OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...

DATE: FRIDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2016

THEME: GRACE, NOT DISGRACE

Memorise:

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 9:33

Read: Psalms 23:1-6

23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

MESSAGE

Grace is the favour of God to human beings. It is the demonstration of God's goodwill towards humankind in the person of Jesus Christ, and the effects of that goodwill in human lives. The word is rarely found in the Old Testament but employed frequently in the New Testament, leading some to declare the New Testament period as a dispensation of grace. The Christian life is completely dependent upon the grace of God. God's grace compensates for human weaknesses in that God shows Himself gracious in His dealings with human beings. John 1:16-17 says:

"And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

God's grace is abundant (Romans 5:17). This grace is not only abundant but can be exceeding in one's life (2 Corinthians 9:14). Grace is one way God makes up for our short comings. Grace covers our human frailties. Through grace, God uses our very limited strength and resources to do the impossible. This He does by adding His own strength and resources to ours. With grace, your lack, limitations and defects are fully covered. When you have exceeding grace, it means God's provision far exceeds your need. Grace is in action at those times that the Holy Spirit helps us to pray in accordance with God's will when we do not know how to pray (Romans 8:26-27). When you have prayed, fasted and tried without measuring up to standard, then it is time to fall back on His grace. Grace can be accessed at varying measures. To some people, grace may be unavailable, to some, only a little, while some will have it in abundance, and for some others, grace will outnumber their needs. What level of grace do you have access to? If you want to access extreme levels of grace, do not frustrate God's grace that is currently available upon you, do not waste it and do not become a storage tower of grace, but rather, be a channel of grace. Always use grace for the purpose it is given to you. Be gracious to others. Be generous. Live a holy life. 2 Corinthians 6:1 says:

"We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."

God does not wish that we receive His grace in vain; He wants us to be progressive by growing in grace. God wants us to share His Grace with others for them to taste and see that the Lord is good. May His glory fill the earth, that His name may be praised forever more.

Prayer Point:

Father, let Your grace be sufficient for me. Please Lord; make me a distributor of Your grace.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 23-24
Psalms 71:1-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR 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 30th, 2016) - GRACE, NOT DISGRACE
1.Thank you Father for the abundance of your grace in my life.
2.Thank you Father because l am what l am by your grace and mercy.
3.Father, in anyway l have abused your grace and fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me.
4.Father, grant unto me abundance of your grace to overcome sin and the temptation to sin.
5.Father, let you grace be multiplied in all areas of my life because without your it, l won't be able to endure and persevere till the end.
6.Father, by your grace, lead me along your path of your truth and righteousness.
7.Father, you are my shepherd, please, lead and direct me to the place of my provision, to the place, where the grass is greenest.
8.Father, please, keep me safe, by your grace, among the ravenous wolves and wicked lions of this world.
9.Father, let your goodness and mercy follow me for the rest of my life, in Jesus' name.
10.Father, grant me the grace to do your WILL perpetually and let me never have any cause or reason to abuse your grace over my life.
11.Father, let Your grace be sufficient for me and also, make me a distributor of Your grace.
12.Your Personal petitions.(Phil 4:6)
13.In Jesus' name I pray.(Jn 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers. (1 Thes 5:18).