OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2017

THEME: ACCEPTABLE SERVICE

Memorise:

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27

Read: Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

MESSAGE:

In these end times, the Lord is looking for those who are ready to consecrate themselves to His use. If you are ready to partner with God in His service, you can be sure that your reward will not only be great on earth but also in heaven. However, for you to be a vessel unto honour in the service of the Lord, you must be ready to admit your insignificance before Him (Isaiah 40:17). You must also be ready to follow the Lord all the way, cheerfully and heartily. You should see it as a great honour for God to count you worthy of being called into the service of His kingdom. Furthermore, God is holy, and so, for you to be a vessel in His service, you must also be holy in thought, character and conduct. Those who want to continue in sin and also live a hypocritical lifestyle cannot be blessed in God’s service. You must surrender your life to Christ genuinely. This is a prerequisite in offering acceptable service to the Lord. Any defiled or polluted person cannot behold the glory of God’s holiness. In the scriptures, those who offered acceptable service, such as Enoch, Daniel, Elijah and Job, made up their minds that they would not allow anything to pollute their lives. Note however that you cannot all by yourself keep yourself from the vanities of this world; neither can you live a holy life through your morality. You can only live a holy and acceptable life by yielding to the grace of God. God’s grace enables us to offer acceptable service before Him. Expounding on this grace, Titus 2:11-12 says,

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”

Although there are several winds of false doctrine blowing across the world today, the Lord expects us to continue in the pure and undiluted word of God (2 Peter 3:16-18). This is the anchor that keeps us from being tossed about (Hebrews 6:18-19). This undefiled word of God will help us keep that which is committed into our hands as we offer our service to God in these last days. We must be watchful so that our works will not be adjudged as imperfect before the throne of God. In the Body of Christ today, many people serve God amiss. They are working, but not asking themselves if their labour follows the due order of heaven (1 Chronicles 15:13). If you fail to assess the methods you are using to achieve the mandate of the Commission, you will be shocked at the judgement seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15). What are the motives behind what you do in Church? What attitude do you display when your pastor is not there to watch over you? How are you utilizing the resources entrusted to your care?

Action Point:

Access your service in God’s Kingdom. Does it follow God’s pattern?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 18:19 and Isaiah 40:6-23

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

1 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 banner go!

Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!

2 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!

[Refrain]

3 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.

[Refrain]

4 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 thro' countless ages
men and angels sing.

[Refrain]

Amen

Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens, ( Friday, February 17th, 2017) - ACCEPTABLE SERVICE
1.Thank you Father, for the privilege and honour to be of service to you and your kingdom.
2.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, have mercy and forgive me.
3.Father, give me the grace to be holy, as you are holy in heaven; in thought, in character and in conduct.
4.Father, empower me to present my body, as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, to you, this being my reasonable service.
5.Father, keep me pure, unspotted and without blemish, in this world, until the coming of Christ, in Jesus' name.
6.Father, help me to serve you, not with eye service, or as men-pleasers, but "as a servant of God, doing the Will of God".
7.Father, empower and fill me to the brim with your Holy Spirit, which is your mandate for divine service.
8.Father, help me to serve you willingly, without grudges, and without being forced, in Jesus' name.
9.Father, empower me not to conform again to this world, but, let me be transformed by renewing my mind, daily, in your word, in order to "prove that which is good, acceptable, and perfect, will of God".
10.Father, please, give me grace to show compassion and love, to the fatherless and the widows; help me to visit them regularly and minister to their needs, in Jesus' name.
11.Father, by your grace and mercy, let all the services that l have rendered, and will render, unto you, be acceptable and rewarded, in Jesus' name.
12.Your Personal Petitions.
(Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus' name I pray.
(John 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
#GodBlessOurNation