Open Heavens: January 10th, 2017

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY
DEVOTIONAL.
DATE: TUESDAY 10TH JANUARY
2017.
THEME: PROUD?
Memorise:
Likewise, ye younger, submit
yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all
of you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility: for
God resisteth the proud, and
giveth grace to the humble. 1
Peter 5:5
Read: 1 Peter 5:5-6
5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit
yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all
of you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility: for
God resisteth the proud, and
giveth grace to the humble.
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due
time:
MESSAGE:
While seeking God's face
towards a particular year's
Convention of our church, the
Lord asked me to go back to the
basis. It was obvious we had
forgotten some things, and God
wanted to remind us of them.
Indeed God's ways are different
from our ways; hence the need
for us to always humble
ourselves before Him. The big
things, deep secrets and
outstanding thoughts we expect
to get from God may not come
through the avenues that we
think they will follow. There are
certain lessons God may want to
teach us and He would send us
to the ants (Proverbs 6:6)! This
shows that He can send you to
what you think you cannot get
anything from. He can teach you
great lessons using a familiar
terrain. He can use vessels you
consider too junior in the
ecclesiastical hierarchy to teach
you things that will blow your
mind. This is why you have to
remain humble and meek
because God can only teach
those who are meek.
One thing that can come
between you and the divine
knowledge that will transform
your life is Pride. 1 Peter 5:5 says
God resists the proud. The word
"resist" in this verse is used in
the present continuous tense. To
"resist" is to forcefully push back
against something. It implies that
if you are proud, all your
attempts to move closer to God
shall be rebuffed by Him. This is
why the proud cannot stay on
the same platform with God. Are
you proud? Today, many people
are proud of their achievements:
how many members they have in
their local church parish, the size
of their tithe, how many
churches they have planted, how
many souls they have won etc.
One thing such people forget is
that we can do nothing without
Him. John 15:5 says:
"I am the vine, ye are the
branches: He that abideth in me,
and I in him, the same bringeth
forth much fruit: for without me
ye can do nothing."
Some others boast over their
wealth, or their privileged office
or position, even their beauty
and appearance. Some others
have become distant from God
because of the multiple academic
qualifications they have acquired
in various disciplines over the
years; they forget that
knowledge should set you free,
and not cut you off from God.
Whenever what you know
attracts Pride in your life, that
knowledge has become counter-
productive, capable of pushing
you into serious trouble. Examine
yourself today and ask God to
destroy any trace of pride in you.
Key Point:
If you allow a benefit that should
draw you closer to God to
separate you from Him, you are
on the path of doom.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Matthew 20-21
Isaiah 8
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 suffering 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 some day for a
crown.
2. O 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 that old rugged cross I will
ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly
bear;
Then he'll call me some day to my
home far away,
Where his glory forever I'll share.
(Refrain)