Prayer for your Husband

Open Heavens, Monday 19th March 2018

THE LORD’S SEEKERS

 

Memorise: Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. Psalm 40:16

Read: Psalm 24:1-6 (KJV)

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.


Bible in one year: Deuteronomy 2-3, Galatians 2

Hymnal: Sing hymn 2



Message

To seek is to diligently search for or pursue after an object or person of value. The greater the value placed on an object or person of interest, the more intense the labour, time and money that will be expended on the search process. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, yet He loves us so much that He gave up His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for sin so that we may have abundant life in this world and spend eternity with Him in heaven. Having done so much for us, His desire is that we all should seek after Him and His kingdom. God has a reward for those who seek Him with all their heart, but those who ignore Him do so at their own peril. Hebrews 11:6 says,

“…for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him.”

God wants His children to know that seeking after Him and His kingdom is like acquiring a gem of inestimable value; which is why the Lord Jesus Christ in His parables compared the kingdom of God to seeking a treasure (Matthew 13:44-46).


In as much as God’s desire is for His people to seek after Him, He also is seeking for those who display genuine interest in fellow-shipping with Him (Psalm 14:2, John 4:23). The word always for who He is. He is our Creator, Redeemer, Provider, Healer, the Mighty Warrior and Saviour of the world. We need to show appreciation for His goodness, enduring mercy and great kindness towards us. He is our peace and our shelter in times of trouble. We must seek after God wholeheartedly and with simplicity of heart; we must seek Him continually and without delay. We must also seek Him in holiness and righteousness. Seeking God and His kingdom should be the priority of our lives (Matthew 6:33). When you seek after God, He will offer Himself to you as a gift, just as He did to Abraham (Genesis 15:1). When God gives you Himself as a gift, you have access to everything that belongs to Him, and of course all things in heaven and on earth are His. No wonder the Holy Spirit, speaking to those who seek after God and not men, in 1st Corinthians 3:21b said “all things are yours”. In conclusion, I leave you with the words of a dying father to his son in 1st Corinthians 28:9:

“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”

Key Point – Open Heaven 19 March 2018

Those who seek after God receive God as their reward.


Sing hymn 2 – I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

I need Thee every hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.



Chorus

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior!

I come to Thee



I need Thee every hour,

Stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their power

When Thou art nigh.



I need Thee every hour,

In joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide,

Or life is vain.



I need Thee every hour,

Teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises

In me fulfil.



I need Thee every hour

Most Holy One;

Oh, make me Thine Indeed,

Thou blessed Son.

Open Heaven, SUNDAY 18TH March 2018

GOD’S FAVOURITE

Memorise: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17

Read: Hebrews 1:7-9

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.


Bible in one year: Deuteronomy 1, Galatians 1

Hymnal: Sing hymn 15


Message

The word ‘favourite’ is used to describe a person who is preferred to others or who is especially well liked. Treating a certain class of people as favourites is generally considered to be an unfair practice. Why would God then have favourites? Looking at God’s principles of truth and justice through the prism of our human understanding of favouritism makes this question a very tricky one to answer. Indeed, Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us this about God:

“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

We also understand from John 3:16 that He loves all human beings alike. Likewise, Romans 2:11 clearly state that there is no respect of persons with Him.  However, another truth of God’s word is that He is sovereign and He does as He pleases (Psalm 115:3. Psalm 135:6). To demonstrate His sovereignty, in Romans 9:15 He declared:

“….I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

The choice to have favourites is therefore a manifestation of God’s sovereignty which He says cannot be questioned (Romans 9:20). God has shown this aspect of His sovereignty in the lives of individuals like Abraham, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, Moses, Pharaoh, Esther, Mary and several others. I am happy to declare to you that my Daddy has a special relationship with me that comes with special privileges that are not common to all men. How else can anyone explain my appointment as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, or the phenomenal growth the Church is experiencing even now? What shall we say about the fulfilment of seemingly impossible prophecies, outstanding miracles and great testimonies of unbelievable proportions? How can one explain all these, except that I am God’s favourite?


In Matthew 3:17b, God proclaimed these words concerning Jesus:

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

For those who are born again, it then follows that since we are joint heirs with Christ, and since the Holy Spirit has indicated that as Jesus is, so are we in this world (Romans 8:17, 1st John 4:17), we are truly the beloved of God and are therefore His favourites. I pray that you will begin to walk in the reality of this truth from today in Jesus’ Name.

being God’s favourite surely sounds good, but it comes with some responsibilities. As a favourite of God, you must make holiness your lifestyle. You must dedicate yourself to God in true worship, submitting yourself totally to His will. You are also expected to dedicate yourself to service in the Body of Christ. Are you God’s favourite?

Prayer Point

Father, let it be glaring to the whole world that I am Your favourite in Jesus’ Name.


Sing hymn 15 – NEARER MY GOD TO THEE

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee;

E’ en though it be a cross

That raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee.



Though, like a wanderer

The sun gone down,

Darkness comes over me,

My rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be

Nearer, my God, to Thee

Nearer, my God, to Thee

Nearer to Thee.



There let me see the sight,

An open heaven;

All that thou sendest me,

In mercy given;

Angles to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to Thee

Nearer, my God, to Thee

Nearer to Thee



Then, with my walking thoughts

Bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs

Bethel I’ll raise,

So by my woes to be

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee

Prayer for your husband

Open Heavens, Saturday 17th March 2018

THE UNCHANGEABLE CHANGER

Memorise: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Read: 1st Samuel 2:1-10 (KJV)

1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.



Bible in one year: Numbers 34-36, 2nd Corinthians 13

Hymnal: Sing hymn 13

Message

I love to hail my Daddy as the Unchangeable Changer for many reasons. He is unchangeable because He is not subject to variation or alteration (James 1:17). The Almighty God is an infinitely perfect and self-existent Being. He is exalted for above the possibility of change because He is independent and not limited by all the factors that cause change. As a self-existing being, God cannot be changed by forces outside Himself. He is also not subject to change from within His person because He is perfect in nature. He cannot be subject to any form of change at all because He is eternal and independent of time (1st Timothy 6:16). The unchanging nature of God is established throughout the Bible (Numbers 23:19, 1st Samuel 15:29, Isaiah 46:9-11, Ezekiel 24:14). Here is His declaration about Himself in Malachi 3:6:

“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

The moral consistency of our God guarantees His commitment to unchanging principles. Just as His nature is unchangeable, His character is also unchanging. The Psalmist testifies to this truth in Psalm 100:5:

“For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

In addition to God’s character being constant, His plans and purposes cannot also be altered by any outside forces. Proverbs 19:21 says

“There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”

As our God lives, His good counsel over your life shall come to pass in Jesus’ Name.


God’s unchanging nature is connected to the fact that He is Omniscient. A person usually changes his or her mind because of new information that was previously unavailable, or because of new developments that require a different approach. Since God is Omniscient, He cannot learn something new that He did not already know.

The unchanging nature of God, coupled with His ability to turn any situation around for good is great advantage to His children. Because our God is faithful, you can be sure that every promise in His word to you will come to pass. Remember also that the fact that He has not imposed His promised judgement on workers of iniquity is indicative of His enduring mercy and unchanging grace. Please tap into this grace while it is yet available.

Prayer Point

Father please turn around every unpleasant situation in my life today in Jesus’ Name.


Sing hymn 13 – IMMORTAL INVISIBLE GOD ONLY WISE

Immortal, invisible, God only

wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our

eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the

Ancient of Days

Almighty, victorious, Thy great

name we praise.



Unresting, unhasting, and silent as

light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou

rulest in might;

Thy justice like mountains high

soaring above

Thy clouds which are fountains of

Goodness and love.



To all life Thou givest, to both

great and small;

In all life Thou livest, the true life

of all;

We bloosom and flourish as leaves

on the tree,

And wither and perish, but nought

Changeth Thee.



Great Father of Glory, pure

Father of Light.

Thine angels adore Thee, all

Veiling their sight

All laud we would render, O

help us to see:

‘Tis only the splendor of light

hideth Thee



Immortal, invisible, God only

wise,

In light inaccessible hid from

our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the

Ancient of Days

Almighty, victorious, Thy great

name we praise.

Prayer for your husband

Open Heavens, Friday 16th March 2018

HE STILL RESTORES

Memorise: Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. Luke 7:32

Read: Luke 4:16-21 (KJV)

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.


Bible in one year: Numbers 32-33, 2nd Corinthians 12

Hymnal: sing hymn 3



Message:

When God completed the process of creation, He carefully appraised everything He had created and concluded that they were very good. Genesis 1:31 says,

“And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

However, looking at the world created by God today, it is obvious that a lot of things are no longer very good. Why is this so? Through the deception of the devil, Adam and Eve fell into the error of sin, and this brought corruption and degeneration into the world. After the fall, mankind began to worship created things such as the moon, stars, mountains, rivers, trees and animals as God. Because the Almighty God id a jealous God, He responded by cursing the earth, and this led to a situation where these created things began to work against humanity, thereby making life terribly difficult for them. The land refused to yield its increase, weather became contrary, and animals became wild and unfriendly. However, the Almighty God knew that humanity needed restoration: the kind of restoration that only He, the Creator, could provide. This prompted Him, out of love and compassion, to send His only begotten Son on the difficult assignment of restoring mankind to his original state. May God’s Name be praised forever.

During the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ on earth, He went about restoring things that had been destroyed by the enemy back to God’s original plan and purpose. Through the Land Jesus Christ, the restoration power of God was released, not only by miraculous healing and deliverance, but also through forgiveness of sin, restoration of destiny, recovery of lost glory, and restoration of communities (Luke 8:39-40). Through His restoration work, a once shunned leper could now freely join other people to worship God, and people who were previously blind, lame and incapacitated became useful members of their society instead of living as beggars. Those freed from demonic possession were no longer feared by their neighbours.


Some even became evangelist, openly testifying to the glory of God. That same Jesus is still in the business of physical and spiritual restoration. I pray that in any way your destiny has become corrupted, the Lord will grant you total restoration in Jesus’ Name. I also pray that in every way perversion has entered into the Body of Christ, to attack and paralyse its operation, the Lord will step in to completely restore His Church in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point

Call on Jesus to restore every good thing that has lost its purpose in your life and community.


Sing hymn 3 – WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SINS

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole

again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.



Chorus:

Oh! Precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my cleansing this I see

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!



For my pardon this my plea

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Nothing can my sin erase

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!



Naught of works, ‘tis all of grace

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

This is all my hope and peace

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

This is all my righteousness

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Nigeria ranks 91 on UN global happiness report

The report ranked 156 countries according to factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.

The report revealed that Finland is the world’s happiest country while Burundi placed at the bottom of the happiness index.

The survey also found Americans were getting less happy even as their country became richer, while Finland rose from fifth place in 2017 to oust Norway from the top spot.

In 2017, Nigeria ranked 95th on the index.

The 2018 top-10, as ever dominated by the Nordics, is Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia.

The U S. came in at 18th, down from 14th place in 2017 while Britain was 19th and the United Arab Emirates 20th.

One chapter of the 170-page report is dedicated to emerging health problems such as obesity, depression and the opioid crisis, particularly in the U. S. where the prevalence of all three has grown faster than in most other countries.

While income per capita has increased markedly in the U. S. over the last half-century, the happiness index has been hit by weakened social support networks, a rise in perception of corruption in government and business and declining confidence in public institutions.


Culled from Vanguardngr.com

Prayer for your husband

Open Heavens, Thursday 15th March 2018

CROSSING THE RED SEA

Memorise: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2

Read: Exodus 14:21-31(KJV)

21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.



Bible in one year: Numbers 30-31, 2nd Corinthians 11:16-33

Hymnal: Sing hymn 10



Message

In the Bible, the Red Sea symbolises persistent obstacles and difficult barriers standing on our way to the Promised Land. Within 24 hours of their deliverance from 400 years of slavery, the people of Israel were confronted with an unusual problem. They suddenly discovered that their supposedly dead enemy had resurrected and was hotly chasing after them. they faced a serious dilemma as the army of Egypt was on their tail while the Red Sea was ahead of them. The people of God obviously left Egypt with a sense of victory in their hearts, thinking that the journey to the Promised Land would be fast and easy. They would have felt a sense of euphoria especially after witnessing the way God had dealt with their oppressors. Their focus was now set on getting to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, without any further hindrance. But here they were at the Red Sea. They would drown if they continued, but they could not retreat because the Egyptian army was coming from behind, ready to slaughter them. To them, it was a totally hopeless situation. What was the state of their faith at this point? Exodus 14:11-12 says,

“And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”



The people of God were so threatened that they verbalised their presence to return to slavery, thereby rejoicing God’s love and abandoning His plan of freedom for their lives. The devil always threatens and harasses people with the sole aim of pushing them to give up on God and themselves. I pray for you today: no matter what you are passing through, you will never lose your faith in God or surrender your dreams to the devil in Jesus’ Name.


When you are passing through a seemingly hopeless situation, you need to recognise that the Lord’s solutions are always bigger than your thoughts can comprehend. Isaiah 55:9 says,

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”


Do you know that beyond your wildest imagination, God has perfected a plan that will launch you into your destiny? All you need to do is stand firm. The Lord will soon destroy your enemies and give you a fresh start on your journey to your promised land in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, please strengthen my faith not to fall in the days of trial and adversity in Jesus’ Name.


Sing hymn 10 – MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamp of Calvary,

Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray

Take all my guilt away

Oh, let me from this day

Be wholly Thine!



May Thy rich grace impart

Strength to my fainting heart

My zeal inspire!

As Thou hast died for me,

Oh, may my love to Thee

Pure, warm, and changeless be,

A living fire!



While life’s dark maze I tread,

And griefs around me spread,

Be Thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn to day,

Wipe sorrow’s tears away,

Nor let me ever stray

From Thee aside



When ends life’s transient dream,

When death’s cold, sullen stream

Shall o’er me roll;

Blest Savior, then in love

Fear and distrust remove;

Oh, bear me safe above,

A ransomed soul!

Open Heavens, Monday 12th the March 2018

Divine Intervention

Memorise: In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Psalm 86:7

Bible Reading: Psalm 57:1-6 (KJV)

1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.



Bible in one year: Numbers 23-25, 2nd Corinthians 9

Hymnal: Sing hymn 14

Message

Divine intervention can be described as an incursion of the supernatural into human affairs in the physical world.  The message of the Bible is built on the existence of an invisible spiritual realm and the principle of divine intervention. Many people today, including some who claim to be Christians, deny the existence of a spiritual realm and the reality of divine intervention in the functioning of the universe, due to the high level of learning, knowledge and understanding they have attained, especially in modern science. This is a trick of the devil to get them blindsided to his activities in this world, and to get them to rebel against God’s authority. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the activities of the devil and his cohorts in Ephesians 6:12, saying:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Because the devil and his cohorts operate with invisible weapons of warfare, mankind therefore requires divine intervention to secure victory over them. This is why 2nd Corinthians 10:4 says,

“For the weapon of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;”

Today, the Lord shall deliver you from the hands of your wicked foes in Jesus’ Name. King David was a man who had first-hand experience of deadly battles and was exposed to several evil attacks of the enemy, but he triumphed over them all.


One of the secrets of his success is evident in today’s Bible reading, where he passionately prayed to God for mercy and divine intervention. Rather than rush into a battle in his own strength as an accomplished warrior, he chose to take refuge under the shadow of God’s wings until the disaster has passed. What a wise man he was! David’s recognition and understanding of the activities of the wicked world is discernible in the psalms that he wrote. A more dramatic example that shows his mind-set on divine intervention is his battle with Goliath in 1st Samuel 17. In 1st Samuel 17:47, David sort of removed himself from the scene and declared the fight a spiritual battle against the Lord. it was David’s appeal for divine intervention that was responsible for his outstanding victory over the powerful Philistine warrior.

I hereby decree that the same God who created heaven and the earth, delivered Israel at the Red Sea, turned water in wine, healed the sick, raised the dead, brought water out of the rock, stopped the sun from going down for hours, and who fed the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fishes, will grant you victory over all the challenges of life in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point

Ask the Lord to intervene in every situation that confronts your life and community today.

Sing hymn 14

ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

Onward Christian soldiers!

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before.

Christ, the royal Master,

Leads against the foe;

Forward into battle,

See, His banners go!



Chorus:

Onward, Christian soldiers!

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus,

Going on before.



At the name of Jesus

Satan’s host doth flee;

On then, Christian soldiers,

On to victory!

Hell’s foundations quiver

At the shout of praise:

Brothers, lift your voices,

Loud your Anthems raise!



Like a mighty army

Moves the Church of God:

Brothers, we are treading

Where the saints have trod;

We are not divided,

All one Body we-

One in faith and Spirit

One eternally.



Crowns and thrones may perish

Kingdoms rise and wane;

But the Church of Jesus

Constant will remain.

Gates of hell can never

‘Gainst the Church prevail;

We have Christ’s own promise,

Which can never fail.



Onward, then, ye people!

Join our happy throng;

Blend with ours your voices

In the triumph song.

Glory, laud and honor

Unto Christ, the King;

This through countless ages

Men and angels sing.

Open Heavens, Sunday 11th March 2018

GETTING ANSWERS THROUGH WORSHIP

Memorise: And whatever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13

Read: 1st Kings 18:36-39 (KJV)

36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.



Bible in one year: Numbers 22, 2nd Corinthians 8

Hymnal: Sing hymn 1



Message

Without controversy, my God is indeed a prayer-answering God. In my life, He has proven Himself to be a prayer-answering God over and over again. Not only does He answer prayers, He can also answer them instantly. If there is any example of a prayer that was answered instantly, it is the prayer of Elijah, which brought down the fire of God in today’s Bible reading. In the Name that is above every other Name, God will answer your prayers by fire today. Elijah is one of my favourite characters in the Bible, and I spent three years studying him, I observed something very, very, significant about him: he was a prayer warrior (James 5:17-18). He is one of the reasons why I pray so much. I spent quality time studying his prayer in 1st Kings 18:36-37, and I would like to share with you some of what the Holy Spirit taught me.

You will observe that Elijah started this prayer by calling on the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. What is the significance of this? He was first worshipping God by eulogizing Him. When you go through the Scripture, all those who worshipped God got their request granted. You will never find a single example of someone who worshipped God in Spirit and in truth who did not get his or her request granted. In Matthew 8:1-3 tells the story of a leper who was granted his request.

This was someone who had an incurable disease; someone who was not supposed to be found among the multitude. He came to Jesus and the first thing he did was to worship Him. He worshipped Him before he said “I know You can heal me if You want to.” Of course, he had already prepared the ground for his request to be granted. Jesus had no choice but to say” I am willing, be thou cleansed.” A similar story is found in Mark 5:1-15. it is the story of the mad man of Gadara, who when he saw Jesus from afar off, ran to meet Him and fell at His feet. Remember he was mad, but even in his madness; he was still able to worship God. If a mad man could worship God, what is your excuse for not worshipping Him? Read the story very well, he did not even pray to be delivered, but God delivered him all the same. Furthermore, in Mark 5:21-24, how did Jairus get his daughter resorted to life? He worshipped Jesus! Even though he was a great man, in the presence of Jesus, he considered his status to be of no significance.

This is why I feel uncomfortable when I see some so called “great men” who cannot worship God.  Whenever we are praising God and we are dancing and rejoicing, I see some people who feel they are too big to worship the king of kings. This is rather unfortunate because there is no one like God. He is greater than the greatest, higher than the highest, older than the oldest, richer than the richest, and He is better than the best. Worship your way into victory today!



 
Prayer Point

Worship God by eulogizing Him with His attributes you know. Read Isaiah 40:22-25 to aid you.



Sing hymn 1 – NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD

Now thank we all our God

with heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done,

In whom his world rejoices;

who from our mothers’ arms

has blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love,

and still is our today.



O may this bounteous God

through all our life be near us,

with ever joyful hearts

and blessed peace to cheer us,

to keep us in his grace,

and guide us when perplexed,

and free us from all ills

of this world in the next.



All praise and thanks to God

the Father now be given,

the Son and Spirit blest,

who reign in highest heaven

the one eternal God,

whom heaven and earth adore;

for thus it was, is now,

and shall be evermore

Prayer for your husband

Open Heavens, Saturday 10th March 2018

HOLINESS MADE SIMPLE

Memorise: If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

Read: 1st Samuel 15:16-23 (KJV)

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
 
Bible in one year: Numbers 20-21, 2nd Corinthians 6:14-7:16


Hymnal: Sing hymn 7



Message

The simple meaning of holiness is complete obedience of God. In Luke 6:64, Jesus said “Why do you call Me Lord when you don’t do those things that I command you?” The evidence that Jesus is really Lord to you in spirit and in truth is doing whatever He commands you, Holiness is obedience: not just half obedience but total obedience. In today’s Bible text, Samuel announced to Saul that to obey is better than sacrifice. While living a sacrificial life in service to God has its place, it is not a substitute for obedience. In Revelation 3:15-16, God says that it is better you obey Him completely or you don’t obey Him at all. He said this because His nature of holiness commands full obedience from these who are partakers of His divine nature.

You cannot claim to be living a holy life if you are not evangelising to win souls. This is so because in Mark 16:15, we are commanded to go and preach the gospel. It is not a suggestion; it is a command. If you are living in disobedience to that single commandment, then forget about holy living. Your evangelism should be a lifestyle. God’s commandment does not stop at evangelism; after evangelism comes follow-up. John 15:16 says,

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”

If you don’t follow up the souls you have won, you have not yet finished the job. Furthermore, according to Matthew 28:18-20, you are not just to win souls and follow them up, you are also commanded to make them disciples of Christ, because your fruit must abide. You disciple them by teaching them the sound word of God and by being a living example of the word you teach. Your work on your convert is not over until that convert has become rooted and built up in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7). Only after doing these can you claim to have finished the job. Let it be settled in your mind that there is no holiness without evangelism, no holiness without follow-up and no holiness unless you make disciples of every nation.

This is the reason why we are planting churches, so that the souls we are winning, following up and making Christ’s disciples can have a place to grow and worship God in spirit and in truth. Our number one goal is to make Heaven, and our second goal is to take as many people as possible with us. Therefore, our lifestyle will be holiness, and holiness means total obedience. Total obedience includes soul winning, follow-up, and the making of disciples. So, do not be surprised if I tell you that no evangelism means no Heaven! This may sound hard to you but it is the plain truth.


 

Prayer Point

Father, please give me the grace to win more souls this year in Jesus’ Name.



Sing hymn 7 – WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

Wonderful story of love;

Tell it to me again;

Wonderful story of love;

Wake the immortal strain!

Angles with rapture announce

It,

Shepherds with wonder receive

it;

Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?

Wonderful story of love.



Chorus:

Wonderful! Wonderful!

Wonderful, Wonderful story of love.



Wonderful story of love;

Through you are far away;

Wonderful story of love;

Still He doth call today;

Calling from Calvary’s

Mountain,

Down from the crystal-bright

fountain,

E’en from the dawn of creation,

Wonderful story of love.



Wonderful story of love;

Jesus provides a rest;

Wonderful story of love;

For all the pure and blest,

Rest in those mansions above

us, With those who’ve gone on

before us,

Singing the rapturous chorus,

Wonderful story of love.

Prayer for your Husband

Open Heaven, Friday 9th March 2018

UNSTOPPABLE

Memorise: For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. 2nd Samuel 22:30

Read: Psalm 27:1-6 (KJV) 

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Bible in one year: Numbers 18-19, 2nd Corinthians 5:11-6:13

Hymnal: Sing hymn 7

Message

The devil’s main objective is to prevent people from actualising their God-given goals, thereby stopping them from fulfilling their destiny. The devil accomplishes this by first separating his victims from the true God through disobedience. He then blindfolds and brainwashes them to become addicted to ungodly practices that are abominable to God and detrimental to their own wellbeing. Such victims develop uncontrollable interests in evil acts such as sexual immorality, night crawling, prostitution, alcoholism, drug abuse, money rituals, occultism and other vices that usually result in a terminated destiny through untimely death. I decree concerning you today; your destiny will not be trapped, and you will be unstoppable in the journey of life in the mighty Name of Jesus.

“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

If you are a child of God, you need to recognise that the life of God you now possess has made you unstoppable against sickness, poverty, sin, destructive habits, demons and evil powers (2nd Peter 1:3-4, Romans 8:31). Anyone who desires to be unstoppable must first of all be a partaker of God’s divine nature. You become a partaker of the divine nature by becoming born again, which means that you renounce sin and the devil, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour. Those who have the nature of God are shielded from every evil attack that can endanger their destiny, by an invisible covering of God. This truth is revealed in Psalm 27:5:

“For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.”

As a partaker in God’s divine nature, there is a responsibility that goes along with it which makes you unstoppable to every onslaught of the devil, and this is the responsibility of being a good witness and a soul winner of Christ. The devil cannot stop a witness for Christ because he or she carries the banner of God’s kingdom into the devil’s territory (Matthew 16:18).

Anyone who goes about telling everyone that Jesus saves, Jesus heals and Jesus provides, will always be victorious, even if all the host of hell should gather against such a person. This was the experience of David when he was fighting the Lord’s battles, which is the reason why he wrote the words of today’s Bible reading. I pray that you also will experience the reality of this truth in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, as I raise up the banner of Your Kingdom everywhere I go, make me unstoppable in every facet of life in Jesus’ Name.

Sing hymn 7 – WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

Wonderful story of love;

Tell it to me again;

Wonderful story of love;

Wake the immortal strain!

Angles with rapture announce

It,

Shepherds with wonder receive

it;

Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?

Wonderful story of love.

Chorus:

Wonderful! Wonderful!

Wonderful, Wonderful story of love.

Wonderful story of love;

Through you are far away;

Wonderful story of love;

Still He doth call today;

Calling from Calvary’s

Mountain,

Down from the crystal-bright

fountain,

E’en from the dawn of creation,

Wonderful story of love.

Wonderful story of love;

Jesus provides a rest;

Wonderful story of love;

For all the pure and blest,

Rest in those mansions above

us, With those who’ve gone on

before us,

Singing the rapturous chorus,

Wonderful story of love.

Prayer for your Husband

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Open Heaven, Thursday 8th March 2018

 FAVOURED BY MERCY

Memorise: It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22

Read: Romans 9:14-16(KJV)

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Read: Genesis 37:19-21

19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

Bible in one year: Numbers 16-17, 2nd Corinthians 4:1-5:10

Hymnal: Sing hymn 11

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Message 

Nobody can succeed in this world if the Lord withholds His mercy from him or her. I pray that God will show you His mercy by granting you divine favour today in Jesus’ Name. One character that illustrates a life operating under divine favour is Joseph.Genesis 39:21 says this concerning him;

“But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

When you consider the events of His life, you will begin to understand the magnitude of God’s mercy available to someone operating under divine favour. For example, from today’s Bible reading, we see that nobody can kill a person operating under divine favour. When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they said amongst themselves, “Let us kill him.” However, they were not able to carry out their devilish intentions because Joseph was operating under God’s favour. When powerful people decide that the time has come for a divinely favoured person to die, they will surely fail. I want to assure you today by the word of the Lord, you will not die before your time in Jesus’ Name. Why am I so sure of this? My assurance stands on the declaration of the Almighty God in Deuteronomy 32:39:

“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.”

Based on this declaration, when you are operating under the favour of God, nobody can kill you or terminate your destiny. As a matter of fact, Isaiah 54:17 says this about you:

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

By this word of the Lord, every weapon formed against you shall be neutralised in Jesus’ Name. When you are operating under the divine favour of God, rather than you dying, as wished by the enemies of your destiny and vision, the Lord will strengthen the arms of your spiritual hands to fulfil your destiny. Here is what the Holy Spirit says about Joseph in Genesis 49:23-24:

“The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel: )”

As the Lord did for Joseph, so shall He do for you today in Jesus’ Name.

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Prayer Point

Father, as Your hands strengthened the arms of Joseph to fulfil his destiny, strengthen the arms of my hands today in Jesus’ Name.

Sing hymn 11 – O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne

Thy saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone,

And our defence is sure

Before the hills in order stood,

Or earth receive her frame,

From everlasting Thou art God,

To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight

Are like an evening gone;

Short as the watch that ends the

night

Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,

Bears all its sons away

They fly forgotten, as a dream

Dies at the opening day.

O God. Our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou our guard while life

Shall last,

And our external home.

Son of Man

The first time I kissed your lips
Shivers ran down my spine like rows of whips,
The aroma that came from your breath
No doubt was way out of this Earth;

Kick-started in me was a journey of Sanctification
On my knees I was, and you brought me Salvation,
The Baptist, even in the womb, your presence felt
By the bank of the Jordan your weaknesses melt;

In Heaven, on Earth, all powers you wield
To demon outcast and surround us with a shield,
On those who believe, your power bestow
Our faces now lit up with colossal glow;

With you every night, a date I keep
My heart, for you longs even when deep asleep,
With the rising sun, my eyes and heart aglow
Filled with strength, which from you comes alone;

Many a man, your word has heard
Yet the path of destruction tread because their hearts are smeared,
Our savour as salt of the earth have we lost
On whose shoulder would we rest to bear this colossal cost?

#mondayspeaks

Prayer for your Husband

Today's Bible Reading, Tuesday 6th March 2018

 - NUMBERS 12 -

1.Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

2.So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it.

3.(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

4.Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out.

5.Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward.

6.Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.

7.Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house.

8.I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”

9.So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed.

10.And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper.

11.So Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned.

12.Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb!”

13.So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “Please heal her, O God, I pray!”

14.Then the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again.”

15.So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again.

16.And afterward the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.


 - NUMBERS 13 -

1.And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2.“Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”

3.So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.

4.Now these were their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur;

5.from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori;

6.from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;

7.from the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph;

8.from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun;

9.from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu;

10.from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi;

11.from the tribe of Joseph, that is, from the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi;

12.from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli;

13.from the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael;

14.from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi;

15.from the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.

16.These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua.

17.Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains,

18.and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many;

19.whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds;

20.whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

21.So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath.

22.And they went up through the South and came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23.Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs.

24.The place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there.

25.And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.

26.Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.

27.Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.

28.Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.

29.The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”

30.Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

31.But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”

32.And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.

33.There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”



- II CORINTHIANS 1:12 - 2:11 -

 12.For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

13.For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end

14.(as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15.And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit—

16.to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea.

17.Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?

18.But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.

19.For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.

20.For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

21.Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,

22.who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

23.Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.

24.Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

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1 .But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

2.For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

3.And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.

4.For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

5.But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.

6.This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,

7.so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

8.Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

9.For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

10.Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

11.lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

OPEN HEAVEN, TUESDAY 6TH MARCH 2018

LET GOD ARISE II

MEMORISE: Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake. Psalm 44:26

READ: Matthew 13:24-30

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 12-13, 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11

Hymnal: HYMN 11

MESSAGE

The presence of wickedness and the acts of evil perpetrators on earth are indicative of a continuing rebellion against God’s holiness. This poses a constant threat against the people of God, and persistently attacks God’s plan and purpose for humanity. The Lord Jesus Christ, in today’s Bible reading, clearly reveals the source of this situation as the devil. Matthew 13:25 says:

“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”

Thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit further reveals that we are empowered to pull down the strongholds that the devil uses to perpetuate wickedness in this world (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). The devil and his cohorts are not only against the children of God, they are also strongly opposed to God’s plans and purpose on earth. For this reason, an appeal to God for assistance against these enemies usually yields immediate results. Only God’s mercy and the hope repentance compel God to delay His judgement on evildoers (Romans 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). Nevertheless, when God finally arises, His enemies are scattered and made to disappear like smoke, causing the righteous to rejoice exceedingly.

The joy and celebration of the righteous is understandably great whenever God puts an end to the evil activities of the wicked. I prophecy that very soon you will have great joy, as God will silence all your enemies and detractors in Jesus’ Name. Whenever God arises, it is always bad news for His enemies for many reasons. First, the rising of the Lord is mostly sudden and unexpected by the camp of the enemy. The Lord thereby throws them into confusion and inflicts terrible damage on them. Whenever God arises, He scatters His enemies and violently overthrows their domain without resistance.

No one ever hardens his heart against God and prospers. When God arises, He sits as the Righteous Judge to pass the deserved sentence upon the wicked just as He did to Pharaoh, Haman King Herod, Judas Iscariot and several others. The day of God’s judgement is usually the day of complete and final destruction of ungodly people. However, God arises as an act of mercy to bring comfort, joy and celebration to His people. When God arises, His children are comforted after enduring persecution, injustice, oppression and sometimes prolonged hardship. They rejoice at witnessing the destruction of the enemy and they celebrate the freedom and liberty to continue the pursuit of their destiny. It is usually a time of singing and dancing on the victory march towards the Promised Land. In the Name that is above every other names, you will celebrate with exceeding gladness over your enemies this year.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please arise and let all Your enemies be scattered in Jesus’ Name.

HYMN 11: O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne,

Still may we dwell secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone,

And our defence is sure

Before the hills in order stood,

Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting Thou art God,

To endless years the same

A thousand ages in Thy sight

Are like an evening gone,

Short as the watch that ends the night

Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,

Bears all its sons away:

They fly forgotten, as a dream

Dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou our guard while life shall last,

And our eternal home.

Prayer for your husband

Today’s Bible Readings

- NUMBERS 10 -

1.And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2.“Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps.

3.When they blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

4.But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you.

5.When you sound the advance, the camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey.

6.When you sound the advance the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall begin their journey; they shall sound the call for them to begin their journeys.

7.And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but not sound the advance.

8.The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations.

9.“When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.

10.Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”

11.Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony.

12.And the children of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sinai on their journeys; then the cloud settled down in the Wilderness of Paran.

13.So they started out for the first time according to the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

14.The standard of the camp of the children of Judah set out first according to their armies; over their army was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

15.Over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.

16.And over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

17.Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle.

18.And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their armies; over their army was Elizur the son of Shedeur.

19.Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

20.And over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

21.Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.)

22.And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set out according to their armies; over their army was Elishama the son of Ammihud.

23.Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

24.And over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

25.Then the standard of the camp of the children of Dan (the rear guard of all the camps) set out according to their armies; over their army was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

26.Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.

27.And over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.

28.Thus was the order of march of the children of Israel, according to their armies, when they began their journey.

29.Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”

30.And he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives.”

31.So Moses said, “Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.

32.And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same we will do to you.”

33.So they departed from the mountain of the Lord on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.

34.And the cloud of the Lord was above them by day when they went out from the camp.

35.So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: “Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.”

36.And when it rested, he said: “Return, O Lord, To the many thousands of Israel.”

– NUMBERS 11 -

1.Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.

2.Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched.

3.So he called the name of the place Taberah, because the fire of the Lord had burned among them.

4.Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat?

5.We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;

6.but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”

7.Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium.

8.The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil.

9.And when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

10.Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased.

11.So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me?

12.Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers?

13.Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’

14.I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.

15.If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and do not let me see my wretchedness!”

16.So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you.

17.Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.

18.Then you shall say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat.

19.You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,

20.but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?”’”

21.And Moses said, “The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.’

22.Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?”

23.And the Lord said to Moses, “Has the Lord’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”

24.So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle.

25.Then the Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again.

26.But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp.

 

27.And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28.So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!”

29.Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”

30.And Moses returned to the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

31.Now a wind went out from the Lord, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground.

32.And the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers); and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.

33.But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague.

34.So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving.

35.From Kibroth Hattaavah the people moved to Hazeroth, and camped at Hazeroth.

- II Corinthians 1:1-11-

1.Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

2.Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3.Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

4.who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5.For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

6.Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

7.And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

8.For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

9.Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

10.who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

11.you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

(NKJV)