OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28TH 2025

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TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING HARVESTS MEMORIZE : While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22 READ : Mark 4:26-29  26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. MESSAGE The first thing to understand about harvests is that they ultimately come from God. 1 Corinthians 3:6 says, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." Also, harvests come in different levels, which Jesus identified as thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold (Mark 4:20). Some Bible scholars believe that a thirtyfold harvest results from...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: SUNDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2021

TOPIC: CHRISTIAN COURTSHIP
  
MEMORISE:
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4

READ: Ephesians 4:14-15.

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

MESSAGE:
It is one thing to choose the right partner in marriage and it is another to choose the right approach to courtship. A wrong approach to Christian courtship can still lead to problems or failure even when the right choice has been made. Therefore, believers in courtship must be holy through if they would eat the good of the land of marriage (Isaiah 1:19).

Sister, you must know that a man will typically be at his best during courtship. He would call you by different pet names, please you and make you feel secure. However, once the wedding ceremony is over and you begin to live together, his shortcomings will be more exposed to you. The saying that ‘love is blind’ may appear true but the one that also says ‘marriage is an eye opener’ has equally been proven to be true now and again.

Men are however not the only ones guilty of this. Brother, you will also discover a lot more about the personality of your wife after the wedding ceremony. This is why the world recommends that couples should cohabit during courtship but should this be found among children of God? The simple answer is “No!”
Ephesians 4:14 says:
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

The fact that you are in courtship does not give you the license to begin to cohabit. ‘Trial marriage’ has no place in Christianity; it is whoredom. Some so-called sisters also try to seduce naïve brothers to get them pregnant and the result is what the world calls a ‘shotgun marriage’- one not properly prepared for. God abhors this seriously (Hebrews 13:4).

Christian courtship must be characterized with sincerity. You must be able to share your past and present experiences with your would-be spouse. You both should also lay your future bare in the hands of Jesus Christ. While there may be sincere disagreements during courtship, you would have to prayerfully re-evaluated it if the relationship is rift with troubles from the sinful demands of your partners. A broken courtship is better than a broken marriage. Be warned!

PRAYER POINT:
Ask the Almighty God to guide our youths such that Christians courtships will culminate in holy wedlock and glorious marriages.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 5-9.
 
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 
  
HYMN 11:   I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR.
1. I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev'ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh. 

3. I need Thee ev'ry hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain. 

4. I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.

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