UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES

One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. - Matthew 16:1

The phrase "signs of the times" actually was coined by Jesus. One day, the Pharisees and Sadducees approached Jesus together, which was quite remarkable, because these two groups didn't get along. They didn't mix. They didn't hang out together. They were polar opposites on the theological spectrum.

But the one thing they had in common was their hatred for Jesus. So they came to Him to test Him and demand a miracle. Now they had already seen a boatload of miracles.

They had seen Jesus cast out demons and calm storms and heal the sick and feed thousands of people and even raise the dead.

Yet they had the audacity to demand another sign. After all Jesus had done, after all of the miracles He performed, they were coming to Him and demanding another sign.

So Jesus told them, "You know the saying, Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; red sky in the morning means foul weather all day. You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don't know how to interpret the signs of the times!
Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah." (Matthew 16:2-4)

In other words, "You can read the weather. Why can't you read the signs of the times?"

How often do people worry about whether it will rain or not, yet don't give a single serious thought about the signs of the end-time all around us? Why can't we see that the coming of the Lord is imminent?

Prayer: Ask the Lord for spiritual wisdom to understand the signs of our time.

Scriptural Reading: Matthew 16:1-4

Health: 20 Unbelievable Reasons To Start Your Day With Water and Lemon.

Adding lemon to water not only quenches thirst better than any other beverage, but it also nourishes our body with vitamins, minerals and trace elements which we absolutely need. Lemon with water can be considered the best natural energy booster. When we wake up in the morning, our bodily tissues are dehydrated and are in need of water to push out toxins and rejuvenate the cells. In other words, this homemade “lemonade” helps eliminate internal toxins, regulating proper kidney and digestive tract functions by forcing them to work as smoothly as possible.

1. Water with lemon provides the body with electrolytes which hydrate your body. As lemons contain good amount of electrolytes such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.
2. Water with lemon is good for the joints, reducing pain in the joints and muscles.
3. Warm water with lemon helps digestion as lemon contains citric acid. It interacts with other enzymes and acids which easily stimulate the secretion of gastric juice and digestion.
4. The liver produces more enzymes from water with lemon than from any other food.
5. Water with lemon cleanses the liver. Lemon juice stimulates the liver to release toxins.
6. Water with Lemon helps fight infections of the respiratory tract, sore throats and inflammation of the tonsils. This is due to the anti-inflammatory properties of lemon.
7. Warm water with lemon helps regulate natural bowel movement.
8. Water with lemon is indispensable for the normal work of metabolism. Since lemon is a powerful antioxidant, it protects the body from free radicals and strengthens the immune system.
9. Water with lemon aids in proper functioning of the nervous system (as lemon  has a high content of potassium). Depression and anxiety are often the result of low levels of potassium in the blood. The nervous system needs a sufficient amount of potassium to ensure sustainable signals to the heart.
10. Water with lemon cleanses blood, blood vessels and arteries.
11. Water with lemon can help lower blood pressure.  A daily intake of one lemon can reduce high blood pressure by 10%.
12. Water with lemon creates an alkalizing effect in the body. Even if you drink it immediately before a meal,  it can help your body maintain a higher level of pH. The higher the pH, the more your body is able to fight diseases.
13. Water with lemon is good for the skin. Vitamin C in lemon, improves our skin by rejuvenating the body.  Drinking water with lemon regularly (every morning) will improve the condition of your skin.
14. Water with lemon  helps to dilute uric acid, the built up of which leads to pain in the joints and gout.
15. Water with lemon is beneficial for pregnant women. Since lemons are loaded with Vitamin C, it acts as an adaptogen helping the body cope with viruses such as colds.  Furthermore, vitamin C helps the formation of bone tissue of the unborn baby. At the same time, due to the high content of potassium, a mixture of water with lemon helps forming cells of the brain and nervous system of the baby.
16. Water with lemon relieves heartburn. For this, mix a teaspoon of lemon juice in half a glass of water.
17. Water with lemon helps dissolve gallstones,  kidney stones, pancreatic stones, and calcium deposits.
18. Water with lemon helps with weight loss.  Lemons contain pectin fiber, which helps suppress hunger cravings. Studies have proven  people with a better alkaline diet have lost weight faster.
19. Water with lemon helps with tooth pain and gingivitis. read here
20. Water with lemon prevents cancer. This is due to the fact that lemons are a highly alkaline food. Multiple studies have found that cancer cannot thrive in an alkaline environment.

Prayer For The New Week

The Lord will handle your case this week. The decision taken against you shall change in your favour. Doors of

favour shall be opened for you. Evil dreams shall not come to pass in your life in Jesus Name.The mighty hands of God's protection shall cover you and every member of your family. Every evil arrow against you shall return back to the sender in Jesus name.


Happy New Week From ASB'World.

KNOW AND BE YOURSELF

David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. 'I cannot go in these,' he said to Saul, 'because I am not used to them.' So he took them off . - 1 Samuel 17:39

David, the young shepherd boy, heard the challenge from the Philistines to send someone to fight Goliath. No one volunteered to fight except David.

King Saul reluctantly agreed and offered David his armour. David put on the weighty equipment, but quickly concluded he could not fight in this heavy armour. He gave it back to Saul.

God equips each of us in such a way that is unique to our strengths and abilities. David knew who he was and who he wasn't. David was trained as a shepherd to use another weapon.

For David, it was a slingshot. David showed great maturity in realizing he could not be effective with Saul's armour.

What are the gifts and talents God has given to you? Have you ever tried to accomplish a task with tools you were not trained to use?

God allows each of us to develop skills that are unique to our life’s purpose. He will not call you to use someone else's tools.

However, this is only half of the equation. These talents must be mixed with faith. Talent alone is not enough.

Faith alone is not enough. It is only when the two are combined that God's power is released and manifested in the physical realm.

Sometimes we admire the talents of others and seek to emulate them. We are tempted to be someone we are not. This is a mistake.

Be happy to be the unique you. Then, mix your unique gifts with faith, and you will be surprised at the power of God that will be manifested through you.

Prayer: Thank God for making you unique and special.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Samuel 17:38-51

The Only Comment on Dylann Roof’s Facebook Photo Will Bring You To Tears

Dylann Roof committed a heinous act on Wednesday night, killing nine at a church in Charleston. His ominous Facebook profile photo is being widely circulated.

There is one comment on that photo. It is from this man:

His name is Marcus Stanley. He is a 30-year-old, award winning gospel musician from Virginia. Marcus has also been shot, eight times. According to his website:

Marcus was shot 8 times at point blank range with a .45 caliber automatic weapon while touring as an initiation act by gang members. Due to the shooting, Marcus became temporarily paralyzed on his right side, lost the ability to walk, and leaving one bullet permanent lodged near his spine. With God’s grace and mercy, Marcus was successfully able to regain the strength to walk and recover most of the feeling in his right arm.

Here is the message he left for Dylann:

INSPIRED CREATIVITY

He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD... 1 Chronicles 28:12

It is said of George Washington Carver that he got up early in the morning each day to walk alone and pray. He asked God how he was to spend his day and what He wanted to teach him that day.

Carver grew up at the close of the American Civil War in a one-room shanty on the home of Moses Carver- the man who owned his mother.

Carver grew up at the height of racial discrimination, yet he overcame all those obstacles to become one of the most influential men in the history of the United States.

He made many discoveries with the use of groundnuts and sweet potatoes. However, after he recommended farmers to plant groundnuts and sweet potatoes instead of cotton, he was led into his greatest trial.

The farmers lost even more money due to the lack of market demand for groundnuts and sweet potatoes.

Carver cried out to the Lord in prayer. Many years later, he shared that God led him back to his lab and worked with him to discover some 300 marketable products from groundnuts.

Likewise, he made over 100 discoveries from the sweet potatoes. These new products created a demand for groundnuts and sweet potatoes, and they were major contributors to rejuvenating the economy of Southern USA.

As he made new discoveries, he never became successful monetarily. But during his lifetime, he overcame great rejection for being black.

He was offered high income opportunities from Henry Ford, and he became friends with presidents of his day, yet he knew what God had called him to do.

His epitaph read: "He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world."

Prayer: Pray for the spirit of wisdom and creativity to fully fulfil your purpose.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Chronicle 28:11-19

THE SECRET OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. - John 15:4

Imagine if you planted a tree in your front yard, but after a while, you decide it would look better in your backyard.

Then after a few months, you realize it would be better in the front yard. So you dig it up and plant it again in the front yard. Not only will that tree fail to flourish, but it also will struggle to just survive. Eventually, it will die.

Yet some people are like that with God. They decide to go to church, read their Bible, and pray regularly. They do this for a month, and then they uproot themselves and disappear for a few months. Then they come back again. Then they uproot themselves and go back to the old life again.

Eventually they come back and are at it again. But they will never grow spiritually that way.

Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me". That is the secret of spiritual growth: to abide.

To abide means to stay in a given place. For believers, it means to maintain unbroken fellowship with God. It is regularity. It is consistency. And it results in producing lasting fruit.

Another way of abiding is walking with God. As 1 John 2:6 says, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."

Walking speaks of consistent motion. That means making time for the Word of God and for prayer every day.

If you are too busy, then get up earlier. Go to bed earlier. You will find time for what is important. The true mark of conversion is the test of time and results in your life. Are you producing spiritual fruit?

Prayer: Declare by faith that you will always abide in the Lord and dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of your life.

Scriptural Reading: John 15:1-8