Morning Devotional For Monday 3rd September

[Edoman]

*Rhapsody of Realities

_Monday, 3rd September 2018.


*MORE THAN A BLESSED MAN*

_Now the LORD had said unto Abram…And I will make of thee a great nation,and I will bless thee, and make thy namegreat; and thou shalt be a blessing_*(Genesis 12:1-2).*

God didn’t only bless Abraham, He alsomade him a blessing. For example, Lot wasblessed of God, because he followedAbraham: *“And Lot also, which went with Abram, hadflocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not ableto bear them, that they might dwell together: for theirsubstance was great, so that they could not dwelltogether”* (Genesis 13:5-6).

Think about that! Lotbecame very wealthy because of his association withAbraham.
If you’re born again, the same is true about you, because you’re the seed of Abraham: *“…if ye beChrist’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirsaccording to the promise”* (Galatians 3:29). All theblessings God endowed Abraham with are now yourpossessions in Christ Jesus. You’re a package of divineblessings! Living with this consciousness will eradicateevery sense of need or lack from your life.

God doesn’t want you in need; He already madeall things yours (1 Corinthians 3:21). Romans 8:17 saysyou’re an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ. There’s nothing you don’t have, and can’t do. Youshould never be need-conscious. He’s brought you into a large place, a place of wealth divine. Therefore, be the blessing He destined you to be.

You’re God’s contact-point of blessings to your world. When He seeks to bless someone, He locatesyou; you’re His partner and channel of blessing to yourworld. Anybody could receive a blessing or miraclefrom the Lord just by their association with you.

For example, no matter the sickness someone may be suffering from, he or she could get healed justby touching you. That’s because you’re God’s house,His living tabernacle (1 Corinthians 3:16); you’re theembodiment of the fullness of the blessings of God. Hallelujah!

*PRAYER*

_Precious Lord, I thank you for blessing me with allspiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I’m conscious that I’m blessed and I have all thingsthat pertain to life and godliness. Therefore, I live aglorious life, dispensing your blessings to my world,in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

*FURTHER STUDY:

*Galatians 4:1-5*

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, *2* but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. *3* Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. *4* But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, *5* to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

*Ephesians 1:3*
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

*1 Year Bible Reading Plan 2 Corinthians 1-2:1-4 & Proverbs 12-13

*2 Year Bible Reading Plan :*1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 & Jeremiah 21

[Edoman]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MONDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2018
THEME: SACRIFICIAL SERVICE

Memorise:
Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21:13

Read: 2 Samuel 23:14-17 (KJV)
14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15 And David longed, and said,
Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.
17 And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

Message:
Do you know that if your service to God has not yet become sacrificial, you still have some very important heights to attain?

Some people render service to God with an aspect of their life that costs them nothing, while they reserve the most precious parts to themselves. The sacrificial service of Apostle Paul stood him out among his contemporaries. The story that led to the statement he made in today’s memory verse is a case in point.

It was not that Paul doubted the prophecy that announced he would be bound in Jerusalem; rather, the fear of bounds had no impact on him because his heart was set on doing the will of the Master. For this reason, the brethren just couldn’t persuade him against going to Jerusalem Act 21:10-14.

Today’s Bible reading also narrates a story of sacrificial service. David fantasized aloud about drinking water from the well that was at the gate of Bethlehem, but which was blocked off by a stronghold of the Philistines there at that time. Overhearing their master’s desire, three mighty men risked their lives and broke through the host of the Philistines to get their water for David.

Being a warrior himself, David knew the risk involved in going into the camp of the enemy for whatever reason. While he celebrated the bravery of the three mighty men, he refused to drink the water they brought because of the value he placed on these men who risked their lives to fulfil a personal longing of his. His heartfelt words are captured in 2nd Samuel 23:17

“And he said, Be it far from me,
O LORD , that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it….”

If these men could go to such great lengths for David, what level of sacrifice are you ready to make for your Master?

When service becomes a sacrifice, only few people will continue to hold the fort. Nevertheless, the reward for sacrificial service is very substantial indeed. The three men who jeopardised their lives for David were given top positions in his army. Here is the commendation and reward our Lord promises those who will step up the level of their service from ordinary to sacrificial:

“And he said unto him, Well,
thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities."
Luke 19:17

I pray that God will grant you the grace to be faithful to the very end, and you will not miss your reward in heaven in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point:
Father, please grant me the grace to render sacrificial service to You in Jesus Name.

Bible in one year:
Psalm 107-110, Mark 1:21-45,

HYMN 12: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET
IT BE

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my sliver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for thee

[Edoman]

SEEDS OF DESTINY

DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY DR. PASTOR PAUL ENENCHE

MONDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2018

TOPIC: WHY THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT FAITH

SCRIPTURE: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Without faith, disastrous falls are imminent or inescapable. 

Previously, we saw that faith is a non-negotiable necessity for the Christian’s life and adventure on the face of the earth. This means, the Christian life is impossible without faith. When faith is out of place, Christianity is out of place, but when faith is intact, Christianity is intact.

Now, let me give you reasons why the Christian life or Christianity is impossible without faith:

a) We are saved by faith

We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Thus, without faith, salvation cannot be realized. 

b) We are made whole by faith

We are healed, cleansed and made whole by faith (Matthew 9:22). So without faith, we remain unclean and prone to diverse satanic afflictions. 

c) We live by faith

This means, without faith, death is inevitable for the just (Galatians 3:11).

d) We stand by faith

Faith is our stand in life and destiny; faith gives us a stand in life (Romans 11:20, 2 Corinthians 1:24). Without faith, disastrous falls are imminent or inescapable. 

Now, if we are saved by faith, made whole by faith, live by faith, stand by faith, walk by faith, what can we do without faith? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!

My counsel is, make up your mind to cultivate a solid life of faith in God in order to have and maintain a solid Christian life.

Remember this: Without faith, disastrous falls are imminent or inescapable. 

ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Make up your mind to deal with every form of doubt and unbelief in your life.

2. Determine to cultivate a solid life of faith.

PRAYER: O Lord! I ask for the impartation of the spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13). Help me Lord, to put absolute trust in You and in Your Word, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE FAITH-WAY OF LIFE.

AMAZING FACT: Airport control tower windows must be angled at precisely 15 degrees from vertical at the top to decrease reflections from both inside and outside the tower.

TODAY IN HISTORY: 03/09/1895 - The first professional football game was played in Latrobe, PA. The Latrobe YMCA defeated the Jeannette Athletic Club 12-0.

DAILY READING: Ecclesiastes 4:1 to 6:12, 2 Corinthians 6:14 to 7:7, Psalm 47:1 to 9, Proverbs 22:16. 

QUOTE: Your faith in God produces unbelievable results. Culled from 15 KINGDOM STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL by Dr Paul Enenche.

DON’T FORGET TO ATTEND: The Healing and Deliverance Service tomorrow by 9 am. Come with your friends and loved ones.