David Abioye’s Daily Devotional February 20, 2017 – Righteousness Pays!

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Topic: Righteousness Pays! [Monday February 20, 2017]

Prov 11:31

“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth…”

Righteousness is a seed.

It can’t die. It can’t be lost

Someday it will emerge with its fruits.

Never be weary at living righteous.

Jacob’s righteousness spake for Him – Gen 30:33; 31:1-16

Joseph shows us the way to it – Gen 37:1-6; 42:18

David practiced it a great deal –  1 Sam 24:1-22; 26:1-23

Daniel maintained it as a lifestyle– Dan 6:22

It paid off for all of them. It will work for you in the same way.

Joyce Meyer’s daily devotional February 20, 2017 – Let God Interrupt You

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Topic: Let God Interrupt You [Monday February 20, 2017]

…And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion? — Esther 4:14

Have you ever noticed that the men and women we read about in the Bible and consider “great” were all people who allowed God to interrupt their lives and were willing to make tremendous sacrifices for Him?

Joseph saved a nation from starvation, but not before God dramatically removed him from his comfortable home where he was his father’s favorite and allowed him to be imprisoned for many years. Joseph probably wasn’t planning a life of hardship and rejection, but God took him through those things in order to position him to be in the right place at the right time. But Joseph could only know that after the fact.

Esther was a young maiden who undoubtedly had plans for her future when suddenly, without warning, she was asked to enter the king’s harem and gain favor with him so she could reveal the plan of wicked Haman, who intended to slaughter the Jews. She was asked to do things that left her frightened for her life, but her wise uncle knew that God had brought her to this point in her life and allowed everything she had endured in the past to prepare her for a moment of greatness.

These people had plans, but they let God interrupt them and they followed Him instead. If you will decide that you don’t mind having God interrupt your life, He can prepare you too, for moments of greatness and use you in awesome ways.

Love God Today:“Lord, interrupt my life for Your purposes at any time and in any way You see fit.”

Open Heavens 20 February 2017: Monday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Perilous Times Are Here

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Topic: Perilous Times Are Here [Monday 20, February 2017]

Memorise: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; – 1 Timothy 4:1

Read: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV)

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 3-5, Isaiah 41:21-42:9

MESSAGE:

With all that we see and hear happening in different parts of the world today, it is no longer news that we are already in perilous times. This is why it is very urgent that we maximise the time that we have left in propagating the gospel of the Lord to those who are yet to know Him. We should carefully study the words of Ephesians 5:14-16 and obey its instructions. In these verses of Scripture, the Holy Spirit says,

“14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

In this modern age, where people are ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, believers must watch against satanic wiles and temptations. We must avoid all forms of false doctrine that abound in churches today. Let us remain in the simple gospel of Jesus which is capable of seeing us through to the very end. There are false teachers rising up every day with different kinds of teachings and beliefs, using their influence to spread erroneous doctrines to unsuspecting believers. This is why you need to be selective of where you go and who you listen to. Those who go to church today only get excited when they are told what they want to hear. The Holy Spirit forewarned us of this in 2 Timothy 4:3:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

Let us therefore run with the message of the gospel into every part of the world; reminding everyone that those who are not on the Lord’s side on the last day will be eternally destroyed. Let us do the work of an evangelist, and go after those people who have strayed from the straight and narrow way. Let us bring back those sheep which are carelessly grazing on their fields, away from the presence of their Shepherd. These are those who started well but have become consumed by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. The signs of the second coming of Christ are daily being fulfilled before our eyes. In order not to be caught unawares, you must prepare yourself daily through self examination. The enemy of your soul is out there seeking how to devour you; don’t allow him to truncate your destiny. Ensure that you make no provision for the flesh, and put out all the works of darkness around you. Be prepared for His second coming!

Prayer Point: Father, fill me with the consciousness of the second coming of Christ at all times.

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.

‘Look before you flush’ campaign to cut kidney and bladder cancer

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‘Look before you flush’ campaign to cut kidney and bladder cancer
Blood in urine can be a sign of kidney or bladder cancer
Health officials are encouraging people to “look before they flush” in a bid to reduce the number of kidney and bladder cancers.

Having blood present in urine is a symptom in over half of bladder cancers and almost a fifth of kidney cancers, Public Health England (PHE) said.

The health body’s Be Clear on Cancer campaign launches on Tuesday and is encouraging people to visit their GP if they notice “blood in pee” – even if it is just once.

Doctor Jenny Harries, Public Health England’s regional director for s outh of England, said: “It’s vital that we all do our bit to raise awareness that blood in pee could be an early sign of bladder or kidney cancer, and encourage anyone with this symptom to go to their GP.

“We know that people don’t always immediately visit their doctor if they spot blood in pee, which can be for a number of reasons – some might ignore the symptoms, especially if it only happens once, or may pass the symptom off as cystitis. If you do notice blood in your pee, don’t wait for it to happen again before getting it checked out, visit your GP straight away.”

Dad’s Army star Ian Lavender, who suffered from bladder cancer, is supporting this year’s campaign. “It’s a simple message ‘look before you flush’ and make sure you go and see your GP if you notice blood in your pee,” he said.

“Spread the word, someone you know might have this symptom and reminding them to get it checked could save their life – it saved mine, and I’m 70 and still happy to be working.”

Around 17,450 people in England are diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer every year and around 7,600 people die annually, PHE said.

PHE’s new campaign is aimed at men and women over the age of 50 as more than nine in 10 of these cancers are in people in this age group.

:: For more information visit nhs.uk/bloodinpee

Sponsored by NHS UK

The Award Winning OUTLANDER PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

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The Award Winning OUTLANDER PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

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2 to Tangle Movie

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2 to Tangle Movie

Movie Description

Jessica’s true love, Tom, starts appearing to her after his death. Terrified and confused, Jess seeks out an explanation for these haunting attacks and discovers that the key to her deliverance is her faith. In a surprising twist Jess will find out that the man she loved was not who she thought he was. The answers to her questions might surprise you.

You can Buy the Movie here – http://2totangle.com/

The Kingdom of Heaven

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The Kingdom of Heaven

How does this term relate to the Kingdom of God? Is heaven where good people go? Why did Matthew use the term the Kingdom of Heaven?

Matthew, the former tax collector turned disciple of Jesus of Nazareth, often wrote about the Kingdom of Heaven. Early in his Gospel account of Christ’s life he stated: “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’” (Matthew 3:1-2, emphasis added throughout).

When the same disciple began recounting the beginning of Christ’s ministry, he recorded: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17). All told, Matthew used this phrase, “the kingdom of heaven,” 33 times in the book he authored (in the New King James Version of the Bible).

Although the prophet Daniel had prophesied that “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44), Matthew is the only writer of the Bible to use the phrase “the kingdom of heaven.” Noting this distinction, some have wondered how this phrase relates to “the kingdom of God.” Do both phrases refer to the same kingdom?

Same kingdom; different names

Closer examination of the book of Matthew shows that this author also used the phrase “kingdom of God.” In Matthew 6:33, he quotes Christ advising people, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” In addition to this passage, Matthew uses the phrase “kingdom of God” four more times in the book bearing his name (Matthew 12:28; Matthew 19:24;Matthew 21:31, 43). The context of these passages shows that Matthew used these phrases to describe the same kingdom.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul referred to “the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:5). These phrases—the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of Christ and God—all refer to the same kingdom. This kingdom belongs to God, the One who “is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath” (Deuteronomy 4:39).

Do good people go to heaven?

Because Matthew described God’s Kingdom as “the kingdom of heaven” and because God is indeed referred to as the “God of heaven” (2 Chronicles 36:23; Ezra 1:2), many have mistakenly assumed that good people go to heaven to be with God when they die. What these people apparently don’t understand is that when Matthew referred to the Kingdom of God as the Kingdom of Heaven, he wasn’t trying to explain what happens to faithful people when they die.

What the Bible teaches regarding those who have died in faith is that they are in their graves awaiting the return of Jesus Christ, when they will be resurrected—brought back to life. The Bible teaches that “the dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) and that when someone dies, “in that very day his thoughts perish” (Psalm 146:4, King James Version).

It will be at “the coming of the Lord” when “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout” that “the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16). Likening the grave to sleep, Paul described faithful people who have died as “those who sleep in Jesus” (verse 14). For further study, read our article “What Is Heaven?”

Why did Matthew use “the kingdom of heaven”?

Since the phrase “kingdom of God” is the predominant name used by writers of the Bible (this phrase appears 70 times in the New King James Version of the Bible), some wonder why Matthew used “the kingdom of heaven.” While the Bible doesn’t specifically answer this question, understanding the common perceptions of the Jews during the first century sheds light on why it was likely used. Apparently, the author chose this term to counter the Jewish perception that the coming of the Messiah would include the overthrow of the civil government.

What most Jews at that time did not understand was that the prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament would be fulfilled during two different periods of time. Christ was going to come two times—not just once.Commenting on this perception, Albert Barnes states: “The Jews expected a great national deliverer. They supposed that when the Messiah should appear, all the dead would be raised; that the judgment would take place; and that the enemies of the Jews would be destroyed, and that they themselves would be advanced to great national dignity and honor.

“The language in which they were accustomed to describe this event was retained by our Saviour and his apostles. Yet they early attempted to correct the common notions respecting his reign. This was one design, doubtless, of John in preaching repentance. Instead of summoning them to military exercises, and collecting an army, which would have been in accordance with the expectations of the nation, he called them to a change of life; to the doctrine of repentance—a state of things far more accordant with the approach of a kingdom of purity” (notes on Matthew 3:2).

What most Jews at that time did not understand was that the prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament would be fulfilled during two different periods of time. Christ was going to come two times—not just once. The author of the book of Hebrews clarifies this point saying, “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).

Another reason Matthew may have used the term “kingdom of heaven” instead of “kingdom of God” was in recognition of Jewish sensitivity to overusing God’s name. Matthew may have simply used the wordheaven as a euphemism to identify the Kingdom as belonging to God.

Action steps

While it is helpful to understand biblical terminology, which this article provides, spiritual knowledge is of no value unless it is acted upon. After learning about God’s coming Kingdom, we must also take action in order to be part of it. A clear focus on becoming part of the Kingdom of God must be our life’s passion—the guiding force behind our thoughts and actions.

As Christ put it, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

To help you better understand how to seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, be sure to read the accompanying articles on this website. We suggest you begin with “What Is the Kingdom of God?” and then read the additional articles on the right-hand side of this page. Your eternal future is at stake, and you need this vital information. We are always pleased to provide personal responses to questions you may have. Just use the convenient form below each article.

6 Lies Our Worship Songs tell Us

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6 Lies Our Worship Songs tell Us

Premier Christianity has this article, read and learn

You are what you eat. That’s what they say. So what would you be after nothing but a diet of jelly, custard and the odd sandwich each week? And why eat like that, when there are so many healthier and tastier options? Yet that is how many churches approach their Sunday diet of worship music. Light and often insubstantial, it is unlikely to create healthy Christians.

More than individual songs, it is the overall impact of our song content that has me worried. I doubt that our songwriters try to deceive us, but taken in bulk, the songs we sing week by week create some startling impressions – and we seem unaware of the following damaging lies that we are being told by this culture:

1. The physical world does not matter

Surveying the swathes of songs regularly used in churches, you would think that ordinary daily life means nothing.

Three songs into a block of praise music, we may be thinking about last night’s film or the dress sense of the person in front. The songs have been full of words such as ‘holy’ and ‘glory’. Yes, God is transcendent, but if we don’t give our minds tangible content to grab hold of, our thoughts will wander.

If we don’t give our minds tangible content to grab hold of, our thoughts will wander

Where are the lyrics relating faith to family life, shopping, work, character or entertainment? If the main human drivers are money, sex and power, why have we written so few songs about them? Or do we think that God’s not interested in such things?

Ordinary life was precious enough for God to invent it, declare it good and live it for over 30 years. The early Church heresy of Gnosticism tried to escape the reality of Jesus’ incarnate form, because the heretics felt that earthly matter was too debased for God to touch.

Tom Wright says, “Heresy happens when the Church forgets a bit of its teaching; somebody else picks that up and makes a whole system out of it.” He warns that our culture’s tendency to treat our emotions as if they are the core of people’s reality “reflects a kind of Gnosticism (‘finding out who I really am’) as opposed to Christianity (receiving the re-creation of one’s self as divine gift through dying and rising with the Messiah); and that this focus on ‘who I really am’ – in an emotional sense in particular – finds its way into some Christian songs.”

While our worship songs are not individually Gnostic, they get very close by avoiding tangible terms in their lyrics, leaving the impression that the everyday is too banal for God. This lie disconnects our faith from our real lives – and that’s dangerous.

2. You can watch, but not join in

Standing at the front, looking at the congregation, it was hard to miss. While everyone else was singing, Ben stood silently. He visits occasionally (his wife is a church member) but this time he looked uncomfortable, and it struck me how hard it can be for visitors to sing many of our lyrics – at least if they want to be honest in what they sing.

If visitors find themselves singing off-putting or incomprehensible words, they may leave feeling awkward and thinking that faith is for an eccentric club. It could undo any welcome or thoughtful input from the rest of the service.

Often the ‘Jesus is my boyfriend’ songs are the culprits. Men – already underrepresented in the Church by some 30 per cent, and who very rarely have to sing anywhere else in life – must sing about loving a male figure, traditionally shown wearing what looks like a dress. It’s hardly likely to get them queuing up to tweet their experience afterwards – at least, not in a helpful way.

Sometimes (as with ‘Days of Elijah’) we encode the whole song, so that it only makes sense to the well-versed insider, but is completely impenetrable to visitors. This lie alienates enquirers and blows up their bridges to faith.

 

3. It’s better to put up a false face than to be honest

Another discomfiting song-type is where singers are asked to promise “I surrender all” – a vow that few Christians can sing with honesty, let alone visitors.

The glib phrase barely begins to convey the experience of handing everything to God. Its simplicity makes Christians feel alone when struggling to relinquish a resistant area of life, and hides the fact that God is with us in the wrestling. Crucially, it makes the whole process of singing to God feel like a ritualistic charade.

Maybe it is splitting hairs, but I feel more honest singing, “I want to” than “I will” when I know that I will fail pretty soon – after all, isn’t that why we have confession every week? This lie undermines confession, honesty and our integrity, creating the impression that pretence is ok.

… read more

Source : Premier Christianity 

Me Again – Christian Movie

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Me Again – Christian Movie

Be careful what you pray for.

From the outside looking in, Rich Chaplin (David A.R. White) has everything that any Pastor and family man could ever want. In reality he has lost sight of everything that matters the most, including his family. When he wishes for a life other than his own, he suddenly finds himself trapped within the lives of everyone his apathy has affected.

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This unforgettable journey brings Rich to view life through the eyes of a diverse cast of characters including an elderly woman (Della Reese), a top fashion model (Logan White), his own wife (Ali Landry) and even a goldfish! It might even take an encounter with a strangely familiar angel, (Bruce McGill) to help him realize that he is wasting his chance to love and impact the most important people in his life. Join Rich as he finds himself on a wild and hilarious ride that will change his life forever.

Watch Movie 

Evangelical Challenged On ‘High Levels Of Homophobia’

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Evangelical Challenged On ‘High Levels Of Homophobia’

Evangelical Christians are being urged to repent of their homophobia by their-fellow evangelicals.

A handful of ‘affirming evangelicals’ who believe the Bible does not condemn homosexual practice have written to their colleagues on the Church of England’s ruling General Synod calling on them to admit their prejudice.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is facing a difficult General Synod. – Reuters

It comes as the influential Evangelical Group on the General Synod (EGGS) adopted the Evangelical Alliance’s conservative view on sexuality on Monday night. The 10 ‘affirmations’ published in 2012 say sexually active gay people are ‘living outside God’s purposes’ and ‘need to be transformed and live in accordance with biblical revelation’.

The unequivocal statement of faith reads: ‘Both habitual homoerotic sexual activity without repentance and public promotion of such activity are inconsistent with faithful church membership.’

But five members of EGGS wrote to the pressure group outlining ‘significant concern’ over the ‘the high levels of homophobia that appear to go unacknowledged and unchallenged’. … read more 

Source : Christian Today

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