Abiding TV

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV)

Do not allow discouragement and despair to rob you of the wonderful future God has prepared for you. It doesn’t matter how severe or distressing your situation might be right now, the pain you may be experiencing does not entitle you to just give up. You can’t give up. Instead, you must encourage yourself.

You do this by turning to the Word of God. Open your Bible and read it. Get those faith-building audio messages off the shelf and listen to them again. Go back and re-read books that will strengthen you. Don’t wait for someone with a special anointing for encouragement to come along. Encourage yourself!

Pick yourself up out of your distress, stand in front of your mirror, and say to yourself, “You can either stay distressed or you can be of good cheer. Which is it?” If your head drops, pull it back up and say, “No, that’s the wrong choice. You’re going to be of good cheer. You’re not going to let this situation destroy you.”

Reach down into your spirit and begin to draw on the faith that abides within, saying, “You’re not going to give up. You’re not a quitter, you’re a born winner. You’ve been born again with the very nature of God. You are not defeated. The battle is not even yours, it’s the Lord’s. But the victory is yours!”

Confession: If God is for me, who can be against me? I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to quit. I’m a born winner. I am born again with the life and nature of God. I am victorious and I have the victory in every situation.

Author: Jerry Savelle

Leviticus 1:9

…And the priest shall burn all [the pieces of the bull] on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.

When Jesus was on the cross, He did more than just die for your sins. His one sacrifice did not just remove your sins, but it also clothed you in His righteousness and perfection. Jesus became the true “burnt sacrifice.”

In the Old Testament, whenever someone offered a burnt sacrifice, the perfection of the animal came on him. In the same way, every perfect attribute of Jesus your “burnt sacrifice” comes on you when you take Him as your Savior. And because God sees you clothed with Christ, you have the same acceptance and favor with Him that Jesus has!

When Jesus was offered on the cross, the fire of God brought out His perfections like perfume to God. In that one sacrifice, Jesus’ obedience and perfections rose as “a sweet aroma to the Lord,” which is what is emitted when the offering is burnt. This “sweet aroma” speaks of a savor of rest to God. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice gave God so much satisfaction that He rested.

You can also rest in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, knowing that what He did, He did for you—“Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2). You can rest knowing that God the Father is satisfied with you because His Son’s sacrifice has caused His heart to rest with regard to you. You can rest because Jesus is God’s satisfaction for you.

Today, as you come before God, say, “Father, I thank You that Jesus is such a delight and joy to You. He satisfies Your heart completely. And what He did, He did for me. Because Jesus so satisfies You, I know that You are satisfied with me. Because Jesus is Your delight, I am also Your delight. Because Jesus so pleases You, I know I please You too. And because Jesus is my righteousness and perfection, I stand righteous and perfect before You.”

Beloved, when you speak of Christ and His finished work, it goes up to God as a sweet-smelling aroma, a savor of rest. And if God can rest in the perfect sacrifice of His Son, you can too!

So Will I (Do It Again) - Cross Worship feat. Osby Berry

Pastor Carl Lentz from Hillsong NYC challenged us with three specific ways to live with the mindset of a page-turner. Let’s remember less fingers pointing outward + more thumbs pointing inward. Only Jesus can change people. It’s not about us changing people, it’s about US changing.

Bishop Mike Okonkwo was the guest minister for the April 2018 edition of the International Women Prayer Conference hosted by Bishop Peace Okonwo

Bishop Paul S. Morton Sr. - Dealing with Impossibilities

"Everything in life is a gift. It’s a powerful moment when you’re broken and finally realize that the striving goes away, you don’t do stuff for recognition, you do things because you’re recognized by Him."

Brian Johnson shares about his battle in overcoming anxiety at a service at Bethel Church, Redding.

Pastor Carter Conlon - Times Square Church
Keep Silence Before Me

Wednesday May 1st 2019
Memorise: And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2nd Timothy 3:15

Read: Acts 21:8-9 (King James Version)
8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Open Heaven

Bible in one year: 
Genesis 42-43,
Jeremiah 28:10-29:9,

Hymnal: 
Sing hymn 16

Message:
“…They made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.”
Songs of Solomon 1:6

The sad scenario outlined in this verse of scripture applies to a lot of Christians who are actively engaged in the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth. They get so consumed with service to God and others that they neglect their own families. They preach the gospel to the world but fail to bring up their own families in the ways of God. This was the case with Eli, Samuel and David. They led God’s people but neglected their own house-holds, and the result of their neglected own households, and result of their neglect had tragic consequences for their families (1st Samuel 2:12-36, 1st Samuel 8:1-6, 2nd Samuel 13&15).

It is true that the Lord gave us the Great Commission to reach out to the whole world with the message of the gospel, but He also gave us the method we should apply to execute this mandate, saying in Acts 1:8:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Take note of the order He wants us to follow: first Jerusalem, then Judea, followed by Samaria and finally to the uttermost part of the earth. He further said in Luke 24:47:

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

In other words, you are to begin from your immediate community; that is, those closest to you. When we do not follow divine order, we are bound to run into problems. For those who are saved, your household is your Jerusalem. The Great Commission must begin in our homes. It is disheartening to see children of committed Christians going wayward and doing abominable things like the children of Eli and Samuel. We must work on our children with the message of the gospel from when they are very young, during their formative years. The Holy Spirit did not mince words when He said in Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Learn from Philip’s example in today’s Bible text. He was an evangelist who brought up his daughters in the ways of the Lord. I pray that God will help you to do the needful and produce godly seeds in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point:
Ensure you win your immediate family to God through prayer, supplication and the teaching of the word both verbally and by your lifestyle.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13

You’re running the race set before you, moving full-speed ahead with God’s blessing overtaking you at every step. Then suddenly, wham! You hit the wall. It may be a wall of sickness or financial trouble, of spiritual failure or family problems. But, regardless of the form it takes, the effect of “the wall” is always the same. It stops you cold.

The question is, once you hit a wall like that, what will you do? You’ll be tempted to quit, to turn back in defeat. But don’t do it. Because God will enable you to break through that wall and keep right on going.

I’m not going to tell you it’s easy. The truth is, it’s tough. But you have to push on through the tough times if you’re ever going to have a breakthrough.

Ask any athlete. He’ll tell you that! Because if he’s a winner, he’s been there. He’s pushed his body to what seems to be the maximum. His side has hurt. His lungs have ached. He’s had cramps in his legs and thighs. And just when he felt like he couldn’t go on, he’s heard some coach yell, “Come on! Move it!”

Athletes call that “hitting the wall.” It’s a time when the body says, “That’s it. That’s all I can do. I can’t go any farther. I can’t go any faster. I quit.”

But the seasoned athlete knows that “the wall” isn’t the end. It’s a signal that he’s on the verge of a breakthrough. If he’ll toughen up and push himself a little more, he’ll get a second wind. Suddenly, he’ll go faster than before. He’ll reach a level of excellence he couldn’t have reached any other way.

When you feel the worst, when failure is breathing down your neck, press in to the Word as never before. You may meditate on a particular scripture for days and even weeks sometimes, trying to get a revelation of it, seemingly without success. Then suddenly, like the dawn of the morning, light will come pouring in. You’ll see the way to break through. All you have to do is punch one little hole in that wall of problems, dig one tiny hole in it with your faith and with the Word of God.

Then keep tearing away at that hole. Don’t quit! And, before long, the forces of God will come bursting through, demolishing every obstacle in their path!

Once that happens you’ll never be the same again. You’ll be hooked. It will only take one breakthrough like that to make a never-dying, never-quitting champion out of you.

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!
—Isaiah 26:3 (TLB)

You have an ego-a consciousness of being an individual. Of course, you do. But that doesn’t mean that you are to worship yourself, to think constantly of yourself, and to live entirely for yourself. Common sense tells you that your life would be miserable if you followed that course.

God is infinitely more concerned about your happiness than you could possibly be. He says, “Deny yourself, and follow me.” There is many a person in the insane asylum today who thought excessively about himself, to the exclusion of God and others. Hypochondriacs who have a fanciful anxiety about their health will never be well, regardless of their physical condition.

Find peace with God today.

Prayer for the day
Keep my mind on You, Lord, and help me to discipline the thoughts of self which crowd out Your peace.

"The Door to the Library of Heaven is Open; Mysteries and Secrets Revealed to You"
Beloved. 

Do you know that I wait eagerly every day to hear your sweet voice? Yes, My sons' and My daughters' voices are sweet to My ears. I have so many things to tell you and to show you. I delight in you and I delight to show you My Ways.

For the knowledge of the mysteries and the secrets of My Kingdom are reserved for My Children. In the Father's House are Libraries of Books to be opened and explored. Such Treasures of wisdom and knowledge I have for you to discover, Dear One. Nuggets of pure gold to help you and delight you and give you strength and encouragement; to help you be victorious in all things. Oh My Child, I have not left you as orphans.

To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of the Heavens. You are taught by My Spirit who dwells within you. By My Spirit, you shall read and eat the scrolls of Heaven written before time began. They shall be a delight unto you and sweet to your taste. ALL the hidden Treasures of Wisdom and knowledge you have obtained in Christ. Oh yes, Dear One. The Books of Secrets and Mysteries is unsealed for you. So come explore My Word, Dear One. Call upon Me and I will take you on a Personal tour and show you Great and MIGHTY things that you know not. Walk with Me trough the Halls of Heaven. "O My dove, that are in the clefts of the Rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let Me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for sweet is your voice, and your countenance is comely."

...Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."
...Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and my heart's delight, for I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.

...Ezekiel 3:3 "Son of man," He said to me, "eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you." So I ate, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

...Colossians 2:2 that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, 3in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

...Matthew 13:11 And answering Jesus said to them, "Because it has been granted to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it has not been granted.

...Isaiah 29:11And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to a reader, he will say, “I cannot read it, because it is sealed.” (Before the Holy Spirit was given)
...Isaiah 29:18 On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see. (After the Holy Spirit was given)
Song of Solomon 2:14

As I close my eyes, I saw a beautiful peacock cross the road. I heard the Lord say,”Why did the peacock cross the road?” And then I heard, To SEE to the other side. 

The Peacock then turned and faced me and open his tail as wide as it would go. With the bright and brilliant colors and what look like dozens of eyes everywhere.

The Lord said,”I am increasing your SIGHT and giving you aerial vision.” The ability to change your perspective and SEE things from a higher level. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways , declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways ways higher than your ways and my thoughts then your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Hezekiah, it is time to stand and set your face like a flint.

For the Lord God helps me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed (Isaiah 50:7). The Lord reminded me of something this morning. I ride horses, and sometimes one of the greatest challenges is to get your horse to cross a creek. Because of their VISION, they can’t tell how deep the water is.

So out of fear, they refuse to cross. He reminded me, that when I ride my own horse that I have had an eight year relationship with, we have established trust and he will cross with little prompting from me. Not because he is unafraid, but because he trust and loves me, he will cross in spite of his fear. However, if I am riding an unfamiliar horse, I have to apply different tactics. Sometimes just focusing my eyes on the other side of the creek, instead of looking down at the water, is enough change for the horse to discern and he will go where I look. But if it is an extremely frightened horse, sometimes you have to push him across using a crop. You have to make where he is standing, scarier than where he is going and eventually he will move.

Unfortunately, one of the most dangerous places to be for rider is on a frightened horse. He becomes a danger to himself and others. The Lord told me the same holds true for His children. Those working from a place of deep fear or confusion, are a danger to themselves and others. Then the Lord reminded me of this scripture: But Job replied, You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? So in all this Job said nothing wrong. Job’s three friends shared his anguish (Job 2:10). Anytime anything bad or hard happens, we immediately start blaming Satan. When quite possibly, most of it is God training and equipping us for what lies ahead. When soldiers join the Armed Forces to prepare for war, they don’t go to camp and hang out, fish and sit around the campfire. No, soldiers go to Boot Camp and they are stripped down and then re-created into soldiers-warriors.

Are you letting the Lord strip and crush you, are you letting him tread out the new wine. Admittedly, this has been a hard season for many, but look at the fruit it is producing. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful (John 15:2). Let him prune you, let him prepare you for battle. Soon it will be too late....There will come a day, when we all come face-to-face with the enemy of our soul. Wouldn’t you prefer to be trained under the hand of the Lord?.....Because our God has never lost a battle....

Tammy Lang Jensen

“Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God” (1 Timothy 6:21 TLB).

The key to a friendship with God is deciding whose friendship you want most.
You don’t have time for everybody to be your friend. You’ve got to decide who you want most to be your best friend.

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:21, “Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God” (TLB).

They know all the baseball scores. They know the stock market quotes. They know the top 10 songs. They know who’s in and who’s out in every soap opera. But they don’t know God. They missed the most important thing in life!

If you’re not a friend of God, it means you care about something else more. James 4:4 says, “You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God’s enemy” (NCV).

When James writes, “loving the world,” he means loving the value system of the world. God wants you to love people, but that doesn’t mean you have to love the world’s value system. We get so caught up in the distractions of life that we tend to do just the opposite. We love the world’s value system, but then we don’t love people. We love materialism. We love pleasure. We love popularity. We love prestige. We love passion, possessions, and position.

But God loves people, and he wants us to love them too. One way we show our love to others is to show an interest in their interests. In other words, what is important to you becomes important to me (always within the context of biblical truth).

If you’re going to be a friend of God, then you’ve got to care about what he cares about and stop caring about the things he doesn’t care about. God doesn’t care about your image. He’s not interested in your status. He’s interested in your character—not how you look but who you are. An essential step toward friendship with God means choosing to value what God values.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over

What gets in the way of you being a friend of God? What kind of adjustments could you make in your thoughts or behavior?
Is there something more important to you than knowing God? What is it? Why do you value it more?
Describe the relationship you have with your best friend. How does it compare to the relationship you have with God?

But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11, NLT

TODAY'S WORD:

Something supernatural happens on the inside of you when you call on the name of the Lord. First of all, the Bible tells us that God actually makes His home in your heart by the Holy Spirit. Not only that, but when you call on His name, you are calling on everything He represents—life, peace, strength, hope, joy, healing, deliverance, forgiveness and so much more! It’s like receiving the key to a mansion filled with treasures—and it’s all yours! You can see that key in your hand; you can tell other people about it; you can know that you have access anytime you want, but you still have to take a step and use the key to open the door before you can partake of the blessings inside. And you probably wouldn’t just peak in the door or visit once a week; no, move right in! Make the decision today to move into God’s abundant blessings by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. Call on His name and move right in to His provision, His joy, His peace, His love. You have the key, so receive the abundant life He has prepared for you today!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father in heaven, thank You for cleansing me and making me new by Your Spirit. Thank You for giving me access to Your wonderful blessings through Your Son, Jesus. I bless You and praise You today.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

— Genesis 50:20

This verse is part of the story of how God promoted Joseph to a place of power after his brothers had sold him into slavery. It is a great testament to God’s desire and ability to overcome evil with good.

Joseph’s brothers meant to destroy him, but Joseph became second in command to Pharaoh and was used by God to save not only his own family, but many thousands of others.

Sometimes you forget how big your God is. Whatever may have happened to you in the past, you must understand it doesn’t have to dictate your future. Set your faith and trust in God, and watch to see how He will turn it around for your good. Rejoice! God has a good plan for your life.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You that You are fair, even when life’s not fair. Help me to put the past behind me and trust You to work everything out for my good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Psalm 107:19-20
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions

God declared Himself to be the Lord that heals us (Exodus 15:26). Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, to give sight to the blind, and to free the oppressed (Luke 4:18). In all the places where we suffer, Jesus is our Healer.

Our verse for today tells us that God sent His word to heal, deliver, and save. In John 1, we read that in the beginning, the Word was with God and was God. Everything was created by Him. Life and light were found in Him. That Word became flesh and came to earth so we could behold the glory of the Father. He was sent to heal us.

In Isaiah 5:13, God says that His people have gone into captivity because they have no knowledge. In Hosea 4:6, He laments that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. In many of our lives, what the world says has taken precedence over what the Word says. We have placed our faith in other things and have learned to treat only the symptoms.

We cannot experience the healing power that the Gentle Shepherd provides simply because we do not take God at His Word. The power of this Word cannot work in our lives if we do not build our faith based on its promises. How do we build our faith? Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The sound of it has gone out to all the world, to the ends of the earth (Romans 10:17-18).

We need healing – in our hearts, in our minds, in our bodies. Open God’s Word and read it. Ask the Father to open your eyes to understand this rich inheritance that He has given us, that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us to accomplish mighty things (Ephesians 1:17-21). As we read over the pages, we will find a Lamb Who took stripes on His back so that we would be healed. We will find a Good Shepherd Who comes to pour in the anointing oil that brings relief from our pain and suffering. We will find a Savior Who went about healing the lame, the blind, the paralyzed, the epileptic – all who came to Him.

Read His Word. Wrap your head around it. Wrap your heart around it. Wrap your hands around it. His Word was sent to heal you.

Blessing:

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Word to heal us. Help me to study it, believe it, memorize it, and apply it so that the power of it may bring healing in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name…amen.

Today's Bible Reading:

Old Testament

Judges 11:1-12:15

New Testament

John 1:1-28

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 101:1-8

Proverbs 14:13-14

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The three commands in today’s passage may look simple because they’re short, but many people find them challenging to obey. Our lives are so full of responsibilities and activities that it’s all we can do to keep up our schedules, let alone live as these verses command. There’s only one way to succeed—not by trying harder but by focusing on Christ. When He becomes the center of our attention, our attitude and behavior will change.

Rejoice Always. The realization that our omnipotent God is constantly with us puts troubling circumstances in their proper place—under His authority. It also helps us sense the incomparable joy of His companionship, even in difficulties and suffering.

Pray without ceasing. It’s important to set aside time each day to come before the Lord with our problems and requests. But believers also long for an ongoing attitude of prayer, which, like a continual conversation, is expressed either verbally or in our thoughts. Then if a decision is required or trouble comes, our first thought is to turn to God for help.

Give thanks in everything. If our minds are set on the Lord each day, we’ll be able to thank Him regardless of the situation. That’s because we know He is with us and will work everything for our good—if not here, then in heaven.

These three admonitions are a call to become preoccupied with Christ. If we are consumed with other thoughts, it’s easy to feel irritated, worry unceasingly, and complain about everything. But when we begin each day in God’s Word, we are reminded of His instructions and His care.

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 24-25

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:17 NKJV)

When you really know and love God, everything else pales in significance. Your love relationship with Him becomes your driving passion, and pleasing Him becomes your greatest desire.

The apostle Paul said, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 NKJV). When Paul refers to the knowledge of Christ Jesus, he is not talking about head knowledge. Rather, he is talking about heart knowledge. Having only head knowledge of Jesus makes the life of faith hard and dry; heart knowledge reaches every part of your being and makes living by faith joyful and exciting.

Without knowing God and his character, the Christian walk would be difficult. God wants to be everything to you. He wants to meet your every need. He wants you to know Him:

He isn’t hard and aloof; He is your loving heavenly Father.
He isn’t devising trials and tests for you; He is your Comforter.
He isn’t out to hurt you; He is the lover of your soul.
He isn’t concerned about your performance; He looks at your heart.
He doesn’t give you what your sin deserves: He’s the God of abundant grace.
He doesn’t want you to be just a servant; He longs for you to be His friend and child.
Most of all, God wants you to know that He is good, and His mercy endures forever.

Confession: Father, I ask You to give me today the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. I believe You are opening my eyes to see more of Your goodness and Your heart of love toward me.

Author: Jerry Savelle

Hebrews 6:20

...Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus is our High Priest forever. This “forever” aspect changes the way we are blessed and how we receive our blessings from God. As our High Priest, Jesus represents us before God. Since His priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, which is one of righteousness, His righteousness becomes our righteousness forever. This means that we are forever righteous in God’s eyes!

And because He will never die, but continue as our High Priest forever, we have an everlasting righteousness, not merely a here-today-gone-tomorrow righteousness based on our works. No, we have a perpetual and everlasting righteousness because Jesus is our High Priest forever.

This also means that blessings are perpetually on your head because the Bible says that blessings are on the head of the righteous (see Proverbs 10:6), and you are righteous forever!

Unlike the priesthood according to the Levitical order, which blesses as well as curses, the priesthood of Jesus according to the Melchizedek order only blesses. There is no cursing, only blessing—always and forever!

And because Jesus is our High Priest forever, the blessings do not come to us in intermittent drips, but stream into our lives in a never-ending flow. Because He is our High Priest forever, we can never stop His blessings.

By being our High Priest forever, Jesus also touches the blessings that He gives us with a forever effect. He touches our lives and we have eternal life. He touches our ministry and its impact becomes eternal. And the more we see His priesthood as having a forever effect, the more permanent our blessings will be.

Truly, there is nothing temporal about what Jesus our High Priest does. It is not a case of blessed today, cursed tomorrow. The blessings we receive are sure and steadfast because Jesus is our High Priest today, tomorrow and forever.

So rejoice because Jesus your High Priest changes how you are blessed forever!

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30).

1 Corinthians 6:17 says, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” We’re joined to the Lord; we’re inseparably one with Him, and He’s not ashamed of our union with Him. Have you ever had a family member or a loved one, who, perhaps, due to some terrible behaviour or waywardness, you felt ashamed to be associated or identified with him or her?

Hebrews 2:11 says the Lord isn’t ashamed to call us “brethren”; that is, His brothers and sisters. Think about it: despite everything He knows about you, He still loves you and celebrates His oneness with you. He’s so united and identified with you that He’s given you His Name to live by. The Bible says He’s touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15).

Your oneness with the Lord is the greatest and most honourable thing you could ever imagine. Celebrate it. Seize every moment to glorify Jesus Christ in, and with your life. Nothing could be more transcendent than being an associate of the God-kind; one in whom Christ literally dwells. You’re God’s house; He lives in you, talks in, and through you. He isn’t complete without you.

This should help you understand your importance and relevance to Christ. You’re in Him, and He’s in you. Through you, He’s able to express His love and righteousness to others. You’re His extension in the earth, because you hail from Him and are connected to Him. He said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches…” ; the vine and the branches are of the same stalk. It’s the Father’s grand design for Him to need us just as we need Him: He’s our glory as we are His glory.

In John 17:19-21, Jesus prayed for us thus, “…as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us….” This prayer was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit came to live in us; we’ve become one with divinity. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body….” You’ve been literally mingled with the Spirit as one divine creation. Blessed be God!

CONFESSION
I’m joined to the Lord, and one spirit with Him; in Him I live, and move and have my being. God lives in me; He talks in and through me. His glory is all over me, and with His divine presence, I impact and influence my world for His glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 1:27; Colossians 2:10; Galatians 3:27

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 23:50-24:1-12 & 2 Samuel 7-8

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Mark 6:30-44 & Numbers 3 

Tuesday April 30th 2019
Memorise: And if go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3

Read: Acts 1:9-11 (KJV)
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Bible in one year: 
Genesis 40-41,
Jeremiah 27:16-28:9,

Hymnal: 
Sing hymn 17

Message:
For various reasons such as worldliness, the pursuits of pleasure, and the desire for power, wealth, and fame, many Christians all over the world today no longer keep the second coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in focus.

This nonchalant attitude towards His return, coupled with unbelief, is largely responsible for the widespread spiritual decadence in the world and even among Christians today. Jesus knew this would happen when He gave us the parable of the king who went to a far country, leaving his servants in charge of his kingdom to occupy till His return (Luke 19:11-27). Although we have waited for so long for His return, I can assure you by the infallibility of God’s word that our King is coming soon as He promised. He is coming to Judge both the living and the dead. Don’t be deceived by the lies of the devil or by current development around the world to conclude that Jesus Christ will not come again. Do not fall for the deceit of those who suggest that He has already come in the Spirit. These are all lies of the devil. The angels who addressed the early disciples after the ascension of the Lord declared in Acts 1:11:

“…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye grazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Regardless of whatever anyone has to say about the rapture or the second coming, the truth remains that our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again to put the devil where he belongs: first in the bottomless pit and finally, in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1, Revelation 20:10). The angels who fell with devil after his rebellion, now know as demons, will also share in his destiny (Matthew 25:41). Moreover, our King is coming to give rewards to those who belong to Him, in accordance to their works. He said in Revelation 22:12:

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.!

He also declared in Luke 19:27:
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”

Beloved, this will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. However, you must always remember that the King of kings is coming soon. You must also be mindful of what He is coming to do so that you can fully prepare yourself in readiness for His return. Are you ready?

Action Point
Weigh yourself on the scale of the word to determine how prepared you are for the Lord’s return.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
—1 Peter 5:8

When I was in the hospital in Hawaii, I read again of the shocking events which led up to the destruction of the United States fleet at Pearl Harbor. On that fateful day of December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked. We know now that that attack was invited by our failure to be always vigilant. The result was the destruction of our fleet-the cause was tragic indifference. When comfort and ease and pleasure are put ahead of duty and conviction, progress is always set back.

What makes us Christians shrug our shoulders when we ought to be flexing our muscles? What makes us apathetic in a day when there are loads to lift, a world to be won, and captives to be set free? Why are so many bored, when the times demand action? Christ told us that in the last days there would be an insipid attitude toward life.

Listen to Billy Graham’s message on living boldly for Christ.

Prayer for the day
Take away the apathy, Father, that so often blinds my vision.

Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (that is, He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver.... And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8, The Amplified Bible

Some people say you need to “give till it hurts.” Don’t you believe it. God doesn’t want gifts given in pain. He wants gifts given in joy! In fact, those are the only kinds of gifts that please Him.

That’s why He tacked His promise of abundance onto His command about cheerful giving. The two are connected.

Cheerful, full of faith, even hilarious giving—that is the key that unlocks the treasure house of God. Have you ever seen a group of people give that way? I have. I’ll never forget it. I was at a camp meeting years ago when offering time turned into a spontaneous, supernatural celebration. Ken was singing Bread Upon the Water, and the people were just dancing their way down the aisles to give their money. The joy in that place was glorious. Great healings and miracles were done that night.

But what stood out to me above all was how joyously and hilariously the people brought their offerings to God. The offering wasn’t extracted from them like a dentist extracts teeth. It was brought forth gladly.

The concept of “giving till it hurts” didn’t come from God. He’d rather you give 10 dollars with that kind of joy than 20 dollars grudgingly. In 2 Corinthians 8:11-12, the Apostle Paul urges the church in Corinth to give with eager willingness. Eager willingness. That’s what God looks for!

If you haven’t given that way in the past, make a firm commitment to start. Repent for the times you’ve given grudgingly. Then spend some serious time with God and His Word in your prayer closet, so when you give again, you can give from a willing heart.

Put the “pain” of giving behind. Become “a cheerful, (joyous, ‘prompt to do it’) giver,” and believe me, your blessings will abound!

Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Be not dismayed, fear not the darkness
Jesus is here, He walks beside us
Gracious is He, through all our weakness
Forever faithful, forever good

Emmanuel, emmanuel
God with us, living inside
Emmanuel