Open Heaven 7 May 2023

Open Heaven Topic:

SHOWING OFF IN CHURCH?

Memory Verse:

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. – Acts 4:32 (KJV)

Bible Reading: 

1 Corinthians 11:18-22 (NIV)

¹⁸ In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

¹⁹ No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

²⁰ So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat,

²¹ for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk.

²² Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

Open Heaven 7 May 2023 Message

One habit that seems to have crept into the Church recently, is that of showing off to other Church members. There are people who go to Church majorly to show off their new clothes or some other material possession.

This is completely outside God’s plan for the Body of Christ. God’s original plan for the Church is for everyone to be united and have everything in common.

The Bible says in Acts 2:46-47: And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The reason the Church is not growing as fast as it should is that there is no singleness of heart. When people prefer to outshine one another in showing off their material possessions than actually caring about each other and the gospel, the Church cannot grow.

The reason we have not won the whole world to Christ is that the Church is not united. The Holy Spirit does not move in the midst of divided people. When the Holy Spirit descended in the Upper Room, the people were in one accord (Acts 2:1).

Until Christians love each other and are in one accord, the Church cannot experience the move of the Holy Spirit as it should. Many Church leaders wonder why the Holy Spirit is not moving as much as they expect, not knowing that the problem is in the divisions within the Church.

Some pastors give special attention to the rich in the Church. Apostle James said in James 2:1-5 said that you should not give the rich preferential treatment against those that are not so rich, or else you would become a judge with evil thoughts.

It doesn’t matter how rich they are, they should not be praised for showing off in the Church, but rather, rebuked. Believers should dress well and can own luxurious items. However, it is wrong to flaunt material possessions with the intent to oppress others.

The Church must unite and cease to be a place where people compete to outshine one another over material possessions.

Open Heaven Hymn: 

Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus

Open Heaven Point:

When you go to Church, do you show off your material possessions? If yes, stop it henceforth.

Bible in One Year:

1 Chronicles 27, 1 Chronicles 28, 1 Chronicles 29