OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 19/1/2015 - DO YOU DESIRE TO BE BLESSED? - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

DO YOU DESIRE TO BE BLESSED?

Memorise
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psalm 32:1

Read

 Genesis 27:1-4

1  And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.  
2  And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:    
3  Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;   
4  And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

Message

Many people desire to be blessed by God and men, but they have never bothered to do anything to actualise their most-desired blessings. Many have received fantastic prophecies which they know are theirs indeed, but they have never taken any step to bring about the fulfilment of such prophecies. When the Lord told the children of Israel that it was time for them to possess the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey, the onus was on them to depose the illegal occupants before they could possess it (Joshua 1:11-15).

It is very important that the children of God know the principles that guarantee divine blessing so that they can endeavour to apply them. Years ago, at London Heathrow on my way back to Nigeria, I met two of my children who greeted me, and I responded accordingly. One of them moved towards me and helped me with one of the carry-on bags that I was struggling with and I said, “God bless you.” On hearing “God bless you” coming from me to the one who helped me with my bag, the other fellow said, “What about me, daddy?” I spontaneously responded, “What for?” He saw me laden with luggage and merely greeted me, so I merely greeted him in return. If God’s blessing is conditional, and indeed it is, then I won’t put it on those who do not deserve it.

From our scripture reading, take note of the condition Esau needed to fulfil before he could access his father’s blessing. The father’s blessing, both biological and spiritual, is one that must not be missed. It is powerful and only reversible by the Almighty God. The greatness of our loss is therefore unimaginable, if we do nothing to access His divine blessing. One way of accessing divine blessing is stated in Proverbs 3:9-10. Take care to apply this in your life.

Many so-called children of God today are in deep financial and material agony. They seek God’s blessing to no avail because they have failed to realise that it is when they give that they would be given. It is my belief that you would always have something to give not only to God but also to His servants. You can use one orange to entertain four visitors at a time instead of letting them go empty. My prayer for you is that at every point of your life, you will not lack food to eat, and you will not lack the seed to sow to access your divine blessings in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, open my eyes to recognise what it will take to access my divine blessings, in Jesus’ Name.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 19/1/2015 - DO YOU DESIRE TO BE BLESSED? - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 07/1/2015 - WONDER WORKING NAME - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

Wonder-Working Name

Memorise

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mark 16:17

Read

Matthew 1:21-23

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

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us

MESSAGE

From Mark 16:17, we understand that signs and wonders shall follow those who believe in the Name of Jesus Christ. The wonder-working power in the Name of Jesus Christ is also declared in Isaiah 9:6. Indeed the Name of Jesus is full of wonders. In Acts 3:6, Peter the apostle said that,

“…Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

Immediately Peter mentioned this Name, the feet and ankle bones of the lame man he was talking to received strength and he began to make progress in life – beginning with walking and later leaping. With the Name of Jesus Christ in your mouth, nothing becomes impossible for you. Those who do not believe in the Name of Jesus for salvation, either for religious or intellectual reasons, may not know what they stand to lose. The Bible says:

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

Proverbs 18:10

This scripture reveals the secret that makes the Name of Jesus work for someone: righteousness. Only the righteousness that is obtainable through that Name can make the same Name work wonders for you. As a matter of fact, it is through this Name that we receive forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).

When Peter commanded the lame man to walk in the Name of Jesus, it was done immediately. By the power in the Name, Jesus, I command you to receive deliverance from all forms of oppression you have been suffering from now on. The Name of Jesus Christ is anointed (Song of Solomon 1:3). This is why the Name destroys the yokes of the devil and produces deliverance for the oppressed. A young Christian was travelling in a boat one day, and as the boat was about to capsize, he shouted that Name. Unseen hands came to his rescue. I pray that the Name of Jesus will begin to work for you as you believe and use the Name as from today in Jesus’ Name. The devil may resist anything but not in the Name of Jesus Christ, because God has given Him a Name above every other name (Philippians 2:9-11).

Action Point

Apply the Name of Jesus to any challenging situation or to anything that represents a mountain in your life, and you will see it give way to the glory of God the Father.

Bible in one year

Isaiah 19:16-22:25

Acts 5:1-21

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 4/1/2015 - THE POWER TO BECOME - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE POWER TO BECOME

MEMORISE

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

JOHN 1 : 12.

READ

1 SAMUEL 16 : 11 – 13.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this

is he.

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose

up, and went to Ramah.

MESSAGE

In 1 Samuel 2 : 8, we read of what the Almighty God can make out of the life of an ordinary person. He gives the power to become. This power come to an individual by the spirit of God. When the power of the Holyspirit comes in contact with anordinary person, that fellows ceases to be ordinary and becomes extraordinary.

However, before the gift of the Holy spirit can come upon an individual, he or she must posses some qualities that will bring about such empowerment. Before Godcan Trust you with His power, He would have ascertained that you would make good use of it. God gives His Power for the purpose of expanding His Kingdom on

earth ( Acts 1 : 8 )

David was given the power to become a deliverance minister through the instrumentality of the anointing. What Spiritual work can anyone do without anointing? Absolute Nothing! Some people do not know the essence of the anointing; they think being ordained is just for the conferment of titles such as deacons, deaconess, pastor, bishop etc. No! The primary essence of being ordained is to impart the anointing that destroys yokes. Such yokes are first destroyed in the life of the anointed. The anointing equips a person for spiritual assignments that are primarily geared towards the destruction of the kingdom of the devil.

One of my sons describes the need for the anointing this way ” when an engineer does his engineering work in a secular organisations, he does not need the anointing. However, when that same engineer becomes engaged in the service of the church, he needs the anointing to succeed. This is so because the devil knows he now works to pull down his kingdom through the medium of the church.” An electronics engineer in the media department of a living church organisations or in a Christian media house definitely need the Holyspirit ‘s anointing to succeed in making the gospel heard either through the pulpit or on television screens. This is the reasons why every skilled worker of the church, including financial managers, need to be born again, sanctified and Holyspirit filled if they would not end up becoming like Judas Iscariot. This will make them obtain power to become unstoppable and indestructible vessels of honour in the household of faith.

ACTION POINT

Purge yourself of all sinful habits so that you may be prepared unto every good work as a vessel of honour ( 2 Timothy 2 : 21 )

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

ISAIAH 9 : 8 – 11 : 16

ACTS 3 .

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 29/12/2014 - BE STEADFAST IN FAITH - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BE STEADFAST IN FAITH

Memorise

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Read

Revelation 3:7-11

3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

MESSAGE

Many Christians believe in their pastor and the doctrines of their Church. There is nothing wrong in this in as much as the pastor is living right and the doctrines are biblical. However, your faith and steadfastness must be built on Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of your faith who cannot disappoint you. A man will backslide with his pastor, if his faith anchors on the pastor and the pastor backslides. This is the reason why you must know Jesus Christ through and through. What you know concerning Jesus Christ will make you steadfast if you know Him adequately enough. The Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul wrote this:

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

Philippians 3:7-8

You may want to ask, what do I know concerning the Lord Jesus? I know that Jesus is alive. I am very sure of this. I have very many testimonies to prove this. I was always feeling ill and it was a monthly occurrence despite medications. I had taken more than two thousand injections without any respite. However, when I started calling on the Name of Jesus, I never fell ill again. For my wife and children, He is just the same. Illness has been completely removed from my home. He that you believe is alive should surely help you to overcome just about any problem and quickly too, if truly He is alive. If He is dead, surely He cannot even help Himself. An ordinary man cannot perform these miracles no matter how deep he has gone into occultism. Satan will cast you aside to face another person once he knows he cannot take you away from Jesus Christ. Just go on praising God if Satan brings illness to your child. This attitude will shock the devil and make him flee from you. He will see you as a mad man rejoicing in the midst of trouble. The world and its lusts would run from you if you can stand firm in your faith. The Bible in Galatians 5:1 says:

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

May the Lord uphold you to the end in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, I cannot hold myself; I put my trust in your everlasting arm, please uphold me to the very end.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 22:22-24:21

Song of Solomon 6:10-7:10

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 25/12/2014 - RIGHT CHOICE IN MARRIAGE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

RIGHT CHOICE IN MARRIAGE

Memorise

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14

Read

1 Kings 11:1-4

11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

11:2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

MESSAGE

Apart from the choice of who to serve, choosing who to marry is another fundamental choice that affects the destiny of an individual. A wrong choice in marriage can negatively affect the choice to serve God. Solomon chose to marry many strange women and they influenced him to forsake God and serve their idols. Solomon’s earlier decision to serve the Almighty God was badly affected by his marriages. A marriage partner can take Heaven away from the dreams of his or her spouse and replace it with Hell. Depending on who you choose to marry, your relationship with God will either continue to improve or it will stop all together. Solomon did not want to forget God who had done so much for him, but his marriage made him to err. It is vital to look at the factors that influence the choices we often make. There are always negative and positive factors guiding the choices we make. Whichever you allow to guide you will determine the kind of choice you will make. Many people made costly mistakes in the Bible either because they ignorantly made a choice or because they relied entirely on their knowledge without recourse to God’s guidance. Making a good choice therefore goes beyond human knowledge. No matter how much you know, depending on God in making a choice is a sign of meekness and humility. It is however unfortunate that many young folks today don’t believe that God still chooses the right marriage partner for His obedient children. The Bible in Psalm 25:9 says:

“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”

God guides the meek in judgment. Judgment in this context means decision, choice or preference.

You need basic knowledge in the areas where you have to make a choice. Nevertheless, after acquiring the requisite knowledge, you still need to depend on God. Lot chose a piece of land that he knew would be good for agriculture and he chose to relocate there. His knowledge was perfect, but it was limited because he did not know what the future held for that land. God later destroyed that land in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 13:9-12). There is nothing wrong in making a choice, but Lot’s mistake was that he did not seek God’s guidance in making his choice. Relying solely on what you know in making a choice can cost you your whole life and mar your eternal peace. As a youth, do you know enough about marriage before you dabble into it? Do not choose by sight; having the relevant knowledge and God’s guidance are key to making the best choice.

Prayer Point

Father, please guide all our youths as they embark on choosing marriage partners.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 14:1-16:15

Song of Solomon 4:1-8

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 17/12/2014 - REPAIR THE ALTAR - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

REPAIR THE ALTAR

Memorise

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1 John 2:1

Read

1 Kings 18:29-34

18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

18:30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

18:31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

18:32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

18:33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

18:34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

MESSAGE

When the Bible says that we are the temple of God in 1 Corinthians 6:19, it implies so many things with respect to the features of the temple. One of the features of the temple of God is the altar. The altar is very significant in worship, in the sense that it symbolises the throne of God. The altar is where God abides and does whatever pleases Him. It is the place where He issues out decrees and orders the events that must take place in the universe. It is therefore interesting to realise that we are living temples and carriers of the throne where God exhibits His majesty. No wonder the Holy Spirit in 1 Peter 2:5 said:

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

In our Bible text, Elijah repaired the altar of God before offering sacrifice on it. There are a good number of lessons we can learn from this passage. For instance, there is the possibility of the altar of God being broken down. When a man, particularly a child of God sins, he or she breaks down the altar of God, since we are the temple of God. The fellow needs to repair the broken altar before he or she can make progress spiritually and physically. From the example of Elijah, you can see that it is possible for a broken altar to be repaired. Elijah repaired the broken altar before he offered his sacrifice on it. The result was answer to his prayers that came by fire. People of God must know that sin is alien to walking with God and so we must have zero-tolerance for sin. In case a child of God slips into sin, what should he or she do? The fellow must not stay in that fallen state and mourn his spiritual calamity. He or she must arise and repair the broken altar like Elijah did on behalf of the people of Israel. There are many altars in the life of a child of God that the devil may want to destroy. These include the altar of praise, the altar of prayer, the altar of faith, to mention just a few. By the time you finish repairing the altar, your insufficiency becomes history. When you repair the altar, your weakness becomes strength. As you repair the altar of your faith today, the impossible will become possible for you (Matthew 17:20). As you repair the broken altar of God in your life today, may the Lord turn your lack to abundance in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point

Take an inventory of your life and see where the altar of God has been broken down. Repair it by way of repentance, make restitution and cry to God for complete restoration.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Esther 4-7

Ecclesiastes 10:8-20

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 8/12/2014 - YOUR BEST IS ON THE WAY - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

YOUR BEST IS ON THE WAY

Memorise

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

Read

1 Kings 19:19-21

19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

19:20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

19:21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

MESSAGE

Elisha was a rich man even by current standards. He was the son of a wealthy farmer. Using today’s agricultural terminology, we can say that Elisha’s father had twelve “tractors” working for him on his large farmland. A farmer who has twelve tractors must without doubt be classified as a millionaire. Although Elisha was rich, he did not know that God had something greater for him. In most instances, people often hold on to what is good and miss out on the better and the best. Those who have experienced a measure of success or financial prosperity, tend to settle for the minimum while the maximum is begging to be possessed. The tragedy of this situation is that, those who have achieved just a minimum level of prosperity conclude that there is no better level to attain. Some people climb few rungs on the ladder of progress and settle down, whereas the Almighty God has planned to take them to the highest level of wealth attainable. Elisha thought he was wealthy, but he did not know that a day was coming when kings would serve him and call him “Father”! He thought he was going to die a rich farmer, but God had a different plan for him. In like manner, God has a glorious plan for you. Presidents will serve you before you leave this world in Jesus’ Name. The Bible says:

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

Elisha was wise. He traded his level of achievement for a higher one by allowing God to have His way in his life. Elisha decided to surrender sugar for honey. On the day the mantle of Elijah fell upon him, his destiny changed. God brought him to the realm of ultimate greatness. Elisha knew that to receive ultimate greatness from God, he needed to surrender what he was holding on to. You must offer God what appears to be your best at the moment, so that He can give you what is better than your best. How will God give you the best He has in store for you? What will God do to make you rich beyond your wildest imagination? I really don’t know. However, what I know is that God can do anything just to bless you. Whatever He has promised, He definitely will fulfil to the letter.

Prayer Point:

Father, please send your best to me today and let my good give way for your best in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Ezra 4:1-6:12

Ecclesiastes 6

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 2/12/2014 - WAIT FOR YOUR HARVEST I - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WAIT FOR YOUR HARVEST I

Memorise

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

James 5:7

Read

Genesis 8:20-22

8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

MESSAGE

There is a time span between seedtime and harvest time. The time between sowing and harvesting could be short or long depending on the type of seed sown. If the seed is significant, you may have to wait for some time before you reap the harvest. Farmers are never in a hurry. They know that they must wait for the harvest if they desire a good yield. Some believers are of the opinion that one can sow in the morning and reap in the evening. It is quite possible, but it depends on what you want to harvest. Some crops can be harvested within three to six months, while others may require more than one year before the farmer can harvest them. There is no magic in farming as there are set procedures for planting and harvesting. When a farmer plants seeds, it dies and sprouts again; then within a specific period, it grows until it bears fruit. It is at this maturity stage that the famers begin to harvest. So, you have to wait for the time of harvest. As the Lord lives, the harvest will surely come if you sow on a good ground in Jesus’ Name. Children of God must learn to wait for their harvest to come. It is sad to note that some children of God are too much in a hurry to take their harvest. This is why they go into practices that are not Christ-like and in so doing they get their spiritual fingers burnt by the fire of lust and greed. The Bible in James 5:7 says:

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”

Your harvest can take any form. It may be a promotion or recognition for hard work. While faithfully serving an organisation for instance, you must learn to wait for management to appreciate your sense of devotion to duty and not agitate for recognition. It will be tantamount to blowing your own trumpet if you do so. As a matter of fact, it may be that you are merely ambitious but you think you are putting in your best. It may shock you if your employer declares that your so-called best is not good enough for recognition! When I lived in the village, any farmer who hurriedly harvested his yam tubers ended up denying himself a bumper harvest, as he would have disturbed the yams from developing into large tubers. Such unripe yam tubers are not as delicious as those which reach the ripe age before harvest. I pray that the Almighty Father will give you the patience to wait for bountiful harvest from your sown seeds in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point:

Father, give me adequate patience to wait for my day of glorification in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 26:1-29:2

Ecclesiastes 3

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

VICTORIOUS IN JESUS

Memorise

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

Isaiah 54:17

Read

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

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

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

Message

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

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

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

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

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

Action Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 14-17

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 2/11/2014 - BLESSED HOPE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BLESSED HOPE

Memorise

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Read

Titus 2:11-14

2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Message

What is our hope as Christians, and why have we chosen to turn our backs on the world and its pleasures? It is the hope of glory, honour, immortality and an eternity spent in the bosom of our Lord (Romans 2:7). This mother of all hopes shall be made manifest at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Normally, a person hopes for something good and pleasant. However, for the children of God, there is no hope that compares with the return of Jesus to Earth. It is on account of this hope of Jesus returning for His people, that Apostle Paul confidently declared in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 that:

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

Jesus is the grace of God that brings salvation by the gospel. The return of Jesus puts an end to all pain, all suffering, all disappointment, poverty, failures, battles, conflicts, sorrows and defeats. For those in Him, who eagerly look forward to His coming, I write this to you: His imminent return is very much around the corner, based on the signs of His return as given to us in the Bible. Note that today’s scripture passage provides certain dos and don’ts for those who have the blessed hope of the return of Jesus. Titus 2:12 says that the Grace of God – Jesus, is teaching us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly lust. Beloved, we are in an age where ungodliness and worldly lusts are becoming the norm; an age where people perpetuate evil without qualms and where mild terms are coined for sin e.g. having an affair when talking of adultery. In spite of this, the Grace of God teaches us that we should live soberly, righteously and godly. To be sober is to be responsible and serious. It means to comport oneself with dignity. To live righteously and godly is to live according to the word of God and to live by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Besides, Titus 2:14 says we are to be zealous of good works – works of kindness, evangelism, visitation, follow-up, encouraging those needing comfort, interceding for others etc. We are not just to do these works, but we are to do them with zeal. Now the question is: are you giving attention to the teaching of the Grace of God? May the blessed hope be for you a blessed hope indeed when the Lord appears in Jesus’ Name.

Key Point

He that has this hope purifies himself even as he is pure.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Kings 1-2

Proverbs 20:18-30

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 1/11/2014 - HOW HIGH IS YOUR VOLTAGE? - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HOW HIGH IS YOUR VOLTAGE?

Memorise

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

2 Corinthians 2:14

Read

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Message

The level of decadence in the world in these last days is on the increase, just as predicted in the Bible (Matthew 24:12). There is widespread acceptance of degenerate behaviours just like the Bible said it would be (2 Timothy 3:1-8). Believers that are still here on earth, seeing and hearing all these evil on a daily basis, no doubt have a responsibility of ensuring that they operate at a very high spiritual voltage level. A believer at a low spiritual voltage level, risks being overwhelmed by the moral and spiritual current of the world, with the potential of being swallowed up by same. Whereas, the expectation of the Lord is that our high voltage of righteousness would flow and overwhelm the decadence in the world. The pervasiveness and popularisation of obscene acts, requires that a child of God be spiritually hot at all times. Note that a continuous exposure to the same stimulus tends to gradually but steadily gain strength in eliciting a response, which eventually might lead to participation. There is therefore the need for a child of God to always put precautionary measures in place.

The current situation demands that you as a child of God must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10-13). You must therefore ensure that you wholly apply yourself to the necessary spiritual discipline of prayers (Romans 12:12) and study of the word (James 1:21). You will also have to apply self-discipline in what you look at – you will do yourself a lot of good if you don’t fix your eyes on those seductively dressed daughters of Jezebel (Job 31:1). Self-discipline also has to be applied in the area of what you watch – what kind of programmes you watch on TV, how long you sit down watching the TV, what kind of places you go to when resorting/holidaying and what kind of friendship you keep (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Besides these, you should fellowship regularly with fellow believers. Do not keep away from this for too long. Be involved in your local church assembly. Remember the popular saying that says: it is the idle hands Satan engages? Make sure you particularly engage in soul winning. It will also serve you well to boldly and readily express your identity as a child of God in any new environment you find yourself.

Key Point

How high is your spiritual voltage? Let your speech and lifestyle always reflect your identity.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Kings 21:17-22:53

Proverbs 20:4-17

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 19/10/2014 - HERE COMES THE DREAMER - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HERE COMES THE DREAMER

Memorise

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

Job 33:15–16

Read

Genesis 37:9–19

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.

17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

Message

Dreams are important. Psychoanalysts believe that dreams are an indication of the dreamer’s inner longings, desires and cravings, released from the deep sub-conscious during the state of sleep. Dreams can therefore be the manifestation of the inner yearnings of the dreamer’s heart let loose during sleep; they can also be spiritually induced. Dreams play a significant role in the life of human beings. Paul received direction on where to preach next through a dream in Acts 16:9:

“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”

Dreams are sometimes mysterious; such dreams convey revelations. To understand them, interpretation is required. Have you been having strange experiences in your dreams? My sincere prayer is that the Good Lord will grant you victory in your dreams and turn your God-sent dreams into reality in Jesus’ Name. Dreams can be classified by their features. One such classification includes: dreams as a message from God or the devil; dreams as the carrier of a message concealed in mysteries; and dreams as a result of activity or thoughts. Sources of dreams are God, the devil and the flesh. God relates with man through dreams for specific reasons. These reasons can be any of these: to instruct him to carry out an action (Matthew 2:13), to warn him of an impending danger (Matthew 2:22), to teach him (Job 33:15-16), to encourage him (Genesis 31:10-13), to rebuke him (Genesis 31:24), to correct him (Genesis 20:3-7) and to bless or make a covenant with him (Genesis 28:12-15). The devil relates with man to cause fear and unbelief, to inflict man with sicknesses or death, to make diabolical covenants with him and to mislead him. Most dreams men have are from the flesh. A dream from the flesh simply means the revelation of the dreamer’s carnal longings and desires being let loose at the moment of sleep. Are you facing afflictions in your dreams? Please check your life. How pure are your thoughts? How will you rate your prayer life? All these go a long way in determining the type of dreams you have. Moreover, many people dream and can be described as mere dreamers, whereas those who succeed in life are men and women with a dream. However, while the dreamer talks much but does little, the person with a dream talks little but does much. Which are you: a mere dreamer or a person with a dream?

Action Point

Those who make it in life do something about their dreams. They attempt the impossible, thereby discovering what God can do. Do something about your dream today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Samuel 21-22

Proverbs 14:4-17

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 14/10/2014 - THE OLD TIME RELIGION - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE OLD TIME RELIGION

Memorise

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1 Timothy 4:16

Read

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Message

In a world of confusing and conflicting messages, there is need from time to time to check your foundation and the core of your faith as a Christian. You need the ‘old-time religion’ (Jeremiah 6:16). Ours is not dead religion as practised by the world, but rather, a way of life in the Spirit that has its foundation on belief in the Bible as the word of God. We believe in the Trinity, the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His atonement and resurrection, the need for repentance, new birth, justification, sanctification, the Holy Spirit, grace (and the possibility of falling from it), the rapture, the second coming of Christ, the judgments, Heaven and Hell. The believers of old were sticklers to the word of God. They knew that the word of God was good enough and sufficient for them. Joshua 1:8 says,

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

It is imperative that you believe and obey the word of God. If only the children of God would believe His word and obey it, the blessings they would get from God would not only grant them material success, but also eternal life. In addition, they will enjoy good health and safety from evil men and women. The word of God is a Book of Redemption. It has the inspiration (breath) of God in it. God had the Bible written by revelation; it was transmitted through a method free of error and mistakes. The word of God is authentic because every word in the Bible is inspired (Matthew 5:18). All the written words of God are immortal, infallible, and indestructible (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 1:23). Has God made you a promise in His word? Believe and hold on to it. That promise will definitely come to fulfilment. The Bible is also a supernatural revelation from God. As such, it has supernatural effects upon the heart, soul (mind) and will of man. It is a dynamic revelation from God which has dynamic quality. The word of God is effectual (Isaiah 55:10-11) and powerful (Hebrews 4:12), having the power to save, heal, deliver, and to set free. It cleanses (Psalm 119:9), gives wisdom and understanding (Psalm 19:7) and brings comfort and peace (Romans 15:4). It is only through obedience to the word of God that we can remain holy and preserved from sin and error. Do you want to be fulfilled on earth? Do you want to enjoy peace of mind? Do you want to be victorious? Do you want to make it to heaven? Read, meditate on and obey the word of God.

Action Point

Have you read your Bible today? Begin to study the word of God on daily basis from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Samuel 12-13

Proverbs 11:18-31

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 11/10/2014 - HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL

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

Isaiah 9:6–7

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Message

One of the names of Jesus is Wonderful. That name denotes miracles. In this name is deliverance. Deliverance from an unclean spirit is a miracle. Mark 1:23–26, tells us the story of a man with an unclean spirit. A single demon inhabiting a man can be a terrible situation. But thank God that He has the power to set the captives free. The man came in contact with the Lord and he was free. The situation becomes more serious when a person is possessed by several demons. Luke 8:2 says,

“And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,”

Mary Magdalene had seven demons inhabiting her. If a woman with one single demon would be considered a witch, a woman with seven demons will be a chief among witches. Now, try and comprehend the situation of a man who had a legion or six thousand demons inhabiting him. In Mark 5:1–15, a man who was possessed by at least six thousand demons was delivered. Such can only be described as wonderful. It doesn’t matter how many demons are troubling you, in the Name that is above every other name, you are going to be free.

Let me narrate the true story of a highly educated man, who for one reason or the other was taken over by certain demons. The day they brought him, I thought they had brought a mad man. The way he was looking and everything about him showed signs of a seriously possessed person. Then he began to tell his story. If he scratched his head, cockroaches would come out. If he put his hand into his ear, a butterfly could come out, and he wasn’t a magician. He said, “Just look at it, any part of the body I scratch, an insect will come out”. I told him that I know someone who could set a man free from Legions, regardless of how many they are. At the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow. I prayed a simple prayer and he left. Two weeks later, he came back. I couldn’t recognise him; he had been completely transformed! That name “Wonderful” is also demonstrated through the miracle of raising the dead. Raising a person who has just died takes a miracle (Mark 5:35-42). Raising someone who is about to buried will take a bigger miracle (Luke 7:11-16). However, raising someone who has been dead and buried for four days is wonderful (John 11:39-45). Lazarus was not just dead. He was dead, buried and rotten. But there is a God. He is the One who can reverse the irreversible. He raised Lazarus from the dead. Has anything been pronounced dead in your life? This same God will attend to your case.

Action Point

Call on that name ‘Wonderful’ to bring to life everything that is dead and buried in your life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Samuel 3:1-5:16

Proverbs 10:8-21

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