Open Heavens 24 September 2018 – Fruits of Repentance

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Open Heavens 24 September 2018 – Fruits of Repentance

Open Heavens 24 September 2018 Monday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Fruits of Repentance

Topic: Fruits of Repentance (Open Heavens 24 September 2018)

Memorise: “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”- Matthew 3:8

Read: Luke 15:11-22 (KJV)

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 1-3, Mark 12:28-13:2

Open Heavens 24 September 2018 Monday MESSAGE:

The proof of genuine repentance is doing those things you promised God at the altar when you gave your life to Christ. In Luke 15:18, the prodigal son repented of his ways and said:

“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,”

The fruit of his repentance is manifested here in Luke 15:20a & 21:

“20a And he arose, and came to his father… 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”

Many times we see people confessing their sins to God and promising Him never to go back to them again, but as soon as they leave the altar of repentance, they begin to live their lives as before. This suggests that their repentance was not genuine. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Beloved, can you sincerely say that old things have passed away in your life? The truth of the matter is that it takes conscious and determined effort to bear the fruits of repentance. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 and Ephesians 4:24-32 contain some practical guidance for bearing fruits of repentance; please take time out to read through these passages.

When a fellow who was stealing before his confession of faith in Christ stops stealing, we can say he or she is bearing fruits of repentance. An adulterous woman who for the sake of Christ sacks all her sin partners, thereby losing all the “fringe benefits” of her extramarital wanderings, can be said to be bearing fruits of repentance. When an alcoholic scraps the drinking bar in his or her expansive living room to begin hosting Christian gatherings in that space, sharing the word of God over cups of tea, we can say that such a fellow is bearing the fruit of repentance. This indeed was the first thing my friends noticed in me after I became born again. Any time they came to my house and asked for brandy, I offered them soft drinks. They would laugh at me and tell me to admit that I was just broke. I would tell them that although the money was there to buy brandy, my Lord Jesus Christ would not want me to drink alcohol or serve it to others. One by one they stopped visiting my house, which served my best interest as a growing child of God. Beloved, the whole world must recognize that you have actually given your life to Christ when they see undeniable proof of the fruits of repentance in you. A street fighter who is now a peace-maker in the neighborhood is the pride of the Master. God bless you as you bear fruits worthy of repentance in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens 24 September 2018 Monday PRAYER POINT:

Father, help me forthwith to bear fruits that reflect the transformation inside me in Jesus’ Name.

Also Read: Open Heavens 23 September 2018 – An Accuser of the Brethren?

Open Heavens 24 September 2018 Monday HYMN 12: Take My Life, And Let It Be

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Open Heavens 24 September 2018 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 Heavens 24 September 2018 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.

The post Open Heavens 24 September 2018 – Fruits of Repentance appeared first on Flatimes.

What Do Parents Look for in Christian Colleges? Study Reveals Surprising Statistics

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What Do Parents Look for in Christian Colleges? Study Reveals Surprising Statistics

(PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK)The study, conducted by the Barna Group in collaboration with the Association for Biblical Higher Education, asked parents of prospective students to identify what they consider to be the goals or ultimate purpose of college education.

Most parents inclined toward Christian colleges and universities prioritize spiritual goals over career prospects when it comes to their child’s education, a study has found.

The study, conducted by the Barna Group in collaboration with the Association for Biblical Higher Education, asked parents of prospective students to identify what they consider to be the goals or ultimate purpose of college education.

Most prospective parents primarily see college as a place for their child to determine their career path (70%), gain practical job skills (66%) and increase earning potential (61%), the study found. Spiritual goals, such as growing spiritually (35%) and learning about the Bible (20%), are generally low on the priority list, Barna found.

However, researchers found a significant priority difference between parents who are inclined toward Christian education and all prospective parents.

In contrast to the top goals among all parents, those inclined to Christian education have spiritual growth as their top priority (75%), followed by determining career path (63%), increasing earning potential (52%) and discerning God’s plan for their child’s life (49%).

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Leaf Peeping Through History in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula

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Leaf Peeping Through History in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula

(Photo by Dennis Lennox)Leaf peeping in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

It’s that time of the year, when leaf peepers travel in search of vibrant fall foliage.

For me, this means combining a leaf-peeping road trip with visits to old churches and other historical places of interest. One of the best destinations for such a trip is Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where the fall colors peak in late September and early October.

You could base yourself in Marquette, where Michigan meets Portland and Seattle. This puts you within driving distance of the Keweenaw Peninsula, where spectacular fall colors and reminders of the region’s past, when mining was the industry and copper was king, are everywhere.

Another option is present-day Calumet, known as Red Jacket from 1875 until 1929. Still inhabited it feels a bit like a museum thanks to the Keweenaw National Historical Park that encompasses most of the town.

The architecture is actually quite incredible for a small town in the middle of nowhere. Among the gems is a Richardsonian Romanesque-style former fire station-turned-museum.

Then there are the churches, which are predominantly clustered on land around an area of downtown called Temple Square. Being a company town, the land was donated by the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company in the belief that good churchgoers made good workers.

At the turn of the 20th century, Calumet had 34 churches of almost every denomination. Baptists, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Methodists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians and others all had parishes at one point or another. In some cases, there were multiple…

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Jonathan Edwards Elected President of Princeton, National Cathedral Construction

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Jonathan Edwards Elected President of Princeton, National Cathedral Construction

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What Happened to National Youth Ministries and Conferences?

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What Happened to National Youth Ministries and Conferences?

(Photo: CIY)High school students at a Christ in Youth “Move” conference at Chapman University in Southern California raise their hands in worship.

The movers and shakers of national youth ministry in America look a little different than they did 10 years ago.

While legacy organizations that have traditionally been relied on for providing curricula, resources and training to churches and youth ministers (such as Youth Specialties or Group Publishing) are still around today, they exist in somewhat diminished forms as challenges and new organizations have emerged on the scene.

Likewise, some national organizations like Dare 2 Share or Teen Mania that have been known for hosting national conferences and revival-like events attended by thousands of teens and pre-teens nationwide have either had to “reinvent” themselves or shut down entirely.

What is happening is what one expert in the field is calling the “tectonic plate shifting” in the world of youth ministry development and training.

“We saw just a plunge in national events in every industry with the recession that took place in 2008, 2009, 2010,” Mark Oestreicher, a partner with Youth Cartel, a San Diego-based organization that has trained hundreds of youth ministers since its founding in 2010, told The Christian Post. “In…

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Pope honours victims of Soviet and Nazi crimes in Lithuania

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Pope honours victims of Soviet and Nazi crimes in Lithuania

Francis began his second day in the Baltics in Lithuania’s second city, Kaunas, where an estimated 3,000 Jews survived out of a community of 37,000 during the 1941-1944 Nazi occupation.

During Mass in the lush Santakos Park under a brilliant autumn sun, Francis honoured both Jewish victims of Nazi-era executions and the Lithuanians who were deported to Siberian gulags or were tortured and oppressed at home during five decades of Soviet occupation.

 

“Earlier generations still bear the scars of the period of the occupation, anguish at those who were deported, uncertainty about those who never returned, shame for those who were informers and traitors,” Francis told the crowd.

“Kaunas knows about this. Lithuania as a whole can testify to it, still shuddering at the mention of Siberia, or the ghettos of Vilnius and Kaunas, among others.”

He denounced those who get caught up in debating who was more virtuous in the past and fail to address the tasks of the present – an apparently veiled reference to historic revisionism that is afflicting much of Eastern Europe as it comes to terms with the Holocaust.

AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

 

The issue is acute in Lithuania, where ordinary Lithuanians executed Jews alongside the Nazi occupiers, wiping out the Jewish population of the capital of Vilnius that was known for centuries as the “the Jerusalem of the North”…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Be the girl that God uniquely made you

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Be the girl that God uniquely made you

In a video testimonial as part of the White Chair Film series, the 25-year-old American artist explained how growing up being told she was an “amazing singer” eventually damaged her.

Aged 12, she was dropped from a record label company and struggled with her identity.

 

“Every executive that I would talk to, there was always some reason they didn’t want to sign me,” she said during the 6-minute video.

“They wanted me to be this outgoing, bubbly personality, which I didn’t have, and that’s when I really started comparing myself to other people.

 

She explained how she found her true identity in Christ, sharing a message to her 12-year-old self and anyone else struggling with finding their true identity.

“One day you’re going to grow into your own skin and be the girl that God uniquely made as you,” she said close to tears.

“And you don’t have to compare yourself to anybody. I didn’t have to change myself; I can just be myself.”

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

 

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Marriott to put Bible and Book of Mormon in 300,000 rooms

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Marriott to put Bible and Book of Mormon in 300,000 rooms

Sheraton, Westin and other Starwood hotels are expected to have the religious texts placed in the rooms by the end of the year.

Marriot’s founding family is active in the Mormon Church and has been putting both the Bible and the Book of Mormon in its rooms since opening its first hotel in the late 1950s.

 

Explaining the move, Marriot said in a statement sent to the Associated: “There are many guests who are not digitally connected who appreciate having one or both of these books available.

“It’s a tradition appreciated by many, objected to by few.”

The Bibles will be provided by Gideons International, which is a group that already donates Bibles free of charge to hotels, prisons, hospitals and other public places.

The costs for the Books of Mormon will be shared by the Marriott Foundation and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

 

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Service held to honour ancestors of African and Caribbean communities in Britain

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Service held to honour ancestors of African and Caribbean communities in Britain

Rev Canon Pitts – who is one of the first black women to be ordained as a Parish Priest in the Church of England in 1994, will host a Day of Remembrance on Sunday at Holy Trinity Church, Birchfield, in Birmingham.

Speaking to Premier ahead of the service, she told Premier why the day was so important.

 

“Four years ago I felt strongly that God was saying, ‘stop and let’s remember’. ‘And what is it we’re remembering?’ said one person.

“We’re remembering where we came from because unless you can remember where you’ve come from then it’s highly likely you won’t know where you’re going.”

The commemoration will be the second of its kind at the church.

Explaining why these victims should never be forgotten, she added: “It is about pausing to say, ‘we are here because they were there and we’ve arrived here because they were who they were’.

“A group of people – from whom I have descended died, were enslaved and it is my duty to remember that.”

The transatlantic slave trade was the largest enforced movement of people in history. It is estimated that 15-20 million men, women and children, were extracted from their homes and sold as slaves.

For more than 200 years Britain was at the heart of this lucrative transatlantic slave trade. Enslaved Africans and their descendants were central to the rise of it as an industrial power.

Representatives from the Anglican and Pentecostal…

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‘I am the devil’ next to John Paul, jokes Pope Francis

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‘I am the devil’ next to John Paul, jokes Pope Francis

As he greeted journalists en route to Lithuania, Francis was given a book about the former pope by Polish photographer Grzegorz Galazka.

Receiving the large book which features a beaming John Paul on the cover, Francis quipped: “(Pope John Paul II) was a saint, I am the devil.”

 

Laughing, Mr Galazka immediately corrected him: “No, you are both saints, you are both saints.”

AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

 

Francis’s quip appeared to acknowledge that he has his detractors, particularly among conservative Catholics who long for the more doctrinaire papacies of John Paul and Benedict XVI.

The criticism of Francis by conservatives has grown more vocal recently amid the church’s sex abuse scandals and the distress over his opening to letting divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive Communion.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

 

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