Prayer Points On Today’s Open Heavens: (Saturday, October 20, 2018) – Great Secret Of Overcomers

1.I worship You, Lord Jesus, because You are the way, the truth and the life.

2.Thank You, Father, for the salvation of my soul from the path of destruction.

3.Thank You, Father, for placing me on the path of paradise and eternal life.

4.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus’ name. Open Heaven 21 October 2018

5.Lord Jesus, help me to be an overcomer forever, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, I am an overcomer in my business, at my work place and all endeavours of life, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, make me comprehend the things of the spirit easily in Jesus’ name.

8.Lord Jesus, You are my perfect example, and not man; please, help me to follow You till the end, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, the power in your word will completely destroy every yoke in my life today in Jesus ‘Name. , in Jesus’ name.

10.Father, Jesus, fill me to the brim with Your Holy Spirit, help me to walk in Your footsteps, and make me perfect, as You are perfect, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, let Your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, finish well and strong, 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).

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON EIGHT SUNDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2018 – PARTNERS (NOT STAFF) IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE

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 friend 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 be 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?

OPENING PRAYER
Father, help me to follow Christ to the very end.

MEMORY VERSE: “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” – John 15:15

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1Corinthians 3:6-9

1 Corinthians:3.6
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
1 Corinthians:3.7
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
1 Corinthians:3.8
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
1 Corinthians:3.9
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, [you are] God’s building.

INTRODUCTION:
By definition, a partner is a person who takes part in an undertaking with another or others, especially in a business or firm with shared risk and profits.

A staff is an employee of an organisation. Unlike the contemporary workplace, believers are expected to be partners together with Christ. Our commitment should not be motivated by reward/wages as staff but as partners.

TEXT REVIEW: 1COR.3:6-9 “SYNERGY FOR THE KINGDOM”

Unity in the ministry was demonstrated in such a way that the grace of God in the life of an individual was allowed to grow until such an individual has grown into perfection. Open Heaven 22 October 2018

Acts 18:24- 28. We may not understand in the duo Of Paul and Apollos and how the greater encouraged the lesser to build for the kingdom.

Acts 18:24-28 indicated that Apollos as a Jew and was born at Alexandra. He was eloquent and mighty in scriptures. Acts 18:24. He was fervent in the Spirit.

He spoke mightily in the public, convincing the Jews that Jesus was Christ. Acts 18:28. But he had only the Baptist of John the Baptist, and had not the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

However, Aquila and Priscilla saw value in the apparent weakness of Apollos and decided to brace him up more perfectly,Acts 18:26. Open Heaven 24 October 2018

Similarly the brethren at Ephesus writes to those in Achaia to receive Apollos highlighting how God had mightily used him. Acts 18:28

This is unity, this is synergy in action. This same Spirit of unity worked in Apostle Paul (who spoke more perfectly the mystery with God’s wisdom and was filled with the Holy Spirit. 1Cor. 2:6-7) when he wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave increase”. 1Cor. 3:6.

Apollos could have opted to be General Overseer in his own right while Paul too in his own right and would have heard their followers (1Cor. 3:4), but instead. Open Heaven 23 October 2018

Apostle Paul advocated unity (1Cor. 3:8-9) and called on those who had thought otherwise to come together as co-labourers and build together for the sake of the kingdom. 1Cor. 3:8

LESSON OUTLINES
1. Joint heirs with Christ
2. Co-labourers on earth

JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST
Connotation, Responsibilities and Attributes of Joint Heirs of God.

(i) Having relationship with God the father as children. Rom. 8:15

(ii) Having the right to receive God’s inheritance. Rom. 8:17, 1Peter 1:4

(iii) It is having a “sonship” status in God’s kingdom. John 1:12-13

(iv) It is having the same privileges with Christ. Rom. 8:14-17

(v) It is having the privilege to serve God. Gen. 2:7-15

(vi) It is having assurance of new life. 2Cor. 5:17

(viii) It is a call to do the work of the father. John 4:34, 5:17, 9:4

(ix) It is a call to walk in the footsteps of the Christ. John 5:19-20, 14:12

(x) It is a call to partner with Christ in God’s vineyard. John 15:15.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1
What are the other benefits of being joint heirs with Christ.

CO-LABOURERS ON EARTH
Reasons Why Believers Must Be Co- Labourers On Earth in God’s Vineyard.

(I) All believers are purchased with the same price and are baptized into the same Spirit and live by the same commandments. 1Cor. 12:13

(ii) Believers have different ministerial gifts to work for the purpose of perfecting the saints and edifying the body of Christ. Eph. 4:11-13

(iii) The harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few. Luke 10:2

(iv) Because all co-labourers will receive sure rewards from God for their services. Col. 3:23-25; 1Cor. 3:8-9

CLASS ACTIVITY 2
Why should co-labourers in God’s vineyard avoid disunity and competition?

SUMMARY
Believers are joint-heirs with Christ and co-labourers with one another.

CONCLUSION
Christian service is our father’s business and being joint heirs with Christ, we must see our selves as partners in the venture rather than whose utmost interest lies in their wages. We must focus on heaven and please God by making sacrifices in the course of the kingdom business.

CLOSING PRAYER
Father, help my Sunday School class to play our roles in God’s vineyard.

ASSIGNMENT
Give five (5) reasons why why some Ministers of God compete instead of complementing one another. 2 Marks for each point.

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Sunday, October 21, 2018) – You Can Be Perfect

1.Thank You, Father, for the weapons of our warfare which are not carnal, but mighty through You, to the pulling down of strongholds.

2.Thank You, Father, for making me an Overcomer, through my salvation and faith in Jesus’ Christ. Open Heaven 22 October 2018

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

4.Father, by the power in the word, I pull down and destroy strongholds of sin, sicknesses, generational curses and death, in my life and family, in Jesus’ name.

5.Father, let all the yokes of failure, barrenness, poverty satanic limitations and embargoes, over my life and family, be destroyed, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, I ask for divine perfection in all areas of my life, through the help Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, rekindle the fire of Your revival in my life and restore my initial fervency and zeal, when I first surrendered my life to You, in Jesus’ name.

8.Father, Holiness is all I desire Lord. Teach me Your ways and make my life more beautiful, in Jesus’ name. Open Heaven 23 October 2018

9.Father, empower me to overcome all the temptations that Satan may bring my way, on this journey to heaven, in Jesus’ name.

10.Father, give me the grace to endure trials and tribulations and be faithful unto death, that I may receive the crown of life, in Jesus’ name. Open Heaven 24 October 2018

11.Father, make Pastor E.A. Adeboye, an Overcomer and reward him for all his labours in Your vineyard, 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).

Prayer Points On Today’s Open Heavens: (Friday, October 19, 2018) – Great Secret Of Overcomers

1.I worship You, Lord Jesus, because You are the way, the truth and the life.

2.Thank You, Father, for the salvation of my soul from the path of destruction.

3.Thank You, Father, for placing me on the path of paradise and eternal life.

4.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus’ name. Open Heaven 21 October 2018

5.Lord Jesus, help me to be an overcomer forever, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, I am an overcomer in my business, at my work place and all endeavours of life, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, make me comprehend the things of the spirit easily in Jesus’ name.

8.Lord Jesus, You are my perfect example, and not man; please, help me to follow You till the end, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, the power in your word will completely destroy every yoke in my life today in Jesus ‘Name. , in Jesus’ name.

10.Father, Jesus, fill me to the brim with Your Holy Spirit, help me to walk in Your footsteps, and make me perfect, as You are perfect, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, let Your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, finish well and strong, 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 Heaven 24 October 2018 Memorise: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4

Open Heaven 24 October 2018 Bible Reading: John 11:18-26

18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Open Heaven 24 October 2018 Bible Reading in one year – Jeremiah 18-20 and Luke 10:17-37. Sing Hymn 2

Impatience is the younger sister of doubt because when someone is impatient, the fellow may not be able to operate under the divine timetable. Impatience can cause a person to doubt the integrity of the ever faithful God. Open Heaven 21 October 2018

The devil uses impatience as a tool to sow doubt in the minds of believers, so much so that some even begin to doubt the infallible word of God. For this reason, James 1:4 says:

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

The blessings attached to being patient are many. For example, in our memory verse, the Holy spirit reveals that a patient fellow will lack nothing good. Open Heaven 22 October 2018

This may sound foolish to the carnal mind, but it is the truth of God’s word. The carnal mind is tuned to believe that by being impatient, more can be achieved and more can be amassed, but this is a lie of the devil.

In today’s Bible reading, impatience almost destroyed the faith of Mary and Martha. As a matter of fact, they indirectly indicted Jesus of their brother’s death because He came to them as a time they considered to be too late, after He had received their message notifying Him of Lazarus’ sickness. John 11:21 says:

“Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

What is indictment! By this comment, they doubted the extent to which Jesus actually loved their family. This probably accounts for why Jesus wept in John 11:35, after Mary repeated the same accusation (John 11:32). It is dangerous to be a “microwave Christian” who always expects things to happen when you feel they must happen. Open Heaven 23 October 2018

Open Heaven 24 October 2018

A microwave Christian is like an infant who reacts to and cries for everything that causes discomfort. The Holy Spirit describes the state of such Christians in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2.

Some brethren feel offended and therefore decide to leave a church when the promotion they believe they are due is not forthcoming from the church authorities. Some others feel victimized when they are transferred from their station of comfort, even resorting to blackmail is some cases.

Some even give God an ultimatum on when a miracle must “drop”, or else they won’t serve Him anymore. All these examples may sound unbelievable, but they are true life experiences.

Beloved, it is time to grow up from the stage of infancy. God expects you to become not just a meat eater but a bone cracker. May the Lord cause you to grow in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 24 October 2018 Prayer Points: Father Please help me to grow in patience and keep me standing for You till the very end in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 24 October 2018 Hymn 2

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

Verse 1:
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Verse 2:
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Verse 3:
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Open Heaven 23 October 2018 Memorise: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John 1:11

Open Heaven 23 October 2018 Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:1-8

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Open Heaven 23 October 2018 Bible Reading in one year: Jeremiah 16-17 and Luke 9:51-10:16. Hymnal: Sing Hymn 16

It is unfortunate that sin abounds in the church today because we do not collectively abhor evil deeds anymore.

Instead of hating what is evil, we actually celebrate sinners, and by so doing, we ignorantly become accomplices of their evil deeds. We no longer follow the instruction of the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 5:20, which says:

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”

Our modern approach is contrary to this scripture because we want to do church in a “civilized” manner. Adam and Eve also desired to be civilized, and they ended up becoming corrupted. Proverbs 24:23-25 says:

“These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.”

This scripture reveals the danger of being the accomplice of an evil doer and also the blessing attached to detesting and rebuking evil. Roman 12:9b also says:

“Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

This is what is missing in the church today. My prayer is that the Almighty God will revive the church, and evil deeds shall become alien to the Body of Christ in Jesus’ Name.

The task of rebuking evil is divine, and whoever will perform this task must live above reproach (Romans 2:20-23). He or she must also be ready for persecution and blackmail. However, we should not be deterred by these, because evildoers also did the same to the prophets of old. In Matthew 5:10-12, our Lord Jesus Christ said:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Open Heaven 23 October 2018

Jeremiah is a classic example of someone who was maligned for rebuking evil in high places. He was indeed a sad prophet. He lamented the evil of his time so much that a whole book out of the 66 books of the Bible was dedicated to his lamentation. Open Heaven 22 October 2018

Similarly, even though John the Baptist was the greatest of all men that lived before Christ, his head ended up on a plate because he spoke out against evildoers (Matthew 11:11, Mark 6:25-28).

Nevertheless beloved, these sufferings are more tolerable than the judgment reserved for being the accomplice of evildoers. May the Lord help you in this regard in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 23 October 2018 Prayer Points: Father, let righteousness become the resonating song in the body of Christ all over the world.

Open Heaven 23 October 2018 Hymn 16

GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

Verse 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 hath wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

Verse 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 joyful with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

Verse 3:
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Thy way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

Verse 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!