Topic: From Glory To Glory [Open Heavens 6 Tuesday February 2018]

Memorise: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18

Read: Luke 9:28-35 (KJV)

28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 29-30, Romans 10:5-21

MESSAGE

The moment you become a child of God, the glory of God comes upon your life. From that moment, God’s expectation is that you will continually move from one level of glory to another (Proverb 4:18). A person who experiences shame will understand and appreciate the importance of glory. I pray that anything that is causing shame will disappear today in Jesus’ Name. There are different types of glory, one of which is physical in nature. From a physical perspective, sicknesses and diseases are some of the agents of shame. After experiencing the shame of sickness, it is indeed a glorious thing to be healed. The woman with the issue of blood entered into the realm of glory the day she touched the hem of Jesus garment and she was healed from her infirmity (Mark 5:31-34). While it is great to experience healing, you can move from the realm of being healed to the realm of living in good health permanently. If you are not yet living in that realm, I pray that God will take you there in Jesus’ Name. Beyond this realm lies an even greater realm of glory where a person becomes an agent of healing, just like the apostles of old (Acts 5:12-16, Acts 19:11-12). Your target should be to operate in this realm of glory. Glory can also be viewed from the perspective of material processions. It is a glorious thing to be rich, because poverty brings shame. While Abraham was rich, Isaac was so rich that kings were envious of him (Genesis 24:24-35, Genesis 26). Although there is glory in being rich, it is more glorious to be wealthy. However, beyond these two realms of material glory lies the realm of flourishing. Solomon flourished so much that silver was like common stones in his days (1 Kings 10:27). Today, may the Lord move you from glory to glory in wealth in Jesus’ Name.

Nevertheless, the spiritual aspect of glory is the ultimate. It is glorious when you become so intimate with God that before you finish praying, the answer would have already come. When you pray like Elijah did and fire falls, this is glorious (1 Kings 18:31-39). However, it is more glorious when you live by decrees. Elijah moved from the realm of accelerated answers to prayer to the realm of living by decrees. He decreed that the first two set of fifty soldiers that came to arrest him be consumed by fire, and it was so (2 Kings 1:9-12). Beyond this realm, there is yet a higher level of spiritual glory where you arrest the arrester and the arrester lives at your mercy. Elisha experienced this level of glory (2 Kings 6:8-23). Above all, the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom is the climax of spiritual maturity that brings an individual into irreversible glory. I decree that from today, you will begin to go from one level of glory to another in every area of your life in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, from today, please take me from glory to glory in Jesus’ Name.

Hymn 12: Take My Life, And Let It Be.

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late.

Open Heavens 6 February 2018, Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. If you missed yesterday’s devotional click to read Open heavens 5 February 2018.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: Use Your Hands Wisely [Teens’ Open Heavens Saturday 17th, February 2018]

Memorise: And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee:  – Matthew 5:30a

Read: Matthew 5:30

30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 24-25, Mark 1:23-45

MESSAGE:

Your hands are probably the most active part of your body. You use your hands when you want to eat, pick something up, write, for handshakes, and much more. Your hands are busy almost all day, and without your hands there are a whole lot of things that you wouldn’t be able to do except with special training.

If your hands are as important as this, then you need to watch what you do with them. Do you use them to fight rather than make peace? Do you use your hands to flip the pages of romance novels rather than pages of your Bible? Do you use your hands to caress the wrong things rather than to play instruments for God?

From Jesus’ statement in the memory verse for today, we see that our hands can be a hindering factor from entering Heaven; take conscious effort to watch what you do with your hands from now on.

Key Point: Look at both your hands and say: “My hands, you will only do things that will glorify God from now on in Jesus’ name”

Hymn 2:

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4.But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: Leading With God’s Fear [Teens’ Open Heavens Wednesday 7th, February 2018]

Memorise: The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. – 2 Samuel 23:3

Read: 2 Samuel 23:1-4

1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 1:3, Matthew 24:23-51

MESSAGE:

Power must be balanced with the fear of God for it to be productive. It occurred to me that if we leave the government of our nation in the hands of people who lack the fear of God, we are all bound to pay dearly for it. Even unborn children and many innocent people will suffer for it. 1 Timothy 2:2 says we should pray:

“For kings, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

This means that the level of peace and quiet we experience in our nation is a function of the amount of quality prayers rendered for our leaders. You must also pray for the person who would become your General Overseer or Pastor. If the wrong fellow takes up any of these positions, you will surely suffer. As a student, you can also prayerfully ask for the right teacher, lecturer or supervisor that will be instrumental to your success. Start to ask the Lord for a leader with the fear of God from now on.

Action Point: A leader who fears God is both accountable to God and the people under him/her. Ask that such leaders will govern your nation from now on.

Hymn 11:

1. Stand up! stand up for Jesus,
Ye soldiers of the Cross!
Lift high His royal banner,
It must not suffer loss.
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished,
And Christ is Lord indeed.

2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The solemn watchword hear;
If while yelling sleep he suffers,
Away with shame and fear.
Where’re yeah meet with evil,
Within you or without,
Charge for the God of battles,
And put the foe to rout.

3. Stand up! stand up for Jesus !
Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you,
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armour,
And watching unto prayer;
Where duty calls, or danger,
Be never wanting there.

4. Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor’s song.
To him that overcometh
A crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory
Shall reign eternally.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: Now That You Are Saved I [Open Heavens 7 Wednesday February 2018]

Memorise: “And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:” – Hebrews 6:11

Read: 2 Peter 1:5-8 (KJV)

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 31-32, Romans 11:1-24

MESSAGE

After you have been saved by the grace that is in Jesus Christ our Lord, you need to understand the nature of the new life that is in you, so that you can begin to exhibit its character. If you do not understand the fundamentals of the Christian faith and get to know what God expects of you now that you are saved, you will end up becoming a caricature of what you should be in the sight of God. May that never be your portion in Jesus’ Name.

The text of our Bible reading lays out in plain terms what God expects of you when you become saved. In this passage of scripture, after reminding us of our new life in Christ, Apostle Peter admonishes us to be diligent in going beyond the rudimentary salvation experience. According to him, we must add to our faith virtue. Now, what is virtue? Virtue, simply explained, is a kind of behavior that exhibits high moral standards. This is food for thought for all children of God, because there is a tendency to assume that once we profess to be born again, good behavior is no longer important. On the contrary, it is after we have experienced regeneration of the heart that a high moral standard is most expected of us. The new life that Christ gives is a life of virtue. It is a life that produces good character in those that possess it. If you claim to have received this new life, the resultant virtue it produces must be glaring for the whole world to see. The early Church did not lose sight of this spiritual obligation, and for this reason the leading apostle admonishes us to add virtue to our professed faith. 2 Peter 1:5 says,

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”

In like manner, another apostle of the Lord, writing in James 2:18 says,

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

Although good works do not bring about redemption, redemption produces good works in us. As children of God, the Bible encourages us to be of good behavior so that our Father in heaven may be glorified (1Timothy 3:2, Titus 2:3). Unbelievers should not catch us with any vices; rather we should be virtuous enough to convince the world that only in Christ can a good and acceptable life be lived. We are born again to be law-abiding, even though we are not law-abiding to be born again. Yes, being born again is the work of grace, but the evidence of its genuineness should be substantial for all to see.

Prayer Point: Father, please help me to be a true representative of the faith I profess to practice.

Hymn 15: Nearer My God To Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

2. Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.

3. There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee

4. Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late.

Open Heavens 7 February 2018, Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: Reflect Jesus [Teens’ Open Heavens Thursday 8th, February 2018]

Memorise: let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:4-9

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 4-6, Matthew 25:1-30

MESSAGE:

God is calling every believer to rise and shine. You can shine like the moon. The moon receives light from the sun and reflects it to the world. Shortly before His ascension, the Lord gave an instruction to His disciples in Mark 16:15-18. He was simply asking them to go in His Name, take the light from Him and reflect it to the world just like the relationship between the sun and the moon. You need to reflect His light because of the gross darkness that has covered the earth.

One characteristics of light is that it attracts all kinds of things. If you turn on a light bulb in the midst of darkness, it will attract good people, like readers, it will also attract different kinds of insects. Just as light attracts good things, so does it also attract bad, ugly and evil things, in effect, the moment you begin to shine, be on your guard. consciously consider everything before you allow them around you. Ask the Holy Spirit to increase the intensity of light around you and make it a blazing fire, so that nothing evil will come near you.

Action Point: Ask the Holy Spirit to increase the light inside you and ask Him to make that light bright enough to light up the world around you.

Hymn 7:

1. I am Thine 0 Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: Now That You Are Saved II [Open Heavens 8 Thursday February 2018]

Memorise: “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” – Colossians 3:10

Read: Colossians 1:7-10 (KJV)

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Bible in One Year: Exodus 33-34, Romans 11:25-12:8

MESSAGE

Yesterday we started reflecting on what we need to do after we are saved (2 Peter 1:5-8). We looked at adding virtue to our faith because faith without virtue is incomplete. We saw virtue as the practical demonstration of our faith. Today we want to look at knowledge as an accompaniment of virtue. Do you know that knowledge is the companion of virtue, and that without knowledge virtue can become misguided? This is the reason why Romans 14:16 says,

“Let not then your good be evil spoken of:”

How can your virtuous act become evil in the sight of God and men? When you fail to add knowledge to your virtue, you will not be guiltless in the presence of your observers. For example, although it is virtuous to be of help to your neighbor, particularly those of the household of faith, stealing to help a brother or sister who is in need is “assistance” without knowledge. In like manner, “helping” a woman become pregnant because her husband has low sperm count is misplaced “help” that will lead to hell fire.

In addition, we must make temperance a necessary companion of our faith and knowledge. Temperance is simply defined as restraint or self-control. Why should temperance be added to knowledge before it can be profitable? The number one reason is that the exercise of knowledge without restraint may lead to an abuse of the faith and be a cause for others to stumble. Speaking about this in 1 Corinthians 8:10-12, the Holy Spirit says,

“10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.”

When we exercise knowledge in such a way that the weak in spirit are discouraged and backslide, such knowledge is destructive. It was the application of temperance that prevented the Lord Jesus Christ from calling down fire upon those who resisted His entering into their village, after two of His disciples suggested it and even though He knew He could do so (Luke 9:51-56). May the Lord add to your faith, the necessary virtue, knowledge and temperance in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please cause me to grow in grace, knowledge and self-restraint for profitable Christian living in Jesus’ Name.

Hymn 15: Nearer My God To Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

2. Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.

3. There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee

4. Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late.

Open Heavens 8 February 2018, Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC

Topic: On Motion [Teens’ Open Heavens Friday 9th, February 2018]

Memorise: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

Read: Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 7-9, Matthew 25:31-46

MESSAGE:

There are seven categories of motion. The first is the total stagnation which indicates a state of no motion. In Mark 2:1-12, we read of a paralyzed man who could not do anything for himself except someone else helped him. He was in a state of total stagnation. This is the worst state of motion. Some people are in that state of motion and no matter how much effort they make, the situation remains the same. In other words, it appears there is nothing they can do to change their situation. If you are in this state, the Lord will reach out to you in Jesus’ name.

Crawling is the next category of motion after stagnancy. At this stage, there is motion, but it is very limited and slow. Are you experiencing slow progress? If you study so hard, but your grades remain low, then you are crawling. If what takes others one year to achieve takes you two years, then you are crawling. I speak forth divine speed into your motion. You shall make quick progress henceforth in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Point: Every evil tie to my negative past hindering my progress, be broken in Jesus’ name

Hymn 5:

1. Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!
Christ, the Royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banners go!

Chorus
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

2. At the Sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!

3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
All one body we
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.

4. Onward, then, ye people,
Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song;
Glory, praise and honour,
Unto Christ the King;
This, thro’ countless ages
Men and angels sing.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: Now That You Are Saved III [Open Heavens 9 Friday February 2018]

Memorise: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” – Luke 21:19

Read: 1 Samuel 13:8-13 (KJV)

8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 35-36, Romans 12:9-13:7

MESSAGE

In continuation of our reflection on the materials with which we build on the foundation of our Christian faith, today we will be looking at patience and godliness as parts of the building blocks of the Christian life (2 Peter 1:5-8). Why patience? Just as knowledge is needed to checkmate the manifestation of misguided virtue, patience is needed to prevent putting the cart before the horse in our Christian walk. Lack of patience is one of the factors that destroyed King Saul. His journey on a downward slope started after he impatiently offered a sacrifice to God by himself, thus acting in the office of a priest, instead of waiting for Samuel. When patience is lacking in a child of God, he or she will repeatedly fail the test of faith. The Bible in James 1:3-4 says:

“3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Beloved, patience is needed if you will successfully journey through the wilderness of this world to your heavenly home just like the heroes of faith. Take heed to these words of the Holy Spirit in Hebrew 6:12:

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

It takes patience for prayers to be answered because you cannot stampede God into answering your prayers (Psalm 40:1). I pray that the Holy Spirit will endow you with the patience that is needed to obtain God’s eternal promises in Jesus’ Name.

In addition, godliness is part of the DNA of every child of God, because whoever is born of God has the seed of God in him or her. This is a very important truth you must engrave on the table of your heart if you will not be rising and falling into sin. Under the auction of the Holy Spirit, John the Beloved assures us of victory over sin through the seed of God that is implanted in us. 1 John 3:9 says,

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

If you will finish well and strong, please don’t trivialize these fundamental values of the Christian faith which you profess. My prayer for you is that the Lord will cause you to grow into the full stature of Christ in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please help me to run this Christian race with the required patience and godliness.

Hymn 15: Nearer My God To Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

2. Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.

3. There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee

4. Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late.

Open Heavens 9 February 2018, Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: Godliness And Cleanliness [Teens’ Open Heavens Saturday 10th, February 2018]

Memorise: Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from mine eyes; cease to do evil; Isaiah 1:16

Read: 2 Corinthians 7:1

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 10-12, Matthew 26:1-19

MESSAGE:

Our God hates dirt. He is a clean God and cannot dwell in a dirty place. Before He can dwell in the heart of a man, that heart has to first be washed clean with the blood of Jesus. My father in the Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi once preached a message at an evening service about God and cleanliness. He said we want God in our house, yet we play dirty music in that house. For you as a teenager, you want God to dwell in your life, but you listen to ungodly music; God and dirty lyrics cannot stay in the same heart. My father in the Lord also asked us when last we raised up our bed and swept under the bed. That day, the first thing I did when I got home was to raise my bed, and I swept out so much dirt that I was frightened.

God sees everything everywhere, He sees the innermost part of your heart, He knows how you throw dirt and abandon it in the corners of your room and He does not like it. If you want God to dwell in every area of your life, then you must keep everywhere clean. If the president is coming to visit you, will you not clean up your surroundings? How much more when the King of kings is to come and dwell with you?

Key Point: God only dwells in clean places

Hymn 2:

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4.But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: Now That You Are Saved IV [Open Heavens 10 Saturday February 2018]

Memorise: “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Read: Romans 12:9-10 (KJV)

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Bible in One Year: Exodus 37-38, Romans 13:8-14:12

MESSAGE

In conclusion of our series on what is expected of you now that you are saved, today we shall be reflecting on brotherly kindness and charity as key ingredients of the Christian life (2 Peter 1:7). What is brotherly kindness? Brotherly kindness is benevolence that springs forth from the heart of a Christian, whose nature has been translated from the darkness of sin and is now conformed to the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. Brotherly kindness is sincere and does not attach any satanic strings to its gesture. This is the type of kindness our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated when He was here on earth. It was brotherly kindness that made Him teach the word of God to people who were without purpose in life and feed them with bread when He was done teaching (Mark 6:34-37). This type of kindness made Him acquit the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Not only did He acquit her, He also liberated her from the hold of sin by declaring over her life: “Go and sin no more”.

Similar to brotherly kindness is charity. Charity is love: God’s type of love. It is pure, untainted and without ulterior motives. This love is void of partiality. Here is how the Holy Spirit describes it in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”.

Considering this special type of love, one would agree that it is indeed the greatest of all ingredients required to build the Christian life. There is one aspect of charity that is worthy of note in 1 Corinthians 13:4, which is that it “rejoiceth not in iniquity”. Many misinterpret charity as being tolerant to sin. It should not be so. Believers, especially those put in charge of the flock of the Great Shepherd, should not mistake discipline for wickedness. As a matter of fact, disciplining a member of the flock who errs is a demonstration of God’s love. This is the type of love God demonstrated to Adam and Eve by sending them out of the garden of Eden so that their redemption and that of their descendants would not become impossible (Genesis 3:22-24). Mankind would have lived for ever without the remedy of salvation but for God proactively blocking them from eating from the tree of life, which would have perpetuated their state under the curse of sin eternally. I pray that you will not find yourself in an environment where you will not be corrected in the name of love.

Action Point: Reflect on all we have discussed in the past four days and work on every area where you do not yet measure up to stature of the fullness of Christ.

Hymn 15: Nearer My God To Thee.

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

2. Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.

3. There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee

4. Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late.

Open Heavens 10th February 2018, Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.