OPEN HEAVEN 23 JUNE 2024 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: THE SECOND RESURRECTION
MEMORISE:

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Revelation 20:9

READ: John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 23 JUNE 2024 TODAY MESSAGE
After yesterday’s teaching, you may be asking,

“If Jesus will come and defeat the devil and his agents, what will happen to the people who have taken the mark of the beast that will be left on the earth?”

Revelation 19:17-21 says that when Jesus comes with His bride to fight the devil, an angel will gather all the birds of the air, inviting them to a great supper where they will eat the flesh of those who join the devil to fight against the Lord’s army.

According to National Geographic, there are between 50 billion and 430 billion birds in the world. Clearly, there will be enough birds to eat the flesh of those who dare to fight God.

While those who died without the mark of the beast are raised up to reign with Christ for a thousand years, those who died while fighting Christ and His army will not be raised until the millennial reign is over (Revelation 20:5).

After the armies have been destroyed, there will still be some people who are not soldiers but who have taken the mark of the beast on earth. These are the people that the saints will reign over for a thousand years.

After the millennial reign, the devil will be released from his prison, and he will gather a great army to fight the saints.

However, this time, the saints will not need to fight because God will send fire from heaven to devour their enemies.

Revelation 20:7-9 says: And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

When everyone with the mark of the beast must have died, their souls will be resurrected to face their own judgement. This is the second resurrection. All those who are part of the second resurrection will partake in the second death, which is condemnation to the lake of fire with the devil and his agents.

I pray that you will not partake of the second death, in Jesus’ name. However, you have a part to play by ensuring that you surrender to Jesus Christ and live a holy life.

OPEN HEAVEN 23 JUNE 2024 KEY POINT
Do everything you can to avoid the second death

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Psalms 107-111

HYMN 17:
PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN

OPEN HEAVEN 24 JUNE 2024 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: THE MARK OF THE BEAST 1

MEMORISE:

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:Revelation 13:16

READ: Revelation 13:11-18

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 24 JUNE 2024 TODAY MESSAGE

Many have heard about the mark of the beast but haven’t taken the time to study what it really is.

The Scriptures give us a hint in our Bible reading for today.

The mark of the beast can actually take different forms; it can be a mark, a name, or the number of a name. Whichever one it is, it is a representation of the beast, and whoever receives it on his forehead or right hand will be identified as a worshipper of the beast.

Only such people will be allowed to buy, sell, or be a part of the society after the rapture has taken place. Anyone who refuses to get the mark of the beast will be hunted and killed.

Now, what really could this mark be? In the days of Apostle John, there was no technology, so he could only describe everything that he saw in his vision with the things he had seen around him.

A mark that is taken on the forehead or right hand must have been imprinted by a machine, and the imprint must be something that cannot be washed off. The reason tattoos seem permanent is that they are printed on the skin. However, they become blurred over time and can even be erased with laser surgery.

Since this mark is one that is so important to people’s identity and life, it will not be one that can fade or be erased. This means that it will go really deep into the skin. It is likely to be an implant and not an imprint.

If the mark of the beast is likely to be an implant, then it means that something will be planted into the body of those who will be left behind after the rapture, and it will be a sign of worshipping the beast (Revelation 20:4).

It will be a sign that tells everyone, “I am loyal to the beast, I obey him.” The implant will be used to control them and ensure that they obey the beast whether they like it or not.

I will discuss this further tomorrow, but I want to urge you today to surrender your life to Jesus Christ if you are yet to do so. He died for your sins so that you can reign with Him in eternity. Don’t let His sacrifice go to waste over you.

OPEN HEAVEN 24 JUNE 2024 KEY POINT

Don’t miss the rapture so that you will not become a slave to the devil.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Psalms 112-118

HYMN 19:

ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME

MEMORISE: Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33

READ: 2 Chronicles 21:1-9
[1]Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
[2]And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
[3]And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
[4]Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
[5]Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
[6]And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
[7]Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
[8]In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.
[9]Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.

MESSAGE
Part of the undoing of King Jehoram was that he got married to the daughter of the ungodly couple, King Ahab and Jezebel (2 Chronicles 21:6). This evil association was probably what made him kill all his brothers and eventually lead Judah astray by encouraging the worship of idols that his father had eradicated years back.
Jehoram’s marriage probably played a major role in his own corruption and that of Judah. My dear child, I implore you to be careful of those you become friends with so that your good manners will not be corrupted. Make friends with people who will encourage you to serve God wholeheartedly and not those who will encourage you to sin or waste your destiny.
I also want you to commit your marriage into God’s hands. Although you are still young, praying this kind of prayer can never be a waste. Pray that you will not marry the wrong person when the time comes. Ask God to preserve you for a godly spouse with whom you will serve Him together.

KEY POINT
Wrong associations will take you far from God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
2 Kings 1:1-2:25 Acts 13:42-14:7

HYMN 2 – GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES
1. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught
Homes where the Master’s will is sought
Homes crowned with beauty Thy love has wrought
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes

2. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the father is true and strong
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong
Homes that are joyous with love and song
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes

3. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the mother, in queenly quest
Strives to show others Thy way is best
Homes where the Lord is an honoured guest
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes

4. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes!

OPEN HEAVEN 21 JUNE 2024 FRIDAY: THE LAST ENEMY

MEMORISE:
“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” – (1 Corinthians 15:26)

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:55-58 (KJV)
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

MESSAGE:
Man has several enemies; the last one that every man will face is death. According to (1 Corinthians 15:26), the last enemy to be destroyed is death. Death sees you dealing with other enemies and stays aside, waiting until the last moment to pounce. There is no way we can dodge death. Hebrews 9:27 says that it is appointed unto men to die once, so, we are all going to die. Kings, presidents, pastors and General Overseers will all die. As anointed as Elisha was, he still died.
Fortunately, Jesus Christ has defeated man’s last enemy. In (1 Corinthians 15:41-57), the Bible makes it clear that death has been swallowed up in victory. If you are a bride of Jesus Christ and you are committed to serving God in Spirit and in truth, death is merely a horse that will transport you to your glorious home above. Those who are not born again should be afraid of death because while death leads Christians to heaven, it leads sinners to the second death.

After a sinner has died on earth, he is judged and sent to hell fire (Psalm 9:17). Jesus said in Luke 12:5:
*”But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”*
In hell, sinners will be tormented by demons while waiting for the second death. After the rapture has happened, the marriage supper of the lamb and a few more events will take place (Revelation 19:7-21), after which the devil and his agents will be cast into the lake of fire. Those whose names are not found in the book of life will also be cast into the lake of fire with the devil and his agents (Revelation 20:14-15, Revelation 21:8) – this is the second death. This is the death that you should do everything not to experience. Everyone who dies the second death will be condemned to a lake where fire and brimstone will burn them forever. They will be neighbours with the devil and his demons. If you have seen how terrible a demon looks, you wouldn’t want to be in a place with millions of them around you for eternity. There is no pleasure of sin that is worth ending up in the lake of fire, none at all.

KEY POINT:
It is foolishness to commit sin because it leads to eternity in the lake of fire. Don’t be foolish.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALMS 95-103
AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMN 10 – IN CHRIST ALONE
1. In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

2. In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

3. There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

4. No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 20 JUNE 2024
THURSDAY: READ BOOKS

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 20 JUNE 2024 MEMORISE: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

READ: Joshua 8:34-35
[34]And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
[35]There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

MESSAGE
The ability to read is a skill that is critical to knowledge. You cannot know or put to practice what you have not read or heard about. People who are hungry to know more often read a lot and ask questions. If you want to have vast knowledge, then you must read. Some people think that reading is boring, but this is not so.
These days, many young people cannot hold intelligent conversations because they are not knowledgeable. This is because they would rather spend time on games and social media gists than read. The knowledge you will gain from books cannot be compared with what you will learn from following influencers on social media. If you want to have vast knowledge, read biographies of great men, historical books, inspirational books, good Christian literature, and the best book of all time-the Bible. In today’s Bible reading, Joshua read the books of the law to the children of Israel so that they wouldn’t remain ignorant. There is no excuse to remain ignorant; read!

ACTION POINT: Read at least one book every month.

HYMN 9 – DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

CHORUS
O deeper yet I pray,
And higher ev’ry day,
And wiser, blessed, Lord,
In Thy precious, holy word.

2. Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus
And His perfect will.

3. Deeper, deeper! tho’ it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

4. Deeper, higher ev’ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqueror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

BY PASTOR E A ADEBOYE AND PASTOR (MRS) FOLU ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 22:1-53; Acts 13:16-41

BY PASTOR E A ADEBOYE AND PASTOR (MRS) FOLU ADEBOYE

MEMORISE: So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16

READ: Matthew 24:4
[4]And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

MESSAGE
Some believers say, “Once saved, forever saved.” However, I do not agree with this. This is because if a believer constantly commits sin, the Holy Spirit will leave him or her, and in no time, the fellow will no longer be called a believer but a sinner
Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour, your Christian race has begun, and you become a target for the devil. He will keep trying until he gets you to become lukewarm so that God can spit you out of His mouth. I pray that you will not fall prey to the wiles of the devil, in Jesus’ name.
Beloved, you must be careful of the devil and his cohorts, who sometimes appear as sheep. You also have to be mindful of the company you keep, the conversations you engage in, the kind of songs and messages you listen to, and the places you go, so that you do not derail from the way of the Lord. God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear; therefore, watch and pray so that you don’t fall by the way.

PRAYER POINT
Father, please uphold me with the right hand of Your righteousness, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN A YEAR 1 Kings 20:1-21:29 Acts 12:24-13:15

HYMN 6 – MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS
1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

CHORUS
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

3. His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 18 JUNE 2024 TUESDAY: AVOID ARGUMENTS

MEMORISE: Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Philippians 2:14

READ: 2 Timothy 2:23-24
[23]But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
[24]And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

MESSAGE
There is always an urge to prove to your mates that you are knowledgeable in a topic. However, you need to know when to stop so that things do not escalate into arguments or further lead to insults and fights. If you are having a conversation and you notice that it is turning into a heated banter, please look for every means to end it and walk away. The Bible says that we should not argue with people, especially over simple matters that are meaningless. Christians are to be loving, kind, humble, and respectful to others. You can engage in conversations without stirring up other people.
At times, you will be tempted to argue with unbelievers or other believers in defense of your faith. This is a trap that you must never fall into. If you must talk, state your points, back them up with Bible passages, and keep silent. Do not try to defend Christ by arguing with others. If Jesus Christ didn’t defend Himself by arguing with Pilate and the council when He was convicted of a crime, why should you try to defend Him?

KEY POINT:
Rather than argue with people, state your points respectfully and hold your peace.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Kings 18:1-46 Acts 11:1-30

HYMN 7 – WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE
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, O won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love!

REFRAIN:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful story, 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!

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 17 JUNE 2024
MONDAY: TOTAL OBEDIENCE

MEMORISE: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: Exodus 19:5

READ: Deuteronomy 8:1-6
[1]All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
[2]And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
[3]And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
[4]Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
[5]Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
[6]Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

MESSAGE
Being obedient to God means following His commandments; this is an essential element of being in covenant with God. Being obedient is proof of your love for God (John 14:15), and it is an essential part of the Christian faith. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is every Christian’s role model, was also obedient unto death (Philippians 2:8)
Total obedience is required from every child of God. If there is something called total obedience, then it means there is incomplete obedience, and this is the same as disobedience. For instance, King Saul was sent by God to utterly destroy an entire city. When he went into the city with his soldiers, he destroyed some things but spared the king and some animals. This led to him losing the kingdom to David (1 Samuel 15). Saul obeyed God partially; at least, he went to the city. However, he did not carry out God’s instructions to the letter.
My dear child, there are grave consequences for partial obedience to God’s instructions. The Bible says that he who is guilty of one is guilty of all (James 2:10). If you say that you don’t lie but you only gossip or insult elders, you are as guilty as the one who commits murder. Determine to obey all of God’s commandments from today and you will have peace (Psalm 119:165).

KEY POINT
He who is guilty of one is guilty of all.

HYMN 18 – TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS
1 ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

CHORUS
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

2 O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

3 Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

4 I’m so glad Learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend,
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Kings 18:1-46 Acts 11:1-30
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 15 JUNE 2024 MEMORISE: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 15 JUNE 2024 READ ECCLESIASTES 4:1

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

.

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 15 JUNE 2024 MESSAGE

We live in dangerous times when wicked people take advantage of innocent children and teenagers.

I pray that God will preserve you from predators, in Jesus’ name.

However, if you have fallen victim to abuse already, I want you to know that it was not your fault; therefore, you should stop feeling guilty for what happened.

My dear child, there is hope and healing in Christ Jesus for the abused.

The journey of healing will look different for each person, but it begins with speaking about the abuse to a godly and mature counsellor. He or she would guide you on what to do.

You also need to place your burdens and pains on Jesus. When you do this, you will feel lighter.

He will also help you to forgive yourself and the offender so that there can be healing and recovery.

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 15 JUNE 2024 ACTION POINT

If you have been abused, please speak up today. Beloved, don’t think that being abused is the end of a virtuous life. You can still live virtuously and holy. Don’t worry: God has got your back.

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 15 JUNE 2024 HYMN 1 – LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND*

1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the LORD, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

2 Let us sound His name abroad,
For of gods He is the God:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

3. He, with all commanding might,
Filled the new-made world with light:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure

4. All things living He doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure

5. He His chosen race did bless
In the wasteful wilderness:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

6. He hath with a piteous eye
Looked upon our misery:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure

7. Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the LORD, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS 15 JUNE 2024 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24 Acts 10:1-23

AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE*
*PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE*

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: SUNDAY 16TH OF JUNE, 2024
THEME: A FATHER’S BLESSING

MEMORISE: Honour thy father and mother: (which is the first commandment with promise:) Ephesians 6:2

READ: Genesis 27:27-40
[27]And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
[28]Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
[29]Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
[30]And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
[31]And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.
[32]And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
[33]And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
[34]And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
[35]And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
[36]And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
[37]And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
[38]And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
[39]And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
[40]And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

MESSAGE
A wise child will always seek ways to get the blessings of his biological or spiritual father because a father has tremendous power over the lives and destinies of his child. One beautiful thing about a father’s blessing is that it is irreversible, as seen in today’s Bible reading. When Isaac realised that he had mistakenly blessed Jacob instead of Esau, he could not reverse it. This means that once your father blesses you, you are blessed forever.
Another thing to note is that a child may not get his or her father’s blessings easily; he or she might have to provoke it. For instance, Isaac told Esau to prepare him a meal so that he could bless him. My dear child, are you doing the things that would provoke your father to bless you? I charge you to provoke your father to bless you today from the depth of his heart. You can buy him a gift, wash his car, put a call through to him when he’s at work, send him a beautiful text message, or run errands for him. These acts should not be done occasionally; they should be done often so that your blessings will be constant.

ACTION POINT
Do something unique for your dad today in celebration of Father’s

QUIZ
Among the kings of Judah, whose reign was the longest?

HYMN 1 – LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND
1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the LORD, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

2 Let us sound His name abroad,
For of gods He is the God:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

3. He, with all commanding might,
Filled the new-made world with light:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure

4. All things living He doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure

5. He His chosen race did bless
In the wasteful wilderness:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

6. He hath with a piteous eye
Looked upon our misery:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure

7. Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the LORD, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Kings 15:25-17:24 Acts 10:24-48
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

*MEMORISE:*

*Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28*

*READ: Ecclesiastes 4:1*

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

*MESSAGE*

We live in dangerous times when wicked people take advantage of innocent children and teenagers. I pray that God will preserve you from predators, in Jesus’ name.

However, if you have fallen victim to abuse already, I want you to know that it was not your fault; therefore, you should stop feeling guilty for what happened.

My dear child, there is hope and healing in Christ Jesus for the abused. The journey of healing will look different for each person, but it begins with speaking about the abuse to a godly and mature counsellor. He or she would guide you on what to do.

You also need to place your burdens and pains on Jesus. When you do this, you will feel lighter. He will also help you to forgive yourself and the offender so that there can be healing and recovery.

*Action Point:*
If you have been abused, please speak up today. Beloved, don’t think that being abused is the end of a virtuous life. You can still live virtuously and holy. Don’t worry: God has got your back.

*HYMN 1 – LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND*

1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the LORD, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

2 Let us sound His name abroad,
For of gods He is the God:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

3. He, with all commanding might,
Filled the new-made world with light:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure

4. All things living He doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure

5. He His chosen race did bless
In the wasteful wilderness:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

6. He hath with a piteous eye
Looked upon our misery:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure

7. Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the LORD, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24 Acts 10:1-23*

*AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE*
*PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE*