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GODLY SORROW? – Friday April 22nd 2016

GODLY SORROW? 
Memorise: For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:

but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2ndCorinthians 7:10

Read: Luke 22:60-62, 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

 

Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 21-22, Proverbs 14:4-17
MESSAGE
When Peter realized that he did not fulfil his promise to not deny Jesus Christ, the Bible says: “…he went out, and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75). This is what we call godly sorrow and it has its blessings.
When an individual is confronted with the reality of his sinful life and the certainty of hell, if he is not a reprobate, he will mourn of his woes. The best way to mourn for one’s sin is to confess and forsake them.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have merchy. Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
Proverbs 28:13-14
In our Bible reading for today, the Pharisee went to the temple, only to begin to eulogise himself about all his good deeds. The Publican, on the other hand, smote his heart and mourned for his sins. Some of us have been so self-conceited for too long a time that we have piled-up sins that are now standing in our ways to spiritual revival.
The Bible says:
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast, saying God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exaleteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Luke 18:14-14
Beloved of the Lord, let us examine ourselves and see where we are falling short of God’s grace for living holy. Let us repent genuinely, and come back to our first love. I pray that the Lord will revive you today in Jesus’ name.
 Prayer Point

 

Father, I need a revival of holiness, please revive me again.

God of Your Trouble, God of Your Heart Gloria Copeland

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7

In this day and time, trouble seems to surround us on every side. If it’s not a failing economy, it’s a failing business, a failing marriage or failing health. Yet, in the midst of seemingly overwhelming problems, God has promised to deliver us.

Let me give you a word of advice though. If you want God to be God of your trouble, then you must let Him be God of your heart. God honors those who honor Him. So, if you’re facing some problems today, don’t just start kicking and screaming and begging Him to save you from them. Honor Him by going to His Word and doing what He says you should do.

Psalm 34 is a good place to start. It says, for example, that you should seek God (verse 4). As you seek Him, He will deliver you from the things that threaten you.

Secondly, it instructs you to cry out to the Lord. He will save you out of all your troubles (verse 6).

Next it tells you to fear the Lord. If you don’t know how to do that, verses 11-14 will tell you exactly what you need to know: You must keep from speaking evil and deceit; depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Remember, if you want God to be God of your trouble, let Him be God of your heart. When you do that, all of heaven will get involved in your deliverance—and your triumph will be guaranteed.

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 34

SEEK FIRST GOD’S KINGDOM

21
Apr

Matthew 6:31–33

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

As a child of God, know that it is your Father’s pleasure to meet all your needs. Jesus Himself tells us, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” But God does not want you to seek after things. He wants you to seek first His kingdom. And when you do that, all the things that you need will be added to you!

So your first priority every day is to seek His kingdom. The word “first” in verse 33 is the Greek word proton, which means “first in order or importance, holding the highest place in all our affections”. My friend, God wants us to seek first His kingdom, and all things will fall gloriously in place.

We are not to seek after things the way Gentiles do. The word “seek” in “the Gentiles seek” (verse 32) is the Greek word epizeteo. It means “to seek with all their might with much sweat or with much stress”. However, the way God wants us to “seek” in “seek first the kingdom of God” is the Greek word zeteo, which means “to hunger, to desire to worship”. It is simply a hungering, a desiring for the kingdom of God, without any labor or toil.

But what is the kingdom of God? Romans 14:17 tells us that it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. And the kingdom of God dwells within you because the Holy Spirit indwells you. So the kingdom of God is His righteousness, peace and joy in you.

Beloved, if you want to have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit flowing inside you, then seek every day to be conscious of your righteousness in Christ, not your own righteousness, but His righteousness given to you as a gift. Pursue Jesus first. Spend time with Him and listen to His Word. And when you do these things, you are seeking His kingdom and His righteousness, and all the things that you need will be added to you!

Thought For The Day

When you pursue Jesus and His righteousness given to you as a gift, everything you need will be added to you.

Decide to Believe by Joyce Meyer – posted April 21, 2016

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
—James 1:2-4

Too often people stare at me with a blank look when I urge them to decide to believe. It’s as if I’m asking them to do something they can’t do. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God (see Romans 10:17), but it also involves a decision.

We enter into a relationship with God through believing in Jesus Christ, but that’s only the beginning.

Believing doesn’t end there. As I understand the realm of the Spirit, if we follow the Lord, we live with a growing faith. That means we learn to believe for bigger things. We learn to trust God for things we would never have thought of in our earliest Christian days.

When we become Christians, the Bible says we are adopted into the family of God: . . . but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in . . . which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! (Romans 8:15b).

That’s the beginning. That’s also where too many Christians stop. The Spirit keeps reaching for your hands so He can pull you forward. That’s when you must decide to believe—or you resist and stay exactly where you are in your Christian experience.

Read the verse at the beginning of this topic. It says your faith will be tested, but you must hold onto it and move forward. The testing may come when the devil attempts to make you doubt the promises God has given you.

There is never a stopping place in your spiritual growth—God wants to take you onward. But you have to make the choice to believe. Sometimes that takes courage, but that’s how the Christian life functions. We grow by taking steps of faith.

When God speaks to your heart—to your inner being—you need to learn to say without hesitation, “Let it be so, Lord.” You have to learn to agree with whatever the Spirit of God says or wants.

Instead, many tend to resist. They don’t say no. Satan is too subtle to nudge them to do that. He puts questions in their minds, urging them to ask, “How can that be?” They start asking God to help them understand. If your boss wants you to do a task, you can ask, “Why?” or ask for an ¬explanation.

But that is not how the Holy Spirit works. You say, “Lord, if You’ll help me understand, I will believe and obey.” God says, “Just obey. If I want you to understand, I’ll make it clear to you.” God doesn’t have to explain anything to us.

It frequently happens that believers know something down deep in their hearts—in their inner beings—but their minds fight against it. They may consider themselves unworthy. They may ask, “Who am I that You would use me to change lives?” They waste a lot of energy by telling God why they can’t do what He wants them to do. God already knows everything that is wrong with us or ever will be wrong with us, and He is willing to work through us anyway. God requires availability not ability.

God asks you to do something quite simple: Believe. That’s all. If God speaks, you need to learn to say, “Even though I don’t understand, I’ll do it.” One of the best examples I can think of in Scripture is the story of Ananias of Damascus. God told him that Saul (later called Paul) was blind and in a particular house. He was to go and lay hands on him, and God would heal him (see Acts 9:10-19).

Ananias was afraid. Saul was the great persecutor of Christians, but God told him to go because the blinded man was a chosen vessel. Despite his fear and inability to understand why God would choose a great persecutor to be a chosen vessel, Ananias went and prayed for Saul, and the future apostle was healed.

That’s how God wants us to behave. He wants us to choose to believe Him even if what He’s asking us to do doesn’t compute in our thoughts.

Holy Spirit of God, help me always to believe Your promises, even when I don’t understand Your purpose. I want to learn to trust You more, as I move forward in faith to accomplish what You have for me to do. Help me always to be obedient, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

DENYING JESUS? – Thursday April 21st 2016

ENYING JESUS? 
Memorise: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor


standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalms 1:1

Read: Luke 22:54-60, 54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

 

Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 19:16-20:26, Proverbs 13:15-14:3
MESSAGE
The company you keep determines who you are, what you do, and how you respond to situations in life. The story was told of a sparrow that got trapped together with ravens that were caught devouring a grain farmland. He pleaded with the farmer who owned the trap to release him. “Why should I release you”, the farmer asked. “Because I am not a raven but a sparrow that cannot devour your farm” the sparrow replied. “How come you were caught with the ravens?”, “I was only trying to enjoy their company” the raven replied. “So, you are being judged because of the company you were in” the farmer concluded.
The story in our Bible reading of today is pathetic. Many things could have been responsible for Peter’s denial of Jesus, however, let us look at some probable factors. Firstly; the Bible says when they brought Jesus into the high priest’s house;
Peter followed Him, but afar off. It is dangerous to follow Jesus afar off. Moreover, because it was cold, Peter moved into the hall and sat down with those that were enjoying the warmth of the fire that was set. It is unfortunate today that some so-called believers are enjoying the fire or the warmth of sin in the bosom of strange men and women.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful”
Psalms 1:1
Peter, forgetting that he had the identity of a Galilean, sat in the midst of the residents of Jerusalem and his identity was found out. Many pretend as if they are not Christians, they easily conform to the comfort zones of this world. Whereas, the Bible says:
“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.”
Romans 12:3
Peter did not notice that his location was not good enough for him to maintain his obligation of discipleship to Jesus Christ. And when he was confronted about being a disciple of Jesus, he denied it to the point of swearing.
Beloved, let us learn from Peter’s mistakes, following Jesus from afar off is very dangerous to our spiritual life. We must not patronise spiritual unhealthy zones, no matter how attractive the place may be. We will be judged by the company we keep.
Prayer Point
Father, please help me never to deny you however tough the trial may be.

God of Your Trouble, God of Your Heart Gloria Copeland

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7

In this day and time, trouble seems to surround us on every side. If it’s not a failing economy, it’s a failing business, a failing marriage or failing health. Yet, in the midst of seemingly overwhelming problems, God has promised to deliver us.

Let me give you a word of advice though. If you want God to be God of your trouble, then you must let Him be God of your heart. God honors those who honor Him. So, if you’re facing some problems today, don’t just start kicking and screaming and begging Him to save you from them. Honor Him by going to His Word and doing what He says you should do.

Psalm 34 is a good place to start. It says, for example, that you should seek God (verse 4). As you seek Him, He will deliver you from the things that threaten you.

Secondly, it instructs you to cry out to the Lord. He will save you out of all your troubles (verse 6).

Next it tells you to fear the Lord. If you don’t know how to do that, verses 11-14 will tell you exactly what you need to know: You must keep from speaking evil and deceit; depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Remember, if you want God to be God of your trouble, let Him be God of your heart. When you do that, all of heaven will get involved in your deliverance—and your triumph will be guaranteed.

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 34

– See more at: http://www.kcm.org/read/faith-to-faith?language=en-US&field_faithtofaith_date_value%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=April+21#sthash.nn3rbQ4D.dpuf

Go with the Flow by Joyce Meyer – posted April 20, 2016

But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
—Psalm 37:11

We can learn to get along with people. It is especially important to learn to get along with our immediate family members and coworkers. There are many informative books about personality differences to help us understand why people feel and act the way they do. Understanding helps to smooth over strained relationships.

People make decisions differently. Some give an immediate answer, while others want time to think about things first. Try to understand the people you will see today. Ask God to show you ways to get along with them. He will give you favor as you trust in Him.

TRUTH IS EVER INDEPENDENT Today: 2016-04-20

Truth has no match neither does it suffer nor is subject to any form of limits/ barrier.

Truth is before time and ahead of time.

The past could not alter it neither can the future adjust, or change it.

It is just absolutely independent.

It doesn’t rely on support from any, neither is it bothered about who is not subscribing to it.

You either take it or leave it.

Truth cannot be intimidated neither does it need anyone to excite it.

We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth.

Truth is constant.

Truth is immovable.

Truth is not subject to any circumstance be it time, age, pressure, places, generation or any such.

It is neither archaic nor modern.

It never once sought to be civilized because it was never outdated.

It does not seek freedom because it was never colonized or ever in bondage.

It was never bound, that is why it has power to set any man free that is in any form of bondage.

Truth needs nobody to exist but everybody needs it to last even beyond his lifespan.

I therefore stand by the truth.

I subscribe to the truth.

I’ll project the truth.

I’ll defend the truth.

It is in the truth that I’m secured.

DON’T LOOK INSIDE THE ARK

20
Apr

Exodus 12:3

…every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.

Jews worldwide celebrate the Passover feast. The feast, which has been kept for generations, commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. (Exodus 12:14) The night before the Israelites left Egypt, the destroyer went through the land killing the firstborn of man and beast. Only those households with the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts were spared.

God had told the Israelites, “Take a lamb, a lamb for a household.” It was a lamb for each family. This tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our true Passover Lamb, is for whole families to be saved!

So your children are blessed once you receive Jesus. Your unsaved spouse and grandparents are blessed too, because Jesus is now the Lamb for your whole household. Your unsaved loved ones will enjoy the blessings of the saved. The Bible says that the sanctified will sanctify the unsanctified. (1 Corinthians 7:14) Yes, they will still need to personally receive Jesus as their Savior, but God has marked them for salvation because you are saved!

Now, each household took a lamb which God said had to be without blemish. Why? Because the lamb typified Jesus, the true Lamb of God, who is without sin. John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

The lamb was then killed, and its blood put on the two doorposts and lintel of the house (Exodus 12:7), such that it speaks of the cross. Today, the destroyer has to pass over every family that believes in the finished work of Jesus at the cross and puts its faith in His blood, because there has already been a death. The blood proves it—the innocent Lamb for the guilty family!

Jesus also celebrated the Passover the night before He was crucified. But He was instituting the greater Passover. This time, it was not deliverance from Pharaoh and Egypt, but from Satan and his kingdom of darkness! It was not deliverance from slavery in Egypt, but from a life of bondage to sin to a life of liberty as free men in Christ!

Beloved, Jesus, the Lamb of God, sacrificed Himself to set you free. And when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!

Thought For The Day

The destroyer has to pass over every family that believes in the finished work of Jesus at the cross and puts its faith in His blood.

Be Supernatural God’s Way Gloria Copeland

And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me?… Lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

Exodus 14:15-16

If you hang around God very much, it won’t be long before you’ll start wanting to do things the world considers supernatural. You’ll start wanting to lay hands on the sick and have them recover. You’ll start wanting to cast out demons. You’ll start wanting to cast mountainous problems into the sea.

What’s more, you can do it if you want to!

How? Not by jumping out and “trying” to do supernatural things, but by obeying God one step at a time. By doing the things He’s already given you power to do.

That’s how it happened with Moses. He didn’t have the power to divide the Red Sea. But he did have the power to stretch his rod out over it. And when he did that in obedience to the Lord’s command, the Holy Spirit did the rest.

It will be the same way with you. When you start doing your part, the Holy Spirit will do His and supernatural things will start happening around you.

What is your part? Feeding on the Word. Praying in the spirit. Listening to what the Spirit of God says to you. As you do those things, as you begin to move as God impresses you to move and take your direction from Him, you’ll flow in the supernatural as naturally as a bird flies in the air.

You won’t struggle and strain and try to “part the sea.” You’ll just trust the Lord and stretch out your rod…and watch the miracles roll.

Scripture Reading:

Exodus 14

– See more at: http://www.kcm.org/read/faith-to-faith?language=en-US&field_faithtofaith_date_value%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=April+20#sthash.ipeROnFa.dpuf