Open Heavens 1 September 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Authority to Forbid

Topic: Authority to Forbid

Memorise: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”– Mark 11:24

Read: Matthew 18:18-20 (KJV)

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 100-104, Matthew 28

Open Heavens 1 September 2018 Saturday MESSAGE:

The magnitude of the Lord’s blessings under the new covenant is so astounding that we can barely comprehend the full dimensions of it. It is so great that even angels desire to understand it (1 Peter 1:2). The Holy Spirit describes its scope in 1 Corinthians 2:9, saying:

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

One of these blessings is that our status has been changed to that of gods. Our Father Himself declared this in Psalms 82:6, saying:

“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”

While on earth, Jesus demonstrated this new status that God bestowed on us by walking in authority and power, so much so that people marvelled and were in awe, saying, “What is this”, “We never saw it in this fashion” and “We have seen strange things today!” (Mark 1:27, Mark 2:12, Luke 5:26). When the Jews questioned His boldness and audacity, Jesus referred them to God’s word in the same Psalm 82:6 (John 10:34-36). Having shown us what it is to be gods, He has empowered and mandated us to begin to operate as gods on the earth, because as children of the Most High, we share in His power and authority.

Our authority as gods includes the power to allow and to forbid things. Matthew 18:18 says:

“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Through this power, we are to take charge for our Lord until He returns by enforcing the will of the Father on earth as it is written in heaven (Matthew 6:10). We have the authority to forbid whatever contradicts our Father’s will in our health, family, business, job, community and nation. In Psalm 82:2, the Holy Spirit challenges us, asking:

“How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?”

He then Commands us in Psalm 82:3-4:

“3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.”

This forms part of our mandate as gods. As we evangelize the good news, whatever we forbid in the lives of the oppressed, diseased and afflicted shall be forbidden in Jesus’ Name. Let’s wake up to our responsibilities as gods today.

Action Point: Open Heavens 1 September 2018 Saturday

Enforce your Father’s will over everything contrary to His will in your life and community.

Also Read: Open Heavens 31 August 2018 – When the Best Comes

Open Heavens 1 September 2018 Saturday Hymn 18: Conqueror and Overcomers Now Are We

1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing ‘gainst His mighty power can e’er prevail.

Chorus
Conquerors are we, thr’o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.

2. In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.

3. Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.

Open Heavens 1 September 2018 Saturday 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 September 2018.

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: God Gives Us All We Need [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Friday August 31, 2018]

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. — Psalm 17:15

In His Word God has given us the tools we need to help us through each new day. He has given us “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3 KJV). So, when you wake up in the morning, decide that no matter what happens, you will not be depressed today.

Put on the garment of praise first thing in the morning. Listen to worshipful music, read the Word, and renew your thoughts to bring them into line with what God says you are—righteous and blessed. You can think right, talk right, and act right all day if you spend time with God before trials come your way.

Prayer Starter: Father, I come to You today for my strength and help. You are my Source for everything, and I thank and praise You for Your goodness. I ask for Your grace to have a great day and honor You in the midst of it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Topic: Call for Help [Our Daily Bread 31 August 2018 Devotional]

Read: Acts 2:14–21, Bible in a Year: Psalms 132–134; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21

After five deaths and fifty-one injuries in elevator accidents in 2016, New York City launched an ad campaign to educate people on how to stay calm and be safe. The worst cases were people who tried to save themselves when something went wrong. The best plan of action, authorities say, is simply, “Ring, relax, and wait.” New York building authorities made a commitment to respond promptly to protect people from injury and extract them from their predicament.

In the book of Acts, Peter preached a sermon that addressed the error of trying to save ourselves. Luke, who wrote the book, records some remarkable events in which believers in Christ were speaking in languages they did not know (Acts 2:1–12). Peter got up to explain to his Jewish brothers and sisters that what they were witnessing was the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy (Joel 2:28–32)—the outpouring of the Spirit and a day of salvation. The blessing of the Holy Spirit was now visibly seen in those who called on Jesus for rescue from sin and its effects. Then Peter told them how this salvation is available for anyone (v. 21). Our access to God comes not through keeping the Law but through trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

If we are trapped in sin, we cannot save ourselves. Our only hope for being rescued is acknowledging and trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

Have you called on Jesus to rescue you from your sin?

Rescue comes to those who call on Jesus for help.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Marvin Williams [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Foundation For Lasting Success by David Ibiyeomie

Topic: Foundation For Lasting Success

You are the one that will determine how successful you will be. God has given you the manual for success; it is what you do with it that will determine how far you will go in life. Success is becoming a plus on daily basis; that is succeeding in succession.

Ex. 18:21 -Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

When God wants to make you a leader in any field, He looks out for your capacity, competence, excellence, etc. A man of truth in the above scripture characterized a man of character. Therefore, character and excellence are two inevitable factors if success must be maintained.

Psalm 78:72 – So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

Everywhere in the Bible God wants to take a man to lead, these two qualities must be in place.

Acts 6:3 -Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Character is actually your hidden behavior. It will enable you to be successful as a person in business and career. If your purpose and vision must be actualized, character must be in place. A noble, stable and strong character makes for lasting success. Everyone’s success is only as safe and secured as his character. When you have what others don’t have, you will stand above them. In the world today, we have many intelligent and skillful people but men of character are very few; so if you have what they don’t have, you will be preferred above them. When you have character, you don’t struggle with people; you succeed above them. Men of character don’t give in to compromise. Character is what you are known for; your name goes with your character. May you not be known for evil in Jesus name!

The reason Joseph succeeded despite all the lies told against him in Gen. 39, was because of his character. When you have godly character, even when people lie against you, God will not leave you. Joseph was in prison but God was still with him. God does not leave people of character no matter the challenge they pass through. Joseph never compromised his standard; the fear of God was his watchword. A wise man said, ‘Personality can open doors; only character can keep them open’.

What Joseph had as a challenge, Reuben also had the challenge but he compromised and slept with his father’s concubine in Gen 35:22. If you want lasting success, then work on your character first. Everybody wants to be successful; only few persons have taken time to work on their character.

Gehazi in the Bible had a promising future but he loved money so much that it destroyed him. He was supposed to carry multiplied anointing of Elisha but he ended in leprosy; he lost his ministry and everything attached to it.

Abraham Lincoln said, ‘Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing’.

So, your character is much more than just what you tried to display for others to see; it is who you are when no one is watching. Character is doing the right thing because it is right to do. It is one thing to work for God but another thing to walk with God. You can work for God and not walk with Him. Character makes you walk with God. To walk with God is to have a relationship with Him but when you are working for God, you are only rendering service.

Gen. 5:24 – And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

You can serve God and not walk with Him. Judas worked for Jesus but never walked with Jesus. To walk with God is superior and more important to God than working for Him. When you walk with God, you are having the nature of God because two cannot walk together except they agree Amos 3:3

John 8:29 – And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

The devil had no opportunity to attack Jesus because He was always pleasing the Father. If you want to know your true character, check what you do under pressure. You must stand for something in life; otherwise, you will fall for anything. The world will know you for your fruits; not just by your high-sounding principles. In your business, career, political office, etc, make decisions not to sacrifice your principles and values on the altar of compromise. On the day of your challenge, the only legacy that can defend you is your character because money does not solve all problems. Character is very important; build it as a child of God because it has no substitute.

A wise man said – A man who lives right and is right has more power in his silence than another has by his words.

Some of the areas you will be tested for character include:

Money- How do you handle your financial dealings with God and people?

Position and power –You never know the true nature of a person until you give him power because power intoxicates.

Your relationship with opposite and same sex

No man can climb beyond the limitation of his own character. Charisma and talent can take you to the top but it is character that will keep you there; talent is not enough. When you take care of your character, God will take care of your reputation. You don’t determine your future; determine your character and your character determines your future. A man without character has no future.

God bless you

Also Read: Other Inspiring Messages by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

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: You Shall Go From Glory To Glory [TREM 31 August 2018 Daily Devotional]

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”2 Corinthians 3:18

From glory to glory! Did you see that? He doesn’t say from defeat to glory. You would have thought that the right thing to say is, since I am looking at it, I am changed from defeat to glory. From poverty to riches. No! He says from glory to glory. Christ in you, the hope of glory. Christ in you, the confident expectation of glory (Colossians 1:27). Once Christ is in you, you have already entered glory land. That is why it is from glory to glory.

The life of a believer is from glory to glory. It can never be defeat anymore Even right now, you may not have received the manifestation of what you are trusting God for, that still does not mean defeat. Thanks, be to God, who causeth us to triumph always in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). We triumph always. So, whatever challenge you have now is temporary. It won’t last. We look not at the things we see but to the things we do not see, for the things we see are temporary. A believer’s life is from a wave of glory to another wave of glory to another wave of glory. Why because the promise is already the victory.

My God is able to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. The scripture doesn’t say out of your glory. I am trying to help you see how wealthy and abundant a heritage you have in Christ. Christ had redeemed us from the curse of the law. Being made a curse for us, for it is written, curse is every man who hung a tree. He hung on a tree so that He can be a curse. So stop going about talking of generational curse. Your heritage is blessing and not curses.

Further Reading: Galatians 3:13-14, Romans 8:29-30

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 132-134; Evening- 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

Topic: Put Your Spirit in Charge [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 31 August 2018 Daily Devotional]

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer…but the Spirit Himself…pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. – Romans 8:26, The Amplified Bible

As long as you live on this earth, you’re going to be saddled with a weakness. What is it? The flesh and blood body you live in. It’s a body that’s subject to death. A body that’s subject to the physical world around you.

Your reborn spirit doesn’t want to sin. It wants to be completely obedient to God. But the weakness of the flesh causes you to fall prey to the temptations around you.

Does that mean you’re doomed to a life of failure till Jesus comes and that flesh body is glorified?

No! It means you need to build your spirit up, to strengthen it, until it dominates your flesh. We are told to crucify the flesh. Your spirit man must dominate your body. Praying in the spirit by the Holy Spirit applies spirit to flesh. It causes your spirit to rise up and take charge. Just like using barbells strengthens your arms, praying in other tongues strengthens your spirit. You see, your spirit is more powerful than your flesh, and as you give it outflow, the flesh will simply have to yield to it. Most believers don’t understand that. They’ll be overwhelmed by some sin, and instead of conquering it by the things of God such as praying in the spirit, they’ll simply keep struggling to overcome in natural ways. So they end up failing again and again.

If you’re caught in that cycle, take heart! God hasn’t commanded you to be more spiritual than you can be. He knows your weakness and He’s given you a way to overcome it. He’s given you the ability to pray in tongues—and with your understanding to wield the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And no matter how badly you’re failing in everything else, you can do these things!

Be warned though, Satan will try to talk you out of it. He knows that once you learn how to bring the flesh in line, he’ll have no foothold left in your life. You’ll shut the door on him and he won’t be able to get in.

Renew your commitment to praying in the spirit today. Make a quality decision to follow the command God gives in Jude 20 and “build yourselves up…on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit” (The Amplified Bible)!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:14-32

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

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.

Topic: Worship from your Heart [Andrew Wommack 31 August 2018 Daily Devotional]

Mark 14:3 “And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.”

Text: Mark 14:3-6

The spikenard was a fragrant plant, and its roots were used in Jesus’ day to make an aromatic, costly perfume and ointment. The plant, itself, grows in the Himalaya mountains at an elevation of 11,000 to 17,000 feet. For centuries, it was used by Hindus as a medicine and perfume and was an actively traded commodity. Its great cost stemmed from that it had to be transported over 6,000 miles to reach Palestine, and depending on quality, it sold for as much as 400 denarii per pound (or $750 an ounce, is the modern purchasing equivalent). That made it more valuable than gold. This ointment was worth at least two and one-half times more than the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying the Lord, which is why Judas was so upset. This perfume was worth two and one-half times what Judas thought Jesus was worth.

Judas didn’t care about the poor. He wanted to have the money that the perfume could have been sold for in his bag (he was the treasurer for Jesus) so he could steal it. This is a very serious crime that Jesus no doubt knew about, but scripture never mentions Him confronting Judas.

Judas’ reaction to this act of pure worship is typical of the reaction toward worship of many people today. Judas and some of the other disciples, thought this was a waste. That was only because they didn’t value Jesus as highly as Mary did. Mary had seen Jesus raise her brother from the dead and her heart was overflowing with love and worship. The disciples were looking on the outward things while Jesus was looking at Mary’s heart (1 Sam. 16:7). Those who cannot see beyond the physical realm will be offended at others’ displays of worship. True worship comes from the heart.

Also Read: Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

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).