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!