OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE THURSDAY MARCH 2ND 2023

DATE: THURSDAY MARCH 2ND 2023

MEMORISE:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” – (2 Timothy 4:2)

READ: 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (KJV)

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Jesus said in Mark 16:15, “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel…” This is an express command to all disciples of Jesus Christ. From the scripture above, it is clear that all followers of Jesus have been assigned to preach the word but you may then ask, “Who should we preach to?” Jesus also provided the answer in the concluding part of the verse above. He said His followers are to preach to ‘every creature’ and in Matthew 28:19-20 He also said, “Preach the gospel to all nations”.

You may then ask, “When should I preach the word?” The Holy Spirit answered this question through Paul’s second letter to Timothy as we see in our memory verse today. The word of God should be preached at all times. In other words, we must preach the word when it is convenient and when it is inconvenient.

You may also wonder why Jesus commanded all His disciples to preach the word to every creature and all the nations of the world. Romans 10:13-15 provides a clear answer:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

It is God’s desire to save the whole world from sin and eternal damnation – but how will everyone hear the gospel if there are no preachers? Jesus Christ said that the harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few (Matthew 9:37). Sign up today to become a vibrant co-labourer with the Lord and you will begin to experience divine signs and wonders in your life.

Indeed, the feet of those who preach the gospel are beautiful (Romans 10:15) and he who wins souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30).

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and saviour, please do so right away so you can also join in spreading the gospel of God’s salvation to every creature on earth.

Join me to thank the Lord for adding another year to my life today and ensure you share the gospel with at least one person every day from now.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: 31 – 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!