OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY JANUARY 15TH, 2023.
THEME: YOU ARE NOTHING WITHOUT HIM
MEMORISE:
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5
READ: Luke 19:29 -38
29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
MESSAGE
I heard someone preaching recently and he said if God leaves him, there will be little left. I don't know how come in his case, there would still be anything left. As for me, l am fully aware that without God, l am nothing, absolutely nothing and l tell Him that regularly.
I preached a sermon at the commissioning into ministry of one of my sons about 40 years ago, l told them about the ass that Jesus rode in our Bible reading for today. The ass must have suddenly looked around and seen people laying down their clothes on the ground for him to walk on, with a lot of singing and dancing going on as he passed by. He must have really felt special. However, the moment Jesus got down and left him, he was abandoned. By then he must have been far from home and probably did not even know his way back. He must have passed by humans and instead of rejoicing like before, they most likely chased it away. At best, he would have ended up as a laborer on a farm. Beloved, the moment God leaves you, you are finished. You think you're smart? Just a little tweak of a professor's brain and he can become a mad man roaming the streets.
When people see me living holy, being humble, obeying God to the letter, it is because l don't want Him to leave me. I don't want to look around and discover that He is no longer with me. I don't want to pray and have Him ignore my prayers. I am imploring you my beloved, don't do anything that would make God leave you.
At some point on the cross, Jesus cried, "Father, why hast thou forsaken me" (Matthew 27:46). Think about it: when the whole world turned against Him, He did not mind, but when the Father turned from Him, He cried. Even if the whole world turns against you, you are fine as long as God is still on your side. Without God, you are nothing.
KEY POINT
Don't ever do anything that could make God leave you. Stay far away from sin.
Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 47-50
AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 8: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
1 I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev'ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
2 I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh.
3 I need Thee ev'ry hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
4 I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.
Amen and Amen🙏🙌
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