OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY - 30/04/2015 – WATCH THAT BACKSLIDING – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WATCH THAT BACKSLIDING

Memorise

The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

Proverbs 14:14

Read

John 6:66-69

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve,Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Bible in one Year

Judges 20-21,
Matthew 28

MESSAGE

Backsliding does not happen suddenly. It’s a process that occurs over a period of time, during which a person becomes lax in his thought life and begins to entertain from the path of light to the ways of evil from which one was once saved. There are many prodigal sons and daughters today who have forsaken their first love in the pursuit of materialism. Many workers in the vineyard of God, who started well, have allowed their spiritual fire to grow cold, thereby departing from the faith. Hebrews 10:38 says,

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

A backslider loses interest in the Lord, in the Bible, in prayer, fellowship and witnessing, and eventually turns to the world. It is like a dog returning to its vomit. You will not backslide in Jesus’ Name. The flesh will always find expression when people fail to focus on spiritual things. The flesh expression when people fail to focus on spiritual things. The flesh clouds the minds of God’s children with such things as idle past-times, sports and television, and fills their heart with junk at the expense of spiritual growth. Before you know it, backsliding would have commenced. Someone who has always been very zealous for God will then begin to miss church meetings when there are crucial match fixes. A sister who has been very productive in evangelism will then begin to come late to meetings because of addition to certain television soaps. As Christians who are Heaven bound, we have to be very careful. Let us keep ourselves away from danger zones as much as we can. You have to be very vigilant and sober so that the devil doesn’t drag you to Hell with little things you think do not matter (1 Peter 5:8). Those detrimental “little things” you fail to terminate may end up terminating your destiny (Song of Solomon 2:15)

Remember that even David, a man after God’s heart, fell for Bathsheba. Samson, the Lord’s anointed from the womb, lost his two eyes and was reduced to a prisoner grinding corn inside the enemy’s prison. One of my sons came to me complaining of a problem. He confessed that as every weekend drew to a close; he would get excited, looking forward to the next Monday morning because he would see his secretary again. I told him to disengage her from the job. A proverb in my native tongue says “Stay away from a snake whose head is still intact.” Whatever you can’t control will truncate your destiny. Whatever is capable of destroying your testimony must be avoided. Sometimes you need to apply wisdom and not strength (Ecclesiastes 9:18).

Action Point

Take wise, decisive action on any relationship that has the potential of destroying your testimony.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY - 30/04/2015 – WATCH THAT BACKSLIDING – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY - 29/04/2015 – RESTITUTION – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

RESTITUTION

Memorise

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Luke 19:8

Read

Luke 19:1-10

1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

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

6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

8 And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

9 And Jesus said unto him,This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Bible in one Year

Judges 19,
Matthew 27:45-66

MESSAGE

Restitution is the act of making right that which has been wrongly done to the injury of others. It involves restoring what has been wrongly taken, and repairing or giving the equivalent of any loss or damage. This is very important aspect of Christianity that proves genuine salvation. Even though this teaching is not popular among preachers today, the word of God is forever settled on it. If we are to experience a clear conscience and have a good testimony among those within the Church and in the world, we must obey the teaching on restitution. Restitution is not a 21st century teaching. It has been in practice from Bible days. While salvation is aimed at making your ways right with your Maker. Restitution is aimed at making your ways right with your fellow man. One is not complete without the other. It is the desire of God for us to correct all past wrongs which are correctable. If may be difficult to carry out restitution for wrong done in the past, but the mercy of God is always available to help, even it looks difficult.

If you have been genuinely converted, you should return those things that you may have stolen or converted to your own use which belong to others or to your place of work. This includes your tithes and first fruits, the non-payment of which is robbery. There are things that belong to others which you may have destroyed. Those must be replaced. Restitution includes reconciling with people who may have quarrelled with you in the past. We must make restitution for all lies and things wrongly said about anyone which have resulted in causing troubled for the person involved. Every marriage contracted contrary to the standards of the Bible must be visited and reviewed. There are some sensitive cases of restitution that you do not carry out alone. In such cases, you must seek counsel for those who are spiritually more mature than you. They will guide you through the help of the Holy Spirit on the appropriate way to go about it.

When you obey God making restitution, you will receive His favour. The favour of God removes all your years of labour and makes your life a blessed one. Also, when you restitute your ways, you will experience speedy answers to all of your prayers. This is because you have made peace with God and you have a clear conscience towards man. When you make restitution, you will no longer live under the bondage of fear, because there is nothing else to hide.

Action Point

Prayerfully take steps to carry out restitution in every applicable area of your life.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY - 29/04/2015 – RESTITUTION – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY - 28/04/2015 – CHOOSE TO BE SANCTIFIED – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CHOOSE TO BE SANCTIFIED

Memorise

And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

I Corinthians 6:11

Read

I Thessalonians 5:22-24

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Bible in one year

Judges 16:23-18:31,
Mathew 27:15-44

MESSAGE

It is the express will of God that every believer is sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3). For us to become vessels unto honour, fit for the Master’s use, we have to be fully sanctified (1 Timothy 2:21). To be sanctified is to be separated unto the process of becoming like Jesus Christ inn character (2 Corinthians 3:18). Sanctification helps the believer to live a holy life. Right from creation, God has always been in search of vessels of glorify. The Lord will find you worthy for His glorious use in Jesus’ Name. Today, He is still looking for men to honour by using them. One thing you must know is that the scarcity of men is not the issue; it is the scarcity of sanctified vessels. A holy God cannot fill unholy vessels. A vessel that God will use for doing great exploits in life must be clean always.

All those who are still finding it difficult to deal with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life cannot be used of God for honourable purpose. It is a great privilege for God to use a person. God will never play your role even though He wants to honour you. You must be made pure through and through by the Blood of Jesus. You must be willing to resist ungodly thoughts and every other thing that has the potentials of defiling you physically and spiritually. Sin makes a vessel impure. The choice is yours to make.

The one who wants to be used and honoured by God must refuse to compromise by following the norm (Daniel 1:8). You cannot go far if you are not ready to be sanctified. You cannot be an oracle of God if you are not ready to deny yourself of the present in order to buy the future. God’s vessels are not democratically elected. His choices are made based on what He deems fit for His purpose (Hebrews 2:4). The moment He picks you and you are willing to leave your life in His hands, you will never regret that you did. The call to sanctification is a clarion call to all. It is a call of privilege to become a vessel of honour fit for the Master’s use. If you accept and allow God to perfect His good works concerning you, you will become a wonder to yourself. You must be willing to let go and let God work on your weaknesses. You must be ready to decrease so that Christ may increase in you. Give attention to the study of you word of God. Memorise it and do mall that it commands. Do not love the world or the things that are in it. Beware of pride, rebellion, envy, strife, ungodliness and uncontrollable desire for wealth. Watch and pray. Do not allow anything stain your glorious garments. Get back to God and remain connected to Him in all that you do.

Prayer Point

Father, sanctify me wholly from every besetting sin by the Blood of Jesus shed on the cross.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY - 28/04/2015 – CHOOSE TO BE SANCTIFIED – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

A GRATEFUL HEART - ODESANMI OLUWATOSIN

A grateful heart is not someone who says thank you for what they can see,

A grateful heart is not someone who measures what they are given and compares it with there want,

A grateful heart is not someone who says thank you because they need to,

A grateful heart is not someone who thinks they deserve what they get,

A grateful heart is someone who looks around and appreciates what they have not because they deserve more but because they are thankful for every opportunity they have to start all over by the dawn of a new day.

Ask yourself, have I been grateful for what I have and said thank you Lord or have I been bickering for things I personally desire.

Happy New Week and God bless

A GRATEFUL HEART - ODESANMI OLUWATOSIN

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY - 27/04/2015 – THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION II – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION II

Memorise

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 1:22-23

Read

Ezekiel 36:24-30

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

Bible in one Year

Judges 15:1-16:22,
Matthew 26:69-27:14

MESSAGE:

As a child of God, it is part of your benefits to enjoy continuous spiritual victory over the kingdom of Satan. The devil is the last person that would like to see you saved. He is committed to anything that will pull you down from your new-found faith. You have to be aggressive in your response to him (1 Peter 5:8-9). Jesus with those words granted your authority as a believer in Luke 10:19

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

It is this authority that you use in commanding respect. It is this authority that will make demons to bow. You use the authority in Jesus ton put challenges events and circumstances where they belong. For instance, it is the authority backing a policeman that makes him simply raise his hands to stop oncoming vehicles. As long as he is in that uniform, he will command obedience. If you are born-again, authority has been given to you. You are to make use of this authority to preach good tidings to the meek. You are to bind up the broken-hearted. You are to decree liberty to those who are captives and the opening of prisons to those that are bound. Your authority is to be used for commanding the devil and his activities out of your jurisdiction.

Some times ago, while travelling to Ilesha in southwest Nigeria, I saw a vehicle parked along the way at Ile-Ife. The bonnet of the car was opened, and on closer inspection, I saw one of my daughters standing by the car. I decided to park and find out what the matter was. I asked her what was wrong with her car. She replied that there was nothing wrong with the car, but that everything was wrong with her personally. She told me that the baby in her womb had not moved for several days, and that the doctor had confirmed that the baby was dead. She parked her car to contemplate on what she should do. Since I was with her at that point, she asked me to just lay my hands on her stomach and speak the word of power so that the baby would come back to life. I did as she requested and continued with my journey. The Lord honoured my words, and that child came back to life again. This same child graduated from the university in 2003. This miracle was made possible because of the benefits of salvation. Without salvation, I couldn’t have commanded even a dead cockroach to come back to life, but in salvation lies the power of resurrection. This is way I know that everything dead in your business is coming back to life, and the supreme power of God is swallowing up all the powers of the enemy in your life in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

By the authority given to me by Jesus, I destroy everything limiting God’s benefits in my life.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY - 27/04/2015 – THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION II – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SUNDAY - 26/04/2015 – THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION I – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION I

Memorise

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

Read

Isaiah 25:8-9

8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

MESSAGE

Salvation is a package full of benefit cutting across the three spheres of human existence: the spirit, the soul and the body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). When you experience salvation, the life force of God is released to you. You will begin to have a strong desire of holiness. Rather than condemnation, you will receive justification. Instead of punishment for sins committed, you will receive a credit of righteousness into your account. The new man in you has a lifestyle patterned after and controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter promised by the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives man total victory over sin and empowers him for service in God’s kingdom.

Through the miracle of salvation, the one who was a sinner yesterday becomes a saint today. With his spirit, he begins to relate with God. With his mind, he receives inspiration on issues. With his body, he carries out the dictates of the Great Master. As a child of God, you have tremendous opportunities that others do not. With the assurance of full salvation, everywhere you go, goodness and mercy will follow you. I prophesy to your life today that you will never again be stranded; everywhere you turn to, there will be open doors. No one ever followed Jesus and had regrets (except the son of perdition). If you abide in Christ, you will always flourish. It is time for believers to wake up. God does not want His children running from pillar to post. The mind of excellence is in you. You have the mind of the Son of God; therefore, enter into your inheritance. It is time to balance our growth. In every area of your life, there should be full evidence that God is in charge. The Abrahamic covenant has no limitations (Genesis 13:14-15). You can go as far as you can see. In Christ, there are no limits to the heights you can attain except the ones you set for yourself. We should be envied by unbelievers and not pitied. We should be mobile signposts of signs and wonders. As a child of God, your salvation makes you a candidate for miracles. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is still very much alive. Be prepared to yield to what He says to you. He is willing to turn every hopeless and unpleasant situation in your life into a great testimony. Stop relying on your sense. Focus on the word of liberty that is able to set you free. As a believer, is your business crippled or do you find it difficult to make progress in anything you do? I command you in the Name of Jesus to rise up and walk now. Let all crippled businesses receive competitive strength now. Let there be rejoicing leaping, Singing and clapping in all areas of your life in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, let me experience the full joy of salvation in every area of my life.

Bible in One Year

Judges 12-14
Mathew 26:47-48

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SUNDAY - 26/04/2015 – THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION I – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY - 25/04/2015 – JESUS THE SAVIOUR – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

JESUS THE SAVIOUR

Memorise

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

Read

John 3:16-18

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Bible in one Year

Judges 10-11,
Matthew 26:26-46

MESSAGE

The number-one treasure of the Church is Jesus Christ. Through Him, all things consist (Colossians 1:17). He is the Almighty who on one can make mightier; He is the richest one who no one can make richer. The earth and its fullness belong to Him. Every bit of what He says is always in our own best interest. Jesus teaches that there is nothing more valuable than the soul of a man (Mathew 16:26). The salvation of your soul is worth more than all the treasures of this world. The devil is after this salvation because thieves only go after treasures. The devil would do anything within his power to inhibit our relationship with the Giver of salvation, Jesus the Saviour. There is nothing as great as following Jesus. Following Jesus will cost you a lot of things, just as it cost God the Father the price of Jesus His Son to establish your salvation. Anyone who will follow Jesus the Saviour must be ready for a life of discipleship. This will be measured by the proof of your willingness to go the extra mile. You have to set a high bar of self-denial for yourself. If you want to follow Jesus, you must not allow anything to come between you and your loyalty to him.

The greatest problem of man is nothing else but the issue of sin. This problem was what Jesus the Saviour came to solve. Every benefit we can derive from Jesus is tied to salvation. Without salvation, man is doomed for destruction. When you accept Jesus, you receive the power to become great (John 1:12). Anyone who does not accept this free gift of God cannot attain their full potential in life. May you not leave this world without fully achieving the plan and purpose of God for your life in Jesus’ Name. When you accept Jesus, there will be an instant change in your life. Those who knew you before will not be able to identify you again by virtue of the transformation that would have taken place in your life. Those who were acquainted with your past life will never be able to correlate your past with your present (2 Corinthians 5:17). One of my sons used to be an impossible character. He was so unruly that during holiday periods, parents would keep their children under lock and key the moment they discovered he was around. This was because he would go for anything in a skirt. However, he eventually met with Jesus the Saviour and surrendered his life to Him and immediately, his life was transformed. Those who knew him before wondered how the change happened. You too can experience Jesus the Saviour today and overcome all sins (Galatians 5:24). As long as you are sincere, help is very close to you. All you need to do is ask Him to come into your life and change your negative experience to a positive one.

Action Point

List 3 transformations that have occurred in your life since you met Jesus the Saviour.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY - 25/04/2015 – JESUS THE SAVIOUR – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

A New Beginning by Odesanmi Oluwatosin

Sometimes in life we feel lost and confused,
Drained of strength to start afresh,
Filled with feeling of nothing to fight for,
Thought of hope gone,
But every great man or woman in life have once been consumed of this feeling ,
Life is not all about fairy tales,
Life is a teacher,
No matter what life bring to your table yesterday,
Look forward to a new today,
Apply a postive attitude and be hopeful ,
Every day gives you a new beginning,
Welcome to a new beginning,
Your favoured to have seen one.
Have a great day.

Oluwatosin Odesanmi

A New Beginning by Odesanmi Oluwatosin

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – FRIDAY - 24/04/2015 – SIN: CONSEQUENCES & CURE – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SIN: CONSEQUENCES  & CURE

Memorise

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:23

Read

Ezekiel 18:20-24

20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21 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.

22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23 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?

24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

MESSAGE

Sin is disobedience of God or a deviation from His ways. From the account in Genesis 3, we understand that sin cannot be hidden. Every secret sin will always be discovered; it’s only a matter of time (Numbers 32:23). When sin comes in, there is a loss of relationship with God. When we house sin in our lives, no matter the amount of time we spend in the place of prayer, the heavens will remain shut. Sin is not a lifter; rather it leads to demotion. It brings shame and reproach to someone with a glorious future as seen in the case of Samson. Proverbs 14:34 says,

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Although Samson was born great, by including in sin, his destiny was truncated (Judges 16:20-21). God has been warning a lot of people about the consequences of their actions, but they have refused to depart from the path of iniquity. Some people remain in disobedience until they experience a negative turning point in their lives. King Saul was a king who happened to be handsome, rich, healthy, powerful and prominent. His word was law, but he disobeyed God and kept going contrary to God’s divine will until tragedy struck.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

-2 Chronicles 7:14

The only way a lost relationship with God can be restored is obtaining pardon for sin through genuine repentance. The good news is that the death of Jesus on the cross has made adequate provision for the remission of our state of hopelessness against sin. We must be convinced of the need for pardon and be willing to confess out sins, no matter how numerous and terrible they are. God is ever willing to grant pardon to a genuinely repentant soul. Genuine repentance involves a change of mind that leads to a change of conduct. This change of conduct will lead to a life of holiness, through which the repentant soul becomes a vessel unto honour for the Master’s effective use. Such a person will then begin to work towards the attainment of perfection in Christ Jesus. Having done all these, there is a guarantee of an inheritance in Christ and an assurance of everlasting life.

Prayer Point

Father, I thank you for the Blood of Jesus that was shed for the remission of my sins. I accept this provision of Yours, and ask that it wash away all my sins.

Bible in one Year

Judges 8:29-9:57

Matthew 26:6-25

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – FRIDAY - 24/04/2015 – SIN: CONSEQUENCES & CURE – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY - 23/04/2015 – SECRETS OF ANSWERED PRAYERS – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SECRETS OF ANSWERED PRAYERS

Memorise

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:7

Read

John 16:23-27

23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

MESSAGE:

Although prayer is at the very heart of our relationship with God, not all prayers are answered by Him. There is therefore a need to understand the secrets of getting answers to our prayers. First and foremost, you need to understand God’s original blueprint concerning and aspect of life you are praying about, and align your prayers with it. God said in Isaiah 55:8-9 that:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Although God’s thoughts are higher than ours, His thoughts are directed towards giving us peace, joy and fulfilment in life. No matter how much good you want for yourself, you can never get something better than God’s best for you. Oftentimes, people ask God for something that He is not involved in. such prayers will definitely go unanswered. You need to learn to wait for God’s timing. It is dangerous to be impatient with God. What is the motive behind your request? Why are you in such a hurry? Patience is an indispensable virtue for all believers in Christ. There is hardly any promise of God that can be fulfilled in your life without the application of patience (Hebrews 6:12). Until patience has had its full impact on your life, you cannot get the best from God. In addition to the aforementioned, the secrets to answered prayers include thanksgiving and praises. If you can give thanks and praise while praying effectively, closed doors will be forced opened by God as He inhabits your praises.

Your attitude during the period of waiting for the manifestation of your answered prayers is very crucial to God. You must know how to conduct yourself during your waiting period. There are people who think the world should come to an end just because the answer to their prayers has not yet manifested. Some women who are waiting for God to give them the fruit of the womb begin to wear sad looks; while some men trusting God for a job suddenly become monsters to everyone around them. It does not matter how much trouble you are facing, provided you keep on praying, God will be there to make sure you have a great testimony in the end. Always remember that negative situations will not bow to your attitude. The moment you see the appearance of an unpleasant situation, go immediately into your closet and begin to call on the Almighty God (Psalm 50:15). Don’t wait till the storm is overwhelming before you cry out to Him.

Action Point

Put aside that sad look and let the glory of God radiate through you as you await God’s best.

Bible in one Year

Judges 6:36-8:28
Matthew 25:31-26:5

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY - 23/04/2015 – SECRETS OF ANSWERED PRAYERS – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY - 22/04/2015 – SOWING BEFORE REAPING – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SOWING BEFORE REAPING

Memorise

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:7

Read

Galatians 6:7-10

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

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

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

MESSAGE

Our God is great. Not only is He great, He is the greatest. He possesses all wisdom, riches and glory. The plan of God and His delight is for you to prosper (3 John 2). Prosperity here implies abundance, fullness and sufficiency. One thing we need to know is that prosperity does not come by speaking in tongues, but by the wisdom of sowing and reaping.

At a particular time in my ministry, by necessity, I started giving out neckties to elders who were ministering along with me. I then noticed that all my close associates started giving me only neckties upon their return from foreign trips. Out of curiosity, I asked God why this was so. He told me “Son, if you sow a tie, you will reap ties.” I then switched to sowing good shoes into the life of those I was sure were of the same shoe size with me. However, the return I got from this did not come as fast as the neckties did. I went back to God to know why, and He told me “Son, if you plant maize and also plant yam, both harvests will come, but not at the same time.” Then, I understood the lesson that it is the quality of your sowing that determines the quality of your harvest.

There is a category of people who want to reap without sowing. They can best be described as thieves. It is very wrong to expect a harvest when you have not sown. Make efforts to sow into that particular area of life where you desire a harvest. Entering into your financial breakthrough may not come easy. You have to provoke Heaven to act on your behalf by sowing. No one is poor enough to have nothing to sow. If you check yourself very well, you will realise that there is a seed in your hand you can sow. The Church in Macedonia had so little, yet, they were committed to giving to the work of God (2 Corinthians 8:1-2). In the early days of my joining the Redeemed Christian Church of God, there was a meeting in which my father-in-the-Lord, the late founder of the church, asked all workers to empty their treasury because of an urgent need in the church.

Out of excitement of being privileged to be part of the saints, my wife and I as workers emptied our accounts with nothing left. At the workers meeting the following Sunday, my father-in-the-Lord asked “How many of you have done what I instructed?” Out of excitement to be counted among those who had complied, my wife and I raised our hands and we received the greatest shock of our lives. We discovered that we were the only ones that had compiled! Ashamed, we quickly brought down our hands; but see what the Lord has done with our lives today. The many seeds of those days needed a lot of patience to become the great harvest of God’s blessings today.

Key Point

Nobody is entirely poor. There is always a seed in your hand that you can sow.

Bible in One Year

Judges 5:1-6:35
Matthew 25:14-30

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY - 22/04/2015 – SOWING BEFORE REAPING – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY - 21/04/2015 – JESUS: THE WISDOM OF GOD – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

JESUS: THE WISDOM OF GOD

Memorise

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1 Corinthians 1:23

Read

1 Corinthians 1:21-24

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.

MESSAGE

When wise men from the East discovered the phenomenon that indicated the birth of Jesus, they abandoned everything they were doing and commenced an immediate search for Him (Matthew 2:1-2). These were noble men who were feared and highly respected. They were of the priestly caste, and they were spiritual counsellors to the kings of their time. Yet, on hearing of the birth of Jesus, they decided to abandon their own wisdom and search for the superior Wisdom of God manifested as Jesus. This is why I pity those who know the truth but allow foolishness to keep them in darkness. Romans 1:28 says this about such people:

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”

For this reason, everyone who comes into this world must make a decision to submit to the superiority of God’s wisdom which is personified by Jesus. To benefit maximally from this life, you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord. He is willing to give you divine wisdom concerning all issues of life. He is ready to guide you into greatness. Don’t allow the devil to keep you in the foolishness of self-government. If you do, you will experience great loss and destruction especially in the world to come.

After a branch is severed from a tree, its leaves will still remain green, but it is only a matter of time before they wither and die. Is someone asking you to embrace the wisdom of this world? Is anyone asking you to forsake the congregation of the righteous? Are you being lured by religious sects with a promise that you will be free? You are only about to lose your freedom if you subscribe to such lies. It is only in Jesus Christ you can experience the true wisdom that brings freedom. If there is any place to search for wisdom, it is in Christ alone, because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him (Colossians 2:3). The wisdom of God is like light that repels darkness on its arrival.

When this wisdom comes into your life, every reproach automatically gives way. As a child of God, you must allow wisdom to control all that you do. When it appears things are not moving in the direction you expect, don’t try to ‘help’ God; there is nothing beyond His wisdom. Don’t accept the alternatives of the devil, and don’t subscribe to the suggestions of men. The wisdom of God is the greatest of all wisdom.

Action Point

Are you perplexed by any situation? Look to Jesus and ask God for wisdom on how to handle it.

Bible in One Year

Judges 3:7-4:24
Matthew 24:36-25:13

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY - 21/04/2015 – JESUS: THE WISDOM OF GOD – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY- 20/04/2015 – THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH

Memorise

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10

Read

Matthew 6:9-10

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

MESSAGE

The nature of our expectations from God directly depends on His promises to us. Some promises of God may sound incredible, but He is always committed to bringing them to pass. If your expectation does not agree with His promises, you may forfeit its fulfilment. Our God is good and gracious. He does many things to prove His divine power. There are times when God unravels some mysteries to make us believe and know absolutely that His plan and purpose for us cannot be compared to our current struggles and toils. This is why every child of God must pray the kingdom of God into their life (Matthew 6:10). When you make such prayers, you are saying to God:

“Let there be no difference between your promises for me and the situation of my life.”.

God has special and specific promises for the righteous alone. These promises are great, and they transcend the condition of any national economy. Righteousness is the only key that ensures the enjoyment of God’s blessings in this world, with the guarantee of making heaven. When the kingdom of God comes and His will is done on earth, then there will be no defeat, failure, sickness, lack, regret or hopelessness. The scripture does not say that the will of God will be done for everybody. It says it will be well with the righteous (Isaiah 3:10). That is to say, only those who are doing the will and the pleasures of God will enjoy His blessings.

“Thy Kingdom come” is a desperate call by someone in need of change. It is a cry for hope in the midst of hopelessness, a cry for healing in the midst of sicknesses and a cry for deliverance in the midst of bondage. It is a deep cry seeking for the intervention of Heaven when earth has failed. Have you been in the bondage of debt for some time? That shame is removed now in Jesus’ Name. Do you know that your time of favour is coming? It is just around the corner. God will remember you and make you overtake those who have earlier gone ahead of you. Once you forsake the government of self and that of the devil; God will begin to administer the affairs of your life. You will then realise that there is no challenge or difficulty too great or too bad for God to fix. As you thirst after His Kingdom, He gives you permanent victory and your life begins to reflect His original plans and purpose in every area. God’s power is supreme. His power cannot be compared or equated with any other power. That is why I am sure that every power working against the fulfilment of God’s will in your life here on earth shall be consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Point

Father, let your kingdom come in my life, and let your will be done in all of my ways.

Bible in One Year

Judges 1:1-3:6
Matthew 24:15-35

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY- 20/04/2015 – THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SUNDAY- 19/04/2015 – BACK TO YOUR VOMIT – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BACK TO YOUR VOMIT

Memorise

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

Read

2 Peter 2:20-22

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Bible in One Year

Joshua 23-24
Matthew 23:29-24:14

MESSAGE

Often, we find someone who starts off very well in the Christian race and then cools off later. Sometimes, some people who used to be very hot for the Lord may even leave the Lord completely. When such things happen, thoughtful minds wonder, “Who will be the next to leave the Lord?” invariably, the answer is “Not me!” We are all kept standing by the grace and strength of the Lord. Another word for going back to your vomit is backsliding. It means to turn away from the Lord (1 Kings 11:9). It also means to grow cold and leave your first love (Revelations 2:4). When a person returns to his vomit, there will be a loss of joy, happiness, peace of mind and power. Darkness and murmuring will replace light and songs of praise. That will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. When I was meditating on Elisha’s decisions to kill off his oxen, I realised that he did this to demonstrate the burning of the bridge that could lead him back to his vomit (1 Kings 19:21). The one who is going to become great must make up his or her mind never to look back. Whatever will not let you follow Jesus through and through will be destroyed in Jesus’ Name. I am never sympathetic to anything that could stop me from becoming what God wants me to become. Whatever will not let you ascend to the greatness that God has for you must give way. Any friendship with the world or association with anyone that will impede your progress to the place of greatness must be removed.

The past is gone, and the present must be faced with proper zeal and commitment. Anyone driving a car cannot afford to concentrate on the rear mirror if they want to avoid catastrophe and disaster. This is why Paul said that he forgets those things that are behind (Philippians 3:13). There are many reasons why some people go back to their vomit. The major reasons why Lot went back to his vomit was because he lusted after something that was not God’s will for him. The love of money has made many people sell their future. This was the case with Judas Iscariot (John 12:4-6). You cannot serve God and please the world at the same time. When you find someone who has always been fervent in the things of God now giving excuses for being absent from church programmes, it is only a matter of time; the person will soon return to his or her vomit. If you find yourself in such a situation, God is saying to you like the prodigal son, return and be forgiven. God does not want any sinner to die in his sins; neither does He want His children to be at the mercy of the devil. It doesn’t matter how far down you have gone; He is ready to make you a better child of His.

Action Point

Examine yourself; if you have backslidden in any way, repent and return to your first works.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SUNDAY- 19/04/2015 – BACK TO YOUR VOMIT – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY- 18/04/2015 – GIVE WISELY – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

GIVE WISELY

Memorise

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Proverbs 11:25

Read

Genesis 23:12-14

12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,

MESSAGE

There are certain things people don’t know about sowing and reaping. This lack of knowledge has denied some people their harvest. There is a need therefore to always ask God for the wisdom of sow and reap rightly in every area of life. It is one thing to know what to sow and it is another thing to know how to sow it. Of importance also is the need to know where to sow and how to water what has been sown to produce the desired harvest. Ask any farmer who understands natural farming principles, he will tell you that reaping a good harvest is usually a walk in the park once the correct principles are followed. There are people who will sow today and want to reap today. According to Scripture, such an expectation is not applicable to great harvests. There was a time I was sowing a particular item into the life of people and I was worried because the harvest was taking time. I therefore asked God what was happening and He said “Son, if you plant maize, you can harvest it within three months, but if you plant yam, you will have to wait a little longer.” The greater the quality of seed sown, the longer you will have to wait to enter into your harvest.

Entering into your ultimate financial breakthrough may not come as easily as you think. It may involve sowing at a time most inconvenient; it may even involve seemingly endangering your today and tomorrow through a selfless seed. I have discovered that it is not poverty that stops some people from giving but their unwillingness to give. The good news for those who sow in tears is that they will always reap in joy. Many people have lost their harvest because of impatience. If you have sown quality seeds, give them enough time to mature so that you can enter into your desired harvest. Also, it is important for you to know that God does not expect you to meet every need out there. You have to be sensitive to locate the grounds that will give you your desired results. The ability to offer something big is a choice. Stop limiting yourself. When God has brought you ton a level where you can give a =N=10,000 offering and you are dropping =N=1,000, what you are indirectly telling God is that you don’t deserve to be on the level He has placed you. Don’t demote yourself by your attitude to giving to kingdom projects. Do you complain that you cannot give because you are poor? That is the excuse the devil uses to deny many from entering into their breakthrough. You may not sow money all the time, but you can offer your commitment to the work on ground. All those volunteered their services at no cost towards various projects at the Redemption Campground have been mightily blessed of the Lord. All the artisans who had only their skills to sow at that time have now become channels of blessings to others.

Key Point

Whatever you sow may leave your hand, but it cannot leave your life.

Bible in One Year

Joshua 22,
Matthew 23:1-28

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY- 18/04/2015 – GIVE WISELY – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – FRIDAY- 17/04/2015 – KEEP YOURSELF HUMBLE – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

KEEP YOURSELF HUMBLE

Memorise

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

1 Peter 5:6

Read

1 Samuel 15:17-19

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

MESSAGE

Several years ago, I was on a visit to a parish of our church in Ilesha (a town in southwest Nigeria) on the same day that a Bible Study service was to take place. Because I wanted to be blessed, I sat down in the congregation waiting for the Bible Study teacher to commence the lesson for the day. However, an overzealous usher announced that I was around, and so the Bible Study teacher refused to teach while I was sitting in the congregation. When he insisted, I offered to interpret the message for him. In spite of this, he still would not teach. I then ordered, “As the General Overseer, I command you to teach.” Not wanting to disobey me, he started teaching, though he was uncomfortable having me as his interpreter. It was a humorous scene, but we had a wonderful time.

One great undoing of present-day minister is pride. Humility can be discerned from your relationship with your superiors and subordinates. When you respect your subordinates as though they were your superiors, you are beginning to learn the principles of a humble life. There is nothing good that can come out of arrogance and pride: only destruction.

Some people are humble when their ministry is still modest, but the moment they gain publicity and popularity, they become so proud and see themselves as infallible. The same Saul that was hiding when he was being made king started disobeying God without remorse when he became settled.

Do you know that a simple “I am sorry, Lord” from Eli could have saved him from being rejected and destroyed by God? Instead, his response to the situation at hand showed that he was not bothered about God’s judgement (1 Samuel 3:18). Rather than asking for God to show mercy, he told God to “do as He pleases.” May God not “do as He pleases” in your life in Jesus’ Name. If God is to do as He pleases, nobody will be able to stand (Psalm 130:3). When you clothe yourself with humility, your life becomes blessed and favoured (James 4:6&10), and you become a channel of blessing to everyone around you. Jesus Christ, our Master and King, humbled Himself to die a shameful death (Philippians 2:8). Let the mind of Christ be in you always. He made himself of no reputation. He took the posture of a servant through the spirit of humility. It is against this backdrop that God decided to exalt Him highly and gave Him a Name that is above every other name. Pride usually goes before a fall. Pride is excessive self-esteem. It brings about the misconception that one is better than others. This is dangerous because God is the only one who can help you in the fulfilment of your destiny. With humility, you can conquer the world.

Key Point

It is better for you to humble yourself than for God to humble you

Bible in One Year

Joshua 19:40-21:45,
Matthew 22:15-46

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – FRIDAY- 17/04/2015 – KEEP YOURSELF HUMBLE – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY- 16/04/2015 – MONEY AND THE LOVE OF IT – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

MONEY AND THE LOVE OF IT

Memorise

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.

1 Timothy 6:10

READ

1 Timothy 6:6-11

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

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

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

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

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

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

MESSAGE

God knows no lack, and He expects His children to reach a height of financial greatness where lack will be forgotten forever. The one whose name is El-shaddai can provide for all of your needs. Gathering wealth by honest means is the path to increase. Those who get rich quick by bribing their way or engaging in fraudulent means are only digging their own pit. Wealth gotten by vanity will diminish. Many are secretly envying unbelievers because of their wealth. This is foolishness. You have to wait upon the Lord to show you your source of wealth so that you don’t overrun yourself. Wealth from the Almighty God is supposed to be a blessing, but when the search for wealth is taken to the extreme, it becomes a curse. You must never pursue wealth to the detriment of your soul. There are many people looking for wealth for the wrong reasons. Some want to be rich because they feel wealth commands respect. For some others, it is to satisfy the thirst of belonging to a certain social class. Some people want wealth so as to use it as an instrument of oppression or revenge. God will not support such motives. The devil is always out to exploit your insincerity. He will give you options of getting fast wealth outside the will of God. Once you fall for it, you may never come out of his trap except God decides to have mercy on you.

Many rich people are never satisfied. There is something in them that pushes them to want to accumulate more wealth for reasons they can’t explain (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Contentment is a virtue that cannot be bought with money (1 Timothy 6:6). If you have contentment, you can never be trapped in the deceitfulness of riches. Do you know that there are many people out in search of wealth, struggling in places where God has not put them? Isaac thought of escaping to Egypt to avoid famine or scarcity, but God asked him to remain in Gerar (Genesis 26:1-2). He obeyed God and sowed his seed right where he was, and there was a great harvest for him. He became so great that the natives of the land envied his wealth. All you need to do is to cultivate the right relationship with God, and He will always direct you to where your blessing will locate you. Another problem for the wealthy is the temptation of using their money to buy what will destroy them. You need to know how much the devil is taking from many through the medium of cigarettes, alcohol and hard drugs. Some people never planned to have extra-martial affairs until they started having money. The kind of wealth that will disconnect you from God will never come into your hands in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, keep me from wealth that will lead to my destruction.

Bible in One Year

Joshua 18:1-19:39,
Matthew 21:33-22:14

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY- 16/04/2015 – MONEY AND THE LOVE OF IT – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY- 15/04/2015 – RESPECT THE ANNOINTING – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

RESPECT THE ANNOINTING

Memorise

Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Psalm 105:5

Read

1 Samuel 24:1-6

1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

MESSAGE

There is a saying that the anointing you don’t respect will never work for you. When Elisha was following Elijah from one point to the other, the fifty sons of the prophet who were at Jericho were waiting to see the outcome, expecting that relationship would end hopelessly. They even confronted Elisha and reminded him that his shine would soon be over because his master would soon be taken away. In 2 Kings 2:15, after they saw that a superior anointing had been transferred to Elisha, voluntarily, they all bowed before him. When the Holy Spirit comes upon an individual, he is no longer the same, irrespective of his age, status or qualifications. Despite all the activities of Saul in trying to destroy David, David still respected the anointing on Saul’s life, even though his activities were incongruent with the word of God. For those who respect the anointing, God has a way of changing death to life for them. He has a way of making their enemies to become their servants. The same sword that Goliath wanted to use in eliminating David was what David used to eliminate him. Another lesson from the life of David is this: David fought only the battles he could win. When you rebelling against the leader God has put over you because of his firmness, you are already fighting a battle you can’t win. You cannot fight against the anointed of God and win because God has already decreed it.

God fought for David throughout his sojourn. Whenever God decides to fight for someone, the battle is always very short and victory is assured. The person that God is fighting for may not even need to do anything at all other than just wait for victory. In one of our monthly Holy Ghost services held at the Redemption Camp, some agents of darkness lined themselves up around the place from which I ascend to the pulpit. I knew of this opposition because of the spiritual gift of discernment. In the midst of being lost in the thought of what I do, I committed the message to the Lord in prayer. The Lord told me to go ahead and preach despite the opposition. He told me that His anointing upon my head is able to make my cup run over in the presence of my enemies. To the glory of God, the Lord took control of everything and His people were mightily blessed on that day. When the anointing comes upon your head by faith, you will never be the same again. This cup of this unction and power of the Lord will overflow on your head in the presence of your enemies. This uncommon anointing will break every yoke, heal sickness, cure the incurable, set the captives free, raise the dead and enable you rule in the midst of your enemies.

Action Point

Have you partaken in rebellion against the anointed of God in any way ‘ Repent and be converted today’

Bible in One Year

Joshua 15-17,
Mathew 21:18-32

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY- 15/04/2015 – RESPECT THE ANNOINTING – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY - 14/04/2015 – TEAR THAT GARMENT – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

TEAR THAT GARMENT

Memorise

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Ephesians 4:22

Read

Colossians 3:8-10

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

MESSAGE:

After experiencing salvation, the heart cry of every child of God should be to live above sin. The Bible teaches that glorious victory over sin is available for every believer (Romans 6:14). The moment we are serious about tapping into the grace that Christ has made available to us, all that was evil in us will remain permanently buried. Some Christians have never even heard of the victorious life of holiness, so they continue sinning and confessing their sins from day to day. You need to know that God has made us triumph always in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 2:14). However,recognise the fact that despite the provision of victory over sin, you still have your own free will. You can choose to accept or reject a life of victory over sin. If you yield to christ, you will be free from the power of sin (Romans 6:7-8), but if you yield to sin, you will go down from iniquity to iniquity (Romans 6:19). Temptation is one of the most familiar experiences of a true child of God, and no one can totally escape from it. This is why the Lord taught us in Mathew 6:13a to include this petition in our daily prayer:

‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’

Temptation is not sin until you yield to it. When Joseph found himself cornered by Potiphar’s wife, he ran away, tearing his garment (Genesis 39:12). Thank God his destiny was not torn. Tear off the garment of those things that can cause you to backslide.

The salvation of your soul is worth more than all the wealth of this world. The devil is aware of this and that is why he wants you to lose your salvation. From 1 John 2:15-17 we understand that, the root of all besetting sins is the love of the world. This is expressed through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Lust runs against God’s expectation. Lust will not allow us to see the One leading the way. Concerning pride, the Bible says that those who exalt themselves shall be abased (Matthew 23:12). We must be wary of gossip and those who make it their past time. There is danger in idle words. God is not against laughter and humour as some wrongly believe, but he frowns at jestings, which are unholy jokes (Ephesians 5:4). Following in the Lord’s footsteps requires self- denial, which is an exercise that must be done daily. We must acknowledge that we are helpless and hopeless without the mercy of God, and confess our sins no matter how numerous and terrible they are (Proverbs 28:13). We must seek God’s face for pardon to give room for the Blood of Jesus which alone can do the cleansing.

Prayer Point

Father, as I yield myself to your Spirit, tear away every garment that makes me susceptible to sin.

Bible in One Year

Joshua 12:7-14:15
Mathew 20:29-21:17

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY - 14/04/2015 – TEAR THAT GARMENT – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SUNDAY - 12/04/2015 – WHEN THE FIRE FALLS II – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHEN THE FIRE FALLS II

Memorise

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:31

Read

Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)

1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Bible in One Year

Joshua 8:30-10:15,

Matthew 19:13-30

MESSAGE

Many Christians are frustrated, defeated and fruitless. Many of them are wallowing in spiritual poverty and helplessness because they are unaware of the power behind their calling. The wonderful truth is: every Christian has the potential to live supernaturally. The Holy Spirit is the Commander-in-Ch ief of the army of Christ. He is the enabler of revival, evangelism and every other Christian endeavour. The Holy Spirit is the secret of the supernatural – the secret behind healing, miracles and every other spiritual gift. Beyond experiencing salvation and sanctification, the Lord wants to take you further with the fire of the Holy Spirit. He said in Acts 1:8 that:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

In the days after I receive Christ into my heart, I desired to pray but I found it very difficult until the Holy Spirit came upon me. The power of God took over my life and I joined the league of those who could pray non-stop for hours.

In the days of the early church, Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, came to Peter and lied to him about how much they sold a parcel of land. Peter was not with them when they sold the land. However, through the Holy Spirit, he knew that they were telling lies. He confronted them for attempting to deceive the Holy Spirit, and this led to their death. When you have the Holy Spirit, you will succeed in your business. He will tell you what to buy and what not to buy. He will tell you things to come. He will show you those who are false friends pretending to be real. He will reveal to you those who are committed to seeing you fail. When you are a carrier of this fire, you will accomplish great things in your life within a short time. No matter how long a period of dryness will come to an end and your rainy season will emerge. The presence of the divine fire in your life is a confirmation of the fact that you have entered your season of breakthrough. Divine fire announces the presence of the Almighty. God has promised to surround you with the type of fire which the enemy cannot penetrate. When this happens, enemies whether hidden or visible, will be prevented from causing you any form of havoc or harm (Job 1:10)

Prayer Point

Father, set my life ablaze with the Holy Spirit’s fire and quicken me in the Name of Jesus.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SUNDAY - 12/04/2015 – WHEN THE FIRE FALLS II – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE