OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 23RD APRIL 2017

THEME: A FRUIT-BEARING TREE?

MEMORISE:

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2

READ : Luke 13:6-9

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
NUMBERS  14-15 & JEREMIAH 18:19-19:9

MESSAGE

Fruit-bearing is a necessity for every child of God. When the Scripture in Deuteronomy 7:14 says none shall be barren, this promise fundamentally extends to soul-winning and all other activities that populate the Kingdom of God. Our Heavenly Father is delighted when we in partnership with the Holy Spirit turn the hearts of men away from their wicked ways to the way of righteousness. For this reason, He reserved a special promise for such people in Daniel 12:3:
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

The obligation to bear fruit becomes more critical when we consider what our Lord Jesus Christ said in today's memory verse. He said He would take away every branch in Him that does not bear fruit. Nothing can be more serious than that. I pray that you will never be alienated from the Lord Jesus Christ in Jesus' Name.

Moreover, today's Bible reading amplifies the fruit-bearing responsibilities of the children of God. The parable it references was equally given by our Lord Jesus Christ. The "certain man" in the parable is no other person than God, the Father. The vinedresser is no other person than Jesus Christ, the compassionate Advocate who makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). He is the one pleading on behalf of fruitless trees in God’s vineyard, which is the world. The danger of an endless wait for a tree in God’s vineyard to bear fruit is made clear in Luke 13:8-9, which says:
"And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."

Are you bearing fruits? Another pertinent question is, what type of fruits are you bearing? For a sinner, he or she must bear fruits worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8). For believers, we must win souls into the Kingdom, thus fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). More importantly for believers, we must also bear the fruit of the Spirit:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness , goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Action Point:

Draw a soul-winning plan for yourself and your family and sincerely follow it up in your neighbourhood. Also, pray that your converts will manifest the fruits of repentance and the fruit of the Spirit.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

1. Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.

Refrain:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.

2. Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love. [Refrain]

3. Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love. [Refrain]

Open Heavens Daily Devotional By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

*Topic:* PURSUING THINGS? – Sunday January 8th 2017

*Memorise:*

_Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Proverbs 23:5_

*Bible Reading :* Proverbs 23:4-5 (King James Version)

4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

*MESSAGE*

*How you start a year is very important,* because it can dictate the tone for the year. But more importantly, *how the year ends will be determined by the goals you set and your pursuit of them.* Some people start a year with little or nothing but end it in a great way; whereas some other people who start the year with quite a lot have little or nothing to show by the end of it. Why is this so? *To get the most out of a year, you need to understand the actions and factors at play in determining the course of the year. One of such actors is God.*

_“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33_

 

 

At the onset of every year, most people go about seeking material things. They set material goals and device strategies to accomplish them. Thereafter, they begin a race down the line and shun anything that might affect the realisation of their goals, dreams and aspirations. Yet, at the end of the year, many are still miles apart from the attainment of those goals. Even when they attain their goals, such people are often still left with a great vacuum in their soul that nothing else can fill. This is simply the result of God being left out of the picture in their pursuit of material things.

By its very nature, *wealth can be very elusive*. Before dissipating so much energy in pursuing wealth like most people will do this year, please consider what the patriarchs of old said about it. King David said that it’s possible to heap up wealth for users and spenders you do not know (Psalms 39:6). The patriarchs also said it is very dangerous to put your trust in their riches you have amassed because you can be disappointed by them when you least expect it. (Psalm 62:10, Proverbs 11:28). 

The preacher in Proverbs 23:5 further adds that *riches can suddenly develop wings and take flight from where you think you have kept them securely.* Where do they fly to? They fly towards heaven, back to God their original owner. For these reasons, you must put God at the centre of all your pursuits this year so that they can be meaningful. *If you choose to seek and pursue after God, you will get the material things of this world with very little effort.*

_*This year, be wise! Don’t waste your time and effort pursuing things that should be pursuing you.*_

 

 

*Key Point*

_When you run after material things at the expense of a thriving relationship with God, you tell Him to His face that He is not important in your life.*

*Bible In A Year:*

Matthew 16:1-28; Matthew 17:1-27; Isaiah 6:8-3; Isaiah 7:19

*Hymn: Sing hymn 7*