OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY – 31/08/2015 – PRAYER NEUTRALISES FEAR – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

PRAYER NEUTRALISES FEAR

Memorise

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

Read

Luke 1:5-13

5  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 

6  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.    

7  And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.   

8  And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,   

9  According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.    

10  And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.    

11  And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.    

12  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.   

13  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.  

Message

Prayer unleashes great possibilities to anyone who is given to it. Looking at the experience of Zacharias in today's Bible reading, we can see some of the things made possible through prayer. First, when you pray, you attract angelic visitations into your situation. In other words, prayer brings the supernatural into the natural. Any time you are tired of the ordinary, pray, and you will see the supernatural. Are you tired of seeing ordinary results? Pray, and you will soon receive results that are beyond your imagination.

In addition, when you pray, your fear is substituted with calmness. Prayer causes fear to dissipate, because it is linked with faith, just as fear is linked with unbelief. While intensive prayers were going on in the temple, Zacharias heard an angel say "Fear not". When you hear "fear not", don't jump up in excitement until you have found out the source of that command. For instance, if a man tells you not to be afraid, there may still be reasons to accommodate some elements of fear, because of man's several limitations; but if God tells you not to be afraid, then you can rest assured there is nothing to fear.

 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:16

Are you afraid? Pray! As you engage the prayer gear, boldness will surge into you, and before long, fear would have disappeared. If you are constantly tormented by fear, it is an indication of the absence of an effective prayer life. If you pray often, you will always be looking up at the sunny side of life. You will be optimistic. You will have hope for the future and easily accept that your tomorrow will be alright. On the other hand, if you seldom pray, you will always see the bleak side of life. You will be easily discouraged. You will be full of fear, worry and anxiety. You will equally be filled with suspicion. With fear in your heart, it will almost be impossible to do what you should do, go where you should go and be all you were created to be. Fear paralyses, don't give room to it.

Key Point

Prayerlessness ensnares the prayerless fellow in the trap of fear. Only a fervent, vibrant and consistent prayer life can set him free.

Bible in one year

Exodus 1-3;

 Romans 3:9-31

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY – 26/08/2015 – CRUELTY, EXPLOITATION & STEALING – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CRUELTY, EXPLOITATION & STEALING

Memorise

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Ephesians 4:28

Read

Ephesians 4:25-29

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Message

Although God loves the sinner, He hates their sins. For example, because God hates stealing, He commanded us not to steal (Exodus 20:15). In spite of God’s commandment however, there is still so much stealing going on at workplaces these days. One way employees steal from their employers is by inflating the cost of items they are sent to buy in order to make some profit for themselves. If you were sent on an errand and you have some money leftover, it is your duty to return that money to the one who sent you. Today, many people corner such money into their pockets. This is wrong! It is stealing for a chauffeur to be given N2000 for petrol and he buys N1500 worth, pocketing the rest. It is also wrong for you to ask for a bribe from your clients or customers before carrying out a task you are paid for. If you do so, you are stealing from your organisation’s reputation, goodwill and position as a credible workplace. What the organisation stands to lose is far worse than what you stand to gain from such a bribe. Are you a thief?

On the other hand, some employers are cruel, exploitative and they steal from their employees. If you detain your employee beyond the normal closing hours and you fail to pay them the stated amount for extra hours of work done, you are a thief. If you pay your workers below a liveable wage, you are exploitative. If you fail to pay salaries when due, it is cruel. If you take advantage of your staff by paying them peanuts just because there are no jobs around, you are exploiting them. If you fail to keep promises made to your staff, you are a thief. Organisations that fail to give their staff at least one day off from a week of work are cruel and exploitative. If you are using your workers without caring about their welfare, family and even the time they have to serve God, you are cruel.

When you fail to promote hardworking staff at the pre-agreed time, you are a thief. An employer who goes into an extra-marital affair with a member of staff is exploitative and is a thief. There are some employers or top company executives who recruit young ladies only after they agree to sleep with them. This is cruel, exploitative and amounts to stealing. Are you cruel to your staff or are you stealing from them? Do you exploit your employees or subordinates? As a pastor, are you abusing your ecclesiastical authority over the inheritance of God under your care? It’s time to repent of these before the judgement of God comes knocking.

Action Point

Examine your relationship with your employer or employee(s). Carry out restitution on any act of cruelty, exploitation or stealing.

Bible in one year

Genesis 41:37-42:38;
John 20:24-21:14

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY – 26/08/2015 – CRUELTY, EXPLOITATION & STEALING – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY – 25/08/2015 – TIME TO FAST – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

TIME TO FAST

Memorise

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Read

Matthew 9:14-15

14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be

taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Message

It is good to fast, but it is important to know why you should fast. One of the reasons why we fast is so that we can be empowered to deal with demons and forces of darkness. In Matthew 17:14-21, a demon-possessed boy was brought to Jesus’ disciples, but they could not cast out the demon. They later asked the Lord why. He told them that some demonic cases may not be solved by praying alone, but by combining prayers with fasting. We fast in order to be battle-ready, so that whenever the devil raises his ugly head, we are able to give him a good knock. Some people are surprised and disappointed when they do not succeed in casting out demons after quoting Luke 10:19. This Scripture says:

“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.”

If you want this Scripture to be effective in your life, then you must learn to fast and win souls to Christ. When you win souls to Jesus, you automatically put on the boots of the gospel, and as a result, no demon will be able to harm you.

Moreover, we also fast while preparing for high-powered ministrations, just like our Master who began His ministry with a fast (Matthew 4:1-2). Some people ask God to fulfil His promise that we would do the same works Jesus did and even greater works (John 14:12). To those people, Jesus says “Fine, simply start where I did – with a 40-day fast.” Many years ago, during the centenary celebration of modern Pentecostalism in Azusa, Los Angeles, a lot of speakers from prominent ministries were invited from across the globe. From Africa, only two people were invited to speak, and by the grace of God, I was one of them. There was a special room where the speakers waited before moving to the stage. All kinds of food and drinks were available in this room.

When I got there, I saw those slated to speak eating, drinking and chatting. An usher asked me what I would like to have, but I declined. The lady then asked, “Won’t you take even a cup of tea?” In my heart, I knew that was not the appropriate time for me to eat or drink. It was time to hook on to the Spirit so that my ministration would be impactful; so, I took nothing. After God used other speakers powerfully, when it was my turn, the fire fell. If you truly want your sermons to be effective, feed your spirit and not your flesh. As you wait on Him from today, you will have greater results.

Action Point

Use one to three days to wait on the Lord, just to thank, praise and worship Him.

Bible in one year

Genesis 39:1-41:36;
John 20:1-23

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY – 25/08/2015 – TIME TO FAST – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY – 24/08/2015 – INSANITY TERMINATED INSTANTLY – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

INSANITY TERMINATED INSTANTLY

Memorise

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Psalm 46:5

Read

Mark 5:1-15

1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name i Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Message

Different people experience different stages of progress. While some people experience progress without wheels, some others experience progress with wheels but without an added push. However, there are some who experience the level of accelerated progress which has wheels and speed. The progress that suddenly moves someone from the bottom right to the top shall be your portion this season! Elisha, the servant of Elijah, experienced this type of progress (2 Kings 2:1-15). While he and Elijah were travelling from place to place, the other sons of the prophets mocked him. On the day his master was to be taken away, they mocked him saying, “Mr. Dedicated! Instead of joining us to acquire theological degrees at the school of prophets, you are busy following Elijah about.

We shall see what will become of you when God takes your master home today!” These sons of the prophets must have believed that one of them would be Elijah’s successor, but in a twist of fate, when Elijah was taken away, Elisha was the one chosen by God as his successor. When they saw Elisha parting River Jordan and walking through on dry ground, they acknowledged that what they were hoping to get had been given to him instead. They all had no choice but to bow down before Elisha (2 Kings 2:15). All those mocking you today shall soon bow to God in your life, in Jesus’ Name.

Not only does accelerated progress affect work, position and finance, it can also move a person from a state of insanity to sobriety in an instant. The mad man of Gadara did not undergo 10 weeks of deliverance coupled with fasting and prayer. He met Jesus at the height of his insanity, and the very next moment, he was saved and transformed into an evangelist. Many years ago, a bank manager ran mad. It took four hefty policemen to grab him, handcuff and chain him. He was being taken to the psychiatric hospital when, in a brief moment of sanity, he begged them to take him to the Redemption Camp. He told them that if his legs could just touch the soil at the Redemption Camp, he would be free. When they brought him, I was in my office close to the expressway.

He was very wild, but I asked them to release him. They refused, because of the difficulty they had experienced in capturing him at first; but I insisted that that they should set him loose, since he had said he just wanted to step on the soil of the camp. Immediately he was set loose and he stepped on the soil of the Redemption Camp, he became completely healed. As witnesses of this miraculous event, the policemen asked me to pray for them. I told them to give their lives to Christ first, and they agreed. Your healing and deliverance shall come suddenly, in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, send Your power of deliverance to set free all those with issues of insanity around us.

Bible in one year

Genesis 37-38;
John 19:17-42

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY – 24/08/2015 – INSANITY TERMINATED INSTANTLY – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SUNDAY – 23/08/2015 – HEAVEN AT LAST – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HEAVEN AT LAST

Memorise

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2

Read

Revelation 21:1-8

1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.   

2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.    

3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.    

5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.   

6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  

7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.   

8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Message

You may have wondered in your heart, "Of what benefit is it to me to deny myself the pleasures of sin by living a holy life?" I have good news for you: it is of great benefit. One major benefit of living a holy life is the assurance of making it to Heaven. Our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:8 said:

 "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

Many people are being deceived today by the doctrine that says you can still make it to Heaven even when you live in sin, so far as you have confessed Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Don't be deceived; Heaven is not for everyone. It is not for sinners, nor is it for the wicked; it is for the pure in heart. Heaven is not for souls confessing salvation but still living in sin. Nothing that is defiled or tarnished with sin can be allowed into Heaven (Revelation 21:27). It is a prepared place for a prepared people. Nobody can get there by wishful thinking. The Lord Jesus Christ has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us, and He will definitely return to take us there (John 14:1-3). Will you be among those who will be welcomed into Heaven? Beloved, many people are fast shifting their focus away from heaven to earth. In fact, Satan is giving some people a very comfortable piece of the world so that they will forget about Heaven. Is comfort or wealth eroding your faith in Christ? Are wealth and earthly pleasure replacing God in your heart? Don't let anything good or bad hinder you from making it to Heaven!

Living a life of holiness is also of benefit to your life on earth. One of such benefits is the anointing. Hebrews 1:9 says:

"Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."

"Oil" in this Scripture symbolises the Holy Spirit. If you want the anointing, you must live a holy life. If you want the power of God to move freely through your life and ministry, you must be holy. In fact, the degree to which you are holy will determine the extent of the anointing upon your life. Based on this, you can easily tell that those ministers of the gospel who appear to be highly anointed but lack holiness must have gotten their power from some other source and not God. If you want power from God, you cannot get it by compromising with sin. Are you living a holy life?

Key Point

God can only entrust you with His power if you are living a life of holiness.

Bible in one year

Genesis 35-36; 

John 18:33-19:16

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY – 22/08/2015 – RECOVERING YOUR HEALTH – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

RECOVERING YOUR HEALTH

Memorise

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

2 Kings 5:14

Read

2 Kings 5-14

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Message

“And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.”
1 Samuel 30:18-19

From David’s experience outlined above, we understand that it is possible to recover every good thing that was lost. God is no respecter of persons; what He did for one, He can do for all (Acts 10:34-35). However, for you to experience a recovery, you must first believe that it is possible (Mark 9:23). It does not matter how long ago the devil stole your health from you, by faith in Jesus Christ, you can recover it. The woman with the issue of blood lost her health for 12 solid years (Luke 8:43). For that whole period, she kept on bleeding. But one day, in a decisive encounter with Jesus Christ, she recovered her health. The fountain of her problem dried up and she was made whole. Naaman also had a case that was considered to be incurable by the specialist physicians of his day, and yet when he brought the matter to God, he recovered his health completely.

The leprous skin on his body was replaced with brand new skin like that of a baby. What have you lost to the enemy? You shall recover all in Jesus’ Name. Have you lost your health for so long? Are the doctors saying that your case is incurable? Are the specialists saying you must be prepared to live with that particular disease? Never! The same God who did it for Naaman and the woman with the issue of blood will do it for you. Hebrews 13:8 says He never changes: whatever He has done before, He can do again. Every incurable disease affecting your body shall be healed today in Jesus’ Name!

Were you once enjoying good health before the devil struck you with a particular sickness? The Lord will return you to the era of healthy living! It is possible you strayed from God’s holy path before the sickness came. If that is the case, the mercy of God will locate you for healing and recovery. God’s mercy will triumph over judgement concerning your situation. Perhaps your sickness is a spiritual attack by your enemies; the Lord shall return it back to them, and you shall recover fully. Today, you are completely healed of all sicknesses in the mighty Name of Jesus.

Prayer Point

Father, right now, I recover the good health the devil stole from me, in the Name of Jesus.

Bible in one year

Genesis 32:22-34:31;
John 18:15-32

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY – 22/08/2015 – RECOVERING YOUR HEALTH – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY – 20/08/2015 – THE WORD AS A WEAPON – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WORD AS A WEAPON

Memorise

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Read

Matthew 4:1-11

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Message

Besides shouting, praising God, the Name of Jesus and the Blood of Jesus, another very important weapon available to believers in Christ is the word of God. Psalm 1:2-3 reveals that the word of God is a weapon against physical and financial dryness. Psalm 1:3 says:

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

This is simply great. The word of God fights against every anti-progressive element it comes in contact with. If you delight in God’s word and meditate daily on it, you create the opportunity for it to work for your prosperity. How often do you spend quality time feasting on God’s word? Some people think they are doing other people a favour by reading the Bible. No! You are only doing yourself a favour. If you fail to create time for the word, you are only doing yourself a disservice.

Moreover, the word of God is a very powerful weapon against the devil. When the devil came to tempt the Lord Jesus, He overcame him using the word of God. He kept saying “It is written…”. Whenever you engage the devil, use the word. Some people think that the Bible is becoming too old-fashioned to combat modern schemes of the devil. That is a lie from the devil himself! The Bible is ever relevant and never loses its power, message and effectiveness, irrespective of the times. Always apply the word; it always works! After becoming the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), I went on a familiarisation tour. The youths rejoiced over God’s choice to place me in that position.

One day during the tour, we were heading towards my village when the devil said to me, “You are now very popular; it is better you die when you are popular than when you become unpopular.” Immediately, this word of God in Psalm 118:17 came out of my mouth: “I shall not die but live, and I will declare the works of the Almighty God.” Five minutes later, we narrowly escaped a horrible accident. At that time, the entire congregation of the RCCG was below 1000. If the word of God had not come forth to deal with the devil, he would have had me for breakfast. He could anticipate an explosion of God’s move in the church and he wanted to stop it, but the word of God stopped him. Never neglect opportunities to know more of the word.

Action Point

Know the word, believe it, apply it and expect it to work, and it will work wonders.

Bible in one year

Genesis 29-30;
John 17:1-19

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY – 20/08/2015 – THE WORD AS A WEAPON – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY – 20/08/2015 – THE WORD AS A WEAPON – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WORD AS A WEAPON

Memorise

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Read

Matthew 4:1-11

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Message

Besides shouting, praising God, the Name of Jesus and the Blood of Jesus, another very important weapon available to believers in Christ is the word of God. Psalm 1:2-3 reveals that the word of God is a weapon against physical and financial dryness. Psalm 1:3 says:

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

This is simply great. The word of God fights against every anti-progressive element it comes in contact with. If you delight in God’s word and meditate daily on it, you create the opportunity for it to work for your prosperity. How often do you spend quality time feasting on God’s word? Some people think they are doing other people a favour by reading the Bible. No! You are only doing yourself a favour. If you fail to create time for the word, you are only doing yourself a disservice.

Moreover, the word of God is a very powerful weapon against the devil. When the devil came to tempt the Lord Jesus, He overcame him using the word of God. He kept saying “It is written…”. Whenever you engage the devil, use the word. Some people think that the Bible is becoming too old-fashioned to combat modern schemes of the devil. That is a lie from the devil himself! The Bible is ever relevant and never loses its power, message and effectiveness, irrespective of the times. Always apply the word; it always works! After becoming the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), I went on a familiarisation tour. The youths rejoiced over God’s choice to place me in that position.

One day during the tour, we were heading towards my village when the devil said to me, “You are now very popular; it is better you die when you are popular than when you become unpopular.” Immediately, this word of God in Psalm 118:17 came out of my mouth: “I shall not die but live, and I will declare the works of the Almighty God.” Five minutes later, we narrowly escaped a horrible accident. At that time, the entire congregation of the RCCG was below 1000. If the word of God had not come forth to deal with the devil, he would have had me for breakfast. He could anticipate an explosion of God’s move in the church and he wanted to stop it, but the word of God stopped him. Never neglect opportunities to know more of the word.

Action Point

Know the word, believe it, apply it and expect it to work, and it will work wonders.

Bible in one year

Genesis 29-30;
John 17:1-19

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY – 20/08/2015 – THE WORD AS A WEAPON – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY – 19/08/2015 – STEALING FROM YOUR EMPLOYER? – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

STEALING FROM YOUR EMPLOYER?

Memorise

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Ephesians 6:6

Read

Ephesians 6:5-8

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Message

One aspect of Christian character that is often neglected is our attitude to our place of paid employment. Some people out-rightly steal things kept in their care by their employer; such should not even be mentioned among Christians. However, there are other subtle ways people steal from their employers. When you accept to work for an organisation, there is an understanding or even a written agreement regarding your working hours. If you are to resume at 7:30 AM but you get late to work, you are stealing time from your employer. If you are to close at 5:00 PM but you leave at 4:00 PM, you are a thief. There are even situations where an employee will resume and close at the normal time, but while in the office, instead of concentrating on the assignment at hand, he or she will spend a good portion of time browsing the internet for personal leisure, watching television or videos, or just gallivanting and gossiping from desk to desk. If you are engaged in any of these, you are equally stealing time from your employer. In addition, taking or using for personal purposes any material or property that belongs to your organisation without permission amounts to stealing.

“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”

Ephesians 6:6

Another way employees steal from their employers is by pretending to work when the boss is around but dumping the work or doing a shoddy job when the boss is not there. Today’s reading says that there should be a difference between a Christian employee and his or her non-Christian counterpart. While unbelievers may work just to be seen, believers should work as if they are doing that official assignment as a service to Jesus Christ. To this end, realising that the Lord is ever present, you will do your work as to the Lord from your heart.

A Christian employee will work conscientiously because he or she knows that by doing his or her secular work to please God and to glorify His name, not only will the organisation pay for this service, God will equally give the fellow a good reward for a job well done. It means that you can actually earn double for doing a particular job once. If the effort you put into your job does not glorify God, you will be paid only by your employer, but if it does, you will be paid by your employer and by God. How do you handle your official assignments today?

Key Point

How can you win your employer to Christ if you cheat or steal from them?

Bible in one year

Genesis 27-28;

John 16:16-33

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY – 19/08/2015 – STEALING FROM YOUR EMPLOYER? – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY – 17/08/2015 – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

PROGRESS WITH SPEED

Memorise

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

Psalm 124:7

Read

Psalm 126:1-4

1 A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

Message

Promotion can come to you through either human or divine assistance. The assisted state of progress attained through this promotion moves you to a level where you are not supposed to be. The greatest promotion of all is that which transforms a sinner into a saint. This is only made possible through divine assistance. Because man could not attain this spiritual promotion by his own efforts, God came in to help us. This season, the Lord will assist you and move you to a level you are not qualified to occupy in Jesus’ Name.

Beyond the assisted state of progress is the accelerated state of progress. This is progress of the unusual kind. It defies time, expectations and protocol. Under the influence of this state of progress, you could be at the bottom now and find yourself at the very top moments later. David experienced this type of progress in 1 Samuel 16:11-13. He was just watching over his father’s sheep and goats in the fields when a messenger came and told him he was urgently needed at home. “What for?”, he asked. The messenger’s reply was “I don’t know, but we have a visitor – a man, I think he is a prophet, and he asked for you to come right away.” As soon as he got home, God told the prophet, “This is the fellow, anoint him now.” Samuel asked David to kneel before his brethren, and he anointed him. By the time the boy got up, he was already a king. One moment he was a shepherd boy, and at the next, he was a king. That is accelerated progress!

At the registry on the day of my wedding, we could not but notice what was happening around us. A particular girl was dressed up to be wedded, but she waited endlessly for the bridegroom, not knowing he had absconded. She almost went berserk, but she eventually survived the disappointment. Not long after, she was married to a soldier. Unknown to her, the man who jilted her also joined the army. One day, there was a military coup, and the husband of this girl became a governor. Meanwhile, the boy who jilted her was assigned as a subordinate to her husband, the governor. So, anytime this girl was to enter the car, her former husband-to-be had to open the door for her. This season, God will overlook time, protocol and the arrangement of men in order to accelerate your promotion! Your progress shall receive divine speed in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, by divine speed, move me, my family and members of my local assembly to the very top in Jesus’ Name.

Bible in one year

Genesis 24:1-61;
John 15:1-17

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY – 17/08/2015 – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY – 15/08/2015 – FAVOUR UPROOTS OBSTACLES – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FAVOUR UPROOTS OBSTACLES

Memorise

Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.

Job 10:12

Read

Zechariah 4:6-9

6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

Message

In the journey of life, the enemy can place obstacles in the way of a man to prevent the actualisation of his destiny. Zerubbabel was a man commissioned by God to rebuild the ruins of Jerusalem and to restore the worship of God at His temple. The Word of the Lord concerning this came expressly to him through several prophets and scribes, including Zechariah, Haggai and Ezra (Haggai 1:1-2, Zechariah 4:9, Ezra 2:1-2). In spite of these facts, the enemy still put difficulties along his way to prevent him from fulfilling God’s divine destiny for his life (Ezra 4:3-5). However, Zerubbabel found favour before God, and the unmerited favour of God was sent to uproot the obstacles the enemy placed in his way (Zechariah 4:7). This season, the Lord will remove every obstacle the enemy has placed in your way in Jesus’ Name.

A particular sister trusting God for marriage attended one of our Holy Ghost services, and a word came from God that there was a lady present, whose mother was obstructing her from getting married. The Lord said if this mother continued to stand in her way, she would die within a week. On getting home, this lady told her mother the word she had heard from God. Her mother later stormed angrily into my office saying: “You are the one teaching people wrong things, and saying that I am going to die!” “When did I say that, mama?” I asked. “My daughter returned from your programme and came to tell me so”, she responded. To pacify her, I told her that I did not mention any names, and added, “Don’t mind her.

That is how they claim what does not belong to them.” Pacified, she excused her daughter from my office. When we were both alone, she turned to me and said “Pastor, is it true that the mother in question will die?” “Mama, it is not you, but God’s word must be fulfilled. If the person in question fails to release her daughter to be married, within seven days, she will be buried”, I replied. She then confessed, “It is not that I don’t want her to marry, but the challenge is that if she marries, who will take care of me? She is the only one looking after me now.” I told her “Mama, if that is the issue, there is no problem. I will tell her husband that whatever your daughter has been doing for you before she was married should be sustained.” She then responded, “Alright, she can marry.” Within a week, after several years of waiting, a man looked in her direction and said she was the right woman for him. Today, the favour of God will turn God’s search light in your direction and completely flush out everyone standing between you and your expectations, in Jesus’ Name!

Prayer Point

Father, by Your favour, remove every obstacle frustrating the fulfilment of my destiny.

Bible in one year

Genesis 19:1-21:7;

John 13:31-14:14

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY – 15/08/2015 – FAVOUR UPROOTS OBSTACLES – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – FRIDAY – 14/08/2015 – HE USES FISHERMEN – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HE USES FISHERMEN

Memorise

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

1 Corinthians 12:22

Read

Luke 5:1-11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Message

When the time comes for God to fulfil a plan He has predestined to happen, He looks out for those He can use for this purpose. God does not discriminate in His choice of persons to use to accomplish His mission. He can use the great or the small. When the time came for Him to choose those who would serve and learn under His Son, He chose some raw fishermen. Our God is awesome, and His ways are past finding out! In today’s Bible reading, when Jesus found Peter, He told him that from that day, he would no longer catch fishes from the sea, but human souls from the world.

If God can use a raw uneducated fisherman like Peter, He can use you more. You are very useful to God. However, do you make yourself available for His use? Ironically, as the number of ministers is increasing, the number of those who are available for God’s use is decreasing. As a result of this, many people bear the title of minister, but they are not available to perform their assignments. Have we forgotten the acronym F.A.T., which stands for Faithfulness, Availability and Teachability? If God will use you, these three must be the code you live by. Today, because the people we consider more suitable for kingdom assignments are either too busy or giving too many excuses, God is moving to those who have made themselves available to do His work, even when those people appear less suitable for the work. Are you available to serve God? If you can create time to do your secular work that you will have to leave someday, why can’t you create time to serve your Maker who can reward you for your service in eternity?

There are some people who feel God cannot use them, because they have not yet bagged a degree, amassed some wealth or become famous. Oh, how mistaken they are! Do you know that God can use you just as you are? He can use you even in your limited state, if you will only turn your life over to Jesus. Do not wait to get your miracle first before telling others about the love of God. In any way you can share the gospel with the unsaved, go on and do so. Lead others to Christ. Use your influence to motivate people to do the right thing. Be a positive, holy influence on your peers. Remember, if you bear fruit for God’s kingdom, it will be His responsibility to do what He can to make you more fruitful.

Action Point

You are very important to God. If you fail to play your role in the Body of Christ, it could bring losses to God’s kingdom. Determine to play your role today.

Bible in one year

Genesis 17-18;

John 13:1-30

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – FRIDAY – 14/08/2015 – HE USES FISHERMEN – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY – 13/08/2015 – PLEAD THE BLOOD – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

PLEAD THE BLOOD

Memorise

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation 12:11

Read

Exodus 12:12-13

12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Message

The Blood of Jesus Christ is an expensive weapon made available to every believer in Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ paid such a high price to secure this weapon for us; a price so high that the Bible refers to this weapon as precious. 1 Peter 1:19 says:

“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

As you understand the worth of this weapon, you will appreciate the power it can unleash on the enemy. Little wonder the kingdom of darkness cannot stand the Blood of Jesus. To eliminate all doubt, a loud voice expressly declared from Heaven the victory of the saints over Satan himself through the Blood of Jesus, in Revelation 12:11:

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The Blood of Jesus is not only there to cleanse you from sin but also to protect and defend you. However, if you are not a Christian, although the Blood is available, it is not for your use. If you belong to the devil as described in John 8:44, you cannot use the Blood to overcome him. The Blood must first translate you to the kingdom of light by cleansing and washing away your sins before it can become a weapon in your arsenal.

A particular couple wondered how their money kept disappearing from their house. The man suspected it was his wife who was stealing his money. However, his wife also began to experience the loss of her money as well. At some point, she began to wonder the kind of husband she had, who would give her housekeeping money and later sneak in to steal it. When they could not bear it anymore, they both accused each other of stealing the other’s money. It was then they discovered that something strange was happening to them, and they came to me. Realising that it was the devil at work on their finances, I told them to always say “I cover this money with the Blood of Jesus” before keeping it in any part of their house. It worked! From that moment, there was no incident of strange disappearance of their money. Cover the baby in your womb with the Blood of Jesus. Cover all your children at home and abroad with the Blood of Jesus. Cover your business and customers with the Blood of Jesus. Remember to always plead the Blood of Jesus. It is a weapon the devil cannot resist.

Key Point

If you are in right standing with God, anything you cover with the Blood of Jesus is truly safe.

Bible in one year

Genesis 14-16;

John 12:27-50

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY – 13/08/2015 – PLEAD THE BLOOD – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY – 12/08/2015 – LOOK BEYOND THE BUS STOP – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LOOK BEYOND THE BUS STOP

Memorise

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

Hebrews 12:3

Read

Hebrews 12:1-3

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

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

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

Message

From Hebrews 12:1, we understand that a race has been set before us as Christians. We did not initiate the race, but our decision to follow Jesus Christ automatically signed us in as partakers. Moreover, this race is an unusual marathon. If you lack patience, you cannot run the race. If you want to run it like a sprint, you would only be wasting your time, because God will not redesign the race for you; rather, you are the one who needs to adjust to His programme.

The Christian life is a process and not a single event. As a process, you are expected to move from one stage to another. You must be like a traveller who goes from one bus stop to another, continuing his journey until he reaches his final destination. In the course of the journey, you may be required to stop over at the bus stop of lack. This is meant to test your faith and ability to trust God for provision. No matter how long you stay there, never turn that bus stop into your destination. God may allow you to stop over at the bus stop of ridicule, to test whether you will continue the race in spite of belittlement. Those with overinflated egos and those who hold themselves in high esteem may have problems here.

Do you know that some people have called off their trip to Heaven just because they were mocked, ridiculed and laughed to scorn? Never truncate your journey to Heaven because of any unpleasant experience encountered at any bus stop. The very Author and Finisher of this race also went through this bus stop. People mocked Him and seriously ridiculed Him, but He overcame it all with the weapons of prayer, patience and quietness, and he finally reached the finish line. He got to the end because He focused on the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). How you see the race that is set before you will definitely affect your attitude to it. While many people see what is before them as a worrisome race, Jesus saw the same as a joyous event. Therefore, one way you can run this race victoriously is by ignoring the challenges on the way and focusing on the rewards that await you on the other side. If your heart is on what you will receive in Heaven, you will not turn your bus stop into a destination by building a tent there. How are you handling this race? After the present unpleasant experiences comes the glorious, eternal experience of joy, awaiting you on the other side. Don’t miss out on it!

Key Point

If you do not focus on the silver lining at the end of the marathon race to Heaven, you will grow weary along the way.

Bible in one year

Genesis 11-13;

John 12:9-26

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY – 12/08/2015 – LOOK BEYOND THE BUS STOP – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY– 11/08/2015 – SPIRIT, NOT FLESH – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SPIRIT, NOT FLESH

Memorise

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

Hebrews 12:9

Read

Isaiah 40:6-8

6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Message

Man is limited because he is confined to a body made from dust (Genesis 3:19). He is also limited because even at his best, he is comparable to the flowers of the field (Isaiah 40:6-8), which grow, glow, fade and die. Sometimes, because they are glowing so beautifully, they are cut and used either for play or for decoration, after which they die. Unlike man, God is not limited, because He is a Spirit and He is not made of dust. Jesus in John 4:24 revealed the nature of God to us when He said:

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Not only is God a Spirit, He is the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9). All spirits derive their powers from Him. If you can appreciate how powerful angels are, then you can begin to comprehend this God who created and empowered billions of angels and has the power to command them to cease to exist in a moment. Imagine that one angel alone, razed down the entire army of a mighty nation in just one night (2 Kings 19:35). This should give you a little insight into how great and mighty the Father of spirits is.

To break away from our limitations as humans, we must move towards becoming more of spirit by becoming more like God. Man is a tripartite being made up of spirit, soul and body. All three components must be developed in that order. Your spirit must be given the greatest priority in development, followed by your soul. Your body should not be developed to the detriment of your spirit and soul. If you are not born-again, your spirit is dead, and the soul is heading for Hell. In the unsaved state, the flesh is in charge of an individual's life.

The flesh is a servant of sin and therefore, a slave to Satan. Wherever the flesh rules, Satan is in control. If your body is what dictates to you when you pray, how you pray, how often you eat, what to do with your passions and how you relate with God, you can be sure that it will never draw you closer to God. It will do everything possible to separate you from God and keep your spirit-man dead or weak. The longer you live in the flesh by gratifying its lusts, the weaker you become in the spirit. But if you can be born-again and develop your spirit-man by feasting regularly on God's word, praying in the Holy Spirit, walking in obedience to God and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, your limitations will give way to your empowered form. Decide to grow your spirit-man in all you do from today!

Action Point

Whenever you worship God, always engage your spirit-man.

Bible in one year

Genesis 8-10;
John 11:45-12:8