Topic: The True Friend [Open Heavens for Teens 1 May 2019]
Memorise: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13
Read: John 15:15
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Bible In One Year: 1 Kings 1-2, Luke 22:54-71
MESSAGE:
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only true friend that you can have. He is the most reliable, honest and trustworthy friend you will ever find, He will never fail or betray you. He is ever present with you and truly sees, feels, emphasizes and shares your moments of joy and pain with you. He is the only One you can trust.
In Jeremiah 17:5, God warns us against putting our hopes in fellow human beings, in fact, that passage says the one who trusts in men operates under a divine curse. Why? It is because to put your trust in men, you have begun to idolize the men you trust. In other words, you are telling God that men are more relevant and powerful than Him.
God wants you to be very close friends with Him. He wants you to trust Him with your deepest thoughts and needs, He wants you to talk to Him and commit your ways to Him often. He is always available for you.
Prayer Point: Lord Jesus, thank you for being my friend. From today, please help me to trust you with everything that concerns me in Jesus’ name.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a Friend so faithful?
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield You;
You wilt find a solace there.
Daily Devotional for Teen’s 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.
TOPIC: He Who Rebuilds The Wall Of Your Jericho (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 1 May 2019)
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 10-11; Luke 21:20-38
FIRE SCRIPTURE: Joshua 6:12-21, 26
MEMORY VERSE: “And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.” – Isaiah 57:14
The MESSAGE:
The Fire Scripture for today summarises a story that every child of God needs to key into. It relates how heavenly bulldozers destroyed the wall and city of Jericho, which had constituted itself into an impossibility to the children of Israel on their way to the Promised Land and how Joshua put a curse on anyone who attempted to rebuild this blockage. True to the word of God which never fails, hundreds of years later, the man, Hiel, who tried to rebuild Jericho started by burying his first son as he laid the foundation. The fearful thing about the word of God is that as Hiel proceeded in building, one by one his children died. Then as he erected the gates to complete the rebuild, his last born died.
I pray for you that heavenly bulldozers will flatten any wicked entity that attempts to block you from accessing God’s promises and blessings for your life, in the name of Jesus. And any entity that attempts to prolong or rebuild any affliction or bondage in your life shall pay dearly with all that is precious to it, in Jesus’ name. Isaiah 57:14 assures us that the Ancient of Days has decreed that all obstacles on the way of His children must be destroyed beyond repairs.
Our world is full of physical and spiritual blockages to good things. There are wicked people, who sell their fellow men into perpetual spiritual slavery, thereby blocking them from fulfilling their divine destiny in every area of life. Or what do you call a father who covenants with the devil for money, position and power; and pledges generations of his children to pay? There are also ancestral, environmental, racial, even national curses which keep people away from their portion in life.
Character traits, mindsets, attitudes, and unconfessed sin can also constitute blockages in the life of a man. Or do you think manifesting any fruit of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-23) can get you to destiny fulfilment in Christ? Do not deceive yourself, God is angry with the sorcerer, the drunkard, the idolater, the sexually immoral, the unrepentant liar every day.
Beloved, as you free yourself from foundational, environmental and national limitations, endeavour to free yourself from the grip of personal faults which may stand in the way of your greatness in life.
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: EVERY ENEMY MUST BOW AT THE NAME OF JESUS. CALL UPON HIM IN YOUR SITUATION.
PROPHETIC WORD: I soak you and all yours into the blood of Jesus.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
My Father and my God, I worship and adore You for the grace You have given me to be among the called, in the name of Jesus.
Almighty God, I cling to the cross of Calvary and soak myself in the blood of the Lamb to keep me pure and holy before You, in the name of Jesus.
Heavenly bulldozers, grind to powder any ancestral custodian of blessings in my family, blocking me from accessing my lot in life, in the name of Jesus. EVENING
Any spiritual or physical entity empowering or prolonging bandages and afflictions in my life, die, in the name of Jesus.
Builder from the pit of hell rebuilding what God has destroyed in my life, receive the thunder and fire of God, in the name of Jesus.
I plead the blood of Jesus against you spirit of (name it) that wants to separate me from my Lord and Saviour, in the name of Jesus.
Glorious God, jealously guard my promised land so that I may arrive to the glory of Your name, in the name of Jesus
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)
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.
Topic: What about your Household? (Open Heaven 1 May 2019)
Memorise: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”- 2 Timothy 3:15
Read: Acts 21:8-9 (KJV)
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 42-43, Jeremiah 28:10-29:9
Open Heaven 1 May 2019 Wednesday MESSAGE:
“…they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.” – Song of Solomon 1:6
The sad scenario outlined in this verse of scripture applies to a lot of Christians who are actively engaged in the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth. They get so consumed with service to God and others that they neglect their own families. They preach the gospel to the world but fail to bring up their own families in the ways of God. This was the case with Eli, Samuel and David. They led God’s people but neglected their own households, and the result of their neglect had tragic consequences for their families (1 Samuel 2:12-36, 1 Samuel 8:1-6, 2 Samuel 13 & 15).
It is true that the Lord gave us the Great Commission to reach out to the whole world with the message of the gospel, but He also gave us the method we should apply to execute this mandate, saying in Acts 1:8:
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Take note of the order He wants us to follow: first Jerusalem, then Judea, followed by Samaria and finally to the uttermost part of the earth. He further said in Luke24:47:
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
In other words, you are to begin from your immediate community; that is, those close to you. When we do not follow divine order, we are bound to run into problems. For those who are saved, your household is your Jerusalem. The Great Commission must begin in our homes. It is disheartening to see children of committed Christian going wayward and doing abominable things like the children of Eli and Samuel. We must work on our children with the message of the gospel from when they are very young, during their formative years. The Holy Spirit did not mince words when He said in Proverbs 22:6:
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Learn from Philip’s example in today’s Bible reading. He was an evangelist who brought up his daughters in the ways of the Lord. I pray that God will help you to do the needful and produce godly seeds in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heaven 1 May 2019 Wednesday Action Point:
Ensure you win your immediate family to God through prayer, supplication and teaching of the word both verbally and by your lifestyle
Open Heaven 1 May 2019 Wednesday Hymn 16: God Give Us Christian Homes
God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the master’s
Will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty thy love hath wrought;
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!
God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!
God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in queenly quest
Strive to show others thy way is best
Homes where the lord is an honoured guest;
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!
God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!
Amen.
Open Heaven 1 May 2019 Wednesday 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. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven 1 May 2019 Wednesday Daily Devotional.
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.
Students Win ‘Bible Ban’ Case as School Rewrites Policy
Parents of students who were banned from handing out Bibles during lunch at a Pennsylvania high school reached an agreement with the school district Monday that changes language in the student handbook.
The students at Cumberland County High School in Mechanicsburg, Pa., said in January the principal was preventing them from handing out Bibles during any moment of the school day, including during lunch.
The Independence Law Center then filed suit on behalf of the parents of the students, claiming the school’s policy was a violation of constitutionally protected free speech. The students are part of a group called the Christians in Action Club, or Bible Club.
A federal judge issued an injunction against the school district in February, allowing the students to hand out Bibles.
Under the agreement reached between the parents and the Mechanicsburg Area School District, the district agreed to delete a portion of the student handbook that banned any speech that “seek[s] to establish the supremacy of a particular religious denomination, sect or point of view.”
The district also agreed to pay the parents’ attorney fees. The judge signed off on the agreement.
The Independence Law Center and school attorneys worked together to rewrite the school policy, according to a press release.
“When students enter a government school, they do not shed their…
President Trump Plans to Designate Muslim Brotherhood a Terror Group
President Donald Trump has directed his staff to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terror group, a move that would impose severe travel and economic sanctions on partners and others who associate with the group.
The plan was first reported April 30 by the New York Times which noted that the policy dictate followed an April 9 White House visit by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The sanctions imposed would reportedly punish those who fund the group or provide banking services, and ban members or those with ties to the group from entering the United States.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed the Trump administration is preparing such a designation.
“The president has consulted with his national security team and leaders in the region who share his concern, and this designation is working its way through the internal process,” Sanders said in a statement to the Times.
According to the published report, el-Sisi urged Trump to take action against one of his political adversaries. El-Sisi was elected president in 2014, a year after leading a coup against former president Mohamed Morsi, a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood. Some observers say the terror designation would give el-Sisi more latitude in cracking down on the organization.
While the move would benefit el-Sisi, such a declaration could be tricky since membership in the Muslim…
The funds, from the Peter’s Pence collections, will be distributed among 27 projects promoted by 16 Mexican dioceses and religious congregations, Peter’s Pence said in a statement.
In recent months, thousands of migrants have arrived in Mexico, travelling on foot or with makeshift vehicles from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
But they have been blocked at the border with the United States.
In particular, the aid is intended to assist the more than 75,000 people who arrived in Mexico in 2018, in six migrant caravans.
“All these people were stranded, unable to enter the United States, without a home or livelihood,” the statement says.
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‘All Praise, Glory and Honor to God!’: MRI Shows No Brain Damage for Boy Thrown from Mall of America Balcony
After being thrown from a third story balcony at the Mall of America earlier this month, five-year-old Landen Hoffman is awake and responsive.
As Christian Headlines previously reported, after Hoffman was thrown 40 feet from a balcony on April 12, doctors feared he would suffer from severe brain damage.
Despite the fact that the boy broke his legs and arms, an MRI revealed this week that the five-year-old has no brain damage.
According to CBN News, the family’s lawyer R. Stephen Tillitt shared that Hoffman is awake and responsive and is no longer considered to be in “critical condition.”
In a statement on a GoFundMe page set up for the family, the family praised God for Hoffman’s miraculous diagnosis.
They wrote, “All praise, glory and honor to God! He saved our son’s life and is healing him in the most miraculous ways.”
The statement continued, “We are so elated to let you know that our son is now alert and conscious and is no longer in critical condition! We are now turning our focus to additional surgeries, healing, rehabilitation and eventually a return home, which we hope will happen by June.”
The family also thanked the nearly 29,000 people from around the world who at the time of this writing had donated more than $1 million towards Hoffman’s recovery.
The daytime attack at St Simon’s Catholic Church left it with “significant damage” to its interiors.
A police spokeswoman said in a statement: “Between 1.30pm and 4pm on Monday, April 29, vandalism was carried out at St Simon’s Church at Partick Bridge Street.
“The church would have been open at the time.”
“There is nothing to suggest the incident is sectarian or hate crime. Inquiries are ongoing.”
Images shared on Twitter of the ransacked church showed damage to the altar area, including broken statues.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow described the incident in a tweet as a “shameful attack on a much loved church”.
Anyone that can help with the police’s enquiry should call 101 or tweet @CrimestopSCOT.
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Wise was speaking at the university’s annual diversity conference hosted by the faculty of arts and sciences. The conference is aimed at providing a “retrospective look at diversity and inclusion, a discussion of current issues, and practical guidance on how we can move toward greater inclusion and belonging at Harvard,” according to the website.
Wise said since the 2016 election that “the deep divisions that were always there [in American society] are more apparent.”
“Think about some of the things that have changed since ’01,” he said. “‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ was still policy. You had presidential candidates who wouldn’t have dreamt of talking about marriage equality. We weren’t talking about transphobia. How did that happen in 17 years?”
“Because of the work of advocates throughout society pushing to change the narrative.”
According to CBN News, Wise has drawn criticism for his comments in the past. In 2012, he tweeted that “people who believe in a God of hell/damnation deserve to be mocked viciously and run out of public square. In 2015, he posted on Facebook that Christians should be “locked up” for believing what he called a “fairy…
Campaigners complained about the sports kits, after they were introduced ahead of a play-off game at Animas High School in the US state of New Mexico on 27th February.
In a letter to the institution’s Superintendent Loren Cushman, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) said such promotion of Christianity was unconstitutional to “endorse a religious message to students”.
Legal fellow at the FFRF, Chris Line wrote: “Federal courts have ruled public school coaches and athletic personnel must not promote religion.”
In a response received by the Foundation from Animas Public School said: “We will address each of the areas of concern during our staff in-service training at the start of the next school year.”
“The coach has submitted his resignation from the district”.
FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said: “We’re pleased that the Animas school system took us seriously in remedying a constitutional violation.
“Such behaviour cannot be excused in public schools.”
Boasting more than 31,000 members across the US, the FFRF promotes awareness in public life of non-theism – disbelief in God.
Picture: Library image
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