Topic: Follow the Little Promptings [Tuesday December 12, 2017]

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! — 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Holy Spirit always wants to lead us through life, but sometimes we get so focused on seemingly “big” issues that we don’t realize how much He speaks in small promptings every day.

I was on my way home one day and intended to stop and get a cup of coffee, when I had a strong impression that I should call my secretary and ask if she wanted a cup too. When I called, she said, “I was just standing here thinking, I would love a good cup of coffee right now.”

You see, God wanted to give her the desire of her heart, and He wanted to work through me. I did not hear a loud voice or see an angel or have a vision. I simply had an inner sense or thought that I should offer her a cup of coffee.

In the same way, God wants to bless the people in your life. I encourage you today to keep your heart sensitive to God’s voice. Follow the little promptings. He will speak to your heart and lead you in the way you should go.

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, I choose today to quiet myself so that I can hear Your little promptings. Show me ways that I can bless others.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries

Topic: Death Has Lost Its Power [Tuesday December 12, 2017]

Matthew 27:52 “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,”

This is an amazing event that only Matthew records. This earthquake apparently rolled the stones away from many of the graves in the vicinity of Jerusalem, and some of the saints buried there arose from the dead. Even at the death of Jesus, such power was released that death lost its grip on its captives.

It is uncertain whether these resurrected saints died again or were caught up to God. If they were resurrected at Christ’s death, then they would have had to die again, just as Lazarus or Jairus’ daughter or the widow’s son at Nain or anyone else that Jesus raised from the dead during His ministry. This is because Jesus was, “the firstfruits of them that slept” (Acts 26:23; 1 Cor. 15:20). Jesus was not the first person physically raised from the dead, but He was the first person begotten from the dead to never die again.

If these people were not actually resurrected until after Jesus’ resurrection, when Matthew states they came out of their graves, then they could have been resurrected with their glorified bodies to never die again.

At any rate, these saints went into Jerusalem after Jesus was resurrected and they appeared to many people. We can only guess what effect this must have had on the people.

The resurrection of Jesus puts Christianity in a class all by itself. Many people have come and gone professing some revelation from God or new way of approaching God. But only Jesus has conquered death. This makes Him unique and elevates Him above the level of any other man who has ever walked on the earth. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof of the accuracy of His doctrine.

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: Loving One Another [Tuesday December 12, 2017]

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men . . . — 1 Thessalonians 3:12

One of the growing psychological problems facing people today is loneliness. One of the greatest ministries that a person can have today is just being a good listener. Many people are longing not only to be loved but to have someone who will listen to them. When we love God with all our hearts, then we have the capacity to love our neighbor. The greatest need in the world today is not more science, not more social engineering, not more teaching, not more knowledge, not more power, not even more preaching—the greatest need we have today is for love. And the only way that love can be supplied is by a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit that transforms lives.

The love that God gives is not the ordinary love that we find in the world today. When we love our neighbors, it is not our loving with natural love, it is God loving through us. If you are willing to do this, God will give you His love.

Prayer for the day: I love You, Jesus. How often I take for granted Your immeasurable act of love for me upon the cross. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, that through Your supreme example I can reach out to my neighbor.

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: You Are Completely Saved — Tuesday December 12, 2017.

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV)

Today, we see many people who claim to be believers but go around with their heads bowed low in despair, discouragement and disappointment, especially when they consider their current realities. They parade themselves as believers, yet their utterances do not in any way suggest that they are. Their words do not align with what is expected of a believer. They complain about the challenges they face in our society and the consequent effects on their families, finances, health, academics, and all that as if God is in trouble. Are you in that category? The time to change your confession is now. Beloved, your God is still sitting. He is in control! He has everything in place for your victory, but you must align with Him with a knowing that your salvation is total. Jesus did not pay the price for you to go to heaven but live in sickness, disease etc here. No! The price for your salvation was fully paid.

Christ is able to save to the uttermost those that come to God through Him. What does that mean? The scripture is simply telling us that, as many, as go to God through Christ, are totally saved. Totally because the work of salvation that Christ performed at Calvary is perfectly perfect and completely complete. Nothing can be added to it neither can anything be subtracted from it. The Amplified version puts it this way; “Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him…”

As believers, the finished work of Christ provides us with the assurance of salvation – total, complete, and perfect deliverance. This deliverance is all-encompassing – covering every area of your life: health, finances, education, business, career, relationship and family. Not only are we covered all-around, this deliverance does not have an expiry date. It lasts forever. We have a forever Priest after the order of Melchisedec, who constantly makes intercession for us. This is a basic truth which must be settled in your heart.

Further Reading: Hebrews 7:24-26, 8:1-6

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Hosea 9-11; Evening- Revelation 3

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.