Morning Devotional For Friday 31st August

[Edoman]

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES


FRIDAY, 31ST AUGUST.

HIS KINGDOM IN OUR HEARTS

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14).


Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. He said the time was fulfilled; and that the Kingdom of God was near (Mark 1:15). What is the Kingdom of God?

First, the Kingdom of God isn’t a place; it’s the reign of God, where He becomes Lord; where He becomes the Boss, and rules; where He’s in charge, and expresses Himself—His glory and His goodness.

That’s why Jesus said when they tell you “the Kingdom of God is over there,” or “it’s over here, don’t believe it, because the Kingdom doesn’t come by observation; it’s within you (Luke 17:20-21). God’s plan is to set up His Kingdom in the hearts of men; but it’s a spiritual kingdom.

Recall when Jesus was brought before Pilate, in John 18:36-37; Pilate asked Him some questions to which He responded, My Kingdom is not of this world…”(John 18:36). God’s Kingdom isn’t a physical structure, yet Jesus said, “It has come.” Indeed, it has; it’s in your heart.

The Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached is, “Hello everybody, God’s Kingdom can be set up now in your hearts; it has arrived! Anyone who believes can now become God’s headquarters and operating centre.”This wasn’t possible in the days of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, David, Solomon and the patriarchs of old; but it is in our day.

When Jesus came, He brought the Kingdom in Him. Now that we’ve received Him, we have the Kingdom in our hearts: the peace, the beauty, the glory, grace, and the life of God have been set up in your heart! God is at home in you now. What a life He’s brought to us, and brought us into! What a Gospel!

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the Kingdom of God has been set up in my heart, thus bringing into me, the life of righteousness. I declare that my life is for your glory, and I show forth your virtues, excellence, perfections, and beauty, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Luke 17:20 - 21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Corinthians 4:6 - 7 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.


1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Corinthians 15:1-34 & Proverbs 5-7

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Thessalonians 2:1-9 & Jeremiah 17

[Edoman]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
FRIDAY 31ST AUGUST 2018
THEME: WHEN THE BEST COMES

Memorise:
And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. John 2:10

Read: 1st Samuel 16:1-13 (KJV)
1 And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.
3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4 And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab , and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.
9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lordchosen this.
10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward . So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Message:-
I learnt a proverb from my mother which says,
“When a child discovers honey, he despises bread.”
In other words, when the best comes, the good gives way. I pray that the best will come your way in every facet of life in Jesus’ Name.

Are you looking for a job, spouse or business opportunity, and it seems as if it will never come? Don’t fret – that apparent delay is because the best is yet to come. When the Lord is ready to grant you the best from His storehouse, people will marvel and join you in glorifying Him for the marvellous thing He has done for you.

Today’s bible reading narrates Samuel’s visit to Jesse’s household. All of Jesse’s sons were made to pass before Samuel who was there to anoint a new king. However, to their amazement, all the seven sons that were made to pass before Samuel were rejected by the Lord. Then Samuel asked in frustration, “Are these all your children?” Only then did Jesse remember that there was one of his sons somewhere out there in the field keeping the sheep. After Jesse mentioned him to Samuel, the prophet sent for him to be fetched, saying,

“We will not sit down till he come
hither” 1st Samuel 16:11.

I prophesy to your life today: until the best of the Lord reaches you, it won’t stop on the way. David came, and the Lord commanded Samuel to anoint him. The Bible says the young lad was ruddy, handsome and innocent. One lesson here is that even a great seer can make mistakes if God does not intervene. Samuel would have made the mistakes of anointing the wrong person if he did not listen to God’s voice.

At every attempt he made to anoint the wrong person, God restrained him until the best came. Once again, I prophesy into your life: God’s best for your life shall arrive today, and you will know it in Jesus’ Name.

The guest at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee also experienced what happens when the best comes John 2:1-10. After tasting the wine that Jesus made from water, the chairman of the ceremony confessed that indeed the best had come John 2:10. The Bible says he did not even know the Source of the wine.

One major lesson here is that whatever comes from the original Source of all things will always be the best . I therefore encourage you to always look unto Jesus for the best in life. He said in John 10:10b:

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

There is abundant life in Jesus, and it is from Him alone that you can get the best.

Prayer Point:
Father, You are the Source of all things; please cause me to always experience the best You have for me in every facet of life, in Jesus’ Name.

Bible in one year:
Psalm 92-99, Matthew 27:45-66,

HYMN 6: A NEW THING (Tune: There shall be showers of Blessing)

We will soon shout Hallelujah Because God will do new things Sinners will be forgiven Prodigals will come home soon.
Chorus:

Shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things Rivers in desert now flowing Hallelujah to our king.

We will soon shout Hallelujah Because God will do new things Sickness and sorrow will be gone Bondage will be forgotten.

We will soon shout Hallelujah Because God will do new things The barren will be faithful soon Failure will be forgotten.

We will soon shout Hallelujah Because God will do new things Poverty will be forgotten Stagnancy will soon be gone.

We will soon shout Hallelujah Because God will do new things To all miracles are given There shall be celebrations

We will soon shout Hallelujah Because God will do new things Many will have testimonies Of prayer answered fully.

We will soon shout Hallelujah Because God will do new things One of us will chase a thousand Two will conquer ten thousand

We will soon shout Hallelujah Because God will do new things Songs of praises we will sing Hallelujah to our King.