Open Heaven devotional

MEMORISE:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
READ: Mark 16:15-18
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
MESSAGE
Prior to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, God placed high value on the Name to be given to His only Begotten Son, so much so that He sent an angel to signify what His Name should be (Matthew 1:21). There is absolutely nothing that the Name of Jesus Christ cannot accomplish for whosoever believes in Him. This Name cannot be ignored by the devil or any of his fallen angels. Why is this Name so powerful? It is because God has bestowed astonishing power, privilege, authority and honor on that Name (Philippians 2:9-11). Above all else, this Name breaks the power of sin. Acts 10:43 says:
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
One amazing truth about this Name is that all its accomplishments are to the glory of God the Father, and for this reason, the Father will not spare anyone who despises it. Of course, the Name carries the authority of its Owner, and is capable of doing whatever its Owner can do. Just as your signature can take millions of money out of the bank without you necessarily being there, so also the Name of Jesus perform the feats that Jesus Christ performed, but only when all the necessary conditions for its use are met by the user. Some of these conditions are spelt out in today’s Bible text. Demons are cast out by the Name of Jesus Christ. You may not appreciate this function of His Name until your eyes of understanding are opened to the diabolical and destructive activities of demons in the lives of people. This Name also empowers us to lay hand on the sick for healing. One of the greatest weapons of torment in the hand of the devil is sickness, but through faith in the use of this Name, sicknesses and diseases are vanquished.
A woman who was diabolically attached with a terrible cough was brought to one of our church programmes. A simple prayer was said for her in the Name of Jesus Christ and she was healed. The agent of the devil who inflicted her with this infirmity wondered how she got healed. Because the one who prepared the charm for her said the sickness had no cure. The librated lady told her adversary that she got her healing in the church. The wicked woman then begged her ex-victim to take her to Jesus where she confessed her sins and became a child of God as well. The Name of Jesus indeed brings healing (Acts 3:1-16). Peter in Acts 3:16a testified thus about this Name:
“And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
This Name will also work wonders in your life; if you just believe, you will see the glory of God.
ACTION POINT:
Apply the Name of Jesus to areas of your life that needs deliverance.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 15-16; 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:16

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

1. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
   With the cross of Jesus going on before.
   Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
   Forward into battle see His banners go!
   o Refrain:
   Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
   With the cross of Jesus going on before.
2. At the name of Jesus Satan’s host doth flee;
   On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
   Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
   Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
   Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
   We are not divided, All one Body we,
   One in faith and Spirit, One in charity.
4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
   But the Church of Jesus constant will remain.
   Gates of hell can never ’gainst that Church prevail;
   We have Christ’s own promise, which can never fail.
5. Onward, then, ye people! Join our happy throng,
   Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
   Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
   This through countless ages men and angels sing.