ROYAL PRIESTS

COMMITTING GOD

2024-10-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11TH 2024

MEMORISE:

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” - (Psalm 138:2)

READ: ISAIAH 40:4-8 (KJV)

MESSAGE:

Do you know that it is possible to commit God to do some things for you and leave Him with no choice but to do them? Psalm 115:3 says that God is sovereign, He does as He pleases, but if you know Him well, you can position yourself such that the Almighty will do what you want.

Going by today’s memory verse, if you can find what God’s word says about what you want and align yourself with it, He will be committed to doing His part. For example, Psalm 75:6-7 says that promotion comes from God. (1 Samuel 2:7-8) also says that God decides whom to raise and whom to bring down. Since you know this, the question now becomes, “How do I get God to promote me?” The answer is in (1 Peter 5:6):

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Therefore, if you notice that it seems like it is taking a long time for God to promote you, then you can make up your mind to be humble. Once you are humble, He will be committed to exalting you in order to fulfil His word. Proverbs 22:29 says that if you are diligent in your business, you will stand before kings.

Proverbs 12:24 also says that the hand of the diligent shall bear rule. Therefore, if you want to get to the very top, you must add diligence to your humility, and in line with God’s word, He will raise you so high that you will be in the category of kings. You can get God to do what you want if you do what He wants.

The devil, however, also knows this principle. When he doesn’t want God to do something for you, he tempts you to do something wrong so that he can accuse you before God and commit God not to bless you. This is why Revelation 12:10 calls him the accuser of the brethren. He knows that God will not go against His word, so he tempts you into committing sin and accuses you before God.

This is why it is foolish to obey the one who has decided to destroy you by committing sin. When next the devil tempts you, tell him, “I refuse to be a fool.”

Beloved, never give the devil the opportunity to use God’s word against you, rather, use God’s word to your favour by always praying according to His will.

REFLECTION:

Are you doing the things that will commit God to bless you and answer your prayers?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: MATTHEW 27-28

AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: 21 - 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.

Refrain:

Standing, standing,

Standing on the promises of God, my Savior;

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. [Refrain]

3 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. [Refrain]

4 Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

List'ning ev'ry moment to the Spirit's call,

Resting in my Savior as my all in all,

Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]

LEARN FROM NABAL By Pastor E.A Adeboye

2023-08-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: MONDAY 8TH MARCH 2021

THEME: LEARN FROM NABAL

MEMORISE:

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:21

READ: 1 Samuel 25:4-20

4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:

6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.

15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:

16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

MESSAGE:

The meaning of the name Nabal is fool and he did many foolish things, as recorded in the Bible. We will however only focus on those foolish acts pertaining to his marriage.

Nabal always did things without carrying his wife along. A good husband will always be open with his wife. She should know what he is up to all the time. A man should never leave his wife in the dark.

In our Bible reading for today, Nabal got a request from David for food supplies and did not tell his wife who ordinarily should have been in charge of that.

Even after he had responded, it was his servant who went to tell his wife Abigail. He clearly didn't involve her in his affairs. Husband, ask your wife for advice every now and then. When she gives you advice, at least consider it. Indeed, if you always consider her advice, you will definitely adopt it from time to time. Even Nabal's servant attested to the fact that Nabal never listened to advice.

“Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him." 1 Samuel 25:17

Put your wife in charge of things or tasks she is particularly skilled or gifted in and don't interfere except with her permission, after all, she is better at that thing than you are. If Nabal had put food affairs in the hands of his wife, when David sent him a message, he would have just referred the messenger to his wife, and she would have handled it well.

At the end of the day, Nabal would have gotten the praise. When people are saying "Thank you" to me for the hospitality they receive at our programmes, many of them don't know that I had no hand in it at all, it was all my wife.

Even up to the feeding of the entire crowd at the Convention, it is her area of strength; why should I bother myself with it when I should be focusing on my own areas of strength?

Husband, don't be like Nabal. Listen to your wife's advice, put her in charge of certain things for which she is better skilled than you.

Wife, support your husband; pray for him, give him godly counsel, encourage him. A husband and his wife are a team; neither should ever work alone.

ACTION POINT:

Husband, apologise to your wife if you have not been listening to her advice and promise her that you will change henceforth. Wife, ensure you give your husband godly counsel.

HYMN 5: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

1. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,

Homes where the Master’s will is sought,

Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

2. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the father is true and strong,

Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,

Homes that are joyous with love and song;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

3. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the mother, in caring quest,

Strives to show others Your way is best,

Homes where the Lord is an honoured guest;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes

4. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the children are led to know

Christ in His beauty who loves them so,

Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Exodus 23-25

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 21ST MARCH 2019

2023-08-25T09:18:00.001-07:00

THEME: TOYING WITH SIN?

MEMORISE:
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land? Psalm 137:3-4

READ: Judges 16:23-30

23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.

25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.

27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.

28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.

30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

MESSAGE:
A careful study of the Bible will reveal to you that it is possible for someone that God has librated from all forms of bondage to return into the captivity of the enemy. Sin is the number one instrument the enemy uses to recapture his targets (Romans 6:16).

After the children of Israel were set free from oppression in Egypt, they return into captivity in Babylon because they refused to obey God’s commandments, leading to the sad narrative of today’s memory verse. In captivity, the enemy tormented them by requiring them to sing their sacred songs. Every mockery of the enemy comes to an end in your life comes to an end tonight in Jesus’ Name.

Samson was another child of God ridiculed by the enemy because he dabbled into sin. After putting out his two eyes, the enemy mocked him and put him on display in the temple of Dagon, the God of the Philistines. They turned the great Samson into a pitiable object of sport and forced him to entertain them with the power he had once used to attack them. Sadly, he died with the enemy in the temple of Dagon.

Just like Samson, some people play with sin, believing that they will have the opportunity to repent, engage in long term fasting and prayer and bounce back on their spiritual feet. Such people should learn from Samson and abandon the assumption this assumption. Judges 16:20 says this of Samson:

“And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”

If you live a life that toys with sin every now and then with the hope of always bouncing back, may I announce to you that there is a journey you may take into sin you may undertake that would be your last. This is the reason why the Bible says we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

There are things people do that are equivalent to singing the sacred song in Satan’s temple. As God’s peculiar people, we must rid the Church of strange practices that conform to the way the world does its things (1 Peter 2:9). We cannot afford to destroy uniqueness in the name of making the gospel appealing to the world.

With this in mind, we must beware of singing satanic songs on God’s altar in our bid to win the world. If because we want to catch monkeys we begin to behave like monkeys, we will only end up multiplying the number of monkeys, and the souls we are trying to win to Christ will never partake of the image of God that we have. A word is enough for the wise.

KEY POINT:
Do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces (Matthew 7:6 NIV).

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Corinthians 8-10, Jeremiah 2:26-3:5

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2 : OH JESUS I HAVE PROMISED

1. O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.

2. Oh, let me feel Thee near me;
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

3. Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten, or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.

TOMORROW MAY BE TOO LATE By Pastor E.A Adeboye

2023-08-23T09:06:00.001-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, WEDNESDAY 17TH MARCH 2021

MEMORISE:

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2

READ: Acts 5:1-10

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

MESSAGE:

When people hear the topic of today, they feel the preacher is only trying to manipulate them into surrendering their lives to Christ immediately. There is no need for a preacher to manipulate you; if he says tomorrow may be too late, he knows what he is saying. I have seen many times, where a fellow did not get the chance to repent before he or she died and went to face judgment in heaven. They refused to repent when they had the chance until it became too late.

There was a chief I had been preaching to for years, who kept saying he would repent but not yet. One day, he suddenly had a stroke but managed to tell his people to send for me. I went, prayed for him and God healed him. Then I said "Chief, I sense that God only gave you a second chance. Will you give your life to Him now?" He said, "Not yet''. The next time I heard about him, he was dead.

There was another man who was sick and at the point of death. I went to pray for him, but each time I came to the hospital, somehow, I was unable to see him. I kept trying to see him for about two days but couldn't. At last when it seemed like I would be able to see him the next day, I arrived at the hospital and learnt that he had died.

If only I had gotten the chance to see him, I would have asked him to give his life to Christ first before praying for him. If he had died then, at least I would have known that he went to heaven.

There was another man - a Pastor, someone people looked up to as a great man of God. I got the report that he was committing sexual immorality with girls and he denied it so I set up a committee to investigate. In the meantime, I put the pastor on suspension. The people investigating brought evidence to prove that he was guilty of the allegations against him. The plan was to walk him through a process of repentance, but while the investigation was ongoing, he died in a car accident.

Beloved, It may seem as if there will always be time to repent and start living holy, but tomorrow really may be too late. Everyone has a cup; the day that cup gets full is the day the fellow's time to repent runs out. In your own interest, drop that sin and begin to live holy from today. A word is enough for the wise.

KEY POINT:

Tomorrow may be too late.

HYMN 29: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SIN?

1. What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:

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 pardon, this I see,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

For my cleansing 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;

This is all my righteousness,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 38-39

THE AGONY OF DEFEATED CHAMPIONS By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2023-08-22T09:04:00.002-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, WEDNESDAY 28TH APRIL 2021

MEMORISE:

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. John 5:14

READ: Joshua 7:1-5

1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.

4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.

5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

MESSAGE:

It is painful enough to be defeated in one round of contest, but even more so if one becomes an ex-champion, surrendering a crown totally. This is because as soon as a fellow emerges as a champion, people's expectations of him or her would have increased. The attention of so many people - enemies inclusive, would be on the person. Thus, a champion has more enemies than an ordinary contender. I pray that you will not be an ex-champion in the mighty name of Jesus.

The story in today's Scripture reading is a sad one. The people of God had just recorded a victory over the great city of Jericho and were going to occupy a small village called Ai. To their surprise, they were utterly defeated. Their leader Joshua was downcast but he understood the reason for the defeat after he enquired from God. There is a lesson from this event: it is that there is always a reason for every setback a child of God suffers. Therefore, it is very important for children of God to carry out periodic self-examinations. James 1:13-15 says:

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

God warned the Israelites not to take anything from Jericho after its destruction. Achan however defied the instruction; he stole part of the accursed materials. This singular act of disobedience turned the entire nation to ex-war champions, and they remained so until the accused things, the thief and his household were removed from the congregation of the people of God.

Beloved, you must abstain from ungodliness because it is deadly. Romans 6:23 says "the wages of sin is death·” Once you are forgiven, you have to forsake sin and then restitute your ways. Jesus Christ told the man He graciously healed in John 5:14 to go and sin no more, so that something even more terrible would not befall him. As you go out today, examine yourself and see if you are standing right with God (2 Corinthians 13:5). May the Lord grant you victory always.

PRAYER POINT:

Holy Spirit, please help me to be vigilant in maintaining my victory in Christ. Help me Lord, so I do not fall into any temptation.

HYMN 12: IN CHRIST ALONE

1. In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

2. In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live.

3. There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

4. No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Joshua 9-10

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS II By Pastor E.A Adeboye

2021-03-10T04:31:00.002-08:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, WEDNESDAY 10TH MARCH 2021

MEMORISE:

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 2 Peter 2:2

READ: 2 Peter 2:1-3

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

MESSAGE:

False prophets don't talk about holiness. They don't encourage you to grow spiritually. They make no reference to your lifestyle at all, they couldn't care less whether you are even born again or not. They just start 'prophesying' about earthly things. That is not the way of the Lord.

God's priority is your soul. He said in Matthew 6:33 that you must seek first His righteousness and then all the earthly riches will follow. He says there is no profit in it at all if you gain the whole world and lose your soul (Matthew 16:26).

He says He wishes above all things that you prosper, but that the prosperity must come even as your soul prospers (3 John 2). If you know yourself that you have not been living holy and someone comes to you prophesying, without mentioning the need for you to live a consecrated life, that is a false prophet.

The first message God will send a real prophet to deliver is that of holiness because that is His priority. Some false prophets even discourage their victims from growing spiritually by telling them that they don't need to fast and pray; all they need to do, is just give them some money and they will do the praying on their behalf.

You should know that such a fellow cannot be from God. God who says you should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16) cannot now tell you to hand over the responsibility of praying to a 'contractor'.

“I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.”

Jeremiah 23:14

Check the prophet's lifestyle. Does he live a life of holiness? Does he tell lies or encourage you to do so? Some prophets say they want to wash away some evils from the body of a woman. Imagine that - they want to rub their hands on the naked body of a woman!

Lastly, pride is another major fruit of false prophets. They ascribe so much glory to themselves as though they were God. A true prophet will always ascribe glory to God because he knows that God is his only source.

KEY POINT:

If the prophet is not living holy, he is a false prophet.

HYMN 14: JESUS MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL

1 Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,

hear me, blest Saviour, when I call;

hear me, and from Thy dwelling place

pour down the riches of Thy grace.

Refrain:

Jesus, my Lord, I Thee adore;

O make me love Thee more and more.

2. Jesus, too late I Thee have sought;

how can I love thee as I ought?

And how extol Thy matchless fame,

the glorious beauty of Thy name?

3. Jesus, what didst Thou find in me

that Thou hast dealt so lovingly?

How great the joy that Thou hast brought,

so far exceeding hope or thought !

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 29-31

BE CONTENT II. By Pastor E.A Adeboye

2021-03-07T11:41:00.002-08:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 7TH MARCH 2021.

THEME: BE CONTENT II.

MEMORISE:

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15

READ: Psalms 37:1-9

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

MESSAGE:

When you complain about what God has not given you, you are being ungrateful to Him for what He has done. Think about it: if He has given you money to rent a one-room apartment, thank Him for that one room and He will give you more. The more you complain and grumble, the further God draws away from you because He detests the company of complainers. When the Israelites complained about a lack of meat despite Gods provision of manna, Numbers 11:1 says:

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.”

Imagine giving your child a phone and instead of appreciating your gift, he or she complains about it not being internet-enabled then smashes It into pieces. You would certainly be angry. Now, imagine if the child appreciated the phone, then came after a few weeks to say "Daddy/Mummy, I like this phone, but if you don't mind, I would prefer one that can use the internet". You would most likely assure the child that you will buy it for him or her soon and then strive to fulfil your promise. Many Christians are short-changing themselves by always complaining. If you appreciate what God has given to you, He will give you more, but if you grumble, then you will get Him angry.

Trust God, He wants the best for you and He will give it to you when the time is right.

Things may not be the way you want now, but trust God and appreciate what He has given to you.

1 Timothy 6:6 says:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Ambition is good but even as you strive for greater heights, learn to be content with where you are and what you have.

He is bringing you to that desired place very soon in Jesus' name. God bless you.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, help me to trust in Your love and to appreciate all that You have done for me.

HYMN 6: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.

1. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see:

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow—

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Exodus 20-22

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

BE CONTENT I. By Pastor E.A Adeboye

2021-03-05T22:24:00.002-08:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 6TH MARCH 2021.

THEME: BE CONTENT I.

MEMORISE:

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

READ: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

MESSAGE:

Contentment is one major trait that you need in order to live a good life and finish the heavenly race successfully. The treasures of this world are a major tool in the hands of the devil to make Christians fall. Even though the devil knew that Jesus Christ was well aware of the mansions waiting for Him in heaven, he still tried to tempt Him with the glories of this world (Luke 4:5-7). That is the same way he tempts Christians even today. He will show you your neighbour’s new car and tell you that if you just steal a little money or cheat a client, then you can also buy that car. Your response should be that of Jesus in Luke4:8:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

The only people who will fall into this trap of the devil are those who are not content with what they have. It is fine to want more but be grateful to God for the little that you have now as you ask Him for more. Don't put your attention on what you don't have, rather, put it on what you do have. Don't put your attention on what God has not given you, put it on what He has given you.

I have come to discover that when a person puts his attention so much on riches, they may eventually come, but at the expense of the fellow's stand with God. David said in Psalm 37:4 that your delight should not be in the things of this world but in the Lord. Only then will He give you all that you desire.

What is it that delights you? Is it having more money, buying new cars, travelling on vacation or is it the Lord? If your delight is in worldly things, the devil will present them to you in return for some compromises of your faith. Don't compromise to get rich, it is not worth it. Matthew 16:26 says if you gain the entire world and lose your soul, you are at a loss. Proverbs 16 :8 says:

“Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.”

God wants you to prosper (3 John 2), so you don't have to compromise your faith to be rich. It is better to be poor knowing that you are on your way to heaven than to be rich but on your way to helI.

KEY POINT:

When you are content with what God has given you and are grateful to Him, He will give you more.

HYMN 26: TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT ....

1. To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Refrain:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!

Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.

2. Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

To every believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender who truly believes,

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

3. Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

But purer, and higher, and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 17-19

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

DON’T BE DESPERATE FOR MARRIAGE By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-12-03T23:48:00.001-08:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 4TH OF DECEMBER, 2020

THEME: DON’T BE DESPERATE FOR MARRIAGE

MEMORISE:

Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. Judges 14:3

READ: Genesis 29:20-28

20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

Genesis 31:30-35

30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.

MESSAGE:

So many people are having problems in their marriages today because they were so desperate for marriage that they ended up marrying a devil, Jacob was so desperate to marry Rachel that he did not study her character well enough to see her strong commitment to idols, and more importantly, he did not ask God to choose for him as had been the custom in his family (Genesis 24:12-14). I am writing this today because I don’t want you to fall victim of the same error if you are still single. You need God to enable you to find the right partner. In Proverbs 18:22, the Bible says:

*“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.”*

The Bible verse above implies that not just any woman would make a wife. For every one of our single brothers: may you find a wife - one who would move you forward and be a help meet indeed, in the mighty name of Jesus.

I know a case of two people who were both desperate to get married. They came across each other and soon got married. From the first week of their marriage they became like cats and dogs. I pray for anyone trusting God for a future partner that you will find favour with God and know His will. A sister should not agree to a marriage proposal just because she feels age is no longer on her side. Only a man who is God-fearing and can love her as Christ loves the Church is worthy of a sister’s hand in marriage.

The thing about marriage is that once you are in it, you cannot change your mind as God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Brother/Sister, you need to be very sure that God is leading you into that marriage before you exchange those marital vows. Do not marry someone for the sake of getting married. It is better to wait on God for the right person than to settle for just anyone because of societal pressures. A lot of Christians who committed that error would tell you it is a grievous mistake to make. An error in selecting a life partner could ruin a destiny. The Bible says if the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3). A word is enough for the wise.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, whatever You must do, do it so that I don’t get into the wrong marriage in the mighty name of Jesus.

HYMN 20:

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Chorus:

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;

All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,

There in my Saviour’s love, perfectly blest;

Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

2 Corinthians 5-9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

UNEQUALLY YOKED? By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-11-16T20:34:00.001-08:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2020

THEME: UNEQUALLY YOKED?

MEMORISE:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

READ: 2 Corinthians 6:13-18

13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

MESSAGE:

Who you associate with is a great determinant of whether God will be silent over your matter or if He will act on your behalf. In Genesis 12:1, God told Abraham to leave his father's house and go to a land He would show him. Unfortunately, Lot Abraham's nephew, went with him. Lot being with Abraham hindered God from delivering the promise to him, but the moment Lot was separated from him, God remembered His promise.

*“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and today thy seed for ever.”* Genesis 13:14-15

Thank God for His mercy that caused Abraham and Lot’s men to fight so that Lot could be separated from him (Genesis 13). I pray for you today: God will separate from you any friend or associate hindering Him from fulfilling His promise to you, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Joshua was experiencing victory upon victory until one day when he faced a small army that defeated him. That day, he had to investigate what made him fail and then he found out that there was a bad egg in his company- Achan. After getting rid of Achan, the victories resumed (Joshua 7 & 8). The Almighty God who I serve will reveal to you any Achan in your family, company or Church in the mighty name of Jesus.

God wants to help some people, but He would not because of their friends and associates. It is either the person’s sins make it difficult for God to be involved in whatever the fellow is involved in or He knows that if He gives you what He wants to, with that fellow still in your life, it would result in more harm than good. Who are your friends? Who are your business partners? Who are you planning to get married to? Who is squatting with you in your house? You need to choose these people with care. If you choose a business partner who mutters incantations when you are praying, that project is not likely to go well because a house divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:25).

ACTION POINT:

Prayerfully review the kind of people you associate with from today.

HYMN 4:

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Chorus:

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Saviour all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Saviour all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels, descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Saviour am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Acts 7-8

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-11-10T23:15:00.001-08:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 11TH OF NOVEMBER, 2020

THEME: CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP IV

MEMORISE:

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35

READ: 1 Corinthians 9:1-11

1. Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2. If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4. Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5. Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6. Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

7. Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8. Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9. For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

10. Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

MESSAGE:

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

I have observed that when some people say they want a coach and/or mentor, what they are actually seeking is a sponsor. Your coach and/or mentor is not under any obligation to finance you. If anything, you should be the one gifting him/her, taking his/her children out for a fun day, making yourself available to help in any way you can and so on. You need their wealth of experience. Your relationship with your coach and mentor should not be parasitic but symbiotic - as he/she gives to you, you should also give back to him/her. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:11

*“If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”*

It is your responsibility to make your coach and mentor proud. Many times, I have had to answer for the actions of my children-in-the-Lord, whether I was aware or not. It would be unfair to your coach and mentor if you misbehave, because it could bring about a bad public image for him/her. Finally, even if you become richer, greater and more popular than your coach and mentor, you must remain completely submissive to them. Jesus said the disciple cannot be greater than the master (Matthew 10:24). If that is the fellow that God has paired you with for discipleship, no matter what they do, you must remain submissive in line with the word of God, until their death David became more famous than Saul, but he never lost his respect for him, not even when Saul was trying to kill him. Samuel was the one whom God sent to tell Eli about how he would fall, but Samuel never felt that because he had been chosen to replace him, the old prophet was now to be ignored (1 Samuel 3:9-21 Never dishonour your discipler. God would not have anyone disrespect His chosen vessels (Psalms 105:14-15 ) no matter how little and inconsequential you may consider the action. Learn from the mistake of Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 12:1-15 ).Yes, Jesus wants us to perform greater works than He did, but that cannot make us greater than He. Never forget: a disciple may achieve greater feats than his master, but cannot be greater than he (Matthew 10:24 ).

REFLECTION:

Do you have a parasitic or symbiotic relationship with your coach and/or mentor?

HYMN: MUST I GO AND EMPTY HANDED

1. “Must I go, and empty-handed,”

Thus my dear Redeemer meet?

Not one day of service give Him,

Lay no trophy at His feet?

Chorus:

“Must I go, and empty-handed?”

Must I meet my Saviour so?

Not one soul with which to greet Him:

Must I empty-handed go?

2. Not at death I shrink nor falter,

For my Saviour saves me now;

But to meet Him empty-handed,

Thought of that now clouds my brow.

3. Oh, the years in sinning wasted;

Could I but recall them now,

I would give them to my Saviour,

To His will I’d gladly bow.

4. O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,

Up and work while yet ’tis day;

Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,

Strive for souls while still you may.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Matthew 27:1-66 , Mark 15:1-47

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A.ADEBOYE

THE SAINTS AND THE WICKED By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-11-01T21:20:00.001-08:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 2ND OF NOVEMBER, 2020

THEME: THE SAINTS AND THE WICKED

MEMORISE:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

READ: 2 Thessalonian 1:5-10

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

MESSAGE:

The wicked are people who do not know God and those who probably know Him but do not seek Him (Psalm 10:2-13). Their lifestyle shows that they don’t believe in the gospel of Christ and that they do not have any regard for God. On the other hand, there are saints- the people of God; these are the people who believe. Though they may suffer persecutions and afflictions for the Kingdom, they remain faithful children of God.

Paul assumes the saints who have believed and remain steadfast even in their afflictions that God will grant them relief and their afflictions would come to an end in due course. Christ will be glorified in them, and they in Him (2 Thessalonians 1:12). On the other hand, God will repay the persecutors with affliction; He will mete out justice. He says in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 that the retribution will be:

*“… everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”*

The wicked would not cease to exist because of God’s final judgment, rather they would be deprived of being in God’s presence forever.

Daniel also declared:

*“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”* Daniel 12:2

Jesus described the judgment thus *“ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."* (Matthew 25: 41, 46). Revelation describes the fate of the wicked thus: *”… and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”* (Revelation 20:10).

Beloved, a life without Christ is one full of crises – both when the fellow is alive, and even after death. Too many people pay lip service to following Christ but actually do not in the real sense of it. Examine your life and choose to deny yourself and follow Christ daily to escape eternal damnation.

REFLECTION:

Which are you: wicked or saint?

HYMN 8:

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Chorus:

Are you washed in the blood,

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;

There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,

Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Mark 11; John 12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A.ADEBOYE

Steer clear of doubt by Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-11-01T21:17:00.001-08:00

OPEN HEAVENS

Friday, 30th October 2020

TOPIC: Steer Clear Of Doubt

*MEMORISE:*

```“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”``` *(Romans 14:23)*

*READ: James 1:5-8 (KJV)* If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

*MESSAGE:*

Faith is the bedrock of Christianity. *Hebrews 11:6* says:

*“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”*

In *Romans 10:9,* we see the steps to salvation:

*“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”*

Faith is the most important ingredient in the Christian walk. That’s why Paul said anything done outside faith is a sin *(Romans 14:23).* You may doubt if an action is a sin or not. You may have asked some spiritual leaders, yet still remain unsure. Today’s memory verse says once you are unsure if an action would amount to a sin or not, then you should choose not to do it. It says anything you do in doubt and not in faith is sin.

As a Christian, it is best you stay off that act that you are not sure about and let go of the benefit you may receive from it. It is better to deny yourself of earthly benefits than finding out at the judgement seat that such an act is a sin. That you have conflicting opinions alone is probably an indication that God wants you to beware of doing that thing.

There has been a lot of debate on whether wearing trousers or jewelry is a sin or not. Beloved sister, if God has instructed you not to wear trousers for example, (maybe through your church doctrine, your parents or personally) and you go ahead to wear it, you are not doing it in faith because there will be that caution in your heart that you shouldn’t be wearing trousers; hence you are committing a sin.

Be wise; if there is a conflict in your heart concerning anything, it is best to stop and steer clear of such. Only do things when you are sure they are not sins.

KEY POINT:

*Anything you do in doubt is a sin.*

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

*Matthew 19; Mark 10*

*HYMNAL: HYMN 13 – I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS:*

*1. I have decided to follow Jesus;*

I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

*2. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow,*

Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow,

Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

*3. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;*

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus,

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

*4. The world behind me,* the cross before me,

The world behind me, the cross before me,

The world behind me, the cross before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-10-27T20:19:00.001-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 28TH OCTOBER, 2020

THEME: ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE

MEMORISE:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teacher, having itching ears. 2 Timothy 4:2

READ: Mark 12:18-34

18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,

19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.

23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

MESSAGE:

Today, there are diverse kinds of doctrines. It is not surprising because Jesus had warned that many false prophets would arise in the last days (Matthew 24:24 ). Apostle Paul also warned against these false ministers in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 Erroneous doctrines on grace, tithing, same-sex marriage and many more have become commonplace in Christendom today. Usually, these false teachings sound very logical and are backed by a wrong interpretation of the Scripture. However, Christians who have the Holy Spirit in them can discern between sound and false doctrines. May you not be deceived in the mighty name of Jesus.It is easy to fall prey to these teachers if you only want to serve God in pleasure and convenience. Imagine a fornicator who wants to repent, meeting a Pastor who tells him that as long as he only commits the sin once in a while, the grace of God covers him. Such a Pastor would not mention the fact that in Matthew 5:28, Jesus said:

*“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”*

If such a person is not careful, he might find out too late that all fornicators, whether regular or occasional are going to hell. Convenience or a semblance of the truth should never be your motivation for adopting a doctrine. 1 Corinthians 14:26 says that the purpose of doctrines is edification. They nourish your spirit man. Every godly doctrine must align with the word of God and you should be at peace when you practise it, if not, it is not a true doctrine of Christ. While it is fine to learn from someone elses perspective on Gods word, stop depending solely on other peoples interpretation. Read the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to interpret His word to you directly. There is no revelation more impactful than the one you receive first-hand from Christ Himself (1 John 2:27 ).

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me know and stay in Your truth.

HYMN 18:

1. My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

Saviour 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 Saviour, then in love,

Fear and distrust remove;

Oh, bear me safe above,

A ransomed soul!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

John 11:1:-57

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

Look Down On No One By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-10-26T12:54:00.001-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS

Tuesday, 27th October 2020

TOPIC: Look Down On No One

MEMORISE:

```“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.”``` *(Proverbs 14:31)*

*READ: 1 Samuel 17:42-51 (KJV)* And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

MESSAGE:

Whenever you look down on a man, you are indirectly looking down on God. He is so in love with mankind that He said whatever you do to them is what you have done to Him.

*“Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” – Matthew 25:40*

You must be careful because you cannot simply tell who a person is from their looks. David looked like an ordinary teenager, but inside him was a giantkiller. Goliath paid with his life for looking down on him. Inside some prisoners today are Presidents tomorrow; Joseph is a classic example.

Never look down on anyone because they could be the solution to your challenges. Naaman was very great. He had all he needed but he was leprous. The solution to his leprosy was in Israel, but he did not know until a slave girl told him. If you read the story carefully, you will note that when Naaman was storming off in anger from Elisha’s house, it was his servants who pleaded with him to obey the man of God. As a matter of fact, they referred to him as “father” *(2 Kings 5:13).* Naaman listened to them and got his healing.

If he had been wicked to his servants, they wouldn’t have bothered to plead with him, neither would they have been able to call him father. The beggar on your street may be the one to help you when no one would be able to. The poor people living next door may provide information required to save you from an impending trouble. Do not look down on anyone.

Many Christians also feel so holy that they dont want to relate with unbelievers. Yes, we are not to be unequally yoked together with them *(2 Corinthians 6:14)* but we are not called to be hostile to them either *(Luke 6:35 ).* God called us to love, not to hate and snub. There could not have been a more aggressive or harsh enemy of Jesus followers than Saul of Tarsus. Yet, once God showed Saul the light and truth, there was never a more devoted, enthusiastic or fearless disciple of Christ. Saul became the Apostle Paul. His life offers a wonderful example of how God sees beyond people’s current status to their potential.

We all have in our own lives Saul-like individuals with Paul-like potentials. Can you imagine how our families, our communities, and the world at large might change if we all tried to see each other as God does?

God hates a proud look *(Proverbs 6:16-17).*

ACTION POINT:

*Is there anyone you currently look down on? Stop it.*

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

*Luke 16:1-17:10*

*HYMN 20 – NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE:*

*1. Nearer, my God to Thee,*

Nearer to Thee;

E’en though it be a cross

That raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be,

Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)

Nearer to Thee!

*2. Though, like the wanderer,*

The sun gone down,

Darkness be over me,

My rest a stone,

Yet in my dreams I’d be

Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)

Nearer to Thee!

*3. There let the way appear*

Steps unto heaven;

All that Thou send’st to me

In mercy given;

Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)

Nearer to Thee!

*4. Then with my waking thoughts*

Bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs

Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be

Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)

Nearer to Thee!

*5. Or if on joyful wing Cleaving the sky,*

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,

Upward I fly,

Still all my song shall be,

Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)

Nearer to Thee!

BLOCK THAT CHANNEL II By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-10-13T22:47:00.003-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, WEDNESDAY 14TH OCTOBER, 2020

MEMORISE:

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

READ: Luke 9:57-62

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

MESSAGE:

An army once went to war on an island. On seeing the size and strength of their opposition, they were afraid and sought their commander’s permission to retreat. In response, the commander burnt the ships that had brought them, declaring that there were only two options- fight or die.

No going back. They fought, and in the end, won. This is how you should approach temptations. Burn the ship so there is no option of returning to sin. Fight your way into Heaven and you will win in the mighty name of Jesus.

Perhaps you have friends who entice you into sin; if they refuse to give their lives to Christ, cut them off immediately and completely. If you don’t, you would be leaving open a channel for the devil to get at you. If access to the internet will lure you back into the world, why not get a phone that is not internet-enabled or delete the applications that keep drawing you back to sin? Any channel through which the devil can get you is an evil agent; deal with it decisively.

“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:29

Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife; he didn’t wait to resist or convince her into letting him be.

He ran! He knew that if he stayed, he could fall, but if he ran out, she couldn’t follow him. Even if she did, nothing would have happened outside. If you stay in a room alone with your fiancé or fiancée, you are leaving wide open a channel for the devil to enter into your courtship; block all such channels from now.

If little drops of water keep falling into a tiny crack on a rock, sooner or later the rock would begin to break apart. Likewise, it is not wise to keep a channel of sin open, thinking you can continue to resist its lure. If indeed you don’t want to sin, block that channel!

PRAYER REQUEST:

Father, please help me to deal with all channels of sin in my life decisively from now, in the mighty name of Jesus.

HYMN 8:

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

CHORUS:

Are you washed in the blood,

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Saviour’s side?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;

There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,

Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Matthew 8:14-34; Mark 4-5

BANISH ANXIETY By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-10-09T16:06:00.001-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY 10TH OF OCTOBER, 2020

THEME: BANISH ANXIETY

MEMORISE: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

READ: Luke 12:22-31

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

MESSAGE:

It is human nature to worry about personal welfare and that of our loved ones, but as Christians, this should not be our lifestyle because God has told us to be anxious about nothing (Philippians 4:6).

Fear reaches deep into our consciousness, making it very difficult to shake off. When anyone allows it, the door to stress becomes open, leading the way for many diseases, some of which can become fatal.

Today’s Bible reading tells us how God wants us to live- worry-free. He wants us to rest in the knowledge that He is in charge.

*“Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:”* Matthew 6:27-28

Can you answer the question above? Can you add one inch to your height by worrying? The answer is NO. if you cannot change the situation by worrying, why not put that energy into praying and getting rest from the presence of God?

I was only thirty-nine years old when I became the General Overseer of the RCCG. One day, while combing my hair, I noticed some grey strands and asked “Lord why am I having grey hair?” He replied “Are you not the one who is always worried about the Church? it is my Church, stop worrying." From that day, I left everything in His hands. The grey strands of hair disappeared and the Church has been marching forward a lot faster than when I was worrying. My anxiety added nothing to the Church but my surrendering to God added everything.

Worrying magnifies the problem because what you focus on will always get bigger. From now, focus on God, on His omnipotence and very soon, you will see the end of that problem.

Nothing is too difficult for God to handle (Jeremiah 32:27). Turn over all your cares to Him today and He will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19).

KEY POINT:

Worry magnifies the problem. Worship magnifies your God who can solve all problems.

HYMN 22:

1. O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

2. And when I think of God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

3. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart

Then I shall bow with humble adoration

And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Matthew 8:1-13; Luke 7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

CAN GOD CHANGE HIS MIND? I By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-10-05T08:40:00.002-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MONDAY 5TH OF OCTOBER, 2020

THEME: CAN GOD CHANGE HIS MIND? I

MEMORISE: And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. Exodus 32:14

READ: Exodus 32:10-20

10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.

16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.

18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

MESSAGE:

Anyone who God is against is doomed already. However, I have good news for you: God can change His mind if the conditions are right for Him to do so.

In today’s Bible reading, God was ready to destroy Israelites and start a new generation, but Moses was successful in his appeal. What was in Moses’ plea that made God change His mind?

First, Moses was pleading from the mountain. He had a special relationship with God. He was closer to God than the rest; he was a favourite. If you have incurred God’s wrath through sin, you stand a better chance of obtaining mercy by getting someone like Moses – with a higher level of anointing, to plead on your behalf.

Secondly, Moses was not selfish in his plea. He was always particular about God’s name and reputation. When you put His interest first, He listens. Moses said:

*“Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.”* Exodus 32:12

Finally, Moses ensured the people repented and forsook their sins. God cannot be fooled. After forgiveness, you cannot continue doing what brough His wrath on you in the first place.

Christian leaders, if any member of your flock is going astray, plead with God for such. If the fellow changes, you could discipline them before God does. God still punished the Israelites for transgressing despite not wiping them out. This is why erring workers in the Church are sometimes suspended- we don’t want God to mete out the punishment Himself. Man’s punishment cannot be as fearsome as God’s anger. It is true that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), but God does not want the death of a sinner (Ezekiel 18:23). If you confess your sins, repent, and forsake them, God is faithful and just to forgive you and spare you His wrath. Indeed, He will not reject a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).

ACTION POINT:

If you know you have incurred the wrath of God upon yourself, confess to a spiritual authority over you, who is closer to God, asking him/her to intercede on your behalf.

HYMN 2:

1. All to Jesus I surrender,

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

Chorus:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Saviour,

I surrender all.

2. All to Jesus I surrender,

Humbly at His feet I bow;

Worldly pleasures all forsaken,

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

3. All to Jesus I surrender,

Make me, Saviour, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit,

Truly know that Thou art mine.

4. All to Jesus I surrender,

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power,

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

5. All to Jesus I surrender,

Now I feel the sacred flame;

Oh, the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory, to His Name!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

John 2-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

FOR YOUR GOOD By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-10-03T06:42:00.002-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY 3RD OF OCTOBER, 2020

THEME: FOR YOUR GOOD

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: Genesis 50:19-22

19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.

MESSAGE:

If we could see things the way God does, our lives would be far better. Sometimes, criticism comes because God wants to make you more popular and influential. Some people may even harm you because God wants to promote you. If you cannot see things from God’s point of view, you may miss the coming blessing. As long as you remain in love with God, you can rest assured that all things are working together for your good. Ephesians 1:3-6 says the purpose of God for your life had been settled before the foundations of the world. All the things you have gone through and people you have met in your life- whether good or bad, are part of the purpose of God for you.

I find the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-46) very instructive. He was one person who saw things from God’s point of view. His father loved him greatly and gave him a coat of many colours- prophetic of where he was going. His brothers became jealous of him because of his dreams of greatness and they sold him into slavery. If his brothers had accepted him, they would not have sold him into slavery, he would not have arrived in Egypt, and neither would he have reached the throne. If he had not gotten to the throne, his brothers would not have come to bow to him as God had shown him many years before.

Joseph saw things from God’s point of view; he knew that if he could just stay holy, everything happening to him would eventually lead him to the throne. He never let his wilderness experience take away his hope or make him sin against God. At every stage of his ordeal (as a slave in Potiphar’s house and as a prisoner), his leaders attested to the fact that God was with him.

God is working out His purpose for your life. Those who hate you and those who love you are part of the plan. Stay holy, keep trusting Him; your reward is just around the comer. Galatians 6:9 says:

*“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”*

KEY POINT:

As long as you are still in the will of God, don’t worry; everything around you is working for your good (Romans 8:28).

HYMN 30:

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 3

Mark 1; Luke 3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

JUBILEE THROUGH CHRIST By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-09-30T22:20:00.002-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY 1ST OF OCTOBER, 2020

THEME: JUBILEE THROUGH CHRIST

MEMORISE: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised". Luke 4:18

READ: Leviticus 25:10-13

10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

11 A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.

12 For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.

13 In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.

MESSAGE:

The Bible informs us that every human being is bound to experience some challenges and difficulties in life. The devil is out to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Many have become victims of the bondage of stagnation, failure, fruitlessness, sickness, disappointment and misfortune. In Old Testament times, Jubilee - observed every fiftieth year, was a time of deliverance from debt as well as recovery of lost property.

The biblical laws regarding Jubilee were in three categories:

1. Redemption of Land

2. Redemption of Houses

3. Redemption of Slaves and Debts

*I prophesy to anyone who needs deliverance and restoration: You shall receive Jubilee today in the mighty name of Jesus*.

“…Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered...” Isaiah 49:25

No matter how difficult your captivity experience may have been, JESUS is here to set you free!

Are you bound by sin, burdened by debt or threatened by poverty? Are you involved in a secret society or struggling under the weight of generational curses? Are you under the grip of one addiction or the other? Is your health under attack or the peace of your family threatened? Jubilee through Christ is available every day to everyone who will accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. Accept Jesus today; He will come into your life and turn your situation around for good.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, I tap into the joy of Jubilee and receive freedom from all problems and challenges of life, in the mighty name of Jesus.

HYMN 28: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS

1. There shall be showers of blessing:

This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

Sent from the Saviour above.

Refrain:

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need:

Mercy-drops round us are falling,

But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,

Precious reviving again;

Over the hills and the valleys,

Sound of abundance of rain.

3. There shall be showers of blessing;

Send them upon us, O Lord;

Grant to us now a refreshing,

Come, and now honour Thy Word.

4. There shall be showers of blessing:

Oh, that today they might fall,

Now as to God we’re confessing,

Now as on Jesus we call!

5. There shall be showers of blessing,

If we but trust and obey;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

If we let God have His way.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Matthew 1; Luke 2:1-38

PRAYERS FOR THE YOUTHS By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-09-30T03:03:00.006-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

MEMORISE:

“That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:” - (Psalms 144:12)

READ: Ecclesiastes 12:1 to 4 (KJV)

1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2. While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain;

3. In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

4. And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

PRAYERS:

1. Thank God for the youths even if you are one yourself. Praise Him for giving them strength, agility and a glorious future.

2. Father, don’t let the devil win over the lives of our youths. Please help them to overcome every temptation that comes their way and dont let them give in to negative peer pressure.

3. Father, raise youths who will uphold Your name in their generation, youths who will stand for You and will not be ashamed to preach the gospel at all times.

4. Father, whenever we hear from our youths, let it always be good news - news of promotion, great achievements, breakthroughs and miracles, in the mighty name of Jesus.

5. Father, anoint our youths greatly and perform great miracles through them.

6. Father, for all our youths of marriageable age and status, please let their wedding bells ring this year.

7. Father, let our youths be greater than their parents and the elders of today.

8. Father, don’t let the sun of our youths set prematurely. Don’t let us ever bury our youths.

9. Father, put an end to the wave of depression amongst our youths today. Fill them with joy and put an end to every evil effect of social media in their lives.

10. Father, please deliver our youths from the claws of evil addictions and associations. Help them all to find and achieve Your purpose for their lives.

11. Father, as our youths grow, do not let them depart from the path of righteousness.

12. Your special request to God for the youths.

I join my faith with yours and pray that the Lord will grant all your requests concerning the youths, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:

Every one of us should be a soldier of Christ, especially the youths. We must hold the fort!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 1, John 1:1-14

HYMN 9 - HOLD THE FORTH

1. Ho, my comrades! see the signal

Waving in the sky!

Reinforcements now appearing,

Victory in nigh!

CHORUS:

"Hold the fort, for I am coming,"

Jesus signals still,

Wave the answer back to heaven,

"By Thy grace we will,"

2. See the mighty host advancing

Satan leading on:

Mighty men around us falling,

Courage almost gone!

3. See the glorious banner waving!

Hear the trumpet blow!

In our Leader's name we'll triumph

Over ev'ry foe!

4. Fierce and long the battle rages,

But our help is near:

Onward comes our great commander,

Cheer, my comrades, cheer!

GOD’S STANDARD: SURE AND STEADFAST By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-09-28T01:22:00.002-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MONDAY 28TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2020

THEME: GOD’S STANDARD: SURE AND STEADFAST

MEMORISE: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity". 2 Timothy 2:19

READ: Psalm 10:4-11

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

MESSAGE:

The line between holiness and sin appears to be disappearing as sinful people now parade themselves as righteous. The truth however is that the world may change, but God’s standard never changes. He will not lower His standard to accommodate anyone; rather, He will give you grace to meet up with it. In order to receive that grace, you would have to take a step towards meeting God’s standards. James 4:8 says:

*“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”*

You will need to root out and tear down everything that is in opposition to holy living in your life, then He will grant you the grace to live holy. When I see people who say they want to live holy lives still entertaining sin, I know they are not yet ready. Is there any friend that can lure you to sin? Any television show you like to watch that promotes sinful habits? Any place you like to visit that makes it comfortable to commit sin? Stay away from all such things from today.

James 4:8 also talks about the double-minded. These are people who have one leg in the Church and the other leg out; people who claim to live holy but willfully commit sin from time to time. James urges such people to purify their heart. With God, there is no sitting on the fence. There is no lukewarmness with Him; you are either hot or cold, in or out. He says in Revelation 3:15-16:

*“ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”*

If you are claiming to be His child and still engage in sin from time to time. Stop deceiving yourself; you are not.

Maintain the standard of holiness in all ways; that is the master key to heaven.

KEY POINT:

God will not lower His standard of holiness for anyone.

HYMN 13:

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;

The world behind me, the cross before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;

Though none go with me, still I will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

No turning back, no turning back.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Nehemiah 11-13; Psalm 126

GOD’S EYES ARE ON YOU By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-09-25T22:23:00.002-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2020

THEME: GOD’S EYES ARE ON YOU

MEMORISE:

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Isaiah 43:2

READ: Psalm 139:7-12

7 Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.

MESSAGE:

God is omnipresent - He is everywhere and sees everything at the same time. It does not matter what you are going through, He is right by your side.

When the three Hebrew boys were facing King Nebuchadnezzar, to an outsider, it may have appeared they were on their own without any help whatsoever. However, the boys were confident; they knew who they believed. They were even bold enough to add that they would still not bow to any idol if God decided not to rescue them.

Many times, we don’t feel God by our side when we are facing trials, but He is there. You will realise it when you are in the furnace and the fire burns off your chains, leaving you unharmed.

God’s eyes are on you even when you are about to commit sin. A Pastor is said to have taken a female member of his church to a hotel with the intent of committing fornication. When they got in and the Pastor tried to touch her, she said “Sir, we looked left and right to be sure no one could see us, but we did not look up. God can see us” She could feel that God could see them, so she fled.

You cannot hide anything from God. You may pretend to people in Church, but He knows your secrets. Your spouse may not be able to access your phone, but God knows all of your conversations; you can deceive everyone but not Him.

According to Luke 8:17, knowing that God can expose you should make you repent.

*“For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.”*

Don’t continue in sin because sooner or later, every secret will be made open. I hope you make a change immediately. He has not yet revealed your sin because He wants you to have a chance to repent. If you refuse to repent, He will expose you and that would be dangerous.

KEY POINT:

God is omnipresent and omniscient. Don’t wait to be exposed; make amends where necessary right away. Tomorrow may be too late.

HYMN 25: ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save me from its guilt and power.

2. Not the labours of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress;

Helpless, look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly;

Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,

When my eyes shall close in death,

When I rise to worlds unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgement throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Nehemiah 6-7

HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-09-25T06:27:00.002-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 25TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2020

THEME: HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU

MEMORISE: "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me". Isaiah 49:16

READ: Luke 5:1-9

1. And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

MESSAGE:

God has designed life such that as men, we are dependent on each other. Once in a while, we might need help and may become weary if it does not come (Proverbs 13:12). I have experienced this countless times but God has always helped me. He is the Ever-present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1).

Sometimes, there may be nobody to help. At other times, those you have trusted may just decide against helping you, but not God. David, in Psalm 27:10 said:

*“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.”*

Even if everybody were to forsake you in your time of need, God would never do so. The Yorubas say that when fire burns a parent and his/her child at the same time, the parent would naturally focus on saving him/herself first irrespective of the depth of love towards that child. However, with God, He will put you first. In Isaiah 49:15, God asked a vital question:

*“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”*

Can you recall the explosion that occurred in Lagos in 2001? Many people were so scared that they left their children behind and ran for their lives. When such things happen, mothers forget their suckling children. May we never experience such again in the mighty name of Jesus.

At other times too, those who really want to help may have tried their best, but are unable to save the situation. Doctors are great, but once in a while, even they do not have solutions to some health problems. Although some ailments have been termed incurable by man, there is no such thing with God. He does the impossible.

Set your love upon God, then call upon Him today. He will answer you (Psalm 91:14-15).

ACTION POINT:

I join my faith with yours now. Ask for God’s intervention in that area where you need help desperately.

HYMN 29:

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised

Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

May we ever, Lord, be bringing

All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,

There will be no need for prayer

Rapture, praise, and endless worship

Will be our sweet portion there.

Nehemiah 1-5

LOOKING UNTO JESUS By Pastor E.A ADEBOYE

2020-09-23T11:11:00.002-07:00

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 23RD OF SEPTEMBER, 2020

THEME: LOOKING UNTO JESUS

MEMORISE: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God". Hebrews 12:2

READ: Hebrews 12:1-4

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

MESSAGE:

Who you look to will determine how far you go in life. It can be a distraction sometimes to be surrounded by people who you think can help you as it would become hard for you to look to God for everything you need. What can man give to you? Can man keep you alive? Man cannot even heal himself. If he gives you money, can he give you prosperity? Rather than run after men, spend time chasing God. God can turn your life and that of your generation around forever. You don’t need an appointment to see God; He is everywhere and willing to help you.

A life that looks to Jesus is a life of peace. Joy and love. A person who looks to Jesus would not depend on any man to live; his future is secured in Jesus Christ.

The Christian faith is a race and we cannot finish the race without the help of God. Our confidence in succeeding in this race is placed in Jesus Christ! We are encouraged to look unto Him and Him alone. Turn away from your past- failures, successes, sins and so on, and look unto Jesus Christ. We look to Christ because of who He is, what He did and where He reigns.

Who is He? He is the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus knows everything about our earthly race. Indeed, He ran His in faith because He is the author and the finisher of faith. He is the perfect example to follow.

When we look up to Jesus; He will perfect what He began in us. Those who look unto God cannot be put to shame. You cannot trust in God and be put to shame.

*“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”* Psalm 121:1-2

Never look unto man; look to Jesus alone, He is higher than the highest. He is a very present help when you are faced with life’s challenges (Psalm 46:1).

ACTION POINT:

Never shift your gaze off Jesus no matter what comes your way.

HYMN 19:

1. My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chorus:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

3. His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Esther 6-10