Scripture Text: Matthew 18:19

Today we'll look at how strong couples are when they agree (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12).

Marriage has been around for a very long time. God set it up. It is meant to be a happy, fruitful friendship that lasts a lifetime. But the devil is very angry at marriage and the people who are involved in it, just like he is against anything that brings glory to God. It is especially true for Christian couples getting married. The number of divorces around the world is shockingly high right now.

Christian marriages will help bring forth more and more Spirit-filled Christians who are vessels for God and teams for him. The truth is that Satan's kingdom loses people when there are more righteous people on earth. This is why Satan targets Christian homes and marriages. But we should remember that God, who Has known the end from the beginning, saw this coming and planned for it.

Satan and his followers can't hurt us because Jesus Has given us power and authority over them. We can defeat them whenever they try to cause trouble in our lives. So, if the enemy starts shooting darts at your marriage or home, all you have to do as a Christian is put on all of your armor and face him. When it comes to spiritual battle, the word of God is like a sword that cuts through everything. The Bible promises that the prayers of the righteous are powerful, intense, and miraculous.

Do not base your marriage on anything but God's word. Make Him the Lord of your home, family, and business. Also, make sure that you and your partner love each other and get along. Then, always engage in prayer of agreement together. The enemy can't get to you and your partner because of these kingdom principles. God will be a Wall of Fire around your marriage.

It's hard to imagine how powerful a couple who prays can be. The Bible says that two is better than one. Deuteronomy 32:20 also says that one will go after a thousand and two will go after ten thousand. Matthew 18:19 says that if two of you agree on earth about anything, my Father in heaven will do it. The Bible verses above are divine promises that praying with your partner will bring you and your marriage many blessings and testimonies.

Never forget how strong two people can be when they work together. Today, let Jesus Christ into your life, home, and family, and He will make things better for you.

God bless you in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, amen.

If you want to give your life to Christ, say this short prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, take charge of it, and change it." I leave the devil behind and I enter The Kingdom of Light now opened to me. Thank you, Jesus Christ. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen."

Congratulations!!!
Peace!

Ref: Dr. D.K Olukoya: Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional, Vol 9, 2024.

Scripture Text: Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Which one is better? a living sacrifice to God or an offering of a dead body to satan?

Giving your body as a living sacrifice to God is better than giving it as a dead sacrifice to the devil.


To become a living sacrifice, you need to forsake your dead nature, the old man and sinful nature that is of the devil and the world, and then offer your life to God as a living sacrifice. This means that you make your body holy and pleasing to God so that He can use it for His glory. God only uses a living body which is holy, and not the spiritually dead.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)

God no longer lives in churches that were built by people. He promised that His Spirit would live inside us, His beloved children (2 Corinthians 6:16).
God made this same promise to the Israelites in the past (Ezekiel 37:27). His children, who are part of the new covenant through Christ, now make it true.

If you are a Christian, this means that your body is the temple of God and the Spirit of God lives in it. Hence, the body must be kept holy, clean, and set apart for God in order for the Holy Spirit to live in it (Galatians 5).

It is also important that you hate sin and run from all evil appearances as stated in Galatians 5:19-21. According to 1 John 2:15–17, your life should not match the world and its empty things. You need to stay away from the pride of life, the lust of the eyes, and the lust of the skin.

A life completely given over to Christ, a life that has been crucified, is a daily and living sacrifice. These are God's real children who have been "born again" and no longer live their old lives. Someone who is brave enough to say, "I was crucified with Christ, but I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

The Fire Scripture for today tells us that if we want to be a living sacrifice, we need to change by renewing our minds. This is a spiritual work that starts inside and shows up outside. It will then be easy for us to see and follow the "good, acceptable, and perfect will of God." In order to do God's will, a Christian who feeds their mind with the truth of God's word every day and lets that Word guide their life is a living sacrifice. You can only learn and be led on the right road of life by reading God's word and giving your life to Christ and doing what is right. Without this, you are dead to God. I pray the Lord shows us His mercy in Jesus mighty name, amen.

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye bye to the devil and I enter into the Kingdom of Your Light. Thank You Jesus! In Jesus Mighty Name I pray, amen.

God bless you.

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read: https://flatimes.com/mfm-devotional-29-january-2024-a-living-sacrifice/

Scripture Text: Psalm 137

There was a place and there's still a place called Babylon. Babylon is a place of captivity and rebellion.

There's a condition and operation called Babylon. It's a condition of rebellion. Though the physical Babylon doesn't exist now but there's a spiritual entity known as Babylon.

When you're in Babylon, you are in a strange land. You're labouring in cages, you're in a place of punishment, a place of reproach, you've lost the Fire of God like children of Israel, a place of crying and singing the Lord's song in a strange land.

In Babylon, we have people without vision; those who have no sense of direction; a person without conviction of the Holy Spirit; those who are helpless, powerless and oppressed by their enemies; those who are arrogant, foolish and have no respect for elders; those who don't like to take responsibilities for their wrong actions; the ones who have lost their glory; those in a state of sadness and melancholy; those are being mocked by their enemies; and whose lives are full of problems and rebellion.

The Babylonian churches and pastors have lost touch with God. They have lost their integrity. They scream at unbelievers but their messages is not effective enough to bring people to repentance to God. There's is no Power and unbelievers are not feeling the Power of God. The Babylonian pastors are those who have not received the Power and Baptism of the Holy Ghost; they are men of God who seeks worldly things before God and believe that they are not blessed by God by until they have their 12 or more cars or jeeps and private jets; their hearing from God and fire has died; God Doesn't trust them enough to commit Himself to them for they have rebelled again Him.

Babylon is a place where genuine love for God and His Power have gone down the drain; a place of spiritual dryness; where people are not filled with heavenly visions but dark visions; where people are not filled with Holy Spirit; where people have suspended God's programme to pursue their personal programme, an act of rebellion.

Babylon is a place of full of rebellions. God is no longer their Shepherd, rebellion is their shepherd. These people don't give the Message of Christ to unbelievers around their communities, churches, places of work, families, and environment. They are always afraid of how people will percieve them if they preach or pray in public.

Babylon produces witchcraft rebellion. A place of plenty efforts but with little results. A place of pronounced physical and spiritual famine. It's full of believers who have not turned the world upside down for Christ. People seek leadership role to control others but God Has not controlled them because they are rebels.

Symptoms of Babylon/Rebellion
1. Doing things God Has not ask you to do, even if it looks right (Proverbs 14:12-16).
2. Fear. Fear is rebellion to God. It simply telling God that you don't trust Him and He's not capable enough to save you ( Revelations 21:. When you care about what people will say more than God's will and purpose for your life, it's simply fear of man. You fear and live your life according to the prescription of people rather than the Fear of God (Proverbs 29:25). The 12 spies saw themselves as grasshoppers before their enemies and they missed entering the Promised Land because of fear (Numbers 13). Fear has hindered many from sharing their testimonies, evangelism, praying in public, speaking the truth and so on. If you don't trust God enough then you have no fear of God but man.
3. Independent Spirit. These are rebels who love to do things only in their own way. They have no regards for church principles and the work of God. They are not team players and believe no one can question them the way they want to live their lives. In marriages, they are too independent to obey or submit to their spouse and feel they don't have to depend on anyone. Jesus Christ chose His discipline to work with Him so He wouldn't have to work alone. If Jesus was not a lone ranger, then who are you?
4. Sick Tongue. Having a sick tongue is a symptom of Babylon. Sick tongues are rebellious, full of lies, gossiping, talkativeness, and gambling tongue.
5. Disobedience to God is also a symptom of Babylon

What is the Solution?
The Bible solution is to get out of your Babylon and return to your first love... Obedience and submission to God are the fundamental requirements to get you out of the rebellious and arrogant Babylon.
Here are the things to do:
1. Search your heart and examine if God is in the centre of your heart. Are you fearful and disobedient? Are you doing what God did not ask you to do? Are you too independent for God? Thes are the questions you must answer.
2. Confess the truth about your rebellion to God by being specific about the area you have taken control of your own life rather than in God.
3. Make a clear choice and submit totally to God (James 4:7).
4. Decide to walk in obedience with God so as to avoid the situation where God will cut you off like He did to King Saul (1 Samuel 15: 22-31).

God bless you in the Mighty Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life. Take control of my life and change my world. I say bye bye to the devil. I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus Christ. In Jesus Mighty Name I pray, amen".

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Culled from Dr. D.K Olukoya sermon.

Scripture Text: Hebrews 11:10

The Bible says in Mathew 6: 19-21: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be"

Brethren this morning, God is asking us to give up what we cannot gain for what we cannot lose. What we cannot gain are the things we store up on earth but vanish immediately when we depart from earth. What we cannot lose is Jesus Christ and Eternal life with God.

Why We should Give up What We Cannot Gain For What We Cannot Lose

1. We brought nothing to this world, and it is certain that we are not going out of this world with anything- 1 Timothy 6:7-12
2. It has been appointed for a man to die once, after death is judgement- Hebrews 9:27
3. This present earth and all that is in it will be destroyed with fire- 2 Peter 3:7
4. No matter how long we live on earth, Eternity is longer.
5. Every life whose foundation is not in Christ shall collapse.
6. There is no other foundation except the one laid in Christ Jesus- 1 Corinthians 3:11-13
7. The only One we can hold on to not to sink in this world is Jesus Christ.
8. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and every other thing shall be added unto you- Mathew 6:33
9. We should seek, as children of Abraham blessed in Christ Jesus, the City which Makes, Builder and Foundation is God! Hebrews 11:14
10. Making your heart right with God connects you to Jesus Christ and Eternal life.

Jesus Christ is the One we can never lose. This world will pass away, people and their wealth will go and they will lose all treasures but Jesus Christ is the One whom we cannot lose and also gives Eternal life.

Examine your heart today. Is your heart right with God? Are you gathering the treasures of this world and not striving to seek the City, whose God is the Maker, Builder and Foundation? Heaven is real and so is hell.

Today make a decision to give up the things of this world for Eternal life in Christ Jesus!

God bless you in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus. In Jesus Mighty Name I pray, amen".

Congratulations!!! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Peace!

Ref: Dr. D.K Olukoya message, Jan 2024.

Scripture Text: Romans 12:1-2

Praying to God is very important in lots of religions because it's how we connect with the big man upstairs. We set aside time to acknowledge and show respect for God in our lives. Worship is our way of being devoted, thankful, and respectful to God. Throughout the years, worship has been a great thing in different cultures and religions, giving people a sense of belonging and meaning. This guide is here to help you worship God the right way, using scripture as a guide and stressing the importance of being genuine and humble in your worship.

The Importance of Worship
Brethren, worship is important to believers. It helps them get closer to God and show how much they love and respect Him. It's a way to find comfort, direction, and strength in our relationship with God. Worship also gives us a chance to think about things and figure out what God wants for us. It's a way for people who believe in the same things to come together and show how much they appreciate God. And it's not just about feeling good; it helps us grow in our faith and understand our purpose in life.

Understanding God's Expectations
If you want to worship God in the right way, it's crucial to know what He expects from us. God doesn't want fake worship that comes from a shallow place. He wants us to genuinely honor and show respect for Him. It's also important to come to God with humility and thankfulness. To truly connect with God, we need to have a personal and deep relationship with Him and let Him guide our worship. To understand God's expectations, we have to dive into scripture and see what it says about His nature, traits, and the kind of worship He wants. When we align our worship with what God wants, we can have a real relationship with Him and feel the incredible power of worship.

Ways To Worship God Acceptably

1. Preparing for Worship
Before engaging in worship, it's important to prepare yourself mentally and spiritually. This section will guide you through the necessary steps to create a suitable environment for worship, clear your mind and heart of distractions, and engage in prayer and meditation. By following these preparations, you will be able to fully focus on worshiping God and understand His expectations for a meaningful worship experience.

2. Creating a Sacred Space
When you want to worship, it's vital to create a special spot where you feel connected to God. Look for a cozy and quiet place where you can be alone with your thoughts. Get rid of any mess and add things that have meaning to you, like Bible literature, hymns, and things that speak to your soul. Don't forget to keep your Bible close by so you can reference it during your worship time. When you intentionally make this space sacred, it helps you feel closer to God and really focus on your worship.

3. Clearing the Mind and Heart
To worship God acceptably, it is essential to clear your mind and heart of distractions and negativity. Take a moment to reflect on any worries, stresses, or negative thoughts that might hinder your worship. Release these burdens by acknowledging them and surrendering them to God. Practice deep breathing exercises or relaxation techniques to calm your mind and create space for God's presence. Allow yourself to be fully present and open to receiving His message. By clearing your mind and heart, you can approach worship with a focused and receptive mindset.

4. Engaging in Prayer and Meditation
Engaging in prayer and meditation is an integral part of worshiping God acceptably. Through prayer, you can communicate and connect with God, expressing your gratitude, seeking guidance, and offering praise. Set aside time to pray sincerely, pouring out your heart to God and opening yourself to His presence. Meditation allows you to quiet your thoughts and listen for God's voice. Reflect on Scripture, focusing on verses that inspire and deepen your understanding of God's love and teachings. By engaging in prayer and meditation, you can develop a deeper relationship with God and worship Him in spirit and truth.

5. Engaging in Worship
Engaging in worship is an essential part of cultivating a deep and meaningful relationship with God. It involves actively participating in various spiritual practices that honor and glorify Him. By joining together in worship, we can experience a sense of unity and connection with fellow believers. Engaging in worship provides an opportunity to express our love, adoration, and gratitude towards God, acknowledging His greatness and the many blessings He has bestowed upon us. It is a time to humbly submit ourselves to His will and seek His presence in our lives.

6. Singing Praises and Hymns
Singing praises and hymns during worship is a powerful and uplifting way to express our love and devotion to God. Through music, we can connect with the deepest parts of our souls and pour out our hearts in adoration. Singing allows us to engage both our minds and bodies, creating a harmonious atmosphere of worship. By singing praises and hymns, we can verbalize our gratitude, proclaim God's greatness, and find solace in His presence. As the psalmist David says in Psalms 150:6, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

7. Reading and Reflecting on Scripture
Reading and reflecting on Scripture is a fundamental practice in worship. It allows us to draw closer to God and gain a deeper understanding of His teachings and promises. By immersing ourselves in God's Word, we can find guidance, comfort, and inspiration for our lives. Reading the Bible aids us in developing a personal relationship with God as we learn more about His character and His will for us. Through reflection, we can apply the timeless wisdom of Scripture to our daily lives, growing in faith and obedience.

8. Participating in Communion
Participating in communion, also known as the Lord's Supper, is a sacred and meaningful act of worship. It symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the redemption He offers to believers. During communion, we partake of bread and wine (or grape juice), representing the body and blood of Jesus. This act of remembrance deepens our appreciation for His sacrifice and reinforces our commitment to live in accordance with His teachings. As Jesus instructed His disciples in Luke 22:19, "Do this in remembrance of me," participating in communion allows us to unite with the global Christian community and express our gratitude for the gift of salvation.

9. Offering Tithes and Offerings
Offering tithes and offerings is a way to worship God with our material possessions. It is an act of obedience and gratitude, recognizing that all we have comes from Him. Tithing refers to giving a portion of our income, typically ten percent, to support the work of the church and meet the needs of others. Offerings, on the other hand, are voluntary donations given above and beyond the tithe. By giving financially, we participate in God's mission of advancing His kingdom and caring for those who are less fortunate. As the Apostle Paul encourages in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

10. Living a Worshipful Life
Living a worshipful life means incorporating worship into all aspects of our daily lives. It is not limited to attending church on Sundays but makes worship a continuous practice. It involves recognizing God's presence in every moment and treating each day as an opportunity to glorify Him. By aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with His teachings, we can live a life that is pleasing to God. This includes practicing gratitude and thankfulness, serving others with love and compassion, and seeking His guidance through prayer and studying His word.

11. Practicing Gratitude and Thankfulness
Practicing gratitude and thankfulness is an essential part of worshiping God acceptably. It involves acknowledging and appreciating all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. This can be done through daily reflections, journaling, or expressing gratitude in prayers. By focusing on the good things in our lives, we shift our perspective to a more positive and thankful mindset. Gratitude not only deepens our relationship with God but also brings joy and contentment to our lives.

12. Serving Others with Love and Compassion
Serving others with love and compassion is a tangible way to worship God acceptably. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and by doing so, we emulate His example. This can be done by volunteering in our communities, helping those in need, and showing kindness to everyone we encounter. Acts of service not only bring us closer to God but also have a positive impact on the lives of others, spreading His love and grace.

13. Seeking God's Guidance and Following His Word
Seeking God's guidance and following His word is crucial to living a worshipful life. This involves developing a personal relationship with Him through prayer, meditation, and studying the Bible. By seeking His will and aligning our actions with His teachings, we demonstrate our commitment to worshipping Him acceptably. God's word provides us with guidance, wisdom, and clarity in making decisions, navigating challenges, and living a life that honors Him.

Now the question is: Have you been worshipping God in an acceptable way? If yes, please continue to do better. But if not, please change your way of worshipping God. As shown in our Scripture Text today, Romans 12:1-2, God expects us to worship Him by not conforming to this world but to transform and renew our minds, doing what is good, acceptable to Him, and His perfect will. Anything outside of this kind of worship is unacceptable to God.

If your mind is not conformed to the perfect will and worship of God, then you need to repent now! Tomorrow might be too late. You need to surrender your all and accept Christ as Your Lord and Saviour.

God bless you in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, amen!

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, take control of my life, and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil. I enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus. In Jesus' Mighty Name, I pray, amen!

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read: https://flatimes.com/mfm-devotional-2-january-2024-how-to-worship-god-acceptably/

Scripture Text: Mathew 25: 14-23

The Bible verse for today talks about how to stay true to God and be productive for him. In this Bible parable of Jesus Christ, the master gave three slaves talents based on how well they could use them. While he was away on a journey, the master expected them to be faithful and productive with their talents. But when the master got back from his trip and asked the three slaves to report on how they spent the talents he had given each of them, only two of them were honest and productive. The third servant hid his one talent and yelled at his boss that he wanted to get rich when he hadn't worked hard for it. The master praised the slaves who were both loyal and productive, but he punished the one who wasn't, and that's when he found out that the unproductive servant wasn't even loyal to him from the start.

Jesus' story tells us very clearly that, as God's servants or children, we should not only be faithful but also bear fruit. It's impossible to stress enough how important it is to be productive and receive God's reward. Being faithful and productive just means that we are living a good life in Christ Jesus.

So many good things come from being good that it's easy to tell who really believes in Christ. Proverbs 21:21 says that righteousness leads to life and honour; Proverbs 2:8b says that it leads to divine protection; James 5:16 says that it leads to more answers to prayers; Proverbs 11:6 says that it leads to great deliverance; Proverbs 13:21 says it leads to prosperity; and Proverbs 2:7 says it leads to success. God judges our progress and success by how faithful and fruitful we are.

We become more successful with God the more we stay true to him and do good things for him. Being faithful means being devoted and true to the Lord, following his rules, and not giving up. Faithful servants always put God first and show how dedicated they are by believing and following Him their whole lives. How generous a good person is is also a sign of how successful they are.

We need to be faithful, but we also need to let God work in our lives by being fruitful. The Bible talks about at least three types of fruit that God wants us to grow:

Galatians 5:22–25 says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, fruitfulness, humility, and self-control. This can also be called the fruit of Christian character. This fruit should be at the centre of our lives. Having good character leads to good behaviour.

If we consistently show good character, we will also consistently show good behaviour and conduct, which is the second fruit God wants us to bear.

The fruit of converts is the third. This is simply winning souls for Christ. The job that God has given us is to bring people into His kingdom. (Proverbs 11:30) He wants us to take as many people as we can to heaven.

Are you staying faithful? If so, are you bearing fruit too? Let's look at the benefits for those who are faithful and productive and those who aren't.

— Matthew 25:23
The third servant, however, had merely hidden his talent, burying it in the ground, and was punished by his master:

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him, that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.


Becoming a good child of God means showing the Lord that we are devoted to Him and that we can carry out His instructions through the Holy Spirit. Only then can we enter the rest of the Lord's kingdom. This shows us God's real success and all the good things He has in store for those who are good. In the powerful name of Jesus, I pray that the Lord will help us.

Congratulations!!!

If you want to give your life to Christ, say this short prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, take charge of it, and change it." I'm leaving the devil behind. The Kingdom of Light is now open to me. "Thank you, Jesus. In your name, I pray, amen."

Peace!

Ref: MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional Vol. 8, 2023- Dr. D.K Olukoya

Scripture Text: James 5:16

Even though I believe in the New Testament, I still have a lot to learn about prayer. Heaven will give you more of the benefits of prayer the more you know about it and the more you pray. There are some things you need to have in order for your prayer to be heard and answered. We are going to look at them one by one.

The first tool is doing the right thing. For your prayers to have amazing effects, you must be born again, be in good standing with God, and always do what He wants. When good people cry out, the Bible says that the Lord's eyes are on them and His ears are always open. God's word also says that the earnest, fervent praying of the righteous avails much (James 5:16). People who avoid sin, choose to be holy, and obey God completely will always have great benefits when they pray.

In order for your prayer to work, the second thing you need is faith. The Bible says that if you don't have faith, you can't please God. The truth is that faith is very important in God's world. It means putting your faith in God's Power to do everything, even what you want. God's Word says that people who have faith can do anything. If you want wonders and testimonies to happen, you need to have faith now, not later. But for God's grace, one of Lazarus' sisters would have missed the wonder that Jesus did when he raised Lazarus from the dead. She told him that Lazarus would not have died if he had come earlier and that he would raise him from the dead on the last day. She didn't have enough faith to believe that Lazarus would come back to life right then and there. That date was tied to a long time from now. She was mistaken! Always put your faith to work and expect the best, just like the woman with the issue of blood did. Faith is the most important spiritual tool you can use to make the change you want. Matthew 21:21 says, "If you have faith and don't doubt, you will tell this mountain to come down and be thrown into the sea, and it will do what you say."

Mercy is the third thing you need to make your prayer powerful and successful. God's kindness changes everything. The Bible says that mercy wins over judgement. God's mercy will keep you from getting the sentence you deserve for your sins (Psalm 103:1-3). If you have done something wrong that might stop God from answering your prayer, giving you a miracle, or being a witness, you should ask God for forgiveness and mercy. Heaven will still bless you even though you did something wrong. When Moses asked God for help, he said, "I have mercy on those I have mercy on, and I will have compassion on those I have compassion."Romans 9:15–16. Mercy comes from God, not from those who want it or those who run after it. Asking God to be merciful is a real key to making your prayers work. God doesn't ignore the plea for help. In the name of Jesus, I pray that God will shower you with His kindness and that your prayers will be answered.

Grace is the fourth tool. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 4:16 to go straight to the Throne of Grace and ask for mercy and grace when we are in trouble. While mercy will keep you from getting the punishment you deserve, grace will make sure you get good things you don't normally deserve. God at that time blessed Elijah. Even though there were 7,000 other prophets who had not bowed to Baal or eaten from his table, God chose him and used him very powerfully. Because of God's grace, Elijah's words were so strong that the sky shut over Israel for three and a half years, and it didn't rain or dew. During the subsequent drought and famine, God's grace made sure that Elijah always had food and water. God's mercy and grace are important parts of a good prayer life, and you can get them, renew them, and restore them in prayer. In the name of Jesus, I pray that God will show you even more kindness and grace today.

The word of God is the fifth thing you need to pray effectively and excel in the place of prayer. In all parts of your prayer life as a Christian, God's word is very important. Prayer and God's word go hand in hand. The Bible talks about God, who listens to prayer. The Holy Spirit speaks and prays for us and with us. So, if you want to get the best results from your prayers, it is very important to bring the Bible (the Word of God) with you in the place of prayer. In reality, how close you are to God rests on how deeply His word roots itself in your being. To get the most out of your praise, worship, and prayer, they must be Word-based. Not reading God's Word is the main reason why people don't pray as much as they should. As a result, if you want your prayer life to be strong, powerful, and winning, you must always read God's word and use it in your prayers. Jesus also quoted from the Bible more than once. During Matthew 27:46, John 15:25, and Matthew 23:39, He used Psalm 35:19 and 69:4 as examples. In John 13:18, He used Psalm 41:9, and in Matthew 23:39, He used Psalm 118:20. Jesus Christ also used Deuteronomy 8:3 and showed the devil how useless his words were to beat him when He was tempted in Matthew 4:11. In John 15:7, our Royal Master, Jesus Christ, said it again: "The Word of God is very important for believers to pray." If you stay with me and my words stay with you, you can ask for anything, and it will be done for you. This verse from the Bible shows that living in God's Word is linked to getting answers to your prayers. The Bible made this point even stronger when it said in the Psalms that the LORD's angels are very strong, follow His rules, and listen to His voice (Psalm 103:20). Prayer is the most powerful thing in the world that can do amazing things. Dear brethren, I strongly advise that you make the Bible a big part of your spiritual life. You will have the spiritual strength to win in prayer and spiritual battle.

God bless you!

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now; come into my life; take control of my life; and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, and I enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank you, Jesus, for in Jesus' precious name I pray, amen."

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read: https://flatimes.com/mfm-devotional-3-december-2023-essential-tools-for-a-prevailing-prayer-life-iii/
Part 1-3

Scripture Text: Acts 9:3-19

In Acts 9, we read about Saul's trip to "Straight Street." It tells the story of a man who got lost in religion and how he finds his way back to the living God.

How do we get to Straight Street and live there?

Acts 9 tells the tale of two men who follow God's leading to a location known as "Straight Street."
The first person was Saul of Tarsus
1. He was a person of faith.
2. His love for God is strong.
3. He had a good deal of education;
4. His faith was sound, and he loved serving God more than anyone else in his time.
5. But chapter 9 tells the story of how he was wrong.
6. He was lost in darkness and sin.
7. The devil tricked him. On the way to Damascus, he changed his mind, and this is the story of how he got to Straight Street.

The second man is a divine messenger, Ananias.
1. The Holy Spirit filled him. He was in touch with God.

Finding your way to Straight Street is what today's Bible passage is about. The only street named in the Bible is this.
It's called "Straight Street" because it means a certain way to walk with God. It means living in a way that is in line with God's will. Not only does it mean seeking God's will, but it also means being ready to do it no matter what. Straight Street is where the Christian life comes into reality; it's where we find the full Christian life.

In Matthew 7:13–14 (NIV), it says, "Enter through the narrow gate. Because the gate to hell is wide and the road to destruction is broad, and many people go through it. But the gate to life is small, and the road that goes to it is narrow, and few people find it. Following the narrow path is very important if we want to live our lives the way God wants us to. We need to find Straight Street if we want to know His will, His calling, and His power and be successful in this life. You can only find value in life on Straight Street. You can only grow closer to God on Straight Street.

Acts 9:1–3: At that time, Saul kept making death threats against the disciples of the Lord. He asked the high priest for letters to send to the synagogues in Damascus so that he could keep any Way's followers there as slaves and bring them to Jerusalem. As he got closer to Damascus on his way, Saul was going through life. Following his dreams, he was living his life. He worked as a Pharisee, which was a good job. He had a good education and learned from the best teacher in all of Jerusalem. He was successful; he did better than everyone else his age. He was born into a good family and was a Roman citizen. He was religious and felt a strong need to follow the rules and please God. He was determined and knew how to get where he was going. However, Saul was completely in the dark. He was tricked into believing that everything was fine. He didn't have any connection with God at all. He had nothing to do with God's will and was actually working against God's will and Kingdom. He was sure he was better than most people the whole time.

There may be a lot of people today who are like Saul. You might feel fine. You might even think you're better than most people. You've done well. You have a lot of knowledge. You come from a good home. Even though you say you are religious, you are not following God's plan for your life. Even though you are saved, you are not living the life God has planned for you. You are on your life's journey, going where you want to go and taking your own path. You are building your kingdom, but you don't care about God's kingdom at all. You are on a trip, just like Saul, and you need to find your way to Straight Street, a place where new things can start.

What brought Saul to the straight street?

When he got close to Damascus on his trip, Acts 9:3–5 (NIV) says, "All of a sudden, a light from heaven flashed around him." I asked, "Who are you, Lord?" Saul inquired. He said, "I am Jesus, who you are killing."

Revelation is the first thing that you need to do to get to Straight Street. Revelation is when God stops your trip and gives you light. That's when God comes into our dark times and helps us see the truth. Jesus always brings a lot of light and helps us see ourselves as we really are (Phil. 3–. Now Saul knew what kind of person he was. It hit him for the first time that he wasn't living his life in line with God's will. He wasn't doing what God wanted him to do. He not only realised how lost he was, but he also realised who Jesus really is. Jesus told Saul who he was. Saul saw Jesus, the son of God, for a split second. The Lily of the Valley, the Rose of Sharon, the Bright and Morning Star, the Great I Am, the Alpha and Omega, the Eternal God, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. He saw the Lord. The person of Jesus was shown to them directly. You need your own discovery in order to get to Straight Street. You can't get there by riding up on someone else's. To get to Straight Street, you need to know that you are lost and have a close encounter with Jesus.

Being humble is another way to get to Straight Street (1 Peter 5:6) in the light of Christ. All of Saul's schooling was for nothing. His family's history wasn't important. The things he did didn't help. His faith and zeal were not real. Christ was his only hope. He was stuck and couldn't change. He wasn't able to make things better in his life. God told him where to go, but he had no idea how to get there (James 4:6; Isa. 57:15).

What did Saul do to get to Straight Street? By discovery, by being humble, and by giving up everything." He asked, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" while shaking and being amazed (Acts 9:6). Then the Lord told him, "Get up and go into the city. There, I will tell you what you need to do."

We get too busy with our own work, like building our own kingdom, all the time. When we were saved for the first time, we often said, "Lord, I'll do anything." After a while, we start to act like professionals. Giving our lives to serve God is something we do very well. We're sure of everything... I've already done that. I've paid my dues. I don't think God wants me to work in the nursery... I have too much to offer, grownups! God wouldn't want me to clean the house... I've learned too much to be taking out the trash.

Many things you do in the name of the Lord may be good, but are they what God wants you to do? Have you recently heard the Lord's voice telling you what to do? Are you willing to give up your rights and plans for his? Have you asked God the same thing that Saul did that day? What do you want me to do, Lord? If so, are you observing all of them? Or have you already thought about what he will say? If you heard Him, are you following what He said? It's no longer okay to obey only half-heartedly. No holding back at all! Have you given your business over to the Lord, or are you building your own kingdom on your own? Do you keep valuable things down here, where they will rust, rot, and catch fire? Are you after a degree or God? Are you subject to God's plan for your life, or are you just going to school to make money so you can live a good life? If you're single, are you looking for God's will and surrendering to it, or are you looking for a partner and then hoping to get back on track with God? As an elder, minister, usher, Sunday School teacher, or church member, have you given up everything and are you ready to follow Him? God isn't interested in titles; He's interested in submission.

To get to Straight Street, you need to realise how lost you are and how much Jesus loves you. You also need to be humble before God, give up your will and plans for His, and walk in blind obedience. Take a look at Ananias in Acts 9:10–14. He did what Jesus told him to do even though he didn't understand why: he went to the Straight Street to see Brother Paul and pray for him. He went to Saul even though he knew and told Jesus that Saul was a dangerous man who could kill him. Yet he said, "Yes, Lord!"!

There are times when God tells you to do something that doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense that God would tell you to do it, no matter how hard you try. Noah built an ark in the middle of nowhere when it hadn't rained yet, even though it didn't make sense. If he hadn't, he and his family would have been lost. God didn't have to tell Joshua to walk around Jericho seven times and then blow the horns. If he hadn't, the walls would still be there, and they would have lost. Moses didn't know why he crossed the Red Sea, but Pharaoh would have taken them back as slaves if he hadn't. God often tells you to do things that don't make sense. To obey God in the way that He wants, we must have complete trust in our Master.

Also, before you can get to Straight Street, you have to be ready to die for yourself. Luke 9:9 (NIV) He didn't eat or drink anything for three days, and he was blind. This is a picture of giving up the things that are made of flesh. It's a picture of giving up our rights, our way of life, and our bad habits.

We can also get to Straight Street by praying. 9:11 (NIV) 11 "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying there," the Lord told him.

Prayer is very important. Prayer is how we talk to God. It's where we admit it. Our place is where we get the tools we need to fight the enemy of our soul. It's our only way to get help. God, help us pray more in our own lives, with our families, and at church. Let's promise God every day that we will spend valuable time with Him. Let's promise to pray as a family. Let's agree to pray together. Each of us will get to Straight Street through prayer. Our family will get to Straight Street through prayer. Our church will get to Straight Street through prayer.

How do we get to Straight Street and live there so that our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ can start over?

Brethren, to sum up, the answers to this question are:
1. We need to know where we stand with God right now! ... and we need a new look at Jesus.
2. We need to be humble in front of the Lord and walk in a humble way.
3. We must give up everything and fully trust in the Lord's plans and will.
4. We have to walk in complete obedience.
5. We have to die to self.
6. We need to hope.

What happens when we get to Straight Street?

Luke 9:12 (NIV): "He had a dream that a man named Ananias came up to him and put his hands on him to heal him and... bring him back to Light (Jesus Christ) John 8:12. We must leave the darkness behind and walk into the light of a fresh start with Jesus Christ.

God bless you.

If you want to give your life to Jesus Christ right just say this short prayer now: "Lord Jesus, I come to you now. Take over my life and make my world a better place. I leave the devil behind and enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank You for forgiving me and saving me today. In the name of Jesus, I pray.

Congratulations!!!

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV).

Peace!


Also read: https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/straight-street-nick-s-panico-sermon-on-evangelism-202020?page=6&wc=800

Scripture Text: Exodus 20:12

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee"- The fifth commandment Ex. 20:12

I believe that this word is for someone who needs to make things right with their parents so they can get the blessing of a long life. God says in His Word that honouring our parents will lead us to the Promised Land, where we will live for a long time and be happy.

What can we do to honour our parents?
There are different ways to honour our parents, whether they are still living or have died.

1. Forgiving them is the first step. Your parents may have hurt your feelings or made bad choices about your life that are now having a bad effect on your future. So that God's kindness can reach you, you need to forgive them like Jesus did for us sinners in Luke 23:34.

2. By giving them positive feedback. You should always say nice things about your parents, even if they are dead or not. This is especially important in public places. No matter how badly you think your parents have hurt you, you must not insult or talk badly about them. God's fifth commandment will be broken if you do this (Exodus 21:15–17; Leviticus 20:9).

3. Show your parents respect in public and in private. You can privately tell your parents how much you appreciate the good qualities they have taught you, or you can write them a formal tribute about what you have learned about them in terms of love, honesty, bravery, duty, hard work, loyalty, saving money, being active, not failing to care about you as a person, and being honest. The fact that you care about them will make them very happy and proud.

4. Ask your parents for help when things get tough. You will be very kind to your parents if you trust them enough to ask for help when things go wrong. They will feel so honoured that you want their advice and help on important life issues (Proverbs 20:29; Job 12:12). The Bible says that knowledge comes with old age.

5. Helping your parents out Being there for your parents with love, care, money, health care, other basic needs, and most importantly, companionship, will show them you respect them. Even if you don't have enough money to take care of your parents, you should still call or visit them often.

6. Another way to respect your parents is to take care of them. Your parents took care of you when you were a child. That's right, you should take care of them for the rest of their lives. The Bible says that you are worse than an unbeliever if you don't take care of your family (Mark 7:9–13).

Brethren, if you want to do the things above, you need to have the mindset of Christ. To have the thought of Christ, you have to be like Christ and have His traits.

What should you do to be like Christ?

1. You must be born again (John 3:3).
2. Turn away from your sins and ask God to forgive you (Matthew 4:17).
3. Pay attention to and follow the commands of God (Isaiah 1:19).
4. Be humble in the eyes of the Lord (Philippians 2:.
5. Ephesians 5:2 says to love others as you love yourself.
6. Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
7. Keep doing what's right (Galatians 6:9).
8. Every day, take up your cross and follow Christ (Matthew 16:24).
9. Read the Bible, think about what it says, and pray every day. Do not leave it (Joshua 1:. Spend time with God every day through His Word, prayer, and faithfulness.

God bless you in the Mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, Lord. Take control of my life and change my world." I leave the devil behind and enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank You, Jesus. In your powerful name, I pray, amen."

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read: https://flatimes.com/mfm-devotional-22-november-2023-honor-your-parents/.

Scripture Text: Daniel 3

Three of Daniel's friends, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego, were in Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar asked them to worship an image. Fear and threats were made, threatening them with fire and death if they didn't bow down. Everyone in the province of Babylon followed the king's instructions, but these three Hebrew men believed in the only one God, Yahweh, who created heaven and earth. They refused to bend or bow, believing that their God would save them from the fire.

In Dan 3:4-7, a loud caller instructed people to worship the gold statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. People from every language fell to their knees and worshipped the statue, fearing that if they didn't, they would be thrown into a fiery fire. The people from every language fell to their knees and worshipped the statue, demonstrating the importance of worship and devotion to the king's god.

In this passage, captives are taken to a different country and are instructed to worship a golden monster, which goes against the first two laws of Christianity. Christians must obey God and not men, as Peter emphasized in Acts 4:18–20, 5:27–29. The king tells the three friends to make a big choice, as they will be thrown into a fiery furnace if they don't worship the god. The king seems to forget about the God of Daniel and his friends, who he met in chapter 2. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego tell the king that they will not defend themselves before the king, as the God they serve can save them from the fire and from the king's hands. They want the king to know that they won't worship the gods or the gold statue they put up, demonstrating their great faith. This passage serves as a reminder of the consequences of not obeying God but choosing to obeying men.

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is a powerful example of how people can trust in God's strength and courage during difficult times. The three friends, who made a promise to the God of Israel, were given the courage and strength to stand up against the king. This powerful statement was made with grace, strong resolve, and faith, demonstrating the importance of trusting in God's provision.

The lesson of this story is that we should never be proud or sure of ourselves, but rather trust that God will provide what we need when we need it. The fires were for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who had the chance to meet God and feel His safety, friendship, and peace even in difficult times.

In our own lives, we often feel God most strongly during difficult times. Nebuchadnezzar and the people who watched saw that God could help them through the fire without getting burned, holding them up, letting go, and being set free. This story serves as a reminder that we should never be too proud or sure of ourselves, but rather trust in God's provision.

In Dan 3:26-30, the satraps, prefects, judges, and royal advisers gathered around Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego after a fire. They saw that the fire had not hurt their bodies, hair, clothes, or smelled like fire. Nebuchadnezzar announced that the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had sent his angel and saved his servants. They believed in him and refused to follow the king's instructions. People from any country or language who criticized God would be killed and their homes destroyed.

The king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego more authority in the region of Babylon. Although shocked by what he saw, Nebuchadnezzar was aware that the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was distinct from all other gods he had previously encountered. All three friends were promoted at work, turning them from nothing to heroes. After coming out of the fire, Nebuchadnezzar was appointed king over the rest of Babylon, showcasing the king's satisfaction with the God of Israel.

In the text, Peter emphasizes the importance of following God and not letting the devil deceive you. He shares the story of Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego who chose to follow God and were saved. The text encourages readers to choose between accepting God or following the devil, and to remain faithful to God. People may try to force them to deny God, but it is crucial to remember that God will save those who remain faithful. The text also reminds readers that they will not be burned when they walk through the fiery fire, as Heb. 43:2 states. When faced with temptation or dilemma, it is essential to remain confident and not bend or bow.

If you have ever chosen the world over God at a cross road in your life, now is the time to repent for tomorrow might be too late.

Just say this short prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ I come to You now, forgive my sin, take control of my life and chage my world. I say bye to the devil, and I enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Lord Jesus, in Jesus' name I pray amen!

Congratulation!!!

Peace!

Also read: https://jesusplusnothing.com/series/post/Daniel3

Scripture Text: Proverbs 11: 30

James 3:17 defines wisdom: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good friuts, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." (KJV)

The fear of the Lord is indeed God's wisdom (Psalm 111:10). From the above definition of wisdom, we can affirm that only those who fear the Lord can possess all the qualities defined. The Bible says in James 1:5 that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask from the heavenly Father; He will give it to us without hesitating.

There are many ways we can acquire and grow God's wisdom: by asking Him in prayer, through the fear of the Lord, and most importantly, by winning souls for God.

Our Scripture text today confirms that he who wins a soul is wise. This simply tells us how important soul-winning is to God. Soul-winning is the heartbeat of God. God Himself started the act of soul-winning by giving us His only Son, Jesus Christ, to win our souls back from darkness and destruction into His marvelous light and eternal life. Anyone who participates in soul-winning usually gets more attention from heaven, and God personally blesses him or her with His wisdom.

The question is: "In what ways does soul-winning make you wise?"

The wise will shine like the stars forever, and those who lead many to justice will be like the angels forever. (Daniel 12:3). Righteous people bear fruit that lasts, and those who win souls are wise. (Proverbs 11:30).

1. The soulwinners are wise. According to Webster, wisdom is "the right use or exercise of knowledge." The person who wins souls doesn't just know the truth; they also put what they know about the message into practice. It is what they are supposed to do: "preach the gospel to every creature." A soulwinner is a growing, bright, shining star in the sky that God made. They like how wise God is. "...and he who wins souls is wise." (Prov. 11:30).

2. People who win souls are good at praying. When someone has a heart for people, they pray before, after, and during their witnessing. Soulwinners know they need spiritual help more than anyone else. After someone shares their faith story, they always ask for prayer: "Please pray for so and so to be saved," "Pray that the Lord will help me the next time I talk to them," or "Please pray that they will grow in the Lord now that they are saved." People who win souls are good at praying.

3. Soulwinners know a lot about the afterlife. To be a soulwinner, your spiritual eyes must be wide open. When you talk to people about their souls, you can't help but feel that everyone is going to either heaven or hell for all time.

4. People who win souls will know a lot about the Holy Spirit. You grow closer to the Holy Spirit when you win souls. Being a witness for Christ isn't just a school project once you've mapped out the plan of salvation in your Bible and marked important texts about it. The soulwinner knows they need the Holy Spirit's help very much. The Holy Spirit is always there to help the soulwinner. He is here to give the soulwinner, who looks to God for divine help, power, help, and lessons. Soulwinners all say they have been guided and strengthened by supernatural forces as they watch. Someone who is good at soulwinning has a bond with the Holy Spirit. The soulwinner knows a lot about the Holy Spirit. "You will have power, though, once the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:

5. The Bible says that soulwinners are smart. Again, wisdom means "using knowledge in the right way." The soulwinners know more about God's Word than just what they learn in school. They know how to use God's Word in the right way. The person who wins souls holds the Sword of the Spirit close to their heart and in their hand. Soulwinners read, study, and memorise the Bible for the benefit of their own souls as well as the souls of everyone they preach to. Every Christian book, sermon, and Sunday school lesson is read not only to improve their own souls but also to help the people they preach to. In the fight for faith, soulwinners learn the Bible. When someone shares their religion, they may be asked tough questions that they don't know how to answer. They are driven to look for the answer in the Bible. "Failures" in soulwinning are actually the way to later success. "Study to show that you are good enough in God's eyes, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15).

6. Soulwinners know how to be holy. You will want to be pure and close to the Lord if you care about Him. The soulwinner knows that food can only come from vessels that are clean and rooted in Christ (John 15). The people you witness to expect you to live like Christ and show them what the truth is all about. People who are lost will hold you to a high standard because they know how a Christian should act. The Lord helps those who win souls to live a holy life so that His light can shine through and save souls.

7. Soulwinners know a lot about the church. You will be faithful to the church if you win souls. The church is a great spot to show people Jesus. People who are not saved are more likely to walk through the doors of an evangelical church to get salvation. A Christian who cares about their soul will be at church to lead others to Christ. People who are soulwinners are always passing out gospel tracts and asking their coworkers, friends, and neighbours to church. When they show up, they'll want to be there. Someone who is good at soulwinning knows that the church is a place where they can grow and where new Christians can grow too. This is where we follow the part of the great command that says "all things" (Matthew 28:20). We "continue in doctrine and fellowship" there (Acts 2:42). Soulwinners know how important the church is.

8. Soulwinners are aware of what other people need. Soulwinning will make your heart soft. The world is broken and full of sin, and people are having a hard time. You will hear heartaches and broken hearts as you speak out for Christ. People who are soulwinners step out of their own little worlds and feel what other people are feeling. The soulwinner helps other people carry their burdens and leads them to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate bearer of all burdens. "He who goes out and weeps while carrying valuable seed will definitely come back with joy, carrying his sheaves with him." (Exodus 126:6).

9. Soulwinners know how to find joy in Christ. Being happy makes you win souls. "...come back with joy, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:6a) "Likewise, I tell you, the angels of God are glad when one sinner turns away from his or her sins." (Luke 15:10). Besides having your own soul saved, the best joy is seeing other souls saved. The soulwinner's heart feels the same joy that people in heaven feel when they are with the angels. When someone wins souls, they live with the joy of heaven.

10. Soulwinners know how to be a good friend. You make friends when you win souls for Christ. You will always remember the person or people who led you to Christ. The soul and the soulwinner have a special connection. It's very rewarding to be a spiritual parent.

11. Soulwinners know a lot about God and are clever. It's close to God's heart to win souls. People who win souls know God and His ways from personal experience. He who wins souls is a friend of Christ. They have a relationship with Jesus that other people don't have. They work together with Christ to find those who are lost. Their goal in life is the same as Christ's, who "is come to seek and save that which is lost." (Luke 19:10). The person who wins souls follows Christ and seeks to fish for men.

Are you born again? Are you a soul-winner? Has your soul been won for Christ? Are you wise? If your answer to these questions is no, then don't delay. This is the right time to repent and give your life to Christ. Tomorrow might be too late.

God bless you.

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now; come into my life; take control of my life; and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, and I enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus Christ; in Your name I pray, amen".

Congratulations!!!

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."2 Corinthians 5:17

Peace!

Also read: https://www.pastorjack.org/?p=2438#:~:text=Soulwinners%20are%20wise%20concerning%20church,to%20guide%20others%20to%20Christ.

Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional, Vol. 8, 2023- Dr. D.K Olukoya.

Scripture Text: Psalm 62:11

The Ultimate power that God gives us is unmatched. We each have the same power that was given to Jesus: the power to heal, comfort, set free, and repair. People who followed Christ were amazed by the wonders he did because they had never seen anything like them before.

Biblical Proof of God's Ultimate Power

1. Revelation 12: When Lucifer and some other angels turned against God, there was war in heaven. Angel Michael and other holy angels defeated this group of rebels. The rebels were then thrown out of heaven. God's supreme power subdued Satan's power. Since then, there has been no peace on earth or in the sea because Satan and his lost angels now live there and fight anyone or anything that is meant to honour God.

2. According to Exodus 8:15, during the power struggle that happened in Pharaoh's palace in Egypt, Pharaoh's magicians admitted that God was the ultimate power. When Aaron threw down his staff, it turned into a snake. Pharaoh's magicians did the same thing with their staffs. Aaron's, on the other hand, ate up their rods. When the play was over, the magicians gave up and said, "This is the finger of God." Also, God saved the Israelites in a way that will never be forgotten at the Red Sea. The Red Sea was split so that his children could cross safely. But Pharaoh, his chariots, and his army were stuck and killed in the water, and their bodies were all over the shores of the water. Yahweh's ultimate power is shown here!

3. 1 Kings 18:20–40: Elijah stood alone in front of 450 followers of Baal on Mount Carmel. He had told each group that when they prayed, they should recognise the Almighty God as the one who answered by sending fire down from heaven. While the preachers of Baal set up their altar and prayed to Baal for hours, neither he nor the fire that they were praying for answered. After putting together an altar and an offering for Jehovah, Elijah prayed, and fire fell on the altar. Israelites bowed, praised, and declared, "Jehovah is God!" Elijah's all-powerful God showed up at the power encounter.

4. According to Matthew 28:18–20, God's supreme power was evident in Jesus' mission on earth. He fought the kingdom of darkness, drove devils out, and healed people every day. He destroyed Satan's work to show that all power belongs to God and was given to Him. Jesus Christ gave His servants that power and told them to show it by bringing people into His kingdom and redeeming them out of hell.

5. Exodus 3: In the burning bush, God showed Moses His ultimate power. Since God was with Moses at that time, the burning bush on Mount Horeb didn't catch fire.

6. Daniel 3:23: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were all tied together, fell into the raging fire without getting hurt or burned. Instead, the flames killed those who threw them in. As the fourth person in the fiery furnace with these three Hebrew men, God showed how powerful He really is. When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon saw this power and wonder, he bowed down to the King of Kings and acknowledged that the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego really is the Almighty God.

7. Daniel 6: Daniel's royal master, Darius the Mede, put him in a high position. Daniel's jealous enemies tricked Darius into saying that for thirty days, no prayers should be said to any god or person but Darius. Anyone who didn't follow this order would be thrown to the lions. Daniel, who was religious, continued to pray every day to the God of Israel. The king was very upset, but he had to put Daniel to death because the rules of the Medes and Persians could not be changed. In order to save Daniel, Darius had him thrown into the pit. Early in the morning, the king runs to the site and cries out, "Has your God been able to deliver you?" Daniel said that his God had sent an angel to restrain the lions "because I was found innocent in his eyes." The king told the people who plotted to harm Daniel to be thrown to the lions with their families. The lions that watched over Daniel in their den had already torn the perpetrators to pieces before they even got to the lion's den. At this, King Darius said that everyone should bow down and be afraid of the God of Daniel. This is God's ultimate power!

8. Genesis 37–50: Joseph is the most favoured of Jacob's sons, but his brothers hate him because they are jealous. The brothers were mad because Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful "coat of many colours." They took Joseph and sold him to a group of Ishmaelites, also known as Midianites. They took him to Egypt. There, Joseph finally won the pharaoh of Egypt's favour by interpreting his dreams through the power of God. By doing so, he became Prime Minister of the pharaoh's kingdom. Egypt could survive a famine thanks to the grain stocks Joseph procured. Two of his brothers left Canaan and went to Egypt to find food because of the same famine. They bowed down on their knees in front of Joseph, but they didn't recognise him. As soon as Joseph made peace with his brothers, he asked Jacob's whole family to come to Goshen in Egypt, where they would be able to live with their flocks. In the end, Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery saved their family from famine, which was a good outcome. The family's children and grandchildren became the Hebrews, who would finally leave Egypt for Israel. This proves how powerful God is!

9. Genesis 22:13: The ram's sacrifice for Isaac’s replacement showed how powerful God is. Now I'm curious: where did the ram come from? Following God's instructions, Abraham tied his son Isaac to an altar at Moriah. As Abraham was about to kill his son Isaac, an angel stopped him and replaced him with a ram. This was the last of the 10 tests that God put Abraham through.

10. Phillipians 3:10: Christ's resurrection was one of the most important events in history. It showed us that God is all-powerful. Jesus completed an important part of God's plan that is of the utmost significance to everyone's life and future when He rose from the dead and went to the eternal place at the right hand of the Father. The power of God made Jesus rise from the dead because God has all power.

Have you experienced or acknowledged this Ultimate Power of God, Beloved? The Kingdom of God is not in words but in showing how powerful He is to save, heal, and liberate lives for Him. God's power can defeat your enemy in the name of Jesus, no matter what he does. He'll run away from you.

But you won't be able to use God's Ultimate Power if you haven't been born again. Getting God's power is only possible if you give your life to Christ.

Say this short prayer if you want to give your life to Christ: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, take charge of it, and change my world." I leave the devil behind and enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus! I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ: Amen.

Congratulations!!! God bless you!

Peace!

Also read Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional Volume 8, 2023, by Dr. D.K. Olukoya.

Scripture Text: Revelations 12:1-12

Revelation 12 gives an outline of three important people in the world today and how they will affect events in the end times. What do the woman, the child, and the dragon stand for, and what can we learn from this Bible prophecy?

Who Are the Woman, the Child, and the Dragon?

The book of Revelation is a vision that Jesus Christ had from God the Father. It shows what will happen before Jesus comes back to set up the Kingdom of God on earth. The interesting book is also known as the Apocalypse, which comes from a Greek word that means "revelation." This book of prophecy is mostly written in chronological order, with short breaks for general discussions of certain topics.


"Now a great sign appeared in heaven" (verse 1) is the first sentence of Revelation 12. The word "sign" comes from the Greek word semeion, which means "a mark, a sign, a token...an unusual event that goes beyond the normal course of nature" . I saw a woman who had just given birth as the first great sign (verse 1).

And then in verse 3, it says, "And another sign appeared in heaven." This tells us that the three symbols—a woman, a child, and a dragon—stand for things that aren't normal in nature. That's right, these three figures stand for three powerful spiritual forces that have been at work for a very long time.

Now we need to understand the symbols in order to understand this chapter.

What do the woman, the child, and the dragon stand for?

What kind of woman is in Revelation 12?
In the Apocalypse, the woman who is "clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars" (verse 1) stands for Israel in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, God spoke of His people as a woman that He had dressed in majesty and honor (Ezekiel 16). Genesis 37:9–10 talks about the 12 tribes of Israel, and the garland with 12 stars could be a picture of them.
Throughout Revelation 12, we see that God protects the "woman" many times (verses 6, 14–16), especially as the "kingdom of our God" is about to come to the world (verse 10).

As seen in the New Testament, God's Church is like a woman, and the people who belong to it are like virgins (Matthew 25:1–13; Revelation 14:4; Revelation 19:7). In the New Testament, the Church is called "the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16) and "Jerusalem above," which is called "the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26; see also Hebrews 12:22–23). "A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His [God's] own special people" (1 Peter 2:9) refers to church members.

God the Father calls the church "His wife" in Revelation 19:7. When Christ comes back to earth, he will marry her. This makes it clear that the woman in Revelation 12 stands for God's people. Read more about Jesus Christ and the Church in our story, "Marriage Supper of the Lamb."

Also, it's interesting to note that in Revelation 17:1, the image of a shameful woman, called "the great harlot," is used to show a fake church that leads many astray. This is talked about more in our piece called "Mystery, Babylon the Great."

Who is the Child ?

It says that the woman, who is Israel, gave birth to a "male child who was to rule all nations with an iron rod" (Revelation 12:5). In fact, Jesus Christ was born in this country. This verse makes it clear that Jesus is the "Child" in Revelation 12. It says, "And her child was caught up to God and His throne."

Jesus is the one who the Bible says will "strike the nations." "And He will rule them with an iron rod" (Revelation 19:15). He was also taken up in a cloud to heaven after he rose from the dead (Acts 1:9–11).

Who is the dragon?

"A great, fiery red dragon" (verse 3) is the third sign in Revelation 12. It is said to have drawn "a third of the stars of heaven" and to be standing "before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born" (verse 4). "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world" (verse 9).

As for the dragon drawing "a third of the stars of heaven," this seems to mean that Satan is leading a third of the angels to revolt against God. In other places, like Revelation 1:20, stars are shown to be angels.

According to the Bible, Satan also rebelled against God and tried to make his "throne above the stars of God" and "be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:13–14). Revelation 12:9 says that Satan started his work as "that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world." This is the same serpent that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden.
God has "ministers of righteousness," and Satan also has slaves. These include physical ministers who are deceived and help others be deceived, as well as spirit beings who pretend to be righteous but encourage people to sin (2 Corinthians 11:15; Ephesians 6:12). According to Jude, the fallen angels or demons are "angels who did not keep their proper domain" and are now "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day" (Jude 1:6).

Revelation 12:3–17 tells a short story of how Satan tried to stop God's plan to bring many people to praise and make them part of His eternal family. Many things Satan did included getting a third of the angels to join him in his quest to become like God, trying to have Christ killed as a child (Matthew 2:13–18), trying to trick everyone, and hurting God's people. Now, let's look at Satan's attempts to stop God's plan in more depth.

The child vs. the dragon

The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, ready to eat her child as soon as it was born (Revelation 12:4). This seems to be a reference to King Herod's plan to kill Jesus as a baby by ordering the deaths of all male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger (Matthew 2:13–18). But an angel told Joseph to run away to Egypt with his wife and Jesus so that the child would not be killed (verse 13).

The Believer's Bible Commentary says this about Revelation 12:4-5: "The dragon is ready to devour the child as soon as he is born. This happened when Herod the Great, who was a Roman vassal, tried to kill the newborn King of the Jews." The boy child is clearly Jesus, who will rule the world with an iron rod.

Satan tried to kill Jesus when he was a child but failed. He did not give up, even though It says in Matthew 4:1 that "Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil" before he started his mission. At this point, Satan tried to get Jesus to break God's law by worshiping him instead of God. Jesus was told that if he would serve him, the devil would give him "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory" (verse . But Jesus didn't do that.

Satan was there again when Jesus' work was done, and it was time for Him to die to pay for everything people had done wrong. He "put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him" in this case (John 13:2). Even though Satan clearly had something to do with Jesus' death on the cross, this was part of God's plan to save the world.

As it said in Genesis 3:15, there would always be "enmity" between the snake (Satan), the woman, God's people, and the "Seed" (Jesus), who would come from the woman. This text also said that Satan would only be able to "bruise" Christ's heel by influencing the man who would betray Jesus. On the other hand, it said that Jesus would "bruise" Satan's head by resisting his temptations and becoming qualified to take his place as king of the world.
That being said, why did Satan work so hard to kill Jesus? That's because God's plan would not have worked if there wasn't a perfect Savior to pay for people's mistakes. It would be impossible for people to be forgiven for their sins and live forever in God's family.

The dragon vs. God's people.

Satan has a long history of trying to kill Jesus and also of attacking God's people, especially members of God's Church, as illustrated by the woman in the last part of Revelation 12. Right from the start of the New Testament Church, there was a lot of persecution, but God let the woman run away "into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days" (verse 6).

This verse says that God protected the real church for 1,260 years (see Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 for proof that a day can be a year). The Church was safe from its enemies, like the Roman Empire and fake Christianity, during this time, which may have gone on into the Middle Ages.

Then it says that "war broke out in heaven" between Michael and his angels and Satan and his angels. John had a vision in which he saw Satan and his forces being "cast to the earth" because of the war. As a result, there was no longer a place for them in heaven. This fight is not the same as Satan's first rebellion, which is talked about in verse 4 and took place a long time before Christ was born.

After describing the setting for the fight in verses 7–9, a loud voice from heaven tells us what it all means (verses 10–12). "The kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have [or will soon] come" (verse 10). This battle shows that. Prior to this happening, Satan could get close to God and charge His people (Job 1:6-7; 2:1–2). Now he and his angels can't get to this place and are thrown to the ground.

Satan the dragon is now filled with "great wrath" because he knows he only has a short time left before Christ comes back to set up the Kingdom of God on earth (Revelation 12:12). His anger then turns toward God's people, whom he says are like the woman in the apocalypse who gave birth to the male child (verse 13).

But God will not let Satan destroy His people. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said that the "gates of Hades" (the grave) would not be able to stop it. The woman is "given two wings of a great eagle" to protect His people. This means she is taken safely to "her place," where she will be safe from the snake for "a time, and times, and half a time," which is about three and a half years (Revelation 12:14).

As Satan tries to get to the woman, "water will flow out of his mouth like a flood," but he will fail (verses 15–16). As seen in Isaiah 59:19 and Jeremiah 46:7-8, the word "flood" here most likely refers to forces.

The devil then goes to "make war with the rest of her children, who keep God's rules and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17). This passage tells us that during the end times before Christ comes back, some members of God's true church will be safe from Satan's anger, but others will not. People who aren't in a safe place will have to show their loyalty to God the Father and Christ while being persecuted very hard by Satan.

You vs the dragon

You may not be awake to it, but Satan also hates you and will do everything he can to stop you from loving and following God. He's mad at more than just Jesus and the church. What makes him mad at you? He seems to be upset because he knows that God made people with the ability to be better than he was (Hebrews 2:6–.

It is Satan's job to fight those who want to love and follow their Father in heaven because his thoughts are so sick, twisted, and not logical. Peter warned God's people, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your enemy, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat" (1 Peter 5:.

In his letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul said that Satan, whom he called "the god of this age," had hidden the real gospel so that people who didn't believe in it would not see it (2 Corinthians 4:3–4). Thankfully, this "veil is taken away in Christ" (2 Corinthians 3:14).
 
 Brethren, it is very dangerous for you if by now you've not given your life to Christ. You better do it now so that the dragon will not devour you. If you're still wallowing in sin and giving the dragon the backbone to invade your life, repent now! Tomorrow might be too late.

God bless you.

If you would like to give your life to Christ just say this short prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, I know I'm a sinner, please forgive me, come into my life and take control of my life. I say bye bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus Christ, for in Your precious name I pray, amen.

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read:https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/revelation/revelation-12/

Scripture Text: Psalm 1: 1-6

We can learn a few things from the our Scripture text today on the qualities of a righteous man, and also of the wicked.

Psalm 1 talks about two kinds of people: the righteous man and the wicked. The first, who is talked about in lines 1–3, is a good man. He is someone who does what is right, and follows moral or divine law. The second type is a wicked man, who is someone who doesn't follow the divine law.

We can learn ten (10) things about the good man from verses1–3.

1. He is happy. It means to be happy or comfortable in this passage, where the word "blessed" is used.

2. He does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. In other words, he is picky about who he mingles with or asks for help.

3. He does not stand in the path of sinners. He watches out for where he hangs out. This guy most likely won't be at the strip club or the gambling.

4. He doesn't sit with scoffers. What does a scoffer do? Someone who shows disdain, ridicule, or disrespect. It sounds like someone none of us would want to have at our dinner table, but some of us not only do have them there, we are them! This man doesn't hang out with these kinds of people.

5. The law of the Lord makes him happy. What makes you happy? Your partner, your kids, your job, your pets, or your chocolate? That doesn't say that this man liked any of those things. He loves reading God's word.

6. He thinks about God's rule all day and all night. It means to think about something for a long time, like a cow chewing its cud. It keeps coming back to mind, day and night. Not sure about you, but I feel good when I think about God's word once a day.

7. He's like a tree that is firmly placed by water streams. We can tell that this man is stable and cared for from this one phrase. There is always a stream of water nearby for him to swim in, rest by, and drink from. I think this water could be like the Holy Spirit. I also love that the word "firmly" is used to describe how this tree is put in place. It's not likely that this tree will fall over in the next storm.

8. He bears fruit in its season. God can use this man. He lets God use him in any way He wants to bring fruit into his life. When the time is right, you can pick this fruit. Because he put his faith and joy in God's law, this fruit came to him.

9. His fruit and leaves will not wither. That doesn't mean this man won't get old. This means that he will always be useful to God's kingdom as long as he loves God's law. He will have bad days, but they will only last a short time. In the end, they will bring him closer to God.

10. He prospers. When we talk about getting rich, it's clever to be smart. Being prosperous doesn't always mean making money. This man might do well as a friend, at work, in his marriage, or in other parts of his family life. He may also find that his relationship with the Savior is the only thing that makes him happy.

Life can be hard sometimes nevertheless this man knows very well that loving God and His rule is what will make him happy. This joy not only makes him happy, but it also ties him deeply to the Lord Jesus Christ, the source of life.

However, by strength shall no man prevail. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to be righteous, else we fail trying out our own way. To get help from the Holy Spirit, we need to be a friend of God. And anyone who wants to befriend God must love His Son, Jesus Christ. It's only when you accept Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Saviour and surrender your all to Him can you show your genuine love to God. You need to be born again! Repent today and receive the portion of the righteous man.

God bless you.

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:

Lord Jesus, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, in Jesus precious name I pray, amen!

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read https://stylingrannymama.com/faithblog/tag/Characteristics+of+the+righteous+man

Scripture Text: Isaiah 59:1-4

Connecting with God is an amazing gift for people. People who believe in it can connect with God and learn His deepest secrets. They can even have access to all His Treasures. However, some things can put our relationship with God at risk or make it harder for us. Here are some of them:

1. Sins that aren't acknowledged (Psalm 66:18): "If I hold transgression in my heart, the Lord will not hear." Sin keeps us from God. In the same way that the Father turned His back on His Son while Jesus Christ carried all of humanity's sins on His back, God will turn His back on people who carry sin in their lives.

2. You are too busy to spend time with God. Being too busy to spend time alone with God in prayer, reading the Bible, meditation, singing praises or songs, or hearing from Him will keep you from getting close to Him. Or, if you're a "microwave Christian" who constantly checks your time when you're with God and complains about long sermons, prayer times, praise times, and other things, then you will never have a deep relationship with God.

3. Our lack of faith is another thing that gets in the way of our relationship with God. According to Hebrews 11:6, "without faith, it is impossible to please God." James 1:6-7 also says that we should ask God for whatever we want with faith, not wavering like a wave on the water that is pushed and driven by the wind, so that we don't get nothing from God.

"Wilful disobedience" is another thing that can hurt our relationship with God. In John 14:15, Jesus tells us, "If you love me, you will obey me." As a result of consistently disobeying God's Word and thinking that they knew God too well, many divine relationships have been lost.
5. The bedrock of breaking up with God is not forgiving others. Being kind and forgiving to each other is encouraged in the Bible, just like God has forgiven us through Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:14–15; Ephesians 4:32).

There can never be a close relationship between you and God if you have an idol in your heart. Because you can't serve two masters at once, you can't make fun of God. If you want to follow God, you can't have mammon in your heart. Not possible! "No one can watch two masters at once." You will either hate one and love the other, or you will love one and hate the other- Matthew 6:24

Christians, turn away from your sins today and give God your whole heart. When we are close to God, our lives are wonderfully and greatly blessed.
God bless you, in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Simply say this short prayer if you would like to give your life to Christ: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, take control of it, and change my world." I say farewell to Satan and I enter the Kingdom of Light. Thanks, Jesus Christ. In Jesus' powerful name, I pray, Amen.

Congratulations!!!

Also read: https://www.thedevotionals.com.ng/mfm-daily-devotional-for-monday-16th-october-2023-hindrances-to-believers-relationship-with-god/

Scripture Text: Isaiah 40:29-31

What is a quiet time for Christians?
You can spend time alone with God and His Word during quiet time. It's meant to help Christians get closer to God. One way to do this is to pray or think about the Bible.

For Christians, quiet time is an important part of their walk with Christ. We need to make time for quiet time with the Lord and use it wisely. Setting aside time to spend with the Lord will make our relationship with him stronger.


Why and how quiet time is important and helpful?

When we have quiet time, it gives us a chance to connect with God more deeply.

Having quiet time together is meant to make your bond stronger. Every connection you've ever had, whether it was with a family member or a friend, began with getting to know each other. This could be done by asking questions or doing something together. Getting to know someone takes time.

In the same way, spending time with God makes our friendship with Him stronger. It's been called heart-to-heart time, personal devotions, one-on-one time, and more, but whatever you call it, you're sharing time with God.

You can get other things out of quiet time and a stronger bond with God. It might be easy to do things like make decisions. When you spend more time with God and reading the Bible, you feel more at peace. A lot of the time, God will talk to Christians when they are alone and focused on His word.

Another reason is that God will give us joy. Psalm 16:11 affirms that when we dwell in the presence of God, we will experience the fulness of His joy.

God gives us spiritual strength when we have a time alone with Him. Isaiah 40:29-31 assures that "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall work and not faint".

Lastly, we experience God's love and have access to His Spirit everytime we spend time alone with Him. He will express His love more towards us and show us great and mighty things that we do not know about (Deuteronomy 29:29; Psalm 25:14).
When You Should Have  Quiet Time
It can be a lot harder to actually do quiet time than it sounds. Because it takes time, which we always seem to be constrained on in today's busy world, quiet time is often push to the back burner.

It's important to make time to talk to God. Some people like to read God's word in the morning. Some people like to do it before bed or during their lunch break.

Set aside time each week for your quiet time when you first start having it. It's easy to forget to spend time alone with God when we have a lot going on in our lives.

Finding time to be alone with God is most important when you need a quiet place with few distractions. It's important to read the Bible for more than just a few minutes.  Make time to talk to God. Take your time. Spend time with Him.

What really needs to be done during quiet time?

God can talk to His people in many ways, but the Bible is one of the most important ones. A Bible or even just one book of the Bible to read through is important to have with you when you sit down to pray.

You might want to start with Genesis or the New Testament books. It should be a top concern to invest in God's word since the Bible is one of the main ways that God talks to us.

Another strong and helpful way to spend quiet time is to think about the Bible. People who believe in God's word sometimes forget to really understand what it says. We are able to better comprehend what God is saying to us when we meditate or reflect on it.

You can also connect with God through worship music, which can help you get your heart right. A lot of praise songs talk about God's promises, great deeds, or traits that help us connect with him.

During quiet time, prayer is an important part. Prayer is how you talk to God. Praise God for all that he is is part of prayer. Praise also helps us stand in the right way when we talk to the one who made everything.

Another very important part of prayer is repentance. We can tell God about our sins and shame, and he will pardon us. It's also possible to pray and tell God what we want.

Everyday, we can talk to him about our fears and problems, and we can also ask for help for other people.

Another typical thing to do in quiet time is to write in a journal. During quiet time, many people write down what they learn from the Bible and what they hear from God.

Many people find that writing in a journal helps them deal with things better. It's also a great way to remember what God is doing in your life.

I think these are all good ideas for your quiet time. Try them all and see what works best for you.



What the Bible Says About Spending Time Alone With God?
Not only is quiet time a good idea for Christians, but the Bible puts a lot of stress on spending time with God and the good things that happen when you do this.
 James 4:8 says: " Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

We can see the benefits of spending time with God on purpose because it brings God closer to us.

Psalm 91:1 says, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." This verse shows how important and beneficial it is to spend time with God. Also, Psalm 119:9 asks, "How can a young man keep his way pure?" Keeping it safe according to your word."



Jesus' Quiet Time
Christ is one of the best models we have in life. He lived on earth and went through the same things we do. When we look at Jesus' life, it shows us how to live our own.

During his three years as a minister, Jesus would often go off by himself to pray while he was teaching. Jesus spent time with other people and helped them, but he also made time to be alone with God.

Luke 14:23
"After getting the people to leave, he prayed alone on top of the mountain. He was there by himself in the evening."

Mark 1:35

"And he got up very early in the morning, while it was still dark, left and went to a lonely place to pray."

These are just two of many times in the story that Jesus' prayer time is mentioned. Just the fact that he did the same thing over and over during his prayer time shows how important quiet time was to him and to us today.

From these two texts, we can also see that he was by Himself both times and at certain times of the day. In Mark 1:35, he got up before dawn to talk to his Father, and in Matthew 14:23, he went in the evening after he had served a large crowd.

It was important for Jesus to spend time with His Father, even when he was helping other people.

Simply spending time in prayer requires a lot of effort. It's important to remember that the point of quiet time is to grow closer to God, not to get it done.

We will grow closer to God if we spend time alone with Him. We should always be ready to be alone with God.

Seeing how important quiet time was in Jesus' life should make us want to do the same and set aside time to spend alone with the Father.


Brethren, let's take our quiet time with God as top priority everyday and all round the year serious.

God bless you.

If you would like to repent and give your life to Christ just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Lord Jesus Christ, in Jesus' name I pray, amen!

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read: https://flatimes.com/mfm-devotional-5-october-2023-quiet-time-god/#:~:text=When%20you%20make%20your%20daily,will%20give%20you%20spiritual%20strength.

Bible verse: Proverbs 12:1
Controlling how you work, live, or act with great care, especially to reach a goal, is what it means to be focused.

Let's look at some facts about being disciplined
.
1. No one has ever been successful without following rules.
2. Life is never great if you don't follow rules.
3. Character is built through hard work.
4. It's not hard to be disciplined if the goal is getting easier.
5. You have to be focused if you want the seed of God to grow in you.
6. Discipline means to punish or fine in order to teach or keep someone in line.
7. Self-control, self-restraint, being scolded, getting ready, self-management, thought control, abstinence, and other things are all forms of discipline.
8. You make a big mistake when you try to avoid punishment.
9. A well-trained mind wins every time, whether it's in the physical or mental world.
10. If you are disciplined, you will always clean up after yourself, flush the toilet or bathroom after using it, plan your work or chores ahead of time, be consistent, act like an adult all the time, resist sexual urges that aren't based in God's Word, and set your priorities right.
Five (5) Main Areas To Be Disciplined
1. Ideas—Proverbs 23:7
2. The tongue—James 3:1
3. Actions—2 Corinthians 5:10
4. Feelings, love, and passion—James 1:14–15
5. Eyes: Job 31:1 says 
- The person who conquers himself or herself is the best conqueror. Proverbs 16:32 says that if you want to control other things, you first need to control your tongue. Be disciplined and do something to kill Mr. Flesh.

If you would like to give your life to Christ just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, in Jesus' name I pray, amen!

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Culled from Dr. D.K Olukoya Messages

Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 8:9

People have been living under the curse of law (sin, death, sickness, and poverty) ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. Being poor is a curse!

Thanks be to God, who saved us from the curse of the law, which included being poor, through our Lord Jesus Christ's death on the cross to pay for our sins.

Through Christ, there are ways to get out of poverty, and we will look at them today.

- To get out of poverty, you must first believe in God's Word, admit it, follow it, and make God your first priority. Matthew 6:33 in God's Word tells us how to get rich. It says, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and its Righteousness," and "everything else will be added to you." How can you first seek the Kingdom of God and what is right in it? By putting God first in everything you do and making sure that your thoughts and deeds are always in line with how to build the Kingdom of God.

- Being "broken" is the second key. Brokenness means giving up everything and submitting to God in every part of your life. In times of trouble, God will give you His wealth and put it in your hands. Because He is sure that you will follow God's directions for how to use the money.

- The third thing a man can do to get out of poverty is to give. Giving people who are happy bring open heavens, not just for money problems, but for all kinds of problems. Being kind to people, generous to God, and welcoming brings God's kindness of givers that creates netbreaking wealth.

- Having strong faith is the fourth key to getting out of poverty. If you believe with all your heart that being born again in Christ has brought you divine benefits, then you are already free from poverty and can enjoy wealth through Christ in you. Every day, claim this gift and enjoy it.

- To be reliable is the fifth key. The Holy Spirit makes people faithful. If you do what God tells you to do with the little things He has given you, He will give you bigger things (1 Corinthians 4:2).

- Prayer is another important key. Like Jabez did in 1 Chronicles 4:10, you can pray that you will not be poor. When Jabez got tired of being poor, he cried out to God in prayer. God saved him by blessing him and making his coast bigger.

- God's anointing frees people from poverty. In Isaiah 10:27, it says that God's anointing has the power to break every chain. Every day, ask God to give you this anointing.

- Sowing is the seventh strategy for getting out of poverty. In the Kingdom of God, the rule of sowing and reaping is still very important. Give God your life, your time, your money, and everything else you have, and you will be free from poverty (2 Corinthians 2:9; 9:6–9).

- Offering sacrifice is the eighth key to getting rid of poverty in your life. As God's Spirit tells you, if you give what will cost you a lot, you will get a nice gift from heaven.

- Ninth, break any promises of poverty that are holding you back. If the agreement was made by you, someone else, or passed down from generation to generation, it must be broken by the power in the blood of Jesus in the name of Jesus Christ.

- You can get out of poverty by daily claiming the blessing that Abraham got through Christ. You can get Abraham's blessing through Christ if you've already been born again. All you have to do is stand up and take what is yours.

- If you have prayed a lot but haven't seen any effects, go for deliverance. So that the strongman of poverty can let you go, you need a group of people with more Godly power to pray for you.

- Cleanse your surroundings, where you work, live, or do business with the Blood of Jesus to get rid of any evil spirits that have made it impossible for anyone to succeed there. Pray for healing to happen in these places.

—Invest with hope and good sense. Anyone who wants to start a business or spend money should first pray to God and ask for His blessing. He will certainly bless it if He agreed with it. If not, it could make people poor.

- Pray for poverty-destroying prayers and prayers that bring wealth. Prayer makes things different! The powerful prayers of the righteous help a lot. This will cause God to open the clouds and give you your wealth, and evil banks will throw up your money.

—Ask God to help you figure out how much to give. Before you give your money away, think about it and ask God to bless it. Being wise is a good thing to do. Before you give someone money, you should always cover it in the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Fire of God, and the name of Jesus Christ.

- Stop saying bad things about yourself like that you are poor. This is what kills wealth. If you keep telling people you're poor, you might always be poor.

- Use the Blood of Jesus Christ to protect your possessions, money, or goods from all kinds of wasters, devourers, and emptiers.

- Always ask God's guidance and grace to lead you to hidden wealth through Christ Jesus.

- To make your business successful, ask God to give you good ideas, the ability to handle your time well, divine wisdom, the spirit of excellence, divine bargaining skills, good management skills, and the ability to make good decisions. This will help you hire the right employees who will understand your vision and be fully committed to it. With God's help, you can get out of poverty if you have the right tools and the right people.

- Finally, tithe consistently according to Malachi 3:10-12. Do not eat the seed. Giving back to God, who gives you life and everything you need, shouldn't be hard for you. Be smart!

God bless you, in the mighty name of Jesus Chrsit! Amen!

If you would like to give your life to Christ just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Lord Jesus Christ, in Jesus anme I pray, amen"

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read: https://flatimes.com/mfm-devotional-24-september-2023-believers-v/

Scripture Text: John 4: 35-36

Soul winning reconnects men to God. Evangelism reproduces heaven-bound souls. All true children of God must undergo this spiritual task with heavenly help. God's heartbeat and redemption plan depend on soul-winning. However, God requires certain traits in soul winners.

Mark 16:15 insists that Christians must be sure of their call to gain souls.

[b]
- Soul winning is mostly for Christians. You can't win souls if you're not saved. Repent and surrender to Jesus first.

- Second, admit you owe. Paul demonstrated this in Romans 1:14. He responded, “I am a debtor both to the Greek and the Barbarians; both to the wise and the unwise.” As Paul, your salvation, calling, and gifts from God need you to preach God's message to all creation and win souls for His kingdom.

- Third, soul winners must be God-fearing. Paul claims in 2 Corinthians 5:11 that his and other apostles' fear of God succeeded in transforming men's hearts and consciences. The Holy Spirit will assist you win souls if you fear God.

- Fourth, you must love Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14). You can't love lost souls and gain souls without Christ's love. Christ sacrificed His life for His flock. Every soul winner must emulate Him.

- Fifth, understand Jesus Christ's sacrifice for sinners.Christ's blood redeemed sinners, according to 1 Peter 1:18-20. A huge sacrifice!

- Believing in Christ's redemption is the sixth soul-winning trait (Romans 1:16; 1 Timothy 1:16). The gospel of Christ and God's kindness give it power.

- Discipline, persistence, and tact are the seventh qualities (Proverbs 11:30: Daniel 12:3).

- The eighth quality is commitment and self-denial (1 Corinthians 9:19-27). God appreciates self-denial.

- Courage and passion are the ninth qualities. Jeremiah 1:17-19 says God told him to be brave. Because Jesus Christ, your Royal Master, is with you everywhere you go to win souls. Elijah bravely overcame the 450 Baal prophets on Mount Carmel and turned the Israelites back to God. Courage helped the apostles harvest many souls. Please pray these traits into your life today, beloved.

[/b]

Brethern, pray these traits into your life today.

- Above all, have an intimate relationship with the Lord, pray earnestly for soul-winning, let the Holy Spirit direct you, and believe God for results. Yours to sow and Holy Spirit waters. Increase comes from God.


In Matthew 4:19, Jesus declared, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Today he's saying the same thing to us. Soul-winning is everything to Him.


If you would like to give your life to Christ, Just pray this short prayer : "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, enter into my life, take control, and change my world. I leave the devil and enter the Kingdom of Light. Amen, Jesus, thank you.


Congratulations!!!

God bless you.

Peace!

Also read: https://flatimes.com/mfm-devotional-16-september-2023-qualities/

Luke 9:1-2, Mark 14:10–11, John 12:4-6, John 13:27–30, Ezekiel 33:14–16, Luke 22:1–6 and Acts 1:20–25.

From all of our Bible readings today, we will be able to figure out what kind of person Judas is. This is meant to make you think about yourself and to help you choose and be careful about who you hang out with. Most importantly, for anyone who has done wrong to turn around and be saved from what happened to Judas.

Who exactly is this Judas?

Judas means "praise" in Hebrew, but no one wants to give their child that name because of how he died.
When Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was on earth, he had 12 followers, and Judas Iscariot was one of them. He was picked to be in the Lord's inner circle. Once he was saved, he quit his job and went to follow Jesus Christ, just like the other eleven. He worked with Christ in his ministry and was given spiritual gifts and power. He helped Jesus Christ spread the Good News, did miracles, healed the sick, and cast devils away. He went to the place Master Jesus told him to go. He was in charge of the group's money, which is a job that would only have gone to someone who was trusted. This means that our Lord Jesus Christ probably put his trust in Judas. Alas! Judas betrayed Jesus.

Where did Judas go wrong?

Something went wrong with Judas, who was trusted and liked by everyone. One of his flaws destroyed him. He didn't do anything about his weakness, so it ate away at him until it was too late. He was a thief!

Judas was a thief, and this one flaw made him have many other flaws and bad traits. He went from being loyal to not being loyal. He got money so that he could betray Jesus and give his Master to the people who would kill Him. He had a great start with the Lord, but he ended badly. He did something that made heaven sad.

Signs You Are A Judas

1. You know you're backsliding, but you still use your Christian title because you want to be seen as unique.

Judas thought that the fruit of the Spirit was the same thing as the gifts of the Spirit. He really was blessed by God. He and the other disciples were given power, did miracles, and drove out demons. His spiritual life was tiring, though. He was turning away from the Lord, but he couldn't accept it because he had a big job and a big title among the friends of Christ. Maybe the signs and miracles he was still doing led him to think he was still standing, even though he had already fallen. The devil got into him because he liked money, and he did something bad. He went from being good to being bad.

We must be very careful so that the devil doesn't get us, in the name of Jesus Christ. Devil is not sleeping and just waiting for the right time to attack Christian. Just because you're a worker in a church doesn't mean you will go to heaven. Salvation is an individual thing. After being reborn, you need to work out your salvation by letting the fruit of the Spirit do its full work until Christ's image is made in you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray that the Lord will keep us safe from the devil. Amen!

2. You care so much about money.

You can't have two bosses at the same time; you have to pick one. The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil. Mammon is the love of money.
Money is good, and God wants us to have a lot of it so we can live well and even do what we came to the world to do. Poverty is a sin, and you should never want to be poor. God wants us to be richly blessed, and He told us that would happen. The Lord says, "Silver and gold are mine." However, if you think badly about money, you might end up like Judas. Sad to say, many Christians today will do anything to make money, even if it goes against their beliefs. It's for their own good and selfish gain but not God's Kingdom. Judas sold his Master, Jesus Christ, for 30 pieces of silver, money that he never got to spend. He loved money more than he loved Christ.

3. Choosing to make a bad prophecy come true in your life.

No name was given, but it was said that someone would be a "son of perdition" to Jesus Christ. Judas wasn't meant to be that son of destruction, but he chose to make that prophecy come true.

Even if someone tells you something bad will happen, you can and must pray it out of your life and future. Some people in the Bible rejected bad prophecies by asking God to take them out of their lives.
Because of a prophecy, Jabez had to go through pain, poverty, and sadness because of his name. But because he prayed hard to God, God changed the way his life was going (1 Chronicles 4:10). If you want to, you can do the same thing. Jacob didn't bless Esau, but he did say that Esau would always have to beg from his brother Jacob. One might have thought Esau begged Jacob his whole life, but that wasn't the case. He didn't let fate happen to him. Instead, he worked hard to change his fate. Genesis 33:8–9 makes this clear: "He also said. What do you mean by all this chaos I've seen? And he said, "There is to find favour in my lord's eyes." Esau replied, "I already have enough, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." Another person who was supposed to die but didn't because he prayed to the Lord was King Hezekiah. The Lord changed the promise and gave him fifteen more years.

No matter how spiritual the person who told you the bad or negative prophecy was, you don't have to fulfil. What can't be changed by prayers doesn't exist! Once you decide you don't want anything bad or evil, you can get on your knees and ask God for help to change your life.

4. Giving the devil a place to start by committing sin.

Through his unconfessed sin, Judas gave the devil a place in his life. As the treasurer, he was still in charge of Jesus' and the disciples' money. He did something bad that he didn't want anyone to find out. He would have told Jesus and the other followers what he had done and asked for their help so that they could pray with him to save him. He tried to hide his sin, fought his fight alone, and died in the end. Beloved, don't forget that the Bible says that a person who tries to hide their sin will not do well. Don't let the devil have a place to start in your life. Now is the time to admit your mistakes and change your mind. Jesus Christ will indeed set you free.

5. Giving up on yourself quickly.

Even when he had the chance, Judas never thought about changing his mind. This is because God knows how weak we are. You can always change your mind, but Judas gave up on Jesus Christ and killed himself. Beloved, there is no sin that God can't forgive, and no matter how far you've fallen in life, God can bring you back. If Judas had changed his mind and gone back to Christ, he would have probably been saved. Nothing in this world should make a Christian want to end his or her life. Suicide is not a choice; only fools, idiots, and people without faith do it. Don't think it's too stupid or embarrassing to go up to the Throne of Grace. God will always be ready to forgive you. Don't listen to the voice of the devil. I pray that the devil doesn't get us, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

God bless you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

If you want to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, take control of my life, and change my world. I tell the devil goodbye and enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank you, Jesus! I pray in Jesus' name, amen!

Congratulation!!!

Peace!


Also read Mountain Top Life Daliy Devotional by Dr. D.K. Olukoya, Vol. 8, 9–15 September 2023.

Scripture Text: Proverbs 3:5-6

I've heard God's voice so clearly so many times that I learned to trust what He told me, and it always came true.

But I also know what it's like to not understand what He's saying. There have been a lot of times when I thought I heard the Lord's voice, but nothing ever happened. It didn't work out.

Many people who follow God have been through what I'm talking about. Other voices come from inside us to confuse us. These voices are so clear and sweet, but they say nothing. You may have thought that the Lord told you certain things about people, events, and situations, but they didn't turn out the way you thought they would.

In fact, you may have been frustrated and confused for a while because so many things didn't work out. Maybe you went through a hard time when it came to hearing God's words, and you wondered if you had ever heard it at all.
Many people have prayed to Him:

"Lord, why am I hearing so many wrong voices? Why can't I hear You clearly? I was so sure it was Your voice, but it wasn't! In fact, often things have turned out the exact opposite of what I thought You'd told me. After walking all these years so sure, I don't think I know Your voice anymore. What's going on?"

In fact, this is happening to me right now, and the Holy Spirit was kind enough to tell me that I have let my own thoughts and plans take over. He told me in a whisper that though this is not where God wants me to stop, He wants me to learn something out of this situation to make my life more beautiful. He plans something better for me, and I need to let Him take me there. God can never be wrong! The Holy Spirit told me to talk about this subject, and I'm glad He led me to the right source.

The Bible says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. Honour Him in everything you do, and He will guide your steps" (Proverbs 3:5).
The Lord knows that our own way of thinking is wrong, that we are selfish and only care about ourselves. It doesn't matter that we've been reborn and had the blood of Christ put on our hearts. Our thinking is still not good!
God has said, "My ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Some of the dangers of relying on your own knowledge—World Challenge Org.

1. Most of the confusion about hearing God's voice comes from putting our trust in our own understanding.
There is a lot of confusion in the church about how to hear and know God's words. People say "The Lord told me..." and "The Lord said..." everywhere you go, but very little of what they say is really from God.
Many Christians do something I think is very dangerous: they want quick answers, but they don't know that getting to know God's words takes a lot of time and getting close to Him. It takes honest soul-searching so that God's will is the only thing on your mind. But they don't want to spend time alone with God and let go of themselves.

Instead, they spend time thinking. They clear their minds, putting them in neutral, and become passive. And that empty, passive mind is easy for the flesh and the devil to control. Satan can come in and say anything he wants there.

When these lazy Christians hear something, they don't put it to the test with God's Spirit or His Word. They haven't learned how to recognise His voice, so they think that anything that comes to mind is from God.

Our knowledge of the world can come to us as a clear-speaking angel of light. But it is our flesh, which pretends to be God.

In 2 Kings 7, when Elisha was in a place called Samaria that was suffering from a famine, the Lord sent him a message. There was no more food or water. Things had gotten so bad that two mothers had become cannibals and agreed to eat each other's children!

Elisha then stood up and spoke a prophecy in front of the king and the people:
"A measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel tomorrow around this time, and two measures of barley will be sold for a shekel in the gate of Samaria" (2 Kings 7:1).



That was God speaking! But the word was too offensive for the officer of the royal court who was in charge of the city gate. Barley and flour that don't cost much? Were these to appear overnight, when there was nothing else in sight, not even a cup of grain?
The gatekeeper's common sense kicked in, and he said, "Look, if the Lord were to put windows in heaven, could this be?" (v. 2). In other words, "For this prophecy to come true, God would have to open the heavens and make it rain grain on us. That's impossible!"
Often, when God speaks to us, what He says is so wonderful, amazing, and life-saving that we can't take it all in! So our flesh—our human understanding—rises up and starts to speak. Instead of resting and putting our trust in what He says, we start to rely on what we think. We ask, "How could this ever happen? It's not possible from a human point of view!" Suddenly, we've set limits for God and hemmed Him in on all sides.

Beloved, our human understanding of God will always be limited! God told Sarah, who was an old woman, that she would have a child and become the mother of many countries. What a wonderful, amazing word! But Sarah's common sense told her, "I can't be a mother at 100. My womb is dead, and my husband is old. It's impossible!" She laughed at the idea.


Has God ever told you something that didn't make sense? Did you believe Him and trust that He would do what was best? Or did you laugh at the idea and rely on what you knew and what was going on around you instead of His Word?


Dear saint, you need to believe what God has told you again. You shouldn't forget what He told you, because it once gave you life. God is even bigger than the promise He gave you. He is smarter than everything you've heard so far!


In fact, it makes Him happy to let His saints into heaven. He is in the business of sending wonders and making things happen that can't be done. "Test me now with this," says Malachi 3:10, "and see if I won't open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing so great that there won't be enough room to hold it."

2. When we rely on what we think we know, we make bad judgements about other Christians.
Paul said, "We are sure that God's judgement against those who do such things is true" (Romans 2:2).
God judges based on what's in a person's heart, but people judge based on what they see and their own flawed, human knowledge. And Christians are so quick to judge other Christians wrong. Most of it is cruel, bad, and totally pointless.

Many have done this before. A young woman came to a pastor's office for help a few years ago. Her eyes were full of darkness. Her voice was quiet and flat. The pastor's first thought was, "She's a lesbian. Her eyes look evil and ominous. He'd seen this look before. She must have done something very wrong to have this look!"
But this pastor started was crying inside within five minutes because he realised how wrong he had been about her. He had been judging her by how she looked, but her dark eyes showed that she had been through a lot of hard times. She was a prayer warrior who believed in God and had never done anything sexual. Christ was her husband. He felt so embarrassed!

A young woman preached about Jesus to a man who take dangerous drugs. As she was praying for him the Holy Spirit told her that the man had only few days to live. Meanwhile, this man already had a dream that his family members were attending his funeral. He was so desperate when  he got home that he fell on the floor of his living room and cried out, "Oh God, I'm helpless against this hellish crack. It's overwhelming me! If You're real and what she says is true, You have to show Yourself to me. Please help me!"
Suddenly, there was a lot of light in the room. He knew it was out of this world! He could feel God's presence all around him. When the light went out, he knew he had to go back to his room, but he didn't want to see those burning strange symbols anymore. So, he chose to hang pictures on the walls where the symbols had been.
He took a nail in each hand and picked up a hammer. When he looked down at the nail holes in his palms, he heard Jesus say, "My nail-scarred hands give you power over your addiction. Trust Me; it's no longer your battle, because I've already won it at the Cross. You can be free!"
His urge to use crack was taken away right away. And for the past two years, that young man has been growing in his faith by going to our church. What an amazing thing to say about God!
A few months later, this same man was walking by a pub without a roof when he felt a strong urge to go in. But it wasn't a desire for something physical. He told me, "I knew it wasn't the devil, so I went in. I thought, "What am I doing here? God can't be like this!"'
A young performer sat down next to him and said, "You don't look like you fit here. They started talking because she said, "You're different." He set up a time to meet the lady performer outside, and they went for a walk. He told her about how Jesus had set him free from crack, and they talked for a while. The lady "I hate what I'm broke down and confessed she didn't enjoy her job at the pub but took the job because she was broke and had no other way to make a living. She did quit, and she gave her heart to the Lord. Soon after, she and the young man got married, and now they go to church and are on fire for God.

One could relate the story of this young man to prophet Hosea's:
"The Lord told Hosea, 'Go, take a wife of adultery and children of adultery.'" "Love a woman who is loved by her friend but is an adulteress" (Hosea 1:1, 3:1). In other words, God was telling him to go find a harlot and marry her."This girl wasn't a harlot, but she was in a place where harlotry is common. There went my whole opinion!

How true it is that God's ways are higher than ours and that we can't figure out what they are.

Paul tells us, "Why do you pass judgement on your brother? or, why do you ignore your brother? Because we will all stand before Christ's judgement seat... So, each of us will have to answer to God for who we are" (Romans 14:10, 12).
Paul is telling them, "It's hard enough for you to judge your own heart. Stop thinking about everyone else's problems!"
I don't want to stand before Christ's judgement seat and cringe as I see people I misjudged being called to Him as His chosen. I have thought of many saints, "There's something about his spirit that doesn't witness with me. I don't feel comfortable around her!"But when God opens the books and judges me, what will He say about the fact that I trusted my own judgements, which were based on human fears and wrong conclusions.

The Scribes and Pharisees got everything wrong about Jesus.

They said that the Son of God liked to drink a lot of wine and go to parties, and that he was working with the devil.



Christ knew how blinding this kind of judging could be, so He said, "Judge not by what you see, but by what is right" (John 7:24).



We are to judge with righteous judgement, not the thought of our flesh. When God shows us something, we are to think about it in our hearts and pray about it.



God does give some people a strong sense of insight. Those who are close to Jesus know by His Spirit, "when evil is present in someone, it registers in their spiritual mind."



But the gift of discernment should never be used to tell others about their sin or ruin their image. Doing so makes the one with the gift a worse sinner than the one with an evil spirit!

"All women have a natural intuition," I've heard. A woman once told me, "I'm never wrong! When I'm around a fake, I always feel like an alarm is going off.
I'm sorry, but I don't buy that. The Bible says, "Don't trust it; it's just your own human understanding!""

Jesus asked, "Does our law judge anyone before it hears what he does?" (John 7:51) This means that we shouldn't judge someone before we get to know them, talk to them, and find out what they're about.

"Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. " This is another warning from Jesus that really gets to me. For the way you judge will be the way you are judged, and the way you measure will be the way it is measured back to you" (Matthew 7:1-2).

When you question someone else's faith and sincerity, someone else will do the same to you. You can be sure that you'll get what you give out.

3. When we rely on our own understanding, we get a wrong idea of how God works in our lives.

Right now, a lot of God's best workers are going through very hard tests and trials. Maybe you're one of them, and you're being overwhelmed by sudden troubles, fiery trials, and incredibly stressful times. Your trial could be spiritual, financial, or emotional.

Maybe as you've been reading this message, you've come to believe that you're under God's anger and rod of correction. You keep thinking, "You're going through this because you've failed God!" You're in the fire of trouble because He gave you to the devil to teach you a lesson."

Beloved, you shouldn't trust your own understanding when you're going through fire or water. You can't reason your way out of hard times. Your own thoughts about your tests will trick you.
What does God's Word say about the problems you're facing right now?

The writer of Psalm 66 said, "This is all God's doing! He has a reason for putting you through this trial. This is not the work of the devil; God is testing you."


No matter what you're going through, you can be sure that the Lord is behind it—He's testing you. He's testing you to bring out something beautiful in you—a complete trust in His trustworthiness.

But then the psalmist says, "Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou laidt affliction on our loins" (verse 11). He says that God led you into the net and put this heavy burden on you. He is the one who weighed you down.

"Thou hast made men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water" (v. 12). God let people walk over you and take advantage of you. The Lord let you go through fire and water. It's all God working in you.

Our logic tells us, "The devil is trying to kill me! He has made me suffer and given me a lot to do. He is trying to sink my ship."

But from cover to cover, the Bible makes it clear that all of our purgings and tests come from the Father and not from Satan. "And I will turn my hand on you and purely purge away all of your dross and take away all of your tin" (Isaiah 1:25).

 God tells us, "Do not think it strange about the fiery trial that is to try you, as if something strange had happened to you, but rejoice" (1 Peter 4:12-13).

Dear saint, stop trying to figure out why you have to go through hard times. Stop asking God, "Why do I have to go through this?""Leave your human thoughts behind and rest in this: "God is doing something in me. God is at work here!"

You may not like the testing you're going through, and it may seem overwhelming. But God has never left you alone in your testing, even when you feel like you've failed Him.

The person who wrote Psalm 66:9 said, "He holds our soul in life and doesn't let our feet move." He meant, "God is holding my soul in His life!" He won't let me lose my balance. He is keeping me steady until this is all over."



He came out of his trial with a strong faith and said, "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I'll tell you what He's done for my life" (v. 16). This means, "Gather around! I've been saved in a great way. I want to talk about how great God has been to me."

"Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy [fruitful] place" (verse 12) is the testimony of those who don't panic but believe God through it all.

Beloved, don't listen to what your fears tell you. Stop trying to figure out what's going on and just stand still, trust, and watch God work.

He'll get you out of it and put you in an excellent place, and you'll be on fire with praise for how true your God is! Hallelujah!

If you would like to give your life to Christ just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ I come to You now, forgive me my sins, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, in Jesus name I pray, amen!

Congratulations!!!

God bless you!

Peace!!!

Also read https://www.worldchallenge.org/danger-leaning-your-own-understanding#:~:text=The%20Lord%20knows%20that%20our,my%20ways%2C%20saith%20the%20Lord.

Scripture Text: Psalm 34:2

What is Divine Direction?

Divine direction simply means:
- Listening to the leading of the Holy Spirt.
- Being fully guided by God and bringing Him fully into your paths.
- Getting full help from God on earth.
- Referring to God to tell you what to do, how to do things and when to do things.
- Seeking God's Will in your decisions.
- Knowing what to do at the next moment as guided by God.
- Following God's path to do things.
- Allowing God to lead while you follow, without questioning Him.

Why You Should Get Divine Direction
There are so many benefits attached to getting divine direction. Some of which are:
- It brings Divine Presence- Psalm 139:6-12.
- The Almighty backs you up- Isaiah 40:10
- It guarantees Supernatural breakthroughs- James 4:10
- It guarantees security and divine protection- Ps. 91:1
- It guarantees divine peace and divine confidence- Philipp. 4:6-7
- It guarantees divine rest- Mathew 11:28-30
- It guarantees victory in battles- 2 Samuel 5:18
- It guides you to be at the right place and and the right time for the right thing.
- It convicts you of your sins- 2 Sam 24
- It renders your enemies helpless- Ps 23:5
- God will always manifest in all that concerns you.- Ps 138:8
- It gives you facilities to connect to the Power of God.
- It makes you profit in life, as you will not have to struggle and all fears will be destroyed- 1 Sam 30:7

What Are The Keys To Divine Direction?
- Be born again and be a friend of God.
- Humble yourself before God to direct you in all things- Ps 25:9
- Avoid doing things on impulse. Seek the Lord's face first.
- Have faith in God and continue in your fellowship with Him.
- Be quiet to hear from God.
- Walk in love, for God is love.
- Engage well in praise and worship.
- Be spiritually minded- Romans 8:6
- Crave, pray and fast for the Lord's leading before taking a step or decision.
- Be a Word addict.
- Continue to pray and fast until you receive answers from God.
Ask God to reveal Himself to you in visions and dreams.
- Develop a serene environment around you to enable the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- Listen and teach the Word of God. You can get divine direction through this.
- Witnessing the Holy Spirit.
- Pray enquiry prayers like David 1 Samuel 30:8
- Rejoice always and be full of joy, so that the presence of God can dwell in you heart.


If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, in Jesus name I pray, amen"

Congratulations!!!

Praise the Lord!!! Halleluyah!

God bless you!

Peace.

Message by Dr.D.K Olukoya, Eagle Hour.

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Scripture Text: Isaiah 61:1-3

The slaves who adore their chains will stay in servitude. Terrible spiritual bonds. It's stupid to underestimate the devil's knowledge. Satan exploits any weakness in us. The enemy now disguises his chains as innocent and appealing.

When a man is addicted to a habit, he becomes a slave who loves his chains. Chains are rings used to secure or pull loads. Becoming a slave is bondage. Spiritual bondage is spiritual slavery.
Who's a slave? A slave works for free at the owner's property. A slave is anybody under their master's control. Slaves have no rights, choices, or property.Any master can sell or keep a slave. What he has belongs to his master. Nobody worries about their life or death. A slave is perpetually enslaved after he is marked (Exodus 21:2-7). According to Exodus 21:28-32, slaves are worthless.

Humans can become slaves for several reasons.

1. Immorality: Immorality enslaves men. Shun immorality, beloved, to avoid slavery. Every other sin is outside the body, but immorality is inward, a sin against your own body.
2. Unchecked inherited wickedness will lead to enslavement. Any sin is a chain that binds its victim forever. Run from sin.

3. Worldly pleasures enslave people. Bible warns against loving the world (1 John 2:15).

4. Unbreakable curses and covenants bind their victims. Incomplete delivery also binds people.

Take a personal decision today to break free from bonds. Use deliverance if needed. Remember Jesus died to free you. God bless you as you accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour, in Jesus’ name.



Just say this short prayer:

Lord Jesus, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil. I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, in Jesus' name I pray, amen!

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read https://flatimes.com/mfm-devotional-22-august-2023-slaves-chains/#:~:text=MFM%20Devotional%20For%20Today%202023,of%20our%20foe%2C%20the%20devil.

Scripture Text: James 1:19-21

1. Choose to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour. Your new birth must be beyond controversy. The foundation of everything is new birth- 2 Corinthians 5:17

2. Read and meditate on God's Word- 2 Timothy 3:16

3. Grow to love and worship God- John 4:21

4. Obey Christ 100%- 1 Peter 1:2

5. Be filled with the Holy Spirit- Ephesians 5:18

6. Resist the world, the flesh and the devil so thay you can grow- James 4:7

7. Be in fellowship with other Christians- Hebrews 10:25

8. Always be in prayer before God- 1 Thess. 5:16-18

9. Always come to the Lord's Table- 1 Corinth. 10:16

10. Have a place of service and share the Gospel- Matthew 28:18-20

11. Give generously- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

12.Hunger and thirst for righteousness- Mathew 5:6

13. Walk with God- Genesis 5:24

14. Live by the fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5: 22-23

15. Put on the whole aromour of God- Ephesians 6:9-11

16. Seek for wisdom- James 5:1-6

17. Practice love and commitmment- Proverbs 16:3

18. Be patient and trusting - Eph 4:2

19. Practice humility - 1 Pet 5:6-7

20. Recognise that you've already got victore in Christ Jesus.

God bless you.

If you would like to give your lif to Christ just say these prayers:

"Lord Jesus, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world.I say bye-bye to the devil.I enter into thr Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, i Jesus name I pray.

Congratulations!!

Peace!

Re: D.D.K Olukoya

Scripture Texts: 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (KJV); Romans 12:1

In Genesis 2, after God made man out of dirt, he breathed the breath of life into him. This made man a living soul. Here, it's important to remember that God is the one who made man. God, the Potter that He is, shaped this clay carefully and correctly to make man. This body wasn't enough to be called a human being. Only the box was there. God had to breathe on it to make it alive, and this is what gave man life.
There are three parts to a person: the body, the mind, and the spirit. God cares about these three things, so they shouldn't be changed. The mind and spirit live inside the body. 3 John 2:2 says that God wants us to be healthy and happy in body, soul, and spirit. This is all-around well-being and wealth.Just as our health is important, so too is the cleanliness of our body, soul, and spirit. Can someone be healthy in a body that has been polluted and defiled? No! Can we keep sinning and still say grace should be plentiful? No! To enjoy total health, all three of these things must be holy.

The place where God's Spirit lives is in our bodies. In the New Testament, the Bible tells us that tabernacles are no longer where God lives. As He said He would do in the book of Ezekiel, God has chosen to live inside of us and make our hearts His home. Do you now understand why a Christian's body, in particular, needs to be kept holy and clean, free of all dirt, so that God can live in it? God cannot look at evil. He hates everything that is bad. A dirty vessel and a dirty body are both disgusting to God. The Holy Spirit would leave such people alone.

Learn from Samson's story. Even though he was so strong, he was in love with a Philistine woman, and she finally sold him to his enemies. Even though he cried out to God for forgiveness and killed more people when he died than he did in his whole life, he still died with his enemies. They laughed at him and made fun of him because he didn't respect God with his body. His eyes were swollen shut. He messed up God's house of worship to please his own lust. He wanted to use God's power as normal, but he didn't know that the Spirit of God had left him. If you keep doing these dirty things, God will not answer your prayers, heaven will close, and you will become an enemy of God.
 
In our Scripture texts, God makes it very clear what will happen to anyone who messes up God's temple: God will destroy him.
 
I'm sure you don't want to be ruined. If you are still in a business where your body can't be a living sacrifice for God, I beg you to turn away from it today and ask God for forgiveness and mercy. He will clean you up and bring you peace. He'll live in you, and you'll live in Him. You will become a safe place for God to be. But it's up to you to decide! If you are ready, so is God.

What things pollute the body? They include dirty thoughts, dirty ideas, dirty words, and every other kind of sin. People who haven't accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour do these things. Should a child of God take part in these things? Some people do, and it costs them their lives and their chance to be saved. If you do any of these things publicly or secretly, you need to pray to God right now. God can still show you kindness.

But the person who hides his mistakes will not do well.All kinds of sexual filth, like masturbation, bestiality, homosexuality, lesbianism, prostitution on different levels and in different ways, etc., make the body polluted. These bad things have demons that go with them to make sure that the people who do them stay in servitude. How would you explain a God-fearing person who keeps stumbling into sexual sins and doesn't feel bad about it? These are the sins that keep coming back—the ones that steal, kill, and destroy. What a slap in the face of God! Jesus sent the people who were selling and buying things out of the Temple of God. Why? Matthew 21:12–17 says that they had turned the Temple of God into a market. In the same way, the devil sets up a satanic shopping mall and uses these bad things as hooks to catch his target. The effect is ruined lives, different kinds of trouble, and maybe even an early death.
What about people who drink a lot of beer, smoke a lot of different things, and do drugs a lot? All of these things will pollute the body and, in the end, kill the soul. Have you thought about people who act holy but aren't really hooked on these bad habits? Hidden sins! Some people use the word "trending" to describe it. This is very important! The devil's plan for the end of the world is to steal the lives of men, especially young men, before they get too serious about God. Sad to say, the older ones are getting really good at hiding hidden sins and bad habits. Remember that when the Spirit of God leaves, a person is quickly cut off from the divine source, and their life gets worse.
 
Joseph knew the devil's secret. He didn't wait to beg, bargain, or make Mrs. Potiphar happy. Instead, he ran away. Even the Bible tells us, young and old, pastors and laypeople, to stay away from sexual sin. No one is too spiritual to end up in a bad situation. Polluted places can do long-term damage if you stay there for too long.
 
Do you want to be a vessel that brings praise to the Lord? Then run away from all body, soul, and spirit defilement. Seek God's power to clean you up through the blood of Jesus. Psalm 119:9 says that you should want to eat the word of God often enough so that it stays with you and can cleanse your life. Don't give in to temptation. He is the one who tempts us, but the hope of glory is Christ in us. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with his power. As you walk in the Spirit, you won't do what your body wants.

God bless you.

If you would like to give your life to Christ just say this short prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, in Jesus' name I pray, amen!

Congratulations!!!

Peace!
 
Aslo read https://flatimes.com/mfm-devotional-27-july-2023-defile-not-body-i/

Scripture Texts:

1 Samuel 18:2; Genesis 29:14

Relationship refers to the condition of being connected or related, as well as association by blood or marriage; kinship. It refers to the interactions, ties, or feelings that exist between two parties, nations, individuals, etc.

There are numerous distinct types of relationships, including familial, platonic, acquaintance, and romantic.

Regardless of the form of relationship we have, there must be four essential components. These include, but are not limited to:
1. affection: concern, liking, benevolence, attraction, affection, and generosity;
2. understanding;
3. Respect: esteem, acknowledgment, admiration, affirmation;
4. Trust: confidence, loyalty, honesty, bravery, dependability, and consistency.
 
Failure of any of these causes a relationship to fail, resulting in a damaged relationship.
 

Signs of a Damaged Relationship.
A damaged relationship is characterised by the absence of any of the aforementioned elements, which include but are not limited to:

Cruelty (physical or spiritual); dislike; rejection; withdrawal; coldness; ingratitude; envy/jealousy; needless attitude; regret; indifference; betrayal; breach of confidence; disloyalty; unfaithfulness; dishonesty; unreliability; inconsistence; rudiness; carelessness; thoughtlessness; moral breakage; moral meekness; infidelity to withstand pressure; not moving together in one spirit.

The Effect of Damaged Relationships

Hurt, suffering, self-justification, rationalisation, sadness, confusion, resentment, bitterness, depression, hostility, anger, jealousy, guilt, regret, remorse, condemnation, fear, anxiety, withdrawal, avoidance, apathy, and completely fleeing away from each other in secret are the results of a damaged relationship. All of these are the origins of breakdowns around the world.
Restoration Of A Damaged Relationship
When relationships are broken, we all require intervention, particularly divine intervention.
 
Here are some suggestions for mending a broken relationship:
 
- Admit that you have erred against one another and offended the Holy Spirit in your relationship.
- Admit that you have erred by reacting and acting unlovingly towards one another.
- Confess your transgressions and seek God's forgiveness.
- Request forgiveness from one another.
- Accept by faith that your reconciliation will result in a new beginning in Christ, as opposed to a dead end as before.
- Accept one another as Christ accepts all of us.
- Submit yourself to prayer and salvation.

God bless you! Amen!
 
If you wish to devote your life to Christ, simply recite this brief prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I come to You now; enter my life, take control of my life, and transform my world." I bid farewell to the devil and enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank you, Jesus; in the name of Jesus, I pray, amen!"
 
Congratulations!!! You are now liberated!
 


Peace!

Also see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MteRKuuE48

Scripture Text: Proverbs 8:13

Pride is when a person is too focused on himself or herself. That is, when you can't find anything good in anyone else but yourself. Self-glorification is what happens when a proud person talks about and praises himself or herself. God doesn't get the credit and honour of a proud person. He instead gives himself credit for what God has done. Pride is putting yourself first. It is a lie and hurts people. Pride doesn't help anyone in any way. It doesn't care about anyone but itself. Pride is wrong and it's a destructive habit..

Isaiah 14:12–15 talks about how arrogant and self-centred Satan is, and how he wants to be like God. Pride made his heart hard, and God sent him out of heaven and away from him. This is why many people's hearts have grown too hard to accept Christ. Others do bad things without getting caught, including some so-called Christians who say they know too much about God. It's just being proud! When pride takes over a man, he can't see the Truth or do what is right. Then, how can a proud man accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour unless he puts himself down?

Are you puffy of what you possess, what you've done, your job, your looks, or your spiritual status? You are quickly falling into the sin of praising yourself and thinking you are good. You need to get out of there and be free. Don't give yourself too much. Pride is the cause of all your harsh and quick opinions, impatience, irritation, bad moods, anger, and so on. Pride is one of the things that come from the flesh. Galatians 5:19–21 makes it clear that people who do these things will not get into the Kingdom of God. Choose to get out of this prison you've put yourself in. If you give yourself over to God, he will make you humble and set you free.

God bless you.

If you would like to give your life to Christ just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Ref: Dr. D.K Olukoya, MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional, Vol 8., 2023.

Scripture Text: Psalm 85:10

God created marriage more than any other institution. God gave Adam and Eve the gift of marriage. They were made to go together perfectly. Marriage wasn't just for convenience, and no society made it happen. It was set up by God, and there are three main parts to it: (1) The man leaves his parents and offers himself a wife in front of everyone - Genesis 2:24. (2) A man and a woman are joined together when they take care of each other and love each other more than anything else. (3) The closeness and commitment of physical union, which is only done in a marriage, make the two people into one body.

For a marriage to be happy and a little piece of heaven on earth, God's plans for it must be carefully followed. The keys to a happy marriage are to respect God's word, which says in 1 Corinthians 7:5 that you must not cheat on each other. Spouses sometimes say things like "I have a headache" or "I'm very tired because I had a busy day at work today" to avoid having sex with their partners. Beloved, if you want to enjoy your marriage, you need to be aware of how your partner feels. Try to make your partner happy, even if it means sacrificing your own comfort. The happiest homes are ones in which the husband and wife enjoy each other sexually (1 Corinthians 7:3-5).

1 Peter 3:1 has another important key to a happy marriage. It says, "Likewise, wives, be submissive to your own husbands." If you want to be happy in your marriage, you must be totally submissive to your husband. In a happy marriage, submission is not a choice but an order. Wives, remember that a smile and a kind attitude will go a long way towards winning your husband's heart.
God set up marriage, and His goal is for us to enjoy it, not to have to go through it. We also learned what makes a marriage work.

Proverbs 21:9 says that another important thing for a wife to do is to be a healer in the home. A wife who can bring everyone together is a winner. When a wife likes to argue, it makes life hard for her husband. When a man knows that his wife will be happy and calm when he gets home, he is eager to get there on time.

Another key to a happy marriage is to talk to each other. Every couple should make it a point to talk to each other well. Don't make it a habit to talk to your partner by texting, using WhatsApp, or leaving a note under the pillow. Because of this one habit, a man lost a big deal that could have helped him and his family. A husband sent a message to his wife, but because she didn't get along with her husband, she wrote back and put it under her pillow. When the husband finally saw the message, it was too late.

Your marriage will be happy and peaceful if you and your partner can talk to each other well. If you talk about everything with your partner, you'll be happier in your relationship and fights and disagreements will happen less often. If a couple wants to be able to talk about problems well, they should learn how to be specific. Saying things like "that's all you ever do" is not helpful or good for a marriage. Still on the topic of how to talk to each other well, if you are angry or upset about something, try to tell each other so that things can change. But try as much as possible to say what you don't like in a way that isn't hurtful or critical of your partner. Also, for good conversation and a happy marriage, both partners need to be able to listen to each other's complaints without getting angry or upset.

Another important key to a happy marriage is being gentle. It means being kind, respectful, accepting, and interested in peace. In Proverbs 15:1, the Bible says that it's hard to win a fight with someone who always answers in a soft voice. When you raise your voice or say something rude, you will always get an angry reaction. The best way to avoid anger and find peace and happiness in your marriage is to speak quietly.


Another important part of a happy and successful marriage is for the two people to try to work out their differences before the end of each day. Ephesians 4:26 says that you shouldn't let the sun set on your anger.
Wives, learn to be wise with whatever money your husband can give you. Remember the woman in Proverbs 31 who worked hard to help her husband. So it's not surprising that the Bible called her a good woman whose worth is much more than diamonds (Proverbs 31:10). A woman with a strong sense of who she is, a lot of knowledge, many skills, and a lot of kindness. Proverbs 31:33 says that because of how she lived, her husband was respected and known by the older people in the land.

When a marriage is happy and going well, the two people don't take each other for granted. No one likes to be put down. Everyone likes being praised. If you take your partner for granted, he or she may act in a way that makes it hard for you to be happy together. Proverbs 17:22 says that you must make enough room for laughing.

Learn to forgive each other and pray together every day are also important parts of a happy marriage. This is a key that is very important. (3) Give each other your trust. (4) Learn to let each other off the hook.

In the name of Jesus, my hope is that God, who created marriage, will make all Christian marriages and homes full of joy, success, and happiness.

God bless you.


If you would like to give your life to Christ, say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, in Jesus Christ mighty name I pray, amen!"

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Ref: Dr D.K Olukoya, Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional; Vol 8, 2023.

Scripture Text: Romans 10:14-15 (NKJV)

As a Christian, leading people to Christ should be your top goal. Evangelism should be every Christian priority!

The church of Jesus Christ is a ship, not a boat for fun. We neither need nor want entertainers. When evangelising stops being a top priority in the church, it starts to die. A church that doesn't try to save the lost soul is itself lost, and when we say "church," we mean you. When evangelism is your top concern, you make it possible for people who aren't Christians to find their way to Jesus Christ and save a life for all time. You are saved so that you can save others. You are to tell others that Jesus can forgive their sins, just as you have been forgiven.

As a Christian, Jesus Christ told you in Matthew 28:19–20 to go out into the world and teach others. This is a way to share the gospel and make disciples. It is a must and can't be skipped. The lesson of John 3:16 is important and needs to be spread. It is, in fact, the most important message. The first sign that you are moving from being a Christian to becoming a disciple is that you can share your faith with other people. Christians who do a lot of evangelism always become better disciples. This is because it's hard to commit the sins you teach against when you do a lot of evangelism. Evangelism is as easy as telling people how God saved you (John 4:25–29).

 As an evangelist, you can work in three different ways:
1. A groaner: Groaning and praying for lost souls
2. A sower: Give money to preaching and missionary work.
3. A goer is someone who is always out in the world spreading the Word of God.

Every Christian should make evangelism a top concern. You get closer to the Lord when you do this. Make bringing someone to Christ your top goal every day, and watch how your focus changes for the better. Jesus has a profound message for the whole world, and you must help spread it.

Evangelism isn't just a side thing. It is a way for someone to become a true disciple of Christ. If you try to tell someone about Christ every day, you'll be surprised at how many lives you'll have won for Christ in a year.

You might be wondering what you can do to help with evangelism. Some of these ways are:

-Giving out tracts.Groan in prayer for lost souls.
- Take part in open-air evangelism and talk to people about Christ using both spoken and unspoken Bible verses.
- Do one-on-one preaching by following up with just one person who needs to be saved.
- If you can afford it, share Bibles and other Christian books.
- Share God's Word on social media and spread the word of Christ and repentance all over the world.
- Take part in all of the evangelising events that your church might plan from time to time.

Luke 15:7, Matthew 6:33, and Luke 12:31 all say that if you do these things, you will get a reward from Heaven.

But you cannot do this evangelism well without the Holy Spirit, who sends you and gives you the courage and faith to do it. Without the Holy Spirit in you, evangelism is just making noise or another action that doesn't change people (Acts 3:1–10).For the Holy Spirit to give you the power to share the good news, your heart must be right with God. You must be a living example of Jesus Christ and a representative of Christ. Let your life be the message and the letter from God. In other words, always do what you say you're going to do.In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray that the Lord God will help us all. Amen!

God bless you.

If you've read this word and you're still a sinner who hasn't accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you need to do that right away. Now is the time to do that! It could be late tomorrow. Just say this short prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, take charge of my life, and change my world. I say goodbye to the world of sin and darkness and enter the Kingdom of Light, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Congratulations!!!

Peace!
 
Ref: Mountain Top Daily Devotional Vol. 8, 2023 by Dr, D.K Olukoya.

Scripture Text: Proverbs 16:7

God is the Epitome of "the One who Has it all." It can be difficult to find an offering that will be accepted by God. Thankfully, the Bible not only informs us of what God despises (such as in Proverbs 6:16–19), but also what God loves.
What is most pleasing to God is also what will provide us with the greatest joy and contentment. Because God loves us and desires what is best for us eternally, we will find the greatest satisfaction in living out God's plan for us.

Ways You Can Please God

1. God loves it when people have faith.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith, defined here as trust in God and confidence that He will carry out His promises, is listed as a precondition for gaining God's approval in this chapter. It also provides a shining illustration of this type of faith: (Verse 5) Enoch Before the Flood, Enoch experienced life in a world where evil was on the rise, but he chose to avoid that path. To the contrary, Joseph "walked with God" (Genesis 5:24) and "he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5).
Not only did Enoch have faith in the God who created the universe, but he also anticipated that God would one day return to Earth with "ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgement" (Jude 1:14–15). Godly deeds, or walking in God's ways, must replace immoral deeds if this world is ever to know true peace and joy, as Enoch understood.

2. It pleases God when we have faith in Him and accept His promises.
God appreciates those who keep a spiritual perspective."For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the spirit is life and peace. Because the fleshly mentality is hostile to God and cannot be made submissive to God's law. Therefore, it is impossible for human beings to attain God's approval (Romans 8:6–.

3. The Bible makes a distinction between the natural, human mind (called "fleshly" or "carnal" in the text) and the mind guided by the Holy Spirit (called "spiritual" in verse 9). As a result, having the Holy Spirit indwell us and guide us is a further requirement for gaining God's approval.
The apostle Peter summed up God's instructions for receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Paul had previously described his own encounters with the two philosophies in the context leading up to the passage in Romans 8. Even though the process of transition is shown to be difficult by Paul in Romans 7, he assures us that Jesus Christ will save us (verse 25) and that as a result of the transformation we are adopted as "children of God" (8:16–17). Does God approve of this? Yes! According to Jesus, there is "joy in heaven over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7). God delights in expanding His clan.

4. Having reverence for God is something He values.
The LORD delights in those who fear Him and in those who hope in His goodness (Psalm 147:11).God does not take pleasure in our fear of Him. One of God's attributes is that He "heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). In verses 4-6, God's compassion, omniscience (He knows the names of all the stars! ), and ability to rescue the meek are lauded. The Bible instructs us to fear God, not because doing so benefits God but because it benefits us to realise that He is superior to all other powers. Respect for Him demands that we recognise this.

5.To avoid sin (Exodus 20:20), we must have a healthy respect for and fear of God. It's a sobering reminder that God will eventually punish our wrongdoing.
We can grow in our adoration for the Almighty God who bent down to rescue a frail human being like me because we fear Him and rely on Him because of the reverence we have for Him.
See "Fear of the Lord: What Does It Mean?" for more on the meaning of this phrase.
To please God, it is necessary to learn from and imitate Jesus Christ.In this, My dearly loved Son, do I take great delight. Observe Him! (Matthew 17.5).
God made Jesus Christ's superiority clear to Peter, James, and John during the transfiguration, a glimpse of the future Kingdom of God. Jesus was the only person God was ever genuinely delighted with because he was the Son of God. We would be wise to listen to Him and learn from His teachings.
By reading the four Gospels, we might learn how to follow Jesus' example and do "those things that please Him" (John 8:29). Look at our pieces on "Gospels" and "How to Study the Bible."

6. God is pleased when we obey Him.Does the Lord take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as he does in those who listen to and keep his commandments? Obedience is more important than sacrifice, the Bible says (1 Samuel 15:22).
In this chapter, the prophet Samuel condemned Israel's first monarch, Saul. Saul's justification for disobeying God's explicit order was that "the people" preferred to offer what should have been destroyed to God as an offering. However, God does not want our physical talents if we disobey His rules in order to give them to Him.
Deuteronomy 10:13 reminds us that God's commands are not given because they benefit God but because they benefit us. His instructions are good for us, and when we follow them, we develop a godly, upright character and become more like Jesus Christ. The way to God's favour is like this:
Throughout the Bible, God makes it clear that obedience is a source of joy for Him. God will reward people who "keep My Sabbaths and choose what pleases Me" (1 Chronicles 29:17; Isaiah 56:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–3), "abstain from sexual immorality," and do not disobey any of God's commands.
6. Nothing makes God happier than carrying out his will.Through Jesus Christ, to Him be glory, now and forever, "May  God make you complete in every good work to fulfil His will, doing in you what is well pleasing in His sight." Hebrews 13:21 says this.
What does God want? All of God's wants, all of God's commands, and all of God's plans are spelled out in the Bible. The Bible was given to us so that we could learn His will and, in a way, His thoughts. To better comprehend His will, it is necessary to devote time to study, meditation, and prayer on the Scriptures.

7. Understanding God's desires is only the beginning of doing God's will. Doing "every good work" (Matthew 5:48) means striving for spiritual growth and holiness.
Jesus Christ, though He knew He would be scourged and crucified for our sins, established the standard for obedience to God's will when He prayed, Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). To prove His devotion and carry out His Father's desire, He was prepared to sacrifice everything.
To gain God's approval, we need to ask for His guidance in doing what is right.

8. We can please God by offering the offerings He requests.
So let us consistently bring God the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips, praising and glorifying His name, as instructed to us by Him. Keep doing good and giving to others, for it is with these kinds of offerings that God is most pleased (Hebrews 13:15–16).
Earlier, we saw that God would not accept offerings that were the result of disobedience. But there are sacrifices that He is "well pleased" with, and those include sharing what you have with others and praising God. These represent His teachings on love as summarised in the two major commandments:

9. To love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind is the greatest commandment. This is the most important rule of all. You must love your neighbour as yourself, which is similar to the second. The entire Holy Scriptures rest on these two commandments. The words of Jesus in Matthew 22:37–40

10. Worshipping God and not manIt's human nature to want to be liked by those around us. Focusing on pleasing God, Whom we cannot see, can be challenging.
To strive to please both God and man at the same time is a recipe for disaster, as Jesus pointed out. Remember what He stated in the Sermon on the Mount: "Do not perform your acts of charity in front of mankind in order to be praised by them. Otherwise, there will be no reward for you from your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:6). Both in verse 5 and verse 16, he made similar remarks about the efficacy of prayer and fasting in gaining the favour of men.
We should instead do these things in secret, "and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly" (verse 4).

Paul offers a fascinating concept to characterise actions taken primarily for external validation: eyeservice. As the Bible instructs, "bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God" (Colossians 3:22).

Paul himself realised the value of seeking God's approval rather than human approval. The Bible says, "But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
When we stop to consider it, we see that God is the ultimate giver of every blessing in our lives, including those bestowed upon us by our loved ones.
Everything we have, even life itself, comes from him. And as His children, we have the promise of eternal life (1 John 3:1). He is worthy of our utmost respect.
I will bless You every day, and I will laud your name for all time, as King David said. "The LORD is great and greatly to be praised, and the depths of His awesome power are beyond calculation." (Psalm 145:2-3).
The angels who surround God are aware of this. They threw their crowns before the throne of God and said, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, honour, and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created" (Revelation 4:11).
What if we've been disobeying God all along?What offends God and causes us harm is explicitly described in the Bible. Its primary descriptor is "sin." Since every person on earth has sinned (Romans 3:23), everyone on earth has angered God.
God's love for us is so great that He provided a means for our sins to be forgiven and we can begin again. Jesus Christ's atoning death made this possible, and His instructions for doing so are laid down in the Bible. In Acts 2:38, the apostle Peter provided a concise summary:
It says, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

To be converted is to go from disobeying God to obeying God with God's assistance. Read our free pamphlet, Change Your Life! for a summary of the scriptures that outline this procedure.
The wonderful thing about repentance is that it brings God joy, even in the smallest ways. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10), Jesus declared.
Gaining God's favour and its benefits

It is impossible for us to repay God for all that He has done for us, let alone all that He desires to accomplish for us. In this life, He provides tremendous advantages, such as the following rule of thumb:
"When a man's ways please the LORD, He even makes his enemies be at peace with him" (Proverbs 16:7).

Christians may still encounter hardships in this world, but Jesus promised, "These things I have told you, that in Me you may have peace. Yes, here on earth you will have trouble, but take heart; I have overcome the world.

And in the future, He will give His faithful flock an enormous reward:
The kingdom will be given to you because it pleases your Father (Luke 12:32).
King David, a man after God's own heart, recorded one of the most exciting descriptions of the utopian Kingdom of God. He declared, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ,I come to You now; come into my life; take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devul; i enter into the Kingdom of Light. To You Alone be the Glory, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen". Hallelujah!!!

God bless you.

Congratulations!!!


Peace!

Also read: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/who-is-god/how-to-please-god/

Scripture Text: Acts 2: 1-8

The third person in the God Head is the Holy Spirit. When Jesus Christ left the world, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to teach us all things (John 14:26). Our Senior Partner and a source of comfort is the Holy Spirit. It's important to work with or get to know the Holy Spirit because He will tell you when you're doing something wrong and show you how to do what's right. God uses the Holy Spirit to make sure His people are ready and able to do all good works.

If you work with the Holy Spirit, you can help God's plan for your life come true, and you can also give credit to God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit will be your prayer Partner, work Partner, business Partner, career Partner, marriage Partner, finance Partner, academic Partner, salvation Partner, Bible or Word Partner, investment Partner, and most importantly, your Partner in the path of Righteousness towards the Kingdom of God,

What does it mean to work with the Holy Spirit?

First, you have to wait on the Lord and make room for Him to fall on you, just like the apostles did in the Upper Room (Luke 24: 45-49) NLT.

When the apostles were baptised in the Holy Spirit, they got the power to spread the good news. Peter, who was afraid and had denied Jesus Christ three times, got the courage to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that day, three thousand people joined the church. If you want to be a life winner and have the power of God come over you, you must work with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).

Second, if you spend a lot of time with the Holy Spirit, He will give you the strength to be more than a winner (Romans 8:37). When He is with you, trouble will shake when you come near.

Third, when you work with the Holy Spirit, Christ's knowledge will flow through you (Acts 4:13).

Fourth, you will have a supernatural breakthrough and a permanent relationship with the Holy Spirit. He will make you a star forever (Daniel 12:3).

Last but not least, your work with God will be supported by miracles and signs (Mark 16:20). Paul's life was so amazing that even handkerchiefs and aprons he wore could help people (Acts 9:11–12). People who were sick were healed by Peter's shadow (Acts 5:15–16).

You can also carry God's power if you're willing to work with Him. You can only work with Him if you give your life to Jesus Christ and become His. Amos 3:3 says that two people can't walk together if they don't agree.

But first you have to give your life to Christ for you to qualify to work with the Holy Spirit.

If you would like to give your life to Christ just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to you now, come into my life now, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen!

Congratulations!!!


Now, begin to tell the Lord Jesus Christ to wash you in His Blood and the Holy Spirit to overshadow you, in the name of Jesus Christ.

God bless you.

Peace!

Ref:
Dr. D.K Olukoya: Mountaion Top Life Daily Devotional, Vol.8, 2023.
Also read: https://www.thedevotionals.com.ng/mfm-daily-devotional-for-tuesday-27th-june-2023-why-you-should-partner-with-the-holy-spirit/