OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY 14TH MAY 2020.
THEME: KINGDOM CITIZENSHIP.
MEMORISE:
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. John 3:5
READ: Luke 10:25-28
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
MESSAGE
In today’s memory verse, Nicodemus did not ask Jesus to tell him how he could enter the kingdom of God; he merely praised Him. However, Jesus knew that Nicodemus needed to be shown, like us all, how to get to heaven, so He said….” Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Jesus knew that any praise that would lead to the Kingdom of God must be packaged in the garment of salvation. He once told His audience:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Beloved, have you been blown away by the recent wind of liberalism? Have you been engaging in endless arguments on what is not true about the kingdom of God and the hope of eternal life? It will do you no good.
Some argue that being born again may not be immediately evident- forgetting that the Bible says “by their frits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). This confirms that being born again has to be evident.
Jesus queried in Luke 6:46: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Our citizenship in the kingdom of Heaven is based on obedience to the kingdom “constitution” – the Bible. Anyone who says the Bible is outdated is obvious no longer a citizen of the kingdom.
1 John 3:7 says he that doeth righteous is righteous, even as He is righteous. Hence, answering Biblical names or ministerial titles are not requirements for being a Kingdom citizen, rather regeneration and a new life of holiness in Christ are
Are you a citizen of the kingdom of God?
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to maintain the requirements for Your kingdom’s citizenship. Please, do not cast me out of Your kingdom in the mighty name of Jesus.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 13-15.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 23: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.
1. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
o Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
2. At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ’gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.
5. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.
Amen and Amen
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