OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 31/05/2014 - IN VIEW? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

IN VIEW?

MEMORISE

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Isaiah 49:16

READ

Isaiah 49:14-16

14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

15 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.

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

MESSAGE

One of the most depressing experiences of life is being forgotten by friends, relatives, family members, and those you really count on. Somehow you hope that you mean enough to people around that they won’t just forget and abandon you when you need them the most. This is so important to the average person that some have joined social clubs and endure inconveniencies to attend social functions and ceremonies as a means of building future credit with people in order to guarantee patronage whenever the need arises. The fear of being alone, forgotten, abandoned and separated from loved ones is so genuine and real that Jesus had to cry aloud with much agony when He suffered a similar fate on the cross of cavalry. The Bible in Matthew 27:46 says,

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Worst still, there are times when it seems as if the whole world is crashing on you; when life beats you down and gets the best of you, when friends and relatives are nowhere to be found. At such times, prayer begins to feel empty and God feels distant, almost as if He has forgotten you. It is very easy at this point to think that you have been deserted by God. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, be sure to stay closer to the word of God for constant reminders that God cares and that He is a present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1); He will never abandon you. I pray that whenever you call upon the Lord in times of trouble, He will answer in Jesus’ Name. No matter what you are going through, just hold on to Jesus and He will see you through.

God asked a rhetoric question in Isaiah 49:15a:

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?”

We know that it is seemingly impossible for that to happen, but God says even if it were possible, He will never forget you. You can rest on His word of promise because our God is dependable. God went on to say that He has engraved you on the palms of His hands; what a promise, what a word! Engravings are permanent inscriptions, therefore it symbolises an obsessed lover writing the name of his loved one on his hands for constant remembrance.

PRAYER POINT

Father, thank you for engraving me on the palm of your hand. Thank you for having me in constant remembrance.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 17-19; Psalm 116

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 30/05/2014 - POOR & PRECIOUS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

POOR & PRECIOUS

MEMORISE

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Psalm 40:17

READ

Psalm 40:14-17

14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

MESSAGE

Social stratification based on financial status is more pronounced than any other type of stratification in modern society. The wealthy and the poor coexist in all nations of the world today. The rich are associated with wealth, power and fame, while the poor are associated with suffering, obscurity and lack. The rich has many friends, associates and family members. He is an independent fellow who can afford to pay his or her bills and also contribute to the development of the community. The poor on the other hand has few or no friends or associates. He can hardly pay his bills not to talk of contributing to the development of the community. However, it is heart-warming to note that God is personally interested in the cause of the poor. I hereby decree that God will put an end to every form of poverty in your life today in the Name of Jesus.

Numerous passages of the Bible speak of God’s deep concern for the poor. In the Mosaic Law, God commanded that no one should oppress them. If they became servants to their fellow citizen out of poverty, God commanded that in the fiftieth year (Jubilee), the poor must be set free to return to his or her family without strings attached. Also, God gave many wonderful promises and pronounced blessings on the poor as a means of assuring them that poverty would not be a permanent status. In fact, a cursory look at a few of these passages will convince you that poverty has become a matter of choice for the children of God. All you need to do is to apply the word and its principles to your life. Such passages include the following:

“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.”

Psalm 113:7-8

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

2 Corinthians 8:9

These verses are a great source of consolation to children of God irrespective of their current financial status. Jesus came to demonstrate the Father’s heartbeat for the poor by His life, and also by the ultimate sacrifice He paid on behalf of all humanity on the cross of Calvary. It is at Calvary that we learn that, despite the poverty of the human race, we are still very precious to God.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to know how precious I am in your sight and please don’t let your investment in my life be a waste, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 15-16; Psalm 115

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 29/05/2014 - THE WISDOM OF GOD BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WISDOM OF GOD

MEMORISE

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Romans 11:33

READ

1 Corinthians 1:20-25

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

MESSAGE

Whenever God decides to reveal deep things about Himself to anyone, the human response is always that of unspeakable awesome surprise. Paul caught some revelations of God and exclaimed in Romans 11:33a that:

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”

This is the cry of someone who has seen beyond the physical realm; obviously God had shown him a little glimpse of the depth of His knowledge and wisdom. The Psalmist in Psalm 139:6 also experienced this and submitted in absolute wonder saying:

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

It is therefore not surprising that the greatest minds among the scientists and philosophers of this world are incompetent to discern, assess, or comprehend the knowledge and wisdom of God.

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

1 Corinthians 1:21

Because the all-knowing God is also the Creator of the heavens and earth, He knows that the human thinking faculty is not designed to understand spiritual matters and therefore cannot comprehend the knowledge and wisdom of a God who is Spirit. In essence, human logic, reasoning, science, and philosophy are grossly inadequate to bring man to the saving knowledge of an immortal, invisible, omnipotent and omniscient God. But glory be to God, because it pleased Him that by the foolishness of the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, anyone that believes would receive the power of salvation and intimacy with God.

Nevertheless, the Bible in Matthew 11:19 tells us that wisdom has children, and the wisdom of those children begins with the fear of the Lord (Psalm 111:10). They are also known to reject the wisdom of this world, according to 2 Corinthians 1:12. As children of wisdom, they accept Jesus Christ the Son of the living God as the Wisdom of God and as Lord and Saviour. I therefore invite you to join the children of wisdom today by dedicating your life to Jesus and accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Once you surrender your life to Him, He will begin to make all things work out for your good.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please open my spiritual eyes to behold wondrous things according to the riches of your wisdom and knowledge, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 12:43-14:31; Psalm 114

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 28/05/2014 - THE WISDOM OF MEN BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WISDOM OF MEN

MEMORISE

Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

Deuteronomy 1:39

READ

Genesis 2:15-17

15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

MESSAGE

In the beginning, God generously permitted man to eat from every herb bearing seed and from every tree bearing fruit. In Genesis 2:17 however, God commanded him to avoid eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The fruit of this tree has been variously interpreted to mean sexual awareness or moral experience among other views. Since sexual interaction between Adam and Eve was allowed (being the only way to multiply the human race in obedience to God’s commandment), moral experience is therefore the most plausible explanation of what this fruit represents. God clearly wanted Adam and Eve to maintain their state of innocence. By choosing to obey or disobey, they would come to know good and evil by experience. God set before them a choice, of which obedience would lead to wisdom and blessing, while disobedience would lead to rebellion and punishment. I pray that the Body of Christ will witness great increase in wisdom and blessing as a result of total obedience to God in Jesus’ Name.

The knowledge of good and evil enables a person to make choices based on human knowledge and personal preferences, rather than simple obedience to the word of God. It provides an opportunity to exercise the power of logic and the supremacy of human choice in all human affairs. The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is contrary to faith. It is for this reason that 1 Corinthians 2:14, says that:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.“

Therefore the natural man stands for those who are controlled and influenced by natural instincts and are in opposition to those who are influenced by the Spirit of God. They cannot receive or obey the things of the Spirit of God because they make their choices in life based on their senses - what they see, hear and feel. To such people, the way of God and His commandments are foolishness. One would think that such would not be found among Christians, but many professed born-again and spirit-filled Christians cannot live with some biblical doctrines and commandments of God. They simply argue that such is not relevant anymore, suggesting that there is a need to review the Bible to accommodate modern times and human interests. The big question is; are you serving the Lord in the wisdom of men, or by faith and obedience in the power of God?

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to serve you with total obedience to the authority of your word.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 10:21-12:42;

Psalm 113

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 27/05/2014 - THE SUPERNATURAL LIFE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE SUPERNATURAL LIFE

MEMORISE

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14

READ

1 Corinthians 2:12-16

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

MESSAGE

God created the world to be controlled physically by some natural laws and principles, and spiritually by supernatural laws and principles. He then made man in His own image as lord, king and master, to have dominion and rule over everything He created, both in the physical and spiritual dimensions. After Satan successfully deceived Eve, Adam and Eve sinned against God, and their sin attracted judgement from God. The major implication of the judgement pronounced upon them was spiritual death which is the loss of supernatural life. Hence, the dominion and authority of man became limited to the physical world which is controlled by natural laws and principles.

It is important to note that these natural laws and principles work for all human beings who would fulfil the requirements. Naturally, whatever goes up must come down; whoever sows shall reap; if you give, you shall receive; a diligent hand shall rule; what you see physically determines what you can get; sickness requires medical treatment; death is terminal etc. In the natural world, knowledge is power and no one can grow beyond the limit of his or her knowledge and abilities. The natural world operates strictly based on logic. Many Christians today live in poverty, sickness, bondage, fear, debt, sorrow, and failure because they are operating at the natural level. I pray that you will break loose from the natural level and begin to operate in the supernatural from today in Jesus’ Name.

Supernatural laws and principles can only work for those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and are spirit-filled. Such must be living holy lives and walking by faith, not by sight. These are those whose faith is not built on the wisdom of men but on the power of God. Having the spiritual enablement to live a victorious life, to save souls, raise the dead, heal the sick and deliver the oppressed is the whole essence of Christianity. I pray that as you thirst and hunger for the supernatural life, the Lord himself will satisfy your hunger and anoint you powerfully for His service in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, I am tired of sharing the same ordinary natural life with the rest of the world, please take me higher to the supernatural level in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 9:1-10:20; Psalm 112

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 26/05/2014 - BE FRUITFUL BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BE FRUITFUL

MEMORISE

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:28

READ

Genesis 1:27-28

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

MESSAGE

In Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful” is presented both as a commandment and a blessing. The blessings that God bestowed on humanity in this passage can therefore be regarded as the source from which the human race has flourished. This passage also defines a very important principle of life: fruitfulness comes before multiplication. A person that is fruitful will automatically multiply and anyone that refuses to be fruitful will never multiply. This theme is repeated about seven times in the book of Genesis alone (9:1, 9:7, 17:20, 28:3, 35:11 & 48:4) to emphasise the significance of this divine principle. Now, since the Lord has spoken and His promises are yea and Amen, why then do we have people that are barren and unfruitful? The answer is in John 15:4-5, it says:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

For any branch of the vine to be barren or unfruitful, it must either be sick or detached from the vine. It is possible for the branch to be sick according to Psalm 107:17:

“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.”

Thank God for Psalm 107:20 which states the remedy:

“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

John 1:14 confirms Jesus as the Word that was sent, while John 6:51 says that eating the Word from God gives you access to everything you need for healing and deliverance. I therefore decree into your life, that as you read and meditate on the word of God from this moment, you will receive the power to live above sickness, bondage, poverty, failure and death in Jesus’ Name.

Furthermore, it is possible for a branch to be detached from the vine, making it impossible for the fluid of life that flows from the vine to reach the branch. Such a detached branch will not only find it impossible to bear fruit, it also stands the risk of dying off. As a result, I admonish you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour today, connect yourself with the source of life and begin to bear fruit in abundance in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to remain connected to you so that all your blessings embedded in Genesis 1:28 will be my portion forever in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 6:14-8:32; Psalm 110-111

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 25/05/2014 - LUST: ENEMY OF GREATNESS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LUST: ENEMY OF GREATNESS

MEMORISE

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 John 1:2

READ

1 John 2:15-17

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

MESSAGE

God’s desire for His children is greatness and good success. Greatness denotes being above in all areas. His desire is for all His children to prosper spiritually, mentally, materially, psychologically, financially and health-wise. You should however know that greatness has enemies. It is better not to acquire wealth than to be a formerly rich person. It is better not to win than to be an ex-champion. As Christians, we should be focused and not allow ourselves to be destroyed by the world. We are enjoined in 1 John 2:15 not to love the world.

The greatest enemy of greatness is lust. The most devastating of these lusts is the lust of the flesh. In Genesis 34:1-26, Shechem lost his life and the lives of all the men in his entire tribe to the lust of the flesh. He ravished Dinah and was destroyed by the sons of Jacob. Samson was a judge in Israel, gifted with supernatural physical strength. He however lost his strength, eyes and eventually, his life to the lust of the flesh. The second greatest enemy of greatness is the lust of the eyes. Many people have been motivated to go into sin by what their eyes saw. Looking at how man fell in the Garden of Eden, the eye can be described as a primary channel through which sin creeps in. It was through the eyes of Eve that the sin of disobedience crept into her life. The Bible in Genesis 3:6a says,

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes...”

Is the eye then evil? The answer is No! In Matthew 6:22-23, the scripture reveals that the light of the body is the eye. The eye is very good. For our body to be full of light, our eyes have to be focused on God. By implication, we should not lose sight of our first love. Your first love is your desire for God at the time you gave your life to Christ. After giving your life to Christ, there is the tendency that as you continue in the Christian race, other desires come in which may cause you to deviate from this first love. Such desires include desire for position, benefits and privileges. What type of eyes do you have for God in the ministry? Are your eyes covetous, wicked or self-centred? All these are not of God. Many people with covetous eyes want to start life big and they end up destroying themselves. Stealing is an action of a covetous eye. Adultery is also an action of the covetous eyes. Another evil resulting from the covetous eyes is the desire for goods and properties of others. Gehazi was destroyed by this. Beware of lust. Make God your number one desire.

ACTION POINT

Beware of lust. Examine your life and repent of all actions motivated by lust in your life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 4:1-6:13; Psalm 109:21-3

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 24/05/2014 - THE COVENANT OF TOTAL RECOVERY BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE COVENANT OF TOTAL RECOVERY

MEMORISE

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

READ

Genesis 17:1-7

1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

MESSAGE

‘Covenant’ literally denotes a contract. A contract is an agreement between two or more parties comprising of specific issues on which they have come to a consensus. At a later time, one of the parties involved may change his mind and that could dissolve the contract. A covenant with God is more than that. It is an eternal arrangement and is eternally binding (Genesis 17:7).

In our Bible reading today, our God entered into a covenant relationship with Abraham. He changed his name from Abram to Abraham and the name of his wife from Sarai to Sarah. When God enters into covenant with anyone, the first thing he does is to change the person to a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). The covenant between God and Abraham was sealed with the blood of circumcision. In the same vein, Christ shed His blood to seal the covenant between you and God (Matthew 26:28). Many blessings accrued to Abraham and Israel on the basis of the Abrahamic covenant. As long as they kept the covenant, there was no sick person among them; God became their only Physician (Exodus 15:26). The Almighty God was also their Protector (Exodus 23:26) and the captain of their host. The covenant guaranteed their physical protection from their enemies, from pestilence and from diseases. When they sinned against God by breaking the laws of the covenant, their prosperity became austerity, and their blessings were turned to curses. Jesus is the founder of the new covenant (Hebrews 7:22). Whoever becomes a child of God by surrendering his or her life to Christ has a lot to gain from God, because Jesus stands behind every sentence in the New Covenant. The resources of heaven are behind Jesus and all power belongs to Him (Matthew 28:18). Are you a child of God? Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? Are you born-again? Are you serving God in holiness and in truth? Be assured that the covenant of recovery is yours. Based on the new covenant, every true child of God is called into a blessing that is richer and more assuring than is contained in the Abrahamic covenant. All you need is faith to access it (John 11:40). How do you experience this total recovery? Be born-again. Diligently study the scriptures to identify what is right and be diligent to do them. Be humble enough to trust God for your recovery and go ahead to receive your healing, divine health, divine prosperity, peace and life in abundance. Pray without ceasing, shun sin and continue to serve God in holiness and truth. Learn to appreciate God. Give thanks always and praise God for all things. Finally be a witness. Be a fruit-bearing Christian. Win souls and ensure that the souls won are followed up properly so that each will become a true disciple of Christ.

ACTION POINT

Renew your covenant with God and make up your mind to be more committed to His service.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 1-3; Psalm 109:1-20

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 23//05/2014 - LOVE & SPIRITUAL GIFTS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LOVE & SPIRITUAL GIFTS

MEMORISE

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:1

READ

1 Corinthians 12:1-2

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

MESSAGE

Our God is the Almighty. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is also good and His mercy endures forever. One character of God that is transmissible through us is love. How do we show that we know God? It is by showing His love (1 John 4:8). Let us love one another. Let’s demonstrate the love of God to our brethren. Let’s show them that we care. The people we are to show love to includes those that are lovable and those that do not deserve our love. Do you love your critics? Do you love your persecutors? Do you love the unlovable? Love or charity has many beautiful attributes (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). Gifts are nothing without love. Love is kind and patient. Love bears long with the weak and needy. How kind are you? Do you demonstrate kindness in all you do? How patient are you? Some Christians are rash. They act before thinking. Such people cannot be said to demonstrate love. Love does not envy others. Jealousy is not in the dictionary of love. It is pathetic that many souls have been destroyed by jealousy. An envious soul does not see anything good in the achievements of others. Are you controlled by love or jealousy? Love is not self-centred. It cares for others. Do you love your brethren and care for them? One way to demonstrate that you care for your brethren as a lady is through modest dressing. One who really loves does not dress to kill. She is dressed to save. Christians who wear indecent clothes cannot be said to love their brethren. Another attribute of love is faith. Love believes the whole counsel of God. Love does not only believe the word of God, it acts on it. Love does not think evil. It does not live in suspicion of others. Love is humble. God is love because love is humble. God associates with the humble. If you say you love, let it reflect in your humility. Be humble. Don’t brag about your achievements. Don’t insist on bearing titles which reflect self-aggrandisement.

Love never fails to receive from God. One of the innumerable blessings of love is the right to receive answer to prayers. Those who love easily receive from God. Such people also go about doing what can be described as good. In Acts 10:38 we are told that Jesus went about doing good because God was with Him. God is always with the people who live in love. He associates with them. Consequently, miracles, signs and wonders attest to their ministry. Do you want the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit in your ministry? Live in love. Let your impact be felt for good in the life of others. Sacrifice your talents, money and other resources for the salvation and betterment of others. Spend quality time in prayer, bible study and demonstrate that you love the brethren.

ACTION POINT

List five ways to manifest love in a sour relationship, then go ahead and implement them.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 48-50; Psalm 108

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSADAY - 22//05/2014 - LENDING TO THE LORD! BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LENDING TO THE LORD!

MEMORISE

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Proverbs 19:17

READ

1 Samuel 1:24-28

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

MESSAGE

Many activities in life have a boomerang effect. Sowing for example is an activity that boomerangs with harvest. When you sow bountifully on a fertile ground, all things being equal, your harvest will be in abundance. The Bible enjoins us to give, because our giving will bounce back to us in a greater dimension. Luke 6:38 says:

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Being merciful is another activity with a boomerang effect (Luke 6:36). We should be merciful, especially to the poor and needy. There are many people living in affluence whose neighbours are languishing in penury. Such people cannot be described as merciful. Some wealthy leaders are guilty of exploitation. They defraud the poor and deny them of their right to basic amenities. Such actions are evil, sinful and unscriptural. What is your status? Are you comfortable, rich, wealthy or flourishing? There are many ways you can be merciful to the poor. You can give to orphanages. There are people with excess clothes, materials and goods which are not useful to them. Such materials can be given to the poor and needy. You can also identify some indigent children in your neighbourhood and be responsible for their education. If you have the means, you can set up a foundation that will ameliorate the effects of poverty in your neighbourhood. Are you a Christian politician? You are in position to lend to God by using your political influence to make life better for the poor and needy in your society. You can champion the cause of the poor in your constituency and ensure that necessary amenities are brought to their doorsteps. There are basic amenities which the underprivileged should not be denied. These include access to qualitative and affordable education for their children and wards, good road network for the masses, making food available at an affordable rate, constant and uninterrupted electricity supply, security of lives and properties and access to good and affordable health care. When we help the poor, we lend to the Lord and we are rewarded for it. There are numerous rewards for those who lend to the Lord. Such rewards are both earthly and eternal. As God did to Hannah when she lent Samuel to Him, God will ensure that you are blessed on earth for giving assistance to the poor. The other reward is eternal. There are crowns awaiting triumphant saints in heaven, especially those who are merciful to the poor.

ACTION POINT

Draw up a sustainable plan to help the poor and downtrodden around you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 46-47; Psalm 107:33-43

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 21/05/2014 - SAFETY IN CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SAFETY IN CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING

MEMORISE

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Proverbs 11:14

READ

Acts 27:30-37

30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

MESSAGE

Counselling is used to describe the process of giving advice or suggestions to another person in order to help solve their problems. It is a situation where an individual that has problems comes to a person called a counsellor for guidance on what to do. It is true that there are many approaches to counselling. There is for example, the patient-oriented approach to counselling. There is the behavioural or stimulus-response contiguity approach, and there is the humanistic approach which is postulated on the premise that man possesses the capability of moving from a state of maladjustment to a state of adjustment when a threat-free, acceptable and conducive psychological climate is established. However, the safest form of counselling is Christian counselling. This approach involves trusting the Trinity (the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost) as the sole solution to all problems.

Every child of God should be involved in Christian counselling. Three entities are involved in Christian counselling. First, the Trinity is involved. He is the invisible and the infallible Counsellor. Second, there is the visible human counsellor and lastly, there is the human counselee. The Church should give serious attention to Christian counselling. The body of Christ should begin to develop seasoned counsellors to help solve the myriad of problems brought to her. Counselling involves communication. A Christian counsellor should therefore be a good conversationalist. Additionally, the human counsellor should receive training in the art of counselling and human relations. Such a person should also have emphatic understanding, patience and humour. He or she must be sociable and friendly, and possess at least an average intelligence quotient. A counsellor should equally be one that demonstrates consistent mature behaviour. The person should have respect for other people’s ideas, opinions, line of thinking and philosophy. Regard for other people’s worth and dignity as human beings irrespective of their economic status is also a necessary attribute. He or she should be alert to the feelings and non-verbal expressions of others, such as facial changes during counselling, and maintain honesty, confidentiality and self-evaluation. It is required that all Christians should endeavour to be good counsellors. Pastors and ministers of the gospel should be involved in Christian counselling, especially guidance counselling. Are you a pastor? It is mandatory for you to be a guidance counsellor. You should encourage the counselling department and stimulate the interest of church workers and other ministers in counselling. Seek to bring solutions to the problems of others. Be involved.

ACTION POINT

Pastors, encourage your counselling department with good offices, computers & accessories.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 44-45;

Psalm 107:23-32

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 20/05/2014 - TIME FOR MIRACLES BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

TIME FOR MIRACLES

MEMORISE

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Hebrews 2:4

READ

Mark 4:35-41

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

MESSAGE

A miracle is an act or event which does not follow the known laws of nature. It simply means a higher law overruling a lower law. The law of the Spirit is higher than natural laws. A miracle involves the suspension of physical laws by divine intervention. It happens when God uses the spiritual law to set aside physical laws. In the first place, God is the one that ordained the natural and physical laws to govern the universe, he can choose to suspend them if He so wishes.

There are various categories of miracles. I pray that you will receive yours today in Jesus’ Name. In 1 Kings 17:10-16, we come across the miracle of supernatural supply manifested in the life of a widow and her child. In 1 Kings 17:17-22, we have the miracle of the dead coming back to life. I command that everything dead in your life, family, business and ministry should resurrect now in Jesus’ Name. In Mark 4:35-39, we have a miracle where the forces of nature were overruled. Are you suffering from any natural ailment? Are you living in fear or being oppressed by forces of nature? Receive a miracle that overrules nature in Jesus’ Name. There are also unusual or special miracles. These are unique miracles. An example is the miracle of the conception of Christ. The greatest of all miracles, however, is the miracle of salvation (John 3:7). It takes a miracle to be born-again. It is by grace that we are saved. It is not as a result of our works of righteousness (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ specialises in miracles. One of his names is ‘Miracle’. While on earth, He performed more miracles than any other human being. He healed the sick, cleansed lepers, opened the eyes of the blind, opened the ears of the deaf, made the cripple to walk and He raised the dead. He also saved sinners, gladdened the hearts of saints and went about doing good. It is not enough to know about miracles. Miracles can be experienced and enjoyed by you. You are a candidate for miracles. There are at least seven steps to receiving a miracle. The first step to receiving your miracle is to be reconciled to God. Confess your sins and iniquities to God and repent. Second, desire a miracle (Mark 8:22-24). Third conceive your miracle. Be specific about your miracle. Imagine your miracle. Dream your miracle. Get a clear picture of what you really want from God (Mark 10:48-52). Additionally, you should expect your miracle. Labour for your miracle by asking God for it and by worshipping and acknowledging God for it. Then, of course, receive your miracles and go ahead to thank God for the miracles you have received from Him.

ACTION POINT

Worship God for fifteen minutes and believe Him for your miracles today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 42-43; Psalm 107:10-22

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 19/05/2014 - WORKS OF THE DEVIL BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WORKS OF THE DEVIL

MEMORISE

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8

READ

Deuteronomy 18:9-14

9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

MESSAGE

Joy means deep pleasure or great gladness. It is the opposite of sorrow. It will be stating the obvious to say that everyone on earth wishes to be joyful. Although God’s plan and desire is for us to live in joy, there is an actor in this world working frantically against this. There are two principal actors on the stage of history. These are Jesus Christ and the devil. The devil began to play his part in human history from Genesis 3 until the other actor, Jesus Christ, came with the gospel to destroy his works. Christ was able to overcome the devil through compassion, love and humility. The objectives of Jesus Christ are: to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), to save whosoever believes in Him and to present God as all in all. To overcome as Christ did, you must be ready to identify and to destroy all the works of Satan and his collaborators. Satan uses demons, human agents, forces of nature and even careless believers to do his works. He invades the spirit, soul and body of his victims and attempts to destroy them. Satan and his demons have the ultimate goal of torturing mankind, causing catastrophes, destroying lives and at last making humanity partake in the eternal fire which he and his cohorts are destined for.

The devil uses many means to capture human beings. He possesses, oppresses and afflicts his victims (Luke 22:3). He suppresses his victims, ensuring that they don’t manifest faith in God. Satan obsesses by filling the minds of his victims with fear and other things contrary to God’s word. Satan depresses his victims, making his victims discouraged and sad. Satan works through sicknesses and afflictions. Many incurable diseases and infirmities have demons behind them (Luke 13:11-13). Satan uses seduction, false doctrines, false religion and occultism. To be an overcomer, you should live right. Note that demons have no power over a child of God who is living right. You should therefore not open the way for Satan to invade your life. Renounce all previous involvement with the devil. Be informed: Satan is the brain behind magic, astrology, palmistry, Ouija boards, crystal ball-gazing, hypnotism, mesmerism, sorcery, hallucinogenic drugs, blood covenants, necromancy, body incisions and demonic initiations. Initiation into the demonic world is always done through the cunning craftiness of Satan and his demons. Persons that read unclean materials or watch devilish films and wrong programs on the television and also those who believe in what the stars foretell are easily possessed of devils. Demons must not be feared. Rather they must be discerned and rejected promptly.

ACTION POINT

Pray for the operation of the gifts of the Spirit to overcome demonic intrigues.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 40-41; Psalm 107:1-9