Wednesday, May 20, 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (THURSDAY 21 MAY 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye  
Thursday May 21

THE POWER OF SIGHT I

Memorise:
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18

Read: John 9:1-7
1  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.   
2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?    
3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.   
4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.   
5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.   
6  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,  
7  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Message
There are 3 categories of sight, all of which are very important. These categories include: physical, mental and spiritual. Today's memory verse rightly summarizes the risk a person without the power of sight is taking in life. The story of the man born blind in our Bible reading shows us some of the challenges a person without the power of sight faces. For as long as he was blind, this man had to be content with sitting on one spot, begging (John 9:8). Before Jesus met this man, he was already on the verge of frustration and despondency, but after his encounter with Jesus, many things took place in his life. His life was transformed for good, such that the one who had been a liability to his parents suddenly could go out and work for a living. Also, those who had been passing black to him as white before his miraculous experience would desist from doing so, because he could now see. Moreover, the danger of falling into ditches was now history in his life. The Bible in Luke 11:34a says:
 "The light of the body is the eye:"
It is a great thing to have physical sight. More often than not, what we see affects our personality and our perception of life generally. For example, because my father never saw a house fitted with a modern toilet or bathtub, he never aspired to build a house with such facilities till he died.

However, some people with physical sight lack the power of mental sight. Lack of mental sight leads to lack of knowledge which in turn leads to lack of wisdom, and as we know, wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7). Wisdom has been defined as the correct application of knowledge, but it is only the knowledge that you have that you can apply. I pray that you will not lack mental sight in Jesus' Name. I am praying this prayer for you because of what the Bible says in Proverbs 17:25:
 "A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him."

In addition to physical and mental sight, we most importantly need spiritual sight. Having spiritual sight is the bedrock of all good success. Spiritual sight exposes you to deeper truths in the word of God. Every word of God suddenly becomes meaningful to you (2 Timothy 3:16). Those who don't have spiritual sight to illuminate their understanding cherry-pick only those areas of scripture that favour their easy-going Christianity. You need to pray for all three categories of sight today so that you can fulfil your destiny here on earth.

Prayer Point:
Father, open my physical, mental and spiritual eyes to see and buy into the great future You have for me.

Bible in a year: 2 Samuel 7:18-10:19 & Mark 12:13-27... Read after the cut:

2 Samuel 7:18-10:19; 

2Sa 7:18  Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 
2Sa 7:19  And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? 
2Sa 7:20  And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. 
2Sa 7:21  For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. 
2Sa 7:22  Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 
2Sa 7:23  And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 
2Sa 7:24  For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. 
2Sa 7:25  And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. 
2Sa 7:26  And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. 
2Sa 7:27  For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. 
2Sa 7:28  And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: 
2Sa 7:29  Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. 


2 Samuel 8

2Sa 8:1  And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 
2Sa 8:2  And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. 
2Sa 8:3  David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 
2Sa 8:4  And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. 
2Sa 8:5  And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 
2Sa 8:6  Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 
2Sa 8:7  And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 
2Sa 8:8  And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass. 
2Sa 8:9  When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 
2Sa 8:10  Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 
2Sa 8:11  Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; 
2Sa 8:12  Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 
2Sa 8:13  And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. 
2Sa 8:14  And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 
2Sa 8:15  And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. 
2Sa 8:16  And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 
2Sa 8:17  And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; 
2Sa 8:18  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers. 


2 Samuel 9; 

2Sa 9:1  And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 
2Sa 9:2  And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 
2Sa 9:3  And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 
2Sa 9:4  And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. 
2Sa 9:5  Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 
2Sa 9:6  Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 
2Sa 9:7  And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 
2Sa 9:8  And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 
2Sa 9:9  Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 
2Sa 9:10  Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 
2Sa 9:11  Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons. 
2Sa 9:12  And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. 
2Sa 9:13  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet. 


2 Samuel 10:19; 

2Sa 10:1  And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 
2Sa 10:2  Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. 
2Sa 10:3  And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? 
2Sa 10:4  Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. 
2Sa 10:5  When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. 
2Sa 10:6  And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men. 
2Sa 10:7  And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 
2Sa 10:8  And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 
2Sa 10:9  When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 
2Sa 10:10  And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. 
2Sa 10:11  And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 
2Sa 10:12  Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. 
2Sa 10:13  And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. 
2Sa 10:14  And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. 
2Sa 10:15  And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 
2Sa 10:16  And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. 
2Sa 10:17  And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. 
2Sa 10:18  And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there. 
2Sa 10:19  And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more. 


Mark 12:13-27

Mar 12:13  And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 
Mar 12:14  And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 
Mar 12:15  Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 
Mar 12:16  And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. 
Mar 12:17  And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. 
Mar 12:18  Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, 
Mar 12:19  Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 
Mar 12:20  Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. 
Mar 12:21  And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. 
Mar 12:22  And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 
Mar 12:23  In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. 
Mar 12:24  And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 
Mar 12:25  For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. 
Mar 12:26  And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 
Mar 12:27  He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. 

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