Monday, November 14, 2016

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Monday November 14th 2016

TOPIC: FACING TRIALS OF FAITH?


Memorize:  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Read: Hebrews 11:36-40

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Bible in one year: Genesis 24, Psalms 103:11-22

MESSAGE

There are several challenges that will confront us as we progress in the journey of faith, but none of them will dominate us. As a child of God, when you pass through the fire, the mighty man in battle has promised that it will not burn you. At one point or the other, your faith will be tried; your love for God will be tested. There will be persecutions of all kinds. Because of your belief in Christ, people will say all kinds of things against you. There will be false accusations despite your level of commitment to your assignment. No matter how good your intentions may be, sometimes, they may be spoken of in an evil way. Many times these tribulations, trials and persecutions will come from quarters you least expect. You should be bothered because the same people who hailed the triumphant entry of Jesus were the same people, who said to Pilate, crucify him. Have you been persecuted because of your faith and your holy living? I congratulate you, because you are fulfilling your part of the Christian calling. You have to know that the hostility of the world against believers in Christ Jesus is a transferred hostility. We are not the first set of people to be hated; the world hates us because they hated Jesus Christ. Despite the innocence of the young shepherd boy, king Saul attempted to kill him several times. You need to know that even in the household of faith, there are king Sauls. They are ready to kill you, not because you have committed any crime, but because they are uncomfortable with your standard of righteous living. On several occasions, Jesus Christ, before his final persecution on earth, was persecuted by the people listening to Him in the synagogue. They did not like the way He was preaching with so much authority. And they always rose up against His good acts. What should you do in times of trials, tribulations and persecutions? You must rejoice in the Lord. 

When Paul was going through persecution, rather than murmur and complain, he fellowshipped. No wonder he could say:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:35,37

He said this despite the fact that he was beaten with rods, he was stoned, he suffered as shipwreck, and he was kept in the deep prisons. He suffered in the hands of robbers as well as in the hands of his countrymen. False brethren also surrounded him. There were times when situations and circumstances of weariness, hunger, nakedness and the cares of his missionary obligation threatened to discourage him, yet he finished well. You will finish well in Jesus’ name. 

Prayer Point

Father, give me victory over every trial I come across.

Friday, November 4, 2016

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Friday November 4th 2016

TOPIC: ENSLAVED BY FALSEHOOD?


Memorize: Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 12:22

Read: Genesis 3:1-6,

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Bible in one year: Revelation 12-15, Psalms 94

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Thursday November 3rd 2016

TOPIC: MATRIMONIAL ROBBER?


Memorize: And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? Proverbs 5:20

Read: Malachi 2:14-16,

14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

Bible in one year: Revelation 8:11, Psalms 93

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Wednesday November 2nd 2016

TOPIC: HATER OF GOD?


Memorize: Thus saith the Lord; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departed from the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5

Read: Romans 1:28-32,

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Bible in one year: Revelations 3:14-7:17, Psalms 92

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Tuesday November 1st 2016

TOPIC: GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT


Memorize: And grieve not the holy spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

Read: Matthew 12:24-31,

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Bible in one year: Revelations 1:1-3:13, Psalms 91