Topic: Ask Questions [Teens’ Open Heavens Sunday 11th, February 2018]

Memorise: The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. – Proverbs 15:14

Read: Proverbs 18:15

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 13, Matthew 26:20-54

MESSAGE:

A question is a sentence that seeks to get information about a subject matter. A question is a major tool for gaining knowledge. Many of the great discoveries of our world came about because certain people questioned certain things. A question is a doorway to new knowledge.

He who asks questions will make fewer mistakes. When you ask questions, issues become clearer and then you can make better informed decisions. Don’t act as if you know all, always ask questions. Even if you know a lot about something, when you meet someone that know more than you in that field, make sure you ask them at least one question. Also, make sure your question is framed in such a way that the answer will add to your knowledge, don’t ask obvious, unnecessary questions. Don’t ever meet a successful person and not ask the person a question. This is how you can learn from them and become successful too.

Key Point: The more questions you ask, the more knowledge you gain, the more knowledge you gain the more things you can achieve.

Hymn 9:

1. I am so glad that our Father in heaven
Tells of His love in the book He has given;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see;
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

Chorus
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus love me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

2. Though I forget Him and wander away,
Still He doth love me whenever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me.

3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song in eternity be,
“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus Loves me!”

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: Avoid The Ultimate Disappointment [Open Heavens 11 Sunday February 2018]

Memorise: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” – Revelation 3:18

Read: Luke 13:24-30 (KJV)

24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 39-40, Romans 14:13-15:13

MESSAGE

In plain terms, disappointment is sadness caused by unmet expectations. Although it is disheartening when a person’s expectations are not met, it is much more grievous when the disappointment experienced is of the ultimate or irreversible type. For example, it could be disappointing for someone to miss a train or bus but much more disappointing if the missed train or bus happens to be the last one for the day, it simply means such a fellow is stranded. My prayer for you is that you will not experience what it is to be stranded ultimately in Jesus, Name.

Our Lord Jesus Christ counsels His church in today’s memory verse to do some things that would prevent us from experiencing the ultimate disappointment. He gave us this counsel because according to His promise, the Church is eventually expected to be with her Lord in eternity (John 14:1-3). It would therefore be a great disappointment, an ultimate one for that matter, if He returns and what we hear from him are the words of Luke 13:27:

“I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”

This will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. For this not to be your portion, you must take certain precautions. First, you must strive to enter in through the strait gate. This is not an easy adventure, and thankfully, the Lord Jesus Christ has put us on notice about this. He forewarned us that many shall not be able to enter in through this gate because of persecution, the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:21-22). The Lord Jesus Christ also said that those who will suffer the ultimate disappointment will be surprised at His verdict on them because their expectation would be to rceive his commendation, due to their closeness to the altar of God and the abundance of their activities in church. Matthew 7:22-23 says:

“22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

What a terrible disappointment this would be! In order not to be counted in the number of those who will experience this ultimate disappointment, let us watch and pray, and let us examine ourselves to see if we are actually in the faith. May the Lord grant you understanding in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point: Consider the counsel of the Lord in today’s memory verse and yield to the wisdom of His counsel.

hymn 5: 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. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

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 11th 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: Beyond Bargain [Teens’ Open Heavens Monday 12th, February 2018]

Memorise: Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:15

Read: John 12:1-6

1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,

5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 14, Matthew 26:55-75

MESSAGE:

Gehazi was being prepared to be a highly anointed man of God, but he was busy chasing after wealth and riches. He got what he wanted, and even beyond it. If you are pursuing wealth, you will get more than you bargained for. It is one thing to acquire wealth, but another to live to spend it. The only blessing that will make you rich without adding sorrow is the blessing that comes from God. If you are stealing, your evil deeds will eventually take its toll on you. Gehazi got the money, but he also got the disease that Naaman was prepared to pay any amount to get rid of.

You can never tell where the act of greed will take you. You can tell the beginning of a sin, but you may not be able to tell its end. Be mindful of your steps. Are you secretly planning to commit sin? Did you say it will only be once and you will never try it again? The truth is, that single act of sin will surely attract others in quick succession and each will come with their repercussions. You cannot effectively hide sin no matter how smart you are.

Key Point: Behind every sin are terrible consequences. For every sin you can avoid, you save yourself, family and generations multitudes of evils.

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: Are You A Lover Of The Light [Open Heavens 12 Monday February 2018]

Memorise: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” – John 3:19

Read: John 7:1-7 (KJV)

1. After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.

3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 1-3, Romans 15:14-33

MESSAGE

When the devil was cast out of heaven, he brought spiritual darkness and everything that it represents along with him to the earth. God then created mankind to serve as bearers of light on the earth and gave man a mandate to illuminate the whole world with His glory (Genesis 1:28). Through the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the devil succeeded in putting out the light of God in man, thereby infusing him with his own darkness (Ephesians 5:8). The devil stole the power over this world which God had given to man, and he now wields it as the power darkness (Luke 4:6, Luke 22:53). However, those who have received Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, into their lives have been delivered from this power of darkness and have been handed the keys to a kingdom far greater than that which was given to Adam (Colossians 1:13). The presence of darkness in this world is therefore due to spiritual factors, and not physical ones. Although man is not liable for the presence of darkness in this world, he will be held accountable if he chooses to embrace darkness instead of light. Today’s memory verse reveals why mankind embraces darkness, and the consequence of this choice. From this insight, the unimaginable level of atrocities carried out in this world under the cover of darkness should therefore be of no surprise.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world (John 8:12), and He is hated by those who are under the manipulation of the power of darkness. Why do the people of this world hate Jesus Christ, considering the benefits that light brings to mankind? The devil, his cohorts and evil men of this world do not only represent darkness, they are darkness personified. Jesus Christ, being the Light that came purposely not only to expose darkness but also to exterminate it, is therefore bound to be hated. Whoever decides to love Jesus Christ and reflect His light is also bound to be hated. Each of us must choose where we belong: the company of the Light or company of darkness. What is your own choice today? Whichever you choose has its rewards and consequences. I encourage you to embrace Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Embracing Him means renouncing all hidden works of darkness in your life (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). You need to confess and forsake them as the Holy Spirit convicts you of them all. You will be given and set free from all the consequences associated with them. May God bless you as you take this decision for Christ today.

Action Point: Examine your life, and if there is any work of darkness present, renounce them, seeking prayer and assistance through counseling from any anointed minister of God.

Hymn 3: What Can Wash Away My Sins

1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Chorus:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my cleansing this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my pardon this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3. Nothing can for sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of works, ‘tis all of grace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4. This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

Open Heavens 12th 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: Dare To Be Different [Teens’ Open Heavens Tuesday 13th, February 2018]

Memorise: But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:8

Read: Daniel 1:8-16

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 15-17, Matthew 27:1-31

MESSAGE:

According to 1 Peter 2:9, to shine means to be peculiar. Those who are peculiar are usually different. It also means to stand out from the crowd. To shine, you must be willing to be different. Acts 19:11-12 says that God performed special miracles through Paul who was willing to shine. Do you know that God is ready to use you to do the impossible? Do you know that everything you need to succeed is already prepared by God? The problem is that many of us are not willing: we often do not want to be set apart from the rest of the crowd. Do you know some of us keep God on His toes? He is ever ready but are we?

Another reason why many cannot shine is because we refuse to pay the price to shine. God will not ask you to pay the price that you cannot. He is no taskmaster. If you are special, your standard must be quite high. Let your consecration and loyalty level be different. Are you prepared to pray more intensively, worship more in spirit and truth and study the Bible as never before? Are you prepared to make sacrifices for the kingdom of God? It is what you are prepared to give up or do that will determine what God is willing to give out to you.

Key Point: Ask God for the grace to be positively different

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 ye 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: Careless Warriors? [Open Heavens 13 Tuesday February 2018]

Memorise: “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” – Mark 13:33

Read: 1 Samuel 30:1-6 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

5 And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 4-5, Romans 16

MESSAGE

I have watched with pity and dismay as many children of God, particularly ministers of God, carelessly fight spiritual battles at the expense of their own lives and family. If you desire to be triumphant in every area of life, you need to pay attention to what the Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples in today’s memory verse. You need to apply caution and be strategic in all that you do. To see the big picture of the challenges confronting, you need to watch. To get direction and strength from heaven to help you confront these challenges, you need to pray. In today’s Bible text, we have the story of the careless group of warriors: David and his mighty men of valor. While they went about fighting for survival as mercenaries, they left their own camp unprotected. Before they returned from their raid, their own camp had been raided and burnt, and their wives and children were taken away as captives by the enemy. When they discovered what the enemy had done, these men of war were so distressed that they wept like babies. They didn’t just weep, they even revolted against their leader, David, and spoke of stoning him to death. However, faced with that volatile situation, David did something worthy of emulation: he encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).

There are a good number of lessons we can learn from this story; first of which is that as you fight the Lord’s battle even the Lord of Host expects you to watch your back. Our God does not expect you to be presumptuous. The words of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning counting the cost before building a tower or fighting a foe are pointers to strategic planning in spiritual warfare (Luke 14:28-32). Secondly, there should be division of labor in spiritual warfare. We should not all be at the war front at the same time. All bases must be covered. The early church realized this truth on time, and so the apostles gave themselves to the ministry of word and prayer while they appointed others to look after the administration of corporate social responsibilities (Acts 6:1-7). Thirdly, persons in leadership positions should always be proactive. David’s proactive move to seek God’s face was what saved the day. He inquired of the Lord on how to go about recovering all that they had lost (1 Samuel 30:7-8). At the end of the day, what they should have done in the first place was what they later did. They learnt that they should always organize themselves into bands with different roles. When they pursued to recover all, not all of them pursued after the raiders, but when they shared the spoils of war, those who went to battle had the same portion as those who waited behind to look after their stuff. This principle did not go down well with some of David’s men who did not understand it (1 Samuel 30:21-24). Indeed, God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8)!

Key Point: Watch and pray as you engage in spiritual warfare.

Hymn 14: Onward Christian Soldier

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 name of Jesus 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 faith and Spirit, One in charity.

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the Church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ’gainst that Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, which can never fail.

5. Onward, then, ye people! Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

Open Heavens 13th 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: God Is Pregnant [Teens’ Open Heavens Wednesday 14th, February 2018]

Memorise: Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already for harvest. John 4:35

Read: 1 John 3:9-10

9 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.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 18-19, Matthew 27:32-66

MESSAGE:

Midwives are very important people because they are linked with the delivery of babies. As children of God, we too are midwives of another order – a higher, divine order, saddled with the responsibilities of birthing divine babies. God is pregnant and needs spiritual midwives to assist in the birth of divine babies. According to 1 John 3:9-10, a Christian is born of God. You are a child of God today because you were born of God via the assistance of a midwife.

God has been pregnant for so long and it is time for delivery. The field is ripe for harvest, but God is only waiting for harvesters – you and me, to lead these souls into His kingdom. God is calling out to you “Help me to pull out the babies” what is your response to His call? How many of your friends have you told about Jesus Christ? How many have you told about the destruction that is to come on mankind if they don’t repent and seek God? Cooperate with God today! Go into the field and bring in the souls.

Action Point: Talk to a friend about Jesus

Hymn 15

1. Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, 0 won’t you believe It?
Wonderful story of love.

Chorus:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, Wonderful story of love.

2. Wonderful story of love,
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.

3. Wonderful story of love:
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of Love.

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: Holy Unto The Lord [Open Heavens 14 Wednesday February 2018]

Memorise: “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.” – Psalm 91:14

Read: Daniel 1:1-8, Daniel 6:18-22 (KJV)

Daniel 1:1-8

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel 6:18-22

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 6-7, 1 Corinthians 1

MESSAGE

According to Psalm 91:14, one sure weapon against experiencing destruction and calamity is a life of holiness. Opinions differ on what it means to live a holy life, and to some, such a lifestyle is unattainable. However, with reference to biblical heroes of faith. I have been able to explain what holiness is all about. Holiness simply means obedience to God’s instructions. As long as you obey God’s commands, He sees you as an acceptable carrier of his image and He will love you for that. In John 14:21 & 23b, the Lord Jesus Christ expounded on this truth, saying:

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him……If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Every child of God who knows God’s holy nature will also know that before the Trinity would decide to dwell within a person, he or she must be living a consecrated and holy life.

In our text for today, we see how Daniel guarded himself against the calamity and destruction that would have terminated his destiny later in life. Daniel 1:8a says

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank:”

Please note that a portion of the king’s meat and some measure of the king’s wine were part of Daniel’s entitlements as an undergraduate in the University of Babylon where he was studying in preparation for service in the king’s court, but he declined having them. Glory to God that Daniel’s modest life of consecration to God paid off for him on the day of calamity when he was thrown into the den of lions. He could testify to his friend, King Darius, in Daniel 6:22, saying:

“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”

Beloved, endeavor to live holy through a modest life of consecration unto God, and you can be sure of divine protection because of God’s love.

Prayer Point: Father, please help me to live holy for You and keep me safe in the holiness of your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord.

Hymn 5: 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. 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

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

4. 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.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

Open Heavens 14th 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: Know Your Position In Christ [Teens’ Open Heavens Thursday 15th, February 2018]

Memorise: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6

Read: Ephesians 2:4-6

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 20-21, Matthew 28

MESSAGE:

The best category of motion is flying. When you fly, you experience fast and unhindered progress. One thing to note here is that those who fly use a different medium and follow a different path from those using other categories of motion; they go through the air while others go through land or water. Motion through airways make the risk of collision minimal, unlike motion on land which is laden with so many obstructions.

Colossians 3:1 tells us of our spiritual placement, which is why we should be flying in the airways and not moving on land. Beloved, many of us are not flying yet because we are holding so dearly to the things of this world. We need to receive clear headedness by studying the Bible. If you catch the revelation of your true position in Christ, it will affect your motion in all areas of life.

Key Point: If you are up, the things below you can easily come under your control.

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: The Compassionate Prosecutor [Open Heavens 15 Thursday February 2018]

Memorise: “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” – John 16:8

Read: John 16:7-11 (KJV)

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 8-9; 1 Corinthians 2

MESSAGE

Looking at the title of today’s Bible study, you may begin to wonder how a person can prosecute a case and be compassionate at the same time. This is ironic because a prosecutor is expected to press the case for the law to have its full course. Who then is this prosecutor who manages to indict and show compassion all at once? The Lord Jesus Christ answers this question in today’s memory verse. The person He refers to is the Holy Spirit. Based on the revelation of the Lord, let us consider the three-pronged strategy by which the Holy Spirit carries out His assignment of prosecuting the world. Note first of all that it is compassion that motivates the Holy Spirit to prosecute the world while there is still time to make amends. A time will come when the whole world will stand before the throne of Christ to be judged of all their works (2 Corinthians 5:10). There will be no excuse permitted on that day, because the Compassionate Prosecutor would have already given each man a dress rehearsal of what will happen in heaven’s court.

The first of the Holy Spirit’s three-pronged strategy is to make the world aware of the destructive nature of sin and cause each and everyone to run away from it. This is why those who preach the gospel must allow the Holy Spirit to use them to read the “riot act” to their audience and not shy away from the reality of the pending doom that awaits those who will not believe in or accept the only Savior of mankind. The early disciples allowed the Holy Spirit to do this work through them and a sample of the result is glaring in Acts 2:37:

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

The second arm of His strategy is to make the world see the need to be upright in heart, and the need to be in right standing with the righteous God through the Mediator of the new covenant, Jesus Christ. Thirdly the Holy Spirit works to make the world aware of the judgment and punishment that awaits the devil and his cohorts. He does this so that men may be wary of listening to the devil and avoid being condemned along with him. The Compassionate Prosecutor speaks truth to all those who will listen and be free from the eternal consequences of God’s judgment (John 16:13, John 8:32). How friendly are you with the Holy Spirit? Do you only love Him because He comforts you in times of distress or do you still love Him when He probes into your life and reproves you? I encourage you to make the Holy Spirit your Senior Partner, Guide, Mentor and Confidant; He will never lead you astray.

Prayer Point: Compassionate Holy Spirit, please strongly reprove the people in my locality of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and let Your work of conviction have free course in their hearts in Jesus’ Name.

Hymn 3: What Can Wash Away My Sins

1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Chorus:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my cleansing this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my pardon this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3. Nothing can for sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of works, ‘tis all of grace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4. This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

Open Heavens 15th 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.