Open Heaven 24 October 2020 – Giving That Pleases God II

 Open Heaven 24 October 2020 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Giving That Pleases God II

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Topic: Giving That Pleases God II (Open Heaven 24 October 2020)

Memorise: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7

Read: Matthew 6:1-4 (KJV)

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.

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.

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

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

Bible in One Year: Luke 10-11, John 10:22-42

Open Heaven 24 October 2020 Saturday MESSAGE:

In assessing our offering, God looks at the motives of the giver. If anyone gives to God for the wrong reasons, He will not accept, let alone reward such giving.

“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 6:1

Also See: Open Heaven 23 October 2020 – Giving That Pleases God I

No matter how large, offering ill-gotten wealth can incur God’s wrath. God frowns at people who try to clear their guilt by tithing from the stolen funds. He hates sin and anything given by a sinner. Proverbs 15:8 says:

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”

God taught me a lesson on my way back from Ilorin Nigeria where I had gone to preach some time ago. I had refilled my car unknowingly with adulterated fuel and it wouldn’t start. While a mechanic was trying to fix it, the Lord taught me a lesson from the experience. He told me “I can’t accept offering from many people because their gifts are a mix of clean and unclean sources.” If you add money made from shady means to those from clean source and then give to God, the dirty money in the mix will contaminate the entire offering and make it unacceptable.

God is displeased with any offering given grudgingly; He will reject such. However, He loves cheerful givers. (2 Corinthians 9:7). Sometime ago, I was at a service in another denomination. While the programme lasted, I grew tired of the numerous offerings we were asked to give so much that when they called for another donation, I angrily dipped my hand in my pocket to give. Then God said “keep your money, I am not a beggar.” I immediately realized my mistake, asked for forgiveness and cheered myself up internally before giving the offering.

Please God with your offering; give cheerfully.

Open Heaven 24 October 2020 Saturday Key Point:

Don’t give God anything grudgingly; He will reject it.

Open Heaven 24 October 2020 Saturday Hymn 3: Be Glad In The Lord And Rejoice

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,

All ye that are upright in heart;

And ye that have made Him your choice,

Bid sadness and sorrow depart.

Refrain:

Rejoice, rejoice,

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice;

Rejoice, rejoice,

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice.

Be joyful, for He is the Lord

On earth and in Heaven supreme;

He fashions and rules by His word—

The “Mighty” and “Strong” to redeem.

What though in the conflict for right

Your enemies almost prevail?

God’s armies, just hid from your sight,

Are more than the foes which assail.

Though darkness surround you by day,

Your sky by the night be o’ercast,

Let nothing your spirit dismay,

But trust till the danger is past.

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,

His praises proclaiming in song;

Let gratefulness give all a voice,

The loud hallelujahs prolong!

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide 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. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Open Heaven 23 October 2020 – Giving That Pleases God I

 Open Heaven 23 October 2020 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Giving That Pleases God I

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

Topic: Giving That Pleases God I (Open Heaven 23 October 2020)

Memorise: There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. – Proverbs 11:24

Read: Luke 21:1-4 (KJV)

Open Heaven 22 October 2020 – Legalistic Or Christ-Like?

Open Heaven for Today 22 October 2020: [Thursday] – Legalistic Or Christ-Like?

LEGALISTIC OR CHRIST-LIKE? – Thursday October 22nd 2020

Memorise: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19

Read: Luke 18:9-14 (KJV)

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

 

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Open Heaven 22 October 2020 – Legalistic Or Christ-Like?

Bible in one year: John 7-8, Hymn: Sing hymn 12

Message

A Christian is not necessarily someone who follows a set of religious rules, but rather, someone who has a cordial relationship with Christ. A Christian behaves like Christ.

Open Heaven 22 October 2020 – Legalistic Or Christ-Like? 

Christianity is about Christ who lives in you and not all about do’s and don’ts. Most people who see Christianity only from the viewpoint of rules and regulations are hypocrites. The Pharisees and Sadducees condemned Jesus for healing on a Sabbath. Jesus pointed out their hypocrisy when He asked if they would not go searching for any of their sheep their went missing on a Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6).

 

Open Heaven for Today 22 October 2020: [Thursday] – Legalistic Or Christ-Like? 

Rules and regulations are good, but they must never take the place of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Ghost in you that helps you live completely holy and not the rules. Adhering to rules does not make a sinner acceptable to Christ, it is only the willingness to surrender all that guarantees salvation. Your Christianity should be cantered on Christ’s love for you, His death, resurrection and promise of eternal life, not some rules to be followed.

 

For some people, they give pre-eminence to rules so they can earn the right to boast and arrogantly declare their ‘holiness’ forgetting that “ … we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6)

 

The best thing rules can give you is self-righteousness. Which can make one to be like the Pharisee who went to the temple to pray in Luke 18:10-12. However, justification By God can only come through God’s Spirit in you.

Open Heaven for Today 22 October 2020 Thursday: Prayer Point

 

Legalistic people care more about how people see them than how God sees them. they are always looking out for who is breaking the rules so they can attack and even gossip about them (Luke 18:11). God does not want you to boast about your holiness because only through His Spirit can you live holy.

 

“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Ephesians 2:9  

Prayer Point:

The Christian life epitomizes dying to self and being Christ-like in all we do. Are you really Christ-like?

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 Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL:WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER, 2020. SHOW ME YOUR WAYS, LORD

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL:WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER, 2020.

SHOW ME YOUR WAYS, LORD.

MEMORISE: 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” 

Isaiah 55:8

READ: Exodus 33:12-23 (KJV)

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.

13. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show 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.

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

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

 

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? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

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.

18. And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.

19. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

20. And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me, and live.

21. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock;

22. And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by;

23. And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts; but my face shall not be seen.

MESSAGE:

“Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.” 

(Psalm 25:4).

The word ‘way’ was used four times in Proverbs 25 (verses 4, 8, 9 and 12) while paths was used twice (verses 4 and 10). This indicates the importance of depending on Gods ways and having Him direct ones paths.

As Christians, we can know Gods way by immersing ourselves in His truth. David in Psalm 25:5 pleaded: “Lead me in your truth, and teach me.” God’s word is where His truth is found. 

It contains instructions on how to live a fulfilling Christian life. God’s precepts are not hidden; if only we would just read and apply them.

You cannot be a Christian and not study the word of God daily. Christianity is not the same as attending church services. 

If you don’t have a relationship with Christ, fostered by reading His word and praying daily, then you are not Christ-like. Children who are close to their parents usually know their parents ways.

They can tell what food they like, how hot or cold they like their drinks and so on. They know what can make their parents angry and exactly what will make them glad.

They know all this because of the constant association they have with their parents. Likewise, when you read your Bible and spend time with God regularly, you will get to know Him more and more daily.

If, on the other hand, you only read your Bible when a Pastor is on the altar, the best you can know of God is what he or she tells you, which would never be sufficient. Imagine someone having to tell you everything about your own father – that is proof that you don’t know Him.

It is a huge privilege to know your Fathers ways. His ways are so distinct and learning them would distinguish you greatly in all you do (Isaiah 55:9). God will show you His ways through His word. Study His word diligently.

 

KEY POINT:

Meditate on Gods word day and night. It shall be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path (Psalm 119:105).

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 18

HYMN 5: DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS.

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus

Daily let me go;

Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,

More of grace to know.

CHORUS:

O deeper yet I pray,

And higher ev’ry day,

And wiser, blessed, Lord,

In Thy precious, holy word.

2. Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,

Take me deeper still,

Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus

And His perfect will.

CHORUS:

O deeper yet I pray,

And higher ev’ry day,

And wiser, blessed, Lord,

In Thy precious, holy word.

3. Deeper, deeper! tho’ it cost hard trials,

Deeper let me go!

Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,

Let me fruitful grow.

CHORUS:

O deeper yet I pray,

And higher ev’ry day,

And wiser, blessed, Lord,

In Thy precious, holy word.

4. Deeper, higher ev’ry day in Jesus,

Till all conflict past,

Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image

Perfected at last.

CHORUS:

O deeper yet I pray,

And higher ev’ry day,

And wiser, blessed, Lord,

In Thy precious, holy word.