OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...

DATE: FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2016

THEME: GODLINESS AND CONTENTMENT

Memorise:

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1st Timothy 6:6

Read: 1st Timothy 6:6-10, (KJV)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

MESSAGE

Godliness implies a kind of reverence for or devotion to God which produces a practical awareness of God in every aspect of life. True godliness is a way of life that permeates every aspect of life, from appearances to actions. A godly person cannot help but transmit and radiate godliness in a way that anybody who comes in contact with him or her will immediately feel the presence of God. Consequently, deceptive godliness in speech or action is not compatible with the Word of God. According to 2nd Timothy 3:5, apparent godliness may not be genuine; the passage calls it “Having a form of godliness”. Meanwhile Titus 2:11-12 says:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

From the above passage, it is clear that godliness can be interpreted as a measure of the level of sanctification of a child of God. The Bible in a few cases used the term “walking with God” to indicate the level of godliness of some fathers of faith. Examples of godliness in the Bible include Enoch in Genesis 5:24:

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him”
And Noah in Genesis 6:9:

“…. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
God demanded godliness from Abraham in Genesis 17:1

“…I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
And Abraham in turn confirmed compliance in Genesis 24:40 with the statement
"...The LORD, before whom I walk..."

Other examples of godliness include Simeon in Luke 2:25, Anna in Luke 2:37, and Cornelius in Acts 10:2. Therefore, godliness is mandatory as an evidence of knowing God and being known by Him.
According to 1st Timothy 6:6, godliness should be accompanied by contentment. The Bible teaches that sorrow for sin is a sign of godliness and godly living demands self-discipline. The benefits of godliness cannot be over emphasised, 1st Timothy 4:8 tells us that godliness is profitable unto all things, both in this life and in eternity. Today’s memory verse emphasises that godliness with contentment brings great gain. It is also a sure defence against covetousness and all manners of trials and temptations which is the main source of backsliding and apostasy in the Church of God today. May the Lord have mercy!

Prayer Point:

Father, please give me the grace to live above covetousness and greed in Jesus’ name.

Bible in one year: Jeremiah 32:1-33:13, Psalms 53-54

AUTHOR: Pst E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST OUR KING

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus:

3. Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus:

4. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus:

5. Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus.

Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens ( Friday, September 9th, 2016) - GODLINESS AND CONTENTMENT
1.Father, l worship and adore you for who you are, and l thank you for creating me in your image.
2.Father, in anyway, that l have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus' name.
3.Father, purge me from all acts of ungodliness and worldly lust, and help me to live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world.
4.Father, cause my way to agree with yours, and help me to maintain a righteous walk with you, for the remaining days of my life.
5.Father, let my life be so spiritually clean and holy, that you will find it naturally habitable and to make it your permanent place of abode.
6.Father, make me a permanent carrier of your presence and glory, every second of my life.
7.Father, as the red sea saw Moses and fled, whenever demons, principalities and powers, see me, let them see your presence, in my life, and flee, in Jesus' name.
8.Father, please, make me just and perfect in all my ways and single me out for divine preservation, in paradise, in Jesus' name.
9.Father, you created me in your image; whatever does not represent your image, in my life, please, uproot, in Jesus' name.
10.Father, remove from me, every spirit of greed and covetousness and let me be contented with all that you have blessed and bestowed me with, in Jesus' name.
11.Father, when people see me, without any formal introduction, let my identity as "a child of God", be clear and obvious to all.
12.Your Personal petitions. ( Phil 4:6)
13.In Jesus' name I pray.
(Jn 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thes 5:18).