Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: MONDAY 22ND JUNE, 2020.

THEME: BABY CHRISTIANS NEED TO GROW FIRST.

MEMORISE:

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the world, that ye may grow thereby:

1st Peter 2:2

READ: Ephesians 4:11-16 (KJV)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

MESSAGE:

Today, we’re looking at young Christians – young by virtue of their level of maturity in Christ. Some people come to Christ and begin to nurse good desires, far beyond the capacity of their spiritual maturity e.g. immediately desiring the office of a pastor, evangelist or minister. While such desires are good, they are ill-timed for fresh converts.

The first responsibility of young believers after becoming born again is to desire the sincere milk of the word so that they may grow to maturity (1st Peter 2:2)

Physically speaking, when a baby desires to eat the same food as an adult, he/she desires what could be harmful. In a similar vein, when a young Christian desire to be a pastor or an evangelist overnight, it spells trouble that may hinder the growth of the individual.

Children being born into God’s family through the preaching of the gospel must take time to study the word of God and be well grounded in it. 1st John 3:1 & 3 says:

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we shall be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not… And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

The dearth of the word of God is a menace against the present-day Church. We make a lot of noise in our preaching, without a strong basis in the word of God. I call such sermons “Thunder Without Rain.”

Even when some believers yearn for the word, it is nowhere to be found on many of our pulpits. May the Lord elevate the ministry of the word in the body of Christ, in the mighty name of Jesus.

May we be found worthy if the trumpet should sound today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to continue to grow in Christ, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1st Kings 12-14,

HYMN:12: 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 pow’r of grace divine;

soul look up with a steadfast hope,

Let my And my will be lost in Thine.

3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour

That before Thy throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my

God,

4. There are depths of love that I cannot

know

Till I cross the narrow sea;

There are heights of joy that I yet may reach

Till I rest in peace with Thee.