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

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 06/1/2015 - THE WONDERS OF THE SPOKEN WORD - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WONDERS OF THE SPOKEN WORD

MEMORISE

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

 Genesis 1:3

Read

Genesis 1:1-3

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

MESSAGE

Isaiah 55:10-11 establishes the wonder-working power of the spoken Word of God. The Word of God can transform darkness to light (Genesis 1:3). This is why in Mark 10:46-52, when Bartimaeus cried for the recovery of his sight, all Jesus did was speak, and his sight was restored. Genesis 1:20-22 reveals the fact that the spoken Word of God can transform emptiness to fullness. At the beginning of creation, the world was empty and void, but when the spoken Word of God went forth, the world became full of all sorts of creatures. I prophesy to you that in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, your emptiness shall be transformed to fullness.

Moreover, the spoken Word of God can bring orderliness to a confused situation. We see this in the story of the storm that rocked the boat of Jesus and His disciples (Mark 4:35-41). All Jesus did was to speak peace to the confusion on the sea, and there was calm. This same spoken Word of God can go into the bowels of the earth to bring the dead buried there back to life (John 11:39-44). I want to encourage you to identify genuine prophets of God and never trivialise the word that comes out of their mouth. In 2 Kings 4:1-7, we read about the word of the prophet of God to a poor widow whose sons were about to be sold into slavery. The moment the man of God spoke, the multiplying power of God went into the lone bottle of oil in her hand and the miracle began to happen. Today, as you read this devotional, standing on the authority of the Word of God, I decree that every emptiness in your life will be filled in Jesus’ Name.

Years ago, a man came to us for prayer. He was distressed because he had become financially bankrupt. After the prayer, he said he knew he should not come to a man of God empty-handed but that he had nothing to give. As if that was not enough, he begged for transport money back home. I took the little money I had then, gave it to him and said, “This money will never finish”. He said “Amen” and left. Today, I know at least two of the houses he built after that encounter. My earnest prayer for you too is that whatever money is in your possession as you are reading this devotional shall not finish in Jesus’ Name. Believe in the spoken Word from the mouth of God’s prophet, depart from iniquity and you will give testimonies of power in the Word.

ACTION POINT

Read aloud all the written prophecies in today’s devotional, receive them by faith and you will experience the power in the Word.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Isaiah 15:1-19:15; Acts 4:23-37

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 28/12/2014 - PERFECT CHRISTIAN? - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

PERFECT CHRISTIAN?

Memorise

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

Read

Job 1:5-8

1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

MESSAGE

When we compare two things and we say one is better than the other, it may not necessarily mean that either of the two is desirable. But when we say something is perfect, it means that it is good in itself and there is no evil complaint about it. It also means that it is so good that there is no need to improve on it. This is the definition of the perfect Christian. A perfect Christian is a Christian that is without blemish – a Christ-like individual indeed. There are different categories of Christians. There are those who have been saved but not sanctified. These ones easily get annoyed. They cannot be described as perfect Christians. Some Christians are saved and sanctified. These ones do not get annoyed. There was a time we were rehearsing a drama that was to be staged in our church. A part required that the actor should become very annoyed. Our main actor could not bring himself to be angry. We could not even get someone among us to teach him how to be angry. May you be sanctified to perfection in Jesus’ Name.

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

1 Peter 1:2

To become a perfect Christian, you must first and foremost be Holy Spirit filled. The Holy Spirit is indispensable in the life of any Christian. Without the Holy Spirit, it is not possible to have any of the dimensions of the fruit that the Holy Spirit causes a Christian to bear which makes a Christian perfect (Galatians 5:22-23). For one to be a perfect Christian, some things must manifest in the fellow’s life. First, all things have to be done according to how God Himself would do them. You must aspire to please God in all that you do. Before doing anything, no matter how trivial, first ask how you think God would do it. Knowing that God can only do things perfectly, you will see to it that it is perfectly done. Secondly, a perfect Christian will aspire to get to where God wants him to reach. He will never stop or rest until God’s purpose for his life is accomplished. Many Christians backslid because they had thought that their position was the highest spiritual height they could attain and as a result, they became contented and stopped striving higher. May the Lord bring you to perfection this season in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, make me as perfect as you want me to be in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 20:17-22:21

Song of Solomon 5:10-6:9

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 20/12/2014 - THE FULLNESS OF TIME - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE FULLNESS OF TIME

Memorise

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

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Read

Acts 2:1-4

2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

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

2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

MESSAGE

When the day of Pentecost was fully come, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus Christ. This event makes it clear that our God is a God of times and seasons (Daniel 2:20-21). If you look at the life of Elizabeth - the mother of John the Baptist, you may be wondering: Why the delay of the fruit of the womb in the life of such a devoted daughter of Zion? The answer is found in the later event of the birth of John the Baptist, who Jesus Christ acknowledged as the greatest of all the prophets (Matthew 11:11). He was born by the same woman that was considered barren for many decades. When the fullness of time came, Elizabeth conceived and gave birth to the forerunner of the Messiah (Luke 1:11-16). The Almighty God moves very fast whenever He wants to do something. When it seems God is slow in taking action, you can be sure that it is because His time has not fully come. God is not a slow worker at all. This is established from the creation story where in six days, God accomplished the creation of the entire universe (Genesis 1). There is a time in a man’s life when delay is not a good option. In 1 Samuel 17:51, we read of the fast move of God in David’s life. It would have been another story if David had delayed in separating the head of Goliath from his body after the stone from his sling had dazed Goliath to the ground. The Bible says:

“Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.“

One characteristic of the fullness of God’s time is its sudden arrival. The Bible says:

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”

Acts 2:1-2

It took God just one day to kick away famine from Samaria according to 2 Kings 7:1-18. Suddenly, food became surplus in the land after God moved into the situation of a people who had started killing their children for food. For someone using this devotional, you will receive sudden breakthroughs this season in Jesus’ Name. Your day of celebration shall fully come this season in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point:

Father, please let my miracle come suddenly in a way that the enemy will not be able to do anything about it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 4-5

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 18/12/2014 - WHAT DO YOU WANT? I - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHAT DO YOU WANT? I

Memorise

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Matthew 7:7

Read

2 Kings 2:9-10

2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

MESSAGE

You should never assume that because God knows all things, He should know what you want. Neither should you assume that since God knows what you need, He would not ask you the type of question Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:51. The reason God asks such questions may be connected to the fact that people’s hierarchy of needs differ one from another. What is one man’s priority may be of less importance to another. For example, while Elisha wanted a double portion of his master’s spirit, Gehazi his own servant wanted money. Also, Esau wanted food instead of the right of the firstborn. You will be surprised at the responses you will get when you ask people what they want. You may be expecting them to ask for things of eternal value but a lot of them ask for peanuts. The urgency of your need will determine the fervency of your asking. David was desperate in his need for God, therefore he said in Psalm 42:1:

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”

There was one thing David desired of the Lord in his life time, and this was to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life (Psalm 27:4). Your desire for a thing spurs you to ask the one you believe can give it to you. However, the price you are willing to pay for what you want, determines whether you are going to get what you desire. Paul desired to know Christ and so he regarded as nothing those things that should have been to his advantage. He suffered a great deal, even to the point of death so that he may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-10).

God is asking you this day: “What do you want?” It is time to pray and tell God what you want. However, the time at which you want it also matters because some people may have decided to postpone their season of celebration to next year or two years from now. Some people are like Pharaoh who Moses asked when he would want the frogs harassing him and his people to stop and he said: “Tomorrow!” Why tomorrow, why not now (Exodus 8:9-10)? It may sound strange, but this is the attitude of some people when it comes to asking for what they want. They may know the right thing to ask, but then, when they want it may be the problem. When Elijah was to be translated, he asked his disciple - Elisha what he wanted. Elisha did not wink his eyes before he handed his request to his master – a double portion of Elijah’s anointing. He got it because he knew what he wanted, why he wanted it and when he wanted it. May the Lord grant you your request today in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, give me your best will today and cause my joy to be full in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Esther 8-10

Ecclesiastes 11

Read More

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

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 15/12/2014 - FEAR, NOT A CHRISTIAN VIRTUE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FEAR, NOT A CHRISTIAN VIRTUE

Memorise

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

Read

Psalm 91:5-6

91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

MESSAGE

You have nothing to fear if you have given your life to Jesus. Those of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ can say with all boldness that we shall not be afraid. Today’s Bible reading says that: provided you surrender your life to the Almighty God and provided you are dwelling in His secret place, and provided you are abiding under His shadow, you have nothing to fear. Fear is from the devil. There was no fear until the devil crept in. When God created Adam and Eve and put them in the Garden of Eden, it was all bliss. But from the day the devil entered into the garden and convinced them to disobey God, fear came. After they had sinned, when they heard God coming, they ran and hid themselves. Fear is the exact opposite of faith. The moment you cross from the side of the devil to the side of God, there is no more fear for you. When you give your life to Christ, fear must go. Fear comes from darkness and Jesus Christ is light. When Jesus comes into your life, He gives you the spirit of love, of power, of joy and of a sound mind. This is why it is rare to find a true child of God living in fear. The Bible in Romans 8:14-15 says:

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Children of God have the Spirit of God. He assures us that we are the children of God. You can boldly say that you have not received the spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind if you have received the Spirit of God. Jesus Christ said you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you. Since we have received power, we should not be afraid. I am a child of God. Fear belongs to the children of the devil and I am not a child of the devil. From time immemorial, God has always put a dividing line between the righteous and the wicked. He tries to reward each according to their works. He rewards the righteous so that they will love righteousness and so that the wicked will see the benefit of righteousness and turn from their wicked ways. The Bible in Psalm 121:7says this concerning the righteous:

“The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”

With such promises, the children of God have no cause to fear. I pray that whatever will overwhelm your faith and cause you to panic, the Lord will not allow such to happen to you in Jesus’ Name. Do not be afraid; God is your refuge and your present help in the time of need.

Action Point

Check your life, whatever you are doing that is causing you to panic, do away with it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Nehemiah 11:25-13:31

Ecclesiastes 9:7-12

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 12/12/2014 - POWER TO ASK & TO RECEIVE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

POWER TO ASK & TO RECEIVE

Memorise:

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1 John 5:14

Read

1 John 5:14-15

5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

MESSAGE

Many people do not know that there is power behind asking and receiving. If you do not believe this, study the story of Jesus and His disciples’ encounter with the demon-possessed boy in Matthew 17:14-20. Only the children of God can decree a thing and have it established (Job 22:28). This is why it is important to be born-again if you want to possess the power to ask and to receive what you ask for. The boldness to ask (in faith) and the power to receive belong to God and He gives these to His children.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Romans 8:26

In light of the above scripture, there is a need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to possess the power to ask. In other words, the power of prayer is given by the Holy Spirit. The disciples of Jesus found it difficult to effectively pray when the Holy Spirit had not come upon them. The story in Matthew 17:14-20 confirms this and also the several instances where they slept instead of praying. However, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were not only able to pray effectively, they started decreeing things (Acts 4:31). Another resource from which the power to ask can be derived is the immutable promises of God as contained in His word. Such promises like the promise of Jesus in John 16:23-24, makes the power to ask tremendously available.

However, it is one thing to have the power to ask and it is another thing to have the power to receive. It is amazing that sometimes, when God releases blessings to some people, they tend not to have the power to receive it. Peter experienced this and he almost missed out on God’s blessing, but for the mercy of God. When he encountered Jesus at the lake of Gennesaret, he pleaded with Jesus to get away from him because he was guilt-ridden (Luke 5:8). To possess the power to receive therefore, we must have faith in Jesus. Also, we must keep our mind void of offences (Psalm 66:18). Moreover, our prayer must not be marred with lust or ulterior motives (James 4:3). I pray that you will be empowered to ask and receive from today in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point:

Father, grant me the power of effective prayer so that whatever I decree here on earth may be established in heaven.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Nehemiah 4:1-6:14

Ecclesiastes 8:1-9

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 3/12/2014 - WAIT FOR YOUR HARVEST II - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WAIT FOR YOUR HARVEST II

Memorise

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:4

Read:

Hebrews 6:11-15

6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

MESSAGE

I learnt a valuable lesson some years ago. When the crowd of participants at our monthly Holy Ghost service began to increase, I decided to select seven elders to help in the area of ministering to people. I gave each of them neckties that I had used during previous ministrations. “Put on these neckties; they are already soaked with God’s anointing during my previous ministrations” I told them. Whenever they wore those neckties and ministered, supernatural miracles always occurred. As signs and wonders happened in the area of ministration, something else happened in my own life. I was showered with gifts of neckties. Each time my close acquaintances travelled, they came back with just one type of gift - neckties. Wherever they travelled to, the only gifts they brought to me were neckties. Then I asked God, “Why are these people just giving me neckties? Can’t they come up with some other gifts beside neckties?” God gave me insight into what was happening. He said, “Son, if you sow ties, you will reap ties.” I quickly got the message and decided to start sowing shoes. I located pastors who wore my shoe size and I gave them a good number of my shoes, among which were some of my best shoes. I expected a harvest of new shoes in the first month following my act of giving, but there was no gift of shoes for me. When another month rolled by and there was still no gift of shoes for me, I went to God and said, “Daddy, you told me that if I sow, I would reap.” It was then the Lord taught me another lesson, He said, “Son, if you plant maize, you can harvest it within three months, but if you plant yam, you will wait a little longer”. The Almighty God said to me, “Shoes are of greater value than ties, the greater the quality of the seed sown, the more time you will have to spend in waiting for the harvest. You have planted shoes and you will have to wait a little longer; but the moment the harvest starts, there will be no stopping it”. Later, I was showered with shoes of all sizes and colours: big, small, white, green, black and all kinds of sophisticated shoes. When the harvest eventually came in full, I was pleasantly surprised. 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.”

If you have sown any seed, your harvest will soon come. Just wait a little while and your harvest will locate you in the Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point:

Father, please let my harvest come speedily and help me not to be weary in well-doing.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 29:3-30:27

Ecclesiastes 3

Read More

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

CAST YOUR BURDEN ON CHRIST

Memorise

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

Psalm 55:22

Read

1 Peter 5:6-7

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

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

Message

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

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

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

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

Isaiah 10: 27

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

Action Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 18:1-20:23

Ecclesiastes 2:1-8

Read More

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

THE ALL-KNOWING GOD

Memorise

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

Psalm 139:1

Read

Psalm 139:1-6

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

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

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

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

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

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

Message

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

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

Action Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 7:4-9:31

Proverbs 31:16-31

Read More

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

STAY FOCUSED

Memorise

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

Ephesians 5:1-2

Read

Ephesians 5:1-8

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

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

Message

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

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

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

Prayer Point:

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 28-29

Proverbs 30:7-17

Read More

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

YOU CAN STAND OUT I

Memorise

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

Deuteronomy 28:13

Read

Luke 5:17-26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Message

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

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

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

Action Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 19:1-22:1

Proverbs 28:26-29:9

Read More

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 13/11/2014 - SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER

Memorise

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 12:12

Read

Ephesians 6:18

6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

MESSAGE

In virtually every field of human endeavour, there are great men and women. Be it in science, arts, sports, politics, governance and religion, history is full of people regarded as great in these various fields. Many of such people were given to causes that are ephemeral and mundane. One common denominator in the life of such people or anyone that would be a success is ‘discipline’. What worthy thing it is therefore, when we apply the effort of self-discipline in the area of the one thing that is an avenue for attracting the favour and immense power of God to work on our behalf. This worthy avenue of drawing God’s power is prayer.

The Bible commands us to pray always. Many people would ordinarily find it easier to spend time chatting either in the real world or in virtual cyber space than in praying always as the Bible commands. Note that God wants to manifest His glory in your life. But then, prayer is never at home with the flesh, rather, the flesh wants to gist or while away the time in some other way. This is why prayer is a discipline, a spiritual discipline. Know that it is more profitable for you to pray than to occupy your time with some other mundane things. Put the flesh in its place, discipline your flesh and be compelled to pray.

How is it possible to pray always? Would we not be violating the word of God if we abandon our other responsibilities and spend all of our time on our knees by our bedside praying? Yes we will be. What is actually required of us is that our hearts must be attuned to God at all times, such that whether we are at home cooking in the kitchen or at the bus stop awaiting the arrival of a bus or on the wheel driving, a silent upward communication link is not far from us. With such heart posture, it is a usual thing to thank God for virtually every seemingly little but advantageous thing, as well as thanking Him for things that do not appear to be to our advantage. Such heart will always be full of heavenly joy, accompanied with a whisper of: all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). Besides, for those that are baptized in the Holy Spirit, the ability to pray always is easier, as such a person can almost ceaselessly carry on praying in tongues quietly, irrespective of what he or she may be busy doing, except when he or she needs to pause to attend to someone. So much gets accomplished while praying in the Spirit. The whole demand in Ephesians 6:18 can easily be accomplished by doing so. That is the reason why you should get baptized in the Holy Spirit if you are not.

Prayer Point

Pray that God will help you to be more disciplined in praying.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Kings 23:28-25:30

Proverbs 25:15-28

Read More