OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL…
DATE : FRIDAY 27 JANUARY 2017
THEME: PRAY WITHOUT CEASING:
Memorise:
“And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.” Luke 22:40
Read: Luke 18:1-8 (KJV)
1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2. Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3. And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5. Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7. And shall not God avenge His Own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when The Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?
MESSAGE:
A. In 1Thessalonians 5:17, The Holy Spirit says this to us “Pray with ceasing”.
1. This statement is not a piece of advice but rather a command.
2. The reason why we should obey this command is revealed in the words for Our Lord Jesus Christ to His Disciples in Luke 22:40b “Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”
3. The Disciples did not take this admonition seriously for obvious reasons of the sorrow that overwhelmed their hearts after their Master’s valedictory speech.
4. This is a lesson to us all that we should not allow circumstances weaken our prayer lives.
5. The result of their prayerlessness was catastrophic.
6. Most of them lacked the courage to stand firm when their Master was arrested.
7. They would have obtained the needed courage in the place of prayer.
8. They therefore could not resist the temptation of running away.
9. Peter, the one who had appeared to be the boldest among them turned out to be bold only in the flesh; he ended up denying his master three times.
10. He had no spiritual courage to follow through with his boast of readiness to die with The Master
11. Matthew 26:35 “Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
12. What a great lesson to us all! The arm of flesh will always fail
13. Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus says The Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.
B. There are many lessons we can learn from the story of the widow in today’s Bible text.
1. First of which is that the judge intervened in her case not because he was interested in her. Rather, it was her relentless prayer that compelled him to act and avenge her of her enemies.
2. Secondly, this woman did not change her prayer at any time. In other words, she was consistent in her prayer, and so there was no need for additional witnesses to be called in, or for more evidence to be presented.
3. Many people gamble in their lives, not knowing exactly what they need.
4. They are unstable like the waves of the sea, being driven by the wind.
5. Concerning such people, Apostle James in James 1:7-8 writes: “For let not that man think he shall receive any thing of The Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
6. Our Lord Jesus Christ through this story assures us that Our Heavenly Father, unlike the unjust judge, will answer us speedily, but on one condition: if we pray in faith and trust in His justice.
7. Therefore, ask of The Father today in faith, and you will receive beyond your wildest imagination.
Prayer Point:
Father, avenge me of every adversary of Your plan and purpose of my life this year in The Name of Jesus. Amen!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Luke 6 and Isaiah 24:1-20
AUTHOR: Pst E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN: WHAT ARE FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS!
1.What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2.Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3.Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
EMMANUEL=GOD WITH US!
femifalana 