DATE: TUESDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER, 2020.

THEME: HIS ARMS ARE WIDE OPEN.

MEMORIZE:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1 John 1:9

BIBLE READING:

LUKE 15:11-32

11. And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and l perish with hunger!

18. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

26. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do l serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never avest me a kid, that l might make merry wit my friends:

30. But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that l have is thine.

32. It was meant that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

MESSAGE:

If you extend your hand to someone for a handshake, the person would most likely decline if his/her hands are dirty.

Naturally, humans avoid staining clean people. However, God does not operate that way. He is willing to give you a hug even when you are dirty.

The father of the prodigal son for example, did not ask him to take a bath before he could embrace him.

He saw his son from afar and ran to meet him (Luke 15:11-32).

The woman with the issue of blood had been bleeding for twelve years.

She may have been smelly, the doctors might have taken all her earnings and left her wearing rags but she chose to touch Jesus the One everyone was celebrating.

Considering her state, ordinarily, she may not have wanted to come close, but she did!.

She probably felt too dirty to speak, so she decided to just touch the hem of His garment.

She did not stay away totally because she was dirty.

She made the move and He did not reject her; He even prayed for her (Luke 8:43-48).

The countless sins you have committed stealing, adultery, fornication, or even murder may make you feel dirty.

So, you may think God cannot accept you anymore. Listen, He is waiting for you to take just one step towards Him.

There is no sin too big for the blood of Jesus to cleanse, neither is there any sinner too guilty for Him to forgive.

You might not be able to pray unhindered if you are still feeling dirty. In this case, you have to first pray for forgiveness.

All He needs is genuine repentance and He will do the rest.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you… James 4:8”

All He requires is that you take a step towards Him and He will do the rest. Even if you have entered into a covenant with the devil and sold your soul to him, God is able to help you.

He remains the same; He still sets the lawful captives free (Isaiah 49:24-46).

His arms are still wide open, come to Him now when He is near (Isaiah 55:6). Don’t wait until it would be too late.

KEY POINT:

Spread the good news of God’s unconditional love and if you have sinned, come to Him as you are. His arms are still wide open.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE.

BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:

EZEKIEL 20:1-49, EZEKIEL 21:1-32

HYMN 7: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.

1. “Great is Thy faithfulness,”

O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not,

Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been

Thou forever wilt be.

Chorus

“Great is Thy faithfulness!”

“Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed

Thy hand hath provided,

“Great is Thy faithfulness,”

Lord, unto me!

2. Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

DATE: THURSDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2020.

THEME: THE ACCEPTABLE OFFERING.

MEMORISE:

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Proverbs 15:8

READ: Genesis 4:3-5

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

MESSAGE 

It is only a beggar who would not consider the status of whoever is giving him/her gifts; he/she just collects alms from whoever, whenever. God is not a beggar. He accepts gifts only from His children and rejects the proceeds of cheating, embezzlement and the like.

The fact that money lands in the offering bag or Church account does not mean it has been accepted by God.

“…... And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect…...” Genesis 4:4-5

Note the sequence in the verse above: the names appeared before the offering. This means that the acceptance of the offering depends on the giver. If God accepts your offering, He has accepted you.

some people have complained of stagnation despite being faithful in the payment of their tithes and offering. This might be because God has not accepted them. If He hasn’t, He cannot accept their offering. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-8, Paul asked the Macedonian Church to give themselves to God first before giving to the man of God. That is the only acceptable offering – one that is offered after the giver has given his life to Christ. So, before your next offering, ask yourself: “Am I a genuine child of God?”

it is a terrible thing for God to reject an offering; because it means He has rejected the giver. Cain, out of envy, killed his brother because of this.

A long time ago, the RCCG was in dire need of a new sound system and a rich man donated the latest model to the Church. While I was still rejoicing about this, I heard God say “Tell him to take the gift back; I don’t want it.” The man left in sorrow knowing God had rejected him. May God never reject you and your offering in the mighty name of Jesus. For that prayer to be answered, you must ensure you are in right standing with Him, living a holy life.

KEY POINT:

God only accepts the offering of those who are His children.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 24-27

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 4:  BLESSED ASSURANCE, JESUS IS MINE.

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

o Refrain:

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels, descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.