Open Heavens 21 November 2017: Tuesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Look to Jesus and See Heaven

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Open Heavens 21 November 2017: Tuesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Look to Jesus and See Heaven
Open Heavens 21 November 2017: Tuesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Look to Jesus and See Heaven

Topic: Look to Jesus and See Heaven — Tuesday 21, November 2017.

Memorise: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. – Psalm 121:1

Read: Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 28-33, Jonah 1, Hymn: Sing Hymn 11 – I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

MESSAGE:

Looking at Jesus with the eyes of the spirit is so important to believers because it helps us to see ourselves more clearly. When you see Jesus and you take a look at yourself, it makes you to see yourself the way God sees you, and consequently, it propels you to make necessary adjustments. Also, you need to see Jesus so that you can access your help. In Psalm 121:1-2, David said he would lift up his eyes to the hills where his help comes from. When you lift up your eyes to heaven, you will behold Jesus. If only you can see Jesus, distractions will fade into oblivion. Many of us are separated from our Source because instead of looking up, we are looking sideways: we are looking for help from our neighbours, colleagues and fellow men. These people are quite limited in the level of help they can render, no matter how highly placed, financially endowed or intellectually sound they may be. Making man your source brings limitation into your life. Even within your family, do you know that it is wrong to focus on your father or mother as your source? The right approach is to view God as your source of help, and to see every other person as a conduct pipe through whom God can channel His help. The right attitude to have in every home is to always channel the family request to God, and thereafter, allow God to channel His provision through whatever means He wants. Henceforth, get your family to focus on Jesus as the Provider, and He will never disappoint you.

Open Heavens 22 November 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Seeking Pre-Eminence?

Moreover, focusing our gaze on Jesus is a sure path that leads to Heaven. Hence, today’s Bible reading says that we should look towards Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Jesus Christ is the One who began the Christian faith and He is the One who completes it. He walked the earth and successfully ended in Heaven. If you focus your gaze on Him, you will be able to follow in His steps. If you follow His steps, what He did you will do, and where He ended you will end. The shocking news here is that we really do not have any alternative to doing this. If you do not look to Jesus, you will not see His steps, and hence, you will end up following the wrong path. This will result in you not ending your journey where Jesus ended His. May this not be your story in Jesus’ Name. While here on earth, focus your gaze on Jesus, and you will be able to see Him in Heaven.

Action Point: Focus your gaze on Jesus by always asking yourself this question: What would Jesus do if He were in my shoes?

Hymn 11: 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 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.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.


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LAPD is Investigating over 20 Hollywood Sex Crime Cases

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LAPD is Investigating over 20 Hollywood Sex Crime Cases


LAPD is Investigating over 20 Hollywood Sex Crime Cases


The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating nearly two dozen cases of alleged criminal sexual misconduct involving many in the entertainment industry.


A senior department official with the police told NBC News that the cases include many people who are known publicly and others who have yet to be identified.


Allegations in those cases range from misdemeanor sexual battery to felony rape. Police say the number of investigations will rise as more people come forward.


The investigation is the latest move after complaints have created a growing list of Hollywood stars and employees who have been accused of sexual misconduct.


Film producer Harvey Weinstein faces more than 85 complaints of sexual misconduct and a rape allegation that New York police have said is “credible.”


“We have an actual case here,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told reporters earlier this month.


Meanwhile, Weinstein’s representatives have said previously that those allegations of non-consensual sex are untrue.


Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey has also been accused of sexual misconduct. Netflix dropped the actor and suspended production of the sixth season of “House of Cards.”


Spacey’s representative said he is “taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment.”


Los Angeles County prosecutors have also responded to the uptick in sexual assault complaints and launched a…

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‘Touched By An Angel’ Star Della Reese Lett Dead at 86 .

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Roma Downey with Della Reese Lett.
Roma Downey with Della Reese Lett. ( REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)

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Touched by an Angel star Della Reese has died, costar Roma Downey says.

“On behalf of her husband, Franklin Lett, and all her friends and family, I share with you the news that our beloved Della Reese has passed away peacefully at her California home last evening surrounded by love. She was an incredible wife,…

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John Kerry Accuses Israel of Failing to Work for Peace

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John Kerry Accuses Israel of Failing to Work for Peace


John Kerry Accuses Israel of Failing to Work for Peace


Former Secretary of State John Kerry has said that he doesn’t believe the nation of Israel truly wants to achieve peace with their Palestinian neighbor.


Kerry does, however, believe that the Palestinians are doing their part to work for peace. “The Palestinians have done an extraordinary job of remaining committed to nonviolence,” Kerry stated. “When the intifada took place [in 2015] they delivered non-violence in the West Bank.”


“This is overlooked by the general [Israeli] populations because it is not a topic of discussion,” Kerry continued. “Why? Because the majority of the cabinet currently in the Israeli government has publicly declared they are not ever for a Palestinian state.”


According to Newsweek.com, Kerry’s statements are from a conference that took place last year in Dubai. The recording of his statements were released on an Israeli TV network. It is unclear if Kerry knew he was being recorded at the time of the Middle East conference.


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Kerry’s comments, as did several American politicians, including Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Minority Leader Church Schumer (D-NY).




 


Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons


Publication date: November 20, 2017

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The Biblical Inspiration Behind Denzel Washington’s Newest Character .


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    Zimbabwean church hopeful for plans to oust Mugabe in two days

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    Zimbabwean church hopeful for plans to oust Mugabe in two days

    An official from the country’s ruling party has said it should take Zimbabwe’s parliament two days to impeach him although he has resisted calls to step down.

    The party’s deputy secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangwana made the claim to reporters as ruling party politicians gathered.

    He said they will move a motion for impeachment on Tuesday and set up a committee, and on Wednesday will report back and “vote him out”.

    Mr Mangwana said the main charge against the 93-year-old Mr Mugabe is “allowing his wife to usurp government powers” and that “he is too old and cannot even walk without help”.

    Edmore Chiota, Superintendent at Trinity Methodist Church told Premier it’s a “worrying time in the country” but they have chosen to pray for a peaceful transition of power.

    He added: “It’s going to be very difficult, because we’re talking about someone who has been in power for 37 years.

    “Probably, he might be feeling he’s entitled to rule the country.

    “Pray for negotiations that are going on between Robert Mugabe and the people who are negotiating on behalf of the army and the people.”

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    Recognizing the Meaning of Jonah and the Whale

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    Jonah and the whale is a classic story of falling off the path God set for you. Jonah’s actions lead him to the exact end God envisioned for him. Despite Jonah’s actions, God continues to make sure Jonah is on the path toward religious service. It was Jonah who was told by God to go to Nineveh to speak against the great evil that was coming. However, Jonah displays a classic example of human arrogance since he does not decide to heed that advice. Here, Jonah shows disobedience and no respect whatsoever for the Lord. He chooses to go the way he wants to and focuses his energies on his own life.

    Jonah wants to avoid God so he instead travels to Joppa and then heads towards Tarshish. He then begins to experience the repercussions of his actions. Here, he learns the literal and figurative power of the God he disobeyed. A great storm arises, threatening Jonah’s ship. The sailors attempt to lighten the load of their ship. The storm exemplifies God’s anger and frustration toward Jonah for not complying with His wishes. As the sailors try to unload more cargo and then offer sacrifices to God, their actions become futile and the storm proves impossible to stop.
    The sailors toss Jonah into the water because it was the only way to calm the storm and allow the other sailors to live. This action pleases God and the storm ceases. A giant fish that many identify as a whale then swallows Jonah. He lives inside the whale for three days and three nights. Jonah prays to God in his frustration and says he will follow His commandments. God then forces the fish/whale to spit Jonah up. God tells Jonah again that it necessary for him to visit Nineveh and to speak the people who live there.

    After he arrives in Nineveh, Jonah warns people that God will destroy their town will if they do not obey Him. The people of Nineveh comply. Even the king comes down from his throne to repent and to sit in dust while wearing a sackcloth. The rest of the city follows suit in sackcloths and dust. God witnesses their repentance and spares the city.

     

    While the people of Nineveh learn their lessons, Jonah, however, does not. Angry, he mentions to God that he knew that God would spare the city since He is a merciful being. Jonah decides to leave the city and create a shelter for himself to see if God will destroy Nineveh or not. These actions exemplify not only Jonah’s stubborn arrogance but his continued disobedience of God.

    Jonah is truly a creature of humanity. His inability to recognize God as a supreme being and his tendency to speak out against God demonstrate that his experience within the fish/whale did not teach him much reverence.

     

    So, God decides to punish Jonah once more. God creates a plant to grow and shade Jonah from the sun. God then forces a worm to bite the plant, which causes the plant to perish. Faint and near death from the full heat of the sun, Jonah wants God to remove him from the world.

    God tells Jonah that he should not be concerned about a mere plant when the 120,000 people within Nineveh were also at risk. Jonah 1-4 shows us how humans such as Jonah are capable of arrogance and stubbornness. God places Jonah in the whale and in the sun to remind Jonah of His power. This vengeful and angry God is far different from the merciful and patient one later portrayed in the New Testament.

    Even though God seems to be merciful and patient to an extent by sparing Nineveh, there does not seem a way for Him to be any more patient with Jonah. Jonah simply does not understand God’s message or will. Jonah’s story serves as a warning to anyone who seeks to defy God and His will.

     

    Despite the many lapsed Christians out there, it does not seem God’s wrath has occurred. However, we may wish to avoid interfering with God’s judgment in order to avoid experiencing what Jonah encountered. That being said, many of us believe in and follow a truly good God who has humanity’s best interests at heart.

    About the author: Tommy Zimmer is a writer whose work has appeared online and in print. His work covers a variety of topics, including politics, economics, health and wellness, addiction and recovery, and the entertainment industry.

    Tim Tebow Says God Called Him to Share Love of Christ to People at Airport

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    Tim Tebow Says God Called Him to Share Love of Christ to People at Airport


    Tim Tebow Says God Called Him to Share Love of Christ to People at Airport


    Christian athlete Tim Tebow recently shared how he felt God calling him to minister to those in need while he was traveling.


    Speaking at Liquid Church in Parsippany, New Jersey, the St. Lucie Mets outfielder and SEC college football analyst shared how he felt God calling him to minister to some of his fellow travelers during a recent stop at the airport in Atlanta, Georgia.


    Tebow told the crowd of about 1,000 that while he was in the airport, he felt God calling him to reach out to a man who was walking with a limp. Tebow, however, had strep throat and wasn’t feeling very well at the time, so he pushed the ministry opportunity aside.


    Later, however, he began to feel convicted that he had used his physical health as an excuse not to listen to God’s call, so he prayed that God would give him another opportunity to share Christ’s love with someone.


    Tebow continued his story, noting that God gave him that opportunity when he saw a man with prosthetic legs who was a military veteran. Tebow approached the man, thanked him for his service, and the two of them had a conversation. Since they were on the same flight, Tebow offered the man his first class seat.


    Although he admitted that he would have enjoyed the solitude and rest he would have been able to have in first class, Tebow shared that God had other passengers for him to minister to that day, such as a…

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    Mel Tillis, right, with his wife Kathy.
    Mel Tillis, right, with his wife Kathy. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo)

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