by dailyd | Oct 19, 2018 | More
Topic: Joy in Sorrow
In the day when I cried, [you] answered me, and strengthened me … — Psalm 138:3
At some time in life all of us feel the loneliness of sorrow. Mary and Martha were saddened by the death of their brother, Lazarus, and Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Theirs was a loneliness of sorrow. The shortest verse in the Bible tells us that at the tomb of Lazarus “Jesus wept.” He enters into our sorrows.
When we come to Jesus Christ, He does not promise to exempt us from trouble or sorrow. Tears will come, but deep inside there will be a joy that is difficult to explain to you. It is a joy from God—produced by the Holy Spirit. In the midst of trials and agony and tears which come to us all, a supernatural power is given out, producing joy.
Prayer for the day: Your comfort in times of sorrow, loving Lord Jesus, enfolds me, giving light and hope in my darkness.
Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.
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by dailyd | Oct 19, 2018 | More
Topic: Don’t Let Division Stunt Your Growth
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions…. – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
Envying, strife and divisions had reduced the early Corinthian Christians back to the natural, or carnal, state that they were in before they were born again. It had so stunted their spiritual growth that they couldn’t understand the things the Apostle Paul wanted to teach them.
Satan has sent the same spirit of division among us today. He knows that a house divided against itself will fall. He also knows if we all come together in the unity of our faith, we’ll arrive at the full stature of Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:13). So he has assigned a spirit of division to operate in our personal lives, our church lives, our social lives and our family lives. His goal is the same as it was in Corinth: to bring envying, strife and division, and to stunt our spiritual growth.
But we don’t have to yield to that spirit. Instead Paul says, “[by] speaking the truth in love, [we] may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
Compare “speaking the truth in love” to “envyings, strife, and divisions.” Diametrical opposites, aren’t they? You can’t do both of them at the same time. As you speak the truth in love, you grow up. As you envy, fuss and separate from one another, you go back to babyhood.
Don’t let Satan stop your spiritual growth by giving in to the spirit of division but speak the truth in love and “grow up into Him in all things!”
Scripture Reading: James 4:1-11
This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.
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Kenneth & Gloria Copeland Devotional 18 October 2018
by dailyd | Oct 19, 2018 | More
Topic: Bring Your Boats
Read: Proverbs 3:21–31
Bible in a Year: Isaiah 56–58; 2 Thessalonians 2
Scripture: Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27
Our Daily Bread 19 October 2018 Message: Hurricane Harvey brought catastrophic flooding to eastern Texas in 2017. The onslaught of rain stranded thousands of people in their homes, unable to escape the floodwaters. In what was dubbed the “Texas Navy,” many private citizens brought boats from other parts of the state and nation to help evacuate stranded people.
The actions of these valiant, generous men and women call to mind the encouragement of Proverbs 3:27, which instructs us to help others whenever we are able. They had the power to act on behalf of those in need by bringing their boats. And so they did. Their actions demonstrate a willingness to use whatever resources they had at their disposal for the benefit of others.
We may not always feel adequate for the task at hand; often we become paralyzed by thinking we don’t have the skills, experience, resources, or time to help others. In such instances, we’re quick to sideline ourselves, discounting what we do have that might be of assistance to someone else. The Texas Navy couldn’t stop the floodwaters from rising, nor could they legislate government aid. But they used what they had within their power—their boats—to come alongside the deep needs of their fellow man. May we all bring our “boats”—whatever they may be—to take the people in our paths to higher ground. Our Daily Bread 19 October 2018 Devotional
Prayer: Lord, all that I have is from You. Help me to always use what You’ve given me to help others.
Thought for the Day: God provides for His people through His people.
INSIGHT
Helping others by doing good when it’s in our power to act (Proverbs 3:27–28) is also the focus of Paul’s instructions to believers. Encouraging us to live meaningful and purposeful lives before a watching, non-believing world, Paul tells us to “be very careful, then, how [we] live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:15–16). Careful living means we are to live godly lives as “children of light” pleasing to the Lord (vv. 8, 10). Paul expects “those who have trusted in God [to] devote themselves to doing what is good” (Titus 3:8). We are to adopt a never-give-up attitude when it comes to serving others: “Let us not become weary in doing good . . . . As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9–10).
What can you do this week to serve someone?
K. T. Sim
Our Daily Bread 19 October 2018 Devotional was written by Kirsten Holmberg (Our Daily Bread Ministries)
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by dailyd | Oct 19, 2018 | More
TOPIC: Break the Barrier
TEXT: ACTS 11:1-18a
KEY VERSE: “But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common”
(Acts 11:9).
MESSAGE: It is quite important to understand that life throws diverse forms of barriers on our way to progress. The most significant key to success in life is how effectively one handles the barriers. In today’s text, Peter faced two critical situations. One was the confrontation from the elders of the church in Jerusalem who expressed displeasure about his preaching to the Gentiles. His response is a classic example of how to handle misunderstandings among brethren in the church. He humbly and courteously narrated the events that led him to the Gentiles with the gospel of salvation.
The explanation was no doubt convincing because Peter was doing the will of God and was wise in his presentation. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). There will be less suspicion, bickering, divisions and splinter groups in the family and society, if we all learn to display humility as we communicate with one another. A believer should not feel too big to be questioned.
Peter’s other challenge was the innate Jewish prejudice against the Gentiles which was easily taken away from him once he surrendered to the absolute will and word of God. The Church will certainly be able to do more good in the world by drawing sinners to Christ, if members of the Body of Christ will do away with all forms of prejudice and the holier-than-thou attitude. To win people to Christ requires genuine demonstration of love to others in our neighbourhood, marketplace, workplace or wherever we have the opportunity of interacting with others.
It is not God’s will to discriminate against any on the basis of tribe, status, gender or any other factor either in the church or outside.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Barriers separate, but love attracts.
DAILY BIBLE READING: Matthew 15; Mark 7
DCLM Daily Manna 19 October 2018 Devotional was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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by dailyd | Oct 19, 2018 | Seed of Destiny
TOPIC: Christ Being Visible Through Your Life
SCRIPTURE: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God cannot own you and you are looking like the child of the devil.
Seeds of Destiny 19 October 2018 Message: Previously, we saw that a lot of people answered the call to give their lives to Christ whenever such call is made, but in reality, they did not really understand what they were doing. So, we tried to understand what it really meant to give one’s life to Christ. We saw that giving one’s life to Christ entails, relinquishing the ownership of one’s life to God, amongst others.
Today, we shall consider another important point of what it means to give your life to Christ. This understanding is important because everyone is a product of his understanding.
Now, another meaning of giving your life to Christ is:
Christ Being Seen In You
This means, having the mark of Jesus Christ on your life; it means that you have become the brand of Christ. For instance, when you see a product manufactured in China, on that product, it would be boldly written, ‘Made in China’. If it was made in Japan, it would be written, ‘Made in Japan’. Also, during the era of slave trade, the owners of the slaves engraved their marks on the slaves they owned. A slave is not permitted to bear another slave owner’s mark. As it is in the physical, so it is in the spiritual. God cannot own you and you are looking like the child of the devil; resemblance is also a proof of ownership.
Beloved, my counsel is, come to the point where believers and unbelievers are able to see or feel Jesus Christ when they come close to you by the way you dress, talk or by your attitude.
REMEMBER THIS: God cannot own you and you are looking like the child of the devil.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Take out some time to examine yourself by asking the following questions: Do I look like Christ? Do I act or behave like Christ? Do people hear Christ when I speak?
2. Respond appropriately to your answers above by adjusting your life to God’s standard.
PRAYER: O Lord, remove every character or nature in me that does not resemble You. Put Your mark of ownership on my life Lord, in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: GIVE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST
QUOTE: Existing without Jesus Christ is existing without a just cause; life becomes toxic outside of Christ. Culled from 365 WISDOM CAPSULES by Dr Paul Enenche
DAILY READING: Jeremiah 33:1 to 34:22, 1 Timothy 4:1 to 16, Psalm 89:1 to 13, Proverbs 25:23 to 24
AMAZING FACT: A hen turns her eggs nearly 50 times each day to keep the yolk from sticking to the side.
TODAY IN HISTORY: 19/10/1870: 1st African-Americans elected to United State House of Representatives
DON’T FORGET TO ATTEND: The Home Church meeting tomorrow by 6:00pm at a Dunamis Home Church near you. Invite your neighbours and family. God bless you.
Seeds of Destiny 19 October 2018 Daily Devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors.
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by dailyd | Oct 18, 2018 | More
Topic: Double Blessing
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. — Zechariah 9:12
Hope is a powerful force that will bring you through any storm. Our hope is in God; therefore, we can hope without any natural reason to do so. Hope is a positive expectation of good.
Practice saying, “Something good is going to happen to me today, and something good is going to happen through me today.” God is good, and He wants to shower His goodness on you.
There are times of difficulty, loss, illness, and disappointment in life, but if we will endure with hope in our hearts, we will be rewarded with a double blessing for our former trouble.
Let me strongly encourage you to refuse to be hopeless. Put your hope in God and things will always come around to being right in due time. I can’t guarantee how long it will take, and it may not be quick, but hope will strengthen you to face life with joy even in the midst of trouble.
Live daily thinking, Today may be the day of my breakthrough. It could happen suddenly…at any moment.
Hope is the anchor of our souls. It keeps us from giving in to wild emotions that attempt to lead us to do things we will regret later on. The wise man puts His hope in God. He listens for God’s voice and follows it, knowing that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. God is that Light, and He is urging you to be a prisoner of hope.
Prayer Starter: Father, anytime I feel discouraged or weary, help me remember that there is always hope. Help me to be filled with hope in You and positive expectation. You are good, and I believe You want to be good to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.
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