…But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. – Philippians 3:13
Failures and disappointments. Aches and pains from the past that just won’t seem to go away. Most of us know what it’s like to suffer from them but too few of us know just what to do about them. So we limp along, hoping somehow they’ll magically stop hurting.
But it never happens that way. In fact, the passing of time often leaves us in worse condition—not better. Because, instead of putting those painful failures behind us, we often dwell on them until they become more real to us than the promises of God. We focus on them until we become bogged down in depression, frozen in our tracks by the fear that if we go on, we’ll only fail again.
I used to get caught in that trap a lot. Then one day when I was right in the middle of a bout with depression, the Lord spoke up inside me and said:
Kenneth, your problem is you’re forming your thoughts off the past instead of the future. Don’t do that! Unbelief looks at the past and says, “See, it can’t be done.” But faith looks at the future and says, “It can be done, and according to the promises of God, it is done!” Then putting past failures behind it forever, faith steps out and acts like the victory’s already been won.
If depression has driven you into a spiritual nose dive, break out of it by getting your eyes off the past and onto your future—a future that’s been guaranteed by Christ Jesus through the great and precious promises in His Word.
Forget about those failures in the past! That’s what God has done (Hebrews 8:12). And if He doesn’t remember them any more, why should you?
The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning. So if you’ll take God at His Word, you can wake up every morning to a brand-new world. You can live life totally unhindered by the past.
So, do it! Replace thoughts of yesterday’s mistakes with scriptural promises about your future. As you do that, hope will start taking the place of depression. The spiritual aches and pains that have crippled you for so long will quickly disappear. Instead of looking behind you and saying, “I can’t,” you’ll begin to look ahead and say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me!”
Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:1-14
This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.
Luke 8:12, ‘Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.’
Luke 8:4-13
The first type of person Jesus describes is someone who doesn’t understand God’s Word (Mt. 13:19). Before God’s Word can penetrate your heart, you have to understand (not comprehend) what it’s saying. If the Word isn’t understood, then it will be like seed scattered on top of hard-packed ground (the wayside). The birds will eat the seed and there will be no fruit.
Mark 4:15 and Luke 8:12, make it clear that these birds represent Satan, and Mark says the devil comes immediately to steal away the Word. Satan did not have direct access to the Word in any of the other heart-types which Jesus described. Satan cannot steal the Word from us if we will hide it in our hearts (Ps. 119:11). This first type of person simply heard the Word but didn’t receive it. He never applied it to his life, so he lost it.
Notice that Luke links belief and salvation with the Word being sown in our hearts in the same way as Romans 10:14-17. If there is no Word, there cannot be any belief or salvation (I Pet. 1:23). We must preach the Word – not just morality or social issues.
Luke’s use of the word ‘saved’ could include, but is not necessarily limited to, forgiveness of sins. Salvation includes much more than forgiveness of sins. This verse could describe a person who didn’t receive the Word and, therefore, was eternally damned. It could also be describing a Christian who simply doesn’t receive the Word in a certain area of his life and therefore doesn’t experience the victory that Jesus provided for him. Are you experiencing His victory in your life?
This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him . . . — Luke 23:33
One of the ironies of human nature is that it often has a way of rejecting the best and accepting the worst. Why did the crowd ask for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus? The answer is in the biblical statement, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Jesus is just as divine today and just as much alive as He was on that first Good Friday. Yet millions today don’t accept Him. His goodness is still a rebuke to our badness; His purity still shows up our impurities; His sinlessness still reveals our sinfulness; and unless we allow Him to destroy the evil within us, the evil within us still wants to destroy Him. This is the conflict of the ages.
Jesus wants your heart. Listen to more in this short audio clip.
Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus, when I reflect upon the agony of Your death at Calvary, my heart is once again humbled at the magnitude of Your love for all mankind.
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.
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus (Philemon 1:6).
As a new creation in Christ Jesus, you’re peculiar. There’re so many good things inside you, and there’s so much that the Lord has ordained your life for. He didn’t create you for nothing; you’re valuable to Him. Therefore, you must love and value yourself, because you exude the glory of God.
God reigns, establishes, and spreads His righteousness on earth today through you. Revelation 5:10 says Christ has made us “…kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” In 1 Corinthians 15:25, we read that “…he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” Jesus isn’t physically present on earth today, yet He’s reigning through you. In Christ, you’ve been made a king-priest unto God (Revelation 1:6). The glorious Gospel of the blessed God has been committed to your trust.
Now, if the Lord would rely on you this much, reigning through you, and committing such glorious Gospel to your trust, then you’re truly valuable to Him. Therefore, accord yourself the same value. Think, talk, walk, and live as someone special, for indeed you are. You’re a custodian of divine knowledge and of Kingdom realities; how big that is!
The Bible says God spreads the beautiful and pleasant fragrance of His knowledge through you in every place: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14). It’s your ministry, calling, and responsibility to make the Word known to the world. Therefore, love Him, and love what He made—YOU!
Enjoy every moment of your life. Appreciate you and appreciate others around you. Challenge your mind in the positive direction of life and you’ll be amazed at the results. You’re God’s best.
Never judge yourself by what people say about you; what matters is what God thinks of you. And you know what? He thinks highly of you, which is why He invested so much in you. Hallelujah!
PRAYER Blessed Father, I rejoice to know that I’m the expression of your glory and grace, and that your righteousness is revealed in and through me. I walk in the consciousness of my triumphant life in Christ, enjoying my glorious inheritance, whilst displaying the virtues and perfections of divinity, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC; Ephesians 2:10 AMPC
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 12:1-21 & Judges 7-8
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 28:11-20 & Leviticus 9
Rhapsody of Realities 9th April 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus (Philemon 1:6).
As a new creation in Christ Jesus, you’re peculiar. There’re so many good things inside you, and there’s so much that the Lord has ordained your life for. He didn’t create you for nothing; you’re valuable to Him. Therefore, you must love and value yourself, because you exude the glory of God.
God reigns, establishes, and spreads His righteousness on earth today through you. Revelation 5:10 says Christ has made us “…kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” In 1 Corinthians 15:25, we read that “…he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” Jesus isn’t physically present on earth today, yet He’s reigning through you. In Christ, you’ve been made a king-priest unto God (Revelation 1:6). The glorious Gospel of the blessed God has been committed to your trust.
Now, if the Lord would rely on you this much, reigning through you, and committing such glorious Gospel to your trust, then you’re truly valuable to Him. Therefore, accord yourself the same value. Think, talk, walk, and live as someone special, for indeed you are. You’re a custodian of divine knowledge and of Kingdom realities; how big that is!
The Bible says God spreads the beautiful and pleasant fragrance of His knowledge through you in every place: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14). It’s your ministry, calling, and responsibility to make the Word known to the world. Therefore, love Him, and love what He made—YOU!
Enjoy every moment of your life. Appreciate you and appreciate others around you. Challenge your mind in the positive direction of life and you’ll be amazed at the results. You’re God’s best.
Never judge yourself by what people say about you; what matters is what God thinks of you. And you know what? He thinks highly of you, which is why He invested so much in you. Hallelujah!
PRAYER Blessed Father, I rejoice to know that I’m the expression of your glory and grace, and that your righteousness is revealed in and through me. I walk in the consciousness of my triumphant life in Christ, enjoying my glorious inheritance, whilst displaying the virtues and perfections of divinity, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC; Ephesians 2:10 AMPC
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 12:1-21 & Judges 7-8
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 28:11-20 & Leviticus 9
Rhapsody of Realities 9th April 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
Topic: Experiencing Restoration (Open Heaven 9 April 2019)
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: Ezra 9:1-9 (KJV)
1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Bible in One Year: 1 Peter 5- 2 Peter 3, Jeremiah 14:13-22
Open Heaven 9 April 2019 Tuesday MESSAGE:
Restoration presupposes the loss of something good and valuable. Today’s Bible reading tells the story of God’s people who were in need of restoration after returning from the land of captivity. I believe their example contains valuable lessons for those seeking the face of God for restoration in one form or the other. When a people are carried away into a strange land as captives, there is the tendency for them to lose their identity and character has their virtues get influenced by the environment they find themselves in. The Israelites experience this. After God caused the king of Persia to permit the restoration of God’s worship in Jerusalem through the hand of Ezra, it was discovered that the Priests and Levites who were supposed to lead the people in worship could not minister because they had corrupted themselves by marrying Idol worshippers. To ignite the fire revival and initiate the restoration of God’s people to His worship, Ezra 9:5-6 lists some key things Ezra did which cannot be overlooked by anyone seeking restoration. It says:
“5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, 6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.”
Ezra realized that God’s people needed a spiritual restoration first, before they could experience any other form of restoration. He therefore went before God in penitence and humility to seek for His forgiveness and restoration. This example shows that spiritual restoration is obtained only when we are repentant and humble before God. Psalm 51:17 says:
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
In other words, a remorseful heart is the foundation of genuine repentance, and through genuine repentance, spiritual restoration is received (Acts 3:19). Repentance means making a U-turn away from one’s trespasses. Those who repented of their sins in Ezra’s time did not continue in them; they completely relinquished their former lifestyles (Ezra 10-2:17). It is therefore strange that some people claim to have repented of their sins and yet they do not relinquish this sinful lifestyle. Such people are only deceiving themselves (Romans 6:1-2). Beloved, what type of loss have you suffered – spiritual, physical or otherwise? You can be restored if only you genuinely repent of your sins today and come back to your first love for God.
Open Heaven 9 April 2019 Tuesday Prayer Point:
Father, please restore to me all that I have lost, especially the joy of salvation and the hope of eternity with you.
Open Heaven 9 April 2019 Tuesday Hymn 2: Oh Jesus, I Have Promised
1 O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my guide.
2 O let me feel Thee near me,
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.
3 Oh let me hear Thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.
4 O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee,
That where Thou art in glory,
There shall Thy servant be;
And, Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.
5 Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then to rest receive me,
My Saviour and my Friend.
Open Heaven 9 April 2019 Tuesday 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 9 April 2019 Tuesday Daily Devotional.
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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.
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Abortionists could Face up to 99 Years in Prison under Proposed Alabama Law
Strict anti-abortion laws have swept conservative states in the country and Alabama has just upped the ante. If passed, HB 314 and SB 211 would make performing an abortion a Class A felony, the most serious felony, punishable by up to 99 years in prison, according to AL.
Lawmakers anticipate challenges and lawsuits to the bill since it is unconstitutional. Their hope is to push the bill all the way to the Supreme Court. Rep. Terri Collins, the Republican representative who sponsored the bill, told AL, “It is meant to actually use some of the same language that is addressed in Roe vs. Wade. So, hopefully, it just completely takes it all the way to the Supreme Court eventually to overturn.”
Over 60 representatives out of 105 in the Alabama House have co-sponsored the bill. It will go to the Senate the week of April 15.
Staci Fox, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast called the bills a “death sentence for women across the state.” She also argued, “In a state that already suffers from a physician shortage, high rates of infant and maternal mortality, cervical cancer mortality, unintended pregnancy, teen births, rural health care crisis, and opioid addiction, our lawmakers should be focused on increasing access to care – not restricting it.”
Tuscaloosa News reported this bill is more extreme than any of the other two dozen anti-abortion…
The Dorothy Kerin Trust said it has faced considerable financial challenges for a number of years and has come to the conclusion that the current situation is “untenable”.
In a statement, the trustees said: “Despite sporadic sizeable single donations and legacies, there has also been a significant shortfall in reaching fundraising targets.
“On top of this, the cost of ensuring compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations continues to grow, and this has also been a further contributory factor in the number of burdens on the Trust’s limited resources.
“All of these issues combined have led to Burrswood facing an unsustainable financial position.”
After prayerfully considering a wide range of options, trustees have now started a consultation process with all employees.
Burswood was founded in 1948, by Dorothy Kerin who experienced miraculous physical healing.
She wanted to open a centre dedicated to ‘whole person care’ which addressed Healthcare, Social Care and Spiritual Wellbeing services.
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Kayne West to Bring His ‘Sunday Service’ Gospel Concert to Coachella for Easter
In his usual unique fashion, Grammy Award-winning artist Kanye West announced earlier this month, while on a plane, that his “Sunday Service” worship concert will be coming to popular California music festival, Coachella.
According to Relevant Magazine, West was reportedly “in talks to headline the festival” but he backed out after a staging dispute. This, however, is not stopping the rapper from performing at Coachella.
According to CBN News, West confirmed in an announcement at 30,000 feet, which was later posted to Twitter by his wife Kim Kardashian-West, that he would be performing as a part of his “Sunday Service” at 9:00 AM PST on Easter Sunday at Coachella.
The proposals by the Department for Education include creating an independent regulator, similar to Ofcom, to monitor online content and remove material that might, for example, promote self-harm, terroism or illegal activity.
There has been a growing impetus for more control as parents begin to be more aware of and more vocal about the impact of sites like Instagram on their children’s mental health, most notably in the death of Molly Russel, who was 14 when she died and whose parents believe the content she saw on social media played a part in her death.
The Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek, who in 2016 launched a campaign to encourage a safer online environment, said: “The new plans unveiled today are an encouraging sign that the online world will start to be regulated to protect people like Molly Russell, who tragically took her own life. We know that her family believe that social media was partly responsible for their daughter’s death.
“Research tells us that 4 in 10 people feel that tech firms fail to take their concerns seriously when they complain. It’s about time that social media companies are held responsible for their content and are accountable for their actions. No other organisation in the ‘real’ world has that freedom.
“We manage to regulate electricity, water companies, broadcasters, shops etc through consumer bodies, yet for years social…
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