OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...

DATE : SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016

THEME : FULFILLING GODS PURPOSE? 4

Memorise:

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Read : Genesis 18:17-19

17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORDmay bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Message

The Bible declared the father as the head of home- head of the mother and the children. As such, fathers have complete authority within the household to direct the affairs of the family, and to administer discipline when necessary. However, Apostle Paul admonishes that fathers should handle authority over their children with care; they are to be careful not to provoke their children to wrath. Some fathers are guilty of using their authority unreasonably in ways that cause their children to harbour resentment. However, fathers have the responsibility to bring their children up in the way of the Lord. In many cultures today, parents have submitted and completely relinquished their God given responsibility to raise godly children to school teachers, Sunday School teachers, pastors, or governmental institutions. Every Children parent should know that God will hold them responsible for the success or failure of their wards. Children are God's heritage, we have an awesome responsibility and authority over them, we are responsible for them before God, and we will surely render our account to God over them.

Are there any particular reason (s) why parents, particularly fathers, are called by God to play such a crucial, God ordained role in the upbringing or discipleship of their children ? Ephesians 6:1-4 gives us a clue:

"CHILDREN, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord".

God knows that from childhood, little children gradually lean to love and trust their parents because of the relationship they have. Children normally grow up to receive love and care from their parents in form of feeding, clothing, washing, and protection from cold and other harmful circumstances. Therefore children naturally gravitate towards their parents. For the same reasons, children are more likely to learn the ways and manners of their parents by default. Most children would choose to learn from their parents because parents are the first heroes of children. God in His wisdom is fully aware of these factors; He therefore designed the family to take advantage of the opportunity provided by nature.

The Bible provides a very good balance here; children are to obey their parents, while parents are to treat their children with respect so that they will obey without coercion. God expects children to obey their parents for Christ's sake, even if their parents are not believers. Also, children should not commit any sinful act just because their parents command them to. When faced with choice between the two, children must obey God rather than man.

Prayer Point :

Father, please make me a successful parents; don't let me fail You over my children.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 14:43-16:8 and Job 21:1-16

AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

DAY 34: Saturday 13th February, 2016
DIVINE DIRECTION AND STRATEGY

TEXT: Isaiah 48:17, John 10:4-5, Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 37:23
Prayer Points
1. Father, I Declare That My Ears will hear the voice of God clearly.

2. Father, I download heavenly strategies to establish dominion in my life.

3. Lord, order every step of RCCG members.

4. Father, I move from glory to glory to fulfil God’s purpose for my life.

PAUSE GOD WANT US TO REASON TOGETHER 1-2-1 NOW!

5. Tell God that you trust Him with all your heart, and that you don’t want to rely on your own understanding. Commit to acknowledging Him in all your ways, and let Him know you’re trusting Him to make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

6. Claim God’s Promise to Instruct you, to Teach you in The way you should go, and to Counsel you with His Eye upon you. (Psalm 32:

7. Affirm to God that all your ways are pure in your own eyes, and that you have trouble seeing your own errors. Ask Him to “weigh your spirit” and examine your motives. (Proverbs 16:2)

8. Echo Jesus’ words: “I seek not My own will but The Will of Him Who sent me.” Let God know that you just want what He wants, and ask Him to reveal that to you in His Timing. (John 5:30)

9. Repeat these words of the psalmist: “Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.”(Psalm 143:

10. Let God know that you’re asking for guidance, seeking His Will, and knocking on The Door of Heaven. Claim His Promise to give to those who ask, reveal to those who seek, and open to those who knock. (Matthew 7:7-

11 Ask God for a humble spirit, and remind Him of His Promise to lead the humble in what is right, and to teach the humble His Way. (Proverbs 25:9)

12. Pray these words from Psalms: “Make me know Your Ways, O LORD; Teach me Your Paths. Lead me in Your Truth and teach me, For You are The God of my Salvation; For You I wait all the day.” (Psalm 25:4-5)

13. Praise God for being your Rock and your Fortress. Profess His promise to lead you and guide you for His Name’s sake. (Psalm 31:3)

14. Ask God to teach you His way, and commit to walking in His Truth. Beg Him to give you an undivided heart to fear His Name. (Psalm 86:11)

B. Add Your Personal Prayer Request For Day Thirty-Four! Make Your Personal Requests Known With Thanksgiving! Philippians 4:6
EMMANUEL=GOD WITH US!.

Prayer Points On Today's Open Heavens (Saturday February 13th 2016)
FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE 4

1.Thank you Father for the great value you place upon my life and soul.

2.Thank you Father for all your unfailing promises over my life.

3.Father, in anyway I have failed or disappointed you over my children, please, have mercy and forgive me.

4.Father, please, make me a faithful, trust-worthy, reliable and dependable servant, like Abraham.

5.Father, please, give me the grace to nurture and bring my children up in your way.

6.Father, when I shall stand before you to give account over my children, please, don't let me be found wanting.

7.Father, make me a perfect and positive example to my children, morally and spiritually.

8.Father, grant me the grace to honour my parents, that I may live long on the surface of the earth.

9.Father, please make me a successful parent; don’t let me fail You over my children.

10.Father, uphold my children by your right hand of righteousness, do not allow them to be negatively influenced by peer pressure, to commit any evil or sin.

11.Father, fill my children to the brim with your Holy Spirit and with your fear.

12. I decree that no weapon fashioned against my children, shall prosper.

13.Your Personal petitions. (Phil 4:6)
14. In Jesus' name I pray. (Jn 15:16)
15.Thank you Father for answered prayers.(1 Thes 5:18).