RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 11 November 2018 Lesson 11 – The Early Church: A Model for Today

TOPIC — The Early Church: A Model for Today

OPENING PRAYER: Father, let me serve You steadfastly. (Scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 11 NOVEMBER 2018 HYMN)

MEMORY VERSE: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” – Acts 2:42 (scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 11 NOVEMBER 2018 HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 2:42-44 (RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 11 November 2018)

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

LESSON INTRODUCTION:

A close study of the daily life of the first apostolic church reveals certain peculiarities worthy of note. This seems to run contrary to some trends noticed in some churches today. We need to examine what the early church looked like and practiced in order to realign ourselves with the will of God for His Church.

TEXT REVIEW: ACTS 2: 42-44

The believers in the early church were steadfast in the following Christian virtues and activities after they were baptized:
i. Doctrine – Apostles’ doctrines and teaching. Vs 42a
ii. Fellowship – Warm and healthy horizontal relationship with one another and vertical relationship with the Almighty God. Vs. 42b.
iii. Breaking of bread – Holy Communion and sharing. Vs 42c
iv. Prayers – Be it in supplication, thanksgiving, petitions. Vs 42d
v. Miracles – Many wonders and signs were performed through them. Vs 43b
vi. Fear upon soul right reverence was attributed to the Almighty God. Vs 43a
vii. Bonded – Oneness and unity. Vs 44a
viii. Had all things in common, similar behaviour, bowel of mercy and rendering support. Vs 45.
ix. Hospitality – Sharing from house to house. Vs 46
x. Appreciation -Thanksgiving to God. Vs 47.

LESSON OUTLINE 1: SOME SHORTCOMINGS OF THE PRESENT – DAY:

i. Human philosophies and motivational talks have replaced the Apostles’ doctrines. 1 Cor. 2:4, Col. 2: 4,8.
ii. Monetary rewards and other forms of compensations have replaced selfless services. Acts 20: 35, Gal. 6:9
iii. True, genuine and agape love has been replaced by suspicion. 1 John. 3:18, Heb. 10:25.
iv. Sacrificial giving is gradually fading away. Acts 2:45, Psalms 69: 9.
v. Pride, competition, egoistic tendencies, rivalry among leaders and followers have replaced complementary and true submission to one another and God. 2 Cor. 10:1, Phil. 2:5
vi. Envy and strife, suspicion and hatred have found their ways to the church. James 3:14, 16.
vii. Gimmicks resulting in fake miracles, lies, exploitation, intimidation, evil packaging, deception etc. 1 Tim. 6:3-7;Eph.4:14; 2 Cor. 12:16-17.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1:

Class to identify the effects of the above stated work of the flesh and the devil in addition to secular-like songs and indecent dressing to the church.

LESSON OUTLINE 2: THE QUALITIES OF THE EARLY CHURCH:

i. Steadfastness in Apostles’ doctrines, fellowship, prayers and breaking of bread from house to house. Acts 2: 42-44.
ii. Warm, truthful and loving fellowship.
2 Cor. 2:13; Phil. 4:10.
iii. True signs and wonders were common in the early church. Acts 243, 4:14; Mark 16:20.
iv. Unity in love and togetherness. Acts 2:44; John 17: 21.
v. The early church members were generous. Acts 2:45; 4:34-37
vi. The early church enjoyed favour with all people. Acts 2:44.
vii. The early church experienced tremendous growth on daily basis. Acts 2:41; 4:4, 5:14.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2:

How can the above-stated qualities of the early church return fully into the modern-day church?

SUMMARY: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. Heb.13;8. The standard of the church MUST NOT CHANGE.

CONCLUSION: While we cannot rule out the need for innovations and creativities that make the church of God lively today, the present day church must be modelled after the early church.

EVALUATION: Mention four(4) shortcomings of the modern-days church and four (4) qualities of the early- Christian church.

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, let the five(5) of the early-Christians church return to our present day church.

ASSIGNMENT: Students should find ten(10) qualities of the early -church from Acts 2:41-47.

Read previous RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual Here

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RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 11 NOVEMBER 2018 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 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?

Topic: You Are Unique [TREM Devotional 10 November 2018]

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” – Ephesians 4:7. KJV

Beloved, we are all gifted differently and you are unique in yourself. There are no two you on earth. No one can duplicate you. You don’t have the same fingerprints with anybody. God packaged you uniquely in a way so that you can accomplish what He sent you to do on earth. So, you don’t have any room to be insecure in your assignment and your calling. You must also not give room for jealousy.

The fact that you saw somebody doing something does not mean you can do it. And unless God empowers you to do it, you cannot. Do your part and empower others to do theirs. Insecure leaders usually become fault finders. They are always putting people down and never speaking well of others because they always want to be on top. Such leaders discourage proximity. They don’t want to tell you they also have scars.

Why do you want everything to revolve around you? Empowering others does not subtract from you rather it adds to your life. At times, you can empower somebody and he runs faster than you; that shouldn’t in any way intimidate you. After all you are the one who empowered him to run. You should celebrate it and see it as a success. So, you don’t lose focus if somebody is rising around you.

One of my greatest prayers as God keeps me alive is that I see all my pastors under me do seven times over what I have done. I will just sit down and be watching them and be happy that they are taking the nations. That is the joy! There is joy and blessing when you help or make others succeed; and a greater blessing when they excel more than you. Learn from Paul who could boldly write “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” Value your assignment and do it with joy.

Further reading: Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Jeremiah 48-49; Evening- Hebrews 7

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’ 

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

Be Exempted From Evil by David Ibiyeomie

Topic: Be Exempted From Evil

Psalm 37:25 -I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; that is why God will exempt you from anything that will want to make you beg in the name of Jesus! Shame will come to an end in your life!

Many people are walking the streets of life without hope; they cannot even give account of their lives but as a child of God, I came to tell you that your case is different! The entire world may look bleak but in the midst of gross darkness, God will cause you to be exempted! He will turn around every dark situation in your life to good in the name of Jesus!

Hardship is not new. There had been hardship in the time of Abraham that he had to relocate to Egypt because of famine. There was severe famine in the time of Isaac and God instructed him to remain in Philistine. Even in the time of Jacob, there was still famine that he had to send his children to Egypt buy food. In the time of Joseph, there was famine too and in the time of Jesus, there was no food in the wilderness.

Also Read: God is Taking Over Your Battles by David Ibiyeomie

In the above cases, God ensured that He separated His own. Therefore, what is happening now is not new. If God exempted his own in the midst of hardship, then the time of your exemption has come! You don’t pray against hardship; it is part of God’s agenda for the end time.

There was a time in Egypt when there was pestilence but the people of God dwelling in Egypt were exempted. You will not appreciate light until there is darkness. Sinners will not be humbled until there is hardship. It is in the midst of hardship, when they trust in their wealth and their wealth fail them as you blossom as a child of God, that they will say, “Of a truth, you serve a living God”. No matter the hardship in the world, you will be exempted; your case is different in Jesus name!

Ex. 8:22-23 -And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be.

Ex. 9:26 – Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

This is how your case will look like! When the world is complaining of disaster and difficulty, you will be celebrating the goodness of God. No matter the retrenchment, it will not get to you! No matter the evil, you will be separated in the name of Jesus Christ! You will be exempted!

Gen. 47:27 -And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

The children of Israel grew and multiplied when there was famine in Egypt. This was because they were covenant children. Don’t mind what is happening in the world now; have no fear because your case is different. There is nothing new under the earth. If God has done something in the past, it will not be a problem for Him to repeat it. If God exempted His people when there was severe hardship, doing it again now will not be a new thing to Him.

You will have surplus when people are talking about lack; you will have more than enough! Not minding the city you are residing, the evil happening in that city will not happen to you! Though you are in this world, what is happening to the world cannot happen to you because your case is different! You are God’s own; you are programmed by God to be exempted.

No matter what is happening in this world, you don’t belong here because you dwell in a new-testament Goshen. Think like that, act like that, talk like that and it will be like that in Jesus name! Refuse to be afraid; you cannot suffer what the world suffers.

Isaiah 60:1-3, 10-11 -Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.

You will hear good news because God’s glory will come upon you! It is the glory of the Lord that makes a difference in a man’s life. If God’s glory is upon you, you become a centre of attraction. When God’s glory follows a business man, he does not need to lobby; anywhere he goes, doors open for him. God’s glory will distinguish you and no devil can erase it! It will be as God has commanded!

Job 5:22 – At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

In famine, you shall laugh! This means that when there is hardship in the world, you will be laughing because you will never be a victim. Destruction and famine is already in the world but God said you will laugh!

Can God lie? If God cannot lie, then it will be so! You shall laugh! God is going to make something happen in your life that people will hear and join you to laugh! You will laugh!!! When people are saying they cannot pay school fees; that is when you will be buying cars!!! When they say things are tough, you will be building houses! Biblical prophecies are more real than any prophecy from any man because heaven and earth shall pass away, but God’s words shall not pass away (Matt. 24:35)

Therefore, believe it, say it and act it and you will see it in Jesus name –Amen!!!

God bless you

Also Read: Other Inspiring Messages by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Topic: His Presence [Our Daily Bread 10 November 2018 Devotional]

Read: Exodus 3:7–12, Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 48–49; Hebrews 7

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14

The anxious father and his teenage son sat before the psychic. “How far is your son traveling?” the psychic asked. “To the big city,” the man replied, “and he will be gone for a long time.” Handing the father a talisman (a kind of good-luck charm), he said, “This will protect him wherever he goes.”

I was that boy. However, that psychic and that talisman could do nothing for me. While in that city, I put my faith in Jesus. I threw away the talisman and clung to Christ. Having Jesus in my life guaranteed God’s presence.

Thirty years later, my father, now a believer, said to me as we rushed my brother to the hospital, “Let us first pray; the Spirit of God goes with you and will be with you all the way!” We had learned that God’s presence and power is our only security.

Moses learned a similar lesson. He had a challenging task from God—to lead the people out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land (Exodus 3:10). But God assured him, “I will be with you” (v. 12).

Our journey too is not without challenges, but we’re assured of God’s presence. As Jesus told His disciples, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Prayer: When the journey seems long and dreary, dear Lord, help me to remember that You are traveling with me.

There’s no need to fear where you’re going when Jesus is going with you.

INSIGHT
For the enslaved Israelites, part of the reality of God’s presence was evidenced in His awareness of what they were suffering. In Exodus 3:7 we read, “The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.’ ” This should be encouraging to us as well. In our own seasons of struggle and pain, knowing that God is intimately aware of our suffering is the first step in trusting Him for the help and strength we need to endure. Not only does He see the struggle of His people, He moves to act on our behalf. In an ultimate sense, this is the same compassion that fueled the cross—He knows the depths of our brokenness and, in Christ, has provided a way of rescue.

Bill Crowder

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Lawrence Darmani [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 10 November 2018 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Crushing The Eaters Of Flesh And Drinkers Of Blood

TOPIC: Crushing The Eaters Of Flesh And Drinkers Of Blood (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 10 November 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 6:10-12

MEMORY VERSE: “But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” – Isaiah 49:25

The MESSAGE:

In the Fire Scripture, the Bible talks about principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and wicked spirits in the heavenly places. The third in hierarchy is the rulers of the darkness of this world and our knowledge in spiritual warfare reveals that the eaters of flesh and drinkers of blood belong to this class. Members of this class are numerous. They are demons that are territorial in their activities because they are close to human beings. Their operations are general and not specific; that is, they cause massive destruction; they oppress, they depress; they obsess, and they afflict. They are classified according to their works and manifestations, and they control the affairs of their environment. They are wicked agents causing untimely deaths, accidents, tragedies, disasters, crises, wars, and violence with the aim of shedding blood, which serves as their drink, and flesh as their meal.

Sometime ago, a sister was delivered from the spirit of marine power. From her confession, she mentioned some of the activities they engage in at night. The night season is when they always enter luxury buses with the objective of causing accidents whenever they need blood to drink and flesh to eat. Sometimes, they attack individuals in order to suck their blood and eat the flesh, and their victims will be dying gradually until they eventually give up. They also eat children in their mother’s womb, eat babies at birth and feed on people’s internal organs. They also operate through dreams which cause trouble in the physical realm.

Today, you have to raise a standard against them. Stop them before they put a stop to your existence. Are you sick? If yes, you must carry out a spiritual investigation by asking God to show you the cause of your sickness. If they are the ones responsible, you need to deal with them. Are you in crises that is peculiar to an area or locality, especially in the Northern part of Nigeria? They are the ones responsible for the deaths occurring in the North. Arise and fight them before you become a victim. Are you thinking of committing suicide? Arise this minute and put a divine stop to their activities. It is not economic recession that leads to suicide; it is the work of evil powers. If you do not put a stop to their activities, they will crush you and put a stop to your existence. You have what it takes to crush the powers of darkness and demand your total freedom.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
IT IS THE SPIRIT BEHIND OUR PROBLEMS THAT WE NEED TO DESTROY AND NOT THE HUMAN BEING USED BY THE SPIRIT.

PROPHETIC WORD:
Every wicked power and spirit assigned against your health shall collide with the Rock of Ages today.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING
1. Destructive infirmities from the powers of darkness, assigned to terminate my life, die by fire, in the name of Jesus.
2. Demonic health arresters, operating in my life, be arrested by fire, in the name of Jesus.
3. Every killer disease in my life, I kill you before you kill me, therefore, die, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING
4. Every eater of flesh, assigned to eat my flesh, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus.
5. Drinkers of blood, assigned to drink my blood, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus.
6. My flesh, my blood, reject the voice of death, in the name of Jesus.
7. Satanic operations in my environment causing massive destruction, backfire, in the name of Jesus.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Topic: Potentials Activation By The Blessing [Seeds of Destiny 10 November 2018 Devotional]

Scripture: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful” – Genesis 1:28

Thought For The Day: The Blessing triggers the realization and release of inherent potentials.

We have been exploring the power of the Blessing of God. Previously, we saw that the Blessing of God imparts speed and progress to life and destiny.

Now, another benefit of the Blessing is that the Blessing imparts the supernatural force for the activation of potentials and the exhibition of productivity.

The implication of this is that the Blessing of God unveils to a person the potentials and graces he/she carries, and helps him/her to push them out. When God blessed the first man, Adam, He said, be fruitful, and multiply (Genesis 1:28). God was commanding the seed or potentials inside of man to come out. So, when the Blessing of God comes upon a person, such a person becomes unusually productive spiritually, mentally and physically. The Blessing of God triggers the realization and release of inherent potentials. Joseph’s potential of dreams interpretation became a reality by the power of the Blessing (Genesis 40:12; 41:25).

Beloved, when the Blessing of God is upon you as an employee, you cannot be retrenched at your place of work for redundancy because the Blessing would make you a generational asset.

Today, the potentials you carry shall come out by the Blessing of God, in Jesus Name. You are blessed!

Remember this: The Blessing of God triggers the realization and release of inherent potentials.

Assignments:
1. Make demands on the Blessing of God upon your life for the release of your potentials.
2. Determine to offload all that God has deposited in you before you leave this world.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE POWER OF THE BLESSING

Prayer: Lord, thank You for putting great potentials in me. Father, I connect with Your Blessing and grace for the deployment of these potentials, in Jesus Name.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 21:1 to 22:31, Hebrew 10:1 to 17, Psalm 108:1 to 13, Proverbs 27:12

Quote: What you are known for will determine your impact in life. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: A housefly hums in the key of F

Today In History: 10/11/1983 Bill Gates introduces Windows 1.0.

Also Read: Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche

Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Topic: Christian: A Name Or Life? [DCLM Daily Manna 10 November 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Acts 11:19-30 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch“ (Acts 11:26).

MESSAGE:

The persecution that arose about the death of Stephen scattered the believers everywhere such that they travelled as far as Phenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. At Antioch, the brethren preached and the hand of the Lord was with them so that a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. According to Matthew Henry, “What was meant to hurt the Church, was made to work for its good. The wrath of man is made to praise God.”

The news of the growth of the Church reached the apostles at Jerusalem that they sent Barnabas, a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and faith. His visit to Antioch brought further growth to the church because he was dedicated to preaching the true gospel. The believers’ lifestyle was also noticed by the inhabitants of the town, which they identified as an attribute of Christ. They were called Christians, that is, little Christs. The Christlikeness was also evident when the church at Antioch sent relief to brethren in Judea during the famine.

Many people today call themselves Christians but live their lives carelessly, without thoughts of whose name they bear and whose ambassadors they are. The Christian is admonished passionately to “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children … But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as it becometh saints … for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:1-6).

We are reminded that our calling is not an ordinary one – we are “called to be saints”. Therefore, our walk, behaviour and lifestyle should match the calling of God. Our walk should be saintly, like Christ’s and not like the people of the world.

Thought For The Day: A true Christian bears the name and lives the life.

Bible Reading In One Year: Luke 22; John 13

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Open Heaven 10 November 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – How to Access Good Life

Topic: How to Access Good Life (Open Heaven 10 November 2018)

Memorise: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”– John 10:10

Read: 1 Peter 3:10-18 (KJV)

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 52, Luke 19:28-48

Open Heaven 10 November 2018 Saturday MESSAGE:

Having access to good life is not as difficult as some people make it seem. As a matter of fact, living a good life was factored into the creation of man. God first created everything that man would need for a good life before He made man in His own image and set him over all of His other creations (Genesis 1:26-28). The calamity of a life of struggle only came after Eve was deceived into believing the devil’s lies and Adam outrightly disobeyed God. God consequently withdrew aspects of His good life from them (Genesis 3:16-19). However, the good life from God was reinstated through the second Adam, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:12-15).

In 1 Peter 3:10-12, the Holy Spirit introduces us to how we can access the good life that Jesus Christ came to restore us to, saying:

“10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

It would be wise of you to pay attention to the three major things mentioned in this scripture as vital to experiencing the good life. First is your speech. No wonder the Bible says death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). The content and manner of your speech have a great impact on your relationship with God and man. Use the power that your tongue possesses to speak life to yourself and everything that concerns you every day. Don’t try to move ahead in life by speaking evil or lying about others. Learn to ask God and man for what you desire for yourself. I pray that God will illuminate your heart to understand the power for good that lies in your tongue. The second thing you must watch are your deeds. More often than not, what you work towards in life is what will come to you. The types of problems you solve in this world through your deeds go a long way to determine the type of reward you will receive from God and men. May God give you wisdom to apply this truth towards increasing your reward in life. Third and last of these things is the type of influence you bring into your community. If you work towards peace in your family, community and country, you will also enjoy a good life of peace. What better way is there to influence your world than to preach the good news of the abundant life that Jesus came to give (John 10:10)? When you influence workers of evil to begin to do good, you will definitely experience a good life around you. Are your speech, deeds and influence working together to establish the good life you have received from Jesus Christ?

Open Heaven 10 November 2018 Saturday Action Point:

Put to work the power inherent in your speech, deeds and influence to access God’s good life.

Also Read: Open Heaven 9 November 2018 – The Lord is my Defender

Open Heaven 10 November 2018 Saturday Hymn 12: 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 10 November 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven 10 November 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional.

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