Open Heavens 10 December 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye - INVITATION TO GRATER WORKS

INVITATION TO GRATER WORKS - Sunday December 10^th 2017

Memorise: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19

Read: Matthew 14:23-29 (KJV)

²³ And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

²⁴ But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

²⁶ And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

²⁷ But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

²⁸ And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

²⁹ And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Bible in one year: Psalm 135-141, Zephaniah 3:9-20, Sing Hymn 14

MESSAGE:

On one of their journeys by sea, the disciples saw Jesus walking towards them on the water. Astonished to see this wonder, Peter asked the Lord Jesus Christ if he could join Him, and Lord invited him to come. Peter’s fellow disciples watched in amazement as he walked towards Jesus on the water. If only too had responded to the lord’s invitation, they would have partaken of this awesome experience, but they were not courageous enough to step out. Nevertheless, that invitation to do the impossible was not limited to them. It is still open to you and me today. In John 14:12, Jesus said,

           

‘’Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall do also.’ And greater works then these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

Beloved, the call to the works of Jesus and even perform greater works than He did is a call to the impossible. To be able to do this, you must be prepared to believe in Jesus Christ with all your heart, leaving no space for doubt. Do you believe in him? Why then do you still leave room for doubt? Don’t you know that the Lord never fails?

Furthermore, Jesus invites us to follow him. John 8:12 says,

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

As the light, if you follow Jesus, you will not walk in darkness, and neither will you stumble. Also, if you follow Him, He will make something great out of your life. He will make you what you never dreamt you could become. Consider a person like Peter: he would have died an unknown fisherman if he had not accepted Christ’s invitation to follow him (Matthew4:18-19). Have accept that invitation to follow Jesus? Today some people give various excuses for not following him. One of such excuses is that they do not want to be disturbed distracted from their life’s goal or ambition, failing to realise that if only they accepted Lord’s invitation, they would have had a greater future and they would have enjoyed His backing in all their life’s endeavours. Have you heeded His invitation?

Action Point:

The call to follow Jesus is a call to true discipleship. Are you His disciple?

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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Hymn 14

HYMN 14 – TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

Verse 1:

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;

Let them flow in endless praise.

Verse 2:

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for thee.

Verse 3:

Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Verse 4:

Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Verse 5:

Take my will and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Verse 6:

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.