The long-awaited Mueller report was released to the public yesterday.
The reaction has been as partisan as we would expect. The president’s supporters and his critics are both using the report to claim vindication for their positions. Analysts are already speculating on ways the parties will use it in the 2020 election cycle.
We should not be surprised by this polarized response. Our culture has jettisoned absolute truth and objective morality, claiming tolerance for all viewpoints as our highest value. But this goes only halfway: many demand that we tolerate their views but feel no obligation to tolerate ours.
Years ago, a wise friend explained to me the three steps of political success: (1) convince people they have an enemy; (2) convince them that they cannot defeat their enemy; (3) convince them that I will defeat their enemy if they vote for me (or give me money, or do whatever I want them to do).
In our zero-sum, for-me-to-win-you-must-lose culture, is there a better way forward?
On the morning of April 20, 1999, two teenagers began shooting fellow students outside Columbine High School in suburban Denver. They killed twelve students and a teacher and wounded twenty others before killing themselves.
Tragically, “Columbine” has become not just a name or an event but a category.
Broadcaster News24 cited KwaZulu-Natal emergency medical services spokesman Robert McKenzie as saying heavy rain may have been to blame for the collapse on Thursday night in Dlangubo.
The report said the collapse at the Pentecostal churchoccurred as an Easter season service was under way.
Mr McKenzie said six people were seriously injured.
#SABCNews#sabckzn Disaster management team has been dispatched to the Dlangubo area of eMpangeni on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal where 13 congregants of the Pentecostal church were killed last night.
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Pastor Jaddeus Dempsey from the Impact City Church in Pataskala explained in a video that he was trying to teach a lesson about Easter and the love that Jesus felt for mankind as he willingly endured crucifixion.
“This was completely my idea,” he said.
“Again, I let the students know there was no repercussions whatsoever.
“In fact, even several of the students felt bad afterwards, and I told them it was what I had asked them to do.
“My intention was to show them how much Jesus loved them and I loved them as a student leader for almost four years now.”
However, in the video, the church’s lead pastor Justin Ross said the incident was “inappropriate” and had gone “too far” in teaching students about the crucifixion.
In the disturbing video, a group of students surround the pastor as he is spat on and slapped. At times, students can be heard laughing and asking if they can have another turn.
However, some of the youngsters also asked others to stop.
The pastor later took off his shirt and picked up a knife.
“Are you serious?” one student said.
“Don’t do it hard,” another urged.
The church has said in a statement that its board of directors have launched a review and investigation, and the church will fully cooperate and implement their recommendations.
Holden Matthews, 21, the son of a sheriff’s deputy, is facing arson and hate crime charges after the FBI was called in to investigate the suspicious fires at historically African American churches.
The first fire torched the St Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre last month.
Days later, the Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas were burned.
Each was more than 100 years old, with mostly black congregations.
Following the huge fundraising efforts to rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, donations started pouring in to a GoFundMe page set up last week to rebuild the black churches.
51.
YOU DID IT!!!! YOU HIT THE GOAL!!
We’ve raised $1.8 million to rebuild the churches in Louisiana!!
Look at what you wonderful people did!!!
In less than 36 hours you took this from $159k to over $1.8 million!!
The fundraiser was spearheaded by the Seventh District Baptist Association, and the writer-activist Yashar Ali, who encouraged his near 400,000 Twitter followers to donate.
Pastor Freddie Jack also helped spearhead the campaign and in an interview with CBS News, he thanked those who had donated to the church rebuilding efforts.
He added that the destruction of the churches “changed our dwelling, but it didn’t change our faith”.
The official said investigators still do not have the green light to work in the cathedral and search in the rubble for safety reasons.
He said the monument is still being consolidated with wooden planks to support some fragile parts of the walls.
The probe was taking place as France paid a day-long tribute to the Paris firefighters who saved the famous cathedral from collapse and rescued its treasures.
The tributes came as construction workers rushed to secure an area above one of the church’s famed rose-shaped windows and other vulnerable sections of the fire-damaged landmark.
President Emmanuel Macron held a ceremony at the Elysee Palace to thank the hundreds of firefighters who battled the fast-moving fire at Notre Dame for nine hours, preventing the structure’s destruction and rescuing many of the important relics held inside.
“We’ve seen before our eyes the right things perfectly organised in a few moments, with responsibility, courage, solidarity and a meticulous organisation”, Mr Macron said. “The worst has been avoided.”
Mr Macron said the firefighters will receive a medal for their courage and devotion.
The huge cathedral, including the spire that was consumed by flames and collapsed, was in the initial stages of a lengthy restoration.
The roof was destroyed, but Notre Dame’s famous bell towers, rose windows, organ, and precious artworks were saved.
MEMORY VERSE: “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.” – Psalms 86:10 (scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 21 April 2019 HYMN)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Isaiah 43:10-15 KJV (RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual 21 April 2019)
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
Because we live in a world many competing truth claims and many so-called gods, the identity of the one true God matters. The one true God is distinguished from all the false gods that have been imposed upon mankind by evil spirits and misled men. Gods that are fashioned by the imaginations and hands of men are absolutely worthless (Isaiah 44:9-10), but the one true God is full of glory, grace and truth. John 1:14.
OUTLINES:
1. THE ONE TRUE GOD
2. IDOLATRY IS TERRIBLY DANGEROUS
1. THE ONE TRUE GOD
The Bible says that the one true God is the sovereign, self-existent, creator of the universe (Isaiah 42:5; Eph. 1:11), He is a Spirit (John 4:24), He is eternal (Psalm 90:2), He is personal (Deut. 34:10). The one true God possesses all knowledge (Isa. 46:10) and all power (Matt. 19:26), is present in all places (Psalm 139:7-10), and is unchanging (James 1:17). There are many false gods – Hinduism alone supposedly recognizes as many as 330 million gods – but none of them possesses the attributes of the one true God.
The Bible also says that God is just (Acts 17:31), loving (Eph. 2:4-5), truthful (Numbers 23:19), and holy (Isaiah 6:3). God shows compassion (2 Cor. 1:3), mercy (Romans 9:15), and grace (Romans 5:17). God judges sin (Psalm 5:5), but He also offers forgiveness (Psalm 130:4). Any god that is not just, loving, truthful, holy, compassionate, merciful, gracious, and forgiving is not the one true God.
2. IDOLATRY IS TERRIBLY DANGEROUS
Idolatry is simply the worship of a physical object as a god or immoderate attachment or devotion to something. As far as God is concerned, this is a sinful act and it is forbidden and very dangerous to do so too (Exodus 20:4; Lev. 26:1; Deut. 11:16; Isaiah 42:8; 1 John 5:21). They go by various names in the days of the Bible: Ashtaroth, Baal, Baalpeor, Chemosh, Dagon, Diana and Molech – (Judges 2:13; 1 Kings 16:32; Numbers 25:3; 2 Kings 23:13; 1 Sam. 5:2; Acts 19:24). In almost every nation of the world, there are numerous of such gods and by various names too (you can name some). Some have worshipped heavenly bodies, devil etc. (Deut. 4:19; Hosea 4:19; 3:4). Unlike the Almighty God who is full of life, idols are inactive, perishable, helpless, highly degrading and, therefore, unworthy of worship (Rev. 1:8; Isaiah 40:20; 45:20; Deut. 4:28; Jer. 10:5; Acts 7:29).
CONCLUSION: Acknowledging God as the Almighty, the only one true God undoubtedly qualifies a Christian life that operates in the miraculous. It is, therefore, wise to do so now, having the knowledge that God will not share His glory with another.
QUESTIONS:
Justify with scriptures that there is only one God.
How is idolatry dangerous?
For Further Reading: Psalm 83:18; 1 Chron. 17:20; Psalm 44:6-7; Mark 12:29; 1 Cor. 8:4; Eph. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:5.
ASSIGNMENT: Give five (5) reasons why believers must worship only true God and flee from idolatry.
RCCG Sunday School 21 April 2019 HYMN
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
OPENING PRAYER: Father, help me to serve you as the only one God forever. (Scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 21 April 2019 HYMN)
MEMORY VERSE: “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.” – Psalms 86:10 (scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 21 April 2019 HYMN)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Isaiah 43:10-15 KJV (RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 21 April 2019)
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
Because we live in a world many competing truth claims and many so-called gods, the identity of the one true God matters. The one true God is distinguished from all the false gods that have been imposed upon mankind by evil spirits and misled men. Gods that are fashioned by the imaginations and hands of men are absolutely worthless (Isaiah 44:9-10), but the one true God is full of glory, grace and truth. John 1:14.
TEXT REVIEW: ISAIAH 43:10-15 – “THE TRUTH AND THE WITNESS”
A. The true God declared His identities in the following terms:
i. “I am the Lord” and “there is no saviour”. Isaiah 43:11.
ii. “I am God.” Isaiah 43:12.
iii. “I am He.” Isaiah 43:13.
iv. “The Holy one of Israel.” Isaiah 43:14.
v. “I am the Lord, the Holy One.” Isaiah 43:15.
vi. “The creator of Israel, your King.” Isaiah 43:15.
B. In addition to these declarations the true God affirmed some of His abilities. He said:
i. “I have declared.” Isaiah 43:12.
ii. “I have saved.” Isaiah 43:12.
iii. “I have showed.” Isaiah 43:12
iv. “I am older than the days.” Isaiah 43:12.
v. “I am the only deliverer.” Isaiah 43:13.
vi. “I will work and who can challenge it?” Isaiah 43:13.
C. Therefore, all His creations and servants must:
i. Know Him. Isaiah 43:10.
ii. Believe Him. Isaiah 43:10.
iii. Understand Him. Isaiah 43:10.
iv. Be His witness. Isaiah 43:10.
D. They must know, believe, understand and bear witness that there is no God before or after Him. That is the truth and the witness. Isaiah 43:9-10.
2 LESSON OUTLINES
LESSON OUTLINE 1: THE ONLY TRUE GOD
i. He is sovereign, self-existent, creator of the universe. Isaiah 42:5; Eph. 1:11.
ii. He is spirit. John 4:24.
iii. He is eternal. Psalm 90:2.
iv. He is personal. Deut. 34:10.
v. He has all knowledge. Isaiah 46:10.
vi. He has all power. Matt. 19:36.
vii. He is omnipresent. Psalm 139:7-10.
viii. He is ever constant (unchanging). James 1:17.
ix. He is just. Acts 17:31.
x. He is loving. Eph. 2:4-5.
xi. He is truthful. Numbers 23:19.
xii. He is Holy. Isaiah 6:3.
xiii. He is compassionate. 2 Cor. 1:3.
xiv. He is merciful. Rom. 9:15.
xv. He is gracious. Rom. 5:17.
xvi. He is God of justice (He judges sin). Psalm 5:5.
xvii. He forgives sin. Psalm 130:4.
NOTE: There are many false gods (Hinduism recognizes 330 million gods)
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: What are the characteristics of false gods?
LESSON OUTLINE 2: IDOLATRY IS TERRIBLY DANGEROUS
A. Description of idolatry.
i. Idolatry is worshipping objects (Physical or unseen) as god.
ii. Idolatry is sinful and forbidden. Exodus 20:4; Lev 26:1.
iii. Idolatry is very dangerous. Deut. 11:16; Isaiah 42:8; 1 John 5:21.
B. The following are some examples of idol/idolatry in the Bible: Ashtaroth, Baal, Ballpeor, Chemosh, Dragon, Diana and Molech. Judges 2:13; 1 Kings 16:32; Numbers 25:3; 2 Kings 23:13; 1 Sam. 5:2; Acts 19:24.
Heavenly bodies, devil, water spirit and others. Deut. 4:19; Hosea 4:19; 3:4.
C. Some characteristics of idols:
Idols are lifeless, inactive, helpless, highly degrading and therefore not worthy to be worshipped. Rev. 1:8; Isaiah 40:20; 45:20; Deut. 4:28; Jer. 10:5; Acts 7:29.
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Mention some idols in your locality and what they claim they stand for.
SUMMARY: Flee from idolatry.
CONCLUSION: Acknowledging God as the Almighty, the only true One undoubtedly qualifies a Christian life that operates in the miraculous. It is therefore wise to do so now, knowing full well that God will not share His glory with another.
EVALUATION: Mention some identities of the true God.
CLOSING PRAYER: Pray that the power of God will uproot idolatry in your locality.
ASSIGNMENT: Give five (5) reasons why believers must worship only true God and flee from idolatry.
NOTE: Flatimes.com EMPLOYS EVERYONE TO PURCHASE THE HARD COPY TO SUPPORT RCCG EDUCATION (SUNDAY SCHOOL DEPARTMENT). THE SOFT COPY (ONLINE) IS JUST TO HELP EASY ACCESS. GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU DO SO.
RCCG Sunday School 21 April 2019 HYMN
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever. — John 14:16 (AMP)
Many people have received Jesus as Savior and Lord. They will go to heaven, but never draw on the full capacity of the Holy Spirit that is available to them or experience the true success God wants them to enjoy on Earth. Simply put, many will be on their way to heaven, but they won’t enjoy the trip.
We often look at those who have wealth, position, power and we consider them “successful.” But many people who are considered successful still lack peace, joy, contentment, and other true blessings. Such people have never learned to depend completely on the power of the Holy Spirit.
People who are self-sufficient often think depending on God is a sign of weakness. But the truth is that by drawing on the ability of the Holy Spirit, they can accomplish more in their lives than they ever could by working in their own strength.
God created us in such a way that although we do have strengths, we also have weaknesses and we need His help. We know He wants to help us because He sent a Divine Helper, the Holy Spirit, to live inside us.
We often struggle needlessly because we do not receive the help available to us. I encourage you to depend on Him, not on your own strength. Whatever you are facing, you don’t have to go through it alone.
Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, I invite You into my day. Please strengthen me and help me to accomplish more than I ever could in my own strength. I can’t do it without You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Vision is the vehicle that takes a person from his present location to his future destination.
SCRIPTURE: Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Vision is the vehicle that takes a person from his present location to his future destination.
I have defined vision as the picture of a preferred future. It is the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination and wisdom. Vision employs the tools of imagination, foresight, perception, inspiration, discernment, creativity, inventiveness, innovation and far-sightedness to conceive and construct both the picture and reality of a desirable future.
One of the things that greatly contributes to living a successful life on earth is vision. Vision is a guarantee of the future. Vision is the vehicle that takes a person from his present location to his future destination. Vision is critical to possession; it also enhances wellbeing and enthusiasm in life. If you know what you are living for, life becomes meaningful, valuable and exciting. Vision makes life worth living. The life of vision makes it clear that you are not wasting your life.
Beloved, understand that life without vision becomes a burden. People get tired of living if there is no reason to live for. Time becomes burdensome; they wake up in the morning tired and go back to sleep tired.
Today, I pray for you that your vision for living will always be positive, practicable and alive. May you always have something to live for, something great ahead of you to achieve, something greater yet to be realised, in Jesus’ Name.
REMEMBER THIS: Vision is the vehicle that takes a person from his present location to his future destination.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Ask God to reveal to you the vision of your life if you are yet to discover it
Pursue your vision passionately and wholeheartedly
PRAYER: O Lord, I ask for the grace to discover and pursue my vision passionately and wholeheartedly. I resist every distraction on the path to fulfilling my destiny, Lord in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE GOODNESS OF VISION
QUOTE: Principles are stronger than principalities, especially when those principles are handed down from Heaven. Culled from BE WISE AND RISE by Dr Paul Enenche
DAILY READING: Joshua 19:1 to 20:9, Luke 19:28 to 48, Psalm 88:1 to 18, Proverbs 13:12 to 14
AMAZING FACT: A strawberry is not an actual berry, but a banana is.
TODAY IN HISTORY: 19/04/1839 – The Treaty of London established Belgium as a kingdom and guaranteed its neutrality.
Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities
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.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Perhaps you’re familiar with this beautiful song that encapsulates the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ in our behalf: “He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a brand new song, amazing grace; Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay….” Yes, indeed, He paid the full penalty for our sins!
When Adam disobeyed God, the inevitable consequence was spiritual death (Genesis 2:17), which is total severance or separation from God. The Bible says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). However, God immediately introduced the sacrifice of bulls and goats as atonement for sin. This was the order with the children of Israel in the Old Testament, for without the shedding of blood, there couldn’t be remission for sin (Hebrews 9:22).
Nevertheless, the Bible lets us know that the sacrifice of bulls and goats couldn’t take away sin: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). God then activated a grand plan for man’s total salvation by sending Jesus Christ. Man’s salvation was consummated when Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God—was offered to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). The Bible calls Him “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
By His death on the Cross, Jesus bore our sins and washed them away with His blood, once and for all time! He paid the ultimate price for sin, which man had incurred without a means of settlement. Hebrews 9:12 says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Christ has paid for the remission of your sins. Now, you’re washed, sanctified, and justified; free from sin, death, and destruction. Glory to God!
CONFESSION Blessed be God! I’m washed, sanctified, glorified, and justified; I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, because Jesus bore my sins and gave me His righteousness. Now, I’m an associate of the God-kind; a participator in the divine experience, walking in newness of life, and in the light of my righteousness in Christ. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Romans 5:17-18
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 17:20-18:1-14 & 1 Samuel 8-10
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 3:20-35 & Leviticus 19
Rhapsody of Realities 19th April 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
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