DIVINE COMPENSATION - 26/06/2014

DIVINE COMPENSATION - 26/06/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "DIVINE SPECIFICATIONS FOR GOOD SUCCESS”. Today's message is titled "DIVINE COMPENSATION" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise  1 Peter 5:10: "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.". Today's reading was taken from Genesis 41:37-45 and the Bible reading in one year is Numbers 7:1-83 and Psalm 139:17-24 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

Nothing discourages and leads one to a state of despondency more than suffering. There is no glory in suffering, neither is there any glory in poverty, in sickness, affliction or trouble. There is a user of this devotional who is in trouble. I pray the Almighty God will defend you, fight your battles for you and grant you total victory and deliverance from all that trouble in Jesus’ Name. The Lord is the Friend that hears and defends when trouble comes. Psalm 20:1-2 says,

“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;”

Compensation denotes settlement. It could mean a reward for obedience to biblical injunction. A good example of this is tithing (Malachi 3:8-12). Many people argue against tithing; this is outright ignorance. When you obey the biblical injunction of tithing, God will rebuke the devourer for your sake and compensate you with divine prosperity. The same applies to giving (Luke 6:38). Evangelism, follow up and discipleship are other biblical injunctions worth adhering to (John 15:16). Obedience to these biblical injunctions results in prompt answers to prayers.

Divine compensation could also mean reward for your abilities and input. Are you serving your family, church, organisation or nation faithfully? Does it seem as if no reward is forthcoming? The Lord will reward you. Divine compensation could come in terms of physical or spiritual reward. An example is David who served his father faithfully. He was neither recognised nor rewarded by his father. However, God compensated him at the appropriate time. He became the king of Israel. There is an appointed time for divine compensation. Yours is probably closer than you think. Don’t give up. There was a lady who suffered a number of miscarriages. Nevertheless, she kept on trusting in God. She prayed and refused to be deterred, neither did she lose her faith in God. At last, God intervened and she was rewarded with triplets. Divine compensation is what God alone gives. It is the best reward because while other rewards are ephemeral, divine compensation is permanent. Divine compensation as a reward from God could come in form of divine power, divine ideas, divine prosperity and divine connections. Ruth was divinely connected to Boaz while Esther was divinely connected to King Ahasuerus. Divine compensation is to be remembered at last. As Joseph was remembered at the appointed time, you also will be remembered at last.

Prayer Point:

Remember me for good oh Lord. Make me perfect; establish, strengthen and settle me.

DIVINE SPECIFICATIONS FOR GOOD SUCCESS - 25/06/2014

DIVINE SPECIFICATIONS FOR GOOD SUCCESS - 25/06/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS”. Today's message is titled "DIVINE SPECIFICATIONS FOR GOOD SUCCESS" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise  Luke 6:38 : "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again". Today's reading was taken from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 and the Bible reading in one year is Numbers 5 - 6 and Psalm 139:1-6 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

"Virtually everything on earth is guided by principles, rules and regulations. There are divine specifications (Biblical principles and rules) for whoever wishes to be successful in any area of life. It has been rightly pointed out by those who claim to be experts that one in every three marriages, businesses and ministries fail. However, there are important biblical principles which will help you to succeed where others have failed. To succeed where others have failed, learn to do these two things. First, observe why others failed. This principle is illustrated by this old African fable. An old lion requested a visit in his den from other animals because he was sick and at the point of death. Many animals except the tortoise heeded the invitation; they never returned again. After a long while, the tortoise visited the lion. However, instead of entering the lion’s den, he stayed outside. He observed that there were many footsteps entering the lion’s den, but none coming out. So from outside, the tortoise greeted the lion and quickly fled his den. The tortoise succeeded where other animals failed because it was patient enough to observe and discover why others failed. The second secret is to know where to start. Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10 knew where to start.

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

Are you into a business venture, full time ministry or marriage that is in crisis? To succeed where others failed, discover why they failed. There are reasons why many ventures fail. These include poor business plans, lack of vision and commitment, poor market assessment, wrong financial considerations, weak monitoring and prayerlessness. After discovering why others failed, know where to start. To succeed in marriage, career, academics, business life and ministry, you should have a vision. Run your life, business and ministry professionally. Plan ahead, be organised and be committed to excellence. You should also be diligent and hardworking. Be persistent and let God be your Number One priority. Jabez was more honourable than his brethren because he called on the El-Shaddai and was specific in his request. He requested for divine prosperity and protection and received both from God. You can do the same today."

The Key Point is "To succeed where others failed, let God be your Number One."

Thanks and God bless you richly for your contribution to today's discussion

Tuesday June 24: FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS

Tuesday June 24:  FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS

Memorise:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14

Read:

Acts 2:46-47

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Message

One of the reasons for the creation of man is fellowship. He was created to have fellowship with God and with others (Genesis 1:26). This truth reflects in the way man associates in groups, societies, fraternities and clubs. The quest for fellowship is a serious need which has taken some into indecent relationships with fellow men, beasts, demons and inanimate objects. There are men who cohabit with demons. Some practice homosexuality, bestiality and other sexual perversions. There are those who worship idols and are in covenants with them. Some join secret societies while some others are into occultism. As Christians, the Bible enjoins us not to fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness in Ephesians 5:11:

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

It is our responsibility as Christians to rebuke the works of darkness. Our fellowship should be with God and fellow believers. We should first and foremost fellowship with the Trinity (1 John 1:3). Since fellowship denotes sharing, we should be born-again to be in communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is also scriptural for believers to fellowship with fellow believers. To this end, we should not shun the gathering of believers such as Sunday School, Sunday worship, House Fellowship meetings and Bible Study meetings. We should also be actively involved in our parish departmental meetings and other productive gatherings of believers. Wherever believers gather to fellowship, the glory of the Lord should be seen. Believers should therefore fellowship to pray. While fellowshipping in prayer, we should fellowship in one accord just as the New Testament Christians did (Acts 2:1). We should learn to worship God together in the same spirit of holiness and truth (John 4:24). We should fellowship to thank God, pray for ourselves, intercede for the body of Christ and the government of the country where we live. Brethren should live together in love. This is the key that binds fellowship. It is inappropriate for believers to bicker, fight, gossip or keep malice. We should allow our fellowship to be guided by the Holy Spirit. There are brethren in fellowship who have challenges. Some are sick, some are lonely, some are poor, unemployed or not gainfully employed. Some have marital challenges, emotional and psychological problems while some are battling with spiritual challenges. None of such people should be neglected. We should fellowship together in love and demonstrate that we care.

SECRETS OF PRAISE & PRAYER - 23/06/2014

SECRETS OF PRAISE & PRAYER - 23/06/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "SUNDRY TRUTHS ABOUT LIGHT”. Today's message is titled "SECRETS OF PRAISE & PRAYER" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise  Psalm 18:3 : "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.‘,  Today's reading was taken from 2 Chronicles 20:8-24 and the Bible reading in one year is Numbers 1:1 - 3:4 and Psalm 137 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

"Our God is a warrior and the Man of War. He is also a Deliverer, as our Bible reading today reveals. Our God never does things haphazardly. Whenever He fights, He wins. He delivers permanently and saves to the uttermost. He does not limit His actions to healing and deliverance alone; He also grants His own wholeness and carries them on the wings of grace. Our God has secrets. The greatest secret of God is praise. God dwells in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). Many battles are fought and won whenever we praise God. Intense praise will always result in freedom and progress. God made it clear in Isaiah 42:8 that He will not share His glory with anyone. When we give intense praises to God, His glory is manifested. King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 5:13 brought down the glory of God through intense praises. In 2 Chronicles 20:20-22, King Jehoshaphat obtained victory over his enemies through praise and worship. Are you facing a situation that can be described as dicey? If only you can praise God in the beauty of His holiness, He will fight your battles for you and grant you victory. Praises should come from a pure and holy heart. If you claim to praise or worship God while your heart is busy doing other things which do not bring glory to God, then your praise or worship is mere lip-service. True and acceptable worship must be connected to a heart that is committed to God.

Another secret of God is asking. God revealed this secret to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where He said:

“If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

This was what Jehoshaphat keyed into in 2 Chronicles 20:9, and he got deliverance. Do you belong to Christ? Are you called by His Name? Humble yourself and pray. You should seek God and praise Him like never before. Tell God how things are with you; don’t pretend like some people do. Humble yourself like never before (James 4:6). Begin to give cheerfully. If you have started, give more cheerfully like never before (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Trust man less and trust God more (Jeremiah 17:5-8). Walk more closely with God like never before (James 4:8). When you do all these, God promises to answer all your prayers. He also promises to forgive all your sins, heal your body and your land.

The Action Point is to Spend quality time in praise and worship today and tell God how things really are with you.

I pray that as we praise God in a special way today, He will be moved to do what no man can do in our lives in Jesus Name, Amen.

SUNDRY TRUTHS ABOUT LIGHT - 22/06/2014

SUNDRY TRUTHS ABOUT LIGHT - 22/06/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "HOME AWAY FROM HOME”. Today's message is titled "SUNDRY TRUTHS ABOUT LIGHT" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise  John 1:4 : "In him was life; and the life was the light of men‘,  Today's reading was taken from Matthew 5:14-16 and the Bible reading in one year is Leviticus 24:17- 26:13 and Psalm 135 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

"In Isaiah 60:1, we are enjoined to rise and shine. To shine means to reflect light. It could also mean to fulfil your purpose. John the Baptist knew the purpose of his existence. He faced this purpose squarely and refused to be distracted. John 5:35 says this concerning him:

“He was a burning and a shinning light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.”

Light burns. Light cannot be separated from heat. Science confirms that light is produced by hot objects. A good example of this is the sun. The sun burns itself to give light. As children of God, we are commanded to shine, and in order to shine, we must burn. The source of our light is God (John 1:4). That Source shines in darkness and darkness cannot overcome it. In other words, it resists darkness. There are lots of lessons to learn from this truth. First, we must shine and resist darkness. It is wrong for a child of God to stay idle and allow the works of darkness to thrive. As a child of God, you should be hot for the Lord. Evil and works of darkness should not feel comfortable wherever you are. However, no one can do this by his or her strength alone. You definitely need God for success and sustenance. He is the only reliable source. It is therefore important that you remain connected to your Source so that you don’t burn out (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The word of God teaches that light cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14-15). No one lights a candle and puts it under a bushel. No! The beauty of light is seen when it is exposed, not hidden. If you are working in an organisation and your co-workers cannot identify the light of Christ in you, then something is seriously amiss. Why? Because light cannot be hidden. In the same vein, we must know that we cannot hide our true character from people. It is both dangerous and unprofitable to be pretentious. We should therefore let people know our true colour. How? Be the best you can be for God. When you make up your mind to reflect the light of God in the midst of unrighteousness, the presence of God will always be seen in your life. A perfect illustration of this truth can be found in Joseph. He got to Egypt as a slave in Potiphar’s house, and God was with him there. He was tempted to hide the light and compromise his stand but he refused to yield to temptation. His action landed him in a dungeon, yet God was with him there. Finally he became the Prime Minister and God continued to be with him. Is your situation similar to that of Joseph? Please reflect the light. Are you facing a serious temptation to compromise your stand? Please reflect the light. God will always be with His children, and if God be with you, who can be against you?

The Key Point  is that If you remain connected to the source of light (God), you will not burn out.

Thank you and God bless you richly for your contribution.

May your light radiate in a very special way as you worship in His Presence today in Jesus Name, Amen.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME - 21/06/2014

HOME AWAY FROM HOME  - 21/06/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "MAINTAINING RELEVANCE”. Today's message is titled "HOME AWAY FROM HOME" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise  1 Peter 4:10  : "As every man hath received the gin‘, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.." Today's reading was taken from 2 Kings 4:8-17 5:13-16 and the Bible reading in one year is Leviticus 24:17- 26:13 and Psalm 135 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

In the Bible passage for todays meditation, a great woman of Shunem offered a home away from home to Elisha through generous reception and warm entertainment. Her hospitality opened the door to her long awaited miracle. Hospitality is a friendly and generous reception that should be considered as a duty by every Christian 1 Peter 4:9 says:

‘Use hospitality one to another without grudging”

It should be noted that some people are reticent about generous reception and some others are even adamant in not showing hospitality to the people of God. Several reasons are given to justify their actions or inactions. These include tiredness and not having enough to entertain. It is however imperative and of great benefit to be hospitable. This is because God commands it (Deuteronomy 10:19). Hospitality is an opportunity every believer must grab whenever it comes or even proactively seek after. It can take the form of food or lodging  (i. e. accommodation with facilities) as in 2 Kings 4:10. when we encounter the people of God who can benefit from our support, we should not hesitate to show them hospitality. Christians as individuals or as couples should be hospitable. Moreover, couples benefits can be derived from this.

From the story of the Shunammite woman, it is obvious that making men of God comfortable can solve age-long problems, but there must be an agreement between the husband and wife on this. Sometimes people argue that hospitality  can be expensive. This could be true. However, the cost of hospitality can not be compared to its benefits. The cost of providing bread and accommodation for Elisha was less than the benefit of receiving a male child at old age by the Shunammite woman. There are instances where people entertained angels unknowingly (Hebrew 13:2). Hospitality is the key to receiving miracles, as reflected in the life of Abraham and his wife Sarah (Genesis 18:2-14). There is a user of this devotional whose miracles will be perfected through hospitality. An additional benefit is that you can win sinners to Christ through hospitality (Luke 7.'3(‘r39). The issue of hospitality should not be limited to individual Christians. As a church, you should show hospitality to your guests and visitors. God wants us to be generous; He is always doing something in return for our gracious hospitality. May the Lord help us to make your home and church a home away from home for guests and visitors in Jesus’ Name.

The Prayer point is Ask God for the grace to be hospitable.

thank you and God bless you richly for your contribution.

MAINTAINING RELEVANCE- 20/06/2014

MAINTAINING RELEVANCE- 20/06/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "PARENTING”. Today's message is titled "MAINTAINING RELEVANCE" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise Lamentation 3:23 : "They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.". Today's reading was taken from Matthew 5:13-16 and the Bible reading in one year is Leviticus 22:17- 24:16 and Psalm 133 - 134 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input:

"The world is so dynamic that things keep evolving faster than many people can keep pace with. What was generally the norm a few years ago has become completely obsolete today. New things are being created almost every day. There are increasingly new approaches to life, business and ministry, to the extent that those who cannot keep race have either become frustrated or have lost relevance. One major challenge we face today is how to remain relevant in our communities.

One way to maintain relevance wherever you find yourself is to stay within your God-ordained purpose. Your purpose is what determines your place of relevance. Jesus maintained His relevance while here on earth by sticking to the purpose of God for Him. Acts 10:38 says this about Him: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. ”

Every product that no longer meets it purpose becomes irrelevant. Do you want to remain relevant? Stay within your God ordained purpose. Find that one thing that God wants you to do and give your whole life to it. Another secret of relevance is self-development is essential to self-preservation. If you are working in an organization and all you have is Ordinary Level Certificate, you are bound to lose relevance. To maintain relevance is that organization, you must study further to obtain additional qualifications relevant to your job description. You must also learn to live for posterity and not prosperity to remain relevant. If you pursue prosperity to the detriment of posterity, you will soon lose relevance. God expects you to be a blessing and to leave a legacy behind. To maintain relevance, you must be knowledgeable. Knowledge is the key to living (Hosea 4:6). You will never be known for what you don ’t know. For your light to shine, you must deal with ignorance at every level. You must also learn to be creative and put your priorities in perspective. People easily fall for new things. We must all God to do new things through us on a consistent basis. Use your God-given creative ability. In addition, set your priorities right and fellow them. Your first priority should be your personal relationship with God. Next should be your family. You should also know why you are in that career and pursue it with zeal. Finally, live a pure life. You are salt and light. Salt loses its saltiness when it becomes impure and light that is obstructed cannot shine for men to see. Purity is therefore an incontrovertible demand for those who desire to remain relevant."

The prayer point is "Father, grant me the grace to remain relevant in my community"

No matter your situation, there is something in you that can make you relevant if you start using it to the glory of God. Stop complaining about your situation and start to utilize your God-given resources to the Glory of His name. as you do this, everything will turn around for your good in Jesus Name, Amen.

Thank you and God bless you all for your contribution.

PARENTING-19/06/2014

PARENTING-19/06/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "PROVOKING POSITIVE CHANGE”. Today's message is titled "PARENTING" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise Matthew 2:14 : "When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:". Today's reading was taken from 1 Samuel 1:22-23 and the Bible reading in one year is Leviticus 20:1- 22:16 and Psalm 131 - 132 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input:

Parenting is about raising children. There are several responsibilities and activities involved in it. These can be both interesting and challenging. It is one thing to be a father or a mother but it’s another thing to be a parent. While any normal human being can be a father or mother, parenting requires responsibility. Implicitly, an irresponsible father or mother is not qualified to be a parent. Good parenting denotes the ability to bring up children in the fear of God. This is not child’s play.

The first thing to note about good parenting is that it is an act of obedience to a biblical injunction. Proverbs 22:6 says:

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Are you a parent or planning to be one? You are required to train up your child in the right way to go. Parenting could be good, smooth, interesting, inspiring, fruitful and highly rewarding when it occurs within a family – a Christian home. This is a place where the husband, wife and children live together in love and peace, devoted to God and to each other. Conversely, parenting is bad, frustrating, destructive, unfruitful and punitive in an ungodly family. The nearest thing to hell on earth is the ungodly home, broken by sin and iniquity. It is a place where children are given to the forces of wickedness and are brought up with scarcely any training at all. Is your family a Christian Home or an ungodly one? Children are the heritage of the Lord and should be brought up in the fear of God. The key person in carrying out this responsibility is the father. Joseph in Matthew 2:14 demonstrated this by taking care of the young Jesus and his mother. Are you a father? It is your duty to care for every member of your family. Children learn by precepts and examples. They learn to either love God or dishonour Him from your disposition to God and to the things of God. They also learn from the way you treat their mother. Are you a father? It is your duty to love, honour and respect your wife. Let the children know that you respect their mother and hold her in high esteem. Stop scolding your wife. Appreciate your wife’s efforts in keeping the house, in caring for you and the children and for going through the vexing things that come along with the daily duties of home life. Reward your wife as much as you can. The most reliable partner in parenting is the mother. Are you a Christian mother? It is your duty to be submissive to your husband and his leadership role. You should respect and admire your husband, and be a good home keeper.

The Key Point is: For good parenting, both husband and wife should work hard to appreciate each other as they did in courtship. The spirit of courtship should continue throughout married life.

Thank you and God bless you richly for your contribution to today's discussion

PROVOKING POSITIVE CHANGE-18/06/2014

PROVOKING POSITIVE CHANGE-18/06/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "REASONABLE SERVICE”. Today's message is titled "PROVOKING POSITIVE CHANGE" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise Ephesians 3:20 : "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us". Today's reading was taken from Matthew 15:21-28 and the Bible reading in one year is Leviticus 17-19 and Psalm 129 - 130 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input:

Change is one event that is constant in life. Change denotes movement from one state to another. There are two categories of change: positive and negative. Due to the fact that change can either be positive or negative, Africans would say: “Change is good for the poor but bad for the rich”. Change in life is constant, certain and inevitable. Sometimes, change in a certain direction can be provoked, prolonged, shortened, averted or delayed. In today’s reading, we are told of how a particular woman experienced positive change. She was a Canaanite woman. She had a daughter who was grievously vexed with a devil. She desired a positive change – recovery and wholeness for her daughter. Her expectation was almost dashed until she provoked positive change. This season, you will provoke positive change from the Most High God in Jesus’ Name.

From this story of the Canaanite woman, we can learn a few lessons. The first thing to note is that she cried for mercy. She told the Lord how things were with her. She did not pretend like some people do. In 2 Kings 2:19-22, the inhabitants of Jericho provoked positive change from the Most High when they confronted Elisha with their situation of helplessness. Again, when faced with discouragement and apparent delay, the Canaanite woman persisted in worshiping the Lord. True worship will provoke positive change. John 4:23 says,

“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.”

Do you want to provoke positive change? Make up your mind to worship God in spirit and in truth. Matthew 15:7-9 presents a category of people who are hypocritical in worship. These are the people whose hearts are far from God. I pray that you won’t be among those whose hearts are far from God. Another lesson from this story is faith. The woman provoked positive change by her great faith (Matthew 15:28). To emphasise the importance of faith, God in four separate places said: “The just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). Faith is acting on the word of God (James 2:18). Are you passing through a negative situation? Are people aware of your predicament but no one seems to care? God cares. If you don’t lose faith, there will definitely be light at the end of the tunnel.

The Action Point:is to Pick an area of your life where you need positive change and follow the example of the Canaanite woman to provoke positive change in this area. 

Thank you and god bless you richly for contributing to today's discussion.

REASONABLE SERVICE-17/06/2014

REASONABLE SERVICE-17/06/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "REFLECTING GOD’S IMAGE”. Today's message is titled "REASONABLE SERVICE" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise 1 Chronicles 29:5: "SThe gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?". Today's reading was taken from Hebrews 7:26-28 and the Bible reading in one year is Leviticus 15-16 and Psalm 127 - 128 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input:

"Service is good, but no service is acceptable before God without the servant working with Him. Working with God is serious business. It requires consecration i.e. setting apart an object or person to the worship and service of God. For a true believer in Christ, this is a life of service and worship that follows our commitment to take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus. This denotes giving ourselves up to Christ as persons bought with a price and no longer our own. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says,

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

Consecration is not necessarily volunteering for full-time service, though that might come up along the line. In Romans 12:1-3, we learn that there are three characteristics of consecration. These are:

1.        Consecration is a voluntary decision.

2.        Consecration is a personal decision.

3.        Consecration is a sacrificial decision.

These three elements of consecration involve two actions. The first is giving up the will or sacrificing one’s will to God (Hebrews 10:7). The second action is God’s acceptance of the sacrifice which has been made (Romans 12:1). When you give up your will for God’s will, you will hear the voice of God (Act 13:2), set yourself apart from sins and devote yourself and your substance to God (Isaiah 52:11, Micah 4:13). God expects that a believer’s total life would be consecrated to the Lord Jesus Christ. This includes the feet to carry the gospel everywhere, the hands to help victims of circumstance, the ears to hear the cries of demonically and economically oppressed people and the use of time for the glory of God (Ephesians 5:16). Consecration results in a life governed by the wisdom of God and controlled by the Holy Spirit. It results in a joyous and happy life of victory over sin, self and Satan. God should come before gold. Your life is not meant to be spent on self-indulgence and career advancement alone. Your life is a privilege and a responsibility to be lived according to the will of God through consecration. This is your reasonable service."

The Key Point for today is that Our service becomes acceptable when we consecrate our all to God.

Thank you and God bless you richly for your contribution to today's discussion