OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRIDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021.
THEME: FOLLOW GOOD LEADERSHIP.
MEMORISE:
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
READ: Philippians 3:14-17
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
MESSAGE:
The Bible’s instruction to “study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” simply means to carefully research and meditate upon the lives of those who obtained God’s approval. Learn those things they did that earned them God’s approval. In today’s text, we read of Paul- an outstanding apostle of Jesus Christ. He strove to reach the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The following are the things he did to attain this goal: One, he forsook the worldly glory and approval to gain the approval of God through the righteousness that can only be found in Christ. Two, he sought to know more of Jesus Christ in order to do His will; he was never satisfied with a life of mediocrity. The apostle made bold to say:
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” Philippians 3:17
Beloved, any Church leader who cannot say what Paul said above is not worth following. Show me your leader and I will tell you who you are. I will even tell you how far you can go in the Christian journey. When I gave my life to Christ, I was blessed with a leader who was heaven-bound. That was my late Father-in-the-Lord – the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Any time I looked at him, I saw the glory of God and the image of Jesus Christ in him and knew if I could follow his footsteps, I would make it in my Christian walk. He was completely transparent, a lover of the cross of his Master and Savior. He did not only teach but practiced what he taught to the letter. Paul, the apostle wrote:
“ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9
It is necessary for Christians to prove all things and hold fast that which is good, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:21. We are to abstain from all appearance of evil. I advise you to seek out genuine teachers of the word of God and learn from them because only the truth and nothing but the truth can set you free from the errors of the end times. Jesus Christ is the truth.
Father, please reveal Yourself to me afresh through Your Son and Your appointed leader over my life, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 20-21.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 18: PASS ME NOT, O GENTLE SAVIOR.
1. Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
2. Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.
3. Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
4. Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.
Amen and Amen
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