Monthly Archives: December 2022

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2022 SATURDAY DECEMBER 31ST 2022 PRAYERS FOR YEAR 2023

MEMORISE:

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” – (Revelations 21:5)

READ: Isaiah 43:18-21 (KJV)

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

PRAYERS:

1. Thank You so much Lord for preserving me this far in year 2022. I am grateful for all the times You healed me, provided for me, and protected me this year.

2. Father, please don’t let anything stop me from seeing year 2023. Let me see the new year in joy, in Jesus’ name.

3. Father, please disappoint every enemy that has determined that I will not reach my goal in 2023, in Jesus’ name.

4. Father, please don’t let any bad habit cross into year 2023 with me, in Jesus’ name. Whatever would hinder me from moving forward in 2023, I will leave behind in this year, in Jesus’ name.

5. Father, year 2023 will be far better than 2022 for me in Jesus’ name. I will experience numerous breakthroughs in the new year, in Jesus’ name.

6. Father, please go ahead of me to make every crooked path in 2023 straight and help me escape every trap of the enemy in the new year, in Jesus’ name.

7. Father, I ask for greater grace to live holy and serve You better in year 2023 than I did this year in Jesus’ name.

8. In 2023 Lord, please bless the works of my hands and let me flourish in Jesus’ name. Let all that I lay my hands on prosper in the new year, in Jesus’ name.

9. Father, every good thing You started in my life in 2022, perfect it in 2023 in Jesus’ name. Don’t let me have any unfinished projects in my life, in Jesus’ name.

10. I speak blessings, greatness, prosperity, promotion and celebration into 2023 for myself (mention your full name) in Jesus’ name. (Mention your full name) – you will prosper in 2023. You will be first amongst your peers in 2023. 2023 is your year of great exploits, in Jesus’ name.

11. Father, all the prayers I will pray in 2023, please answer them speedily in Jesus’ name. Please hear me every time I call on You in the new year, in Jesus’ name.

12. Your personal prayer requests for the year 2023.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelation 19-22

HYMNAL: 22 – SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER! SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER!

1 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father’s throne
make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
the joys I feel, the bliss I share
of those whose anxious spirits burn
with strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
where God my Savior shows his face,
and gladly take my station there,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
thy wings shall my petition bear
to him whose truth and faithfulness
engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
believe his word, and trust his grace,
I’ll cast on him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY DECEMBER 30TH 2022 NEVER PROVOKE GOD

MEMORISE: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31

READ: 2 Chronicles 36:15 -16

15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

MESSAGE

The greatest mistake anyone can ever make in life is to provoke the Almighty God. I John 4:8 tells us that God is love. He is not just a loving God, He is love personified, but Hebrews 12:29 also says He is a consuming fire. Every coin has two sides. On one side of God, you have love – love so great that He gave His only begotten son for our sake. On the other side, however, He is a consuming fire. Thus when you hear of people who talk about God as love only, about grace 100% of the time and nothing more, stay away from them. God is kind, merciful, and loving, but don’t mess with Him because He is a consuming fire. If He loves you specially and you fool around with Him, He will deal with you. The word of God made it clear in Hebrews 12:6:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

You would think the Bible would say that whosoever the Father loves, He kisses, but that is not what it says. If you know that what you are doing is wrong and have been corrected severally yet you refuse to yield, then you are very likely provoking Him to anger already. You had better stop doing that thing you know He does not like. Proverbs 29:1 says:

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Nobody can tell me that because God loves you, you can go ahead and do whatever you like. If you can do whatever you like, it is likely that He has forsaken you, because the Bible made it clear in Hebrews 12:8:

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

For those who say, “Pastor Adeboye is legalistic, he is always talking law”, l didn’t write the Bible. It is stated there clearly in both Old and New Testaments that if you are doing wrong and God is not punishing you for it, then you are a bastard, and bastards will not be admitted into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21-23).

ACTION POINT

Do everything possible to ensure that you never ever provoke God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelations 15-18

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 19: O WORSHIP THE KING ALL GLORIOUS ABOVE

1 O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

2 O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

3 Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

4 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

5 O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,
whom angels delight to worship above!
Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,
in true adoration shall sing to your praise!

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY DECEMBER 29TH 2022 SACRIFICIAL GIVING

MEMORISE: And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 2 Samuel 24:24

READ: Luke 21:1 -4

1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

MESSAGE

In our Bible text for today, we read about a widow who gave her all and the Lord Jesus was very impressed with her. He said she gave more that others even though what she gave was not as much as theirs.

Many people, when they want to be miserly, will take that story and say, “This is my widow’s mite”. They are deceiving themselves because l will tell them, firstly you are not a widow. Secondly, you are not giving your all. It is when you have given your all that you can use that example.

When you bring something to God that costs you nothing, it holds little value in His sight. In fact, sometimes, He sees people’s offerings and feels insulted. He knows how much He gave to them, yet when they bring an offering, they bring it to Him as though He were a beggar. No wonder God ignores the offerings of many. David’s statement in 2 Samuel 24:24 where he said he would never give to God what cost him nothing should be one of our watchwords whenever we want to give to God.

Psalm 126:5-6 says:

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

When taking your seed to God, check it: can it be described as a ‘precious seed’? It is those who go with what amounts to a ‘precious seed’ who will doubtless come again rejoicing. Proverbs 11:25 says it is the liberal soul that will be made fat, not the miserly one. It is with what measure you sow that your harvest will come. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says:

But this l say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Don’t give unto God what will cost you nothing. You can decide the volume of your harvest by the size of what you sow.

KEY POINT

When you bring something to God that costs you nothing, it holds little value in His sight.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelations 10-14

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 25: TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE

1 To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life our redemption to win,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Chorus:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.

2 Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

3 Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.q

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28TH 2022 DIVINE LOVE IV

MEMORISE: And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. 2 Samuel 12:24

READ: 2 Chronicles 1:6 -15

6 And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

9 Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.

MESSAGE

The divine love of God makes Him set person up for uncommon miracles. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings in one day; this moved God to ask him for what he wanted and he said, “Give me wisdom”. God responded to his request by saying,”l will give you wisdom and add every other thing you didn’t ask for”. I spent some time studying Solomon because of his wisdom and prosperity. I had to ask myself “This was a young man who knew he was not wise, because that must have been why he asked for wisdom; how come he thought of giving God a thousand burnt offerings?” I then got a revelation from the Lord – it was divine set-up. It is God who inspired Solomon to do something nobody had ever done before so that He, in turn, could do for him what He had never done for anyone before.

In 2 Samuel 12:24-25, the Bible says that when Solomon was born, God Himself called him Jedidiah, meaning Beloved of the Lord. When God loves you, from time to time, He will set you up for an uncommon miracle. He will inspire you to do something that will sound stupid to everybody else so that He can give you what nobody else can get.

One day, when my Father-in-the-Lord was still alive, he told all the Church workers that there was an urgent need in the Church that had to be met early that week, so he asked us all to go and close our accounts, then bring all the money to the Church. My wife and l went to the bank the next day, closed our accounts, then brought the money to Church. The next Sunday, my Father-in-the-Lord announced to all workers that the need had been met, then asked “Wait a minute; how many of you closed your accounts?” Only my wife and l raised our hands. When l realised that we were the only ones who closed our accounts, l started to think, “l hope l have not added madness to my own Christianity?” Just then l heard the Lord speak to me, Son, you are not mad, l have made you do something that nobody else will do, so that when l take you to where l am taking you to, nobody can complain”.

Is the Lord inspiring you to do something seemingly crazy for Him? Do it so that you don’t miss the opportunity to get an uncommon miracle.

PRAYER POINT

Father, when You set me up for an uncommon miracle, please Lord, don’t let me fail You.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelations 5-9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2022 TUESDAY DECEMBER 27TH2022 DIVINE LOVE III

 

MEMORISE:
“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” – (Isaiah 63:9)

READ: Isaiah 63:7-9 (KJV)

7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

MESSAGE:
The very first time I read our memory verse for today (Isaiah 63:9), I couldn’t believe my eyes. The first sentence really surprised me.

In all their affliction he was afflicted…

Whenever those that God loves are afflicted, He is afflicted too. No wonder in Matthew 25:37-40, Jesus referred to Himself as the one in prison, the one who was hungry and so on, while the people He was talking to saw other humans in those situations. Anytime God’s beloved is in pain, He is in pain too. Galatians 6:10 says:
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

It makes sense that when we, His beloved, are in pain, He is in pain too. When you see someone you love in pain, you wish that the pain could be transferred to you. Each time someone you love is suffering, you are suffering too. This explains (1 Peter 2:24) to us:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

What He is saying there is, ‘Let your sickness fall on me’. He was saying ‘I would rather die than see you die’. This gives me the assurance that aches and pains cannot stay in my body. You can say confidently to any pain in your body, “Jesus and I cannot suffer for the same thing. He has already suffered my pain, so I cannot be in pain again.” If death tries to threaten you, tell him, “Jesus died so that I can live”. It is because of Jesus’ love for me that I know I can never be poor. (2 Corinthians 8:9) says:
For Ye know the grace of our Lord Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Surrender Your life to Jesus Christ and forsake all your sins if you also want to experience this special divine love.

ACTION POINT:
Consider whatever challenge you are facing now and tell it, “You cannot afflict Jesus and afflict me. Jesus has paid the price for me, so get out of my life in the name of Jesus Christ”.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jude 1 – Revelation 4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: 24 – THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR

1 Through the love of God our Saviour,
all will be well.
Free and changeless is his favour,
all, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
perfect is the grace that sealed us,
strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
all must be well.

2 Though we pass through tribulation,
all will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
all, all is well.
Happy, still in God confiding,
fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,
all must be well.

3 We expect a bright tomorrow,
all will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
‘All, all is well.’
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
in our living, in our dying,
all must be well.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY DECEMBER 25TH 2022 DIVINE LOVE l

MEMORISE: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10

READ: John 15:13 -14

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

MESSAGE

Divine love is the love that is of God. This is a love that gives all. John 3:16 says God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. This is a loveth at does not hold back at all. Romans 8:32 says:

He that spares not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

The day Jesus Christ was crucified, He was stripped naked – He surrendered all! Divine love is powerful because it is unchangeable. 1 John 4:8 says God is love. Thus the love of God cannot change because God Himself cannot change (Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6). This means when God falls in love with you, it is until the end. The latter part of John 13:1 says:

…having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

If you have never been disappointing by a friend yet, get ready, it may occur anytime. By the time you are as old as l am, you may have been disappointed by many friends. God, however, never disappoints. He is the One who says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” and believe me honestly, He means it.

God has too levels of people He loves. There is the general love He has for everybody. That is the love spoken of in John 3:16. It is because of this love that Jesus came to die for everybody. It is because of this love that we all enjoy rain, the sun and the likes (Matthew 5: 45).

However, 1 John 4:19 says, “we love Him, because He first loved us”. This set of people’s hi reciprocate His general love get to enjoy His greater love. These are the ones about whom He says “l love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me (Proverbs 8:17).

I enjoy this great divine love, you have to love me, keep my commandments”. If you want to enjoy this unfailing love, holiness is a must.

KEY POINT

Live holy and God will love you specially

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Peter 3- 1 John 3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 30: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

1 Wonderful story of love!

Tell it to me again;

Wonderful story of love!

Wake the immortal strain.

Angels with rapture announce it,

Shepherds with wonder receive it;

Sinner, O won’t you believe it?

Wonderful story of love!

Refrain:

Wonderful! Wonderful!

Wonderful story, Wonderful story of love!

2 Wonderful story of love!

Though you are far away;

Wonderful story of love!

Still he doth call today.

Calling from Calvary’s mountain,

Down from the crystal bright fountain,

E’en from the dawn of creation;

Wonderful story of love!

3 Wonderful story of love!

Jesus provides a rest;

Wonderful story of love!

For all the pure and blest;

Rest in those mansions above us,

With those who’ve gone on before us,

Singing the rapturous chorus;

Wonderful story of love!

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY DECEMBER 23RD 2022 DON’T CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE ll

 

MEMORISE: And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. John 17:19

READ: 1 Peter 5:1 -4

1’The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

MESSAGE

Those who serve in the house of God have a serious responsibility to the people they minister to. As God’s representative to the flock, you are supposed to care for them and live an exemplary life that removes all stumbling blocks from their way. God values each soul in the congregation. In Acts 20:28, the Bible says:

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

God did not buy the Church back with the blood of goats or the sacrifice of an angel. It cost God His Son to save the world. If we understood this as ministers, we would see the importance of living a life that does not insult the gospel of Christ. Beloved minister, be very careful about becoming a rock of offence to God’s people. Luke 17:1-2 says:

Then said he unto the disciples, it is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

These are the words of Jesus Himself. If you are a minister of God, check your life to be sure you are not leading the flock astray. If you do not place much importance on the word of God, the people who follow you will find it easy to disregard God’s word. If you never preach about the eternal damnation that will come to a soul who continues in sin because you don’t want the flock to be uncomfortable, you are building people who,would be indifferent about where they would spend their eternity, and their blood would be on your head. James 3:1 says:

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Ministers of God will receive a stricter judgment. What example are you setting for your flock? I pray that, when the Master return, you will not be ashamed.

PRAYER POINT
Heavenly Father, help me not to fail in my assignment over Your people, in Jesus name. Amen.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: James 4-1 Peter 2

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE

1. Nearer, My God to Thee 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,(2ce) 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,(2ce) Nearer to Thee

3. There let the way appear Steps unto heaven; All that Thou send’st to me In mercy given; Angels to beckon me Nearer, my God, to Thee,(2ce) Nearer to Thee

4. Then with my waking thoughts Bright with thy praise, Out of my stony grief Bethel I’ll raise; So by my woes to be Nearer, my God to thee,(2ce) Nearer to Thee!

5. Or if on joyful wing Cleaving thy sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upwards I fly Still all my songs shall be, Nearer my God to thee,(2ce) Nearer to Thee!

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21ST 2022 GOD’S STANDARD

MEMORISE: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19

READ: Titus 2:11 -13

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

MESSAGE

Knowing God is not the same as going to Church. The he evidence that you know God is that you love Him and others. Some people prize spiritual gifts above love, but God is only interested in the person who loves Him, as seen in l Corinthians 8:3:
But if my man love God, the same is known of him.

You prove your love for God by obeying His commandments.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

It is easy to profess to be a Christian, but are you really living a Christ-like life?

Many years ago, you could tell a person is genuinely born again by how vibrant he or she is for the Lord. In today’s world, there are many fellows who claim to be Christians but are not. God’s standard has not changed.

2 Timothy 2:19 says:
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Only those who meet God’s standard are qualified to be called Christians. Any fellow whose actions contradict that of Jesus Christ is not a Christian at all. A man who loves God will not sin secretly. Even if he falls into sin, he would try to get out of it. When you fall into sin, do you say, “Well, everybody is doing it” and then continue to go against God’s command, or do you try to get out of it?

WhenJesus comes back to take His own, He will call for His sheep to meet with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). He said that His sheep know His voice (John 10:27). Thus, on that day, if you do not meet up with the standard of God for His sheep, you will not even hear Him call at all, hence, you would be left behind. You have the opportunity to drop every sin and meet up with His standard of complete obedience now. Beloved, give up those sins and commit to living holy now, before it becomes too late.

REFLECTION

Ask yourself: “Is my lifestyle meeting up with the standard of God for His children.” If your answer is “No”, repent today and commit to living holy henceforth.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hebrews 10-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY DECEMBER 20TH 2022 ARE YOU STILL A BABY CHRISTIAN?

 

MEMORISE: Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; Galatians 4:1

READ: 2 Timothy 2:1 -4

1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

MESSAGE

We see from our memory verse today that an heir is likened to a servant if that heir is still a child. In the same vein, the devil will toss around a child of God if he or she is not mature. This alone tells you that spiritual maturity is a must for every child of God. There are people who,have been born again for 10 years yet God has not healed even a headache through them. How are they to get developed? 1 Peter 2:2 says:

As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

The more of God’s word you consume, the more mature you become spiritually. As you keep studying your Bible from day to day, you will be steered by the Spirit in the word of God to do all the other things needed for your spiritual growth. If you spend quality time studying your Bible, you will hate sin; you will fast and pray regularly, love your neighbour as yourself, and many other qualities of mature Christians will be built in you.

Don’t waste the time you should spend building your relationship with God on frivolities. Don’t eat when you should be fasting. Don’t sleep when you should be praying. Don’t spend time on entertainment, when you should be studying your Bible. A woman who does not take responsibility to grow her relationship with God, but wants to marry a God-fearing man, is just wasting her time. A good father will not allow his committed son to marry a wayward lady. Also, if the devil meets you as a baby Christian, that is trouble.

A woman had a dream where a mad man came to her doorstep and started knocking furiously. She opened the door and chased the mad man away, but he stayed there and kept saying, “Leave me alone. Leave me alone. It is your husband l have come to see”. In the dream, the husband came to the door, saw the mad man and allowed him to come into the house. This woman’s husband fell sick and died a few months later. Had the husband been spiritually mature enough, he would have chased that mad man away in the spirit realm. My beloved, don’t leave your spiritual life unattended to; there are terrible consequences for remaining spiritually immature.

KEY POINT

The more spiritual exercises you do, the faster you grow spiritually and the more power you have over the devil.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hebrews 6-9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: 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,
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,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer 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,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer 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,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

5. Or if, on joyful wing
Cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL MONDAY DECEMBER 19TH 2022 BOUNTIFUL SOWING – BOUNTIFUL HAIRVEST

MEMORISE: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

READ: Proverbs 11:24 -25

24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

MESSAGE

ECCLESIASTES 3:2 says: …a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

When a fellow fails to plant when he should, he will not harvest at the normal time. Furthermore, Proverbs 20:4 says:

The sluggardly will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

If you don’t plant when you ought to, you would have nothing to harvest. If you want a bountiful harvest, you must be willing to sow bountifully. 2 Corinthians 5:6 says:

But this l say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

A long time ago, when The Redeemed Christian Church of God was still quite small, I used my salary to pay most of the staff and had nothing left. At some point, I had to go into early retirement in order to carry out my duties as General Overseer more effectively and I had a lot of expectations concerning my gratuity. In the middle of all my plans, I remembered that I had not asked God for what to do with the gratuity, so I did. God told me to divide the money into three parts: each part was to go to a different ministry. None of these ministries was the one I was leading!

This broke my heart, but God assured me that He would be my source. It has been over forty years now and up to today, He has never failed me and l know He never will.

Bountiful harvests will cost you big seeds. If the Lord is asking you to give bountifully, He is planning to reward you bountifully. You will not lose your opportunity, in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please reveal to me what seed I need to to sow and where, in order to receive a bountiful harvest.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hebrews 1-5

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: DEEPER DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus�Daily let me go;�Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,�More of grace to know.

CHORUS�O deeper yet I pray,�And higher evry day,�And wiser, blessed, Lord,�In Thy precious, holy Word.

2. Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,�Take me deeper still,�Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,�And His perfect will.

3. Deeper, deeper! tho it cost hard trials,�Deeper let me go!�Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,�Let me fruitful grow.

4. Deeper, higher, evry day in Jesus,�Till all conflict past,�Finds me conquror, and in His own image�Perfected at last.

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