Open Heaven For Today 2024 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – He Did It All For You 2
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TOPIC: He Did It All For You 2
MEMORISE: “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” – Hebrews 9:26 (KJV)
READ: Matthew 26:37-45 (KJV)
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little farther and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he came to the disciples, and found them asleep, and said unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44 And he left them went away again, prayed the third time, saying the exact words.
45 Then he came to his disciples and said unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 28-31
Open Heaven For Today 2024 MESSAGE
Jesus knew the end from the beginning, so He knew what would happen to Him on the cross would be terrible. This made Him pray in Matthew 26:39, saying, “…O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” The Bible recorded that His sweat was like blood while He was saying this prayer. This tells us that He took that prayer very seriously. Yet, Jesus still decided to go through with the suffering.
Jesus did not lay down His life out of compulsion. He said clearly in John 10:18 that He laid down His life willingly. That statement is heavy, and it made me ask, “What kind of love will make a man surrender Himself to be humiliated and slaughtered like this?”
I saw the perfect answer to my question in John 15:13, which says:
Greater love hath no man than this: a man lay down his life for his friends.
This is the most significant kind of love in the world. Jesus loves you more than anyone can ever love you, and He showed it by laying down His life for you.
Again, I asked myself, “What will make a man surrender His life like this?” I saw the answer to this question in John 10:11-12. The Good Shepherd never deserts the sheep when He sees a wolf coming. He stays and protects the sheep from being devoured because of the love He has for the sheep. The devil is the wolf that tries to steal, kill, and destroy, while Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for you to have eternal life.
Jesus is the only genuine protection you can get from the claws of the wolf – the devil. If you believe in Him and surrender your life to Him, the wolf will have no power over you because Jesus has already died for you. The wolf, however, is free to devour anyone who is not following Jesus or believers who stray away from Him.
Beloved, if you don’t want to be prey to the devil, give your life to Jesus Christ now. Commit to following Him and Him alone. He paid the ultimate price for you and is the only One who can lead you into everlasting life.
KEY POINT
Only those who are in the flock of the Good Shepherd are safe from the claws of the wolf.
HYMN 19 – Rock Of Ages, Cleft For Me
1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Please save me from its guilt and power.
2 Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never be erased,
Thou must save, and save by grace.
3 Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross, I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Open Heavens 2024 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical churches in the world, and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile, and PC. Open Heaven for Today 2024
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – He Did It All For You 1
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TOPIC: He Did It All For You 1
MEMORISE: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16 (KJV)
READ: Romans 5:6-8 (KJV)
6 For when we were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly in due time.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 25-27
Open Heaven For Today 2024 MESSAGE
When Jesus Christ was on the cross, He appeared to be helpless. This man could call 12 legions of angels to come to His rescue, yet He was nailed to a cross and seemed helpless. Indeed, what can a person whose hands and feet have been nailed to a cross do? For example, while Jesus was on the cross, he said, “I thirst.” Instead of giving Him water, they gave Him vinegar, which He could do nothing about. This was not because He did not have the power to do whatever He wanted, but because if He had saved Himself at that time, you and I would have become prey to the devil. So, because of His love for us, He was helpless. He became helpless so that you can be helped. If the blood of Jesus has washed you, you will never lack help, in Jesus’ name.
On the cross, Jesus was lonely. He cried in Matthew 27:46, “…My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.” He was not even talking about how His disciples forsook Him. They left Him when He was arrested, but now, even God forsook Him. That was the biggest heartbreak for Him because there had never been a time when God was not with Him. However, He went through all that so God can always be with you. He went through that grueling experience so that you will never be alone and that He will answer you whenever you call on God.
Everything that happened at Calvary was sorrowful for Jesus; you cannot experience such pain and shame and not be sorrowful. He, however, put Himself through that sorrow so that you can have joy. Therefore, if you are genuinely washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, everything causing you sorrow is banished now, in Jesus’ name.
He did it all for you to have an eternal life beyond what this world can give you. Are you enjoying the benefits of the sacrifice He made for you on the cross? Are you genuinely washed in His blood? Are you living your life like Christ? The benefits of the sacrifice He paid are only for those who live holy. All holy people will experience the benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. I have decided to live holy for the rest of my life; what about you?
KEY POINT
Only holy people will enjoy the benefits of Jesus’ death on the cross.
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 your friends despise and forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms, he’ll take and shield you;
you will find solace there.
Open Heavens 2024 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical churches in the world, and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile, and PC. Open Heaven for Today 2024
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Christianity Is Personal
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TOPIC: Christianity Is Personal
MEMORISE: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV)
READ: John 10:3-4 (KJV)
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 22-24
Open Heaven For Today 2024 MESSAGE
Whenever God wants to talk to a congregation, no matter how large, He will address individuals. Revelations 3:20 was written to an entire Church, but He said, “If any man…” John 3:16 says, “God loved the whole world, that He gave His only begotten son, whosoever…”
We came into this world one at a time. Genesis 25:21-26 clarifies that even when twins are born, they come out one at a time. Even if the twins are to be delivered by a Caesarean operation, the doctor will bring one out first before the second. Romans 14:12 says that we will all give an account of ourselves before God. The messages you read in this devotional are not for everybody but for you in particular.
Whenever David wants to talk about something severe, he personalizes it. In Psalm 23:1, he said, “The Lord is MY shepherd; I shall not want.” He didn’t say, “The Lord is our shepherd.” Whenever some brethren want to close a service, they will say, “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” I always wonder where they got that from because it is not written in my Bible. What is written is, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6). Goodness and mercy are not for us. They are for me. The result of my dwelling is for me, not for us.
In Psalm 27:8, David said, “When you said, seek my face, my heart says, thy face will I seek.” I don’t know what others are thinking, how far they want to go in the Lord, and how hungry and thirsty for God they are. I cannot thirst and hunger for God on their behalf. Don’t let someone else’s lack of hunger for God affect you, even if he is your pastor. Your walk with God is personal. When you face God in judgment, you will give an account of yourself individually. So, if you see someone who does not take his Christian life seriously, don’t let it bother you; Christianity is an individual matter.
Seek the face of God and encourage others to do so, but don’t let their laxity influence you.
REFLECTION
Christianity is entirely personal. Don’t let anyone’s behavior hinder your walk with God.
HYMN 7 – I Am Thine O Lord
1 I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Chorus
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
3 O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend!
4 There are depths of love that I yet may know
Ere Thee face to face I see;
There are heights of joy that I yet may reach
Ere, I rest in peace with Thee.
Open Heavens 2024 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical churches in the world, and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile, and PC. Open Heaven for Today 2024