1.Thank You, Father, for demonstrating Your love towards me, in that while I was yet a sinner, You gave Your son, Jesus, to die and to redeem me from eternal destruction.

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

3.Father, nothing should make me sell my birthright to the devil, in Jesus’ name.

4.Father, let all my actions and inactions surrounding my birthright be influenced by the Holy spirit, in Jesus Name.

5.Father, release upon my life, the spirit of wisdom and understanding; such that the devil will not play deceptive games with me, in Jesus’ name. Also Read – Daily Declarations For 4th May 2019

6.Yahweh, Let me enjoy all the benefits that come with having you as a FATHER, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, as I give, remove from me, every garment of poverty and lack and reward me abundantly, in Jesus’ name.

8.Father, as I give, let men give unto me, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, please, keep my eyes from beholding vanity and help me to live through today, without committing a single sin, in Jesus’ name. Also Read – Open Heavens 4th May 2019

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, please, make him the apple of Your eyes and reward him abundantly for all his labours of love, in Your vineyard, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, bless Your son, that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus’ name.

12.Father, let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus’ name.

13.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
14.In Jesus’ name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
15.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
#GodBlessOurNation

These prayers have no expiry date! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.

OPEN HEAVEN 4 MAY 2019 MEMORISE: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Hebrews 12:16

OPEN HEAVEN 4 MAY 2019 READ: 1 John 3:1-3

1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

OPEN HEAVEN 4 MAY 2019 MESSAGE WITH HYMN, PRAYER POINTS AND BIBLE READING

When Apostle John caught the revelation of who we are in Christ, he was so excited about it. You can feel his excitement in these words he penned in 1 John 3:1:

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

We learn from these words that the children of this world will never understand our ways. They cannot understand us, no matter how hard they try, until they come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, trying to make the children of this world appreciate or accept our lifestyle is an exercise in futility. Some Christians have compromised their faith in an attempt to impress the world. Also Read – Daily Devotional For 3 May 2019

In spite of the miracles the Master performed- healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers and other signs and wonders – the children of this world still cried “Crucify Him!”

They even preferred the notorious robber, Barabbas, to the Author of life (John 18:39-40). Since they rejected our Master, don’t be shocked that they will also reject our way of life.

As sons of God, we have a birthright which our adoption accords us. Although our minds cannot fully comprehend presently the scope of what this birthright gives, we have the assurance that when we see the Lord in glory, we will understand it all, because we will be exactly like Him (1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 13:12, 1 John 3:2). Also Read – Rccg Sunday School Teacher’s Manual For Sunday 5th May 2019

Why is the Lord giving us this assurance? The reason is that He knowns we will face challenges in life which can make us doubt the reality of our heritage as peculiar people chosen by God to be favored above others in the world, having God as our Father.

Our Lord also faced this challenge in the wilderness of temptation and on the cross of Calvary (Luke 4:3-12, Mark 15:34). In the wilderness, the devil tried to make Him doubt His status as the Son of the Living God.

The devil knew that God would not answer prayers inspired by satanic suggestions or borne out of the desire to satisfy a lust (James 4:3). He also knew that God would not grant a request against His perfect will (Matthew 6:10, Luke 22:42). Also Read – Rccg Sunday School Student’s Manual For Sunday 5th May 2019

He was therefore setting Jesus up to have His prayers unanswered when he asked Him to turn a stone into bread to approve His birthright. If Jesus’ prayers were unanswered the devil would have succeeded in making His identity.

Beloved, beware of doing things that would amount to selling your birthright as a child of God. Also Read – Prayer Points For Open Heavens 3 May 2019

The best way to avoid this is to consciously keep yourself away from worldly corruption and anything that defiles. Never live your life to impress anybody but your Father who is in heaven.

OPEN HEAVEN 4 MAY 2019 PRAYER POINT:
Father, grant me grace not to sell my eternal birthright for temporary gain in this world.

OPEN HEAVEN 4 MAY 2019 HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

I have decided 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.

Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though- none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

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

OPEN HEAVEN 4 MAY 2019 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 48-50 and Jeremiah 30:10-24

Genesis 48-50 King James Version (KJV)

48 And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

5 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.

7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

8 And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?

9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.

12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.

14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.

18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

49 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.

9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

18 I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord.

19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

29 And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.

31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.

33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

50 And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

3 And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

4 And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,

5 My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.

6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.

7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,

8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.

9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.

10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.

11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.

12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:

13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.

14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.

23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.

24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

1.I worship and adore You, my Father, because You’re the only God that gives without adding sorrow.

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

3.Father, let every spirit of dishonesty, covetousness, greed and laziness, in my life, be consumed by Your fire, in Jesus’ name.

4.Father, release upon my life the spirit of giving from the buttom of my heart and not because I want to impress anyone or be compelled to do so, in Jesus’ name.

5.Father, by Your mercy, take me away from every road that leads to nowhere but eternal destruction, in hell fire, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, please, prosper the labours of my hands, so that I can have enough to give to others and also for the gospel, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, teach me not only to give cheerfully from today but also begin to give bountifully, and not miss my reward, in Jesus’s Name Also Read – Open Heavens 3 May 2019

8.Father let every door of good and great things that the enemies have shut against me be reopened, today, and let them remain perpetually open forever, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, please, keep my eyes from beholding vanity and help me to live through today, without committing a single sin, in Jesus’ name. Also Read – Daily Declarations For 3 May 2019

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the author of the Open Heavens and general overseer of RCCG, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, bless Your son, that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus’ name.

12.Father, let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus’ name.

13.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
14.In Jesus’ name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
15.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

These prayers have no expiry date! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.

This Friday Morning The Presence of God will go with You and your household in Jesus Name!

May His Daily Mercy never depart from You and yours in Jesus Name!

It’s a New Day go and enjoy New Grace of God in Jesus Name!

I command every fountain of your pains to dry up now in Jesus Name

Let the Hand of God rest upon everyone one sick right now and perfected their health in Jesus Name

You have been rejected many times- but this season God is making you a source of blessings to generations in Jesus Name

You have been lifted by God- No man will be permitted to bring you down in Jesus Name!

Whatever You will do that will cause wrath of God over your home- May You not do it in Jesus Name!

For that person suffering from hereditary punishment- mercy of God is speaking for you right now in Jesus Name!

I speak into that business- debts will no longer have Dominion over You in Jesus Name

For everyone struggling with debts- this same month, God will surprise you financially to settled all outstanding in Jesus Name

God is saying to someone- This is your season to harvest those seed you sown in tears! Halleluyah

I heard Open!

Doors of Great opportunities will Open for you and your children in Jesus Name!

God is about to relocate someone this Month- Be Still and KNOW HE IS GOD!

It’s going to be Testimonies ALL THE WAY!

God is saying to someone- if He has done it before, He is going to more even more this time! Don’t give up on Him!

I pray for everyone who are struggling with their faith- receive divine strength right now in Jesus Name! Also Read – Open Heaven 3 May 2019

All Prayer Requests/ points that will be raised today as our Prayer Of Agreement- May you receive instant Testimonies in Jesus Name!

Over that case- You are coming with complete Victory in Jesus Name!

I will not have cause to mourn over anyone of You in Jesus Name!

For those trusting God to be among them- You are lifted in Jesus Name

At the end we shall not be cast away in Jesus Name!

Any forces that wants to stand against this morning declarations wrath of God locate their camps in Jesus Name!

…..And All shall be well with You in Jesus name!

Go ahead and Celebrate God for this morning Declarations.

“What A FAITHFUL FATHER!“

We return all Glory to you Alone.

Hallelujah!

.
#Amen
#Shalom

TEXT: EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6 VERSE 10

BY: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

Thank You Lord, Let us pray,
SONG

You are worthy to be praised, You are worthy to be praised
My redeemer, You are worthy to be praised.
You are worthy to be praised, You are worthy to be praised.
My redeemer, You are worthy to be praised.
You are worthy to be praised, You are worthy to be praised
My redeemer, You are worthy to be praised.

Almighty God you are worthy to be praised, our Redeemer you are worthy to be praised, Thank You because You live for ever and because You are alive we know that our tomorrow will be alright, Father accept our worship in Jesus name.

As we come together tonight to dine with You we pray that You will do something special in all our lives, In Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Amen.

Let someone shout HALLELUJAH, shake hands with one or two people and tell them I’m born to win, if you believe that let me hear you shout hallelujah. Also Read – Open Heavens 3 May 2019

Two principal things required to win in battle are strength and power.
Strength because a weak soldier is already defeated. Power because if you are strong and you dont have the necessary equipment you will still lose. To win you need strength and power particularly fire power

So Paul said to the Ephesians, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. You need strength physically if you are going to be a winner. Fortunately, 1 Peter 2: 24 – By His stripes you were healed.

You need mental strength to win because when you go to war, the wiser person is likely to defeat the foolish one, 1 Corinthians 1:24 – Christ is the wisdom of God. The wisdom you need is already provided for in Christ.

You need spiritual strength if you are to win, everybody knows that when it comes to battle, there are some forces behind the scene, the stronger spiritual force will guarantee victory.

Romans 8:31- If God be for us, who can be against us.You need physical, mental and spiritual strength from Christ to win. When you eat His body, you are eating for strength. This is my body broken for you, your healing is provided for in the broken of His body.

For power-fire power, you also get it through Christ. Matthew 3:11, Act 1:8, Ephesians 5:18, the wine that you drink is symbolic of the blood of Jesus and the Spirit. When you drink the wine you are recharging your spiritual power.

As you come to the table, you take the bread for strength, you drink the wine for power. Those who do not have Christ are born to lose, give your life to Jesus to become strong in the Lord and have the power of His might.

When you partake of the bread, pray for physical, mental and spiritual strength. When you take the wine tonight, ask God for fire power that no enemy can resist.

Eternal rock of ages we worship You, The baptizer with the holy spirit and power we adore You, accept our worship in Jesus name, Strengthen us Lord, and release unto us divine fire power, demonstrate Your almightiness in our lives, from now on let it become evidence that we are born to win, thank You father, in Jesus mighty name we have prayed.

Let it become evidence that we are born to win,
And so father we thank you once again for the oppotunity to dive withyou
Father strenghtn your children in the inner mind empower us
Bless the offering of your children, sanctfi it
Let somebody shout Hallelujah

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL 5TH OF MAY, 2019 – THE MASTER SCULPTOR

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, mold me to suit your purpose.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Samuel 16:11-13
11. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

MEMORY VERSE:
“O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord . Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:6

LESSON INTRODUCTION:
A sculptor is an artist who carves or molds figures, designs in wood, stone, clay, etc.

When a sculptor want to carve something out, he looks at a piece of wood and begins to see what nobody else can see in it.

God is the master sculptor. In today’s lesson, we shall be looking at how God can transform us from ‘logs of wood’ into a finished product.

TEXT REVIEW : 1SAMUEL 16:11-13 – “FROM LOG OF WOOD TO MASTERPIECE”
i. God has absolute reserve on which wood to work upon as a sculptor. 1 Sam. 16:3-6.

ii. Other wood may look alike, they may not possess the desired quality needed for a particular design. 1 Sam. 16:7-10.

iii. God by His spirit seeks for the appropriate species and waits patiently until He gets it. 1 Sam. 16:12.

iv. God, in His characteristic power, had commenced the process of shaping David long before his anointing. He had fulfilled all the conditions and requirements to lead God’s people as king. 1 Sam. 17:34-37.

v. The last stage of the sculpting process is polishing with oil. This is the stage of the anointing. Thus David was transformed from a shepherd boy, at the back of the forest, to a king on the throne. 1 Sam. 16:11-13. This can be you too.

TWO LESSON OUTLINES

LESSON OUTLINE 1: YOU ARE A RAW MATERIAL
i. God, the master sculptor looks for raw materials and molds them to what He wants them to be.

ii. God turned a coward Gideon into a mighty man of valour. Judges 6:11-16.

iii. God turned the shepherd boy David into a giant killer and a mighty king. 1 Sam. 16:11-13; 17:50-51; 2 Sam. 2:4.

iv. God turned a runaway Moses, to become a leader of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Exodus 3:1-10.

v. God molded Peter, a fisherman to become fishers of men. Luke 5:1-10; Acts 2:41; 4:4.

vi. God is waiting and looking for you to turn you to something great in the future. Jer. 29:11.

vii. God will make up for the difference between what you are now and what He wants you to be. He will perfect you. Jer. 32:27; Isaiah 55:8-9.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1:
Mention the difference between what you were in the last ten (10) years and what you are at present.

LESSON OUTLINE 2 :THE PROCESSING STATES
To transform a piece of wood to a finished product, the sculptor (this time, God) passes through the following stages. Also Read – Open Heavens 3 May 2019

i. The sculptor fetches the wood from the bush by cutting the tree down and carries it home/factory. This is the similitude of the salvation stage. Exo. 3:1-2; 1 Sam. 16:11; Judges 6:11-12.

ii. The sculptor saw off (peeled) the back of the wood to remove the unwanted part. This is the sanctification stage. The experience of Saul of Tarsus. Acts 9:1-8.

iii. The sculptor uses hammer and chisel to shape and design the wood. This is the role of the word of God which chops off the unnecessary pieces. Like anger, pride, covetousness, etc. Jer. 23:29.

iv. The 4th stage is the smothering of the rough edges with sand paper. It is sharpening the rough and the blunt to specification. John 15:2.

v. The 5th stage is the polishing of the masterpiece to look attractive and desirable. This is the role of anointing through the Holy Spirit. 2 Sam. 2:4.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2:
Using yourself as an illustration, describe what God did to turn you from a sinner to saint and vessel of honour.

SUMMARY:
God is not yet through with you, you are a work in progress.

CONCLUSION:
Today, stop struggling with your maker, rather, yield yourself as that log of wood in the hands of the sculptor.

EVALUATION:
Give examples of raw materials and finished products from the Bible.

CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, pleas don’t stop processing me.

ASSIGNMENT
: Find out five (5) requirements to be a vessel of honour.

TOPIC: THE MASTER SCULPTOR

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 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?

MEMORY VERSE:
“O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord . Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:6

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Samuel 16:11-13
11. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

LESSON INTRODUCTION:
A sculptor is an artist who carves or molds figures, designs in wood, stone, clay, etc.
When a sculptor want to carve something out, he looks a piece of wood and begins to see what nobody else can see in it.
God is the master sculptor. In today’s lesson, we shall be looking at how God can transform us from ‘logs of wood’ into a finished product.

OUTLINES:
1. YOU ARE A RAW MATERIAL
2. THE PROCESSING STAGES

OUTLINE 1: YOU ARE THE RAW MATERIAL
God, the master sculptor looks for raw materials. He pronounces what He wants them to be.
For instance in Judges 6:11-16, God looked at a coward, Gideon, who was actually hiding from the enemies, and saw a mighty man of valour.

God picked up David from the bush and produced a giant killer and a mighty king out of him 1 Sam. 16:11-13; 17:50-51; 2 Sam. 2:4.

Moses was picked up from the backside of a desert to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt Exodus 3:1-10.

Peter was a crude fisherman but the Sculptor turned him into a fisher of men (Luke 5:1-10; Acts 2:41; 4:4).

The Lord is looking at you today as a raw material with which He can produce something great in the future Jer. 29:11.
He will make up the difference between what you can see and what He can see, which to you is farfetched Jer. 32:27; Isaiah 55:8-9.

OUTLINE 2: THE PROCESSING STAGES
Several processes are engaged in converting a log of wood into a finished product.

The similitude of this is what happens when God is making you what He wants you to be.

Firstly, you need to fetch the wood from the bush Exo. 3:1-2; 1 Sam. 16:11; Judges 6:11-12. This is the salvation stage. Also Read – Open Heavens 3 May 2019

Secondly, you need to saw off the back of the wood. This was the experience of Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9:1-8. This is the sanctification process. Also Read – Open Heavens 3 May 2019

Thirdly, the sculptor uses hammer and chisel. This is the shaping process. This is done on you through the word of God Jer. 23:29 to chisel out thongs like covetousness, anger, impatience, pride, etc.

The fourth stage involves the use sand paper, which is to make smooth the rough edges – sharpening process John 15:2.

Finally, is the polishing stage which is the anointing of the Holy Spirit for manifestation 2 Sam. 2:4. By then, God would have turned you from a raw material to a finished product, from being a sinner to a saint and from mere clay to a vessel unto honour.

CONCLUSION:
Today, stop struggling with your maker, rather, yield yourself as that log of wood in the hands of the sculptor.

QUESTIONS:
1. Give three examples of “raw materials” in the Bible.
2. Outline the stages involved in transforming a “raw material” to a “finished product”.

For Further Reading: John 15:1-2; Philippians 1:6; Matthew 5:5; Philippians 2:5-11; Isaiah 43:19; Luke 13:8.

ASSIGNMENT:
Find out five (5) requirements to be a vessel of honour.

God Bless You Today, Thursday 2nd May 2019

1.I worship and adore You, my Father, for as the heaven is far from the earth, so are Your ways far from the ways of men.

2.Thank You, Father, for sending Your son, Jesus, into the world to grant me forgiveness and to show me the way of salvation.

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

4.Father, help me to embrace Your word by believing what it says, and revere it, by obeying its commandments, and live by its principles, in Jesus’ name.

5.Father, let Your word prosper and accomplish its purpose in my life and destiny, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, prosper the labor of my hands so that I can have enough to give to others., in Jesus’ name. Also Read – Open Heavens 2nd May 2019

7.Father, give me the grace to help myself and the people around me, in Jesus’ name.

8.Father, please, help me to obey Your word and instructions, no matter, how foolish they may appear to me, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, let my mind be renewed daily, by the power of Your word, and let me be transformed into Your complete image, in Jesus’ name. Also Read – Daily Declarations For 2nd May 2019

10.Father, release upon Your son Pastor E.A. Adeboye, more grace, strength, wisdom and power, for greater works, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, bless Your son, that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus’ name.

12.Father, let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus’ name.

13.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
14.In Jesus’ name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
15.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

These prayers have no expiry date! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.

OPEN HEAVEN 3 MAY 2019 MEMORISE: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

OPEN HEAVEN 3 MAY 2019 READ: Mark 12:41-44

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Many children of God are losing a lot, either because they do not know the Scriptures enough or fail to apply what they know from it.

Like Abraham the father of faith, some of them who are millionaires today would have graduated to the level of being billionaire, but they have not moved to that level because they feel they are already doing enough in the area of giving when compared to what others are giving.

They do not know that God’s assessment of giving is different from the way people see it. Although today’s memory verse encourages us to be cheerful givers, we should also be conscious of the fact that God is the one who gives commendation for our offerings, and His how much remains after giving! Also Read – Open Heavens 2 May 2019

This is clearly seen in today’s Bible reading. Many well-to-do folks among the brethren would be amazed to discover that in spite of the millions they are giving, through commendable, many brethren who are less endowed are actually out-giving them in the sight of God!

Contrary to the misguided opinion of some people, God is actually interested in what we give. In Mark 12:41, Jesus Christ personally observed the offertory in the synagogue, so much so that He knew how many mites the widow dropped in the offering box!

I would like to point out here that not all widows are poor. There are actually multi-millionaire widows in our society. However, we are very sure that the widow referenced in today’s Bible reading was poor. Also Read – Prayer Points For Open Heavens 2 Thursday May 2019

We need to get this distinction right because there are certain widows in the Church today who are not supposed to queue up for charity whenever it is being distributed, but they do so.

Such charity is meant for the poor among widows. Another lesson we should learn in today’s Bible reading is that in spite of all those who gave fat offerings, heaven commended the poor widow’s giving as being the most sacrificial of all. Also Read – Daily Declarations For Thursday 2 May 2019

Let those who specialize in taking offering beware of making uncomplimentary remarks against those who give “tattered notes”, because that might be all that they have!

Beloved, the amount you have left in your storehouse after you have given to God determines your score card in His presence.

I pray that you will not only give cheerfully from today but you will also begin to give bountifully, and you will not miss your reward in Jesus’s Name.

OPEN HEAVEN 3 MAY 2019 ACTION POINT: Whenever you are giving to God, always consider what you are holding back to determine how sacrificial your giving is to the Almighty God, who gives power to make wealth.

OPEN HEAVEN 3 MAY 2019 HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE

1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2.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.

3.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.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. 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.

6. 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 3 MAY 2019 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 46-47 and Jeremiah 29:24-30:9

Genesis 46-47 King James Version (KJV)

46 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

5 And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:

7 His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.

9 And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

10 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.

11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12 And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.

14 And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.

15 These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.

16 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.

17 And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.

18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.

19 The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.

20 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.

22 These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.

23 And the sons of Dan; Hushim.

24 And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.

25 These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.

26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were threescore and six;

27 And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

28 And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father’s house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father’s house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

32 And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.

33 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?

34 That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

47 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.

2 And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.

3 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.

4 They said morever unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.

5 And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:

6 The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?

9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

11 And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.

13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.

14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.

15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.

16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.

18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:

19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.

20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s.

21 And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.

22 Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.

23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.

24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.

25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.

26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.

27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

29 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

30 But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.

31 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.