Topic: Wonders Of Divine Blessings II [Open Heavens 7 April 2018, Saturday]

Memorise: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” –Psalm 23:5 (Scroll down for Open Heavens Hymn)

Read: 1 kings 17:4-6 (KJV)

4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

Bible in One Year: Joshua 8-9, 1 Thessalonians 1-2.

MESSAGE:

Believe it or not, some people are afraid of blessings! Some prefer to be “average” rather than to be super-rich, because they believe wealth will either cause them to backslide or make them vulnerable to spiritual and physical attacks. These are wrong mindsets. Many years ago, while pondering on Psalm 23:5, I wondered why the ‘waste’ of blessings by pouring more into a cup that is already full. I heard the Lord say to me, “It is for Me to show My extraordinary sufficiency.” Hallelujah! One of the wonders of divine blessings is that God can use anything or anyone to make His provision available to you if you are His candidate for divine blessings. In 1 Kings 17:4-6, God sent ravens to bring food to Elijah twice a day. One of the astonishing part of this story is that ravens are known as flesh eaters. The question then is: how come they did not eat up the meat before getting to Elijah? It would have been understandable if sheep were the couriers in this regard. The truth of the matter is that when a person is divinely blessed, both the forces of heaven and earth will combine to assist the fellow. This was the case of the children of Israel in the wilderness. The wind brought them quails to eat and the rock produced water for them to drink (Psalm 195:40-42). I have often taught my children in church that whenever they embark on a venture and they realise that they always have to struggle so much to make ends meet, they should check back with God to know whether He is in that venture.

Matthew 17:24-27 offers a classical example of divine blessing. To pay their taxes, the Lord instructed Peter to go and catch a fish, open its mouth and pick a coin from it, the value of which would be sufficient to offset their tax bill. My firm belief is that there is a river near you with a fish inside it holding the right amount of money that you need in its mouth. This fish is just waiting to be caught by you. The ‘fish’ may be that fellow yearning for salvation, or that person who needs spiritual help so much. When you win him or her to Christ, everything you need may already be there in their hands, and the Lord will just move them to release it to you. As I studied the wealth of Solomon, I asked myself where his wealth came from. Then I saw in 2 Chronicles 9:13-14 that his wealth came from all the kings of Arabia and from the governors of other lands. Even the Queen of Sheba joyfully brought her wealth to him (1 Kings 10:1-10). Such is the wonder of divine blessings. I decree upon you today: you will be divinely blessed, and your days of struggling to make ends meet are over in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, You said I should continue to ask until my joy is full, and so I ask in Jesus’ Name that You divinely bless me until poverty becomes alien to me permanently.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Open Heavens 6 April 2018 Friday — Wonders Of Divine Blessings I’’

Hymn 6: A New Thing

(Tune: There shall be showers of Blessing)

1. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because GOD will do new things
Sinners will soon be forgiven
Prodigals will come home soon.
Chorus:
Shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Rivers in desert now flowing
Halleluyah to our king.

2. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Sickness and sorrow will be gone
Bondage will be forgotten.
3. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
The barren will be fruitful soon
Failure will be forgotten

4. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Poverty will be forgotten
Stagnancy will soon be gone.

5. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
To all miracles are given
There shall be celebrations

6. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Many will have testimonies
Of prayers answered fully

7. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
One of us will chase a thousand
Two will conquer ten thousands.

8. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Songs of praises we will sing
Halleluyah to our King.

Open Heavens 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.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

The post Open Heavens 7 April 2018 Saturday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Wonders Of Divine Blessings II appeared first on Flatimes.

TOPIC — Divorce: Not An Option [Sunday, 8th April 2018]

MEMORY VERSE: “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery” – Matthew 5:32 (scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 19:3-13 (KJV)

3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

INTRODUCTION:
Divorce is one of the major problems facing homes today. Divorce is granted to the unbelievers for many reasons such as adultery, cruelty, desertion, drunkenness, neglect to provide, conviction of crime, separation, bigamy, incompatibility etc. However, is divorce permissible for Christians? Let us approach this lesson by attempting to answer a number of questions.

LESSON OUTLINES:
1. Some common questions and answers
2. Counsel for partners in a shaky marriage

SOME COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Is there any scriptural ground for divorce?
There is one and only one reason and that is fornication (Matthew 19:9). What does the word “fornication” mean in this passage? The basic meaning is illicit sexual relationship with a third party. However, the “innocent partner” should be ready to forgive the “guilty partner” (Matthew 6:14-15, Proverbs 28:13). Divorce was not in the original plan of God for human beings.

2. How long is a marriage contract?
The answer is simply, until death breaks it (Matthew 19:6). In marriage, God performs a miracle when two individuals become one person. Only God is permitted to break that union by taking one of the partners in death.

3. Can the ‘innocent partner’ in a divorce re-marry?
It is doubtful if there is such a thing as an innocent partner in the sight of God. It is most likely that the “innocent” partner failed in some ways.

4. Why should people avoid divorce like a plague?
(a). Divorce represents a tragedy that has undermined the home, the very basis of society.
(b). Misery always follows in its path, broken homes, bruised and broken hearts, bewildered, homeless children, delinquent youth, loneliness, tears and at times suicide or insanity.
(c). The couple should consider the welfare of the children who would suffer most and the shame connected with divorce and the scandal that it engenders.
(d). Many Christians look at divorce as sinful, regardless of the circumstances because it is a public admission of utter failure which belittles the power of Christ (Philippians 4:13).
(e). Economic disaster often follows divorce and it is the cause of lack of love and happiness in marriage.

COUNSEL FOR PARTNERS IN A SHAKY MARRIAGE
Let both husbands and wives solemnly renew their vow “for better or for worse till death do us part”. Let each get right with the Lord and then with one another. Confession and repentance with mutual sharing would make any marriage a success. Let them spend time in prayer individually and as a couple (James 5:6). Let the husband be the actual head of the home and not merely a figurehead (1Timothy 5:8). Let the wives be subject to their husbands (Ephesians 5:24). Let husbands and wives continually woo each other because each needs a great deal of affection. Married couples should continuously ask God for a holy love for each other (1Corinthians 7:5).

CONCLUSION:
Can there be love when there is no respect? The answer is yes, for God loves the unlovely sinner, whom He cannot respect. Love that is unselfish and godly can be deep and powerful even with those whom we cannot respect. With such a love, our marriages would last for life (1 Peter 4:8). Let us pray for such divine love.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is the scriptural ground for divorce?
2. Why should people avoid divorce?

Click to read previous RCCG Sunday School STUDENTS Manual April 1st, 2018 Lesson 31 — Broken Homes

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 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?

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