Topic: Great Love — Tuesday November 14, 2017.

Read: 1 John 3:1–8, Bible in a Year: Lamentations 3–5; Hebrews 10:19–39

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Recently, we took our twenty-two-month-old granddaughter, Moriah, overnight for the first time without her older brothers. We lavished lots of loving, undivided attention on her, and had fun doing the things she likes to do. The next day after dropping her off, we said our goodbyes and headed out the door. As we did, without a word Moriah grabbed her overnight bag (still sitting by the door) and began following us.

The picture is etched in my memory: Moriah in her diaper and mismatched sandals ready to depart with Grandma and Grandpa again. Every time I think of it, I smile. She was eager to go with us, ready for more individualized time.

Although she is as yet unable to vocalize it, our granddaughter feels loved and valued. In a small way, our love for Moriah is a picture of the love God has for us, His children. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we become His children and begin to understand the lavish love He bestowed on us by dying for us (v. 16). Our desire becomes to please Him in what we say and do (v. 6)—and to love Him, eager to spend time with Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for loving us so much that You died for us and rose again that we might have eternal life with You. Help us to be examples of Your love to all we meet.

How deep is the Father’s love for us!

Insight:

Another great statement on God’s love is found in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This dovetails with the key verse in today’s devotional because God’s love that declares us His beloved children is made available to us by Jesus’s sacrifice on our behalf. He has proven His love on the cross and lavishes that love in relationship—revealing a divine love that could not be satisfied any other way. John 3:16 says that God gave His Son for us. His unquenchable love for us could only be satisfied by doing everything it took to reconcile us to Himself. Bill Crowder

This message was written By Alyson Kieda [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Receive The Ministry Of The Angels [Tuesday November 14, 2017]

Luke 22:43 “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

Text: Luke 22:43

We have angels assigned to us. Hebrews 1:14 further reveals that their purpose is to minister to us, on our behalf. In the Old Testament, Psalm 91 teaches on the ministry of angels to God’s people.

Some people who have realized this truth have taken it as far as to say that we are suppose to speak to our angels and they will obey our commands. There is no instruction in scripture to do this nor is there any example of that being done. We don’t have the intelligence to administer all of the angels.

Many of the angels’ protective duties described in Psalm 91 are preventative, and we certainly could not effectively command these activities.

Rather, these angels are dispatched exactly as this verse describes – by looking at the Father’s face (Mat. 18:10). God Almighty controls them for us; however, we do have a part to play. Psalm 91 prefaces all of these promises about angels as being for those who dwell in the secret place of the most High. Verse 2 further instructs us to say that the Lord is our refuge and fortress and in Him we trust.

It is the combination of our faith in God and His faithfulness to us that releases the angels on our behalf. If it was solely up to God, His provision would be the same for everyone because of His mercy and grace. However, we have to receive God’s grace by faith (Eph. 2:8). As we seek the Lord, become aware of His ministering spirits which were created to minister to us, and speak forth our faith in this area, He will send forth His angels on our behalf.

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: Unbreakable [Tuesday November 14, 2017]

. . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. — Joshua 24:15

The basic unit of any society is the home. When the home begins to break, the society is on the way to disintegration. Thousands of homes are almost on the rocks. Many couples are fearful lest their home, too, will be broken some day. There is one great insurance policy that you can take out, in order to guarantee the unity and happiness of your home. It is simple: Make Christ the center of your home.

A home is like a solar system. The center, the great sun, holds the solar system together. If it were not for the sun, the solar system would fly to pieces. Unless the Son of God is put at the center of your home, it, too, may fly to pieces.

Prayer for the day: How easy it is to push You to one side, Lord, and superficially remember Your blessings. May we always keep You at the center of all that we do in our homes.

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: Love & Marriage (2)

Dear Reader,

It is a privilege to bring God’s Word your way again. God’s instructions are as valid today as ever. To follow them is to make an honourable and a godly choice. No shame comes from following God’s instructions as it is beneficial and has lasting rewards.

Last week, we saw God’s involvement in the journey of love and marriage. Marriage is one of God’s most wonderful gifts to mankind. It is a treasure worth working on, cherishing and sustaining.

Marriage is a “holy estate” instituted by God, who created man and woman to complement each other. Love is the first principle of marriage; the husband is to sacrifice himself for his wife, and the wife submits herself to her husband.

Love is the cement that holds the marriage union together. If you are not in love with your spouse, there is nothing to bind the relationship together. Love is the master key to a lasting marriage. Entering into marriage without love is like coming into the world without a heart.

Jesus Christ demonstrated this sacrificial and selfless love for mankind, through His focus on self-sacrifice, the seeking of the well-being and benefit of others at one’s own expense. That is true love!

Since God built marriage, He has created all that it would take to make it work (Hebrews 3:4). All you need do is abide by God’s principle and implement His plan for marriage. God has said: Husbands, love your wives, and to the woman, He said: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husband (Ephesians 5:25 and 22).

In essence, love is not just words or feelings, but a decision expressed in deeds. Love is not focused on the benefit to the giver, but on the benefit to the recipient. Love is not love until it is expressed!

God expressed His love for us by giving His most precious possession – His Son (John 3:16). You don’t just love in your heart, thoughts or by your words. You must go further by expressing your love by action, which often than not, it is demonstrated by giving. As my husband often says, “You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.”

What is the proof that you truly love your spouse and children? What have you given them lately in demonstration of your love for them? – THINK ABOUT IT! The Bible says: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it (Ephesians 5:25). This love is not optional, but mandatory.

To give a listening ear to what the other party is saying, thinking or going through, is of greater value than the physical or material things you give. When both parties are impatient and no one wants to give their attention to the other, misunderstanding arises.

Saying the three letter words, “I love you” to your spouse and children, may be just what you need to create a transformation in your house. It doesn’t portray weakness, but strength. Don’t just say it and act selfishly, then your actions are contrary your love.

Your home could become a place where joy, laughter, excitement and peace, are the order of the day. It can be the home God created it to be. Just make it a point of duty to love, not only by saying it, but by showing it.

However, you can’t love effectively without accepting the Lord Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. Remember, without Him you can do nothing, but with Him there is more than enough grace to love.

Make a decision to accept Jesus into your life, today, and receive this grace to love and see your home experience a transformation. Say this prayer with me, if you are set for this grace: 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: Engaging the Power of the Holy Ghost for Conquest!

We discover from scriptures that as our destinies are great in Christ; so also are the oppositions against them. Furthermore, there are wars against our destinies and these wars are largely spiritual. As it is written: For a great door and effectual is opened unto me and there are many adversaries (1 Corinthians 16:9).

However, it is important to recognise that we live in an embattled and wicked world; which is why there are forces against our fulfilment of destinies; and until they are conquered, we remain defeated. As I have often said, the enemies will not bow to our religion, neither will they bow to the scriptures we quote; they will only bow to the power of God. Interestingly, God’s invisible Power is domicile, embedded and resides in the Holy Ghost. That is, no matter how great the invisible battles, they can only be confronted with a superior invisible force and that is the Holy Ghost.

But, Who then is the Holy Ghost?

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (1 John 5:7).

The Holy Ghost is God’s Principal Invisible Force and His mission is to devastate all satanic forces wherever they are found. As the Spirit of the living God, He is the Carrier, Communicator and Transmitter of the Power of God. Therefore, when we are confronted by the invisible forces of darkness, we engage this invisible Power from on high.

By His Ministry, amongst other things, He is to set free the captives and open prison doors.

As the invisible principal force of God, He deals with all the invisible resistances, oppositions and barriers on our paths. Consequently, these invisible forces will only bow to the operations of the invisible Holy Ghost. So, nothing is permitted to stop us when the Holy Ghost is at work.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19).

These opposing forces are not permitted to resist our progress, success, accomplishment, exploits or breakthroughs.

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19)

HOW DOES THE HOLY GHOST PERFORM THIS MISSION?

Isaiah 61:1-2 gives us a clear picture of the mission of the Holy Ghost to the believers. As it is written: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.

Based on the scripture above, the Holy Ghost performs the following:

He proclaims liberty and comforts all that mourn: This is why He is called the Comforter. He brings an end to the barriers on our paths and crisis in our lives.

To execute judgment: This is one of the core missions of the Holy Ghost. He executes judgment against the prince of this world and all his agents (John 16:7-11); and that is the only way we can possess our possessions and fulfil destiny in a grand style.

He is also God’s weapon of vengeance: Until vengeance answers, our liberty may not be in view (Exodus 4:22-23). Until God’s judgment answered, Pharaoh did not let Israel go. Vengeance needed to answer for them to possess their possession. They were supposed to be in Egypt for 400 years, but they were delayed for 30 years. Please understand that there are forces of delay from hell that are only awaiting divine judgment.

In conclusion, the ministry of the Holy Ghost is a non-negotiable requirement for anyone that desires vengeance on his enemies because only the power of the Holy Ghost is above all the powers of our enemies (Matthew 28:18). But to gain access to the Holy Ghost, you must be born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”  For further reading, please get my books: Anointing for Breakthrough, Understanding the Anointing, Anointing for Exploits, Release of Power.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: [email protected]