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

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

REPAIR THE ALTAR

Memorise

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

1 John 2:1

Read

1 Kings 18:29-34

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

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

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

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

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

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

MESSAGE

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

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

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

Action Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Esther 4-7

Ecclesiastes 10:8-20

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - 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

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 10/12/2014 - SERVICE TO THE ANOINTED - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SERVICE TO THE ANOINTED

Memorise

He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Matthew 10:41

Read

Matthew 10:40-42

10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Message

Elisha was devoted to serving the servant of God, Elijah. This devotion was one of the qualities that qualified him for uncommon greatness. The Bible stated that Elisha poured water on Elijah’s hand (2 Kings 3:11). With this and also as stated in our memory verse, it is clear that there are lots of blessings reserved for those who serve God’s prophets. You can serve a man of God without getting physical remuneration from him. However, when a man of God pronounces blessing on you saying “God bless you”, he is not just paying you a compliment. A casual “God bless you” from a friend differs from that which a man of God pronounces. A “God bless you” from a man of God is loaded with prophetic blessings. Hence you must be ready to do what will qualify you for a divine benediction. Recently, I was in the United States and one of my sons in the Lord shared a testimony. He testified thus:

“God surprised me during the General Overseer’s (G.O.) previous visit. Prior to the G.O.’s arrival, my pastor told me that he had chosen me to drive the G.O. around during his visit. I tried to explain to my pastor that it might not be easy for me to take up this assignment because I was preparing for a major examination, but my pastor insisted. I thought I could manage to combine driving the G.O. with preparing to write the crucial examination because my understanding was that the G.O. would spend just one day. To my surprise, the G.O. spent a whole week. When he was leaving he simply said, “God bless you”. To the glory of God, I passed my exams in flying colours and I got a new job and prospered tremendously.”

May God remember all your labour of love towards the ministers of God in Jesus’ Name.

Elisha was committed to the business of the kingdom. Therefore, when Elijah asked to know what he wanted, he had only one answer: a double portion of the power on Elijah (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha asked for what he would use for God’s work. The Bible in Matthew 6:33 says:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

God is looking for those who are concerned about His kingdom’s business. As from today, may the Lord grant you the mind to work for Him and to work with His anointed ministers.

Action Point

Think of how you can extend the frontiers of God’s kingdom on earth and start its execution.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 27/11/2014 - WORLD CHANGERS - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WORLD CHANGERS

Memorise

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Acts 17:6

Read

Acts 8:5-12

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Message

Jesus left a group of 11 apostles behind when He ascended to heaven. He left them with a purpose and a mission to the world. He left them in the world, not to get absorbed or influenced by it, but to change it. Did they succeed? They very well did. Not long after Jesus had gone, in far away Thessalonica, the people exclaimed that the Christian brethren had “turned the world upside down”. This was an acknowledgement of the fact that they had brought change to the world (Acts 17:6).

For us in this generation, we should realise that the generation that the world cannot change is the generation that will change the world. If the believers of old were flowing with the Satan influenced current of their time, they would not have made any impact and they would not have passed down the torch of the gospel effectively through successive subsequent generations.

To change the world, you need to understand the current situation of the world, its functions and the active players involved. You cannot change a system you know nothing about. Some of us don’t know the current trends in the world around us. If you truly see yourself as being on a mission for God on earth, you cannot afford not to care about what is going on around you. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was aware that a tower fell on some people in Siloam and was able to appropriately reply those who asked Him questions regarding the incident (Luke 13:4). Next, you need to map out your strategy. Through careful planning, strategise for the desired change you want to introduce, considering the resources at your disposal in Christ and who is behind your vision (Luke 14:28). Having done all these, “stick to your guns” in Christ. Don’t be lured away from your objective, don’t succumb to intimidations or blackmail and don’t be distracted (Philippians 3:13-14).

Action Point

How much are you contributing towards changing the world by witnessing Jesus Christ? Be involved!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 10-13

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 19/11/2014 - FOR CHRIST’S SAKE DON’T! - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FOR CHRIST’S SAKE DON’T!

Memorise

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

Galatians 5:1

Read

Psalm 137:1-4

137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

137:3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

137:4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

MESSAGE

A negative change is generally abhorred by men. Everyone craves progress. We always desire to keep ascending the ladder of success. No one wants to make a u-turn in the journey of greatness. The greatest journey whose end has the greatest significance is the journey to Heaven. This journey is only made in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. Only through Him does man have access to God.

Some individuals, who have truly started this glorious and wonderful journey to heaven, handle the race too leisurely and with levity. Otherwise, what shall we say of a Christian sister or brother who toy with sins like fornication, lying, dishonesty and fraudulent practices. Some sisters and brothers still in courtship are already having sex. This is an example of making a u-turn while on the journey to the greater glory above. In line with today’s scripture reading, the implication for such people is that they will fall prey to the enemy. Such people lead themselves into the captivity of the enemy, contrary to the admonition of today’s memory verse. Such individuals become like Samson who when God’s presence was with him, he was a terror to the enemy, but by the time he pushed God away from him through his unabated lust, he became a laughing stock with his two eyes gone. Why, why, why would you allow such regrettable acts to cause you such pain? Such was the condition of the entire nation of Israel in Psalm 137. They went into captivity in the hands of their enemies. Hear their wailing in Psalm 137:3-4:

“For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?”

Some people deceive themselves or allow the devil to deceive them. They live in sin and they claim they can always confess their sins; it is either such people are not saved at all, or they have already backslidden. What a dangerous thing it is for a child of God to toy with sin. Five to six years ago in Lagos - Nigeria, the case of a pastor was reported in the newspapers. A portion of a wall fell on him while he was on top of a woman; they died together on the spot, what judgment! Where would the destination of such a pastor be in eternity? For Christ’s sake don’t toy with sin!

Action Point

Flee every appearance of evil. Don’t say I will do it only once; your “only once” escapade could lead you to an eternity in hell.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 16:8-18:17

Proverbs 28:14-25

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 3/11/2014 - THE WORD - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WORD

Memorise

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

Hebrews 4:12

Read

Isaiah 40:6-8

40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Message

The word of God is God communicating with us and the word of God is God revealed to us. In it we see His nature and His character. The word of God is forever settled in heaven. The word of God is a living spirit (John 6:63). The word of God reveals the mind of God and therefore His will to us. What can man do without the word of God? Nothing! It is the word of God that gives us the means of salvation from sin. It confronts us with the reality of our fallen state, the doom of sinners and the way out through the love and mercy of God. It is the same word that serves as our compass on our journey to Heaven (Acts 20:32).The word of God also reveals God’s provision for our successful and victorious living here on earth, and how to harness His promises in our lives. What would we do without the word of God? Any congregation of God’s people that give prominence to the word of God, teaching and preaching it, and patterning their lives according to it will be blessed. But those that do otherwise are treading on very dangerous grounds.

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”

Isaiah 40:7-8

The word of God will outlast anyone. Though heaven and earth shall pass away, the word of God shall not pass away (Matthew 24:35). What should your attitude towards the word of God be? The word itself reveals this: “Tremble at God’s word” (Isaiah 66:2). This directs God’s attention to you for favour and victory (Isaiah 66:5). You are to uphold the word of God in your life irrespective of circumstances. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego upheld the word of God even at the point of death, and God did not disappoint them. You are to feed your mind the word of God. This will renew your mind to think the way God thinks and will restrain you from sin (Psalm 119:11). The word of God coming out prophetically from the mouth of God’s anointed servants is as powerful as the written word. The story of the official in Samaria, who derided the word of God from the mouth of Elisha attests to this. He paid for it with his life (2 Kings 7:18-20). I encourage you to tremble indeed at God’s word; study it, meditate on it, obey it and you will prosper (James 1:25).

Action Point

Prayerfully improve on your reading, studying, meditating and memorising of God’s word.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Kings 3:1-4:37

Proverbs 21:1-15

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 31/10/2014 - DIVINE PROMOTION FOR THE WISE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

DIVINE PROMOTION FOR THE WISE

Memorise

The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Proverbs 3:35

Read

Psalm 75:5-7

5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. 

6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 

7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Message

Divine promotion is a reward for those who live holy. God is the Judge, and only He can promote you. The devil is not the one who will promote you. There are two types of promotion according to Proverbs 3:35. These are: glory and shame. There is glorious promotion for the wise and shameful promotion for fools. Who are the wise? The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Those who are wise fear God, and because of this, they live a holy life. They depart from sin. God says that such people will have a glorious promotion. A classical example of a wise man, who as a result of his fear of God abstained from sin, is Joseph in Egypt. He refused to have carnal knowledge of his master’s wife, though it was offered to him ‘free of charge’. In Genesis 39:9, He queried this offer saying: 

“......how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

The end of the story is that Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt. Who are fools? Fools are those who can see danger ahead and still walk into it. Fools are those who know that the wages of sin is death and yet continue to sin. Fools are those who know that the only way to get to the kingdom of God is by becoming born-again and yet they refuse salvation. Fools are those who have decided to continue living in sin, after knowing that without holiness, no man shall see God.

You must live a holy life if you want glorious promotion. God is no respecter of persons. He will never bend His standards. Promotion puts you on top. Being on top comes with very many advantages, according to Deuteronomy 28:1:

“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth.”

God will give you divine promotion if you live holy. However, if you do not live holy, you will go down. Those who are on top enjoy it up there. Those who are below remain in suffering. I prefer being on top. When you are on top, you will get special protection. The one who is on top is special and of more value than the one who is below. Can you see how wise it is to live holy? I pray that today, the Lord will give you the grace you need to live holy for divine promotion, in Jesus’ Name. All you need to do is to make up your mind that you will no longer live a life of sin anymore, and the Lord will help your decision.

Prayer Point

Father, put your fear in me so that I may shun evil for holy living, and grant me divine promotion this season in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Kings 19:19-21:16

Proverbs 19:19-20:3

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 10/10/2014 - IDENTIFYING PRIDE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

IDENTIFYING PRIDE

Memorise

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Matthew 23:12

Read

Isaiah 14:12-17

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Message

One of the most subtle and hazardous problems of leadership is the peril of pride. The very fact that a man has risen to a position of leadership with its attendant prominence tends to engender secret self-congratulation and pride which if not checked, will make such a fellow unfit for further advancement in the service of God’s kingdom. Pride is a fundamental sin that aims at enthroning self at the expense of God. Pride was the sin that converted Lucifer from an anointed cherub and guardian of the throne of God, to the devil – the leader of evil and the most cruel and unpleasant spirit. It was this same pride that caused the expulsion of Lucifer from Heaven. Isaiah 14:12 says,

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”

Pride is subtle. It is a sin whose presence its victim is least conscious of. This hydra-headed spiritual monstrosity assumes various forms. The most abhorrent of these forms is spiritual pride. Since pride is a subtle sin, how can you discover whether or not you have succumbed to its flatteries? First, spiritual pride manifests itself mostly in Christian service. To identify whether you manifest pride in your service or not, you should endeavour to sincerely answer these questions: How do you react when another person is selected for the assignment you expected? How do you react when another person is promoted and you are overlooked? How do you react when another person outshines you in gifts and accomplishments? Secondly, be honest. How do you feel when others, especially your rivals say negative things about you? Thirdly, submit yourself to the test of criticism. This is part of the price that must be paid daily by a leader. No leader is exempted from criticism. It should be noted that there is nothing else that so kills the efficiency, capability and initiative of a leader as unhelpful, destructive criticism. It tends to hamper and undercut the efficiency of a man’s thinking process. It chips away at his self-respect and undermines his confidence in his ability to cope with his responsibilities. However, criticism is equally a powerful instrument in assessing the presence of pride in a leader’s life. The pride or humility of a leader can be clearly seen in the leader’s reaction to criticisms. To identify the presence of pride in your life, you should ask if criticism causes hostility and resentment in your heart, causes you to immediately try to justify yourself and if you hasten to respond by in turn criticising the critic.

Action Point

To overcome the peril of pride, you should be honest and measure yourself by the life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who humbled Himself, even to death on the cross.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Samuel 1-2

Proverbs 9:13-10:7

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 06/10/2014 - A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE.

A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS

Memorise

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:3

Read

2 Timothy 2:1-7

1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Message

I believe that knowledge and wisdom are crucial to our greatness in life. Simply put, knowledge is information that is censored by intelligence, while wisdom is the right application of knowledge. One piece of knowledge every child of God should have is the fact that every sincere Christian is a soldier of the cross. Christians are combatants, and we are expected to be equipped for battle. Ephesians 6:11 says,

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

The first group of enemies Christians wrestle against are principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). It is our duty as soldiers of the cross to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). A saint is holy, and the faith delivered to the saints is of great value. Therefore, no evil conduct must be found or even mentioned among soldiers of the cross. How should a soldier of the cross live? We are to resist the devil (James 4:7). Resisting an opposing force is serious business. Whoever will resist the devil should first and foremost submit himself or herself to God. Prioritise only the needful in your life and let God be your first priority. As soldiers of the cross, the principle of proper prioritisation is relevant to our growth in Christ. Someone once said the reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first. Many Christians find it difficult to make God their first priority because petty and mundane matters steal much of their time. Unfortunately, many are living for the wrong things. They fail to know that part of being wise is to know what to overlook. If God will be your Number One, there are many things you will have to flee from or refuse to touch. One of such things is sexual immorality. The scripture enjoins us to flee fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18). In the same vein, we should flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). A Christian soldier knows, as Paul did, that all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. As a soldier of the cross, it is your duty to be sober, vigilant and watchful. You should set your affection on heavenly things, not on the mundane (Colossians 3:2). Soldiers of the cross are the elect of God and should therefore put on the attributes of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering. We should learn to bear with one another and to forgive one another. Finally, every soldier of the cross is expected to demonstrate the true love of God. You should also be thankful and allow the peace of God to rule in your heart.

Action Point

Spend quality time in worship and in singing spiritual songs with grace in your heart to God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Samuel 21-23

Proverbs 7:10-27

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 03/10/2014 - INTEGRITY - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE.

INTEGRITY

Memorise

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Matthew 3:8

Read

Matthew 7:15-20

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 

Message

It is pathetic but true: integrity is a scarce commodity nowadays. The unvarnished truth is that almost all nations parade those who plead guilty to fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, immoralities, perjury, making of false statements and other criminal acts. Modern society is in dire need of people of integrity. A person is identified by his or her integrity. Matthew 7:16 says:

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”

What is integrity? Integrity can be defined as steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. It is a state of being unimpaired of soundness; the quality of being whole or of having undivided completeness. Integrity is a synonym for honesty. It manifests itself as what is called incorruptibility. Are you corrupt or incorruptible? Are you a man or woman of integrity? There are certain things to note about integrity. First, integrity is a skill: It is a practical skill. It is the ability to practice honesty and to exhibit moral courage in all ramifications. As with all skills, integrity is developed and learned over time. Integrity is a trait that is taught and learned over an entire lifetime. We need men and women of integrity in our society. Integrity can be integrated into a society through sound ideological precepts and practices. Secondly, integrity is a guideline, a benchmark, point of reference or a goal that is used to make decisions based on truth and honesty. To maintain integrity, a person must remember to refer to truth and honesty in all decisions, thoughts, actions and reactions. Thirdly, integrity can be described as a great tower. It is something that a person builds and maintains over a lifetime. May I ask: when will you begin to build your own tower of integrity? Fourthly, integrity can be considered as a seed. It is planted in childhood, watered in youth and blossoms in adulthood. The more a person waters this seed throughout life, the more it grows and blossoms. Just as it is with plants, if integrity is neglected at any point, it will wither and die. Integrity requires constant maintenance. A man or woman of integrity can be likened to a janitor. As a janitor cleans and straightens rooms for a living, a person of integrity should maintain true integrity through daily self-assessment in moral and financial probity. The fifth point to note is that integrity is delicate. If care is not taken, integrity can be eroded, lost or compromised beyond recognition in a person’s life. Integrity means what a person says and what he or she does are the same; the results are consistent. Are you a person of integrity?

Action Point

Resolve to maintain integrity in all your thoughts, utterances and actions from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Samuel 14:47-16:23 

Proverbs 6:1-15

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 16/09/2014 - ROOTED IN CHRIST BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

ROOTED IN CHRIST

Memorise

Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Psalm 92:13

Read

Psalm 92:12-15

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Message

The root is the most important part of a tree. The very life of every tree is in its roots. Also, the strength of every house is in its foundation. If something goes wrong with the foundation, the house will fall. The moment something happens to the root of any tree, it will show on the tree. This is a profound truth. Most of the time, it is the tree that we see and not its roots. That which is unseen is what supports what is seen. The part of a man that keeps him alive cannot be seen with the physical eyes. We cannot see God. However, if God leaves your life, there will be nothing left of you. The Bible in Romans 11:16 says,

“For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”

This clearly shows that if the one who is your foundation is holy, then you will turn out holy. If the God you serve is a holy God, you will discover that your tendency will be towards holiness. When the root is bitter, the tree is going to be bitter. When somebody offends you and you do not forgive, your actions will show your bitterness; your words also will show your bitterness and it will be difficult for you to live a life of peace and holiness in accordance with Hebrews 12:14-15.

How can you have the grace and power of God? The secret is that your root should be love. This is enunciated in Ephesians 3:17-19:

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

When you embrace love, you will see the attributes of God in every area of your life. Many of us want the power of God. We want to be able to perform miracles. The question that God is asking is: are you willing to love? If you have power without love, you will destroy many people. If you have the abilities of God without the love of God, anybody who offends you is a dead person. For the power of Christ to manifest in you, you need to be rooted in Christ. Examine yourself and think of everything in you that was planted by the devil – bitterness, lack of forgiveness, hatred, sickness, disease, disappointments and fear. Ask God to uproot them all. The plan of God is that we being rooted in Him will prosper materially. He wants you to be in good health and He also wants your soul to prosper (3 John 2).

Action Point

Don’t seek for the power of God until you have the love of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Judges 1:1-3:6

Job 38:39-39:12

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY- 11/09/2014 - ORGANISED NOISE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

ORGANISED NOISE

Memorise

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

Psalm 126:2

Read

Psalm 126:1-3

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

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

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

Message

Human beings love to sing. We convey our inner feelings to the outside world through songs. If you pay close attention to the song on a person’s lips, you will have an idea of what is going on in their mind. A man that sings: “We shall overcome some day”, may have just lost a battle. The man who sings: “Jehovah is your Name” is most likely fighting a battle. Someone who sings: “Now that the battle is over, I am more than a conqueror”, has just won a battle. Music is nothing but ‘organised lyrics’. It can also be organised noise. This is why God says, if you don’t know how to sing very well, you can still make a joyful noise (Psalm 98:4).

“And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.”

Mark 5:22-24

Jairus was by all standards a great man, but he had a problem. The only daughter he had was ill and was about to die. He ran to Jesus Christ and implored Him greatly. He spent a lot of time singing the song of the desperate, and Jesus had to follow him home. To a reader of this devotional: God will change your song of sorrow to a song of triumph in Jesus’ Name. Like everyone else, Jairus was afraid of the shame that would follow if Jesus did not intervene. He was afraid of loneliness. This might be your own fear too. Jairus was desperate because he was fighting a battle that he dared not lose. Yet, he knew he was fighting a battle he could not win.

What is that thing that the enemy has stolen which you want back? It could be your health; it could be your joy or your prosperity. You will get it back in Jesus’ Name. The sorrowful can be full of joy again. I believe the failures of the past can be turned into success again. For every family that has been destitute, the tide will turn in your favour. In 2 Kings 4:1-7, we have the story of a widow who was so poor and so heavily in debt that creditors wanted to trade her sons. God however stepped in, and the family became rich. If you begin to walk in the fear of the Lord, you will always have good songs to sing.

Action Point

Spend quality time praising and worshipping God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Joshua 13:8-15:63

Job 36:17-33

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 22/08/2014 - SIGNS AND SYMBOLS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS

Memorise

And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Matthew 16:3

Read

Matthew 16:1-3

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Message

Signs and symbols are signals to important events in life. Signs usually have their origin in the spirit realm. Some signs manifest physically while some can only be viewed with spiritual eyes. Those with the ability to read the signs of the times have been in existence for thousands of years. The star-gazers from the east were able to correctly identify the star of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, scientists have developed advanced technology for more accurate prediction of weather patterns. Major world events are regularly being transmitted via dedicated spiritual broadcast stations, but only those with active decoders are able to receive such privileged broadcasts.

It takes the spiritually sensitive person to determine spiritual signs that are not apparent to the physical eyes. It is important to be able to discern the time of your favour or else you may miss it completely. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to point your attention to the signs signalling your time of favour. He is mandated by God to share secrets of things to come with us (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit can use any available means to communicate signs to you. It could be through dreams, open visions, or God’s audible voice. He could speak through a prophet in a programme, or He could send one to you directly. God has a thousand and one ways that He could use to inform you of happenings in the spiritual realm. What is important is whether you know how to cultivate your relationship with the Holy Spirit. If you do, no event will take you unawares.

However, it is important to note that Satan and his cohorts easily identify the time of one's favour and move at such times to provoke the proposed recipient to take steps capable of triggering a loss. There are people who have determined not to compromise with sin, but when their time of favour comes, they would suddenly observe that they are under intense demonic pressure to sin. It is at such times the devil reawakens their old appetite for sin. Satan uses this strategy a lot to debar Christians from receiving their blessings. Therefore be wise, watch and pray. Whenever you come under intense pressure to sin, your time of favour could just be around the corner. Do everything you can to keep your relationship with God intact. Most importantly, cultivate your friendship with the Holy Ghost. Open your spiritual eyes; be sensitive to the signs of the times and you will never be caught napping.

Prayer Point

Holy Spirit, reveal yourself to me more than ever before in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Luke 14:25-17:10

Job 27:1-12

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