Violating the Law of Kinds? - Friday 20, January 2017

Violating the Law of Kinds? - Friday 20, January 2017

Memorise: And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. – Genesis 6:6

Read: Genesis 6:1-6 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Bible in One Year: Mark 10:11, Isaiah 16:12-17:14

MESSAGE:

Our God is light, and in Him there is no space for the slightest speck of darkness (1 John 1:5). Those who profess having His nature cannot therefore harbour any element of darkness in them! Right from the beginning, the Lord caused there to be a clear distinction between light and darkness. After He commanded light to be, the next thing He did was to separate the light from the darkness, and He gave them distinct names to avoid any form of confusion (Genesis 1:4-5). Through these actions, God has established a template for those who profess His name to be separate from darkness. Just as God called light out of darkness at the beginning, He has also called us out of the darkness of this world into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 4:9). Having called us out, the next thing He did was to separate us from darkness, and then He gave us a unique identity (Colossians 1:13). Having done all these things, this one thing He demands of us: that we remain separate (2 Corinthians 6:17). As a believer in Christ, you have nothing in common with unbelievers. Your responsibility to them is to lead them to the true light. Believers are a kind and unbelievers are another kind (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). When believers begin to mate, fraternise and fellowship with unbelievers, they violate the law of kinds and evoke God’s anger.

When there is a cross-breed of goat and dog, violating the law of kinds, what do you think will be the result? It will be a beast. The end product is usually strange, detestable and something abominable. Some people erroneously believe that God understands cross-breeds. No, He doesn’t. He hates such with despicable firmness. In ancient times, the devil sowed the idea of cross-breeding. He caused fallen angels to mate with women, and he polluted the entire earth with the breed resulting from this aberration; all in an attempt to block the emergence of the seed of the woman earlier prophesied in Genesis 3:15. This brought so much grief to God to the extent that He decided to wipe out the whole human race. Today, when men mate with men or women mate with women, they violate the law of kinds established by God and cause Him grief. Also, when a man goes for gender- reassignment surgery to take on the features of a woman, develop breasts and even attempt to conceive, he is violating the law of kinds. In what ways are you violating the law of kinds today? Repent and straighten your crooked path! Cut off from that unequal yoke so that God can receive you.

Action Point: Ask that advocates of the recent gay rights movement will receive God’s mercy. Pray that God will open their eyes to the truth of His word, and that His word will prevail.

He Sent His Word - Thursday 19, January 2017

He Sent His Word - Thursday 19, January 2017

Memorise: He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. – Psalm 107:20

Read: Jeremiah 33:1-9 (KJV)

1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

4 For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

5 They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.

6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

Bible in One Year: Mark 9, Isaiah 15:1-16:11

MESSAGE:

It often breaks my heart to see the children of God, who ought to value the word of God, which is the source of our power and our defence, trivializing it as if they do not know what they stand to lose when they do not heed it, or the danger inherent in ignoring it. The Bible warns us against such an attitude in Hebrews 2:1

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”

When the word of God comes to an individual, maybe in the form of prophecy, through the written word or by any other means, it is a wise thing to pay close attention to it. The word of God comes for many reasons and for different purposes. Going by today’s Bible text, we can see that the word of God was sent to the people of Judah for the purpose of deliverance and for the restoration of their freedom which had been lost to the Chaldeans. For this reason, I always warn members of the congregation during our services never to dose off, because they do not know when God would send a specific word of prophecy that would settle their cases. At often times in the Old Testament, before the people of God went to war, the word of God would go forth announcing their victory and that always settled the battle (2 Kings 3:17-19, 2 Chronicles 20:13-15). Likewise, in our meetings, before the people start to pray after the sermon has ended, God through His spoken word would often have already settled their cases. The word of God comes at times to bring peace in the time of crisis, as in the case of Judah (Jeremiah 33:6). When Jesus Christ was in the boat with His disciples and the devil was playing pranks through the tempest, a word of peace settled the turbulent waves of the sea (Mark 4:39). I therefore prophesy into your life right now, your trouble life, marriage, business or career receives peace now in Jesus’ Name.

It is equally comforting to note that when a child of God is exposed to the word of God, he or she receives spiritual cleansing. It is therefore unfortunate for any child of God to run away from the sound teaching of the Bible by failing to read it, study it or listen to it being preached. To underscore this salient truth, the Lord Jesus Christ in John 17:17 prayed thus:

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Prayer Point: Father, please grant me the grace to align my life to conform to Your word, and through Your word, deliver me from all forms of destruction.

He Controls Accommodation - Wednesday 18, January 2017

He Controls Accommodation - Wednesday 18, January 2017

Memorise: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. – John 14:2

Read: John 14:1-3 (KJV)

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Bible in One Year: Mark 7-8, Isaiah 14:12-32

MESSAGE:

In Genesis 14:17-24, God the Father was revealed to Abraham as the Possessor of heaven and earth. Abraham received this revelation, and he set his heart to run with it. He was ready to forfeit the spoils of war because he was fully persuaded that he would never lack. He could take the risk of starting afresh because he knew the Lord as Possessor of Heaven and earth. The end result was that his wealth was greatly multiplied. Oh how true it is that the knowledge of God strengthens and births exploits! If you are afraid of poverty or of permanent loss, then you do not yet know the Father as Possessor of heaven and earth. If you afraid of dying small or dying in want, then you have not yet appropriated this revelation of His person in your spirit.

By the grace of God, I have seen this revelation of God as Possessor of heaven and earth work for me. In 1979, my father-in-the-Lord, together with me and four others visited Tulsa, Oklahoma for a Kenneth Hagin camp meeting for the very first time. We had made no prior hotel reservations because information about the camp meeting came to us quite late. Some people tried to discourage us from going by saying, "How would you go to far away America without a hotel reservation?" But we still resolved to go. Something within me told me that if my Lord has gone to prepare mansions for me in Heaven, He will surely provide a place of accommodation for me in America. On arrival, someone received us at the airport and began to call up different hotels. Even those that were an hour's drive away were all fully booked, and we also did not have a means of transportation. Suddenly, it was impressed in my heart that we should call the nearest hotel to the venue of the camp meeting, telling them that we were missionaries from Africa and we needed a room. The brother that received us checked the phone book and placed a call. Their response was that they will give us a room! I then told the brother to ask for another room. When we did, they asked us where we said we were from again. We repeated that we were missionaries from Africa. They then agreed to give us two rooms. On reaching the hotel, because I did not want us to share the same room with our father-in-the-Lord, I asked for yet another room. "Where did you say you are from?" I was asked. "We are missionaries from Africa," I repeated, and the response was I will give you three rooms." The Lord will open your eyes to know Him as Possessor of heaven and earth, and He will solve all your accommodation-related problems in Jesus' Name.

Key Point: The Son of Man had no place to lay His head, so that you will always have a roof over your head.

First Deal with Sin - Tuesday 17, January 2017

First Deal with Sin - Tuesday 17, January 2017

Memorise: When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. – Mark 2:5

Read: Mark 2:1-12 (KJV)

1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Bible in One Year: Mark 5-6, Isaiah 13:17-14:11

MESSAGE:

In Romans 6:23, the Bible establishes that there is a relationship between sin and death. From observation, we know that sickness is an agent of death. For the discerning mind, it follows that there is also a relationship between sin and sickness. In 1 Kings 17:17-18, when the son of the widow of Zarephath died, she cried out to God's servant saying,

"What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?" - 1 Kings 17:18b

What was she really saying? She had the understanding that death could come as a result of sin, and that sickness is agent or forerunner of death. If you want to enjoy the long life that God has promised His children, you must therefore keep a safe distance from sin. If you are still living in sin after confessing Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and at same time you expect God to keep death far away from you, you must be joking. Every act of sin you willfully engage in exposes you to the agents of death. You shall not destroy yourself before your God-ordained appointment with death in Jesus' Name!

Similarly, In Mark 2:1-12, when a man who was paralysed from neck down was brought to Jesus, as bad as his condition was, the Lord simply ignored what every other person cared about and forgave him his sins first. Nobody thought this was relevant. The Lord did this because He could see that this man's spiritual condition was far worse than his physical state of health. For this reason, I often marvel when some ministers focus on healing the sick before preaching salvation to them. Several prayers for the sick are unanswered because of the presence of sin in their lives. It is wisdom to deal with the sin in the life of the sinner before asking God to heal the fellow. If the sick sinner is healed before being asked to surrender to Jesus, he may refuse to surrender at all after receiving the healing. He may think his healing is by chance and not from your prayer, and if returns to his sin, the sickness may come back. If he then dies in his sin, his soul will go to hell. But if the fellow is first made to receive Jesus Christ before being healed, there is a greater chance of him following the Lord. Even if the healing is not manifested, if he dies, his soul is saved from eternal hell. Always deal with sin first!

Key Point: When confronted with the problems of sin and sickness, it is wisdom to deal first with sin because it could be the root cause of the sickness.

Opening or Shutting the Doors - Monday 16, January 2017

Opening or Shutting the Doors - Monday 16, January 2017

Memorise: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

Read: 1 Kings 17:8-16 (KJV)

8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

Bible in One Year: Mark 3-4, Isaiah 13:1-16

HYMN 10: THERE SHALL BE SHOWER OF BLESSING
1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

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

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

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

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


MESSAGE:

If you learn to give liberally to God, you will be rewarded with increase through divine favour. Whatever you give to the Lord will be multiplied. The widow of Zarephath, who was in a very sorry state, was asked to give the man of God a little cake from her last meal. Thank God she did. Millions of people have read about her all through the ages because of what she did. By that singular act of obedience, she has gained so much recognition and is a celebrity in God’s Kingdom. Do you know that if she had focused more on her need, and if she had told the prophet to leave her alone, she would have taken a meal which would have been her very last before dying? May you not eat the last meal that could become your very first in a continuous line of blessings for the rest of your life!

Moreover, this woman gave God’s servant a cake, but she got flour and oil in return. If you give God a cake, He will give you flour and oil on an enduring basis. He expects you to then do the baking yourself. He will not come down to do the baking for you. Beloved, do not sit down expecting money to rain down from Heaven. God can open doors, even mighty doors of blessing to you. However, when He does this, it is His expectation and your responsibility to recognise and walk through them. Such open doors will cause you to work hard.

After I was saved, I used to argue about tithes. As a mathematician, I told them that if 100% of my academician’s salary was not enough for my needs, how would 90% be sufficient after paying 10% as tithe? One day, God cautioned me about this, and I began to pay my tithe. God then began to open doors of opportunities to me. As a lecturer, private practice was out of the question. One day my dean called me and said he just discovered that I was the best mathematics lecturer he had, and so he was sending me to teach in a particular secondary school for girls. Consequently, extra income flowed in. When the results of the school leaving certificate exams for these girls were released, they excelled in mathematics without stress, and the news spread. Other schools began to call for me. God’s word is true. Are you faithful to God in your tithes? If you are, you will be creating a platform for open doors, but if you are not, you will be shutting the doors to blessings with your own hands.

Key Point: Violating God’s command makes a man his own enemy.

Follow God's Order - Sunday 15, January 2017

Follow God's Order - Sunday 15, January 2017

Memorise: (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. – Matthew 6:32

Read: Matthew 6:24-33 (KJV)

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Bible in One Year: Mark 1-2, Isaiah 11:6-12:6

HYMN 7: O 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 make 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 footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in Heav'n receive me,
My Savior and my Friend.

MESSAGE:

God's design for you as His child is not for you to pursue material things; He rather wants material things to pursue you (Deuteronomy 28:2, Psalm 23:6, Isaiah 60). When you pursue material things, you will use up so much effort, strength, wisdom and resources. Even after realising your goals, you might still not be satisfied. Do you know that if God is not behind your pursuit, time and again the goal posts can be shifted, thereby making the realisation of your dreams a mirage? There is a user of this devotional in this very situation. Every year, you have continued to pursue a particular goal without success. Sometimes it appears within your reach, but before long, it becomes unattainable. Your goal keeps eluding you because you forsook your relationship with God to pursue your personal desire. If you can return fully to God today and remain with Him, you will suddenly realise that what you have been pursuing all these years is already in your hands.

A look at today's Bible reading reveals to us certain truths. First, God knows your needs. He does not need you to tell Him before He realises what you need. When God brings you into a new year, He definitely knows you and your family need food for 365 days, a roof over your head, clothing, transportation, energy and water, etc. He even knows the needs that you yourself have not yet identified. He does not just take a global but an eternal view over you and all that is yours. Also, He is interested in how you meet those needs. Those who do not know God have a way of meeting their own needs which is at variance with God's plans. The godless pursue material things at the expense of a personal relationship with God. If you are a bona fide child of God yet pursuing material things, then you are living like the godless. To simplify things for His people, God designed that we should pursue Him, and not things. He wants us to make Him our first priority in all that we do. As we seek Him, He will cause those things the godless are busy chasing after to come effortlessly to us. This year, stop being wise in your own eyes! Seek God as never before. Put Him first. Give Him time every day. Thank Him, praise Him, worship Him and obey Him. When you do all these, you will realise at the end of the year that your achievements have exceeded your expectations.

Key Point: Whenever you pursue material things, God is sidelined and unhappy that such things have taken His place in your life.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotion: Accessing true humility-14 January 2017

Accessing true humility- Saturday January 14, 2017

Memorise:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2:3

Read: Philippians 2:3-8 (KJV)
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Bible in one year: Matthew 27-28, Isaiah 10:20-11:5, Hymn:

Sing 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 some day for a crown.
2. O 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 that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where his glory forever I'll share.
(Refrain)

MESSAGE:
One of the virtues that made the work of our salvation possible is humility. It took great humility for our Lord Christ to take up the form of a man and to die the shameful death of the cross. The secret of our Lord’s humility lies in the state of His mind. For this reason, the Holy Spirit in Philippians 2:5 says this to us.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

Many Christians believe they are humble, but only adversity reveals a man’s true character. It takes the mind of Jesus being transplanted into you to experience true humility. God’s humility is not feigned like what we generally see today. A man behaves and speaks as though he is humble, but under provocation he throws caution to the wind. At this point, you will see how haughty or cocky he really is. Are you struggling to stay humble? Ask that the mind of Christ be made manifest in you today! Do not stop asking until you see yourself manifesting Christ humility. When you surrender your life to Jesus at salvation, the mind of Christ is grafted into your spirit (1st Corinthians 2:16). Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 14 January 2017:- accessing true humility. It however takes the sanctification experience to fully manifest this new mind without struggling. Through sanctification, there is an overflow of grace that is released to you, enabling you to easily manifest the nature of God that you have received through salvation.

We need true humility today like never before. Many years ago, I was the official interpreter for the founder of our church: translating his sermons from Yoruba, the local dialect, to English. Then one day, a pastor was asked to preach, and he came and asked me to interpret for him. I felt insulted. “Who do you think you are to be asking the interpreter of the General Superintendent to interpret for you?” I mused. Right then, God taught me a big lesson which cost me a lot, but thank God I was later restored. Later on, I became the General Overseer (G.O.) of the church, and I had the opportunity of visiting one of our church parishes. I got there during an evening service, and one of the deacons was about to preach. He had already opened his Bible to begin the message when he was told “the G.O. is here.” I was brought up to the altar and he said to me, “Thank God you are here sir, please go ahead and preach. “I answered, “No, you go ahead and preach, while I interpret for you.” “I can’t do that sir” he replied. Then I said, “I command you to.” For five minutes, he was shaking because here he was, a deacon preaching, and the G.O. was interpreting. The Holy Ghost then took control of him and he was able to focus on the word. Through humility, it becomes easy to submit one to another and to esteem others better than ourselves. Are you humble? Open heavens for today.  

Prayer Point
Father, grant me the grace to easily manifest the mind of Christ in humility every day.

The Benefits of Redemption - Friday 13, January 2017

The Benefits of Redemption - Friday 13, January 2017

Memorise: For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. – Romans 8:15

Read: Galatians 4:4-7 (KJV)

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 26, Isaiah 10:5-19

 HYMN 11: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS


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

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

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

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

MESSAGE:

Anytime I remember what I suffered in the hands of Satan and his agents before I was redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, I cannot help but thank God for the salvation of my soul. As a matter of fact, fear was a major source of torment in my life before I met the Lord Jesus Christ. This fear was passed on to me by my mother, who later got saved by the grace of God. For fear that I might get killed, being her only male child, my mother sent me far away from my home- town. For several years I could not visit this town because I was afraid of death and I was afraid of the wicked people of this world. However, when the light of redemption beamed upon me and my family, we were liberated. This is why I am praying for you who may have lived in perpetual fear all the days of your life: that you will be delivered from the torment of fear in Jesus' Name. Jesus did it for me, and He will do it for you too. Deliverance from fear is one of the benefits of the redemption that Jesus Christ paid the utmost price for. Hear what the Bible says concerning this:

“14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. " Hebrews 2:14-15

Another benefit of redemption is access to the throne of the Almighty God (Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 2:18). At His throne, we lay down our petitions for His supernatural intervention over the challenges of our lives. Be assured in your spirit that once you are redeemed, you are in direct contact with the Almighty God. What brought about this privilege? Redemption!

For these reasons, if you are not yet saved, I am inviting you to the cross of Calvary, where Jesus Christ paid for your redemption in full. Confess your sins and accept Him as Lord and Saviour. Promise Him that you will abide by His Word and never go back to the world. Something extraordinary will happen to you if you sincerely do this now. If you are a believer and you are still wallowing in fear, know that this is not your inheritance in Christ. Are you in doubt concerning your redemption in Christ? Consider where you may have missed your way and retrace your steps back to Calvary; restoration of your redemption awaits you there.

Prayer Point: Father, please don't let the flesh, the world and the devil rob me of the benefits of my redemption in Christ. Let the whole world know that I am your child.

Enjoy today's hymn

New RCCG Anthem and Tune:

New RCCG Anthem and Tune:


Download tune or play along:

Verse 1: 
We are redeemite
United in Love 
Jesus is for us
We shall conquer

Chorus:
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah

Verse 2: 
We are together 
United in Love 
Jesus is for us 
We conquer

Verse 3: 
We are Victorious 
United in Love 
Jesus is for us 
We shall conquer

Verse 4: 
Covenant children
United in Love 
Jesus is for us 
We shall conquer

RCCG Open Heavens Daily Devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye: HIDDEN SOURCE OF BLESSING- Thursday January 12th 2017

HIDDEN SOURCE OF BLESSING-  Thursday January 12th 2017

Memorise:
Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. Psalm 40:15
Read: Psalm 40:14-17
40:14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
40:15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Sing Hymn 10: THERE SHALL BE SHOWER OF BLESSING



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

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

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

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

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

MESSAGE:
When you are connected to the All-Sufficient God, you will not lack any good thing. Why? Bible scholars call Him Jehovah El Shaddai. In other words, He is the "Breasted One". A baby sucks from the mother's breasts. Every time the child calls for milk, it is always there. All your needs can be fully satisfied in Christ. Sometime ago at our church in Ebute Metta (Lagos), I taught that when the Almighty God made this declaration:
"If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John 14:14

What He is actually saying in the original text, according to Bible scholars, is that if you ask anything from Him that He does not have, He will create if for you. How marvellous! I once told somebody of this and he in turn shared it with his friend. His friend said to him, "if your God is so powerful, why not ask Him to create for you a cow with four heads." But the man replied, "I don't need a cow with four heads. I would rather ask God to give me four cows. If you need the heads, you can have them while I keep the rest." This season, the All-Sufficient One will be more than sufficient for you! He will meet all your needs and satisfy you right on time!
From the story of the widow in 1 Kings 17:8-16, besides the lesson of help coming just in time, and that of help being delivered every day, another lesson the Holy Spirit will have us pay close attention to is the lesson of the source of help being hidden from outsiders. This is absolutely wonderful! When some evil-minded individuals know that you are doing well and blossoming, they will try all they can to discover the secret of your progress so that they can destroy it. Their purpose may be to erase any leverage or advantage you may have over them. Some people have become victims of such evil minds. But when God hides the source of your blessing, your enemies will try in vain to stop you. This was the experience of the widow. Because there was famine in the land, everyone, including this woman, was starving and loosing weight. Then God intervened by sending His servant to her and he hid in her house. Suddenly, people saw that she was shinning and gaining weight. Her son was looking radiant and everything dramatically improved for them, but nobody could tell how. That will be your portion this season! The Lord will turn your situation for good and hide the source of your change away from every enemy.
Prayer Point:
Father, shut the eyes of everyone that would contend with my blessing, so that they will not see it, in Jesus' Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Matthew 24-25
Isaiah 9:13-10:4