Storyline
Writer/Director Corbin Bernsen and Nathan Gamble (The Dark Knight) star in the powerful story about a boy whose search for answers leads him to faith. Oliver is a bright 12-year-old who lives in the shadow of his parents’ loss of their first son.
Topic: Decide to Believe [Friday April 21, 2017]
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. — James 1:2-4
Too often people stare at me with a blank look when I urge them to decide to believe. It’s as if I’m asking them to do something they can’t do. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God (see Romans 10:17), but it also involves a decision.
We enter into a relationship with God through believing in Jesus Christ, but that’s only the beginning.
Believing doesn’t end there. As I understand the realm of the Spirit, if we follow the Lord, we live with a growing faith. That means we learn to believe for bigger things. We learn to trust God for things we would never have thought of in our earliest Christian days.
When we become Christians, the Bible says we are adopted into the family of God: . . . but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in . . . which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! (Romans 8:15b).
That’s the beginning. That’s also where too many Christians stop. The Spirit keeps reaching for your hands so He can pull you forward. That’s when you must decide to believe—or you resist and stay exactly where you are in your Christian experience.
Read the verse at the beginning of this topic. It says your faith will be tested, but you must hold onto it and move forward. The testing may come when the devil attempts to make you doubt the promises God has given you.
There is never a stopping place in your spiritual growth—God wants to take you onward. But you have to make the choice to believe. Sometimes that takes courage, but that’s how the Christian life functions. We grow by taking steps of faith.
When God speaks to your heart—to your inner being—you need to learn to say without hesitation, “Let it be so, Lord.” You have to learn to agree with whatever the Spirit of God says or wants.
Instead, many tend to resist. They don’t say no. Satan is too subtle to nudge them to do that. He puts questions in their minds, urging them to ask, “How can that be?” They start asking God to help them understand. If your boss wants you to do a task, you can ask, “Why?” or ask for an ¬explanation.
But that is not how the Holy Spirit works. You say, “Lord, if You’ll help me understand, I will believe and obey.” God says, “Just obey. If I want you to understand, I’ll make it clear to you.” God doesn’t have to explain anything to us.
It frequently happens that believers know something down deep in their hearts—in their inner beings—but their minds fight against it. They may consider themselves unworthy. They may ask, “Who am I that You would use me to change lives?” They waste a lot of energy by telling God why they can’t do what He wants them to do. God already knows everything that is wrong with us or ever will be wrong with us, and He is willing to work through us anyway. God requires availability not ability.
God asks you to do something quite simple: Believe. That’s all. If God speaks, you need to learn to say, “Even though I don’t understand, I’ll do it.” One of the best examples I can think of in Scripture is the story of Ananias of Damascus. God told him that Saul (later called Paul) was blind and in a particular house. He was to go and lay hands on him, and God would heal him (see Acts 9:10-19).
Ananias was afraid. Saul was the great persecutor of Christians, but God told him to go because the blinded man was a chosen vessel. Despite his fear and inability to understand why God would choose a great persecutor to be a chosen vessel, Ananias went and prayed for Saul, and the future apostle was healed.
That’s how God wants us to behave. He wants us to choose to believe Him even if what He’s asking us to do doesn’t compute in our thoughts.
Holy Spirit of God, help me always to believe Your promises, even when I don’t understand Your purpose. I want to learn to trust You more, as I move forward in faith to accomplish what You have for me to do. Help me always to be obedient, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Topic: Cure for Backsliding [Friday 21, April 2017]
Memorise: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; – Acts 3:19
Read: Jeremiah 3:11-15 (KJV)
11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Bible in One Year: Numbers 10-11, Jeremiah 17:14-27
MESSAGE:
Backsliding is such a terrible condition that any child of God who backslides must quickly seek for restoration. The danger with backsliding is that a backslider may perish with his or her enemies like Samson did, or lose all he or she had gained in God like Judas Iscariot (Judges 16:30, Acts 1:16-20). The good news is that God has provided a remedy for backsliding. In today’s Bible reading, we see the loving God calling and inviting backsliding Israel back to Himself. This is a pointer to the fact that God wants to restore all backsliders.
“13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:” – Jeremiah 3:13-14
The above verses of scripture contain the cure for backsliding. Restoration for the backslider starts with an acknowledgment of sins and a contrite return to God. In other words, the cure to backsliding lies in genuine repentance. Repentance is a complete turnaround from one’s sins with a determination never to return to those sins any more. This was what Samson failed to do throughout his twenty years of being judge over Israel. To make matters worse, he always ascribed his victory and achievement to his strength. Hear what he said after one of his victories in Judges 15:16
“….With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.”
There is no record of him giving glory to God even once. When he should have prayed for mercy, he prayed a wrong prayer, asking God to strengthen him one more time, so that he could avenge his eyes! Due to the mercy of God, and because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, God still granted him his request, and he died with his enemies (Romans 11:29, Judges 16:28-30). In Acts 3:19, we see some of the great benefits of repentance. These included forgiveness, the blotting out of sins and the experience of a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Beloved, are you in a backslidden state? I encourage you to return to God through the Lord Jesus Christ today. Read 1 John 2:1-2 for a better understanding of your heritage in Christ. As you do these, the joy of salvation and the victory over sin will be restored to you.
Action Point: Pray for restoration if you are a backslider. If by His grace you are still standing, pray that you will not backslide, and also pray for all backsliders in the Body of Christ that you know.
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.
Topic: Reduce To Writing [Friday April 21, 2017]
Text: Proverbs 25:1-15
Key Verse: “These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out” (Proverb 25:1).
Can you imagine a world without history, without writing and without documentation? Most important events and persons would have been lost forever! Today’s text starts with the introduction of how the entire chapter 25 of Proverbs came to be. It was copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The basic difference between divinely inspired truth and mere history is that all divine truths started out with the glory of God in mind and God was involved in moving men to write.
Though most historical writings are at best to preserve knowledge, divinely inspired truths are well beyond history. The entire verses of this chapter are laden with eternal truths that are still relevant to us. Verses 2 to 7 speak about relationships with God and leadership. We are taught both spiritual truths and intellectual insights as to how to act before dignitaries. Verse 8 through to 12 focuses on best practices in interpersonal relationships and mediations. Verse 13 through to 15 speak about personal communication skills to acquire, to make one succeed in both godly and interpersonal relationships.
All these rich insights and honey-like revelations would have been lost if the men of Hezekiah were too busy or too lazy to copy them out? Most Christians today, are either too busy or too lazy to take notes during a Bible Study or a Church Service. While some think it not necessary, others think, who will ever read it? It is good to take down notes for emphasis, reference and remembrance. It is also very important to preserve scriptural knowledge and beliefs for the next generation.
In this age of information overload, most of the real tenets of our faith might be overshadowed by a host of other junks from the Internet if we don’t make efforts to preserve the truth by taking copious notes and right living. One way to preserve our common salvation and the faith that was once delivered to the saints is to reduce it to writing. A Christian who dies without declaring to his progeny his/her beliefs and a rich man who dies without a valid will, are both alike: men without far-sighted purpose and focus in life.
Thought for the day: He who preserves eternal truths, expands the frontiers of the gospel.
Bible Reading in one Year: Judges 5-7
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.
The concept of being Born again speaks of the process of passing out of darkness to God’s marvelous Light and out of death to life. A man’s spirit before regeneration is separated from God and is considered dead. This death means dissociation from God and the fountain of life. At this stage man’s spirit cannot commune with God because of this blackout. His soul controls and plunges him into a life of lust and habits that reduces him to servitude. Man’s spirit needed to be made alive because it is born dead. Therefore the new birth which the Lord spoke about to Nicodemus is the new birth of the spirit. It is in our spirit we first experience the resurrection life. New birth is an experience which happens entirely within our spirit. It does not relate to our soul or our body.
Jesus states in John 3:3, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God and John 3:5 states that Except a man be born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. We all came into this world through natural birth. This is the first birth. Jesus is inviting us to the second birth which is spiritual that is why He said that except a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. No unregenerate man can see the kingdom of God because the thick veil is still blinding his eyes. As soon as we are born again, God unveils our eyes to see the kingdom of God. Congratulations. We can see the kingdom of God, just like we can see the houses of our friends in the neighborhood but in reality we are not in the kingdom even as we see our friend’s houses but we are not in their homes. So our being born again only offers us the privilege of only seeing the kingdom. We have to take the next line of faith to enter the kingdom of God.
There are two processes we must pass through in order to enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus told Nicodemus that we must be born of water and be born of the Spirit. Without these two certificates we cannot enter the kingdom of God though born again. This explains the reasons why we have many billions of Born again believers but very few are yet to be Born of Water and Born of Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. What does it mean to be Born of Water and Born of the Spirit?
THE CONCEPT OF BIRTH: Before we explain the concept of being Born of water. We have to realize that the Lord is talking about Birth and not Death. This takes our mind out of the concept of water baptism because baptism is coined from the word baptizo which means immersion. Here we are immersed and buried in water, well covered then raised up into a new and living way. Birth takes place after a woman in labor has delivered successfully. This pregnancy came as a result of an insemination that took place in the womb of the woman. During the period of nine months for normal delivery, the fetus experiences growth in the womb of the mother. In the womb, the mother feeds the child through the umbilical cord and for safety and to ensure normal growth, the child must stay within the environment of the womb well connected such that any where the mother goes the child in her womb goes .They become inseparable until birth takes place. At this stage the child is said to be born of the mother.
BORN OF WATER/WORD: Similarly, we cannot be Born of water except we pass through this same process. In Ephesians 5:26, the scripture states That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. Also in John 15:3 Jesus states: Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. By these scriptures, Water spiritually means the Word of God. Therefore when Jesus was asking us to be Born of Water, He meant that we should be Born of the Word. Immediately, we are Born again(John 3:3) the Lord expects us to move further into the womb of the word like a fetus in the womb of the mother, where we are nourished and well fed for normal spiritual growth. Any where the Word goes, we must go. Any thing the Word says, we must say and do. We must ensure that we keep ourselves within the environment of the Word. The Word and us should be inseparable to ensure proper spiritual growth. At an appointed time prescribed by God the Word delivers us thus we become spiritual men and women Born of the Word.
BORN OF THE SPIRIT: The same principle and process applies to being Born of the Spirit. We must get into the womb of the Spirit to be nourished and fed by the Spirit. At this stage of spiritual growth we see ourselves learning to walk and be in total obedience to the Spirit of God. At God’s appointed time the Spirit of God delivers us hence we are being described as one being Born of the Spirit. Beloved as we yield our lives to being Born of Water/Word and of the Spirit, God gives us the right to entering the kingdom of God. The Word and the Spirit are the two witnesses to approve of us not as children anymore but as Son of God. This is why the scripture in Romans 8:14 states : For as many as are led by the Spirit of God , they are the sons of God. Beloved I believe that the Lord will give us understanding to this realm of knowledge.
By Bassey Okokon
Life for people in central Nigeria has been tense and troubled since the turn of the century, with many thousands dying as a result of communal violence.
The violence invariably affects those who are the most vulnerable, such as women and children.
Boko Haram is an extreme militant Islamist group, with alleged links to groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS. Since 2009 they have had an active presence in North East Nigeria, killing many thousands in terrorist attacks and kidnapping hundreds more between 2009 and 2016.
The Nigerian Government estimates the activity of Boko Haram has led to nearly 1.2 million Internally Displaced Persons around the country – more than half of them children. This has caused widespread humanitarian and economic difficulties, both in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
The group currently controls 14 Local Government Areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, and is imposing strict Islamic law or Sharia, wherever they can.
While the unrest in parts of the country is painted in terms of Christian/Muslim tensions, the issue goes deeper and dates back far longer than the the troubles of the last few years.
Tearfund is based in the city of Jos in Central Nigeria – whilst also working across the country through our partners. Jos is not directly affected by Boko Haram but there are currently many people displaced by Boko Haram, that have sought refuge in the area.
Tearfund partners are working to build peace between the opposing Christian and Muslim factions. Our partner, Scripture Union West Africa, is involved in peacebuilding through creating opportunities for dialogue between Muslim and Christian leaders. They work with both young and old, particularly those in flashpoint areas around the city.
Young people, who would otherwise risk being drawn into the violence, are the focus of this training. Some of them go on to become peace ambassadors in their communities.
Our partners use sporting activities to bridge divides, with inter-faith football matches and other games, fostering and restoring peace to trouble spots.
Work between Scripture Union West Africa and Jama’atu Nasril Islam of Jos, the umbrella body for Muslims in Nigeria, has resulted in the signing of a peace agreement for parts of Central Nigeria including Jos and surrounding regions.
There are indicators that attitudes in the area are changing: when a church was bombed in 2012, young people from the surrounding area who had been in our peace-building sessions were able to persuade others to refrain from revenge attacks.
While elsewhere in Nigeria, Christian/Muslim tensions are at crisis point, the work in this area is a beacon of hope, showing that religious division isn’t inevitable.
TEARFUND – GIVE TO OUR WORK IN NIGERIA
Topic: Truth Is Ever Independent [Thursday April 20, 2017]
Truth has no match neither does it suffer nor is subject to any form of limits/ barrier.
Truth is before time and ahead of time.
The past could not alter it neither can the future adjust, or change it.
It is just absolutely independent.
It doesn’t rely on support from any, neither is it bothered about who is not subscribing to it.
You either take it or leave it.
Truth cannot be intimidated neither does it need anyone to excite it.
We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth.
Truth is constant.
Truth is immovable.
Truth is not subject to any circumstance be it time, age, pressure, places, generation or any such.
It is neither archaic nor modern.
It never once sought to be civilized because it was never outdated.
It does not seek freedom because it was never colonized or ever in bondage.
It was never bound, that is why it has power to set any man free that is in any form of bondage.
Truth needs nobody to exist but everybody needs it to last even beyond his lifespan.
I therefore stand by the truth.
I subscribe to the truth.
I’ll project the truth.
I’ll defend the truth.
It is in the truth that I’m secured.
Topic: Go with the Flow [Thursday April 20, 2017]
But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. — Psalm 37:11
We can learn to get along with people. It is especially important to learn to get along with our immediate family members and coworkers. There are many informative books about personality differences to help us understand why people feel and act the way they do. Understanding helps to smooth over strained relationships.
People make decisions differently. Some give an immediate answer, while others want time to think about things first. Try to understand the people you will see today. Ask God to show you ways to get along with them. He will give you favor as you trust in Him.
Topic: Backslider-In-Heart II [Thursday 20, April 2017]
Memorise: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. – 2 Timothy 4:10
Read: Judges 14:5-10 (KJV)
5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
Bible in One Year: Numbers 8-9, Jeremiah 16:14-17:13
MESSAGE:
Yesterday, we established that backsliding is a gradual process that remains hidden in the heart and only begins to manifest after it had gotten out of hand. In today’s memory verse, we discover one factor that brings backsliding: the love of the world. 1 John 2:15-16 says,
“15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
The Bible passage reveals the character of the love of this present world, by which the heart of Demas, a companion of Paul, was stolen away from the straight and narrow way (2 Timothy 4:10). How far have you been drawn away from the narrow path which you have been treading on for so long? Is the relativism philosophy of this present world doing great damage to the faith which you once had? How far have you been drawn away by the pleasurable things of life? My prayer for you is that the fire of the first love you had for Christ will be reignited, and that you will relate with God and the things of God like when you first believed in Him in Jesus’ Name.
Taking a closer look at the life of Samson as a case study of the backslider-in-heart, one lesson we can learn from today’s Bible reading is that the backslider-in-heart can still be preaching, ministering in songs, doing all kinds of work of the ministry, and even performing miracles, which in the process of backsliding. Although Samson was going down into abomination, when a lion roared against him, he responded with the same ability of the spirit he always had. Judges 14:6 says:
“And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.”
As if marrying a Philistine was not enough, on his next trip to Timnath, he went to admire the relics of his conquest, the carcass of a lion he had killed. Behold, the devil had set up a honeycomb right there in the carcass of the dead lion to ensnare him, and Samson fell for it; even though he knew that a Nazirite must not touch the dead body of an animal (Numbers 6:2-8). Samson’s stomach and taste continued to lead him on his downward slide towards destruction, just as they did to Esau (Hebrews 12:16-17). My prayer for you is that your appetite for the things for the world will not destroy you in Jesus’Name.
Prayer Point: Father, don’t let what I love destroy me, and don’t let me love what would destroy me.
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.
Topic: Wrong Conclusion [Thursday April 20, 2017]
Text: Job 30:15-23
Key Verse: “For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living” (Job 30:23).
In the story behind great hymns, it was said of Horatio Spafford, the lawyer who wrote the song ‘It is well with my soul’ that he lost all his fortune and while recuperating, eventually lost his four daughters to a shipwreck. But the most painful part of the story was that his church wrongly concluded that the tragedies he faced, were as a result of divine judgment.
How painful it is when people who ought to console you, put you to more grief all because of wrong conclusions. The friends of Job had dragged him into a needless debate. Without knowing what was really going on, they concluded God was after Job because he had sinned. Job himself also thought that his sufferings were aimed at terminating his life. From the story of Job, we learn that things are usually not the way they appear especially when we love God and are called by Him.
You may be going through something hard and thinking this will be your end not knowing that God might be looking for an opportunity to enlarge your coast. When people face challenges, some may be tempted to think that it is punishment or a just reward, especially when they look at the episode from a narrow prism. Not every sinner will receive his/her just punishment here. There are many saints who go about bearing afflictions that are never as a result of their sins. In the New Testament, some disciples came to Jesus to inquire from him, when they saw a man who was blind from birth, whether the man sinned or his parents sinned that he was born blind.
The answer Jesus gave should leave us with why we must not draw wrong conclusions about matters (John 9:1-3). Whatever you are going through or whatever is going through you, know that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Thought for the day: God will always make His children triumphant.
Bible Reading in one Year: Judges 1-4
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.
Be alerted to Breaking Christian News and Stories as it happens. The Christian Mail (TCM) was Founded in 2014 as Mail information service to Christians. TCM then first went online on March 14, 2014, operating as a blog (but designed like a Christian News website), showcasing selected Christian News from Christian News Networks from around the world (News Channels) to Christians.
Contact us: Chat with Us online
© 2022 The Christian Mail. All Rights Reserved.
