Abiding TV

…ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Colossians 3:9-10).

I n Christ, you have much more than mere religion. You received the life and nature of God when you received Christ into your heart. You were literally born anew; you were born of God. John 1:12-13 declares, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

You’re a new creature in Christ Jesus. You have the resurrection life, because you were raised together with Christ to a new life altogether. Ephesians 2:4-6 says, “But God…hath quickened us together with Christ…And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” When Jesus died, you died with Him. When He was buried, you were buried with Him. When God raised Him from the dead, you were raised together with Him.

You received a new life when He was raised from the dead. When He was raised from the dead, He was born again (Acts 13:33). He came up with a new life, the resurrection life. So, when the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17), it means there’s been a supplanting of the old life by the resurrection life. You’re not the old man and former nature that sinned. That former self is dead; he died in Christ. Your new nature is identified with Christ: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

Your past with all the failures, weaknesses, and defeat were buried with Him. Now, you have a new life in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

PRAYER
Righteous Father, I thank you for the reality of the new life of righteousness, which I’ve received in Christ. The old nature with its decadence, weakness, and defeat has been completely supplanted by the new life of righteousness, victories, triumphs, and strength. I walk in the reality of this transcendent life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 4:20-24

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 24:1-35 & Exodus 26-27

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 12:10-21 & Genesis 34  

Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.
—Psalm 51:10 (TLB)

You were created in the image and likeness of God. You were made for God’s fellowship, and your heart can never be satisfied without His communion. Just as iron is attracted to a magnet, the soul in its state of hunger is drawn to God.

Though you, like thousands of others, may feel in the state of sin that the world is more alluring and more to your liking, some day—perhaps even now as you read these words—you will acknowledge that there is something deep down inside you which cannot be satisfied by the alloy of earth.

Then with David, the Psalmist who had sampled the delicacies of sin and had found them unsatisfying, you will say, “Oh God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”

Go deeper: Listen to Billy Graham’s classic message, “Create in Me a Clean Heart”

Prayer for the day
How I long for You, God, yet so often my heart is drawn away from Your leading. Like David, I desire a clean heart.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 1:29

Jesus came to take away sin. Do you realize what that means? It means that God, through the blood of Jesus, has so completely done away with the power of sin that you, as a born-again believer, can live as if it never existed. You can step out from under its shadow once and for all.

Understand now, stepping out from under sin's shadow doesn't guarantee living a sinless life. You still might stumble sometimes and fall into sin. But you have a promise from God, sworn in the blood of Jesus, that says when you confess that sin, He's faithful and just to forgive you of it and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

You don't have to live under the shadow of that sin five seconds if you have sense enough to repent and receive God's forgiveness.

"Oh, but Brother Copeland, I just feel so bad about it!"

It doesn't make any difference how you feel about it. Do it by faith. Learn to be quick to repent. Then stand up and laugh in the devil's face.

I remember one time in particular when I was in that spot. I'd missed it something awful, and I was supposed to go preach that night. I felt so guilty that I just told the Lord I wasn't going to go. "Lord, You'll just have to get Yourself another preacher tonight because I'm not going over there to that service."

Suddenly the Spirit spoke up inside me. Did you confess that sin before Me, Kenneth?

"Yes, I did."

Do you account the blood by which you're sanctified as an unholy thing?

"Oh, dear God, no!" I answered.

That's what you're standing there doing, He said. I gave you My Word that when you confess your sin before Me, I would not only forgive you of it, but I'd cleanse it and cast it into a sea of forgetfulness. Now it's not good taste for you to keep bringing it up.

I'm telling you, I dropped the matter right then and marched into that service and preached for two and a half hours on the forgiveness of God!

Don't let feelings of guilt and unworthiness rob you of the power of Jesus' blood. Repent and step out by faith from under the shadow of sin into the mighty light of God's forgiveness today!

Scripture Reading:
John 1:1-34

“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7 NLT).

Jesus says in Matthew 5:7, “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (NLT).
In other words, what you give, you’re going to get. You’ve got to learn to be a minister of mercy if you want God’s blessing on your life.

But why does God want you to show mercy to others? Why is being merciful so important?

Because God has shown you mercy.

Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved” (GNT).

God wants you to pass on the mercy that you’ve received from him.

Because God commands you to be merciful.

Do you want a summary of what life’s all about? Here it is: “The Lord has told you what is good. This is what the Lord requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 GW).

Because you’re going to need more mercy in the future.

You’re going to make a lot of mistakes between now and when you get to heaven, and you’re going to need God’s mercy. But you cannot receive what you are unwilling to give. James 2:13 says, “You must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment” (NCV).

Because showing mercy brings or causes happiness.

Matthew 5:7 says that God blesses those who are merciful. The word “blessed” also means “happy,” so the more you learn and demonstrate this quality, the happier and more blessed you’re going to be.

Talk It Over

What does it mean to “love mercy”?
How have you seen God bless you when you’ve shown mercy to someone—even when that was a difficult decision?
Think of a way you could have shown mercy to someone in the last week. How do you think it might have changed the outcome of the situation?

"Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double."
Zechariah 9:12, ESV

TODAY'S WORD:

of hope means that you can’t get away from it. You’re held by hope. A prisoner of hope is someone who has an attitude of faith and expectancy even when things are bad because God has promised to restore what was lost . . . and far more.

That's a great word of hope you can hold on to! It means your health, your job situation, and your finances may not be what you want them to be today, but they are all subject to change! God wants to restore these things to you—not just the way they were before—but with more so that you are better off than when you began. No matter where you are today or what happened to you yesterday, God wants to give you a new future filled with joy, fulfillment and abundance.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

God, please give me the courage and faith to hold on to Your hope no matter what may come my way today. I claim Your promise of restoration in Jesus' name. Amen.

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

— John 13:35

God’s timing in our lives is perfect, and we will enjoy life much more if we believe that. He knows the exact right time to do the things we have requested of Him.

Don’t waste your time being upset about something that only God can change. If He withholds your desire for the time being, thank Him that He knows best.

Time is a gift—don’t waste it being upset!

Prayer Starter: Father, I know that Your timing is perfect. Help me to patiently wait on You and learn to enjoy each and every moment of my life, knowing that You are in complete control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Today’s Scripture doesn’t say, “My God shall give me what I want.” It says that He’ll supply all my needs. I need a Savior. I need someone to wash sin out of my life. I need a scapegoat who can bear the guilt of my transgressions and iniquity and die in substitution of what I deserve. I don’t get what I want. But thank God, He loves me so much that He gives me the sacrifice I need.

I don’t know what you want in your life today, but I know that if you need something, Jesus Christ is all-sufficient. Jesus Christ is El Shaddai. He is a way maker. He is a yoke and bondage breaker. He is the Prince of Peace who can soothe your tormented mind. He is the provider who can open up the windows of heaven and shower you with blessings that you cannot contain. He is the healer who can touch a sick body and make it strong again. He is the banner in battle who will give you victory when defeat looks imminent. Stop begging God for what you want and start praising God that He has supplied your every need according to His riches in glory!

Blessing:

Father, I thank You that You’re in this place, and that with our hands lifted and our hearts extended, we can, in faith, reach out and touch You. I thank You, Father, that in reaching for You, You have already reached toward us and given us the blessings of God which are limitless and know no measure. Bless us, Father, with physical strength and divine healing. Bless us, Father, with goodness and mercy that follows us all the days of our lives. Let Your loving kindness and provision be upon us that we would have sufficiency for every good work, and the world would recognize that our Father in heaven is a loving King who provides for His own. We bless You, Lord Jesus; we thank You for Your Word. We stand upon it as the living promise of God that sickness is defeated, sin is destroyed, and we the children of God, live life without limit because You are our King. In Jesus’ name, we receive the blessing. In faith believing, we receive Your answer.

Today's Bible Reading:

Old Testament

Exodus 15:20-17:7

New Testament

Matthew 22:1-32

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 27:1-7

Proverbs 6:20-26

SATURDAY
02
1 Peter 4:7-11

If you have been in the church for any length of time, you’ve probably heard that it’s wise to be accountable to another Christian. Finding a reliable and spiritually mature believer to take on this role is one means of protecting ourselves from temptations that could easily entrap us. When we know we’re going to have to answer to someone for our choices, we are far less likely to yield to sinful desires.

But ultimately, there is an even greater motive for righteous living. Unlike a spouse or close friend who may be able to help us make right choices, our all-knowing God sees even more than our actions—He discerns our intentions as well. It may be possible for us to fool people, but we can never hide from the Lord.

Peter admonishes us to be good stewards of God’s grace (1 Peter 4:10). In the apostle’s day, a steward was a household manager—he himself didn’t own anything but was responsible for his master’s possessions and affairs.

In essence, that’s what the Christian life is like. Every possession, privilege, and duty we have has been given to us by God. And as stewards, we are accountable to the Lord for the way we serve Him, what we say, and how we treat one another. The goal is God’s glory—not our rights, comforts, or pleasures.

Relying on one another through accountability will help God’s children to live as His good stewards. Confiding in a trustworthy believer provides the motivation and encouragement to live in a way that honors our Lord and Savior.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 11-13

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43: 18-19 NKJV).

Regardless of what may have happened in your past, God has a plan and purpose for your life—and it lies in your future. Even if the path before you appears to be dry, barren, and filled with obstacles, God will make a way for you to fulfill His call. All you have to do is believe Him for the impossible.

Forget about the past, and don’t limit God. Your past doesn’t have anything to do with what God has in store for you in the future. That’s why Paul said, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV).

God wants to do a new thing in your life. And if He wants to do a new thing, my advice is to let Him do it! Look at each new day as another opportunity for God to do extraordinary things in your life. Expect God to do the very things that you could not previously do. Expect those things that people say are rare occurrences to become the norm in your life.

So, stop thinking about the past and allow your thoughts to come into agreement with God’s thoughts: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).

Confession: I will no longer focus on my past, but will forget what lies behind and set my sights on the future God has for me. God is doing new things in my life, and I will greet each new day with the expectation of His manifest peace, favor, and goodness in my life.

Author: Jerry Savelle

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Imagine this scenario: Your car tire blows and you are late for work. At the office, you find out that someone else got the promotion you had been hoping for. Then, you receive a call from home informing you that your kitchen pipes are leaking again. Before long, you hear a voice telling you, “If God loves you so much, how come all these things are happening to you?”

Perhaps you are asking the same question today and wondering if God really loves you. Well, I want you to know that you must never judge God’s love for you based on your circumstances. No, look at the cross instead! The cross is the sure symbol of God’s love for you. It is at the cross that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

A teenager learnt that the cross indeed spoke of how much God loves her. At one point in her life, she was contemplating suicide as the only way out of her health problems. She had intended to take some Panadol tablets with a bottle of vodka. She was all ready to die when she started clicking aimlessly on some MP3 songs in her computer. And of all the songs that were on her screen, she picked a beautiful song written by one of our church musicians.

The lyrics of the song, sung by one of our church vocalists, spoke of being held by God’s love and being treasured in His sight. They touched this teenager. Sensing that an awesome God with His amazing love was reaching out to her, she abandoned her plan to kill herself. Not long after that, she wrote to our church and even met the worship leader who had sung the song. The worship leader counseled her and she came to know how much God loves her and how He has demonstrated His love for her through the cross.

Beloved, when you look at your life and find yourself wondering if God really loves you, look to the cross and see God’s outstretched arms. It will remind and reassure you of how much He loves you!

Saturday February 2nd 2019
Memorise: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19
Read: Isaiah 55:6-7(KJV)

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Bible in one year: 
Luke 14-15,
Isaiah 30:8-22,

Hymn: 
Sing hymn 2

Message:
 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23

Although change is one word that people like throwing around, living a life of change that emanates from the transformation of the inner man is impossible without God’s divine power. The world realises this truth, but because they are unwilling to acknowledge and submit to the supremacy of God, they have devised a lie saying that our character is an inherent part of our nature which cannot be changed, and people are perfect just the way they are. Indeed, our all-knowing God acknowledges in Jeremiah 13:23 the impossibility of changing the nature of sin through human efforts, but He further says to us in Matthew 19:26b

“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Every true relationship with God begins with accepting the need to embrace change – that is, change from the old Adamic nature of the divine nature in Christ, for living in sin to walking in the spirit, from reliance on human wisdom, knowledge and ability to total dependence on the invisible power of God, and from a life of consistent disobedience to a life of complete submission to God’s will. However, the irony is that people resist the change that brings total transformation of the inner man, rather desiring the kind of change that satisfies their worldliness and lusts. With their mouths they cry “change” and agree that life should not remain as it has been, but changing from ungodly ways to the way of righteousness is unacceptable to them. In other words, the human attitude to change  is hypocritical, criticizing any call for change that points to godliness, which is the only kind of change that can transform a person’s body, soul, and spirit.

In simple terms, the kind of genuine change that leads to transformation is impossible without God. Human institutions can successfully reform, rehabilitate, refine or even improve a person, but real conversion from sinner to saint cannot be achieved without divine intervention. For this reason, those who desire genuine change in all ramifications of life must come to God by accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of God into their lives. Are you one those seeking real change? Today is your day! Genuinely repent of your sins, confessing them to the Lord and accepting His Lordship over your life.

Prayer Point: Father, I desire real change in my life; please transform me today in Jesus’ Name.

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.

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1).

E very Christian has a right to pray and expect answers; it’s part of our heritage in Christ. Knowing this, prayer should be for you, moments of fellowship and expectation. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” We were called into communion and participation with the God-kind. This means you can talk to the Lord directly, and as a friend, and He’ll hear and answer you.

No wonder Jesus emphasized in a parable, the need for men to pray always and persevere in prayer. God delights in answering your prayers. 1 Peter 3:12 says, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers….”

 Through prayer, your spirit is stirred to respond to the Lord more quickly. 1 Corinthians 14:4 says, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself….” Moreover, when you pray in other tongues, you’re speaking mysteries, divine secrets: “For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God…in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths {and} hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]” (1 Corinthians 14:2 AMPC). You can bring forth divine secrets regarding your family, business, education, and all that concerns you, if you’d pray fervently in the spirit.

You might not know what steps to take in certain areas of life, but as you pray in other tongues, illumination comes. Someone says, “But I’ve been praying in tongues and still haven’t received the direction or go-ahead for the things I want to do”; persevere! Keep praying, knowing you’ll surely receive answers. The Bible says if the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth (Ecclesiastes 11:3). Keep filling the clouds with your heartfelt prayers.

James 5:16 (AMPC) tells us that as the righteous, our prayers must be heartfelt and persistent: “…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” You’ve been made righteous, and have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; therefore, your prayers make tremendous power available, dynamic in its working. Hallelujah!

CONFESSION
Dear Father, I rejoice at the glorious impact and changes that take place in, and for me as I pray.Even now, I’m suffused in the glory of your presence, as your love fills my heart, and thrills my soul. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY:
1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 John 5:14-15

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 23 & Exodus 24-25

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 12:1-9 & Genesis 33