Open Heavens 25th December 2017 – Pastor E.A. Adeboye
TOPIC: Who Do You Seek?
MEMORISE: “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.” Matthew 28:5
READ: Matthew 2:1-11 (KJV)
2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 24-27, Zachariah 12:10-13:6
TODAY HYMN: Sing Hymn 2
MESSAGE: What you focus on will seriously affect your ability to achieve your destiny, realize your goals and glorify God. Many children of God were focused on Jesus Christ before they became exposed to luxurious cars, mansions and exotic lifestyles , but after the Lord prospered them, They began to ask the Lord questions as to why they should live their lives in accordance with His principles, which got them to where they are in the first place.
Open Heavens: Benefits of Supreme Love
While prosperity is good, it is only beneficial for as long as it is balanced with a lifestyle of godliness. Prosperity that does not have Christ as its centre is vain and only a passing shadow. A beautiful mansion without Jesus is Hell, while a hut with Jesus in it is Heaven on earth.
In today’s Bible reading, we are told that some wise men came to seek Jesus. According to Bible scholars, these men must have traveled for at least two years before they got to their destination. They did not arrive immediately Jesus was born, as it popularly depicted. From Herod’s enquiries on what time the first saw guiding star, he could calculate that Jesus could be up to two years old when the wise men arrived. This was why in an attempt to kill the child, he decreed that children who were two years old and younger be killed (Matthew 2:16). When the wise men eventually arrived at the place where Jesus was, they worshipped Him and gave Him gifts. Worship is incomplete without an offering. Proverbs 13:20 says,
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed”
Open Heavens: Working Something Out
If you want to be wise like these men, you will back your worship with good offering. Come before His presence with joy and singing; bring Him gifts and worship Him, and you will be glad you did. Why? Everyone who ever saw Jesus and worshipped Him benefited from it. The wise men did not travel for two years in vain. After they saw the young Jesus and offered Him gifts, their deed was immortalized.
For over 2000 years, their story is still being told around the world wherever the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached. Who or what would you really love to see? I want to see Jesus. After working with God for several years, Moses still asked God to show him His glory (Exodus 33:17-23). I often wondered why, before I got the revelation.
Job equally had the rare privilege of seeing God (Job 42:1-6). If you search for Him and truly desire Him this Christmas season, you will surely find Him. Are you focused on the reason for the season or lost in the vanity that the world seeks?
KEY POINT: The wise men diligently sought for Jesus and they found Him. If you also seek Him diligently, you will surely be rewarded.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional Messages was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.