Topic: Let Your Mess Become Your Message [Joyce Meyer‘s Devotional Saturday June 30, 2018]

Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. — Ephesians 5:17

I encourage people to let go of their past, but never to run from it. The only way to gain victory over the pain of our past is to let God walk us back through that doorway of pain and into victory. No one can achieve victory for us; we have to work out our own salvation. Paul explained this truth in his letter to the Philippian church, saying:

“Therefore, my dear ones . . . work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. (Philippians 2:12-13 AMPC.)

We have to let God take us through things and let Him work in us so our mess becomes our message. Difficult things that we have endured in our past prepare us for God’s blessings in our future.

Prayer Starter: Father, You are the only One Who can take what I’ve been through and work it out for my good. Help me to continually draw closer to You and deal with the painful areas of my life that You want to heal. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Topic: Courtesy [Teens Open Heavens 30, June 2018]

Memorise: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be children of the highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and the evil. Luke 6:35

Read: Romans 15:1-5 (KJV)

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Bible In One Year: Job 19-20, Acts 9:23-43

MESSAGE:

In life, people judge other people based on what they perceive of them. Nobody really asks you to tell them about yourself. They just believe that you are who they perceive you to be based on your actions and words. That is why it is important that you carry yourself in a courteous manner. You never can tell who is watching you and what conclusions they will draw from your character. Always say words like ‘Thank you’, ‘Please’, Sorry’, as these go a long way in establishing you as a good child. Greet your elders when you see them, avoid using foul language, be kind to others, help elderly people when you can see that they need your help.

Even God conducts Himself with courtesy, for example, in Revelations 3:20, He says that He knocks at the door of our hearts, rather than just barging in. In John 5:1-15, He asked the man at the pool of Bethesda if he wanted to be healed rather than just laying hands on him without permission. As a child of God, you must emulate your Father by exhibiting courtesy in everything you do.

Prayer Point: Lord Jesus Christ, please help me to be courteous to everyone around me from today.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Teen Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye’’

Hymn 13
1. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready His service to do?

Chorus:
Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing, I pray;
My life possessing, my service blessing,
Make me a channel of blessing today.

2. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Are you burdened for those that are lost?
Have you urged upon those who are straying
The Savior who died on the cross?

3. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is it a daily telling for Him?
Have you spoken the word of salvation
To those who are dying in sin?

4. We cannot be channels of blessing
If our lives are not free from known sin;
We will barriers be and a hindrance
To those we are trying to win.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s 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.

Topic: The Reward Of Expectation

Prov. 24:13-14 – My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

Your expectation is God’s wisdom for determining the level of your success. Your expectation is the honey of life. It is your mental scriptural picture of your desire. Without your expectation, there cannot be any manifestation of what you want. Your expectation is what sets the pace for your possession; it is what sets the pace for your distinction; it sets the pace for your destination. In the journey of life, it is what you expect that you experience. It is your expectation that brings about your position in the world.

It is not enough to fast and pray. If God must intervene, then, your expectation must be in line with the word of God. Expectation is a confident belief or strong hope that a particular event will happen. A man without expectation is like someone playing football without a goalpost.

Prov. 10:24b – …: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

There is power in expectation

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

According to the above scripture, there has to be an expectation first before praying; that is why many pray without getting results because there was no expectation before the prayers.

So, what are you expecting??? If you expect nothing, you will get nothing irrespective of how you pray. Therefore, realign your focus first to have an expectation.

In Acts 3:1-10, Peter and John met a man at the beautiful gate. Before they ministered to him, they told him “Look on us”, meaning ‘expect something from us’.

Acts 3:5 – And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Before they prayed for a miracle, they turned his focus to have an expectation. When his expectation became high, the miracle he received was more than what he was expecting, confirming Eph. 3:20 which says –

To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of: (GNT)

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! … (MSG)

At that point, there was an expectation and it became easy for a miracle to be born. Without an expectation, prayer is useless. Every time you want your prayers to produce, there has to be an expectation first. When you want to pray, have an expectation and your situation will change in the name of Jesus! When your expectations are high, you commit God to perform. Whatever you are expecting this season, God will grant it to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

Lack of expectation is the reason for man’s frustration. Only the hopeful have access to the help of God. To be hopeless is to be helpless; so have great expectation. When you pray without expectation, even when God brings the answer, you will not know just like in Acts 12:12-15. The church prayed for Peter’s release but were not expectant. They almost missed their reward because of lack of expectation. What you don’t expect, you are not likely to experience. So, if you want to see results, have an expectation.

Psalm 62:5 – My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

When you expect from God, you receive from Him and God will give you the desires of your heart today in Jesus name!

What are you expecting now? If you have no expectation before, it is time to readjust your mind. As you pray concerning that your expectation, my God answer you now in accordance to His word in Jesus name!

God bless you.

Click HERE to 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: Be Bold [TREM Devotional Saturday June 30, 2018]

“And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.” Mark 11:14

Yesterday, we looked at the power in your words as a believer but let us take it further and look at the whole story.

Jesus had walked past a fig tree and expected to find fruits on it and found none. Jesus could have looked at it and walked away; or just sighed and could have grumbled to His disciples about the fruitlessness of the tree. Unlike many believers today, who rather than confront the issues, they would turn to others to complain and murmur; Jesus confronted the issue and not only confronted the issue, He made His declaration to the hearing of everyone. Do you know why? It was simply because He believed in His own words and was bold to declare it.

How bold are you? Don’t let the enemy cower you and intimidate you. Jesus spoke to the hearing of everyone because He knew that His word cannot fall to the ground. What do you know? How confident are you? Your boldness and confidence can only come when you know God. Dan. 11:32b says “… they that know their God shall be strong and do exploits”. Your strength comes from what you know.

Don’t sit on the fence and be a Sunday-Sunday Christian – you read your Bible only on Sunday, you pray only on Sunday and you expect the power of God to flow through you. No, it does not happen that way. Make a very conscious effort to know God. You know only when you follow on to know.

Get to know God. Build a relationship with Him and then declare on the authority of His Word and Heaven will back you up.

Further Reading: Mark 11:12-24

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Job 17-19; Evening- Acts 10:1-23

“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: Life [Sunday, 1st July 2018]

MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6 (scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 15:5-19

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

INTRODUCTION:

From time immemorial, people have been asking: ‘’Why was I born? Why did God make me? Why am I here? What is the purpose of life? What is the meaning of life? What is life itself’’. Various people give various answers. Some say, ‘’Life is the union of soul and body’’. This may be true of humans, but not of plants. Some say it is the period between birth and death. This of course is not true, for life exists before birth and after death. Only Jesus has the answer (John 11:25; 14:6). The Bible speaks of three kinds of life: Physical life, which was given to man at the time of creation; Spiritual life, which is the new life that God gives to the believer in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:1); Eternal life, which is the nature of the Lord God Himself.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. What is the origin and purpose of life?
2. How long is the life span and with what can life be compared?

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF LIFE?
Where did we get life? The answer of course is, from our parents. Where did they get it? From their parents. Inevitably one goes back to Eden and the creation of man (Genesis 2:7). It is easy to see that all life comes from God (1John 5:11-20). No wonder Jesus said, ‘’I am the life’’, since Jesus is God.
Life is a moment of time to prepare for the long, long, eternity. In this brief, fleeting time called life, we are to accomplish our divinely appointed assignments. We also have to answer one question ‘’Where do I wish to spend eternity? Is it forever with the Lord Jesus in Heaven or with Satan in a burning hell? The purpose of life is to let you personally choose the abiding place of your soul. Have you made the choice yet?

HOW LONG IS THE LIFE SPAN AND WITH WHAT CAN LIFE BE COMPARED?
Before the flood that destroyed the first world, the length of life of man was an average of 846 years (Genesis 5). After the flood, the life span was reduced to 393 years (Genesis 11). At the time of Moses, there was a further reduction to 70-80 years (Psalm 90:10).
In comparison:

1. Life is like a journey (Genesis 47:9). We are travelling on this journey whether we like it or not. Birth is an automatic start. To some, it is a long journey but to some, it is short. Whether it is long or short, provided it ends in Jesus, then, all is well that ends well.

2. Like is like a dream (Psalm 73:20). Most dreams last at most a few minutes and soon after waking up, most dreams are forgotten. Similarly, some people live and are forgotten as soon as they die. Nevertheless, those who live for Christ live forever. For example, how many of the contemporaries of the Apostles are remembered today?

3. Life is like a shadow (Ecclesiastes 6:12). A shadow is a poor imitation of the real thing. Similarly, our physical life is a very poor imitation of eternal life just as seventy years is a poor imitation of eternity.

4. Life is like a vapour (James 4:14). How quickly it vanishes away! This is why it is wise to lose this life in order to inherit the next because the next life never vanishes.

5. Life is like a tale (Psalm 90:9). Life is like an interesting story that is soon told and people look for another form of entertainment. However, when we have been in Heaven for a thousand years, we shall just be beginning eternity and our joy will just be starting.

6. Life is like water split on the ground ( 2Sam 14:14). In a moment, the earth absorbs the moisture and it disappears.

7. Life is like a flower (Job 14:2). First we see the blade, then the leaves and afterwards the beautiful bud. Slowly, it opens and we gasp at its beauty. Then it withers and is gone, gone so soon, so quickly.

CONCLUSION
To choose Christ is to choose life, for Christ is life (Philippians 1:21)

QUESTIONS
1. With what can you compare life?
2. What is the purpose of life?

Click to read previous RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual June 24th, 2018 Lesson 43 — Hearing From God

SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN

1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?

Topic: Hope Of Resurrection [DCLM Daily Manna Saturday June 30, 2018]

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:12-28 (KJV)

Key Verse: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

MESSAGE:

On one occasion, Michelangelo, the great artist, turned on his fellow artists in a spirit of indignation. He said, “Why do you keep filling gallery after gallery with endless pictures on the one theme of Christ in weakness, Christ on the Cross, and most of all, Christ hanging dead? Why do you concentrate on the passing episode as if it were the last work, as if the curtain dropped on Him with disaster and defeat? That dreadful scene lasted a few hours. But to the unending eternity, Christ is alive; the stone has been rolled away and He rules and reigns and triumphs!”

The Christian life is lived in anticipation of a better life to come. Apostle Paul emphasised the centrality of the hope of resurrection to our lives as believers. If Christ had not resurrected, then our salvation and hope for eternal life is in vain. In fact, the hope of resurrection is the reason we are in faith until now. The expectation that the day would come when our mortal bodies shall put on immortality and the corruption put on incorruption stimulates our faith and makes us count our present trials and tribulations as light affliction which cannot be compared with the eternal weight of glory which is to come (1 Corinthians 15:53; 2 Corinthians 4:17). According to Apostle Paul, this hope alone removes the fear of death, because death shall be swallowed up in victory.

Christians are strangers and pilgrims in the world. For the believer, life does not consist in the abundance of the things we possess. That is why all possessions are held with loose hands. What we hold fast is our faith in Christ anchored in the hope of a better life after our departure from this world. Heaven is the prize; and the hope of resurrection to be with the Lord becomes so important that without it, our entire Christianity falls apart. Sinners do not have this glorious hope. Sinners and backsliders must genuinely repent of all sins and forsake them before this hope can be activated in their lives.

Thought For The Day: Our future is far greater than our past.

Bible Reading In One Year: 2 Chronicles 19-23

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

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: Keys To Shining As Light [Seeds of Destiny Saturday June 30, 2018]

Scripture: The more you connect with God who is Light, the more lighty you become; and the more lighty you become, the more you exist as light to your generation. Psalms 36:9.

Thought For The Day: The more you connect with God who is Light, the more lighted your life becomes; and the more lighted your life becomes, the more you exist as light to your generation.

Previously, we saw that light is critical to the transformation and restoration. If God created us, as Christians, to be light of the world, (Matthew 5:14-16), it means that we are created to be transformers and restorers of our generation. As children of God, we are created to transform our generation; our presence should also provoke the restoration of everything the devil has stolen from the lives of people. We exist to be plus factors and not minus factors.

Now, what are the keys to manifesting as light to our generation? In other words, how do you shine as light?
1. Connect your Maker
In 1 John 1:5, the Bible makes us to understand that God is Light. This means, the more you connect with God who is Light, the more lighted your life becomes; and the more lighted your life becomes, the more you exist as light to your generation. To neglect your relationship with God is to be buried in darkness and end up useless to your generation.

2. Release your content
In Luke 9:29, the Bible makes it clear that as Jesus prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered and His raiment was white and glistering; glistering implies that light was coming from His inside. Beloved, to manifest as light is to release your content. There is something inside you which you must let out. To deploy your potentials is to shine as light.
My counsel is, exist as light to your generation as you relate with God and release your content.

Remember this: The more you connect with God who is Light, the more lighted your life becomes; and the more lighted your life becomes, the more you exist as light to your generation.

Assignments:
1. Make your relationship with God your topmost priority in life.
2. Release your content by deploying your potentials.

Prayer: O Lord, I receive the grace for deeper intimacy with You. Help me to release the potentials in me in order to manifest as light to my generation, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 17:1 to 18:12, Acts 20:1 to 38, Psalm 148:1 to 14, Proverbs 18:6 to 7

Amazing Fact: Frogs cannot vomit. If one absolutely has to, then it will vomit its entire stomach.

Today In History: 30/05/1984 – The longest professional football game took place in the United States Football League (USFL). The Los Angeles Express beat the Michigan Panthers 27-21 after 93 minutes and 33 seconds.

Quote: In order to go up in life, you must operate with God. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Seeds of Destiny by Pastor Paul Enenche“

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.