Morning Devotional For Saturday, 18th August

[Edoman]

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES


SATURDAY, 18TH AUGUST.

FULFIL YOUR CALLING IN THE GOSPEL.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Some people live their lives pursuing their own selfish interests, not aligning themselves with God’s vision of world evangelism. God wants your dreams to be connected to His dream; that way, your motives will always reflect His vision of having all men saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Soul winning should be the compelling motive and propelling force in your life. You’re first a Christian before being a politician, teacher, banker, student, etc.; therefore, fulfil your calling in the Gospel. Have the Gospel motive! Let your motivation in life be the expansion of God’s Kingdom, for therein lies true joy, fulfilment and all the blessings you could ever desire.

Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” This was an instruction given by the Lord Jesus Christ, not just to pastors and evangelists, but to all who would believe on His Name. You’re a minister of the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3:6); a bearer and dispenser of the glad tidings of salvation. You’ve been commissioned to reach out to those living in darkness with the light of salvation.

Acts 13:47 says, “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” You’re a light in a dark world; therefore, be aglow with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Beam the Gospel with steady radiance to others so they can become lights as well.

Whenever you have the opportunity to preach the Gospel, do it without fear. Be bold and recognise that you’re God’s man for the hour, holding forth the word of life; opening the eyes of them that are lost, and turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. What a calling! What a ministry!

PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for the grace for salvation that’s at work even now, as your children all around the world proclaim the Gospel. Many are turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, as they hear and receive the Gospel today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan
1 Corinthians 3 & Psalms 109-112

2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Philippians 4:8-13 & Jeremiah 3



#AFFIRMATIONTRAIN

18TH August

I affirm that my spirit is flooded with the light of God’s Word, and I see and apprehend what belongs to me in Christ. I am mightily blessed of the Lord and I am walking in His perfect will for my life.

Though I live in this world, I am not of the world. I am from above and my life is the supernatural life of God’s Word. Therefore, I think, talk and do the Word, and I receive the results of the Word in my life today and always! I am bold, strong and very courageous, for the Lord my God is at work in me.

He is my extraordinary strategist and I know what to do at all times. Failure is not a part of me! I can’t think failure, I can’t think fear, I can’t reason like a victim, I can’t think defeat; because my mind has been renewed by God’s Word. I can only think thoughts of success, victory, and progress because I’ve been programmed by the Word of God.

I am the seed of Abraham; the world belongs to me.
Hallelujah! It doesn’t matter the nation or territory that I live, my voice and influence will be felt by the nations of the world. I am not just a face in the crowd; I am the voice of God. I am a burning and a shining light, a person of influence, born to influence my world for Jesus. Blessed be God. Hallelujah!

SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES NOW

• Be bold to say the same things that God has said concerning you in His Word. That is what takes you beyond salvation, to enjoy the benefits of salvation ~ Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

God bless you

[Edoman]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL


DATE: SATURDAY 18TH AUGUST 2018


THEME: THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.


MEMORISE:

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. Ecclesiastics 5:10

READ: 1 Timothy 6:6-11

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

MESSAGE

Love can be very good if it is geared towards God and the things He approves of. However, love can be very dangerous if it tends towards the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye or the pride of life (1 John 2:15-16). One object we must never cast our affection on is money. In 1 Timothy 6:10, the Holy Spirit warns us of the dangers of falling in love with money, saying:
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many surrows.”

He went further to provide the antidote to the love of money, saying in 1Timothy 6:6-8:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

Our memory verse says something very profound about the love of money. It warns that if we love silver, it will never satisfy us, and that it is vanity to be obsessed with accumulating wealth, such as houses, cars, landed property, laurels of all kinds, chieftaincy titles, degrees of all sort, etc. These are all vanity in the sense that they will never give satisfaction that our soul craves. Apart from that, we can also die at any time and leave everything behind, as seen in the story of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-20. It is therefore a great disservice to your peace and tranquility to love money or wealth. Based on his personal experience, Solomon spoke on this in Ecclesiastes 6:1-2, where he said:

“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.”

Beloved, seek godliness with contentment, which can only be found in Jesus Christ. I encourage you to totally surrender your heart to Him, including that secret lust for money. The rat race for material things that will all fade away will only lead to frustration at the end of the day. However, having Jesus in your heart is a treasure that will never fade. Have you lost so much money or have you been disappointed financially, so much so that you are contemplating suicide? Please don’t do it! Jesus offers you abundant life, and it has provision and contentment in it. Reach out and receive it from Him today.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, circumcise my heart and cause contentment to take firm root in it, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 27-31

Matthew 22:1-22

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 9: THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

o Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.