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PaChukwudi44:
Adeboye God never asked Christians to pay tithes by trusting him.There is no such verse in the Bible

The man of God never forced you to pay your tithe. It takes your knowkedge and relationship with God, for you to understand TITHING

* RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL*

*LESSON FOURTEEN*

*SUNDAY, 3RD DECEMBER 2017*

*TOPIC: THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: LOVE AS A COMPONENT*

*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*
​​Verse 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.

Verse 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.

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

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

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

Verse 6​
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
I rejoice to see thee;
Will Thou pass over me today
Without my being blest?

*MEMORY VERSE:* ‘’If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Galatians 5:25

*BIBLE PASSAGE:* Galatians 5:22-23
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23. gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

*INTRODUCTION:*
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the result of the Holy Spirit's presence and operation in the life of a Christian.
"Fruit" is the natural result of growth. And "of the Spirit" explains exactly Who causes that growth - it is not our striving or straining, but the power of the Holy Spirit. No amount of human toil or gritty determination can produce spiritual fruit, but the Spirit's influence in a yielded heart can work miracles.
The Bible makes it clear that everyone receives the Holy Spirit the moment he or she believes in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9; 1Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14).
One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit coming into a Christian's life is to change that life. It is the Holy Spirit's job to conform us to the image of Christ, making us more like Him. Our sinful flesh produces certain types of fruit that reflect our nature (Galatians 5:19-21), aand the Holy Spirit produces types of fruit that reflect His nature.

*LESSON OUTLINES*
1. Components of the fruit of the Spirit

*2. LOVE: COMPONENTS OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT*
The fruit of the Spirit is one with many characteristics.
Galatians 5:22-23...
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:...".
Ephesians 5:9...
"for the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth".
James 3:17-18...
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
The Christian life is a battle of the sinful flesh against the new nature given by Christ (2Corinthians 5:7). As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit producing His fruit in us and we have the Holy Spirit's power available to conquer the acts of the sinful nature (Philippians 4:13).

*LOVE*
Love is the first of the characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The English word love has very broad meaning, but the Greek language is very precise. There are three fundamental categories of love: Eros, Phileo and Agape. The love which the Holy Spirit manifests in believers in agape.
This love is not a feeling, but a choice. It is the choice to be kind, to sacrifice and to consider other's needs greater than one's own (Philippians 2:3). Agape has a sense of hardness and difficulty in its expression (John 15:13; 1John 3:16; Luke 6:35).
It is because of this kind of love that God carried out His plan to save the world (John 3:16). God desire to show His perfect, selfless love to the world that is routinely confused about what true love is (Romans 5:. God's children are the conduits of His love, as they are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The love Christians are expected to demonstrate as a fruit of the Spirit is based on the two great commandments: love God and love your neighbour (Matthew 22:35-40).
Therefore, love can be defined as outgoing concern demonstrated by following the commendments God has written in the Bible.
1Corinthians 13:4:8a...
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..."

*CONCLUSION:*
The fruit of the Spirit is what God desires our lives to exhibit and, with the Holy Spirit's help, it is possible!

*QUESTIONS*
1. What are the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit?
2. Describe love as a characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit.
*HAPPY SUNDAY*

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Sunday December 3, 2017

TITHING IS TRUSTING.     
 
Memorise :Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 
Proverbs 3:5

Read : Proverbs 3:5-7

3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
 
MESSAGE:


To experience exploits in your life, you must have a personal relationship with God. You must believe that He lives and love Him with all your heart. You must also learn to trust in Him. That command to pay tithes on your earnings simply places a demand on you to trust God. Your response to this command shows the levels of trust you have lived in Him. If you can pay your tithes correctly, it shows that you trust God for your livelihood, but if you find it difficult to be faithful in doing this, it simply shows that you trust more in your earning than in God to sustain you.

After I became newly born again and we were taught to pay tithes, I laughed and said in my mind, “These people do not know that I am a mathematician. If 100% is not enough for me, how can 90% be enough after I have paid 10% as tithes? Thank you very much! Even though these people are not educated, they still want to use their smartness to take 10% of my income from me. Let them try and take it”. However, down the line, God convinced me by Himself and I observed remarkable changes in my life.

In those days, I was a lecturer in the university. I had a car but was afraid to drive in Lagos, so I got a driver. At the end of the month, I would pay my driver his salary, but by the middle of the next month, I would have to borrow money from him to buy petrol (gasoline).

This happened month after month. I continued to struggle with my finances and even had to spend all my earnings. However, when I started paying my tithes, I suddenly realized I did not need a driver anymore, because boldness came from nowhere and I could now drive myself, also, I did not have to visit hospitals again because I now had the Great Physician as my doctor. My children did not fall sick again, and that leakage in my finances was blocked off. All of a sudden, doors of opportunities began to open to me because I trusted the Lord.

Are you still struggling with tithing? If you are, it only shows that you do not trust God to take care of you. The truth is, whatever you are paid may never be sufficient to meet all your needs because you are limited to that source, whereas you are open to various devourers. In contrast, when you tithe, you will have access to resources beyond your income because God’s storehouse will be opened to you, and he will also block every source of losses in your life. It is a matter of choice. Why don’t you start trusting God from today by paying your tithes faithfully?

KEY POINT :
It is shocking to know that quite a number of God’s children cannot trust God with their finances

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Psalm 93-101;
Nahum 3:5-19


HYMN 14:   TAKE MY LIFE

1.      Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2.      Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3.      Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4.      Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5.      Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6.      Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Saturday December 2, 2017

BACKSLIDING NOT AN OPTION.     

Memorise : Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.- 1 Corinthians 10:12

Read : Matthew 27:3-5

27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.


MESSAGE :

One unfortunate thing about backsliding is that backsliders often fall so slowly that they hardly notice their deteriorating state. By the time some of them realise how far they have gone, it is rather too late.

Are you a backslider? May the Lord restore you fully to Himself today! According to James 1:14-15, backsliding is a process that progresses from lust to sin, and ultimately ends with death.

In Luke 22:3-6, Judas accepted to be paid 30 pieces of silver to betray his Master. He must have thought he was going to make some quick, free money. He probably believed that nobody would be able to capture Jesus. After all, how could anyone apprehend the man who calmed the storms by His word? However, after the plot blew up in his face, he felt so disappointed in himself that he returned the money and committed suicide by hanging himself. The question is, why steal or accumulate what you are not going to spend? Do you know that some people, who are stealing, particularly from God, will not be able to spend their evil loot? Those who steal God’s money to buy a car are only driving a moving coffin which can claim their lives at any time.

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

On the straight and narrow way to Heaven, overconfidence has killed a lot of people, preventing them from making it to the very end. A case in point is Samson. His fall from grace, which led eventually to his tragic death, was a gradual process. From violating little instructions not to eat anything from a dead animal as a Nazarite, to unwholesome jesting and riddles that made light of the commandment of God he had broken, to visiting a harlot, and eventually ending his ministry on Delilah’s laps (Judges 14-16, Numbers 6:1-21).

Overconfidence has brought many people to the pitiable place where they are now. Always remember that nobody can stand by his or her own power alone, except God helps the fellow. In fact, we are so weak that we need to always rely on God’s strength to live the Christian life.

Have you ever thought or even boasted that you cannot fall? You are just like Peter who boasted that he would never deny Christ, but at the end of the day he denied Him thrice (Matthew 26:31-36). Recognize your weakness and engage in regular Bible study, prayers and fasting to draw strength from God. Furthermore, deliberately avoid any appearance of evil that can tempt you, and break any tie that can lure you back into sin.

The Lord will keep you from falling, and He will restore you if you are already down.

ACTION POINT :
Pray that God will keep genuine Christian leaders across the globe from falling.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Psalm 89-92;
Nahum 2:1-3:4


HYMN 11:   I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1.       I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2.       The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3.       Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4.       My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5.       Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Friday December 1, 2017

HOLD THE FORT     

Memorise : And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. - Luke 9:62
 
Read:  Luke 9:61-62

9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.


MESSAGE :

When you walk with God, not only must you be obedient, your obedience must also be complete. From the history of how Elisha stuck with Elijah till the latter was taken up to heaven, we learn that until you obey to the very end, certain blessings may not be received, and certain promises may not be fulfilled by God (2 Kings 2:1-15).

This is a very serious issue as it calls for endurance. Would Elijah have been raptured if he had refused to go on to Jordan, after obeying God’s instructions to go to Bethel and Jericho, and after several years of obedience to God in ministry?  I very much doubt it. Similarly, if Elisha had not served and followed Elijah till the very end, would he have received a double portion of the Spirit on his master? I don’t think so.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22

Beloved, to get very special blessings or reward from God, you must be ready to serve Him till you take your very last breath. You must pay your tithes, obey Him, win souls, worship Him, and follow peace with all men until your very last second on earth. Heaven is not for those who run the marathon for years and give up just a little before the finish line; rather, it is for those who endure all things to the very end.

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

In God’s Kingdom, there is no room for half measures. It is either you are following Him to the end or you are not following Him at all. If you have decided to serve Him, please don’t stop to look back! Looking back can disqualify you, rendering you unfit for God’s kingdom.

Today, it is rare to get a committed worker or minister like Elisha, who would be doggedly determined to reach his goal without being discouraged, distracted or disillusioned. Have you turned aside from God’s calling on your life?

Are you busy making excuses as to why you cannot obey God, saying “after all, God understands”? Sorry, God does not understand you are going back on your commitments. He does not understand compromise. If you are in such a state, come out fast and hold the fort to the very end!

KEY POINT :
You cannot afford to stop your race to heaven now, because you have put in so much to get to where you are today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Psalm 81-88
Nahum 1


HYMN 14:   TAKE MY LIFE

1.       Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2.       Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3.       Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4.       Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5.       Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6.       Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Thursday November 30, 2017

OVERCOMING LIKE JESUS             

Memorise : To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.-Revelation 3:21

Read:  Revelation 3:21-22

3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.


MESSAGE :

Man’s surest source of rest is Jesus Christ because He never breaks His promises (Matthew 11:28-29, 2 Corinthians 1:20).

In John 16:33, He assures us that as long as we are in this world, tribulations and problems will come, but because He successfully overcome them, He will see us through if we put our trust in Him. Therefore, because He overcame and we are following in His footsteps, we are also bound to overcome.

Are you struggling with sin and expressing doubts on whether you can ever overcome like Jesus did? Fear not and do not doubt! You can overcome that besetting sin! The truth with such sin is that the one who keeps falling into them has not truly made up his or her mind to stop them. The Bible declares that sin shall not have dominion over you, and God cannot lie (Romans 6:14).

If you are therefore falling into sin and you probe yourself a little deeper, you will find some level of tolerance for that sin, or some excuse you always give for that sin, or even some iota of likeness for that sin. If the devil can find any of these in you, he will celebrate, knowing that any of these can keep you perpetually at the bus stop of that sin. If you are serious about stopping a bad habit, you will have zero-tolerance for it.

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21

God does not have double standards in the criteria He uses for allowing people into Heaven, or for giving them rewards for work done on earth. Jesus Christ is God’s standard. So if you will enter into eternal rest in Heaven, you must meet with God’s standard as exemplified by Jesus Christ. If you will be rewarded by God in heaven, Jesus says you must be prepared to overcome the same way He overcame while He was here on earth.

You can run the Christian race without stress when you follow in His steps. Have you taken pains to study the life of Jesus? Have you noted how He responded to temptations, sin, enemies, friends, difficulties, lack, needs, challenges in ministry, and betrayal by associates? God expects you to respond as Jesus did in all these situations. If you do so, you will be granted access to the privileges reserved for overcomers in Heaven.

KEY POINT :
You cannot overcome if you fail to study Jesus Christ and respond to situations the way He did.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Psalm 78-80;
Micah 7:8-20
                                        

HYMN 2:   WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3.  Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29TH 2017

THEME: REALITIES OF SELFISHNESS

Memorise:

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2 Timothy 3:2

Read: Mark 12:28-31

12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Message:

On the 22nd of this month, we saw that those Christians who always want everything to revolve around them and who always want to be in charge are yet to be broken. Another sign of not being broken is selfishness. The Holy spirit, speaking through Paul, has forewarned the Church of God that selfishness will be the hallmark of sins committed during the last days. 2 Timothy 3:2 says,

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

Selfishness is all about falling in love with oneself to a point where everyone and everything else is second place. The height of selfishness is when you love yourself to the point of idolizing yourself; this is a form of idolatry, the Holy Spirit reveals one class of such people in Philippians 3:19, where He said:

“Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.”

It’s unfortunate that a lot of selfish people are mounting the pulpit of God today, parading themselves as ministers of the gospel. Such people do not serve the God of Heaven, but rather they serve their own stomachs. The goal and desires of selfish people revolve around the mundane things of this world. They can never be heavenly-minded.

Selfishness negates God’s eternal word in Mark 12:30 which says:

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

God says you should love Him with all you have, but selfishness says “No, how can I love you when I have not even loved myself enough.” If you are a lover of self, you will always run into problems with God. To obey divine instructions and commands, you will often be required to displease yourself, and that is what a selfish person cannot do. If you are selfish, you will find it almost impossible to please God. A selfish person will hear messages on tithing but will find it difficult to tithe. Why? He would be calculating what he would lose if he gives up the tithe, and what he stands to gain from keeping those funds. A selfish person has no understanding of spiritual things. Are you controlled by love for God or by selfishness?

Key Point:
As a young convert, you are to focus more on yourself in prayer. However, as you grow in the Lord, you are to focus more on others.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 73-77
Micah 6:9-7:7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: DEEPER DEEPER

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28TH 2017

THEME: KNOWLEDGE AND PRAYER

Memorise:

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1 Peter 4:7

Read: Luke 21:34-36

21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Message:

In Philippians 3:10, Paul expressed his burning desire to know Jesus. It is good to have your gaze focused on Jesus and equally important to know Him. Why? It is because what you know determines your position in life. Knowledge is power. Proverbs 4:7 says,

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge for personal or corporate benefit. This implies that knowledge is the foundation of wisdom. If you want to be wise but you run away from knowledge, wisdom will elude you. How open you are to learning new things demonstrates your readiness to be wise. Men of wisdom like Paul and Daniel were given to reading books. Daniel chapter 9 is a manifestation of how knowledge acquired from the study of books can be applied positively in actions that have serious spiritual implications. Daniel 9:2 says,

“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”

Today, not many people take time to read decent books on various subjects that can add to their knowledge base. For believers, this should not be so. If there are people who should be knowledgeable, it should be believers. We should be conversant with our environment, and we should stay very current.

In Matthew 26:41, Jesus established a link between watching and praying. What are you required to do while watching? You are required to gather information, and to know what is happening around you. God wants you to be informed. Why? Knowledge about your situation will help you pray more effectively with understanding. If you want to succeed as a prayer champion, knowledge is crucial. When you watch, seek knowledge or gather information, it will compel you to pray more often. Find out, those Christians who are prayerless are often those without knowledge. They know too little, and so they do not see the need to pray. If people come to tell you lots of things or if they confide in you, it is because God wants you to stand in the place of intercession for them, rather than becoming a tale-bearer. Are you seeking knowledge? Is what you know making you to pray more?

Key Point:
Daniel was provoked into indefinite prayer and fasting exercise by what he understood from what he studied (Daniel 9:1-3). Is your knowledge compelling you to pray?


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 69-72
Micah 5:7-6:8


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY NOVEMBER 27TH 2017

THEME: EFFECTIVE IMPARTATION

Memorise:

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1 Timothy 4:14

Read: Acts 14:21-23

14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Message:

True leadership makes room for fresh leaders to be raised and imparted. One leader who succeeded in raising several other leaders was Paul. In Romans 1:11-12, he wrote to the believers in Rome, expressing his longing and sincere desire to be with them in order to impart some spiritual gifts to them. There is no better way to deploy the ministry of impartation than through fasting, prayer and laying on of hands. One of Paul’s spiritual sons who benefited from the ministry of impartation was Timothy. When hands were prayerfully laid on him, Timothy received some spiritual gifts. We see Paul reminding him of these gifts when in 1 Timothy 4:14 he said:

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”

Through impartation, there can be transfer of spiritual gifts from a man of God to the one being prayed for. Note also that fasting plays a key role in this. As leaders, when workers, ministers and other leaders are being raised, before they are commissioned into service, it is important to support them through the ministry of impartation backed by fasting and prayers.

“And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” Acts 14:23

After Paul and Barnabas had taken the gospel to several cities during their first missionary journey, they revisited these cities, appointing leaders over the churches they established there. It is worthy of note that in doing these, prayer and fasting were given prominence. This is why it is quite surprising to see some brethren who are slated for ordination engaged in normal activities as if there is nothing at hand, instead of separating themselves to prayer and fasting. In any case, the level of preparation before a spiritual activity will determine the extent of the blessings received by each person. Even for regular services in your local assemblies, it is important to prepare before attending such meetings. Whenever you want to prepare for any programme, do not forget to embrace fasting and praying.


Key Point:

Preparation for a spiritual programme may mean seeking God’s face towards the programme, forgiving and releasing offenders from your heart, avoiding distractions, and so on.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 63-68
Micah 4:6-5:6

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 18: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

1. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

2. At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain:

3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain:

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ’gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain:

5. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Refrain:

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
LESSON THIRTEEN (13)
SUNDAY, 26TH NOVEMBER 2017 Welcome to the 1st Interactive Session Lessons 1 from 3rd of September to Lesson 12, 19th of November 2017.
TOPIC are as follows:- 1. 3rd of September 2017- PRAISE GOD 2. 10th of September 2017- TRUE CHRISTIAN WORSHIP 3. 17th of September 2017- THE SECRET PLACE 4.24th of September 2017- SALVATION EXPERIENCE 5.1st of Oct 2017- THE SANCTIFIED LIFE 6.8th of October 2017- DEDICATION 7. 15th of October 2017- BE AN ACTIVE CHRISTIAN 8. 22nd of October 2017- WHO IS THIS JESUS? 9. 29th of October 2017- THE HOLY SPIRIT: PERSONALITY AND ATTRIBUTES 10. 5th November 2017- THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ACTION 11. 12th of November 2017- THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12. 19th of November 2017- THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Your Privilege:- 1. To ask Questions on Treated Lessons for Clarity 2. To Give Critical Appraisal of the Outlines 3. To Give useful suggestions towards better performances 4. To give useful Spiritual Contributions E.t.c

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26TH 2017

THEME: A MEAL WITH A DIFFERENCE

Memorise:
And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 1 Kings 19:8

Read: 1 Kings 19:1-8

19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

19:3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

19:6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

19:7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

19:8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

Message:
In John 21:1-13, we have an amazing account of Jesus inviting His disciples to come and dine of a meal He had already prepared. The Lord Jesus Christ loves good food and He prepares the best of dishes in the whole universe. To catch a glimpse of how those meals in Heaven will be, just take a look at the bread and wine that is used during the Holy Communion. By the time the Lord takes them over and they are transformed into spiritual food, the elements of these erstwhile ordinary items will begin to do what no ordinary meal can do in the life of those who partake of it. In today’s Bible reading, after the mass slaughter of the prophets of Baal, Jezebel sought to kill Elijah. He therefore fled for his life until he was so exhausted that he lay down under a juniper tree and slept off. Then two heaven-baked meals were set before him and he ate them. What was the result? 1 Kings 19:8 says,

“And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”

That meal provided him physical sustenance to the extent that his body survived without food and water for 40 days and nights! Medical science will tell you that it is impossible to live without water for three weeks; But Elijah did this after he took the heaven-baked bread! Also, that meal revived him spiritually. The same person who was contemplating suicide was now able to ascend the mountain of God. Depression was completely gone away from him!

Do you know that the Holy Communion, which assumes a spiritual dimension after the Greatest Cook touches its elements, is capable of taking care of various sickness and diseases? Through it, you can be delivered from every power of darkness that is holding you bound! Your debtors can be compelled to pay you what they owe you! By this Heavenly meal, you can break the yoke of besetting sins and live righteously before God. Through it, various impossible situations can be made possible. How often have you availed yourself of the limitless opportunities provided by the Holy Communion? How often do you attend a meeting where it is served? When you attend such meetings, do you release your faith along with your requests, or do you withhold your faith? From today, take steps to enjoy the heavenly baked meal that is the Holy Communion.

Action Point:

Never take the Holy Communion without prayerfully connecting it with a definite, specific request to God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 56-62 Micah 3:1-4:5

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

1. The great Physician now is near, The sympathizing Jesus; He speaks the drooping heart to cheer, Oh, hear the voice of Jesus.

Refrain: Sweetest note in seraph song, Sweetest Name on mortal tongue; Sweetest carol ever sung, Jesus, blessed Jesus.

2. Your many sins are all forgiv’n, Oh, hear the voice of Jesus; Go on your way in peace to heav’n, And wear a crown with Jesus. [Refrain]

3. All glory to the dying Lamb! I now believe in Jesus; I love the blessed Saviour’s Name, I love the Name of Jesus. [Refrain]

4. His Name dispels my guilt and fear, No other name but Jesus; Oh, how my soul delights to hear The charming Name of Jesus. [Refrain]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 25TH 2017

THEME: DESCENT IS OFTEN UNNOTICED        


Memorise:

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ecclesiastes 8:11


Read:  Luke 22:1-6

22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

22:2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

22:5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
 

Message:

To successfully run the Christian race, certain assignments cannot be delegated or carried out without your involvement. In Joshua chapter 7, Joshua delegated the assignment of fighting Ai to some of his men, and at the end of the day, they suffered defeat. Nothing kills like overconfidence! Have you ever wondered if Judas Iscariot was originally a thief? In Luke 6:12-13, the Lord prayed all night before selecting 12 apostles. It is therefore most likely that he did not start out as a thief. However, even if he was originally a thief, nobody gets to the zenith of an evil deed suddenly. It is usually a gradual process. Backsliding is a process and not a sudden event. If you see a brother backslidden to the point of shamelessly going about with wolves, on closer examination, you will discover that he must have been secretly frolicking with sin for a while. He must have tried a sinful act the first time and “gotten away with it”. This would have encouraged him to try a second, third and fourth time. Since he was not caught, he would gradually continue to practice such acts of sin more frequently, until his final descent becomes glaring for all to see.


“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11

The devil does not usually come with a frontal attack against a child of God. He uses subtle, little issues that one will consider as nothing. Those things the devil says do not matter really matter a lot. When you do not see anything wrong in intimately hugging the opposite sex or touching their bodies at will, know that you have started backsliding. If you take a little money from the church purse in your care unnoticed, you have also started backsliding. If you do not cry to the Lord and ask for His help there and then, and you allow your descent to linger, before long, you will be openly fornicating or even selling Jesus for peanuts without feeling remorse. Examine yourself; how is it with your faith today? Have you backslidden in any way? If you have, run to the cross of Calvary for God to restore you before you get to a point of no return! God still loves you. Respond to His love now!


Key Point:
The reason why you don’t often get caught immediately you engage in an evil act is not because you are smart, but because God wants you to speedily retrace your steps and repent.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 50-55
Micah 2    


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
 

HYMN 9:   ON THE HILL FAR AWAY

1.       On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

2.       Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain:

3.       In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain:

4.       To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain:

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Friday November 24, 2017

OBEDIENCE MUST BE TOTAL       

Memorise : For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. - 1 Samuel 15:23

Read: 1 Samuel 15:16-24

15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lordhath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?

15:18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?

15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

15:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.


MESSAGE :

In our walk with God, total obedience is the key to success. If you will walk with God, then you must be prepared to obey Him completely. If you decide to obey some instructions, delay your obedience to some or even flout some others, you will definitely have problems with God.

If you doubt this, ask King Saul. From His experience, we can see that partial obedience is the same thing as full disobedience before God. Saul was sent on a mission by God with specific instructions which were clearly spelt out to him with these words in 1 Samuel 15:3:

“Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”

But when he got to the point of executing the instructions of God, he obeyed some, ignored some and outright disobeyed some. 1 Samuel 15:9 says,

“But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”

He ignored and disobeyed some of God’s instructions because he wanted to remain in the good books of his soldier. What was the end result of this act? He was rejected and abandoned on the throne, while God chose a replacement for him. May God never reject you!

A further lesson here is that it’s not everyone rejected by God that He dethrones immediately. After Saul’s rejection, he was still on the throne for years, while God was already relating with David as king. During this period, how did Saul rule over the kingdom? As a lunatic of course! Today, like Saul, many leaders and pastors have been abandoned by God in the position they occupy. Although such people still maintain the status quo, the power to help them succeed is no longer available to them. Never be carried away by anyone occupying any position.

It is only God who knows those who are standing and those He has rejected on their thrones! Are you in obedience? Do you obey God completely? Beloved, obey every instruction you are given by God completely, and you can be certain that all will be well with you.

KEY POINT :
Disobedience robs you of the spiritual standing you require to succeed in your walk with God to a place of higher glory.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Psalm 44-49;
Micah 1


HYMN 14:   TAKE MY LIFE

1.      Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2.      Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3.      Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4.      Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5.      Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6.      Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

shame! u see what ur joystick have caused u now

What a foolish talk.

I think she needs a brain reset.

She no sabi say she be nursing mother befire she go comit the act? Well, make una allow am breastfeed d baby finish. before una send am to her corner for KIRI KIRI

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY NOVERMBER 23RD 2017

THEME: CHRIST OUR REST

Memorise:
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Isaiah 3:10

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:19-20
1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

MESSAGE:
There is a time to work and a time for rest. Everyone who labors very hard always looks forward to a time of rest. Rest is so crucial that even God Himself rested after spending six days creating the heavens and the earth. It is therefore not a mistake that God programmed sleep into our body system. He knows that after we have worked hard and are tired, we would need to rest the body in order to get back on our feet. Psalm 127:2 says,

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”
Good sleep is indeed a blessing from God. However, rest for the body is not as important as the rest needed by the soul. If your mind is seriously troubled over an issue, even when you lie down on your bed, you will be unable to sleep. The only place to find rest for your soul is in Christ. No wonder He made a call for you to enter into His rest in Matthew 11:28-30. Have you been worried or troubled lately? Receive rest today in Jesus’ Name!
“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings”. Isaiah 3:10

One major reason why you as a true believer should be at rest is because of God’s promises. According to our Bible reading, the promises of our God are very reliable. Romans 3:4 says that even if all men are liars, this cannot compel our God to be a liar like them; He will always remain true. Therefore, if He says your tomorrow will be alright, take it as a report card that you are getting even before sitting for the examination. If He said it, He will surely do it. God’s word has integrity. Based on His words that cannot fail, I know my tomorrow will be alright. Irrespective of the raging storm, I will simply rest in Him. Beloved, let Jesus Christ be the One you lean on. Who or what you lean upon in the time of trouble is very important. If you lean on human beings, they will most likely compound your situation because every human being is prone to failure due to so many factors within and outside their control. In contrast, if you lean on human being, they will most likely compound your situation because every human being is prone to failure due to so many factors within and outside their control. In contrast, if you lean on the Eternal Rock of Ages, you can be reassured of true rest, joy and peace.

Action Point:
Take every issue that is bothering your soul before the throne of grace today. Ask Jesus, the giver of rest, to give rest to your soul.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 38-43
Jonah 4 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

Hmmm! All these children. u pple will not go and face ur studies

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Wednesday November 22, 2017

SEEKING PRE-EMINENCE?

Memorize : But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. - Matthew 23:11

Read:  3 John 1:9-11

1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.


MESSAGE :

All those who have accepted God’s call to salvation should be aware that they have equally been called to a life of brokenness. The Christian life is a life that walks in the Spirit, having crucified the flesh with its affection and lusts (Galatians 5:24, Galatians 5:16). The place of brokenness is the place of true service and reflection of Christ. While the fellow who is broken is dead to the flesh, the fellow who is carnal is still very much alive to it.

There are certain traits that characterize the life of an unbroken fellow. These traits will be visible in such a life, irrespective of the ecclesiastical position occupied. One of such traits is the desire to be preeminent in all things. Those who always want to outshine others must be extremely careful. It is good to excel, and God wants this for His children, but struggling for pre-eminence within the fold, just to gratify the flesh or feed your ego is a mark of not being broken.

In the early Church, there were people who liked to show that they were in charge, even where there were superiors set over them. Apostle John encountered Diotrephes and he had problems with him because of this trait (3 John 1:9). Those who like to have pre-eminence usually find it difficult to recognise or submit to higher authority. They want to be the ones calling the shots. They may have a superior over them, and yet they will still want to be the ones that people take orders from. They run a parallel government to that of their superiors, and because their power base is illegal, they use lots of manipulation, coercion, intimidation and forming of unhealthy cliques to maintain their power. Such people are involved in every divisive and rebellious scheme being witnessed in the Church and in society today.

Those who seek pre-eminence operate through charismatic witchcraft, and they are involved in very subtle mind-control. They want to be recognised and honoured first and above others. Their suggestion must always be taken or else you must be prepared for a fight. If you have these traits in you, you are very carnal and close to Hell’s gates. If you struggle and manipulate your way to gain pre-eminence over others, in Heaven’s records you will be the last or even have no placement there.

If you are involved in this manifestation of carnality, beat a retreat today!

ACTION POINT :
Examine your life to see if you have any of the traits of life that seeks pre-eminence. If you do, repent and take corrective action.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Psalm 34-37;
Jonah 2-3    
                                        

HYMN 6:   DEEPER DEEPER

1.  Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

2.  Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

Refrain:

3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

Refrain:

4.  Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

Refrain:

5.  Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

Refrain:

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Tuesday November 21, 2017

LOOK TO JESUS AND SEE HEAVEN      

Memorise : I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. - Psalms 121:1                                     
Read:  Hebrew 12:1-2

12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.


MESSAGE :

Looking at Jesus with the eyes of the spirit is so important to believers because it helps us to see ourselves more clearly. When you see Jesus and you take a look at yourself, it makes you to see yourself the way God sees you, and consequently, it propels you to make necessary adjustments. Also, you need to see Jesus so that you can access your help. In Psalm 121:1-2, David said he would lift up his eyes to the hills where his help comes from. When you lift up your eyes to heaven, you will behold Jesus.

If only you can see Jesus, distractions will fade into oblivion. Many of us are separated from our Source because instead of looking up , we are looking sideways: we are looking for help from our neighbours, colleagues and fellow men. These people are quite limited in the level of help they can render, no matter how highly placed, financially endowed or intellectually sound they may be. Making man your source brings limitation into your life. Even within your family, do you know that it is wrong to focus on your father or mother as your source? The right approach is to view God as your source of help, and to see every other person as a conduct pipe through whom God can channel His help. The right attitude to have in every home is to always channel the family request to God, and thereafter, allow God to channel His provision through whatever means He wants. Henceforth, get your family to focus on Jesus as the Provider, and He will never disappoint you.

Moreover, focusing our gaze on Jesus is a sure path that leads to Heaven. Hence, today’s Bible reading says that we should look towards Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Jesus Christ is the One who began the Christian faith and He is the One who completes it. He walked the earth and successfully ended in Heaven. If you focus your gaze on Him, you will be able to follow in His steps. If you follow His steps, what He did you will do, and where He ended you will end. The shocking news here is that we really do not have any alternative to doing this. If you do not look to Jesus, you will not see His steps, and hence, you will end up following the wrong path. This will result in you not ending your journey where Jesus ended His. May this not be your story in Jesus’ Name.

While here on earth, focus your gaze on Jesus, and you will be able to see Him in Heaven.

ACTION POINT :
Focus your gaze on Jesus by always asking yourself this question: What would Jesus do if He were in my shoes?
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Psalm 28-33;
Jonah 1    
                                        

HYMN 11:   I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2.  The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL

LESSON TWELVE

SUNDAY, 19TH NOVEMBER 2017

TOPIC: THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

MEMORY VERSE: ‘’How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." - Acts 10:38
BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 4:5-20

INTRODUCTION:
We have studied how to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the actual baptism. We also gave considerations to the Baptiser and the evidence of baptism. Today, by the special grace of God, we shall be looking at the Anointing - what it is exactly and the conditions for maintaining the flow.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. What exactly is anointing?
2. Conditions for maintaining the flow

WHAT EXACTLY IS ANOINTING
Anointing is the outflow of the Holy Spirit through a sanctified vessel. It is a divine enabling grace (Acts 4:5-20). It is likened unto Rain (Zechariah 10:1; Joel 2:23), but it is neither the "WELL" of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14), nor the flowing "RIVERS" of living water (John 7:38) for these are referring to the operations of the Holy Ghost at the new birth and at baptism of believers (not of water) respectively. This is the Rain of the POWER of God from above to increase the water levels of both the "WELL" and the "RIVER" to bring about the overflow (Luke 4:18-19). The anointing determines the volume of water in the rivers, which in turn determines the functions to which they can be put. Similarly, for example, the level of anointing in a man determines the number of people he can carry along or his productivity as a man of God e.g. compare (Acts 2:41) with (Acts 4:8-32) when 3,000 (three thousand) and multitudes of people received Christ respectively after baptism in the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus, as a perfect example, came under a strong anointing and His fame went abroad (Acts 10:38). It makes the Christian life active and full of results. As it were, it enthrones the believer (John 14:12, 1Peter 2:9, Revelations 1:6). The anointing breaks every yoke of the devil and demolishes any spiritual mountain (Isaiah 10:27).

CONDITIONS FOR MAINTAINING THE FLOW
1. Love for righteousness, hatred for iniquity. The Lord Jesus never ran out of anointing because He loved righteousness and hated iniquity (Hebrew 1:9, John 14:30). Sin places a limit on anointing. Paul, a successful Apostle, was no exception (1Thessalonians 2:10). God enjoins us to "DO" righteousness also (1John 3:7).
2. Walking in love: If a believer is to constantly flow in anointing, love for God, himself, the ministry, the church and people in general must be paramount. A release of fresh anointing always follows the compassionate feelings of the Lord Jesus (John 11:35, 43-44, Mark 6:34-41).
3. Living a life of praise: A life of praise increases the flow of anointing (Exodus 15:11). Murmuring and complaints keep anointing far away, so do not engage in either.

CONCLUSION:
All true believers that want to succeed in the pilgrims' way must equally desire ever flowing anointing. The kingdom of God is not in words but in the demonstration of the spirit and power of God.

QUESTIONS
1. Define anointing
2. What are the conditions for maintaining the flow of anointing?

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Sunday November 19, 2017

LISTEN TO ELDER      

Memorise : “I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.” - Job 32:7

Read: 1 Peter 5:1-5 

5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.


MESSAGE :

One way of avoiding mistake is to learn from the experience of those who have gone ahead of you in faith, business, career or family life. If you learn from the fall of other, you will not meet with the same tragic end that befell them. This is why you need to listen to the advice of elders. Piglets are expected to learn from the mother pig. For this reason, Job 32:7 says,

“I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.”

It is also commonly said that experience is the best teacher. There are several things you will be taught from the school of life when you listen to what the elders the Lord has placed around you have to say. There is a Nigerian proverb says, “A child may have as many cloth as an elder, but he cannot have as many rage as he.” Learn from those who have trod on the path you are walking on.

I had the opportunity of delivering a sermon at the wedding of the daughter of a country’s president not too long ago. I observed that both the girl and her husband were highly educated. I therefore said to them, “Looking at you, I can tell you are both brilliant people, but you are just starting a journey into marriage, a journey I have been engaged in for about 47 years, and as a result, I have one or two things to teach you”. It is very important that you listen to your elders.

Are you newly married? I have two equations to keep you going- one: love is blind, and two: marriage is a miracle-worker with special anointing for opening blind eyes. When you solve these two equation simultaneously, the answer you will get is this: Love is blind but marriage will open its eyes.

Beloved, never shun the advice of an elder! Apart from your biological elders, your pastors and senior pastors are also elders. Except when they ask you to veer off the path of righteousness, please listen to them and follow their good advice. If you have a godly, humble heart, it will be easy to listen to elders. Can you believe that some people do not listen to their elders because they want to be in-charge of their lives? They erroneously believe that if they listen to elders, they will lose control of their lives.

Righteous elders will want to guide you on God’s holy path and ensure you reach your goal. Be wise today!

PRAYER POINT : 
Father, thank you for all the elders in the body of Christ; please use theom to provide righteous counsel for our youths, so that together we can all make Heaven

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Psalm 17-21;
Amos 9    
                                        
 
HYMN 16:   GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOME!

1.       God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

2.       God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

3.       God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

4.       God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18TH 2017

THEME: ONLY AN HONOUR

MEMORISE:
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
1 Corinthians 4:7

Read: Proverbs 3:9-10
3:9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine j:
3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

MESSAGE:
In our Bible reading, we are enjoined to honour the Lord with our first fruits. What does the word 'honour' really mean? Honour can be viewed from the perspective of giving a person something he or she doesn’t really need. We see a manifestation of this in the academia. When universities or colleges want to give honorary degrees, they look for people who don’t need money, academic qualifications or any such things, and they honour them with a degree. This is why it is called an honorary degree. They give such degrees to eminent personalities, people of proven abilities and achievers in different fields. This is comparable to the way God operates. What money can you give to the One who created the heavens and the earth? What can you give to the One who owns all silver and gold? He says to us, “If you come to the city where I reside, what is most precious to you on earth is what the streets are made of. So what do you want to give me that I don’t have already?” Therefore, whatever we think we can give to God can only reasonably be given in honour of Him.

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”
1 Corinthians 4:7

When we speak about giving God something, is it really so? What do we have that we have not received from Him? If we have indeed received all we have from Him, it clearly shows that we are simply giving back to Him out of what He gave us. When we were still living in our first house in the Redemption Camp, my little children held a meeting in the room one Christmas season, and they sent the youngest, who was about four years old then, to ask me what I wanted for Christmas. I said I would like a jet. He said they weren’t proposing that kind of gift, and so I asked for a pen. He ran back to the room to meet the others, and he later came back to me asking me to lend him N10. I gave it to him without asking what he wanted it for because I knew the purpose. So at Charismas time, I got a beautifully wrapped gift. Even though I knew what was inside because it was bought with my money, I still gathered my children round and hug them, just for even thinking of giving me something at that tender age. This mirrors the relationship between God and His children. How often do you honour God?

PRAYER POINT:
Father, grant me the grace to honour You in all I do, all the days of my life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 9-16
Amos 8
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: TAKE MY LIFE
1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17TH 2017

THEME: SERVICE AND FRIENDSHIP    


Memorise:
Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 2 Chronicles 20:7                                                                                                                                                                                            
Read: Genesis 18:17-22

18:17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

18:20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

18:22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.


Message:

When you read through 2 Kings 2:1-7, you will notice that Elijah, Elisha and the sons of the prophets in Bethel, Jericho and Jordan were all very much aware of Elijah’s transition to glory and the day it was scheduled to take place. In fact, they even treated the knowledge of this event like an open secret. One lesson from this is that if you walk in the Spirit, significant events will be common knowledge to you. God has secrets (Proverb 25:2). There are certain things known only to Him, which He may want to share with men once in a while. Daniel 2:22 says,

“He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”

In as much as God wants to share His secrets with men, if He looks around and finds no one qualified by His grace for such secrets, He will simply keep it to Himself.


"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7

When you have a closely guarded secret, do you tell everyone on the street about it? I very much doubt you would do that. Rather, you will want to keep it to yourself, and even if you would tell anyone at all, it will be someone who is not only close to you but who is also trustworthy enough in keeping secrets. Who are those God will share His secrets with? It is His servants! If you are not getting divine information regarding crucial future events, it is most likely that you need to correct certain aspects of your service. When you serve the Lord, He will share some of His secrets with you. The more you serve Him, the more you have future information ahead of time. Also, you must be his friend. Abraham was God’s friend, and so, when God was about to destroy Sodom and He realised that Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family were there, the Lord told Abraham about it. This gave Abraham the privilege and opportunity to intercede for them. Are you a friend of Jesus Christ? What is the level of closeness you share with Him? Friends communicate a lot. Do you often hear God’s voice? How often does He speak to you using various means of communication? You become His closest friend by serving Him like never before, and He will not leave you in the dark concerning your tomorrow and that of your family.
 

Key Point:
When your relationship with God moves up to the friendship level, access to divine secrets will become a regular benefit to you.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 1-8
Amos 7

                                                                                                          
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 14:   TAKE MY LIFE

1.       Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2.       Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3.       Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4.       Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5.       Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6.       Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY NOVEMBER 16TH 2017

THEME: FULFILLING DESTINY

Memorise:
The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. Proverbs 10:27

Read: Ephesians 1:3-6
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

MESSAGE:
If you are born again, you can connect with God’s destiny for your life. God has a plan for every human being He has made, but those who refuse to receive His Lordship will be unable to connect to His plan and purpose for their lives. In other words, sin is a separator that can disconnect the sinner from his or her God-given destiny. One truth you must recognize however is that the fulfillment of your destiny is in God’s hands and also in your hands. To this end, Proverbs 10:27 says,
“The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.”

Although you have a specific number of years allotted to you on earth, your ability to fear God, obey him and make Him happy will not only help you to fulfill your years, these can also help you to increase the number of your years, just as it happened to King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:5-6). In contrast, if you decide to live recklessly, the number of your years can be cut short (Psalm 34:16). The implication of this is that you can shorten or lengthen your years on earth depending on how you live your life.

Long before the foundation of this world was laid, God had chosen us in Christ (Ephesians 1:4). No wonder Jeremiah was told by the Lord that what he would become on earth had already been decided before he was born (Jeremiah 1:4-5). Do not however misconstrue God’s plan for you. According to Jeremiah 29:11, He has beautiful plans for you. These plans include your shinning as light and bringing healing to your world as salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16). Believe it or not, part of His plan is for you to continue from where He stopped on earth in relation to his miraculous works (John 14:12). Furthermore, some level of monetary suffering is allowed for you as part of His plans (1 Peter 2:21). In fact, if you will be glorified with Christ, you must be prepared to also suffer with him (2 Timothy 2:12). It is also part of God’s plan for you to be a joint-heir with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17). This means that you are not as you think you are. Everything God has belongs to Jesus Christ, and you are a co-heir to that inheritance (John 16:15). Apart from these, it is part of our destiny to forever live with Jesus in all eternity (John 14:3). Having known all these truths, it is important for you to daily thank God for His glorious plans for you and live your life in consonance with divine destiny in Christ.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, let every good thing that is part of my destiny begin to manifest in my life from today!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 39-42
Amos 5:18-6:14
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.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15TH 2017

THEME: TIME FOR CONSULTATION

Memorise:
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26

Read: Genesis 1:26-27
1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

MESSAGE:
From the creation story, the fact that man was the last of God’s creation, though he is the most significant, indicates that God can give you the very best at the end. From this we understand that the end of believers is glorious. No wonder Ecclesiastes 7:8 says,
“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
You might have started on a shaky note, but I want to assure you that you will end up being well established. Your faith may be very weak now, but it will become great faith at the end. Never judge your future by the limitation of your present! God will help you overcome those obstacles and limitations, and He will safely take you to your glorious end. Indeed, Job 8:7 says you might have started small but you will end with great increase, provided you sustain a blossoming relationship with God.

In addition, we observe from the account of creation in Genesis chapter 1 that when God was making all other things, He did not call a council meeting, but when it came to the creation of man, a council meeting of the Godhead was called. They all had to be in agreement for man to be created. The implication of this is that to get the best from God, man must be in total unity and alignment with Him. Also, we will be wise to follow the pattern demonstrated by the Godhead in all our decisions. Some issues are more sensitive and volatile than others. There is a time to take a unilateral decision on issues, and there is also a time to consult widely and take a joint decision. Lastly, when it comes to the issue of human management, you would need to go to God for help. Why? Human beings are the most difficult resources to handle. They are very diverse in thought, knowledge and understanding, and so their responses to issues are so divergent and vast. Human beings are also unreliable; it’s no wonder, Jesus did not commit Himself to any man. John 2:24-25 says,
“But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
If you will succeed in leading men and women, you must involve God to a large extent. How well are you managing fellow men?

Key Point:
To effectively lead men, you must be connected to the One who made man.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 36-38
Amos 5:1-17
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 9: ON THE HILL FAR AWAY
1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14TH 2017

THEME: VESSELS: HOW PREPARED?

Memorise:
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21

Read: 2 Timothy 2:19-21
2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

MESSAGE:
In Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah saw the Lord and this opened his eyes to see himself the way he truly was before God. As the brightness of God’s presence illuminated every aspect of his life, he had no choice but to seek divine assistance, and as he cried for help, God sent an angel to purify his unclean lips with a coal of fire. When you see Jesus, you will become a candidate for purification. Purification is essential because without being purged by God, your fruitfulness will be hampered (John 15:2). In other words, the more God refines you, the more likely He will use you for greater works. Many of us quote John 14:12 and claim that because we believe in Jesus, we automatically qualify for greater works. However, the truth is, there can be no greater works without divine refinement. God does not use unclean vessels for His work. If He has chosen you for an assignment and you come to the realization of how unfit you are for the work, it is because He wants you to be challenged, and He also wants you to ask for His purging and cleansing.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” 2 Timothy 2:20
It is not enough to be a vessel unto God. You should ensure that you are a vessel for honourable purposes. Beyond this, 2 Timothy 2:21 tells us that being purified is crucial to being used of God, and that although God may have His ways of purifying us, we also have a personal responsibility to purge ourselves. You have to put considerable effort to purge yourself. Those carnal habits you have must go! Little lies must go! Get rid of hypocrisy! Fruitlessness in soul-winning must go! The more you purge yourself, the more you will be a candidate for more and greater works. Don’t ever think that there is no more work to be done in the Kingdom. There is so much work yet to be done, and although the labourers are increasing in number, those purified and set apart for God’s use are few. Are you prepared to make yourself ready for God’s use? There are a few believers who have purged themselves and are prepared for any assignment God has for them; God will use such vessels to do just about anything, even as He bypasses many other vessels that are not pure enough for His use. Do all you can to be a pure and prepared vessel for God!

Key Point:
Purity makes a vessel usable for any assignment.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 33-35
Amos 4:4-13
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: DEEPER DEEPER
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Refrain:

3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Refrain:

4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Refrain:

5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
Refrain:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14TH 2017
THEME: VESSELS: HOW PREPARED?
Memorise:
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21
Read: 2 Timothy 2:19-21
2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Message:
In Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah saw the Lord and this opened his eyes to see himself the way he truly was before God. As the brightness of God’s presence illuminated every aspect of his life, he had no choice but to seek divine assistance, and as he cried for help, God sent an angel to purify his unclean lips with a coal of fire. When you see Jesus, you will become a candidate for purification. Purification is essential because without being purged by God, your fruitfulness will be hampered (John 15:2). In other words, the more God refines you, the more likely He will use you for greater works. Many of us quote John 14:12 and claim that because we believe in Jesus, we automatically qualify for greater works. However, the truth is, there can be no greater works without divine refinement. God does not use unclean vessels for His work. If He has chosen you for an assignment and you come to the realization of how unfit you are for the work, it is because He wants you to be challenged, and He also wants you to ask for His purging and cleansing.
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” 2 Timothy 2:20
It is not enough to be a vessel unto God. You should ensure that you are a vessel for honourable purposes. Beyond this, 2 Timothy 2:21 tells us that being purified is crucial to being used of God, and that although God may have His ways of purifying us, we also have a personal responsibility to purge ourselves. You have to put considerable effort to purge yourself. Those carnal habits you have must go! Little lies must go! Get rid of hypocrisy! Fruitlessness in soul-winning must go! The more you purge yourself, the more you will be a candidate for more and greater works. Don’t ever think that there is no more work to be done in the Kingdom. There is so much work yet to be done, and although the labourers are increasing in number, those purified and set apart for God’s use are few. Are you prepared to make yourself ready for God’s use? There are a few believers who have purged themselves and are prepared for any assignment God has for them; God will use such vessels to do just about anything, even as He bypasses many other vessels that are not pure enough for His use. Do all you can to be a pure and prepared vessel for God!
Key Point:
Purity makes a vessel usable for any assignment.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 33-35
Amos 4:4-13
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 6: DEEPER DEEPER
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Refrain:
3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Refrain:
4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Refrain:
5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
Refrain:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY NOVEMBER 13TH 2017

THEME: FASTING PREPARES THE GROUND

MEMORISE:
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 13:3

Read: Acts 13:1-3
13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

MESSAGE:
Just before He began His earthly ministry, our Lord Jesus Christ embarked on a 40-day fast. According to Matthew 4:1-2, He was led by the Holy Spirit into this exercise. Do you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you? Has He ever led you to do some fasting before? If He has, did you simply obey Him, or did you make excuses as to why you couldn’t fast? From the experience of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can see that fasting is necessary to equip us for the work of the ministry. When God commits a specific assignment into your hands, do you make out time to seek His face through fasting and prayer, or do you just jump into the assignment without necessarily seeking His direction, assistance, wisdom, protection and grace to succeed on the assignment? If you seek Him for assistance, it shows you realize your limitations and recognize that it is only through His power you can succeed in the assignment. In any case, Jesus clearly told us that we cannot do anything the way it should be done without Him (John 15:5). If we fail to seek His face, it shows we have confidence in ourselves, believing that we do not need Him to help us on the job. Beloved, you cannot do any divine assignment the way you are expected to do it without the backing of the One who sent you. From today, never embark on any assignment, be it spiritual or secular, without seeking God’s face in fasting and prayer!

In addition, when people are being prepared for the work of the ministry, prayer and fasting are needed to equip them spiritually. This was practiced in the early church. Acts 13:3 says,
“And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”
When some prophets and teachers gathered themselves together to minister to God, the Holy Spirit selected Paul and Barnabas from their midst, to take the gospel to other nations. What did they do after this? They took time to pray and fast with them before releasing them to go and do the work. Even today, fasting is still needed to equip the various levels of the Church workforce. From the level of foundational classes for young converts and above, we should encourage praying and fasting as a means of equipping the saints for the assignments ahead of them.

ACTION POINT:
Any good thing that you are to embark on must first be subjected to prayer and fasting.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 30-32
Amos 3:3-4:3
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

RCCG HOUSE FELLOWSHIP MANUAL

LESSON | ELEVEN

SUNDAY, 12TH OF NOVEMBER, 2017.

TOPIC :THE CONSUMING FIRE

*—————————–

HOUSE FELLOWSHIP ANTHEM
CALL: Do you love this family?
RESP: I Love this family of God
CALL: Tell me how close to you
RESP: So close knitted into one
ALL: They are taking me into their arms
And’am so glad to be
A part of this great family

SUGGESTED TIME SCHEDULE

Praise and Worship…… 10minutes
Testimonies………………. 10 minutes
Bible Discussion……….. 15 minutes
General Prayers…………. 15 minutes
Questions
Welcoming New Converts
Announcements…………. 10 minutes
Offering
Closing prayer.

TOTAL-60 MINUTES (1HOUR)

MEMORY VERSE= *”For our God is a consuming fire”. *Heb 12:29.

BIBLE PASSAGE
* Exo 24:15-18; Num 16:35; 2Kings 1:9-15.*

••OPENING PRAYER••
•••• Prayer Point: Father, consume all satanic deposit from my life in Jesus name, Amen ••••
_________

Introduction»
a. Physical Fire, which may be sub divided into ordinary fire and a huge fire burning fiercely and uncontrollably Called inferno.
b Spiritual fire, this may also be classified into two groups depending on their source. The first group of fire is from the devil called strange fire, satanic or devilish fire etc. This is an imitation of God’s fire (Exo7:9-15). The second group is from God; it is called divine fire, fire of God, Holy Ghost fire etc.

LESSON OUTLINE

Characteristics of Physical Fire
It can be used to cook food, born something maintain body warmth etc.

Characteristics of Devilish Fire
It can only destroy John 10:10
It’s power is limited

Characteristics of Godly Spiritual Fire
¹ The source is fron God, no Wonder our God is also called ” Consuming Fire”. Dear 4:24, Heb 12:29, Exo 24:17.
¹¹ God himself is the Fire I.e one way by which God shows himself. Isa 33:14
¹¹¹ He manifest Himself in many unusual manners such as, Burning Bush (Exo3:2-4); Pillar of fire (Exo 13:21-22) Be 9:12-19, Num 14:14
⁴ His power is not limited in any form whatsoever, the Almighty God. Exo 6:1-3
²/³ He has to create both physical and spiritual matters. Gen 28:3, Gen 35:11.
²/⁴ He has power to destroy both physical and spiritual matters Dear 9:3, Gen 35:11
³/⁴ He consume water, stone, wood etc included a sacrifice 1kings 18:38

CONCLUSION
Our God is a consuming fire and He is no respecter of anyone. He is supreme and sovereign and nobody dares query Him. He does as He pleases in Isa 46:10, the Scripture says “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure”

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, please let me enjoy your mercy always.

2. Father, please give me the grace not to offend you always

3. Father, as you dealt with your enemies (the prophets of Baal) on mount Carmel, please deal with all those covering the manifestation of your Glory in my life.

4. Father, you answer Prophet Elijah by fire, please answer my prayers instantly

5. Father, you went ahead of the Israelites and consumed all evil on their ways, please go ahead of me in all my undertakings and destroy every evil on my way.

6. Father, consume every trap both spiritual and physical set by the the enemies against Daddy GO and his family members.

7. Father, consume every enemy of your Church that fails to repent.

GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY: 2 Kings 1:9-15, Exo3:2-4, 2 Sam 22:7-14. Father, let your fire consume every networking of power of darkness in my life .

TUESDAY: Neh 9:12-19, Deut 3:23-29, 2 Thess1:8-9. Father, let your Mercy surround means your Church, RCCG in Jesus’ Name.

WEDNESDAY: Num 16:35. Father, by fire destroy all the works of my enemies in my life. Op

THURSDAY:….. omitted(make your request)

FRIDAY: Num 16:1-35. Father, by fire destroy every element of rebellion in RCCG

SATURDAY: Exo 24:15-18. Father, baptized me with fresh fire.

SUNDAY: Exo 213:21-22. Father,let your presence in my life give me direction and protection anywhere i go.

NOTE:
We will not lack grace to be baptized with fire of Holy Ghost in Jesus name. Please let us invite our neighbours in our various Centers, we need more member God bless you as you comply Amen!

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT'S MANUAL

LESSON ELEVEN

SUNDAY, 12TH NOVEMBER 2017

TOPIC: THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

MEMORY VERSE: ‘’Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 11:9-13

INTRODUCTION:
Now that we understand the significance and the ministry of the Comforter, hopefully, the Holy Spirit would have discovered in us clean vessels and temples, ready for divine occupation. You need to receive Him without hesitation.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. How to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
2. The actual baptism, the baptizer and the evidence.

HOW TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The following steps will guide any sincere candidate for the baptism of the Holy Ghost:
1. Be born again (John 3:3; Acts 3:19).
2. Be desirous and thirsty for the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 37:4; Psalm 42:1; Isaiah 55:1).
3. Believe that the promise of the baptism of the Holy Ghost is for you and all believers (Acts 2:33).
4. Identify the Lord Jesus christ as the right source of the baptism in the Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:11).
5. Have confidence also in His word, which will never fall to the ground but is forever settled in Heaven (John 7:37-39; Psalm 119:89).
6. Then ask Him and He will answer, for "He that asketh receiveth" (Luke 11:10).
7. Praise and thank God in advance for your baptism because He is the giver of good gifts (James 1:17; 1Thessalonians 5:18).

THE ACTUAL BAPTISM, THE BAPTIZER AND THE EVIDENCE.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Baptiser (Matthew 3:11). The process of baptism in the Holy Ghost involves finding time to come before the presence of God, our Maker, in worship, praise, thanksgiving and with a right mind (Psalm 100:4; 66:18). The focus of attention at this time should be Jesus, who is the Author and the Finisher of our faith and the rewarder of the faithful and the diligent (Hebrews 12:1-2; 11:6). After asking prayerfully and in faith, the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance which is evidenced in the speaking of tongues (Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46). This baptism initiates the believer into POWER, the divine ability to do exploits, "greater works than these" as Jesus prophesied (Luke 24:49; John 14:12).

CONCLUSION:
The baptism in the Holy Ghost is for you to make you strong, ride high in God and be perfect as God intends you to be. If you are born again then ask for the baptism in the Holy Ghost and the baptiser will do it now, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

QUESTIONS
1. List the steps to the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
2. What is the initial evidence of baptism in the Holy Ghost?