Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heaven 22 July 2018- YOU NEED A PARTNER!

Sing a worship song to the Glory of God and ask Him for grace to serve Him better. Bless the Lord for Who He was, Who He is and Who He will continue to be in your life, family, career and business.

Open Heaven 22 July 2018

1.Thank you Father, for the honour and privilege, to be called to serve, in your vineyard.

2.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, have mercy and forgive me.

3.Father, let every spirit of unfaithfulness, eye service and procrastination, in my life and in the body of Christ, be consumed by your fire.

4.Father, please, grant unto me, the grace to be forever faithful, in my service and stewardship, to you.

5.Father, please connect me with partners that will lead to greater productivity and efficiency in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Open Heaven 23 July 2018

6.Father, help me to harness Your wonderful investments together in my life for maximum profit, in Jesus name.

7.Father, when l shall stand before your judgement throne, to give account of my stewardship, let me not be condemned, but adequately rewarded.

8.Father, give me a partner who understands me better, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, let every relationship in my life be to the glory of You name, in Jesus Name.

10.Father, help me to be diligent, steadfast and focused, in all my services, to you.

11.Father, make me ruler over your entire household, and give me my portion of meat in due season, in Jesus’ name.

12.Your Personal Petitions.
(Philippians 4:6)

13.In Jesus’ name I pray.
(John 15:16)

14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonica 5:18).

1.Thank you Father for your power of restoration.

2.Thank you Father because you are the God of harvest.

3.Father, let every sin that is blocking my reward and harvest in your vineyard be blotted out by the blood of Jesus.

4.Father, let me never labour in vain again, in Jesus’ name.

5.I decree that I shall never labour for another to reap in Jesus’ name.

6.As from today, I decree that I will always eat the fruits of my labours.

7.Father, please,send more labourers into your vineyard, because the harvest is plenty but the labourers are few.

8.Father, let there be uncommon and total restoration of all your blessings and opportunities, that have eluded me, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, let all the rewards and harvests of the divine and good labours of my ancestors be released to me today.

10.Father, as from today, let an end come to every unprofitable struggle in my life and ministry.

11.Father, let every curse of “labour without harvest”, upon my life and family be broken, today, in Jesus’ name.

12.Father, let every curse of “work without reward”, upon my lineage, that is still manifesting in my life be destroyed by the blood of Jesus.

13.Father, let all my rights and entitlements in the hands of any man, woman or organisation, be secured and released to me, today, in Jesus’ name.

14.Father, let me receive full harvest and rewards for all my labours in your vineyard, including unclaimed harvest of others, in Jesus’ name.

15.Father, frustrate every plan to separate me from my harvest, and link me up with the unclaimed harvest of those who have gone ahead of me in my family and in my field of labour.

16.Your Personal Petitions. (Phil 4:6)

17. In Jesus’ name I pray. (Jn 15:16)

18.Thank you Father for answered prayers.(1 Thes 5:18).

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON FORTY- SEVEN SUNDAY 22ND JULY 2018 – RAPTURE DESCRIBED

*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, make me fit to make heaven at last by all means.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians:4.13
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians:4.14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians:4.15
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
1 Thessalonians:4.16
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians:4.17

Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians:4.18
Therefore comfort one another with these words.

MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”-
1Corinthians 15:51

INTRODUCTION:
The second coming of Christ prophesied by Daniel in Daniel 7:13 is a sound biblical fact. This return shall be in two stages. The first,”being like a thief in the night” to receive unto Himself His Church. This is popularly called the rapture. The second stage is His return the Saints to reign on earth. Our focus in today’s lesson is the rapture.

TEXT REVIEW: 1THESSALONIANS 4:13-18
i. One sure and lasting comfort awaits believers who keep their faith to the very end or who had kept their faith in Christ before they died. Open Heaven 22 July 2018

ii. The book of 1Thess. 4:18 directed the believers to comfort one another with these words. Which words you may ask?

a. Word that the Lord will descend from heaven to raise the dead in Christ first. Therefore, there is hope for the dead.
1Thess. 4:16

b. Word that we that are living too will be caught up with them in the air. 1Thess 4:17
Hear this, the greatest meeting of the saints is on the way. When all the dead saints will meet all the living saints.(who would have been changed to a form incorruptible). 1Cor. 15:53. The meeting would be chaired by Christ Himself with excellent orderliness. 1Thess. 4:14

c. The word that would end sorrow is near.
1Thess. 4:13. It is beyond dispute to say that the world is full of sorrows and pains.
That is why Christ would have to wipe away tears from eyes of the saints because
pain causing factors like death will be no more. There would also be no more crying. Hallelujah. Revelation 21:4.

d. The comfort that the Lord will be with the saints forever. Rev. 21:5 and I Thess. 4:18

LESSON OUTLINES
1. What and when is the rapture?
2. What will happen at rapture and how?

WHAT AND WHEN IS THE RAPTURE?

A. What Is Rapture?
i. It is the sudden catching up or disappearance of Holy and faithful saints from the earth to meet with our Lord and Saviour in the air. 1Thess. 4:17.

ii. It is translation or translocation of believers. 1Cor. 15:51-58

iii. Rapture shall be sudden as the twinkling of an eye. 1Cor. 15:52

B. When Is Rapture?
i. The time of rapture is not known by man.
Matt. 24:42, 44; Matt. 25:13; 1Thess. 5:6.

ii. Only God knows the secret time.
Matt. 24:36.

iii. However, the biblical clue indicates that it shall precede the tribulation.
1Thess. 1:10, 1Thess. 5:9, 2Thess. 2:12

C. Examples of Rapture

i. Enoch – Gen. 5:22-24, Hebrew 11:5

ii. Elijah – 11kings 2:11

CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Describe various kinds of confusion a moment after the rapture.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT RAPTURE AND HOW?

The following are to be expected at the rapture.
i. The trumpet of God shall sound.
1Cor. 15:52, 1Thess 4:16

ii. The dead in Christ shall rise first.
John 5:25, 1Thess 4:16

iii. Saints which are alive shall be “caught up” to meet our Lord in the air. 1Thess. 4:17
1Cor 15:51

iv. The dead in Christ and saints who are left shall have glorified or immortal bodies and live forever. 1Cor. 15:51-54,
Phil. 3:20-21

v. There shall be extraordinary chaos on earth. 1Thess. 5:2-3, Matt. 24:40-41. The sudden “vacancies” produced by such disappearance shall give birth to the chaos.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2
Describe what you feel would happen in the Church, School, University and Hospital where activities are on-going and the leader has just been ruptured.

SUMMARY
Rapture is sure.

CONCLUSION
The greatest calamity that could befall anyone who claims to be a believer is to be on earth a second after rapture. The one who is coming back for His own “suddenly”, warned us to be prepared at least six times in different parables. Are you ready?
Mark 13:32-37, 1Thess. 5:6.

CLOSING PRAYER
Father, do not let any of my family members go to hell.

ASSIGNMENT
Identify the consequences of rapture under the following condition n the one leading or performing the act had just been raptured.

Open Heaven 23 July 2018 Monday – REMOVE THE LOG, PLEASE

Open Heaven 23 July 2018 Memorise: Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Romans 2:21

Read: Matthew 7:1-5 Open Heaven 23 July 2018

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Open Heaven 23 July 2018 – Bible in one year: Ezra 7-8, Matthew 6:16-34

Hymnal: Sing hymn 15

Message – Open Heaven 23 July 2018

Today, we will be reflecting on the subject of hypocrisy. In general terms, hypocrisy is the habit of pretending to be what one is not. Hypocrites especially pretend to be morally upright but in reality, they are morally bankrupt. Jesus Christ identified the Pharisees as perfect examples of hypocrites, and He exposed some interesting characteristics they possess.

Let us consider some of these traits, so that we can guard ourselves against them. Simply put, hypocrites are blind to their own faults (Matthew 7:5), they are ignorant of the current move of God (Luke 12:56), they do not know what is important to God (Luke 13:15-16) and they obsess over the traditions of men (Mark 7:8). Furthermore, they lack knowledge on God’s true expectations of His people (Matthew 23:14-15), and love to make public displays of their moral and religious standing (Matthew 6:2). Click to read – Open Heaven 22 July 2018

Hypocrites view themselves as the only godly, virtuous and spiritual people around. Consequently, they are highly judgemental of other people’s mistake and shortcomings in public, whereas they themselves may even be guilty of worse sins in secret. A careful consideration of these characteristics may reveal one or two that may be evident in your life. I pray that God will destroy every root of hypocrisy in your life today in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 23 July 2018

Jesus often called the Pharisees hypocrites because of the conflict between their external actions and their internal state (Matthew 23:27-28). In order not to end up like them, we must thoroughly check ourselves often. Do you seldom preach to yourself as a Christian? Do you find yourself practising what you preach against? Are you blind to you own faults? Do you have the habit of crucifying others when they fall into error? Are you judgmental of other people’s mistakes? Is your internal state consistent with your external works?

Are you in anyway hypocritical in thought or action? May the Lord shine His light into our hearts and deliver His Church from hypocrisy in Jesus’ Name. Jesus compared hypocrisies to whitewashed tombs and to dishes that are clean on the outside but dirty on the side (Matthew 23:25-28).

It’s such a scary thing to be viewed as neat and clean outside while the internal space that matters most is in despicable condition. This illustration also speaks to Christians who are deemed to be mature, and yet are secretly involved in shameful things. If you are in such a situation, it is time to remove the log from your eyes and straighten out your life. Your efforts to do away with hypocrisy will receive God’s approval in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point – Open Heaven 23 July 2018

Father, please help me to be honest with myself henceforth in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 23 July 2018 Monday 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

Open Heaven 22 July 2018 Sunday – YOU NEED A PARTNER!

Open Heaven 22 July 2018 Memorise: Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. Ecclesiastes 4:9

Read: Genesis 2:18-25 Open Heaven 22 July 2018

18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Open Heaven 22 July 2018 – Bible in one year: Ezra 4-6, Matthew 5:43-6:15

Hymnal: Sing hymn 4

Message – Open Heaven 22 July 2018

Partnership or friendship involves a deep, strong connection between two individuals who are bound together in a way that affects every aspect of their individual lives. It is a close relationship that involves mutual trust, fellowship, sharing and companionship. Friendship enriches human life.

The mutual affection and devotion that David and Jonathan shared with each other was extraordinary, and it is a prime example of what friendship or partnership is (1st Samuel 18:1-4). A friend or partner is a person you feel connected to like your own soul. The Bible discusses the benefits and requirements of friendship or partnership in Proverbs 18:24, while it stresses loyalty and steadfastness as hallmarks of true friendship in Proverbs 17:17, which says:

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Open Heaven 22 July 2018

In Ecclesiastes 4:8-12, the Holy Spirit explains the dangers of being a lone ranger and the benefits of partnership. This passage of scripture states clearly that two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labour. If they should slip on any issue, they will console and help each other to recover. Open Heaven 21 July 2018

Whenever they suffer an attack or are faced with an adversary, the two will put up a more formidable defence, and they stand a better chance of surviving the enemy’s attack together than as individual entities. The Holy Spirit also reveals some more truths about friendship and partnership in Proverbs 19:4 & 6, saying:

“Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.”

The wise will keep these truths to heart. Many Christians in the business world would have done better with godly partners, but they are running their businesses alone because they feel that introducing partners will increase their overheads or reduce their profits. This position of the Bible on this is that a right partner will help to increase production and push up profit margins. For example, the great catch of fish in Luke 5:6-7would have been wasted without the involvement and assistance of partners. The advantages of partnership cannot be overemphasised, even through some people are in a friendly relationship for personal gain.

Nevertheless, God wants His children to prayerfully identify, acknowledge and appreciate His talents and special gifts in others. More importantly, He wants us to harness His wonderful investments together in our lives for maximum profit in all that He has destined us to do. The Lord’s declaration in Matthew 18:19 encourages us to work together to achieve greatness that would otherwise be impossible. Begin to harness the power of this word from today.

Prayer Point – Open Heaven 22 July 2018

Father, please connect me with partners that will lead to greater productivity and efficiency in my life, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 22 July 2018 Sunday 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.

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heaven 21 July 2018 – THE LABOURERS ARE FEW!

Sing a worship song to the Glory of God and ask Him for grace to serve Him better. Bless the Lord for Who He was, Who He is and Who He will continue to be in your life, family, career and business.

Open Heaven 21 July 2018

1.Thank you Father for your power of restoration.

2.Thank you Father because you are the God of harvest.

3.Father, let every sin that is blocking my reward and harvest in your vineyard be blotted out by the blood of Jesus.

4.Father, let me never labour in vain again, in Jesus’ name.

5.I decree that I shall never labour for another to reap in Jesus’ name.

6.As from today, I decree that I will always eat the fruits of my labours.

7.Father, please,send more labourers into your vineyard, because the harvest is plenty but the labourers are few.

8.Father, let there be uncommon and total restoration of all your blessings and opportunities, that have eluded me, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, let all the rewards and harvests of the divine and good labours of my ancestors be released to me today.

10.Father, as from today, let an end come to every unprofitable struggle in my life and ministry.

11.Father, let every curse of “labour without harvest”, upon my life and family be broken, today, in Jesus’ name.

12.Father, let every curse of “work without reward”, upon my lineage, that is still manifesting in my life be destroyed by the blood of Jesus.

13.Father, let all my rights and entitlements in the hands of any man, woman or organisation, be secured and released to me, today, in Jesus’ name.

14.Father, let me receive full harvest and rewards for all my labours in your vineyard, including unclaimed harvest of others, in Jesus’ name.

15.Father, frustrate every plan to separate me from my harvest, and link me up with the unclaimed harvest of those who have gone ahead of me in my family and in my field of labour.

16.Your Personal Petitions. (Phil 4:6)

17. In Jesus’ name I pray. (Jn 15:16)

18.Thank you Father for answered prayers.(1 Thes 5:18).

TEXT: Psalm. 66:19-20; Psalm 135:1-3

PLEASE, DEDICATE THIS LAST DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYERS TO PRAISE THE LORD VERY INTENSIVELY FOR GRANTING US THE DESIRED VICTORIES

REMAIN BLESSED

RCCG Fasting Prayer Points 20 July 2018 DAY 20

PRAYER OF VICTORY OVER STAGNATION

TEXT: 2 SAM. 9:1-8, 13.

FROM YOUR LO-DEBAR TO THE KING’S TABLE.

Thank God for creating you wonderfully and beautifully in His nature. Ps. 139:14.

Father!!! From today onward, constantly; let there be a divinely inspired voice in my favour.

Decree to your destiny: My waiting and wasting time is over. My gestation period is over. My season of reward has come in Jesus name. Num.14:28.

Lo-debar means where useless people are dumped; say Father!! Relocate my destiny from the habitation of unfortunate people to the palace where I will fulfill my destiny in Jesus Name. Open Heaven 20 July 2018

Almighty Father! Please, show kindness to me and change my status for the better in Jesus Name.

Oh Lord! Whoever that is lording (ZIBA) over my inheritance, turn them suddenly to be the one serving me in Jesus Name.

Holy Spirit! Wherever I have disqualified myself, calling myself a ‘dead dog”, I cancel such errors and I am restored to my expected position in Jesus name.

Father!! Lift up my head from affliction and cause me to live at the palace of my destiny from today in Jesus name.

From today onward, I connect my destiny with the King of kings. Come forth and show me mercy in Jesus name.

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heaven 20 July 2018- YOUR LIFE IS BORROWED!

Sing a worship song to the Glory of God and ask Him for grace to serve Him better. Bless the Lord for Who He was, Who He is and Who He will continue to be in your life, family, career and business.

Open Heaven 20 July 2018

5.Father, raise more faithful workers and

1.Thank you Father, for the honour and privilege, to be called to serve, in your vineyard.

2.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, have mercy and forgive me.

3.Father, let every spirit of unfaithfulness, eye service and procrastination, in my life and in the body of Christ, be consumed by your fire.

4.Father, please, grant unto me, the grace to be forever faithful, in my service and stewardship, to you. Open Heaven 20 July 2018

5.Father, raise more faithful workers and disciples, for your church.

6.Father, when Jesus shall come, let me not be found wanting, concerning the divine assignments you have committed, into my hands.

7.Father, when l shall stand before your judgement throne, to give account of my stewardship, let me not be condemned, but adequately rewarded.

8.Father, whatever restitution that l need to do, to make things right, give me the grace to do it now, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, empower me to do your work when it is day, because, the night cometh, when no man can work.

10.Father, help me to be diligent, steadfast and focused, in all my services, to you.

11.Father, make me ruler over your entire household, and give me my portion of meat in due season, in Jesus’ name.

12.Your Personal Petitions.
(Philippians 4:6)

13.In Jesus’ name I pray.
(John 15:16)

14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonica 5:18).

Open Heaven 21 July 2018 Saturday – THE LABOURERS ARE FEW!

Open Heaven 21 July 2018 Memorise: Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:8

Read: Luke 10:1-9 Open Heaven 21 July 2018

1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Open Heaven 21 July 2018 – Bible in one year: Ezra 1-3, Matthew 5:21-42

Hymnal: Sing hymn 7

Message – Open Heaven 21 July 2018

Prophet Isaiah had the rare privilege of having a vision where he witnessed what was going on in the palace of the Almighty God (Isaiah 6:1-8). The setting he observed was a kind of conference with the hosts of heaven in attendance. God threw a simple question to the multitudes presents, which should ordinarily not be much of a challenge to them.

The Lord asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The seemingly little hesitation that followed God’s question before Isaiah responded was not an act of rebellion by the angels or the hosts of heaven; rather, there was hesitation because this question was not meant for them. If angels were supposed to take up the assignment, it would have come as a command instead of a question. The privilege of disseminating the good news of the kingdom and propagating the gospel has been expressly assigned to human beings by God.

The term ‘evangelism’ therefore refers to spreading the gospel, and the one doing this work is called an ‘evangelist’. The duty of an evangelist is to function as a spokesperson for the Church in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Just as God was searching for someone to take up the assignment in today’s memory verse, He is still searching for faithful people who will relentlessly participate in spreading the gospel today. Will you say yes to Him?

Open Heaven 21 July 2018

The need for evangelists today is further amplified by these words of the Lord in Luke 10:2b:

“The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”

The gospel is needed more than ever before in the world of sin, where immorality pervades everywhere and the pursuit of worldly pleasures is taking over the Church of God. God expects us to walk worthy of our calling and election as children of God (Ephesians 4:1-12). He has endowed each individual in the body of Christ with gifts to function in at least one of several offices, as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Therefore, it is not only pastors and altar ministers that are called to work in God’s vineyard. Click to read – Open Heaven 20 July 2018

Everyone who is genuinely born again is called to do the work of an evangelist by spreading the good news of the gospel all over the world (2nd Timothy 4:5). Understanding this fact is very necessary if we desire to please God, fulfil our purpose on earth and receive the best from God. Winning lost souls and making them disciples is the whole essence of Christianity.

Action Point – Open Heaven 21 July 2018

How many souls have you won to Christ this year? Open your mouth and allow God to fill it with words to those that are perishing.

Open Heaven 21 July 2018 Saturday 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 July 2018 Friday – YOUR LIFE IS BORROWED!

Open Heaven 20 July 2018 Memorise: But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. 2nd Kings 6:5

Read: 2nd Kings 6:1-7 Open Heaven 20 July 2018

1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.

2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.

3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.

4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.

5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.

7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

Open Heaven 20 July 2018 – Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 35-36, Matthew 4:23-5:20

Hymnal: Sing hymn 12

Message – Open Heaven 20 July 2018

The sons of the prophets in today’s Bible text showed serious concern when they lost an axe head that they had borrowed. After doing their best to recover it without success, they thought it necessary to approach the man of God, Elisha, for assistance. Unlike these men, many today are nonchalant in the way they handle other people’s property in their care, not bothering about the condition and welfare of such goods.

As a matter of fact, many people handle borrowed items in a way that exposes them to damage or loss, either because they don’t know their true value or they simply don’t care. This scenario mirrors the human life, which God gave to us to put to profitable use. Do you know that your life is borrowed? What are you doing to ensure that your life is not being wasted? Have you been careless with your life because you didn’t know that it was borrowed and that the true owner will soon call for an audit?

Open Heaven 20 July 2018

It is a well established truth in the Bible that we are living borrowed lives, and we will be requesting to give proper account of all we have done with our lives at the appropriate time. To this effect, without exempting anybody, Roman 14:12 says:

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Ecclesiastes 12:14 also echoes this truth, saying,

“For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Every human being should get ready to give account to God because everything is set for the day of reckoning. The story of the unprofitable servant, who was given on talent in Matthew 25:24-30, further emphasizes the importance of viewing life as a borrowed item that must be properly accounted for in due time.  Learn from this servant who returned his talent without making any profit with it. He was seriously reprimanded and referred to as a wicked and slothful servant.

His excuse for being unprofitable was not accepted. Rather, he was dispossessed of his talent, declared to be unprofitable and was thrown into outer darkness to weep and mourn forever. Every talent, gift or natural endowment given to you by God should be seen as a divine investment to be carefully nurtured, proudly displayed and gainfully deployed in your daily life. How well are you using your life for Christ?

Action Point – Open Heaven 20 July 2018

Weigh yourself on God’s scale of probability by taking stock of how you are using your divine endowments and comparative advantage for the advancement of God’s kingdom.

Open Heaven 20 July 2018 Friday 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