Open Heavens 27 March 2018 –THE TIMELY OFFERING

Memorise: Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors. Exodus
22:29a

Read: Matthew 26:6-13 (KJV)
6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and
poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Bible in one year: Deuteronomy 18-20,
Ephesians 4,

OPEN HEAVEN 27 MARCH 2018 MESSAGE

What is a timely offering? It is a worthy gift that is offered to God at the right time. People who offer timely offerings are usually inspired or
motivated to do so by unseen divine powers. Such people usually tell stories of a strong inner influence encouraging them to do a worthy deed, particularly in the house of God, in
support of His work.

Today’s Bible reading gives us a perfect example of a timely offering. A few days to the very weekend that Jesus was arrested and
crucified, a woman was motivated by the Holy Spirit to anoint Him with a very precious
ointment. In the presence of the disciples and a few guests, she poured an alabaster box of very precious ointment on His head. The disciples
responded with anger because they could not
understand the reason for her action, but Jesus
explained it to them in Matthew 26:12:
“For in that she hath poured this ointment on my
body, she did it for my burial.”

Just as Jesus said, this woman’s precious ointment was the only perfume that He had on His body throughout His three-day sojourn in the grave. After His death, by the time some women arrived in the morning of the third day to anoint His body, it was too late because Jesus
had already risen from the grave (Luke 23:55-24:3). The woman who did this good work
received her due reward, stated in Matthew 26:13. You will receive your due reward for
obedience in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens 27 March 2018

God is not only interested in your obedience; He is also interested in your timely obedience, according to today’s memory verse. God wants you to render to Him on time the first portion of your produce which has been set aside for Him. He wants you to honour Him with one tenth of your income and bring all your offerings without delay. Delayed offerings are not acceptable to God.

Open Heavens 26 March 2018

In our service to God, He demands our
punctuality. Be faithful in attending the teaching and preaching sessions in your church. Arrive on time, appropriately dressed and ready to make meaningful contributions toward the effectiveness of all that is going on. Be faithful in the giving of your time, talents and in rendering other services to God.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS TUESDAY 27TH MARCH 2018: FINISHING THE RACE

There is something about rising early to praise and worship God as exemplified by the life of David (Psalm 57:8-9, Psalm 63:1). Whatever you have decided to do for God, do it on time. He is interested in the timing of your actions.

Proverbs 8:17 says,
“I love them that love me; and those that seek
me early shall find me.”

Abraham, David, Solomon, and other God lovers in the Bible always rendered anything they had to offer to God promptly and without delay, because only a timely offering is acceptable to God.

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Tuesday, March 27, 2018) – THE TIMELY OFFERING

Prayer Point 
Father, grant me grace to yield to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to give timely offerings that
will release a reward from heaven in Jesus’ Name.

Sing hymn 12
TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
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 ceaseless praise.

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.

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.

Take my sliver 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.

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.