Topic: Keep Walking on the Water! [Joyce Meyer Devotional 3 May 2019]

Click HERE for Previous MESSAGES

And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!” Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.” — Matthew 14:25-28 (AMP)

Let’s focus for a moment on this part of a well-known New Testament story. The disciples were in the middle of the Sea of Galilee at night when they looked up and saw Jesus walking on the water. That is amazing, but as the story continues, Matthew wrote of the boisterous winds, yet Jesus kept walking on top of the waves.

The disciples were afraid—and that makes sense. Who would expect to see anyone walking on top of the water, even under the best of conditions?

Then Jesus cried out and told them, “Take courage! It is I! Do not be afraid!” (Matthew 14:27 AMP). This is the powerful moment in the story. What will happen now? Do they move over and give Jesus a place to sit in their boat? Should they get out and join Him on the waves? Do they huddle in fear, reminding themselves that human beings can’t walk on top of water?

Peter was the only one who responded in true faith. And let’s make no mistake here. For Peter to say, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28 AMP) was a tremendous act of faith. You’ll notice that he was the only one who spoke that way.

That was a powerful moment of faith. It was a defining moment that pointed out Peter’s great faith and belief in Jesus, the Anointed One of God. He was so convinced that Jesus truly was the Son of God that he was ready to get out of the boat and walk on top of the water with Him.

How many of you would get out of the boat? I emphasize this because it would be easy enough to say, “Lord, I see You walking on the water, and I believe I could walk on the water alongside You.” But would you? Do you have the kind of faith that would enable you to step out of the boat? Of the 12 disciples, Peter was the only one who took that step of faith.

I’m not citing this example of faith to discourage you or to make you feel that your faith is somehow lacking. I’m simply pointing out the great triumph of a man who dared to believe! Peter believed so strongly that he took a step of faith over the side of the boat and started walking toward Jesus.

Most of us know the rest of the story. Some might even smirk, saying, “Big deal! He got out of the boat, started walking on the water, got scared, and began to sink. And he also received a rebuke from Jesus: ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:31 AMP).

But think about it—Jesus didn’t say those words to the other disciples. He directed the words “you of little faith” to Peter. The implication is the others had no faith at that moment.

Think of these words not just as words of rebuke, but also as words of encouragement to Peter, the one who had enough faith to step out of the boat and begin walking on the water.

But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30 AMP).

What if you saw this as Jesus’ great encouragement, not just to Peter, but also to you? What if you looked at this event as Jesus saying to you, “You started so well. You believed Me, and got out of the boat. You did it! You walked on water just as I did. But then you allowed doubt to enter, and when that happened, you began to sink.”

This powerful story is a wonderful reminder that Jesus is always with you, and He will suspend natural laws to reach out to you and care for you.

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, please forgive my lack of faith. Increase my faith in Your Word, and help me to trust You enough to follow Your leading. When the circumstances around me threaten to pull me into deep waters of doubt, help me to focus on You. I ask these things in Your holy name. Amen.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

A Promise For You From Bible Promises: [03/MAY/2019]

Topic: Angel of Grace and Favour

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. – Luke 1:30

Read: Luke 1:28-38

Angels are real. If anyone tells you that angels are not real, such a fellow has not encountered them but the day he or she would, his or her orientation about the reality of angels would change. This morning right at the bus stop, God sent an angel to me in human form who eased not just the stress, my Nephew, niece and I would have gone through but also saved us excess financial wastage. When you encounter an angelic visit you know, but I believe the reason why many people do not believe and have actually missed their assistance and blessings is because they come in human forms.

Also Read: Provoking Divine Favour by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

We are told in the Scriptures that angels are our messengers, they are there to minister to us the heirs of salvation. They are everywhere in the world ministering to the needs of the children of God. There are angels of grace and favour right where you are. Since this is the month of grace, those angels are there to make us enjoy favour before men. Since they are working for us, our duty is to put them to work and the way to do this is through prayer to God who is their commander in chief. They’re always before God, so when you talk to God, He releases them in your favour.

They are Holy Angels which qualifies them to stand before the Holy God to do His biddings. This means that, you must be holy to pray to God to release them for your help. For this to happen, you must be washed in the blood of Jesus by giving your life to Him. Salvation qualifies you to enjoying an angelic visitation.

Bible Promises Prayer: Father Lord, as heir of salvation, for the rest of my life, let me enjoy the ministry of angels in Jesus Mighty Name.

Written By Emode Victor

The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 3 May 2019 – Authenticity of the Gospel of Christ

Click HERE to Read Previous MESSAGES

TOPIC: Authenticity of the Gospel of Christ

READ Galatians 1: 11-24 New King James Version (NKJV)

11. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

12. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

14. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,

16. to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

17. nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.

19. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

20. (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

21. Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

22. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.

23. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

24. And they glorified God in me.

THE MESSAGE:

As we saw in yesterday’s reading, the authenticity of Christ’s gospel cannot be faulted. His gospel is not man-made; it has a divine origin and came through a revelation from Jesus Christ Himself. No wonder its principles are sure and cannot be broken. Highly infused with inspiration and anointing, this gospel will never change. It’s new every day!

In his blind bid to protect and guard the traditions of his fathers, even Paul in his fierce persecution of the Church could not destroy the gospel (Galatians 1:13). The gospel carries a light that darkness cannot withstand it (II Corinthians 4:5). The gospel of Christ is the only gospel that has the power to transform and regenerate. The gospel is the power of God for salvation; in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. (Romans 1:16-17).

Therefore, we must resist any attempt, trials, temptations, persecutions or afflictions that will take us away from the gospel of our Lord. We must be rooted and grounded in this gospel daily as we run our race.

Prayer: Dear Lord, may your word dwell richly in my heart, in Jesus Name.

Topic: Seeing Our Need [Billy Graham Devotional 3 May 2019]

Click HERE for Previous Devotional

Only a fool would say to himself, ‘There is no God.’ And why does he say it? Because of his wicked heart, his dark and evil deeds. His life is corroded with sin. — Psalm 53:1 (TLB)

We live like a little ant on this little speck of dust out in space. We get a Ph.D. degree and we strut across the stage and say, “Well, I don’t know whether or not there is a God.” And we can’t even control ourselves. We can’t even keep from blowing ourselves apart. We can’t even keep from manufacturing nuclear weapons that could destroy the world. We can’t even keep from hating each other, and fighting with each other, and killing each other. We can’t even keep from stealing from each other. We can’t even keep from dying, because all of us are going to die. No wonder the Bible says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,” because a man that would deny the existence of God is a fool.

Prayer for the day: Almighty God, help me to live in such a way, that when I tell others of Your existence, they will be drawn to acknowledge and receive You.

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.

Be Hopeful by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Click HERE for Previous MESSAGES by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Topic: Be Hopeful

Job 14:7-9 – For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

In case you are brought down, there is hope. Though the problem might look like an age-long problem, God is saying there is hope for you. No matter how hopeless that situation is, as long as God’s word is in place, that case cannot be written off. Every time you have a setback, God wants to give you a testimony.

There was a hopeless case in John 11, concerning Lazarus. He had been dead for four days; yet Jesus sent forth the Word of God, it brought Lazarus out from an impossible circumstance. Lazarus came out of the grave with both hands and legs bound with no support from anybody. When the WORD goes into a man’s situation, he will not need any human help.

Also Read: Divine Visitation by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

That is why I know today, no matter how hopeless men have said your case is, through the WORD of God, you will bounce back again in the name of Jesus! That your health will be renewed in the name of Jesus!!

Jairus came to Jesus because of his daughter who was at the point of death in Mark 5. He was still with Jesus when they brought news to him that his daughter has died. In verse 36, Jesus told him not to be afraid but only believe.

Mark 5:36 –As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

In verse 40, they laughed Jesus to scorn when He told them that the young damsel was sleeping. Today, I announce to you that in the midst of your mockery, you will give birth to your testimony! That situation will receive life in the name of Jesus!!

In Genesis, Joseph was hated by his brothers. They removed his coat of many colors but they could not remove the blessing from him. They hated him to the point they threw him into a pit to kill him but what they meant for evil, God turned it for his good. I speak to you today, God will turn every evil your enemies planned against you for a testimony in the name of Jesus!!!

Every time God wants to change a man’s story, He puts him through a situation which will birth a testimony. You that people have written off as a failure, you will be the next person the world will look up to in the name of Jesus! You that men have mocked, you will be the next show-piece on the earth!!

When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt, they could not recognize Joseph anymore and he wept because those that meant to hurt him have come to eat from his table. Very soon, you will be the one that will preserve your household!! The same people that mocked you, you will soon render help to them in Jesus name!!! If they could not bury Joseph, no man will be able to bury your destiny in the name of Jesus!!!

Any time Jesus comes, situations must change. Abraham staggered not on the promises of God. All God wants you to do is to stand on His word. Through the Word of God, you will bounce back to life. Your testimony will gather community! They will dance from one end of the road to another because of what God has done in your life! Your wedding will shake Nations!! Your deliverance will shake Nations!!! Your breakthrough will shake Nations!!! Your family testimony will bring crowd to God in the name of Jesus!!!

Any time the WORD comes, things must change. God’s word cannot change. No matter how shattered a situation is, when God’s Word comes, situation changes. I announce to you that your situation must change! Your case is not hopeless; have hope because through God’s word, that sickness will go. You will be healed. Just look up to the Word of God and your situation will change in Jesus name –Amen!!!

God bless you

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.