HELP FOR THE HELPLESS TEXT: JOHN 5:7 BIBLE TEXT: " The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me" (John 5:7). Albert Schweitzer said, "The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others." A group of salesmen were rushing to catch their flight and inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. The apples flew everywhere. One of them quickly assessed the situation and told his buddies to go on. He returned to the terminal where the apples were still all over the floor. The 16-year-old girl running the stand was totally blind! She was crying in frustration helplessly groping for her spilled produce with no one caring about her plight. The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. He gave her $40 for the dama

Join the Party by Joyce Meyer - posted March 31, 2017 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. — Proverbs 15:13 When Jesus invited people to become His disciples and follow Him, He asked them if they wanted to join His party. I realize He was talking about His group, but I like to think that traveling with Jesus was probably a lot of fun as well as a lot of hard work. Repeatedly throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus invite people to leave their lifestyles and side with His party, and He is still issuing that invitation today. Yes, there is work to do for the kingdom of God, but thankfully we can have fun while we do it. When we follow Jesus, we are not going to a solemn assembly or a funeral. We are joining His party that is full of life, peace, and never-ending joy! Prayer of Thanks: Father, help me to lay aside the burdens and cares of this world and receive Your joy today. I thank You that You want me to have fun and enjo

JUDGMENT ON BACKSLIDING -2 KINGS 17:9-23 KEY VERSE: "And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and Though God is compassionate and merciful to mankind, He does not allow any form of sin. God had been sending prophets and preachers to the nation of Israel from time to time to warn them of their wickedness and evil ways. But they would not take to any of His warnings. They became obstinate and turned their back to every reproof and correction of God. They resorted to the use of divination and enchantment and wrought wickedness to provoke God. They took undue advantage of God’s faithfulness to His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Backsliding is a great sin. These fifteen verses under consideration present to us some areas of great importance: The children of Israe

Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional Beyond The Senses . Friday, March 31st . Pastor Chris God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  This is because Christianity is beyond the senses! The lack of understanding of this truth accounts for the frustrations many experience in their faith-walk. God contacts your spirit, not your mind. Faith emanates from your spirit and not your mind; it’s the response of the human spirit to the Word of God. It has nothing to do with the senses. Our senses weren’t designed to perceive God; we walk with Him from our spirit; we serve Him with our spirit, and understand spiritual realities through the Spirit. Our minds weren’t fashioned for that; only our spirit can relate with God. And then, based on t

The Greatest Invitation David McCasland Isaiah 55:1–7 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Isaiah 55:1 During a recent week, I received several invitations in the mail. Those inviting me to attend “free” seminars on retirement, real estate, and life insurance were immediately thrown away. But the invitation to a gathering honoring a longtime friend caused me to reply immediately, “Yes! I accept.” Invitation + Desire = Acceptance. Isaiah 55:1 is one of the great invitations in the Bible. The Lord said to His people who were in difficult circumstances, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” This is God’s remarkable offer of inner nourishment, deep spiritual satisfaction, and everlasting life (vv. 2–3). Jesus’s invitation is repeated in the last chapter of the Bible: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let

THE WAYS GOD FIGHTS – Friday March 31st 2017 Memorise: And they went forth, and preached every where , the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Mark 16:20 Read: Isaiah 54:16-17 (KJV) 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. Bible in one year: Exodus 39-40, Jeremiah 5:1-17, Hymn: Sing hymn 3 MESSAGE: Psalm 24:8-10 reveals our Heavenly Father as the Lord of Hosts, who is mighty in battle. As a Man of War, there are some battles He may fight for you, while there are some others He may fight with you. He may also fight some battles through you. In Exodus 14:13-21, when the children

The Hope of Resurrection By Billy Graham   •   March 31   •   Topics: Hope Home Daily Devotion The Hope of Resurrection mountain lake He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus . . . —2 Corinthians 4:14 The resurrection of Christ brings hope. The late Emil Brunner once said, “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life.” As the human organism is dependent on a supply of oxygen, so humanity is dependent on its supply of hope. Yet today hopelessness and despair are everywhere. Peter, who himself was given to despair during the episode of Calvary, writes in a triumphant note, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” There is hope that mistakes and sins can be forgiven. There is hope that we can have joy, peace, assurance, and security in the midst of the despair of this age. There

The Right Attitude, the Right Opportunities PUBLISHED IN DAILY DEVOTION Today’s Scripture: Matthew 25:24-25 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ Two shoe salesmen arrived on an island. The first one looked around and saw that the natives wore no shoes. He thought, “Why would they send me here? There’s no market for shoes here!” The second one looked around and saw that the natives wore no shoes, and thought, “Wow! Everybody needs shoes – and the whole market is mine.” Two salesmen. Same circumstances. Different attitudes. Different results. The world as we know it is strewn with opportunities. Even in the worst of conditions, there are opportunities to make a difference in our lives and for others. But it takes the right attitude to see an

Ready Minds by Joyce Meyer   Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. —Acts 17:11 One of my much-published writer friends taught a series of classes at a writers’ conference on beginning writing. He wanted to reach people who felt God had called them to write and show them how to get their articles and books published. At the beginning, he asked the attendees how long they had been writing and if they had ever been published. Two women, who sat in the front row, said they had both been writing for almost twelve years, but had not yet published anything. At the end of the first lecture, my friend overheard one of the women say to the other, “Oh, we know all of

OPEN HEAVENS 2017 SEASON OF DOMINION – Thursday March 30th 2017 Memorise:  He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. Psalm 72:8 Read:  Psalm 72:4-9 (King James Version) 4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. 5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. 7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. Bible in one year:  37-38, Jeremiah 4:19-31, Hymn: Sing hymn 4 MESSAGE Beyond fruitfulness, part of the first mandates of God to mankind is to subdue and have domin

Life and Death Amy Boucher Pye Genesis 50:22–26 I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid.  Genesis 50:24 I will never forget sitting at the bedside of my friend’s brother when he died; the scene was one of the ordinary visited by the extraordinary. Three of us were talking quietly when we realized that Richard’s breathing was becoming more labored. We gathered around him, watching, waiting, and praying. When he took his last breath, it felt like a holy moment; the presence of God enveloped us in the midst of our tears over a wonderful man dying in his forties. Many of the heroes of our faith experienced God’s faithfulness when they died. For instance, Jacob announced he would soon be “gathered to [his] people” (Gen. 49:29–33). Jacob’s son Joseph also announced his impending death: “I am about to die,” he said to his brothers while instructing them how to hold firm in their faith. He seems to be at peace, yet eager that his brothers trust the Lord (50:24). None of

Joel and Victoria Osteen’s daily devotional – Choosing Your Heavenly Heritage Today’s Scripture: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." - (Ezekiel 36:26, NIV) Topic: Choosing Your Heavenly Heritage [Tuesday March 28, 2017] In life, we all have negative things happen to us. We go through situations that are unfair. I know people who were raised in an unhealthy environment. Their parents had issues, and now it's making it much more difficult on them. But here is what I've learned: when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He gives you a new heart. In other words, your bloodline changes. No longer are you subject to your earthly heritage, you become subject to your heavenly heritage! His spiritual blessing always overrides the curse in the natural realm. When you understand who you are and what God has already done, then no matter what someone else has don

Cleansed by the Blood By Billy Graham • March 29 • Topics: Forgiveness HomeDaily DevotionCleansed by the Blood . . . unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. —Revelation 1:5 Blood is mentioned 460 times in the Bible. Fourteen times in the New Testament Jesus spoke of His own blood. Why? Because by the shedding of His blood, He accomplished the possibility of our salvation. He paid the penalty for our sin and redeemed us. The penalty for our sin and rebellion is death; Jesus stepped out and said, “I’ll take that death.” He voluntarily laid down His life and took the penalty we deserve. That’s what the cross is all about. The blood of Jesus Christ not only redeems us, it justifies us. Being justified means more than being forgiven. I can say, “I forgive you,” but I can’t justify you. But God not only forgives the past, He clothes you in righteousness as though you had never committed a sin. Yet it cost the blood of His Son on the cross.

LOVE OF GOD’S LAW -PSALM 119:97-104 KEY VERSE: "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97). It is wonderful to have people who really love the Lord and commit the whole of their lives to serve Him. It is however more wonderful to have people who serve the Lord even in the face of great trials and afflictions. Charles Wesley Naylor, born in Athens County, Ohio in January 1874 was a man moulded in the above description. In spite of many challenges he faced, he served the Lord with an unabated love, zeal and passion. His story is one outstanding example of how a stalwart personality can achieve happiness, success and usefulness in spite of the handicap of a pitifully afflicted and broken body which lasted for more than 42 years. The eight verses of our choice of meditation today aptly befit a life given to the study and love of the word of God. The knowledge of the word of God gives wisdom and an understanding above the cunning and craftine

Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional  A New Phase Of Increased Grace . Wednesday, March 29th . Pastor Chris But he giveth more grace… (James 4:6). The Lord is doing something beautiful in our day. We’re in a new phase in the move of the Spirit, and in this new phase, tremendous things are happening. The glory of the Lord is everywhere. His righteousness has taken over. His grace has multiplied upon the earth. Here’s what you need to know: The Bible says: “…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). Yes, we hear on the news, some of the most terrible things happening in different countries around the world today. But the truth is: Satan isn’t more wicked than God is gracious. If Satan can go to high levels in his wickedness, God can go higher in His grace. God’s grace is greater than Satan’s wickedness. Even though the iniquity of man has so increased (Matthew 24:12), right now, in the realm of the spirit, there’re angels the Lord has dispatched th

Enjoy the Pursuit by Joyce Meyer Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of evil and trouble. —Psalm 41:1 Do you ever feel that no matter where you go, somebody pursues you and hunts you down? Does someone seem to need something every time you start doing what you set out to do? Someone needs a ride to school, or somebody forgets their lunch, and before you know it, half your day is wasted. Jesus knows what it is like to be pursued, but He was never upset by it. As soon as He ministered to everyone in one place, He went to the next town to find more people who needed Him. He never said, "Leave Me alone." Ask God to show you the needs of people through the eyes of Jesus today, and your days will never be wasted. Joyce Meyer

THE MIX – Wednesday March 29th 2017 Memorise: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27 Read: Matthew 25:31-46(King James Version) 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed the

Trial by Fire Amy Peterson James 1:1–12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life. James 1:12 Last winter while visiting a natural history museum in Colorado, I learned some remarkable facts about the aspen tree. An entire grove of slender, white-trunked aspens can grow from a single seed and share the same root system. These root systems can exist for thousands of years whether or not they produce trees. They sleep underground, waiting for fire, flood, or avalanche to clear a space for them in the shady forest. After a natural disaster has cleared the land, aspen roots can sense the sun at last. The roots send up saplings, which become trees. For aspens, new growth is made possible by the devastation of a natural disaster. James writes that our growth in faith is also made possible by difficulties. “Consider it pure joy,” he writes, “whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know th

MARCH 28 When Everyone Deserts You Devotional by John Piper At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:16–18) This morning I have lingered long over these magnificent and heartbreaking words. Paul is in custody in Rome. So far as we know, he was not released. His last letter comes to an end like this. Consider and be astounded! He is deserted. He is an old man. A loyal servant. In a foreign city, far from home. Surrounded by enemies. In danger of death. Why? Answer: So he could write this precious sentence for our souls: “But the Lord stood by me!” Oh, how I love those words! When yo

 I Understand by Joyce Meyer - posted March 28, 2017 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. —Hebrews 4:15 As human beings, we have a deep need to be understood. When we don't receive it, we feel lonely. In listening to people share their hurt and pain, I find that the words "I understand" have a very soothing effect. I have told my husband, "Even if you don't have a clue about what I am talking about, just tell me you understand, and it will make me feel a lot better." A man could not possibly understand PMS, but it is better for him if he appears to have understanding of his wife's plight. She needs to be understood. She does not want to feel alone in her pain and struggle. One day my husband came in from trying to

INFLUENCING CITIES – Tuesday March 28th 2017 Memorise: Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. Acts 8:5 Read: John 4:5-39(King James Version) 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 T

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017 HIS KINGDOM -LUKE 17:20-37 KEY VERSE: " And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-37) Children of God begin to experience the kingdom of God within, when they surrender to Jesus. When we become genuinely born again, we start to enjoy untold spiritual blessings made available to us through the Spirit of God. The Jews expected the kingdom of God to supersede the Roman kingdom of their own time. God’s kingdom is universal and greater than the myopic concept of the Jews. Jesus was on a journey to Jerusalem passing through Samaria and Galilee and in one of their villages, there met Him ten Lepers whom He cured. Only one of them returned to show his gratitude. It was in this process that the Pharisees asked Him matters concerning the kingdom

Bearing Good Fruit Peter Chin Psalm 1:1–3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season.  Psalm 1:3 The view from my airplane window was striking: a narrow ribbon of ripening wheat fields and orchards wending between two barren mountains. Running through the valley was a river—life-giving water, without which there would be no fruit. Just as a bountiful harvest depends on a source of clean water, the quality of the “fruit” in my life—my words, actions, and attitude—depends on my spiritual nourishment. The psalmist describes this in Psalm 1: The person “whose delight is in the law of the Lord . . . is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season” (vv. 1–3). And Paul writes in Galatians 5 that those who walk in step with the Spirit are marked by “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (vv. 22–23). Sometimes my perspective on my circumstances

Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional You’re From Heaven . Tuesday, March 28th .  Pastor Chri s As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:48 NIV). I want you to notice the tenses in the opening verse. It reads, “As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth….” He should have said, “…so were those who are of the earth…,” since the preceding verb is also in the past tense—“was.” He however used present tense, showing that though Adam is no longer here, the people who are not born again are born after him, and are like him—fallen. The second part of the verse says, “…and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.” Again, examine the tenses closely: He used the present tense for Jesus. While on earth, Jesus boldly declared, “I’m from above” (John 8:23), even though He was born in Bethlehem. Understand that He became the second and last

The Greatest Act of Humility By Billy Graham • March 27 • Topics: Pride HomeDaily DevotionThe Greatest Act of Humility cross . . . he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. —Matthew 23:12 In almost every instance in the Bible, as well as in life, pride is associated with failure, not success. We hear a great deal about the inferiority complex, but the superiority complex of pride is seldom spoken of. It was pride that caused the fall of Lucifer, and he became Satan, the devil. It was pride that led King Saul down to a shameful and untimely death. It was pride that caused Peter to deny his Lord. The greatest act of humility in the history of the universe was when Jesus Christ stooped to die on the cross of Calvary. And before any man can get to heaven, he must kneel at the foot of the cross and acknowledge that he is a sinner, that he has broken the Ten Commandments of God, and that he needs the grace of God in Christ. No man can come proudly to the Savior.