Daily Devotional for Thursday 14th November

[Edoman]

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

THURSDAY, 1⁴TH NOVEMBER.

IT’S A FORMAT; NOT A PRAYER

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9).


When Jesus walked the earth, He prayed on several occasions, and His prayers are recorded for us in the Scriptures. His disciples observed that He always had results when He prayed; and so, they said to Him, “…Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1).

Thus, He gave them a format for prayer. He said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). Many Christians have misconstrued this to be “The Lord’s Prayer.” They insist it’s the prayer Jesus asked us to pray, and that we must pray so.

They further base their argument on Luke’s writing in Luke 11:2, which reads, “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven….” What they fail to realize, however, is that the Greek word for “say” in the foregoing verse is “lego.” It doesn’t mean “to say something”; rather, it means to ‘systematically lay forth.’ Jesus laid forth a format or pattern for prayer for His disciples. He didn’t say we should quote or recite those words in prayer, which is what many do today.

The real Lord’s Prayer is in John 17; read the entire chapter and you’ll be so inspired. Moreover, this model for prayer that He gave His disciples was before He went to the Cross. He taught them to pray in expectation of the Kingdom of God. At that time, He hadn’t died for the whole world, and the world was still being dominated by another kingdom, which is the kingdom of darkness.

However, being born again, we’ve been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:12-13). In this kingdom, we have our needs supplied according to His riches in glory. So, today, it doesn’t quite make spiritual sense to recite the words in Luke 11:2-4; it’s not a New Testament prayer. In the New Testament, prayer is based on our new relationship with the Father; a divine fellowship. This is what Jesus made possible. Now we pray through the Spirit and worship in the Spirit. Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the enlightenment of the Scriptures; I’m informed with accurate and precise knowledge of the Word, which enables me to pray the right way. I declare that the nations of the world are coming to the knowledge of the glorious Gospel of Christ, delivering men from the power of darkness into their glorious inheritance in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

Luke 18:1; John 16:26-27
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Hebrews 11:17-40 & Ezekiel 8-10

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
John 12:1-11 & 1 Chronicles 14

[Edoman]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2019

THEME: *A SHINING LIGHT.*

MEMORISE:

*And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.* John 1:5

READ: John 1:1-9

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

MESSAGE

Beloved, the Lord is asking you today if you are a shinning light in darkness. He is asking you this question because He has already declared who you are in this regard, saying in Matthew 5:14:

*“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”*

He therefore wants to know how well you have done in fulfilling His word. To remove doubts from the hearts of those who think perhaps the time to shine is sometime away in the future, the Holy Spirit said in Isaiah 60:1:

*“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”*

Beloved, it is time to shine in this dark world. The darkness in the world is becoming thicker and more palpable by the day, and for this reason we have no more time to waste. We have allowed darkness and its agents to be comfortable for too long now. Some decades ago, when a Christian was present in an organization, no matter how young, small or low rank he was, the agents of darkness in that establishment could not be comfortable. It is however disheartening that nowadays Christians are not just making them comfortable, they are also joining them to perpetrate works of darkness. Such as fraudulent practices, looting and even modern occultism. While excusing themselves for not shining as light, some children of God say, “The agents of darkness are much more than the children of light.” They fail to recognize that even a little light is able to overcome any form of darkness, because the Bible says in John 1:5:

*“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”*

In order to successfully shine in a world filled with palpable darkness, you need to recognize that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, and He wants to shine through you to illuminate the darkness in this world (John 8:12). As the Light of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ shines through you when you stand as His witness in words and lifestyle. In other words, you must speak of Him everywhere and also represent Him through your lifestyle. He has done His part by dying on the cross, and now He continues His priestly ministry in heaven, interceding for us at the right hand of power. He left us in the world to bear witness to the Light that He is, so that darkness may vanish from the world. We must not disappoint Him in this assignment. Beloved, we have no excuse for not shining in the darkness of this world. Although we have no power of our own, we have been empowered to shine through righteous living, good works and showing love to the oppressed and downtrodden. Let us therefore arise, shine and give glory to our Father as we drive away the darkness of evil in our society.

PRAYER POINT:
*Father, please don’t let my light be extinguished by the darkness of this world. *

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 17-20
Amos1:1-2:3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: *LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU.*

1. While passing thro' this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life's a book before their eyes,
They're reading it thro' and thro'
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?

Refrain

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain

[Edoman]

*SEEDS OF DESTINY*

 - 2019-11-14

TOPIC: *LIVING TO GIVE; GIVING TO LIVE*

SCRIPTURE : "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back". Luke 6:30

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY : Riches without outreach is wretchedness. Prosperity without generosity is poverty.

Giving is an act of releasing something to someone without the expectation of a pay back. This is the release of your love, potentials, time, resources etc. to benefit humanity and glorify Divinity.

One of the major essences of living is giving. *A fundamental sign of love is also giving (John 3:16).*

The truth is, giving is living; you have not started living until you have started giving. That is to say, *we live to give and we give to live*. Giving and living are intertwined. And to give it despite the need for it is called sacrifice. *To exist without anyone benefiting from your life is a waste of existence.*

A story was told of a wealthy man who died and while his remains was being buried, a mad man shouted “Hold on! Do not bury him without his cars, and houses; bury them all with him.” It is possible that while the rich man was alive, no one benefited from his wealth.

Beloved, *riches without outreach is wretchedness. Prosperity without generosity is poverty*. It doesn’t matter how wealthy you are, if your wealth is not wiping tears from the faces of the less privileged, you are a poor man. Until you live to give, it is possible your existence on earth is a waste.

REMEMBER THIS : Riches without outreach is wretchedness. Prosperity without generosity is poverty.

*ASSIGNMENT (S):*

*1. Determine to always make positive difference in the life of anyone who comes your way per-time.*
*2. Make giving a lifestyle.*
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE : "Financial Wisdom".
PRAYER : Lord, make me a channel of blessing to my generation. Eject the spirit of self-centeredness out of my life and inject into me the giver’s spirit, Lord in the Name of Jesus.

DAILY READING : Ezekiel 29:1 to 30:26, Hebrews 11:32 to 12:13, Psalm 112:1 to 10, Proverbs 27:17
QUOTE: "When you live for yourself, you live like a slave; but when you live beyond yourself, you live beyond your time". Culled from "30 Secrets to the top" by Dr Paul Enenche.

AMAZING FACT : The average lifespan of a Bald Eagle in the wild is around 20 years,"with the oldest living to be about 30.

TODAY IN HISTORY : 14/11/1889 – Pioneering female journalist Nellie Bly (aka Elizabeth Cochrane) began a successful attempt to travel around the world in less than 80 days. She completed the trip in 72 days.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD : Grace to exist as a blessing is released on you this day in Jesus Name.

[Edoman]

OUR DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 14TH NOVEMBER, 2019

TOPIC: THE PRESSURE IS FOR PRECEPTS!
BASIC SCRIPTURE: (PSALM 57:1-11)

Precept is defined as, a commandment, an authoritative rule for action; in the Scriptures generally, a divine injunction in which man’s obligation is set forth (Latin preaceptum, from praecipere, “to instruct”).

Four words are so rendered in King James Version: (1) mitzvah, very frequently (168 times) translated “commandment,” but 4 times “precept” [in the Revised Version (British and American) and only in Jeremiah 35:18; Daniel 9:5];
(2) from the same root is tsaw, or tsaw (Isaiah 28:10, 13);
(3) piqquehim, only in the Psalms [21 times in Psalm 119, e.g.
verses 4, 15, 27; also the Revised Version (British and American) Psalm 19:8; 103:18; 111:7]; (4) in the New Testament, entole, generally in the King James Version translated “commandment” [68 times), but twice “precept” (Mark 10:5; Hebrews 9:19; in both cases the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes “commandment”.

In summary, precept is a guiding principle or rule that is used to control, influence or regulate conduct. Hudson Taylor, who spent 50 years as a missionary in China in the 19th century, wrote: “It doesn’t matter how great the pressure is; what really matters is where the pressure lies.

Whether it comes between you and God or presses you nearer His heart.” So, in most cases, God allows PRESSURES into our lives in order to teach us PRECEPTS FOR LIVING! So, PRESSURES ARE FOR PRECEPTS!

So, whether you are in the midst of your darkest days, or your dark days are behind you, or ahead of you, you need to cling to this truth: God will not allow a battle that will not teach you a PRECEPT! Hard times don’t erase God’s promises! Harsh treatments don’t escape God’s notice! Heavy tests don’t eclipse God’s concern!

We desperately need God every moment of our lives, but we are more acutely aware of our need for the Lord during our most difficult and dark times. Catch this: God’s deliverance may not happen according to our timetable or in the manner we expect, but it will happen at the right time and in the right way.

Today’s Psalm talks about MERCY producing victory in battles! The story of Moses is inspiring, but it is not completed! BUT YOUR STORY continues to be written DAILY through every allowed battle of your life, family and ministry!
May we continue to become the followers and leaders of the Lord that are used for His proposes and glory – both in good times and bad times. HOLD ON AND HOLD OUT!

Tomorrow November 15th is my birthday. Your eleventh-hour miracle is my birthday gift!

PRAYER POINTS: Take your best song of worship as led.
1. Pray about today’s word as led now.
2. Declare Psalm 57:5-7 again!
3. LORD, teach me Your PRECEPTS from every PRESSURE!
4. Holy Ghost, rewrite my story from SHAME to FAME IN Your MERCY in Jesus name.
5. Lord, EXALT Your glory above the heavens! Magnify Your name above the issues of my destiny in Jesus name.
6. In these last months of 2019, my haters are falling into the net they have set for my feeet in Jesus name (Pray it seriously till you have peace to stop).

THE BIBLE-IN-ONE-YEAR: (ACTS 15-18)
BY: BISHOP (DR) CHRIS E. KWAKPOVWE

[Edoman]

CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH

THE LIVING WATER {July ~ Dec., 2019}

DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Thursday, November 14, 2019
- World Diabetes Day

TOPIC: ONE ANGEL, MANY DEATHS
Read 2 Kings 19:35-37

35. And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
36. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
37. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
MEMORISE: And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses all dead (2 Kings 19:35)

EXPOSITION

One of the ways God displays His almightiness is through the ministry of angels in the life of His saints. History is replete with testimonies of God and His divine operations, when He sends His angels to assist saints. 

We should be aware that we experience the power of God in spiritual dimensions, when He sends His angels to us. We should possess our possessions through the ministry of the angels of God. Saints of God should live in peace with the help of the angels of God. Sicknesses and diseases should be far from our houses and camps by the ministry of His angels. This is good news as we align with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to remember and pray for people living with diabetes.

The ministry of one angel in your financial life is enough to terminate poverty in your family life. The arrival of one angel from God is sufficient to banish your enemies to their destruction. The exploits that God can do in your life through the ministry of one angel are unimaginable by the human faculty. 

When He sends one angel because of you to the camp of your enemies, they are finished. Whenever you experience the ministry of an angel, it brings a total positive turnaround in your life.

Sennacherib threatened the people of God and boasted in his armies, horses and chariots. But when Hezekiah prayed against him and his chariots, God sent just one angel, and he killed 185,000 of his soldiers. Who and what is threatening you, today? What kind of harassment are you suffering in your place of abode, business, or workplace? Is it in your dreams, or in the daylight? One angel from God is enough to terminate their threats and operations. Command your angels to swing into operation now.

PRAYER POINTS

1. I terminate all activities of demons of death in my generation, in Jesus' name.
2. Let the angels of God visit the camp of the enemies of God's children, and cause their activities to die.
3. Command the healing power of God upon people living with diabetes.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Jeremiah 48:41 - 50:17; Hebrews 8:1 - 9:8
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!