OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY 19/06/2013 - WHY THE WORD SOMETIMES FAIL BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHY THE WORD SOMETIMES FAIL

MEMORY VERSE

For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Hebrew 5:13

READ

Hebrew 5:11-14

Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

MESSAGE

The word of God is most powerful. It lives and is unlimited just like God. It is a spy agent for the fellow who knows how to use it well. If there is one weapon that the enemy can't resist, it is the word of God, yet often times, it appears the word does not work. Is God a liar or what is wrong? There are a few instances where the word of God may not work. The first is during a trial of faith situation. While undergoing a trial of faith, the word of God is suspended for that individual or else he or she can never successfully go through the trial. For instance, during a trial of faith that borders on your finances, no matter how sin free, God-pleasing, or Heaven-bound you are, even if you pay your tithes regularly, at that trial period, it may not stop the devourers from devouring, and your promised blessing may be kept in abeyance. But after the trial period, your pending blessings will be delivered. Do not think you have lost such blessings during your trial period? They are only reserved, to be delivered after the trial.

Another situation that may hinder the working power of God's word is when it is not skilfully employed. According to today's reading, if you are applying the milk of the word when strong meat or bones of the word is what you require to handle a situation, it will fail to deliver the result. For instance, if you are reciting the Lord's Prayer during a time of need, instead of applying this prayer model and specifically asking for your need to be met, you may not have your desired answer. Or if you ask God for something without backing it up with relevant promises documented in the Bible, He may not answer you. It is not your prose in prayer that compels God into action, but His word that you send back to Him. Even when He does not want to grant the request for your sake, He would be compelled to do so for the sake of His integrity. A believer died and went to Heaven. He was so happy to make it and to see all that God had for him. But at some point, Jesus came to him to say, even though He would want him to stay on, yet He has to release him because some brethren were asking for his resurrection and that they were standing on God's word. So the Lord said He had no choice but to honour His word. The brother returned to his body where they were praying at his hospital bed. Boy he was sad and angry. Another situation is making requests while you are living in sin.

ACTION POINT

Check your life and find out in what ways you have made the Word to fail concerning you. Repent and make it work from today

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 32 - 34

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY 18/06/2013 - WHEN THE WIND BLOWS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS

MEMORY VERSE

 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

Exodus 15:8

READ

 John 20:21-22

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

MESSAGE

If you want to belong to the reigning team, sign a pact with the Holy Spirit. Severally in scriptures, the Holy Spirit is compared to the wind. Understanding some characteristics of the wind gives us some insight into the personality of the Holy Spirit. The wind as breeze can blow gently, we see the Holy Spirit exhibiting this trait in Samson. The Spirit first began to move him gently once in a while in Judges 13:24-25. The Holy Spirit can also behave like a rushing mighty wind blowing suddenly, as was the case in Acts 2: 1-7. He can also move massively like a storm. At the front of the Red sea, Moses lifted his hands and the east wind blew throughout the night until the Red sea parted (Exodus 14:19-22). While describing the experience later in Exodus 15:8, Moses said,

“And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.”

In other words, this can be pictured as God sneezing and emitting the Spirit in the form of air from His nostrils, and He parted the mighty Red sea into two. What a Mighty God we serve!

It is the wind that gives a mighty aeroplane its lift. The reason an aeroplane runs very fast before takeoff is because air at a higher speed has a lower pressure than air at a lower speed. The air above the wings of the aeroplane before takeoff is at a higher speed that the air beneath it. The resulting higher pressure beneath the wings gives lift to the aeroplane taking it to the next level in flight. In 2 Kings 2:9-15, two people were promoted to another realm when the wind of the Holy Spirit blew massively: Elijah got transported into the heavenly realm, while young Elisha – a servant of the prophet was promoted to become father of the prophets. As you key into the supernatural, you shall be lifted to another level in Jesus name. However, when the wind comes, it is capable of filling every available space. In John 20:21-22, when Jesus wanted to fill the disciples with the Holy Ghost, He breathed on them; meaning that the Holy Spirit should go and fill every space in the disciples. What space do you have for the Holy Spirit to fill? The more space you take away from the flesh the more you make available to Him.

KEY POINT

John the Baptist decided to decrease in order to create more room for Jesus. How much room do you have for the Holy Spirit?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 28 - 31

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY 17/06/2013 - THINK ABOUT THE END BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THINK ABOUT THE END!

MEMORY VERSE

 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:

Hebrews 9:27

READ

Ecclesiastes 5:13-15

Eccl 5:13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

Eccl 5:14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

Eccl 5:15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

MESSAGE

God has provided information in the Bible which He intends will give men revelations that ultimately will make them wise. But unfortunately for many people, most of this divine information remained nothing but mere information. As long as knowledge garnered from such information does not lead to wisdom, its purpose will be defeated. Take for instance this scripture in Hebrews 9:27:

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Ordinarily it contains very vital information. Not many people want to talk about the coming judgment or about death. People are prepared to discuss other issues – prosperity, breakthrough, success, promotion, etc. but not death. That everyone will die someday is information. From this information it could dawn on you that someday it will be your turn – this is revelation. It is then expected that this revelation will lead you into taking eternal issues more seriously, leading to you giving your life to Christ and living everyday in righteousness as if it were your last. That is wisdom.

Believers are not supposed to sorrow over death like unbelievers but we do. Why do we fear death so much? One reason is because it is a leveller. It levels everyone. According to Ecclesiastes 2:17, the professor and the illiterate person, the rich and the poor, the famous and the unknown will die one day and at that point, they will each lose whatever edge they had in their life time. At death, all wealth, degrees and achievements will be of no use to the departed. Psalm 12:1 says the godly will die and 1 Kings 22:37-40 says the ungodly will also die. The rich, famous and those who are having the best out of life will not want to talk about death. But according to Job 1:21 and Ecclesiastes 5:13-15, we came naked to this world and we will one day return naked. No rich person will want to hear about this. Even if you were buried with lots of diamond, by the following day, thieves would have robbed the dead of those valuables and dumped the corpse on bare ground. A rich man's land once gave him surplus harvest and while projecting for the future, God told him it was time to go. If we give a thought to the issue of death, we will stop chasing only things that have no eternal value. What do you think about? Do you ponder over death?

KEY POINT

 If you ponder on your end, you will plan about your life after death and your family after you are gone. Have you written your will?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 25-27

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY 16/06/2013 - VICTORY OVER STORMS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

VICTORY OVER STORMS

MEMORY VERSE

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 34:19

READ

Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

Mark 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

MESSAGE 

In 2 Kings 4:18-26, we read of how a rich benevolent woman, who sowed so much into the life of a man of God, had her barrenness broken, and of how that son later died but was raised back to life. One lesson we learn here is that the fact that you have God does not mean that there will be no crisis in your life. Problems are part of life for everyone irrespective of religious beliefs. If anyone tells you that the moment you become a Christian there will be no more problems, the fellow is lying to you. That you were saved means that you have escaped from Satan's prison. A Nigerian proverb says “It is right for a slave to escape, and also right for the slave owner to pursue his slave”. The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian here is that in times of storms, you already have the Prince of Peace with you. With just a word from Him, the storm will cease. Psalm 34:19 says,

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”

Some believers think that if you are in God's will or if you obey God's instructions - for instance in taking a particular individual as your spouse in marriage, you will never have issues. This is not true. The truth is: when problems come on account of obeying God, you can confidently return to Him and ask Him to take care of it.

In John 16:33, Jesus says in spite of your trouble be joyful because His victory over the world will secure your victory over that situation. If you look carefully at Isaiah 43:2, you will understand that we must go through fires and rivers. If God will use you for His greater purpose and glory, then you must be prepared to go through not only the rivers, but also the fire, but there will be no reason to fear because He will be with you. The fire will not consume you but it will be an instrument of purifying you. Jesus was in the same boat with His disciples and yet the storm arose (Mark 4:34-41). That He is in your boat does not insure you against storms but that your boat will never sink. The Prince of Peace is with you. Your victory is certain.

KEY POINT

Just as problems are bound to come, because you have Jesus, you too are bound to overcome. It's a balanced equation.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 21 - 24

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY 15/06/2013 - LIBERTY TO SIN? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LIBERTY TO SIN?

MEMORY VERSE

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13

READ

Galatians 5:13-15

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

MESSAGE

Operating in the supernatural will naturally attract certain challenges. You cannot serve and please God and Satan at the same time. Any time you please God, you displease the devil. It is impossible for you to operate in the supernatural without attracting the anger or fury of the kingdom of darkness. After Elijah brought down fire from Heaven and killed all the 450 prophets of Baal, their grand matron – Queen Jezebel resolved to kill him within 24 hours. The more you operate in the supernatural, the greater the attack from the enemy. When a king wanted to arrest Elijah he sent three batches of soldiers and their captains in quick succession, but when Elisha who had a double portion of Elijah's Spirit, was to be arrested, a whole army platoon was sent. Are you facing a band of soldiers or a whole army because of your faithfulness in serving God? The Lord will deliver you.

Some people are still putting their trust in the arm of flesh as regards security. Such are only awaiting disappointment. How much can you pay a security guard for him to die for you? Be connected with the supernatural of God today! When you begin to operate in the supernatural, try and guard against these three things: indiscipline, pride and immorality. Indiscipline is rife in Pentecostal circles. We think that because we speak in tongues we can take liberty as license to live without control. If you study the life of Samson, you will realise that without discipline, you cannot go far in the things of the Kingdom. Some younger ministers serving under senior ministers have suddenly heard from God and have become general overseers so that nobody can oversee them or call them to order. When some leaders are transferred by their superiors, they will tell you they want to go and pray. Some workers and ministers will be transferred to a new parish and they will say because God has not spoken to them about the transfer, they will not go. They believe they are right, not knowing they are simply living in disobedience. Also, watch against pride. Never get to the point where no one can talk to you again. Lastly, watch against immorality.

KEY POINT

Satan knows when to send a few or his whole army to capture a believer. Do you know when to resist individually and when to seek the support of others in resisting the devil?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 18-20

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY 14/06/2013 - WHEN HE VISITS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHEN HE VISITS

MEMORY VERSE

Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

Psalm 114:7

READ

Psalm 114:1-8

Psa 114:1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;

Psa 114:2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.

Psa 114:3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.

Psa 114:4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.

Psa 114:5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?

Psa 114:6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?

Psa 114:7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

Psa 114:8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

MESSAGE

Divine encounters come in different ways but one of the most outstanding forms is when God decides to pay you a visit by Himself. Wherever the King goes, doors open to Him. Psalm 24:7 says,

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.”

Whenever the King of kings wants to come on a visit to His own, He comes in without knocking on the door because He is the DOOR. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the disciples were assembled in a room one day. With the doors shut, Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst without knocking or passing through the door. Being the original Door, He does not need the permission of any door to give Him passage. Doors – not some but all open unto Him of their own volition. This is why you need God's personal visitation. When He comes to you, all the doors of progress, success, growth, opportunities, enlargement, promotion etc. that have refused to open to you, will be compelled to open to Him and in the process, they will remain open to you. This season, all good doors that are shut against you shall open to you in Jesus name.

In Acts 12:5-11, when the angel was delivering Peter, he did not need a key to open the door. When Peter rose and followed the angel, the door that had opened to the angel remained open to Peter also. When the door of the Red sea opened, the children of Israel walked through dry ground in the midst of the sea. But how did the sea part? Psalm 114:3 says when the Red sea saw the Almighty God coming, it grew legs and fled; that was how the children of Israel were able to have a thoroughfare in the sea. Doors cannot remain permanently shut to you. In fact, they have no choice if they cannot open because it is you, they will be forced to willingly open because of your divine Visitor. Cry out to God for Him to personally visit you. When He visits you this season, everything will tremble.

PRAYER POINT

Father, You visited many and their lives changed. Visit me today and let my life change for good.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 14 - 17

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY 13/06/2013 - FOLLOWING FASHION OR CHRIST? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FOLLOWING FASHION OR CHRIST?

MEMORY VERSE

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

1 John 2:17

READ

1 John 2:15-17

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

MESSAGE

How you are dressed determines how you are received or treated. Your dressing is a part of your identity. How you dress equally affects your Kingdom walk. In 2 Kings 1:1-8, when the king was sick, he sent some people to enquire if he would recover or die. They met Elijah who told them that it was a sickness unto death. In order to verify the authenticity of that prophecy, the king asked for the name of the prophet but they could not tell because he did not disclose his name. But by the time they described the type of clothes he wore, the king immediately knew it was Elijah. Does your dressing portray you as a child of God? If you as a minister of God were to dress in regular clothes and not priestly robe or cassock, would your dressing showcase you as a servant of the Most High God? If you compare what John the Baptist wore in Matthew 3:1-4 with what Elijah wore, you would find some resemblance. Who do you resemble when you dress? How is your hairdo? What of your beard? How do you adorn yourself with jewellery – moderate or loud? What kind of dresses do you put on?

When Moses fled from Egypt to Midian after killing one of the Egyptians, he met the daughters of the priest of Midian and helped them. When they got home earlier than usual, their father asked why they were back home so soon. They said it was because they received protection and help from an Egyptian (Exodus 2:15-20). He was taken for an Egyptian because he dressed like one. If you dress like the world, what follows worldly attires will equally follow you. Worldly fashion is controlled by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life according to 1 John 2:16. Don't be surprised to see pride and worldly lust gaining ground in your life if you are given to worldly fashion. If you are obsessed with the latest fashion and style, rather than running the heavenly race you were called into, you will find yourself running a race that God did not call you to. The unfortunate thing about this is that those who are given to worldly fashion share a common destiny with what they are given to. Are you following fashion or Christ?

KEY POINT

The race after worldly fashion and the race to Heaven are two distinct races leading to separate destinations. You must choose which one to run.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Numbers 1 - 3

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY 12/06/2013 - THE WORD AS A SPY AGENT BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WORD AS A SPY AGENT

MEMORY VERSE

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10

READ

1 Corinthians 2:9-11

2Co 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

2Co 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

MESSAGE

One weapon available to us as soldiers in God's army which is honoured in Heaven, on earth and beneath the earth, and a weapon that can never fail us is the name of Jesus. Another weapon we must always use is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Whenever God's word is correctly applied to a given situation, the Holy Spirit skilfully uses the sword to deliver victory in that situation. Hebrews 4:12 says,

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

The word of God is spirit and alive. It is full of power, extremely sharp and operates in every plane of existence - physical, spiritual, intellectual, psychological, physiological, financial, biological, etc. It is not limited by time and space, so it can be sent to address a problem in the past or create a good outcome in the future.

The word of God can affect the tripartite constituents of man – spirit, soul and body. The word discerns the thoughts and plans of the human heart just like the Holy Spirit searches out the thoughts and plans in God's heart (1 Corinthians 2:9-11). If you are conversant with the word by learning it, memorising it, meditating on it, preaching it to win souls regularly and obeying it, whenever you apply it to a situation, it will surely give you results. In fact when you preach it, it will search the hearts of your hearers and give you feedback. This is why at some point, you will be speaking out their hearts and they will think somebody who knows them has gone to tell you about them. Nobody told you. It is just the word in action! Never joke with the Bible! It is more than a literature book. It is more than just the world's best selling book. It is not just men's words but was scripted by the Holy Spirit. The word written by the Spirit is made spirit whenever the Holy Spirit takes it over. Draw closer to the word of God so that you can be more victorious.

KEY POINT

It takes you being under God's authority to operate by His authority.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Hebrews 11 - 13

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY 11/06/2013 - KNOCK BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

KNOCK

MEMORY VERSE

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

Matthew 7:7

READ

Matthew 7:7-8

Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

MESSAGE

In John 15:1-8, Jesus Christ says He is the vine and everyone who is born-again is a branch of that tree. If you let His word abide in you, there will be no reason to worry about fruitfulness. If you are asked to stay in a house, you first need is to locate the house. If you discover you are some distance from the house, you must carefully trace it until you find it. Psalm 34:10 says,

“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”

Children, success, promotion, good health, etc. are good things, if you seek the Lord, you won't lack them because Hebrews 11:6 says God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

We are assured in Matthew 7:7-8 that if we seek, we shall find. It is important to find what you are seeking. Not everyone who seeks will find what he or she is seeking for. This is why we must take Isaiah 55:6 seriously:

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

The seeker must seek at the right time. If the timing is wrong, you are likely not going to find Him. Proverbs 8:17 says, you must seek Him early in order to find Him. If you put God first, you will most likely find Him. Some people seek God when it is already late. It is important to seek Him first thing in the morning, before you go to work, before taking that new job, before you get married, etc. Do not be like those who procrastinate by saying they will seek God only after they have prospered or obtained their heart's desire. In addition, you must knock on the door. Matthew 7:7-8 says if you knock, the door will open to you. If you knock acceptably, you will provoke the Lord to open the door to you. In fact, Revelation 3:7 says He can permanently open a door to you and ensure nobody shuts it. How are you knocking today? One powerful knock with praise and worship can compel Him to open the door. It could also be through giving. It could be through thanksgiving. Arise and knock the pearly gate today and it will be opened to you.

PRAYER POINT

The time you seek God affects what you can get from Him. Father, from today, help me to seek You early

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Hebrews 8-10

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY 10/06/2013 - SEEK WISDOM BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SEEK WISDOM

MEMORY VERSE

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6

READ

Proverbs 2:1-7

Pro 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Pro 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

MESSAGE 

Wisdom is very essential to our daily living. James 1:5 says,

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Wisdom comes in instalments and is available to all who are ready to ask, study God's Word and walk closer with the Spirit of God – who is the Spirit of Wisdom. How do you get wisdom? First it is by getting information. 2 Timothy 2:15 says,

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Proverbs 2:1-7 says you should receive God's words and instructions because in the process, you will be wise. The time spent with God's Word is never wasted.

Another way of accessing wisdom is by receiving revelation – this means understanding the meaning or implication of the information received. If you are driving out of town in an area you have never been before and you see a sign post on which is written: narrow bridge ahead - this is information. The revelation here is the implication of that information: that the bridge cannot take two vehicles at a time and the realisation that someone else may be on the bridge before you. Wisdom then instructs you to act on that revelation by slowing down. Take for instance the woman caught in adultery in John 8:3-11. She was arraigned before Jesus and her offence was read out - that was information. But beyond this, Jesus had a revelation from God's Word:

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

 Romans 3:23

Thereafter, Jesus simply applied that revelation by asking anyone among her accusers who had never sinned to start stoning the woman, and one after another, they silently disappeared. That is wisdom in operation. Furthermore, God can give you wisdom through a gift of the Spirit – the word of wisdom. Every leader needs wisdom. In every sphere of life wisdom is required. How much of wisdom do you have to operate as a leader, spouse, as a parent, in your workplace or ministry? Do you spend time to access information and further move towards revelation? Do you act on the revelation received?

ACTION POINT

Ask for the wisdom that will enable you to be on top of situations and will keep you steps ahead of problems, challenges and enemies

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Hebrews 5 - 7

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY 09/06/2013 - BENEFITS OF COMMITMENT BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BENEFITS OF COMMITMENT

MEMORY VERSE

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement 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

Malachi 3:16-18

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

MESSAGE

God blesses all His children, but while the uncommitted receive a trickle of such blessings, the committed are embarrassed with blessings. Those who are committed to God are His favourites. God can do anything for them. In fact, today's reading says apart from being God's jewels, God will specially protect them and use them to make a statement to the world. If you are committed to the Lord now and it seems you are not getting anything from it, do not be discouraged because sooner rather than later, the difference between you and other believers who are not committed will be very obvious.

Moreover, the committed have one place where God has made reservations for them - at the top. If you are committed to God in divine assignments, you will stand before kings (Proverbs 22:29). If you look at the story of Phinehas recorded in Numbers 25:6-13, you will discover that commitment can earn you divine favour and positively pave way for your future generations. If you are worried about the future of your children, sow to God in commitment throughout your lifetime, and you can be assured that when you are gone, God will continue with them from where He stopped with you. Your greatest security for the future is commitment.

Another benefit of commitment stated in Exodus 23:25 is that it brings blessings on your provisions and removes sicknesses from you. If sickness is removed from you, you are left with good health. Similarly, Isaiah 54:17-18 says commitment makes you untouchable by causing the weapons of your enemies to lose their effects. If you are not committed and you claim the above promises, you may be disappointed. Commitment helps you to key into God's promises. Another benefit here is that commitment can give you 100 fold returns on whatever you sacrificed in the course of your assignment and it also secures your eternal placement. Whatever you sacrifice for God's Kingdom comes back to you. Commitment makes God to entrust you with precious things that He would normally have kept to Himself. If you are low in commitment, you are only cheating yourself in so many ways. Resolve to move up on your level of commitment today!

KEY POINT

If you are committed to Christ, you are doing yourself and your generation a big favour.

BIBLE IN  ONE YEAR

Hebrews 1 – 4

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