OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 25TH 2017

THEME: DESCENT IS OFTEN UNNOTICED        


Memorise:

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ecclesiastes 8:11


Read:  Luke 22:1-6

22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

22:2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

22:5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
 

Message:

To successfully run the Christian race, certain assignments cannot be delegated or carried out without your involvement. In Joshua chapter 7, Joshua delegated the assignment of fighting Ai to some of his men, and at the end of the day, they suffered defeat. Nothing kills like overconfidence! Have you ever wondered if Judas Iscariot was originally a thief? In Luke 6:12-13, the Lord prayed all night before selecting 12 apostles. It is therefore most likely that he did not start out as a thief. However, even if he was originally a thief, nobody gets to the zenith of an evil deed suddenly. It is usually a gradual process. Backsliding is a process and not a sudden event. If you see a brother backslidden to the point of shamelessly going about with wolves, on closer examination, you will discover that he must have been secretly frolicking with sin for a while. He must have tried a sinful act the first time and “gotten away with it”. This would have encouraged him to try a second, third and fourth time. Since he was not caught, he would gradually continue to practice such acts of sin more frequently, until his final descent becomes glaring for all to see.


“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11

The devil does not usually come with a frontal attack against a child of God. He uses subtle, little issues that one will consider as nothing. Those things the devil says do not matter really matter a lot. When you do not see anything wrong in intimately hugging the opposite sex or touching their bodies at will, know that you have started backsliding. If you take a little money from the church purse in your care unnoticed, you have also started backsliding. If you do not cry to the Lord and ask for His help there and then, and you allow your descent to linger, before long, you will be openly fornicating or even selling Jesus for peanuts without feeling remorse. Examine yourself; how is it with your faith today? Have you backslidden in any way? If you have, run to the cross of Calvary for God to restore you before you get to a point of no return! God still loves you. Respond to His love now!


Key Point:
The reason why you don’t often get caught immediately you engage in an evil act is not because you are smart, but because God wants you to speedily retrace your steps and repent.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 50-55
Micah 2    


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
 

HYMN 9:   ON THE HILL FAR AWAY

1.       On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

2.       Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain:

3.       In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain:

4.       To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain:

Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens: (Saturday, November 25th, 2017) - DESCENT IS OFTEN UNNOTICED 

1.Thank you, Father, for the abundance of your grace upon us, mortals; because, if your are to mark sin, no man shall stand.

2. Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus name.

3.Father, deliver me from secret and presumptuous sins, before I am publicly humiliated and disgraced, by them, in Jesus name.

4.Let every loophole, that I have created for Satan to come into my life, be blocked, today, by the blood of Jesus.

5.Father, whenever, temptation to commit evil, comes into my heart, quickly, make a way of escape for me, as you have promised, in Jesus name.

6.Father, renew my heart and spirit; please, give me a new heart that thinks no evil and does no evil, in Jesus name.

7.Father, do not let me become too familiar with you, to the point of taking you for granted, or abusing your grace, over my life, in Jesus name.

8.Father, let every conspiracy to betray, harm or kill me, be scattered and frustrated, by the hosts of heaven, in Jesus name.

9.Father, heal every inch of backsliding in me, before I get to the point of no return, in Jesus name.

10.Father, shut the mouth of every roaring, worldly, lion, seeking to devour me; and destroy all the traps and baits, set to catch me, in Jesus name.

11.Father, bless, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the author of the open heavens daily devotional and general overseer of RCCG; empower him to be faithful, loyal and committed, unto you, till the end, in Jesus name.

12.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
#GodBlessOurNation

��� *LET US PRAY* ���

.. _*SATURDAY, November 25, 2017*_

*PRAYER POINTS* :- _DESCENT IS OFTEN UNNOTICED ._

1. *THANKSGIVINGS* .

2. *INTERCESSIONS/SUPPLICATIONS.*

3. *PRAYERS FROM OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL:*

----- Father, i thank you because *YOU ARE OMNISCIENT.*

*_---- Father, I thank you for saving me and for the salvation of my soul....._*

*_---- Father, I thank you for the grace to be alive, today;......_*

-----Thank you, Father, for the abundance of your grace upon us, mortals; because, if your are to mark sin, no man shall stand.....

------Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus name.....

------Father, deliver me from secret and presumptuous sins, before I am publicly humiliated and disgraced, by them, in Jesus name......

------Let every loophole, that I have created for Satan to come into my life, be blocked, today, by the blood of Jesus......

-----Father, whenever, temptation to commit evil, comes into my heart, quickly, make a way of escape for me, as you have promised, in Jesus name......

-----Father, renew my heart and spirit; please, give me a new heart that thinks no evil and does no evil, in Jesus name.....

------Father, do not let me become too familiar with you, to the point of taking you for granted, or abusing your grace, over my life, in Jesus name.....

------Father, let every conspiracy to betray, harm or kill me, be scattered and frustrated, by the hosts of heaven, in Jesus name......

------Father, heal every inch of backsliding in me, before I get to the point of no return, in Jesus name.....

------Father, shut the mouth of every roaring, worldly lion, seeking to devour me; and destroy all the traps and baits, set to catch me, in Jesus name.......

------Father, bless, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the author of the open heavens daily devotional and general overseer of RCCG; empower him to be faithful, loyal and committed, unto you, till the end, in Jesus name.....

4. *PERSONAL PRAYERS REQUESTS:*
-- (John 16:23 - 24,
-- LUKE 18:1,
-- MATT 7:7 - 8 )......

---- FATHER, I thank you for the answers, for in *JESUS MIGHTY* Name I have Prayed.