OPEN Heavens for TEENS -rccg

14/07/2024

14/07/2024

30/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: FRIDAY 31ST OF MAY, 2024
THEME: HEARING FROM GOD

MEMORISE: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27

READ: 1 Samuel 3:1-21
[1]And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
[2]And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
[3]And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
[4]That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
[5]And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
[6]And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
[7]Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
[8]And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
[9]Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
[10]And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
[11]And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
[12]In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
[13]For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
[14]And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
[15]And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
[16]Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
[17]And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
[18]And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
[19]And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
[20]And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
[21]And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

MESSAGE
God communicates with His children diverse ways. He in can talk to you while you are in the church or while you are playing or reading. He can speak through dreams, visions, Scriptures, or with an audible voice. All you need to do is listen, so you can hear Him clearly.
When God speaks, it can be to warn you or give you an instruction like He did with Jonah in Jonah 1:1-2. Unfortunately, Jonah tried to play smart with God and paid for it dearly. God's instructions are not to be joked with; therefore, I implore you to promptly obey whenever He speaks to you.
When God speaks to me during services and I say, "My Daddy says.... many people wonder how I am able to hear Him easily. One thing I can tell you is that God looks at your heart. If you want to hear from Him clearly, you must have a heart that is right before Him. By this, I mean that you must be holy and you must be a carrier of His presence. Be like Samuel whose heart was right with God and who dwelt in His temple.

KEY POINT
A right heart is what you need to hear from God.

HYMN 21: NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE
1. Nearer, my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

2. Though, like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee

3. There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou send'st to me
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee

4. Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony grief
Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God to thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

5. Or if on joyful wing
Cleaving thy sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upwards I fly
Still all my songs shall be,
Nearer my God to thee,(2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 17:1-29 John 19:23-42
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

28/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: WEDNESDAY 29TH OF MAY, 2024
THEME: VESSEL UNTO HONOUR

MEMORISE: If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21

READ: 2 Timothy 2:19-21
[19]Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
[20]But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
[21]If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

MESSAGE
A vessel is a container that is used to hold liquids or a ship that is used for transportation on water. A vessel unto honour, therefore, is a container that is used for honourable purposes. Children of God, particularly workers in His vineyard, are vessels. While some are vessels unto honour, some are unto dishonour, as we read in today's Bible reading.
God is absolutely pure, and He expects all His children to be pure as well. He cannot compromise His standard when He is in need of a vessel to send on an errand. Thus, as His child, you have a choice to either be a vessel unto honour or a vessel unto dishonour. However, I appeal to you that you become a vessel unto honour. To be a vessel unto honour, you must be without sin, and you must be sanctified and fervent in prayer. Also, you must be prepared to do all that God commands you to do.
Beloved, I can boldly tell you that it is honourable to be a vessel unto honour. When you are a vessel unto honour, you will become God's favourite, and God doesn't joke with His favourites.

ACTION POINT
List ways that you can be a vessel unto honour.

HYMN 12 - Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
1. Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning
Our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons,
Blessed Trinity!

2 Holy, holy, holy!
All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns
Around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim,
Falling down before Thee,
Which went and art
And evermore shalt be.

3 Holy, holy, holy!
Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy,
There is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow'r, in love,
And purity.

4 Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise
Thy name, in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, Holy, Holy!
Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons,
Blessed Trinity!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 14:1-15:22 John 18:1-24
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

27/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: TUESDAY 28TH OF MAY, 2024
THEME: WHO IS YOUR MENTOR?

MEMORISE: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17

READ: 2 Kings 2:1-15
[1]And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
[2]And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
[3]And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
[4]And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
[5]And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
[6]And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
[7]And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
[8]And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
[9]And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
[10]And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
[11]And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
[12]And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
[13]He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
[14]And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
[15]And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

MESSAGE
Mentorship is a relationship in which more experienced a and more knowledgeable fellow helps to guide a less experienced and less knowledgeable fellow. Mentorship is a term that is used in both church and secular environments because mentors are influencers who can either help to build or mar the life and career of a mentee.
As a child of God, your number one mentor should be Jesus Christ because you will never make wrong decisions when you follow His teachings and when you are guided by the Holy Spirit. However, you still need to be mentored by someone you can see and easily relate with. Hence, you need someone who has a good character and who is mature, godly, knowledgeable, and heaven-conscious. The fellow should be of the same gender as you too. I know it might be difficult to find someone who possesses all these attributes, but with God, nothing is impossible. Therefore, ask God to direct you to the right person.

PRAYER POINT
Father, please order my steps to a good mentor, in Jesus' name.

HYMN 8 - LEAD US HEAVENLY FATHER, LEAD US
1. Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
O'er the world's tempestuous sea;
Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
For we have no help but Thee,
Yet possessing every blessing
If our God our Father be.

2. Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us;
All our weakness Thou dost know;
Thou didst tread this earth before us,
Thou didst feel its keenest woe;
Lone and dreary, faint and weary,
Through the desert Thou didst go.

3. Spirit of our God, descending,
Fill our hearts with heavenly joy,
Love with every passion blending,
Pleasure that can never cloy;
Thus provided, pardoned, guided,
Nothing can our peace destroy.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 13:1-39 John 17:1-26
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

27/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: MONDAY 27TH OF MAY, 2024
THEME: LEARN HOW TO COOK

MEMORISE: Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, "Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing." Genesis 27:31 (NLT)

READ: Genesis 25:29-34
[29]And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
[30]And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
[31]And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
[32]And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
[33]And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
[34]Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

MESSAGE
Today's Bible passage shows that cooking is not gender- based. Esau and Jacob learned how to cook delicious meals from their mother, Rebecca. Little wonder their father, Isaac, requested for a good meal to be made for him by his eldest son so he could pronounce blessings on him. This invariably shows that those who cook well always provoke blessings from whoever eats their food.
I cited these specific Scriptures so that you will know that cooking is not gender-based. In our days, girls were trained to cook and perform house chores while boys were allowed to play football. However, in this current age, the dividing line is fading between boys and girls as both genders now have interest in the same fields. In fact, I know some boys who cook perfectly: some have restaurants that serve all kinds of meals ranging from Nigerian to intercontinental dishes.
Learning how to cook is one of the most interesting things you can do. You can start learning how to cook at home or in school through subjects like Home Economics or Food and Nutrition. Learning to cook well will not only help you to eat healthier, it will also help you to save money as an adult.

ACTION POINT
Volunteer to cook any type of meal for your parents this week.

HYMN 17 - THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING
1. There shall be showers of blessing"
This is the promise of love;
There shall be season refreshing
Send from a savior above

CHORUS
Showers of blessing
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drop round are falling
But for the showers we plead.

2. "There shall be showers of blessing"
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys;
Sound of abundance of rain.

3. "There shall be showers of blessing"
Send them upon us Oh Lord!
Grant to us a refreshing;
Come now and honour Thy Word.

4. "There shall be showers of blessing"
Oh, that today thy might fall,
Now as to God we are confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

5. "There shall be showers of blessing"
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be season refreshing,
If we let God have his way.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 12:1-31 John 16:1-33
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

26/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: SUNDAY 26TH OF MAY, 2024
THEME: FEELING LEFT OUT?

MEMORISE: But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. Matthew 26:56

READ: Job 19:13-21
[13]He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
[14]My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
[15]They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
[16]I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
[17]My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
[18]Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
[19]All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
[20]My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
[21]Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

MESSAGE
To feel left out is an awareness, either real or imagined, of being excluded from the company or activities of others. This feeling can sometimes be overwhelming and frustrating. However, before you overthink and worry about feeling left out, you should know that Jesus Christ was once in your shoes (Matthew 26:55- 56), and He knows how you feel.
As worrisome as feeling left out may be, always look on the bright side. When your friends exclude you from their plans, especially if what they intend to do is not good, you should be happy because it will drive you closer to God. Job is a good example; he was left alone by his friends and family during his trials. They were not there for him when he needed them the most, but at last, his trials brought him closer to God and made him realise that all he had was God and that he could not put his trust in friends.
Do you feel left out and alone? I want you to know that you are not alone. The Bible says in Isaiah 43:2 that when you pass through the fire, it will not burn you, and when you pass through water, it will not overflow you, because God is with you. As He was present with the three Hebrew boys in the furnace of fire, He is with you.

KEY POINT
When you feel left out, remember that you're not alone; Jesus is with you.

QUIZ
What was the name of the King of Judea at the time of Jesus' birth?

HYMN 19 - THERE'S NOT A FRIEND LIKE THE LOWLY JESUS
1. There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one!
None else could heal all our soul's diseases–
No, not one! no, not one!

CHORUS:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one!

2 No friend like Him is so high and holy–
No, not one! no, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly–
No, not one! no, not one!

3 There's not an hour that He is not near us –
No, not one! no, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us–
No, not one! no, not one!

4. Did ever saint find this friend forsake him?
No not one! no not one!
Or sinner find that he would not take him?
No not one! no not one!

5. Was e'er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! no, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! no, not one!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 9:1-11:27 John 15:1-27
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

24/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS

DATE: SATURDAY MAY 25TH 2024

THEME: MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS

MEMORISE: Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

READ: EPHESIANS 4:1-3

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

MESSAGE
No matter who you are, you will need to interact with people. It does not matter if you are a leader or a follower; you need to engage with people to be successful. Having a sound connection with others will determine if you will be successful as a leader or team player.
To build a solid relationship with others, you must respect and show them that their opinion matters. In a healthy relationship, there must be trust. For instance, Jonathan had so much trust in his friend, David, that he exchanged his clothes, girdle, bow, and sword with him (1 Samuel 18:4). Love must also be present in every healthy relationship. Jonathan's love for David made him take several risks just to save him from his father, Saul.
My dear child, you must shun habits that kill good relationships, such as gossiping, spreading rumours, jealousy, envy, etc. You must also ensure that your relationship with others is not parasitic: there should be mutual benefit to everyone involved. Don't engage with others just to receive from them; be a blessing too.

ACTION POINT
Shun habits that kill good relationships.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 SAMUEL 7:1-8:18 JOHN 14:15-31

AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

HYMN 6 - MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS
1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

CHORUS
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

3. His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

24/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: FRIDAY 24TH OF MAY, 2024
THEME: DUTIES OF THE BRANCH

MEMORISE: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4

READ: John 15:1-5
[1]I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
[2]Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
[3]Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
[4]Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
[5]I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

MESSAGE
Today's Bible reading establishes that Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. As the branch, we have just one duty - to bear fruits, that is, to win souls. In John 15:2, Jesus said that whoever does not bear fruits would be taken away. Beloved, how many souls have you won since the beginning of the year? Are you a fruit-bearing branch? If not, you are disobeying God (Matthew 28:19).
To bear fruit, you must be connected to the Vine. This requires constant fellowshipping with Him, staying away from sin, and obeying His word completely. God hates sin, so the moment you intentionally commit sin, He disconnects from you. However, if you stay connected to Him, He will supply the nutrients that are required for you to bear fruits.
My beloved child, abiding in God is the most important duty of the branch. When you abide in Him, everything else will fall into place.

REFLECTION
Are you fulfilling your duty as a branch?

HYMN 7 - WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE
1. Wonderful story of love!
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love!
Wake the immortal strain.
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, O won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love!

REFRAIN:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful story, Wonderful story of love!

2. Wonderful story of love!
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love!
Still he doth call today.
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation;
Wonderful story of love!

3. Wonderful story of love!
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love!
For all the pure and blest;
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus;
Wonderful story of love!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 SAMUEL 4:1-6:23 JOHN 13:31-14:14
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

22/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: THURSDAY 23RD OF MAY, 2024
THEME: KING AMON

MEMORISE: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord: Acts 3:19

READ: 2 Chronicles 33:21-25
[21]Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
[22]But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
[23]And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
[24]And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
[25]But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

MESSAGE
King Amon was the son of King Manasseh, and he was the father of King Josiah the 16th king of Judah. Amon was 22 years old when he began to rule, and he was king for only two years before he was assassinated. Amon's life serves as a warning about the dangers of rejecting God and the consequences that come from not having a repentant heart and living a life of rebellion.
In today's Bible reading, it was recorded that Amon rejected God and turned to idols and false gods, just as his father Manasseh had done. Despite God's warnings, he refused to repent (2 Chronicles 33:23), which led him down a path of destruction and untimely death (2 Chronicles 33:24).
Beloved, for a fellow not to be destroyed, he or she must repent. If you are still living in sin, I implore you to repent of those 'little' sins before it is too late. May you not have a reprobate mind, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT
Father, please forgive me of my sins, in Jesus' name.

HYMN 13 - PASS ME NOT, O GENTLE SAVIOR
1 Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

2 Let me at a throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

3 Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

4 Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in heav'n but Thee?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39 John 13:1-30
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

21/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: WEDNESDAY 22ND OF MAY, 2024
THEME: YOU WILL BE INSULTED

MEMORISE: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:11

READ: Matthew 5:11-12
[11]Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
[12]Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

MESSAGE
Many years ago, one of my spiritual daughters begged me to talk to her father, a former military governor, about Jesus Christ, and I obliged. Immediately he saw me, he attacked me, saying, "Look at yourself: with a Ph.D. in Mathematics, you are going about carrying Jesus on your head. You think I don't know it is all a trick to collect money from poor women and students so that you can get rich? I also know the witch doctors people like you consult for the miracles happening in your church." He went on and on, but I kept smiling instead of trying to defend myself. Eventually, he gave his life to Christ, and in his testimony, he said that the fact that I kept laughing, even though he was trying to make me angry, could have made him shoot at me if he had a gun nearby.
To win souls for Christ, you need the Holy Spirit, and you would also need to develop a thick skin. As a Christian, you will be insulted and even ridiculed for the sake of the gospel you preach. However, you must learn to ignore the insults and continue to go after lost souls. You also have to let go of your ego and achievements. If the people you are trying to win for Christ accept your message, it's fine. However, if they insult you, pray for them and leave.

ACTION POINT
Preach to someone today.

HYMN 7 - WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE
1. Wonderful story of love!
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love!
Wake the immortal strain.
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, O won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love!

REFRAIN:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful story, Wonderful story of love!

2. Wonderful story of love!
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love!
Still he doth call today.
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation;
Wonderful story of love!

3. Wonderful story of love!
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love!
For all the pure and blest;
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus;
Wonderful story of love!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11 John 12:20-50
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

20/05/2024

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS
DATE: TUESDAY 21ST OF MAY, 2024
THEME: GET RID OF THE WEIGHT

MEMORISE: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

READ: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
[24]Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
[25]And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
[26]I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
[27]But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

MESSAGE
Weights in the life of Christians are like anchors; they hold believers down but permit them to move forward and backwards as though they are making progress. However, in the real sense, they are stagnant. Weights are not necessarily sins; they are things that, if indulged in, can lead a believer to sin. They are the lawful things that, if indulged in without moderation, will hold a fellow back from making progress.
Sleeping well is good, but it becomes a weight when a fellow sleeps too much. Eating is good, but it turns into a weight when someone becomes a glutton. While it is not a sin to watch television, being addicted to it will hinder a person from making progress spiritually and in other areas of life. This is because the more a Christian feeds his or her flesh, the weaker that believer's spirit becomes. Whenever I want to fast, I would pick my calendar and mark the dates I intend to fast; then I would tell my body, "You see that date, from that date, you will not eat again until so and so day."
My dear child, make a decision to do away with weights today so that you can make good progress in life.

ACTION POINT
Think of the weights you need to shed, write them in your journal, and prayerfully get rid of them.

HYMN 20 - CHRISTIAN, SEEK NOT YET REPOSE
1 Christian, seek not yet repose;
Hear thy guardian angel say,
"Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray!"

2 Principalities and powers ,
Mustering their unseen array,
Wait for thy unguarded hours:
"Watch and pray."

3 Gird thy heavenly armour on;
Wear it every night and day
Ambush'd lies the evil one:
"Watch and pray."

4 Hear the victors who o'ercame;
Still they mark each warrior's way;
All with one sweet voice exclaim,
"Watch and pray!"

5 Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down:
Watch and pray.

6 Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lovest to obey;
Hide within thy heart His word
"Watch and pray!"

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Samuel 29:1-31:13 John 11:55-12:19
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE