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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. DATE: FRIDAY 5TH JANUARY 2018

THEME:SPIRITUAL SEPARATION

Memorise: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelations 21:8

Read: John 15:4-6 (KJV)

15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

15:5 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.

15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Bible in one year: Genesis 11-13, Revelation 4, Hymnal: Sing hymn 5

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Matthew 27:46

The above verse of scripture vividly captures what spiritual separation is and the agony that accompanies it. The Lord Jesus Christ experienced it on the cross of Calvary on behalf all mankind, when He carried the sins of the entire world upon Himself, and the Father turned His face away from Him for the first and only time. My prayer for everyone who is spiritually separated from God is that their eyes of understanding will be opened to see their pitiable state, and that they will realise the agony that awaits them in eternity if they do not reconcile with God.

Sin is the root cause of spiritual separation. The reason is that the Almighty God cannot look at or interact with sin (Habakkuk 1:13). If you are living a life of sin, you are spiritually separated from Him. Genesis chapter 3 narrates to us how the first man and woman experienced spiritual separation. After they sinned, they became empty and naked. They felt so worthless that even when God tried to reach out to them, they were too ashamed to show up. A sense of guilt and self-condemnation overwhelmed their hearts. We thank God that today there is a remedy for spiritual separation: the Blood of Jesus (Colossians 1:19-22). However, there is an eternal spiritual separation that is coming for which there is no remedy; the Bible refers to this as the second death. Today’s memory verse tells us some of those who will partake in this terrible experience, and the first of these is the fearful. Proverbs 29:25says,

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

Saul, the first king of Israel, lost his throne because of the fear of man. Just like King Saul, many leaders have lost their God-given leadership position because of the fear of men. The unbelieving are next on that list. Unbelief was the bedrock of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. Other practices such as lying, murder, adultery, in**st, homosexuality, as well as witchcraft and sorcery, are the pathway to external spiritual separation. Beloved, spiritual separation from one’s Maker brings about untold agony and frustration because without God, you can do nothing (John 15:5). If you are in the state of spiritual separation today, close the gap between you and your Maker through genuine repentance and by applying the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Blessed are you if you do this because you will escape the agony of eternal separation from God inn the Lake of fire.

Action Point

Examine your life. Whatever brings about separation between you and God should be done away with. Also ask for forgiveness and cleansing in the Blood of Jesus.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

Sing hymn 5

5 I HAVE DECIDED TO

FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decide to follow Jesus;

I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS
I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross

Before me;

The world behind me, the cross

before me;

The world behind me, the cross

Before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

3. Through none go with me, still I

Will follow;

Through none go with me, still I

Will follow;

Through none go with me, still I

Will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow

Jesus?

Will you decide now to follow

Jesus?

Will you decide now to follow

Jesus?

No turning back, no turning back.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: TUESDAY, 2ND JANUARY 2018

THEME: COME WITH US

Memorise: And he said, my presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. Exodus 33:14

Read: Exodus 33:12-17 (KJV)

33:12 And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

33:14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

33:15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

33:16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? open heaven devotional 2018. so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

33:17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

Bible in one year: Genesis 3-4, Revelation 2:1-17, Hymnal: Sing hymn 2

Only a fool would think that he or she can exist independent of God, who is the Maker of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them (Romans 1:20-22). Moses, the servant of God, knew this and he consequently did not make the mistake of doing anything without God’s approval. In today’s Bible reading, he insisted on the presence of God going with them as they journeyed through the wilderness to the Promised Land.

There is this story of three fishes in the sea living under the threat of sharks. They went to the Almighty God to ask for help concerning the danger of death looming over them. The first fish asked God for many eyes so that it could see sharks approaching from any direction and escape to safety. The second fish demanded for wings so that it could fly away from the reach of sharks whenever they came after it. The third fish only asked for the presence of the Almighty God wherever it went. The Lord granted all their requests, and they swam away happily. Not long after, sharks came after the first fish, and immediately, with its many eyes, it saw them coming! It took a jump into a nearby pond where the sharks could not go, and began to laugh at the sharks. However, the water in the pond soon began to dry up and this fish died. The second fish ended up in the stomach of an eagle, which was happily surprised to have a delicious fish as its mid-flight meal. Open heaven. In contrast to these, the third fish, which had wisely requested the presence of the Lord, went swimming about without any fear of death from ferocious sharks. It was basking in the protection that comes with carrying the presence of the Lord. When the mother-shark would not go after it, the baby-shark asked its mother, “Why don’t we eat this beautiful fish?” The mother-shark cautioned it against entertaining such ideas, pointing to the shadow of the Almighty God following the fish everywhere.

Beloved, all that you need to succeed and have breakthroughs this year is God’s presence in your life. I therefore encourage you to give your life totally to God through Jesus Christ. For His Presence to envelope your life, you need to walk daily with Him by fellowshipping with Him in the place of prayer and worship, and by framing your every thought around His word. If you are faithful in doing this, He will abide with you, and your will live in safety throughout this year and beyond (Psalm 91:1-2).

Key point

The God that creates is the One that prospers, and He is the one that protects. Seek and ask for His presence in all that you do from today.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

Sing hymn 2

1. I NEED THEE EVERY

HOUR

1. I need Thee every hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

Chorus

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior!

I come to Thee

2. I need Thee every hour,

Stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their power

When Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour,

In joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide,

Or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour,

Teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises

In me fulfil.

5. I need Thee every hour

Most Holy One;

Oh, make me Thine Indeed,

Thou blessed Son.