*“Thank You for the Music” (ABBA)* And so, people from far and wide descended on the small town of Lindley this weekend. Friday was a flurry of activity in the town as the new VKB opened its doors. Numerous exhibitors were present, where visitors, pancake in hand, could marvel at the latest agricultural technology. Enormous pumpkins were entered in a competition, the largest of which weighed 20 kilograms. The sounds of OFM's music and the aroma of grilled meat greeted visitors at the grand new entrance, where rows of products and enthusiastic staff proudly welcomed customers. The local hotel and guest house were fully booked for the weekend, and Lindley's streets were quite busy with traffic. Saturday evening had a different sound than usual. At the Lindley Hotel, a group of singers from Bloemfontein put on a "Mama Mia, here we go again" ABBA performance. You're probably ready to ask what all this has to do with prayer. Yes, that's precisely what's on my heart. Marelise and I were invited by friends to attend both of these events. The music of the ABBA performance took me back to my younger days when the group was just becoming famous and their songs were playing everywhere. The music was very moving for me, and I stepped out of the hall. I contacted a few friends from my youth, my brothers, and also my daughter in England because she used to love singing ABBA songs when she was little. I stood by the door each time so they could clearly hear the music in the background. And suddenly, everything became spiritual! Saturday evening in South Africa is Sunday morning in New Zealand, and a friend of mine living in Auckland was in church at that very moment. Apparently, he also had to stand by the door, because I heard the most beautiful music in the background. At the same time that we were singing on one side of the earth: "Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing. Thank you for all the joy they're bringing," they were singing on the other side of the earth: "I could sooner count the stars than number all Your ways. Though I only know in part, that part exceeds all praise. As sunlight fills the skies, Your goodness fills my life." And then I prayed that the ABBA singers would also come to church. On Sunday mornings, there is often a church service in the chapel at the hotel. I made an effort to attend that service, expecting that the Father would answer my prayer regarding the ABBA singers. Marelise and I arrived at ten, and the preacher said he had just one song on his heart and invited us to sing it together. While he continued talking, I sensed that I should go and invite the ABBA people to come and sing one last song together before they left. I stepped out and saw that some of the people had already driven off. Quite bewildered, I went to the restroom, and behind the closed door, I asked the Lord what I should do. At that moment, I heard voices outside the door. I stepped out, and there stood the last two members. In response to my invitation, one replied that they would even bring a guitar. A few minutes later, they stood with us around the piano singing hymns. What a privilege! And then the singer suggested we sing another song, one that deeply touched my heart: "Let your living water flow over my soul." And then the chorus repeats: "Father, Father, Father." The ABBA singer, without realizing it, led us to sing about and affirm our Father's fatherhood and intimacy. The word ABBA in Romans 8:15 places us under the Spirit of adoption as His children, through whom we cry: Abba, which means Father! That church service then turned into a song service. The ABBA singer was so excited to be able to sing gospel music again. *Prayer for ABBA:* _Abba ... Father, thank you that we can find You everywhere ... even in the words of a song. Turn our hearts back to You continually in everything we do. And may we, from this small place called Lindley, also serve the nations. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen._ *What began with a pancake and a pumpkin, and with "Thank you for the music," and with the name ABBA, ended in prayer and the intimate whisper: "Abba, Father!"* Peet Bekker, April 2026, Lindley/Ntha #peetbekker #radiokansel #radiopulpit #pilgrimstories #abba

THE STORY BEHIND THE HYMNS. THE STORY BEHIND "THINE BE THE GLORY" 🎶 The beloved Easter hymn “Thine Be the Glory, Risen Conquering Son” carries a remarkable story that stretches across centuries, languages, and nations before becoming one of the most triumphant songs of the Christian faith. The words were written by Edmond Louis Budry (1854–1932), a Swiss pastor serving in the Free Evangelical Church in Vevey. Budry originally penned the hymn in French under the title “À Toi la Gloire,” which means “To Thee Be the Glory.” He wrote it around 1884, during a deeply painful season of his life following the death of his first wife. In the midst of grief, Budry turned to the message of Christ’s resurrection for comfort. From that reflection came a hymn overflowing with hope, triumph, and reassurance that death does not have the final word. The hymn was later included in a collection of his works published in 1890, though at that time it had not yet reached the global audience it would later enjoy. Interestingly, the melody most people associate with the hymn is much older than the words. The tune, known as “Maccabaeus,” was composed in 1747 by the renowned German-born composer George Frideric Handel for his oratorio Judas Maccabaeus. In that work, the melody appears in the chorus “See, the Conqu’ring Hero Comes.” Handel designed it as a celebratory anthem welcoming a victorious hero, and its bold, majestic character made it a perfect musical partner for a hymn celebrating Christ’s triumph over death. For many years Budry’s hymn remained largely within French-speaking congregations. Its journey into the wider world began in 1923, when Richard Birch Hoyle, a British Baptist minister, translated the text into English. Hoyle’s translation captured the power and spirit of Budry’s original words while introducing the unforgettable opening line that Christians across the world now know: “Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son; Endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won.” Once Hoyle’s English translation was paired with Handel’s majestic tune, the hymn quickly spread through churches across Britain and beyond. Congregations embraced it because it beautifully captures the heart of the Easter message. The opening verse proclaims Christ’s victory over death, the second recalls the touching moment when Mary Magdalene meets the risen Christ near the empty tomb, and the final verse lifts the believer’s gaze to the hope that the resurrection brings, declaring that Christ’s triumph assures eternal life for all who trust in Him. Over time, “Thine Be the Glory” became firmly established as one of the most cherished hymns of Easter. In many churches it is sung as a grand conclusion to Easter Sunday services, with congregations rising to their feet while the organ swells with Handel’s triumphant melody. From great European cathedrals to lively churches across the world filled with vibrant voices, the hymn continues to ring out each year as a joyful declaration of the resurrection. More than a century after its English translation and nearly three centuries after the melody was first written, the hymn still resounds with the same powerful message: through the resurrection of Christ, death has been defeated and victory belongs to Him forever!

THE STORY BEHIND THE HYMNS. THE STORY BEHIND "PRAISE TO THE HOLIEST IN THE HEIGHT" ✝️ “Praise to the Holiest in the Height” is one of the most profound hymns in Christian worship, written by John Henry Newman in the 19th century. Newman, a brilliant theologian, scholar, and later a Catholic cardinal, originally wrote the hymn in 1865 as part of a longer poem titled “The Dream of Gerontius.” The Dream of Gerontius is a dramatic poem that tells the spiritual journey of a soul from death to judgment before God. Within this narrative, “Praise to the Holiest in the Height” appears as a chorus sung by angels, praising God’s wisdom and mercy in the salvation of humanity. The hymn celebrates the mystery of God’s plan for redemption, how divine love works through sacrifice, grace, and the life of Christ to bring salvation to the world. Its opening line echoes the song of the angels in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest,” reflecting a heavenly perspective on God’s greatness. Due to its majestic language and deep theology, the hymn quickly became beloved in both Anglican and Catholic traditions. It is often sung to the tune “Gerontius” by John Bacchus Dykes, whose music captures the hymn’s triumphant and reverent tone. More than a century later, “Praise to the Holiest in the Height” remains a hymn of awe, reverence, and celebration, reminding believers that in every circumstance, whether in the heights of joy or the depths of struggle, God’s wisdom and ways are always worthy of praise.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: WEDNESDAY APRIL 1ST 2026 TOPIC: WORD OF POWER II MEMORISE: "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith". Mark 11:23 BIBLE READING: MARK 5:35-43 35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. MESSAGE: Many years ago, I was visiting one of our parishes abroad, and when I landed at the airport, one of the pastors who usually came to welcome me anytime I visited the country was not there. When I asked about him, I was told that he was dying in a hospital. I asked if we could stop at the hospital on our way from the airport, and I was taken there immediately. In that hospital, they had a special room where people with 'hopeless' cases were kept. Once a patient was moved to that room, it meant that the fellow would likely not survive whatever ailment he or she had, and this was where the pastor was kept. He had cancer, and the doctors' reports were not good at all. I prayed for him and commanded the spirit of death to take its hands off him. I didn't pray for the other patients in the room because, in that country, you can be arrested for praying for a sick person when the fellow has not given his or her consent. After praying for the pastor, I left the hospital immediately. About three days later, he was completely healed and was discharged. It wasn't my doing; rather, it was God who backed up my word with so much power. I learnt later that on the day he was discharged, every other person in the room was discharged as well. Imagine what could have happened if I had heard the sad report concerning him and just sympathized with him instead of declaring the word of God over him. Child of God, you might not know the great miracles you are hindering if you refuse to speak God's word to unfavorable situations. You must realize that you are not ordinary and your words carry power because you are a child of God. When you encounter a mountain in the way of your progress, speak to it in the name of Jesus, and it will obey you (Mark 11:23). Revelation 1:6 says that you are a king, and Ecclesiastes 8:4 says that where the word of a king is, there is power. This means that whenever you speak, power shows up. Doubt is one of the major things that can stop power from showing up when you speak. Beloved, don't keep quiet in the face of negative situations; speak God's word over them in faith, and they will turn around completely for good, in Jesus' name. KEY POINT: When children of God speak God's word in faith, God's power shows up on the scene. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 SAMUEL 1-3 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE HYMN 11: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST MY KING 1 Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring, Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God. Chorus: Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Saviour; Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God. 2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God. 3 Standing on the promises I now can see Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me; Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free, Standing on the promises of God. 4 Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God. 5 Standing on the promises I shall not fall, List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call. Resting in my Saviour as my All in all, Standing on the promises of God. HAPPY NEW MONTH TO YOU ALL

THE STORY BEHIND THE HYMNS. THE STORY BEHIND "JESUS KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS" ✝️ The hymn “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” was written in 1869 by the American hymn writer Fanny J. Crosby, one of the most prolific hymnists in Christian history. Despite being blind from infancy, Crosby wrote thousands of hymns that expressed deep personal faith and devotion. The words of the hymn were born from Crosby’s strong focus on the central message of Christianity, the redeeming power of the cross of Christ. During the 19th century, many revival meetings in America emphasized personal salvation and the transforming power of Christ’s sacrifice. Crosby wanted believers to remember that the cross was not merely a historical event, but the very source of grace, hope, and spiritual cleansing. In the hymn, the opening line, “Jesus, keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain”, refers to the fountain of redemption flowing from Christ’s sacrifice, a theme drawn from biblical imagery about cleansing from sin. Crosby portrays the cross as a place of refuge, mercy, and spiritual renewal where believers continually find strength. The music for the hymn was composed by William Howard Doane, a close collaborator of Crosby and a prominent church musician. Doane had a remarkable ability to set Crosby’s lyrics to melodies that were both memorable and deeply moving. Their partnership produced many beloved hymns that spread quickly through churches and revival meetings. “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” soon became widely used in evangelistic services and church worship, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its message resonated deeply with Christians because it reminded them that faith is not just about striving for holiness but about remaining close to Christ and trusting in His sacrifice. Over time, the hymn became one of the most cherished expressions of devotion to the cross. The chorus , “In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever”, captures the heart of the Christian hope: that through Christ’s sacrifice, believers receive forgiveness, redemption, and the promise of eternal life. Today, “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” continues to be sung across many Christian traditions around the world. Its simple but powerful message still calls believers to draw nearer to the cross , the place where grace flows and where faith finds its deepest meaning.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: TUESDAY MARCH 31ST 2026 TOPIC: WORD OF POWER I MEMORISE: "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:" Matthew 8:16 BIBLE READING: MARK 5:2-15 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. MESSAGE: Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the word of God is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. In today's Bible reading, Jesus spoke a word to a man who was possessed by a legion of demons, and immediately, the demons left him. In Acts 16:16-18, Paul did likewise. When a girl who was possessed with a spirit of divination kept following him, he commanded the demon to come out of her in the name of Jesus, and it obeyed. Your words can also carry power when they are backed up by the word of the Almighty God. If you are a true disciple of Jesus Christ, demons will recognize who you are and be afraid of you because they know that you have the power to cast them out. In Acts 19:13-17, the seven sons of Sceva saw a demon-possessed man, and they commanded the demon to leave him in the name of Jesus whom Paul preached. The demon knew that they had no relationship with Jesus, so it disobeyed and attacked them. The devil knows that Jesus is the Light and that He has also made His children light. This is why he will obey you if you are a true disciple of Jesus Christ. A young man once attended a meeting and returned home loaded with demons. His case was so bad that he couldn't stand or sit; he could only lie on the floor. When he was brought to the church, I said, "I command you to kneel because I want to pray for you." With a fiery look, he responded, "I can't go on my knees." I repeated my command, and he asked, "In whose name?" I replied, In the name of Jesus." He obeyed immediately, and I prayed for him. Then, I said, "Stand up," and he asked again, "In whose name?" I replied, "In the name of Jesus." He then stood up immediately. Thereafter, I told him, "Go now. You are free in the name of Jesus." He left, and that was the end of his problem. Beloved, if you are a child of God, your words will be backed by the power in His word. When you tell a problem to leave in the name of Jesus, it has no choice but to obey you. Be conscious of the power in God's word, exercise your authority in it by speaking it boldly in the face of challenges and oppositions, and you will always emerge victorious. KEY POINT: God's word is powerful in the mouths of His children. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 SAMUEL 28-31 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE HYMN 3: ANCIENT WORD 1 Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world, They resound with God's own heart, Oh, let the Ancient words impart. Chorus Ancient words ever true, Changing me, and changing you, We have come with open hearts, Oh, let the ancient words impart. 2 Words of Life, words of Hope, Give us strength, help us cope, In this world, where e'er we roam, Ancient words will guide us Home. 3 Holy words of our Faith, Handed down to this age, Came to us through sacrifice, Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ. 4 Holy words long preserved, For our walk in this world, They resound with God's own heart, Oh, let the ancient words impart. PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, Tuesday 31st March, 2026- WORD OF POWER 1 ‎ ‎PRAYER POINTS ‎✓Father, thank You for bringing me to the end of the month of March. Thank You for Your power that kept me from all the evils in the month. ‎ ‎✓Father, thank You for the power of Your word at work in my life and destiny. Thank You for Your word that is living, active and sharper than any two-edged sword. ‎ ‎✓Father, please empower Your word in my mouth, let Your word prosper and become an indestructible weapon in my mouth against the strongholds of the enemy, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to remain a true disciple of Jesus Christ for the rest of my life, help my relationship with You so that Your power will back my word will become a terror to the kingdom of darkness, in Jesus' name ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me never to defile Your power in my life through unholy words, help me to stay pure so that Your power will remain potent in me wherever I go, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please make me a vessel through whom You will wrought special miracles, signs and wonders. Let every sick be healed and deliver the oppressed that come in contact with my word, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to be conscious of Your power in my life, and to be mindful of the words I speak. Help me to jealousy guard Your light in me, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, fill me with Your power so much that every word I speak will be Your word against every negative challenge in my life and around me, may I not speak ordinary words again, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that I shall emerge a victor in all spheres of life. I command a lifting in every area of my life now, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ ‎May his word never fall to the ground, let them prosper and effective wherever the are sent to, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Father, bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Your Personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎✓..In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

THE STORY BEHIND THE HYMNS. THE STORY BEHIND "I STAND AMAZED IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS THE NAZARENE" ✝️ “I Stand Amazed in the Presence of Jesus the Nazarene” is one of the most heartfelt hymns ever written about the wonder of Christ’s sacrificial love. The hymn was written by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1856–1932), a prolific American gospel songwriter who composed thousands of hymns during his lifetime. Gabriel wrote the hymn in 1905, during a period when gospel music was increasingly being used in revival meetings across the United States. His desire was to capture the overwhelming amazement a believer feels when reflecting on the depth of Christ’s love and suffering for humanity. The hymn opens with the powerful line: “I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how He could love me, A sinner, condemned, unclean.” These words express a central Christian truth that Christ’s love is so profound that it reaches even those who feel most undeserving. Gabriel wanted believers to pause and reflect on the incredible grace shown through Jesus’ sacrifice. Each verse walks through key moments of Christ’s suffering and redemption: ✝️His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane ✝️His rejection and suffering ✝️His sacrificial death on the cross ✝️The promise that believers will one day see Him in glory The chorus, often sung with great emotion, declares: “How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be: How marvelous! How wonderful Is my Saviour’s love for me!” What makes the hymn especially striking is its personal tone. Rather than speaking in abstract theological terms, it invites the singer to respond personally with awe and gratitude for Christ’s love. Over the decades, the hymn became widely used in evangelistic services, revival meetings, and church worship, especially during seasons of reflection such as Lent and Easter. It remains beloved for its simple melody and deeply moving message. Charles H. Gabriel’s contribution to Christian hymnody was immense. In addition to this hymn, he composed or arranged music for many well-known songs, helping shape the sound of gospel music in the early twentieth century. More than a century later, “I Stand Amazed in the Presence” continues to move worshippers around the world. Its message is timeless: when believers truly consider the sacrifice of Christ, the only fitting response is wonder, gratitude, and praise. The hymn ultimately reminds us that the story of the Cross is not merely history, it is a love so profound that it still causes hearts to stand amazed.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH, 2026 TOPIC: MINISTERS OF LIGHT II AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE MEMORISE: Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. Isaiah 8:18 BIBLE READING: MARK 16:17-20 (KJV) 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. MESSAGE: It is important for Christians to walk in signs and wonders if we are to win the world to Jesus. In John 4:48, Jesus said that some people will not believe the gospel unless they see signs and wonders. As a minister of light, you are God's instrument for revealing His signs and wonders to the world, and He has already empowered you to perform miracles. God seeks to perform special miracles through all His children, just as He did with Paul (Acts 19:11-12). If you are His child, He wants you to lay hands on the sick for them to recover. Some Christians doubt that the sick will recover if they lay their hands on them, and as a result, they don't lay hands on the sick. God didn't say that you should lay hands on the sick and cause them to recover; all He wants is for you to lay hands on the sick, and He will make sure that they recover. All you have to do is obey Him and leave the rest to Him. When you lay your hands on the sick, His power at work in you will flow through your hands to ensure that they recover. To become God's instrument for revealing His signs and wonders, faith is important. Those who obey Jesus' commandments in faith always get the results that Jesus said they would get. As a young minister, when I read that I could lay my hands on the sick and they would recover, I started doing so secretly in my house. Whenever my children told me that they had a headache, I would take them to my room where nobody could see us, lay my hands on them, and say, "In the name of Jesus, headache, go!" However, I would also ensure that there was medicine for headaches at hand. At that time, my faith was little, but God always meets His children at their levels of faith. After praying in that manner, many times, they would become well in less than five minutes. Today, I can lay my hands on anyone when they are sick because I know that Jesus will not fail. Beloved, God calls you the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), and He cannot lie. Therefore, be bold in your capacity as light and begin to shine forth. I pray that henceforth, God's glory and wonders will shine more than ever before in your life, in Jesus' name. KEY POINT: The key to walking in signs and wonders is exercising your faith in God. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 SAMUEL 19-21 HYMN 4: TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD 1 To the work! to the work! we are servants of God, Let us follow the path that our Master has trod; With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew, Let us do with our might what our hands find to do. Refrain: Toiling on, toiling on, Toiling on, toiling on: Let us hope, let us watch, And labor till the Master comes. 2 To the work! to the work! let the hungry be fed; To the fountain of life let the weary be led; In the cross and its banner our glory shall be, While we herald the tidings, "Salvation is free!" [Refrain] 3 To the work! to the work! there is labor for all; For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall; And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be, In the loud-swelling chorus, "Salvation is free!" [Refrain] 4 To the work! to the work! in the strength of the Lord, And a robe and a crown shall our labor reward; When the home of the faithful our dwelling shall be, And we shout with the ransomed, "Salvation is free!" [Refrain] ‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY, 28TH MARCH, 2026 *MINISTERS OF LIGHT II* ‎ ‎✓Father, thank You for the power of Your word which is Yea and Amen. Thank You for confirming Your word with unquestionable signs and wonders to the glory of Your name. ‎ ‎✓Father, thank You for the deposit of Your power in the lives of Your children. Thank You for creating me and the children You have given me, for signs and wonders. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help all Your children to walk in signs and wonders so that we can win the world to You, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, as a minister of light that You have called me to be, help me to shine wherever I go, to reveal Your glory and grace, in Jesus' name ‎ ‎✓Father, thank You for empowering me for miracles; please use me as an instrument to reveal Your signs and wonders to the world, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, let there be a performance of special miracles through the hands of all Your children from this day forward, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please let every fear and doubt in my life be uprooted, help me to obey You, in laying hands on the sick, and doing the works You did and greater, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please increase my faith in You. Help me to obey Your commands; and even when the situation around appears difficult, help me to see possibilities as a minister of light, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to be bold in my capacity as light, to begin to shine forth. Let Your glory and wonder shine more than ever before in my life, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ ‎May Your glory and wonder continue to shine over his life more than ever before, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Father, bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Your Personal petitions. ‎( Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎✓..In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16) ‎ #GodBlessOurNation *These prayers have no expiry date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.

Dominion Sound - Featuring The Lion And Lamb Ensemble New Song: [Verse 1] I remember when I raised that flag Hand on heart, I bowed my head Spoke of God and country strong Believed every word he said He talked like thunder on the hill Like justice rolling down But somewhere in the shouting wind Truth never made a sound [Verse 2] I saw the pride, I heard the scorn The careless, cutting tongue A man who’d wear the name of Christ But mock what He has done He courted saints with empty words Held faith up like a shield But power took the highest place And truth was made to yield [Chorus] No crown of man will stand the fire No throne outlasts the grave You can drape a lie in liberty But it won’t make a nation saved We bowed to strength, we cheered for might And called it righteous cause But there’s no king but Jesus Christ No law but His true laws [Verse 3] We came from those who crossed the sea With covenant on their lips They feared the Lord, they wrote it down In ink from trembling grips But we have traded sacred vows For voices loud and proud We kept the flag, but lost the fear Of ever bowing down [Verse 4] They spoke of law, but bent the scales They swore to guard the right But truth was trimmed to fit the hour And darkness dressed as light A nation can’t be strong and free When justice is for sale The Judge of all sees every heart No empire will prevail [Chorus] No crown of man will stand the fire No throne outlasts the grave You can wrap it up in stars and stripes But it won’t make a sinner saved We trusted men, we praised their name We let our standards fall But there’s no king but Jesus Christ And He will judge us all [Bridge – Spoken] You can build your walls of iron You can boast in wealth and war But a house that stands on shifting sand Won’t stand forevermore Repent, oh land, remember Him The One you once confessed Or trade your crown for dust and ash And lose what made you blessed [Final Chorus] No crown of man will stand the fire No throne outlasts the grave No power on this broken earth Has ever died to save So tear down idols, lift your eyes Let every knee be bent There’s only one true King of Kings And He will not relent [Outro] No crown but Christ No king but Him

March 23 George Friedrich Handel known for his - Handel's oratorio "Messiah". George Friedrich Handel's oratorio "Messiah" was first played in London on March 23, 1743. It was attended by King George II. The King who was so moved by the “Hallelujah” chorus that he rose to his feet and then everyone in attendance followed suit as not to be sitting when the King stood. A tradition ever since is observed whenever the "Hallelujah" chorus is played. After he wrote the "Hallelujah" chorus, Handel was quoted as saying, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself." George Frideric Handel was born on 23 February 1685 (the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti) in Halle, Duchy of Magdeburg - Germany. His parents were Georg Händel and Dorothea Taust. His father was an eminent barber surgeon who served the court of Saxe-Weissenfels and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. The Thirty Years' War brought extensive destruction to Halle, and by the 1680s it was impoverished. From an early age, Handel longed to study music, but his father objected, doubting that music would be a realistic source of income. Infact, his father would not even permit him to own a musical instrument. George studied law until 1703, even though his father (who finally allowed his son to take music lessons at age 9) died when he was 11. His mother, however, was supportive, and she encouraged him to develop his musical talent. With her cooperation, Handel took to practicing on the sly. Handel attended the Gymnasium in Halle, where the headmaster, Johann Praetorius, was reputed to be an ardent musician. When Handel was still a young boy, he had the opportunity to play the organ for the duke’s court in Weissenfels. It was there that Handel met composer and organist Frideric Wilhelm Zachow. Zachow was impressed with Handel’s potential and invited Handel to become his pupil. Under Zachow's tutelage, Handel mastered composing for the organ, the oboe and the violin alike by the time he was 10 years old. By age 12, Handel was substituting for his organ teacher and had written his first composition. From the age of 11 to the time he was 16 or 17, Handel composed church cantatas and chamber music that, being written for a small audience, failed to garner much attention and have since been lost to time. In 1703, when Handel was 18 years old, he decided to commit himself completely to music, accepting a violinist’s position at the Hamburg Opera’s Goose Market Theater. During this time, he supplemented his income by teaching private music lessons in his free time, passing on what he had learned from Zachow. After musical studies in Germany and Italy, Handel worked as a composer in Hamburg and Italy. Handel moved to England in 1712 and became a naturalised British subject in 1727. He stayed for the rest of his life in London and became a composer for the Chapel Royal. By the 1730s, British audiences had grown tired of operas sung in German or Italian and preferred comedic performances in English. This was good for Handel, who struggled to keep his creditors away, and led him to push himself to the limit by composing four operas within the same year. As a result, Handel suffered a stroke in the spring of 1737 that paralyzed his right arm. The doctor who treated him said, “We may save the man—but the musician is lost forever. It seems to me that his brain has been permanently injured.” His fans worried that he would never compose again. But Handel refused to give up. After only six weeks of recuperation in Aix-la-Chapelle, Handel was fully recovered. He surprised everyone when he miraculously recovered his strength and declared, “I have come back from Hades.” He went back to London and not only returned to composing, but made a comeback at playing the organ as well. In 1741, swimming in debt and out of favor as a composer, Handel received a libretto from Charles Jennens, a poet and a scholar of Handel’s day with whom he had worked previously. The words to the piece are a distillation of Christian doctrine, using scripture references, the libretto detailed the life of Jesus Christ from His birth and ministry to His crucifixion and resurrection. Jennens wrote to counteract all of the secular thinking of the day and teach those who preferred concert halls to church pews the rudiments of the Christian message. He drew his text from the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. For Jennens and Handel, "Messiah" would be an evangelistic tool to share the gospel with the masses. Handel lived at his rented house # 25 Brook Street, in the Mayfair district of London. On August 22, 56-year-old Handel sequestered himself in his London home and began to compose music to the biblical texts heralding the life of Jesus Christ. For more than a week, his servant faithfully waited on his employer Handel, and served appealing meals to the composer, and returned later to find the bowls and platters largely untouched. The servant knew his master Handel as an eccentric composer, who spent hour after hour isolated in his own room. One day the servant opened the door of the composer’s room and was startled to see tears streaming down his master Handle's face. The great composer turned to his servant and cried out, ‘I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself.’ In just 24 days the great composer Handel completed a 260-page oratorio. He titled the massive work "Messiah". Handel wrote the Messiah for the Easter holiday but the music got quickly pegged for Christmas performances. The Handel's Messiah oratorio tells three stories: the first part prophesied the birth of Jesus Christ; the second exalted his sacrifice for humankind; and the final section heralded his Resurrection. The first part is sung at Christmas and the second and final at Easter, with the Hallelujah Chorus being sung both times. Handel told the sponsors of the premier performance of Messiah in Dublin, Ireland, on April 13, 1742, that the proceeds from the performance should be donated to prisoners, orphans and the sick. “I have myself been a very sick man, and am now cured,” he said. “I was prisoner and have been set free.” Six years later that is in 1743, Handel suffered a second springtime stroke. However, he stunned audiences once again with a speedy recovery, followed by a prolific stream of ambitious oratorios. Handel’s three-act oratorio Samson, which premiered in London in 1743, reflected how Handel related to the character’s blindness through his own firsthand experience with the progressive degeneration of his sight: Total eclipse! no sun, no moon. All dark amidst the blaze of noon. Oh glorious light! no cheering ray To glad my eyes with welcome day. By 1750, Handel had entirely lost sight in his left eye. He forged on, however, composing the oratorio Jephtha, which also contained a reference to obscured vision. In 1752 Handel lost sight in his other eye and was rendered completely blind. As always before, Handel’s passionate pursuit of music propelled him forward. He kept on performing and composing, relying on his sharp memory to compensate when necessary, and remained actively involved in productions of his work until his dying day. Over the course of his musical career, Handel, exhausted by stress, endured a number of potentially debilitating problems with his physical health. He is also believed to have suffered from anxiety and depression. Yet somehow, Handel, who was known to laugh in the face of adversity, remained virtually undeterred in his determination to keep making music. On April 14, 1759, at the age of 74, Handel died on the day before Easter 1759, hoping to "meet his good God, his sweet Lord and Savior, on the day of his Resurrection. Handel was buried in Westminster Abbey a week after he died. Around 3000 people attended his funeral service. "A close friend remarked, "He died as he lived—a good Christian, with a true sense of his duty to God and to man, and in perfect charity with all the world." Handel was known for being a generous man, even in death. Having never married or fathered children, his will divided his assets among his servants and several charities, including the Foundling Hospital. He even donated the money to pay for his own funeral so that none of his loved ones would bear the financial burden. His music was admired by Classical-era composers, especially Mozart and Beethoven. Handel composed more than forty opera serias over a period of more than thirty years. The musicologist Winton Dean wrote that "Handel was not only a great composer; he was a dramatic genius of the first order." The works that associate Handel most closely with Westminster Abbey are the four anthems written for the coronation of George II in 1727. The best known, 'Zadok the Priest', has been used at every coronation since then, but all four continue to be regularly performed and recorded. A number of hymnal editors, including Lowell Mason, took themes from some of Handel's oratorios and turned them into hymn tunes; ANTIOCH is one example, long associated with “Joy to the World.” George Frideric Handel's Messiah was originally an Easter offering. It burst onto the stage of Musick Hall in Dublin on April 13, 1742. The men and women in attendance sat mesmerized from the moment the tenor followed the mournful string overture with his piercing opening line: "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." Soloists alternated with wave upon wave of chorus, until, near the midway point, Cibber intoned: "He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." So moved was the Rev. Patrick Delany that he leapt to his feet and cried out: "Woman, for this be all thy sins forgiven thee!" In most of Handel's oratorios, the soloists dominate and the choir sings only brief choruses. But in Messiah, says Laurence Cummings, director of the London Handel Orchestra, "the chorus propels the work forward with great emotional impact and uplifting messages." Some 40 years after Messiah’s premiere, English musicologist Charles Burney wrote, “This great work has been heard in all parts of the kingdom with increasing reverence and delight; it has fed the hungry, clothed the naked, fostered the orphan and enriched succeeding managers of the oratorios, more than any single production in this or any other country.” Handel placed a note on his original manuscript that read “To God alone the glory,” "He [Handel] would frequently declare the pleasure he felt in setting the Scriptures to music, and how contemplating the many sublime passages in the Psalms had contributed to his edification." —Sir John Hawkins Ludwig van Beethoven considered Handel was the greatest of all his predecessors; he said, "I would bare my head and kneel at his grave". Citing Messiah, Beethoven said Handel was the "greatest composer that ever lived." Handle's Hallelujah chorus is one of the best and all time played and sung across the churches. "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and of His Christ; And He shall reign for ever and ever, King of kings, and Lord of lords. King of kings, and Lord of lords. King of kings, and Lord of lords, and Lord of lords, and He shall reign, and He shall reign for ever and ever, for ever and ever, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! And He shall reign for ever and ever, for ever and ever. King of kings! and Lord of lords! King of kings! and Lord of lords! And He shall reign for ever and ever, King of kings! and Lord of lords! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-glorious-history-of-handels-messiah-148168540/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.biography.com/.amp/musician/george-handel https://philharmonia.org/learn-and-listen/baroque-composers/george-frideric-handel/ https://hymnary.org/person/Handel_GF https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/george-frederic-handel https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/musiciansartistsandwriters/george-frideric-handel.html https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/musiciansartistsandwriters/george-frideric-handel.html http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Handel%2C%20George%20Frideric%2C%201685%2D1759 https://youtu.be/IUZEtVbJT5c