TUESDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2019 THEME: A CHURCH

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE:  TUESDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2019
THEME: A CHURCH IN YOUR HOUSE?

MEMORISE:
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Acts  2:46

READ: Acts  10:34-44
10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)  10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;  10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.  10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

MESSAGE:
We often tend to forget that the Church of Jesus Christ started in a home setting (Acts 1:12-14). The family unit is indeed a sub-unit of the entire Church. The home setting is therefore the best nursery to bring up young converts in the Lord, because at that level, it is very easy to avoid hypocrisy, as everyone is familiar with everyone. When the Holy Spirit asks the question that is today's topic, He is actually asking us two things: are members of our household Christians, and do we have any fellowship of believers in our homes? In other words, do you allow the gathering of God's people in your house for the purpose of sharing the word, praying and caring for each other? It is important to ensure that all members of our family are born again. The Lord considers His Church to be totality of people who have given their lives to Him and are living according to His Father's ideals (John 7:16-17). We must therefore ensure that members of our household abide by His teachings.

Today's memory verse describes the early Church's communal way of life. The effect of this communal living was the expansion of the Church which Acts  2:47 describes, saying:

"Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

Many people don't know the tremendous blessings they deny themselves when they refuse to accommodate house fellowship centres in their homes. Are such people not aware of the story of Obed-Edom, who by divine arrangement allowed the Ark of the Covenant to dwell in his house and subsequently received overflowing blessings. 2 Samuel  6:11 says:

"And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household."

When King David heard of how the Lord had blessed Obed-Edom because of the presence of the ark in his house, he suddenly realised that he had pushed his blessings away to another by keeping the ark in Obed-Edom's house. Allowing your house to accommodate a gathering of people in Christ's Name is therefore a wise thing to do. In today's Bible reading, the Lord led Peter to the home of Cornelius to preach the gospel of salvation. While he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon the "service" holding in Cornelius' house. This was a manifestation of the fulfilment of Christ's prophecy of a time when people will be able to worship God anywhere in Spirit and in truth (John 4:21-24). Church is where two or three people ate gathered in Jesus' Name, and Jesus Christ will be there amongst them (Matthew 18:20). Bring Jesus into your home by establishing a fellowship in your house and make sure members of your family are the first beneficiaries of the grace it brings.

ACTION POINT:
Develop a powerful family prayer altar in your home, witness to your immediate neighbours and proceed further to establish a house fellowship centre in your home.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Chronicles 1-3, Daniel 10:18-11:13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: GOD, GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

1. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught
Homes where the Master's will is sought
Homes crowned with beauty Thy love hath wrought
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes

2. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the father is true and strong
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong
Homes that are joyous with love and song
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes

3. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the mother, in caring quest
Strives to show others Your way is best
Homes where the Lord is an honoured guest
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes

4. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes.