Topic: Retrace Your Steps Now [Open Heavens for Teens 3 April 2020]

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MEMORISE: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:8

READ: Luke 15:11-32

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 10-11; Luke 9:1-3

MESSAGE:

Once in a while, a teenager misses his/her step. Maybe you are one of such. You were born into a Christian home and taught Christian values. You had been a good boy/girl until you missed it because of the kind of friends you keep or other similar reasons. You probably got involved in all sorts of immoral things. Your parents may not even be aware yet, but you know that you have gone out of the ways that they taught you. Every now and then, your conscience pricks you, reminding you that you are not this kind of child, but you feel trapped in your errors. I have good news for you today. You can retrace your steps and get back on your feet for Christ again.

I know that you can retrace your steps and go from bad to good because I have experienced it. I was such a terrible sinner, that if I were God, I would not save Adeboye. But I decided one day that enough was enough. I decided to draw near to God and He responded by drawing near to me. You can get on the right path again, but then you need to draw near God. Start studying your Bible again, cut yourself off everything and person that made you fall, start praying again, start attending fellowships again. God still loves you.

Key Point:

Just like the father of the prodigal son, God is waiting for you to retrace your steps to Him.

Hymn 12:

1.What can wash away my stain?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Chorus:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow!
No other fount I know, .
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2.For my cleansing this I see –
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my pardon this my plea –
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3.Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus:
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4.This is all my hope and peace.
Nothing but the blood of Jesus:
His is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.