Open Heaven 19 April 2020 – Grow in Grace

Open Heaven 19 April 2020: [Sunday] – Grow in Grace

GROW IN GRACE – Sunday April 19^th 2020

Memorise: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2^nd Peter 3:18

Read: 1^st Peter 2:9-12 (KJV)

⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

¹⁰ Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

¹¹ Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

¹² Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Open Heaven 19 April 2020 – Grow in Grace

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Bible in one year: Psalms 121, 123 – 125, 128-130 Hymn: Sing hymn 12

Message:-

The word grace connotes God’s benevolence to the undeserving. Grace empowers Christians to do both the ordinary and extraordinary (2^nd Corinthians 9:8).

Open Heaven 19 April 2020 – Grow in Grace

However, if you do not grow in grace after being born again, making heaven many become increasingly difficult. This is why Peter advises Christians to grow in grace as seen in today’s memory verse.

When anyone stays at the level of salvation and fails to grow, there is a great possibility of backsliding. For this reason, Paul rebuked the church in Corinth. Despite being saved, they didn’t aspire to holy living (1^st Corinthians 3:1-3).

Open Heaven 19 April 2020: [Sunday] – Grow in Grace 

What are the effects of growing in grace?

According to today’s memory verse, steadily growing in grace helps us avoid lust and worldliness. When a Christian allows such into his/her life, there will be a gradual spiritual decline which is very dangerous. To avoid this decline, we must follow Peter’s counsel’s – desire the sincere milk of the world (1^st Peter 2:2). We must also strive to keep our salvation, working it out with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) – not in riotous or careless living, but in sobriety and modesty. When we grow in grace, it will not be difficult to live in obedience to God’s word.

Open Heaven 19 April 2020 Sunday: Prayer Points

“…..Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts”

Zechariah 4:6

The benefit of godly living is further stressed in Zechariah 4:7 “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become plain: and he shall being forth the headstone thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” A life of grace will do wonders.

Today, I adapt an Apostolic prayer for you: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1^st Corinthians 16:23), now and forever more. Amen.

Prayer Point

Father, give me a hunger for Your word. Cause me to grow in the grace of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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 Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.