Thoughts of Our Fathers (TOF)

If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
—Colossians 3:1-2

Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our minds and keep them set. To “set your mind” means you make a firm decision about how to handle a situation and you keep your mind set in that direction. It means to be single-minded, not double-minded. We can prepare ourselves to handle a difficult situation properly by setting our minds ahead of time—telling ourselves no matter what comes, we can do it. If you’re in a less than desirable situation, but you know it is where God wants you to be, don’t drift off into thinking that can weaken you. Instead, think, I am strong in Christ, and I can do whatever He leads me to do.

Power Thought: I set my mind and keep it set for victory.

Memorise: 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. Romans 12:1
Read: Acts 10:34-35 (KJV)

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.




Bible in one year: Exodus 35:30-38:20, Psalms 119:81-96
MESSAGE
God’s acceptability of any human being is an act of His love, mercy, grace and favour. This is clearly evident in God’s interaction with the nation of Israel and the Gentiles. However, the Bible reveals that God does not open His arms to all who come to Him; there are heavenly conditions for acceptability. God accepts people who respond to him by faith. This is why we have categories of children in the Kingdom of God. Open Heavens Monday 12 December 2016:- Acceptable unto God. Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten of the Father (John 1:14), while the rest of us that are saved are His adopted children. Amongst the adopted children, there are golden, sliver, wooden and earthen sons and daughters. Also, there are repentant and reliable as well as deceitful and unreliable children. What kind of child are you?


Although, God loves all His children, yet, not all of them please Him equally. While the unrepentant ones displease the Lord, the repentant and reliable ones please Him. In John 4:34 Jesus says,”….My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” God’s acceptability therefore depends squarely on our readiness to pay the price of loyalty and obedience to God. Jesus paid the ultimate price; He dumped His personal desires and aspiration for that of His Father’s. What He enjoyed doing the most was making God very happy. Even when the task involved giving His life. He obliged. At the Garden of Gethsemane, when He was struggling between His own will and God’s will, He gave up His (Matthew 26:39-42). Open heavens devotional 2016. No wonder God gave such a wonderful commendation of Jesus in Matthew 17:5


“While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”


Hence, to be acceptable to God as a beloved son or daughter is not an easy task. It requires total submission to God’s will and total obedience to His commandments. This translates to living our lives to please God in all ramifications. Some people are ready to please God only when the price is affordable or cheap. For instance, a beloved child of God will not struggle with paying tithe or placing personal preference on fashion, entertainment, and other social consideration above the Word of God. Are you ready to pay the price for God’s acceptability?

Hebrews 12:24to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Today, forensic science tells us that blood has a voice. DNA can be extracted from just one small drop of the murderer’s blood and the results used in court as evidence.So blood in a sense can speak. And when it is the blood of Jesus, it “speaks better things” than that of Abel. Abel’s blood cried out, “Vengeance! Vengeance!” after his brother Cain murdered him. (Genesis 4:8–11) But Jesus’ blood cries out forgiveness for our sins, healing for our bodies, and peace and soundness for our minds. It cries out protection for our coming-ins and going-outs, good success for the works of our hands, the righteousness of Christ as our acceptance before God and much more!

In the Bible, Jesus’ blood speaking of “better things” is found in the context of the last days when things are being shaken, so that the things which cannot be shaken will remain. (Hebrews 12:27) God wants you to know that you will not be shaken when you put your faith in Jesus’ blood, which speaks better things for you. That is why God wants you to see Jesus’ blood shed for you in every area that causes your heart to tremble and your confidence to be shaken.For example, if you are afraid of losing your job, speak the blood of Jesus over your job. His blood cries out, “Favor with his boss!” And in these days when you are shaken by fears that terrorism may strike anyone, anywhere, anytime, plead the blood of Jesus which cries out, “Protection and deliverance!” When fear rises in your heart as the doctor gives you his prognosis, plead the blood of Jesus over your body. His blood cries out, “Healing and wholeness!”

The eternal blood of Jesus, which speaks better things, will never lose its power. Beloved, see that you do not refuse Him who speaks. (Hebrews 12:25) See that you keep hearing the voice of grace, which speaks salvation, righteousness, protection, deliverance, provision and healing over your life!

Thought For The Day
You will not be shaken when you put your faith in Jesus’ blood, which speaks better things for you.

The many accomplishments of the 44th president.



As 2017 draws ever nearer, so does the end of Barack Obama’s presidency.
Regardless our political preferences, it can’t be disputed that President Obama forever has a place in history.
Besides being the first African-American president of the United States of America, he’s accomplished much.

Here are some of the most remarkable achievements of Barack Obama’s Presidency:
1. Ended the war in Iraq.

President Obama inherited many international conflicts when he took office. One of these was the Iraq War, which he ended when he ordered all troops to withdraw from the country. The last military troops left Iraq in December of 2011.

2. Championed Healthcare Reform.

In 2010, President Obama signed and implemented the Affordable Care Act, extending health coverage to approximately 32 Million Americans and cutting health care cost.

3. Eliminated enemies of the USA.

President Obama ordered special ops to infiltrate a secret compound in Afghanistan in 2011 resulting in the death of Osama bin Laden, the known leader of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda. Also in 2011, the president had US forces join a coalition with European and Arab governments to topple the dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

4. Passed an American Stimulus Plan.

The economy was in a deep recession at the time that President Obama took office. In 2009, he passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which contributed $787 billion to the economy in an effort to create grow and sustainability which successfully pulled the USA out of the worse recession since the Great Depression.

5. Increased benefits and support for US Veterans.

As of the 2014 census, there are over 19.3 Million Veterans in the USA. Those Veterans deserve to be taken care of when they return home from service but they don’t always get the help they need. President Obama increased the Department of Veterans Affairs budget in 2010 and 2011 as well as signed a new GI bill worth $78 billion to encourage education and businesses for Veterans.

6. Invested in America’s future by supporting renewable technology.

With part of the 2009 stimulus package, President Obama earmarked $90 billion to be invested in renewable energy, smart grids, clean coal, electric cars, and many other technologies that will be essential to future operations.

7. With the help of First Lady Michelle Obama, improved the nutrition of school lunch.

Coordinating with the First Lady, President Obama signed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010 that put $4.5 billion into school lunch programs, doubling the fruits and vegetables available to children and requiring servings of whole grains to help nourish the children of the United States. That amount also is being used in schools across America to start school gardens to teach children about farming and nutrition.

8. Passed drastic Wall Street and banking reform.

Part of the recession that President Obama inherited was caused by a lack of banking and Wall Street regulations that saw abuse of loan and spending policies. To combat this, in 2010 President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Act cracked down on abusive and frivolous loan practices and misuse of bank capital, thus holding Wall Street and other bankers accountable.

9. Encouraged Green initiatives.
Known as President Obama’s “stealth climate policy”, with new policies implemented through the FDA, some of the most toxic power plants in the world were shut down across America and drastically decreased carbon emissions. The president also signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act in 2009 which protected 2 million acres of wildlife for the purpose of conservation and education.

10. Improved America’s image abroad.
With President Obama’s use of diplomacy and fair practices, he increased the foreign opinions of the United States after a period of anti-American sentiments. From 2008 to 2011, a survey showed favorable opinions toward the U.S. – it rose in ten of fifteen countries surveyed by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, with an average increase of 26 percent showed that among 15 countries polled.

The role of president is the hardest job in the United States of America
It is one that the president takes on with the hope that he will leave the office with the state of the union better than it was when he entered it.
President Barack Obama has done just that.

READ: James 3:13-18
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2:3

Knowledge is the condition in which you are aware of facts and realities that are true, important and relevant.

Knowledge is very important and the absence of knowledge (ignorance) correlates well with almost every known evil on earth. The more educated a nation is, and the more knowledge it has, the richer it is. The life expectancy of every group is related to the amount of knowledge they have.

The importance of knowledge and its value in having more is easily illustrated by the distribution of poverty and misery in the earth. If you want to become “he that hath” you will need to love knowledge and wisdom and acquire them with all your heart.

Knowledge is a very valuable personal positive trait. Knowledge is so valuable that it is called a treasure.

Knowledge is the personal trait that causes you to live a good and humble life. Knowledge is the personal trait that causes you to be filled with grace and peace.

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2).

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men . . .
—1 Thessalonians 3:12

One of the growing psychological problems facing people today is loneliness. One of the greatest ministries that a person can have today is just being a good listener. Many people are longing not only to be loved but to have someone who will listen to them. When we love God with all our hearts, then we have the capacity to love our neighbor. The greatest need in the world today is not more science, not more social engineering, not more teaching, not more knowledge, not more power, not even more preaching—the greatest need we have today is for love. And the only way that love can be supplied is by a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit that transforms lives.

The love that God gives is not the ordinary love that we find in the world today. When we love our neighbors, it is not our loving with natural love, it is God loving through us. If you are willing to do this, God will give you His love.

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1 Corinthians 14:2

Have you ever looked around at your own life or the life of the Church and wondered why it's taking the Lord so long to get things in order?

If so, let me tell you something I learned a few years ago. He's not the One who's slow. We are!

It's not God's fault that the Church still has spots and wrinkles. It's not His fault that we're not living in total victory. He's always ready. He's the great "I AM." We're the ones who fall short.

Compare it to turning on a radio. If you don't have it tuned to exactly the right frequency, you won't be able to hear the station. It's not the station's fault. It's sending out signals perfectly. The problem is, you haven't tuned in to it.

That's what's happening with you and me. We haven't fine tuned our spirits enough to pick up the voice of the Spirit. Oh, we pick up a few things now and then, but mostly we just fade in and out. We don't stay on God's wavelength all the time.

How do you adjust your spiritual tuner?

By praying in the spirit. Praying in other tongues is the fastest, most effective method I know of to tune in to God—because instead of praying your own thoughts and plans, you're praying His!

The Bible says that when you pray in tongues, you're speaking mysteries to God. In the spirit, you're calling forth parts of God's plan you don't even understand with your natural mind. By the unction of the Holy Spirit, you're praying the perfect will of God.

You see, God knows how to deliver His people. He knows how to turn us into the glorious Church without spot or wrinkle. He has a plan that will do it. And if we'll tap in to that plan and start releasing it into the earth by praying in the spirit, praying according to His will and not our own, this age will draw to a close quickly. If we'll all get our minds and hearts in tune with what God's doing, there will be an explosion of the power of God that will turn this world around!

Start adjusting your spiritual tuner today. Spend an hour praying in other tongues. Set your spirit on God's wavelength and just see how quickly the spots and wrinkles begin to disappear from you.


Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS FOR THIS WEEK!!!

[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.
—Jeremiah 17:7

One attitude that welcomes the presence of God into our lives is the attitude that honors Him above everyone and everything else. Our attitudes need to say, God, no matter what anyone else tells me, no matter what I think myself, no matter what my own plan is, if I clearly hear You say something and I know it’s You, I will honor You—and honor what You say—above everything else.

Sometimes we give more consideration to what people tell us than to what God says. If we pray diligently and hear from God, and then start asking people around us what they think, we honor their human opinions above God’s. Such an attitude will prevent our being able to consistently hear God’s voice. If we are ever going to develop an ability to hear from God and be led by His Spirit as a way of life, we have to stop listening to so many opinions from so many people and begin trusting the wisdom God deposits in our hearts. There is a time to receive good counsel, but needing the approval of people will keep us out of the will of God.

The devil wants us to think we are not capable of hearing from God, but God’s Word says that is not true. The Holy Spirit dwells inside of us because God wants us to be led by the Spirit in a personal way and to hear His voice for ourselves as He leads and guides us.

In the verse for today, God says we will be blessed when we look to Him. According to Jeremiah 17:5-6, severe consequences come to those who trust in the frailty of mere men and women, but blessed are those who trust in and honor the Lord. Good things happen if we listen to God. He wants to be our strength and we must honor His Word above all else.

God’s Word for You Today: Hear what others have to say, but listen to God.

Memorise: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3rd John 1:12

Read: Exodus 23:25 (KJV)

25 And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.




Bible in one year: Exodus 29:1-30:21, Psalms 119:33-48
MESSAGE
From our Bible reading for today, we see a positive relationship between our service to God, what we eat and our health. Christians are supposed to overflow in health, so much that when we touch sick people, they become healed. Open Heaven Friday 9 December 2016:- It is time to overflow II


Many Christians joke with their service to God, no wonder they fall sick. I thank God and give Him all glory for my life; ever since I sold myself out to the service of God, He has been my only Doctor. I remember vividly well how I used to battle with malaria helplessly, until one day when I decided to enter into an agreement with God, I told Him to heal me of malaria permanently and I will serve Him, and malaria has been a stranger to me since then. When you serve God wholeheartedly, He will ensure that no sickness stays in your body.


Another reason why some Christians are sick is because of what they eat. Our Bible reading for today says that God will bless your food and water and you will not fall sick, but many don’t ask God to bless their food before eating it. Also, God cannot bless what He has not approved of. Our Body is His temple, and anything that can destroy His temple is not approved by Him. We must keep away from junk food, over eating, unhealthy eating habits and the likes. God does not approve of food or drinks that are injurious to our health. Eat more of fresh vegetables and fruits. Eat the right quantity at the right time of the day. Stop overeating. Stay fit, exercise regularly. Some Christians quote Apostle Paul in 1stTimothy 4:8


“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”


Yes it is true that bodily exercise profits a little, however, that little must not be done away with. [Open Heavens Devotional 2016] We must take care of God’s temple so that it can be available for Him to use when He needs it.