Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Sunday, September 24, 2018) – Fruit of Repentance

1.Thank You, Father, for the precious blood of Your son, Jesus, that was shed at Calvary, for the remission of my sin and that of the whole world.

2.Thank you Jesus, for Your daily intercession for me, where You are sitted at the right hand side of the Father.

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

4.Father, let the blood of Jesus, that speak better things than the blood of Abel, avail for me, today, and deliver me, in Jesus’ name. Click To Read – Open Heaven 25 September 2018

5.Father, please, forgive my known and unknown sins, and teach me your ways, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, help me to bear fruits that reflects the transformation inside of me in Jesus’ Name, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, let all the missions of satan, to steal, to kill and to destroy, in my life, be frustrated, aborted and scattered, in Jesus’ name.

8.I overcome you Satan, by the blood of Jesus, and by the words of my testimony, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, help me to bear fruits worthy of repentance in Jesus’ Name.

10 Father, help me to be a Peace Maker in my family, neighborhood, office, business place and to my nation, in Jesus’ name.

11.Thank You, Father, for the life and ministry of Pastor E.A. Adeboye; have mercy upon him, and silence every accusation, from the pit of hell, against him, 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 FOUR SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2018 – JESUS: THE ONLY WAY

*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 the true way to the end.

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 3:1-21

John:3.1
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
John:3.2

This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
John:3.3

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John:3.4

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
John:3.5

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
John:3.6

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John:3.7

“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
John:3.8

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John:3.9

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
John:3.10

Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
John:3.11

“Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
John:3.12

“If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
John:3.13

“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, [that is,] the Son of Man who is in heaven.
John:3.14

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
John:3.15

“that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John:3.16

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John:3.17

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John:3.18

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John:3.19

“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John:3.20

“For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
John:3.21

“But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me”. John 14:6.

INTRODUCTION :
Many people are lost and aimlessly wandering in the wilderness of life. Unfortunately, they may not realize their states of helplessness and hopelessness because the devil has blindfolded them. John 12:40; 2 Corinthians 4:4. Thank God! There is a way out for you.

TEXT REVIEW JOHN 3:1-21-
“NICODEMUS ENCOUNTER”.
Nicodemus, a significant personality engaged Jesus Christ in some down-to-earth questions and the following truth about the personality of Jesus and His father’s kingdom were revealed:

(i) To see his father’s kingdom, salvation is the entry visa. John 3:3.

(ii) To enter the kingdom, you must pass through the gate of the word and fire of the Spirit. John 3:5, 8.

(iii)You have no portion in the kingdom if you are born by the flesh. John 3:6.

(iv)Faith is the foreign language to understand happenings in the kingdom. “We speak what we know” but you don’t receive it”. John 3:11-12. Click To Read – Open Heaven 24 September 2018

(v) Because Jesus alone came down from heaven, he knows the way back to heaven, his father’s kingdom. John 3:13.

(vi)Those who are doomed for death now have hope of escape from the kingdom of perdition to the kingdom of life provided that they can enter through the lifted eternal door. John 3:14-15,17.

(vii) Jesus is the light that came from heaven into the world. To be liberated from the confusion of darkness is to come to the true light. John 3:19-21. Click To Read – Open Heaven 25 September 2018

LESSON OUTLINES
1. Signs that you need help
2. Jesus is the only way out

SIGNS THAT SHOW YOU NEED HELP
Question :
When does someone need help?

Answer :
(I) When you are desirous of something more in life especially spiritual desires. John 6:35, Isaiah 55:1-2.

(ii) When you are confused and you seem not to know what next. John 8:12; 9:5.

(iii)When you feel all doors around you are locked and you are looking for entrance into fulfillment. John 10:7, 9; Isaiah 22:22.

(iv)When you are disappointed and your relationship seems, to be a mere shadow and emptiness. John 10:11,14.

(v) When you are hopeless and tired of living or tired of being lost forever. John 11:25-26; John 14:1-2,18

CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Students should relate their experiences in the following instances of life:
(i) Unquenchable hunger.
(ii) Confusion.
(iii)Closed door experience. (iv)Disappointment and hopelessness.

JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT

Question 1 :
How does a human being miss his/her spiritual ways?

Answer:
(i) When we commit sin. Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20.

(ii) When we allow sin to break our relationship from the one who is the way. Isaiah 59:1-2.

(iii) When we became separated. Isaiah 59:2.

(iv)Gradually, we are lost. Romans 6:36.

Question 2 :
How did Jesus become the way out of our predicament?

Answer:
(I) Jesus took our sins upon himself. Isaiah 53:4-5; 2Corinthians 5:21.

(ii) Jesus took the punishment we deserve.

(iii) Jesus died in our place. Romans 5:8.

(iv) Jesus rose from the dead.

(v) Jesus had victory over sin and death. Romans 6:4-5.

(vi)His death gave us life. John 15:13. • .

Question 3
What happens when we follow Jesus, the true way?

Answer:
(i) Our faith in him brings forgiveness to our sins.

(ii) Our spiritual hunger will be satisfied. Matthew 5:6.

(iii) The light will shine again. 1 John 1:5-7.

(iv)We will have access back to God and live a fulfilled life. Jeremiah 29:11.

(v) We will be reconnected to the good shepherd. John 10:14.

(vi) We shall have life after death i.e. resurrect into eternal life. John 3:16.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2
What are the other ways people are following?

SUMMARY
Jesus is the way. John 14:6.

CONCLUSION
The hunger that you feel is a spiritual hunger, and can only be satisfied by Jesus. He is Life in this world and the next, Jesus is the way to God for salvation!

CLOSING PRAYER
Father, don’t let me struggle with you.

ASSIGNMENT
Mention five (5) other ways (without Christ) which people are following and their consequences. 2 marks for each pair of related answer.

Open Heaven 25 September 2018 Memorise:
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Genesis 1:28

Open Heaven 25 September 2018 Bible Reading – Deuteronomy 28:1-14

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.

10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11 And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Open Heaven 25 September 2018 Bible in one year – Isaiah 4-6, Mark 13:3-23

A major characteristic of every living thing is growth. A child that was born 5 years ago now looks like a 5 year old child, this is only normal. If an orange tree you planted four years ago is now yielding fruits this is also normal. You don’t need a miracle to grow, He told us to multiply.

Other people may be growing, but we as children of God must multiply because it is a command from God. You may be wondering “How can I begin to multiply?” Notice that when God told His children to multiply in Genesis 1:28, it was a time when there was no sin and they had constant fellowship with Him.

The simple secret to multiplication is to live holy and to have God with you. Psalm 22:4 says that God inhabits the praised of His children. If you want God to be with you always, then you should live a lifestyle of giving praise to Him.

Many years ago, I was preparing for a three-day program. While I was in my prayer room, I was praying to God saying “Lord, heal the sick today, show forth your power and do mighty miracles.” Suddenly I heard God respond sharply to me, and He said “Keep quiet! What about all the miracles I have done in the past? Have you thanked me for them?”

My response to Him was ” Lord I’m sorry, thank You for all the miracles you have done for us; now today heal the sick, and perform great miracles…” He suddenly cut me short again, saying “keep quiet!

I don’t want to hear any request from you for the next three days; all I want you to do is to praise Me.” This was very difficult for me because my mind was set on having the people who would be attending the program receive their miracles. Click to read – Open Heaven 23 September 2018

I struggled with the instruction but I obeyed. After the program was over, God told me to tell my people to prepare; He said that we had been experiencing increase in our church, but that from that time forward we would be experiencing multiplication, and that has been our story ever since.

Open Heaven 25 September 2018

Do you want to multiply? Learn to praise God regularly, and avoid sin. Taking Solomon as a case study, when he became king, he feared the Lord and kept away from sin. His only desire was to rule the people according to God’s will. There was even a time he sacrificed twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep, all just to worship God (2 Chronicles 7:5).

In 2 Chronicles 2:1, he determined to build a house for God and spared no expenses at all in building this house for God. All the while, he kept multiplying. He multiplied so much that silver and gold were like stones in his kingdom (2 Chronicles 1:15). Click To Read – Open Heaven 24 September 2018

However, the moment his heart turned away from the things of God, the anointing for multiplication dried up, so that by the end of his reign, he was taxing the people heavily just so that he could maintain his lifestyle. Determine today to stay away from sin and stay in the place of worshipping God and your multiplication will be unending.

Open Heaven 25 September 2018 Key Point:
God multiplies those who live a lifestyle of holiness and praise to Him.

Open Heaven 25 September 2018 Hymn 6

Deeper, Deeper

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Chorus:
O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

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

Chorus:

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

Chorus:

4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

Chorus:

5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

Chorus.

Open Heaven 24 September 2018 – Fruit of Repentance

Open Heaven 24 September 2018 Memorise:
Bring forth therefore fruits meet of Repentance. Matthew 3:8

Open Heaven 24 September 2018 Bible Reading – Luke 15:11-22

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

Open Heaven 24 September 2018 Bible in one year – Isaiah 1-3, Mark 12:28-13:2

The proof of genuine repentance is doing those things you promised God at the altar when you gave your life to Christ. In Luke 15:18, the prodigal son repented of his ways and said:

“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,”

The fruit of his repentance is manifested here in Luke 15:20a & 21:
“And he arose,and came to his father… And the son said unto him, Father I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”

Many times we see people confessing their sins to God and promising Him never to go back to them again, but as soon as they leave the altar of repentance, they begin to live their lives as before. This suggests that their repentance was not genuine. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

Beloved, can you sincerely say that old things have passed away in your life? The truth of the matter is that it takes conscious a d determined effort to bear the fruits of repentance. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 and Ephesians 4:24-32 obtain some practical guidance for bearing fruits of repentance; please take time out to read through this passages. Click To Read – Open Heaven 23 September 2018

When a fellow who was stealing before his confession of faith in Christ stops stealing, we can say he or she is bearing fruits of repentance. An adulterous woman who for the sake of Christ sacks all her sin partners, thereby loosing all the “fringe benefits” of her extramarital wanderings, can be said to bear fruits of repentance.

Open Heaven 24 September 2018

When an alcoholic scraps the drinking bar in his or her expansive living room to begin hosting Christian gatherings in that space, sharing the word of God over cups of tea, we can say that such a fellow is bearing the fruits of repentance. This indeed was the first thing my friends noticed in me after I became born again. Any time they came to my house and asked for brandy, I offered them soft drinks. Click To Read – Open Heaven 25 September 2018

They would laugh and tell me to admit that I was just broke. I would tell them that although the money was there to buy brandy, my Lord Jesus Christ would not want me to drink alcohol or serve it to others. One by one they stopped visiting my house, which served my best interest as a growing child of God.

Beloved, the whole world must recognise that you have actually given your life to Christ when they see undeniable proof of the fruits of repentance in you. A street fighter who is now a peace-maker in the neighborhood is the pride of the Master. God bless you as you bear fruits worthy of repentance in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 24 September 2018 Prayer Point:
Father, help me forthwith to bear fruits that reflects the transformation inside of me in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 24 September 2018 Hymn 12

How sweet the name of Jesus

Verse 1:
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: (Friday, September 22, 2018) – Orderliness And Godliness

1.Thank You Father for the gift of life.

2.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus’ name. Click To Read – How to treat your wife the right way

3.Father, Make me meek and patient in everything You have me do, in Jesus’ name.

4.Father, Make me humble, modest, pure, wise, and sincere in all manner of life, in Jesus’ name.

5.Father, let me never raise my voice or hands, against my spouse, either in private or public, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, help me to always exhibit the spirit of patience, perseverance and forgiveness, in Jesus’ name. Click Here To Read – Open Heaven 23 September 2018

7.Father, Help me be diligent, prudent, and upright in the pursuit of my calling, in Jesus’ name.

8.Father, Fill my heart with many holy desires, give me hunger and thirst for righteousness, and long for the Spirit’s gifts, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, May my words be seasoned with salt, ones that defend the innocent, and may I always shame and despise an evil tongue, in Jesus’ name.

10.Father, Compel me to pray persistently, read Your Word diligently, to meditate on it, to keep it in my heart, to speak about it, and to glorify You and praise You in song, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, do a new thing in the life and family of daddy and mummy, E. A. Adeboye, today, 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).