₦airaland Forum

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2ND 2017
THEME: EXPECT TEST.
Memorise:
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray
thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel.
And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth,
and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So
they went down to Bethel. 2 King 2:2
Read: 1 Peter 4:12-13, 2 King 2:1-15
4:12 Beloved, think it not strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened
unto you:
4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when
his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad
also with exceeding joy.
2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord
would take up Elijah into heaven by a
whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from
Gilgal.
2:2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I
pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to
Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord
liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave
thee. So they went down to Bethel.
2:3 And the sons of the prophets that were
at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto
him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take
away thy master from thy head to day? And
he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
2:4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry
here, I pray thee; for the Lordhath sent me
to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth,
and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So
they came to Jericho.
2:5 And the sons of the prophets that were
at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him,
Knowest thou that the Lord will take away
thy master from thy head to day? And he
answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your
peace.
2:6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray
thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to
Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and
as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And
they two went on.
2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the
prophets went, and stood to view afar off:
and they two stood by Jordan.
2:8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped
it together, and smote the waters, and they
were divided hither and thither, so that they
two went over on dry ground.
2:9 And it came to pass, when they were
gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask
what I shall do for thee, before I be taken
away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee,
let a double portion of thy spirit be upon
me.
2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard
thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I
am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee;
but if not, it shall not be so.
2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went
on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared
a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and
parted them both asunder; and Elijah went
up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My
father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and
the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no
more: and he took hold of his own clothes,
and rent them in two pieces.
2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that
fell from him, and went back, and stood by
the bank of Jordan;
2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that
fell from him, and smote the waters, and
said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and
when he also had smitten the waters, they
parted hither and thither: and Elisha went
over.
2:15 And when the sons of the prophets
which were to view at Jericho saw him, they
said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.
And they came to meet him, and bowed
themselves to the ground before him.
Message:
There are some vital lessons we can benefit
from the story of Elijah and Elisha found in
our Bible reading today. The first thing we
see in that story is that God always has
something better, more precious and more
glorious in store for His children. No matter
where you are and where you plan to be,
God always has a better plan for you. This is
why 2 Timothy 1:9 says,
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an
holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before
the world began.”
God has a unique purpose for your life.
When you became born again, you were
called by God to fulfill that purpose, and He
also called you to holiness (1 Thessalonians
4:7). This call of God on you is referred to as
a 'high calling' (Philippians 3:14). Therefore,
no matter how good you are in strategic
planning, there is still a need for you to
subordinate your plans under God’s will and
allow Him to have His way in your life. No
wonder Psalm 37:5 says that you should not
fail to commit your ways unto God and trust
Him to help you in actualizing your plans.
This is also why Proverbs 3:5-7 says that you
should always tell God of your plans, so that
He will provide divine guidance. Do you trust
God enough to let Him direct your steps?
Elisha was a successful businessman before
the mantle of God’s call fell on him, and he
left his business to follow God’s plan for his
life (1 kings 19:19). Eventually, he became a
father to the whole nation of Israel and
kings called him ‘father’.
Moreover, another lesion is that although
God has a higher glory ahead of you, He can
use people, situations and circumstances to
test your resolve along the way. Sometimes
when test come, we don’t recognize them
as tests, and because of this, many of us fail
the test. You have to pray that in the test of
life, you will not be a failure. When Prophet
Elijah was to be taken away, he told his
servant Elisha that he had been sent by God
on some errands and that Elisha should not
bother to follow him. Thank God Elisha was
dogged and sensitive enough to realize that
it was a test, and he passed the test
brilliantly. Some tests of life are so crucial
that failing them may rubbish all the past
good efforts one has put into achieving
greatness. May you not fail in the tests of
life!
Prayer Point:
Father, whatever tests I would have to go
through, please see me through. In the tests
of life, let me not be a failure.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Peter 2-5
Hosea 10
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 7: OH JESUS I HAVE PROMISED
1. O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to
the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my
Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my
side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt
be my Guide.
2. Oh, let me hear Thee speaking in accents
clear and still,
I dare not trust my judgment: Thy way shall
be my will;
Oh, speak to reassure me, to hasten or
control;
Oh, speak, and help me listen, Thou
Guardian of my soul.
3. O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who
follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory there shall Thy
servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to
the end—
Oh, give me grace to follow, my Master and
my Friend.
4. Oh, let me see Thy footprints, and in them
plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly is in Thy strength
alone;
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me
to the end;
And then in Heav’n receive me, my Savior
and my Friend.


Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens:
(Thursday, November 2, 2017) - EXPECT TEST.
1.Thank you, Father, for saving me and for
your high calling upon my life.
2.Thank you, Father, for making me a
partaker of Christ's sufferings; that, when
his glory shall be revealed, I may be glad also
with exceeding joy.
3.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of
your glory, please, have mercy and forgive
me, in Jesus' name.
4.Father, when temptations shall come my
way, please, make a way of escape for me,
according to your promise, in Jesus' name.
5.Father, release your mantle of power and
anointing, that will enable me to overcome
all the trials and challenges of life and
ministry, in Jesus' name.
6.Father, let your call and purpose never be
in vain, in my life; I will not fail, I will not fall,
in Jesus' name
7.Father, where you have purposed to take
me in life, please, take me there and beyond,
in Jesus' name.
8.Father, I surrender and subordinate my
will, under your Will and plans, for my life;
please, have your way, in Jesus' name.
9.Father, wear upon me the garment of your
holiness and make me a carrier of your
presence, forever, in Jesus' name.
10.Father, whatever tests I would have to go
through, please see me through. In the tests
of life, let me not be a failure.
11.Father, uphold me by your right hand of
righteousness, till the end, in Jesus' name.
12.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus' name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
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