Open Heaven 22 January 2024 – God’s Best Friends (4)

 

Open Heaven 22 January 2024 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – God's Best Friends (4)

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Open Heaven 22 January 2024 TOPIC: God's Best Friends (4)

MEMORISE: "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." – John 15:2 (KJV)

READ: John 15:1-5 (KJV)

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 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: without me, ye can do nothing.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 21-23

Open Heaven 22 January 2024 MESSAGE

One thing about being one of God's best friends is that you must be ready to be pruned. God's best friends are fruit-bearers; that is why He said in John 15:16 that if you bear fruits and those fruits abide, you can ask anything of Him, and He will do it.

God will prune you till you are genuinely humble. He will prune you till you are entirely dead to the flesh. He will start pruning you once He marks you as someone to bring closer to Himself. This is where many people drop off His friend's list because they cannot endure His pruning.

Also Read: Open Heaven 21 January 2024 – God's Best Friends (3)

Many years ago, I was at an airport, and I was to declare all the money that I had with me. I only told the attendant about the notes and left out the coins. She told me to show her my purse, and I was embarrassed because I had to admit I had lied. The lady let it go, but I heard God's voice, "You are special to me, so I will not condone the smallest lies from you." If you really want to be one of God's best friends, you must be ready to meet His high standards.

Nobody can get close to God without going through intense discipline. You must be willing to submit to His discipline if you want to become His best friend. Suppose God disciplines a person for doing something wrong and does not desist from committing that particular sin. In that case, He will eventually leave such a person as He cannot befriend unrepentant people.

Once in a while, God tests His best friends. He takes them through trials to prune them and make them perfect, wanting nothing (James 1:3-4). Only a few people go through these trials and ideally come out on the other side. Only a few people can submit to these tests without compromising their faith. Are you one of those people?

Beloved, divine pruning can be painful, so you must spend quality time in God's presence daily to build your spiritual strength. If you hold on and do not give up, you will not only become more fruitful, but you will also become one of God's best friends.

Open Heaven 22 January 2024 REFLECTION

Are you willing to be pruned by God so you can get closer to Him and produce more fruit?

Open Heaven 22 January 2024 HYMN 23 – Take My Life, And Let It Be

1 Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2 Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3 Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

5 Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet is its treasure store.
Take me, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Open Heavens 2023 Enjoy Daily fellowship with the Open Heaven 2023 Devotional. Open Heaven is the Daily Devotional for our time. With the daily events we witness on earth, every Christian needs to stand their ground less they fall. The daily guide is written by Pastor E. Adeboye. It is indeed a guide in resolving everyday Christian issues and lifestyles. Open Heavens is also available on the Play Store; download it Here. 

Ambydennis Notice Board: We trust you have been blessed by the devotional. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior is one of the best decisions, especially for you; imagine having Christ in your life; what a fantastic experience it will be. It starts here as you proclaim: Dear Father, I humbly come to you in sincere repentance, claiming you as my Lord and personal Saviour. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness, be the center of my life, and let my life revolve around you as I partake in the eternal life you gave us in Jesus' Name. Congratulations, you are now Born again. God bless you.