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Open Heaven Devotion

  • 15 Aug 2020

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.

HYMN 20: NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

o Refrain:

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;

All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,

There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;

Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

MEMORISE:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

READ: Acts 17:10-12

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

MESSAGE:

Some people think that being a Christian is just about attending Church service every Sunday and some other programmes from time to time. Far from it. Being a Christian is having such a cordial relationship with Christ that you begin to behave like Him. How can you have that cordial relationship with Him when all you know about Him is what you are told from the pulpit? True Christians do not depend on the Pastor to know who God is; they study the Scriptures themselves and get the revelation of God firsthand. Believe me, there is no revelation better than the one given to you by the Holy Spirit Himself.

Worst still are Christians who get their knowledge of God from other people’s opinions, without any background check as to the personality of the person addressing them. Once someone comes and talks about God to their hearing, quoting Scriptures and interpreting it, they believe everything the fellow is saying. You know the devil also quotes Scripture and interpret it. Get to know God yourself. you cannot understand the word of God except by the Holy Spirit Jesus said:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26

When last did you take a topic and study the Scriptures about it? When last did you ask the Holy Spirit for more insight into what has been discussed in it? I encourage you to start searching for the truth by yourself. As evidently anointed as Paul was, the people of Berea still search the Scriptures to confirm what he had told them and they were described as more noble than the Thessalonians who never searched the Scriptures themselves (Acts 17:11).

ACTION POINT:

Immerse yourself in the study of the word of God. Create a Bible study plan and ensure you stick to it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 32-34.