Monthly Archives: April 2020

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY 30TH APRIL 2020–PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN WITHNESSING.

MEMORISE:

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47

READ: Acts 4:31-37

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

MESSAGE

All Christians are called to witness the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. This witnessing entails telling sinners, the wicked, poor, sick, oppressed, bound and hopeless about the power of God to set them free. Christians usually witness to others by presenting themselves as beneficiaries of the grace, mercy and love of Jesus so others may follow in their footsteps by accepting Him as their Lord and Savior.

Unfortunately, many Christians witness for Jesus in words alone. For these categories of Christians, their lifestyle contradicts the message they preach and this pushes the unsaved further from salvation. This is where practical Christian witnessing comes into play. Practical Christian witnessing is Christianity without pretense. It is revealed in behavior, proven by action or performance, tested by trial and undeterred by persecution. Matthew 5:16 says:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Knowing God is not the same as going to church, and loving God is not the same as being involved in church activities. If you love God it will show in the way you conduct the affairs of your life. If you know God, the evidence will be seen in the way you relate with people around you. If anyone is living contrary to God’s word, all that he or she offers to God will amount to nothing before the Almighty. Sometimes ago, at the Redemption Camp, I had to tell everyone “If you know you are not genuinely saved by the blood of Jesus, there is no need to give any offering to God. He will not accept the offering and worship of sinners.” Our lives must count for God first, before other things can follow. God wants His children to be His true representatives. 1 Peter 2:12 says: “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to be faithful to You and to live a practical Christian life before the world.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 5:1-10
1 Chronicles 11-12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 20: NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
o Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY 27TH APRIL 2020-WATCH ALWAYS!

MEMORISE:
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38

READ: Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

MESSAGE
The memory verse of today is one of the warnings in the Bible that should send chills through anybody’s spine. I consider it very scary. After the All-knowing God had carefully assessed the circumstances surrounding human existence, He concluded that humans need to be careful to survive this dangerously deceptive world. Sobriety and vigilance are the two major components of watchfulness. To be watchful is to be alert, watching over someone or waiting for some significant event. The Bible lays particular emphasis on the need to watch for fake prophets (Matthew 7:15), false doctrines (Hebrews 13:9), the antichrist (2 John 1:7) and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:42).

God expects every one of His children to be sober and vigilant in watching against temptations and sin such as pride, worldliness, self-righteousness, immorality, complacency, lukewarmness, spiritual barrenness and rebellion against constituted authority. We must not be confounded by negative news around the world; rather we should respond with understanding as persons who are informed and therefore well-prepared to watch for signs of the end times.
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Beloved, wake up! Christians cannot afford to lose focus for a moment; our heart must be kept with all diligence. We must watch the crafty attempts of the enemy to attack the authority of Scripture. Watch against worldliness and the quest for ungodly pleasures. Every member of the body of Christ must watch against the secularization of the Church and protect its sanctity against false prophets, sexual immorality and all sinful practices.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to be sober and watchful in all things, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 6.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 26: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS.

1. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey:
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

3. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone,
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own;
Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.

4. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 26TH APRIL 2020-INTERCESSION FOR LEADER.

MEMORISE:

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

READ: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

MESSAGE

“…Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” Zechariah 13:7

Leaders of any group are very important to the future of the followers. The character, circle of friends, background, process of decision-making and even their emotional wellbeing all have a great impact on the people they are leading. This is why it is important that you pray for your leaders regularly.

We need to pray concerning their character and work ethics. Ecclesiastes 10:16 says:
“Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!”

We need to pray concerning their circle of friends and the kind of advice they give them (1 Kings 12:9-14). They are targets of the devil because he knows that once he strikes the shepherd, the sheep will scatter.

It is not just the political leaders you should pray for, but your spiritual leaders as well; their actions and inactions can greatly affect the Church as a whole. If the Church leaders are spiritually blind, there will be trouble in the land. You need to also pray for the leaders in the country, principals and teachers in your children’s school, as their decisions can greatly affect your children. Pray for leaders of industries as their decisions concerning quality and prices have a great effect on millions of lives. Pray for those at the forefront of technological innovations in our generation, who wield great influence on what our children will consume. Imagine if the leaders in the technological industries were all born again, imagine the great impact that would make on the next generation. This is why I always encourage my children to go ahead and lead. Whatever sphere of life you are in, be the best and lead the rest. The more Christian leaders we have in the society, the more the kingdom of God forges ahead.

ACTION POINT:

Spend time praying for the leaders in different spheres of life in your nation and the world at large.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 6.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 18: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY25TH APRIL 2020–OURS IS A BEQUATHED.

MEMORISE:

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Timothy 2:2

READ: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

MESSAGE

The battle of life has proven to be difficult to every generation for various reasons. The enemies are often difficult to identify and sometimes come in the form of human opposition, criticism and antagonism. At other times they come as physical challenges and obstacles. At times they present themselves as natural happenings that would fade away with time, so we do nothing until they become serious problems. However, we must note that there is a spiritual dimension to every battle of life. According to Ephesians 6:12:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Though the credentials of our enemy may be intimidating, still, a Christian enters the battle of life from a position of victory. This is the high standpoint of the Christian faith and the only ground on which we should meet the devil and his agents.

To bequeath is to hand down or transfer to a beneficiary. Our victory has already been handed down to us! Glory! Revelation 12:11 says “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…..”

Our weapons of warfare are clearly greater than those of our wicked foes. The Blood of Jesus has secured our victory and our sword of the spirit is the word of God. We do not confront and overcome the devil and his agents by our ability but by the blood of Jesus. This makes it absolutely necessary that we live as victors in this world while we return all glory to God for our victory.

The battle is not ours but the Lord’s Jesus is the seed of the woman, our Captain and the Lord of hosts. We are more than conquerors through Him that loved and shed His precious Blood for us. Let us praise and worship the Almighty God who has granted us victory through the Blood of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, help me maximize Your victory over the devil in my life, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 73, 77-78.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: BLESSED ASSURANCE, JESUS IS MINE.

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

o Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY 23RD APRIL 2020–JOY LIKE A RIVER.

MEMORISE:

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverb 15:13

READ: Psalm 51:10-13

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

MESSAGE

Joy is a powerful fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is the privilege of every Christian to walk in the light, to have all round peace, and experience joy that flows like a river. There is a difference between happiness and joy; happiness is usually triggered by happenings around a person. A negative turn in circumstances could spoil or ruin happiness. However, joy flows right on through times of trouble, unhindered through dark and difficult periods of life and even in times of persecution or opposition. Nothing hinders the flow of joy because it is not dependent on any earthly condition, but on a spiritual conviction. Joy is an exclusive privilege of the children of God; He gives Hie people perpetual joy as a reward of obedience to His word. Jeremiah 15:16 says:
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

Joy is divine and is rooted in the word of God. Christians should search for joy through the word and not in the World. This joy propels people to preach to sinners, help the poor, visit the widow and the fatherless, and spread the good news of the kingdom. Therefore, the kind of joy that is not beneficial to others and does nothing to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ is not worth it, and cannot be from God.

There are however, diverse kinds of Joy: there is joy of one’s own salvation, the joy of the salvation of other, and the joy of seeing young converts walking in the truth. The joy that comes from salvation of others surpasses the joy of our own salvation. The blessed privilege of being used of God to win souls to Christ, and to see people being delivered from sin, sickness, poverty, and bondage, is the highest honor anyone can receive. I pray that the joy of the Lord will overflow in you and become a source of joy to the whole world, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please let joy like a river flow through me to the world, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 43-45, 49, 84-85 & 87.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE.

1. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made Him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.
o Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice;
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice.

2. Be joyful, for He is the Lord
On earth and in Heaven supreme;
He fashions and rules by His word—
The “Mighty” and “Strong” to redeem.

3. What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail?
God’s armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.

4. Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o’ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.

5. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
Let gratefulness give all a voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong!

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY 22ND APRIL 2020-IF YOU WOULD BE RICH, PRAY!

MEMORISE:
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:2

READ: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

MESSAGE
Wealth is generally interpreted as an abundance of valuable possessions or money. The Bible speaks of wealthy families, nations and also wealthy individuals like Abraham, Job, David Solomon, and the Queen of Sheba. Worthy of note is the fact that positive references to wealth are few in the Bible. Many statements of Jesus could be viewed as harsh criticisms of wealth. In Mark 10:23-25, He said it is extremely difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. In Mark 4:19, the quest for wealth chokes God’s word. Matthew 6:24 says one cannot serve God and Mammon, 1 Timothy 6:9-10 declares that “the love of money” is the root of all kinds of evil. To wrap it up Luke 6:24 concluded by saying “Woe to you who are rich”. Revelations 3:17 says: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…..”

However, there is a good side to wealth. Since the beginning of the world, God has created an abundance of good things for human beings to enjoy. Christians however need to have a good understanding of the true nature of earthly riches, and acknowledge God as the source of all blessings. Deuteronomy 8:18 says:
“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,”

Hence, having riches is not the problem, but having a wrong attitude towards it. Riches should be thankfully received, and Christians must value heavenly riches above earthly wealth. Earthly riches are to be used in the service of the Creator and the true owner of all things. God has the power to make anyone wealthy, therefore His children do not have to live in penury, I have however discovered that the poverty of many Christians is not out of laziness or lack of ambition, but due to prayerless lifestyle. If you would be rich, then you must be ready to continuously knock on the doors of heaven with prayer, until your breakthrough comes.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to wrestle in prayers until my breakthrough comes, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 1-2

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY 21ST APRIL 2020–DESIGNED FOR GREATNESS.

MEMORISE:
7 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; Genesis 22:17

READ: Genesis 26:11-14

11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

MESSAGE

The fact that God designed humanity for greatness is clearly stated in the Bible. Many however, still doubt this reality despite the record in Genesis 1:26-30 where God decided to create mankind in His own image and likeness. He commanded them to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, subdue it and also to have dominion over all creation. God did not only bestow greatness on humanity in Genesis 1:26-28, He also ensured all creation was subject to man.

Though the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-19) married this divine plan, the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has restored the lost glory to humanity (John 17:22). For this reason, the Bible emphasizes that God’s design for greatness remains intact in every born-again child of God according to 1 Peter 2:9 that says:
“ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”

This is profound. Every child of God living holy and committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christian is bound to experience greatness. Therefore, searching for greatness through dubious, sinful, immoral, or criminal methods, is merely a demonstration of foolishness. Seeking greatness anywhere apart from God is an exercise in futility. The power of God to make you great rest squarely on His personality as the Almighty and unlimited God. If you desire to be great, do not waste your money, time and energy in pursuit of greatness outside God; it will end in disappointment and failure (Matthew 16:27). Surrender your life and ambition for greatness to Jesus today then He will save your soul and make you great indeed- far beyond your wildest imaginations. Praise God!

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please let your great plans for my life become a reality very soon, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 6, 8-10,14,16,19 & 21.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 15: I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

1. I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
o Refrain:
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

2. If I forget Him and wander away,
Still He doth love me wherever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me.

3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song through eternity be,
“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”

4. Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him;
Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem;
Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree;
Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!

5. If one should ask of me, how can I tell?
Glory to Jesus, I know very well!
God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,
Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

6. In this assurance I find sweetest rest,
Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee,
When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY 20TH APRIL 2020–READY FOR SERVICE?

MEMORISE:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

READ: John 15:16

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

MESSAGE

All Christians are saved and given the mandate to go into the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and bring others into the Kingdom of God. Every Christian has also been equipped with all that is necessary to carry out the assignment. The Bible makes it clear that God does not give an assignment to His children without providing the necessary tools to execute the task. Before God sent the disciples out as witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and uttermost parts of the earth, they were first filled with the power of the Holy Spirit is the One who equips the saints for tasks in the vineyard of God. The importance of the Holy Spirit is emphasized in Luke 24:49:
“…..behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” The Holy Spirit is so crucial for service that the disciples were told to remain in Jerusalem until His power came upon them.

When God calls anyone into a spiritual office, it is because He has a role for such a person to play in His redemption plan for mankind. Isaiah 61:1 says:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”

The Holy Spirit gives hope to the hopeless, healing to the sick and life to the spiritually dead persons. Acts 10:38 reveals that it is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that enabled Jesus to do all that He did. Hence, if we are to do the same and even greater works (John 14:12), then we must also be filled with the Holy Spirit. Are you ready for service?

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please anoint and equip me for greater works, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.

1. All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
o Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

2. All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

3. All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

4. All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

5. All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 19TH APRIL 2020-GROW IN GRACE

MEMORISE:
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

READ: 1 Peter 2:9-12

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

MESSAGE

The word grace connotes God’s benevolence to the underserving. Grace empower Christians to do both the ordinary and extraordinary (2 Corinthians 9:8).

However, if you do not grow in grace after being born again, making heaven may become increasingly difficult. This is why peter advise Christians to grow in grace as seen in today’s memory verse.

When anyone stays at the level of salvation and fails to grow, there is a great possibility of backsliding. For this reason, Paul rebuked the church in Corinth. Despite being saved, they didn’t aspire to holy living (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

What are the effects of growing in grace?

According to today’s memory verse, steadily growing in grace helps us avoid lust and worldliness. When a Christian allows such into his/her life, there will be a gradual spiritual decline which is very dangerous. To avoid this decline, we must follow Peter’s counsel- desire the sincere milk of the word ( 1 Peter 2:2). We must also strive to keep our salvation, working it out with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)- not in riotous or careless living, but in sobriety and modesty. When we grow in grace, it will not be difficult to live in obedience to God’s word.

“…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6

The benefit of godly living is further stressed in Zechariah 4:7 “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” A life of grace will do wonders.

Today, I adapt an Apostolic prayer for you: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (1 Corinthians 16:23), now and forever more. Amen.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, give me a hunger for Your word. Cause me to grow in the grace of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 121, 123,-125, 128-130.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY 18TH APRIL 2020: DIVINE HELP.

MEMORISE:
And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? Out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? 2Kings 6:27

READ: Psalm 121:1-3

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

MESSAGE
I once told my children that, based on human experience, life is generally believed to be hard and full of sorrows. A combination of factors may be responsible for this. First among these is found in 1 Peter 5:8: “…your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Furthermore, Genesis 3:17 says “…cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it..”

The implication of these passage on unsaved people is so great that Job 14:1 had to say “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” For the above reasons, every human being needs divine help and support. In the name that is above all others, you will receive divine help to carry on in life. Isaiah 41:10 says:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Yes, our God is ever ready to help in times of trouble, but many Christians seem to take this for granted until things begin to get out of hand. Whenever you are struggling with sin or addicted to a bad habit, when you find yourself moving in cycles of poverty and sickness or delayed fulfilment of prophesies; it is time to seek divine help. Remember that only God’s help gives permanent solutions to human problems. Therefore, in line with Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” you must first obtain mercy. Genuinely give your life to Christ, meditate on God’s word at all times (Joshua 1:8-9) and depend completely on the Holy Spirit to access divine help. This is the secret of my success in life and ministry as the General Overseer of the RCCG. I cannot *thank* God enough for the tremendous help I always enjoy from Him. I pray the Lord will send divine help to you today in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please let Your divine help be available to me always, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 28-31.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.

1. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

o Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow—
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

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