Open Heaven 30 January 2024 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Servant Or Son?
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Open Heaven 30 January 2024 TOPIC: Servant Or Son?
MEMORISE: “I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:” – 1 Chronicles 17:13 (KJV)
READ: Luke 15:11-32 (KJV)
11 And he said, A confident man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his Father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered together and took his journey into a far country, wasting his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, a mighty famine arose in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he joined himself to a citizen of that country, sending him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my Father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose and came to his Father. But when he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, had compassion, ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the Father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this, my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now, his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother comes; thy Father hath killed the fatted calf because he received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his Father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his Father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son came, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 8-10
Open Heaven 30 January 2024 MESSAGE
Whenever I insist that I am not a servant of God but a son, some wonder if there’s a difference between children and servants of God. Simply put, a son of God has several advantages that a servant of God does not have.
In John 8:35, the Bible says that, unlike a servant, a son abides in the house forever. A servant can resign or be sacked, but a son cannot. When a father says, “I reject you as my child, I disown you,” it is a joke because his blood is running in the child; he can’t take the blood away. Hence, a child will always be in the house. The implications of this alone are many. Psalm 23:6, for example, says: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” The one who dwells in the house forever has the assurance that goodness and mercy shall follow him forever. Also, according to Psalm 91:1, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Also Read: Open Heaven 29 January 2024 – What Is God’s Temple? (6)
A servant is always a visitor; he comes into the presence of the master when he is needed and goes out when he is not required. A son, however, is a dweller; he always stays in the house. Furthermore, according to John 5:20, the son sees everything the Father does; the servant does not see everything his master does. There is beauty and joy in knowing what God is doing and being able to see ahead of time what God is going to do. For example, years ago, when problems were brewing, I told those close to me, “Trouble is coming, but at the end of it, somebody is going to laugh,” and so it happened because I have the privilege as a son to see what my Father is doing.
Certain things can happen to servants that will never happen to children. For example, as good as Job was, God called him “My servant,” little wonder God allowed Satan to experiment with him (Job 1:8-12). My Father will never permit the enemy to experiment with my health, resources, or anything that concerns me because I am His son.
Tomorrow, by His grace, I will study how to become a son of God.
Open Heaven 30 January 2024 KEY POINT
Being a son of God is superior to just being His servant.
Open Heaven 30 January 2024 HYMN 27 – What A Friend We Have In Jesus
1 What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3 Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms, He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Ambydennis Notice Board: Until you are born again, God’s abiding presence will never be with you. It would be best if you were born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart. You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You, Lord, for keeping me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online, please send your testimonies and prayer request to info@rccg.org, +234-1-8447340, +234-0-7098213112.
