OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY – 22/1/2015 – A PEACEMAKER? – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

A PEACEMAKER?

Memorise

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

Matthew 5:9

Read

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

MESSAGE

When Adam and Eve fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, this brought enmity between the Creator and His human creator. The first man and woman decided to love when God hated (Genesis 3:6). It is unfortunate that this spiritual depravity has continued till date. Men tend to love the world more than their Creator as a result of the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (1st John 2:14-14).

“Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

Genesis 3:23-24

The enmity and separation symbolised by the scripture above lingered for a very long time until God decided to reconcile mankind to Himself. God’s expectation is that men will get reconciled to Him by accepting the hand of love He has stretched out to humanity. Like the father of the prodigal son, God is expectantly waiting for mankind to come home to eternal bliss. God wants to make children out of his human creation.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Matthew 5:9

Who are the peacemakers? The peacemakers are those who realise their state of enmity with God and endeavour to forsake their sinful ways of life in order to please Him. Apostle Paul wrote that:

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ , and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself , not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Have you been reconciled with your Lord and Maker? Do not forget that the peacemakers are blessed; they will enjoy the benefits associated with being a child of God.

Action Point

Are you struggling with God on any issue in your head or heart? Be reconciled to God today by submitting to his will.

Bible in one year

Isaiah 65-66,
Acts 13:1-25

Isaiah 65-66;

1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,
7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.
8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

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? 

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.
3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Acts 13:1-25

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY – 22/1/2015 – A PEACEMAKER? – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 5/1/2015 - THE WONDERS OF NEW CREATION - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WONDERS OF NEW CREATION

MEMORISE

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 CORINTHIANS 5 : 17.

READ

JOHN 3 : 1 – 5.

1 THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

MESSAGE

The Almighty God is the Chief Planner, the Architect and the Builder per excellence. Before the universe was put together, God planned it. No man is in this world by accident. He told Jeremiah that before He formed him, He knew him ( Jeremiah 1 : 4 – 5 ). In the beginning, God had beautiful plans for His creation, but along the line, sin distorted His plans for the universe and particularly for the human race. But God, being the Almighty, decided in His Infinite mercy to restore His distorted creation. This is why in Jeremiah 18 : 1 – 4, we read an interesting story of a potter and his clay vessel which got damage in the process of being worked. The potter made up his mind to start all over again. I prophecy that God’s Original purpose for your life which the enemies have tampered with shall be restored today in Jesus’ Name.

Paul the sinner who later became a saintly apostle of Jesus Christ is one example of a person who experienced the wonders of new creation. In his testimony in 1 Timothy 1 : 15, he wrote that he was the chief sinners. In 2 Corinthians 5 : 17, he summed up the wonders of new creation saying :

” Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

In our scripture reading today, Jesus Christ told Nicodemus that he must be born-again in order to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus then asked Jesus in John 3 : 4 that :

“….Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

Jesus replied that it is possible to become a new creation by water and the spirit of God. All these are mysteries and pointers to the wonders of new creation. For you to experience these wonders, you must surrender your total life to Him who is able to recreate and restore beautiful plans that have been distorted by the evil one. The Bible in Acts 3 : 19 says :

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

I pray that you will experience the wonders of new creation in all spheres of your life in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, whatever beautiful plans you have for my life that the enemies have distorted, please restore in Jesus’Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 

ISAIAH 12 – 14 AND ACTS 4 : 1 – 22.

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

RIGHT CHOICE IN MARRIAGE

Memorise

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

2 Corinthians 6:14

Read

1 Kings 11:1-4

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

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

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

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

MESSAGE

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

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

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

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

Prayer Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 14:1-16:15

Song of Solomon 4:1-8

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

FEAR, NOT A CHRISTIAN VIRTUE

Memorise

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

2 Timothy 1:7

Read

Psalm 91:5-6

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

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

MESSAGE

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

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

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

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

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

Action Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Nehemiah 11:25-13:31

Ecclesiastes 9:7-12

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 7/12/2014 - GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS

Memorise

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Read

2 Kings 4:1-8

4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

4:2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

4:3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

4:4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

4:5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

4:6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil

stayed.

4:7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

4:8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

MESSAGE

The widow of the dead indebted son of the prophets lived in a predominantly poor but friendly neighbourhood. This can be deduced from the response of her neighbours to her request for empty vessels. There are lessons to learn from this interesting story, one of such is that: you are living in the midst of opportunities. Where you live right now is where your miracles are. God will inspire you and like that widow, you will discover that your miracles are in your neighbourhood in Jesus’ Name. The point to note here is that, you must be friendly with the people living around you. Can you imagine what would have happened after Elisha told the widow to go to her neighbours for the vessels with which she must collect the object of her miracles and she couldn’t because she was not friendly with them? Can you imagine what their response will be if she had fought all the people in her neighbourhood? The Bible in Proverbs 18:24 says,

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

In so many instances, you do not need to relocate from where you are to get your breakthrough. In Genesis 26:1-3, we come across another interesting story in which God commanded Isaac not to go down to Egypt. God commanded him to stay in Gerar despite the famine in that land. He stayed and God blessed him mightily. In like manner, God is going to prosper you no matter the economic recession in your neighbourhood or in your country. There is a river in your neighbourhood that harbours a particular fish with a gold coin in its belly. All you need to do is to catch the fish, open its mouth and claim the coin that will enrich you for life (Matthew 17:27). There are some people in your neighbourhood, who have more money than they can ever spend in a lifetime. You only need to reach out to them with the message of salvation. Do you know that those that are extremely rich are hungry for the message of salvation? There was a young lady that preached to a rich man and he gave his life to Christ. This man became so filled with the joy of salvation that he decided to give something to this sister. He purchased a brand new car as a gift for this sister in appreciation for the salvation of his soul. What God did for that sister, He can do for you. Go out and be a good neighbour to those around you by offering them the message of hope and salvation. You will be surprised at how God can reward your labour of love. Be a good neighbour today by evangelising to the lost souls in your neighbourhood.

Action Point

Go out and preach the gospel to your neighbours today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Ezra 1-3

Ecclesiastes 5

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 30/11/2014 - ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE

Memorise

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

Isaiah 10:27

Read

Psalm 26:1-6

1 A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

Message

Whenever it rains, water flows from the sky (top) to the ground (bottom). This same principle applies to the anointing. The anointing flows from the top (leaders) to the bottom (congregation). If your leader for instance is anointed, then the anointing will flow down to you. If you pray for your leader, you are praying for yourself. Rain brings comfort and refreshment. In like manner, the anointing destroys yokes – Isaiah 10:27 says:

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

The anointing brings freedom, liberty, relief, refreshment, release from prison, healing etc (Isaiah 61:1). Rain brings a new start; the anointing does the same (Isaiah 61:2-3). The anointing brings beauty for ashes and joy for mourners. Rain is a sign of divine favour, so is the anointing in the life of the anointed. The anointing announces divine favour. God uses the anointing to show that a man has found favour with Him; this was the case with David in 1 Samuel 16:12-13. Rain activates seeds sown; the anointing also activates whatever God has ordained. When God promises you something, the anointing activates its actualisation (2 Samuel 2:4).

Whatever yokes the anointing has destroyed cannot be resuscitated except the person involved goes back to sin, thereby opening the door to bigger yokes of the enemy. In John 5:14, Jesus told the healed man at the pool Bethesda to go and sin no more lest a worse thing comes on him. The anointing of God can flow without ceasing if you abide in God’s will. In Isaiah 35:10, the anointing of God on your head is called everlasting joy, this shows its ability to continuously flow without ceasing.

Prayer Point

Father, anoint my head with your fresh anointing that will be an answer to my generation.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 20:24-23:15

Ecclesiastes 2:9-17

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

THE ALL-KNOWING GOD

Memorise

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

Psalm 139:1

Read

Psalm 139:1-6

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

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

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

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

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

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

Message

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

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

Action Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 7:4-9:31

Proverbs 31:16-31

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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 - 17/11/2014 - HE HAS THE LAST SAY - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HE HAS THE LAST SAY

Memorise

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Isaiah 54:10

Read

Joel 3:16-17

3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

3:17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

MESSAGE

The situation in the world is steadily becoming alarming. Big and strong economies are becoming shaky while some are crumbling already, even though trade is expanding with mind blowing technological breakthroughs and rapid succession of invention of devices across every facet of human endeavour. Violence in various forms of inhuman treatment of man by fellow man is also on the increase. This includes terror activities, civil disturbances, kidnappings, rapes, murderous acts, drugs, human trafficking and sale of human beings as mere commodity etc. All these and several more are pointers to any child of God that the end of all things is fast approaching and that these are not the days to live carelessly.

These happenings are at a stage that any observant mind will sense palpable fear in the world, just like the Bible said it would be (Luke 21:26). For you a child of God however, you need not panic in your heart because God has given you an idea of the events that will occur in these last days. He also has given you His promises of hope and has put His Holy Spirit in you. One of such promises is in Joel 3:16:

“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.“

It is required of you as a child of God in this end-time, to get close to the word of God in order to see global events in light of what is written in it. This will give you hope and encourage your mind on how close the eventual return of our Lord is. His return means release from earthly pains and limitations for you, but the beginning of sorrows for those who don’t have a relationship with Him.

Nevertheless, you need to know that the children of God that will do valiantly in these last days, are not those who only depend on feeding on the word of God that they hear via public ministrations, but those who go beyond this by spending time with God in His word through private study like the Berean brethren (Acts 17:10-11). Great strength for the race comes from this. In these evil days, you will not be a victim but a victor in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Pray that your focus will remain on making Heaven and that you will remain fervent in spirit and steadfast in the love of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 10-12

Proverbs 27:15-28:1

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 5/11/2014 - WORSHIPPING BLINDLY - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WORSHIPPING BLINDLY

Memorise

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

John 4:22

Read

Exodus 32:2-4

32:2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

32:3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Message

The void created in man, following the departure of God’s glory from him as a result of the great fall in the Garden of Eden (Romans 3:23), yearns to be filled up. Unfortunately, the archenemy of man - Satan, has blinded the eyes of many to the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only means by which this void can be filled (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Jesus is the only way back to God. John 14:6 says,

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

When people appear religious without a real encounter with the gospel of Jesus, or refuse to open the door of their hearts to Jesus, though they are full of activities in the house of God, they are merely worshipping blindly. In the words of today’s memory verse, they are worshipping what they know not of. Some are high up there in leadership positions, but they are like Aaron, they are acquainted with all the spiritual terminologies of the Christian life, but do not know God. Aaron was next to Moses in leadership over Israel, but the man Aaron could not be said to really know who God is. If he did, when the people were clamouring for a god because of the long absence of Moses, he would have known that God cannot be found in objects.

It is only in Jesus that God can be truly seen and known; any other way is an exercise in blindness or groping in darkness. Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3). It thus follows that to truly and genuinely become a child of God, and a true worshipper of God; you must have Jesus alone to the exclusion of any other spiritual object of worship. For those who refuse to surrender their hearts to Jesus, but who say they are of God because they are following the moral teachings of Jesus Christ, it is useless for you to cherish His moral teachings without first accepting His death for you and acknowledging your state of death in sin. You must repent from sin and call upon God for your salvation. You must also accept His Lordship over your life. Refusal to do this and mere adherence to His moral teachings leads you nowhere because your state of sin still remains and no sinner will make heaven. Let it be known to you that everyone that would not accept Jesus is being proud against God. Such an individual is saying that his own efforts can save him. By deeds of the law no man is justified, only by the grace of Jesus (Romans 3:20).

Key Point

Jesus, and Him alone is the way, the truth and the life, there is no any other.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Kings 6:24-8:24

Proverbs 21:30-22:12

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

HOW HIGH IS YOUR VOLTAGE?

Memorise

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

2 Corinthians 2:14

Read

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

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

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

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

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

Message

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

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

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

Key Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Kings 21:17-22:53

Proverbs 20:4-17

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