Tag Archives: Joy

Open Heavens: Agent of Joy

Aside

RCCG Open Heaven Devotion 2012 – Pastor E. A. Adeboye (ISBN: 978-36079-4-4)
Download Open Heaven – iOpenHeaven , www.m.openheavensportal.net
(Previously available online @: http://www.rccgna.org/Resources/BibleStudy/Devotionals.aspx)
Monday 17 December
Bible in one year: Psalms 133-137
AGENT OF JOY
Memorise: Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalms 82:4
Read: Psalms 82:2-4
It is important to assist the poor because when you do, you will receive what money cannot buy. Proverbs 14:21 says there is joy awaiting those who help the poor. That means, as you sow happiness into their lives, you will reap joy. The poor and needy are good grounds to sow. Money cannot buy joy. The best money can bring is temporary happiness. The devil exploits men’s need of joy by offering them alcohol so that when they drink, they will have a little euphoria of happiness. Why do you think people smoke Indian hemp and what kind of people engage in such behaviour? Those who are sad and frustrated engage in it to have a taste of happiness; so also are drug addicts. Why don’t Christians drink alcoholic beverage? It is because they have the joy of the Lord, which is original and is always present.
Sometime ago, while travelling to Kwara State (Middle Belt Nigeria), I saw a young boy weeping by the road side. So I asked the driver to stop so that I can ask what was amiss. He told me he had lost 50 kobo and his mother would “kill” him if she heard of it. I gave him the money he lost and immediately, you could see the joy on his face. He was so carried away that he bolted without even saying a “Thank you”. All the same, throughout that day, I was very happy with myself because I was a channel of blessing to a child. Do you know you can generate joy in your heart by putting smiles on the faces of the hungry? I know you can reach out to someone today and let his or her soul bless you. Visit those in prisons and preach Jesus to them. Visit those in the hospitals and show them some love. Give to the needy. Pray for your leaders. Encourage the distressed, hurting and discouraged. However, prosperity is not only in monetary terms. If you have money but lack good health, you are poor. If you have money but lack joy, you are poor. This is why those who are truly prosperous are those who have Jesus Christ because they have peace, joy and hope for tomorrow. They are secure because they know God will take care of them. Are you a child of God?
KEY POINT:
Look out for five people you can put joy into their lives and families.
Go ahead and do so.

 

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Open Heavens: Giving Joy to Parents

Aside

RCCG Open Heaven Devotion 2012 – Pastor E. A. Adeboye (ISBN: 978-36079-4-4)
Download Open Heaven – iOpenHeaven , www.m.openheavensportal.net
(Previously available online @: http://www.rccgna.org/Resources/BibleStudy/Devotionals.aspx)
Saturday 10 November
Bible in one year: Isaiah 58-60
GIVING JOY TO PARENTS
Memorise: The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Proverbs 23:24
Read: Proverbs 23:22-25
Apart from giving joy to others, the righteous is also known by the amount of joy he or she is able to give his or her parents – both biological and spiritual
parents. Proverbs 23:24 says:
The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
If you cause grief to your father, you are not righteous but wicked. Will your earthly parents be happy with you if you neglect them at old age? If you invested so much in your children but have retired and they are gainfully employed, yet they ignore you, will you be happy with them? Some fathers have placed curses on their children for neglecting them. The righteous will not neglect his parents at any time. He will make sure those of them that are not saved are led to Jesus. After all, that is the greatest gift he can give to them. Besides, he will ensure they have a roof over their heads and that their needs are met – food, clothing, medical, etc.
The righteous will invest much in the lives of his parents for several reasons. First, because all they have received in life are from God through their parents. The righteous will not forget the slightest good deed or investment that he or she received from the parents. Also, especially if he was neglected by his parents, he will invest in such unbelieving parents in a bid to overcome their evil with good (Romans 12:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:15). You say, “My father neglected me from childhood. How can I relate with such a man?” He did it in ignorance. Now that you know Christ, you will win him by your conduct. If you repay evil for evil, there is no difference between you and your unbelieving father. But if you return good to him, the coals of fire you will heap on his head will easily lead him to Christ (Proverbs 25:22). In addition, the righteous will invest in his parents so that he will not constitute a stumbling block to their salvation. It is easier for your parents to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ if they see you practicing it by caring for them than by neglecting them. The righteous will invest in his parents and give them the best so that when he is old, he will reap something better from his own children. Lastly, the righteous will care for parents as an act of obedience to God’s command. Go and care for your parents regularly from today. The Lord will bless you as you do so.
ACTION POINT:
Draw up a plan through which you and your spouse will regularly give to your parents.

NB: Copyright is a benefit to society. It’s not just about financial gain.
One of the chief purposes of copyright law is to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of the text.
Please learn more about the subject by referring to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_Literary_and_Artistic_Works
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorized_King_James_Version#Copyright_status