Our Daily Bread Devotional 2 July 2018 – Living Out Loud

Topic: Living Out Loud [Our Daily Bread 2 Monday July, 2018]

Read: 1 Peter 3:8–16, Bible in a Year: Job 22–24; Acts 11

In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 1 Peter 3:15

While staying at a hotel in Austin, Texas, I noticed a card lying on the desk in my room. It said:

Welcome
Our prayer is that your stay here will be restful
and that your travels will be fruitful.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and make
His face shine upon you.

This card from the company that manages the hotel made me want to know more, so I accessed their website and read about their culture, strength, and values. In a winsome way, they seek to pursue excellence and live out their faith in the workplace.

Their philosophy reminded me of Peter’s words to the followers of Jesus scattered throughout Asia Minor. He encouraged them to demonstrate their faith in Christ in the society where they lived. Even as they faced threats and persecution, Peter told them not to be afraid, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

A friend of mine calls this “living a lifestyle that demands an explanation.” No matter where we live or work, may we in God’s strength live out our faith today—always ready to reply gently and respectfully to everyone who asks the reason for our hope.

May our lives cause others to ask the reason we have hope.

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

This message was written By David C. McCasland [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

The post Our Daily Bread Devotional 2 July 2018 – Living Out Loud appeared first on Flatimes.

Andrew Wommack’s Devotional 2 July 2018 – God’s Peace

Topic: God’s Peace [Andrew Wommack Monday July 2, 2018]

Luke 10:5 – “And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.”

Peace is the result of casting our care upon the Lord through prayer and thanksgiving. However, many people are asking God to give them peace so that their cares will leave. It doesn’t work that way. Through faith we cast our cares on the Lord, and then God’s peace comes. Christians who are lacking God’s peace have not taken their cares to the Lord and left them there. All Christians have peace. It is a fruit of the Spirit that is always present in our born-again spirits. Cares will blind us to God’s peace. When we eliminate the cares, peace flows.

Being carnally minded doesn’t just tend toward death, it is death. Likewise, being spiritually minded doesn’t just tend toward life, it is life and peace. A person who says he or she is spiritually minded and yet is experiencing death is deceived. If we would just dominate ourselves with the spiritual truths of God’s Word, we would receive only life and peace.

True peace, which comes from God, only comes by grace through faith. No one who seeks to obtain right standing with God by his own effort will ever have God’s peace. Human peace is only experienced in the absence of problems. Those who only know human peace don’t experience it very often and to a lesser degree. But God’s peace is independent of circumstances and infinitely greater in supply than any problem we could ever have. God has given us His supernatural peace to enjoy. What a blessing!

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack’s Daily Devotional HERE“

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).

The post Andrew Wommack’s Devotional 2 July 2018 – God’s Peace appeared first on Flatimes.

Billy Graham Devotional 2 July 2018 – True Unity

Topic: True Unity [Billy Graham’s Devotional Monday July 2, 2018]

Love one another, as I have loved you. — John 15:12

As I study the subject of “separation” in the Old and New Testaments, I discover that the weight of Scripture lies in the direction of fellowship rather than separation. What is the great overwhelming evidence that we have passed from death unto life? It is love! Jesus Christ clearly was speaking of visible unity, such as can be seen by the world. His motive for praying was that the world might believe and the world might know. He prayed for unity among believers. God, who wills man’s unity in Christ, is a God of variety. So often we want everyone to be the same—to think and speak and believe as we do. Many Scripture passages could be called to witness that love is the real key to Christian unity. In the spirit of true humility, compassion, consideration, and unselfishness, we are to approach our problems, our work, and even our differences.

Prayer for the day: In a world needing Your love, let me not judge those who love You too. You have made us all so different, Father. Teach me, by Your loving Holy Spirit, compassion and true unity.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

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.

The post Billy Graham Devotional 2 July 2018 – True Unity appeared first on Flatimes.

Homage to Givenchy Headlines First Day of Paris Fashion Week – Urban Christian News

Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller went back to the storied house’s roots in Paris for Sunday’s moving couture homage to house-founder Hubert de Givenchy, who died earlier this year.

To the wispy singing of Givenchy’s muse Audrey Hepburn, the opulent draping of the late couturier was rediscovered in Keller’s dramatic designs, embellished with paillettes and feathers.

The display, unveiled inside the 17th century National Archives, gloriously capped the first day of fall-winter collections that run for four days and represent designers from some 11 nations.

Here are some highlights.

GIVENCHY’S MAGICAL ROOTS

Keller proved she had depth, as well as ambition, in her fantastical evening collection that was flanked by Champagne-sipping VIP guests against a shimmering, mirrored decor and the setting summer sun.

This season, the British couturier delved into the house’s archives to rediscover the late Givenchy’s penchant for enveloping cloaks and capes and magic to create mystery in the 42-piece display. Booklets given to guests contained portraits of the giant of fashion who passed away in Paris in March, aged 91.

Sparkling textures, liquid sequins and icy pastels contrasted with hooded black widows in sumptuous styles that were executed with great flare.

Structured silhouettes with peaked shoulders enveloped the bodies of models who walked as if in a state of trance around the verdant inner courtyard of the historic venue.

There was much poetry in the designs, as there was in the program notes which, compared the veiny markings across some of the fabrics to “tree roots…

… Read More

—-

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Urban Christian News

قالب وردپرس

Germany Fails to Find a Resolution to Government Crisis Over Migrant Plans – Urban Christian News

A resolution to Germany’s government crisis proved elusive Sunday after the head of the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union in Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc offered his resignation rather than back down from his stance against the chancellor’s migration policies.

The dpa news agency, citing information from unidentified participants, reported that a nearly eight-hour meeting of the CSU in Munich was put on hold after the party’s leader, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, made his offer to resign both from Merkel’s Cabinet and as head of the CSU.

After further talks with a smaller group of CSU officials seeking to change his mind, including the party’s parliamentary leader, Alexander Dobrindt, Seehofer said he would meet again with Merkel’s party before he made his decision final, dpa said.

Officials of Merkel’s Christian Democrat party broke off their own separate meeting in Berlin shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, saying they would resume at 8:30 a.m.

If Seehofer does step down, it is not immediately clear what effect the move would have on a three-week impasse between Merkel and her CSU partners, which has centered on his resolve to turn away some types of asylum-seekers at Germany’s borders.

Merkel has insisted on Europe-wide solutions to handling the waves of foreigners trying to reach the continent and the standoff could spell the end of her fourth government.

Merkel maintained earlier Sunday that a plan to regulate immigration that European Union leaders approved Friday and other agreements she hashed out with several key countries would accomplish what…

… Read More

—-

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Urban Christian News

قالب وردپرس

SBC Seminary’s Top Donors Cut Financial Support, Demand Investigation Into Paige Patterson Firing

(Screenshot: YouTube)Paige Patterson, 75, speaks at the AWAKEN Conference in Las Vegas, NV, in January 2014.

A group of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s major donors have written to its board of trustees, threatening to discontinue all financial support if “serious wrongs” are not “righted,” with reference to the termination of former president Paige Patterson over his alleged mishandling of and comments on sexual assault victims.

Written by Gary Loveless with 16 co-signatories and addressed to the chair, Kevin Ueckert, and Executive Committee members, the letter seeks to express the donors’ “utter disdain” for the actions taken against Patterson on May 30.

Ueckert said in a statement at the time that Patterson had failed to report a rape allegation by a female student in 2003 to local law enforcement when he was president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina (1992–2003), and when he was later asked about it, he lied.

… Read More

—-

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

قالب وردپرس

Salvation Army, Father of Gospel Music, Catholic Reformer Burned

… Read More

—-

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

قالب وردپرس

Open Heavens 2 July 2018 – Eternal Security: An Illusion II

Topic: Eternal Security: An Illusion II [Open Heavens 2nd July 2018, Monday Daily Devotional]

Memorise: Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. – 2 Peter 3:17

Read: Ezekiel 33:12-20 (KJV)

12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.

18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.

19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

20 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.

Bible in One Year: 1 Chronicle 23-25, Acts 20:36-21:16

MESSAGE:

Yesterday, we started reflecting on the doctrine of eternal security. We considered what this false doctrine teaches and the character of its teachers. Today, we will be looking at the truth of what God’s word says in contrast to this doctrine. If there was no possibility of falling away and losing one’s inheritance in Christ, the Holy Spirit would not have given the counsel we have in today’s memory verse. In fact, the Holy Spirit in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 also warns:

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

Only those who occupy high position need to fear a fall. The “falling away” in this Scripture therefore refers to the falling away from grace of those seated with Christ in heavenly places. The possibility of a saved person falling is registered in these Scriptures and in several others (Galatians 5:4, Revelations 2:5). Also, in today’s Bible reading, God Almighty told Prophet Ezekiel the truth which disproves the doctrine of eternal security. The Lord is therefore warning everyone who chooses to live a godly life never to depart from the path of righteousness, or else his or her past righteous deeds will not be remembered on the day he or she departs to do evil.

Some people argue that nobody sends his child away to the lion because he or she sins, and so God will not judge His children for their sin. What such people don’t seem to understand is that you cannot equate the ways of God with that of mere mortal men. They fail to recognize that a person who continues to live in sin after being saved does not have the nature of God and is therefore not a child of God. This is made clear in 1 John 3:8:

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Furthermore, while forewarning us of things to come in Matthew 24:12-13, Jesus Christ said:

“12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

In other words, the global increase in iniquity will not exonerate a backslider on the Day of Judgment. This is a lesson for those who think that because the world is changing, God should also change His standards (2 Timothy 2:19). Beloved, it would be immoral for God to accept from us what He did not accept from those who ran the Christian race before us. Don’t be deceived; there is no eternal security. The wages of sin is death: this is the truth of God’s word that is forever settled.

Prayer Point: Father, please uphold me to the very end, and keep my heart away from false doctrine in Jesus Name.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click HERE to read Open Heavens 1 July 2018 – Eternal Security: An Illusion I

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 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.

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 2 July 2018 – Eternal Security: An Illusion II appeared first on Flatimes.

Japan’s oldest Christian sites given protective UNESCO status

Collectively known as the Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region, they have been added to the World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The body said: “Together, they reflect the earliest activities of Christian missionaries and settlers in Japan – the phase of encounter, followed by times of prohibition and persecution of the Christian faith and the final phase of the revitalization of Christian communities after the lifting of prohibition in 1873.

 

“These sites bear unique testimony to a cultural tradition nurtured by hidden Christians in the Nagasaki region who secretly transmitted their faith during the period of prohibition from the 17th to the 19th century.”

The new World Heritage Site includes the remains of Hara Castle, a 17th structure which dates back to the Shimabara Rebellion – an uprising involving many Catholic peasants.

Though Japan can trace its Christian influence to the arrival of Portuguese Catholics in the 16th century, it was outlawed under the Edo Period (1603-1867) after the Rebellion.

Wikimedia Commons/Indiana Jo

 

Other attractions include the Oura Cathedral, Japan’s oldest-surviving church.

Nagasaki Governor Hodo Nakamura said: “We would like to give pride to residents and excitement to visitors through this heritage by engaging in preservation of the sites…

… Read More

—

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

قالب وردپرس

Gothic Surprise in the Small English Town of Beverley

(PHOTO: DENNIS LENNOX)Beverley, England

London may define England and arguably the entire United Kingdom, but small towns and villages remain the lifeblood of this country.

One such place is Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Surrounded by the countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds this relatively small town (population about 30,000) punches well above its weight.

Beyond its showpiece church, which rivals many cathedrals in both grandeur and size, there is also a pleasant city center with storefronts neither empty nor occupied by the thrift shops that plague too many of this country’s main streets or high streets, as they are called in British English.

For me, Beverley Minster with its medieval architecture and superb twin west towers was the big draw. Other visitors may, however, be interested in the several music, food and literary festivals held throughout the year. Then there are the quaintly named towns and villages of the Wolds — Bishop Burton, Sledmore, Fridaythorpe, Pocklington — that surround Beverley.

There is even a good chance you have seen the minster without knowing it. That’s because it has been used by filmmakers to double for the considerably more famous Westminster Abbey in London.

Beverley’s principal parish church is not a cathedral, despite there being a suffragan (or assistant) bishop of Beverley in the episcopacy of the Church of England. Rather, the minster designation is a British peculiarity, reflecting the church’s Anglo-Saxon origins. In those days, churches with a monastic or collegiate foundation were named minsters.

The present edifice is a 13th…

… Read More

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

قالب وردپرس