John preached in the temple (Acts 3:11-26), Paul declared, “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you PUBLICKLY and from HOUSE TO HOUSE, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:20-21). (6) Tract evangelism – The first tract evangelism with ink and pen are the Gospels. John in his gospel stated, “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name” (Jn. 20:31).

Christians are to be wise in the way they act and speak to unbelievers. We are to make the most of every opportunity. The Christian’s speech should be gracious with answers that meet the needs of each person they encounter.

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: The Finished Work [Monday December 18, 2017]

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. — John 3:3

A person is saved by trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and not by bodily sensations and religious ecstasy. But you will say, “What about feeling? Is there no place in saving faith for feeling?” Certainly, there is room for feeling in saving faith. But we are not saved by it. Whatever feeling there may be is the result of saving faith, but feeling never saved a single soul. Love is feeling. Joy is feeling. Inward peace is feeling. Love for others is a feeling. Concern for the lost is a feeling. But these feelings are not conversion. The one experience that you can look for and expect is the experience of believing in Christ.

Find peace with God today.

Prayer for the day: Thank You, Lord, for Your gift of redemption, which does not fluctuate like my feelings.

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: Extremely Blessed [Monday December 18, 2017]

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. – Proverbs 17:8

If I could give you a gift this Christmas, the Word is what I’d give you. I’d rather give it to you than a check for a million dollars. Because you can run through a million dollars real quick, but the truth of God’s Word never quits—and it will get you out of situations a million dollars can’t get you out of.

Ken and I are just ordinary people. But when we latched on to God’s Word, we latched on to something out of the ordinary, something that changed our lives. Every area of our lives.

Nothing that’s happened to us has happened because of us. It’s happened because of God’s Word. In fact, I don’t even have to know you to promise you this: If you’ll give God’s Word your full attention—and not be afraid of His will for your life—you’re going to be happier and more prosperous than anything you could ever dream up.

Of course, if you do that, people may call you extreme. They say that about us all the time. But we don’t mind. We are extreme. And if you’ll set your faith on the Word of God, you can be extreme too. Extremely well. Extremely prosperous. And extremely blessed. Merry Christmas!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:56-65

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: Everlasting Hope — Monday December 18, 2017.

Read: Psalm 146, Bible in a Year: Obadiah; Revelation 9

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psalm 146:5

The week before Christmas, two months after my mom died, holiday shopping and decorating sat at the bottom of my priority list. I resisted my husband’s attempts to comfort me as I grieved the loss of our family’s faith-filled matriarch. I sulked as our son, Xavier, stretched and stapled strands of Christmas lights onto the inside walls of our home. Without a word, he plugged in the cord before he and his dad left for work.

As the colorful bulbs blinked, God gently drew me out of my darkness. No matter how painful the circumstances, my hope remained secure in the light of God’s truth, which always reveals His unchanging character.

Psalm 146 affirms what God reminded me on that difficult morning: My endless “hope is in the Lord,” my helper, my mighty and merciful God (v. 5). As Creator of all, He “remains faithful forever” (v. 6). He “upholds the cause of the oppressed,” protecting us and providing for us (v. 7). “The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down” (v. 8). He “watches over” us, “sustains” us, and will always be King (vv. 9–10).

Sometimes, when Christmas rolls around, our days will overflow with joyful moments. Sometimes, we’ll face loss, experience hurt, or feel alone. But at all times, God promises to be our light in the darkness, offering us tangible help and everlasting hope.

Prayer: Father God, thanks for inviting us to know and rely on Your unchanging character as the source of our eternal hope.

God secures our hope in His unchanging character.

Insight:

Psalm 146 is a psalm of contrasts. But the opening and closing phrases of the chapter are identical: “Praise the Lord.” This literary technique is called an inclusio. An inclusio sets the framework for understanding the content in between. In the case of Psalm 146, that framework is praising the Lord.

In verses 1–4 the author describes the frailty and ineffectiveness of the strength of humans—they are a breath; they cannot save. Then comes the contrast. In verses 5–9 God is described as the Maker and Ruler of everything. And specifically in verses 7–9 the author says that the Lord watches over and protects those who are in trouble. What greater reason to praise the Lord than that He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves!

In the midst of difficult circumstances the Lord is faithful. How can you remind yourself and others of this today? J.R. Hudberg

This message was written By Xochitl Dixon [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Keys To Supernatural Protection [Monday December 18, 2017]

Scripture: And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. Isaiah 22:22

Thought For The Day: Responsibility is responsible for accessibility; the secret you access determines the shade you enjoy.

The Scripture has confirmed that God is eternally committed to the protection of His children. Instances of God’s commitment to the preservation of His children abound in the scripture.
However, God does not force anyone to come under His shield. It takes keys or responsibilities by man to enjoy supernatural protection by God.

The truth is, doors do not answer to titles or muscles; doors answer to the right keys. Where the right key is not in place, access is limited and entry is denied. Responsibility is responsible for accessibility. Thus, there is something man should do in order to enjoy supernatural protection from God.

Below are some of the keys:-

1. Living in the secret place of God by the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 19:23, Job 29:4). To fear God is to be safe in life. The secret you access determines the shade you enjoy.

2. Maintenance of spiritual sensitivity. Your spirituality is the guarantee of the security of your destiny.

3. Avoidance of the fear of the enemy: To be afraid of the enemy is to lose faith in God and be vulnerable to defeat.

4. Watching your Utterance: Your utterance is potent enough to either make or mar you.

6. Watchfulness and Prayerfulness: Be watchful and prayerful. Avoid spiritual slumber.

In this December, I prophesy your protection from every plot of the enemy. The Lord shall shield both you and everyone connected to you, in Jesus’ Name.

Remember This: Responsibility is responsible for accessibility; the secret you access determines the shade you enjoy.

Assignment:

1. Ruggedly determine to make the aforementioned keys your practice and lifestyle.

Prayer: LORD, I make demands on the grace to maintain a permanent and consistent relationship with You. I connect to Your protection power for the security of my life in this season, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE GOD OUR DELIVERER

Quote: Supernatural Defence is a Product of Son-ship. Culled from 365 WISDOM CAPSULES by Dr Paul Enenche

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Healing and Deliverance Service tomorrow by 9:30am. Invite friends and loved ones. God bless you.

Daily Reading: Habakkuk 1:1 to 3:9, Revelation 9:1 to 21, Psalm 137:1 to 9, Proverbs 30:10

Amazing Fact: Horses have the largest eyes of any land mammal

Today In History: 18/12/1956 – Japan was admitted to the United Nations.

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: Children Of Light — Monday December 18, 2017.

Text: Ephesians 5:1-10

Key Verse: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

A preacher once recounted his experience on the way to work. A co-passenger in a cab was reading a magazine filled with pictures of gorgeous naked women in seductive poses. He would comment on each woman’s finer features and ask for his response. He was stunned at his depraved disposition.

The question however is, how should you as a Christian respond to such situations at work when the other workers share the latest dirty jokes. Should you say nothing and just walk away? These are the difficult, real-life situations that Paul the apostle addressed in the text. He was answering the question of how we, as children of light, should relate to a morally dark world. He does not give us specific directions to follow when we face these difficult situations but he gives us comprehensive guiding principles. By understanding these principles, each of us can think through on how to respond when these situations arise, as surely they will.

We are admonished to steer clear of moral vices prevalent among the unregenerate: fornication, all uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, jesting, “which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks”. Therefore, all those merely professing Christianity and relationship with Christ but daily live without corresponding evidence of a transformed nature, risk eternal damnation in hell.

Some Christians have become so much like the world in their attitude and behaviour that there is no appreciable difference between them in dressing, talking, choice of career, marriage, and so on. Being children of light implies that we radiate our transformed lives. Just as He created light out of darkness, He has changed us from being darkness itself into light in the Lord and to the world.

Thought for the day: The redeemed is a light to the world.

Bible Reading in one Year: Revelation 15-17

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: Avoid Defilement! — Monday 18, December 2017.

Memorise: And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. – Revelation 21:27

Read: Isaiah 52:11-12 (KJV)

11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.

Bible in One Year: Revelation 20-22, Zachariah 5:5-6:15, Hymn: Sing Hymn 9: On Hill Far Away

MESSAGE:

It is the great desire of the wonder-working God to work wonders through His children. However, for you to be a partaker of the manifestation of this desire, you must be prepared to pay the price. Nothing good comes cheap. Anything that is cheap is obviously of low quality and value. If you are interested in working wonders as a worker in God’s vineyard, you must be prepared to be a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). You must be ready to say, “Lord, for the rest of my life, feel free to do whatever You want with me.” In addition, to work wonders, you must have clean hands. Isaiah 52:11 says,

“Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.”

Your hands must be free from defilement at home, at work, when nobody is watching, and everywhere else. Many years ago, while I was still lecturing in the university, I wrote a personal letter, and as I reached out to take one of the official envelopes assigned to me, the Lord said, “You wrote a personal letter, but that envelop is for official use.” I replied, “Lord, how much is an envelope?” and He said to me, “If it is so cheap, go and buy you own.” If you want to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, or if you want to lay hands on demon-possessed individuals and have the demons obey your voice, then it cannot be with hands that have been stealing, defrauding or writing false reports.

Moreover, you need to be in constant touch with God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says that you should pray without ceasing. One way to do this is by regularly praying in tongues like Paul (1 Corinthians 14:18). You can also keep in touch with God by constantly thanking him. I tell you, Jesus would like that. I heard the testimony of a man who on his 50th birthday said all he wanted to do was to say ‘Thank You” to Jesus at least 50 times. I said that was a beautiful idea which had never crossed my mind. How old are you now? When you want to pray, say thank You Jesus the number of times corresponding with your age, and you will be amazed at what could happen through this. Do you want to be a worker of signs and wonders? Are you ready to pay the price?

Prayer Point: Father, by Your power, keep me from being defiled, every day of my life.

Hymn 9: On Hill Far Away

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.

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.
Refrain:

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.
Refrain:

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.
Refrain:

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.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.