RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL LESSON THIRTY-FOUR SUNDAY, 22ND APRIL 2018: CHILD ABUSE

*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*
*1.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
*2.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
*3.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
*4.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
*5.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
*6.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
MEMORY VERSE: ‘’But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:6
BIBLE PASSAGE: Mark 10:13-16
Mark:10.13
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought [them.]
Mark:10.14
But when Jesus saw [it,] He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mark:10.15
“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Mark:10.16
And He took them up in His arms, put [His] hands on them, and blessed them.
INTRODUCTION:
According to the Merriam Webster’s dictionary, a child is “a young person especially between infancy and youth”. Child abuse is any maltreatment of a child which causes him/her harm. Such action can also take the form of a child neglect or failure to protect a child from danger especially by a parent or other care-giver. The Bible does not use the word abuse but tells us that whosoever harms a child is asking for God’s anger (Mark 9:42).
LESSON OUTLINES
1. Forms of child abuse
2. Signs and prevention of child abuse
FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE
Basically, child abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional.
PHYSICAL ABUSE: Can be excessive beating of a child especially one that leaves him/her with marks, throwing objects, poisoning, child labour (trafficking, hawking), neglecting to give the child basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, etc. It also includes use of drugs, alcohol or any substance that will cause the child distress (1Kings 3:19, 25-26; Mark 9:42).
SEXUAL ABUSE: This is when any person engages a child in any sexual activity such as fondling a child’s sexual organs, engaging the child in any immoral activity e.g. pornography, rape, defilement of the child, etc. (2Samuel 13:10-15).
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE: Includes teasing, bullying, threatening, verbal abuse (such as cursing, belittling, constantly finding fault), etc. (1Samuel 17:26-28; Colossians 3:21).
SIGNS AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE
These are some of the signs that a child is being abused: aggressive behaviour, low self-esteem, sleeping difficulties, unexplained bruises, burns or swellings, lack of concentration and criminal inclinations. Child abuse may eventually lead to deformation or death.
Prevention of child abuse may take the following forms:
1. Early education, identification and intervention.
2. Break the silence, report any abuse.
3. Train a child in a godly way (Proverbs 22:6).
4. It is not every wrong that should be met with capital punishment.
CONCLUSION:
Child abuse is a menace that must be dealt with holistically in the fear of God. Children are precious to God and must be well taken care of (Psalm 127:3).
QUESTIONS
1. Mention three forms of child abuse.
2. State at least two ways of preventing child abuse.

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON THIRTY-FOUR SUNDAY:APRIL 22, 2018: CHILD ABUSE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS: SUNDAY 22TH APRIL 2018: BELIEVE

MEMORISE: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13

Please read: John 3:14-18

MESSAGE:
According to our Bible reading today, the key to eternal life is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

And what does it mean to believe? To believe means to accept or regard something or
someone as true, or to accept the truth of what is said by someone or about someone.

To believe in Jesus Christ means accepting that
everything He says and does is the truth. It also
involves accepting Him as the Way, the Truth and the Life, and believing that it is only through
Him that man can get to God.

Believing that Jesus Christ is the Way means accepting the fact that there is no other way to God except through Him.

Believing that Jesus Christ is the
Truth means accepting that everything He does
and says is the absolute truth.

Believing that Jesus Christ is the life means accepting that eternal life can only be given by Him.

Anyone who does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is condemned and will definitely perish,
because accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour means accepting the Eternal Life into your heart. And if you have the Eternal Life living in you, then you will not perish but have
everlasting life!

ACTION POINT:
If you haven’t accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart, it means that you don’t believe in Him and so you do not have access to eternal
life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 4-6
Luke 18:18-43

Hymn 1
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire !

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

Open Heaven 20 April 2018 Friday – NO FOOD FOR THE LAZY MAN

Open Heaven 20 April 2018 Memorise:And that ye study to be quite, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 1st Thessalonians 4:11

Read: 1st Thessalonians 4:3-12 Open Heavens 20 April 2018

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Open Heaven 20 April 2018

Bible in one year: Judges 10-11, 2nd Timothy 3-4

Hymnal: Sing hymn 4

MESSAGE – OPEN HEAVEN 20 APRIL 2018 FRIDAY DAILY DEVOTIONAL

A lazy man is described in Proverbs 10:4 as someone who works with a slack hand. He or she is also described as slothful in Proverbs 12:24. The Holy Spirit warns us against slothfulness in Romans 12:11:

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

Some people are fervent in spirit but slothful in business, whereas some others are diligent in business but not fervent in spirit. These are lopsided Christian lifestyles which are not profitable. In today’s memory verse, we are warned against being lazy.

Laziness results in some people becoming so poor that they become fraudsters to make ends meet. Defrauding others is a terrible sin that calls for God’s vengeance (1st Thessalonians 4:6). Lazy Christians take advantage of the generosity of the Christian brotherhood to defraud other diligent Christians.

Such lazy ones do not want to work with their hands. Instead, they go from house to house and from church to church to defraud the brethren under several pretexts; interestingly, this is not a new development in the Body of Christ. Under the guise of awaiting the second coming of the Lord, laziness was so rampant in the Church at Thessalonica, so much so that some believers abandoned their trade and businesses to loaf around.

For this reason, Apostle Paul, after his initial epistle, further wrote to this same Church in 2nd Thessalonians 3:10, saying,

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

OPEN HEAVENS 20 APRIL 2018

Today, job scarcity makes it difficult for us to know who is actually lazy among the brethren who loaf around other brethren. In actual fact, it is not the lack of jobs that makes people unemployed; rather, it is pride and the unrealistic dreams of white collar jobs. Some would not do any other job than what they were trained to do in school.

These group of Christians should learn from people like Apostle Paul, who in spite of his degree in law engaged in tent making to make ends meet (Acts 18:3, Philippians 3:5). Some people are misguided into thinking that doing manual labour would drain their anointing; this is a lie of the devil.

The Lord promised to bless the work of our hands, not our idleness (Deuteronomy 28:12). The story was told of how God directed a young but brilliant Christian to start clearing human waste in a modern way, and he became a millionaire through it.

if you are naturally lazy, you need supernatural healing, because laziness is a disease that can kill the body and throw the soul into hell. Therefore, detest it with everything in you.

Action Point – Open Heaven 20 April 2018

Create a job if no one offers you one; you are a child of God with the ability to create things.

OPEN HEAVEN 20 APRIL 2018 HYMN

SING HYMN 4 – TRUST AND OBEY

When we walk with the Lord in

the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our

way!

While we do His good will, He

abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and

obey.

Chorus

Trust and obey, for there’s no other

Way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust

and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a

cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it

away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh

or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and

obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a

sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly

repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown

or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and

obey.

But we never can prove the

delights of His love

Until all on the alter we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the

Joy He bestows,

Are from them who will trust and

obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we

will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the

way;

What He says we will do, where

He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS SATURDAY 21TH APRIL 2018: OPEN THESE WINDOWS

MEMORISE: Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18

Please read: 2 Chronicles 7:11-14

MESSAGE:
Heaven has windows which can be open or shut.
If shut, there will be no rain. Rivers will begin to dry up and this will bring famine and death.

One way by which God judges people is by shutting the windows of Heaven over them.

In Amos 4:6-9, God says He can open heavenly windows
for some and shut it over some. This means that while some people are crying that things are too hard for them, others are feasting, celebrating
and saying that things are really good.

May the Lord open the heavenly windows over you in
Jesus’ name.

God’s anointed prophets can also open or close
heavenly windows. This is one reason why you must carefully relate with a genuine man of God.

One pronouncement is all that the Heaven is waiting for to open or shut the windows over a
person, city or nation. Do you know that as long as you remain in right standing with God, and please Him in all you do, you can leave open
heavenly windows over your life? You can also
command open the windows already shut. This is one key that believers have, but many have not
been using. Pray for the power today!

ACTION POINT:
Pray that God will open the windows of Heaven over you and your loved ones today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 1-3
Luke 18:1-17

Hymn 3
1. There shall be showers of blessing
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing
Sent from the Savior above

Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drop ’round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

3. There shall be showers of blessing
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us a refreshing;
Come now and honour Thy Word.

4. There shall be showers of blessing
Oh that today they might fall,
now as to God we are confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Open Heaven 22 April 2018 Sunday – THE NEED FOR MIRACLES

Open Heaven 22 April 2018 Memorise:God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2:4

Read: John 11:39-45 Open Heavens 22 April 2018

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

Open Heaven 22 April 2018

Bible in one year: Judges 15-16, Titus 2-3

Hymnal: Sing hymn 7

OPEN HEAVEN 22 APRIL 2018 SUNDAY DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

A careful study of the miracles recorded in the Bible will reveal some truths to the discerning. Such a study will reveal that miracles are supernatural and that they are an intervention of God in the affairs of men.

This study will also reveal that miracles happen only when God deems it necessary. In other words, God divinely intervenes when the ability of man fails and He wants to show His Almightiness.

Open Heaven 21 April 2018

God does not waste His divine intervention wherever He has given man the enablement to act. For example, He stopped sending manna to the children of Israel the moment they got settled in the Promised Land. They had to cultivate and eat from the land, which was flowing with milk and honey. Joshua 5:12 says,

“And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canna that year.”

OPEN HEAVENS 22 APRIL 2018 SUNDAY

The truth of the matter is that although God was still capable of sending the manna, He stopped sending it because there was no need for it anymore. He expected His children as His image carriers and co-creators with him to cultivate the land.

Also, in Exodus 14:15-16, even though the Lord was willing and ready to intervene for the salvation of Israel at the Red Sea, He told Moses to play his part. If a child of God fails to understand this principle, it can cause him or her untold pain and disappointment due to failure to act where he or she ought to.

Having established these truths, we must also realise that the ability to work miracles is like a stamp or approval given by God to His chosen human vessels. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus called for His Father’s intervention in the case of Lazarus who was dead. Why did He call on the Father to intervene? John 11:42 says,

“And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Also, in today’s memory verse, “divers’ miracles” is listed as one of those supernatural things God uses to bear witness to the message of His chosen vessels. Without this witness, our message will be like that of mere orators and philosophers. Jesus needed miracles to establish His mission, and so do we. Let us therefore thirst for this gift to glorify the Almighty God.

Prayer Point –  Open Heaven 22 April 2018

Father, from today, please confirm my witness of You by working Your miracles through me.

OPEN HEAVEN 22 APRIL 2018 SUNDAY HYMN

SING HYMN 7 – WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

Wonderful story of love;

Tell it to me again;

Wonderful story of love;

Wake the immortal strain!

Angles with rapture announce

It,

Shepherds with wonder receive

it;

Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?

Wonderful story of love.

Chorus:

Wonderful! Wonderful!

Wonderful, Wonderful story of love.

Wonderful story of love;

Through 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.

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 Heaven 20 April 2018 Friday – NO FOOD FOR THE LAZY MAN

Open Heaven 20 April 2018 Memorise:And that ye study to be quite, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 1st Thessalonians 4:11

Read: 1st Thessalonians 4:3-12 Open Heavens 20 April 2018

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Open Heaven 20 April 2018

Bible in one year: Judges 10-11, 2nd Timothy 3-4

Hymnal: Sing hymn 4

MESSAGE – OPEN HEAVEN 20 APRIL 2018 FRIDAY DAILY DEVOTIONAL

A lazy man is described in Proverbs 10:4 as someone who works with a slack hand. He or she is also described as slothful in Proverbs 12:24. The Holy Spirit warns us against slothfulness in Romans 12:11:

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

Some people are fervent in spirit but slothful in business, whereas some others are diligent in business but not fervent in spirit. These are lopsided Christian lifestyles which are not profitable. In today’s memory verse, we are warned against being lazy.

Laziness results in some people becoming so poor that they become fraudsters to make ends meet. Defrauding others is a terrible sin that calls for God’s vengeance (1st Thessalonians 4:6). Lazy Christians take advantage of the generosity of the Christian brotherhood to defraud other diligent Christians.

Such lazy ones do not want to work with their hands. Instead, they go from house to house and from church to church to defraud the brethren under several pretexts; interestingly, this is not a new development in the Body of Christ. Under the guise of awaiting the second coming of the Lord, laziness was so rampant in the Church at Thessalonica, so much so that some believers abandoned their trade and businesses to loaf around.

For this reason, Apostle Paul, after his initial epistle, further wrote to this same Church in 2nd Thessalonians 3:10, saying,

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

OPEN HEAVENS 20 APRIL 2018

Today, job scarcity makes it difficult for us to know who is actually lazy among the brethren who loaf around other brethren. In actual fact, it is not the lack of jobs that makes people unemployed; rather, it is pride and the unrealistic dreams of white collar jobs. Some would not do any other job than what they were trained to do in school.

These group of Christians should learn from people like Apostle Paul, who in spite of his degree in law engaged in tent making to make ends meet (Acts 18:3, Philippians 3:5). Some people are misguided into thinking that doing manual labour would drain their anointing; this is a lie of the devil.

The Lord promised to bless the work of our hands, not our idleness (Deuteronomy 28:12). The story was told of how God directed a young but brilliant Christian to start clearing human waste in a modern way, and he became a millionaire through it.

if you are naturally lazy, you need supernatural healing, because laziness is a disease that can kill the body and throw the soul into hell. Therefore, detest it with everything in you.

Action Point – Open Heaven 20 April 2018

Create a job if no one offers you one; you are a child of God with the ability to create things.

OPEN HEAVEN 20 APRIL 2018 HYMN

SING HYMN 4 – TRUST AND OBEY

When we walk with the Lord in

the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our

way!

While we do His good will, He

abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and

obey.

Chorus

Trust and obey, for there’s no other

Way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust

and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a

cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it

away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh

or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and

obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a

sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly

repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown

or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and

obey.

But we never can prove the

delights of His love

Until all on the alter we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the

Joy He bestows,

Are from them who will trust and

obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we

will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the

way;

What He says we will do, where

He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey

Open Heaven 21 April 2018 Saturation – TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN

Open Heaven 21 April 2018 Memorise: Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Proverbs 27:23

Read: Ephesians 6:1-4 Open Heavens 21 April 2018

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Open Heavens 21 April 2018

 Bible in one year: Judges 12-14, Titus 1

Hymnal: Sing hymn 17

OPEN HEAVEN 21 APRIL 2018 SATURDAY DAILY DEVOTIONAL

We are mandated in today’s memory verse to diligent look after our flock. The succeeding verses outline the great rewards that accrue from doing this. Proverbs 27:26-27 says,

“The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the Food of thy household and for the maintenance for thy maidens,”

There is something striking about these verses of Scripture. If taking care of animals attracts so much reward, how much more would we be rewarded when we heed God’s commandment to care for our children?

Unknown to many people, one of the reasons why God decided to bless Abraham so much was Abraham’s determination to transfer his worship, fear and obedience of the Almighty to his children. Genesis 18:19 says,

“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgement; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

Abraham was wise enough to see to it that not only his children but all his household savants as well knew the Lord and feared Him. When we take time to care for our children spiritually and physically, we will be happy for it.

The daughter of Pharaoh who adopted Moses made a profound statement, when she handed him over to his mother, which we should take note of. In Exodus 2:9 she said:

“…Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages…”

When we see children as the Lord’s heritage and not as our possessions, we will be careful to train them for God and not for ourselves (Psalm 127:3). When we do this, their original Owner will reward us handsomely. Proverbs 23:24-25 mentions some of these rewards:

“The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.”

Beloved, only children trained in the fear of the Lord will grow up to be righteous and wise. So, take care of your children by installing the fear of the Lord in them, and serve as a role model of righteousness of God to them.

Prayer Point – Open Heavens 21 April 2018

Father, please give me the wisdom and ability to take care of the children You put in my care to the glory of Your Name.

OPEN HEAVEN 21 APRIL 2018 SATURDAY HYMN

SING HYMN 17 – GOD, GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

God give us Christian homes!

Homes where Bible is loved

and taught,

Homes where the Master’s will

is sought,

Homes crowned with beauty

Your love has wrought;

God give us Christian homes

God give us Christian homes

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!

God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the mother, in

caring quest,

Strives to show others Your way is

best,

Homes where the Lord is an

honoured guest;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

Open Heaven 19 April 2018 Thursday – CHOOSING TO DIE WITH YOUR ENEMY

Open Heaven 19 April 2018 Memorise: Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Genesis 17:1

Read: Romans 12:9-21 Open Heaven 19 April 2018

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

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

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Open Heaven 19 April 2018

Bible in one year: Judges 9, 2nd Timothy 2

Hymnal: Sing hymn 12

MESSAGE – OPEN HEAVEN 19 APRIL 2018 DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The simple and expected response to the thought-provoking question in today’s topic is “no”. In practice however, this may not be the case.

It is true that the people of this world can be terribly wicked, so much so that one may find it difficult to let go when the opportunity presents itself to pay them back in their own coin. Nevertheless, this is contrary to the nature of God that we bear as Christians. Speaking to us about this in Romans 12:19, the Holy Spirit says:

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

The story of Samson is a good example of someone who chose to die with his enemies. Although he was born a Nazarite to God, he had many flaws in his character, the most lethal of which was vindictiveness.

When a person is vindictive, such a fellow will be unforgiving, merciless and absolutely cruel. When his enemies bound him in chains and plucked out his eyes, instead of calling on God for the forgiveness of his sins, he chose to pray to God to avenge his eyes. Judges 16:28 says,

“And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenge of the Philistines for my two eyes.”

OPEN HEAVENS 19 APRIL 2018 THURSDAY

When one listens to the prayers of some people who ordinarily should be on their face asking God for mercy, one cannot but wonder if they are not praying to die with their enemies. Such people ask God to avenge them of their enemies, when they are the ones whose sins empowered the enemy to buffet them. OPEN HEAVEN 18 APRIL 2018

No doubt, God will honour His word to recompense the evildoer. However, what do you stand to gain if your enemies die as a result of the evil they did to you, but you also die in your sins? That is not a wise thing to you, but you also die in your sins? That is not a wise thing to do.

This is the reason why Romans 12:17 warns us that we should not repay any man evil for evil, but rather, we should overcome evil with good. When someone offends you and you decide not to settle with him or her, what you are indirectly saying is that you are ready to die with that enemy. You put the forgiveness of that fellow on hold and yours will not be released to you either. Mark 11:26 says,

“But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

We need to forgive those who wrong us for our own sake because the Scripture is clear that unless we do, we are in danger of preferring to die with our enemies instead of saving ourselves from the judgement to come upon this world.

Prayer Point – Open Heaven 19 April 2018

Father, please forgive my trespasses as I have forgiven those who trespassed against me.

OPEN HEAVEN 19 APRIL 2018 THURSDAY HYMN

SING HYMN 12 – TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE

Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them

move

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my sliver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for thee

Open Heaven 18 April 2018 Wednesday – FORGETTING THE PAST

Open Heaven 18 April 2018 Memorise:Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Philippians 3:13

Read: Philippians 3:7-14 Open Heavens 18 April 2018

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Open Heaven 18 April 2018

Bible in one year: Judges 7-8, 2nd Timothy 1

Hymnal: Sing hymn 15

MESSAGE – OPEN HEAVENS 18 APRIL 2018 WEDNESDAY DAILY DEVOTIONAL

In several portions of Scriptures, the Holy Spirit admonishes us not to forget several things, especially things that relate to God’s commandments (Proverbs 3:1, Hebrews 13:16).

In fact, one of the mandates of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to bring to our remembrance all things the Master has told us, so that we don’t forget them (John 14:26). However, in today’s Bible reading, the same Holy Spirit encourages us to forget the things that are behind us.

Why does He wants us to forget those things? The reason is that if we don’t forget some things of the past, they may prevent us from reaching forth to those things ahead of us. Someone once said that ‘good’ is the enemy of ‘better’. When you hold tenaciously to the good something better may elude you. Furthermore, when you refuse to forget the days of your terrible past, you may never be able to live in the reality of the new beginning God has given to you.

This is another danger of not forgetting the past. Many people still hold themselves hostage to their past life, long after they have been forgiven by God Almighty. They fail to recognise the terms of the New Testament they are operating under. Here is part of what the Holy Spirit says about the new convent in the Blood of Jesus:

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

OPEN HEAVEN 18 APRIL 2018

An elderly man was brought to us years ago; he was terribly sick. We witnessed to him about Jesus Christ who forgives sins so that he may confess his sins and be forgiven. Surprisingly, he felt that the magnitude of his sins was too big for pardon. We assured him that this was not the case, and thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit eventually convinced him of what we were saying.

His problem was tied to his refusal to forget his terrible past. When an old friend of mine came face to face with me after I had become born again and a pastor, she could not believe that God could use me to heal her ailing child. I assured her that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away and all things have become new (2nd Corinthians 5:17).

She believed, and her sick child was healed. Today, many people find it difficult to forgive others because they refuse to forget the past misdeeds done to them. This is even more dangerous than refusing to forget your own past misdeeds (Mark 11:25-26). Beloved, keeping the record of your ugly past or that of others may rob you of the joy of forgiveness and the peace that emanates from forgetting the past.

Prayer Point – Open Heavens 18 April 2018

Father, teach my heart to forgive and forget in Jesus’ Name.

OPEN HEAVEN 18 APRIL 2018 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

2 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.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.