Topic: Stay Safe in God’s Word [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Friday June 15, 2018]

But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firm to that which is good. — 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Hearing from God clearly and avoiding the possibility of deception comes only from spending regular time with Him and learning His Word. Listening for God’s voice without having knowledge of His Word is a mistake. Knowing God’s written Word protects us from deception.

Trying to hear from God without knowing His Word is irresponsible and even dangerous. People who want to be led by the Spirit but are too lazy to spend time in the Word and in prayer set themselves up for deception because evil spirits are eager to whisper to listening ears. The devil tried to say things to Jesus and He always replied, “It is written,” and then quoted Scripture to refute the lies of the enemy (see Luke 4).

Some people seek God only when they are in trouble and need help. But if they are not used to hearing from God, they will find recognizing His voice difficult when they really need Him.

We need to compare any idea, prompting, or thought that comes to us with God’s Word. If we don’t know the Word, we won’t have anything against which to measure theories and arguments that rise up in our thoughts. The enemy can present wild ideas that make sense to us. The fact that thoughts are logical doesn’t mean they are from God. We may like what we hear, but the fact that something appeals to us doesn’t mean it is from God. We may hear something that feels good to our emotions, but if it fails to give us peace it is not from God. God’s advice to us is to always follow peace and let it be an umpire in our lives (see Colossians 3:15).

Test everything you hear against the Word of God, because that is the only standard of truth that exists.

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to hear from You more clearly. Help me to always test everything I believe against the perfect standard of Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Topic: Pray, Don’t Murmur [Open Heavens 15th June 2018, Friday Daily Devotional]

Memorise: Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. – James 4:2

Read Exodus 15:22-26 (KJV)

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 12-13, Acts 10:44-11:18

MESSAGE:

One deadly habit that is very common among the people of God today is murmuring. Like the Israelites of old, many children of God today engage in it without even realising it! It is indeed a silent destroyer. For this reason, the Holy Spirit warns us against it in 1 Corinthians 10:10, saying:

“Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”

Do you know that there are times we think we are praying but we are actually murmuring?

In our Bible reading, the children of Israel were at Marah, where they found water that was not drinkable because it was bitter. Despite all that God had done for them, they did not consider that He already knew that they would pass through Marah and would have gone ahead of them to make provision for the water they would drink. All they could think of doing was to murmur about the bitter water. The characters at play in the events that occurred at Marah are indicative of the two types of Christians we have in the Church today. The first type behaves like the multitude who murmured, while the second type behaves like Moses who cried to the Lord for a solution. It is interesting to note that the murmuring of the multitude was an exercise in futility because their murmurings did not change the bitterness of the water. The prayer of Moses, on the other hand, yielded positive results because his cry to God moved God into action. God showed him what to do to reverse the situation, and the people’s need for good water was met. This mirrors what is happening with Christians today. We murmur about what we desire and the lack of it, instead of actually asking God and trusting that if He wills, our prayers will be answered.

Beloved, you need to ask yourself today which type of Christian you are between the two types we have considered. I beseech you to examine your prayer life and relationship with God before answering this question. Are you the type of Christian mentioned in our memory verse, just lusting, desiring and fighting for things but yet getting nothing? You need to ask God to reveal to you the truth on where you stand today. May the Almighty God hear your prayer in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please forgive me for all the murmuring I have done against You consciously or unconsciously; I promise not to do so again. Please turn my unpleasant situation around today in Jesus’ Name.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click HERE to read Open Heavens 14 June 2018 – The Mathematics Of Giving

Hymn 2: I Need Thee Every Hour

1. I Need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

Chorus:
I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee,
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh bless me now, my Saviour;
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour;
Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour;
Teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfil.

5. I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

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.

Topic: Saul’s Final Night [DCLM Daily Manna Friday June 15, 2018]

Text: 1 Samuel 28:7-15 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor” (1 Samuel 28:7).

MESSAGE:

It was reported that Frances Havergal, the songwriter, lived and moved in the word of God, which was her constant companion. On the last day of her life, she asked a friend to read to her the forty-second chapter of Isaiah. When the friend read the sixth verse: “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee”, Miss Havergal stopped her. She whispered, “Called-held-kept. I can go home on that!” And she did go home on that.

Alas, it was not so with King Saul. On his last night on earth, he was keeping an appointment with the devil. Saul was chosen by God to be king over Israel. Although he started well, but pride, envy and self-indulgence got the better of him and he later completely forsook the wise counsel of Samuel. Faced with a serious attack from the Philistines, he sought the face of the God that he had abandoned for so long. When every effort to get divine counsel failed, he sought help from satanic powers that he had once banished. His servants led him to the witch at Endor who eventually conjured an apparition that predicted his death. This sad development turned God’s anointed into someone grovelling before a witch for favour. What a tragedy!

Satan is after children of God and desires to turn them away from the faith. He pursued Saul until he destroyed him. As heavenly pilgrims, we must jealously guard our faith with all diligence, always live above reproach and maintain a good testimony until the end to make it to heaven.

Thought For The Day: It is damning to turn the back against God when He calls.

Bible Reading In One Year: Psalms 134; 146-150

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: Persistence – Key To Dealing With Negative Patterns/Habits [Seeds of Destiny Friday June 15, 2018]

Scripture: And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:25-26.

Thought For The Day: It is persistence that wears out resistance.

Previously, we noted three keys to dealing with negative patterns and habits in life, which are identifying the pattern or habit, deciding to confront the pattern or habit and actually confronting the pattern or habit.

Now, the fourth key to dealing with negative tendencies and habits is the refusal to give up the fight.

In dealing with the negative tendencies/habits, you must fight with the mentality of refusing to give up the fight. The angel of the Lord told Jacob, “let me go, for the day breaketh,” but Jacob refused and seemed to have told the angel, “I am not letting you go anywhere until this negative tendency of my life ends”. That was the mind-set that gave Jacob victory; it was a mind-set that refused to give up in the face of battles.

Why, then, is it important not to give up in the face of battles? It is persistence that wears out resistance; anywhere resistance is found, what you need is to match it with persistence.

Beloved, refuse to give up the fight. In the course of the fight to terminating the negative patterns or habits in your life, there may be setbacks but you must never allow temporary setbacks to become a permanent outcome. For instance, you may have vowed never to drink or smoke again and you stay without drinking or smoking for a long time; but all of a sudden, you find yourself in the trap of alcoholism and tobacco smoking and then the devil tells you that you would never overcome the habit. Just tell the devil that he is a liar and that you have overcome it already.

Beloved, refuse to give up when victory or the expected result seems to be delayed; even if your testimony appears to be delayed refuse to give up. Even when you have toiled all night and caught nothing like Peter (Luke 5:5), refuse to give up.

Remember this: It is persistence that wears out resistance.

Assignments:
1. Refuse to give up in the fight of confronting negative tendencies and habits.
2. Be tenacious in fighting to win the battles of life.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask for the grace not to give up in fighting the battles of destiny. I ask for the impartation of the spirit of tenacity, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DEALING WITH NEGATIVE PATTERNS AND HABITS.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 14:1 to 15:24, Acts 10:1 to 23, Psalm 133:1 to 3, Proverbs 17:7 to 8

Amazing Fact: Your ears never stop hearing, even when you sleep.

Today In History: 15/06/1752 – Benjamin Franklin experimented by flying a kite during a thunderstorm. The result was a little spark that showed the relationship between lightning and electricity.

Quote: If you have made up your mind to get to the top, then you have made up your mind to be a fighter. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Home church meeting tomorrow by 6pm at the centre nearest to you. Come with your friends and loved ones.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Seeds of Destiny by Pastor Paul Enenche “https://flatimes.com/category/seeds-of-destiny/

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.

Topic: Cast Your Cares on Him [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Friday June 15, 2018]

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. – 1 Peter 5:6

When I first learned to cast my cares on the Lord, I was down in south Texas preaching a meeting that no one was coming to. I’m telling you, people were staying away from that meeting by the thousands; and after a service or two with just the preacher, one or two others and me in attendance, I was starting to sweat it. But the Lord said, Cast that care on Me, so I did.

I started walking around grinning and whistling. I told the devil, “I’m not going to frown or have one worried thought. I came here to preach and that’s what I’m going to do, and it’s God’s business whether anyone shows up or not. I couldn’t care less!”

I went around so happy I felt downright foolish. The devil said, “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you even have sense enough to worry over something like this?” I suppose people were saying, “I guess he’s too dumb to worry. I think it’s because he’s never been to seminary. He can’t tell a landslide from a flop.”

But I told the Lord, “I have my care rolled over on You, and if no one shows up but that one dear old woman, she’s going to be the most preached-up old woman in the state of Texas because I’m going to preach just the same as if there were a crowd.”

I didn’t realize then what was happening, but that carefreeness put me in a noncompromising position with the devil. He couldn’t get to me anymore. He couldn’t get me in fear and unbelief anymore. He couldn’t pressure me and get me to compromise because I didn’t care. I’d given all my care to God!

Are you ready to be free of care? If you are, just make this confession of faith:

“I’m a believer. I’m not a doubter. The Word works in me. And at this moment, I humble myself under the mighty hand of God. I cast all my care over on Him. From this moment forward, I refuse to worry. Instead, I will pray. I will use my faith and believe, and He’ll exalt me over the problem and over the devil. For I belong to Jesus and He cares for me!”

Scripture Reading: Psalm 55:16-22

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: “Lovable!” [Our Daily Bread 15 Friday June, 2018]

Read: Jeremiah 31:1–6, Bible in a Year: Nehemiah 1–3; Acts 2:1–21

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

“Lovable!”

That exclamation came from my daughter as she got ready one morning. I didn’t know what she meant. Then she tapped her shirt, a hand-me-down from a cousin. Across the front was that word: “Lovable.” I gave her a big hug, and she smiled with pure joy. “You are lovable!” I echoed. Her smile grew even bigger, if that was possible, as she skipped away, repeating the word over and over again.

I’m hardly a perfect father. But that moment was perfect. In that spontaneous, beautiful interaction, I glimpsed in my girl’s radiant face what receiving unconditional love looked like: It was a portrait of delight. She knew the word on her shirt corresponded completely with how her daddy felt about her.

How many of us know in our hearts that we are loved by a Father whose affection for us is limitless? Sometimes we struggle with this truth. The Israelites did. They wondered if their trials meant God no longer loved them. But in Jeremiah 31:3, the prophet reminds them of what God said in the past: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” We too long for such unconditional love. Yet the wounds, disappointments, and mistakes we experience can make us feel anything but lovable. But God opens His arms—the arms of a perfect Father—and invites us to experience and rest in His love.

Prayer: Lord, hard things in our lives can tempt us to believe we are unlovable. But You say otherwise. Please help us to receive the life-transforming gift of Your everlasting love for us.

No one loves us like our Father.

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

This message was written By Adam Holz [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: We Are All Members Of One Body [TREM Devotional Friday June 15, 2018]

“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” – Ephesians 4:25

One of the things every believer must come to terms with is the fact that we are all one body. It is not about tribe, tongue or denomination. The things that bind us together are stronger than everything that may try to divide us. The time has come for the Church to realise that we are one. Whether you are black or white, rich or poor; tall or short, as long as you have confessed Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, we are one.

If the Church of Jesus Christ understands this fact, then the devil will be unable to get us because the lines that divide us are too thin compared to the bonds that tie us together.

Every Church has a unique assignment, don’t get me wrong. We are all planted in different churches to fulfill the divine mandate, however all of us are one. When next you hear someone tearing down a man of God, whether the person belongs to your denomination or not, stop the person. We must begin to see ourselves not in the light of the church we attend, but in the light of the fact that we all belong to ONE Body – The Body of Christ.

Before you criticize that man or woman of God, stop and think: How far have you gone in the assignment God has committed into your hands? How faithful have you been? Have you made mistakes? Did you expect people to understand and help you out of the situation? If your answer is yes, why then are you pulling down another? If you are conscious of the assignment and consumed with carrying it out, I am very certain that you will see less of other people’s errors.

No one has appointed you the ‘Minister of Criticism’. Let us stop wounding our strong and killing our wounded. Be conscious of the fact that the field is white for harvest and so every hand should be on deck to get the job done.

Further Reading: Ephesians 4:11-25

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Nehemiah 1-3; Evening- Acts 2:1-21

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM’s 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: Practice Good Stewardship [Billy Graham’s Devotional Friday June 15, 2018]

Redeeming the time . . . — Ephesians 5:16

We are stewards of our time. God has given each one of us a little “chunk of eternity” called time. These golden moments of opportunity are doled out to us for our benefit and for God’s glory. If we use them wisely, they are woven by God’s omnipotent hand into the fabric of eternity. Henry Thoreau cautioned, “You cannot kill time without injuring eternity.” “He who has no vision of eternity,” said Carlyle, “has no hold on time.” “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last” is the sentiment of every man who desires to be a good steward of his time. We are entrusted with a small portion of the capital of time. If we invest it wisely, it will pay dividends throughout eternity.

Prayer for the day: Take away my procrastinating nature—how easy it is for me to waste time. I want to be able to leave a legacy of time spent for You, Lord, because that is eternal.

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.