So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me (Ezekiel 3:14).
Not many in the Church are yet acquainted with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in divine transportation. Read about John in the Book of Revelation; he was in the isle of Patmos, and suddenly, he was divinely transported to God’s presence (Revelation 1:9-11).
Another example is Philip. Acts 8:39 says, “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” The Spirit of the Lord carried Philip physically and took him somewhere else (Acts 8:40). Remember, Philip was born again and had the Holy Spirit in him. The Spirit carries out this ministry in us to achieve His purposes in the earth through us.
2 Corinthians 13:14 declares: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” The word translated, “communion” is from the Greek “koinonia” and it means, amongst other synonyms, communication, in which is transportation. The Apostle Paul was praying that the Church would actively experience divine Holy Ghost transportation.
As you yield to the sway of the Spirit in your life, there’s no telling how mightily He’d use you. Beyond inspiring and blessing you, He can divinely transport you in the spirit to accomplish divine tasks in distant lands. Right in your closet, as you pray by the Holy Ghost, you can touch lives and change things thousands of miles away. Hallelujah!
PRAYER Dear Father, what a privilege and blessing it is to enjoy deep, heartfelt, passionate, and intense fellowship with you through the Holy Ghost! Through this fellowship, I’m divinely transported to higher realms of influence, glory and blessings. Thus, I touch lives, transform nations and impact the world with the Gospel, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 11:5; Acts 8:39-40; Genesis 5:24
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 11:37-54 & Judges 5-6
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 28:1-10 & Leviticus 8
Rhapsody of Realities 8th April 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
Topic — Sorrow: An Arrow in Satan’s Quiver (Open Heaven 8 April 2019)
Memorise: “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”- Proverbs 15:13
Read: Nehemiah 8:8-12 (KJV)
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
Bible in One Year: 1 Peter 1-4, Jeremiah 13:15-14:12
Open Heaven 8 April 2019 Monday MESSAGE:
Sorrow is a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment or misfortune suffered by a person directly or by loved ones. It is the human response to painful and heartbreaking life situations involving loss or other tragic circumstances. Sorrow is characterized by weeping, mourning, bitterness, depression, disappointment, failure, sadness, regret and discouragement. It is indeed an arrow in quiver of Satan and his agents, and their aim is to use it to break men’s spirit and determination to move forward in life. In God’s original plan, sorrow and its attendant problems were not meant to be part of the human experience, and that is why there will be no more sorrow in the new heaven and new earth that God is preparing for His people. Speaking on this truth, Revelation 21:4 says:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Sorrow became part and parcel of the human experience because of our descent into sin and the pronouncement of God’s judgement that subsequently followed (Genesis 3:16-20). The consequence of this is laid bare in Ecclesiastes 2:22-23, which says:
“22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.”
Today, the devil is still shooting the arrow of sorrow all over the world through sickness, poverty, childlessness, terrorism, natural disaster, calamities of epic proportions, separation and divorce, untimely death, and a much more. However, we thank God that the compassionate Jesus became a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”, so that we can experience the joy of the Lord right here on earth (Isaiah 53:3-4). I therefore decree that sorrow will cease in your life from today in Jesus’ Name. God provides comfort for the sorrowful and promises eternal deliverance from sorrow (Isaiah 35:10). He is mindful of our fame, and that is why He sent us the Holy Spirit to continually comfort and strengthen us (Psalm 103:14, John 15:26). Through His work in our life, Satan’s evil arrow of sorrow is rendered powerless over us. Have you recently suffered any form of loss, disappointment or pain? I encourage you today to yield to the comfort of the Holy Spirit, pick yourself up from the ashes of discouragement and face life with renewed vigour. The devil’s aim is to break your spirit and make you give up on life. Please don’t give in to him, neither should you contemplate suicide. The joy of the Lord is your strengthen. Hallelujah!
Open Heaven 8 April 2019 Monday Action Point:
Reach out to anyone you know is discouraged or grieving today with the words of hope and encouragement.
1 Yes, I know I am a victor
For the Bible tells me so
God made me more than a conqueror
Much stronger than all my foes
Chorus Jesus loves me and I love Him Together we rule the world Christ with me I will overcome By His Blood, His Name, His Word
2 Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than demons I am
To Satan I am a terror
I am free, o yes, I am
3 Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than lack, poverty
All my needs Jesus provides for
I have life abundantly
4 Yes, I know I am a victor
Barrenness no more indeed
Fruitful is the God I live for
All my dreams shall be fulfilled
5 Yes, I know I am a victor
By His strength I shall succeed
No more loss and no more failure
Glory to glory proceed
6 Yes, I know I am a victor
No more sorrow, no despair
Jesus Christ is my own Succour
Tomorrow is joy and cheer
7 Yes, I know I am a victor
Very soon I’ll reign with Him
His promise is my sure anchor
He’s coming to take me home
8 Jesus loves me and I love Him
We rule this world together
As He is so right now I am
Hear me shout Halleluyah
9 Jesus loves me Halleluyah
Hear me shout Halleluyah
Halleluyah, Halleluyah
Glory be to God on high
Open Heaven 8 April 2019 Monday 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 8 April 2019 Monday 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.
Safe Car Wash was launched by the C of E’s anti-slavery campaign The Clewer Initiative and the Catholic Church’s Santa Marta Group last June.
New analysis by the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab also reveals the application was downloaded 8,225 times during its first six months.
Chair of The Clewer Initiative, Bishop Alastair Redfern said: “This research shows that the Safe Car Wash app has made an excellent start towards mapping the extent of modern slavery and labour exploitation in hand car washes, and, crucially raising public awareness of this issue.
“Sadly, the findings so far confirm what we already feared – that many car washes do not protect their workers.”
Customers concerned by working conditions at a hand car wash have been urged to download the Safe Car Wash app and complete a survey which includes key indicators of modern slavery.
It asks the user to consider whether staff members are equipped with appropriate protective clothing – such as gloves and boots – and whether there is evidence of staff living on site.
Today a report from the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab into the data from the Safe Car Wash app is published! Read the highlights and download the report: https://t.co/UqGox1ybHfpic.twitter.com/VsxtOj2oTJ
The newspaper spoke to leaders from a number of schools in the city and Manchester about strong opposition families have expressed about guidance recently brought in by the Government.
It makes teaching on relationships compulsory in primary schools and lessons on sex and relationships compulsory in secondary schools.
The curriculum, which teaches about LGBT lifestyles and same-sex relationships, has raised questions over whether children should be taught about certain subjects contrary to the wishes of their parents.
Parkfield has since dropped its Outsiders programme – an in-house programme incorporating books including one about a boy who dresses as a boy – following opposition.
In the face of fierce criticism from some parents, the school has called upon the Government for support.
It sent a letter to the education secretary Damian Hinds which said: “We are not allowed to mention LGBT… Bullying has increased and homophobic incidents have risen.
The Department for Education warned against protests frightening children and being “hijacked by vested interests.”
A spokesperson told the Sunday Times: “There is no reason why teaching…
The Communities Department said Qari Asim did not intend to “endorse” Khadim Rizvi when he published a statement on Facebook in 2017 apparently expressing solidarity with the controversial preacher.
A spokesman told the Mail on Sunday: “Imam Qari Asim did not intend that publication to be an endorsement of Rizvi and so took the article down, which he replaced with one calling for tolerance for all”.
The response came after the newspaper claimed that the Leeds-based imam “supported” Mr Rizvi – a leader in Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Labbaik political movement.
A Catholic, Ms Bibi always denied the claim she insulted the Islamic prophet Muhammad following an argument with a group of Muslim women over a water cup. But hardliners demanded she be publicly executed.
Mr Asim, who is a member of the interfaith group Christian Muslim Forum, joined the Communities Department’s Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred.
First established in 2012, the group advises ministers and civil servants on how to tackle Islamophobia.
In Eastern #Europe, meeting people from countries that have taken a large number of #Refugees, in…
Fast Facts: Stonington Baptist Church is a rural Baptist church located in the village of Stonington, just off PA Route 61, between Shamokin and Sunbury, PA. The church has a rich heritage dating back to 1794 when it was founded as the Shamokin Baptist Church by Rev. John Patton under the direction of the Philadelphia Baptist Convention. The church became known as the “Mother church” because it was the first Baptist Church in Central Pennsylvania. From its membership or through its influence, many other Baptist churches were founded throughout the region. Today the members and friends of the Stonington Baptist Church endeavor to maintain and expand the impact of the ministry begun long ago, prioritizing the gospel message, and striving to provide a friendly welcome for sinners by pointing them to the Friend of sinners. Please pray for their upcoming Easter services and festivities, that God would continue work in and through the lives of the church to reach the community with the message of the risen Christ.
“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.
Examining hundreds of Easter products sold online by the so-called Big Four supermarkets in the UK, the Sunday Mirror found only one-in-five named the Christian festival.
Dave Male, the Church of England’s director of Evangelism and Discipleship, told the tabloid: “It’s a pity but we’re confident most people call them Easter eggs”.
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s dominate the UK groceries market.
Of them, Tesco was found to offer the least Easter products which directly referenced Easter – 40 out of 202.
Similarly, only 26 of the 150 items available at Asda featured the word ‘Easter’ in their packaging.
The Sunday Mirror says “egg makers and sellers insist they heavily market the religious message”.
Handout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of @DCollingwood40 of an Easter Eggs display in a Tesco Metro on Deansgate, Manchester.
Earlier this month, Humanists UK said customers should not be “duped” into believing criticism that marketing and packaging for chocolate Easter eggs do not go far enough to promote the season’s Christian roots.
The Bishop of London Rt Rev Sarah Mullally was among those to address crowds at the Standing Together Rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon.
The event was organised by the street pastors group Ascension Trust, London City Mission, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) and Southwark Diocese.
Director of Justice and Inclusion at the CTBI, Richard Reddie told Premier before the event: “Lives have been lost, people are grieving and there are those out there who have experienced life-changing injuries.
“We want to say as churches, ‘we hear that, we’re standing along you’, because God is standing alongside them.”
SCRIPTURE: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If God made you in His image; whatever you cannot imagine with God is an abomination in your life.
The Scripture makes it clear that when God created man, He created him as a perfect being (Genesis 2:7). Man was created to lack nothing,”need nothing, fear nothing, feel no pain or discomfort and be resisted by nothing whatsoever.
Man was created perfect in spirit, soul and body. Every trace of imperfection in man was not put there by God; it is the handiwork of satan through the instrumentality of sin. Man was created to decree and enforce obedience and compliance from nature, situations and circumstances. He was not created to be defeated by any situation, condition, circumstance or affliction. Man was created to dominate and not to be defeated. Man was created in the Image of God, and if God made you in His image, whatever you cannot imagine with God is an abomination in your life.
Beloved, you must be the ‘you’ that God created. The original ‘you’ was created in perfection, without need or pain, and to be defeat-less, audacious, and fearless. You must struggle for your real identity. My counsel is, refuse to allow any devil to impose on you what is not yours; refuse to attach or ascribe any negative title to yourself. You are not a poor, frustrated, barren or dejected person. You are a person created in the image of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Today, I exhort you to make up your mind to demand for the original ‘you’ that God created. Demand for who God has made you to be.
REMEMBER THIS: If God made you in His image, whatever you cannot imagine with God is an abomination in your life.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Disconnect yourself from sin in order to reconnect yourself to your sinless Maker
Connect yourself to the Divine Presence of God in order to take on His audacious, indefatigable, weariless and sick-less Nature.
PRAYER: O Lord, I ask that You draw me close to You in relationship. Fill my body with Your Spirit and let every sickness and disease die by your judgement, Lord in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: RESTORING YOUR ORIGINALITY
QUOTE: You have Divine immunity as a Kingdom ambassador; deliver yourself from fear on earth. Culled from PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche
DAILY READING: Deuteronomy 31:1 to 32:27, Luke 12:8 to 34, Psalm 78:32 to 55, Proverbs 12:21 to 24.
AMAZING FACT: The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and makes up 85% of the brain’s weight.
TODAY IN HISTORY: 07/04/1948 – The World Health Organization was established by the United Nations.
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.
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
THE MESSAGE:
Some Greeks sought Jesus. Jesus had just been hailed as the coming King and Messiah by teeming thousands. “The world is gone after Him” (John 12: 19). Some Greek pilgrims who had come to attend the Passover Feast wished to see this Jesus who was being proclaimed King. What Jesus did was try to correct the misunderstood idea of the Messiah held by the world. He wanted to prepare both the Greeks and those standing around, for His death. He wanted to teach that the way to glory is not through triumph and praise, neither was it through domination and subjection but through death to self and through service to God and man.
The cross is the glory of the Messiah (verse 23). The cross brings forth fruit (verse 24). The cross demands man’s death to self (verses 25-26). Man must lose his life to bear eternal life. The cross fulfils Jesus’ cause (verse 27). The cross glorifies God’s name (verses 28-30). The cross judges the world – the prince of the world (verse 31). The cross draws all men (verses 32-33). To dodge the cross is to miss the crown. The way to glory is the way of the cross. To follow Him, we must take up the cross daily. Determine to boast in nothing save the cross of Christ.
Prayer: Father; please help me to carry my cross daily; may the power of the cross and its glory be manifested in my life.
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