RCCG Life Assembly

*OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL*

*DATE: MONDAY JULY 4TH 2022*

*THEME: WATCH*!

*MEMORISE*:
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:42

*READ: Mark 13:33 -37*
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

*MESSAGE​*
Jesus Christ warned His disciples to watch and to pray, because the end of this world will come suddenly. We are much closer now to the end of the world than the day when Jesus said this. Unfortunately, while we are supposed to be watching, many are sleeping.

The days we are now in can be likened to those of Noah, The Bible says in Matthew 24:38:

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark.

Until the day the trumpet will sound and our Lord Jesus Christ will take His saints away, many people in this world will be eating and drinking, appearing to be having fun though they are on the way to eternal damnation. This is very dangerous, and coming from the mouth of the Lord Jesus, it ought to get us all on our knees, pleading for help. The night of this world is far spent, the Day of the Lord is almost here. Anyone who isn’t watching will not go with the Lord. I pray you will be found watching when the Lord returns, in Jesus’ name.

Some years ago, a man of God came to visit his friend here in Nigeria. After spending a couple of days observing the comfort and prosperity in which this man was living and the kind of sermons he was preaching, he said to his friend, “It does not appear as if you are expecting the Lord to return”. Are we really preparing for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ?

In Matthew 25:1-3, we read the story of the ten virgins. Five of them were wise and five of them foolish. The foolish ones did not take extra oil for their lamps while the wise ones did. When the announcement was made that the bridegroom was around, the foolish virgins hurriedly wanted to start preparing, but it was too late. You cannot start preparing after Jesus has returned. You have to be found prepared when He returns. Don’t sleep the sleep of death! Watch and pray, because you do dot know when He will return.

I pray in the name of Jesus that you will not be left behind.

*KEY POINT*
In the words of Jesus , I say to you, watch

*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 89- 90*

*AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE*

*HYMN 9: I'VE A MESSAGE FROM THE LORD*

1 I’ve a message from the Lord, hallelujah!
This message unto you I’ll give,
’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

Refrain.
“Look and live,” my brother, live,
Look to Jesus now, and live;
’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

2. I’ve a message full of love, hallelujah!
A message, O my friend, for you,
’Tis a message from above, hallelujah!
Jesus said it, and I know ’tis true.

3 Life is offered unto you, hallelujah!
Eternal life thy soul shall have,
If you’ll only look to Him, hallelujah!
Look to Jesus who alone can save.

4. I will tell you how I came, hallelujah!
To Jesus when He made me whole—
’Twas believing on His name, hallelujah!
I trusted and He saved my soul.

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL
DATE: WEDNESDAY APRIL 20TH 2022
THEME: BEWARE OF HYPOCRITES

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MEMORISE:
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Proverbs 23:7
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BIBLE READING: Luke 7:36 - 40
36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

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MESSAGE
In the Bible reading for today, a Pharisee invited Jesus to his house to eat. It would be correct to conclude that this Pharisee was a firm believer in Jesus as the true Son of God, but that was not true. Of all the people in the house that day, it was this Pharisee – the host, who thought in his heart that Jesus was not a true prophet when the woman with the alabaster box washed His feet. This shows that the Pharisee was not really a firm believer in Jesus in the first place, yet he acted like one. To make matters worse, after the Pharisee had concluded in his heart that Jesus was not really sent of God, Jesus called him and he responded, “Master”. What a hypocrite! On the outside, he called Jesus Master, but on the inside, he said, “This man is not a man of God”.

I am certain that you have one or two people like this Pharisee around you. I pray that the Almighty God will reveal them to you, in Jesus’ name. Thank God Jesus was very discerning. He knew straightaway what the Pharisee was thinking. Many people have become victims of their enemies because they thought they were their friends. May that not be your portion, in Jesus’ name. Be careful of the people who call themselves your friends. It doesn’t matter how nice they seem to you, not every victory is celebrated publicly, because the celebration could fuel their hatred for you even more and lead to them planning an attack against you. If you don’t believe me, ask Joseph, Joseph was always quick to tell his brothers his great dreams. He thought that since they were his brothers, then they would be happy for him, but he was wrong.

Yes, it is important that you share testimonies about God’s goodness to you but you must seek divine wisdom to know what to share and when to share it as not everyone will be happy for you. You must also always keep certain secrets to yourself, especially when other people’s knowledge of those secrets can greatly affect your life and destiny.

Samson thought Delilah was his friend. She seemed to genuinely be in love with him, and he felt relaxed around her. He told her the secret of his power and this led to his destruction as she revealed it to his enemies (Judges 16: 18-21). Some of the people who profess great love for you may actually be friends with your enemies; don’t share your secrets with them!

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KEY POINT
Not everyone who calls you friend is really your friend.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2King 8-10
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
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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

2 Hold The Fort For I Am Coming
Jesus Signals Still
Wave The Answer Back To Heaven
By Thy Grace We Will
3 See The Mighty Host Advancing
Satan Leading On
Mighty Ones Around Us Falling
Courage Almost Gone

4 See The Glorious Banner Waving
Hear The Trumpet Blow
In Our Leader’s Name We
Triumph Over Every Foe

5 Fierce And Long The Battle Rages
But Our Help Is Near
Onward Comes Our Great Commander
Cheer My Comrades Cheer