OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL -SUNDAY - 31/08/2014 - NO FAITH, NO MIRACLE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

NO FAITH, NO MIRACLE

MEMORISE

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20

READ

Mark 10:49-52

49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

MESSAGE

There are levels or categories of faith. In the scriptures, we see these different categories at work at one point or the other. These categories include the following: No faith (Mark 4:40), little faith (Matthew 6:30), faith as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), great faith (Matthew 15:21-28), exceeding great faith (Matthew 8:5-13) and the gift of faith from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9). Those who want to experience a harvest of miracles are those who are ready to put their faith to work. It is faith that brings about miracles. There was a time in my ministerial life when I had little faith. But God honoured my faith. A woman brought her child to me who had never spoken since the day she was born. I decided therefore to pray for the child. As I said "in Jesus’ name", the child answered "Amen!" I nearly jumped out of the window because I had never seen such a thing before. God will embarrass you with miracles in Jesus’ Name.

There was an experience in my life that shows that God will never fail when we put our faith in Him. Before my wife and I met the Lord, we had three children through caesarean operation. We decided to stop child-bearing since the doctor had said that my wife could not give birth naturally. We got born-again six years later and started reading the promises of God in the Bible. I read in the Bible that with God nothing shall be impossible and this stuck to my heart. I realised that what the doctor said was impossible can be made possible by the mighty power of God. My doctor friend told me that my wife would bleed to death if she tried to give birth. When the time of her delivery came, she laboured for two days consecutively but the baby did not come out. On the third day, as I was on my way to get food for my wife, the devil threatened: "Stupid man! And you said you have a Ph.D. Your wife will die today and you will see what her relatives will do to you." Suddenly, a holy anger rose up within me and I said: ‘’Listen devil! If my wife should die tonight, I will get permission from my father-in-the-Lord to preach on Sunday, and the first thing I will say is that there is nothing my God cannot do". As I said this, this devilish thought disappeared from my mind and the joy of God flooded my heart. As I got to the hospital, I sat inside the car and suddenly heard the cries of the baby. Human words cannot express the joy that came to my heart upon seeing my wife in good health and my baby in joy. The kind of joy that will bring tears to your eyes will happen to you in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please meet me at the level of my faith, and help my faith to grow.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

John 8:31-10:21;

Job 31:16-28

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 30/08/2014 - WHEN REVIVAL COMES II BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHEN REVIVAL COMES II

MEMORISE

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

READ

Psalm 51:1-3

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me

MESSAGE

In what areas of your life do you think you need revival? What do you think you have done that has taken you into a backslidden state or what deadly error have you fallen into that has put you in danger of hell and perdition? Today is the day of revival, repentance, forgiveness and restoration of your joy of salvation. Revival is not miracle-working; it is increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of holiness and complete obedience of a people towards God.

The first thing a man who wants to experience revival must do is to realise that he or she has sinned, according to Psalm 51:3. In Psalm 51, we see David praying fervently for revival and restoration after he sinned against God via adultery and murder. He asked God to have mercy on him; he craved the loving kindness and tender mercies of God. He pleaded for spiritual cleansing after acknowledging his sins. This is where many so-called born-again Christians, particularly those who have been pretty old in the faith often miss it. They feel that they don’t need to say the “sinner’s prayer” again because of their long-term Christian walk. They are like the Pharisee of old who went to the temple to display his superiority over the publican (Luke 18:10-14). Whenever a wise man discovers that he has fallen short of God’s approval and favour due to sin, he throws away his ego and humbles himself before the One who can forgive and forget. God is easily found when we seek His face in earnest penitent prayer according to the experience of Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33:12-13. The Bible in 1 John 2:1-2 says:

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

What the Lord is telling us in this scripture is that, it is expected that a child of God should live sin-free, according to 1 John 3:8-9. However, peradventure anyone finds himself in sin, he must quickly cry to God in penitential prayers so that he may be restored and spiritually revived again. The next thing is that you must have faith in the word of God and the blood of Jesus Christ for cleansing. Appropriate the blood of everlasting covenant and make up your mind not to go back again.

ACTION POINT

Check your life and see if there is anywhere you have gone amiss. Do not hide it or pretend as if nothing has happened. Confess it to God and let him revive and restore you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

John 6:60-8:30

Job 31:5-15

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 29/08/2014 - WHEN REVIVAL COMES I BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHEN REVIVAL COMES I

Memorise

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Psalm 85:6

Read

Psalm 85:4-7

4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.

Message

In spiritual parlance, revival presupposes that backsliding has hitherto taken place. In other words, it is when people abandon their spiritual fervency that the need for revival becomes inevitable. In Christianity, revival is a term that generally refers to an increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a congregation or church, either regionally or globally. This should not be misconstrued with evangelistic meetings that churches conduct to bring about salvation of lost souls. May the Lord revive His church in Jesus’ Name. What happens when revival comes? According to our Bible reading today, people turn away from their wickedness when revival comes. Salvation becomes a household commodity among the backslidden and the anger of God ceases to burn against His people. A typical example of revival is recorded in Jonah 3:4-10 concerning the people of Nineveh. One pleasant thing about God concerning sinners and backsliders is that He will always warn them so that they may repent and escape His fiery judgment. The Bible says:

“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”

Ezekiel 18:21-23

Another thing that happens when revival comes is that God answers the prayer of sinners contrary to the general opinion that He does not. However, it is the prayer of repentance that God honours before any other, as seen in the case of Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33:12-13. Revival brings about total restoration of both spiritual and physical wellbeing. The true sign of revival is when people turn completely from their past wicked ways and turn a new leaf of godliness (2 Chronicles 33:15-17). This is contrary to what we experience in the church today where people claim to be born-again and yet still maintain the status quo of their past sinful lives and habits. Manasseh died a repentant sinner and had peace, even at death according to 2 Chronicles 33:18-20. Your beginning may not matter, but how you end is what matters the most.

Prayer Point

If you are a sinner, pray for the salvation of your soul and if you are a backslider, pray for revival and complete restoration.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

John 5:19-6:59

Job 30:24-31:4

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 28/08/2014 - LESSONS FROM REBEKAH BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LESSONS FROM REBEKAH

Memorise

And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

Genesis 25:22

Read

Genesis 25:20-23

20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Message

Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, was temporarily barren and her husband had to intercede for her before God blessed her with the fruit of the womb. She was a Syrian woman who was brought up in her native country. She grew up to know the gods of Syria but was not familiar with the God of Abraham and Isaac. This may be the reason why the Bible did not record anything about her prayers to God but rather recorded the intervention of her husband Isaac who interceded for her. However, what transpired after this reveals that Rebekah later became knowledgeable about God, and she even showed signs of being very spiritual.

After Rebekah became pregnant, she noticed that the babies struggled together within her; they seemed to kick and jostle each other. Their movements prompted her worries and she sought out a prophet to explain the situation to her. Rebekah found herself in a dilemma that no human wisdom could explain. She therefore chose to seek for divine direction from the Lord. Note that this is the very first time the Bible talks about someone making enquiries from the Lord. We should learn two big lessons from Rebekah. We should learn to be sensitive to heavenly signals and seek the face of the living God whenever we need clarification on any matter. Many are in problems today because they were so complacent and carefree that they neglected the warning signals that God gave them until it was too late. Many today also seek for clarifications and directions from the wrong sources, and others patronise gods that cannot give any useful direction.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 14:6

Jesus is the Way, He is the Truth and He is the solution to all problems in life. Therefore, seek Jesus today; seek for the King of kings and the Lord or lords; seek for the only One who knows all things and can do all things, and He will give you direction. He will put an end to your confusion and misery. Jesus will quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger. Jesus will heal your broken heart and give you peace in all areas of your life. My friend, Jesus is the answer. Whatever you may be passing through, call upon His name today and your life will never be the same again.

Prayer Point

Jesus the Son of God, I believe in you. As I call upon your name today, please solve all my problems and give me peace.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

John 3:16-5:18

Job 30:9-23

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 27/08/2014 - REWARD FOR LABOUR BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

REWARD FOR LABOUR

MEMORISE

And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

Joshua 24:13

READ

Genesis 31:3-7

3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

5 And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

MESSAGE

Jacob sojourned with Laban and laboured for him for several years. At first, his host was cheating him at every opportunity, and the years of his hard labour were almost in vain. Down the line, God had to intervene to enable Jacob eat the fruit of his labour. For a reader of this devotional, in every area that you have been deprived of your reward in the hands of your employers or contractors, the Lord will intervene on your behalf in Jesus’ name. It is evil when your sweat serves to increase the wealth of another man without you having any benefit to show for it. After God decided to bless Jacob to redeem the years of his labour under Laban, the sons of Laban and their father conspired against him, believing that he did not deserve the wealth he had earned. When God intervenes in your situation, you will become what the enemy did not think you could ever become. God’s intervention brings reward for labour. This can be manifested in God helping you to set up your own business or company after faithfully serving another for a reasonable length of time. Jacob ran Laban’s business as his own; he was faithful to tending the flocks and the business grew rapidly under his care. Jacob later recognised that although he had served Laban over the years, the man was not eager to grant him independence. May the Lord deliver you from the wisdom and power of those who don’t want you to become your best.

Reward for labour is obtained when the Lord delivers you from the hands of unfaithful business associates. Laban dealt fraudulently with Jacob; at several instances, he changed their business agreement just to make sure that Jacob lost out while he prospered. When the Lord chooses to reward your labour, He will not allow the plans of fraudsters against you to stand. Through fraud, there are many people who have lost their mouth-watering jobs innocently. Some people have been imprisoned for frauds they knew nothing about. Some people have lost millions and billions through fraud; this will never be your experience in Jesus' Name. Also, when the Lord chooses to reward your labour, He will not allow your sincere investment to go in vain. Jacob invested his time, skills and labour into the business between himself and Laban. Reward for your labour comes when God decides to judge between you and those using you for their own advantage. After over 200 years of hard labour in Egypt, God came down to deliver the children of Israel and He gave them a land where they would enjoy the abundance provided by others. May the Lord cause you to enter into an inheritance of rest in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, grant me reward for all my labour and remember me for good in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

John 1:1-3:15;

Job 29:21-30:8

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 26/08/2014 - DISCIPLESHIP BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

DISCIPLESHIP

MEMORISE

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:23

READ

Mark 8:34-37

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

MESSAGE

At the beginning of the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, discipleship was a term used to describe the process of building followers who were committed to the cause, teaching and beliefs of our Lord Jesus Christ. It later became a common term used to describe the followers of Jesus. Discipleship is the crux of the Lord’s final address on earth. In this address known as the Great Commission, He charged us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Discipleship is not something that happens immediately after salvation, neither is it an optional experience for any Christian. Discipleship, which essentially means following Jesus, is the essence of Christianity.

Discipleship as a Christian experience is a way of life that requires paying a cost (self-denial), and commitment to the cause (taking up one’s cross).These two attributes required of a disciple are clearly stated in many passages of the Bible, specifically Luke 9:23, says:

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

This if further enunciated in Matthew 10:38:

“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

Luke 14:27 stretched the idea even further by saying:

”And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

The Bible always speaks of following Jesus in relation to self-denial and the cross. Discipleship is therefore the way of sacrifice.

Paying the cost of discipleship through self-denial and commitment to the cause of Jesus by taking up one’s cross daily are two important requirements of discipleship. By denial of self, Jesus does not mean to deny one's self of something. He means to renounce self; to cease to make self the object of one’s life and actions. This involves a fundamental reorientation of the principle of life. It is to place the divine will before self-will. God, not self, must be at the centre of life. This is something that is especially difficult for the average human being. I pray that as you read this, the Lord will visit you and turn your focus from self and earthly things to God and heavenly things in the Name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to focus on you alone. Help me to pay the price of discipleship and to be committed to the cause of Jesus all the days of my life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Luke 23:6-24:53

Job 29:7-20

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 25/08/2014 - WHAT SEEK YE? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHAT SEEK YE?

MEMORISE

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

READ

Luke 12:29-31

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

In most 21st century societies, the hustle for survival is the preoccupation of many families and individuals living below the poverty line, while fashion, entertainment, lavish spending and accumulation of state-of-the-art technology are the concern of those that are well-off. The lifestyle of many, and ultimately what they pursue in life, is driven by their philosophy of life and the economic class they belong to. Many people seek wealth, fame, power etc, and they would do anything including participating in heinous crimes to achieve their goal. However, the Bible in Matthew 6:31-32 says that God knows we have need for food, clothes and accommodation:

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

The Bible also says in Proverbs 10:22 that the Lord is able to bless His own:

“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”

Since the Lord is able to bless and prosper His children without them engaging in illicit activities, it is therefore not befitting for a Christian to participate in the same crazy pursuit for material things prevalent in the world today.

Furthermore, the word of God in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 says:

“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. 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.”

Evidently, those who want to be rich at all costs usually fall into diverse temptations and traps of the devil. Out of desperation to be rich, they are easily drawn into sinful acts in the form of questionable businesses, partnership with dubious characters and dealings in substandard and harmful products. The question therefore is: what do you seek? What are you running after? Be warned that what you seek determines what you get. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness; seek the Lord Jesus with all your heart and He will surprise you with joy, peace, prosperity and a host of other heavenly blessings that money cannot buy.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please give me the grace to seek your kingdom and righteousness with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my might, in the Name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Luke 21:25-23:5

Job 28:20-29:6

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 24/08/2014 - THE MATERIALIST’S MISTAKE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE MATERIALIST’S MISTAKE

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

Psalm 49:6-10

6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

MESSAGE

The materialist is somebody with great regard for material possessions, a person who considers material possessions and physical comfort more important than spiritual values. To a materialist, the end justifies whatever means is employed in acquiring wealth or possessions. Materialists would cheat, steal, hurt fellow human beings and even kick against God’s commandments in order to amass wealth and get great possessions.

One irrational and foolish confidence that is often displayed concerning earthly wealth and possessions is exposed in Psalm 49:9. This scripture reveals that those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches always hope to live forever and expect to be secure from sickness, sorrow, pain, oppression, accidents and disaster. The Bible teaches that this wrong attitude to wealth and prosperity robs a person of his or her dignity and degrades such persons to the level of beasts. The Bible also teaches that there are limits to the purchasing power of wealth, especially when it comes to the deeper demands of the soul, where financial wealth has no relevance.

Another irrational and foolish miscalculation of human philosophy is that a person’s worth is summed up in his or her earthly wealth and possessions. Based on this wrong assumption, materialists seek to acquire wealth and possessions at all costs and by all means. Meanwhile, the Bible in Luke 12:15 tells us that the worth of a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. The idea that wealth has value for a person beyond the grave is a mistake. This is why the Lord asked these questions in Mark 8:36-37:

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

We must give truthful answers to these questions in order to avoid committing the mistakes of the materialist. If you acquire a world full of wealth and possessions and lose your soul, what will you offer in exchange for your soul? Be wise! The truth is already revealed in the word of God; poverty is bad, wealth is good, but you must not pursue wealth and possessions in a way that will make you lose your soul.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to set my priorities in line with the word of God. Let my precious soul make it to heaven.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Luke 19:28-21:24

Job 28:7-19

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 23/08/2014 - FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE

MEMORISE

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Hebrew 12:17

READ

Hebrew 12:9-12

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

MESSAGE

Failure is defined as lack of success in a set objective or a loss of ability to function normally. Failure occurs when an event doesn’t accomplish its intended purpose. Failure usually ends up as a double tragedy because when a project fails, you lose your investment on the project and afterwards you must pay for the future repercussions of that failure. In most cases, the repercussions of failure are far-reaching and irreversible. With this perspective, it is clear that failure is something of inestimable loss. However, failure always disguises itself as a normal everyday event. If you carelessly give your consent without discernment, such a seemingly normal event may develop into a serious tragedy. So it was when Sarah innocently offered her maid to Abraham to conceive a child in Genesis 16:3, and when Jacob suggested to his brother Esau to trade his birthright for pottage in Genesis 25:31. These are examples of ordinary events that resulted into terrible tragedies. I pray that you will not commit any blunder that will lead to terrible tragedies in your life in Jesus’ Name.

What started as a generous gift of love later developed into something that brought grief to Abraham in Genesis 21:11. Having to separate from his son was painful and as the father of Isaac (Jews) and Ishmael (Arabs), we can see that the outcome of Abraham’s failure is far-reaching and irreversible as evident in the Arab-Israeli relationship today. When you consider Esau’s reaction to Jacob’s proposal, you will immediately see that he trivialised the matter. He later paid dearly for his miscalculation in his lifetime and his descendants are still paying for his careless mistake till date. Father Lord, please have mercy, and let your mercy prevail over every evil judgment and repercussion of sin and failure in our lives in the Name of Jesus!

We can see from the above cases that the immediate cost of failure is expensive and the future repercussions inestimable. You cannot afford to suffer the loss of failure, therefore you must do everything in your power to prevent and avoid it. First, you must view everything in life according to the Bible and submit totally to its authority. You must also ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all things. The fear of God and complete obedience to His commandments is the sure antidote to failure. May you never experience failure again in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, let every past mistake that could lead to terrible tragedies in my life be cancelled today by divine intervention, in the Name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Luke 17:11-19:27

Job 27:13-28:6

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 22/08/2014 - SIGNS AND SYMBOLS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS

Memorise

And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Matthew 16:3

Read

Matthew 16:1-3

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Message

Signs and symbols are signals to important events in life. Signs usually have their origin in the spirit realm. Some signs manifest physically while some can only be viewed with spiritual eyes. Those with the ability to read the signs of the times have been in existence for thousands of years. The star-gazers from the east were able to correctly identify the star of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, scientists have developed advanced technology for more accurate prediction of weather patterns. Major world events are regularly being transmitted via dedicated spiritual broadcast stations, but only those with active decoders are able to receive such privileged broadcasts.

It takes the spiritually sensitive person to determine spiritual signs that are not apparent to the physical eyes. It is important to be able to discern the time of your favour or else you may miss it completely. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to point your attention to the signs signalling your time of favour. He is mandated by God to share secrets of things to come with us (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit can use any available means to communicate signs to you. It could be through dreams, open visions, or God’s audible voice. He could speak through a prophet in a programme, or He could send one to you directly. God has a thousand and one ways that He could use to inform you of happenings in the spiritual realm. What is important is whether you know how to cultivate your relationship with the Holy Spirit. If you do, no event will take you unawares.

However, it is important to note that Satan and his cohorts easily identify the time of one's favour and move at such times to provoke the proposed recipient to take steps capable of triggering a loss. There are people who have determined not to compromise with sin, but when their time of favour comes, they would suddenly observe that they are under intense demonic pressure to sin. It is at such times the devil reawakens their old appetite for sin. Satan uses this strategy a lot to debar Christians from receiving their blessings. Therefore be wise, watch and pray. Whenever you come under intense pressure to sin, your time of favour could just be around the corner. Do everything you can to keep your relationship with God intact. Most importantly, cultivate your friendship with the Holy Ghost. Open your spiritual eyes; be sensitive to the signs of the times and you will never be caught napping.

Prayer Point

Holy Spirit, reveal yourself to me more than ever before in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Luke 14:25-17:10

Job 27:1-12

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 21/08/2014 - SELF EXAMINATION BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SELF EXAMINATION

Memorise

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

2 Corinthians 13:5

Read

Matthew 7:3-6

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Message

Self-examination is the contemplation of your own thoughts, desires and conduct. Our Lord Jesus Christ admonished that before a person would begin to counsel and advise others on how they should live their lives, self-examination is always necessary. Before a Christian partakes in spiritual activities that require some level of sanctification and holiness in the church, it is also necessary to carry out self-examination. This is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 11:28 which says,

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”

Consequently, self-examination should precede taking part in the Holy Communion or the acceptance of ordination into a position in the church.

However, we should remember that God does not call the qualified; rather, He qualifies the called. No Christian can claim adequacy in qualification because we’re not worthy of the great gift of salvation He obtained for us at the cross of Cavalry. Therefore, the purpose of self-examination is not to qualify yourself or to prove that you are worthy before God, but to do that which is honest and truthful before God and man. This is why the Bible in 2 Corinthians 13:7 says:

“Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.”

Self-examination is needed in the 21st century church to check whether we are still in the faith. Adherence to basic Bible doctrines has become a thing of the past. Obedience to commandments of the Bible is now subject to whether such commandments do not infringe on a person’s human rights and if it meets with his or her personal approval. The concept of sin, righteousness and holiness as clearly defined in the Holy Bible is now relative to a person’s choice with serious considerations for culture and environment. Therefore co-habitation of unmarried couples, immodest dressing and behaviours that translate to a total departure from Biblical teachings are exhibited in the church of God with impunity. Examine yourself today; are you still in the Faith?

Prayer Point

Father, help me to examine myself, and send a revival to your Church in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Luke 12:35-14:24;

Job 26

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 20/08/2014 - GOING IN CIRCLES? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

GOING IN CIRCLES?

Memorise

And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.

Numbers 32:13

Read

Numbers 14:33-36

33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.

34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,

Message

Going in circles is a term that denotes making considerable efforts without commensurate progress. It could also mean wasted efforts, to wander about and to waste time doing things without achieving results. The Bible gives us many examples of this, but the story of the Israelites in the wilderness on their journey to the Promised Land gives a very good illustration of this. The children of Israel started their journey to the Promised Land with full assurance by the Almighty God that He would be with them all the way. True to His word, He stayed with them day and night. They lacked and suffered nothing throughout the journey. To these Israelites, God was good, gracious, kind and loving; showering them with His mercies which endure forever. But it got to a point where God noticed that they persisted in sin and would not heed His warnings. Then He became angry with them. Numbers 32:13 says:

“And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.”

We need to remember that this whole scenario started with Abraham receiving an unsolicited promise of a land flowing with milk and honey from God. Many years had passed and the descendants of Abraham had lost both hope and interest in the promise, but God revisited them out of love and compassion. He delivered them from oppression and slavery with a strong hand. He did many wonders in the wilderness to prove He is a mighty God. He fought their battles and defeated all their enemies. Above all, He blessed them and made His tabernacle with them. God had done so much for them to justify His expectation of simple appreciation, trust and obedience. The least that God expects from His children is this, and He is disappointed when we fail in this regard. Consequently, God made them wander about in circles in the wilderness for forty years.

I challenge you to take a critical look at your life. Are you making progress or going about in circles? Are you in good standing before God? Is everything alright with your spiritual, family and business life? Are you doing well physically, financially, and emotionally? Are you suffering from stagnancy in any area of your life? If anything is amiss, turn to God in prayer now.

Prayer Point

Father, put an end to going in circles in my life and empower me to make progress.

Bible in one year

Luke 11:1-12:34;

Job 24:21-25:6

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 19/08/2014 - DIVINE ENCOUNTER BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

DIVINE ENCOUNTER

Memorise

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:12

Read

John 1:11-13

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Message

God in His infinite wisdom created every human being with the potentials and abilities that they need to fulfil His purpose for their lives. Unfortunately, some pass through life without realising this potential; some others who do, fail to fully exploit it. Only a negligible few are able to exhaust their God-given potentials on earth. Recognising your potential starts from knowing the Lord Jesus and discovering your purpose in life. Knowing your purpose in life is tied to a relationship with the Creator of the heavens and earth. From today’s Bible reading, we understand that a very vital part of God’s plan for everyone created in the image of God is to become a “son of God”. Being born-again is not the same as becoming a son. The journey begins at the point of being born-again and then continues far into the spirit realm. This is where divine encounter comes in. It is absolutely impossible for anyone to undertake this journey except the person has a divine encounter with God. Even Jesus had to go through a process before He could go to the Cross. It took encountering the power of the Holy Spirit to prepare Him to fulfil destiny (Acts 10:38). I pray that you will not leave this world without fully realising your potential, in Jesus’ Name.

Divine encounter is a special visitation of heaven on earth; a meeting divinely arranged to accomplish an unusual spiritual agenda in the life of a chosen beneficiary for the ultimate fulfilment of God’s purpose. Without an encounter with the power of the Spirit, you would remain trapped and live far below your potential. To fulfil your destiny, you must partner with the Holy Spirit. This partnership must be kick-started by a divine encounter. Apart from Jesus Christ, another character who realised his potential was Peter. If you compare Peter before the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost with the Peter after Pentecost, you will notice some sharp differences. Before Pentecost, Peter was full of fear. He found it difficult to stand on his convictions. Even a maid could make him deny the Lord. But after Pentecost, he became so bold that not even the Council's threats could stop him. Before Pentecost, Peter realised his leadership potential but lacked the fire, zeal, direction and divine backing of the Holy Spirit to fulfil it. As a result of this, after the death of Christ, he dumped his main purpose of existence - fishing for souls, and went back to his old business - fishing at sea (John 21:1-3). After Pentecost however, he was able to perform according to Heaven's expectations. Are you feeling weak, fearful and discouraged from taking the necessary steps to fulfilling your purpose on earth? Like Peter, you need to encounter the power of the Holy Spirit, and what you lack will suddenly be provided. You shall fulfil your destiny in Jesus' Name. Ask God for the power to become who you were meant to be.

Prayer Point

Father, please I need a divine encounter; Lord fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can fulfil my destiny, in Jesus’ name.

Bible in one year

Luke 9:21-10:42

Job 24:9-20