Topic: We Are Called to Enjoy God [Wednesday November 15, 2017]

Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist]. — 1 Corinthians 8:6

We need to get comfortable with God. I don’t mean we should be disrespectful, but that we don’t have to be afraid of Him. In fact, I believe that the ultimate call of every believer’s life is to enjoy God. We are called to enjoy the Father because He is life, and we can’t truly enjoy life if we don’t enjoy God.

Sometimes we don’t enjoy God’s presence because we get all wrapped up in serving Him, discovering what gifts we have, and spending all our time working at our ministry. This happened to me. About five years into my ministry, God had to make me hit the brakes because I had become so proud of the work I was doing for Him that I was no longer enjoying Him.

We have to be careful when we start getting proud of ourselves because of all the things we’re doing. That’s not what God’s after. As our Father, He just wants us to know and enjoy Him.

So let me ask you, are you proud of your works today? Or are you truly enjoying God?

Prayer Starter: Father God, I want to enjoy You. Fellowshipping with You and being in Your presence is so wonderful. I lay aside my pride and humble myself before You so I can find my purpose and joy in You alone.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries

Topic: Living as a Family (2)

Dear Reader,

You are welcome to the second series of our teaching. May the almighty God enrich you as you pay attention to His Word in Jesus’ name!

Last week I taught on Family and Family Life. This week, I shall be exploring, the Family structure. The Bible says in Hebrews 3:4: For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

The word “house” in the above passage is not referring to a physical structure, but to a family structure; the individuals who make up the home. It is man’s responsibility to build his/ her house. You build by organising and administering the individuals under your roof.

1 Timothy 3:12 says: Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

The family structure requires effective administration. When this is lacking, families in turn produce individuals who tear down and destroy the society. The essence of the family, therefore, is to create an atmosphere or environment for effective administration and preparation of individuals, so they can grow and pursue the plan of God for their lives.

“Charity” they say, “begins at home”. It doesn’t end there though; it only begins from there. This means the home is where the character and destiny of an individual should begin and take shape properly. The Biblical example of this is the case of Abraham. In the Book of Genesis 18:19, God speaking about Abraham said:  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Abraham had a grasp of God’s purpose for the family, and by that understanding he was able to order his household aright. As a result, God was pleased with him and ensured that Abraham and his household were successful in all that they did. Till today, Christians all over the world still identify with Abraham.

If God were to comment on your marriage or family today, would He say something positive about it?

The family is the foundational block for the society, while marriage is the foundational block for the family.

Satan always targets marriage to destroy it. God established the family as the first and most fundamental element of the human society. Marriage is a foundational institution that existed before all other institutions. It is the oldest institution in the world.

The family existed before nations, governments, schools, or businesses and marriage was instituted before the family. Marriage is foundational because it is on this relationship that God began to build the society.

Marriage is also the foundation upon which the church, community of believers, and God’s special society rests.

Although, every house and family is built by some man or woman, but for any house or family to stand the test of time, an understanding of what the family stands for must be grasped. Also, each family must be founded and built on the principal and master plan of God, the Originator.

For you to have a good and a stable family structure, you must first of all surrender your life to Christ, because He is the Originator and the Institutor of the family and marriage. Are you willing to give Him a chance in your life? Are you ready to let Him have His way over you? If you do, please say this prayer in faith: 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 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: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

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.

Topic: Put Love to Work [Wednesday November 15, 2017]

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

What do you do when you’re facing a particularly stubborn problem? A problem that resists your every effort to solve it?

Put the power of love to work on it! The power of love is the greatest power in the universe. It’s beyond defeat. It never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).

The Bible says God is love. So when you release love into a situation, you have released God into it. Think about that! When you start releasing love into a situation, Jesus becomes responsible for its success.

What is this love I’m talking about?

First Corinthians 13 tells us it’s patient and kind. It’s not jealous or haughty or conceited or rude. It doesn’t insist on its own way. It’s not touchy or resentful and it pays no attention to a suffered wrong.

Love rejoices when right and truth prevail and it bears up under anything and everything that comes. It’s ever ready to believe the best of every person. Its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything without weakening.

The person who refuses to love is missing out on the very best God has to offer.

Don’t you miss out on any of it. Release love every moment into every situation, every prayer and every thought until it totally consumes your life. It will strengthen you and cast out every fear that has robbed you of God’s greater blessings. It will drive the devil out of your affairs and set you free from every torment of darkness.

Put love to work on the stubborn problems in your life. It’s the one solution they’ll never be able to resist.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

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: Chose To Serve [Wednesday November 15, 2017]

Matthew 26:51 “And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.”

Text: Matthew 26:51

In Romans chapter one, Paul calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ. Out of the six Greek words for “servant” used in the New Testament, Paul used one of the most slavish terms possible. The word used in this passage is “doulos” and comes from the root word “deo” which means “bind.” Paul literally speaks of himself as a bondman or slave of Jesus Christ – a slave by free choice; yet owned and purchased by Jesus Christ.

The idea of being a love-slave by choice comes from Old Testament passages such as Exodus 21:2-6 and Deuteronomy 15:12-17. If an Israelite bought a Hebrew slave, he must set him free in the seventh year. However, if the slave loved his master and said, “I will not go away from thee,” then a hole was to be bored through the lobe of his ear pronouncing him a bond-slave forever.

Jesus is the supreme example of selflessness – He puts others ahead of Himself.

We see clearly from Jesus’ example, that the way to exaltation in God’s kingdom comes through humility and servanthood to others. Christ’s humiliation, displayed in His coming to earth as a man, is not only a lesson in Christology but also an example to all believers of what greatness in God’s kingdom entails. Let this attitude of heart, taken from the example of Jesus Christ, continue to motivate all true believers in Jesus Christ.

The Creator became the creation; the Lord became the servant; the Highest became the lowest. All of this was done because of God’s great love for us.

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: Divine Artistry [Wednesday November 15, 2017]

Yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. — 2 Corinthians 12:5

Dr. Edward Judson, in speaking of the life of his father, Adoniram Judson, at the dedication of the Judson Memorial Church in New York City, said, “Suffering and success go together. If you are succeeding without suffering, it is because others before you have suffered; if you are suffering without succeeding, it is that others after you may succeed.”

Happy are they that mourn. They can be happy because they know that their pain, their distress, and their privation are the travail of a new creation, the birth pangs of a better world. They can be happy if they are aware that the Master Artist, God, is employing both light and shadow to produce a masterpiece worthy of divine artistry.

They can also glory in their infirmities, smile through their tears, and sing in the midst of their sorrow, because they realize that in God’s economy, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him.”

Prayer for the day: In suffering I will learn to praise You, loving Savior.

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.