OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FRIDAY 5TH JANUARY, 2024

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FRIDAY 5TH JANUARY, 2024

THEME: NEW YEAR RESOLUTION -IV

MEMORISE:

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 6:38

READ:

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-15

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

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

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

MESSAGE:

As a young farmer's boy, I noticed that my father sets aside the best crops for planting because the quality and quantity of the seed planted is a major determinant of the quality and quantity of the harvest. The word of God is clear about this. If you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly, and if you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully

(2 Corinthians 9:6).

This year, like never before, I am going to give because I know that when I give, there will be a harvest. I will give cheerfully because God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), and I need His favour. If you are expecting a big harvest this year, make up your mind to sow bountifully.

I remember a time when we were preparing for our annual convention, and I needed ₦ 17,000 to install roofing sheets on the first auditorium we erected in Redemption City. I had only ₦ 1,000 and was praying to God for the remaining ₦16,000 when one of my pastors came into my office to ask for ₦ 1,000. He needed the money to roof the shed he was building to accommodate members under his jurisdiction during the convention.

I told him I also needed money and sent him out of my office. As he was leaving, God spoke to me and said, "Call him back and give him that ₦ 1,000." I grumbled because it was difficult, but I obeyed all the same.

After the pastor had left joyfully with my ₦ 1,000 in his pocket, God said, "Son, why are you grumbling? There were two problems; I used you to solve one. The one you cannot solve, leave it to me."

Some hours later, someone came all the way from Port Harcourt and said, "Sir, I have just collected rent from my tenants, and the Almighty God said I should bring it to you." He gave me an envelope, and I blessed him. When I opened the envelope, it contained ₦ 17.000!

This year, I will increase my giving towards the work of God and win souls into His kingdom more than ever before. It is written that as long as this world continues to exist, seedtime and harvest shall never cease (Genesis 8:22). Why don't you make up your mind like me to also sow towards the work of God more than ever before this year?

God never fails on His promises. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6).

ACTION POINT:

Practice this resolution now. Look for a need in the church and sow towards it.

HYMN 23

TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE 

1 Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.

Take my moments and my days;

Let them flow in endless praise,

Let them flow in endless praise.

2 Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of thy love.

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for thee,

Swift and beautiful for thee.

3 Take my voice and let me sing

Always, only, for my King.

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from thee,

Filled with messages from thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use

Every power as thou shalt choose,

Every power as thou shalt choose.

5 Take my will and make it thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart it is thine own;

IT shall be thy royal throne,

It shall be thy royal throne.

6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for thee,

Ever, only, all for thee.