OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 30/11/2014 - ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE

Memorise

And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

Isaiah 10:27

Read

Psalm 26:1-6

1 A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

Message

Whenever it rains, water flows from the sky (top) to the ground (bottom). This same principle applies to the anointing. The anointing flows from the top (leaders) to the bottom (congregation). If your leader for instance is anointed, then the anointing will flow down to you. If you pray for your leader, you are praying for yourself. Rain brings comfort and refreshment. In like manner, the anointing destroys yokes – Isaiah 10:27 says:

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”

The anointing brings freedom, liberty, relief, refreshment, release from prison, healing etc (Isaiah 61:1). Rain brings a new start; the anointing does the same (Isaiah 61:2-3). The anointing brings beauty for ashes and joy for mourners. Rain is a sign of divine favour, so is the anointing in the life of the anointed. The anointing announces divine favour. God uses the anointing to show that a man has found favour with Him; this was the case with David in 1 Samuel 16:12-13. Rain activates seeds sown; the anointing also activates whatever God has ordained. When God promises you something, the anointing activates its actualisation (2 Samuel 2:4).

Whatever yokes the anointing has destroyed cannot be resuscitated except the person involved goes back to sin, thereby opening the door to bigger yokes of the enemy. In John 5:14, Jesus told the healed man at the pool Bethesda to go and sin no more lest a worse thing comes on him. The anointing of God can flow without ceasing if you abide in God’s will. In Isaiah 35:10, the anointing of God on your head is called everlasting joy, this shows its ability to continuously flow without ceasing.

Prayer Point

Father, anoint my head with your fresh anointing that will be an answer to my generation.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 20:24-23:15

Ecclesiastes 2:9-17

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 29/11/2014 - CAST YOUR BURDEN ON CHRIST - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CAST YOUR BURDEN ON CHRIST

Memorise

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22

Read

1 Peter 5:6-7

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

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Message

What a marvellous thing to know that I don’t need to bear my burden by myself anymore. We have an express and authoritative assurance that God carries our loads of burden. This means that I need not get worried over anything anymore. In fact, His word in Psalm 55:22 is not a mere admonition, it is a command. In it He says:

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

God is always willing to help men, but men do not always avail themselves of God’s unfailing ability to help like no other can. Rather, they prefer to bear their burdens all by themselves; thus, many get crushed under their burden. For instance, man cannot by himself get free from the burden laid on him by the devil. This is why Jesus came to undo the burden of sin for man. The burden of sin is the greatest of all burdens. No one should think that mere religious observance can set him free from this burden, no it can’t!

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”

Isaiah 10: 27

Beloved, what is that burden of sickness, unpaid rent, mortgages, debt or wayward child, let the Lord know that you are releasing the burden to Him now and see what He will do. The Lord sent the same word as the scripture above through Peter in 1 Peter 5:7. This time, He says that we should cast all our care upon Him. Note that He says “all”. All means everything without any left. The trouble is that many of His children do not think God really means what He said. God is not frivolous like men. Many children of God, rather than bring their burdens to God, they like rushing to fellow human beings who themselves need assistance. A woman, who for 12 years had been bleeding without any remedy, spent all her living seeking help from men. They were merely living off her; they could not lift this terrible burden off her life. In desperation, she brought this burden to Jesus as her last resort. Immediately, her fountain of blood dried instantly (Mark 5:25-29). Do as this woman did, come to Jesus with your burden today, but only let it be in faith.

Action Point

Father I am grateful for commanding me to cast my burden upon you. Now earnestly tell him the specific burdens of your life you want Him to take away.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 18:1-20:23

Ecclesiastes 2:1-8

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 28/11/2014 - VICTORIOUS IN JESUS - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

VICTORIOUS IN JESUS

Memorise

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 54:17

Read

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Message

Some of life’s experiences are contrasting pairs. There is the good and the bad, success and failure, progress and retardation, joy and sorrow, peace and trouble, the list goes on. It is my prayer that your experiences in life will not consist of the negative element of the various contrasting pairs in Jesus’ Name. Nevertheless, much as no sane person will wish for himself the negative aspects of life, there is no single person that will not face a challenge of life at one point or the other. Life’s challenges vary in nature and magnitude. There are challenges that come as a result of efforts towards achieving greatness, these are necessary in order to attain greater heights. Anyone facing such should be prepared to tackle them with endurance and the assistance of God.

There are however some other forms of life’s challenges which are devastating and are uninvited. These are usually designed by the enemy - the devil and by those who allow him to use them. Oh, how many promising lives have been prematurely terminated by these evil forces! How many hopes of a greater tomorrow have been dashed by the activities of these evil entities! Some potential professors, geniuses and business moguls are scavenging on the dunghill because their brains have been remotely reprogrammed. May you never fall victim of this network of evil in Jesus’ Name. In case you are already a victim in one way or the other, as you turn your heart to Jesus without reservation, I decree that your prison doors be opened now in Jesus’ Name.

Living in victory and being on top of every situation in peace and confidence is guaranteed only if you love God, cleave to Him and obey His voice, Deuteronomy 30:20 says:

“That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Love God above anyone and anything else, be obedient completely to Him and get yourself hooked on Him and not on any “pleasure” giving habit or person. Note that this passage says God is your life and your length of days. This is awesome, it means that whoever attempts to harm you is done for; hence you will fulfil the number of your days and your destiny also.

Action Point

Annul every counsel of the adversary against you and your loved ones in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 14-17

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 27/11/2014 - WORLD CHANGERS - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WORLD CHANGERS

Memorise

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Acts 17:6

Read

Acts 8:5-12

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Message

Jesus left a group of 11 apostles behind when He ascended to heaven. He left them with a purpose and a mission to the world. He left them in the world, not to get absorbed or influenced by it, but to change it. Did they succeed? They very well did. Not long after Jesus had gone, in far away Thessalonica, the people exclaimed that the Christian brethren had “turned the world upside down”. This was an acknowledgement of the fact that they had brought change to the world (Acts 17:6).

For us in this generation, we should realise that the generation that the world cannot change is the generation that will change the world. If the believers of old were flowing with the Satan influenced current of their time, they would not have made any impact and they would not have passed down the torch of the gospel effectively through successive subsequent generations.

To change the world, you need to understand the current situation of the world, its functions and the active players involved. You cannot change a system you know nothing about. Some of us don’t know the current trends in the world around us. If you truly see yourself as being on a mission for God on earth, you cannot afford not to care about what is going on around you. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was aware that a tower fell on some people in Siloam and was able to appropriately reply those who asked Him questions regarding the incident (Luke 13:4). Next, you need to map out your strategy. Through careful planning, strategise for the desired change you want to introduce, considering the resources at your disposal in Christ and who is behind your vision (Luke 14:28). Having done all these, “stick to your guns” in Christ. Don’t be lured away from your objective, don’t succumb to intimidations or blackmail and don’t be distracted (Philippians 3:13-14).

Action Point

How much are you contributing towards changing the world by witnessing Jesus Christ? Be involved!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 10-13

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 26/11/2014 - THE ALL-KNOWING GOD - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE ALL-KNOWING GOD

Memorise

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Psalm 139:1

Read

Psalm 139:1-6

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it

Message

God is the only one whose knowledge covers both actual and possible happenings. He knows everything about things that are, and He has the knowledge of all things that could have been. Concerning you, He knows everything, down to the very thought of your heart. Even the things you will think of in future, He knows them (Psalm 139: 1-2). The devil’s knowledge is not in any way close to the level of God’s knowledge at all. He does not know the thought of your heart unless you reveal it one way or the other. Don’t ever make the mistake of equating Satan’s level of knowledge with that of God. Although Satan makes the most of his limited knowledge in advancing the interest of his kingdom, God is able to turn his wisdom and the wisdom of all your enemies into foolishness. This was demonstrated in the case of Moses, who was born to deliver Israel from their captivity in Egypt.

Several years earlier in Genesis 15:13-14, when God was speaking to Abraham that his descendants would be in servitude for four hundred (400) years in a strange land, Satan heard it. At the expiration of the four hundred (400) years, Satan knew that a saviour would be born for the deliverance of God’s people. So he put machinery in place to eliminate this saviour in order to stall the liberation of God’s people. One element of his grand plan was the enthronement of a Pharaoh who would not acknowledge Joseph or what he had done for Egypt. This Pharaoh was therefore hostile to God’s people. Satan used him to decree the killing of all Hebrew male children. In spite of this, Moses the liberator was raised under his very nose, in his palace and with his resources. If Satan knew everything, Moses would not have survived, he would have exposed him. God is able to raise you up in the midst of your enemies. Indeed, the Lord will blindfold all those seeking after your life and they will become your greatest asset, helpers, providers and stepping stones to greater heights in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point

Worship the most High God for His exclusive attribute of being the all knowing and for being able to bring His counsel to pass in your life, irrespective of all that the enemies may plan.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 7:4-9:31

Proverbs 31:16-31

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 25/11/2014 - DIVINE COMPASSION - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

DIVINE COMPASSION

Memorise

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Luke 7:13

Read

Luke 7:12-15

12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Message

At many times, the compassion that we as human beings show towards the plight of others cannot go beyond sympathising with them. This is especially so in the face of serious and intimidating needs, pains or sorrowful incidents. We plead with others, speak words of encouragement and consolation, and of course we pray with them. This is understandable, but why is it so? It is so because we are humans and not God, creatures and not the Creator. With God however, it is a different situation.

God’s compassion always leads to a definite action that brings about a change in the situation and experience of the one on whom He shows compassion. Someone actually described God’s compassion as mercy in action. Divine action always accompanies divine compassion, to the extent that the most hopeless situation can be brought back to life again, just like it happened in the case of the dead body of Lazarus, which had been in the grave for four (4) days, but was brought back to life again (John 11). What is that situation in your life that is considered hopeless and for which you are tired of human limited compassionate expressions. In the Name of Jesus, your case will receive the attention of God’s compassion this season and shall be transformed.

Consider the case of the widow in our Bible text. Humanly speaking, her case of tragedy had gotten to a point of no return by reason of the demise of her only source of consolation, following the death of her husband (i.e. her only son). Indeed, she received a great outpouring of limited human compassion, which could not go beyond weeping and wailing along with her, and accompanying her with the remains of her son to his grave. Just then, a drastic turn to her situation occurred because the divine compassion of God in Jesus Christ met her. I say to you in that trouble of yours, God’s compassion is engaging you for a complete turn-around now in Jesus’ Name. The Bible records in Luke 7:13-15 that:

“And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.“

Hallelujah! God will have compassion on you and you will have testimonies in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point

Pick an issue confronting you or your family, ask that the compassion of God be made manifest in that situation in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 5:2-7:3

Proverbs 31:1-15

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 24/11/2014 - WHEN GENTLENESS IS MISAPPLIED - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHEN GENTLENESS IS MISAPPLIED

Memorise

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Luke 16:16

Read

Matthew 11:11-12

11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Message

Gentleness and meekness are fruit of the Spirit which must be found in children of God. However, some children of God have misunderstood gentleness as demanded by scripture to mean tolerating everything, including the enemies that they should get tough with. The Bible says that right from the time John the Baptist appeared to preach the kingdom of God, obtaining the kingdom of God has required violence. This is so because, just as God has made provision for us in Christ to enter into the kingdom, there is an opposing kingdom of darkness that want to do everything it can to prevent us from accessing the kingdom of God and its benefits. Hence, you have to be violent with the enemy. You are not meant to go softly with Satan and his emissaries, no! The scripture gives us a clearer picture of this in Luke 16:16, which says:

“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”

Pressing into a place implies using force, the force of God. This implies going violent against every opposition. This is why you must be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10-13) so that the enemy would not gain the upper hand and press you out of God’s good plan and provision for your life.

Satan, demons and all that they stand for must be treated violently. Satan is to be resisted (James 4:7) and demons must be cast out (Mark 16:17). Hence, all their manifestations in the form of bondages, sicknesses, diseases, sorrows, death etc, are to be stopped. Besides, we are not to take it lightly with the flesh at all, the flesh is an ally of the devil and it does not want to please God but itself. Therefore, no pampering of the flesh; we are to deny the flesh its cravings and indulgencies. Can you see why you must be strong in your spirit man so that you can subject the flesh to the will of God? What about the world system of evil? We must not allow it to draw us into its embrace. A child of God must know when and how to bluntly say No to an invitation to sin irrespective of who is involved, even without blinking an eye, like the three Hebrew boys before that great king, Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:16-17).

Prayer Point

Father, help me never to tolerate nonsense from the devil and his cohorts, but to always deal with them as you commanded in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 1:1-5:1

Proverbs 30:18-33

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 23/11/2014 - FELLOWSHIP – HOW VITAL! STAY FOCUSED - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

STAY FOCUSED

Memorise

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Read

Ephesians 5:1-8

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Message

God’s ways are clearly not the ways of men. What men hold dear and crave after are usually not what matters to God. We human beings like to blow our own trumpets. We like to be addressed by big titles and we want the office we hold to be identified with us wherever we go. These are not important things before God; as a matter of fact, they are the expressions of self which if allowed to thrive by a child of God, will lead to carnality. Romans 8:7 says, a carnal mind cannot please God.

In John 13:33, Jesus called His disciples “Little children”. Among them were some men like Peter, who was physically older than Him. Much later still, after His resurrection in John 21:5, He called out to them on the sea: “Children, have ye any meat?” They answered him, “No”; this was after they had been with Him for years. They never out grew being called children, and none of them protested to Him for being called a child.

Some years ago, at the conclusion of a seminar at the University of Ibadan (south-west Nigeria), I had asked the students if they were ready to become like a child in order to receive their miracles, then the Lord asked me the same question. He asked me if I was not already considering myself an adult. This really shocked me. It made me to give myself a serious self-examination. I realised that I had allowed my new status as the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God to come between me and God. Prior to my becoming the General Overseer, with a two-minute prayer, I got results, but after I became the General Overseer, it took efforts of binding and loosing, praying in tongues and resisting the devil for me to obtain personal miracles. In light of this, I started to crave seriously to become like a baby once again. It is an easy thing to lose focus if one is not watchful. Humility is the key thing here. Many people have missed it on this point today because they love to flaunt their titles, positions and achievements. When they talk, you think they are the ones behind their achievements. When addressed as brother, they will immediately correct you, “I am Pastor, Apostle and Doctor so and so”. Yet, at many times, they themselves address the great apostles of old as Paul or Peter etc, without using any prefix.

Prayer Point:

Father, please help me to always see myself as a child before you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 28-29

Proverbs 30:7-17

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 22/11/2014 - FELLOWSHIP – HOW VITAL! - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FELLOWSHIP – HOW VITAL!

Memorise

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3

Read

Mark 3:13-15

13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Message

God desires to fellowship with His people on earth, despite the fact that in Heaven, there are four (4) living creatures and twenty four (24) elders round about His throne, with thousand of thousands of angels worshipping before Him (Revelation 4:2-6, 5:11). God has a special place for us in His heart in spite of all that is going on in heaven. May you not fall short of giving satisfaction to God in the area of fellowshipping with Him in Jesus’ Name.

The first motive of Jesus for calling the twelve disciples was fellowship (Mark 3:14). Also, rooted in the call He made to us all in Matthew 11:28-29, is the desire for fellowship. He said:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

This is a call to keep company with the Lord, a call to communion. Learning of Him occurs in His presence. His presence is a point of directing your attention to Him without distraction, in His presence, your whole being is engaged with Him. As you can see from this call, it is from the place of His presence that your derive fulfilment. Joy, peace and victory all come from the presence of the Lord.

Some children of God are first and foremost full of activities. Coming into God’s presence is secondary to them; it is a “by-the-way” thing. No, this is not supposed to be so. Note the order of events in today’s Bible text: having settled on the mountain, our Lord Jesus called the twelve disciples up to Himself so that they should be with Him – communion, and thereafter, that He might send them out to preach – Service. Our service will have no meaning if He doesn’t have access to our souls in fellowship. It would not be pleasing to Him if we are not carrying His presence to the point of service delivery. We fellowship with Him when we spend time alone with Him and when we come together in worship, praise, prayers, studying and learning of His word (1 John 1:3). However, some children of God don’t have a personal quality time alone with God, such are depriving themselves of so much.

Prayer Point

Father, please help me to always love your presence. Let my heart always seek you in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 25-27

Proverbs 29:22-30:6

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 21/11/2014 - YOU CAN STAND OUT II - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

YOU CAN STAND OUT II

Memorise

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Luke 19:5

Read

Luke 5:17-20

17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Message

Due to the current challenges confronting the life of some believers, they wonder in their hearts if they can ever make it. They wonder if life will just pass them by. They wonder if they can ever stand out among their contemporaries. If you belong to this class, I have good news for you: yes you can become outstanding among others in spite of your current situation. There were many sons of the prophets in the days of Elisha, but only he stood out, so much so that the king of the land acknowledged him, calling him my father. To this end, as previously learnt yesterday, you need to have a vision of what you want to become in order to stand out. You need to choose to change because your choice in life determines your chance. You must be prepared for new ideas. You must maintain good relationships, as the greatest poverty is to not have good friends. Also, you must be informed on current happenings around you.

Besides all these, you must be teachable. From our scripture reading, the man sick of the palsy and his friends, came to the teaching service of Jesus; this shows that these men were teachable. When you stop learning, you stop growing and then you begin to degenerate. It is either one is moving forward or else one is drawing back. You will ever move forward in Jesus’ Name. You cannot be reached if you are not teachable. So many of God’s people are just too full of themselves, they are self-conceited and are impervious to corrections. This will not help you become a success; it is the deceit of the devil to rob you of a good future.

Furthermore, the sick man and his friends were determined. Determination is the route to distinction and excellence. With their determination, they broke every barrier that was on their way. You also must be a barrier breaker. Sternly confront every obstacle on your way and pull them down by the power of God in your life. This power is generated through a life of holiness and prayers. Finally, the friends of the sick man positioned him before the Lord. You must position yourself also before the Lord for your miracles, just like Zacchaeus did to gain the attention of Jesus (Luke 19:3-5).

Prayer Point

Father, every barrier standing against my getting to the top, let them be demolished in Jesus’ Name. Lord, help me to stand out among my peers.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 22:2-24:31

Proverbs 29:10-21

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 20/11/2014 - YOU CAN STAND OUT I - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

YOU CAN STAND OUT I

Memorise

And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

Deuteronomy 28:13

Read

Luke 5:17-26

17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Message

Our heavenly Father is looking for people that will do the uncommon things required to become uncommonly successful, thereby showing forth His greatness. Looking at the story of the man sick of the palsy in our Bible reading for today, you will learn some things that are essential to attaining this height. This man had a vision of what he wanted to become in life, though he was lame. Vision means beginning with the end in mind. Vision is superior to ambition because while ambition is what you want to happen, vision is what God wants to happen. Furthermore, he realised he needed a change and he chose to change. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we see that Jabez chose to become different and he got it. You also will obtain the necessary transformation you need in accordance with what you have chosen in Jesus’ Name.

The sick man was ready for new ideas. For him, getting an alternative meant getting to Jesus. This is where some people need to watch it. This man was wise enough to know where solution lies for him, but in the case of some children of God, instead of waiting on God under their God-appointed spiritual leaders, they continue to patronise different prayer mountains. This man also kept good relationships i.e. good friends. He could not walk, but his friends could. You have to be good yourself to be able to have and maintain good friends. Don’t be a lone ranger; not only in terms of marriage is this relevant, it also applies to you having good dependable friends.

The sick lame man also had current information. You need to keep the channels of receiving information open in your life. It is when you are current that you can be correct, and then you can collect what you need, which will eventually stand you out in success. Elisha was current on the things going on in his time (2 Kings 2:1-4). By this information, he kept following Elijah until finally he collected a double portion of Elijah’s anointing that subsequently made him to stand out.

Action Point

Father, whatever it will take for me to stand out, please do it in my life and grant me the grace to co-operate with you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 19:1-22:1

Proverbs 28:26-29:9

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 19/11/2014 - FOR CHRIST’S SAKE DON’T! - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FOR CHRIST’S SAKE DON’T!

Memorise

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1

Read

Psalm 137:1-4

137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

137:3 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.

137:4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

MESSAGE

A negative change is generally abhorred by men. Everyone craves progress. We always desire to keep ascending the ladder of success. No one wants to make a u-turn in the journey of greatness. The greatest journey whose end has the greatest significance is the journey to Heaven. This journey is only made in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. Only through Him does man have access to God.

Some individuals, who have truly started this glorious and wonderful journey to heaven, handle the race too leisurely and with levity. Otherwise, what shall we say of a Christian sister or brother who toy with sins like fornication, lying, dishonesty and fraudulent practices. Some sisters and brothers still in courtship are already having sex. This is an example of making a u-turn while on the journey to the greater glory above. In line with today’s scripture reading, the implication for such people is that they will fall prey to the enemy. Such people lead themselves into the captivity of the enemy, contrary to the admonition of today’s memory verse. Such individuals become like Samson who when God’s presence was with him, he was a terror to the enemy, but by the time he pushed God away from him through his unabated lust, he became a laughing stock with his two eyes gone. Why, why, why would you allow such regrettable acts to cause you such pain? Such was the condition of the entire nation of Israel in Psalm 137. They went into captivity in the hands of their enemies. Hear their wailing in Psalm 137:3-4:

“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?”

Some people deceive themselves or allow the devil to deceive them. They live in sin and they claim they can always confess their sins; it is either such people are not saved at all, or they have already backslidden. What a dangerous thing it is for a child of God to toy with sin. Five to six years ago in Lagos - Nigeria, the case of a pastor was reported in the newspapers. A portion of a wall fell on him while he was on top of a woman; they died together on the spot, what judgment! Where would the destination of such a pastor be in eternity? For Christ’s sake don’t toy with sin!

Action Point

Flee every appearance of evil. Don’t say I will do it only once; your “only once” escapade could lead you to an eternity in hell.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 16:8-18:17

Proverbs 28:14-25

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 18/11/2014 - THERE FOR A PURPOSE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THERE FOR A PURPOSE

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

2 Kings 5:1-4

5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

5:2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

5:3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

5:4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

MESSAGE

Known unto God are all His works from the foundation of the world (Acts 15:18). One of the arguments some philosophers put up for the existence of God is that, the Cause of all things must be a rational and intelligent being because to everything the Cause caused to be, is a purpose given. This so-called Cause is God and there is nothing He created that has no purpose. Whatever God permits to come to you or to come your way has a purpose. There is a purpose behind you being an African, European, Asian or American. Far beyond the superficial things you may be looking for in that your exalted position in that organisation, God may have something in mind for you to accomplish. Maybe you got sponsored and supported to occupy a political office or maybe you are in government, have you found out why He opened that door to you, or are you busy seeking mundane things for yourself like the ungodly and unpatriotic ones?

In some cases, God’s purpose might bring you into an unpleasant or undesirable situation, just like the young girl in today’s Bible reading. She was taken captive from her native land in Samaria to the far and strange land of Syria. However, see what great effect the quiet little counsel she gave her mistress had in the life of the great but leprous commander of the Syrian army, and by extension the entire nation of Syria. Beyond the healing of her master, she projected the God of her fathers among the heathen, so that He might be feared and honoured. It is a pity that some Christians today do things that bring shame and reproach to the name of God. Such people misrepresent God through their compromising acts among sinners. Hear what the little girl said in 2 Kings 5:3:

“And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.”

It was just this one-minute piece of information God was waiting for to orchestrate a chain of events that would culminate in His name being glorified among the heathen. From this story, we also learn why it is good to be nice and kind to those who are around us, even servants, housemaids, gardeners, drivers etc. Some bosses despise and treat their subordinates inhumanely. Some housemaids, drivers and workers are treated as though they are not human beings (Colossians 4:1). If Naaman and his wife had been maltreating this maid, she probably would not have given them the counsel that led to the removal of their shame and reproach.

Action Point:

Objectively identify what exactly you are living for.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 13:1-16:7

Proverbs 28:2-13

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 17/11/2014 - HE HAS THE LAST SAY - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HE HAS THE LAST SAY

Memorise

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Isaiah 54:10

Read

Joel 3:16-17

3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

3:17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

MESSAGE

The situation in the world is steadily becoming alarming. Big and strong economies are becoming shaky while some are crumbling already, even though trade is expanding with mind blowing technological breakthroughs and rapid succession of invention of devices across every facet of human endeavour. Violence in various forms of inhuman treatment of man by fellow man is also on the increase. This includes terror activities, civil disturbances, kidnappings, rapes, murderous acts, drugs, human trafficking and sale of human beings as mere commodity etc. All these and several more are pointers to any child of God that the end of all things is fast approaching and that these are not the days to live carelessly.

These happenings are at a stage that any observant mind will sense palpable fear in the world, just like the Bible said it would be (Luke 21:26). For you a child of God however, you need not panic in your heart because God has given you an idea of the events that will occur in these last days. He also has given you His promises of hope and has put His Holy Spirit in you. One of such promises is in Joel 3:16:

“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.“

It is required of you as a child of God in this end-time, to get close to the word of God in order to see global events in light of what is written in it. This will give you hope and encourage your mind on how close the eventual return of our Lord is. His return means release from earthly pains and limitations for you, but the beginning of sorrows for those who don’t have a relationship with Him.

Nevertheless, you need to know that the children of God that will do valiantly in these last days, are not those who only depend on feeding on the word of God that they hear via public ministrations, but those who go beyond this by spending time with God in His word through private study like the Berean brethren (Acts 17:10-11). Great strength for the race comes from this. In these evil days, you will not be a victim but a victor in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Pray that your focus will remain on making Heaven and that you will remain fervent in spirit and steadfast in the love of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 10-12

Proverbs 27:15-28:1