OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: MONDAY JULY 25TH, 2022.
THEME: HE WILL RETURN
MEMORISE:
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Luke 12:37
Romans 13:11 -14
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
MESSAGE
Many years ago, when I just became born again and began to seriously serve the Lord, the message of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ was preached often. It was so rampant that we had to beg the University students to continue with their education; after all, Jesus said "occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13).The Yoruba Christians had a common greeting amongst themselves that says “Eku afojusona ipada Jesu Kristi” meaning “Well done as you look forward to the return of Jesus Christ”. Today however, there are very few messages that reminds people of the Lord’s return. People-pleasing sermons have taken over the pulpit. You would hardly see any Christians living in expectations of the Lord’s return.
A man who is preparing for the Lord’s return will never maltreat his wife. A wife who knows the Lord will return suddenly will respect her husband. An employee who is expecting the Lord’s return will not cheat his or her employer. A preacher who is preparing for the Lord’s return will not withhold the truth from the people of God in the congregation. Every child of God who is truly serious with his walk with the Lord will avoid anything and everything that could hold him or her back from going with the Lord. Whether we like it or not, the Lord will return. If you are a minister of God, you have the responsibility to keep warning God’s sheep, whom He placed in your care, to keep watching for the return of the Lord. If you, as a minister, are not preparing, it will be difficult for your flock to prepare.
There has never been a time when the message of the Lord had been needful. The world is in serious chaos, yet, millions of God’s children are sleeping. In any case, Jesus Christ already spoke about what is happening in the world today: that many will sleep (Matthew 13:25). It is my prayer that you will not sleep the sleep of death in Jesus’ name.
On the last day, only the faithful of God will raptured. No matter how deep the world sleeps, Jesus Christ will still return. Therefore, you had better stop playing around and begin to live holy. I have done my duty by telling you the truth, God will not hold me responsible for not telling you. Where you will end up is now left to you.
PRAYER POINT
Heavenly Father, please help me not to sleep the sleep of death. Keep me awake to watch and pray until You return.
BIBLES IN ONE YEAR: Proverb 1-2
AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 6: HO MY COMRADES SEE THE SIGNAL
1. Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.
Refrain:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,”
Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to heaven,
“By Thy grace we will.”
2. See the mighty host advancing,
Satan leading on,
Mighty ones around us falling,
courage almost gone!
3. See the glorious banner waving,
Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s Name we
triumph over every foe.
4. Fierce and long the battle rages,
but our help is near,
Onward comes our great Commander,
cheer, my comrades, cheer!