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Topic: The Best is yet to Come
(Open Heaven 1 June 2019)
Memorise: “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”- 2 Corinthians 5:1
Read: Hebrews 11:32-40 (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Bible in One Year: Leviticus 17-18, Jeremiah 48:1-20
Open Heaven 1 June 2019 Saturday MESSAGE:
Soon after I became born again, God showed me that Christianity is an eternal journey with Him which gets progressively better by the day for those who live in obedience to His commandments. As soon as I understood this, I made up my mind on two things: to live the rest of my life in total obedience to God, and to live with the mindset that the best is yet to come, irrespective of my current status, achievements or breakthroughs. This decision yielded a habit of appreciating God for every success and achievement in life and ministry, without the slightest feeling of accomplishment or the notion that we have “arrived”. Those who have witness the different levels of growth, development and miracles that God has made possible in The Redeemed Christian Church of God have always wondered how we are able to make these great leaps without resting on our oars. The answer lies in Philippians 3:13-14, which says:
“13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul was able to pen these words because he had a revelation of an ever-increasing glory in his spirit. He therefore lived every day of His life with the attitude that irrespective of the present glory, with God on his side, the best was yet to come. No wonder he lived a life that went from glory to greater glory, so much so that God performed special miracles through him (Acts 19:11-12). In spite of it all, he never allowed himself to dwell on his achievements as though he had arrived or attained greatness.
We should therefore learn from Paul’s example that doing great things on an incremental basis is central to the purpose and agenda God has for us. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says:
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
In essence, the greatest philosophers, investors and scientists cannot comprehend what God has in store for His children. God is so great, and His ways are far higher than our ways. Therefore, we can continually expect great and mighty things from Him. The events in 2 Kings 13:18-19 teach that when anyone is on an assignment for God, the fellow must diligently and aggressively carry out such duties according to God’s high calling, and not according to personal preferences. Go ahead and prophesy to yourself today that your best is yet to come!
Open Heaven 1 June 2019 Saturday Prayer Point:
Father, please help me to always look forward to a greater future in You, in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heaven 1 June 2019 Saturday Hymn 1: There Shall Be Showers of Blessing
1 There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above.
Chorus:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
2 There shall be showers of blessing—
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
3 There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
4 There shall be showers of blessing;
O that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
5 There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.
