OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY- 18/12/2013 - SUBSTITUTION BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SUBSTITUTION

MEMORY VERSE

The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

Proverbs 11:8

READ

Daniel 3:19-22

Daniel 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

Daniel 3:20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

MESSAGE

Another way God executes deliverance is by the law of substitution.

Proverbs 11:8 says,

The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

At oftentimes, if a particular incident that has been slated against the righteous must surely be carried out, God gives the captor an alternative. Take for instance, when the three Hebrew children were thrown into the fire of Nebuchadnezzar, they came out unhurt, but the king's strongest and most outstanding men, who bound, carried and threw them into the fire were all roasted even though they did not physically enter the fire (Daniel 3:19-22). The enemies that are after your life will lose their best hands in your place. Similarly, the lions that refused to eat up Daniel, ate those who threw him into the den (Daniel 6:24). The lions that have been sent to devour you and members of your family will return to devour those who sent them on that evil mission.

A sister once told me she had a dream that her husband travelled abroad and they brought back his corpse. She was concerned because her dreams always come true. So we prayed. The following Sunday she was in church and there was no indication that anything was wrong. The following day, her husband's name appeared on the obituary pages of the dailies. I called her to enquire what happened. She said God had answered our prayer because her husband travelled and returned safely. She however said that, his brother who was not a born-again Christian also travelled but they brought back his corpse. Whenever you face an enemy too strong to handle, call on Jesus, asking Him to be your ally. In the name of Jesus, the law of substitution will work for you from today. Every spirit of death sent against you will claim one of those sending it. God will give men for you and your family, and people will die in your place. Your enemies will know that you serve a living God.

PRAYER POINT

Father, from today, let Your law of substitution work in my favour and over the lives of members of my family.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 17/12/2013 - HOW PERSUADED? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HOW PERSUADED?

MEMORY VERSE

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Romans 4:21

READ

Psalm 82:2-4

Psalm 82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Psalm 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Psalm 82:4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

MESSAGE

In 2 Timothy 4:10, Demas, a co-labourer with Paul was floored by his love for the world. He became a victim of comfort. Today, many people are also becoming prayerless and shifting their faith or trust from God to uncertain riches. They are now tending towards believe that money can fix everything. If you are in such a situation, repent fast before it is too late. It is certain that, anyone who served God with his heart while poor, but could not sustain it after wealth and comfort came, is not fully persuaded of his or her faith in Christ. In Romans 8:38-39, Paul says,

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you go through Paul's list, you will observe a man who is completely sold out to God. He has nothing to look back to having burnt his bridges. Many people still operate a plan B with God. Such people say: let me try God 80% and still put my leg in something else 20% so that should God fail, I will not lose out completely. Do not waste your time! If that is how your commitment is to God, He will definitely fail you. Any time you share your trust in God with someone else or something else, it is no longer God you are trusting in. If wealth can separate you from God, it shows you have not truly decided to follow Jesus. You are not persuaded. Paul says if he is threatened with death he will not deny Christ. He declares that even if all the angels in Heaven were to revolt against God today (which is not possible) and they talk him into denying Christ, they will simply be wasting their time. He says forces of darkness no matter how vicious, cannot make him stop loving Jesus. He says no present or future technological advancement can take his faith in Christ away from him. He says no promotion or demotion can rob him of Jesus. No love for anything can break him away from Christ. That is a man who is fully persuaded! If any of these things can break you from Christ, you are not persuaded. How persuaded are you?

ACTION POINT

The internet has become a major stumbling block to many believers. If you are a victim of this, break off and redefine your relationship with it today

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 16/12/2013 - THE ETERNAL BOOK BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE ETERNAL BOOK

MEMORY VERSE

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:15

READ

Revelation 20:11-15

Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

MESSAGE

One outstanding need that divine midwives must satisfy is to have their names written in the Book of Life. This is the most important book in the universe. Given modern trends and need for details, most institutions have various books in which records are kept and can be retrieved in years to come. Every organisation has a staff register while clubs have membership registers. Most countries of the world have issued out social security numbers or national identity numbers in which certain details of their citizens are held. Apart from these, there are organisations that document great achievements within a section of the world or across the whole world. Some of such documentations are referred to as book of records. Many people strive for their names to enter a particular book of records, and when this is done they appear fulfilled as they have nothing else to strive for.

Of all books of records, there is one that is most outstanding. It is about human beings but it is not on earth. It documents the names and certain details about everyone who is saved and washed by the blood of Jesus. Since it is not accessible on earth, it cannot be influenced or manipulated. Human beings record only the information that is accessible to them such as the number of births, deaths, marriages, etc., but in the case of the Book of Life, no record escapes the angels in charge of this book. For now, this book may appear not so important to many, but according to today's reading, after death and on the day of the Great White Throne Judgment, that book will be very relevant. If your name is in all the important books and halls of fame on earth, by the time you die, those books will no longer be relevant. Your fate will be decided by the presence or absence of your name in the Book of Life. So if there is one book your name should be written in, it is the Lamb's Book of Life. How? By confessing your sins, asking for forgiveness and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

KEY POINT

If you are alive, you must do everything possible for your name to enter the Book of life, if not, after death, you will be sent to hell

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 15/12/2013 - APPLY THE KEY BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

APPLY THE KEY

MEMORY VERSE

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

John 12:32

READ

John 12:31-33

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

John 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

MESSAGE

Every blessing worth its salt requires a key without which the seeker cannot access it. While some people have never experienced open doors, others once did, but the doors hitherto opened to them have been shut. In 1 Samuel 16:14, the door which was once opened to Saul was shut. That good door which opened to you but is now shut shall be reopened to you again and what you lost shall be restored in Jesus name. It is good to enjoy open doors but far much better is that such doors remain permanently open. There is nothing good about being an ex-champion! God promised that you will be head (Deuteronomy 28:13). This is another way of saying your door into headship shall remain open. Similarly, when David wrote in Psalm 23:5-6, that he has a table of provision without enemy intrusion or attack, and that he enjoys the operation of goodness and mercy all his days, he was also saying that his open doors will be sustained. In the name that is above every other name, every good door that the Lord opens to you from today shall be permanently open.

Why then do we need to pray? It is to receive help through the key that is given to us. Exodus 15:26 for instance is a key to healing and good health. It says if only you will listen diligently to God's voice and observe all His commands, that He will insure you against diseases that come on unbelievers because He is your healer. If you are sick you can apply that key and claim with thanksgiving your healing and it shall be yours. In the same way, if you have been battling with growing your church or local assembly, apply the key in John 12:32. It says,

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

If you can lift Him up through high praise and heartfelt spirit-filled worship, He will magnetise people to Himself and in so doing, your church will grow. A church full of praise and worship is a growing church. Apply this key! Every blessing in God's word equally has its key embedded in one promise of God or another. Stop praying without backing it up with the relevant key or promise!

KEY POINT

Every promise of God is a key that can unlock some door. Find the keys and apply them appropriately and you will get results.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 14/12/2013 - CAN SATAN RIGHTLY ACCUSE YOU? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CAN SATAN RIGHTLY ACCUSE YOU?

MEMORY VERSE

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

John 14:30

READ

Luke 22:31-34

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Luke 22:33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

Luke 22:34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

MESSAGE

Besides discouragement, another weapon Satan uses often against believers is their weaknesses. He simply studies an individual for a period of time and not long after, he identifies the fellow's weakness and capitalises on it. Take for instance Peter. Satan discovered that Peter is a cowardly person - lacking in courage. He discovered this on the day Peter set out to walk on water with Jesus. He kept this close to his chest until Jesus was about to be crucified; then he arranged the circumstances and Peter thrice denied his Master. That denial was so fundamental that, but for the Lord's post-resurrection intervention, it could have kept Peter permanently separated from the Lord. Do you deny Jesus in some little way today? Are you afraid of declaring your faith in Christ? If you are doing certain things or avoiding certain things so that people around you do not know that you are a born-again Christian, deal with that weakness now before the devil hijacks it and gets you to deny Christ when it is a matter of life and death.

Revelation 12:10 calls the devil the accuser of believers. The Lord had earlier seen Satan's plan to destroy Peter; therefore he prayed for him. He also put him on notice so that he could be on his guard (Luke 22:31-34). On the day of the Lord's trial, Satan was set for Peter. When Peter fell, Satan quoted God's word that whoever denies the Lord before men shall be denied by the Lord in heaven; and also that: no liar will enter heaven. Count three of the devil's charge was that: It is written, Curse not and Peter had cursed and sworn. He had several counts against him but thank God that the mercy of God was brought to bear in his situation. This was also why the Lord worked at getting him fully restored by thrice demanding a confession of his love for Him (John 21:15-19). Beloved, if Satan should have any grounds for accusing us today, he will rightfully quote relevant scripture to back up his claims. This is why you must overcome your weaknesses and quit sinning secretly so as not to give him anything to charge you with.

ACTION POINT

What property of the devil is with you right now? Dispose of them and be completely free like Jesus.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 13/12/2013 - THE GREAT DELIVERER BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE GREAT DELIVERER

MEMORY VERSE

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Psalm 91:15

READ

Psalm 91:14-15

 Psalm 91:14 because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Psalm 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

MESSAGE

God is great but He humbles Himself to the level of His children to deliver them. The one who will deliver you must be stronger than the enemy holding you captive. The reason He is able to deliver is because He is stronger than all your enemies put together. This is why in Psalm 24:7-10, He is called the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battles and the Lord of Host. It does not matter the enemy fighting you, as long as the One who is mighty in battle is on your side, you will definitely be victorious. Even if you are the one who got yourself into Satan's captivity that is, you are a lawful captive  if you call on Him, He will deliver you (Isaiah 49:24-26).

Many years ago, there was a wedding in my village and I was invited to preach on that day. I had been away from home for a long time because of the many things I had suffered from the hands of witches and wizards for 13 years. On arrival at the wedding, I saw many of them and had to change my message. I dared them to come out of darkness or get ready to be roasted. When the sermon was over, I left, but the witches went to confront the mother of the bride, saying that she invited them so that I could insult them. They threatened to wait for the lady after conception and that she will never deliver the baby. When her daughter became pregnant, the mother wrote to tell me the trouble I had brought to her. I smiled and replied that on the day of delivery, the witches will be asleep. The lady came to the camp for a programme while the witches were planning for the delivery date. She went into labour at the camp and within 10 minutes, she had delivered. Similarly, during a particular convention we had in America, news came that some people had planted a bomb at the auditorium, which was set to explode at 1 a.m. of the Holy Ghost night. My children panicked but I asked them to relax knowing that the God that I serve can neutralise any bomb, because He says no weapon formed against us shall prosper. What situation are you in today that holds back your freedom? The Lord will deliver you.

ACTION POINT

Ask that the fire of the Holy Ghost will go to every evil gathering where the enemies are planning against you and your family, and destroy them.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 12/12/2013 - WAIT ON THE SPIRIT BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WAIT ON THE SPIRIT

MEMORY VERSE

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

1 Corinthians 14:18

READ

Luke 24:48-49

Luke 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

MESSAGE

In Judges 15:14-15, when Samson was brought to his enemies bound, the Holy Spirit came mightily upon him and he began to level them one after the other. But you may want to ask: What were the others looking at while their colleagues were being killed? It happened this way because when the supernatural of God is in action, the enemies will first be paralysed. This season, the Lord will paralyse all your enemies and they will begin to grope in darkness, and they will become easy preys for your sword in Jesus name.

However, just as the positive supernatural is linked with the Holy Spirit, so also is the negative supernatural linked with the devil and his demons. In Acts 1:8 and Luke 24:48-49, the Lord told the disciples not to go out to preach until they receive the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 19:11-12, God performed special miracles by the hand of Paul. You may wonder what facilitated this. To answer that, you may want to look at what he did more than other brethren. Based on his testimony in 1 Corinthians 14:18, the manifestation of the supernatural in a special way in his life must have been facilitated by the fact that he spent more time praying in the Holy Spirit than all other brethren. This simply tells us that the way you relate with the Holy Spirit in your closet will determine the outward or public results that will accompany you. If you invest time worshipping and praising Him, speaking in the language He freely gave to you and you live holy before Him, you will never be far from the miraculous. The Holy Spirit is the Chairperson of the Body of Christ while Jesus is still the owner. If you want to be relevant, you must link up with the Spirit of Truth. Do you monitor your relationship with Him? Do you hear the voice of the Spirit? When you do, do you obey promptly? Are there certain errands He sent you that you are yet to carry out? He is a very gentle Spirit. He must not be grieved often, yet He is equally as patient as the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ contrary to what some people teach. However, He should not be taken for granted. How much of your time do you devote to developing your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

ACTION POINT

Pray in the Spirit for 1-2 hours today, and do so more often daily. Write down what you saw, heard or experienced for the next three weeks.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 11/12/2013 - WAYS OF DELIVERANCE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WAYS OF DELIVERANCE

MEMORY VERSE

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name

Philippians 2:9

READ

Isaiah 49:24-26

Isaiah 49:24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

Isaiah 49:25 But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

Isaiah 49:26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

MESSAGE

In Acts 19:3-16, demons challenged some charlatan deliverance ministers before pouncing on them. This tells us that even in their fallen state; demons know their rights and try to enforce them as much as possible. They questioned the authority of the deliverance ministers. If your authority is not rooted in Christ, and you go to dare demons, be prepared for a showdown. A boy attended one programme somewhere and got loaded with demons to the extent he could not sit or walk. He was brought to our church and he told us the story after which I asked him to kneel down so we can pray. 'I cannot kneel down' was his reply. 'I command you to kneel down', I insisted. Then be asked me 'In whose name?' so I said 'In the name of Jesus' and he said 'That one is different' and he knelt down. After prayer, I asked him to rise up and go home but he said he cannot walk. So again I said, 'I command you to walk' and he asked, 'In whose name?' I said 'In the name of Jesus' and he replied 'That one is different' and he began to walk and was made totally free. In whose name are you going to be free? It is not in the name of the deliverance minister but in the name of Jesus Christ.

Moreover, how does God execute deliverance? It could be through one of His bona fide servants like Paul in Acts 16:16-18. Here, Paul simply commanded the girl to be free and she was free. When you find somebody conducting deliverance that lasts a whole night, something is wrong somewhere. Also, when the enemies are many, God can turn them against one another. But in a situation where you are a lawful captive – you went to the enemy's camp on your own to join them, but now you have received Christ and want to come out, if they refuse to let you go, Isaiah 49:24-26 says, God will allow them to feed on their own flesh and be drunk in their own blood. As a servant of God, how have you been conducting deliverance? Are forces of darkness holding you hostage? The Lord will deliver you today. I command every power holding you contrary to God's will to release you now!

ACTION POINT

What is that mountain that is proving to be difficult? Come against it by the name of Jesus

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 10/12/2013 - VICTIM OF COMFORT? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

VICTIM OF COMFORT?

MEMORY VERSE

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

2 TIMOTHY 4:10

READ

2 Timothy 4:8-10

2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

MESSAGE

Just as your attention can be arrested by certain things while undergoing a physical journey, so also can your attention be diverted while running the race to Heaven. One of such things that can divert heaven-bound citizens is prosperity. Prosperity can give you a lot of comfort which can affect your focus, reduce your consecration and play down your personal relationship with God. Prosperity can truncate one's journey to heaven if unchecked. One victim of this was Demas. 2 Timothy 4:10 says,

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

While other co-labours of Paul were travelling to different cities of the world for the work of the Gospel, Demas a co-labourer of Paul, fell in love with the world to such an extent that he went back to Thessalonica having been taken captive by worldly pleasures and amusements. Is your prosperity gradually pushing you off the heavenly track? Control it now before it destroys your soul completely!

Many years ago, when all some of us had were two shirts, two trousers and one pair of shoes, we prayed, loved the Lord and served Him with all our hearts and strength. But today, it is a different ball game. For many who have now been blessed materially, it has become a herculean task to give even a quarter of our time and strength to God. Some find it extremely difficult to make sacrifices for God: everything now operates on how convenient it is. I remember when I called church members to join in a 100-day fast, those from low-income areas in Lagos such as Ajegunle, Mushin, etc., immediately received the announcement with joy, while on that same day when I went to make the same announcement in the high brow areas of Lagos  Ikoyi and Victoria Island, they were not happy to receive it, but thank God they joined. Is the comfort of your bed, store house and bank account now negatively affecting your fire? Watch it and adjust now before you become its victim.

ACTION POINT

Ask God to take you to the level where nothing would ever affect your love for Him

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 9/12/2013 - MOVE ON TO MULTIPLICATION BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

MOVE ON TO MULTIPLICATION

MEMORY VERSE

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:28

READ

Genesis 1:27-28

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

MESSAGE

Another attribute of a divine midwife is that he or she must be able to earn a reward from God. God rewarded the midwives of Exodus 1 and He is looking for those who can work hard to earn His commendation.

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

2 John 8

His commendation does not come cheap: it must be earned. The way you are working for Him, can you earn His 'Well done?'

If you consider His dealings with people in Bible times, you will notice that God loves fruitful people. He loves progressive increases but prefers multiplications. When the servants who received five and two talents returned to their master, with a double of what they received, they got the same level of commendation (Matthew 25:14-23). God loves multiplication! In Genesis 1:27-28, immediately after creating Adam and Eve, He commanded them to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth. These are stages in growth. God wants you to start by bearing fruit, and then move to the stage of multiplication of the fruits so that you can eventually dominate the earth. Many of us stop at bearing fruit which should be our starting point. It is time you moved up to the stage of multiplication. If you were winning a soul to Christ per month, now win 10 souls or more to Christ per month, but do not stop there. Lead them to the believers class to disciple them. Follow them up and ensure that they are doing what you have done. In other words, reproduce yourself in them so that they too can do the same. As this chain continues, a time will come when your spiritual children will be in different parts of the world, taking the world for Jesus. Thank God for the past years of winning minimal souls. Increase your efforts and become a mentor to your converts, and they to their converts down the line. If we can take this up and be committed to 10 souls monthly for a year and mentor them to the point of each getting their 10 souls, in less than five years, we would have reached out to the world. Arise and start your chain of converts today!

ACTION POINT

A convert you win today can lead 100 souls to Christ. Go for your 10 souls this period.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 8/12/2013 - OF KEYS AND DOORS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OF KEYS AND DOORS

MEMORY VERSE

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Matthew 12:13

READ

Matthew 12:10-13

Matthew 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

Matthew 12:11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

Matthew 12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Matthew 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

MESSAGE

Every apartment or compartment with a lock has its key. It takes a key to open the gate of a house and several keys to enter the house and its rooms. If you have a fridge, car or wardrobe, you will equally have their keys. From the foregoing therefore, it is apparent that several good things with value have their respective access keys. The key to a house is different from that to a car. In the same way spiritually, every major blessing has its key. There is a key to rest, a key to provision and a key to progress. When you do not have a particular key to a blessing, you will most likely be denied access to that blessing. A man was once stranded at the airport even though he had his own private jet; he was stranded because he could not find its key. Some people have never been able to unlock their closed doors for want of the right keys all their lives. This was the case with the man that was born blind in John 9:1-7. From birth, his eyes remained locked until the day Jesus came to open it. What are the doors you want to enter but lack the relevant keys to do so? The Lord will give you such keys today.

There are those who have never really tasted open doors since they were born; they have never experienced any breakthrough at any time and nothing has ever come easy for them. If you are in this category, the Lord will make a difference in your situation. That good thing which you have never experienced shall be delivered to you this season. On the other hand, there are some people who doors were opened to in the past but for one reason or another, the doors were shut. The man with the withered hand in Matthew 12:10-13 once had a normal hand before something happened and it withered. Also, the widow of Nain once had a living son before death snatched him and Jesus raised him back to life (Luke 7:11-15). Are you in that situation? Every good door that opened to you but is now shut shall be reopened this season.

PRAYER POINT

Every good door (be specific) that has been shut against me, open now to me

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 7/12/2013 - FIGHT AGAINST DISCOURAGEMENT! BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FIGHT AGAINST DISCOURAGEMENT!

MEMORY VERSE

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

READ

Numbers 13:26-33

And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

MESSAGE

Discouragement is a great tool in the hands of the enemy.

Proverbs 13:12 says,

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

The devil usually does not apply discouragement when you are in high spirits or when you are happy, discouragement comes when you are in low spirits, sad and unhappy. If there is something you have been looking up to God for that is pending, you might be a candidate for discouragement. The devil introduces discouragement when you are tired, weak and sometimes helpless (1 Kings 19:4). This is why you must learn to rest. If you have worked very hard, find time to rest. But if you are lazy or you have not been working, let your rest be that you begin to work. To overcome discouragement therefore, allow the joy of the Lord to be your strength. Be filled with God's word and hold on to His promises at every point in time. Shut the door of your heart against laziness.

Moreover, when you are closest to achieving your goal, the enemy can bring discouragement. We often fall prey to this because of our inability to see beyond now. In Numbers 13:26-33, the children of Israel were already at the border of the Promised Land when the ten spies brought an evil report that they cannot enter in. Whenever the devil tells you that you cannot achieve something, look back at the word and tell him you can do all things by God's strength. Beloved, never believe the lie of the devil or of men. You can do all things through the strength of the Lord that is inside of you. What you believe at the threshold of your breakthrough definitely affects that breakthrough. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus was hit by discouragement when He was just about to conclude His work by going to the Cross. But somehow, He overcame. In any way discouragement is sent against you, the Lord will give you victory in Jesus name.

ACTION POINT

Use positive confessions and word-based declarations to counter the discouragement you may be facing.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 6/12/2013 - CONDESCEND! BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CONDESCEND!

MEMORY VERSE

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

 Romans 12:16

READ

Isaiah 66:1-2

Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the  Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

MESSAGE

After seeing their plight, hearing their cries and feeling their pains, God came down to rescue the Israelites from Egypt. Our God is a mobile God. He comes down to deliver His own. As high as God is and even though He has His throne in Heaven, yet He condescends to meet the needs of His children on earth (Isaiah 66:1). Looking at Psalm 50:10-12 and Revelation 3:20, we see the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hill and who Heaven cannot contain wanting to dine in your house. Whenever you want to eat, after thanking God for the provision, sanctify it and invite Him to join you. You can be sure nobody can poison the food God is eating from. God can come down to any level. Philippians 2:5-8 says even though Jesus Christ is God, yet He became a man and served as a servant. One day, I was shocked when God told me that even though He is the Almighty God, He has been doing the work of a servant for His children. He said when we say: 'Father, give me this or that', we are actually sending Him on an errand, and He delivers. If God can condescend to any level just to serve His children, what level is too low for you to get to in serving those under you?

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

 Romans 12:16

God lives by example. Before He tells you to humble yourself and serve others, He has done it time and again. Some leaders consider themselves too high to be reached. If you are 'high' and you stay up there, you will be unable to reach out to those who are low. Most of the people you are expected to reach out to are somewhere down - they know less about God or His ways, probably have never been ordained, have little or no means of livelihood, have little or no education, etc. The ability to condescend to their level is a plus which makes you like God. That is humility. Put aside your differences and reach out to them today following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ACTION POINT

Prayerfully, reach out to 10 people below your status and show them the love of God

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