OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY – 31/03/2015 – PROMPT OBEDIENCE – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

PROMPT OBEDIENCE 

Memorise

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:21-22

Read

1 Samuel 15:22-23 (KJV)

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

MESSAGE

In the service of God, sacrifice is good. God expects all His children to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. He also expects our sacrifice to be holy and acceptable (Romans 12:1). However, He makes it clear that He prefers obedience to sacrifice. Jeremiah 7:23 says,

"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you."

Obedience is the act of doing what one is told to do. In the spiritual sense, obedience is total submission to the written and spoken word of God. It is an express but conditional commandment of God. In Exodus 19:5, God instructed the Israelites to obey His voice:

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:"

One distinguishing characteristic of those who are great in the things of God is prompt obedience. The Bible contains so many stories of men and women who became great for God as a result of their obedience to His word. A classical example of a person whose lifestyle was defined by prompt obedience was Abraham. Other heroes of obedience include Joseph, Joshua, Ruth, David, Elijah, Elisha and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Obedience entails learning (Hebrews 5:8). It involves God taking you to His own school of theology. Here you are stripped of all knowledge and pomposity in order to obey God in simple holiness and truth. Obedience requires sincerity, genuineness and love. True obedience comes from a heart of love. It is real and not mere eye service. Obedience requires boldness. It takes boldness for a child of God to obey Him in this world of perversion and outright corruption. It takes moral courage to live holy and move against the tide of sin. Don't be a moral coward. Be bold enough to say "no" to all acts of unrighteousness. Speak out against sin anywhere you find yourself.

A true Christian is one who is neither ashamed of the gospel nor a shame to the gospel. You can overcome the fear of man through reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit. Obedience requires humility. It takes the grace of God to obey God all the way to the end. Are you facing persecution because of your obedience to Christ? Don't give up! Don't compromise your stand. Don't allow yourself to be distracted from the path of obedience. Obedience must not be done haphazardly. Disobedience is rebellion, which is likened to witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23).

Action Point 

Obey God, obey those who share the truth with you, obey your leader and obey your body when it needs rest.

Bible in One year

Nahum 1-3, 

Matthew 12:9-32

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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 - 19/1/2015 - DO YOU DESIRE TO BE BLESSED? - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

DO YOU DESIRE TO BE BLESSED?

Memorise
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psalm 32:1

Read

 Genesis 27:1-4

1  And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.  
2  And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:    
3  Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;   
4  And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

Message

Many people desire to be blessed by God and men, but they have never bothered to do anything to actualise their most-desired blessings. Many have received fantastic prophecies which they know are theirs indeed, but they have never taken any step to bring about the fulfilment of such prophecies. When the Lord told the children of Israel that it was time for them to possess the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey, the onus was on them to depose the illegal occupants before they could possess it (Joshua 1:11-15).

It is very important that the children of God know the principles that guarantee divine blessing so that they can endeavour to apply them. Years ago, at London Heathrow on my way back to Nigeria, I met two of my children who greeted me, and I responded accordingly. One of them moved towards me and helped me with one of the carry-on bags that I was struggling with and I said, “God bless you.” On hearing “God bless you” coming from me to the one who helped me with my bag, the other fellow said, “What about me, daddy?” I spontaneously responded, “What for?” He saw me laden with luggage and merely greeted me, so I merely greeted him in return. If God’s blessing is conditional, and indeed it is, then I won’t put it on those who do not deserve it.

From our scripture reading, take note of the condition Esau needed to fulfil before he could access his father’s blessing. The father’s blessing, both biological and spiritual, is one that must not be missed. It is powerful and only reversible by the Almighty God. The greatness of our loss is therefore unimaginable, if we do nothing to access His divine blessing. One way of accessing divine blessing is stated in Proverbs 3:9-10. Take care to apply this in your life.

Many so-called children of God today are in deep financial and material agony. They seek God’s blessing to no avail because they have failed to realise that it is when they give that they would be given. It is my belief that you would always have something to give not only to God but also to His servants. You can use one orange to entertain four visitors at a time instead of letting them go empty. My prayer for you is that at every point of your life, you will not lack food to eat, and you will not lack the seed to sow to access your divine blessings in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, open my eyes to recognise what it will take to access my divine blessings, in Jesus’ Name.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 19/1/2015 - DO YOU DESIRE TO BE BLESSED? - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 08/1/2015 - THE WONDER WORKING PRAYER - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WONDER WORKING PRAYER

MEMORISE

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and she saw Peter, she sat up.

ACTS 9 : 40.

READ

MARK 9 : 20 – 29.

20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting

MESSAGE

The Bible in Philippians 4 : 6 enjoins us not to be anxious for anything, but rather to make our requests known to God through prayer and supplication sandwiched with thanksgiving. The result of this spiritual exercise is found in Philippians 4 : 7 :

” And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This is the wonder of an effective Christian Prayer life.

Our Bible text reveals that prayer can work wonder beyond our widest imagination. It also reveals the inevitability of prayer in our lives. If Jesus could do nothing without prayer, then we should not think that an effective prayer life is optional in our Christian walk. When the apostles wondered why they could not cast out the demons in a demon-possessed boy, Jesus in Mark 9 : 29 simply told them that it was due to lack of prayer and fasting. James 4 : 2 reveals that many children of God are guilty of negligence in prayer. Some of them even become envious of those who take out time to pray to God concerning their needs. They fail to realise that it is prayer that can solve the problem of lack, and not envy. Like the elder brother of the prodigal son, they are zealous in the work of God but fail to make their requests known to God. They end up becoming envious. The elder brother of the prodigal son even falsely accused his father of partiality. But the father replied that all that he had was his ( Luke 15 : 31 ). The problem with this son was that he would not ask.

After I was commissioned as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, I travelled to my home town. On getting there, one of the request put forward to me was about the access road into the town; as at that time, the road was in a deplorable state. Humanly speaking, it was an expensive project for a pastor to undertake. So I looked up in prayer to the God who called me, just like the Psalmist did in Psalm 121 : 1 – 2 :

” I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”

The Lord answered my simple prayer a few weeks after my visit. He moved the government to award a contract that got the road fixed.

KEY POINT

Ask and it shall be given; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

ISAIAH 23 – 26

ACTS 5 : 22 – 42.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 07/1/2015 - WONDER WORKING NAME - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

Wonder-Working Name

Memorise

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mark 16:17

Read

Matthew 1:21-23

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us

MESSAGE

From Mark 16:17, we understand that signs and wonders shall follow those who believe in the Name of Jesus Christ. The wonder-working power in the Name of Jesus Christ is also declared in Isaiah 9:6. Indeed the Name of Jesus is full of wonders. In Acts 3:6, Peter the apostle said that,

“…Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

Immediately Peter mentioned this Name, the feet and ankle bones of the lame man he was talking to received strength and he began to make progress in life – beginning with walking and later leaping. With the Name of Jesus Christ in your mouth, nothing becomes impossible for you. Those who do not believe in the Name of Jesus for salvation, either for religious or intellectual reasons, may not know what they stand to lose. The Bible says:

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

Proverbs 18:10

This scripture reveals the secret that makes the Name of Jesus work for someone: righteousness. Only the righteousness that is obtainable through that Name can make the same Name work wonders for you. As a matter of fact, it is through this Name that we receive forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).

When Peter commanded the lame man to walk in the Name of Jesus, it was done immediately. By the power in the Name, Jesus, I command you to receive deliverance from all forms of oppression you have been suffering from now on. The Name of Jesus Christ is anointed (Song of Solomon 1:3). This is why the Name destroys the yokes of the devil and produces deliverance for the oppressed. A young Christian was travelling in a boat one day, and as the boat was about to capsize, he shouted that Name. Unseen hands came to his rescue. I pray that the Name of Jesus will begin to work for you as you believe and use the Name as from today in Jesus’ Name. The devil may resist anything but not in the Name of Jesus Christ, because God has given Him a Name above every other name (Philippians 2:9-11).

Action Point

Apply the Name of Jesus to any challenging situation or to anything that represents a mountain in your life, and you will see it give way to the glory of God the Father.

Bible in one year

Isaiah 19:16-22:25

Acts 5:1-21

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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 - SATURDAY - 3/1/2015 - LIKE THE STARS - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LIKE THE STARS

MEMORY VERSE

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Daniel 12:3 

Read

Daniel 6:19-28

19. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21. Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

24. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

25. Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

26, I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

27. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

28. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (Daniel 6:19-28 KJV)

MESSAGE

A star is as outstanding figure among his or her contemporaries. He shines and outshines his colleagues. One of the ways to be a star is to be created a star (Genesis 1:16). Jeremiah was created a star by God (Jeremiah 1:5). Another way to become a star is to have a parent who is a star. The day a prince is born, he is already a star. While some people are born as star, some others are made stars or gifts and through hard work, get promoted to become stars. Deuteronomy 34:9 tells of Joshua who was made a star because Moses laid hands on him. Daniel achieved stardom by the use of his gifts, skills and through hard work (Daniel 6:1-3).

To shine like the stars, you need God. The Bible in Psalm 75:6-7 says:

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

You can move God to make you a star if you seek Him and surrender your life to Him (Hebrews 11:6, Proverbs 8:17). You can influence your way to stardom if you shun iniquity and love righteousness. The Bible makes this clear in Hebrew 1:9:

“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Proverbs 22:6 tells of the importance of parental training in order for children to become stars. In other words, parents can make stars out of their children through proper training – spiritually, intellectually and morally (Deuteronomy 11:19). My mother did a good job on me. While other children were playing outside, my mother would compel me to stay indoors to read my books. I am what I am today by the grace of God and the efforts of my mother. Children can also influence their own shining through hard work (Proverbs 22:29). Some children are addicted to computer games instead of reading their books. There are Christians youths who are believing God for breakthroughs without hard work. They are just wasting their time, because no breakthrough will come to a lazy fellow. Also, children must obtain the blessing of their parents by honouring them. I remember my mother would pray for me thus: “When you call one fellow, two hundred will respond.” It is now a reality in my life; Hallelujah!!!

Prayer Point

Father, please help me that I may do what I need to do what I need to do in order to shine as a star from now onward.

Bible in one year

Isaiah 6:8-9:7

Acts 2:29-47

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 2/1/2015 - BE FRUITFUL - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BE FRUITFUL

Memory verse

Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. (ASV)

Deuteronomy 7:14. 

Bible Reading 

Genesis 1:26-28 

26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 

27. And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

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

Message

When the Lord spoke to man in Genesis 1:28 to be faithful and to multiply, He was not giving a piece of advice. Rather, He was issuing a decree that must be established. Failure to bear fruit directly contradicts divine law or decree. I pray for someone using this devotional, that the Lord will cause you to experience all-round fruitfulness this year in Jesus’ Name. It is wonderful to note that God is not only interested in your spiritual fruitfulness but also in your physical and material fruitfulness. God is not happy when we do not live in divine prosperity, because it is His uttermost desire that His children live a daily life of fruitfulness and increase (Deuteronomy 7:14)

What other types of fruit is the Almighty God expecting from us? They type of fruit God expects depends on your spiritual level of maturity. For example, a person who has not given his life to Christ in the real sense of it needs to bear the fruit of repentance. The Bible says,

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Being forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”

Matthew 3:7-8

Moreover, for a user of this devotional who is already saved by grace, there are two categories of fruit you must endeavour to bear this year. These are: the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, longsuffering, gentleness, etc (Galatians 5:22-23), and the fruit of souls. It is very dangerous for a child of God not to be fruitful, because Jesus Christ said:

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

John 15:2

I pray that you will not be cut away from Christ because of fruitfulness in Jesus’ Name. One advantage of soul-winning is answered prayers (John 15:16). The Lord has spared your life up till now, hoping to see you bear fruit. My prayer is that God will not be disappointed in you this year again, and that He will answer your prayers speedily in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point

Determine to live for Jesus Christ. Be a passionate soul-winner this year, and you will see how faithful God is to His promise of answering your prayer.

Bible in one year

Isaiah 3:1-6:7 

Acts 2:1-28

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 29/12/2014 - BE STEADFAST IN FAITH - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BE STEADFAST IN FAITH

Memorise

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Read

Revelation 3:7-11

3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

MESSAGE

Many Christians believe in their pastor and the doctrines of their Church. There is nothing wrong in this in as much as the pastor is living right and the doctrines are biblical. However, your faith and steadfastness must be built on Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of your faith who cannot disappoint you. A man will backslide with his pastor, if his faith anchors on the pastor and the pastor backslides. This is the reason why you must know Jesus Christ through and through. What you know concerning Jesus Christ will make you steadfast if you know Him adequately enough. The Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul wrote this:

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

Philippians 3:7-8

You may want to ask, what do I know concerning the Lord Jesus? I know that Jesus is alive. I am very sure of this. I have very many testimonies to prove this. I was always feeling ill and it was a monthly occurrence despite medications. I had taken more than two thousand injections without any respite. However, when I started calling on the Name of Jesus, I never fell ill again. For my wife and children, He is just the same. Illness has been completely removed from my home. He that you believe is alive should surely help you to overcome just about any problem and quickly too, if truly He is alive. If He is dead, surely He cannot even help Himself. An ordinary man cannot perform these miracles no matter how deep he has gone into occultism. Satan will cast you aside to face another person once he knows he cannot take you away from Jesus Christ. Just go on praising God if Satan brings illness to your child. This attitude will shock the devil and make him flee from you. He will see you as a mad man rejoicing in the midst of trouble. The world and its lusts would run from you if you can stand firm in your faith. The Bible in Galatians 5:1 says:

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

May the Lord uphold you to the end in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, I cannot hold myself; I put my trust in your everlasting arm, please uphold me to the very end.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 22:22-24:21

Song of Solomon 6:10-7:10

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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 - TUESDAY - 23/12/2014 - NO IMPOSSIBILITY - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

NO IMPOSSIBILITY

Memorise

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:37

Read

2 Kings 2:9-10

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

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

MESSAGE

Elijah told Elisha that he had asked a hard thing, after the latter requested for a double portion of his anointing. This tells us that even for a great prophet of God, there were things considered hard and difficult. However, in Matthew 19:26, we are told that all things are possible with God. The track record of God’s almightiness shows that truly nothing can be difficult for Him. All we need to do is to leave everything in His hands. He is capable of doing what no earthly president or emperor can do because the Psalmist says that power belongs to God (Psalm 62:11). Even when a man promises to do something for you, what he can do is limited to the extent his strength can carry him, whereas God has unlimited power and resources. Also, the influence of a man determines what he can do to influence your situation positively. The Almighty God is the Most Influential. In 2 Kings 4:8-17, we read about a rich woman who took care of Elisha and his servant. When Elisha wanted to say “thank you” for her hospitality, the woman said she needed nothing because, not only was she influential, she also had influential relatives. But her influence could not remove her barrenness. The prophet who served the Most Influential God, pleaded with the Almighty and she had a baby boy.

After Elisha requested a “hard thing” from Elijah in 2 Kings 2:10, Elijah told him that:

“..........if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.”

The lesson here is that we must have focus. In other words, if you look up, you will receive help from heaven (Psalm 121:1-2). Paul in Ephesians 1:19-21, told us that God’s power is exceedingly great towards us, it is far above all principalities, and powers and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. This is what you need to look up to. You are likely to see problems if you look down. If you focus on your problems and raging challenges, you are likely to sink like Peter in Matthew 14:26-31. If you look around, you are likely to see other people with similar problems to yours and become complacent in seeking solution to your problem. In life, you are likely to become what you focus your attention on. When I attended Kenneth Hagin’s Camp meeting many years ago, what I saw encouraged me to work towards having a large congregation of saved and Heaven-bound believers. My aspiration became bigger when I visited Yonggi Cho’s church in South Korea shortly after my experience at Kenneth Hagin’s Camp meeting. Remember, there is no impossibility with God.

Action Point

Focus on God and what He is capable of doing for you. Ask for a hard thing.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 10:1-12:5

Song of Solomon 2:8-17

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