The Way Upward Ii
[10/11, 6:15 AM] faithemm2015: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
DATE: WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11TH 2023
THEME: THE WAY UPWARD II
MEMORISE: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:6
READ: John 14:1 -6
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
MESSAGE
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus promised to come and take us to be with Him where He is. The question now is, “Where is He?” The disciples saw Him when He was ascending, so we can see from their account where He went in Acts 1:9-10: ‘And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel”.
Clearly, Jesus ascended to heaven. Now, He said in John 14:6 that no one can get to the Father in heaven except through Him. This is very clear. Many people say there are many ways to heaven; that is a lie. Jesus is the one and only way to heaven. No religion or belief outside of Jesus Christ can get you to heaven.
Now, who are those whom Jesus Christ will take upwards to heaven when they leave this world?
Ephesians 5:27 tells us: “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” The only people whom Jesus will take to heaven to be with Him are those who are without spot or wrinkle.If you are unholy, when you leave this earth, Jesus will not take you upward with Him to Heaven, and the other option is to go to hell.
There are many people who call the name of Christ now, but when they shut their eyes here on earth, they will wake up in hell. Your attendance in Church is not a guarantee of your entry into heaven; the fact that you are a zealous worker or even a Pastor does not mean that you will go to heaven. Only an intimate relationship with Jesus – The Way upward, can guarantee your entrance into heaven. Eternity is not something to play games with. Some will be spending eternity in heaven with Jesus and His angels, enjoying forever, while others will be spending eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his demons, suffering forever. It is time to stop the pretence and truly surrender to Jesus. It is time to put religion aside and have a real relationship with Jesus Christ. It is time to stop being a Christian only on Sundays; let your lifestyle always reflect Jesus. It is time to be on the way to heaven, in all sincerity of heart.
REFLECTION
If you were to die today, where would you go- heaven or hell?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 25-26
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 15: PASS ME NOT O GENTLE SAVIOUR
1. Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
CHORUS
Saviour Saviour,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
2. Let me, at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.
3. Trusting only in Thy merit
Would I seek Thy face
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
4. Thou, the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me.
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in heaven but Thee
[10/11, 6:16 AM] faithemm2015: 🍒🍉🌽Seeds of Destiny,
DATE: WEDNESDAY, 11 OCTOBER, 2023.
TOPIC: THE FRUIT OF BITTERNESS.
SCRIPTURE: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; HEBREWS 12:15.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There is no bitterness without consequence.
The Scripture and several events of life have confirmed that bitterness is a root that generates corresponding bitter fruits. Every time bitterness is allowed in the heart of a person, it develops fruits. So, there is no bitterness without consequences; the decision to be bitter is the decision to face some bitter consequences.
A nurse who was suffering from blood cell cancer once went to see a Christian hematologist, a specialist in blood diseases. Now, we need to take note of this: blood is made from bone marrow; and the Bible says that…a broken spirit drieth the bones (Proverbs 17:22).
So, the hematologist said to her, “Is there anyone who offended you?” And the nurse remembered the experience she had when she was a little child. Her mother was sick, and her father sent her to call the village doctor. Before she could come back, the mother had died. When she came back, nobody explained anything to her; all she saw was that her mother was arranged inside a box (coffin) and covered.
The question in her tiny mind was: why is daddy suffocating mummy?” Before she could recover from that, her mother was buried. She could not understand what was happening.
Afterwards, the father married another wife who began to maltreat her. That ugly experience remained in her heart until adulthood. She became bitter against her father. Then the bitterness manifested physically as blood cell cancer. The doctor said to her, “It is true that your father did not tell you what happened, but forgive him.”
Eventually, she forgave her father, and within six weeks, every trace of cancer died. All she needed to do was to release forgiveness.
Beloved, bitterness in the heart breaks the life of a man (Proverbs 15:13). The root of bitterness will produce the fruits of diverse afflictions – mental afflictions, physical afflictions, etc.
Beloved, avoid the temptation to harbour bitterness in your heart.
REMEMBER THIS: There is no bitterness without consequences.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Ask God for the grace to release whoever you are bitter with.
2. Forgive and pray for the person you are holding in your heart.
3. Put a call through to someone you are bitter with where necessary, and settle.
PRAYER: Lord, I receive the grace to forgive those who hurt me. Let your love flow through me Lord, in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: The Root of Bitterness.
DAILY BIBLE READING: Matthew 15-17.
QUOTE: Our ability or inability to forgive, affects our lives in eternity. Culled from the Book, “AM I BITTER?” By Dr (Mrs) Becky Paul-Enenche.
AMAZING FACT: A bee could visit 50 to 100 flowers on a single trip for nectar.
PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD: The spell of bitterness is broken off your life. The grace to forgive is released, in Jesus’ Name.
