Open Heaven 21 March 2024
TOPIC : Comfort In Service
MEMORISE : "Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth." – Psalm 26:8 (KJV)
READ: Jeremiah 29:12-13 (KJV)
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
MESSAGE
Nowadays, many churches are set up to make the congregants very comfortable; this is fine. However, we must not get carried away such that we prioritize comfort over why we come to services – to encounter God. Whether there is comfort or discomfort, forget your social status and rush there when you know that God is in a meeting! Don't go for Christian programs to seek comfort; there are no big men in the house of God (James 2:1-9). If you go to church to flaunt your social status, there is something profoundly missing in your Christian life.
The first time I went to a Christian programme outside Nigeria was in Kenya around 1975. Our group needed help to afford a hotel or even travel tickets. We had to pray for God to provide the tickets, and He did. Fortunately, there was a boarding school with dormitories made available for free to anybody coming for the program. I was a university lecturer, and so many of us were in those dormitories, but I didn't care; we weren't there to show off; we went to seek the Lord. Thank God I went through that because I can never forget the experience; that was the first time I saw God's throne room. I will gladly sleep on the floor to see God's throne room.
One thing I know about God is that you must search for Him to honestly know Him. This is why Isaiah 55:6 says you should seek Him while He may be found. You must seek God diligently if you want to get to know Him. When seeking His face concerning something, how comfortable you feel should not be a hindrance.
I remember one time when I had been praying concerning a matter for about two years. I was invited to preach at a meeting, where God answered me. I might have never heard from God if I had missed that meeting. God shows up when two or three are gathered in His name, so if you have been seeking Him concerning a matter. He hasn't shown up, go to a fellowship where people are gathered in His name and remind Him of His promise in Matthew 18:20. After the fellowship, whatever discomfort you may have experienced in seeking Him would be gone. Still, your encounter with Him will remain forever. Sometimes, you may have to choose between getting your miracle and comfort – I hope you choose wisely.
KEY POINT
Take advantage of your miracle because you are looking for comfort.
HYMN 11
I've Found A Friend In Jesus
1 I've found a friend in Jesus; he's everything to me,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Apple-tree of trees, in Him alone I see
All I need to do is cleanse and make myself entirely whole.
In sorrow, He's my comfort; in trouble, He's my stay,
He tells me every care on Him to roll:
He's the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
2 He all my griefs has taken, and all my sorrows bore;
In temptation, He's my strong and mighty tower;
I've all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus, I shall safely reach the goal:
He's the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
3 He'll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will,
A wall of fire about me, I've nothing now to fear,
With His manna He, my hungry soul shall fill.
Then, sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll:
He's the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
TOPIC : Comfort In Service
MEMORISE : "Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth." – Psalm 26:8 (KJV)
READ: Jeremiah 29:12-13 (KJV)
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
MESSAGE
Nowadays, many churches are set up to make the congregants very comfortable; this is fine. However, we must not get carried away such that we prioritize comfort over why we come to services – to encounter God. Whether there is comfort or discomfort, forget your social status and rush there when you know that God is in a meeting! Don't go for Christian programs to seek comfort; there are no big men in the house of God (James 2:1-9). If you go to church to flaunt your social status, there is something profoundly missing in your Christian life.
The first time I went to a Christian programme outside Nigeria was in Kenya around 1975. Our group needed help to afford a hotel or even travel tickets. We had to pray for God to provide the tickets, and He did. Fortunately, there was a boarding school with dormitories made available for free to anybody coming for the program. I was a university lecturer, and so many of us were in those dormitories, but I didn't care; we weren't there to show off; we went to seek the Lord. Thank God I went through that because I can never forget the experience; that was the first time I saw God's throne room. I will gladly sleep on the floor to see God's throne room.
One thing I know about God is that you must search for Him to honestly know Him. This is why Isaiah 55:6 says you should seek Him while He may be found. You must seek God diligently if you want to get to know Him. When seeking His face concerning something, how comfortable you feel should not be a hindrance.
I remember one time when I had been praying concerning a matter for about two years. I was invited to preach at a meeting, where God answered me. I might have never heard from God if I had missed that meeting. God shows up when two or three are gathered in His name, so if you have been seeking Him concerning a matter. He hasn't shown up, go to a fellowship where people are gathered in His name and remind Him of His promise in Matthew 18:20. After the fellowship, whatever discomfort you may have experienced in seeking Him would be gone. Still, your encounter with Him will remain forever. Sometimes, you may have to choose between getting your miracle and comfort – I hope you choose wisely.
KEY POINT
Take advantage of your miracle because you are looking for comfort.
HYMN 11
I've Found A Friend In Jesus
1 I've found a friend in Jesus; he's everything to me,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Apple-tree of trees, in Him alone I see
All I need to do is cleanse and make myself entirely whole.
In sorrow, He's my comfort; in trouble, He's my stay,
He tells me every care on Him to roll:
He's the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
2 He all my griefs has taken, and all my sorrows bore;
In temptation, He's my strong and mighty tower;
I've all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus, I shall safely reach the goal:
He's the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
3 He'll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will,
A wall of fire about me, I've nothing now to fear,
With His manna He, my hungry soul shall fill.
Then, sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll:
He's the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.