Marriage Insight: Encouragement Should Begin at Home

Marriage Insight: Encouragement Should Begin at Home

Last week we called for an “army of marriage encouragers” and mentors to rise up to help those who need it. We’ve had a great response. Many of you have visited the Marriage Missions web site, have prayed for & have written words of encouragement to hurting spouses. THANK YOU! Keep up the good work—on our web site & elsewhere. We pray many more will join with us in this ministry opportunity. (FYI: We added more info into that Insight, which is posted on our web site at www.marriagemissions.com. We believe you will find it to be helpful to read, as you carry out this mission.) But we dare not neglect the fact that encouragement should begin at home. 

Please don’t neglect your spouse while you encourage others. Your bride or groom should receive the benefit of the best of your attention and words. Minister to him or her FIRST, and THEN, from that healthy perspective, go out and minister to others. We’re talking about the 1 Corinthians 7 principle. Once you marry, put your spouse first, as far as your outreach.

Here are several scriptures, questions, and points to challenge us all in our marriages (with an expanded version posted in this Insight on our web site):

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up..." (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Do you encourage and build up your spouse? Did you promise to do this when you said, "I do" on your wedding day? Are you living within your marriage in a way that shows you are a promise-keeper?

"Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." (Romans 15:2) You can't get a neighbor who is much closer to you than your spouse. Are you a builder?

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29) Is your talk wholesome? Does it benefit those who listen (including your spouse & your children)? “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.“ (Prov. 14:1) This can apply to men too. Are you tearing down your "house" or are you building it up?

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) This applies to our spouse, AND to others. Don't neglect comforting. Show compassion.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25) Do you "spur" your spouse "toward love and good deeds?" Does your spouse know, without a doubt that you love him or her?

Remember: “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." (Proverbs 25:11) Speak words to your spouse that express your appreciation of him or her. The things you say to your spouse can become as “apples of gold in settings of silver.” Your spouse, who receives them, will be blessed that you paid attention and shared those words of appreciation.

This is our hope for you: "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had." (Romans 15:5)

Cindy and Steve Wright

Our Daily Bread - Hearing God

Hearing God

October 30, 2016

Read: 1 Samuel 3:1–10 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 20–21; 2 Timothy 4

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Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10

I felt like I was underwater, sounds muffled and muted by a cold and allergies. For weeks I struggled to hear clearly. My condition made me realize how much I take my hearing for granted.

Young Samuel in the temple must have wondered what he was hearing as he struggled out of sleep at the summons of his name (1 Sam. 3:4). Three times he presented himself before Eli, the high priest. Only the third time did Eli realize it was the Lord speaking to Samuel. The word of the Lord had been rare at that time (v. 1), and the people were not in tune with His voice. But Eli instructed Samuel how to respond (v. 9).

The Lord speaks to His children, but we need to discern His voice.

The Lord speaks much more now than in the days of Samuel. The letter to the Hebrews tells us, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets . . . but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (1:1–2). And in Acts 2 we read of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (vv. 1–4), who guides us in the things Christ taught us (John 16:13). But we need to learn to hear His voice and respond in obedience. Like me with my cold, we may hear as if underwater. We need to test what we think is the Lord’s guidance with the Bible and with other mature Christians. As God’s beloved children, we do hear His voice. He loves to speak life into us.

Open our eyes, Lord, that we might see You. Open our ears, that we may hear You. Open our mouths, that we might speak Your praise.

The Lord speaks to His children, but we need to discern His voice.

INSIGHT:

God has communicated in various ways throughout history (Heb. 1:1). One way God speaks today is through our conscience (Rom. 2:14–16). Our conscience is like a moral monitor. An important way we discern whether a spiritual communication has God as its source is to ask: Does the message agree with the Bible, God's written Word? If it does not align with God’s previously revealed truth, then we cannot put our stamp of approval on it.

CGMI ABOVE ONLY - SEEK THE RIGHT THINGS

Seek the Right Things

Sunday October 30

Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV), Philippians 3:12 (NKJV)  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. *Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Because you have been raised up and are now seated with Christ, the things that should warrant your attention and focus should be much higher than what the average person desires. You should be seeking the things that Christ Himself would be seeking if He were in your shoes because you have His Life in you and you are His Ambassador. You are also His Body here on earth. Ask yourself, 'what would Jesus be seeking if He was in my shoes right now?' Will He be seeking His will or will He be seeking the will of God who sent Him? When Christ was here on earth, he made it clear that He came to seek and save the lost, Luke 19:10. He said His meat was to do and finish the will of God the Father who sent Him, John 4:34. He carried out the work of the Father with urgency, John 9:4. He mission was to serve and not to be served, Matt.20:28. You and I must continually make these things our priorities also. As Jesus went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil because God anointed Him and God was with Him (Acts 10:38), you also should go about doing God's will and overcoming the works of the devil in the lives of people and in various fields and spheres of society. God has anointed you just as He anointed Christ and He is with you just as He is with Christ. As He prayed unto God earnestly and was willing to lay down His life to save others, you and I must continue to do the same. We must desire to have His passion also. Our lives will continue to go from glory to glory as we continue to seek the things that are at the heart of Christ. PRAYER FOCUS: Tell God that you desire to be more like Christ everyday and ask Him to increase your desire to do His will as Christ did.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING PLAN:  Luke 17:11-37; Luke 18:1-14   Empowered to Occupy Till He Comes...

DCLM DAILY MANNA - That Which Counts

Sunday October 30, 2016

That Which Counts

-ACTS 8:9-25

Key Verse:

"And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money" (Acts 8:18).

Countries across the globe spend a huge money trying to fight the spread of counterfeited products. Regulatory agencies deploy men and materials to rid the society of these unwholesome products. But in most cases, fake products appear genuine on the face value. Most times, innocent and unsuspecting members of the society are deceived by the fantastic presentation of such injurious products, whereas they are valueless. Many people therefore, lose huge sums of money to purchase fake products thinking they were paying for the genuine ones. This was the case in the city of Samaria when Simon the sorcerer held sway. He enjoyed great fame while the shenanigan lasted; but the truth was revealed with the arrival of Peter and John into Jerusalem. Although he knew he was fake, Simon the sorcerer still went ahead to demand the transfer of the apostles' power on him to enable him continue to make merchandise of the people. Before now, Simon was respected by everyone in Samaria; he had made much money for himself that he commanded respect. But he could not withstand the genuine power in Peter and John. In order to deceive the fickle-minded, some counterfeit miracle-workers claim to possess the power to heal and perform all manner of miracles. Today, many people parade fake testimonies and powers. They, like Simon, are very bold even in their wickedness. Such fake pastors in our contemporary times lay claim to what they do not possess. Those who deal in counterfeits are enemies of both God and the society. They kill innocent souls through their nefarious activities. Just as it does not make any economic sense to patronise those who deal in counterfeit products, trusting in fake Christian experiences will only lead to eternal death. We must always endeavour to go for the real thing.

Thought for the day: No matter how enticing a counterfeit product appears, it remains worthless.

Bible Reading in one Year: JEREMIAH 25 - 27

Open Heavens Daily Devotional - GODLY SORROW

Open Heavens Sunday 30 October 2016:- Godly Sorrow

GODLY SORROW – Sunday October 30^th 2016

Memorise: Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4.

Read: 2^nd Corinthians 7:9-10 (KJV)

⁹ Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

¹⁰ For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Bible in one year: Zechariah 11-14, Psalms 90:1-6

MESSAGE

There are different categories of sorrow; the ungodly sorrow and the godly sorrow. Ungodly sorrow leads to deadly actions that drag its victims to either temporal or eternal perdition. The Bible says that Cain was sorrowful because his offering was not acceptable by God. That type of sorrow was ungodly because it pushed his to commit a great sin against God. He became the first murderer in the history of man, a deviant one at that. The Almighty God asked him, “Where is Abel thy brother? And he confidently told God that he didn’t know where Abel was. Another example of ungodly sorrow is found in Judas Iscariot. The Bible says he actually felt sorry for how the event turned out, but his sorrow was not godly; he only felt bad because his plan to swindle the chief priest failed. He did not think of the injustice of the action in the first place. He would have been happy if Jesus had slipped away from His arresters like He had in John 8:59. No wonder Judas Iscariot ended up killing himself.

On the other hand, godly sorrow is positive. 2^nd Corinthians 7:10 says:

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

When someone realises that he or she is a sinner and knows that the final destination is eternal perdition, if he becomes penitent like David after his encounter with Prophet Nathan, he will be forgiven.

Also, in the story of the people of Nineveh, after Jonah had handed down the coming judgement of God upon the city, they all, from the king of the least, engaged themselves in godly sorrow. The king declared a fast of both humans and animals Jonah 3:10 says:

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”

This positive sorrow was found in the Publican Jesus spoke of in Luke 18:10-14, he had godly sorrow void of self-righteousness and in verse 14, Jesus said: 

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other….”

Key Point

Don’t sweep your blunders under the carpets of self-righteousness; repent and exercise godly sorrow. You will be comforted by divine forgiveness.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL - Fix the Problem, Not the Blame

Fix the Problem, Not the Blame

BY RICK WARREN — OCTOBER 28, 2016

“Now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips”(Colossians 3:8 NIV).

You only have a certain amount of emotional energy. In a conversation where you’re trying to resolve conflict, you can either use that energy to fix the blame or you can use that energy to fix the problem. You don’t have enough energy to do both. So you’ve got to ask yourself what’s more important, to blame the other person or to resolve the conflict.

Fix the problem, not the blame.

Every married couple needs some ground rules for fighting fair and words you’re just not going to use. There are some things you should never, ever say in a marriage — they’re “weapons of mass destruction”.

During the Cold War, when the Soviet Union and the United States were opposed to each other, the U.S. had thousands of intercontinental missiles aimed at the Soviets. We could destroy the entire Union. At the same time, Soviet Russia had thousands of intercontinental missiles aimed at us, too. They could destroy the United Sates. Even when we were at the worst point in the Cold War and there was enormous tension, both sides still had enough sanity to say, some weapons we just aren’t going to use because they’re “MAD” — mutually assured destruction. If you use yours, we’re going to use ours, and we’re going to destroy each other. So even when we were on opposite sides of an issue, we could at least agree not to use those weapons.

In the same way, you should never resort to relational “weapons of mass destruction” your marriage, such as threatening divorce or threatening to walk out or bringing up somebody’s parents. You have to agree that no matter how upset you are with each other, those words are off limits, because they destroy the relationship by tearing down trust.

The Bible is very specific about what’s out of bounds. Colossians 3:8 says, “Now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (NIV). Those are like weapons of mass destruction.

The reason we fix the problem and not the blame is because blaming is a form of judging, and only God has the right to judge. You’re not the judge. You can’t figure out anybody else’s motivation. You don’t know your own motivation most of the time! Only God knows. Let him be the judge, so you can focus on fixing the problem.

Talk It Over

• What might be “weapons of mass destruction” being used in your relationship?
• How can you shift from fixing blame on the other person to fixing the problem instead?
• Why is it important to set boundaries for “fighting fair” in a relationship?

RCCG November Holy Ghost Service - HELPERS OF DESTINY

Bishop David Abioye Devotional - WHERE IS YOUR HEART

WHERE IS YOUR HEART

Today: 2016-10-29

The true Christian character is an exhibition of state of the heart.

The proof of your heart with God is that you are doing His will.

God could testify of David as a man who will do His will because his heart was fully with God.

 “…A man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” Acts 13:22 (Is 44:28)

If you are not keen about obeying God to the letters then your heart is not with him.

Your heart is not with God by your words but by your attitude and by your action.

Saul’s heart betrayed Him by not doing God’s command. 1 Sam 13:14

Our Daily Bread - The Praying Patient

The Praying Patient

October 29, 2016

Read: John 17:6–19 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 18–19; 2 Timothy 3

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Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. John 17:11

The obituary for Alan Nanninga, a man in my city, identified him as “foremost, a dedicated witness for Christ.” After a description of his family life and career, the article mentioned nearly a decade of declining health. It concluded by saying, “His hospital stays . . . earned him the honorary title of ‘The Praying Patient’” because of his ministry to other patients. Here was a man who, in his times of distress, reached out to pray for and with the people in need around him.

Hours before Judas betrayed Him, Jesus prayed for His disciples. “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11). Knowing what was about to happen, Jesus looked beyond Himself to focus on His followers and friends.

Jesus looked beyond Himself to focus on His followers and friends.

During our times of illness and distress, we long for and need the prayers of others. How those prayers help and encourage us! But may we also, like our Lord, lift our eyes to pray for those around us who are in great need.  

Lord, even in our difficult times, may we honor You and encourage others by praying for those who are suffering today.

Our troubles can fill our prayers with love and empathy for others.

CGMI ABOVE ONLY - THE SALVATION AND PROSPERITY OF YOUR SOUL

The Salvation and Prosperity of Your Soul   SATURDAY OCT. 29
	3John 1:2-4 (NKJV), James 1:21 (NKJV)  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. *Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. If a man gains the whole world but loses his soul, he has sustained a substantial loss because the value of a single soul exceeds all the wealth in this world, Mark 8:36-37. God is concerned about the state of our souls because He created them and He understands how valuable and powerful they can be. It is from our souls that we make decisions, express our feelings and emotions as well as think and carry out other activities of our minds and intellect. Sometimes, the Bible describes your soul as your heart, as it is recorded in Proverbs 4:23 and Proverbs 23:7. Be watchful over the state of your soul. Your choices determine who you are in your soul. The salvation and prosperity of your soul are tied to your meditating on God's Word and living your life according to God's ways, Josh.1:8. Don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Rom.12:2. Desire to be more like Christ each day. Let your soul eagerly long after God like a deer longs after water, Psa.42:1. Do not let your soul become overcharged with either the pleasures or pressures of this life, Luke 21:34. Avoid anxiety; instead pray with thanksgiving about every single thing and meditate on good thoughts, Phil.4:6-8. Be humble and walk in love. Love what God loves and hate what He hates. Love righteousness and hate iniquity, Heb.1:9. Desire to always please God in your soul. Humbly lay aside all iniquity and allow the Word of God to renew your soul so that it may prosper. PRAYER FOCUS: Yield your will, emotions and intellect to God and ask Him to make you more and more like Christ from your inside.
	BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING PLAN: John 11
	Empowered to Occupy Till He Comes...

Faith Food Devotional - STRONG FAITH

October 29

STRONG FAITH

"He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." — ROMANS 4:20,21

“I’m weak in faith,” one woman said to me. “Will you pray that I’ll grow stronger in faith?” “No,” I said, “I won’t. To tell you the truth, you are strong in faith! You just don’t know it. May I ask you some questions?” “Yes, of course,” she said. “Are you fully persuaded — fully persuaded — that what God has promised He is able to perform?”

“Certainly,” she said. “I know God can do anything He said He would do. And I know He will do it.” “Can you say, ‘Glory to God,’ and praise God for His promises?” “Certainly, I can. I do that every day.” “Then you are strong in faith,” I said, “according to Romans 4:20 and 21.” Abraham was also strong in faith. What is strong faith? Giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that what God has promised He is able also to perform. If you can meet these two requirements, then you are strong in faith too.

Confession
"I am fully persuaded that what God has promised, He is able to perform. I can give glory to God. I am strong in faith. I have the Abraham-kind of faith. I have a measure of the God-kind of faith."

DCLM DAILY MANNA - YOU ARE HIS

Saturday October 29, 2016

You are His

 DEUTERONOMY 2:1-7

Key Verse:

"Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward" (Deuteronomy 2:3).

Throughout history, God has always remembered His people. He may try their patience, but He always intervenes at the right time. He never forgets His own. The children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for forty years and it appeared that they were stuck and had no future. But Moses waited for God's directive on their next line of action. As expected, God instructed them to move northward, but sternly warned them not to cause any inconvenience to the children of Esau dwelling there in the coast of Seir or be too comfortable with them. They were to only pass through their land and purchase anything they needed. The need for this instruction was to drive into their consciousness that they must not meddle in the affairs of sinful nations or rely on them for sustenance to avoid ridiculing the name of God. Today, the passage reminds us of the need to wholly rely on God for all our needs. God is aware of whatever situation we are in and He is always touched by our infirmities. He makes everything beautiful in His own time. He does not expect His children to put their trust in any man. Although God may use unbelievers as channels of blessing to believers, it is however, never His will for His children to see a fellow man as a messiah. While God has limitless power to change anybody's circumstance, man's ability is very limited. Are you wandering in the desert of unemployment, barrenness, illness, afflictions, poverty or persecution? Relax, God understands! He knows the heartache you are going through. This morning, He is telling you to "turn northward", but with a warning not to sell your birthright to be free from adversities or mix up with the multitude in desperation to be free from temporary afflictions. As a believer, there's nothing to worry about.

Thought for the day: God makes all things beautiful in His time.

Bible Reading in one Year: JEREMIAH 22 - 24

Open Heavens Daily Devotional - NOT REPROBATE

Open Heavens Saturday 29 October 2016:- Not reprobate

NOT REPROBATE – Saturday October 29^th 2016

Memorise: But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 2^nd Corinthians 13:6

Read: 2^nd Corinthians 13:5-8 (KJV)

⁵ Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

⁶ But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

⁷ Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Bible in one year: Zechariah 6:9-10:12, Psalms 89:38-52

MESSAGE

To be a reprobate is very dangerous for the society and for the Christian faith in particular. The reason is not far-fetched; a reprobate does immoral and unethical things without any sense of guilt or remorse because his or her conscience has been seared with hot iron of defiance. In our memory verse for today, Apostle Paul affirmed his confidence in the Corinthians Church premised on the fact that they would do according to the godly instructions he gave them.

The problem of some of the 21^stcentury believers is the philosophy of relativism which makes them think that an acceptable statement or action in the time of war will also be acceptable in the time of peace. For instance, if you kill while on a battle field, you are valiant and patriotic, however, if you kill in the time of peace, even as a soldier, you will be charged with murder. An extreme case of relativism is when killing in the time of peace is considered the same with killing in the time of war. This is a human error that should not be allowed in the body of Christ because it turns believers into reprobates. In our text today, Apostle Paul admonished the Church at Corinth, and by extension, the Church of today to make sure they are still in the faith. He goes further to challenge us to prove that we are carriers of Jesus’ image. This is the reason why John, the beloved wrote in 1^st John 3:9

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

Some people have sold themselves to reprobate minds, and so no number of sermons they hear can change them. They keep saying, “My conscience does not condemn me.” The truth is that a dead conscience cannot condemn, because it is not active.

Prayer Point

Lord Jesus, please cleanse my conscience with Your Blood so that it may be more active and sensitive for you.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye

DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL - Courageous People Resolve Conflict

Courageous People Resolve Conflict

BY RICK WARREN — OCTOBER 27, 2016

“God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT, second edition).

Why does God want us to live at peace with everyone? Because unresolved conflict has three devastating effects in your life.

First, it blocks your fellowship with God. When you’re out of whack with others, you can’t be in harmony with God. When you’re distracted, when you’re in conflict with other people, you cannot have a clear connection with God. The Bible says, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar” (1 John 4:20a NLT, second edition).

Second, unresolved conflict hinders your prayers. Over and over again the Bible says that where there is conflict and sin and disharmony in your life, your prayers are blocked.

Third, unsolved conflict hinders your happiness. You cannot be happy and in conflict at the same time. When conflict comes in the front door, happiness goes out the back.

So, don’t you want to get rid of the conflict in your life? The starting point of resolving any conflict is to take the initiative. Don’t wait for the other person to come to you; go to that person. You be the peacemaker.

Don’t ignore the conflict. Don’t deny the conflict. Don’t push the conflict under the carpet.

Have you heard the expression, “Time heals everything”? That’s a bunch of bologna. Time heals nothing!

Actually, time makes things worse. When you’ve got an open wound and you don’t deal with it, it festers. Anger turns to resentment, and resentment turns to bitterness.

The conflict is not going to resolve itself. You’ve got to intentionally deal with it.

Only courageous people resolve conflict. Maybe the most courageous thing you can do is face an issue that you’ve been ignoring for a long time in your marriage, with your kids, with your employees or your boss, or whoever.

Where do you find the courage to face it? You get it from God.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” That means if you let God’s Spirit fill your life, you're going to be filled with power, love, and self-discipline. And God’s love overcomes fear.

Talk It Over

• Is there a problem in one or more of your relationships that you are pretending does not exist? Money? Trust? In-laws? Family? Children? Communication? Values? Work schedule?
• What will you do today to take the initiative to resolve those conflicts?
• What does it mean to let God’s Spirit fill your life?