OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 13 MAY 2016

THEME: LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Memorise:

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Mathew 5:14

Read: Mathew 5:14-16

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Message

Jesus introduced Himself to humanity in John 8:12 as the light of the world. Just as the sun is the physical light of the world, so also is Jesus the spiritual light of the world. As the light of the world, Jesus exposes sin and gives sight. Our memory verse for today shows that Jesus is the primary light, and we are the secondary light. As the light of the sun is to the moon, so Jesus is the source of light, and we are the reflectors of the light. Jesus said in John 9:5:

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Now that He is no longer here, we are His reflected light in the world. I have often told my children that light is a very powerful force. When there is light, darkness has no chance than to disappear. John 1:5 says:

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not".

The truth is, not all light can outshine darkness. For instance, Genesis 1 talks of categories of lights.

"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also." Genesis 1:16

There are lights of the sun, moon and stars. Then there are man-made lights of varying sizes. If you flick on the tiny bulb of a flash-light in the midst of total darkness, you will only see the spot that the torch is pointing at. Everywhere else will still be surrounded by darkness. The size of a light determines the area it will dominate or rule over. The sun rules over the day because it is far brighter than the moon. If the moon were to replace the sun during the day, there would be darkness during a period that should be day time. Similarly, if you bring the sun to replace the moon during night time, the night will turn into day. This tells us that what determines the result of a situation is the amount of light it is exposed to. This means exposing varying degrees of light on the same situation will give you different results. The volume of light of God's Word that you are exposed to will determine the degree of change you can experience. Mathew 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."

The Intensity and size of God's light in you will determine your sphere of domination. Although, God has commanded you to dominate everything (Genesis 1:28), the actual scope of your domination will be determined by the amount of God's Word that is in you. The Word is the Light of the world. If you lack the Word, you lack the light that gives definition to your ability to dominate. As you increase your Word content, you enlarge your coast. Staying away from the Word automatically reduces your glow and ultimately, your ability to control forces, situations and circumstances. On the other hand, the moment you stop shining as light, darkness will swallow you up. If you want to be victorious over forces of darkness, be daily exposed to more light from His Word.

Prayer Point:

Father, please fill me with Your light and let me shine across the whole world in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 15:17-17:23 and Proverbs 23:29-24:7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: HOLY HOLY HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY

1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Who wert and art and evermore shalt be.

3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens ( FRIDAY 13 MAY 2016) - LIGHT OF THE WORLD
1.Thank you Father for creating me in your image and likeness.
2.Thank you Father for all the battles you have fought and won on my behalf.
3.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, have mercy and forgive me.
4.Father, let my light so shine before men that they may see my good works and glorify You, my father, who is in heaven.
5.Father, let your light chase away every darkness in my life, home and ministry.
6.Father, let the intensity of the light that l carry, be increased on a daily basis, in Jesus' name.
7.Father, as darkness could not prevail over light, I decree that the wicked powers of this world will never be able to prevail over my life and destiny.
8.Father let the powers of darkness within my neighbourhood be repelled and chased away by the light of Jesus in my life.
9.Father, let the intensity of the light of Christ in me be too much for the witches and wizards in my family and neighbourhood to come near.
10.Father, please fill me with Your light and let me shine across the whole world in Jesus’ name.
11.Your Personal petitions. ( Phil 4:6)
12.In Jesus' name I pray.
(Jn 14:13-14; 15:16)
13.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thes 5:18).