Open Heaven For Today 2024 Sunday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Remembered For What?
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TOPIC: Remembered For What?
MEMORISE: “The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.” – Proverbs 10:7 (KJV)
READ: Acts 9:36-42 (KJV)
36 Now, at Joppa, there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, who, by interpretation, is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds, which she did.
37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, desiring him that he would not delay coming to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he came, they brought him into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, kneeled down, and prayed, and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, lifted her, and presented her alive when he had called the saints and widows.
42 It was known throughout all Joppa; many believed in the Lord.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 14-16
Open Heaven 17 March 2024 MESSAGE
Knowing there is a time to be born and a time to die, we ought to be thankful to God for each day He gives us life. However, I would like you to answer a question sincerely – what will people remember you for after you’ve left the earth? Another question considered even more important than the initial one is, when your time is up on earth, what account will you give of how you spent your life? Hebrews 9:27 says:
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
In other words, death is not the end of our existence but rather a transition to another state. One way our lives carry on after death is through what we are remembered for. There are those whose remembrance brings gladness and joy, while the remembrance of some others brings bitterness and sorrowful memories.
One woman who was remembered for good after she died was Dorcas. She was one of the early believers in our Lord, and she lived a good life of service and righteousness. This is the testimony of her life as written in Acts 9:36:
…this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds, which she did.
A lesson here for us is that our good works play a significant role in showing our faith and commitment to God. Speaking on this, James 2:15-17 says:
If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, And one of you says unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? Even so, faith, if it hath not worked, is dead, alone.
The gospel of Jesus must find practical expression in your life through your good works; the testimony of the brethren concerning Dorcas confirms this. She was so full of good works that the church found it difficult to accept her demise, and so she was brought back to life. Psalm 112:5-6 says:
A good man showeth favor and lendeth: he will carefully guide his affairs. Indeed, he shall not be moved forever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
Beloved, what good deeds will people remember you for? Think about this and remember the words of today’s memory verse.
KEY POINT
Seize every opportunity that God brings your way to do good to all men.
HYMN 28 – Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
1 Guide me, O my great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.
2 Open now the crystal fountain,
where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me through my journey.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
ever be my strength and shield,
ever be my strength and shield.
3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever sing to you,
I will ever sing to you.
Also Read: RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual 17 March 2024: Christianity And Governance
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 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Live Selflessly
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TOPIC: Live Selflessly
MEMORISE: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” – Revelation 4:11 (KJV)
READ: Genesis 50:15-21 (KJV)
15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their Father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy Father did command before he died, saying,
17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy Father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
18 And his brethren also went and fell before his face; they said, Behold, we are thy servants.
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.
21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them and spoke kindly unto them.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 11-13
Open Heaven For Today 2024 MESSAGE
The twenty-four elders in heaven made it clear in today’s memory verse that we were created to fulfill God’s pleasure. When we live for ourselves alone, we negate the purpose of our existence. When people live for God, they do not abuse any privilege or opportunity.
Joseph is an excellent example who lived for God and his fellow human beings, particularly his brothers. Even though they eventually repaid him with evil, his selfless service made him go the extra mile to find them and deliver their food to them when he couldn’t locate them initially. He could have returned home with the supplies he took with him, but he didn’t. You can find the story in Genesis 37:13-28. Joseph’s love for God caused him to reject the sexual advances of his Master’s wife. He could not bear doing anything that would displease God, and this made him say in Genesis 39:9:
There is none more significant in this house than I; neither has he kept back anything from me but thee because thou art his wife. How, then, can I do this wickedness and sin against God?
Furthermore, his love for people made him interpret the dreams of his fellow inmates, which led to him becoming the Prime Minister of Egypt. When he eventually came into power, he did not consider the hardships he endured due to the cruelty of his brothers when they sold him into slavery. The love of God in him made him realize that his sufferings served a higher purpose for God and humanity. He said in Genesis 50:20:
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Our Father in Heaven wants us to live a selfless life to attain the fullness of His purpose for our lives. Those who are selfish short-change themselves without knowing it.
Even though he lived in affluence in Pharaoh’s palace, Moses decided to suffer with his brethren (the Israelites). Eventually, he saved them from bondage by leading them out of Egypt (Hebrews 11:24-27). His selflessness ensured that he fulfilled God’s purpose for his life and the nation of Israel at large. Beloved, begin to live beyond yourself, and you will have the fullness of God’s grace to prosper divinely, both spiritually and physically.
PRAYER POINT
Father, from today on, please help me to live selflessly in Jesus’ name.
HYMN 23 – To The Work, To The Work
1 Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3 Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet is its treasure store.
Take me, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for 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 – The More The Merrier
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TOPIC: The More The Merrier
MEMORISE: “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?” – Deuteronomy 32:30 (KJV)
READ: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (KJV)
9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, they have heat, but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 9-10
Open Heaven For Today 2024 MESSAGE
The more we are in our local assemblies, the merrier our services will be. If we are not many, how can we make a joyful noise? The more we are, the louder the noise we can make, and the merrier it will be to praise God together. Let me tell you what I believe to be the origin of clapping. One day, the fingers woke up and heard the birds singing, and they said, “O God, we also want to praise You.” They tried to make a sound individually, but no sound came. Suddenly, they said, “If two of us should cooperate, maybe we can produce some sound.” So, one finger cooperated with another, and they discovered a bit of a snapping sound. They took it further, and one finger cooperated with the other palm. They made a better sound, and then another finger joined in. The sound improved, and yet another finger joined in. Before long, all the fingers were jamming together in praise, making a joyful noise to the Lord.
The more we are, the more significant our impact will be on the world. The impact we will make cannot be ignored when we are many because it will be substantial. When ten people unite against a government policy, the government can easily ignore them. However, when 10,000 people come together to speak against the same policy, it will be difficult for the government to ignore them. The governing powers in the environment where your local assembly is situated will take you more seriously when you are many. As a result, your local assembly can influence the culture and policies in that environment.
When we are many, projects become more accessible to accomplish. When ten people come together to do something, they will have to put in a lot of effort and personal resources to get it done. However, if 100 people come together to do the same thing, they will obviously need less individual effort and personal resources to do that. Therefore, projects are done faster and easier when there are many.
Beloved, if God is your Father, you should be committed to expanding. Preach the gospel wherever you find yourself and set a personal target to win at least one soul to Christ per day. If you cannot go to the mission field, support missionaries with your prayers and resources. The more Christians we have worldwide, the more significant our impact will be.
ACTION POINT
Make it a duty to preach the gospel to at least one person daily.
HYMN 4 – To The Work, To The Work
1 To the work! To the work! we are servants of God,
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the balm of His counsel, our strength to renew,
Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.
Refrain:
Toiling on, toiling on,
Toiling on, toiling on:
Let us hope, let us watch,
And labor till the Master comes.
2 To the work! To the work! let the hungry be fed;
To the fountain of life, let the weary be led;
In the cross and its banner, our glory shall be,
While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”
3 To the work! To the work! there is labor for all;
For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall;
And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be,
In the loud-swelling chorus, “Salvation is free!”
4 To the work! To the work! in the strength of the Lord,
And a robe and a crown shall our labor reward;
When the home of the faithful our dwelling shall be,
And we shout with the ransomed, “Salvation is free!”
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
