Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Monday October 31^st 2016

TOPIC: BE COURAGEOUS

Memorize: Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy God he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

Read: 2^nd Chronicles 32:7-8,

⁷ Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:

⁸ With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Bible in one year: Malachi 1-4, Psalms 90:7-17

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Friday October 28^th 2016

TOPIC: GOD GETS ANGRY TOO

Memorize: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalms 30:5

Read: Psalms 30:1-5,

¹ I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

² O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

³ O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

⁴ Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

⁵ For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Bible in one year: Zechariah 1:1-6-8, Psalms 86:15-37

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Thursday October 27^th 2016

TOPIC: COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

Memorize: And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

Read: Luke 14:25-27,

²⁵ And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

²⁶ If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

²⁷ And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Bible in one year: Zephaniah 1-3, Haggai 1-2, Psalms 89:1-14

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Wednesday October 26^th  2016

TOPIC: WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?

Memorize: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

Read: Luke 12:15-20,

¹⁵ And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

¹⁶ And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

¹⁸ And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

²⁰ But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Bible in one year: Nahum 1-3, Habakkuk 1-3, Psalms 88

MESSAGE

To know what you live for, you need to consult the Holy Scriptures and this is what we shall briefly do in today’s reading. The Bible says:

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11

The unfortunate thing about life is that, people live as if they own their lives. Our Lord Jesus Christ told us the story of a certain rich man who in one year had so much money that he started boasting of many years of enjoyment. While he was ranting and boasting, God said to him:

“Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21

Beloved, we are expected to live for God the Father, through Jesus Christ the Son. We are not supposed to live for ourselves anymore, because we have been bought with price. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ admonished us as peculiar people to show forth the praises of Him (Jesus) who hath called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. (1^st Peter 2:9). Moreover, Paul, another apostle corroborated this when he wrote:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

The apostle further wrote that, after we have given our lives to Christ, we should live a new life as becoming the saints. We should put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

This is the only way we can live for God and not for ourselves. May the Lord grant us the grace to live acceptably before Him in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Point

Father, help me to live for You alone in Jesus’ name.

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Tuesday October 25^th 2016

TOPIC: SPIRITUAL ADULTERY FORBIDDEN!

Memorize: For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54:5

Read: Hosea 2:2-5,

² Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

³ Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.

⁴ And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.

⁵ For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.

Bible in one year: Micah 5-7, Psalms 87

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Friday October 21^st 2016

TOPIC: THE BELIEVER’S AUTHORITY I

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

Read: Revelation 3:7-11,

⁷ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

⁸ I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

⁹ Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

¹⁰ Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

¹¹ Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Bible in one year: Amos 1:1-5:17, Psalms 83

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Thursday October 20^th 2016

TOPIC: I KNOW YOUR WORKS V

Memorize: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

Read: Revelation 3:1-6,

¹ And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

³ Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

⁴ Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

⁵ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

⁶ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Bible in one year: Joel 1-3, Psalms 82

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Wednesday October 19^th 2016

TOPIC: I KNOW YOUR WORKS IV

Memorize: This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless… 1^st Timothy 3:1-2a

Read: Revelations 2:18-24,

¹⁸ And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

¹⁹ I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

²⁰ Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

²¹ And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

²² Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

²³ And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

²⁴ But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Bible in one year: Hosea 11-14, Psalms 81

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Tuesday October 18^th 2016

TOPIC: I KNOW YOUR WORKS III

Memorize: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1^st Timothy 4:1

Read: Revelation 2:12-17,

¹² And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

¹³ I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

¹⁴ But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

¹⁵ So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

¹⁶ Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

¹⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Bible in one year: Hosea 6-10, Psalms 80:8-19

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Friday October 14^th 2016

TOPIC: PROVEN WEAPON?

Memorize: The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10

Read: 1^st Samuel 17:38-47,

³⁸ And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

³⁹ And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

⁴⁰ And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

⁴¹ And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

⁴² And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

⁴³ And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

⁴⁴ And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

⁴⁵ Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

⁴⁶ This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

⁴⁷ And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

Bible in one year: Daniel 7-8, Psalms 78:40-55

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Thursday October 13^th 2016

TOPIC: DIVINE PARTNERSHIP

Memorize: Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Psalms 41:1

Read: Psalms 41:1-3,

 ¹ Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

² The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

³ The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

 Bible in one year: Daniel 4:34-6:28, Psalms 78:17-39

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Wednesday October 12^th 2016

TOPIC: THE BELIEVER’S AUTHORITY II

Memorize: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19

Read: Luke 10:17-20,

¹⁷ And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

¹⁸ And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

¹⁹ Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the powers of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

²⁰ Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Bible in one year: Daniel 3:1-4:33, Psalms 78:9-16

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Tuesday October 11^th 2016

TOPIC: THE BELIEVER’S AUTHORITY I

Memorize: Then He called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1

Read: Luke 9:1-6,

¹ Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

² And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

³ And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

⁴ And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

⁵ And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

⁶ And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.

Bible in one year: Daniel 1-2, Psalms 78:1-8

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Monday October 10^th 2016

TOPIC: FAITH LIKE A CHILD’S?

Memorize: And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

Read: Matthew 18:1-6,

¹ At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

² And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

³ And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

⁶ But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Bible in one year: Ezekiel 46:19-48:35, Psalms 77:11-20

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Thursday October 6^th 2016

TOPIC: THIEVES IN THE SANCTUARY II 

Memorize: Thou therefore which teachest another; teachest not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, does thou steal? Romans 2:21

Read: 1^st Samuel 2:12-17,

¹² Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.

¹³ And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand;

¹⁴ And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

¹⁵ Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

¹⁶ And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

¹⁷ Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.

Bible in one year: Ezekiel 37:15-39:29, Psalms 74:12-23

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Wednesday October 5^th 2016

TOPIC: THIEVES IN THE SANCTUARY I 

Memorize: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour; working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Ephesians 4:28

Read: Malachi 3:8-9,

⁸ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

⁹ Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

 Bible in one year Ezekiel 35:1-37:14, Psalms 74:1-11

Alone With God (OPEN HEAVENS Devotional)

OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Tuesday October 4^th 2016

TOPIC: ENDURE TILL THE END

Memorize: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mark 13:13

Read: Mark 13:3-13,

³ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

⁴ Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

⁵ And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

⁶ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

⁷ And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

⁸ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in diverse places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

⁹ But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

¹⁰ And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

¹¹ But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

¹² Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

¹³ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 Bible in one year:  Ezekiel 33:34, Psalms 73:18-28