OPEN HEAVENS 21 JULY 2018 SATURDAY DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR ADEBOYE — THE LABOURERS ARE FEW!

TOPIC: THE LABORERS ARE FEW!

Memorise: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” – Isaiah 6:8

Read: Luke 10:1-9 (KJV)
1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Bible in One Year: Ezra 1-3, Matthew 5:21-42

MESSAGE:

Prophet Isaiah had the rare privilege of having a vision where he witnessed what was going on in the palace of the Almighty God (Isaiah 6:1-. The setting he observed was a kind of conference with the hosts of heaven in attendance. God threw a simple question to the multitudes present, which should ordinarily not be much of a challenge to them. The Lord asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The seemingly little hesitation that followed God’s question before Isaiah responded was not an act of rebellion by angels or the host of heaven; rather, there was hesitation because this question was not meant for them. If angel were supposed to take up the assignment, it would have come as a command instead of a question.

The privilege of disseminating the good news of the kingdom and propagating the gospel has been expressly assigned to human beings by God. The term ‘evangelism’ therefore refers to spreading the gospel, and the one doing this work is called an ‘evangelist’. The duty of an evangelist is to function as spokesperson for the Church in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Just as God was searching for someone to take up the assignment in today’s memory verse, He is still searching for faithful people who will relentlessly participate in spreading the gospel today. Will you say yes to Him?
The need for evangelists today is further amplified by these words of the Lord in Luke 10:2b:
“The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest”

The gospel is needed more than ever before in this world of sin, where immorality pervades everywhere and the pursuit of worldly pleasures is taking over the Church of God. God expects us to walk worthy of our calling and election as children of God (Ephesians 4:1-12). He has endowed each individual in the body of Christ with gifts to function in at least one of several offices, as apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers. Therefore, it is not only pastors and altar ministers that are called to work in God’s vineyard. Everyone who is genuinely born again is called to do the work of an evangelist by spreading the good news of the gospel all over the world (2 Timothy 4:5). Understanding this fact is very necessary if we desire to please God, fulfill our purpose on earth and receive the best from God. Winning lost souls and making them disciples is the whole essence of Christianity.

Action Point: How many souls have you won to Christ this year? Open your mouth and allow God to fill it with words to those that are perishing.

Click To Read Previous Open Heaven Devotionals Here www.muyilight.com

HYMN 7: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE.

1. Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Chorus:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.

2. Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.

3. Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT MANUAL FOR JULY 22, 2018 LESSON 47 : TOPIC — DESCRIPTION OF RAPTURE


TOPIC: DESCRIPTION OF RAPTURE

MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,” – 1 Corinthians 15:51 (scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 22ND JULY, 2018 HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (Sunday School STUDENT Manual July 22, 2018)

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

INTRODUCTION:

The second coming of Christ prophesied by Daniel in Daniel 7:13 is a sound biblical fact. This return shall be in two stages. The first, ‘’being like a thief in the night’’ to receive unto Himself His Church. This is popularly called the rapture. The second stage is His return with the Saints to reign on earth. Our focus in today’s lesson is the rapture.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. What and when is the rapture?
2. What will happen at the rapture and how?

WHAT AND WHEN IS THE RAPTURE?

The word, rapture, is not found anywhere in the Bible although it is used to describe this great upcoming and memorable event. The rapture is the sudden catching up or sudden disappearance of holy and faithful saints from the earth to meet with our Lord and Saviour in the air. It is also referred to as the translation or translocation of believers (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58). Examples of such translation in the Old Testament are; Enoch (Genesis 5:22-24; Hebrews 11:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). It shall be as sudden as the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52).

The exact timing of the occurrence of the rapture is not known (Matthew 24:42, 44; Matthew 25:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6). However, Jesus Christ mentioned some of the signs and events that will herald His coming in Matthew chapter 24. ‘So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors’, (Matthew 24:33). We also know that it shall precede the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:12).

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE RAPTURE AND HOW?

The following are to be expected at the rapture:
1. The trumpet of God shall sound (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
2. The dead in Christ shall rise first (John 5:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:23).
3. Saints which are alive shall be ‘’caught up’’ to meet our Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:51).
4. The dead in Christ and saints who are alive shall have glorified or immortal bodies and live forever (1 Corinthians 15:52-54; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2).
5. There shall be extraordinary chaos on the earth (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; Matthew 24:40-41).
Rapture shall happen suddenly (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Matthew 24:36-41). The power of God shall make all saints’ bodies immortal (Philemon 3:21). The sudden ‘’vacancies’’ produced by such disappearance shall give birth to the chaos.

CONCLUSION

The greatest calamity that could befall anyone who claims to be a believer is to be on earth a second after the rapture. The one who is coming back for His own ‘’suddenly’’, warned us to be prepared, at least six times in different parables. Are you alert and ready? (Mark 13:32-37).

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the rapture?
2. Mention five things that will happen at the rapture.

Click To Read Previous Rccg Sunday School Manuals Here www.muyilight.com

SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN

1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?