OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2016.

THEME: A MESSENGER WITH A MESSAGE

Memorise:

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romas 10:15

Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

MESSAGE

The whole of the Bible and everything about Christianity is summed up in the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ arises naturally from believers' love for God and the appreciation of all that He has done for us, is known as evangelism. The New Testament Bible stresses the importance of evangelism, and provides important guidance as to how it should be done. Matthew 28:19 spells out the great commission.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

The focus on envangelism is the proclamation of the good news of the coming of the Kingdom of God, including forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Daniel 10:6, describes the perculiar features of the original messenger (Jesus Christ) as follows:
"His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude".

The fiery face and the fire in His eyes represents the countenance of a no nonsense Judge, the voice of a multitude symbolizes peoples, nations, and languages of the world. There is no place on the surface of the earth where His message will not be heard.

Another thing the passage talks about is the Lord's feet, how they appear like brass when on fire. Brass signifies strength. Jesus feet are said to be polished brass. This indicates that His feet are empowered to trample upon His enemies. If you are truly located in your place of authority in Christ Jesus, the only place your enemies can be is under your feet. Like Jesus, your feet need to be empowered so that when you trample on serpents and scorpions, you will not be hurt. To do this, you must empower your feet as God's messenger with evangelism. Every soul you win for God's Kingdom turns your feet to be as strong as the Lord's so that you can easily have victory over your enemies. How many souls have you won to the Lord since the year began?

Prayer Point:

Father, please make me an effective soul winner in Jesus' name.

Bible IN ONE YEAR:

Leviticus 10-12
Psalm 120-122

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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,
Looking unto Jesus,
Who is gone before.
At the sign of triumph
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.
Chorus:
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 hope and doctrine,
One in charity.

Chorus:
Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus
Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never
Gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ's own promise,
And that cannot fail.

Chorus:

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.
Chorus.