Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 29TH MAY 2023.

THEME: LIFE SEASON 2

MEMORISE

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 

Galatians 1:10

READ : MATHEW 6:1-8

Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:3 

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Matthew 6:4 

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

MESSAGE

We discussed the first season yesterday and will be discussing the second Season today. In the second season of life, a person greatest desire will be to Impress. At this stage, he or she want to be perceived as a success by everyone. For  example, choristers and pastors in this stage will typically seek to impress others when they sing and preach respectively. A person in this stage may be financially comfortable already, but would be seeking prestige. This is the season that King Saul was in 1 Samuel 15:24

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

King Saul had money and power, but he also want to impress the people and got him into trouble.

If You are doing things because of what people think of you, you are likely to get into big trouble soon. The cheer of the people may seem good now, but soon you will realise that those who are shouting “Hosanna today “ will be the same one shouting “Crucify Him” tomorrow. This is why you must shun what people think and do what is right, wether it is the popular opinion or not.

The Holy Ghost Congress which we hold in Nigeria is a week-long programme, with Friday recording the largest attendance- running into millions. There was a singer who was invited to minister on the Thursday of the Congress. She refused, saying she would only come to sing on Friday when the crowd would be largest. ofcourse we withdrew the invitation because she was not interested in singing for God but for the crowd. 

Those who are more concerned about how they look on social media are risking being destroyed by the same people they are trying to impress. Think about it: if you are trying to impress people, it means that you will always want to jump on the next trend. Trends never end; this means you will be caught in the never-ending rat race. If you are currently at this stage of trying to impress people, you are still immature and must be deliberate about growing into the next season of your life. 

REFLECTION 

Why do you do things you do and buy the things you buy? Sincerely check yourself; are you living to impress people or please God?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : JOB 9-12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 11: I’VE FOUND A FRIEND IN JESUS 

1 I have found a friend in Jesus-

He's ev'rything to me,

He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;

The Lily of the Valley- in Him alone I see

All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.

In sorrow He's my comfort, in trouble He's my stay,

He tells me ev'ry care on Him to roll;

He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,

He's the greatest of ten thousand to my soul.

2 He all my grief has taken and all my sorrows borne,

In temptation He's my strong and mighty tow'r;

I have all for Him forsaken and all my idols torn

From my heart, and now He keeps me by His pow'r.

Though all the world forsake me and Satan tempt me sore,

Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal;

He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,

He's the greatest of ten thousand to my soul.

3 He will never, never leave me nor yet forsake me here,

While I live by faith and do His blessed will;

A wall of fire about me, I've nothing now to fear-

With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.

Then sweeping up to glory I'll see His blessed face,

Where rivers of delight shall ever roll;

He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,

He's the greatest of ten thousand to my soul.