OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL: FRIDAY JANUARY 2ND 2026

Image
TOPIC: THE GIFT OF A NEW DAWN   MEMORISE :  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5   READ: Exodus 12:30-36 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. 34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of M...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. PHILIPPIANS 4:19 WAS EARNED. TUESDAY 14th JULY 2015

Memorise:
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. Philippians 4:17

Read: Philippians 4:14-19

14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Message
If you are enjoying God’s love, you must be ready to give something in return to him as a demonstration of your love for Him. This was demonstrated by the church at Philippi in today’s Bible reading. Paul reported that they were the only ones who stood with him during the period of his trial and need. After he left Macedonia, some churches used that as an excuse not to support him anymore, but not the brethren at Philippi. Even after he travelled to Thessalonica, they repeatedly sent provisions to meet his need there. Today, some people still hide under the cover of distance to shy away from showing love through giving. They would say “You are so far away and that is why it is so difficult to send assistance to you.” If it is difficult to send assistance now, it was much more difficult to do so then. As challenging as it was then, the brethren in Philippi found a way around the difficulties and supported Paul. They knew what they were doing. They become a major financial backbone of the ministry of Paul. Paul declared that by virtue of their being so sacrificial in giving, he was full, having all his needs met. It was based on this that he prayed that God would supply all their needs in Philippians 4:19.

Just as you have needs, so does God have needs. If you can meet Gods needs, He will surely meet yours. The project of expending God’s kingdom on earth has needs. There is therefore a need to support anymore or any cause that is dedicated to meeting these needs. Why did Paul not pray the same prayer for the other churches? It is because a person has the responsibility to provoke the blessings that come to him or her as an individual, family or church. Before you expect so much from God, ask yourself what you have done to provoke what you are expecting. As revealed in Philippians 4:17, know that everyone has an account with God:

“Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”

Everything you give to God grows that account. It is when your account is full that your harvest will come. The church at Philippi got their harvest. What about you? What have you given to God in demonstration of your love for Him? What contributions have you made to grow your local parish and meet their needs? How have you met the needs of your pastor and his family?

Key Point:
Can your pastor say like Paul that he is full and has no needs as a result of your care?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 CHRONICLES 9:29-12:16 and LUKE 22:39-62

AUTHOR : Pastor E.A. ADEBOYE

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: THURSDAY MAY 9TH 2024

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6TH 2025

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: THURSDAY OCTOBER 31ST 2024