Open Heaven 6 February 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye
Topic: Evangelism made Simple
Memorise: “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.”- John 4:39
Read: John 4:25-39 (KJV)
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
Bible in One Year: Luke 22, Isaiah 33:10-24
Open Heaven 6 February 2019 MESSAGE:
Proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ out of genuine love for God and appreciation for all He has done in our lives sums up what evangelism is all about. Several Bible passages emphasize the importance of evangelism and teach us the various means and methods by which we should carry out this all important responsibility. Our evangelism must always proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, beginning with salvation from sin, poverty, sickness and death, highlighting our authority over the devil and the powers of hell, and culminating in the hope of eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To this end, in Matthew 28:19, the Lord Jesus Christ gave us a mandate that spells out our mission, known as the Great Commission. Knowing the enormity of the task before us, the Master also promised to empower us with the Holy Ghost, who transforms us into effective witnesses to spread the good news to the uttermost parts of the earth. Acts 1:8 says:
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
In addition to the empowerment that the Holy Spirit gives, our task is made simpler when we apply the method of witnessing one on one to our neighbors, friends and acquaintances, in what is known as personal evangelism. When we tell others about the power of God to save, deliver and transform through Jesus, and we share our personal testimonies, no matter how ordinary they may seem, this usually produces great results. Consider for a moment the story of the Samaritan woman in today’s Bible reading. Her past was nothing to write home about, and physically, nothing new had happened to her. There was no visible miracle for her to present as a powerful testimony. She only told the people in the village that a total stranger had just told her of all her sinful and miserable past. It is therefore surprising that her message had a convincing effect on her listeners, so much so that she get a crowd to follow her to see Jesus. This shows that God can use your own personal testimony to convert souls to His kingdom, even without fabricated or exaggerated testimonies of miracles, signs and wonders. Just be conscious of His unseen power working in the background to empower your speech as you present Jesus to people by sharing your personal testimonies. I pray that henceforth, every effort you make to witness to others will yield great harvests to the kingdom of God in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heaven 6 February 2019 Action Point:
Tell someone today the things the Lord has done for you and through this, lead them to Christ.
Open Heaven 6 February 2019 Wednesday Hymn 15: Must I Go, And Empty-Handed
1. “Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
Chorus:
“Must I go, and empty-handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him:
Must I empty-handed go?
2. Not at death I shrink nor falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty-handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.
3. O the years in sinning wasted;
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I’d gladly bow.
4. O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet ’tis day;
Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,
Strive for souls while still you may.
Open Heaven 6 February 2019 Daily Devotional guide 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.