OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY 21ST MAY 2020.
THEME: IT IS FINISHED.
MEMORISE:
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:12
READ: John 19:28-30
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
MESSAGE
“It is finished” was the last statement that Jesus Christ uttered on the cross at Calvary, just before He died. There was a buildup of events, both physically and spiritually, which culminated in the solemn moment that produced that statement. It started in the garden of Eden when God created human beings in His own image as His personal object of love, and began to have a most intimate relationship with them. Satan then played a trick on humanity by tempting them to sin against God, there by severing the beautiful relationship between God and man. Thereafter, God warned that the battle was far from being over. Genesis 3:15 says:
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
God put hostility between the seed of the woman and the devil. Without any doubt, Jesus Christ is the seed of the woman. He was the only human being ever born into the world without the input of a man as it was the Holy Spirit that brought about His conception. Theologically speaking, it is believed that God in His infinite wisdom carefully coded the plans of redemption into Genesis 3:15. This code remained hidden t the devil until the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was however, fully aware of this divine plan to save mankind; thus, in John 19:30, He triumphantly cried with a loud voice “It is finished!” as a declaration of victory over the devil and his agents. Anyone who wishes to be part of that victory must accept Jesus as his/her personal Lord and Savior.
This acceptance must however not be in verbal confession only but in all our actions as well. I pray that the devil’s reign of terror over your life and family will come to an end today, in the mighty name of Jesus. Jesus already won the battle and indeed, it is finished!
PRAYER POINT:
Father, thank You for the salvation of my soul through which you have given me victory ahead of my battles.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 95, 97, 99.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 29: 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!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, 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.
4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.
Amen and Amen
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