OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1ST 2018
THEME: AUTHORITY TO FORBID.
Hymn 18 CONQUERORS AND OVERCOMERS NOW ARE WE
1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing ‘gainst His mighty powe
Can e’er prevail.
Chorus:
Conquerors are we, thr’o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.
2. In the name of Israel’s God we’ ll
Onward press,
Overcoming sin and all
Unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.
3. Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden
Crown shall wear.
Memorise: Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24
BIBLE READING Matthew 18:18-20 (KJV)
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Message:-
The magnitude of the Lord’s blessings under the new covenant is so astounding that we can barely comprehend the full dimensions of it.
It is so great that even angels desire to understand it (1st Peter 1:12). The Holy Spirit described its scope in 1st Corinthians 2:9, saying: “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.”
One of those blessings is that our status has been changed to that of gods. Our Father Himself declared this in Psalm 82:6, saying: “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”
While on earth, Jesus demonstrated this new status that God bestowed on us by walking in authority and power, so much so that people marvelled and were in awe, saying, “What is this”, We never saw it in the fashion” and “We have seen strange things today!” (Mark 1:27 Mark 2:12, Luke 5:26). When the Jews questioned His boldness and audacity, Jesus referred them to God’s word in the same Psalm 82:6 (John 10:34-36). Having showed us what it is to be gods, He has empowered and mandated us to begin to operate as gods on the earth, because as children of the Most High, we share in His power and authority.
Our authority as gods including the power to allow and to forbid things. Mathew 18:18 says: “Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Through this power, we are to take charge for our Lord until He returns by enforcing the will of the Father on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). We have the authority to forbid whatever contradicts our Father’s will in our health, family, business, job, community and nation. In Psalm 82:2, the Holy Spirit challenges us, asking: “How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?”
He then commands us in Psalm 82:3-4 “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of wicked.”
This forms part of our mandate as gods. As we evangelise the good news, whatever we forbid in the lives of the oppressed, diseased and afflicted shall be forbidden in Jesus’ Name. Let’s wake up to our responsibilities as gods today.
Action Point:- Enforce your Father’s will over everything contrary to His will in your life and community.
Prayer Points:-
Welcome to September! Same God that drove you from January this year, will make you go through September seamlessly with authority from above in Jesus’ Name. Ember months will not suck your blood, your loved ones or anyone around you, In Jesus’ Name.
Pray these prayers seriously, even after today.
1. Father, let every spirit of complacency, lukewarmness and self-centeredness, in my life, be consumed by your fire, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I confess that by my power, l can do nothing, please, help me to occupy, with things of eternal values, till you come, in Jesus’ name.
3. Father, do not uproot me from your vineyard, please, prune and purge me, that l may be more productive and fruitful, in Jesus’ name.
4. Father, enforce your will over everything contrary to your will in my life, in Jesus’ Name.
5. Father, give me a burden for praying and fasting, for souls, in this end time, in Jesus’ name.
6. Father, whatever we forbid in the lives of the oppressed, diseased and afflicted shall be forbidden in Jesus’ Name
7.Father, renew my passion and zeal for evangelism, soul-winning and follow-up, in Jesus’ name.
8.Father, please, rekindle the fire of your revival in my life and in our time, in Jesus’ name.
9. Father, may l not have to give excuses on the day of accountability, in Jesus’ name.
11. Your Personal petitions. (Philippians 4:6)
12. In Jesus’ name I pray. (John 14:13-14; 15:16)
13. Thank you Father for answered prayers. (1 Thessalonians