Open Heaven 14 April 2018 Saturday – THE LORD NEEDS IT!

Open Heaven 14 April 2018 Memorise:And if any man ask you, why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. Luke 19:31

Read: Luke 19:29-35 (KJV) Open Heaven 14 April 2018

29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

Open Heaven 14 April 2018

Bible in one year: Joshua 23-24, 1st Timothy 2-3

Hymnal: Sing hymn 12

OPEN HEAVEN 14 APRIL 2018 DAILY DEVOTIONAL

A salient truth that everyone, particularly children of God, should not be ignorant of is that God created everything for a purpose. This is why we call the Almighty God the God of plan and purpose. For example, in Genesis 1:26, when man was to be created, God first declared his purpose before creating him, saying:

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

OPEN HEAVENS 14 APRIL 2018

God will not create what He does not need. Whatever you find on earth has a reason for existing. Not knowing the usefulness of an entity in God’s creation does not negate the reason why God created it. It is just unfortunate that more often than not, we abuse, misuse or completely neglect the use of many things created for one divine purpose or the other. In today’s Bible reading, even the owner of the donkey did not know the eternal purpose God had for his donkey until the Lord’s message got to him, asking him to release it to fulfil the prophecy concerning it (Zechariah 9:9). This donkey looked ordinary to it owner, but to its Maker it was a unique donkey. You therefore need to look at things through the eyes of the Creator to understand their purpose. Many years ago, I told some ministers who had just answered the divine call into full-time ministry that whatever skills they had acquired should be kept because all such skills would be needed in the running of the church. These days, there is a tendency for an architect to drop his or her skill set when going into ministry. Such people fail to realise that the Church needs architects to design her buildings. Who would do a better job of this than a Spirit-filled architect? In Exodus 36:1-2, God purposely raised Bazaleel and Aholiab for the purpose of the building of His tabernacle, indeed, every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights (James 1:17) Beloved, the Lord need that skill, that gift, that memory and that position you have. I appeal to you to use your talents primarily for God and secondarily as your meal ticket. May the Lord bless you as you bless Him with your divine endowments in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point – Open Heaven 14 April 2018

Father, pleas open my eyes to see the divine purpose for my existence. Grant me grace to use the gifts, skills, position and wealth You have endowed me with for Your glory and pleasure.

OPEN HEAVEN 14 APRIL 2018 SATURDAY 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 13 April 2018 Memorise: It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Ecclesiastes 7:2

Read: Matthew 14:6-11 (KJV) Open Heaven 13 April 2018

6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.

9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

Open Heaven 13 April 2018

Bible in one year: Joshua 22, 1st Timothy 1

Hymnal: Sing hymn 5

OPEN HEAVEN 13 APRIL 2018 DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Today’s Bible reading narrates the sad story of how unbridled merriment can propel a man to do what he would otherwise not have done. The devil is a cunning old serpent. He knows too well that his chances of success are slim whenever he attacks a child of God directly.

He therefore deploys trick to attack people when they are in a vulnerable state, such as when the heart is merry and full of happiness. When you are light-hearted, be watchful so that it does not end in sorrow and regret. This is why the wisdom of God in Proverbs 14:13teaches us that

“Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.”

OPEN HEAVEN 13 APRIL 2018

A quick lesson we should learn from the story in today’s Bible reading is that merriment outside of God will always end up in crisis. King Herod was very sorry for making the promise he had made to his daughter, probably under the influence of alcohol, but it was too late for him to take back the oath he had committed himself to in his light-hearted mood.

Another lesson we should learn here is that the enemy looks out for moments when you let your guard down, and then he strikes. Examples of such moments are times when you just won a victory and when you are in high spirits. Happiness often has the same effect as alcohol on the reasoning faculties of man, and so you need to watch it. There is a type of laughter that is derived from pleasurable but sinful acts.

The Bible refers to such laughter as the crackling of thorns under a pot (Ecclesiastes 7:6). The Israelites manifested such laughter and merriment when they made a golden calf for themselves as their god. Exodus 32:6 says:

“And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”

But for Moses’ intercessory prayers. They would have been wiped off the face of the earth by this foolish act. It is commonly said that “He who laughs last, laughs best.” The last and best laughter is the laughter in eternity with our Maker. Speaking about this laughter, Jesus Christ in Luke 6:21b says:

“Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.”

When the Messiah shall return the second time, He shall put an end to all suffering, and there shall be everlasting laughter (Revelation 21:1-7). Ensure you don’t miss it!

Prayer Point – Open Heaven 13 April 2018

Father, help me not to indulge in any act that would give me temporary happiness and produce eternal sorrow.

OPEN HEAVEN 13 APRIL 2018 FRIDAY HYMN

SING HYMN 5 – I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

I have decide to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross

Before me;

The world behind me, the cross

before me;

The world behind me, the cross

Before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

Through none go with me, still I

Will follow;

Through none go with me, still I

Will follow;

Through none go with me, still I

Will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

Will you decide now to follow

Jesus?

Will you decide now to follow

Jesus?

Will you decide now to follow

Jesus?

No turning back, no turning back.