Daily Devotional for Friday 12th February

[Edoman]

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES 


FRIDAY 12TH FEBRUARY.



PERSISTING IN PRAYER


…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).


The Amplified Classic version of our theme verse places the premium on persistent prayer: “…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” The word “continued” is a clear indication that there must be some persistence. You don’t just mutter a few words and say the issue is “done and dusted”; you keep pushing, until you have the note of victory in your spirit.



Let’s take a cue from the Master. On a certain occasion, He took His three closest disciples—Peter, James and John with Him to a place called Gethsemane, to pray. Matthew 26:39 tells us, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."


Luke, by the Spirit, reveals, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Jesus was distraught, and He prayed with much intensity. This was no casual twominute prayer! Recall that He chastised the disciples for their weakness and inability to keep watch (pray) with Him for an hour (Matthew 26:40).


The Lord persisted because He understood what was at stake. What He was praying about was beyond Himself; He was about to endure a separation from His Father. It was about the salvation of generations: past, present and future. He was looking at eternity, for all those who had gone by, and those who were living at the time, and those who would ever come. So, He prayed and persisted in prayer.

This is what is required of us today; the stakes are much higher than ever. There’s a fight for the souls of men and we must agonize in prayer for their salvation. We must keep praying and interceding until the last soul that must be won is reached and brought into the Kingdom before the Rapture of the Church.



PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for helping me build a strong and prevailing prayer life through the Holy Spirit. Even now, I pray for a great and mighty haul of souls into the Kingdom; your glory covers the earth today, and the souls of the unconverted are impacted with the light of your Gospel, turning them from darkness to light and glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.


FURTHER STUDY

1 Timothy 2:8; Luke 18:1-5

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 27:45-66 & Leviticus 1-3

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 13:53-58 & Genesis 43







#AFFIRMATIONTRAIN 



I affirm that I am a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, holy and a peculiar treasure unto God. I was born to reign and rule in life with the dominion of the Spirit. 

Through my words, I effect changes in the realm of the spirit, and cause circumstances and situations to align with God’s plan and purpose today. I am a tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. 


I am in Christ, and I see all trials and challenges that come my way as bread. No force has the ability to defeat me or throw me off balance because greater is He that lives in me than he that is in the world. 


I am more than a conqueror, and I live with confidence, knowing that all of heaven and power of divinity are working for me, for my good. 


No matter how strong the contrary winds blow, my life is unshakable, because I am firmly rooted in Christ. I’ll never be discouraged or disadvantaged because the Holy Spirit has made His abode in me.


The glory of God is risen upon me, and I manifest that glory everywhere. The power, beauty, and excellence of God reside in my spirit; and through me, His righteousness is established, and His grace and love are revealed to men. 



The world belongs to me. No failure for me, and no defeat on my path; I am moving from grace to grace, and from victory to victory. Blessed be God. Hallelujah!






God bless you

[Edoman]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

 
DATE: FRIDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2021


THEME:  LEARN FROM MICHAL
 
MEMORISE:
 
Therefore, Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.  2 Samuel 6:23
 
READ:  2 Samuel 6:16-23
 
16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

17 And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord.

22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
 
MESSAGE:
 
Michal is the only woman recorded in the Bible who never gave birth to a child in her lifetime. We see the reason in our Bible reading for today. David had just triumphantly brought in the Ark of the Covenant to Israel and was coming home to bless his household when Michal welcomed him with mockery. How do you welcome your husband when he gets home from work? Is it with honor or contempt like Michal?
 
Many years ago, when I wasn't as popular as I am now, a very distinguished person visited our home while I was away. When I arrived, I greeted him and went into my room to pray. My wife joined me, and we prayed together as we normally do. When she came out afterwards, she apologized to the guest for leaving him all by himself, but he said, "No Ma'am, I have seen such a great example today''.
 
Dear wife, your husband deserves far more honor from you than any dignitary anywhere. Always welcome him home like a king who has returned to his palace. The home should be where he refreshes himself before he goes out again to face the world; help him to feel refreshed. Make him always happy to return home, not sad that he has to come and face a nagging wife again. Some men spend long hours at the office, not because they are working but because they want to spend less time at home. Don't make your home like that
 
It is a terrible thing for a wife to mock her husband. The Bible says you are to submit to your husband as unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:22). If you mock your husband, you are mocking your own head and if it is not well with the head, it cannot be well with the body. Your husband's current financial state doesn't matter don't mock him. Even when he makes a mistake do not mock him. There are certain blessings that can come to you through your husband, but if you keep mocking him, the blessings will not flow from him to you. On that faithful day when David had danced so much for God, the anointing on him must have been special. He was coming home to bless his family, which included Michal. Her barrenness could have ended that day. However, instead of a blessing, she got a course.
 
Your husband is the priest of your home; he is representing God in that home·

It is dangerous to mock a representative of God. Learn from Michal.
 
KEY POINT:
Make a commitment today that you will always honour your husband.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Leviticus 16 -18
 
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 
 
HYMN 3:  BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE.

1.       Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made Him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.

o   Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice;
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice.
 
2.       Be joyful, for He is the Lord
On earth and in Heaven supreme;
He fashions and rules by His word—
The “Mighty” and “Strong” to redeem.
 
3.       What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail?
God’s armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.
 
4.       Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o’ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.
 
5.       Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
Let gratefulness give all a voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong!

[Edoman]

*RESTORATION TODAY* 


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021

*TOPIC: VESSELS OF LOVE*
            
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:10–12

*MESSAGE*
Love is the big idea behind all the stories and teachings contained in the bible. Love dominates God’s story. Even Jesus confirmed that two commands from the Old Testament— to love God and love others—are the greatest of all the commandments (Mark 12:28–34).

Followers of God are to live lives distinctly different from those around them. They are to be forgiving and self-giving, showing love to all. However, our capacity to love begins with receiving God’s love for us. When we receive his love for us, then we will be able to become vessels through which God pours out His love on earth. The presence of God’s Spirit in us works through us to overcome our passion for self in favour of loving others — including those we could never love before. 

Each day as we live out our lives, Jesus loves us unconditionally and sacrificially, and He offers ongoing forgiveness. He asks us, as His followers, to offer the same in our relationships. Why? This new breed of love allows us to be involved in healthy relationships and also to be free to express God’s love to the world. 

*ACTION POINT*
 ?️Let someone experience God’s love through you today.

*SCRIPTURES*
Mark 12:28–34; 1 John 2:7; 3:11; 4:7

*PRAYER POINTS*
1. Father, thank You for loving me.

2. Lord, make me a vessel through which your love flows into the world in the name of Jesus.

3. Father, guard me from selfishness in the name of Jesus.

*THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR* 
Exo. 1-2.22, Ps. 31, Matt. 27:45-46