Open Heaven For Today 27 January 2018: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Fruit of the spirit V

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT V – Saturday January 27^th 2018

Memorise: But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matthew 5:44

Read: Acts 7:54-60 (KJV)

^7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

^7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

^7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

^7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

^7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

^7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

^7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Bible in one year: Exodus 9-10, Romans 2:12-3:8, Hymnal: Sing hymn 2

Message

To conclude our reflection on the fruit of the Spirit, we shall today be considering temperance. To be temperate is to have self-control. Temperance enables you to remain cool, calm and collected in the midst of dire situations. Through the manifestations of temperance, you will save yourself the pain of hasty and rash pronouncements that you will later regret. open heaven devotional 2018. Temperance will restrain you from overreacting in situations that could make you lose your integrity. It takes the restraint of Holy Spirit to turn the other cheek to those who despitefully use you (Luke 6:29). To better understand temperance, just picture Stephen in excruciating pain and about to die, praying for God’s mercy on those who stoned him to death. open heaven. This is the hallmark of a life full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:55). The Lord Jesus Christ also manifested this same nature on the cross of Calvary (Luke 23:34). When He was arrested and tried, it was temperance that enabled Him to restrain Himself from putting up a defence. There would have been no redemption if Jesus Christ had defended Himself. Matthew 27:13-14 says,

“Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.”

I reckon that in the course of His trial, the Holy Spirit could have continually brought to His remembrance what was written concerning Him in Isaiah 53:7-8. When you cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit, whenever you are faced with a situation of conflict, in order to restrain you, the Holy Spirit will remind you of who you are and where you are going . He will also put words in your mouth if there is a need for you to respond. This is how His nature of temperance is manifested in our character.

As we concluded our study on the fruit of the Spirit, you need to be reminded that walking in the Spirit is the process that brings about the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in us. Open Heaven for today. The Holy Spirit is a Person and not a force, and so He will not compel you to fellowship with Him, even through He resides inside of you. Open heavens 26 January 2018. You need to yield yourself to Him and cultivate His friendship to His fruit to manifest in your life. Here is the key to walking in the Spirit, from Amos 3:3

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Your life needs to be in agreement with His principles for you to walk with Him. He is the Promise for you to walk Him. He is the Promise of the Father, and He is will to abide with you if you will make your life habitable for Him.

Prayer Point

Take out time to sing to the Holy Spirit, and tell Him how much you appreciate His ministry in your life.

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.

Sing hymn 2

2.  I NEED THEE EVERY

HOUR

1.    I need Thee every hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

Chorus

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior!

I come to Thee

2.    I need Thee every hour,

Stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their power

When Thou art nigh.

3.    I need Thee every hour,

In joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide,

Or life is vain.

4.   I need Thee every hour,

Teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises

In me fulfil.

5.    I need Thee every hour

Most Holy One;

Oh, make me Thine Indeed,

Thou blessed Son.