Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

 

DATE: SUNDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2020.

 

THEME: THE POWER OF PHYSICAL FELLOWSHIP.

 

 

MEMORISE:

 

 

 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.   

Psalms 122:1

 

 

 

READ:  Psalm 122:1-2

 

1I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

 

2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

 

 

MESSAGE:

 

 

Technology is a good thing; it is very effective in enhancing the worship experience, but it must be used with caution so it does not rob us of the worship experience that we need. There is a new trend now where people prefer to sit at home and connect to a service through their Television, a website or social media. Believe me, what you get while watching through these means can never be the same as when you attend the service physically, especially id there is really nothing stopping you from doing so.

 

 

When you connect to a service from home, you are prone to lots of distract you; you could even remember something you wanted to do and decide to do it while still watching the service. You could also decide to cook while watching the service, meaning whenever you are attending to the food, you are missing something. On the other hand, when you attend the service physically, you have few or no distractions as you and everyone around you have only one focus- God. More importantly however, is the atmosphere of worship; being in that Spirit-filled environment should not be traded for anything. The fire from the fellow beside you who is praying or worshiping will ignite yours and you would reach realms you could not have attained had you been sitting at home to watch the service. Jesus said:

 

“ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”                                                                                                                Matthew 18:20

 

 

WATCHING Him move in the midst of a group of people gathered in His name can give you a bit of the action, but it can never be the same as when you are physically present amongst the group. So, except there is absolutely no way you can attend the service based on circumstances beyond your control, it is better that you attend Christian fellowships physically. As you do so, the power of God’s Spirit will locate and lift you, in the mighty name of Jesus.

 

 

 

 

ACTION POINT:

 

Attend services physically and make use of digital platforms only when necessary.

 

 

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Revelation 1-5

 

 

 

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

 

 

HYMN 20: NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.

 

 

1.       Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain:

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

 

2.       Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

 

3.       There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;

All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

 

4.       Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

 

5.       Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

 

6.       There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,

There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;

Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.