OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY- 15/08/2014 - DOUBT DESTROYS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

DOUBT DESTROYS

MEMORISE

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

John 1:34

READ

John 1:29-34

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

MESSAGE

Doubt is one of the greatest weapons that the devil employs in order to confuse and destroy a child of God. Doubt is a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction about something. Usually, doubt does not manifest itself until you have received knowledge or instruction about something. When you know what the Bible says about a particular subject, but something else is pushing a contrasting opinion in your mind, suggesting to you that the knowledge you have of that commandment is not perfect, that there is a better way to such matters, be sure to quickly identify it as the spirit of doubt from the pit of hell. Though its suggestions come in very subtle ways and its arguments usually appear reasonable, this spirit is the bestselling author of confusion with millions of years of experience in the business. The first stage in its methodology is to bring confusion into a person’s mind; thereafter it pushes its victim into error and then backs off to watch how the person will handle the repercussions. Doubt is such a deadly weapon that the devil has successfully used it to bring down great men and women of God in history.

Some do not count doubt as evil. Doubt is correctly identified as the opposite of faith and the Bible says that without faith, no one can please God. It therefore implies that anything done in doubt is an abomination to God. John the Baptist is an example of a powerful prophet who got captured by doubt. In John 1:29-30, the Bible says,

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.”

In John 1:33-34, the great prophet was fully conscious of the heavenly instruction he received. He was firm in his words, confident in what he must do and humble in his understanding of his relationship with the Lord Jesus. He made it clear to his listeners that it was not about himself, but it was all about Jesus. He made it clear that he must decrease for the Lord Jesus to increase. Soon after these powerful affirmations though, the spirit of doubt struck while John was in prison. He sent a very pathetic message to Jesus to confirm if indeed Jesus was the messiah. The great prophet doubted the whole essence of his existence (Matthew 11:2-6). I pray that the Lord God Almighty will deliver you from the spirit of doubt today in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please deal ruthlessly with the spirit of doubt in my life today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Luke 2:22-4:15

Job 22:1-11

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL -THURSDAY - 31/07/2014 - A FRIEND IN JESUS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

A FRIEND IN JESUS

MEMORISE

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

John 15:14

READ

1 Samuel 20:16-17

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

MESSAGE

A friend is someone who you share your heart with and who you can trust. A friend is also a person you like a lot. There are different categories of friends. There is a friend in need who is a friend indeed. This is a friend who helps you when you really need help. Ideally, friendship is reciprocal and the Bible enjoins those who have friends to reciprocate with a friendly attitude. Proverbs 18:24 says:

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

Jonathan was a friend indeed to David. He could perceive that David would succeed his father - Saul as king. Although this was a threat to his own personal ambition of becoming the king of Israel, nevertheless he loved David as his own soul. Are you a friend indeed? There are many so called friends who will always scheme to frustrate and destroy the destinies of others. Such people cannot be described as friends indeed. With such friends, who needs enemies? There are people who say they are your friends but will treat you badly. One of such persons is Judas Iscariot the betrayer. In Matthew 26:14-16, Judas Iscariot sold out the Lord Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. What type of friend are you, Jonathan or Judas Iscariot?

Friends, no matter how sincere, can change. There have been cases of people who started as friends indeed but later became betrayers. There are also those who started as betrayers but later became friends indeed. The greatest issue is not who you are presently but who you will eventually turn out to be. Will you turn out to be a friend indeed or a betrayer? There are also situations where friends who are friends indeed disappoint. This might not be because such people are betrayers but because they are human. As human beings, we have our limitations, and there is an extent to which the most sincere of men can help. Who then is the best friend indeed? Jesus! He is the only one who will never disappoint. He knows the worst about you yet He loves you all the same. He is the best friend indeed. Since friendship should be reciprocal, who are the friends of Jesus? The Lord explains this in John 15:14, He said his friends are the ones that obey His commandments. Have you been doing whatever Christ commands? Such commandments include the injunction to live holy. Are you living holy? Do you follow peace with your fellow men? Everyone who claims to be a friend of Jesus should pay their tithes and offerings and also witness for Him. Are you His friend indeed?

KEY POINT

The sincerity of our friendship with Christ hinges on obedience to His commandments.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Matthew 16:5-18:35;

Job 13:17-14:6

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 13/07/2014 - LIFE INVOLVES RISKS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LIFE INVOLVES RISKS

MEMORISE

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

James 4:14

READ

James 4:13-16

13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

MESSAGE

When God calls you, it sometimes might appear like a demotion. This was my experience. When God called me into full-time ministry, I struggled with it because I had experienced poverty from childhood which I thought I had finally been delivered from when I became a university lecturer. I received the call of God when the church was in a humble state financially. I recall the day a young man gave me a 50 kobo note; I received it and blessed him. I told him I would spend the money on myself so that my heartfelt blessing will have an impact on him. That night, I thought over it and wept. I ruminated on how I went from being the Head of the Mathematics Department of a University to being a full-timer who receives a 50 kobo gift. God is the one that specialises in taking a man from down below and lifts him up. Those who see how far the Lord has taken me and are unhappy about it have need of God’s mercy. Is God calling you into full-time ministry? Is the Lord asking for more of your involvement in the things of His Kingdom at the expense of personal and family plans? Fear not! He is a better planner than you and what He has in store for His faithful ones will definitely beat your imagination.

Life is full of risks and virtually everything we do in life involves one form of risk or the other, however, God’s call is a risk of life worth taking. Marriage involves risk because some people get married to spouses who fast-track their death. Staying single also is risky because the inability to perpetually remain chaste may make the fellow end up in hell. Staying hungry has its risks while eating food also involves risk. Some people who were not sick died while eating or while trying to swallow food. If you are asked to come and work with the richest man in the world who also has a reputation of uncommon generosity, many would jump without even asking God about it. Yet, even that involves a measure of risk. Some may take up that job and trigger their worst nightmares. When God calls you, there is an element of risk involved but it is the safest, surest and best risk you can ever take. If He calls you into full-time ministry, it means He is ready to take you up as His pet project.

KEY POINT

Placing your life and total cares in God’s hands is a risk worth taking.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Deuteronomy 7:1-9:12

Job 3:3-19

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 02/07/2014 - DRAWN BY THE FATHER BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

DRAWN BY THE FATHER

MEMORISE

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:44

READ

John 6:43-45

43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

MESSAGE

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

Psalm 40:1

In the above scripture, David did not just say he waited, but that he waited patiently. The implication of this is that the Christian race is not a sprint but a marathon. The journey to Heaven is not something you do in just a day, but rather what may take a whole lifetime. Due to the emphasis placed on the gospel of the return of Jesus Christ, some people believed He would come the very next day or week after they received Him into their hearts. When my friends and I were newly converted, we thought so too. In fact, I had to encourage one of my friends to continue with his studies because he felt since Jesus was coming at any moment, it was pointless going to school. Similarly, in those days, we were taught that there were three steps in Christianity – salvation, sanctification and Holy Ghost baptism. We felt then that once you had experienced those three, you have arrived. But probably because of my training in applied mathematics, I began to do my personal research to verify if there were only three steps; and I discovered seven.

According to Ezekiel 36:24-27, the first thing God said He would do even before salvation is to gather His own together. Ezekiel 36:24 says:

“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.”

This is what Jesus meant when He said in John 6:44:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Before you are saved, you are first drawn. No one can be saved except he or she has been drawn by the Father. This tells us that salvation is not at your own instance but at God’s instance. Also, God has already taken steps ahead of you before you respond. He is the One initiating it and not you. This is why when people say they have found Jesus, they are not speaking the truth. He was never lost. Rather, He is the One who was searching for them until He found them. God uses everything at His disposal to draw men to Himself. He used the burning bush to draw Moses. He used a blinding light to draw Saul. He used the miracle of a net-breaking catch of fish to draw Peter. He is also drawing you today even through this medium. Have you accepted Him?

KEY POINT

The Father not only draws you to salvation but continues to pull you closer. How close are you to God?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Numbers 18:1-20:9;

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 01/07/2014 - PEACE LIKE A RIVER BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

PEACE LIKE A RIVER

MEMORISE

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

Isaiah 48:18

READ

Isaiah 48:18-19

18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

MESSAGE

If you desire to combine long life with pleasurable days, you must keep your tongue from evil, do good, and depart from evil. You must seek peace and pursue it. This means that wherever there is a conflict, you must do everything in your power to install peace. You must vigorously follow after peace. Proverbs 16:7 says,

“When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

From this scripture, we see that there is a link between our relationship with God and the type, duration and extent of our peace. Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus the Prince of Peace. In other words, Jesus is the manufacturer and true custodian of peace. There is no way you can enjoy lasting peace without first pleasing Him. What kind of peace are you enjoying? The peace that you have is a reflection of your relationship with the Prince of Peace. If you please Him, He can settle the conflicts that exist between you and your enemies. If you want to settle the conflict between you and your enemies or even between you and your loved ones, yet you keep the Prince of Peace at a distance, then you are not yet ready for settlement.

“O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”

Isaiah 48:18

From this scripture, we see that total obedience to God is one major way to please God and secure peace. Also from this scripture, peace is likened to a river. This implies that peace flows. It is something that other people can draw from. Unfortunately, the peace that some people have is not enough for them, to talk less of extending it to others. God wants to give you peace like a river so that many troubled souls can contact you and find peace. Do you have peace? Can your peace calm the stormy situations of others? Does your peace flow to others? How is your relationship with God? Whatever the situation, it can be better. Improve in your obedience to God and see things change in your favour.

KEY POINT

Pleasing God and obeying His commandments are the currency for purchasing God’s peace.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Numbers 16-17;

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 12/06/2014 -LIVING RIGHT BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LIVING RIGHT

MEMORISE

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

1 John 3:9

READ

1 Peter 2:9-12

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

MESSAGE

A child of God is the light of the world. Light is the direct opposite of darkness. Everybody welcomes light with a shout of joy. Where there is light, hidden agendas are revealed. Jesus expects us to prove Him right by living according to His description of us. The implication of being called a child of God is that you should cease to live in sin. The most painful experience a Christian could have is for someone to look at you and say: “And you call yourself a child of God!” Unbelievers know that they are not children of God, but they expect a life that is compliant with your confession as a child of God.

Some of us have forfeited many things we could have legitimately fought for, because we do not want anybody to say: “And you said you are a child of God”. I recall the death and burial of the late founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The senior pastors suspected that I was going to be his successor even though nobody had officially said so. They waged war against me. On my part, I prepared for battle by loading myself with some mathematical calculations and putting together some Bible passages I could use as arrows. I was ready for a total showdown spiritually. Along the way, the Lord began to speak to me. He said to me, “As a son of the Prince of Peace, are you supposed to fight?” That was the end of my plan to fight my detractors. Living holy is very costly. But the consequence of not living holy is too terrible to be compared to the cost. It may be hard to remain faithful to your spouse or abstain from sex before marriage. People would mock and dismiss you as being old-fashioned. But when weighed against the awful result of immoral living, such as the likelihood of contracting HIV/AIDS and the consequent perpetual regret, holiness at any cost would be better appreciated.

The Almighty God is not going to change His standards for anyone. He commands us to comply but leaves us to decide. Jesus never advised any of those who hesitated to follow Him to first go home and think about the issue. They had to decide there and then. Self-denial is a basic qualification for discipleship, and it involves fasting and praying when others are sleeping, and studying the Bible while others want to spend time on leisure. It also entails keeping quiet while others are talking or engaging in frivolous past-times.

PRAYER POINT

Father, help me to see self-denial as a required daily sacrifice for living right.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Leviticus 5:14-7:38;

Psalm 119:145-160

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 11/06/2014 - EXCEPTIONAL APPRENTICE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

EXCEPTIONAL APPRENTICE

MEMORISE

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:19

READ

John 5:5-9

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

MESSAGE

An apprentice is someone who is attached to a master to learn his master’s trade, so that he can become like the master someday. An apprentice watches the footsteps of the master and tries to follow them. A good and wise apprentice closely watches everything the master does in order to gain all his knowledge and experience. In John 5:19, Jesus saw Himself as an apprentice of His own Father. He did whatever He saw the Father do. We can learn some deep lessons from this principle of apprenticeship in all areas of Christian activities. A true disciple will not go outside of whatever his master does. The servant is not greater than his master, according to the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 10:24-25). Anyone who learns a trade should consider himself a success if he is as good as his master. Jesus however made an exception for His disciples. He expects us to do the works He did, and exceed them by doing even greater works than He did. I am convinced that for a reader of this devotional, greater works, as promised by Jesus in John 14:12, will be done through you in Jesus’ Name.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

At the time of my new birth in Christ, I was a lecturer of mathematics at the University of Lagos. I considered myself a smart boy in those days, but when I got into the church, my ignorance was revealed to me with humility. The challenge I got from the display of Bible knowledge by uneducated members of the church made me study the Bible as if I was preparing for a PhD examination. As I read the Bible again and again, I was stunned by the promise of Jesus in John 14:12. I saw that those who believe in Him would raise the dead, make the lame walk, open blind eyes and do even more than He did. From that moment, I made up my mind that according to His word, I also would do the works He did, and that I would do even greater works than He did. I decree that you will begin to experience the performance of the Lord’s promise to do the works that He did and even much more, in the mighty Name of Jesus. Doing greater works than Jesus did is real, and that promise has been fulfilled in the lives of many. I am announcing to you that you are next in line, because from now on, you will begin to watch closely everything the Master does, so that you can gain His knowledge and experience.

KEY POINT

An apprentice watches the footsteps of the master and tries to follow them.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Leviticus 4:1-5:13; Psalm 119:129-144

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 06/06/2014 - CONTROVERSIAL BLESSING BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CONTROVERSIAL BLESSING

MEMORISE

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

Psalm 126:1

READ

John 9:8-16

8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

MESSAGE

The Lord Jesus is the centre of new beginnings; therefore, every new beginning takes its origin in Christ. When God found fault with the Old Testament, He introduced the New Testament on the platform of Christ’s sacrifice. It does not matter your background, education, race, sex or colour; Christ has provided a level playing field of opportunities for everyone to be blessed beyond measure. The choice to be blessed in such a way that your case becomes the talk of the town now rests with you. Some people are resistant to new things; they like suffering, hardship, poverty, sickness and stagnation. Their present poor state is so acceptable to them that they don’t see any need to embrace change. I once had an experience of this sometime ago when I prayed for someone and said: “When next you are coming to the annual convention, you will come in your own car”. I expected him to say Amen, but he did not, so I asked him: “Did you hear what I said?” He replied: “Yes”. “Why then didn’t you answer?” I asked. Then he explained: “When one gets a car, you will begin to talk about getting a mechanic, insurance and fuel shortage problems”. He continued rolling out reasons why he was not expecting a car. That was the lie of the devil to keep him away from his blessing. The devil did not want him to see the good side of having a car.

In John 9:1-7, we see a man who was born blind receive his sight. He had been in that situation for at least forty years before he met Christ. On meeting the Lord, the blindness of forty years disappeared and his sight was restored. His story stands as a case of blessings that generates controversies. A problem of forty years came to an end in just one day. You should know that your problem has an expiry date. Today is your day for a new beginning. There are many lessons to draw from the story of this man. New blessings will usually generate controversies. Controversy brings about debate, arguments, disagreements, deliberation, wonder or questions. There will be questions when a man known for poverty suddenly begins to ride in one of the most expensive cars in the world. People will talk and argue when a woman whom the doctor said her womb is too small to nurture a child gives birth to four children at once. Meeting Jesus on a personal basis is an experience you should seek. The good news is that He is seeking to meet you too. There is a blessing Christ will give you that will positively affect all other areas of your life. I decree over your life that every secret work the Lord began in your life shall be completed publicly in Jesus’ Name. Every deficiency or inadequacy in your life shall expire in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT

Lord, let your blessings for me this year generate discussions.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 30:22-33:6;

Psalm 119:49-64

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 28/05/2014 - THE WISDOM OF MEN BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WISDOM OF MEN

MEMORISE

Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

Deuteronomy 1:39

READ

Genesis 2:15-17

15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

MESSAGE

In the beginning, God generously permitted man to eat from every herb bearing seed and from every tree bearing fruit. In Genesis 2:17 however, God commanded him to avoid eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The fruit of this tree has been variously interpreted to mean sexual awareness or moral experience among other views. Since sexual interaction between Adam and Eve was allowed (being the only way to multiply the human race in obedience to God’s commandment), moral experience is therefore the most plausible explanation of what this fruit represents. God clearly wanted Adam and Eve to maintain their state of innocence. By choosing to obey or disobey, they would come to know good and evil by experience. God set before them a choice, of which obedience would lead to wisdom and blessing, while disobedience would lead to rebellion and punishment. I pray that the Body of Christ will witness great increase in wisdom and blessing as a result of total obedience to God in Jesus’ Name.

The knowledge of good and evil enables a person to make choices based on human knowledge and personal preferences, rather than simple obedience to the word of God. It provides an opportunity to exercise the power of logic and the supremacy of human choice in all human affairs. The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is contrary to faith. It is for this reason that 1 Corinthians 2:14, says that:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.“

Therefore the natural man stands for those who are controlled and influenced by natural instincts and are in opposition to those who are influenced by the Spirit of God. They cannot receive or obey the things of the Spirit of God because they make their choices in life based on their senses - what they see, hear and feel. To such people, the way of God and His commandments are foolishness. One would think that such would not be found among Christians, but many professed born-again and spirit-filled Christians cannot live with some biblical doctrines and commandments of God. They simply argue that such is not relevant anymore, suggesting that there is a need to review the Bible to accommodate modern times and human interests. The big question is; are you serving the Lord in the wisdom of men, or by faith and obedience in the power of God?

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to serve you with total obedience to the authority of your word.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 10:21-12:42;

Psalm 113

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 19/05/2014 - WORKS OF THE DEVIL BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WORKS OF THE DEVIL

MEMORISE

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8

READ

Deuteronomy 18:9-14

9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

MESSAGE

Joy means deep pleasure or great gladness. It is the opposite of sorrow. It will be stating the obvious to say that everyone on earth wishes to be joyful. Although God’s plan and desire is for us to live in joy, there is an actor in this world working frantically against this. There are two principal actors on the stage of history. These are Jesus Christ and the devil. The devil began to play his part in human history from Genesis 3 until the other actor, Jesus Christ, came with the gospel to destroy his works. Christ was able to overcome the devil through compassion, love and humility. The objectives of Jesus Christ are: to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), to save whosoever believes in Him and to present God as all in all. To overcome as Christ did, you must be ready to identify and to destroy all the works of Satan and his collaborators. Satan uses demons, human agents, forces of nature and even careless believers to do his works. He invades the spirit, soul and body of his victims and attempts to destroy them. Satan and his demons have the ultimate goal of torturing mankind, causing catastrophes, destroying lives and at last making humanity partake in the eternal fire which he and his cohorts are destined for.

The devil uses many means to capture human beings. He possesses, oppresses and afflicts his victims (Luke 22:3). He suppresses his victims, ensuring that they don’t manifest faith in God. Satan obsesses by filling the minds of his victims with fear and other things contrary to God’s word. Satan depresses his victims, making his victims discouraged and sad. Satan works through sicknesses and afflictions. Many incurable diseases and infirmities have demons behind them (Luke 13:11-13). Satan uses seduction, false doctrines, false religion and occultism. To be an overcomer, you should live right. Note that demons have no power over a child of God who is living right. You should therefore not open the way for Satan to invade your life. Renounce all previous involvement with the devil. Be informed: Satan is the brain behind magic, astrology, palmistry, Ouija boards, crystal ball-gazing, hypnotism, mesmerism, sorcery, hallucinogenic drugs, blood covenants, necromancy, body incisions and demonic initiations. Initiation into the demonic world is always done through the cunning craftiness of Satan and his demons. Persons that read unclean materials or watch devilish films and wrong programs on the television and also those who believe in what the stars foretell are easily possessed of devils. Demons must not be feared. Rather they must be discerned and rejected promptly.

ACTION POINT

Pray for the operation of the gifts of the Spirit to overcome demonic intrigues.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 40-41; Psalm 107:1-9

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 10/05/2014 - CONSCIENCE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CONSCIENCE

MEMORISE

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 9:14

READ

Romans 1:18-32

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

MESSAGE

Conscience is an internal judge examining all that you do or say. It cries out before any wrong-doing. It does not keep quiet during the act and keeps on talking even after the act. Every man has a conscience. This fact is pointed out in 2 Corinthians 4:2. The conscience can exist in different states. These states affect the character exhibited by the conscience. Based on this character, the conscience can manifest itself as any of these: evil conscience, convicted conscience, weak conscience, good conscience and conscience devoid of offence. Consequent upon the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, man’s conscience became darkened and defiled. Our Bible reading for today tells the terrible story of what happens when the conscience becomes defiled, depraved and evil. It is an evil conscience that directs a man to bow down and worship an idol. It is an evil conscience that accuses a man of being anti-social when he refuses to entertain others with alcoholic drinks or partake in an immoral gathering. The conscience becomes convicted when a man hears the gospel of Jesus and the Holy Spirit quickens the word in the heart. When the hearer receives the word, he does one of two things: either he yields to the working of the Holy Spirit or he excuses himself (Romans 2:15). If he yields to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he begins to feel sorrowful for his sins and soon, he is on his way to repentance. Have you yielded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit? The conscience becomes purged when a man yields to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and his awakened conscience puts pressure on him to conform to God’s stand on sin and righteousness. He begins to realise the evil of a depraved conscience, and this conviction leads to conversion or salvation. Such a person has his conscience purged and he begins to find joy in serving the living God. Conversion is therefore the recreation of a conscience which has long been silenced. A young convert will however find out that his conscience is still too weak to be relied upon (1 Corinthians 8:7). Such weak conscience may accept anything that is “not too bad”; ignoring the fact that anything that is not too bad is definitely not good. This weakness can be overcome by prayer, Bible study and constant obedience. To a sinner, the conscience is a burden; but to the saved, the conscience is a help, a friend to know, to love and a messenger from God which constantly reminds him of God’s standard, which is perfection (Matthew 5:48). The desire of God for every born-again believer is to have a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:5). One of the highest goals of a Christian life is to have a conscience devoid of offence toward God and toward men (Acts 24:16).

PRAYER POINT

I apply the blood of Jesus in cleansing my conscience from all dead works, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 21-23; Psalm 103:1-10

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 08/05/2014 - LABOURER IN HIS VINEYARD BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

LABOURER IN HIS VINEYARD

MEMORISE

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

READ

1 Timothy 3:1-7

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

MESSAGE

Are you a Christian worker? If you are not, desire to be one. A Christian worker is a labourer in God’s vineyard. He could be a spiritual leader occupying any of the ministerial offices or an Usher, Chorister etc. In any case, a Christian worker is a steward. A steward can be described as a person employed to manage the property of another, especially a large house or land. Christian stewardship means accepting responsibility to manage all the resources of life for the glory of God, acknowledging God as the provider. As a manager, a Christian worker is a spiritual leader. As a spiritual leader, the work of a Christian worker is an enviable one, and God attaches great importance to it. It is notable and honourable but also tasking, demanding and sacrificial. Faithfulness in this service leads to greater and higher responsibility which attracts fabulous and eternal rewards. 1 Peter 5:4 says:

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

Certain qualities are essential for Christian workers or labourers in God’s vineyard. The basic qualification is salvation. Such a person should also be faithful and available. A prospective Christian worker should be one that is faithful to God, to his or her human leader and to the assignment entrusted to his or her hands. A Christian worker should also be available for service. The first need in God’s vineyard is availability (Isaiah 6:8). A Christian worker should be teachable. To serve in God’s vineyard, you should be someone who can be taught by God and others. Socially, a Christian worker should be of good behaviour. As a worker, you must be friendly and be of good reputation among those within and without the church. To serve in God’s vineyard, your life should have no grounds for reproach. Morally, a Christian worker should be disciplined. If married, you should be close to your spouse and remain faithful to your marital vows. A Christian worker should be sober and clearheaded, that is, one who never drinks alcohol. Mentally, you must be prudent to serve in God’s vineyard. Prudency refers to a balanced state of mind resulting from habitual self-restraint. By implication, you should be sound-minded and in control of every part of your person. On a personal relationship level, a Christian worker should not be troublesome, but genial and gentle; not contentious, but hospitable and a friend of strangers. He must also not be covetous. The Christian worker should also not be a novice or a baby in Christ. Are you qualified to be a labourer in God’s vineyard?

PRAYER POINT

Pray for grace to be qualified as a labourer in God’s vineyard.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 15:1-18:21; Psalm 102:1-15

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