OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS DATE: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH 2023 THEME: ENEMY OF GREATNESS

 

MEMORISE: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2

BIBLE TEXT: 1 John 2:15-17

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

MESSAGE: 

God's desire is for all His children to be great physically, spiritually, mentally, materially, psychologically, financially, and health-wise. while satan's desire is that no child of God should come into the fullness of God's promises. So, he puts a lot of distractions in our way to derail us from the path of righteousness.

Lust is one of his biggest whims and is also the greatest enemy of greatness. Of all the three mentioned in today's text, the most devastating is the lust of the flesh. In Genesis 34:1-26, a young man named Shechem raped Jacob's daughter, Dinah, and he and his tribesmen were killed in revenge. The lust of the flesh, as simple as it may sound, births a lot of sins as seen in today's text. Usually, repentance from these sins comes at a later period after the damage has been done.

My beloved, if you are experiencing stagnancy, examine yourself carefully. Then, if you find out that it is your fault, Cry out to God for forgiveness.

KEY POINT: 

Sin hinders greatness.

HYMN 3 - ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER

1. All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

CHORUS

I surrender all. 

I surrender all: 

All to Thee, my blessed saviour 

I surrender all

2. All to Jesus I surrender, 

Humbly at His feet I bow; 

Worldly pleasures all forsaken. 

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

3. All to Jesus I surrender.

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power,

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

4. All to Jesus I surrender, 

Now I feel the sacred flame 

O the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory to His name!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 44-46

AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE 

PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE