Topic: Blessings In Disappointments [Open Heavens for Teens 27 March 2020]
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MEMORISE: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
READ: 1 Samuel 9:1-14
1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3 And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 19-20; Luke 5:17-39
MESSAGE:
Not all disappointments are to be regretted. Some disappointments are blessings in disguise. For example, when I was very much younger, I attended an interview for a scholarship abroad. The questions I was asked at the interview were so simple I wondered if the interviewers knew that I was an honours graduate in Mathematics. All through the interview, a member of the panel slept. After the questions had been asked, they woke him up and asked him if he had a question for me. He said “Where is Entebe?” I responded “Sir, I am here for Mathematics, not Geography”. Everyone there laughed. Little did I know that the man was the Chairman of the committee. Now that I had made everyone laugh at him, I was surely not getting the scholarship. I sadly left the hall, but when I got outside, I saw one of my former lecturers and he took me under himself to supervise my M.Sc thesis. That was how I got into the University of Lagos (Unilag) and it was because I was in Unilag that I met my Father-in-the-Lord and then later became the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I did not get the scholarship because God had better things in store for me.
In whatever way you have been disappointed, still give thanks to God. Also tell Him to help you ensure not to lose the blessings that are attached to that disappointment.
Prayer Point:
Father, please bring out great blessings from every disappointment that I have experienced in Jesus’ name.
Hymn 17:
1 My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!
2 May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm and changeless be,
A living fire!
3 While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.
4 When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then, in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul.
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.
