OPEN HEAVENS 2017 THINK IN THE SPIRIT – Thursday June 29th 2017 Memorise:  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6 Read:  Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Bible in one year:  1st Samuel 3-5, Lamentation 2:3-13, Hymn: Sing hymn 15 MESSAGE Life in the Spirit is possible, even though for most believers it still a struggle (Galatians 5:25). To grow your spirit-man, you need to earnestly seek more opportunities to be refilled with the Holy Spirit after being baptized with Him (Ephesians 5:18-19). To live in the Spirit, you need to think in the Spirit. In our thought life, many of us leave out the Holy Spirit, and this is one of the reasons why we don’t go far in our walk with God. Whenever God is left out of an equation, it never balances. This is why today’s Bible reading sa...

REST IN GOD -PSALM 119:121-128 KEY VERSE: "Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes" (Psalm 119:124). Faron Young, a famous American singer and songwriter, who was married for over 32 years, plunged himself into alcoholism. This badly affected his life and he got separated from his wife. The court ordered him to pay her a lifetime alimony of $l,000 every month. After years of loneliness, heartache and pain coupled with prostate cancer, Young shot himself. That was where he got it wrong, forgetting to surrender his challenges to Christ. The text, the prayer of the Psalmist, exposes his frailty, weakness and helplessness. It was a heartfelt prayer from someone, who was not pretentious but was in pain and suffering. He cried out his mind to God to get involved in his situation. He knew God abhorred sin and with it, no one would have access to Him. Therefore, he maintained a righteous life. He cried for God’s grace and mercy, being sure that ...

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY, 29TH JUNE.  http://bit.ly/2dZqtLQ BE FIRED UP TO DO MORE. Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind (Psalm 67:2 TLB). In Revelation 22:7, the Master said, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Then in Matthew 28:19-20, He instructed, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” He’s coming back soon, and He’s given us the mandate to evangelize the world before He comes back. He said in Luke 19:13, “…Occupy till I come”; that means keep working; keep preaching; keep leading men and women into righteousness. There’s an urgency, a fervency in our spirits to share the ...

  June 29, 2017 Faith in Action Amy Boucher Pye James 2:14–26 Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2:18 As a friend drove to the grocery store, she noticed a woman walking along the side of the road and felt she should turn the car around and offer her a ride. When she did, she was saddened to hear that the woman didn’t have money for the bus so was walking home many miles in the hot and humid weather. Not only was she making the long journey home, but she had also walked several hours that morning to arrive at work by 4 a.m. By offering a ride, my friend put into practice in a modern setting James’s instruction for Christians to live out their faith with their deeds: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (v. 17). He was concerned that the church take care of the widows and the orphans (James 1:27), and he also wanted them to rely not on empty words but to act on th...

REWARD OF FALSE PROPHECY -JEREMIAH 28:10-17 KEY VERSE: "Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD" (Jeremiah 28:16). Even though afflictions come from the devil, God, sometimes, allows them as a form of chastisement against His people for their wrongdoing. This was exactly the situation of the Israelites, as the text depicted, when they involved themselves in sin. Jeremiah, by the Spirit of the Lord, wore a yoke, which symbolised the Jews and other neighbouring nations’ subjection to the king of Babylon. It was not that Nebuchadnezzar was righteous, but submission to him was a form of punishment, which could prevent the extreme evil that would otherwise befall them. Hananiah, a false prophet, who stood against Jeremiah’s prophecy and made the people believe a lie, took the yoke from off Jeremiah’s neck and broke it. Jeremiah, as against conte...

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY, 28TH JUNE. YOU DWELL IN HIM. RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY, 28TH JUNE.  http://bit.ly/2dZqtLQ YOU DWELL IN HIM. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, "For we are also his offspring" (Acts 17:28). When you were born again, you were born into the environment called "Christ"; you dwell in Him. The Bible says, "...if any man be in Christ..." (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christ is a place, and He's also a person. He's your home. In Him, you're at rest and at peace! You're safe, secure, and fulfilled; your joy and satisfaction overflow. What a place to be! Ephesians 2:6 tells us that God has made us sit together in heavenly places, "in Christ"; that's your environment; an environment of glory. It brings to mind the account of the Israelites, as they journeyed in the wilderness for forty years. The heat didn't scorch them by day, neither di...

  June 28, 2017 Unfinished Works Amy Peterson Romans 7:14–25 Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!  Romans 7:24–25 At his death, the great artist Michelangelo left many unfinished projects. But four of his sculptures were never meant to be completed. The Bearded Slave, the Atlas Slave, the Awakening Slave , and the Young Slave, though they appear unfinished, are just as Michelangelo intended them to be. The artist wanted to show what it might feel like to be forever enslaved. Rather than sculpting figures in chains, Michelangelo made figures stuck in the very marble out of which they are carved. Bodies emerge from the stone, but not completely. Muscles flex, but the figures are never able to free themselves. My empathy with the slave sculptures is immediate. Their plight is not unlike my struggle with sin. I am unable to free myself: like the sculptures...

Who Am I? By Billy Graham   •   June 27   •   Topics: Soul & Spirit SHARE12 TWEET HomeDaily DevotionWho Am I? teenager with box on head What a glorious Lord! He who daily bears our burdens also gives us our salvation. —Psalm 68:19 (TLB) Edward Dahlberg, the writer, observed, “At 19, I was a stranger to myself. At 40, I asked, ‘Who am I?’ At 50, I concluded I would never know.” This unexplored personal wilderness is the home of millions of people. Ninety-two percent of all Canadian university students, according to June Callwood, the Toronto sociologist, don’t really know who they are. The Bible says that man is an immortal soul. When God made man in the first place, He created him and “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). One’s soul is the essence, the core, the eternal and real person. And he will be restless until he opens his life to ...

OPEN HEAVENS 2017 UNDER AUTHORITY? – Tuesday June 27th 2017 Memorise:  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Romans 13:1 Read:  Acts 8:12-17 (KJV) 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Bible in one year:  Ruth 2-4...

APPRECIATING GOD -LEVITICUS 23:9-22 KEY VERSE: "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest" (Leviticus 23:10). "One of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life," Joel Osteen wrote, "is because we become ungrateful to God. We let what was once a miracle to become common to us. We get so accustomed to God’s goodness that it has become a routine." This is why the text today is very instructive, as it stresses the need to appreciate God’s goodness and provision. God commanded the Israelites to offer the bunch of their firstfruits of harvest. The Israelites could not have boasted that their agricultural produce was due to their efforts, as drought and other adverse circumstance could have affected the growth of their crops. So, to have a bountiful harvest must be an ac...

Getting the Most Out of Your Marriage by Joyce Meyer - posted June 27, 2017 Do to others as you would have them do to you. —Luke 6:31 NIV I wonder how many millions of people think, I just don’t feel the way I once did about my spouse. I wish I still felt excited about our marriage—that the romantic feelings would come back. This is when we need to remember: wishing does not do any good; only action changes things. If you don’t feel you are getting anything out of your marriage, perhaps you are not putting enough into it. We usually give our spouses the unfair and unrealistic responsibility of making us happy rather than being grateful for them and choosing to make them happy. In the process, selfishness causes both of you to be unhappy. But you can change that! If you want your marriage or any other relationship to improve, just start being grateful for that person and try to bless them every chance you get. Prayer of Thanks: Father, thank You for my spous...

  June 27, 2017 Five-Finger Prayers Anne Cetas James 5:13–18 Pray for each other.  James 5:16 Prayer is a conversation with God, not a formula. Yet sometimes we might need to use a “method” to freshen up our prayer time. We can pray the Psalms or other Scriptures (such as The Lord’s Prayer), or use the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). I recently came across this “Five-Finger Prayer” to use as a guide when praying for others: • When you fold your hands, the thumb is nearest you. So begin by praying for those closest to you—your loved ones (Phil. 1:3–5). • The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach—Bible teachers and preachers, and those who teach children (1 Thess. 5:25). • The next finger is the tallest. It reminds you to pray for those in authority over you—national and local leaders, and your supervisor at work (1 Tim. 2:1...

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY, 27TH JUNE.  http://bit.ly/2dZqtLQ LOVE SO REAL. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not (1 John 3:1). The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 reveals the Father’s unconditional and unfailing love for us; love so real, so intense, and so sublime. In that story, after living a riotous and profligate life, the prodigal son suddenly came to himself and decided to go back to his father (Luke 15:17-18). As soon as his father saw him from afar, he ran to him and embraced him. The first thing he told his father was, “Forgive me,” and his father did! This describes the love nature of our heavenly Father towards us. Once you repent, He’s quick to forgive you because He’s gracious, loving, and kind. When a believer who has strayed from the truth returns to God, He receives him gladly and establish...

OPEN HEAVENS 2017 WHY HEALING IS YOURS – Sunday June 25th 2017 Memorise:  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 Read:  Isaiah 53:3-5 (KJV) 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Bible in one year : Judges 20, Jeremiah 52:12-23, Hymn: Sing hymn 5 MESSAGE In life, what you tolerate goes a long way to determine what you go through, and how you go through situations and circumstances. While God expects us to be tolerant of the wea...

BE AN INTERCESSOR -AMOS 7:1-6 KEY VERSE: "And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small" (Amos 7:2). We are often consumed by our own needs and desires that we shut our eyes to the experiences of people around us. Yet, were we to pause and ponder over their situation, we would realise that compared to them, what we consider giant problems quickly pale into insignificance. We are thus, compelled by those dire circumstances to intervene on their behalf. Such is the responsibility every believer should assume, as intercessors. The Lord had twice shown Amos a vision of the impending judgment against Israel. He showed him two images here, one, of insects and two, of fire. These were pictures of ordinary things that were familiar to the Israelites and therefore, needed very little elaboration. The message should be plain enough to the general publ...

Soaking Up God’s Word Xochitl Dixon Deuteronomy 6:1–9 These commandments that I give to you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Deuteronomy 6:6–7 When our son Xavier was a toddler, we took a family trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As we entered the building, I pointed to a large sculpture suspended from the ceiling. “Look. A humpback whale.” Xavier’s eyes widened. “Enormous,” he said. My husband turned to me. “How does he know that word?” “He must have heard us say it.” I shrugged, amazed that our toddler had soaked up vocabulary we’d never intentionally taught him. In Deuteronomy 6, God encouraged His people to be intentional about teaching younger generations to know and obey the Scriptures. As the Israelites increased their knowledge of God, they and their children would be more likely to grow in reverence of Him and to enjoy the rewards that come through knowing Him int...

OPEN HEAVENS 2017 BECOMING A WONDER – Friday June 23rd 2017 Memorise:  Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Psalm 77:14 Read:  Psalm 77:11-15 (KJV) 11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. 15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. Bible in one year:  Judges 17-18, Jeremiah 51:45-58, Hymn: Sing hymn 5 MESSAGE God is a wonder and He does great wonders. I pray that He will perform wonders in your own life, so that you can testify that you have experienced His wonder-working power, in Jesus’ Name. Beyond this however, do you know that God can turn you into a wonder? For instance, look at t...

GUILTLESS? -PROVERBS 24:21-34 KEY VERSE: "Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips" (Proverbs 24:28). A story is told of a policeman who witnessed an accident while on duty. In that accident, a graduate was knocked down by a reckless driver and he died on the spot. The policeman, who was at the scene, told the driver to give him some money and move on. That was done and the policeman was said to have told people that the young man was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. Some years after he had retired from service, his son who just returned from abroad where he studied was knocked down exactly at the point where his father covered up a crime years back. So, when the old man heard what happened, he confessed to those around him what he did. Nowadays, wickedness rules the world as some people go out of their way to say outright falsehood against their neighbour. People are paid to frame-up others in criminal cases, while some ma...

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY, 23RD JUNE.  http://bit.ly/2dZqtLQ VICTORS FOR LIFE. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (James 1:2). As you grow in your Christian walk, you’ll definitely have your fight of faith; it’s a must for everyone. The Bible calls it a good fight, because you’re guaranteed to always win. Some people see the fight of faith differently; they see challenges as insurmountable difficulties. Every time something happens, they cry, feeling sorry for themselves. If only such people knew how much the devil likes to see them cry, and enjoys their frustration, they’ll never give him the luxury. Realise that as a Christian, Christ lives in you; that makes you a victor for life. The Bible says, “...greater is he that’s in you, than he that’s in the world” (1 John 4:4). This is a present-hour reality. Romans 8:35-37 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation...

  June 23, 2017 Playing in Concert David C. McCasland Romans 12:3–8 So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.  Romans 12:5–6 During our granddaughter’s school band concert, I was impressed by how well this group of 11- and 12-year-olds played together. If each of them had wanted to be a solo performer, they could not have achieved individually what the band did collectively. The woodwinds, brass, and percussion sections all played their parts and the result was beautiful music! To the followers of Jesus in Rome, Paul wrote, “In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (Rom. 12:5–6). Among the gifts Paul mentioned are prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, and mercy (vv. 7–...

  June 22, 2017 Silence Tim Gustafson Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:20 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?  Habakkuk 1:2 Skittish chickens scattered as relief trucks clattered past the weathered huts of the village. Barefoot children stared. Traffic on this rain-ravaged “road” was rare. Suddenly, a walled mansion loomed into view of the convoy. It was the mayor’s house—although he didn’t live in it. His people lacked basic necessities, while he lounged in luxury in a distant city. Such unfairness angers us. It angered God’s prophet too. When Habakkuk saw rampant oppression he asked, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Hab. 1:2). But God had noticed, and He said, “Woe to him who piles up stolen goods . . . who builds his house by unjust gain!” (2:6, 9). Judgment was coming! We welcome God’s judgment of others, but there’s a pivot ...

DON’T COLOUR IT! -JOB 33:1-13 KEY VERSE: "My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly" (Job 33:3). If people decide to be more careful with their words, they will get into fewer problems. There is no doubt that our homes and families will be more peaceful and there will be less strain in our relationships. The truth is that many problems arise from what we say. They fail to consider the consequences of what they say. Even those who say the things that appear to be the truth do not say it with the right motive. Elihu, in our text, gives us a principle that should guide the way we talk. He knew that it is possible for people to appear to be speaking the truth but not out of a sincere, upright heart. When truth is spoken for the purpose of ridiculing, then that is blackmail and sarcasm – just to mock. Are you careful about the way you speak? It is always helpful to put the right construction to our words and conversations. We...

Memorise:  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. John 4:34 Read:  2nd Timothy 3:1-5 (King James Version) 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Bible in one year:  Joshua 8-9, Jeremiah 44:11-19, Hymn: Sing hymn 6 MESSAGE From Matthew 6:10, we understand that man was created to do God’s will on earth so that he can ultimately continue doing so when he gets to Heaven. Although God has a plan for everyone He created, He will not force us to do anything against our will, because He cre...

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY, 7TH JUNE.  http://bit.ly/2dZqtLQ THINK AND TALK PROSPERITY. Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever (Psalm 112:1-3). The Christian is an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17 says, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ….” This means all things are yours (1 Corinthians 3:21). If you function with this mind-set, you’ll always walk in superabundance. Some people have struggled all their lives; they’ve lived in lack, want and penury for so long that it has become so hard to believe in prosperity. The challenge is with their minds; if they can only think right, things will change. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: ...

  June 7, 2017 God Calling James Banks Genesis 3:1–10 This is how God showed his love . . . : He sent his one and only Son into the world.  1 John 4:9 One morning my daughter gave her eleven-month-old son her cell phone for a moment to entertain him. Less than a minute later my phone rang, and as I picked it up I heard his little voice. He had somehow hit the “speed dial” to my number, and what followed was a “conversation” I will long remember. My grandson can only say a few words, but he knows my voice and responds to it. So I talked to him and told him how much I love him. The joy I felt at the sound of my grandson’s voice was a reminder to me of God’s deep desire for a relationship with us. From the very beginning, the Bible shows God actively pursuing us. After Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God and then hid from Him in the garden, “the Lord God called” to Adam (Gen. 3:9). God continued to pursue ...

OPEN HEAVENS 2017 BE REFILLED – Thursday June 1st 2017 Memorise:  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 Read:  Ephesians 5:17-19 (King James Version) 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Bible in one year:  Acts 22-23, Jeremiah 39:11-40:6, Hymn: Sing hymn 15 MESSAGE The moment you give your life to Christ, a long drawn out battle for your souls begins. While your spirit would want to begin to exercise control over your soul as it rightfully should, your body would resist it and ask you to go in the opposite direction. To be victorious in this protracted battle, you need to understand your new nature and the life of the Spirit, so that you can easily flow in it. ...

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY, 1ST JUNE.  http://bit.ly/2dZqtLQ GLORY REALISED. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27). What some Christians assume from our opening scripture is that if Christ is in you, you have a hope of glory in the future. In a sense, that’s correct; if Christ is in you, there’s hope in your life for glory. But what that portion of Scripture means is, Christ in you is the fulfilment of that hope of glory. He’s not saying we have a hope that we’re going to have glory in the future, or in the sweet by and by. The hope that man was looking forward to has been fulfilled in Christ. Christ in you is glory realised. The latter part of our theme scripture says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches...