Topic: Wedding Preparations I [Open Heavens for Teens 16 March 2020]
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MEMORISE: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3
READ: Matthew 25:1-13
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 28; Mark 15:27-47
MESSAGE:
Jesus Christ is the bridegroom of the Church. As you read this now, (if He has not yet returned), He is in heaven making preparations for our wedding with Him.
Jesus is working hard right now, preparing your own special place in Heaven. He said in John 14:3 that when He is through with the wedding plans, He will come for us. Why must the Bridegroom by Himself to take us to the venue of the wedding when He has several billions of angels that He can send to pick us up. 1 Timothy 6:16 says that God dwells in a light that no man can approach. Since angels are also messengers, you can be sure that they cannot approach the light. A man of God once said that God gave Him a glimpse of what it was like in heaven. He said the closest any angel could get to God was about 1000 miles. Yet from that distance, the angel had to cover his face with two of his wings, or else he could lose his eyes. If angels were to take you to God, they will drop you 1000 miles before they get to the destination. The angels are holy, yet they cannot go close to God. Every sin in your life keeps you in multiples of 1000 miles from God. You need to ask yourself, with your current lifestyle are you among those that the Bridegroom is preparing to bring to the Father. If your answer is no, then make amends immediately before He arrives.
Reflection:
Jesus is preparing a wedding ceremony for His brides. Are you one of them?
Hymn 10:
1 Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!
Christ, the Royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banners go!
Chorus:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!
2 At the Sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!
3 Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
All one body we
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
4 Onward, then, ye people,
Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song;
Glory, praise and honour,
Unto Christ the King;
This, through countless ages
Men and angels sing.
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.