Open Heaven

READ: Matt. 3:13 -17
MORE LESSONS:Mark 9:2-8
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 30-32

Open Heaven signifies being allowed access, passage or opportunity to the treasures of Heaven. It also signifies God’s approval of a man and all that he does.

Jesus, in fulfilling all righteousness, went to be baptised and had Heaven open upon Him. That marked the beginning of His manifestation to the world. The encounter was so captivating that none of the writers of the gospel omitted it in their account, And

John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him: John 1:32. The results of an open Heaven are telling. When a man experiences open Heaven: the good treasures of God are released to him (Deut. 28:12), God pours more-than-enough blessing upon him (Mal. 3:10), God releases His Spirit upon him(John 1;32), He announces him to the world as His own (Matt. 3:17) and there will be a rain of righteousness upon such a man.

Your daily desire should be to always operate under an open Heaven. Consistent prayer life will keep Heaven open upon your life. The prayer life of Jesus on earth made Him to have Heaven open continually upon Him. Also, having a right standing before God will open the Heaven upon a man as unrighteousness closes Heaven.

Stay out of sin and you will have God's attention drawn to your life. As you go out today, Heaven shall be open upon you and Heaven's attention will be drawn to you to bring into your life God's good treasures, in Jesus' name.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that Heaven will not close over your life.
* Ask God to help you to live a life that will always attract His presence.

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Fervent Spirit

READ: Acts 18:24-28
MORE LESSONS: Matt. 3:1-11
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 27-29

One of Paul's instructions to Christians in Rome about Christian lifestyle and service is, Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord : Rom. 12:11. He sees fervent spirit and effectiveness as necessary components of our service to the Lord. Being fervent in spirit signifies being zealous, enthusiastic, and not being indifferent. Diligence and fervency are qualities that God requires of His children because He expects us to be diligent and industrious in all our duties both to God and man, especially in the duties of our calling.

To be fervent is to be earnest; allow your heart to be engaged in everything you do. Be enthusiastic about working for God. Nothing should be done out of

hypocrisy, eye service, murmuring, grumbling or with indifference. The Bible condemns the attitude of Reuben, Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart: Judges 5:16.

Contrary to what the world believe, an idle, slothful person cannot be a Christian because Christianity doesn’t encourage idleness or slothfulness. Apollos has a testimony of being diligent among the Christians in Ephesus, This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John: Acts 18:25. After being taught of the way of the Lord, he became a useful tool in nurturing the believers in Corinth (I Cor. 3:6).

Paul also comments about Epaphras as always labouring fervently in prayer (Col 4:12), Phinehas also has a commendation for being zealous for God (Num 25:1), Jesus, our perfect example, says, ... My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work: John 4:34. To have a fervent spirit, be earnest, let your heart be engaged in what you do, be diligent in seeking God, be consistent and be at the forefront of Kingdom matters.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord to renew the zeal for His work in your heart.
* Ask God to kindle a fresh fire upon your spirit.

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A Happy Home

READ: Psalm 127:1-5
MORE LESSONS: Jn. 13:17
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 23-26

Having a happy home is not only a function of the good things that family members can do for one another, but also of the presence of the Lord in the home. Wherever God is present, His fullness and goodness must be there.

Building a happy home is very important because the family is a vital part of the society. It is the home that feeds the society with people. Therefore the society is the true reflection of homes. If people at home are happy, the society will be a happy one. A happy home is a happy family and for the home to be happy there must be a harmonious relationship between husband, wife and children, which cannot happen unless members have learnt to be peaceable and friendly, as Paul enjoins, Follow peace with all men,….: Heb.12:14. When family members work for peace, there will be happiness in the home.

Making everyone feel he or she is a VIP in the family by accepting, trusting and liking one another can foster joy. Making sure the basic structure for the home is correct is also a necessity as it is prescribed in Eph.5:23-24:the husband being the head, the wife the help and supporter of the husband and children the blessing of the union, with all sharing responsibilities at home.

Putting in place suitable principles to seal the relationship is very essential; when forgiveness, giving, restitution and forbearance are practised, living together becomes a delight. Showing appreciation for every good gesture helps members to be able to do more. Also, if members know, accept and play their roles well at home, there will be no lapses or schism, and every one's need will be met (Eph.6:1-9).

One other great thing that keeps the family together is family altar where everyone keeps appointment with God every day; it is the church in the home where the husband can perform his headship role as the priest. When the family houses the ark of the Lord, God will be there and pour His goodness and blessing on the family.

Finally, for the home to be free from satanic activities such as divorce, separation, disagreement all the time, adultery, wayward children, sexual perversion, we must allow the wise Master Builder to build and keep our home for us. A happy home is cultivated by a collaborative effort with God Almighty the Creator of the family.

Prayer/Action
* Oh Lord, grant me grace to be an agent of Your goodness in my home, in Jesus' name.
* I destroy everything responsible for sorrow and pain in homes today, in Jesus' name.

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Breakthrough

Read: Mark 2:1-12
More Lesson: Psa. 40:1-4
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 20-22

Unlimited blessings and all-round fruitfulness is the will of God for all His children. But by experience, it is clear that it does not just happen. An advancement or recovery in life depends largely on how you handle your troubles and failures in life.

The world looks like a thicket of troubles and uncertainties and finding one's way in it requires certain things. Breakthrough is one of the things that cannot be achieved or sought for casually, but by continual strong desire and labour, But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint: Isa.40:31.

In other words, for believers in Christ Jesus breakthrough and success come by our relationship with God and what we do with the opportunities He creates for us. When you have an opportunity to serve, breakthrough comes. When people struggle and manage in life, it is because they are yet to break through. May you have breakthrough in all your endeavours, in Jesus' name. When you have a desire you must make a decision.

To overcome obstacles of life, strong decisions must follow the desire to have breakthrough. There are vital lessons of life from what the friends of the man attacked with palsy did. First, if the door is shut on you, you can create your own way (V4).
Sometimes you have problem getting to what you want because there is no access through the generally known way. The men in our text removed the roof (v.4).

If you want to have breakthrough you must be ready to go contrary to the normal, do the unpopular and unusual to find a way where others cannot. Second, be ready to let go something in order to break through, …and when they had broken it up,….v4. For the
people to have access to Jesus they broke the roof; that is, confront the obstacles to your desire for the joy of fulfilment, be ready to sacrifice something. Third, to have breakthrough you must recognise opportunities and take advantage of them.

Fourth, v5 of our text says, When Jesus saw their faith…. Which means it is the labour as a result of faith that can bring breakthrough. A Christian shows his faith by his works, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also:
Jam.2:26.

God always wants you to wrestle and not turn away when you are confronted with obstacles, so He invites you to bring your strong reasons. God wrestles with His children to get them out as He did in the case of Jacob (Gen.32:24-28). Here Jacob prevailed and broke through. You also will prevail and break through all troubles and hindrances, in Jesus' name.

Prayer/Action
• Oh Lord, open my eyes to the ways and agents of my breakthrough, in Jesus’ name
• Lord, I receive the power to wrestle in the process of breakthrough, in Jesus’ name
• I will breakthrough as Jacob did.

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