OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: THURSDAY, AUGUST 3RD 2017- COME YE APART I

Memorise: On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Leviticus 23:35
Read: Mark 6:30-32
30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 14-15, Ezekiel 20:1-13

1. “Come ye apart” is a call for a holy convocation or a coming together of the saints in a solemn assembly.
2. In the Bible, such a meeting was often called to enable the people of God separate themselves unto God. Such special days were devoted to spiritual activities such as praise, worship, celebration, Scripture reading, fasting, prayers and offering of sacrifices.
3. In today’s Bible reading, the Lord Jesus Christ called for a holy convocation or solemn assembly with His disciples. The disciples had just returned from their very first missionary tour. Although they had many victories and testimonies of healing and casting out of demons, they were also very tired, confused (from seeing strangers casting out demons in the Name of Jesus), and full of several questions they wanted to ask the Master. On getting back to Jesus, they immediately bombarded Him with their reports, but Jesus would not engage them in the presence of the multitude. Instead, He called them apart for a solemn assembly. He said to them, “Come ye apart and rest a while”. Within the atmosphere of peace and quiet, the disciples were able to tell Jesus all about their labour, victories, challenges and ask their questions unhindered. The Lord Jesus in turn was able to properly instruct them, answer all their questions, clear their doubts, and minister to them appropriately.
4. However, it should be noted that the call for a solemn assembly was intentionally made to exclude the multitude. It was strictly designed for the hardworking disciples, who were exhausted, to come away and rest for some time.
5. A solemn assembly is therefore a time to recharge our spiritual battery, a time of deep reflection and a time to meditate on the word of God.
6. It is meant to be a time of total rest from daily physical work in order to be in the presence of the Lord. It is a time of separation unto God for spiritual worship, fasting and prayers, with high expectations of divine visitation. It is a time of very serious business with God that leaves no room for pettiness, gossip, indiscipline or any form of carnality.
7. That is why the solemn assembly in the Redeemed Christian Church of God is strictly meant for mature ministers and workers of the Church.
8. “Come ye apart” is an open invitation by God to His favoured children as a means of setting them apart for divine blessings.
9. It could be a call to an individual, as was the case with Moses in Exodus 34:2-3, or a call to a group of people, as was the case with Jacob and his family in Genesis 35:1-7.
10. May you receive your own special invitation today in Jesus’ Name.

Growth in this Christian race cannot be attained if there is no such time separated to wait on the Lord for divine encounter and empowerment. The Bible says “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ Many of us have failed to understand the deep interpretation of this bible verse. Waiting on the Lord for strength require a serious retreat, digging deep to the word of God for deeper revelation. May the Lord help us. God bless and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, as I separate myself to You in consecration, please set me apart for Your special blessings in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

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