OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL: WEDNESDAY APRIL 9TH 2025

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TOPIC:   NO MORE LABOURING I MEMORIZE :  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 READ :  Luke 5:1-7  1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which w...
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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 17TH 2024

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TOPIC: FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

MEMORISE: 
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 15:14

READ: John 15:13-15  

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

MESSAGE
God has many children, but as every parent knows, there is always that one child that is a favorite. Even though they do not like to admit it, their relationship with that child goes beyond regular parenting: it often extends into friendship. Likewise, God doesn't just want you to be His child, He wants you to be so close to Him that He can consider you His friend.

Jesus loves His friends so dearly that He said that He was willing to lay down His life for them (John 15:13). Do you have a friend who can inject himself with a disease so that you will not be infected with it? This can be likened to what Jesus did in Matthew 8:17. Can any of your friends take a bullet for you? Jesus did more than this when He was beaten by Roman soldiers and hung on a cross. This means that Jesus is the best friend that anyone can ever have.

People often tell tales of friends that they used to have. While it is common for people to betray friendships because of selfish interests or terminate them because of disagreements, the friendship of Jesus Christ lasts forever. Whether you are going through a storm (Matthew 14:24- 25), or you are caught in a fire (Daniel 3:22-2 5), He will never leave your side. Even when He knows that you can betray His friendship, He will remain your friend indeed (Luke 22:31-32). The Bible says in John 13:1 that He loves until the end.

What does it take to become a friend of God? Our memory verse for today tells us that we can become His friend by obeying His commandments. This goes beyond stayingaway from sin; it means that when He says, “Don’t eat, I want you to fast today,” you should do it. When you are tired, and all you want to do is sleep, if He says, “Let us discuss before you sleep,” you should push the sleep aside and pray. When He says, “Give me your car,” you should do it. Abraham was called a friend of God in 2 Chronicles 20:7 because, when God asked him to sacrifice his son in Genesis 22:1-3, he was ready to do it.

Beloved, when God instructs you to do anything, you should make the necessary sacrifices and obey Him promptly. Nothing in this world should be too big for you to sacrifice to God. This is the only way to become His friend. Are you ready to become God's friend?

KEY POINT
Obeying God's commandments is the key to becoming His friend.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 16-17

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 27: WHAT A 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 your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.

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