OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2019 – THE GOOD NEWS BY PST. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2019
THEME: THE GOOD NEWS.
MEMORISE:
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4
READ: Luke 2:10-11
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
MESSAGE
Ideally everyone loves to have good things and hear good news. Indeed, speaking on the impact of good news, the Holy Spirit says in Proverbs 25:25:
“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”
I pray that good news will come your way this season in Jesus’ Name. beloved, I want to clearly inform you today that the Almighty God is the fountain of good news in the person of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The bad news of curses, sorrow and limitation came to mankind through the devil’s introduction of sin (Genesis 3:16-24). However, God turned this bad news around when He sent His angels to proclaim the arrival of Good News on earth (Luke 2:10-11). Upon this Good News rests all other news we can describe as good today. Let us consider the character of the good news brought by the angels to mankind. First of all, the angels said “Fear not”. When you consider what fear has caused in the lives of people down through ages, you will appreciate the good news that man has no reason to live in fear anymore. People have lost their minds and done several abominable things as a result of fear. The fear of death has led some to join secret societies and dabble into witchcraft- things which are abominations before the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Proverbs 29:25). As a result of the angel’s proclamation, Paul was able to write in 2 Timothy 1:7:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Another thing to note from the angel’s message is that the good news brings great joy to all people. In other words, any news that does not bring joy is not of God. Also, any message that claims to be the good news must be for all people. This can only come from the God of the entire world. So, the good news of the Son of the living God is not for any single race, tribe or class of people only; rather, it is for all people in all races and from generation to generation.
Now, what is good news? It is fact that the Savior has been born, and He has paid the price of redeeming us from the consequences of the bad news that sin represents. For those who have accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior, the eternal punishment meant for the human race has been wiped away by His sacrifice. This is why we have that assurance in today’s memory verse that on the last day, God shall wipe away tears from our eyes, and we will no longer experience death, sorrow or pain. This is the source of our joy and hope. Anyone who accepts this message of the good news as true and also accepts Jesus Christ, who is the Good News, as Lord and Savior will partake of this joy and hope. Have you done this?
KEY POINT:
How well have you fared in propagating the message of the good news this year?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 40-44
Micah 2
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 15: MUST I GO AND EMPTY HANDED.
1. “Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
o Refrain:
“Must I go, and empty-handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty-handed go?
2. Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty-handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.
3. Oh, the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I’d gladly bow.
4. Oh, ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet ’tis day;
Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,
Strive for souls while still you may.