Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Saturday July 29, 2023 TOPIC: SUBMISSION TRIGGERS OPEN HEAVEN

 

TOPIC: SUBMISSION TRIGGERS OPEN HEAVEN

BIBLE READING:

MATTHEW 3:15-17

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  

KEY VERSE:

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:” Matthew 3:16  

MEDITATION:

I would have been killed in the farm at age nine if my mum had not given heed to the leading of the spirit. While in the farm, it started raining heavily. My mum took me to a hollow space in the trunk of a big tree nearby. Minutes later, she came back and pulled me out of the tree trunk and had me hidden under a thicket not too far away from her. In about 10 minutes, a boisterous wind arose and the big tree she had earlier kept me fell. I was delivered from death! Had she not submitted to the leading of the spirit, I would have been killed by the fallen huge tree.    

The Lord Jesus had to submit to the will of God to get baptized by John the Baptist. That leading to where John was baptizing people in water, and Jesus' humble submission were needed to announce His arrival on the earth for His eventual mission. The scripture reading today states that as Jesus came out of the water, the heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit sat on Him as a dove, and a voice was heard by all around – this is my beloved son, in whom am well pleased. This action showcased Jesus to Satan and the world.    

What have you lost in the past because you refused to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God?    

PRAYER:

Holy Spirit of God teach me submission and simplicity today and always.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

JOB 20-21, ACTS 23:1-22