Open Heaven 29 October 2021 – Timely And Cheerful Giving
Open Heaven 29 October 2021 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Timely And Cheerful Giving
Open Heaven 29 October 2021 TOPIC: Timely And Cheerful Giving
MEMORISE: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: – Ecclesiastes 3:1
READ: Luke 24:1-8 (KJV)
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 31-36
Open Heaven 29 October 2021 MESSAGE:
Timeliness is one of the major conditions for offerings to be acceptable before God. As we see in our Bible reading of today, some people went very early to the sepulcher to anoint the body of our Lord Jesus Christ but He had already risen. Their offering was late! A few days to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ however, a woman had been criticized for anointing Jesus’ feet with an expensive ointment. Despite this criticism, Jesus said:
“…Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.” – Matthew 26:10-12
The disciples came on the resurrection morning to anoint Jesus; however, He had resurrected! The angels asked the disciples who went to the sepulcher an important question:
“…Why seek ye the living among the dead?” – Luke 24:5
Whenever the Holy Spirit asks you to do something, no matter how illogically it may sound, please do it promptly and cheerfully. If you procrastinate, it may be a belated offering or service. This disciples who came to anoint Jesus went back with their perfumes because the Lord was no longer in the grave. Also, some people are in the habit of piling up their tithes for two or three months, sometimes even longer. Some say “I borrowed my tithes to pay later!” This is why some lose their reward of tithing – giving unacceptably, not as and when due. Our offerings also extend to our kind gestures to needy brethren. James 2:15-16 says:
“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us and may we obey Him promptly as we journey from this world to our eternal home with Christ, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Open Heaven 29 October 2021 ACTION POINT:
Listen to the Holy Spirit: what is He telling you to do? Do it now.
Open Heaven 29 October 2021 HYMN 6: Great Is Thy Faithfulness
1. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love
3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside
Open Heavens 2021 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.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)