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Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(sun. 12/11/2017) Does Our Worship Benefit God? by 4reala(op): 11:05pm On Nov 11, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12TH 2017
THEME: DOES OUR WORSHIP BENEFIT GOD?
MEMORISE: I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3
Read: Revelation 5:11-13 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
MESSAGE: Giving is a common and crucial activity that every serious minded believer in Christ should regularly engage in. The wise believer would hear this and flow with it, but those who think they are “smart” will hear and ignore it to their own undoing. Luke 6:38 says that you should give and it shall be given to you. Have you ever asked yourself who benefits when you give to God? Can you make God richer by giving to the Owner of the universe? Can you add to the Owner of silver and gold by giving to Him? Everything you have, you received from Him (1 Corinthians 4:7). You are the one who gains from giving to God. When you refuse to give, who loses? The Holy Spirit answers that question in Proverbs 11:24: “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.”
If you fail to give, you are the one who loses. Your giving determines how far you go in life. Overflowing abundance is a product of sacrificial giving. If you have been sowing sacrificially to God and His Kingdom but you have not yet reached the level of swimming in abundance, you should be celebrated. Why? It is because you are not likely to die until God pays you back in full. The One who said we should owe no man cannot afford to owe you.
Moreover, when you praise God, who gains? Can your praise add to Him in reality? In Psalm 18:1-3, David said several things about who God was to him. He said God is worthy to be praised, because he realized that when he praised God, he got delivered from his enemies. In other words, refusing to praise God would have resulted in him becoming a casualty in the hands of his enemies. So who loses if you refuse to praise God? Today’s Bible reading talks about God’s mass choir in Heaven. It says the size is something like 100 trillion. If God has such a great choir of angels and saved souls worshiping Him, what difference will adding or subtracting your voice from it make? Do you think that God will miss your voice? Therefore, who gains from worshiping and praising God? It is you! Every time God demands that we give something to Him, it is for our own good and not His. Only the fellow who wants to deceive himself or herself will think otherwise.
ACTION POINT: Serve and worship God because your life, joy and peace depend on it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 25-29 Amos 2:4-3:2 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 3: HOW GREAT THOU ART 1. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Chorus: Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art! Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
2. When through the woods, and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze. [Chorus]
3. And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing; Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. [Chorus]
4. When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then shall I bow, in humble adoration, And then proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!" [Chorus]
RomanceRe: Intending Groom To Be Buried On His Wedding Day In Anambra State. Photos by 4reala(m): 10:11am On Nov 11, 2017
May his gentle soul RiP
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(sat. 11/11/2017) Wounds Leave Their Scars by 4reala(op): 9:29pm On Nov 10, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11TH 2017

THEME: WOUNDS LEAVE THEIR SCARS

Memorise:
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Corinthians 3:17

READ: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

MESSAGE:
God is both the God of love and a consuming fire (1 John 4:8, Hebrews 12:29). He is extreme in His love for mankind, and He can also be extreme in His judgment. This is why you must never take Him for granted. All over the world, there is a resurgence in the doctrine of eternal security. This doctrine says that once you are saved, no matter what you do, your salvation is forever intact. This is one of the deceptive pills that the devil uses to drown souls forever in Hell in these last days. You shall not fall victim to this in Jesus’ Name!

Today, many people are not taking the totality of God’s word into consideration while interpreting scriptures that talk about God’s grace. Such people believe that grace is devoid of responsibility. Ephesians 2:8 says we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and I am in total agreement with this. Also 1 Corinthians 15:10 says that whatever we are and whatever we become is by the grace of God, and I also totally agree with this. But beyond these, some people further believe that works are not necessary any more or else it won’t be grace. This is a lie! Philippians 2:12 says after being saved by grace, you must work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Did 2 Timothy 2:22 not command us to flee from youthful lust? In fact, 1 Corinthians 3:17 says,
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
In other words, after being saved, you become a holy temple for God to dwell in. If you then go back to sin, God will bring His judgment on you. This too was written by the apostle of grace.

Beloved, never play with sin! Don’t joke with backsliding! Wounds can heal but the scars would remain as a reminder. The scarred flesh is never like the original. A scar is a dent on the body. It disfigures and distorts the fine form and beauty of the body. If you have a scar somewhere on your body and somebody looks at you there, the scar will be the very first thing they will see. When the prodigal son returned home, he was well received, and a feast was held in his honour, but he had lost his inheritance! He returned as a disenchanted son. After David sinned with Bathsheba and killed her husband, he later realized his evil, confessed it and was forgiven and restored to full fellowship with God; yet, the sword never departed from his house ever since! You can avoid scars! Live right before God and obey Him in all you do, and He will guide you to avoid the pits the devil has dug to orchestrate your fall.

Key Point:
Foolish people bring avoidable and unnecessary sufferings on themselves. Father, please give me a wise heart to avoid pitfalls.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 21-24
Amos 1:1-2:3
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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

3. 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.

4. 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.
RomanceRe: Intending Groom To Be Buried On His Wedding Day In Anambra State. Photos by 4reala(m): 3:13pm On Nov 10, 2017
Marshalxv:
Oh lord,may I not be terminated in my moment of breakthrough. What a sad turn of event.
Such will never be our portion.
AMEN
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(fri. 10/11/2017) Losing A Deal. by 4reala(op): 10:31pm On Nov 09, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10TH 2017

THEME: LOSING A DEAL.

MEMORISE:
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Isaiah 2:19

Read: Isaiah 2:18-22
2:18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
2:20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
2:21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?

MESSAGE:
The Almighty God is not only a God of love and mercy but also a God to be feared. One reason why you ought to fear Him is that He can not only bless you, but He can also turn your blessing into a curse. In Malachi 2:2, something went amiss among the priest and God had this to say:
“If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.”

When you refuse to ascribe to God the glory due to His Name, or when you do not use the blessing God has given you to glorify Him, you may be provoking Him to turn that blessing into a curse. May God not curse your blessings in Jesus’ Name! This is why you must do all that is within your power to obey God always.

Many years ago, a young man came to me saying he needed a major breakthrough. Then I asked him, “will you serve the Lord?” He chorused with enthusiasm, “I will serve Him!” so I told the Lord, “Almighty God, see this young, zealous man who is ready to serve you. Please bless him. “Some days later, he returned to me with excitement and said, “Sir, my landlord has a house with 13 flats for sale. He says I can sell the property for any price; all he is asking me to give him is a particular amount that is less than half its worth!” So I said to him, “Congratulations! Your breakthrough has come at last. How many flats are there again?” “Thirteen”, he replied. Then I said to him, “That means you will give one flat to the God as your tithe.” At this, he got angry and said, “This is the trouble with you pastors! This is the reason why people should not even share their testimonies with you!” So I asked him to forgive me. He said “this is my very first breakthrough”, and I replied, “I am sorry sir”, and he left. He thereafter sold the house to a prospective buyer, and he took the amount he earlier agreed with the landlord to him. The landlord looked at him strangely and said, “Which house did you sell?” “The house at plot so and so sir”, he replied. The landlord said to him, “Did I ever ask you to sell that house?” “Yes sir, you did, and you asked me to bring so much for it”, he replied. The landlord then yelled, “You think you can use black magic on me, right? If you don’t leave here now, both you and your witchdoctor will face the music! “The young man returned to me, saying he was now ready to do what I asked, but I said to him, “Leave me out of this. It is strictly between you and God. Go and settle with Him. “Are you prepared to honour God with the blessings He has given you?

KEY POINT:
God has had to shut some doors because the beneficiaries were not ready to do what He wanted them to do with the open doors.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 17-20
Joel 3
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: HOW GREAT THOU ART
1. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Chorus:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

2. When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
[Chorus]

3. And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
[Chorus]

4. When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then shall I bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!"
[Chorus]
Christianity EtcOpen Heaven Daily Devotional(thur. 09/11/2017) You Will Face Mockers. by 4reala(op): 10:53pm On Nov 08, 2017
OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Thursday November 9, 2017

YOU WILL FACE MOCKERS.

Memorise : And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. - 2 Kings 2:3

Read: 2Kings 2:1-3

2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2:2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

2:3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.


MESSAGE :

God allows you to go through test before giving a prize. Unfortunately, some people do well for a while, but when it comes to the crucial tests of life, they fail. May you never fail in the tests of life in Jesus’ Name!

One lesson that is evident in today’s Bible reading is that to get to your higher glory, you may meet with discouragers, mockers, and dream killers. Even the Lord Jesus Christ faced mockers in His own family. Most members of His family did not even believe in Him until after His resurrection (John 7:5, Acts 1:14). In John 7:4, they scoffed at Him saying:

“For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.”

Some people will not want you to dare that great height because they have tried it several times and failed. They cannot stand you achieving what they could not achieve. Some others will mock you just to discourage you and weaken your faith.

Beloved, a lot of the distractions you will encounter from people on your way to the higher glory God has for you will be borne out of envy. Just look at what Elisha went through with the sons of the prophets on his way to his promotion. Regardless of their motives, every ministry of discouragers and mockers organized against the fulfillment of your destiny shall fail and be completely frustrated this season!

Moreover, it is glaring that there is so much work to be done for you to enter your higher glory. In other words, higher glory is not meant for everyone. It is especially not for the idle or lazy folks. It is not for procrastinators. Higher glory is not for wishful thinkers. It is for those who are diligent. It is for those who work extra hard, those who can burn the midnight oil. It is for those who can make sacrifices and be focused on the set goal until it is realized.

Are you prepared for this? I pray that you will be successful in all the assignments you need to perform in order to enter your greater glory in Jesus’ Name! It is not just enough to work hard: you must also be ready and be able to take up more or higher responsibilities. Some people limit themselves in this area.

Are you capable of handling higher assignments? If you are wise, while you are on a particular level, you can open yourself to learn more things – particularly those things above your current level. You must be teachable. Are you willing to learn? 

KEY POINT :
Learning should be continuous. After graduating from formal school, you should enrol yourself in the school of self-development.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Job 13-16;
Joel 2:18-32   


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.
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(wed. 08/11/2017) When The Best Comes Last by 4reala(op): 10:56pm On Nov 07, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 8TH 2017

THEME: WHEN THE BEST COMES LAST

MEMORISE:
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. Matthew 19:30

READ: Genesis 1:26-31
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.
1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
1:31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

MESSAGE:
A look at the creation story as recorded in Genesis Chapter 1 shows that man, the most important of God’s creation, was created on the sixth day. He was the last of God’s creation, even though he was the most significant. After man was created, God then rested from His work. One vital lesson here is that being first may not always mean being the most important, while being the last may not always mean that you’re the least important. Further reinforcing this truth, Jesus said:
“And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.” Luke 13:30
This is good news to us all. Are you the last child of your family and consequently you’ve believed yourself to be the least? You are simply short-changing yourself! Joseph was the 11th of 12 brothers but he was the one who became a father to them all. Concerning Joseph, it is written:
“And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.” Genesis 50:18
There are many children who were born last in their families that are presently graced with the gift of becoming the light that every other member of their families looks up to. From today, you will come to the limelight in Jesus’ Name! The lord will lift you up. However, you need to drop every faulty mindset you have now.

Moreover, another lesson here is that God can reserve the best for the last. When men have exhausted all their efforts and failed, God can show up and intervene in that particular situation. At the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, Jesus waited for the wine to run out before He supplied a more superior wine (John 2:1-10). Sometimes when God wants to assist us in certain situations, we shove Him aside, telling Him we are mature and can help ourselves. He therefore steps aside and allows us to exhaust our abilities. If you are wise, you will agree with God early enough so that you do not have to waste so much effort in the long run. Yes, you can have the best towards the end! Indeed, do you know that God has reserved the prosperity of some people till they are in their late forties and above? Probably because He wants them to first mature spiritually, mentally and physically, knowing that after maturing, such people will be able to easily cooperate with Him over how He wants the blessing used. Whatever stage your life may be in right now, don’t discount yourself. It’s not over until God says so.

KEY POINT:
Whether you arrive now or later, what is important is that you manifest at your appointed time.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 9-12
Joel 2:1-17
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: HOW GREAT THOU ART
1. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Chorus:
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

2. When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
[Chorus]

3. And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
[ Chorus s]

4. When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then shall I bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!"
[] ChoruS
Christianity EtcOpen Heaven Daily Devotional(tue. 07/11/2017) Seeing Jesus Purifies by 4reala(op): 12:41am On Nov 07, 2017
OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Tuesday November 7, 2017

SEEING JESUS PURIFIES

Memorise : And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. - Malachi 3:3

Read: 2 Corinthians 3:15-18

3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.


MESSAGE :

When you see Jesus, everything blocking your vision will give way. At the time I came into ministry, we served God selflessly. Nobody had to promise any of us a house, car, position or title. We just loved God and we were ready to serve Him no matter the cost. We were ready to take the shame and suffering that came along with our service.

Furthermore, when we suffered, we did not grumble or complain because our focus was on Jesus. This is where our focus should also be today.

In Mark 10:17-22, a young man came to Jesus to find out what he needed to do in order to make Heaven. The Lord told him to go and sell all that he had and give to the poor, and then he should take up his cross and follow Him. This was too much for him to bear, and so he went away grieved. He thought he had met all the requirements but the Lord told him what he lacked which he never knew of.

Beloved, when you see Jesus, you will realize what is lacking in your life that you never thought about. When you see Jesus, you will be able to see yourself more clearly and deeply. Jesus is the mirror through which you see yourself for who you really are.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

It was after Isaiah saw the Lord that he realized he had been inviting God’s judgment on himself as well as on the people. He did not know that his lips, which he thought anointed, were also unclean (Isaiah 6:1-7). He saw his true picture and he cried out to God for help. When you see the Lord, it will change your prayer point, and you will begin to pray more appropriately.

Isaiah cried for help and God sent an angel to touch his lips with a coal of fire from the altar to purify his lips. Malachi 3:2-a3 says the sons of Levi must be purified by fire. This is why servants of God should not be afraid of trials. When you go through trying times, it is likely that God wants you to be purified. He wants to take out the dirt and anything that will not allow you to truly manifest the grace of God that is upon your life. It takes you seeing Jesus to know how dirty or unclean you really are.

Seeing your true state through Him will motivate you to call on Him for help.

KEY POINT :
Looking at Jesus, the perfect eternal mirror makes you see yourself in the realities of eternity.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Job 5-8;
Joel 1


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]
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(mon. 06/11/2017) HE RESPONDS TO LOVE by 4reala(op): 9:09pm On Nov 05, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH 2017

THEME: HE RESPONDS TO LOVE

MEMORISE:
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Proverb 8:17

Read: Proverb 8:17-18
8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
MESSAGE:
From the encounter the widow of Zarephath had with God in 1 Kings 17:8-16, we learn that God knows how to reciprocate love. It takes deep love for God for you to be ready to give your very last meal for His sake. When in Proverbs 8:17 God said,
“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
He meant every word of it. When the widow was told to go and first prepare food for Elijah, she looked at him and said, ‘I will do it. Not for you, but for your God and because of my love for Him”. Can it be said that you truly love the Lord? The testimony of genuine love for God is a great testimony every believer in Christ should have. After all is said and done, may it be declared concerning you that you loved the Lord.

Beloved, do you know that giving of first fruits is just a test of your love for God? By the grace of God, out of my love for God and to reach out to lost souls, I desired to convene a Holy Ghost Congress. The first Congress took place in 1977. I wanted to invite students to come together for this purpose, but I could not afford to feed them all. I had no money but I had a car, and without thinking much about it, I sold the car for that purpose. I did this with every sense of joy and satisfaction. At that time, some people thought I was mad, and really, I was madly in love with God.

When God says He loves those who love Him, He means it. When you demonstrate how much you love Him, He will reciprocate. Just recently, I announced to the congregation that I no longer had a need for cars, so nobody should give me a car as a gift anymore. When I got home that same day, four new cars were already waiting for me. I said I didn’t want any more cars, but God said I haven’t seen anything yet. I gave Him my first car and ever since, He keeps sending me cars. The widow gave God her last meal and God kept sending more meals to her. While everyone around her was either starving or dying due to famine, she and her household got more fattened. You may not believe this, but do you know that I gave the very first house I built in my life to the Lord? For me, it was indeed a pleasurable thing to do. I did not come into this world with a house. God built one for me and when He needed it, I gave it to Him out of love. I can tell you that He has been very faithful to me ever since. Are you still holding back lands, houses, money and other things that you could have given Him to demonstrate your love and provoke greater returns? Do you really love Him?

Action Point:
Pray that God will cause your nation to make progress in every sector.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 1-4
Hosea 14
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior 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 Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!
Christianity EtcRccg Sunday School Student's Manual(05/11/2017) The Holy Spirit In Action by 4reala(op): 10:56pm On Nov 04, 2017
RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT'S MANUAL
LESSON TEN
SUNDAY, 5TH NOVEMBER 2017
TOPIC: THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ACTION
MEMORY VERSE: ‘’But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8
BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 1:1-19
INTRODUCTION:
Having studied the personality of the Holy Spirit and His attributes, we need to look at the significance and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in order to see Him in action.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. The significance of the Holy Spirit
2. The ministry of the Holy Spirit
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is God's seed of power in a believer, planted at his baptism (of the Holy Spirit) and growing to bring forth the fruits of power (Acts 1:cool. This power supernaturally makes the believer to become a true witness of the word e.g. the initially timid, easily shaken like a reed PETER turns out to be an active, powerful, immovable Rock and witness of the word (Acts 2:1-47; 4:10-20).
He is also the Consuming Fire of God, which distinguishes the true believer (Matthew 3:11-12). He is the divine Wind of God's Church and the enabling Grace behind a fruitful and rewarding Christianity (Ezekiel 37:1-10, 1Corinthians 2:4, Luke 4:14-18).
THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The ministry of the Holy Spirit, amongest many, includes the following:
1. He quickens our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11), which makes it illegal for any sickness or disease to dwell there, but instead turns it to partakers of God's divine nature (Matthew 3:12, 2Peter 1:4).
2. He guides into all truth (John 16:12-13) by enlightening the understanding of the believers on all issues of life. He is, therefore, our only insurance against the deadly and enslaving grip of ignorance. By this divine guidance, we will always have solutions to every problem that may confront us.
3. He reveals things to come (Acts 21:4, 10-12).
4. He reminds of things taught (John 14:26) especially in the times of need e.g. the Lord Jesus in His encounter with the tempter.
5. He reproves the world of sin. The sinner gets conviction not by gimmicks but by the Holy spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
6. He reproves the world of righteousness by making them to live righteous in the midst of a perverse generation.
7. He reproves the world of judgment (John 16:11).
8. He testifies of the truth, which makes it easier, therefore, for a true believer to decree a thing, and it is established unto him (John 15:26; Job 22:28).
9. He intercedes for the saints (Romans 8:26-27).
10. He gives spiritual gifts unto hungry men and women who earnestly covet them (1Corinthians 12:4, 11).
CONCLUSION:
The Holy Spirit is unique in significance and His ministry is comprehensive. It is dangerous for any true believer to run the pilgrims journey without Him. Put His house in order, that is your body, which is His Temple so that He can dwell there. Pray accordingly in Jesus' name.
QUESTIONS
1. How significant is the Comforter?
2. Discuss the comprehensive ministry of the Comforter.
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(sun. 05/11/2017) Why Praise Him? by 4reala(op): 10:44pm On Nov 04, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5TH 2017
THEME: WHY PRAISE HIM?
Memorise:
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:5
Read: Psalm 103:1-8
103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
103:6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Message:
Anytime you find it difficult to worship God, just know that pride might be creeping into your heart. If pride finds a place in your heart, God will begin to resist you from that moment (James 4:6). May God not resist you! Some people have become too big to dance for the King of kings in public. Be warned! 1 Peter 2:9 says we were created, chosen and called to praise God, and so, anything that tries to hinder you from praising God must be avoided like a plague. However, why should you be grateful to God? Why should you thank and praise Him? Our Bible reading gives some reasons. The first reason is for the salvation of your soul (Revelation 1:5-6). When the blood of goats and that of other animals could not wash our sins, God had to send His Son Jesus Christ to shed His Blood for that purpose (Hebrew 10:4). How much did you pay for the Blood of Jesus to wash away your sins? How much have you also paid to receive cleansing by the same Blood, whenever you fall into sin? If Christ had not offered His Blood, there would not have been one soul saved in all of the earth! So what do you do about this? Be thankful for the blood of Jesus!
Similarly, you ought to be grateful for your deliverance. Concerning this, Hebrews 2:14-15 says,
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Revelation 12:11 also says that the Blood of Jesus Christ makes it possible for you to overcome your worst enemy: Satan. The blood protects you from harm’s way. What about your translation from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus Christ, made possible by the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (Colossians 1:13)? Have you ever paid for this? How about the healing stripes? 1 Peter 2:24 says because of the lashes that Jesus received, you and I can now access divine healing for every category of sickness. What about His love? Can you pay for His incomparable love with which He has loved you, even while you were deep in sin? But for this love, where would you be by now? Yes, you ought to equally praise Him for His tender mercies that keep you alive on a daily basis (Lamentations 3:22-23). Even when you go to sleep, do you realize it is not by your power that you wake up? Psalm 3:5 says it is God who does this daily, and this is just another reason to praise and worship Him. Are you ready to give Him the thanks and praise that is due to His holy Name?
Action Point:
Today, use every opportunity you have to just praise, thank, adore and worship the Lord.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 John 5
2 John
3 John
Jude
Hosea 13
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.
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(sat. 04/11/2017) Don’t Faint! by 4reala(op): 1:45am On Nov 04, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4TH 2017

THEME: DON’T FAINT!

Memorise:
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 Corinthians 4:1
Read: 2 Corinthians 4:15-16
4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Message:
As children of God, one lesson we derive from Luke 6:38 is that giving precedes receiving. Those who expect to receive when they have not sown are waiting for an empty harvest. Some people may contend with this truth by citing John 4:38, which says,
“I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.”
Yes, it is possible to reap where you did not sow, but you will always reap what you sow. If you check the scriptures, you will find out that the privilege of reaping where you did not sow is reserved for the hardworking fellow and not for the lazy. If you consider the parable of the talent in Matthew 25:14-30, you will discover that the servant who had 10 talents was given the extra talent that was taken away from the lazy servant. The Lord justified this action with these words in Matthew 25:29:
“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

If you work hard and excel in whatever assignment the Lord has given you, if you make sacrifices in doing God’s bidding beyond every other person, or if you out-give everyone else, you will not only enter into abundance, but you may also qualify to receive the harvest of the lazy.
Moreover, we see that the lazy servant lost his harvest. May you not lose your harvest to someone else! It is interesting to note that some people lose their harvest not only to laziness but also as a result of lack of patience. A story was told of the pastor of a local assembly, who fasted, prayed and evangelized his community but could not get a harvest. It appeared as if the ground was iron. Unknown to him, God was working out something that would bring a lot of people to that community. Sadly, before God could finish what He was doing, this pastor got discouraged and quit ministry. Just about the same time, another pastor started a ministry in the same community. The people that God caused to relocate to this community as reward for the toiling of the pastor that quit now became a harvest for the new pastor. This new pastor must have concluded that ministry was so easy, without knowing what really happened. In light of this, never give up on your assignment! No matter how tough things may be, remain with God and you will reap your harvest.

Key Point:
If you remove people out of their rightful harvest, get set to be thrown out of your own harvest, unless you fully restitute.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 John 2-4
Hosea 12
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
Refrain:

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
Refrain:

4. There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
Refrain:

5. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.
Refrain:
CelebritiesRe: Daddy Freeze Loses His Instagram Account Again! by 4reala(m):
common simple social media rules he cannot keep, saying acct hacking.
Abeg make we here word jawe. Na so dem go dey lie for acct hacking head
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(fri. 03/11/2017) Upturning Blessings by 4reala(op): 10:29pm On Nov 02, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3RD 2017

THEME: UPTURNING BLESSINGS

Memorise:

And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. Joshua 6:18

Read: Malachi 2:1-6

2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

2:3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

2:4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

2:5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

2:6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

Message:

God can bless you by pronouncing a blessing on you, canceling a curse or even turning a curse into blessing. It is important to establish at this point that no man can change your blessings into a curse - not even the one through whom the blessing was pronounced. Once the blessing is pronounced, it cannot be taken back. We see a manifestation of this truth in Genesis 27:30-37. After Esau returned from his father’s errand and realized his brother had stolen his blessing by impersonating him, he went to his father and said, “Daddy, what have you done?” Isaac, his father, replied, "I am sorry son, I have already blessed him and he remains blessed. I didn’t know I was blessing the wrong fellow, but I can’t change the blessing now. He is already blessed!" In the Name that is above all names, every blessing that has been pronounced on you and your family shall come to pass! Your blessing shall never be reversed in Jesus’ Name! Every plan of the wicked to upturn your blessings shall fail and meet with disappointment!

However, God can change blessing into a curse. In 1 Samuel 2:30, God told Eli, “With my mouth, I said that you and your father’s house would stand before Me forever, but now, because of what you have done, I have changed My mind”, and with the same mouth, God cursed Eli and his descendants forever. In that scripture, the Lord revealed that honouring Him is very crucial. If you want Him to fulfill His promises and beautiful prophecies to you and your family, you must be prepared to honour Him. God will only honour those who honour Him. I have often told those brethren who attend our monthly Divine Encounter programme that when God asks you to give Him your first fruits, it is not because He is in need. It is simply a way of you honouring Him. Proverbs 3:9-10 says,

“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Have you been faithful in paying your first fruit? If you pay it faithfully, He will definitely keep His word by bringing His promises to fulfillment in your life. If however, you cannot meet his conditions, do not waste your time claiming the promises. God is a responsible God, and He is the Father of responsible children. If you ignore the commands of your earthly father, it doesn’t show you are responsible. It works the same way with God.

Action Point:
Pray that your blessing will never become a curse.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Peter 1-3
1 John 1
Hosea 11


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING



1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

Refrain:

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

Refrain:

4. There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain:

5. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

Refrain:
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(thur. 01/11/2017) Expect Test. by 4reala(op): 11:17pm On Nov 01, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2ND 2017

THEME: EXPECT TEST.

Memorise:
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. 2 King 2:2
Read: 1 Peter 4:12-13, 2 King 2:1-15
4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2:2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
2:3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
2:4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lordhath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
2:5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
2:6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
2:8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
2:15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

Message:
There are some vital lessons we can benefit from the story of Elijah and Elisha found in our Bible reading today. The first thing we see in that story is that God always has something better, more precious and more glorious in store for His children. No matter where you are and where you plan to be, God always has a better plan for you. This is why 2 Timothy 1:9 says,
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

God has a unique purpose for your life. When you became born again, you were called by God to fulfill that purpose, and He also called you to holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7). This call of God on you is referred to as a 'high calling' (Philippians 3:14). Therefore, no matter how good you are in strategic planning, there is still a need for you to subordinate your plans under God’s will and allow Him to have His way in your life. No wonder Psalm 37:5 says that you should not fail to commit your ways unto God and trust Him to help you in actualizing your plans. This is also why Proverbs 3:5-7 says that you should always tell God of your plans, so that He will provide divine guidance. Do you trust God enough to let Him direct your steps? Elisha was a successful businessman before the mantle of God’s call fell on him, and he left his business to follow God’s plan for his life (1 kings 19:19). Eventually, he became a father to the whole nation of Israel and kings called him ‘father’.
Moreover, another lesion is that although God has a higher glory ahead of you, He can use people, situations and circumstances to test your resolve along the way. Sometimes when test come, we don’t recognize them as tests, and because of this, many of us fail the test. You have to pray that in the test of life, you will not be a failure. When Prophet Elijah was to be taken away, he told his servant Elisha that he had been sent by God on some errands and that Elisha should not bother to follow him. Thank God Elisha was dogged and sensitive enough to realize that it was a test, and he passed the test brilliantly. Some tests of life are so crucial that failing them may rubbish all the past good efforts one has put into achieving greatness. May you not fail in the tests of life!

Prayer Point:
Father, whatever tests I would have to go through, please see me through. In the tests of life, let me not be a failure.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Peter 2-5
Hosea 10
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: OH JESUS I HAVE PROMISED

1. O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.

2. Oh, let me hear Thee speaking in accents clear and still,
I dare not trust my judgment: Thy way shall be my will;
Oh, speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
Oh, speak, and help me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

3. O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory there shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end—
Oh, give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.

4. Oh, let me see Thy footprints, and in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly is in Thy strength alone;
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me to the end;
And then in Heav’n receive me, my Savior and my Friend.
Christianity EtcOpen Heaven Daily Devotional(wed. 01/11/2017) Overflowing Laughter. by 4reala(op): 9:55pm On Oct 31, 2017
OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Wednesday November 1, 2017

OVERFLOWING LAUGHTER.     

Memorise : And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.- Genesis 21:6

Read: 2 Kings 2:1-15

2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2:2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

2:3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

2:4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

2:5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

2:6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord  hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

2:8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

2:15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

 
MESSAGE :

In Joshua 7, after the Israelites had defeated the people of Jericho, Joshua sent a handful of soldiers to attack Ai. Because Ai was just a little town, he expected victory without a sweat, but to his utter dismay, his people were defeated. After receiving the sad news, he fell on his face overwhelmed by shame, because defeat brings shame. The enemy would have laughed, wondering how a small city such as Ai could defeat Israel. However, while Joshua was lying before the Ark of the Covenant with his face to the ground, God told him the cause of the defeat and what to do to have victory again.

Have you been defeated by a weakness or an enemy you considered too weak to bring you down? I declare to you that this is your season of laughter! The Lord will show you the way to victory today, and your laughter will begin.

Moreover, beyond laughter, there is something called overflowing laughter. In today’s Bible passage, when Elijah was about to be transported to Heaven, Elisha his servant had some unpleasant experiences everywhere he went with his master. As they visited each of the schools of the prophets, the sons of the prophets, who were students in these schools, called Elisha aside and said to him, “Daddy’s boy, everywhere daddy goes, you go with him. Do you know that your daddy will be going finally today, and you will have no one else to follow about? We shall soon see what will become of you.” Every time they say this, Elisha replied them saying, “I know my master is going today, but mind your own business.” After Elijah was taken to Heaven and his mantle dropped, Elisha grabbed it and smote the river like his father had done, and the River Jordan parted into two for him to go through. The sons of the prophets, who were watching from a distance, came and bowed down to him. They had no choice but to admit that indeed, the spirit of Elijah is now rested on him.

The greatest laughter comes when your mockers become your servants. When God called me into ministry, a lot of people laughed. The greatest laughter came from my village, where they said, “Look at him - the only lecturer from this village who we thought was going to become an important personality. We knew something was wrong with him the moment he joined that church of 'Amen' and began saying 'Amen, Amen'.” Nevertheless, today, God has given me overflowing laughter.

Wherever they are laughing you to scorn, the Lord will give you overflowing laughter in Jesus’ Name!

 
ACTION POINT :
Pray that everyone who has been experiencing sorrow, disgrace and shame for long in your local assembly will begin to experience overflowing laughter from now on.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
James 4-5;
1 Peter 1;
Hosea 9                                                                   
HYMN 4: THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR

1.      Through the love of God our Savior,
All will be well;
Free and changeless is His favor;
All, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us;
Perfect is the grace that sealed us;
Strong the hand stretched out to shield us;
All must be well.

2.      Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well;
Ours is such a full salvation;
All, all is well.
Happy still in God confiding,
Fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
Holy through the Spirit’s guiding,
All must be well.

3.      We expect a bright tomorrow;
All will be well;
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All, all is well.
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
In our living, in our dying,
All must be well.
Christianity EtcOpen Heaven Daily Devotional(tue. 31/10/2017) Prayerlessness Disallowed. by 4reala(op): 11:01pm On Oct 30, 2017
OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Tuesday October 31, 2017

PRAYERLESSNESS DISALLOWED.     

Memorise : Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.- Matthew 26:41

Read: Mark 13:32-37

13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

13:34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.


MESSAGE :

Prayerlessness is a major challenge facing contemporary believers. Many refused to pray as they ought to because they have become overconfident and proud. The more you pray to God, the less dependent on yourself you become. As young Christians, some people prayed quite often. When they became workers in God’s vineyard, they sustained their prayer tempo, but the moment they became pastors, their prayer-life nosedived. Why the decline? It is because such people began to believe that they could now do things on their own.

This is the highway to ruin. Are you praying less after God has elevated you spiritually? If your answer is yes, check yourself very well, you will discover that you now have more faith in yourself to succeed by your effort than by God’s support. This is one reason why God keeps a distance from the proud: He knows if He helps them achieve a feat, at the end, they will not think twice before taking His glory.

Besides pride, another reason for prayerlessness is carelessness. In Matthew 26:41, Jesus said:

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Also, in Mark 13:32-37, the Lord emphasized the need to watch. You cannot afford to be careless. You can’t afford to be cold, lukewarm or carefree in these days that we live in. Praying goes along with watching. You cannot pray effectively if you fail to watch as well. If you watch effectively, it will help to give your prayers direction. You will know what trending issues to lift before God’s throne. You will have some burdens in the place of prayer that will only be lifted after you have prayed through.

Similarly, if you watch as you should, you will be able to relate events that are happening around you with the second coming of Jesus Christ. If you are keeping watch, you will be on your guard and on your toes. If you watch, you cannot be asleep. Beloved, this is not the time to sleep but the time to be spiritually awake, alert and prepared.

This is the time to pray about virtually everything that comes across our path. It is a time to wholly depend on God, who knows the way, to show us the way in the midst of growing confusion and evil spreading around the world. Wake up! Fast more! Watch more! May the Lord guide you in Jesus’ Name.
 

PRAYER POINT :
Father, please silence everything in me that is working against me having an effective prayer life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
James 1-3;
Hosea 8   
                                                               
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.
Christianity EtcOpen Heaven Daily Devotional(mon. 30/10/2017) Shutting Up Mockers by 4reala(op): 9:11pm On Oct 29, 2017
OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Monday October 30, 2017

SHUTTING UP MOCKERS

Memorise : The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. -- Proverbs 10:28

Read: Psalm 35:15-19

35:15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

35:16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

 
MESSAGE :

God is a specialist at disgracing mockers and giving His children the last laugh. This season, you shall laugh last in Jesus’ Name! in Mark 10:46-52, when Bartimaeus was crying to Jesus for help, some people were irritated. Do you know that there are people who do not want your voice to be heard at all? “Shut up you blind beggar! With people like us around, do you think the master would have time for a beggar like you?” They laughed at him with an air of importance, but he ignored their mockery and cried out for help all the more. They got angry at his defiance. “You’ve got some nerve, you noisy fellow! If you know what is good for you, you better keep your mouth shut!” They continued mocking him as the crowd moved along.

However, to their amazement, Jesus suddenly stopped and said, “There is a blind beggar along the street behind us. Go and bring him here now.” Immediately, the laughter of the mockers ceased. The laughter of your mockers has come to a permanent end today in Jesus' Name! The same mockers became his helper.  They politely took him to Jesus, and after Jesus healed him, he became the center of attraction. Very soon, you that people thought would never amount to anything will become the center of attraction in Jesus’ Name!
 
A particular sister was dying at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital. Her husband met the doctor and they confided in him that she would not live to see the following morning under any circumstance. So he went to his wife, pretending to care for her, and he told her he would see her the following morning, secretly expecting to meet her corpse by then. As he left the hospital, he phoned his mistress and said, “My stupid wife will pass away tonight. Come over and let’s have fun.” The mistress came to his house and they were “having fun”, but because they never expected anyone to disturb them, they did not even lock the door of the bedroom. They were in for the shock of their lives. After this man left the hospital earlier on, that same night, the Lord Jesus Christ visited his sick wife and said “I am the Lord that healeth thee; rise up and go home.” As she got up and walked out of the hospital, the nurse thought they were daydreaming and seeing her ghost, and so they did not stop her. She got home and caught the two evil doors in their illicit act. She said to them,yourself “You thought I was dead, but I am alive and well.”
Every evil expectation of your enemies shall be disappointed in Jesus’ Name! You shall laugh from now on!

PRAYER POINT :
Father, turn every expectation of my mockers to disappointment.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Hebrews 11-13;
Hosea 7   

                                       
HYMN 8: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

1. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
[Refrain]

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
[Refrain]
Christianity EtcRccg Sunday School Student's Manual(29/10/2017) The Holy Spirit by 4reala(op): 5:43am On Oct 29, 2017
RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT'S MANUAL
OCTOBER 29TH, 2017:LESSON 9
TOPIC: THE HOLY SPIRIT: PERSONALITY AND ATTRIBUTES
MEMORY VERSE : ‘’But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” – John 14:26
BIBLE PASSAGE: John 16:1-11
INTRODUCTION: The Holy Spirit is a Personality often misunderstood or misinterpreted in the Christian faith. His outstanding numerous qualities, diversities of operations and dramatic influence (as the successor of Jesus Christ) on the Apostles and the Christians as a whole, are so remarkable and worthy of considerations.
LESSON OUTLINES 1. Who is the Holy Spirit? 2. What are His attributes?
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? The Holy Spirit is not a feeling or a falling, a crying or a wailing. He is no emotion. He is, however, a person. He is the third person of the Trinity otherwise known as the Comforter (John 16:5-7). He is the One that will make life more comfortable and profitable for His people especially as they engage in greater works than the Lord Jesus did (John 14:12). He is the Chief Executor of the divine programme on earth (John 15:26; 16:7-14) and the force behind every revealed plan of God. He is the Revealer of the hidden treasures of the kingdom of God (John 14:25-26). He is the key to the inheritance of the saints in glory (Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:12) and the Central Figure behind any breakthrough in life (Acts 1:8; 19:11-12). He is also the Revealer of the sonship of the sons of God (Romans 8:16). He was the divine interruption of an ungodly order, who supernaturally released the Apostles from the clutches of fear (of the Roman Empire) to the realm of exploits for God e.g. taking over the synagogues as if there were no priests there previously (Acts 6:7; 4:1-4).
WHAT ARE HIS ATTRIBUTES? He is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7; Ephesians 2:17-18; 1Corinthians 12:13); omniscient (1Corinthians 2:10-11); omnipotent (Luke 1:35; Romans 8:11); eternal (Revelations 1:cool. He comforts, teaches and guides (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13). He reproves, helps, glorifies and intercedes (John 16:7-13; Romans 8:26). He is the oil of joy (Isaiah 61:3), the oil of gladness (Psalm 45:7). He is honoured as they are in the baptismal formula (Matthew 28:19), and in the apostolic benediction (2Corinthians 13:14). He receives the name (2Corinthians 3:17), and exercises the attributes of God (Romans 8:14; 1Corinthians 6:19). He is prayed to as God (Philippians 2:6-11). Sin against Him is sin against God (Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 4:30) and blasphemy against Him is unpardonable (Matthew 12:31). Creation is ascribed to Him (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13) and the working of miracles (Matthew 12:28; 1Corinthians 12:9-11). Worship is required and ascribed to Him (Isaiah 6:3; Acts 28:25).
CONCLUSION: The Holy Spirit undoubtedly has a comforting ministry, which can be our experience today.
QUESTIONS 1. Who exactly is the Holy Spirit? 2. What are the attributes of the Holy Spirit?
SportsRe: Thread For Anthony Joshua Vs Carlos Takam -fight has Started by 4reala(m): 10:29pm On Oct 28, 2017
FIGHT IS STARTING NOW O. 10:30PM, LETS GET READY TO RUUUUMBLE

ROUND 2, Joshua's nose broken with an headbutt
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(sat. 28/10/2017) Poverty Or Riches? by 4reala(op): 11:15pm On Oct 27, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME: POVERTY OR RICHES?

Memorise:

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:7-9

8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Message:

It is the ultimate desire of our Father to see that we are blessed. He wants all His children to dwell in His blessings (Psalm 92:13-14). It is not His desire that our lives should be at the mercy of unbelievers. The more wealth the Lord empowers us with, the more His Kingdom on earth should increase. Don’t believe those who tell you that as a child of God, you are not supposed to be wealthy. This is a false doctrine! It is written in God’s word that you are to lend to nations and not borrow (Deuteronomy 15:6). It is also recorded in God’s word that the blessings of the Lord make rich and add no sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). Furthermore, God says in His word that He wishes above all things that you prosper and be in good health (3 John 1:2). God has the key to all things, including all the wealth of this world. Psalm 24:1 says,

“The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

Although God’s word contains all these truths about wealth, as long as believers doubt their efficacy, they will never be able to access God’s wealth. Before you can take possession of God’s wealth, you need to have certain keys that will separate you from poverty and bring you to a realm of unprecedented riches of God. If the Almighty God gives you the power to get wealth, everything you touch automatically turns to riches. You need to acknowledge the fact that true and enduring wealth only comes from God. Deuteronomy 8:18 says,

“But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”

Experiencing true riches is not about millions coming into your account. There are people who have experienced this several time, without the grace to retain such riches. God wants to bless you and also give you the power to retain His blessings. The type of riches that comes without any element of sorrow in it is what God desires for you and your children’s children.

God is against wealth obtained through sin. It doesn’t matter how much you contribute to the work of God, if your money is not earned legitimately, you are placing a curse on yourself and your contributions to the kingdom project will not deliver you from God’s judgment (Proverb 21:27). If God’s children would fear and obey His principle for wealth creation, poverty will become a thing of the past in their lives. You have to hate poverty because a poor man will always live another man’s life. If you seek the righteousness of God, all other things will be added to you.


Prayer Point:

Father, separate me from all forms of ungodly riches and poverty.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Hebrew 5-8
Hosea 3-4


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

Refrain:

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

Refrain:

4. There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain:

5. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

Refrain:
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(fri. 27/10/2017) The Essence Of Spiritual Office by 4reala(op): 9:34pm On Oct 26, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME: THE ESSENCE OF SPIRITUAL OFFICE


Memorise:
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ephesians 4:11


Read: Ephesians 4:8-14
4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;


Message:

When God calls a person into a spiritual office, it is because there are roles he wants such a person to play in the scheme of things as regards God’s agenda for man on earth. Spiritual offices are not just for the purpose of accumulating titles or occupying position. If you are called into a spiritual office, you are called to serve God, and to be a blessing to lives. God is the giver of all spiritual gifts through His Holy Spirit. However, it so obvious today that some people are not using the spiritual offices they occupy for God’s original purpose. If you have been called as a pastor, your responsibility is to raise a church and care for the spiritual needs of those God has placed in your trust as a pastor. Today, there are many sheep wandering away, because they are not being properly guided by the shepherds the Good Shepherd has set over them. There are members of the Body of Christ who cannot identify their left from their right, and for this reason the Holy Spirit in 2 Timothy 4:2, gave this mandate to those He has set over them as pastors:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

Are you an evangelist? You are a preacher and messenger of the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As an evangelist, you are to declare the entire counsel of God wherever you are. The word of the Lord should not be watered down because of the presence of certain people in your audience (Jeremiah 1:cool. You are to constantly remind your hearer of the genuine word of God and avoid messages that will not bring people to the knowledge of Christ and His saving works. If you are a teacher of the word, you have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to explain God’s word in order to build and equip the church. You are to communicate biblical truths effectively to the understanding of your hearers. Are you occupying the office of a prophet? If you are, you have been authorized by God to speak on His behalf.


There are lots of problems in the Body of Christ today because people are not using these spiritual offices for the purpose for which they were given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace has been given to everyone according to the measure of the gift of Christ; hence, it is important that people disengage from causing divisions within the Body of Christ. The offices are meant to complement one another for the perfecting of the saints and to edify the Body of Christ. The offices are to be used together for the unity of the church, so that God’s people can come into the full knowledge of Him.


Prayer Point:
Father, may Your grace upon my life not be in vain.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Hebrew 1-4
Hosea 2


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.
CelebritiesRe: Opeyemi Olarinde To Timi Dakolo: "Ignore Daddy Freeze, Myopic Man" -Ex Wife Says by 4reala(m): 3:13pm On Oct 26, 2017
Johniyke2flex:
I like Timi Dakolo, but on this one, he really messed up. You and Freeze are not in the same level at all. Why would you get confrontational about an issue that does not have your name tagged to it. Better face your music career and shut up. Whether he called his ex wife names or not is none of your business. Na amebo carry you reach here.
Oga abeg make una dey think well o, who dey pock nose? no be daddy freeze dey pock nose. Abi, no be sensitization against Divorce dakolo they preach. Did he call daddy freeze name on d post? or was daddy freeze d only person divorced?
pls, let us not be self centered or judgemental
Christianity EtcOpen Heaven Daily Devotional(thur. 26/10/2017) As You Lay Your Bed! by 4reala(op): 5:51am On Oct 26, 2017
OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Thursday October 26, 2017

AS YOU LAY YOUR BED!

Memorise : The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.- 2 Timothy 2:6

Read : Proverb 27:23-27

27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

27:24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

27:25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

 27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27:27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.


MESSAGE :

Insincerity is a terrible character flaw that has led to the undoing of different generations of mankind. Take for instance Cain. He had no reason whatsoever not to have known that it was the nature and attitude of his sacrifice that made the Righteous God reject his offering. Furthermore, there was no justifiable reason whatsoever for him to have gone ahead to murder his brother, after he had been told that his wicked intentions were known to the Omniscient God. However, because he was not sincere to himself, he did what he did and he forever lived with its consequences.

One dimension of the insincerity of men is manifested when people speak or work against paying a labourer his due wages. If you are one of such people, please know that this character is not a part of God’s nature and His word is against it. In 1 Timothy 5:18, God said:

“...Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

Some people envy hardworking colleagues who are being promoted. As it is generally assumed, promotion comes with its responsibilities as well as attendant goodies and benefits. More often than not, people refuse to see the added responsibilities of a hardworking leader; they only see his or her derivable benefits. This attitude is not godly.
 
There are some valuable lessons on labour and reward which I would like to point out to you today.

First, I want you to know that since God has said that He who does not work should not eat, the righteousness of God makes it imperative that he who works must eat, (2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:18).

Secondly, as you lay your bed, so will you lie on it. The more diligent you are in business, the more comfortable you will be after fulfilling all godly conditions.

Thirdly, when you are diligent in your vocation, business or job, you will be promoted to lead, because Proverbs 12:24 says,

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”

The fourth lesson I want you to note is that riches are not forever. However, they can endure on one condition: if you continue to be diligent at your business.

The fifth lesson is that God must be factored into whatever you do. Remember that except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it (Psalms 127:7). This consideration has to do with being faithful in paying tithes, offering, vows and the first fruits of your increase (Malachi 3:10, Psalm 50:14, Proverb 3:9).

Beloved, the most needful of all these is that you give your life to Christ and accept the redemption which He used His life to produce for all mankind. It shall be well with you.

PRAYER POINT :
Father, through the knowledge of Your word and Your Holy spirit, help me to be sincere with Your principles which govern being blessed in this world and the world to come.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Titus 1-3;
Philemon 1;
Hosea 1          


HYMN 10: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

Refrain:

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

Refrain:

4. There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain:

5. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

Refrain:
Christianity EtcOpen Heaven Daily Devotional(wed. 25/10/2017) Touch Not My Annointed. by 4reala(op): 11:24pm On Oct 24, 2017
OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Wednesday October 25, 2017

TOUCH NOT MY ANNOINTED.    

Memorise : Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. -Psalm 105:15
 
Read: 2 Kings 1:1-15

1:1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

1:2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

1:3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

1:4 Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

1:5 And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

1:6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

1:7 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

1:9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.

1:10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

1:11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

1:12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

1:13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

1:14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

1:15 And the angel of the Lord said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

 
MESSAGE :

Although the anointing in the life of the anointed can have positive impact on people’s lives , it can also take actions which have adverse effects against those who abuse the anointed or treat him or her spitefully.

The Holy Spirit therefore gave us the warning in today’s memory verse to avoid being on the receiving end of such grave actions. This reminds me of the sad story of a pastor who tried to humiliate my father-in-the-Lord, Pastor Josiah Akindayomi, during his lifetime. Sadly, this fellow became leprous and died. This is similar to the tragic story in today’s Bible reading. Ahaziah, the king of Samaria, tried to lay hands on Elijah, God’s anointed prophet. What was the prophet’s crime? God sent Elijah to point out to him that it was wrong for him to have sent emissaries to consult a strange god for his healing, in defiance of God’s law (Deuteronomy 18:10-11).

God’s warning, if heeded, normally brings forgiveness and restoration, as demonstrated in Jonah 3:10, when the people of Nineveh repented of their sins. Unfortunately, instead of crying to the merciful God of Israel, the king ordered the prophet’s arrest.

Is this the right response to a message of warning from God? Before you respond to this, think of how you also feel whenever your pastor hands down a strong sermon to you in an effort to make you repent and be delivered from both present and eternal damnation. The story of King Ahaziah’s foolish actions ends in tragedy, not only for him but also for the soldiers he sent to arrest the anointed of God.

There are many lessons to learn and pray about from this story. First and foremost, we must pray for our bad leaders, because when God’s judgment comes, even the innocent may not escape the outcome. Secondly, children of God must always know whether any assignment they are given is of God or of the devil, and they should ask God for wisdom to go about it.

I remember some policemen who wanted to extort money from my entourage some years ago. The moment I told their leader, “There is always a last assignment for every individual on earth”, he understood and let us go. If he had not repented, that would have been his last outing, because it was not I who spoke but the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, ministers of God should always live above board so that God’s anointing can fight on their behalf. Elijah said, “if I be a man of God...”.

As a pastor, evangelist or prophet, can you confidently say you are a man of God? Have you burnt your spiritual fingers in the fire of sin and covered it up as if nothing happened? If you are in such a situation, repent today so that the anointing can resume its defense of your life. For those fond of ridiculing the anointed man of God, be careful, so that you don’t experience the adverse effects of the anointing. May the peace of God be with you.

ACTION POINT :
If you’ve spitefully treated the anointed of God, repent and pray for forgiveness and healing.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Timothy 1-4;
Daniel 12                                                                              
HYMN 15: THE COMFORTER HAS COME

1. Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:
The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;
Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—
The Comforter has come!

2. The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last,
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

3. Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings,
To every captive soul a full deliv’rance brings;
And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

4. O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine
To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine—
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

5. Sing till the echoes fly above the vaulted sky,
And all the saints above to all below reply,
In strains of endless love, the song that ne’er will die:
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:
Christianity EtcOpen Heaven Daily Devotional(tue. 24/10/2017) There Is Hope For You. by 4reala(op): 10:14pm On Oct 23, 2017
OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Tuesday October 24, 2017

THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU. 
 
Memorise : For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the. - Psalm 30:5

Read : Job 1:13-19; Job 42:12-13

1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

1:14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

1:15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

1:17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

1:18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


42:12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

42:13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
 

MESSAGE :

If you will ever achieve anything tangible in life, you need faith that hinges on God and that believes in possibilities. If our God could frame the universe through His word, then there is no situation or circumstance beyond His control (Hebrews 11:3). There is no situation in your life that He cannot reverse. He can bring hope to your life irrespective of the long-standing problems in it.

In John 5:1-8, we see the story of a man at the pool of Bethesda, who had been in the same sad condition for 38 years. He claimed that the reason why he had not been made whole was because he had no man to assist him; but by the time the Lord Jesus came on the scene, his problems ceased without the help of any man. Irrespective of the many years of rejection you have suffered, the Almighty God is attending to your situation right now in Jesus’ Name.

There are families that have lost so many things. They have been through all sorts of problems. In Genesis 18:1-10, we have the account of Abraham and Sarah, who had waited several years for the fulfillment of God’s promise. The angels of God finally visited them and assured them that their long awaited blessing was on the way. Despite all the odds stacked against them physiologically, God’s purpose was established in their lives. I speak the word of God to every family going through pains: the Almighty God will divinely visit you and settle you in Jesus’ Name. 

There are some people in business who are already planning to close down their offices and outlets because of the situation of things. I want you to know that your moment of refreshing is on the way. Don’t quit, because the Almighty God will restore to you all that you have lost.

Today’s Bible reading narrates how Job lost everything he had, from his children to his investments. However, the scripture tells us that the Almighty God arose and blessed his latter end than his beginning (Job 42:12). I want to assure you that irrespective of how harsh the economic climate is, the Almighty God will sort you out in Jesus’ Name.

Also, there is hope for a nation. A closer look at all that is going on around the world would make anyone feel very uncomfortable. In 2 Kings 6:24-7:1, the economy of Samaria was very bad due to a siege. All the technocrats had tried all they could but things got out of hand. At the peak of this adverse situation, the man of God prophesied that things would change suddenly. Those who understand global economic indices said that this was impossible. The Almighty God however performed His word as He had spoken it.

I announce to you that it is about to rain upon your life, family, career, business and nation in Jesus’ Name. God will intervene and put an end to your problems in Jesus’ Name.
 
KEY POINT :
Father, let my joy begin now.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
1Timothy 3-6;
Daniel 11:36-45          
                                                                                
 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!
Christianity EtcOpen Heaven Daily Devotional(mon. 23/10/2017) His Thoughts Towards You by 4reala(op): 11:44pm On Oct 22, 2017
OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Monday October 23, 2017

HIS THOUGHTS TOWARDS YOU   

Memorise : For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.- Isaiah 55:8

Read: Isaiah 55:8 -13

55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.


MESSAGE :

The Almighty God has special promises for His children. These promises are great and their operation is not dependent on the condition of the economy of the nations where His children are located. When the Lord says, “it is well with you”, He is not saying this because of the things around you. He is saying so because of the things He is capable of doing. You can therefore rest assured, because there is no impossibility with Him.

His thoughts and promises towards you are great and perfect, but there are keys required to unlock them. One of such keys is found in Psalm 37:37;

“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.”

Righteousness is the key that ensures the enjoyment of God’s blessings in this world. The economy may be hard against other people of the land, but in the midst of the instability, God is saying it shall be well with the righteous. Isaiah 3:10 says,

“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”

The Almighty God knows how to make you experience peace in the midst of crisis. He knows how to lift you up when others are being cast down. He knows how to settle you while others are lamenting. This is because His thoughts towards you are not a function of the economic indices of your country. In hard times, there are lots of compromises made in business and also in practical Christian living, but the eyes of the Lord are fixed on us all the time and He is waiting to reward us according to our works.

We must ensure that our stand for God does not change even in hard economic times. We must remain righteous in season and out of season. Others may compromise righteousness for the sake of gain, but you must remember the promises of God concerning your life. If Joseph had compromised his stance when the wife of his boss seductively approached him, he would not have emerged a deliverer in Egypt. There are those who put their trust in men and connections, but those who understand the greatness of God will follow God’s rules for their lives, because they know they cannot get anything better than what God has in store for them. No matter what and who they have access to, the righteous do not trust in themselves or man. Their trust is in the Name of the Lord. Everything that the branch needs is supplied by the Vine. The Vine has the roots that bring all the water and nourishment that the branch needs. This is why Philippians 4:19 says,  
                “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Therefore, trust in God’s promises and hold on to Him tenaciously. He will not fail.

KEY POINT :
Those who follow God are always partakers of good things.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Thessalonians 1-3;
1 Timothy 1-2;
Daniel 11:20-35          
                                                                                
HYMN 4: THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR

1 Through the love of God our Saviour,
All will be well;
Free and changeless is His favour,
All, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
Perfect is the grace that sealed us,
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
All must be well.

2 Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
All, all is well.
Happy still in God confiding;
Fruitful if in Christ abiding;
Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding:
All must be well.

3 We expect a bright tomorrow;
All will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All, all is well.
On our Father's love relying,
Jesus every need supplying;
Or in living or in dying;
All must be well.
Christianity EtcRccg Sunday School Student's Manual(22/10/2017) Who Is This Jesus? by 4reala(op): 11:42pm On Oct 21, 2017
RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT'S MANUAL

LESSON EIGHT

SUNDAY, 22ND OCTOBER 2017

TOPIC: WHO IS THIS JESUS?

MEMORY VERSE: ‘’For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." - 1Corinthians 3:11

BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 1:18-25

INTRODUCTION:
The name JESUS, is the Greek form of the Hebrew word JEHOSHUAH or Joshua. It signifies 'Saviour', or 'Jehovah saves'. No one ever bore this name with so much justice, nor so perfectly fulfilled the signification of it, as Jesus Christ, who saves from sin and hell, and has merited Heaven for us by the price of His blood. It was given to Him by divine appointment (Matthew 1:21), as the proper name for the Saviour so long desired. The name CHRIST, meaning the 'Anointed One', 'The Messiah', was His official name. Every Christian must know some foundational truths about Jesus and the honour attached to His name.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. Foundational truths about Jesus
2. Honoured with a special name.

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS ABOUT JESUS
Jesus is the Son of God whose mysterious birth was announced by an angel. He is a clear demonstration of divine favour as bestowed upon virgin Mary, His mother, and the entire household as well (Luke 1:26-33; Isaiah 9:6). He is God revealed in the flesh (John 1:14; 14:9). Through Him all things are created, whether visible on invisible (Hebrews 1:2; Colossians 1:16-18; John 1:3). His earthly ministry was noted for miracles, signs and wonders (Acts 10:38), as well as a life of holiness, integrity and power (Mark 1:32-34; John 14:30; Matthew 7:24-29). Indeed a clear demonstration of divine wisdom, knowledge and understanding (1Corinthians 1:24).
He became our substitution for sins; we who were hitherto condemned to death by the law, for "the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4; 1John 1:9; Matthew 1:18-21; Isaiah 53:4-10; 1Peter 2:24; Galatians 3:13). He bore all the penalties including death on the shameful cross of Calvary for the sins of mankind. He however, rose from the dead on the third day (Luke 24:5-7). After appearing to His followers for forty days proving that He really is alive and then returned to Heaven to prepare a place for those who believe in Him (Acts 1:3; 1Corinthians 15:58; John 14:3), and to rule over all things (Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 28:18).

HONOURED WITH A SPECIAL NAME
The fact that Jesus humbled Himself and submitted Himself to shameful death on the cross earned Him an exalted name, which is above all other names (Philippians 2:5-11). At the mention of the name of Jesus, demons, sicknesses, diseases, situations or circumstances bow. All requests directed to God in the Name of Jesus are honoured by Him and He gives answers according to His will (John 15:16; James 4:15). The name is the surest foundation upon which other spiritual structures are built (1Corinthians 3:11). This is the only wonderful name mentioned amongst men bringing about salvation (Acts 4:12). It is otherwise known as Emmanuel, Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Mighty God (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 9:6). This name spells absolute and total freedom indeed (John 8:32-36). Those who know God by this name are not only strong but also full of great works including the divine ability to resist every opposition of the enemy (Daniel 11:32; Mark 16:16-18).

CONCLUSION:
The truths about Jesus are so foundational and crucial that almost every spiritual information or revelation revolves around it. Why not take advantage of the name today too.

QUESTIONS
1. Mention some foundational truths about Jesus.
2. Justify the fact that Jesus is honoured with a special
Christianity EtcOpen Heavens Daily Devotional(sun. 22/10/2017) Fulfil Your Calling by 4reala(op): 11:12pm On Oct 21, 2017
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2017

THEME: FULFIL YOUR CALLING

Memorise:
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5

Read: Romans 12:6-18

12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Message:

Yesterday, we discussed knowing and staying within your calling. One of the reasons why it is important for you to know and stay within your calling is to fulfill the purpose of your calling. Fulfilling your calling is therefore premised on you knowing and staying with your calling. We are instructed by the Lord to ensure the profitable use of the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit - though not without caution that it should be done in faith. The bedrock of the use of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives and the offices our Lord Jesus Christ calls us into is love. This is why Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12:31, as a prologue to his exposition on love, said:

“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

Without love, you cannot adequately fulfill your calling. Through the story of Jonah who was commissioned as a prophet to warn a perishing nation, we learn that without love, there is no way anyone can fulfill his or her calling. The office of the prophet is a desirable office among the fivefold offices in the Church (Ephesians 4:11). This was the office Jonah was called into. However, a lack of love for perishing souls almost made him to lose that office and his life (Jonah 1:1-15). Beloved, into what office have you been called? Are you fulfilling your calling? If not, do you know the cause? May be it is because your heart is lacking in love. 1 Corinthians 13:2 says:

“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

It is amazing to read that Jonah was angry because God decided to forgive the people of Nineveh after he had been forced to warn them to repent. Jonah 3:10-4:1 says,

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.”

You cannot fulfill your calling if you don’t have love to operate it. Your gifts would just be monumental but without value. It takes love to be a successful administrator to say the least. It takes love to successfully do the work of an evangelist or teacher. Without love, you may own all the goods in the world and people dying of starvation will mean nothing to you. A pastor without love would just be milking the sheep to fatten himself up for perdition. Love is the excellent way of fulfilling your calling. Release your heart to love, and stay away from hate.

Prayer Point:

Father, please fill my heart with compassion and love, so that I may fulfill my calling in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1 Thessalonians 1-5
Daniel 11:7-19


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: TAKE MT 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.
RomanceRe: Runs Girl Strips To Her Panties At The Gate Of Abuja Hotel To Disgrace Client by 4reala(m): 6:02pm On Oct 21, 2017
mmsen:
Who raised you?
na ur mother nah
Christianity EtcRe: Rccg Sunday School Manual(sun. 15/10/2017) Be An Active Christian by 4reala(op): 5:57pm On Oct 21, 2017
collabo4me:
Thanks very much. We look forward to see tomorrow's topic thank you
uwc sir
PoliticsRe: 'retire Quietly Or We Open The Pandora Box'- VON DG Tells Ex-president Jonathan by 4reala(m): 5:52pm On Oct 21, 2017
Tolexander:
better you keep shut instead!
Am sorry Sir, u shld have told me he is ur relative nah. biko ndo grin

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