Monday, March 19, 2018
Open Heavens, Monday 19th March 2018
THE LORD’S SEEKERS
Memorise: Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. Psalm 40:16
Read: Psalm 24:1-6 (KJV)
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Bible in one year: Deuteronomy 2-3, Galatians 2
Hymnal: Sing hymn 2
Message
To seek is to diligently search for or pursue after an object or person of value. The greater the value placed on an object or person of interest, the more intense the labour, time and money that will be expended on the search process. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, yet He loves us so much that He gave up His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for sin so that we may have abundant life in this world and spend eternity with Him in heaven. Having done so much for us, His desire is that we all should seek after Him and His kingdom. God has a reward for those who seek Him with all their heart, but those who ignore Him do so at their own peril. Hebrews 11:6 says,
“…for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him.”
God wants His children to know that seeking after Him and His kingdom is like acquiring a gem of inestimable value; which is why the Lord Jesus Christ in His parables compared the kingdom of God to seeking a treasure (Matthew 13:44-46).
In as much as God’s desire is for His people to seek after Him, He also is seeking for those who display genuine interest in fellow-shipping with Him (Psalm 14:2, John 4:23). The word always for who He is. He is our Creator, Redeemer, Provider, Healer, the Mighty Warrior and Saviour of the world. We need to show appreciation for His goodness, enduring mercy and great kindness towards us. He is our peace and our shelter in times of trouble. We must seek after God wholeheartedly and with simplicity of heart; we must seek Him continually and without delay. We must also seek Him in holiness and righteousness. Seeking God and His kingdom should be the priority of our lives (Matthew 6:33). When you seek after God, He will offer Himself to you as a gift, just as He did to Abraham (Genesis 15:1). When God gives you Himself as a gift, you have access to everything that belongs to Him, and of course all things in heaven and on earth are His. No wonder the Holy Spirit, speaking to those who seek after God and not men, in 1st Corinthians 3:21b said “all things are yours”. In conclusion, I leave you with the words of a dying father to his son in 1st Corinthians 28:9:
“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”
Key Point – Open Heaven 19 March 2018
Those who seek after God receive God as their reward.
Sing hymn 2 – I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee
I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour,
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfil.
I need Thee every hour
Most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine Indeed,
Thou blessed Son.
Memorise: Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. Psalm 40:16
Read: Psalm 24:1-6 (KJV)
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Bible in one year: Deuteronomy 2-3, Galatians 2
Hymnal: Sing hymn 2
Message
To seek is to diligently search for or pursue after an object or person of value. The greater the value placed on an object or person of interest, the more intense the labour, time and money that will be expended on the search process. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, yet He loves us so much that He gave up His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for sin so that we may have abundant life in this world and spend eternity with Him in heaven. Having done so much for us, His desire is that we all should seek after Him and His kingdom. God has a reward for those who seek Him with all their heart, but those who ignore Him do so at their own peril. Hebrews 11:6 says,
“…for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him.”
God wants His children to know that seeking after Him and His kingdom is like acquiring a gem of inestimable value; which is why the Lord Jesus Christ in His parables compared the kingdom of God to seeking a treasure (Matthew 13:44-46).
In as much as God’s desire is for His people to seek after Him, He also is seeking for those who display genuine interest in fellow-shipping with Him (Psalm 14:2, John 4:23). The word always for who He is. He is our Creator, Redeemer, Provider, Healer, the Mighty Warrior and Saviour of the world. We need to show appreciation for His goodness, enduring mercy and great kindness towards us. He is our peace and our shelter in times of trouble. We must seek after God wholeheartedly and with simplicity of heart; we must seek Him continually and without delay. We must also seek Him in holiness and righteousness. Seeking God and His kingdom should be the priority of our lives (Matthew 6:33). When you seek after God, He will offer Himself to you as a gift, just as He did to Abraham (Genesis 15:1). When God gives you Himself as a gift, you have access to everything that belongs to Him, and of course all things in heaven and on earth are His. No wonder the Holy Spirit, speaking to those who seek after God and not men, in 1st Corinthians 3:21b said “all things are yours”. In conclusion, I leave you with the words of a dying father to his son in 1st Corinthians 28:9:
“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”
Key Point – Open Heaven 19 March 2018
Those who seek after God receive God as their reward.
Sing hymn 2 – I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee
I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour,
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfil.
I need Thee every hour
Most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine Indeed,
Thou blessed Son.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Open Heaven, SUNDAY 18TH March 2018
GOD’S FAVOURITE
Memorise: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17
Read: Hebrews 1:7-9
7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Bible in one year: Deuteronomy 1, Galatians 1
Hymnal: Sing hymn 15
Message
The word ‘favourite’ is used to describe a person who is preferred to others or who is especially well liked. Treating a certain class of people as favourites is generally considered to be an unfair practice. Why would God then have favourites? Looking at God’s principles of truth and justice through the prism of our human understanding of favouritism makes this question a very tricky one to answer. Indeed, Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us this about God:
“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
We also understand from John 3:16 that He loves all human beings alike. Likewise, Romans 2:11 clearly state that there is no respect of persons with Him. However, another truth of God’s word is that He is sovereign and He does as He pleases (Psalm 115:3. Psalm 135:6). To demonstrate His sovereignty, in Romans 9:15 He declared:
“….I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
The choice to have favourites is therefore a manifestation of God’s sovereignty which He says cannot be questioned (Romans 9:20). God has shown this aspect of His sovereignty in the lives of individuals like Abraham, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, Moses, Pharaoh, Esther, Mary and several others. I am happy to declare to you that my Daddy has a special relationship with me that comes with special privileges that are not common to all men. How else can anyone explain my appointment as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, or the phenomenal growth the Church is experiencing even now? What shall we say about the fulfilment of seemingly impossible prophecies, outstanding miracles and great testimonies of unbelievable proportions? How can one explain all these, except that I am God’s favourite?
In Matthew 3:17b, God proclaimed these words concerning Jesus:
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
For those who are born again, it then follows that since we are joint heirs with Christ, and since the Holy Spirit has indicated that as Jesus is, so are we in this world (Romans 8:17, 1st John 4:17), we are truly the beloved of God and are therefore His favourites. I pray that you will begin to walk in the reality of this truth from today in Jesus’ Name.
being God’s favourite surely sounds good, but it comes with some responsibilities. As a favourite of God, you must make holiness your lifestyle. You must dedicate yourself to God in true worship, submitting yourself totally to His will. You are also expected to dedicate yourself to service in the Body of Christ. Are you God’s favourite?
Prayer Point
Father, let it be glaring to the whole world that I am Your favourite in Jesus’ Name.
Sing hymn 15 – NEARER MY GOD TO THEE
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.
There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee
Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee
Memorise: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17
Read: Hebrews 1:7-9
7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Bible in one year: Deuteronomy 1, Galatians 1
Hymnal: Sing hymn 15
Message
The word ‘favourite’ is used to describe a person who is preferred to others or who is especially well liked. Treating a certain class of people as favourites is generally considered to be an unfair practice. Why would God then have favourites? Looking at God’s principles of truth and justice through the prism of our human understanding of favouritism makes this question a very tricky one to answer. Indeed, Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us this about God:
“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
We also understand from John 3:16 that He loves all human beings alike. Likewise, Romans 2:11 clearly state that there is no respect of persons with Him. However, another truth of God’s word is that He is sovereign and He does as He pleases (Psalm 115:3. Psalm 135:6). To demonstrate His sovereignty, in Romans 9:15 He declared:
“….I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
The choice to have favourites is therefore a manifestation of God’s sovereignty which He says cannot be questioned (Romans 9:20). God has shown this aspect of His sovereignty in the lives of individuals like Abraham, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, Moses, Pharaoh, Esther, Mary and several others. I am happy to declare to you that my Daddy has a special relationship with me that comes with special privileges that are not common to all men. How else can anyone explain my appointment as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, or the phenomenal growth the Church is experiencing even now? What shall we say about the fulfilment of seemingly impossible prophecies, outstanding miracles and great testimonies of unbelievable proportions? How can one explain all these, except that I am God’s favourite?
In Matthew 3:17b, God proclaimed these words concerning Jesus:
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
For those who are born again, it then follows that since we are joint heirs with Christ, and since the Holy Spirit has indicated that as Jesus is, so are we in this world (Romans 8:17, 1st John 4:17), we are truly the beloved of God and are therefore His favourites. I pray that you will begin to walk in the reality of this truth from today in Jesus’ Name.
being God’s favourite surely sounds good, but it comes with some responsibilities. As a favourite of God, you must make holiness your lifestyle. You must dedicate yourself to God in true worship, submitting yourself totally to His will. You are also expected to dedicate yourself to service in the Body of Christ. Are you God’s favourite?
Prayer Point
Father, let it be glaring to the whole world that I am Your favourite in Jesus’ Name.
Sing hymn 15 – NEARER MY GOD TO THEE
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.
There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee
Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee
Open Heavens, Saturday 17th March 2018
THE UNCHANGEABLE CHANGER
Memorise: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Read: 1st Samuel 2:1-10 (KJV)
1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Bible in one year: Numbers 34-36, 2nd Corinthians 13
Hymnal: Sing hymn 13
Message
I love to hail my Daddy as the Unchangeable Changer for many reasons. He is unchangeable because He is not subject to variation or alteration (James 1:17). The Almighty God is an infinitely perfect and self-existent Being. He is exalted for above the possibility of change because He is independent and not limited by all the factors that cause change. As a self-existing being, God cannot be changed by forces outside Himself. He is also not subject to change from within His person because He is perfect in nature. He cannot be subject to any form of change at all because He is eternal and independent of time (1st Timothy 6:16). The unchanging nature of God is established throughout the Bible (Numbers 23:19, 1st Samuel 15:29, Isaiah 46:9-11, Ezekiel 24:14). Here is His declaration about Himself in Malachi 3:6:
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
The moral consistency of our God guarantees His commitment to unchanging principles. Just as His nature is unchangeable, His character is also unchanging. The Psalmist testifies to this truth in Psalm 100:5:
“For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
In addition to God’s character being constant, His plans and purposes cannot also be altered by any outside forces. Proverbs 19:21 says
“There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
As our God lives, His good counsel over your life shall come to pass in Jesus’ Name.
God’s unchanging nature is connected to the fact that He is Omniscient. A person usually changes his or her mind because of new information that was previously unavailable, or because of new developments that require a different approach. Since God is Omniscient, He cannot learn something new that He did not already know.
The unchanging nature of God, coupled with His ability to turn any situation around for good is great advantage to His children. Because our God is faithful, you can be sure that every promise in His word to you will come to pass. Remember also that the fact that He has not imposed His promised judgement on workers of iniquity is indicative of His enduring mercy and unchanging grace. Please tap into this grace while it is yet available.
Prayer Point
Father please turn around every unpleasant situation in my life today in Jesus’ Name.
Sing hymn 13 – IMMORTAL INVISIBLE GOD ONLY WISE
Immortal, invisible, God only
wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our
eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the
Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Thy great
name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as
light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou
rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high
soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of
Goodness and love.
To all life Thou givest, to both
great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life
of all;
We bloosom and flourish as leaves
on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought
Changeth Thee.
Great Father of Glory, pure
Father of Light.
Thine angels adore Thee, all
Veiling their sight
All laud we would render, O
help us to see:
‘Tis only the splendor of light
hideth Thee
Immortal, invisible, God only
wise,
In light inaccessible hid from
our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the
Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Thy great
name we praise.
Memorise: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Read: 1st Samuel 2:1-10 (KJV)
1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Bible in one year: Numbers 34-36, 2nd Corinthians 13
Hymnal: Sing hymn 13
Message
I love to hail my Daddy as the Unchangeable Changer for many reasons. He is unchangeable because He is not subject to variation or alteration (James 1:17). The Almighty God is an infinitely perfect and self-existent Being. He is exalted for above the possibility of change because He is independent and not limited by all the factors that cause change. As a self-existing being, God cannot be changed by forces outside Himself. He is also not subject to change from within His person because He is perfect in nature. He cannot be subject to any form of change at all because He is eternal and independent of time (1st Timothy 6:16). The unchanging nature of God is established throughout the Bible (Numbers 23:19, 1st Samuel 15:29, Isaiah 46:9-11, Ezekiel 24:14). Here is His declaration about Himself in Malachi 3:6:
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
The moral consistency of our God guarantees His commitment to unchanging principles. Just as His nature is unchangeable, His character is also unchanging. The Psalmist testifies to this truth in Psalm 100:5:
“For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
In addition to God’s character being constant, His plans and purposes cannot also be altered by any outside forces. Proverbs 19:21 says
“There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
As our God lives, His good counsel over your life shall come to pass in Jesus’ Name.
God’s unchanging nature is connected to the fact that He is Omniscient. A person usually changes his or her mind because of new information that was previously unavailable, or because of new developments that require a different approach. Since God is Omniscient, He cannot learn something new that He did not already know.
The unchanging nature of God, coupled with His ability to turn any situation around for good is great advantage to His children. Because our God is faithful, you can be sure that every promise in His word to you will come to pass. Remember also that the fact that He has not imposed His promised judgement on workers of iniquity is indicative of His enduring mercy and unchanging grace. Please tap into this grace while it is yet available.
Prayer Point
Father please turn around every unpleasant situation in my life today in Jesus’ Name.
Sing hymn 13 – IMMORTAL INVISIBLE GOD ONLY WISE
Immortal, invisible, God only
wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our
eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the
Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Thy great
name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as
light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou
rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high
soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of
Goodness and love.
To all life Thou givest, to both
great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life
of all;
We bloosom and flourish as leaves
on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought
Changeth Thee.
Great Father of Glory, pure
Father of Light.
Thine angels adore Thee, all
Veiling their sight
All laud we would render, O
help us to see:
‘Tis only the splendor of light
hideth Thee
Immortal, invisible, God only
wise,
In light inaccessible hid from
our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the
Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Thy great
name we praise.
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