Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 1ST 2017

THEME: OVERFLOWING LAUGHTER.    

Memorise:

And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.       Genesis 21:6

Read: 2 Kings 2:1-15

2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2:2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

2:3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

2:4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

2:5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

2:6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

2:8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

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.

2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

2:15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.


Message:

In Joshua 7, after the Israelites had defeated the people of Jericho, Joshua sent a handful of soldiers to attack Ai. Because Ai was just a little town, he expected victory without a sweat, but to his utter dismay, his people were defeated. After receiving the sad news, he fell on his face overwhelmed by shame, because defeat brings shame. The enemy would have laughed, wondering how a small city such as Ai could defeat Israel. However, while Joshua was lying before the Ark of the Covenant with his face to the ground, God told him the cause of the defeat and what to do to have victory again. Have you been defeated by a weakness or an enemy you considered too weak to bring you down? I declare to you that this is your season of laughter! The Lord will show you the way to victory today, and your laughter will begin.

Moreover, beyond laughter, there is something called overflowing laughter. In today’s Bible passage, when Elijah was about to be transported to Heaven, Elisha his servant had some unpleasant experiences everywhere he went with his master. As they visited each of the schools of the prophets, the sons of the prophets, who were students in these schools, called Elisha aside and said to him, “Daddy’s boy, everywhere daddy goes, you go with him. Do you know that your daddy will be going finally today, and you will have no one else to follow about? We shall soon see what will become of you.” Every time they say this, Elisha replied them saying, “I know my master is going today, but mind your own business.” After Elijah was taken to Heaven and his mantle dropped, Elisha grabbed it and smote the river like his father had done, and the River Jordan parted into two for him to go through. The sons of the prophets, who were watching from a distance, came and bowed down to him. They had no choice but to admit that indeed, the spirit of Elijah is now rested on him. The greatest laughter comes when your mockers become your servants. When God called me into ministry, a lot of people laughed. The greatest laughter came from my village, where they said, “Look at him - the only lecturer from this village who we thought was going to become an important personality. We knew something was wrong with him the moment he joined that church of 'Amen' and began saying 'Amen, Amen'.” Nevertheless, today, God has given me overflowing laughter. Wherever they are laughing you to scorn, the Lord will give you overflowing laughter in Jesus’ Name!


Action Point:
Pray that everyone who has been experiencing sorrow, disgrace and shame for long in your local assembly will begin to experience overflowing laughter from now on.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
James 4-5
1 Peter 1
Hosea 9  

                                                                                                         
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 4: THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR

1.      Through the love of God our Savior,
All will be well;
Free and changeless is His favor;
All, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us;
Perfect is the grace that sealed us;
Strong the hand stretched out to shield us;
All must be well.

2.      Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well;
Ours is such a full salvation;
All, all is well.
Happy still in God confiding,
Fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
Holy through the Spirit’s guiding,
All must be well.

3.      We expect a bright tomorrow;
All will be well;
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All, all is well.
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
In our living, in our dying,
All must be well.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2017

THEME: PRAYERLESSNESS DISALLOWED.    

Memorise:
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

Read: Mark 13:32-37

13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

13:34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Message:

Prayerlessness is a major challenge facing contemporary believers. Many refused to pray as they ought to because they have become overconfident and proud. The more you pray to God, the less dependent on yourself you become. As young Christians, some people prayed quite often. When they became workers in God’s vineyard, they sustained their prayer tempo, but the moment they became pastors, their prayer-life nosedived. Why the decline? It is because such people began to believe that they could now do things on their own. This is the highway to ruin. Are you praying less after God has elevated you spiritually? If your answer is yes, check yourself very well, you will discover that you now have more faith in yourself to succeed by your effort than by God’s support. This is one reason why God keeps a distance from the proud: He knows if He helps them achieve a feat, at the end, they will not think twice before taking His glory.

Besides pride, another reason for prayerlessness is carelessness. In Matthew 26:41, Jesus said:

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Also, in Mark 13:32-37, the Lord emphasized the need to watch. You cannot afford to be careless. You can’t afford to be cold, lukewarm or carefree in these days that we live in. Praying goes along with watching. You cannot pray effectively if you fail to watch as well. If you watch effectively, it will help to give your prayers direction. You will know what trending issues to lift before God’s throne. You will have some burdens in the place of prayer that will only be lifted after you have prayed through. Similarly, if you watch as you should, you will be able to relate events that are happening around you with the second coming of Jesus Christ. If you are keeping watch, you will be on your guard and on your toes. If you watch, you cannot be asleep. Beloved, this is not the time to sleep but the time to be spiritually awake, alert and prepared. This is the time to pray about virtually everything that comes across our path. It is a time to wholly depend on God, who knows the way, to show us the way in the midst of growing confusion and evil spreading around the world. Wake up! Fast more! Watch more! May the Lord guide you in Jesus’ Name.


Prayer Point:
Father, please silence everything in me that is working against me having an effective prayer life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
James 1-3
Hosea 8  

                                                                                                         
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

1.      What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2.      Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3.      Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

4.      Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MONDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
SHUTTING UP MOCKERS

MEMORISE:
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Proverbs 10:28

READ:
Psalm 35:15-19

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Hebrews 11-13, Hosea 7

MESSAGE:
God is a specialist at disgracing mockers and giving His children the last laugh. This season, you shall laugh last in Jesus’ Name! in Mark 10:46-52, when Bartimaeus was crying to Jesus for help, some people were irritated. Do you know that there are people who do not want your voice to be heard at all? “Shut up you blind beggar! With people like us around, do you think the master would have time for a beggar like you?” They laughed at him with an air of importance, but he ignored their mockery and cried out for help all the more. They got angry at his defiance. “You’ve got some nerve, you noisy fellow! If you know what is good for you, you better keep your mouth shut!” They continued mocking him as the crowd moved along. However, to their amazement, Jesus suddenly stopped and said, “There is a blind beggar along the street behind us. Go and bring him here now.” Immediately, the laughter of the mockers ceased. The laughter of your mockers has come to a permanent end today in Jesus' Name! The same mockers became his helper.  They politely took him to Jesus, and after Jesus healed him, he became the center of attraction. Very soon, you that people thought would never amount to anything will become the center of attraction in Jesus’ Name!


A particular sister was dying at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital. Her husband met the doctor and they confided in him that she would not live to see the following morning under any circumstance. So he went to his wife, pretending to care for her, and he told her he would see her the following morning, secretly expecting to meet her corpse by then. As he left the hospital, he phoned his mistress and said, “My stupid wife will pass away tonight. Come over and let’s have fun.” The mistress came to his house and they were “having fun”, but because they never expected anyone to disturb them, they did not even lock the door of the bedroom. They were in for the shock of their lives. After this man left the hospital earlier on, that same night, the Lord Jesus Christ visited his sick wife and said “I am the Lord that healeth thee; rise up and go home.” As she got up and walked out of the hospital, the nurse thought they were daydreaming and seeing her ghost, and so they did not stop her. She got home and caught the two evil doors in their illicit act. She said to them, “You thought I was dead, but I am alive and well.” Every evil expectation of your enemies shall be disappointed in Jesus’ Name! You shall laugh from now on!

PRAYER POINT:
Father, turn every expectation of my mockers to disappointment.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8:
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

1. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
[Refrain]

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
[Refrain]

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME: TURN PROPHECIES INTO REALITIES    

Memorise:

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;                           1 Timothy 1:18

Read: James 5:17-18

5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Message:

A prophecy is of little or no good to the one it has been sent if it does not move from the realm of the spirit into the physical realm. Your attitude to prophecy plays a great role in determining its manifestation in the physical world. Today’s Bible reading tells us how best to relate with prophecies. Through it, we understand that it is important to pray before making a decree and also after you prophesy. At a time when the nation of Israel was in the grip of a serious national backsliding, Elijah stood before King Ahab and decreed that there would be no rain until he reversed the decree (1 Kings 17:1). Immediately after he made this decree, he went into seclusion. The King only heard the decree, but he did not know what went on behind the scenes. Apostle James tells us that Elijah prayed earnestly before he made this decree. After the nation had experienced intense famine for 3 & 1/2 years, God asked Elijah to show himself again to the king. Elijah then stood before King Ahab on Mount Carmel and told him to celebrate because he had heard the sound of abundant rain (1Kings 18:41-46). He said this only after he had successfully turned the backslidden hearts of the children of Israel back to God. After making this declaration to Ahab, he left the presence of the King, fell on his face and prayed earnestly to God until his prophecy came to pass.

Never make a decree or release a prophecy without the backing of prayer. Several people have received certain prophecies that they knew without a doubt was meant for them, and yet they have not witnessed their manifestation in their lives, even while several others are testifying of the fulfillment of the same prophecies in their own lives. What could be wrong? The difference is that some heard, received the prophecy and prayed for its fulfillment, while others heard, received it, but did nothing afterwards. The good thing is that all is not lost; every prophecy that has been spoken into your life or that you have received is still hanging around in the spirit realm, waiting for you to bring it into the realm of the physical through your earnest prayer. A man who had been barren for over 30 years once asked God what he should do, and God said he should wait. When he attended one of our meetings, a prophecy came forth saying “the waiting period is over”. He thanked God, received it and prayed earnestly. That month, his wife conceived. Go ahead and pray for the manifestation of every prophecy God has sent to you that is yet to become reality in your life.

Key Point:
Every prophecy can become reality if only you can apply the tool of effective, persistent prayer.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Hebrew 9-10
Hosea 5-6  
                                                                                                               

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 1: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

1.  My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
POVERTY OR RICHES?  

MEMORISE:
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender
Proverbs 22:7

READ:
2 Corinthians 8:7-9

7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Hebrew 5-8, Hosea 3-4  

MESSAGE:
It is the ultimate desire of our Father to see that we are blessed. He wants all His children to dwell in His blessings (Psalm 92:13-14). It is not His desire that our lives should be at the mercy of unbelievers. The more wealth the Lord empowers us with, the more His Kingdom on earth should increase. Don’t believe those who tell you that as a child of God, you are not supposed to be wealthy. This is a false doctrine! It is written in God’s word that you are to lend to nations and not borrow (Deuteronomy 15:6). It is also recorded in God’s word that the blessings of the Lord make rich and add no sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). Furthermore, God says in His word that He wishes above all things that you prosper and be in good health (3 John 1:2). God has the key to all things, including all the wealth of this world. Psalm 24:1 says,

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

Although God’s word contains all these truths about wealth, as long as believers doubt their efficacy, they will never be able to access God’s wealth. Before you can take possession of God’s wealth, you need to have certain keys that will separate you from poverty and bring you to a realm of unprecedented riches of God. If the Almighty God gives you the power to get wealth, everything you touch automatically turns to riches. You need to acknowledge the fact that true and enduring wealth only comes from God. Deuteronomy 8:18 says,

“But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”

Experiencing true riches is not about millions coming into your account. There are people who have experienced this several time, without the grace to retain such riches. God wants to bless you and also give you the power to retain His blessings. The type of riches that comes without any element of sorrow in it is what God desires for you and your children’s children.

God is against wealth obtained through sin. It doesn’t matter how much you contribute to the work of God, if your money is not earned legitimately, you are placing a curse on yourself and your contributions to the kingdom project will not deliver you from God’s judgment (Proverb 21:27). If God’s children would fear and obey His principle for wealth creation, poverty will become a thing of the past in their lives. You have to hate poverty because a poor man will always live another man’s life. If you seek the righteousness of God, all other things will be added to you.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, separate me from all forms of ungodly riches and poverty

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10:
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

Refrain:

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

Refrain:

4.  There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain:

5. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

Refrain:

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME: THE ESSENCE OF SPIRITUAL OFFICE          
 

Memorise:
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ephesians 4:11

Read: Ephesians 4:8-14
4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Message:

When God calls a person into a spiritual office, it is because there are roles he wants such a person to play in the scheme of things as regards God’s agenda for man on earth. Spiritual offices are not just for the purpose of accumulating titles or occupying position. If you are called into a spiritual office, you are called to serve God, and to be a blessing to lives. God is the giver of all spiritual gifts through His Holy Spirit. However, it so obvious today that some people are not using the spiritual offices they occupy for God’s original purpose. If you have been called as a pastor, your responsibility is to raise a church and care for the spiritual needs of those God has placed in your trust as a pastor. Today, there are many sheep wandering away, because they are not being properly guided by the shepherds the Good Shepherd has set over them. There are members of the Body of Christ who cannot identify their left from their right, and for this reason the Holy Spirit in 2 Timothy 4:2, gave this mandate to those He has set over them as pastors:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

Are you an evangelist? You are a preacher and messenger of the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As an evangelist, you are to declare the entire counsel of God wherever you are. The word of the Lord should not be watered down because of the presence of certain people in your audience (Jeremiah 1:8). You are to constantly remind your hearer of the genuine word of God and avoid messages that will not bring people to the knowledge of Christ and His saving works. If you are a teacher of the word, you have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to explain God’s word in order to build and equip the church. You are to communicate biblical truths effectively to the understanding of your hearers. Are you occupying the office of a prophet? If you are, you have been authorized by God to speak on His behalf.

There are lots of problems in the Body of Christ today because people are not using these spiritual offices for the purpose for which they were given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace has been given to everyone according to the measure of the gift of Christ; hence, it is important that people disengage from causing divisions within the Body of Christ. The offices are meant to complement one another for the perfecting of the saints and to edify the Body of Christ. The offices are to be used together for the unity of the church, so that God’s people can come into the full knowledge of Him.

Prayer Point:
Father, may Your grace upon my life not be in vain.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Hebrew 1-4
Hosea 2

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 14: TAKE MY LIFE
1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
AS YOU LAY YOUR BED!

MEMORIES:
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
2 Timothy 2:6

READ:
 Proverb 27:23-27

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

 26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Titus 1-3 , Philemon 1, Hosea 1  

MESSAGE:
Insincerity is a terrible character flaw that has led to the undoing of different generations of mankind. Take for instance Cain. He had no reason whatsoever not to have known that it was the nature and attitude of his sacrifice that made the Righteous God reject his offering. Furthermore, there was no justifiable reason whatsoever for him to have gone ahead to murder his brother, after he had been told that his wicked intentions were known to the Omniscient God. However, because he was not sincere to himself, he did what he did and he forever lived with its consequences. One dimension of the insincerity of men is manifested when people speak or work against paying a labourer his due wages. If you are one of such people, please know that this character is not a part of God’s nature and His word is against it. In 1 Timothy 5:18, God said:

“...Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

Some people envy hardworking colleagues who are being promoted. As it is generally assumed, promotion comes with its responsibilities as well as attendant goodies and benefits. More often than not, people refuse to see the added responsibilities of a hardworking leader; they only see his or her derivable benefits. This attitude is not godly.

There are some valuable lessons on labour and reward which I would like to point out to you today. First, I want you to know that since God has said that He who does not work should not eat, the righteousness of God makes it imperative that he who works must eat, (2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:18). Secondly, as you lay your bed, so will you lie on it. The more diligent you are in business, the more comfortable you will be after fulfilling all godly conditions. Thirdly, when you are diligent in your vocation, business or job, you will be promoted to lead, because Proverbs 12:24 says,

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”

The fourth lesson I want you to note is that riches are not forever. However, they can endure on one condition: if you continue to be diligent at your business. The fifth lesson is that God must be factored into whatever you do. Remember that except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it (Psalms 127:7). This consideration has to do with being faithful in paying tithes, offering, vows and the first fruits of your increase (Malachi 3:10, Psalm 50:14, Proverb 3:9). Beloved, the most needful of all these is that you give your life to Christ and accept the redemption which He used His life to produce for all mankind. It shall be well with you.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, through the knowledge of Your word and Your Holy spirit, help me to be sincere with Your principles which govern being blessed in this world and the world to come.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10:
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

Refrain:

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

Refrain:

4. There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain:

5. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

Refrain:

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

WEDNESDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
TOUCH NOT MY ANNOINTED.  

Memories:
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
Psalm 105:15

READ:
2 Kings 1:1-15

1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

4 Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

5 And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

7 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.

10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

15 And the angel of the Lord said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Timothy 1-4, Daniel 12        

 MESSAGE:
Although the anointing in the life of the anointed can have positive impact on people’s lives , it can also take actions which have adverse effects against those who abuse the anointed or treat him or her spitefully. The Holy Spirit therefore gave us the warning in today’s memory verse to avoid being on the receiving end of such grave actions. This reminds me of the sad story of a pastor who tried to humiliate my father-in-the-Lord, Pastor Josiah Akindayomi, during his lifetime. Sadly, this fellow became leprous and died. This is similar to the tragic story in today’s Bible reading. Ahaziah, the king of Samaria, tried to lay hands on Elijah, God’s anointed prophet. What was the prophet’s crime? God sent Elijah to point out to him that it was wrong for him to have sent emissaries to consult a strange god for his healing, in defiance of God’s law (Deuteronomy 18:10-11). God’s warning, if heeded, normally brings forgiveness and restoration, as demonstrated in Jonah 3:10, when the people of Nineveh repented of their sins. Unfortunately, instead of crying to the merciful God of Israel, the king ordered the prophet’s arrest. Is this the right response to a message of warning from God? Before you respond to this, think of how you also feel whenever your pastor hands down a strong sermon to you in an effort to make you repent and be delivered from both present and eternal damnation. The story of King Ahaziah’s foolish actions ends in tragedy, not only for him but also for the soldiers he sent to arrest the anointed of God.

There are many lessons to learn and pray about from this story. First and foremost, we must pray for our bad leaders, because when God’s judgment comes, even the innocent may not escape the outcome. Secondly, children of God must always know whether any assignment they are given is of God or of the devil, and they should ask God for wisdom to go about it. I remember some policemen who wanted to extort money from my entourage some years ago. The moment I told their leader, “There is always a last assignment for every individual on earth”, he understood and let us go. If he had not repented, that would have been his last outing, because it was not I who spoke but the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, ministers of God should always live above board so that God’s anointing can fight on their behalf. Elijah said, “if I be a man of God...”. As a pastor, evangelist or prophet, can you confidently say you are a man of God? Have you burnt your spiritual fingers in the fire of sin and covered it up as if nothing happened? If you are in such a situation, repent today so that the anointing can resume its defense of your life. For those fond of ridiculing the anointed man of God, be careful, so that you don’t experience the adverse effects of the anointing. May the peace of God be with you.

ACTION POINT :
If you’ve spitefully treated the anointed of God, repent and pray for forgiveness and healing.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 15:
 THE COMFORTER HAS COME

1. Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:
The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;
Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—
The Comforter has come!

2. The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last,
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

3. Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings,
To every captive soul a full deliv’rance brings;
And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

4. O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine
To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine—
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

5. Sing till the echoes fly above the vaulted sky,
And all the saints above to all below reply,
In strains of endless love, the song that ne’er will die:
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TUESDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU.

MEMORIES:
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.    Psalm 30:5

Read:
Job 1:13-19; Job 42:12-13

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 42:12-13

12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1Timothy 3-6, Daniel 11:36-45

MESSAGE:
If you will ever achieve anything tangible in life, you need faith that hinges on God and that believes in possibilities. If our God could frame the universe through His word, then there is no situation or circumstance beyond His control (Hebrews 11:3). There is no situation in your life that He cannot reverse. He can bring hope to your life irrespective of the long-standing problems in it.
In John 5:1-8, we see the story of a man at the pool of Bethesda, who had been in the same sad condition for 38 years. He claimed that the reason why he had not been made whole was because he had no man to assist him; but by the time the Lord Jesus came on the scene, his problems ceased without the help of any man. Irrespective of the many years of rejection you have suffered, the Almighty God is attending to your situation right now in Jesus’ Name. There are families that have lost so many things. They have been through all sorts of problems. In Genesis 18:1-10, we have the account of Abraham and Sarah, who had waited several years for the fulfillment of God’s promise. The angels of God finally visited them and assured them that their long awaited blessing was on the way. Despite all the odds stacked against them physiologically, God’s purpose was established in their lives. I speak the word of God to every family going through pains: the Almighty God will divinely visit you and settle you in Jesus’ Name.

There are some people in business who are already planning to close down their offices and outlets because of the situation of things. I want you to know that your moment of refreshing is on the way. Don’t quit, because the Almighty God will restore to you all that you have lost. Today’s Bible reading narrates how Job lost everything he had, from his children to his investments. However, the scripture tells us that the Almighty God arose and blessed his latter end than his beginning (Job 42:12). I want to assure you that irrespective of how harsh the economic climate is, the Almighty God will sort you out in Jesus’ Name. Also, there is hope for a nation. A closer look at all that is going on around the world would make anyone feel very uncomfortable. In 2 Kings 6:24-7:1, the economy of Samaria was very bad due to a siege. All the technocrats had tried all they could but things got out of hand. At the peak of this adverse situation, the man of God prophesied that things would change suddenly. Those who understand global economic indices said that this was impossible. The Almighty God however performed His word as He had spoken it. I announce to you that it is about to rain upon your life, family, career, business and nation in Jesus’ Name. God will intervene and put an end to your problems in Jesus’ Name.

KEY POINT:
Father, let my joy begin now.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 1:
MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

1.  My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2.  May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MONDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
HIS THOUGHTS TOWARDS YOU  

MEMORIZE:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8

READ:
 Isaiah 55:8 -13

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Thessalonians 1-3, 1 Timothy 1-2
Daniel 11:20-35  

MESSAGE:
The Almighty God has special promises for His children. These promises are great and their operation is not dependent on the condition of the economy of the nations where His children are located. When the Lord says, “it is well with you”, He is not saying this because of the things around you. He is saying so because of the things He is capable of doing. You can therefore rest assured, because there is no impossibility with Him. His thoughts and promises towards you are great and perfect, but there are keys required to unlock them. One of such keys is found in Psalm 37:37;

“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.”

Righteousness is the key that ensures the enjoyment of God’s blessings in this world. The economy may be hard against other people of the land, but in the midst of the instability, God is saying it shall be well with the righteous. Isaiah 3:10 says,

“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”

The Almighty God knows how to make you experience peace in the midst of crisis. He knows how to lift you up when others are being cast down. He knows how to settle you while others are lamenting. This is because His thoughts towards you are not a function of the economic indices of your country. In hard times, there are lots of compromises made in business and also in practical Christian living, but the eyes of the Lord are fixed on us all the time and He is waiting to reward us according to our works. We must ensure that our stand for God does not change even in hard economic times. We must remain righteous in season and out of season. Others may compromise righteousness for the sake of gain, but you must remember the promises of God concerning your life. If Joseph had compromised his stance when the wife of his boss seductively approached him, he would not have emerged a deliverer in Egypt. There are those who put their trust in men and connections, but those who understand the greatness of God will follow God’s rules for their lives, because they know they cannot get anything better than what God has in store for them. No matter what and who they have access to, the righteous do not trust in themselves or man. Their trust is in the Name of the Lord. Everything that the branch needs is supplied by the Vine. The Vine has the roots that bring all the water and nourishment that the branch needs. This is why Philippians 4:19 says,

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Therefore, trust in God’s promises and hold on to Him tenaciously. He will not fail.

KEY POINT:
Those who follow God are always partakers of good things.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 4:
THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR

1 Through the love of God our Saviour,
All will be well;
Free and changeless is His favour,
All, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
Perfect is the grace that sealed us,
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
All must be well.

2 Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
All, all is well.
Happy still in God confiding;
Fruitful if in Christ abiding;
Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding:
All must be well.

3 We expect a bright tomorrow;
All will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All, all is well.
On our Father's love relying,
Jesus every need supplying;
Or in living or in dying;
All must be well.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SUNDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
FULFIL YOUR CALLING

MEMORISE:
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5

READ:
Romans 12:6-18

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

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

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Thessalonians 1-5,
Daniel 11:7-19        

MESSAGE:
Yesterday, we discussed knowing and staying within your calling. One of the reasons why it is important for you to know and stay within your calling is to fulfill the purpose of your calling. Fulfilling your calling is therefore premised on you knowing and staying with your calling. We are instructed by the Lord to ensure the profitable use of the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit - though not without caution that it should be done in faith. The bedrock of the use of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives and the offices our Lord Jesus Christ calls us into is love. This is why Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12:31, as a prologue to his exposition on love, said:

“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

Without love, you cannot adequately fulfill your calling. Through the story of Jonah who was commissioned as a prophet to warn a perishing nation, we learn that without love, there is no way anyone can fulfill his or her calling. The office of the prophet is a desirable office among the fivefold offices in the Church (Ephesians 4:11). This was the office Jonah was called into. However, a lack of love for perishing souls almost made him to lose that office and his life (Jonah 1:1-15). Beloved, into what office have you been called? Are you fulfilling your calling? If not, do you know the cause? May be it is because your heart is lacking in love. 1 Corinthians 13:2 says:

“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

It is amazing to read that Jonah was angry because God decided to forgive the people of Nineveh after he had been forced to warn them to repent. Jonah 3:10-4:1 says,

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.”

You cannot fulfill your calling if you don’t have love to operate it. Your gifts would just be monumental but without value. It takes love to be a successful administrator to say the least. It takes love to successfully do the work of an evangelist or teacher. Without love, you may own all the goods in the world and people dying of starvation will mean nothing to you. A pastor without love would just be milking the sheep to fatten himself up for perdition. Love is the excellent way of fulfilling your calling. Release your heart to love, and stay away from hate.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please fill my heart with compassion and love, so that I may fulfill my calling in Jesus’ Name.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14:
TAKE MT LIFE

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5.  Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

 SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
KNOW & STAY WITHIN YOUR CALLING

MEMORISE :
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans 12:3

READ:
1 Corinthians 12:4-11

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Colossians 1-4, Daniel 10:15-11:6    

MESSAGE:
Anyone who wants to be successful in life without struggling must know the reason why God sent him into this world. As a child of God, it is particularly very important for you to know your calling and stay within it. There are many reasons why a child of God should know and stay within his or her calling. The Holy Spirit expounds on this in Romans 12:3 saying:

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

This scripture reveals a serious mistake that knowing one’s calling could help to avoid. That mistake is thinking of oneself more highly than one ought to. For example, a person called as a teacher seeing himself as an apostle would get into a lot of problems. He or she will commit blunders, and can only be rescued by repenting and staying within the call of God with every sense of sobriety.

Also, in our Bible reading, we are exposed to the diversities of gifts given by the same Spirit of God. Irrespective of the type of gifts we are given, 1 Corinthians 12:7 says this about their purpose:

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

This scripture reveals that these gifts are for the purpose of blessing the Body of Christ. This is why you should never make merchandise of spiritual gifts. Freely the Holy Spirit gives, and freely we must operate in His gifts without profiteering. This might be the reason why Elisha refused to take the gifts offered by Naaman, the Syrian army general, after he was healed of leprosy (2 Kings 5:15-16). Moreover, we must not only know our calling, we must also stay within it as a matter of necessity. Those who would not stay within their calling will end up in frustration. The truth is, no calling is inferior to the other, and none is superior either (1 Corinthians 12:15-25). It is an inferiority complex that makes a child of God think that he or she is not gifted, when he or she can sing, witness or give generously without constraints. It takes a divine calling to be rich and still find it easy to distribute your riches to meet people’s needs. Ananias and Sapphira entered into the calling of giving like Barnabas, when they were not called into it, and they met their waterloo (Acts 4:36-37, Acts 5:1-11). That thing you are doing for God with ease is your area of calling. Identify and stay in it. God bless you.

PRAYER POINT :
Father, open my understanding to know my calling and give me the necessary contentment to stay within it in Jesus’ Name.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 15:
THE COMFORTER HAS COME

1. Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:
The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;
Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—
The Comforter has come!

2.  The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last,
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

3. Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings,
To every captive soul a full deliv’rance brings;
And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

4.  O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine
To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine—
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

5.  Sing till the echoes fly above the vaulted sky,
And all the saints above to all below reply,
In strains of endless love, the song that ne’er will die:
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

 FRIDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
IMPORTUNE PRAYER OR VAIN REPETITION?

MEMORISE:
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 6:7

READ:
Luke 18:1-8

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Philippians 2-4, Daniel 10:1-14  

MESSAGE:
A lot of people don’t know the difference between importune prayer and prayer with vain repetitions. Importune prayer, otherwise known as persistent or relentless prayer, is good and recommended by our Lord Jesus Christ, while vain repetitions are abhorred and condemned by Him. In our memory verse, the Lord Himself warned us against vain repetitions during prayer! The question is, what does it mean to pray using vain repititions? Does it mean, as assumed by lot of people, using the same words over and over again when praying? To answer this question, let’s take a look at what Mark 14:39 says about the prayers the Lord offered in the Garden of Gethsemane:

“And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.”

It is clear from this scripture that vain repetition does not mean repeating the same words in prayer. Using vain repetitions in prayer simply means continuously praying on a request for which God has said “No” or “Wait”, “it’s not yet time”, in the hope of stampeding Him into doing what He has purposed not to do in your own best interest. I remember when my children were still young and we were living in Mushin (Lagos, Nigeria), where there were so many reckless drivers around. My children asked for bicycles, but I refused to grant that request because I did not want to bury any of them. My answer to their request could be interpreted as, “Wait, it’s not yet time”. However, when we moved to the Redemption Camp, where the roads were safe for young fellows to ride bicycles, I decided it was time to grant their request. If they kept asking me for bicycles while we were still at Mushin, that could be interpreted as praying using vain repetitions.

In our Bible reading, the Lord encouraged importune or unrelenting prayer by using the illustration of a judge who was not sensitive to the plight of his petitioners, least of all a lowly widow. Importune prayer is the prayer we keep on saying when God has not given a verdict of yes or no. It demonstrates to God that we have no alternative to Him and what He can do for us. This story tells us that after the widow kept on going to the judge day and night, he decided to do what she wanted. Although God cannot be intimidated by our prayers, in as much as we ask according to his will and we do not grow weary in asking, He will always answer us. Daniel prayed importune prayer for twenty-one days before he got his answer. As a matter of fact, it was his importune prayer that prevented him from being robbed of the answer to his request which had been released on the very first day that he started praying, but was hijacked by principalities (Daniel 10:12-13). I pray that your cry to God will be heard today and you will have testimonies in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT :
Father, avenge me of my adversaries today, and put laughter on my lips in Jesus’ Name.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

 HYMN 1:
MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

1.  My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2.  May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3.  While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
 ALL THINGS WORK FOR GOOD

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:
Acts 8:1-8

1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

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

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

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

8 And there was great joy in that city.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ephesians 5-6, Daniel 9:16-27            

MESSAGE:
When we look at the situation of the world today, we can be tempted to think that God has withdrawn from the world he created, but nothing could be further from the truth. Our God is very much in charge of His created order. He has never and He will never lose grip of His created universe. One reason why some people think it is immoral to link God with what is happening in the world today is the evil that permeates the world as a result of sin being perpetrated by the men and woman of this age. Such people believe that if God is involved in the affairs of this world, then the terrible things we are witnessing today should have triggered His direct intervention. Such opinions are not new; they were also expressed by some people at the time of the early Church, to whom Peter responded with the words 2 Peter 3:9:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The events described in today’s Bible reading showed God’s people living in a very difficult time. The persecution of the early Christians by the Jew, which claimed the life of Stephen, caused the believers to scatter all over the then known world, in a bid to escape further persecution by the Jews. However, this dispersion resulted in the spread of the gospel. Philip, who was initially commissioned to minister to the widows in Jerusalem, became a city-wide evangelist in Samaria. The Bible testifies thus about him:

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.”
Acts8:5-6

You can therefore see that indeed, all the things that happened in Jerusalem, including the scattering of the disciples, worked together for the salvation and deliverance of the people of Samaria and other parts of the world. My prayer for you is that all the things you are passing through this season will work together for your good in Jesus’ Name. However, only those who love God have the assurance of all things working together in their favor, especially those who are called according to God’s purpose. Therefore, ensure that your love for God is sincere, so that your expectations will not be disappointed.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, in accordance with Your word, let all things begin to work together for my good in Jesus’ Name.
                         
 AUTHOR:
 PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

 HYMN 4:
 THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR

 THROUGH the love of God our Savior,
All will be well;
Free and changeless is His favor,
All, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
Perfect is the grace that sealed us,
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
All must be well.

2 Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
All, all is well.
Happy still in God confiding;
Fruitful if in Christ abiding;
Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding:
All must be well.

3 We expect a bright tomorrow;
All will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All, all is well.
On our Father's love relying,
Jesus every need supplying;
Or in living or in dying;
All must be well.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

WEDNESDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
HOPE IN THESE LAST DAYS

MEMORISE:
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:18

READ:
 Joel 2:28-32

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lordshall call.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ephesians 2-4, Daniel 9:3-15

MESSAGE:
You can live above the storms of life in these last days through the power of God’s word. The Lord has promised us in His word that He will not leave us comfortless (John 14:18). You therefore have His assurance that no matter how bad your situation may appear to be, there is hope for you. Let these words of Job 14:7 bring hope to your heart:

“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.”

While Jesus and His disciples were on a missionary journey, the disciples desperately called His attention to a raging storm. He calmly woke up and rebuked the storm, and right away, there was great calm (Mark 4:36-41). The disciples first struggled to survive the storm on their own, but the more they tried, the more they were in danger of perishing at sea, until Jesus intervened. I  pray that the Almighty God will intervene in your situation today in Jesus’ Name. From the words of the Lord, we know that the last days will be a time of turmoil with several raging storms (Luke 21:25-26). We are indeed in the last days. Are you experiencing a storm? The Lord has different strategies to bring comfort to you. He can simply calm the storm by the awesome power of His presence, or by directly commanding the storm to become still. He can also provide a cover for you from the storm. This is why you need to stay in God’s presence where your destiny can remain secured.

The Lord has promised the outpouring of His spirit upon all flesh in the last days. Acts 2:17 says,

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:”

We are living in times when the Spirit of the Lord is empowering the saints for the fulfillment of prophesies and the actualization of visions. The Body of Christ therefore has no excuse not to do exploit for God in times as these, because the promise of the Spirit’s outpouring has already been fulfilled by the Father. God is set to do great things, not because of our own abilities but because of His sovereignty. Not one of God’s children will be left out of His great move in these last days. Son, daughters, old men, young men, manservants and maidservants are all relevant to God in His agenda for this time. He has reserved better things for His people in the midst of the turmoil unfolding in the world, and He will begin to give us divine revelation of how we will transit from where we are to where we ought to be by His Spirit. The Spirit will also release the strength and vigour needed for the actualization of these dreams.

PRAYER POINT :
Father, let there be an outpouring of Your Spirit upon my life.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1:
MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2.  May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3.  While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TUESDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME:
ENJOYING THE SERVICES OF ANGELS            

MEMORISE:
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
Psalm 104:4

READ:
Psalm 91:9-13

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Galatians 4-6, Ephesians 1,
Daniel 8:15-9:2

MESSAGE:
There are several misconceptions about the existence of angels. Some people don’t believe that angels exist. Some other people who believe in the existence of angels don’t know their purpose. It is important for us to know the truth of what God’s word says about angels, so that we don’t miss out on the ministry of angels in our lives. Today’s memory verse confirms that angels exist, and gives a hint on why they were created. From this scripture, we understand that angels are ministering spirits. We have two categories of angels: holy angels of God and fallen angels. The term “fallen angels” refers to Satan and the group of angels that rebelled along with him against God. These angels, now called the devil and demons, were cast out of heaven and are awaiting the day of God’s final judgment against them, when they will be sent into the place of eternal punishment (Isaiah 14:12-16, Ezekiel 28:12-19, Revelation 12:9, Matthew 8:29, Revelation 20:10). On the other hand, the holy angels of God are those angels that have remained loyal to God as their sovereign Lord. Concerning these angels, Psalm 103:20 says,

“Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”

As a child of God, the angels of God are meant to minister to you and for you in the hour of great need, especially in situations beyond human control and power. Hebrews 1:14 says,

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

For example, angels ministered to Jesus after His temptation and before He went to the cross (Matthew 4:11, Luke 22:43). Psalm 91:11-12 mentions some specific assignments of the angels of God saying,

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Years ago, when some of the brethren came to me suggesting that I begin to carry bodyguards around, because they would not want to lose me to hoodlums or hired assassins, I declined because, based on the above scripture, the One who called me has more than enough angelic bodyguards to take care of my security, and they are more effective than a billion human bodyguards could ever be. Note however that the angels of God should never be worshipped or prayed to. Often times, because of their awesome nature, those who encountered them attempted to do this, but every time, these angels themselves forbade them from doing so (Revelation 22:8-9). Are you enjoying the ministry of angels?

ACTION POINT :
Thank God for His ministering spirits that have been assigned to take care of you.

AUTHOR:
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8:
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

1. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain:

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

Refrain:

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2017

THEME: PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY              

Memorise:
For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6

Read: Psalm 51:12-18

51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Message:

Going to church is not the same as knowing God. There are many people in church today whose lifestyles do not reflect having any experimental knowledge of who God is. Furthermore, being involved in church activities is not the same as loving God. If you love God, it will show in the way you conduct the affair of your life. God is a merciful God who desires the prosperity of His children, and He is in search of hearts that are longing for him. God is calling us into an intimate knowledge of His person and His attributes. If you know God, the evidence will be seen in the way you relate with people around you. This includes your colleagues in the office as well as your neighbors at home. If your lifestyle does not match with God’s word, no matter how much you give to Him or the activities you engage in to impress Him, you will not find favour in His sight. The words of 1 Samuel 15:22 are very clear:

“...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.”

Some time ago, at a gathering of God’s people at the Redemption Camp, I had to tell everyone there that if you know you are not genuinely saved by the Blood of the Lamb, there is no need to give any offering to God. God will not accept the offering of sinners. It is an abomination before Him (Proverb 15:8). Our lives must count for God first, before other things can follow suit.

God wants us to obey His voice and follow His word for our lives. He wants His children to all be true people who impact the lives of others positively. Living a godly life is all that God desires from us. When we live according to His standards, He will be pleased with all that we have to offer. Morality and rituals cannot grant us access to the mercy of God. Before the prodigal son could receive mercy, he had to come to his senses and amend his ways by going back to his father. God is longing for those who will praise Him in spirit and in truth. He is desperate for those who will magnify Him not for what they can get from Him but for who He is. Do you know that you can come before God with big offerings and yet stir up His anger? This will not be your lot in Jesus’ Name. No amount of sacrifice from us can equal His sacrifice for us. The scope of this sacrifice can be seen in these words of Romans 8:32:

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Key Point:
Obedience is better than sacrifice.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Galatians 1-3
Daniel 8:1-14

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

 HYMN 14:  TAKE MY LIFE

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.