Abiding TV

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage (Psalm 16:6).

In Jeremiah 29:11 GNB, the Lord said something so beautiful; it reads, “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” How comforting and uplifting this is! As you look to the coming year, be optimistic, full of faith and expectation because He has made your life glorious and your future is bright.

You need not be apprehensive or fretful about the coming year. God has already seen the year ahead; to Him, it’s already in the past. He’s already done all that needs to be done for you to have extraordinary victories and success in 2017. He has already perfected everything for you; all you
need is to stick to His Word; follow the guidance, direction and leading from the Spirit concerning the coming year. Be sure to attend our December 31 st Night Service onsite, online or via Satellite for that sure word from God that’ll position you for transcendental blessings, and a triumphant 2017.

God already prearranged and made ready the good life for you to live. Refuse to be moved by the challenges and cares of this present moment! Jesus said, “...Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on....” (Matthew 6:25-26).
God doesn’t want you to be anxious about the future. He wants you, rather, to “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).

Keep your focus on the Word. Follow the Lord in the Word, and through the Word with all your heart. God’s Word is dependable and guaranteed to produce results. When you trust in the Lord and in His eternal Word, it doesn’t matter the heat or hardship others may experience, your path will be one
of continual victory, progress, peace, health, and joy. Good things will keep happening for you, with you, and through you.

PRAYER
Dear Father, my trust is in you for an extraordinary 2017, filled with blessings, testimonies, and miracles. I’m excited to know that you’ve made my life glorious, and my future is bright; you’ve
perfected all that concerns me, and granted me all that I need to live a successful life. Thank you
for leading me in the path of your righteousness, wisdom, and glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 YEAR  BIBLE READING PLAN:
Revelation 22
Malachi 3-4

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Revelation
22:11-21
Malachi 3-4

FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 2:10
Psalm 16:6

Memorise: 
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27

Read: Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


Bible in one year: 
Numbers 7:84-10:10,
Psalms 140

Message:
The major difference between David and the other soldiers at the war front was simply the fact that David could not stand the insult and blasphemy against the God of Israel. He knew God so well, and he feared and honoured Him so much that he decided to confront the giant warrior called Goliath without any fear of losing his life. David, in this case, took the meaning of acceptable service to another level. It can be very painful when the authority of God is so challenged, you will want to do anything to defend Him even if it means doing so with your life. In 1st Samuel 17:23-26, Goliath came out, boasted exceedingly and asked; “Where is the God of Israel?” For as many as had no intimate relationship with God, this threat, challenge and disgraced meant nothing to them. But then, one day, a little boy who loved the Lord was there, he heard Goliath talk against his God and he got very angry. His love for God propelled him to dare this giant that was bringing shame on God and His people.

It can be very painful when you have problem that has persisted, especially when you know that your God is more than able to solve it.  People may even ask, “Did you not say your God can do all things? Why has He not done yours?” Yes, it can be painful, but you must be prepared to love God to the extent of not minding what people say about your condition.

In Psalms 115:1-3, when the unbelievers where asking the psalmist: “Where is your God?” instead of being embarrassed or wallow in self-pity, he was not bothered. In fact, he began to make excuses for God because of his love for Him. He replied them: “Are you asking of my God because of this little problem? My God is still in Heaven. He is still on the throne and He cannot be dethroned. If you must know, my God does whatever He pleases and is not accountable to anyone. Whether He does it or not, you cannot take Him to court. He knows the right time to solve this problem because your time and mine may not be His. Is it not for me? I am prepared to wait for His time; I am not in any hurry”. With that kind of answer, the mouths of the enemies will be stopped. How much do you love God? The proof of your love for God against all odds in the mark of an acceptable service unto Him!

Prayer Point
Father, I commit my life to You wholeheartedly.

Open Heavens Daily, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye

“You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5a GW).

God says that you are a priest. Depending on your background, that may be scary or confusing. Peter is saying that the two benefits that priests have are now available to everyone who is a believer.

In the Old Testament, priests did two things:

They had the right, privilege, and responsibility to go directly to God. They could pray and talk to God, worship, and fellowship with God. Everybody else had to go through a priest.
The priest had the privilege and responsibility of representing God to the people and ministering to the needs of other people (serving).
Those are the very two things that are true of you when you become a believer.

You now have direct access to God. You don’t have to pray through anybody else. You don’t have to confess through anybody else. You don’t have to fellowship with God through anybody else. You can read your Bible, talk with the Lord, and fellowship directly with him.

The Bible says that when Jesus died on the cross, there was a veil in the Temple that separated the Holy of Holies, where God’s Spirit was, from where man was. Only priests could go behind that veil once a year. When Jesus died on the cross, God ripped that veil — about 70 feet — from top to bottom, symbolizing that there is no longer a barrier.

You have also been gifted for ministry to serve other people. Every Christian is a minister — not a pastor, but a minister. Any time you use your talents and gifts to help others, you are ministering.

“It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9a TLB). Why did God save you? So you could serve him. A non-serving Christian is a contradiction.

How do you know what your ministry is? Look at your talents, gifts, and abilities. When you use those talents and gifts to help other people, that’s called ministry — nothing fancy or scary about it. It’s just helping others. Can you be a priest in a sales office? You bet you can. Can you be a priest as an accountant? Of course. Driving a truck? Sure. Any time you’re helping other people in God’s name, you’re ministering.

Talk It Over

What are your spiritual gifts and abilities? How are you using them to serve God and others?
With what attitude do you think God wants you to serve? Why?
How do you make the most of your status as a priest? Do you take full advantage of your direct access to God?

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3

Praise God. Praise Him in the morning. Praise Him at noon. Praise Him at night. If you've never praised God in your life, then get started right now. Praise Him for freedom. Praise Him for healing and Calvary. Praise Him for the Name of Jesus.

You ought to be shouting your way to work and shouting your way back home! If there's anything the devil can't stand, it's praise.

If you've taken territory from the devil and he's coming against you to get it back, this is not the time to sit down and whine about how things aren't working out. It's not time to decide that God has taken His hand off your life.

It is time to get into the Word and get yourself re-anchored in God's promises. It is time to keep those promises constantly before your eyes and in your heart. It is time to pray the prayer of faith and take your stand on the basis of His provision. It is time to continue to do the things you know to do.

When Satan starts shaking your mountain, don't retreat and run for cover. Speak to the mountain with the authority you wield in the Name of Jesus Christ. Then, when you're done with that, start to praise and shout the victory.

You don't have to be afraid of Satan. He'll be afraid of you!

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 50

We know how much God loves us because
we have felt his love . . .
—1 John 4:16 (TLB)

Never question God’s great love, for it is as unchangeable a part of God as is His holiness. Were it not for the love of God, none of us would ever have a chance in the future life. But God is love! And His love for us is everlasting.

The promises of God’s love and forgiveness are as real, as sure, as positive, as human words can make them. But, like describing the ocean, its total beauty cannot be understood until it is actually seen. It is the same with God’s love. Until you actually possess true peace with God, no one can describe its wonders to you.

Prayer for the day
Yes, almighty God, I have felt the consolation of Your love!

The end of this year, this season, is drawing near. A new season will begin soon and the choice is yours which path to walk.

God has created a plan for each of us but it is up to you to follow his direction, his guidance, his words; to follow the path He has laid out before you.

None of us can predict tomorrow or the next day or the next, but if we remain on His path for each of us, we will remain blessed.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7, NLT

TODAY'S WORD:
So many people today are living with less than God's best because they've allowed fear to stop them from pursuing their dreams. We have to remember that fear is not from God. It's a lie from the enemy to paralyze us and steal our power.

Today's verse tells what God has given us: power, love and self-discipline or self-control. When you are confident in God's promises, there's nothing that can stop you. But when fear creeps in, you hesitate. You're not as strong as you were before. Not only that, but it affects your love. Love prompts us to give, and when we are afraid, we tend to clench our fists and act selfishly. Fear also affects our self-discipline or self-control. It makes us panic and do things without thinking.

If you've allowed fear to steal from you in any area of life, today you can be free—you can be finished with fear. Conquering fear starts with a choice to believe God's promises and then taking a step of faith to act on them. As you step out, God will be with you. He'll give you power, love and self-discipline so that you can confidently move forward into the abundant life He has for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father, I come to You today declaring that I am finished with fear. Thank You for giving me power, love and a sound mind. I choose to stand on Your promises. Fill me with Your peace and joy today as I move forward in victory with You in Jesus' name. Amen."

. . . You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.
—Matthew 22:37-39

Loving God, yourself, and other people should be our focus in life. We should be "love-focused" individuals. Receive God's amazing, unconditional love, then you can love yourself and live to give the love away that God has given to you. It is God's number one priority, and it should be ours also.

This is the time of year in which we often look back and look forward. Take time to survey what your life has been like compared to what you want it to be, and work with God to make whatever changes need to be made. I urge you to end this year with a commitment to abide in love, for when we abide in love we abide in God. Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment that you should love one another, just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all (men) know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."

Everyone chooses to live for something! What will your choice be? I implore you not to live for yourself, but to choose to live striving to obey the the "new Commandment" that Jesus gave. Now faith, hope, and love abide, but the greatest of these is love (see 1 Corinthians 13:13).

Today and Every Day...Love God, Love Yourself, and Love Others. And don't forget to love out loud!

Revelation 21:8—But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone:  which is the second death.

There Are Two Kinds Of People—Those Who Are Bowing On Their Faces To The Gods Of This World, And Those Who Are Standing Ramrod Straight In Honor Of The God Of Abraham, Isaac And Jacob!

There are those who are bowing to hedonism…and materialism…and secular humanism…and to the New Age… and eastern philosophies…and to occultism…and to Satanism.  And there are those who are standing ramrod straight in the streets of San Antonio, and in Los Angeles and in New York City, because you believe that there is a God who is allpowerful.  He is not a God of wood or stone…not a god of crystal…not a god that’s in a tree.  He is the Living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and he is the only God.

Where are you in this picture?  Standing or bowing?  Saved or lost?  Wheat or tares?  Sheep or goats?  Are you a child of God—or a cowardly compromiser bowing on your face, trying to be politically correct and run with the herd?  The Bible says you cannot serve two masters.   Better to be on your feet for Christ than bowing with the politically correct crowd.

Your life is not limited by where you are; your life is only limited by what you are.  A high position does not make a great man.  A pygmy on the top of Mt. Everest is still a pygmy.  St. Paul in prison is a greater man than Nero on the throne.

Are you bowing with the moral cowards to the golden images of this world, or standing ramrod straight for the Lord?


Source:  Twelve Sunday Morning Part 3

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Our culture desperately tries to postpone death. Vitamins, exercise, and diet are ways we attempt to live as long as possible. Not that these things are bad! Motive, however, is key.

For instance, since our bodies are God’s temple (1 Cor. 3:16), we should take care of His dwelling. And since He has good works for us to do (Eph. 2:10), we should stay fit to complete His tasks.

On the other hand, prolonging life for fear of dying isn’t of God. Because Jesus died in our place, those who have faith in Him as Lord and Savior need not fear death. Once saved, we have assurance of a real place where we will live eternally in His presence. And according to Scripture, fear itself isn’t from God (2 Tim. 1:7). In fact, the apostle Paul assures us that far from being a dreadful change, physical death actually leads believers home to be with the Lord forever (2 Cor. 5:8).

God already knows the duration of each person’s life. With this in mind, how can we best prepare for what’s next? The first step is to receive Jesus as Savior through faith. Next, we should live a surrendered life and strive to walk according to His will. Furthermore, it is vital that believers fight the tendency to view this world as home. If we become too comfortable here and look for security and worth in earthly success, we won’t be able to maintain an eternal perspective.

It is an inescapable fact that our time on earth is temporary. It would be foolish not to prepare for something inevitable. How can you best live so that you are ready when God decides your life span is complete? (Psalm 139:16).

Bible in One Year: Revelation 13-17