Topic: Comfort in Grieve [Wednesday 25th October, 2017]

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

We’ve all lost someone dear to our hearts. We’ve also had to comfort someone that lost someone dear. The hardest part of losing someone is comfort. In those times it would appear that there are no suitable words for comfort, or all the words shared feel out of place, or just makes you feel more hollow. Some persons borrow from Job’s ignorant statement and say “the Lord gives, the Lord takes”. But this only makes us angry at God for taking and causing such pain. Why would He take the righteous that walks according to His will, and leave the wicked and unrighteous? Even I don’t know the answer. But the answer is irrelevant. What is relevant is our knowledge of the fate and hope of those that sleep in the Lord.

Paul says to the Thessalonians “but I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1  Thessalonians 4:13‭-‬14‭, ‬16‭-‬17). We need not cry without end and hopelessly because we have lost a loved one, for we have a hope that as Christ was raised up, so also would they be raised up at the Second Coming, and we shall be caught up with them to be with Christ forever. This is our hope and comfort in grieve, that they rest in God and would be resurrected at the Second Coming, and that we would be caught up with them also.

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). There is no more hopeless grieve,  we stand fast in hope and knowledge of the resurrection. And we therefore rejoice in anticipation of our seeing them again.

Keep winning daily.

Wise Action:

When next (its inevitable) you’re confronted with grief or placed in a position to comfort someone in grief, don’t jump to routine ineffective words. Use words of hope and comfort as provided in scripture, thereby not only comforting the grieved, but also boosting their hope and faith in God.

By Esun Tekeme

Topic: Keep The Prayer Fire Burning [Wednesday October 25, 2017]

Throw more word in it, God’s word is the wood, when prayer lacks revelation it will loose motivation. Prayer becomes wearisome when it lacks revelation.

Lev 6:13,14

Revelation enriches & enfires prayer. Proverbs 26:20

Revelation is the fuel to intercession, praying in the Holy Spirit moves the Holy Spirit to bring to your remembrance relevant scriptures to the prayer items.

Topic: Real Love the Energy of Life [Wednesday October 25, 2017]

But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor. — Galatians 6:4

Love is the energy of life. It’s what motivates people to get up each day and keep going. It gives life purpose and meaning.

People often have times in their lives when they believe they are either unloved or have no one to love. They develop this mindset because they are looking for fulfillment in ways that seem good at first but often leave them feeling frustrated, disappointed and empty inside.

Does this ever happen to you? Do you ever look for love and end up feeling unfulfilled? Let me ask you this: What kind of love are you pursuing?

You may think you’re looking for love, but really, you’re looking for God, because He is love. Any love you gain that is disconnected from God is not really love and will leave you feeling unfulfilled.

The Bible says that in Him we live, move, and have our being. That tells me that without Him, life is not complete.

Everyone is looking for love, but are you looking for God’s love? It’s the only love that matters, the only love that lasts, and the only love that fulfills.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I don’t want to spend my life unfulfilled, pursuing love that’s not from You. If it’s not found in You, it’s not real love, because You are love. Today, I find my love in You.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries

Topic: Touch Not My Anointed — Wednesday 25, October 2017.

Memorise: Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. – Psalm 105:15

Read: 2 Kings 1:1-15 (KJV)

1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

4 Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

5 And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

7 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.

10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

15 And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

Bible in One Year: 2 Timothy 1-4, Daniel 12, Hymn: Sing Hymn 15 – The Comforter Has Come

MESSAGE:

Although the anointing in the life of the anointed can have a positive impact on people’s lives, it can also take actions which have adverse effects against those who abuse the anointed or treat him or her spitefully. The Holy Spirit therefore gave us the warning in today’s memory verse to avoid being on the receiving end of such grave actions. This reminds me of the sad story of a pastor who tried to humiliate my father-in-the-Lord, Pastor Josiah Akindayomi, during his lifetime. Sadly, this fellow became leprous and died. This is similar to the tragic story in today’s Bible reading. Ahaziah, the king of Samaria, tried to lay his hands on Elijah, God’s anointed prophet. What was the prophet’s crime? God sent Elijah to point out to him that it was wrong for him to have sent emissaries to consult a strange god for his healing, in defiance of God’s law (Deuteronomy 18:10-11). God’s warning, if heeded, normally brings forgiveness and restoration, as demonstrated in Jonah 3:10, when the people of Nineveh repented of their sins. Unfortunately, Instead of crying to the merciful God of Israel, the king ordered the prophet’s arrest. Is this the right response to a message of warning from God? Before you respond to this, think of how you also feel whenever your pastor hands down a strong sermon to you in an effort to make you repent and be delivered from both present and eternal damnation. The story of King Ahaziah’s foolish actions ends in tragedy, not only for him but also for the soldiers he sent to arrest the anointed of God.

Coming up next: Open Heavens 26 October 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – As You Lay Your Bed!

There are many lessons to learn and pray about from this story. First and foremost, we must pray for our bad leaders, because when God’s judgment comes, even the innocent may not escape the outcome. Secondly, children of God must always know whether any assignment they are given is of God or of the devil, and they should ask God for wisdom to go about it. I remember some policemen who wanted to extort money from my entourage some years ago. The moment I told their leader, “There is always a last assignment for every individual on earth”, he understood and let us go. If he had not repented, that would have been his last outing, because it was not I who spoke but the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, ministers of God should always live above board so that God’s anointing can fight on their behalf. Elijah said “If I be a man of God…”. As a pastor, evangelist or prophet, can you confidently say you are a man of God? Have you burnt you spiritual fingers in the fire of sin and covered it up as if nothing happened? If you are in such a situation, repent today, so that the anointing can resume its defence on your life. For those fond of ridiculing the anointed of God, be careful, so that you don’t experience the adverse effects of the anointing. May the peace of God be with you.

Action Point: If you’ve spitefully treated the anointed of God, repent and pray for forgiveness and healing.

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.

Topic: As You Lay Your Bed! — Thursday 26, October 2017.

Memorise: The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. – 2 Timothy 2:6

Read: Proverbs 27:23-27 (KJV)

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27 And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

Bible in One Year: Titus 1-3, Philemon 1, Hosea 1, Hymn: Sing Hymn 10 – There Shall Be Shower Of Blessing

MESSAGE:

Insincerity is a terrible character flaw that has led to the undoing of different generations of mankind. Take for instance Cain. He had no reason whatsoever not to have known that it was the nature and attitude of his sacrifice that made the Righteous God reject his offering. Furthermore, there was no justifiable reason whatsoever for him to have gone ahead to murder his brother, after he had been told that his wicked intentions were known to the Omniscient God. However, because he was not sincere to himself, he did what he did and he forever lived with its consequences. One dimension of the insincerity of men is manifested when people speak or work against paying a labourer his due wages. If you are one of such people, please know that this character is not a part of God’s nature and His word is against it. In 1 Timothy 5:18, God said:

“…Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 27 October 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – The Essence Of Spiritual Office

Some people envy hardworking colleagues who are being promoted. As it is generally assumed, promotion comes with its responsibilities as well as its attendant goodies and benefits. More often than not, people refuse to see the added responsibilities of a hardworking leader; they only see his or her derivable benefits. This attitude is not godly.

There are some valuable lesson on labour and reward which I would like to point out to you today. First, I want you to know that since God has said that He who does not work should not eat, the righteousness of God makes it imperative that he who works must eat, (2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:18). Secondly, as you lay your bed, so will you lie on it. The more diligent you are in business, the more comfortable you will be after fulfilling all godly conditions. Thirdly, when you are diligent in your vocation, business or job, you will be promoted to lead, because Proverbs 12:24 says,

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”

The fourth lesson I want you to note is that riches are not forever. However, they can endure on one condition: if you continue to be diligent at your business. The fifth lesson is that God must be factored into whatever you do. Remember that except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that build it (Psalm 127:1). This consideration has to do with being faithful in paying your tithes, offerings, vows and the first fruits of your increase (Malachi 3:10, Psalm 50:14, Proverbs 3:9). Beloved, the most needful of all these is that you give your life to Christ and accept the redemption which He used His life to procure for all mankind. It shall be well with you.

Prayer Point: Father, through the knowledge of Your word and Your Holy Spirit, help me to be sincere with Your principles which govern being blessed in this world and the world to come.

HYMN 10: THERE SHALL BE SHOWER OF BLESSING

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

[Chorus]
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing–
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
[Chorus]

3. There shall be showers of blessing:
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
[Chorus]

4. There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
[Chorus]

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.