‎OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH 2017-FAITHFUL STEWARD

Memorise: Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1st Corinthians 4:2
Read: Luke 12:42-48
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Bible in one year: John 6, Isaiah 34:15-36:3

1. Faithfulness is a basic requirement for those who want to succeed in their dealings with God.
2. For those who desire to be great, relevant and effective in life and ministry, there is no other way around it.
3. Today, the Church in my opinion is not in short supply of Christian workers; rather, faithful workers are scarce.
4. God blesses beyond measure, all those who exhibit faithfulness in His service.
5. I have always told my children in ministry that when a man of God does the work of God the way it should be done, what he or she will eat would not be a prayer point. This is because God is committed to those who are faithful in His business.
6. He gave us this guarantee in Hebrew 6:10 “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
7. God is looking for men and women who are faithful stewards of all He has committed to their hands. You should be faithful in the handling of finances and not allow your heart be consumed by the love of money.
8. Faithfulness is also required in the way you use your authority. You should be faithful in your service to God and in your service to humanity. You should be faithful in how you manage other people’s time, because time is life.
9. Stewardship is a trust that must not be abused. You should always remember that you will give account of all that God has entrusted to you. You should take the business of the kingdom seriously and not be complacent in your approach to life. You have to be steadfast and diligent in whatever assignment you are given.
10. Diligence is a key that gives you access to people in high places (Proverbs 22:29). As a faithful steward in the vineyard, you have to be focused on your own mandate and never use another man as a parameter to evaluate your life (2nd Corinthians 10:12).
11. To be focused is to have a target and to work towards actualising it to the glory of God, being conscious of the fact that God’s business requires urgency.
12. Jesus made this clear in John 9:4 “I will work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” All the gifts, talents and potential that you have been given by God are expected to be deployed for His glory.
13. It is my prayer that as you discern, develop and deploy all that He has committed into your hands, you will not be found wanting in Jesus’ Name.

This is one of the topics many believers especially those working in His vineyard lack broad understanding in. Finding a faithful servant who understands his Master’s assignment and carry it out independence of situation, circumstances or the leaders in our churches is a challenge. Many workers have totally forgotten that whatever service rendered in His vineyard is directly unto God and not to their leaders. Diligence in doing the work which our master has given us pays, as the word of God says” and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” ‭‭ Heb 11:6b. And for those in leadership, abuse of the authority is dangerous too, as some leaders are instrumental to the discouragement of their followers because of bad attitudes.
One of the confidence given to the church by apostle Paul according to 1 Corinthian 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Our prayer is that your labour of love for Him will not be in vain. We bless God for our Father in the Lord, Pastor E.A Adeboye for the grace to inspire and exhort us in today’s devotional yet again.

Prayer Point
Father, by Your mercy, let me not receive condemnation on the day of reward.
HYMN
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. Refrain
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share.

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