EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2019.
SUBJECT : THE PRAYER GOD WONT HEAR!
Memory verse: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear." (Psalm 66 vs 18.)
READ: Isaiah 59 vs 1 - 3:
59:1: Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy; that it cannot hear.
59:2: But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.
59:3: For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity.
INTIMATION:
Iniquity is sin, implying the perversion of heart and wickedness of purpose. Sin is defined as a moral offense or shortcoming. It is a rebellion against God's laws, a perversion of heart. Sin is a reproach to any people as well as to God. It offends our Holy God and separates us from Him. Because God is holy He cannot ignore, excuse, or tolerate sin as though it didn't matter, therefore, sin cuts people off from Him, forming a wall to isolate God from the people He loves. Our sins makes God angry and forces Him to look the other way.
When we are involved in iniquity or sin, we build a wall separation between us and God. The Scripture says of God, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness...” (Habakkuk 1 vs13.) When we are involved in sinful and wicked deeds, we cause our separation from the Holy God, and our prayers are not heard by Him. These are times when we bear loads of grudges, resentment, envy, hatred, anger, un-forgivenesses , and like emotions. The loads of such emotions are very heavy and costly to our relationship with God, because they are iniquities before Him whose eyes cannot behold iniquity.
Our confession of sin must be continual because we continue to do wrong. But true confession requires us to listen to God and want to stop doing what is wrong. We may not be able to remember every sin we have ever committed, but our attitude should be one of confession and obedience. Though we may have been dragged into such emotions by wrongdoing to us by another, but these emotions hurt us more than they hurt the one who has wronged us. This is because, if our faith is strong and our prayer is persistent, there is only one thing that can stand in the way of answered prayer—getting what you say—and it is un-repented sin. What a terrible condition for a Christian to be in, to be unable to talk to God!
When we understand what our resentment does to us, we see how much better it is for us to allow our enemies to get away with their cruelty, even murder, and forgive them, rather than hold a grudge and cut ourselves off from God. God knows the heart of our enemy, and repays accordingly without needing any helps from us. The Bible tells us that vengeance is God's business not ours: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12 vs 19). God takes vengeance on our enemies because He is just, and because He loves us.
An unforgiving spirit is so destructive that we are warned that when God does take vengeance on our enemies, we ought not be happy that He did; "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him" (Proverbs 24 vs 17 - 18).
Once you understand the destructiveness of "getting even," you will be able to ask God to keep you from resentment in all its forms. In Matthew 5 vs 39 Jesus commanded us, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." Jesus is suggesting that our response to injustice should not be demanding our right, but to give it up freely! According to Him it is more important to give justice and mercy than to receive it.
Jesus said in Mark 11 vs 25; "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." Only in so doing that you receive what you ask in prayers.
When you study the exploits of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch in Acts 13 where preached and taught, how the two steadfast and spirit-filled servants of God handled the resentment of Jews against them. They preached and the Gentiles heard and were glad and glorified God, and all those who believed received the Spirit and were ordained to eternal life. The Jews, however, incited the devout men and women against Paul and Barnabas and drove them from the city. They left, and they were filled with joy in the Holy Spirit, and never had any desire for retaliation. The Spirit-filled life doesn't seek revenge but joyously reflects the presence of God within.
Prayer: Abba Father, keep me from resentment of all forms. Cleanse me from secret faults, and keep me from presumptuous sins that they may not have dominion over me. Endue me with the spirit of forgiveness that I may forgive all that offend me and stand blameless before You, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Sunday, 22 September 2019
Saturday, 21 September 2019
PRAYER
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Roman's 8:31).
As you go about your daily activities today , I pray that the love and mercy of Jehovah will locate you and your household, His right hand will draw you closer and show you great things of eternal value; you will be lifted above reproach and your enterprise shall experience divine enlargement without hindrance. As the Lord lives, enemy will not have access to your territory, neither will you walk into the hidden traps of envious and unfriendly people ; you will not experience misfortune in your endeavours and the source of your livelihood will not dry up; all closed doors shall be opened, where others are rejected and dejected, you will be elevated to greater height and your life shall speak volumes of God's grace !
You will no longer suffer for money as the Lord will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Jehovah shall fight all your battles for you and you shall hold your peace (Exo 14:14). Surely your testimony shall be great in Jesus mighty name. Amen. Good morning from evangelist OLATUNBOSUN BOSEDE ISACC Good morning shalom
As you go about your daily activities today , I pray that the love and mercy of Jehovah will locate you and your household, His right hand will draw you closer and show you great things of eternal value; you will be lifted above reproach and your enterprise shall experience divine enlargement without hindrance. As the Lord lives, enemy will not have access to your territory, neither will you walk into the hidden traps of envious and unfriendly people ; you will not experience misfortune in your endeavours and the source of your livelihood will not dry up; all closed doors shall be opened, where others are rejected and dejected, you will be elevated to greater height and your life shall speak volumes of God's grace !
You will no longer suffer for money as the Lord will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Jehovah shall fight all your battles for you and you shall hold your peace (Exo 14:14). Surely your testimony shall be great in Jesus mighty name. Amen. Good morning from evangelist OLATUNBOSUN BOSEDE ISACC Good morning shalom
THE UNCHANGEABLE GOD
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SATURDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2019
THEME: THE UNCHANGEABLE GOD
MEMORISE:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8
READ: Deuteronomy 7:1-12
1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them:
3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:
MESSAGE
When we say that our God is unchangeable, we may not know the full implication of what we are saying unless we are well-grounded in His word and ways. His word in today's memory verse emphatically states that Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, is the same yesterday, today and forever, meaning that what He stood for over two thousand years ago has not changed today. Unlike politicians who change their ideologies with the mood swings of the polity, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:18:
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
God's covenants are established on the pillars of His unchangeable nature (Malachi 3:6). He therefore expects those in covenant with Him to be consistent in living by the terms of His covenant. In today's Bible reading, the Almighty God reminded the children of Israel of the need to abide by the laws of the covenant He had with them. He told them that He had chosen them as a holy and special people for Himself, preferring them above all other people on earth. He chose them not because they were more in number or more righteous than others but because of His love for them and because of His covenant with His friend, Abraham, who was their father. God chose them to live a life set apart for holiness through obedience to His commandments. Just as God chose them, so has He chosen all those who believe in His Son Jesus Christ today.
We are chosen by God to be a peculiar people consecrated to Him (1 Peter 2:9). Beloved, do not be deceived, God has not changed His standard of holiness (2 Timothy 2:19). If He said in times past that He hates sexual immortality of all kinds, including homosexuality (the reason for which He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), then He has not changed His mind on this today (Romans 2:26-27). No matter how well the world propagates the lie that homosexuals are created that way, it will forever remain a lie of the devil. Just as the devil deceived Eve, so is he deceiving people with diverse philosophies built around lies today. I am persuaded and convinced by the infallible word of God and the Holy Spirit that gays and lesbians cannot inherit the kingdom of God, just as robbers, thieves of all categories and treasury looters will not enter into it (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). God's unchangeable character is a call to those who are partakers of His divine nature to remain resolute in upholding His standard and banner in this world.
PRAYER POINT:
Unchangeable Changer, please change every unpleasant situation in my life for the better today, and grant me grace to honour Your covenant through obedience in Jesus' Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 9, Daniel 5:13-28
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 14: LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND
1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the LORD, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
2 Let us blaze His Name abroad,
For of gods He is the God:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
3 He with all-commanding might
Filled the new-made world with light:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
4 All things living He doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
5 He His chosen race did bless
In the wasteful wilderness:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
6 He hath with a pious eye
Looks upon our misery:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
7 Let us therefore warble forth
His high majesty and worth:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure. Ok
DATE: SATURDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2019
THEME: THE UNCHANGEABLE GOD
MEMORISE:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8
READ: Deuteronomy 7:1-12
1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them:
3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:
MESSAGE
When we say that our God is unchangeable, we may not know the full implication of what we are saying unless we are well-grounded in His word and ways. His word in today's memory verse emphatically states that Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, is the same yesterday, today and forever, meaning that what He stood for over two thousand years ago has not changed today. Unlike politicians who change their ideologies with the mood swings of the polity, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:18:
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
God's covenants are established on the pillars of His unchangeable nature (Malachi 3:6). He therefore expects those in covenant with Him to be consistent in living by the terms of His covenant. In today's Bible reading, the Almighty God reminded the children of Israel of the need to abide by the laws of the covenant He had with them. He told them that He had chosen them as a holy and special people for Himself, preferring them above all other people on earth. He chose them not because they were more in number or more righteous than others but because of His love for them and because of His covenant with His friend, Abraham, who was their father. God chose them to live a life set apart for holiness through obedience to His commandments. Just as God chose them, so has He chosen all those who believe in His Son Jesus Christ today.
We are chosen by God to be a peculiar people consecrated to Him (1 Peter 2:9). Beloved, do not be deceived, God has not changed His standard of holiness (2 Timothy 2:19). If He said in times past that He hates sexual immortality of all kinds, including homosexuality (the reason for which He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), then He has not changed His mind on this today (Romans 2:26-27). No matter how well the world propagates the lie that homosexuals are created that way, it will forever remain a lie of the devil. Just as the devil deceived Eve, so is he deceiving people with diverse philosophies built around lies today. I am persuaded and convinced by the infallible word of God and the Holy Spirit that gays and lesbians cannot inherit the kingdom of God, just as robbers, thieves of all categories and treasury looters will not enter into it (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). God's unchangeable character is a call to those who are partakers of His divine nature to remain resolute in upholding His standard and banner in this world.
PRAYER POINT:
Unchangeable Changer, please change every unpleasant situation in my life for the better today, and grant me grace to honour Your covenant through obedience in Jesus' Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 9, Daniel 5:13-28
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 14: LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND
1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the LORD, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
2 Let us blaze His Name abroad,
For of gods He is the God:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
3 He with all-commanding might
Filled the new-made world with light:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
4 All things living He doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
5 He His chosen race did bless
In the wasteful wilderness:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
6 He hath with a pious eye
Looks upon our misery:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
7 Let us therefore warble forth
His high majesty and worth:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure. Ok
JESUS THE ONLY WAY
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2019.
SUBJECT: JESUS THE ONLY WAY!
Memory verse: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14 vs 6.)
READ: John 15 vs 4 - 7:
15:4: 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.
15:5: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, Bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
15:6: If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
15:7: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
INTIMATION:
God our Father, King, and Creator is the source of life, and real living is in accord with the tenets inherent in His kingdom. And there is only one sure way to the knowledge of the true and real life in God, and that is in Christ. Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to Him, outside of Him we are nothing, and apart from Him our efforts are unfruitful.
In our memory verse, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life...." Three principal things are in Him; ‘the way,’ ‘the truth,’ and ‘the life.’ Therefore, outside of Jesus you are in the wrong way, you can’t discover the truth, and you have no life. Jesus, as the way, is our path to the Father. He is one with the Father, and the same with the Father. He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1 vs 15) and the exact representation of God. Jesus is not only equal to God (Philippians 2 vs 6), He is God (John 10 vs 30 & 38).
As the truth, He is the reality of all God’s promises. He not only reflects God, but He reveals God to us (John 1 vs 18; 14 vs 9). Jesus said these of Himself; "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner" (John 5 vs 19). "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me" (John 5 vs 30). "....When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as the Father taught Me, I speak these things" (John 8 vs 28).
As the Life, He joins His divine life to ours, both now and eternally. He is supreme over all creation (Colossians 1 vs 15), and has all priority and authority. He came from heaven, not the dust of the earth (First Corinthians 15 vs 47), and He is Lord over all (Romans 9 vs 5; 10 vs 11 - 13). He is, in truth, the only living way to the Father.
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.” (John 15 vs 4.) Abiding in Christ means (1) believing that He is God’s Son (First John 4 vs 15), (2) receiving Him as Savior and Lord (John 1 vs 12), (3) doing what God says (First John 3 vs 24), (4) continuing to believe the gospel (First John 2 vs 24), and relating in love to the community of believers, Christ’s body (John 15 vs 12).
Following Jesus is knowing the way of the Father. No one has seen the Father, and no one can see Him. But Jesus Christ came to reveal the Father to us. Observing the ways of Jesus is tantamount to observing the ways of the Father, because He is the same with the Father. Everything you need is in Him, and without Him you can do nothing (John 15 vs 5).
Now Jesus has come, and has gone back to the Father, to come again for the final union in marriage with His people—‘the marriage of the Lamb’ (Revelation 19 vs 7 & 9). While He is away, He has left with us the instructions on what to do, and also has given us an Helper, just to help us to occupy until He comes (Luke 19 vs 13). The instructions are in the Holy Book—the Bible, and our Helper is the Holy Spirit. Outside of these two, you will never discover the way.
The Book of instruction—the Bible—tells us that the starting point is embracing Jesus and declaring Him as Savior and Lord over your life. When you do this, He will help you to ensure that all other things would fall in pleasant places if you follow a His instructions (Psalm 16 vs 6).
Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus, I confess, with my whole heart that You are my Lord and personal Savior. In You there is life, and in You I live, and move and have my being. Endue with the spirit of complete trust and confidence in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2019.
SUBJECT: JESUS THE ONLY WAY!
Memory verse: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14 vs 6.)
READ: John 15 vs 4 - 7:
15:4: 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.
15:5: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, Bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
15:6: If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
15:7: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
INTIMATION:
God our Father, King, and Creator is the source of life, and real living is in accord with the tenets inherent in His kingdom. And there is only one sure way to the knowledge of the true and real life in God, and that is in Christ. Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to Him, outside of Him we are nothing, and apart from Him our efforts are unfruitful.
In our memory verse, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life...." Three principal things are in Him; ‘the way,’ ‘the truth,’ and ‘the life.’ Therefore, outside of Jesus you are in the wrong way, you can’t discover the truth, and you have no life. Jesus, as the way, is our path to the Father. He is one with the Father, and the same with the Father. He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1 vs 15) and the exact representation of God. Jesus is not only equal to God (Philippians 2 vs 6), He is God (John 10 vs 30 & 38).
As the truth, He is the reality of all God’s promises. He not only reflects God, but He reveals God to us (John 1 vs 18; 14 vs 9). Jesus said these of Himself; "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner" (John 5 vs 19). "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me" (John 5 vs 30). "....When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as the Father taught Me, I speak these things" (John 8 vs 28).
As the Life, He joins His divine life to ours, both now and eternally. He is supreme over all creation (Colossians 1 vs 15), and has all priority and authority. He came from heaven, not the dust of the earth (First Corinthians 15 vs 47), and He is Lord over all (Romans 9 vs 5; 10 vs 11 - 13). He is, in truth, the only living way to the Father.
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.” (John 15 vs 4.) Abiding in Christ means (1) believing that He is God’s Son (First John 4 vs 15), (2) receiving Him as Savior and Lord (John 1 vs 12), (3) doing what God says (First John 3 vs 24), (4) continuing to believe the gospel (First John 2 vs 24), and relating in love to the community of believers, Christ’s body (John 15 vs 12).
Following Jesus is knowing the way of the Father. No one has seen the Father, and no one can see Him. But Jesus Christ came to reveal the Father to us. Observing the ways of Jesus is tantamount to observing the ways of the Father, because He is the same with the Father. Everything you need is in Him, and without Him you can do nothing (John 15 vs 5).
Now Jesus has come, and has gone back to the Father, to come again for the final union in marriage with His people—‘the marriage of the Lamb’ (Revelation 19 vs 7 & 9). While He is away, He has left with us the instructions on what to do, and also has given us an Helper, just to help us to occupy until He comes (Luke 19 vs 13). The instructions are in the Holy Book—the Bible, and our Helper is the Holy Spirit. Outside of these two, you will never discover the way.
The Book of instruction—the Bible—tells us that the starting point is embracing Jesus and declaring Him as Savior and Lord over your life. When you do this, He will help you to ensure that all other things would fall in pleasant places if you follow a His instructions (Psalm 16 vs 6).
Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus, I confess, with my whole heart that You are my Lord and personal Savior. In You there is life, and in You I live, and move and have my being. Endue with the spirit of complete trust and confidence in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Friday, 20 September 2019
IS IT AS TO THE LORD. OPEN HEAVEN
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2019
THEME: IS IT AS TO THE LORD?
MEMORISE:
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:7
READ: Ephesians 6:5-8
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
MESSAGE
Whenever our actions are not based on pleasing the Lord, they will definitely be tainted by a purpose that is far from ideal. For example, only God knows the motive behind Cain's sacrifice in Genesis chapter 4, but it ultimately led to the murder of his younger brother. Indeed, the Holy Spirit says we should not be weary in doing good deeds (Galatians 6:9). However, the only way we will not be weary in well-doing is when we do it as to the Lord, simply because human beings can be very ungrateful, and if we are waiting for the gratitude of men, we may end up not doing any good thing at all. Thankfully, the Lord has promised to commend and reward those who do good deeds. Speaking on this, the Lord said in Matthew 25:34-35:
“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: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”
There are times when I feel the people I am labouring over do not appreciate my love, concern and efforts to make them what God wants them to be, and I just feel like stopping it all. The Lord has spoken to me on several of such occasions that I should always do everything He asks me to do as unto Him alone, especially as He has never disappointed me. This word has kept me going all these years. Sometimes He sends me encouragement from unexpected quarters, like the time I was feeling so discouraged and a little girl from a place very far away brought me a cake. God used her to prove to me that my labour and efforts do not go unnoticed before Him.
In Ephesians 6:5-8, we are admonished as servants to be faithful in our services to our masters, employers and superiors at our places of work. Of course, even when we attain leadership positions, Jesus taught us to serve, not with eye service or for self-gratification. Some leaders will not promote their subordinates even when they are due for it. Let such leaders remember the efficacy of God's word in Ephesians 6:8, which says:
“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”
Our God is not partial; He is a perfect and just Judge. Even if man forgets, He will not forget. Therefore, whatever you do for His sake, expect to get considerable rewards from Him alone and don't look to man (Hebrews 6:10).
PRAYER POINT:
Father, in all I do in this world, please help me to always remember to do it as unto You.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 7-8, Daniel 5:1-12
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
DATE: FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2019
THEME: IS IT AS TO THE LORD?
MEMORISE:
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:7
READ: Ephesians 6:5-8
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
MESSAGE
Whenever our actions are not based on pleasing the Lord, they will definitely be tainted by a purpose that is far from ideal. For example, only God knows the motive behind Cain's sacrifice in Genesis chapter 4, but it ultimately led to the murder of his younger brother. Indeed, the Holy Spirit says we should not be weary in doing good deeds (Galatians 6:9). However, the only way we will not be weary in well-doing is when we do it as to the Lord, simply because human beings can be very ungrateful, and if we are waiting for the gratitude of men, we may end up not doing any good thing at all. Thankfully, the Lord has promised to commend and reward those who do good deeds. Speaking on this, the Lord said in Matthew 25:34-35:
“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: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”
There are times when I feel the people I am labouring over do not appreciate my love, concern and efforts to make them what God wants them to be, and I just feel like stopping it all. The Lord has spoken to me on several of such occasions that I should always do everything He asks me to do as unto Him alone, especially as He has never disappointed me. This word has kept me going all these years. Sometimes He sends me encouragement from unexpected quarters, like the time I was feeling so discouraged and a little girl from a place very far away brought me a cake. God used her to prove to me that my labour and efforts do not go unnoticed before Him.
In Ephesians 6:5-8, we are admonished as servants to be faithful in our services to our masters, employers and superiors at our places of work. Of course, even when we attain leadership positions, Jesus taught us to serve, not with eye service or for self-gratification. Some leaders will not promote their subordinates even when they are due for it. Let such leaders remember the efficacy of God's word in Ephesians 6:8, which says:
“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”
Our God is not partial; He is a perfect and just Judge. Even if man forgets, He will not forget. Therefore, whatever you do for His sake, expect to get considerable rewards from Him alone and don't look to man (Hebrews 6:10).
PRAYER POINT:
Father, in all I do in this world, please help me to always remember to do it as unto You.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 7-8, Daniel 5:1-12
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
TRUST IN GOD AND NOT YOURSELF
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2019.
SUBJECT : TRUST IN GOD NOT YOURSELF!
Memory verse: "Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.” (Second Corinthians 1 vs 9.)
READ: Jeremiah 17 vs 5 - 8:
17:5: Thus says the LORD; “Cursed be the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.
17:6: For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
17:7: “Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the is LORD.
17:8: For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out her roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but it’s leaf will be green; and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.
INTIMATION:
Trusting in God is relying, resting on the integrity of God; putting your confidence, hope, faith in God in all things. God is our constant help, and He desires it to be so. He made it so that we may depend on Him and will always come to Him. We often depend on our own skills and abilities when life seems easy and only turn to God when we feel unable to help ourselves. But as we realize our own powerlessness without God and our need for His constant help in our lives, we come to depend on Him more and more. God is our source of power, and we receive His help by keeping in touch with Him. With this attitude of dependence, problems will drive us to God rather than away from Him. Learn to rely on God daily.
In emphasizing our need to trust in God, rather than ourselves, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15 vs 5.) We should not trust in ourselves but in God. The Bible speaks of "Trust in God" more than 45 times. Therefore, there is no gain-saying the fact that trusting in God is key. And the confirmation, according to the Scriptures, is in the mouth of much more than two or three witnesses, hence is thoroughly established.
This is not to say we should never make effort to achieve or accomplish anything in life, but our own efforts are never adequate. As believers, we are to put out an effort that is made through the grace of God at work in us. In other words, we don't attempt anything without asking for God's help. We lean on Him the whole way through each project. We maintain an attitude that says, "Apart from Him I can do nothing." "For by strength no shall shall prevail." (First Samuel 2 vs 9.)
We are not to be involved in natural, carnal efforts because the result is only fatigue and frustration, disappointment and destruction. But completely lean on the grace of God to accomplish all our lives challenges. Failing to trust God often brings even greater problems than those we originally faced. When we run from God, we inevitably run into problems. He brought you this far and won’t let you down now. We can continue trusting God by remembering all He has done for us.
God will never abandon those who seek Him. God’s promise does not mean that if we trust in Him we will escape loss or suffering; it means that God Himself will never leave us no matter what we face. Lack of trust in God always prevents us from receiving His best. The psalmist says in Psalm 18 vs 2, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."
In the passage we read today, the Scripture says, “ “Cursed be the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17 vs 5). When you put your trust in yourself, rather than God, you are cursed. In contrast, those who trust in the Lord flourish like trees planted along a riverbank. In times of trouble, those who trust in human beings will be impoverished and spiritually weak, so they will have no strength to draw on. But those who trust in the Lord will have abundant strength, not only for their needs, but for the needs of others.
Prayer: Abba Father, all powers belong to You. In You I put my trust. By Your strength I can do all things. Endue me with the spirit of complete dependence upon You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2019.
SUBJECT : TRUST IN GOD NOT YOURSELF!
Memory verse: "Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.” (Second Corinthians 1 vs 9.)
READ: Jeremiah 17 vs 5 - 8:
17:5: Thus says the LORD; “Cursed be the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.
17:6: For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
17:7: “Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the is LORD.
17:8: For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out her roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but it’s leaf will be green; and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.
INTIMATION:
Trusting in God is relying, resting on the integrity of God; putting your confidence, hope, faith in God in all things. God is our constant help, and He desires it to be so. He made it so that we may depend on Him and will always come to Him. We often depend on our own skills and abilities when life seems easy and only turn to God when we feel unable to help ourselves. But as we realize our own powerlessness without God and our need for His constant help in our lives, we come to depend on Him more and more. God is our source of power, and we receive His help by keeping in touch with Him. With this attitude of dependence, problems will drive us to God rather than away from Him. Learn to rely on God daily.
In emphasizing our need to trust in God, rather than ourselves, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15 vs 5.) We should not trust in ourselves but in God. The Bible speaks of "Trust in God" more than 45 times. Therefore, there is no gain-saying the fact that trusting in God is key. And the confirmation, according to the Scriptures, is in the mouth of much more than two or three witnesses, hence is thoroughly established.
This is not to say we should never make effort to achieve or accomplish anything in life, but our own efforts are never adequate. As believers, we are to put out an effort that is made through the grace of God at work in us. In other words, we don't attempt anything without asking for God's help. We lean on Him the whole way through each project. We maintain an attitude that says, "Apart from Him I can do nothing." "For by strength no shall shall prevail." (First Samuel 2 vs 9.)
We are not to be involved in natural, carnal efforts because the result is only fatigue and frustration, disappointment and destruction. But completely lean on the grace of God to accomplish all our lives challenges. Failing to trust God often brings even greater problems than those we originally faced. When we run from God, we inevitably run into problems. He brought you this far and won’t let you down now. We can continue trusting God by remembering all He has done for us.
God will never abandon those who seek Him. God’s promise does not mean that if we trust in Him we will escape loss or suffering; it means that God Himself will never leave us no matter what we face. Lack of trust in God always prevents us from receiving His best. The psalmist says in Psalm 18 vs 2, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."
In the passage we read today, the Scripture says, “ “Cursed be the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17 vs 5). When you put your trust in yourself, rather than God, you are cursed. In contrast, those who trust in the Lord flourish like trees planted along a riverbank. In times of trouble, those who trust in human beings will be impoverished and spiritually weak, so they will have no strength to draw on. But those who trust in the Lord will have abundant strength, not only for their needs, but for the needs of others.
Prayer: Abba Father, all powers belong to You. In You I put my trust. By Your strength I can do all things. Endue me with the spirit of complete dependence upon You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
PRAYER
Father in the Name of Jesus, do something in my life that will surprise my enemies before the end of this September. Put my enemies to shame in the areas of my business, my family, my future. Surprise me with promotion at work, surprise me with a job, surprise me with a baby boy/girl where the enemies say it’s impossible, make it possible my LORD. Promote me in every area of my life or in every part of my life. Father I am still waiting for your promise of my life for 2019 and I am not going to lose hope because I know and believe that you are GOD of Miracles. I know before the end of this year I shall receive that promotion. I shall receive that financial breakthrough in Jesus Name. My health shall be restored. My debts shall be cleared. I shall receive, a house, car, and broken relationship shall be restored. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen. Good morning and happy blessed weekend slalom from evangelist OLATUNBOSUN BOSEDE ISACC
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