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 - SUNDAY - 28/12/2014 - PERFECT CHRISTIAN? - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

PERFECT CHRISTIAN?

Memorise

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

Read

Job 1:5-8

1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

MESSAGE

When we compare two things and we say one is better than the other, it may not necessarily mean that either of the two is desirable. But when we say something is perfect, it means that it is good in itself and there is no evil complaint about it. It also means that it is so good that there is no need to improve on it. This is the definition of the perfect Christian. A perfect Christian is a Christian that is without blemish – a Christ-like individual indeed. There are different categories of Christians. There are those who have been saved but not sanctified. These ones easily get annoyed. They cannot be described as perfect Christians. Some Christians are saved and sanctified. These ones do not get annoyed. There was a time we were rehearsing a drama that was to be staged in our church. A part required that the actor should become very annoyed. Our main actor could not bring himself to be angry. We could not even get someone among us to teach him how to be angry. May you be sanctified to perfection in Jesus’ Name.

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

1 Peter 1:2

To become a perfect Christian, you must first and foremost be Holy Spirit filled. The Holy Spirit is indispensable in the life of any Christian. Without the Holy Spirit, it is not possible to have any of the dimensions of the fruit that the Holy Spirit causes a Christian to bear which makes a Christian perfect (Galatians 5:22-23). For one to be a perfect Christian, some things must manifest in the fellow’s life. First, all things have to be done according to how God Himself would do them. You must aspire to please God in all that you do. Before doing anything, no matter how trivial, first ask how you think God would do it. Knowing that God can only do things perfectly, you will see to it that it is perfectly done. Secondly, a perfect Christian will aspire to get to where God wants him to reach. He will never stop or rest until God’s purpose for his life is accomplished. Many Christians backslid because they had thought that their position was the highest spiritual height they could attain and as a result, they became contented and stopped striving higher. May the Lord bring you to perfection this season in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, make me as perfect as you want me to be in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 20:17-22:21

Song of Solomon 5:10-6:9

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 20/12/2014 - THE FULLNESS OF TIME - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE FULLNESS OF TIME

Memorise

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Read

Acts 2:1-4

2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

MESSAGE

When the day of Pentecost was fully come, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus Christ. This event makes it clear that our God is a God of times and seasons (Daniel 2:20-21). If you look at the life of Elizabeth - the mother of John the Baptist, you may be wondering: Why the delay of the fruit of the womb in the life of such a devoted daughter of Zion? The answer is found in the later event of the birth of John the Baptist, who Jesus Christ acknowledged as the greatest of all the prophets (Matthew 11:11). He was born by the same woman that was considered barren for many decades. When the fullness of time came, Elizabeth conceived and gave birth to the forerunner of the Messiah (Luke 1:11-16). The Almighty God moves very fast whenever He wants to do something. When it seems God is slow in taking action, you can be sure that it is because His time has not fully come. God is not a slow worker at all. This is established from the creation story where in six days, God accomplished the creation of the entire universe (Genesis 1). There is a time in a man’s life when delay is not a good option. In 1 Samuel 17:51, we read of the fast move of God in David’s life. It would have been another story if David had delayed in separating the head of Goliath from his body after the stone from his sling had dazed Goliath to the ground. The Bible says:

“Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.“

One characteristic of the fullness of God’s time is its sudden arrival. The Bible says:

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”

Acts 2:1-2

It took God just one day to kick away famine from Samaria according to 2 Kings 7:1-18. Suddenly, food became surplus in the land after God moved into the situation of a people who had started killing their children for food. For someone using this devotional, you will receive sudden breakthroughs this season in Jesus’ Name. Your day of celebration shall fully come this season in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point:

Father, please let my miracle come suddenly in a way that the enemy will not be able to do anything about it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 4-5

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 8/12/2014 - YOUR BEST IS ON THE WAY - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

YOUR BEST IS ON THE WAY

Memorise

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

Read

1 Kings 19:19-21

19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

19:20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

19:21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

MESSAGE

Elisha was a rich man even by current standards. He was the son of a wealthy farmer. Using today’s agricultural terminology, we can say that Elisha’s father had twelve “tractors” working for him on his large farmland. A farmer who has twelve tractors must without doubt be classified as a millionaire. Although Elisha was rich, he did not know that God had something greater for him. In most instances, people often hold on to what is good and miss out on the better and the best. Those who have experienced a measure of success or financial prosperity, tend to settle for the minimum while the maximum is begging to be possessed. The tragedy of this situation is that, those who have achieved just a minimum level of prosperity conclude that there is no better level to attain. Some people climb few rungs on the ladder of progress and settle down, whereas the Almighty God has planned to take them to the highest level of wealth attainable. Elisha thought he was wealthy, but he did not know that a day was coming when kings would serve him and call him “Father”! He thought he was going to die a rich farmer, but God had a different plan for him. In like manner, God has a glorious plan for you. Presidents will serve you before you leave this world in Jesus’ Name. The Bible says:

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

Elisha was wise. He traded his level of achievement for a higher one by allowing God to have His way in his life. Elisha decided to surrender sugar for honey. On the day the mantle of Elijah fell upon him, his destiny changed. God brought him to the realm of ultimate greatness. Elisha knew that to receive ultimate greatness from God, he needed to surrender what he was holding on to. You must offer God what appears to be your best at the moment, so that He can give you what is better than your best. How will God give you the best He has in store for you? What will God do to make you rich beyond your wildest imagination? I really don’t know. However, what I know is that God can do anything just to bless you. Whatever He has promised, He definitely will fulfil to the letter.

Prayer Point:

Father, please send your best to me today and let my good give way for your best in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Ezra 4:1-6:12

Ecclesiastes 6

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

ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE

Memorise

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

Isaiah 10:27

Read

Psalm 26:1-6

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

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

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

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

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

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

Message

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

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

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

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

Prayer Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Chronicles 20:24-23:15

Ecclesiastes 2:9-17

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 18/11/2014 - THERE FOR A PURPOSE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THERE FOR A PURPOSE

Memorise

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Read

2 Kings 5:1-4

5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

5:2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

5:3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

5:4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

MESSAGE

Known unto God are all His works from the foundation of the world (Acts 15:18). One of the arguments some philosophers put up for the existence of God is that, the Cause of all things must be a rational and intelligent being because to everything the Cause caused to be, is a purpose given. This so-called Cause is God and there is nothing He created that has no purpose. Whatever God permits to come to you or to come your way has a purpose. There is a purpose behind you being an African, European, Asian or American. Far beyond the superficial things you may be looking for in that your exalted position in that organisation, God may have something in mind for you to accomplish. Maybe you got sponsored and supported to occupy a political office or maybe you are in government, have you found out why He opened that door to you, or are you busy seeking mundane things for yourself like the ungodly and unpatriotic ones?

In some cases, God’s purpose might bring you into an unpleasant or undesirable situation, just like the young girl in today’s Bible reading. She was taken captive from her native land in Samaria to the far and strange land of Syria. However, see what great effect the quiet little counsel she gave her mistress had in the life of the great but leprous commander of the Syrian army, and by extension the entire nation of Syria. Beyond the healing of her master, she projected the God of her fathers among the heathen, so that He might be feared and honoured. It is a pity that some Christians today do things that bring shame and reproach to the name of God. Such people misrepresent God through their compromising acts among sinners. Hear what the little girl said in 2 Kings 5:3:

“And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.”

It was just this one-minute piece of information God was waiting for to orchestrate a chain of events that would culminate in His name being glorified among the heathen. From this story, we also learn why it is good to be nice and kind to those who are around us, even servants, housemaids, gardeners, drivers etc. Some bosses despise and treat their subordinates inhumanely. Some housemaids, drivers and workers are treated as though they are not human beings (Colossians 4:1). If Naaman and his wife had been maltreating this maid, she probably would not have given them the counsel that led to the removal of their shame and reproach.

Action Point:

Objectively identify what exactly you are living for.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 13:1-16:7

Proverbs 28:2-13

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

HE HAS THE LAST SAY

Memorise

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

Isaiah 54:10

Read

Joel 3:16-17

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

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

MESSAGE

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer Point

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Chronicles 10-12

Proverbs 27:15-28:1

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 13/11/2014 - SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER

Memorise

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 12:12

Read

Ephesians 6:18

6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

MESSAGE

In virtually every field of human endeavour, there are great men and women. Be it in science, arts, sports, politics, governance and religion, history is full of people regarded as great in these various fields. Many of such people were given to causes that are ephemeral and mundane. One common denominator in the life of such people or anyone that would be a success is ‘discipline’. What worthy thing it is therefore, when we apply the effort of self-discipline in the area of the one thing that is an avenue for attracting the favour and immense power of God to work on our behalf. This worthy avenue of drawing God’s power is prayer.

The Bible commands us to pray always. Many people would ordinarily find it easier to spend time chatting either in the real world or in virtual cyber space than in praying always as the Bible commands. Note that God wants to manifest His glory in your life. But then, prayer is never at home with the flesh, rather, the flesh wants to gist or while away the time in some other way. This is why prayer is a discipline, a spiritual discipline. Know that it is more profitable for you to pray than to occupy your time with some other mundane things. Put the flesh in its place, discipline your flesh and be compelled to pray.

How is it possible to pray always? Would we not be violating the word of God if we abandon our other responsibilities and spend all of our time on our knees by our bedside praying? Yes we will be. What is actually required of us is that our hearts must be attuned to God at all times, such that whether we are at home cooking in the kitchen or at the bus stop awaiting the arrival of a bus or on the wheel driving, a silent upward communication link is not far from us. With such heart posture, it is a usual thing to thank God for virtually every seemingly little but advantageous thing, as well as thanking Him for things that do not appear to be to our advantage. Such heart will always be full of heavenly joy, accompanied with a whisper of: all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). Besides, for those that are baptized in the Holy Spirit, the ability to pray always is easier, as such a person can almost ceaselessly carry on praying in tongues quietly, irrespective of what he or she may be busy doing, except when he or she needs to pause to attend to someone. So much gets accomplished while praying in the Spirit. The whole demand in Ephesians 6:18 can easily be accomplished by doing so. That is the reason why you should get baptized in the Holy Spirit if you are not.

Prayer Point

Pray that God will help you to be more disciplined in praying.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Kings 23:28-25:30

Proverbs 25:15-28

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 12/11/2014 - MY BODY, HIS PROPERTY - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

MY BODY, HIS PROPERTY

Memorise

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1

Read

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

MESSAGE

The passion of God behind the admonition in today’s memory verse is evident. The goodness of God and His commitment to our wellbeing is far beyond our imagination. Can you comprehend this: that having paid the ultimate price for our redemption, He is still passionately pleading with those of us that are His, for our own sake, to keep our bodies? Though it is in our own best interest, yet He pleads with us. To start with, a person that says he or she is enjoying himself with cigarette smoking or taking of hard drugs does not know what he is saying. Such a person is destroying himself in bits. Likewise, the fellow given to alcohol is destroying and cutting short his age systematically. What about the fornicator and adulterer? The major vehicle for HIV infection is no other than sexual immoralities such as pre-marital sex, homosexuality, lesbianism and the likes. Presenting your body as a living sacrifice means denying your body the fashion or pleasures that are at variance with the ways of the kingdom you belong to. This includes denying yourself such aberrations like exposing your body through clothes that are in vogue.

If the body of the believer in Christ is the temple of God, and God is holy, how does a child of God think he or she will be full of the Holy Spirit while unabatedly indulging in evil habits? Somebody must be deceiving himself or herself somehow. The Bible warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). What other possible ways could the Holy Spirit be grieved, if not by rendering His habitation non-conducive for Him to dwell in? Is it not that those defiling His temple (our bodies) are asking Him (the Holy Spirit) to pack up and go elsewhere?

The care of our body includes feeding it with the right things – good food and not junk food that causes obesity, and taking the right quantity of food at a time (gluttony is condemned by the Bible). Likewise, drinks must be non-alcoholic and non-nicotinic. Spiritually, feed on the word of God. Besides, treat the body with natural means for its refreshing like sleeping moderately and not inducing yourself with drugs to sleep. Also, use your body rightly. It is good to work hard, but then, learn also to give it its due rest. Don’t use the body for immorality in any form. Learn not to pamper your body either, it may crave those things that would make it to incur God’s wrath, it is your duty to deny it those things. You can do all these because the power of God through Christ is now in you. God is not demanding what you cannot do.

Key Point

God desires purity of the heart as well as purity of the body.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Kings 21:19-23:27

Proverbs 25:1-14

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 8/11/2014 - ARISE NOW! - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

ARISE NOW!

Memorise

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Hebrews 12:13

Read

Isaiah 60:1-3

60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

MESSAGE

When God speaks, it can be in various forms: it can be an advice, an invitation, an encouragement, a warning, a declaration or a command. The word “Arise” in the divine statement of today’s Bible reading is purely a command. Just like in Genesis 1:3, where God commanded light to appear in the midst of prevailing darkness, “Arise”, is a command from the Commander-in-Chief Himself to you today.

Your spiritual position or posture, prior to receiving this command to arise, will determine the type of response expected of you. Hence, to an already dead fellow, arise means come back to life. If your spiritual case can be said to be a dead situation, this day, you will come back to life in Jesus’ Name. To the one who is asleep, arise means wake up. If you have been spiritually asleep, by God’s mercy you are being awoken from your slumber in Jesus’ Name. To the one who is sitting down, arise means stand up. To be sitting is better spiritually than to be asleep, yet this is far from what God expects. If you have been spiritually sitting or you are spiritually a lame person (Hebrews 12:13), your spiritual feet receives strength now and I command you to be upstanding in Jesus’ Name. To the fellow standing, arise implies that he should jump into action, this was the situation of Samuel in the house of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:12-13). If however you are already walking, arise to you means that you should begin to run. David was already in action against Goliath, but a time came he stepped up his action by running towards Goliath before releasing the stone from his sling (1 Samuel 17:48). This implies you need to add speed to your action. Suppose you are running already, arise to you means that you should begin to fly. Possibly, you are already in the air flying, then arise to you implies that you should begin to soar (2 Corinthians 3:18).

All these changes in position are possibilities with God, not just by your own strength. Once you are willing and you trust in Him, you will experience your desired change. However, you have to recognise your current state. A dead fellow feels nothing, for such people, no matter what they hear they are not touched, they don’t feel it. Unfortunately, there are even some ministers of God like that; they are impervious to the voice of God. “Arise now” may be the last chance for such to come alive. Whatever your state may be, a change for the better is possible, and it is coming your way this season in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point

Sincerely assess your spiritual position and pray accordingly.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Kings 13:1-15:16

Proverbs 23:14-28

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 6/11/2014 - GOD’S OWNERSHIP OF ALL I - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

GOD’S OWNERSHIP OF ALL I

Memorise

The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1

Read

1 Chronicles 29:10-16

29:10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

29:12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

29:13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

29:14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

29:15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

29:16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.

MESSAGE

Only God is self-existing. He is the only one whose ground of existence consists in Himself i.e. His existence is self-determined. The existence of every other being or thing is determined by external entities and not by themselves. That external entity is God (Acts 17:28). God’s existence is not determined by anyone, but He determines the existence of all that have ever existed, all that now exist, and all that will ever exist, be it spirit, human, physical or non-physical elements – all and everything. Our God is truly awesome! It therefore follows that, He is the One that owns everyone and everything everywhere (Psalm 24:1). Also, the implication of this is that: nobody else really owns anything by himself because both an individual and the abilities he exhibits – the talents, physical prowess, intelligence and ability to acquire possessions, all belongs to God (Daniel 2:20-22, Deuteronomy 8:18). This implies that man is just a steward of his own life and anything he may claim to own. He is accountable to God on the way he lives and on what he uses his possessions for (Revelation 20:12).

Wisdom therefore teaches us that we should not hold tenaciously to any possession which God desires from us. This is what David meant in his statements, after leading the people of Israel in making preparation for the building of the temple of God by giving. After he and the people had given of their possessions very bountifully, he expressed with humility his acknowledgment of the fact that both they and all that they contributed actually came from God; God owns them all. If you labour and God refuse to bless your effort, what would you do? This is where our attitude must also change; especially those who when giving a testimony would say, because I fasted many days and prayed very well, so what I desired happened, as if it was just their efforts in prayers that got it done. No! If you pray and God does not answer, what would happen? Our testimony should not direct the attention and glory of the accomplishment to us, but to God.

When you therefore realise that it is God that owns you and gave you the ability to perform all that you do, and that the results you get also belong to Him, you would not find it difficult to give Him whatever He desires of you. When you do so, you will continue to flourish even in generations after you because God would establish a personal covenant with you.

Action Point

Bless the Lord for His greatness and for being mindful of you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Kings 8:25-10:17

Proverbs 22:13-28

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 2/11/2014 - BLESSED HOPE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BLESSED HOPE

Memorise

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Read

Titus 2:11-14

2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Message

What is our hope as Christians, and why have we chosen to turn our backs on the world and its pleasures? It is the hope of glory, honour, immortality and an eternity spent in the bosom of our Lord (Romans 2:7). This mother of all hopes shall be made manifest at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Normally, a person hopes for something good and pleasant. However, for the children of God, there is no hope that compares with the return of Jesus to Earth. It is on account of this hope of Jesus returning for His people, that Apostle Paul confidently declared in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 that:

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

Jesus is the grace of God that brings salvation by the gospel. The return of Jesus puts an end to all pain, all suffering, all disappointment, poverty, failures, battles, conflicts, sorrows and defeats. For those in Him, who eagerly look forward to His coming, I write this to you: His imminent return is very much around the corner, based on the signs of His return as given to us in the Bible. Note that today’s scripture passage provides certain dos and don’ts for those who have the blessed hope of the return of Jesus. Titus 2:12 says that the Grace of God – Jesus, is teaching us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly lust. Beloved, we are in an age where ungodliness and worldly lusts are becoming the norm; an age where people perpetuate evil without qualms and where mild terms are coined for sin e.g. having an affair when talking of adultery. In spite of this, the Grace of God teaches us that we should live soberly, righteously and godly. To be sober is to be responsible and serious. It means to comport oneself with dignity. To live righteously and godly is to live according to the word of God and to live by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Besides, Titus 2:14 says we are to be zealous of good works – works of kindness, evangelism, visitation, follow-up, encouraging those needing comfort, interceding for others etc. We are not just to do these works, but we are to do them with zeal. Now the question is: are you giving attention to the teaching of the Grace of God? May the blessed hope be for you a blessed hope indeed when the Lord appears in Jesus’ Name.

Key Point

He that has this hope purifies himself even as he is pure.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Kings 1-2

Proverbs 20:18-30

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 13/10/2014 - JUDAH - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

JUDAH

Memorise

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.

Genesis 49:8

Read

Isaiah 1:1-6

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Message

The name ‘Judah’ means praise. Judah was chosen to be the chief and ruling tribe of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 49:8-12). The sceptre of a king and the office of a lawgiver were all allotted to Judah. Genesis 4:10 says:

“The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”

Judah is a similitude of the church. In Judah, we can see a shadow of the things to come with respect to the church. Just like Judah, believers are the royal priesthood, expected to show forth the praises of God (1 Peter 2:9-10).

The prophet Isaiah was sent with a message primarily to Judah and Jerusalem – the seat of Judah’s power (Isaiah 1:1). This message contained instructions, reproof, warnings, comfort and encouragement from God to His people. At the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, the kingdom of Israel had become divided and weakened through civil wars and conflicts with other nations. This same situation applies to the present-day church. The Church today engages in several battles. There are fights within and wars without (2 Corinthians 7:5). Judah was rebellious and ignorant (Isaiah 1:2). They were corrupt, degenerated, depressed, and laden with iniquity; having backslidden, forsaken God and provoked Him to anger. Just like Judah, many modern-day Christians live in ignorance and sin. In this deplorable state, the demand of God on Judah in Isaiah 1:16-18 was:

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

This speaks of repentance and total consecration. As a Christian, God expects that you present your body as a living sacrifice which must be holy and acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1). Your consecration to God should be personal, voluntary and sacrificial. How committed are you to God? Is your consecration total? Examine yourself.

Action Point

Do a thorough self–assessment today. Repent of the short comings you identify.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Samuel 8:15-11:27

Proverbs 11:4-17

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