Topic: When To Pray [Open Heavens for Teens 2 May 2019]
Memorise: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” – Jeremiah 33:3
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Bible In One Year: 1 Kings 3-5, Luke 23:1-26
MESSAGE:
You may think that prayer is for adults alone, this is very wrong. Prayer is a weapon that every child of God is armed with. The best time to pray is every time; pray without ceasing. As long as you are not talking to anyone or eating, you should be praying. Pray when you wake up in the morning, pray in the bathroom, pray while you are dressing up, pray before you eat, pray before you leave the house, say a prayer of thanksgiving when you get to where you are going safely, pray before every exam, pray after every exam, pray before you go to bed, just pray at all times.
A popular saying goes “pray so that you will not fall prey”. This saying is very true, because a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. When the devil sees that you hardly pray, he rejoices, because he knows that if he introduces any sickness or trouble to you, there will be no resistance. Prayer activates the ministry of angels over your life. In Daniel 10:5-14, Angel Gabriel was working because Daniel prayed. An angel opened Peter’s prison door because the saints prayed in Acts 12:5-17. Are your angels redundant or working? Are you praying often?
Key Point: There is nothing like over praying. You can pray into your future, no prayer is ever a waste. Pray without ceasing.
Christian, seek not yet repose
Hear thy gracious Savior say;
Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray.
Principalities and power
Mustering their unseen array
Wait for the unguarded hours:
Watch and pray
Gird the heavenly armor on,
Wear it ever night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one:
Watch and pray.
Hear the victors who o’ercame,
Still they mark each warrior’s way;
All with one sweet voice exclaim,
Watch and pray.
Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou loves to obey;
Hide within thy heart His word:
Watch and pray.
Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down:
Watch and pray.
Daily Devotional for Teen’s 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.
Topic — Prosperity: By What Means? (Open Heaven 2 May 2019)
Memorise: “He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.”- Proverbs 15:27
Read: Proverbs 1:17-19 (KJV)
17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 44-45, Jeremiah 29:10-23
Open Heaven 2 May 2019 Thursday MESSAGE:
“Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” – Psalm 35:27
While it is an incontrovertible truth that God wants the righteous to prosper, He does not want them to prosper by any unrighteous means. Unfortunately, in the world today, many people want to get rich quick with minimal effort, and more often than not, they resort to stealing in one form or the other to achieve this. Being a thief himself, the devil aids such people in their enterprise, and some of them become very “prosperous”. When some children of God see this “prosperity”, they are tempted to apply the devil’s methods. This is a slippery slope every child of God must avoid because it leads to destruction (Psalm 73:1-3, Psalm 73:17-18).
Exodus 22:2-3 reveals what God thinks about the thieves and one of His cardinal commandment says, “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15). God is not only against stealing, He is also against those who support and encourage stealing, Proverbs 29:24 says that whosoever is a partner of thieves hates his own soul. In other words, if you want to prosper in the real sense of the word, don’t be a friend to thieves. There are many thieves in the world today, stealing from their place of work and even from God. I urge you to not align with such people. Jeremiah 17:11 reveals what happens to the prosperity gotten through fraudulent means, saying:
“As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.”
Prosperity is not meant for liars; nor is it for those who use fake measures or doctored invoices (Proverbs 11:1). Some contractors would be asked to buy 20 bags of cement for a project, and they would either buy 10 or use 10 out of the 20 purchased for their personal project. In the same vein, prosperity is not for the greedy. According to today’s Bible reading, the greedy can even kill for money, but they do not know that they are troubling their own lives by their greed. Just as declared in today’s memory verse, we see several families in the world today devastated by greed. Furthermore, prosperity is not for the lazy (Proverbs 6:6-11). Laziness is an act of unrighteousness, and it makes a person susceptible to sins like stealing (Romans 12:11, Ephesians 4:28). Lastly, prosperity is not for drunkards and gluttons neither is it for those who are given to a life of seeking pleasure (Proverbs 23:21, Proverbs 21:17). Beloved, although God wants you to prosper, He wants you to go about it in the right way so that your prosperity does not become a curse to you and your household. Are you seeking prosperity through just means?
Open Heaven 2 May 2019 Thursday Prayer Point:
Father, please prosper the labour of my hands so that I can have enough to give to others
Open Heaven 2 May 2019 Thursday Hymn 10: I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
1 I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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 2 May 2019 Thursday 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 2 May 2019 Thursday Daily Devotional.
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Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).
You might have heard some people say, “No one is perfect; so don’t say you’re perfect.” Ask them why they say that, and you’d discover it’s the result of their own experiences or other people’s experiences. What does the Bible say? It says, “Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” God will never ask us to do something He knows we couldn’t do. If He demands perfection of us in the earth, it means it’s possible.
When you study the Word, there’s no place that suggests to us the impossibility of perfection. Everything about God calls for perfection—excellence. The reason most people don’t think perfection is possible is that they don’t know what perfection is. Perfection is like success, which can be measured at different stages of your life, according to the set objectives, purpose, and goal. Perfection is measured according to the light, instruction or information that you have with respect to the underlying objectives.
In our opening verse, the word “perfect” derives from the Greek word “teleios” which is full-grown in maturity, blameless, unspotted; wanting nothing; a completeness. It refers to measuring your heart with the heart of God; and the way to do this is through the Word. This means that you do things as God would have you do them; you let your heart be like God’s. You think, love, and forgive as God does, because you have His heart.
Furthermore, another reason many believe perfection is unachievable is that they use their religious minds to judge or measure what it is. Think about it: if in Christ Jesus, we’ve been qualified to become sharers and partakers of His life, His grace, and His righteousness, it means our perfection is also of Him. Jesus was the perfect One; the Bible says He obeyed God even unto death. He qualified before God and gave us His qualification.
So, our qualification for righteousness and perfection is of Him. All you have to do to be perfect in His sight is to accept and affirm His qualification. His vicarious death was to make you perfect: present you holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight (Colossians 1:22). Now, live accordingly.
CONFESSION Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for qualifying me to be perfect, righteous, holy, unblameable and unreproveable in your sight. I’m yielded to the Spirit of perfection and excellence that’s at work in me. Therefore, my words, thoughts, and actions are detailed and flawless. I think, talk, and exude excellence, to the glory and praise of your matchless Name. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 13:11
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 24:36-53 & 2 Samuel 12-14
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 7:1-13 & Numbers 5
Rhapsody of Realities 2nd May 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
Anti-Semitism on the Rise in US and Abroad, According to New Report
According to a new report released by Tel Aviv University researchers, anti-Semitism is on the rise.
In 2018, attacks against Jews rose 13% worldwide according to CBN News. The U.S. was home to more than a quarter of those violent cases and both France and Germany have witnessed a 70% increase in anti-Semitic violence in the last year.
“There is an increasing sense of emergency among Jews in many countries around the world,” said Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, an umbrella group representing Jewish communities across the continent. “It is now clear that anti-Semitism is no longer limited to the far-left, far-right and radical Islamist’s triangle – it has become mainstream and often accepted by civil society,” he said.
Tel Aviv University’s Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry releases a report documenting anti-Semitism every year on the eve of Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day. The report comes into an international climate thick with political unrest.
“The world is seen as in a bad shape, and what hinders it becoming a better place are the Jews,” said Günther Jikeli, an expert on European anti-Semitism at Indiana University, as reported in The New York Times.
Anti-Semitic language is also on the rise online and in newspapers, according to Kantor. Only a few days ago, The New York Times was widely…
School Districts Say, ‘Thousands of Students’ in Virginia Are Transgender and Should Choose Which Restroom to Use
Four school systems in northern Virginia have filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the state, saying that “thousands of students” in Virginia’s public school system identify as transgender and should be allowed to use whichever bathroom they choose.
According to CBN News and The Washington Post, the school boards of Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax County filed the court brief on behalf of student Gavin Grimm. Grimm, born a girl, but identifying as a boy, sued her school in Gloucester County, Virginia in 2015 after administration would not allow her to use the men’s restroom.
“It’s a perfect opportunity for us to show support for Grimm,” said Ilryong Moon, a Fairfax School Board member, adding that Fairfax schools want to “support all students of different backgrounds.”
Grimm argued in her suit that the county violated Title IX and the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex. The Supreme Court did not rule on Grimm’s case because President Donald Trump reversed an Obama-era policy on transgender students. The case is now scheduled for trial in July at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
In their brief supporting Grimm, the schools said that transgender students have suffered “stigma and trauma” because…
Rugby Star Apologizes for ‘I Love You Jesus’ Easter Post after Backlash
A controversy over an Australia rugby player’s Bible-themed social media comments has led to an even more bizarre incident – a rugby player apologizing for his Easter post.
Samu Kerevi of the Queensland Reds rugby team took to Instagram Easter week to post the text of John 3:16 with the comment: “Thank You Jesus for dying on the cross for me. I love you Jesus.” His post included a picture of him in action.
But some rugby fans felt Kerevi was siding with rugby star Israel Folau, who plays for the New South Wales Waratahs and is facing dismissal from the league for a post calling homosexuality a sin. Kerevi and Folau play in the Super Rugby League. Folau is one of the highest-paid rugby players in the world.
“I apologise to anyone that I have offended in giving praise to our God on a weekend that we take off to celebrate his Sacrifice for you and I,” Kerevi, the team captain, wrote in a follow-up Instagram story post, according to Fox Sports.
On Tuesday, Kerevi added further clarification.
“To be clear I’m not apologizing for my faith in Jesus Christ my Saviour,” he wrote on Instagram. “God will always come first in my life and many other professional rugby players.”
Rugby Australia suspended Folau in April after he posted a Bible verse about homosexuality and urged his followers to “turn to Jesus.” Folau could learn…
Coach Resigns after Atheists Complain about Players’ Bible T-Shirts
The coach of a successful high school boys’ basketball team has resigned after an atheist organization complained about the players wearing Bible verse-themed t-shirts.
The Animas High School Panthers in New Mexico advanced to the Class 1A state tournament this year, but not before sparking a controversy with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an organization of atheists and agnostics.
The Panthers’ players wore t-shirts in a Feb. 27 game warmups emblazoned with the phrase, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” A community member reported the t-shirts to the Wisconsin-based FFRF, which wrote a letter to the school superintendent, calling the t-shirts a violation of the First Amendment.
The superintendent, Loren R. Cushman, wrote back April 22, saying the matter had been resolved.
“The coach has submitted his resignation from the district,” Cushman wrote.
Animas is a small community of about 230 people, roughly an hour from the Mexico border.
Cushman did not identify the coach.
“I attended the game in question,” Cushman wrote. “When I observed the players wearing the t-shirts during pregame warmup, I immediately questioned the coach and athletic director.”
A local religious group, Cushman said, provided the shirts, and the coach handed them to the players a day or two prior to the game.
The consumer group Which? has revealed almost 1,700 cash points brought in charges during the first three months of the year.
MP Frank Field for Birkenhead told Premier the fees were unfair.
“For these operators of these machines – to charge you for taking money out when often you can only take very small sums out – you just get clobbered each time and it just isn’t acceptable.”
Which? said the rate of machines being converted to charge fees appears to be on the increase, with a “staggering” 1,250 conversions thought to have taken place across the UK in March.
Which? said the bulk of the ATMs affected are operated by Cardtronics, the UK’s biggest cashpoint operator.
The ATM operator has argued that some cash machines would be unsustainable without a fee.
However, Mr Field said ATM operators have a duty to the most vulnerable in society.
“They have a duty – if they wish to operate as banks in this country – of providing free services to the very poorest,” he said.
“We must remind them of that and keep them to that commitment.”
Which? said the rate of machines being converted to charge fees appears to be on the increase, with a “staggering” 1,250 conversions thought to have taken place across the UK in March.
Bank branch and ATM closures have sparked widespread concerns about people’s future access to cash.
Niall Cooper from Church Action on Poverty told Premier free ATMs…
Israel’s Ambassador Uses Bible to Prove Jewish People’s Claim to Israel at U.N. Session
In a passionate speech on Monday, Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, used the pulled as evidence to prove the Jewish right to claim Israel.
During a special session at the United Nations Security Council on Monday Danon defended the Jew’s religious and historical connection to Israel by citing four main pillars of reasons: “the Bible, history, international law, and the pursuit of international peace and security.”
Danon, who has been the representative to the U.N. since 2015, cited God’s covenant with Israel, reading from Genesis 17: “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout the generations for an everlasting covenant. And I will give to you and your descendants after you all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession and I will be their God.”
Dramatically raising his Bible in the air, he turned towards the ambassadors saying: “This is the deed to our land.”
“From the book of Genesis to the Jews’ exodus, from Egypt to receiving the Torah on Mt. Sinai, and to the realization of God’s covenant in the…
Alan Tower, national director for Christian charity Friends International and former international director of the South American Christian charity, Latin Link, told Premier churches play a central role in the country.
“I think we just should be praying for churches to have wisdom,” he said.
“They are doing a lot socially, just looking after people’s basic needs, but in terms of where they choose to enter into the political debate needs immense wisdom.
“And we should pray for wisdom and guidance for church leaders to help the current political processes and to be looking after the churches and those that turn to the churches for help.”
President Nicolas Maduro has refused to step down from power after opposition leader, Juan Guaidó was recognised as interim leader of Venezuela by more than 50 countries, including the US, the UK and most in Latin America.
Mr Maduro claimed on state TV that a US-backed coup against him had failed.
The opposition leader has called for further action on Wednesday.
The violent street battles that erupted in parts of the capital Caracas were the most serious challenge yet to Mr Maduro’s rule.
While the rebellion seemed to have garnered only limited military support, at least one high-ranking official announced he was breaking with Mr Maduro, in a setback for the embattled president.
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