₦airaland Forum

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL

LESSON TWO

SUNDAY, 10TH SEPTEMBER 2017

TOPIC: TRUE CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

MEMORY VERSE:
‘’God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." - John 4:24

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 4:19-24

INTRODUCTION:
Worship is a state (an attitude) of the spirit. Since it is an internal, individual action, it could/should be done most of the time (or all the time) in our lives, regardless of place or situation (John 4:21). Therefore, Christians worship all the time, seven days a week. When Christians formally gather together in worship, still the emphasis should be on individually worshiping the Lord. The nature of Christian worship is from the inside out and has two equally important parts. We must worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24).

LESSON OUTLINES
1. Worshiping in the spirit
2. Worshiping in truth

WORSHIPING IN THE SPIRIT
Worshiping in the spirit has nothing to do with our physical posture. It has to do with our innermost being and requires several things:
1. We must be born again (John 3:3). Without the Holy Spirit residing within us, we cannot respond to God in worship because we do not know Him (1Corinthians 2:11b). The Holy Spirit within us is the one who energizes worship because He is in essence glorifying Himself, and all true worship glorifies God.
2. Worshiping in spirit requires a mind centered on God and renewed by Truth (Romans 12:1-2). Distractions of many kinds can flood our minds as we try to praise and glorify God, hindering our true worship.
3. We can only worship in spirit by having a pure heart, open and repentant. When King David's heart was filled with guilt over his sin with Bathsheba (2Samuel 11), he found it impossible to worship. He felt that God was far from him, and he "groaned all day long" feeling God's hand heavy upon him (Psalm 32:3-4). But when he confessed, fellowship with God was restored and worship and praise poured forth from him (Psalm 51:17). Praise and worship toward God cannot come from hearts filled with unconfessed sin.

WORSHIPING IN TRUTH
The second part of true worship is worshiping "in truth". All worship is a response to truth, and that which is truth is contained in the word of God. Jesus said to His Father, "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17b). Psalm 119 says, "Thy law is truth" (v. 142b) and "Thy word is true" (v. 160a). To truly worship God, we must understand who He is and what He has done, and the only place He has fully revealed Himself is in the Bible. Worship is an expression of praise from the depths of our hearts toward a God who is understood through His word. If we do not have the truth of the Bible, we do not know God and we cannot be truly worshiping.

CONCLUSION:
Worship is an attitude of the heart. A person can go through the outward motions and not be worshiping (Psalm 51:16-17; Matthew 6:5-6). God sees the heart, and He desires and deserves sincere, heartfelt praise and worship.

QUESTIONS
1. What are the basic requirements for true worship in spirit?
2. What does it mean to worship God in truth?

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Sunday September 10, 2017

HE IS AT THE DOOR!

Memorise : Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. - Revelation 3:20

Read: Revelation 3:19-22

3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

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

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


MESSAGE :

God is a God of order, and Heaven is a place of order. Heaven is also a place where everything revolves around the will of the Owner: God. There is protocol in Heaven and a hierarchy or authority which must be respected. For this reason, when accessing God’s presence, the manner of approach really matters. How you enter into a room or house will determine whether you will be welcomed or chased out. Do you know that even God subjects Himself to the law of order? In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said,

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Although God created us, He still has to knock and wait to be invited in before He enters into our hearts. Even though He created the space in your heart for Himself, he still doesn’t force Himself into that space. You are the one to decide if and when He should come in or not.

In Genesis 18:1-8, Abraham saw some divine visitors near his tent. He ran to meet them, pleading for the opportunity to be hospitable to them. In this instance also, you can see that God waited to be invited in. similarly, in Genesis 19:1-3, when the two angels arrived in Sodom, Lot invited them in to spend the night. Also, in 2 Kings 4:8, Elisha was just passing by when the Shunammite woman invited him into her house for lunch, and even though he said he was not hungry, the woman practically compelled him to come in. From that day forward, whenever Elisha passed by, he stopped over at her house.

God waits to be invited in because of His humility, and due to the fact that He does not want to impose Himself on us. Also, He created us as free moral agents and not as zombies or robots: He wants us to be free to express our own will. In addition, He wants us to be able to bear the consequences of our actions and not hold Him responsible for what we do. He also wants to be able to determine if we truly love Him and whether we desire to follow Him or not.

If you are not yet born again, you have been keeping the Saviour waiting all these years. Please answer the knock on the door of your heart, kindly invite Jesus in, and surrender your whole life to him. Doing this is in your own interest.

ACTION POINT :
Invite Jesus into every area of your life from which you have shut Him out.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Chronicles 21-23;
Ezekiel 39: 9-20

                           
HYMN 12:  HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS

1. How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away our fear.

2. It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

3. O Jesus, Shepherd, Guardian, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

4. How weak the effort of my heart,
how cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

5. Till then I would your love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of your Name
Refresh my soul in death!

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Saturday September 9, 2017

ONLY HIS WILL

Memorise : Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light -Colossians 1:12

Read : Colossians 1:12-13, Ephesians 2:1-2

1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Ephesian 2:1-2

2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2:2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
 

MESSAGE :

In every village, town, city, state or nation, there are usually two kingdoms at play: the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. Colossians 1:13 says,

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

This scripture shows that every child of God has been moved from one of these kingdoms to the other. If you are truly saved, you are no longer in darkness but in the kingdom of light. As light, you should not be afraid of operators in the kingdom of darkness, such as witches, wizards and those in the cult, because you have a greater One inside of you (1 John 4:4). If you are afraid of them, this indicates to you that all is not well with you; there could be some cracks in your wall, and sin might be responsible.

Whatever compromises your holiness compromises your divine security. When these operators of darkness see that your light is shining brightly, they will withdraw and dangle carrots of temptation at you, and if you fall for it, they will strike at you.

Moreover, the reason why God translated us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His dear Son is because He is interested in having His will established both in Heaven and here on earth. Although nothing short of God’s will is done in  Heaven, on earth, there is still a struggle to establish God’s will, because man handed over control of the earth to the kingdom of darkness in the Garden of Eden (Luke 4:5-6).

As a child of God, you are therefore an agent of re-establishing God’s will in any corner of the earth where you find yourself. If you want to establish and fulfill God’s will, you will make no room for lies, sin and pretense. Among God’s children on earth today, you will be shocked to know how many of them really seek to do His will in all areas of their lives.

Many of us want God to change His plans and ways to suit ours, but that is an expectation in futility. God does not change: He is ever the same (Malachi 3:6). As conservative as He may appear to be, His technology in Heaven is billions of years ahead of ours on earth. In fact, He is the One who gives our researchers, thinkers and inventors the latest discoveries they get. Such scientific discoveries are new and news to us, but not to those in Heaven. To them, the best we have on offer is stale news. In Heaven, there are no gimmicks or tricks. Everything revolves around God, and He is in control of time. When God therefore gives you an assignment, He has expectations regarding when, where and how it should be done. If you miss out on any of the details, you will be on your own.

To what extent are you doing His will?

ACTION POINT :
Ask God for grace to know Him, and for courage to do His will in every situation.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Chronicles 19-20;
Ezekiel 38:17-39:8

                                        
HYMN 6:  DEEPER, DEEPER

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

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

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

Refrain:

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

Refrain:

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

Refrain:

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

Refrain:

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Friday September 8, 2017

THE EFFECTS OF A CURSE 

Memorise : "He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it."- Proverbs 11:26

Read: Judges 9:16-24; Judges 9:45-57 

9:16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

9:17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

9:18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother

9:19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

9:20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

9:21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

9:22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

9:23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

9:24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

9:45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

9:46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

9:47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

9:48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

9:49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

9:50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

9:51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

9:52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

9:53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

9:54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

9:55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

9:56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

9:57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.


MESSAGE :

From today’s reading, the effects of a curse are glaring and obvious. Jotham was a son of Gideon who escaped the murderous rampage of his brother Abimelech. After Abimelech had killed seventy of his brothers, Jotham stood and placed a curse on him and the men of Shechem who conspired with Abimelech to carry out this evil act. Three years after this curse was pronounced, God sent an evil spirit to bring about the fulfillment of the curse. In the process of the curse being fulfilled, so many terrible things happened. Land and property were destroyed, a large part of the population was annihilated and ultimately, the cursed Abimelech died.

May you never come under a curse! And if you are already under any curse, it is broken today in Jesus’ Name! Let me tell you a story I heard when I was very young. An old man met a bubbling young man on his way to the farm one day. Being advanced in age, the old man was bent, used a walking stick and limped slightly. Seeing this old man, the young man began to laugh at him; so the old man asked him what he did to deserve such ridicule. “Why shouldn’t I laugh? What can you do?” the young man asked, and the old man replied, “I know I am too feeble to run after you or fight you, but the basket is never satisfied of water”, and then he went on his way.

Suddenly, a strong thirst gripped the young man. He dashed to the first hut and asked for water. After drinking so much, he continued his journey. Not long after, he became thirsty again. He stopped at the second hut and drank so much water. Thereafter, he returned to the first hut to ask for some more water, and the people there discern that something was definitely wrong with him. “What is wrong with you?”, they asked. He told them, “One old man said to me, “The basket is never satisfied of water”. “Really, can you describe the old man?”. He did, and they accompanied him to search for the old man, until they found him and begged for his forgiveness. The old man gave in, and then pronounced, “Alright, from now on you will cease to be the basket, and you will begin to have satisfaction.” That was how the young man was delivered from the strange thirst.

Do everything possible to avoid being cursed by God. If a curse from a fellow man can be disastrous, how would the curse from God be? If your biological father curses you, you can run to your spiritual father or pastor, who has spiritual authority over you, and he can cancel it. If your pastor curses you, you can run to the general overseer set over him, and he can cancel it; though he will also demand that you restitute your ways.

However, if God curses you, to whom will you run?

PRAYER POINT :
Father, help me to never partake in anything that will attract curses to my life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Chronicles 17-18;
Ezekiel 38:1-16


HYMN 6: DEEPER, DEEPER 

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

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

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

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

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

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

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2017

THEME: A MOTIVATED MINDSET


Memorise:

“So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.” Proverbs 24:14


Read: Haggai 1:12-15

1:12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord.

1:13 Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.

1:14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,

1:15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.


Message:

Some people attend big Christian events for the sake of tradition, while some others attend because certain people are coming there. A crowd will often gather whenever there is an assembly where Jesus is present. If you attend such gatherings because of the crowd - just to belong or to show that you are current - you may not receive your desired blessings. In Mark 5:24-34, a crowd gathered around Jesus Christ on His way to Jairus’ house. For many of them, it was enough that they were in the crowd following Jesus, but right there in their midst, there was a woman who was not there because others were there; she was there because she so needed and desired to touch Jesus. She was determined in her heart that if only she could touch the hem of His clothes, she would receive her healing. She touched it and she was healed. That is what a motivated mindset can do. The Bible says she “came in the press behind”. She did not mind if people trampled on her, and she did not mind the pushing and shoving of the crowd; her singular focus was that she just had to touch the hem of the Master’s garment, no matter what it would take. To understand how motivated she was, you need to try getting to the front of a crowd from behind.


Moreover, another person who had a motivated mindset was Zerubbabel. Today’s Bible reading shows that when you have a focused mindset like Zerubbabel did, it will stir you up to take action. A motivated mindset fills your heart with conviction that you are overdue for a breakthrough, thereby ushering you into your desired blessing. For instance, when the man who was paralyzed from the neck downwards was brought to Jesus, it was not for flimsy reasons (Mark 2:1-12). His friends felt he was overdue for a breakthrough, and so on their arrival, when the door was blocked off and there was no feasible way in through the window, they created a way through the roof. When you believe you are already overdue for a breakthrough, you will be compelled to take violent steps towards attaining your expectation. You will not care about the crowd, traditions or the need to socialize. You will not care about who is first, second or next to be attended to on a queue. All that fills your mind is that you are the next beneficiary of God’s mercy. Where do you stand now? Are you overdue for promotion, success, breakthrough, deliverance or prosperity? If you are, let your conviction on this drive you into your miracle. Such a belief has a way of motivating you to take actions that will trigger your blessing. It shall be well with you this season!


Key Point:
While the expectation of the righteous are granted, those without expectations will have nothing.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Chronicles 14-16
Ezekiel 37:15-28

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 Saviour and my Friend.

Abi o, wen person think say he don see d worst, na so new once go just apear again

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Wednesday September 6, 2017

STOP DISHONOURING GOD! 

Memorise : Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. - Psalm 66:2

Read: 1 Samuel 2:27-30 

2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

2:28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

2:30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 


MESSAGE :

“ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:8

In the above passage of Scriptures, God complained about His children, who had suddenly turned into robbers. How can a worker in the Church of God or a minister of God be a thief? How can you claim to be a born-again Christian and keep on stealing? Those who rob God are no ordinary thieves. Boy, such people are really brave! Their victim is not a fellow human being but God Himself. You can be certain that such people are the worst kind of thieves in the universe! Can you imagine that idolaters fear their idols so much that they do everything possible not to break their rules? If anything is dedicated to an idol, who would dare steal it? Yet, these people throw all caution to the wind and steal what is dedicated to the Most High and they expect Him to do nothing about it, because He is a God of mercy. This is bravery gone awry! Are you one of such “holy thieves”? are you defaulting in your tithes and offering?

In the same vein, there are some foolish and ignorant people, particularly in the universities who insult God and Jesus Christ occasionally. I know this because I used to be one of them before I got saved. The opposite of honour is disrespect. If you are not honouring God, it means you’re insulting Him. Everyone who robs God of first fruits dishonours God, and if you dishonour God, you can compel him to change His promises and plan for your life (Proverb 3:9).

This was what happened to the house of Eli. Hear what the Lord told Eli in 1 Samuel 2:30:
“...I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

May the Lord not change His great plan for your life. Do you honour Him? If you refuse to honor God, He will refuse to honour you. If you ignore Him, you will be of no consequence to him. At the end of the day, you will undo yourself by your refusal to comply with divine instructions.

Refusal to honour God can turn the desirable into something detestable. It can push the good things of life that were at a person’s fingertips miles away from him or her. Dishonouring God can separate you temporarily or even permanently from your blessings.

Have you been paying your first fruits yearly? How often do you honour God? 


KEY POINT :
The instruction to honour the Lord is not a suggestion but a command.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Chronicles 11-13;
Ezekiel 36:33-37:14


HYMN 9: ON THE HILL FAR AWAY

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

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

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

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

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

Police arrests 4 female teenagers during cult initiation

Four underage girls, aged between 10 and 13, alongside 13 other suspected cultists were arrested by the Ogun State Police Command during a raid in Mosunmore Village, Abeokuta
The incident was reported by Crimepuzzle on Monday, August 28, 2017, after one of the suspected girl’s mother raised alarm to the Baale of Mosunmore Village.

Following the tip that was given, detectives attached to Owode-Egba Police Divisional Headquarters, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Shehu Alao, went into action and succeeded in arresting them during the initiation of another set of girls.

Speaking on the ugly incident, the state Police Commissioner, CP Ahmed Iliyasu, disclosed that on Monday, August 28, 2017, at about 6:30 pm, a woman raised alarm to the Baale of Mosunmore Village near Kobape in Abeokuta, to the effect that her daughter went out late a day previous.
“Apparently disturbed by the said outing, the woman pestered her daughter who later confessed that she was initiated into a cult group, a development the woman found difficult to conceal to herself and alerted the community head who, in turn, called in my men.

“Consequently, officers of Owode-Egba Division stormed the area and successfully apprehended the 13 youngsters in the process of initiating yet another set of underaged girls”, CP Iliyasu said.

The girls, all primary six school leavers, confessed to being lured into the group by the boys.

The leader of the group known as “Penalty Guys”, 19-year-old Tunde Adio, narrated how he was initiated by one Tosin, also a resident of the community in January, 2017, adding that they came about their own group’s name during the last Easter celebration when his third-in-command, 13-year-old Adewale Raphael’s church was organizing a picnic.

According to Adio, “we decided to do customized vests, with the inscription “Penalty Guys”. This was what attracted the girls and agreed to be initiated”.

Adio’s second-in-command, Silas Sunday, 15, was also arrested during the police raid.

The state commissioner of Police has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping and Cultism Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation and prosecution of the suspects.
http://www.informationng.com/2017/09/police-arrests-4-female-teenagers-cult-initiation.html/amp

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TUESDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2017

THEME: DESPERATION GENERATES OVERFLOW

MEMORISE:
And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
1 Samuel 2:21

READ: 1 Samuel 1:9-18
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Chronicles 9:10, Ezekiel 36:16-32
MESSAGE :
If you have a heart desire which you have asked for, but you are yet to receive it after a long time, it might just be that you are either not yet desperate or you are not desperate enough. The truth is, desperate people break all barriers, respect no decorum and refuse to take 'no' or 'wait' for an answer. In the end, desperate people often even get more than they bargained for, while the non-desperate sometimes barely receive the minimum desire they crave. Hannah's experience serves as an example of what desperation can produce in the life of a person. She was barren and she prayed for the fruit of the womb for several years but nothing happened. Instead, her mate mocked her even more; she then became desperate. In her desperation, she made a vow which provoked her miracle. Although she only asked for one child, her desperation gave her an additional five. She experienced an overflow! If you can take your desperation to the limits, you can get beyond your requests today.
Moreover, desperation can cause you to ask for the impossible. When you are desperate, you are not bothered about processes or possible means. You could ask for what most people will consider difficult, and you will get it. Elisha is a case in point. Elisha was desperate for the power of God, and so when he tendered his request, his master told him he had asked for a hard thing. What did he ask for? He requested a double portion of the Spirit upon his master. Elijah said that was a difficult request, but Elisha got it because he was desperate (2 Kings 2:9-15). How desperate are you? Do you believe God can do all things? Do you really believe that your request will not be difficult for God? Are you sick and trusting God for healing? My God has enough power to heal a whole nation in just one night. When the Israelites were leaving Egypt, none of them was feeble. Speaking about this, the Holy Spirit in Psalm 105:37 said:
"He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes."
Can you imagine that? These people had been beaten, tortured and bruised; yet, in one single night, all of them were healed! If He can heal a nation in one night, can't He heal your whole family at a go? Yes He can! However, how desperate is your desire for Him to do this? Are you ready to hold on to Him today and say, "Father, if You do not heal me, I won't let You go?" The Lord will visit you today, and your story will change for the best.
KEY POINT:
Desperate people are too hot to handle; even the devil gets out of their way.
AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 5:
THE GREAT PHYSICIAN
1. The great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus.
Refrain:
Sweetest note in seraph song,
Sweetest Name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.
2. Your many sins are all forgiv’n,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
Go on your way in peace to heav’n,
And wear a crown with Jesus.
Refrain:
3. All glory to the risen Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Savior’s name,
I love the Name of Jesus.
Refrain:
4. His name dispels my guilt and fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delights to hear
The charming Name of Jesus.
Refrain:

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Monday September 4, 2017

ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE ?

Memorise : To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:  – Galatians 1:16

Read: Acts 9:1-6 

9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.


MESSAGE :

Salvation is great, but you must ensure you are genuinely saved. After having a definite encounter with the Lord that leads to salvation, there are some signs that will confirm to you that your salvation is genuine. One of these signs is that your emphasis would no longer be on what Jesus can do for you, but what you can do for the Lord. The realisation of how close you were to Hell before God’s mercy reached out to save you will birth a heart of gratitude in you the moment you are genuinely saved. You will then feel the urge to serve God wholeheartedly in order to reciprocate His love. Genuine salvation births heartfelt service. If you say you are born again and nothing ever prompts you on the need to work for Jesus, that salvation is questionable.

In Acts 9:6, as soon as Saul had an encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus, he asked the Lord, “What do you want me to do?” Today, after people say they are saved, they only bombard heaven with their petitions and prayer requests. God will definitely meet your needs, but have you ever said, “Lord, thank You for the salvation of my soul. How can I show my gratitude for Your love? What can I do for the One who loved me and died for me? “If you ask the Lord these questions, He would most probably tell you the same thing He said in Mark 5:19b to the erstwhile mad man of Gadara:

“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”

Genuine salvation makes you more responsible and responsive to God. After I was saved, I wanted to know what I could do for Jesus, because God had opened my eyes to see how close I was to Hell, and He made me realise I was now on my way to Heaven. This is why I find it distasteful to hear that some people who have been saved for three years have never witnessed Jesus Christ to anyone. After I was saved, I could not keep it to myself. I was ready to tell all who cared to listen that I was saved. I was also ready to serve. On one of such occasions, one of my ex-students drove by me and saw me carrying a big basket of sawdust on my head, and he screamed in surprise that his lecturer could be doing that in a church at Ebute Metta, Lagos. The location of our church at this time was like a slum. However, that did not change anything about my desire to serve my Saviour and Redeemer.

Does the realisation of the great things God has done for you motivate you to go the extra mile for Him in witnessing and giving? How committed are you to the expansion of God’s Kingdom on earth? I urge you to become a responsible member of God’s Kingdom today.

ACTION POINT : 
As a mark of genuine appreciation for your salvation, lead some souls to Jesus today!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 
2 Chronicles 7-8;
Ezekiel 36:1-15


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.

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL
STUDENT'S MANUAL (2017/2018)

LESSON ONE

SUNDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER 2017

TOPIC: PRAISE GOD

MEMORY VERSE: ‘’Praise ye the LORD, I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation." - Psalm 111:1

BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalm 150:1-6

INTRODUCTION:
Christians often speak of "praising God", and the Bible commands all living creatures to praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6). One Hebrews word for "praise" is yadah, meaning "praise, give thanks, or confess". A second word often translated as "praise" in the Old Testament is zamar, "sing praise". A third word translated as "praise" is halal (the root of hallelujah), meaning "to praise, honour or commend". All three terms contain the idea of giving thanks and honour to the one who is worthy of praise.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. Meaning and instances of praises to God
2. Praising God is a command

MEANING AND INSTANCES OF PRAISES TO GOD
Praise is the joyful recounting of all that God has done for us. It is closely intertwined with thanksgiving as we offer back to God appreciation for His mighty works on our behalf. It is merely the truthful acknowledgment of the righteous acts of another. Since God has done many wonderful deeds, He is worthy of praise (Psalm 18:3).
The book of Psalms is a collection of songs filled with praises to God. Among them are Psalm 9:2 and Psalm 18:3. Praise must also be given to God both for who He is and for His great power (Psalm 21:13). Psalm 150 uses the term praise thirteen times in six verses.
In the New Testament, there are examples of praise given to Jesus (Matthew 8:2; 21:16; 28:17). Jesus accepted praise as God. The early church often shared in times of praise. For example, the first church in Jerusalem included a focus on worship (Acts 2:42-43). The church leaders at Antioch prayed, worshiped and fasted during the time Paul and Barnabas were called into missionary work (Acts 13:1-5). Many of Paul's letters include extended sections of praise to the Lord (1Timothy 3:14-16; Philippians 1:3-11).

PRAISING GOD IS A COMMAND
Throughout the Bible, the commands to "praise the Lord" are too numerous to mention. Angels and the heavenly hosts are commanded to praise the Lord (Psalm 89:5; 103:20; 148:2). All inhabitants of the earth are instructed to praise the Lord (Psalm 138:4; Romans 15:11).
We can praise Him singing (Isaiah 12:5; Psalm 9:11), with shouting (Psalm 33:1; 98:4), with dance (Psalm 105:4), and musical instruments (1Chronicles 13:8; Psalm 108:2; 150:3-5).
However, there are those times when God did not come through the way we thought He would. The medical test comes back positive. The spouse wants a divorce. A child is wayward. The mortgage company calls in the loan. God seems very far away, and praise is the last thing to bubble up from our hearts. We can not see His goodness, and circumstances scream that He has forgotten us. To praise God in those times require personal sacrifice. When we bring a "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15). We choose to believe that even though life is not going as we think it should, God is still good and can be trusted (Psalm 135:2; Nahum 1:7). When we choose to praise God in spite of the storms, He is honoured, and our faith grows deeper (Malachi 3:13-17; Job 13:15).

CONCLUSION:
At the end of time, all of God's people will join in eternal praise of God. Believers should know that our worship of God on earth is simply preparation for the celebration of praise that will take place in eternity with the Lord.

QUESTIONS
1. Mention some instances of praise in the Bible.
2. Why, when and how should we praise God

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Sunday September 3, 2017

DIVINE ORDER

Memorise : Let all things be done decently and in order. - 1 Corinthians 14:40

Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.


MESSAGE :

Through the Lord's Prayer, we understand that everything that happens in Heaven is nothing short of God's will. Matthew 6:10 says,

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

This implies that Heaven is not a place where you go and sin, disobey or do anything that God does not approve of. Heaven is not for haters of God but for those who truly love Him. For this reason, anyone who cannot fit into God's will on earth would not be allowed to pass through the gates of Heaven (Revelation 22:15).

To enter into God's place of abode, God expects you to start living the life of Heaven right here on earth. It is possible to achieve this when you give your life to Jesus Christ and allow Him to live His life through you (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, if there is one thing you must do in order to make it to Heaven, it is to fit into God's plan for your life and pursue nothing short of His will, just as Jesus Christ did (John 4:34). lf you cannot walk in His will throughout your lifetime on earth, there is no way for you to get into Heaven.

ln the same vein, it is very important to do things in order. God is a God of order. To do things in order means to follow the format, principles and protocols laid down by a higher authority. There is order and protocol in Heaven. To do well in your race to Heaven, you need to understand and follow this divine order and protocol (1 Chronicles 15:12-13).

Although the Bible says there is only one God, it further reveals that this God is in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. In John 10:30, Jesus declared that He and His Father are one, and yet while referring to the persons of the Trinity, in Matthew 28:19, He followed a certain order; He said:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

When we therefore baptize believers in Christ, it must be done following the order declared by the Lord Himself. We do not say because Jesus Christ has a Name that is above every other name, that the order should be changed to read: God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and God the Father. When you violate the law of order, you violate the will of God. Nothing is done just for fun in Heaven; everything there is done to reflect God's will, law or order. There is a divine arrangement in place in Heaven: God is on His throne, the four living beings come next, and then the 24 elders (Revelation 4:2-6).

That is divine order. In serving God, you must do everything decently and in order. How compliant are you in this?

PRAYER POINT :
Father, grant me grace to live by Your principles in this world and to follow Your guidelines in all that I do. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Chronicles 5-6;
Ezekiel 34:25-35:15


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.

Preacher: Pastor E.A Adeboye
Topic: Abba Father 7 (Fruitfulness)
Text: Gen.1:26-28

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEPTEMBER CELEBRANTS

Message:
There are two overall fathers
1. God
2. Satan
James 1:17 God is the father of Lights.
John8:44 –There are people who are children of the devil who is known as the father of lies.
There are two basic overall fathers. God who is the father of lights and satan the father of lies.
Matt.5:14-16. John 1:5 If you are a child of God, you become light and darkness will never overcome you. Isaiah 54:16-18
HOW TO KNOW CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL
John 8:44 they lie, cheat, steal and enjoy doing evil. You do wrong and begin to boast about it. IJohn 3:8;9-12 You risk been destroyed with the devil if you are his child, while if you are born of God, you do not commit sin because you are of God.
2 Tim.2:19 God knows his people. Light is better than darkness.
Visit rccg.org or send a mail to altarcall@rccg.org to give your life to Christ. @PastorEAAdeboye #AbbaFather7
1. God has many titles according to psalm 24:7-10; Rev.19:16; Gen.17:1; Psalm 136:2 Of all these titles, he prefers the title FATHER. In Matthew 6:9 Jesus asked the disciples to pray with Our Father and not our God. Matthew 6:26; John 10:29; John 14:2.
WHY DOES GOD PREFER THE FATHER TITLE TO OTHER TITLES
The father reserves the rights to decree. What a father says concerning his children are bound to happen. Parents especially fathers, should speak well into the life of their children. Psalm 33:8-9; Numbers 30:3-5; 2Kings 2:19-22.
Prayer: Father, if there is any curse hindering my fruitfulness please cancel tonight.
There are different forms of barrenness
Mental, Financial, womb, career, ministerial etc forms of bareness
2. God Loves fruitfulness. Matthew 3: 16-17; God has only one begotten son (JESUS) John 3:16, but he loves children. He sold Jesus so he can have harvest of sons. Romans 9:29; Matt.10:13-16; Matt.18:10 If you despise any child of God you get in trouble because every child has an angel who has direct access to God. Gen 1:28;John 15:1-5.
Prayer: Father, whatever is missing in my life that is not allowing me to be fruitful, please supply them tonight.
Because God loves fruitfulness, he appreciates the fruitful. John 15:2; 2Kings 4:8-17
3. When God makes a promise to be fruitful, it is a promise of greatness, promotion and rapid growth 2Cor.1:20. God’s promises are yea and Amen. Psalm 33:11; Exodus 3:15; Gen.21:1-7
Prayer: Father, I want to join the club of those whose joy is full.
4. God hates barrenness. It is an obstruction to his wish
Barrenness is a mountain blocking God’s desire. Joshua 6:1-20 Ex14:1-28; 1Sam 17:45-51
Prayer: Father, every tree of barrenness in my life, please curse/cut tonight.
5. God has not changed. Malachi 3:6; Heb.13:8
God is a respecter of nobody. Acts 10:34-35. He did for Sarah, Rachel, The shunamite woman and Elizabeth Gen 25:21-34; 30:22-24; 2Kings 4:8-17; Luke 1:5-25;5:1-7 Peter had a breakthrough and lost it, but in John 21:1-6 he had another breakthrough and he never lost it again.
Prayer: Father, give me multiple and numerous breakthroughs. I don’t want just one. And if I have lost any, please replace them with numerous.
6. God is a God of Joy. Psalm 16:11 God hates sorrow. God will fill your mouth with laughter. Rev 7:17; 21:4;Luke 7:11-15 You shall laugh and you will overcome.
Prayer: Turn my captivity tonight and fill my mouth with laughter.
WHAT DOES GOD EXPECT FROM YOU
Prophecy: I will use your case to prove my almightiness
Prophecy: You will laugh loud, long and last
God expects you to look to him alone and not to any man or prophet, GO, evangelist.. Gen.30:1-2. Look unto God and God alone. He will surely remember you when you look unto him alone.
He wants you to look unto him alone because he alone has the key to every womb Rev3:7
I Pet.1:15-16 before you can look unto God; you need to keep yourself pure. Luke 1:5-6 do not go add any holy water, charms or sleep with another woman or man. You need to be pure and holy for you to get help from God.
If you are trusting God for fruitfulness, you need to be committed to God in purity and Holiness. Pay your tithe, first fruit and other pledges.
God will surely prove himself as AbbaFather indeed

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 2017

THEME: IS YOUR CONSCIENCE ALIVE?

Memorise:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 1 Peter 3:16

Read: 2 Samuel 12:7-14
12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man` Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
12:8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the
children of Ammon.
12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12:12 For thou didst it secretly but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

MESSAGE
A true representative of a good family will do everything possible to protect the name of that family. For this reason, Proverbs 22:1 says,
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favour rather than silver than gold."
If you are a worthy child of God, you will do all you can to honour God's Name, and you will never bring it into disrepute. Honouring God's Name goes beyond lip service; God expects you to prove that you honour Him through your actions. In 1 Samuel 17:1-51, David was angry that an uncircumcised Philistine could boldly insult the God of Israel, and yet nobody could do anything about it. He therefore took up the challenge of defending God's Name. What have you done to defend or honour God's Name? In what way has your nation, state, community or even your workplace recognised the Lordship and greatness of God above all other gods because of your presence there? The patriarchs of old were not ashamed to stand for this same God, even at the cost of their lives (Hebrews 11:36-37). But how is it with you today? Are you even ashamed to publicly associate yourself with Jesus Christ, so that your peers and superiors will not look down on you?

If you truly hallow God's Name, then under no circumstance would you defile that Name. When someone looks at you and says, "How could you do this? And you call yourself a child of God!" Those words will go through you like a hot iron if your conscience is alive. If those words were spoken to you because you truly did err from the faith, you would feel pain in your heart, become miserable and feel ashamed of yourself. If indeed your conscience is alive, in such a moment, you would see yourself as a wretched sinner and immediately run to the cross of Calvary for
mercy and forgiveness. If your conscience is however dead, you may not feel a thing and just move on as if nothing ever happened. Is your conscience still alive? Does it warn you before you do any evil? Does it prick you when you sin? In 2 Samuel 11, David and Bathsheba fell into the sin of adultery. By the time Nathan confronted David over this evil act, he felt horrible. He was broken and in pain. God told him that his actions had brought shame and disgrace to His Name (2 Samuel 12:14). David genuinely repented, and God forgave him. At what stage do you realise you have sinned, and what is your response to this realisation?

Prayer Point:
Father, from now on, may I never bring shame to Your Name by my deeds.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Chronicles 1-4
Ezekiel 34:11-24
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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

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

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

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

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

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Friday September 1, 2017

A TARGET OF FORCES? 

Memorise : Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth; thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. - Proverbs 6:2

Read: Genesis 35:16-19

35:16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

35:17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

35:19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.


MESSAGE :

Blessings and curses are two of the most powerful forces on earth, even though they function in opposite ways. When present in any life, either of them can seriously affect the destiny of their recipient. Psalm 37:22 says,

“For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.”

What does this mean? It means that if God blesses you, there is nothing you desire that you cannot get. This is why I am amazed whenever I come across some of my children and they say to me, “Daddy, please pray for me”, and when I respond saying “God bless you”, they still ask me to further pray for them. I tell such people that I have already prayed the greatest prayer anyone can pray for them, because if God blesses someone, all his or her problems will be over. As a user of this devotional, I say to you, God bless you!

Proverbs 10:22 reveals the power of the blessings that God gives; it says,

“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”

If you are blessed of the Lord, you will definitely inherit the earth. You will have all you want. However, if you are cursed by God, you will find out that when God curses a person, that fellow will sooner or later become desolate.

What is a curse? A curse is an invitation to all the forces in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth to combine forces and resources to work against a person, until he or she is completely destroyed. So when an individual is cursed, demons, men, animals and even the elements will work against that fellow.

Let us consider the example of Rachael in Genesis 31:31-35. After Jacob served Laban, he finally left to return home. Then came Laban in hot pursuit after Jacob, and he caught up with him. Laban then said to him, “You have taken my two daughters and my cattle, and now you have equally stolen my idols.” Jacob denied stealing the idols and said whoever stole them should die. Unknown to him, his beloved wife Rachel had stolen these idols and sat on them. They checked everywhere but the idols were not found. Jacob thereafter left Laban in annoyance. Later on, in Genesis 35:16-19, shortly after delivering her next child, Rachel died. The curse her husband had pronounced eventually worked
against her.

May you not use your own mouth to undo yourself or members of your family in Jesus’ Name!

KEY POINT :
A curse makes a person the target of negative forces.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 Chronicles 28-29;
Ezekiel 33:30-34:10


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]

RIP

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...

DATE: THURSDAY 31ST AUGUST 2017

THEME: DIVINE WISDOM


Memorise:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1.5

Read: Daniel 1:18-20

1:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Message:

Wisdom is the quality of discerning what is true, what is ethically right, and what should be done in different situations. Wisdom is fundamentally practical in nature. Although God alone possesses wisdom in the absolute sense, as a benevolent God, He is willing to give His wisdom to all those who seek it in humble reverence (James 1:5). We see the wisdom of God manifested in the work of creation and in the provision of redemption from sin through Jesus Christ. Divine wisdom refers to the abilities given by God in every area of life including recognizing and applying the provision of salvation through Jesus Christ, craftsmanship, Knowledge and insight for right decisions in life, and several others. Divine wisdom cannot be received by those who put their confidence in worldly wisdom, which is based on human cleverness and insight without God’s revelation. God considers this human kind of wisdom to be foolish. It may produce temporary success in life, but this will come to nothing on the long run. 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 says,

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Worldly wisdom builds pride and false hope in people, so much so that it makes them arrogate success to themselves to the exclusion of the Almighty God (Proverb 26:12, Isaiah 47:10). In Isaiah 29:14, God has declared that worldly wisdom shall perish.

Wisdom has its roots in knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to correctly make use of acquired knowledge. Divine wisdom leads to proper conduct because it is built on the fear of God (Job 28:28). One of the dimensions that the Holy Spirit operates in is wisdom (Isaiah 11:2). Those who desire to possess divine wisdom will therefore need to cultivate an intimate relationship with Him (Proverbs 1:20-26). The Holy Spirit can fill man’s heart with divine wisdom through revelation. This revelation can come in the place of observing how others live their lives, or through the study of nature. Wisdom may also be received as a result of practical experiences of life and from parental guidance. Divine wisdom can only be received by those who are willing to give up all reliance on their own human insight and understanding. As you seek for divine wisdom by one or a combination of ways mentioned here, God will answer you and fill you up with His divine wisdom in Jesus’ Name.



Prayer Point:

Father, please teach me Your ways and lead me through the path of wisdom in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1 Chronicle 25-27

Ezekiel 33:21-29


PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 16: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

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

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

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

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

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Wednesday August 30, 2017

SURE AVENUES TO COMFORT      

Memorise : For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. - Romans 15:4
 
Read:  Romans 15:4-5
 
15:4 For whatever things were written before we re written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
 
15:5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
 
 
MESSAGE :
 
We are blessed to have a God that does not desert those who belong to Him. In Hebrew 13:5, God promised never to leave nor forsake His own. The divine presence of the Great Shepherd strengthens His sheep, so much so that they entertain no fear. If you are His sheep, He is always with you; even when you cannot feel Him. Do you know that in those moments when it appears as if God has gone on a journey, He is much more around you than you can imagine? When He promised to be with us always, He was not joking (Matthew 28:20).

Are you a sheep of the Great Shepherd? Are you feeling lonely or does it appear that God has forsaken you? He has not. He is right there by your side. He can hear your voice and your whisper. He can even hear your unvoiced wishes, and He will answer you. However, do everything to remain His sheep. Remain within His fold and shun every temptation to stray to the left or right.

If Jesus is the shepherd of your soul, you will not lack comfort because He has promised to comfort you through His rod and staff (Psalm 23:4). No one can make it through this pilgrim’s way without the comfort of the Great Shepherd. One way we receive comfort today, as followers of Jesus Christ, is through the Holy Spirit. Hence, John 14:16 says,
 
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” 
 
When you go through loss or experience some very painful situations, you need the comfort of the Spirit to restore you to a state of peace. The Holy Spirit is so good at this. If however you create a gulf between yourself and the Holy Spirit, how would you then be comforted in the time of need?

From experience, the comfort you get from fellow human beings is grossly inadequate. Why? At best, man’s attempt at comforting you may satisfy mainly physical needs, but the comfort of the Holy Spirit can reach out to all areas of need, particularly the realm of the soul.

Another way of accessing real soothing comfort is from the word of God. Romans 15:4 says that this kind of comfort does not only deal with the unrest in your heart, but also gives you hope. This is one reason why you should never be far from the Bible. The word of God inspires hope. If you feel hopeless, check yourself; you may find out that God’s word is scarce in your heart.

Are you feeling hopeless or in need of comfort? Reach out for God’s word today.
 
KEY POINT :
One crucial time you need the comfort of the Holy Spirit is when you are passing through a wilderness experience.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
1 Chronicle 22-24;
Ezekiel 33:10-20

 
HYMN 16: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

1. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
 
2. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
3. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
 
4.  God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Tuesday August 29, 2017

CHOSEN FOR DIVINE PURPOSE     
      
Memorise : But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; - 1 Peter 2:9
 
Read:  Acts 17:24-31
 
17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
 
 
MESSAGE :
 
Many Christians interpret today’s memory verse with the notion that God favors some individuals or groups of people over others. This idea eventually developed into the doctrine of “Election”, which suggest that some people are predestined for salvation and others for damnation.

Consequently, this doctrine of election has raised a lot of difficult questions in the minds of several people. Why should a just and loving God favor certain individuals or groups of people over others? Why should a loving God command the elimination of some people without mercy? A proper and udiligent study of the Bible would lay these questions to rest permanently. Even a cursory look at the word of God shows clearly that God is good to all. He is not partial; neither is He a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).
 
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16
 
The above scripture makes it clear that Jesus was given for all men and woman from all nations on the face of the earth, and anyone who believes in Him will obtain salvation. Therefore, those with warped interpretations of Scriptures that present our God in bad light, all in the name of “theology”, are not speaking the mind of God. Through the manifestation of Jesus Christ, the whole world, without exception, stands before God with equal opportunity and access to the grace, mercy, favor and love of God. Romans 10:13 says,
 
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
 
No matter who you are, you can come to Jesus with boldness and He will never reject or turn you down. The statement in 1 Peter 2:9 is therefore absolutely correct for everyone who has accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their lives. If you are one of such people, you can say with certainty that you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a member of a holy nation. You are specially chosen to live in holiness and righteousness, to show forth the glory of God in all ramifications of life, and to live in good health, joy and peace.

Since you have been chosen for divine purpose, I pray that you will surely fulfill your destiny in Jesus’ Name.
 
 
ACTION POINT :
Thank God for who you are in Christ Jesus as revealed in 1 Peter 2:9. Confess each of the titles that describe your standing in Christ in this verse on Scripture.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
1 Chronicle 19-21;
Ezekiel 32:29-33:9              
 
 
HYMN 8: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

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 for ever 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

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

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

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Monday August 28, 2017

BUILDERS FOR GOD

Memorise : Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 15:58

Read : Nehemiah 2:1-8

2:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.

2:2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

2:3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

2:4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

2:5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

2:6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

2:7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;

2:8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.


MESSAGE :

A builder is a person who is capable of handling the design, planning and construction of a building project. A builder is obligated to execute a building project in compliance with the specifications of the blueprint he or she has been given.

Throughout the Bible, terms like building, foundation, house, temple, building block and cornerstones, are used figuratively. For example, the Bible presents God as a Builder in Hebrews 11:10, while 1 Corinthians 3:11 presents the Christian faith as a building which has Jesus Christ as the foundation. Consequently, ministers of the gospel are co-labours with God and also builder (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Similarly, the duties and responsibilities of a minister of God can be compared to that of a builder in many ways. A builder should be a wise person who is skilled in the art and science of construction. Likewise, a minister of the gospel should be skilful in the art of building the souls of men. No ignorant preacher should be given this sensitive assignment. A builder takes special care to lay the right foundation and selects the right materials to make the building well suited for the foundation.

In like manner, ministers of God must be mindful of the materials they use in building the Church of God. Christ is our Living Foundation who requires the use of living stones for building the Church (1 Peter 2:5-6). Sometimes, a builder must first pull down an old structure and remove the resultant debris before laying a new foundation. Ministers of the gospel must also pull down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and remove the debris of many errors, indiscipline, false doctrines and damnable heresies.

There is an aspect of the building profession that involves creativity and craftsmanship. By these set of skills, much beauty, innovation, artistry, colour and style is achieved in a building project. Similarly, the introduction of creative ideas into various aspects of the work of the gospel has produced enviable results across the world.

However, caution must be applied because the Bible views certain creative works as whitewashed sepulchres (Matthew 23:27). The decision to accept or reject any creative work is not driven by the work itself, but is determined by the spirit that motivates the worker. Fine craftsmen can prostitute their talents by producing beautiful idols. The Church of God is a work in progress and every Christian is duty-bound to make their contributions in compliance with the blueprint of Jesus and according to God’s specifications.

Let everyone take heed and watch how they build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER POINT : 
Father, please don’t let me suffer lost in life and ministry; let my efforts and contributions to the advancement of the gospel be rewarded in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 
1 Chronicles 16-18;
Ezekiel 32:16-28


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.

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
LESSON FIFTY-TWO
SUNDAY, 27TH AUGUST 2017
TOPIC: WELCOME TO THE 4TH INTERACTIVE SESSION
*To ask questions on treated lessons for clarity *To give critical appraisal of the outlines *To give useful suggestions towards better performances *To give useful spiritual contributions *etc

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Sunday August 27, 2017

DON’T RESIST; RUN!    
      
Memorise : For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. - 1 Corinthians 6:20 

Read : 2 Timothy 2:22-23
 
2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
 
 
MESSAGE :
 
While it is important for you to admit your mistakes with a sorrowful heart, it is also important that you learn from these mistakes. Ask yourself: “How did I get here? What did I do wrong? How could I have avoided this outcome?”  To live a triumphantly in this world you need to pay very close attention to what the word of God says and follow it to the letter. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says you should steadfastly resist the devil, so if you resist, but do not steadfastly resist, you will surely fall. On the other hand, in 1 Corinthian 6:18, we are commanded to flee fornication. In this case, God does not require resistance from you, but that you should take to your heels! If you then try to resist instead of running, you will surely fall. Similarly, 2 Timothy 2:22 says,

“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
 
Clearly, there is a time to stand and a time to run. If you stand when you should run, you will most likely fall.

Sometime ago, I told male pastors not to have female secretaries, but some of them who thought they were wiser than I, called it gender discrimination. I told them that after they had become casualties of their wrong decisions, they would remember that I had earlier warned them. One of my very good sons, who knew the Bible very well, hired a female secretary. I asked him, “What are you doing? How can you be in the same office with this lady smiling at you? Eventually, you will end up working late with her. Go and ease her out.” He dragged his feet on this. Today, this same person is out of the ministry, out of his home and jobless. If not that he lives in a country where the government provides food for the jobless, he would have starved.

Some leaders are still toying with danger. Some piglets once asked the mother pig, “Why are you always grunting?” the mother pig replied, “When you are as old as I am, you will know why.” Avoid any source of temptation! Resist when you should and run when you should. Some people take it as an act of cowardice to run from those they feel sexually attracted to. No! It is not cowardice, it is wisdom! God knows how he wired your body, so if He says you should run in a particular situation, please run for your dear life!
 
ACTION POINT :
The Bible has the antidote to every situation; apply it diligently and you will never fall
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :  
1 Chronicle 13-15;
Ezekiel 32:1-15              
 
 
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]

The man shld be held responsible for anything that happens to the girl

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Saturday August 26, 2017

THE REWARD OF PROFITABLE STEWARDSHIP   
  
Memorise : And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. - Revelation 22:12
 
Read : Matthew 25:14-23
 
25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

25:17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 
MESSAGE :
 
Christianity entails total submission to the will of God as revealed in His word. A Christian must view God as the ultimate Owner of everything, who decides to delegate and distribute a certain measure of His resources to each and every person according to their ability, for the purpose of making profit.

In reality, all that we own isn’t really ours; they are blessings that have been graciously bestowed on us by the Lord (John 3:27). For all that God has given to us, there’s an expectation that comes along with them. The word “stewardship”, summarises this arrangement. A steward is a special servant employed to oversee and manage the affairs of the household according to the dictates of the owner. He or she is simply a servant who has been entrusted with the authority to make decisions on behalf of his or her master. All purchases pertaining to the running of a household are made by the steward. Even some very important decisions are made by the steward. For example, Abraham entrusted his steward, Eliezer of Damascus, with the crucial responsibility of choosing a wife for his son Isaac (Genesis 24:2-4).

A true Christian operates under the same dynamics today. As a steward over the heritage of God, you should be able to operate without supervision. Everything you do should be done as unto the Lord. You should make certain that the resources you are entrusted with are put to proper use for God and not for personal gain. As God’s steward, you should do everything to ensure that the Lord’s resources are carefully deployed to accomplish His agenda.

A steward is a trustworthy ambassador that sometimes stands in the place of God to make decisions and take action that could have far-reaching effects on people’s lives. Christian stewardship is therefore an awesome responsibility that should be handled with utmost care. May you never mishandle your responsibility as a representative of the Almighty God in Jesus’ Name.

God has very important assignments He wants to execute in this world, and He has entrusted some of these into your hands. One of such assignments is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). God has chosen you as His primary tool to accomplish this awesome task, and He has appointed and equipped you to carry His message of salvation to those who are lost in sin. You must therefore take up this responsibility and fulfil the heartbeat of God.

In conclusion, here in this world, there are innumerable benefits awaiting all obedient servants of God. However, the most important reward for profitable stewardship is to be a guest of Jesus at His marriage supper, and to stand before God’s throne to receive commendation and crown of life from the Master. You will make it in Jesus’ Name.
 
PRAYER POINT :
Father, help me to be worthy of the ultimate reward for profitable stewardship in Jesus’ Name.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
1 Chronicle 11-12;
Ezekiel 31:10-18              
 
 
HYMN 14: TAKE MY LIFE

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise. 
 
2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
 
3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
 
4.  Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
 
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
 
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Friday August 25, 2017

THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT  
      
Memorise : “And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” - Luke 12:47
  
Read : Matthew 25: 24-30
 
25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

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.

25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 

MESSAGE :
 
An unprofitable servant is generally identified as a steward that fails to put his or her talents to profitable use for his or her master. He or she is a wasteful person who is pleased to keep the master’s investment from yielding any profit.

Among all the servants mentioned in the Bible, it was only the unprofitable servant that had the disrespectful behaviour of complaining and bringing charges against his lord. He had the audacity to accuse his master to his face of being a difficult and greedy person, wanting to reap where he did not sow! He created the impression that his master had all along been wicked, unfair and insensitive. Although the unprofitable servant tried to portray himself as a humble and obedient servant, he ended up giving himself off as self- righteous person, who had mastered the art of making excuses to cover up for slothfulness and failure. Trying to justify himself, he falsely argued that he became indolent and unproductive out of fear for his master. He forgot that a master’s commandment is a servant’s duty.

As a matter of fact, a servant always owes a debt of service to his or her master (Luke 17:7-10). The unprofitable servant tried so hard to justify himself but he failed woefully. God is not mocked; the excuses you have prepared to use on the Day of Judgment will not stand the test of His scrutiny. 

Brethren, every excuse that we give for failure to obey the commandments of God with regards to the use of our talents is simply evidence of rebellion against God. The excuse that the unprofitable servant gave is the common plea of many Christians today, who complain that the Almighty God has no right to demand for the use of their time, money and ability for the promotion of His Kingdom. If you fail to put your God-given talents to profitable use, on the day of reckoning, you will hear the denunciation pronounced against the unprofitable servant: “Take therefore the talent from him!” I pray that you will never receive words of condemnation from God in Jesus’ Name. Many would ask, “What wrong have I done?” Search your heart. Have you fixed your Lord’s money in huge deposits and savings accounts, or tied up His investment in properties, exotic cars, exclusive furniture and an expensive lifestyle, all the while leaving souls to perish in their sins?

Do you prefer to bury your talents out of selfishness because you care more about yourself and less about God and the expansion of His Kingdom? Have you deliberately refused to put God’s endowments in your life to profitable use; thereby causing the benefits and profits due to God and man to be totally lost?

To be commended by the Master, we need to repent of our selfish lifestyle and yield to God in complete obedience.
  
PRAYER POINT :
Father, please give me the grace to serve You profitably to the end in Jesus’ Name.
  
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
1 Chronicle 8-10;
 Ezekiel 30:20-31:9                    


HYMN 14: TAKE MY LIFE

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.
  
2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
 
3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
 
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
 
5.  Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
 
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Thursday August 24, 2017

THEME: THE CHURCH OF GOD III

Memorise : That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. – Ephesians 5:27

Read: Ephesians 1:1-4

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:


MESSAGE:

The Church of God is a living entity that thrives upon the life of God. The life of Jesus circulates freely through His Church, just as blood flows through the human body. The Church of God feeds on heavenly food, which is the word of God, breathes the atmosphere of heaven, which are the commandments and principles that guide her operations, and thrives on the life of God that flows through her veins, which is the Holy Spirit.

By implication therefore, the primary qualities and attributes of God automatically become the primary characteristics and nature of His Church.

In Isaiah 6:3b, the primary quality and nature of God is announced in this proclamation from Heaven:

“Holy, holy holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

For this reason, today’s Bible reading declares that the Church of God was chosen by God to be holy and without blame before Him in love. Holiness is the moral excellence of God that unifies His attributes and is expressed through His actions. The Bible presents holiness as a nature that includes moral purity, separation from evil and a devotion to God’s glory. God is Holy, His Name is Holy, His words and everything about Him is Holy. As a result, in the Old Testament, the place of worship, the altar, the priests and the people had to be sanctified and made holy before rendering service to God  (Exodus 29:44).

To be dedicated to God’s service, we also in this new dispensation must be set apart from the sins of this world. Hebrews 10:22 says,

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

God’s holiness provides a pattern of His people to emulate (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness simply means separation from sin and devotion to God (2 Timothy 2:19). As a child of God, sin should not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14). You are expected to make holiness your lifestyle by walking in the fear of God always (2 Corinthians 7:1). To this end, Colossians 3:5a says,

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;”

This means you should put to death or destroy everything that is carnal in you, using the sword of the Spirit (Hebrews 4:12). It means your heart should continually be cleansed from carnality, using the water of God’s word. Even though you are genuinely born again, your body still has passions, desires and appetites that must be allowed to break out beyond their legitimate bounds in the Lord. Be holy, and be sanctified!

PRAYER POINT : 
Father, grant me grace to keep myself under the control of Your Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 
1 Chronicles 6-7;
Ezekiel 30:5-19


HYMN 6: DEEPER, DEEPER

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

Refrain:

Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
 
2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Refrain:

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

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

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

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Tuesday August 22, 2017

THE CHURCH OF GOD I

Memorise : And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. - Ephesians 1:22-23
 
 
Read: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
 
1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

1:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 
MESSAGE :
 
The Church is a body of saints being prepared as the Bride of Christ to be married to Him at His second coming (Ephesians 5:25-27). It is also a spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the Head (Colossians 1:18).

The Church of God is the meeting place of God and man, created as a means of uniting all people with God and with one another. The manifold wisdom of God, His mysteries, His nature, character and his attributes are revealed through His Church. Among all of God’s creatures, He did not find any of them worthy to be His dwelling place: a place of His rest. God cherishes His Church so much that He showers much care on her, and through her, He spreads Himself across the face of the earth. 

In Matthew 16:18, the Lord decreed that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church; consequently, the Church of God is served by the ministry of angels (Hebrews 1:14). It is the only institution on earth that angels pay attention to as a matter of duty. The angels of God dote on His Church and admire her beauty (1 Peter 1:12).

It is the only institution on earth which angels take interest in, and every bit of progress that the church makes in this world brings joy to them and cause them to celebrate (Luke 15:7). If you have not given your life to Christ, you can cause the angels of God to rejoice today by accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, thereby becoming a member of the body of Christ, which is the Church. As a member of the Church of God, you are expected to continually express your love for God in worship and practical service, which includes enduring hardness, afflictions and tribulations for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Always remember that Christianity is not bread and butter alone. Despite all the good promises of God to you, Jesus, in John 16:33b, also says to you,

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
 
God’s attention is focused on His Church, and as a result, the devil can never prevail against you. However, you must learn to endure afflictions, and you must confidently confront evil. You must not be ashamed or afraid of witnessing Jesus. Always be mindful of the fact that the Holy Spirit is in you and the angels of God are at your service wherever you go.
 
PRAYER POINT : 
Father, in Jesus’ Name, please give me the grace to endure hardship, afflictions and tribulations for the sake of Your Name.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
1 Chronicles 1-3;
 Ezekiel 28:25-29:9                                                                                                     
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 power 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.

This is devilish. The law endorcement shld track him down, let him face the law

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Monday August 21, 2017

THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT   
        
Memorise : For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. - 1 Corinthians 6:20
 
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 :
 
The response of the Lord Jesus Christ to the question of a Samaritan woman on God’s approved location of acceptable worship, in john 4:20, put an end to the era where God could only be worshiped in specific places. John 4:21 & 23 says,
 
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

Jesus taught her that the time has come when true worshippers of God are not required to visit any physical temple or be present in any particular location in order to worship God acceptably. True worshippers can now worship the Father in spirit and truth.

Building on this teaching, Apostle Paul expounded that the dwelling of God is no longer in temples made by human hands (Acts 17:24). He further revealed that God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, now dwells in the body of those who have yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, he wrote this:

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

If you are indeed a Christian, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Out of love for you, God gave you a unique body, and He wants you to reciprocate His love by making good use of it. The question is, are you conscious of the fact that God’s Holy Spirit dwells in you. Are you aware that you are not your own, and that you are bought with a price?

Are you aware that you are to glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:20)? As a child of God, God has taken ownership of your body. You therefore have no preferences in matters concerning your body. You must commit your body to God as a living sacrifice and consciously conduct yourself as the dwelling place of His Holy spirit. A Christian cannot therefore make choices about sexual orientation or engage in behaviours on the basis of personal preference. Without any ambiguity, God has made clear the purpose of our body; therefore, any notion about freedom of choice regarding sexuality and sexual acts is essentially incompatible with God’s word.

God also warns that He will destroy those who defile His temple, which is our body. Take note of this and be wise!
 
PRAYER POINT :
Father, please abide in me; make my body Your dwelling place, and give me the grace to resist any temptation to misuse my body, in Jesus’ Name.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Kings 24-25;
Ezekiel 28:11-24                          
 
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]

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS MANUAL

(LESSON FIFTY-ONE)

SUNDAY 20TH AUGUST 2017

TOPIC: THE REALITY OF HELL

MEMORY VERSE: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” – Psalm 9:17

BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 16:19-31

INTRODUCTION:
Is there an everlasting hell? The Bible declares in very certain terms that there is. There are 162 texts in the New Testament alone that speak of the doom that awaits the unrepentant sinners. The Lord Himself uttered 70 of these. Hell is a reality, an awful fact to be realised. It seems that the angels that sinned with Satan are even now in hell waiting for judgment (2Peter 2:4). The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the wicked and anyone that finally rejects Christ will be turned into hell (Psalm 9:17).

LESSON OUTLINES
1. How real is hell?
2. Other questions about hell

HOW REAL IS HELL?
Hell is a place of torment and punishment, of unquenchable thirst, of suffering and agony at its worst (Luke 16:23). Hell is banishment from the presence of God (2Thessalonians 1:9). It is a sort of prison where the wicked are punish forever (Matthew 25:46). The heat of hell-fire is unbearable (Isaiah 33:14; Matthew 13:42). The justice of God demands degrees of punishment; therefore, some parts of hell are hotter than others (Deuteronomy 32:22).
Hell was originally prepared for the devil and his wicked angels (Matthew 25:41). Hell was never intended for man but if men insist on rejecting Heaven through the Saviour, Jesus Christ, then they must accompany Satan forever (Psalm 9:17). The original size of hell is not known but because of man’s insistence on going there, hell has enlarged itself (Isaiah 5:14).
The worst part of it is that just as those who go to Heaven will recognise themselves, those who go to hell will also recognise themselves (Luke 16:23). They will even be able to pray but their prayers will never be answered (Luke 16:27). The torment there is everlasting.

OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT HELL
1. Who will go to hell? All persons, of all ranks, ages, and conditions whose names are not found written in the book of life (Revelations 20:15).
2. Where is hell? The Bible says it is ‘’down’’ (Isaiah 14:9).
3. Does ‘’hell’’ not mean ‘’grave’’ where both the good and the bad must go? No. In Luke 16, both the rich man and Lazarus died and went to the grave, as both were buried. However, their souls went to different places. One was in a place where he was comforted, the other in a place of torment and the two were separated by a great gulf to prevent travel back and forth.
4. Will the doomed repent in hell, seek the Lord, and then be forgiven? No. Salvation is limited to this life. There is no repentance in the grave. All prayers of the doomed are denied (Luke 16:24-27).
5. Is there a place of probation, purgatory, after death? Certainly not. Once a person dies, he either goes straight to paradise or the place of torment (Hebrews 9:27).

CONCLUSION
How does one get to hell? It is simply by neglecting the salvation purchased for us by the Blood of Jesus (Hebrews 2:3). How does one avoid hell? By receiving Jesus as one’s personal Saviour, and Lord (John 3:16; Proverbs 15:24). What is your choice?

QUESTIONS:
1. Who are those who will go to hell?
2. How can someone miss going to hell?

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Sunday August 20, 2017

THE GREAT VIRTUE       
Memorise : And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. - 1 Corinthians 13:13
  
Read:  1 Corinthians 13:1-3
 
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

13:2 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.

13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
 
 
MESSAGE :
 
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3
 
Love is a decision of commitment that is expressed as a strong feeling of affection and attraction. Based on God’s nature and actions, the Scripture gives us insight into the source, character and value of love. The Bible teaches that God is the source of love and that His very character is love. If you have ever been deeply in love with someone to the point of obsession, you will discover that you may lose your appetite and forget to eat because of that person (Song of Solomon 5:2-. Your mind will become occupied with nothing else but that person.

The object of your love is the last thing you think of when you go to bed and the first thing you think of when you wake up. Love involves the totality of a person’s thoughts, feelings and actions. Love is a central theme of the Christian faith and is a primary characteristic of God’s nature.
 
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."
Matthew 22:37-38

The first object of our love should be God. We are enjoined to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. Indeed, you need to understand the love of God for you before you can appreciate what true love is. Having received the love of God, God expects you to reciprocate His love by worshiping Him in truth and by showing His love to others. The love of God was manifested on the cross of Calvary. Jesus, with these words, revealed the extent of God’s love for us in John 3:16:
 
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
 
Out of love, God gave His only begotten Son as the ultimate sacrifice for the salvation of humanity. He then commanded every one of us that has received His love to reciprocate it by loving one another (1 John 4:7-. The Bible makes it very clear that the proof of love is its expression through actions, especially actions that are taken in the interest of others.

Children of God should never be identified with envy, hatred, pride, selfishness, or any form of wickedness. These vices are contrary to God’s nature in us. As Christians, we must always radiate the love of God with meekness, kindness, patience, peace and joy. 
 
PRAYER POINT :
Father, please fill my heart with Your love, so that Your love may flow through me to others.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Kings 23;
Ezekiel 27:26-28:10
 
 
HYMN 18: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

1.  Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
 
2. At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
Refrain:
 
3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Refrain:
 
4. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.
Refrain:

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2017

Saturday August 19, 2017

VICTORY THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS
       
Memorise : And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.- Revelation 12:11

 
Read:  Exodus 12:21-23
 
12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.

12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

12:23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
 
 
MESSAGE :
 
For various reasons, the battle of life has proved to be of tremendous difficulty to mankind in every generation. First and foremost, the enemy is often difficult to identify correctly, coming in different forms and sizes. Sometimes, the enemy comes in the form of human opposition, criticism and antagonism, and other times, in the form of physical challenges and obstacles.

The enemy also comes as natural occurrences which one would expect to naturally fade away with time, but down the line, such occurrences metamorphose into serious problems. The battles of life can come to us through a human agent in the most subtle but wicked manner and it can take the form of a dramatic open challenge. At the onset of every battle of life, its spiritual dimension is not usually obvious.

However, the Bible teaches that there is a spiritual dimension to every battle. Ephesians 6:12 says,
 
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
 
As a child of God, although the enemy of our soul may look intimidating, don’t be frightened by his visage or his history of destruction. Instead, focus on the truth of God’s word that reveals him as a conquered foe (Hebrew 2:14, Luke 10:18-19).

This is the high standpoint of the Christian faith. This is the only ground on which a child of God should meet the devil and his agents. We are overcomers! The element and resources of our victory clearly supersede the resources of our wicked foes. The element of our victory is the blood of Jesus, and the weapon of our warfare is the word of God. The battle cry in our conflict with the devil should always be the words of today’s memory verse. You must continuously resist the devil with the words of this scripture and believe its declaration in your heart.

You cannot confront the devil and his agents with human wisdom, scientific inventions, philosophy, or ethical principles; rather, confront them with the blood of Jesus Christ, which signifies the seal of our victory in the Lord. Always remember that the battle is not ours but the Lord’s. At the beginning of this conflict with the devil in the Garden of Eden, it was prophesied that the seed of the woman will bruise the head of the serpent.

Jesus is the seed of the woman! Christians must enter the battle of life with the confidence that the Lord is fighting for us, and that we are simply following His banner and claiming victory in His Name.

Let us praise and worship the Almighty God who has granted us victory through the Blood of Jesus. 
 
PRAYER POINT :
Father, please completely destroy the works of the devil in my life and in Your Church in the Name of Jesus.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
2 Kings 21-22;
Ezekiel 27:10-25
 
 
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.