Open Heaven 20 May 2018 – From Jacob To Israel

Open Heaven 20 May 2018 Memorise:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Open Heaven 20 May 2018 Bible Reading For Today: Genesis 35: 9-15

¹¹ And God said to him, “I am God Almighty^[d];be fruitful and increase in number. A nationand a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.

¹² The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”

¹³ Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.

Open Heaven 20 May 2018 Bible reading in one year 2 Samuel 15-16, 2 Peter 3

Open Heaven 20 May 2018 Message

Jacob was the second son of Issac. His early life projected a lifestyle and behavioral pattern that closely matched his name, which can be interpreted as supplanter, impersonator, deceiver or usurper. However, he received mercy from the Lord and has a divine encounter where God decided to change his name. In Genesis 32:28, God said to him:

“…thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel…”

The renaming of Jacob as Israel (which means “triumphant with God”) was a spiritual event that had far reaching effects on his physical life and his personality. Immediately after his identity was changed, Jacob stopped exhibiting the characteristics of his old name. The old things about Jacob passed away and all things became new for him as Israel. Open Heaven 19 May 2018

I pray for someone reading this Devotional that every old symptom of sin, sickness, poverty, bondage and oppression shall pass away from your life today in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 20 May 2018

It is important to note that what happened to Jacob in the Old testament is closely related to the regeneration experience seen in the New Testament. Regeneration is the change brought about by the spirit of God, which makes a person new creature in Christ Jesus.

The salvation that Jesus brought to us is not simply to energize the old creation with new ability and power; rather, it brings about a new creature that has the divine nature of God (2 Peter 1:4). It ignites a spiritual process wherein everything working against the regenerated person is thoroughly dealt with (Colossians 2:14).

The practical result of this is spiritual regeneration evidenced by radical change in the nature, character, desires and motives of the transformed persons.

The new creature is so new and different from the old that it even requires new diet to survive, which is the word of God. That is why Matthew 4:4b says:

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”

Concerning regeneration, the key element is change. God is calling all of mankind to change through the power of his word. However, there is a strong resistance to this change in every human being. (Romans 8:7).

This resistance comes from the mind and the body, and must be overcome before any real change can make manifest. The transformation experience requires serious effort to overcome this resistance. (Romans 12:2). Whenever anyone surrenders his or her life to Jesus, God takes hold of the old lifeless creature and fashions it into a new creature that is Heaven-bound, full of life and suitable for His use. Have you experience this transformation indeed?

Open Heaven 20 May 2018 Key Point:
The inner transformation that Jesus gives must manifest as outward change for all to see

Open Heaven 20 May 2018 Hymn 12

Sing Hymn 12: How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,

And drives away his fear.

Verse 2:

It makes the wounded spirit whole,

And calms the troubled breast;

’Tis manna to the hungry soul,

And to the weary, rest.

Verse 3:

Jesus! My Shepherd, Husband, Friend,

 O Prophet, Priest and King,

 My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,

 Accept the praise I bring.

Verse 4:

Weak is the effort of my heart,

 And cold my warmest thought;

 But when I see Thee as Thou art,

 I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Verse 5:

Till then I would Thy love proclaim

With every fleeting breath,

And may the music of Thy Name

Refresh my soul in death!

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Wednesday, May 16, 2018) – Hospitable?

1.Thank you, Father, for freely giving me all things, pertaining to life and godliness, through Jesus Christ, your son.

2.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus’ name. Open Heaven 18 May 2018

3.Father, give me the grace to love my neighbours as myself, and to do unto others, as I want them do unto me, in Jesus’ name.

4.Father, let every spirit of stinginess preventing me from giving, be consumed by your fire, in Jesus’ name. Open Heaven 17 May 2018

5.Father, release upon my life, the spirit of hospitality, generosity and giving, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, I refuse to go to hell, on account of stinginess, please, give me a large heart and make me an addictive giver, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, make me an addictive giver, particularly to, strangers, the poor, the needy, the fatherless and the widows, in Jesus’ name.

8.Father, make me an instrument of spreading your love everywhere, through hospitality and giving, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, let nothing be too big or too costly, for me to spend or sacrifice, in your cause, for the expansion of your kingdom, in Jesus’ name.

10.Father, as you have freely given me all things, please, help me to freely give and use, all the resources that you have endowed me with, to serve you and your church, in Jesus’ name.

11.Thank you, Father, for all that you have used Pastor E.A. Adeboye for, in my life and in your church, please, reward him abundantly, in Jesus’ name.

12.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus’ name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS AND CHILDREN WEDNESDAY 16TH MAY 2018: SACRIFICE

MEMORISE: I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

Please read: Romans 12:1-2

MESSAGE:
As a child of God you are to offer service to God. According to Romans 12:1, your service can only be acceptable when you present your body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.

Your body is the temple of God, and as such, you are supposed to keep it free from sin of whatever form. You must avoid lying with your lips, you must avoid stealing with your hands, you must avoid walking with your legs to places that are not God glorifying, and you must also
keep your body pure from any form of sexual sin.

To be a living sacrifice for God involves separating yourself from the world in order to have a beautiful relationship with God. It involves denying yourself of worldly pleasures and all forms of worldliness so that you can be pure and pleasing to God. Open Heaven 18 May 2018

Once you are able to achieve all these, your service will be reasonable and acceptable to God, and He will be pleased with you. How reasonable is your service?

KEY POINT:
If you don’t offer an acceptable service to God by keeping your body pure and free from sin, your chances of being raptured are non- existent.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 15-17
John 6:1-21

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.

Chorus
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.

Open Heaven May 16 2018 – Hospitable?

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Memories
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Proverbs 11:25

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Bible Reading
2 Kings 4:8-17 (NIV)

The Shunammite’s Son Restored to Life

⁸ One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 

⁹ She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 

¹⁰ Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”

¹¹ One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 

¹² He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 

¹³ Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’ ”She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”

¹⁴ “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”

¹⁵ Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 

¹⁶ “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!”

¹⁷ But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Bible in one year: 2 Samuel 7-9, 1 Peter 3:8-4:11

Hospitality is the act of generosity and friendship shown towards strangers , and it includes the responsibility of protecting the interest of those received as guests. God admonishes His children to be hospitable as part of our duty to others and in gratitude for the salvation, favour and mercy we have received from Him ( Exodus 22:21).

Several passages of scripture emphasise hospitality as a godly virtue ( Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9). Hebrews 13:2 says
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Furthermore, the Bible mentions hospitality as one of the preconditions for becoming a leader in the church (1 Timothy 3:2). Hospitality has played a very important role in the Redeemed Christian Church of God right from its very beginning. It forms part of our core beliefs and practices.

Open Heaven 18 May 2018

We teach that you don’t to be rich to look after visitors. You can entertain four people with a single orange by slicing it into four parts and presenting it nicely on a decent plate with glasses of water. May you receive the true spirit of hospitality today in Jesus’ name

Open Heaven May 16 2018

The Bible admonishes that since we naturally desire to receive hospitality from others, we should show it to others well. The Lord in Matthew 7:12 says,

“All things whatsoever yo would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
‎Even when describing the type of fast that God finds acceptable, the Holy spirit in Isaiah 58:7b said :

“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast our to thy house?”

Deuteronomy 26:12 also speaks about feeding the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. All these verses of the scripture show that we are duty-bound as children of God to provide for the needs of these classes of people regularly. Open Heaven 19 May 2018

More importantly, Jesus clearly teaches that hospitality is going to be a major criterion that will be used to separate the sheep from the goat on the last day (Matthew 25:33-35). This means that it will be practically impossible for anyone to enter heaven without being hospitable. Open Heaven May 17 2018

Jesus expects every Christian to love their neighbour as themselves. He expects us to use hospitality as a tool to spread the love of God and the good news of the gospel all over the world. I pray that you will yield yourself an instrument of spreading God’s love everywhere through hospitality in Jesus’ name

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Action point
Think of how you can use hospitality to spread the love of God and thr message of the gospel in your locality. Draw up a plan and implement it.

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Hymn 12

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

Verse 1

In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,

And drives away his fear.

Verse 2:

It makes the wounded spirit whole,

And calms the troubled breast;

’Tis manna to the hungry soul,

And to the weary, rest.

Verse 3:

Jesus! My Shepherd, Husband, Friend,

 O Prophet, Priest and King,

 My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,

 Accept the praise I bring.

Verse 4:

Weak is the effort of my heart,

 And cold my warmest thought;

 But when I see Thee as Thou art,

 I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Verse 5:

Till then I would Thy love proclaim

With every fleeting breath,

And may the music of Thy Name

Refresh my soul in death!

Open Heaven 19 May 2018 – A Child of Abraham?

Open Heaven 19 May 2018 Memories
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Galatians 3:7

Open Heaven 19 May 2018 Bible Reading
John 8:39-43

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word

Open Heaven 19 May 2018 Bible in one year: 2 Samuel 14, 2 Peter 2

Open Heaven 19 May 2018 Message

The Bible documents several declarations of God’s covenant promises and blessings to Abraham, which are intended to overflow to his children (Genesis 17:2,Genesis 12:2-3, Genesis 22:16-18). Although God spoke these words to Abraham several thousands of years ago, generations from that period till now have continued to see His pronouncements manifest in very dramatic fashion. Let us consider two of God’s pronouncements on Abraham. Open Heaven 18 May 2018 

In Genesis 12:2-3, He said
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shall be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Also in Genesis 22:17-18 , God said :

“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven , and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…”

The fulfilment of these words in the lives of Abraham’s direct descendants (the Jews) and in the lives of Christians , who are partakers of these promises by adoption, has resulted in a situation where people from all nations of the world seek to be numbered among Abraham’s children.

However, claiming to be one of Abraham’s children does not confer this status on anyone; only fulfilling the necessary requirements does. Romans 9:6-7 explains that in the sight of God, not even all of those who descended from Abraham biologically are children of Abraham for the purpose of receiving God’s covenant blessings.

Being a child of Abraham does not come through genetic connections. Galatians 3:7 tells us what confers this status on a person:
“Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”
You can therefore see that it is only men and women of faith that are true children of Abraham, and so only they are recipient of Abraham’s blessings.

Open Heaven 19 May 2018

In other words, faith is what qualifies a person to inherit Abraham’s blessings. Are you truly one of Abraham’s children? The word of God in Galatians 3:6-9 tells us that irrespective of whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, rich or poor, male or female, white, black or brown, old or young,you can become one of Abraham’s children and gain access to the blessings promised to them if only you live by faith.

Some may ignore or reject this truth because they have no idea what it means to be a child of Abraham, or because they see no value in the awesome blessings promised to Abraham’s children.

This altitude is not surprising, because the things of the spirit of God are foolishness to the ordinary person (1 Corinthians 2:14). I pray that the Lord will open your eyes to the truth of his word so that you can gain access to all of your inheritance in God in the might Name of Jesus.

Open Heaven 19 May 2018 Prayer point
Father, impart my spirit with faith to appropriate all of my blessings in you in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 19 May 2018 Hymn 10

RCCG HYMN 10: THERE SHALL BE SHOWER OF BLESSING

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Open Heaven 18 May 2018 – Seeing the Invincible

Open Heaven 18 May 2018 Memories
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
Ephesians 1:18

Open Heaven 18 May 2018  Bible Reading 2 Corinthians 12:1-4

1. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Open Heaven 18 May 2018 Bible in one year: 2 Samuel 12-13, 2 Peter 1

The Bible tells us about the reality of both the physical world, which is the natural habitat of human beings, and a spiritual world that is ruled and controlled by the Almighty God. Although God created mankind and gave us access to the spiritual realm for the purpose of fellowshipping with Him, we lost that access when Adam and Eve sinned (John 4:24, Genesis 3:8). Open Heaven 16 May 2018

However, the moment a person becomes born again, the access to the realm of the spirit is immediately restored. Unconverted souls remain permanently disconnected from the heavenly realm. That is why 1 Corinthians 2:14 says 

” But the natural man recieveth not the things of the spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned.”

The spiritual world is very Much as real as the physical world, but only those who have access to it can see the sights, hear the sounds and even participate in the activities of heaven. I pray that God will sanctify you and grant you express access to the realm of the spirit in Jesus’ Name. Open Heaven 17 2018

Living in the spirit requires faith. Just as the eye produces conviction about the reality of objects in the physical world, so does faith produce the same conviction about things in the realm of the spirit, which are invisible to the eye. Faith manifest itself by producing the assurance that what we hope for will happen.

It also provides insight to the reality of things in the unseen spiritual world. These unseen realities from God offer an effective power for daily living to every man and woman of faith. Speaking about the faith of Moses, Hebrews 11:27 says :

“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and receives the impossible. This is the testimony of every great child of God who has walked on the face of the earth, such as Abraham, Moses, the prophets and the apostles.

Open Heaven 18 May 2018

They all saw things that others could not see and they believed them until they were manifested physically. This is also the testimony of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. My father in the Lord saw some things through the eyes of faith that were practically impossible to believe at that time , but they have become history today.

When I became the General Overseer of the church, we could only afford a one-bedroom apartment; I therefore started praying to God for a suitable home to accommodate my family. God then spoke to me one day that I should stop praying for a house because He had decided to build me a city.

I received it by faith and today , this city has become a reality, and God is not done with us yet. I pray that you will begin to see the invisible form today in Jesus’ Name

Open Heaven 18 May 2018 Prayer Point
Father, please sanctify me and open my eyes of faith today in Jesus’ Name

Open Heaven 18 May 2018 Hymn 10

Sing Hymn 10: There shall be showers of blessing

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: Tuesday, May 15, 2018) – Divine Connection

1.Covenant keeping and merciful God, I worship and adore you.

2.Thank you, Father, for your love, mercy and favour, over my life.

3.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus’ name.

4.Father, order my steps in your word and to the place of my destiny fulfilment, in Jesus’ name.

5.Father, let me experience your uncommon and unique favour and blessings, that will make me to forget I had ever suffered before, in life, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, connect me to my destiny helpers, wherever, they may be, in the four corners of the earth, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, let everything and everyone you have ordained to take me to my next level be promoted to the level of power and authority, that will enable them discharge their obligations, in Jesus’ name.

8.Father, you are the diligent rewarder of those who seek you, please, let all my labours of love in your vineyard be rewarded, hundred folds, in Jesus’ name. Open Heaven 16 May 2018

9.Father, give me the grace to walk uprightly and be perfect before you, and let no iniquity have dominion over me, in Jesus’ name.

10.Father, please, uphold me by your right hand of righteousness till the end, and grant me eternal life, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, grant Pastor E.A. Adeboye, divine connections, that will lead to greater works and breakthroughs, in his life and ministry, in Jesus’ name. Open Heaven 17 May 2018

12.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus’ name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Open Heaven May 17 2018  – The nature of the Christian the Christian race

Open Heaven May 17 2018 Memories
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

Open Heaven May 17 2018 Bible Reading 

2 Timothy 2:1-10 (NIV)

Open Heaven May 17 2018 Bible in one year: 2 Samuel 10-11, 1 Peter 4:12-5:14

The Holy spirit often uses the the imagery of running a race or participating in a sporting activity to portray the Christian life. He does this to help us have a better understanding of the nature of the Christian life we are called to live, and to help us develop the right attitude required to be successful in it.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24 -25 He says
” know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one recieveth the price? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

Three important points are in focus in this passage. First, there are many participants in a sporting event but only the winner receives the prize. We are therefore encouraged to run the Christian race with a mindset of striving hard to obtain the reward and not just for the mere purpose of participating. Open Heaven 15 May 2018

Secondly, as athletes struggle to reduce unforced errors in order to achieve expertise in their chosen sport, we are also advised to strive for mastery. Thirdly, just as professional athletes must be disciplined in all things before they can achieve the level of skill required to become champions, so also must we be calm, moderate, self-controlled and disciplined in all things.

Christianity is very much like boxing or running a marathon: if your attitude towards training and preparation is lackadaisical, relaxed and carefree, then you must be prepared for a painful defeat or even a knockout on the big stage. I pray that you will never suffer defeat in the hands of your enemies in Jesus’ name

God is using this medium to bring to your attention the precaution and diligence that is required to secure victory in the Christian race in these perilous times. He is urging you to give the race you are running all attention needed to ensure success. Open Heaven 16 May 2018

Open Heaven May 17 2018

He also presents before you the crown of glory which he will award to all those who are faithful to the end of the race (1 Peter 5:4). This crown is not a perishable bunch of flowers or a gold-plated medal of little value, but the glorious crown of everlasting life , who h awaits all those who have successfully completed the Christian race.

You will be wise to give heed to the words of today’s memory verse by continually looking up to Jesus, who for the reward that was set before him endured the cross, despised the shame, and is now seared at the right hand of the throne of God. Nothing can be more glorious than making heaven and beholding the face of Jesus forever. Will you make it there?

Open Heaven May 17 2018 Prayer point
Father, please help me to be successful in the Christian race in Jesus’ name

Open Heaven May 17 2018 Hymn 5

The Great Physician now is near

The sympathizing Jesus;

He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,

Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!

Sweetest note in seraph

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

Jesus, blessed Jesus!

2 Your many sins are all forgiv’n,

Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;

The veil ’twixt you and God is riven,

Redemption wrought by Jesus.

3 All glory to the dying Lamb!

I now believe in Jesus;

I love the blessed Savior’s name,

I love the name of Jesus.

4 His name dispels my guilt and fear,

No other name but Jesus;

Oh, how my soul delights to hear

The charming name of Jesus!

Open Heaven May 16 2018 – Hospitable?

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Memories
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Proverbs 11:25

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Bible Reading
2 Kings 4:8-17 (NIV)

The Shunammite’s Son Restored to Life

⁸ One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 

⁹ She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 

¹⁰ Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”

¹¹ One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 

¹² He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 

¹³ Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’ ”She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”

¹⁴ “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”

¹⁵ Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 

¹⁶ “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!”

¹⁷ But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Bible in one year: 2 Samuel 7-9, 1 Peter 3:8-4:11

Hospitality is the act of generosity and friendship shown towards strangers , and it includes the responsibility of protecting the interest of those received as guests. God admonishes His children to be hospitable as part of our duty to others and in gratitude for the salvation, favour and mercy we have received from Him ( Exodus 22:21).

Several passages of scripture emphasise hospitality as a godly virtue ( Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9). Hebrews 13:2 says
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Furthermore, the Bible mentions hospitality as one of the preconditions for becoming a leader in the church (1 Timothy 3:2). Hospitality has played a very important role in the Redeemed Christian Church of God right from its very beginning. It forms part of our core beliefs and practices.

We teach that you don’t to be rich to look after visitors. You can entertain four people with a single orange by slicing it into four parts and presenting it nicely on a decent plate with glasses of water. May you receive the true spirit of hospitality today in Jesus’ name

Open Heaven May 16 2018

The Bible admonishes that since we naturally desire to receive hospitality from others, we should show it to others well. The Lord in Matthew 7:12 says,

“All things whatsoever yo would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
‎Even when describing the type of fast that God finds acceptable, the Holy spirit in Isaiah 58:7b said :

“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast our to thy house?”

Deuteronomy 26:12 also speaks about feeding the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. All these verses of the scripture show that we are duty-bound as children of God to provide for the needs of these classes of people regularly. Open Heaven 15 May 2018 -DIVINE CONNECTION

More importantly, Jesus clearly teaches that hospitality is going to be a major criterion that will be used to separate the sheep from the goat on the last day (Matthew 25:33-35). This means that it will be practically impossible for anyone to enter heaven without being hospitable.

Jesus expects every Christian to love their neighbour as themselves. He expects us to use hospitality as a tool to spread the love of God and the good news of the gospel all over the world. I pray that you will yield yourself an instrument of spreading God’s love everywhere through hospitality in Jesus’ name

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Action point
Think of how you can use hospitality to spread the love of God and thr message of the gospel in your locality. Draw up a plan and implement it.

Open Heaven May 16 2018 Hymn 12

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

Verse 1

In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,

And drives away his fear.

Verse 2:

It makes the wounded spirit whole,

And calms the troubled breast;

’Tis manna to the hungry soul,

And to the weary, rest.

Verse 3:

Jesus! My Shepherd, Husband, Friend,

 O Prophet, Priest and King,

 My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,

 Accept the praise I bring.

Verse 4:

Weak is the effort of my heart,

 And cold my warmest thought;

 But when I see Thee as Thou art,

 I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Verse 5:

Till then I would Thy love proclaim

With every fleeting breath,

And may the music of Thy Name

Refresh my soul in death!

Open Heaven 15 May 2018 Tuesday – DIVINE CONNECTION

Open Heaven 15 May 2018 Memorise: And a certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, what seekest thou? Genesis 37:15

Read: Genesis 24:12-26 Open Heavens 15 May 2018

12 And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?

24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.

Open Heaven 15 May 2018

Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 5-6, 1st Peter 2:13-3:7

Hymnal: Sing hymn 15

OPEN HEAVEN 15 MAY 2018 TUESDAY DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Divine connection simply means the connection of an individual to sources that would help to fast-track the fulfillment of his or her destiny. In Psalm 37:23, the Holy Spirit teaches:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

This was the testimony of Abraham’s servant in today’s Bible text. He was amazed at the way the God of his master answered his simple child-like prayer of faith. Open Heaven 14 May 2018

Beyond his wildest imagination, things worked out in his favour because God had already sent His angels ahead of him to work everything out. When you are divinely connected, people will think that you are wise or brilliant.

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Monday, May 14, 2018) – When God Remembers You

Some may even mistake you for a genius! I pray for you today that God will give you divine connections that will confound everyone who hears about it in Jesus’ Name.
When we draw close to God and do His bidding, we earn ourselves divine connections (James 4:8). Hebrews 6:10says,

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

OPEN HEAVENS 15 MAY 2018 TUESDAY

Some people complain about following Jesus without anything to show for it. Some people may be in their season of sowing, or they might not have been following Him according to the pattern He has laid down. The Lord is a faithful covenant-keeper who cannot lie. In Matthew 19:29 He said:

“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”

If you have been walking with God with nothing to show for it spiritually and materially, take time to carefully evaluate your walk. If you need divine connection, you must be faithful to the profession of faith you made when you gave your life to Christ. Our calling, like that of Abraham the father of faith, is call unto holiness (Genesis 17:1, 1st Thessalonians 4:7).

Abraham did not compromise his calling by going back to the world; there is nothing for you there. To be divinely connected, you need to add virtue and brotherly kindness to your faith, because faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

Renew your relationship with the Lord and let holiness become your watchword. Endeavour to please Him in all your ways just as the early Church did, and you will then experience divine connection.

Prayer Point – Open Heavens 15 May 2018

Father, please grant me divine connections that will lead to my breakthrough in Jesus’ Name.

OPEN HEAVEN 15 MAY 2018 TUESDAY HYMN

SING 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.

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.

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

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