Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 1ST MARCH 2018

THEME: GOOD SUCCESS.


MEMORISE:

Joshua 1:8

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

READ: Proverbs 1:29-33.

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

MESSAGE

Our memory verse today lets us know straightaway that not all success is the same. While some success can be can be good, others can be bad. If you want your own success to be good, this Book of the law, which is the Bible shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night to ensure that you live according to all that it says. The word of God further emphasizes the fact that not all success is good success. For example, Proverbs 1:32 tells us that if prosperity is put in the hands of a fool, it will eventually destroy him or her. This means there is a kind of success that brings destruction. We see this today in the lives of many seemingly successful people especially celebrities and young starts all over the world. I pray that thekind of success and prosperity that destroys its owner will never come your way in the Name of Jesus.

Good success has many facets. It could mean prosperity without adversity. Proverb 10:22 says that the blessing of the Lord makes rich and adds no sorrow. It could also mean promotion without the possibility of demotion. It is better not to be promoted at all, than to be promoted today and demoted tomorrow. Good success also refers to deliverance without any relapse. It is said that some people who were once delivered have later relapsed into bondage again (Luke 11:24-26). Good success also manifest as victory without the possibility of future defeat, as well as processing an anointing that never dries up. Good success is salvation without backsliding, and it could also mean several other things. The Lord will grant you good success in the form of a blessing that last forever in Jesus’ Name.

For you to experience good success, you must first accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Then you must submit to the authority of the Bible as the eternal word of God, through a diligent study of its teachings. You must take the word of God as your absolute guide in all matters relating to human life and existence. Your commitment and obedience to the word of God will bring you to a level of fellowship with God that attracts the assured presence of His almighty power, which enforces the manifestation of good success and prosperity in your life. As you endeavor to live according to God’s word today, good success and prosperity will accompany everything you do, in Jesus Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please give me the spirit of wisdom that will produce my desired joy in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Number 4; 1 Corinthians 14:26-15:11


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 6: A NEW THING

 (Tune: There shall be showers of Blessing)

1. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because GOD will do new things
Sinners will soon be forgiven
Prodigals will come home soon.

Chorus:
Shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Rivers in desert now flowing
Halleluyah to our king.

2. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Sickness and sorrow will be gone
Bondage will be forgotten.

3. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
The barren will be fruitful soon
Failure will be forgotten

4. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Poverty will be forgotten
Stagnancy will soon be gone.

5. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
To all miracles are given
There shall be celebrations

6. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Many will have testimonies
Of prayers answered fully

7. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
One of us will chase a thousand
Two will conquer ten thousands.

8. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Songs of praises we will sing

• Halleluyah to our King.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: LIVING BY DECREES

MEMORISE: “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” – Job 22:28

READ: James 5:14-18 (KJV)

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

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.

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

MESSAGE

Our God is a God of dominion who rules by decrees (Psalm 148:5-6, Jeremiah 5:22). It therefore follows that if He created man in His own image and after His likeness, man should also rule by decrees. Genesis 1:28 gives an insight into the mandate of dominion that God gave to man after he was created:

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

It is unfortunate that man fell from his position of authority where he ruled by decrees and began to be ruled by circumstances. It is however more unfortunate that some children of God have failed to realize the position of dominion that they have been restored to in the new dispensation of the covenant in the Blood of Jesus (Luke 22:20). It is true that man fell and lost his dominion, but it is equally true that this dominion was restored through the second Adam: Jesus. Therefore, man should no longer live under the curse of sin anymore, because he has regained his dominion through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, who died as a ransom for the sins of the human race (Roman 5:,17,18). This is the confidence by which the apostles of old lived, and the basis of their ability to live by decrees. Paul demonstrated this in Acts 16:18:

“And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

Even before the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, some men peered into the glory of the dispensation that was to come and were able to partake of the glory which they saw afar off (1 Peter 1:10-11). One of such men is Elijah, who lived and ruled by decrees. Elijah was calling the shots and holding sway on behalf of his God (1 Kings 17:1, 2 Kings 1:10). The good news is that we of the new dispensation have a better covenant than that of Elijah, because the Son of God is at the right hand of power backing our decrees up through His intercession on our behalf (Romans 8:34). You must therefore recognize who you are and the power at your disposal. Recognize and believe that the words of Job 22:28 apply to you. Henceforth, live by decrees and dominion, and never allow yourself become a victim of circumstance again. Jesus is Lord!

ACTION POINT: Make decree in the Name of Jesus against every negative circumstance in your life, your home, your church, your community and your country.

HYMN 10: 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 Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: JOY TO THE WISE. 


MEMORISE:

The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
Proverbs 15:24

READ: Proverbs 10:8-14.

8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

MESSAGE

There is a relationship between wisdom and joy. We see this in Ecclesiastes 8:1b

“A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.”

The reason why the wise possess joy is that they work to bring joy to the people around them and not to themselves alone (2 Corinthians 2:3). Who then are the wise? Proverb 10:8a answers the question:

 “The wise in heart will receive commandments:”

It takes wisdom and humility of heart for a man to abide by the command ments of God. Alas, these two are in short supply in today’s world. No wonder joy is fast becoming a scarce commodity. For a lot of people in the world today, God’s commandments are no longer an issue to be considered. Liberal theologians are busy convincing the gullible  that the commandments of God are obsolete, moribund and out of fashion. They argue that the only way to sustain the Christian faith is to abandon the commandments of God as reinforced by Jesus Christ in the gospels. The message of the Bible is being over-contextualized to the point that we have many varieties of beliefs and practices in the body of Christ today. It’s presented as if when God was giving His commandments, he did not have the whole world in mind. We must admit the truth that when Jesus Christ was teaching his disciples, He was preparing them to evangelise the world. He could therefore not have sent them out to different parts of the world to teach a spiritual curriculum that is different from what He already taught them as recorded in the gospels. This is the testimony of one of His disciples about their message to the whole world in 1 john 1:3:

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

A hymn writer’s advice would suffice as the crux of the message for today’s devotional: “Trust and obey; for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus; but to trust, and obey.” Only the fear of God, can give you joy unspeakable and make you full of His glory. Be wise today.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please give me the spirit of wisdom that will produce my desired joy in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Number 3; 1 Corinthians 14:6-25


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 4: TRUST AND OBEY
1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

o Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: ACCESSING DIVINE INFORMATION. 


MEMORISE:

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

READ: Daniel 2:13-19

 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

MESSAGE

Information is very powerful, and the wise do not underestimate its power. It can have positive or negative impact depending on the type of information, the giver of the information and the receiver of that information. The Lord will give you pleasant information today in Jesus Name. It was pleasant information to Abraham and his household, when the Lord announced the coming of the child of promise (Genesis 18:10). However, it was unpleasant information when the Lord later announced the coming total destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah where Abraham’s nephew lived (Genesis 18:17-21). However, irrespective of the nature of the information, it is always a privilege to have access to divine information because it enables you to always be one step ahead of the enemy.

In today’s memory verse, the Lord committed Himself to the principle of sharing divine information with His servants. The wise will scrutinize this principle and apply it to their benefit. Daniel was wise; he therefore tapped into the possibilities made accessible by this commitment. In today’s Bible text, when all the astrologers in Babylon were to be killed because they could not decode the information embedded in the king’s dream, they turned to Daniel who knew how to access divine information from the spirit realm. Beloved where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). We can learn some vital truths on accessing divine information from the experience of Daniel and his companions, one of which is that they got the information from the God of Heaven. For you to access information that will guide you alright in life, you need the God of Heaven. This same God has packaged all the information you need to excel in life in a book called the Bible. Just as divine information made a way of escape for Daniel, it also helped the king of Israel, guided by Elisha, to escape the traps of the king of Syria. 2 Kings 6:9-10 says,

“And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.”

We will be delivered from the snares of our enemies when we have access to divine information, but we must act on it like the king of Israel did. For example, we have been divinely informed that sinners face eternal damnation but can escape this future through repentance and acceptance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The wise will act on this information and escape eternal damnation.

ACTION POINT:

Get acquainted with the God of Heaven through Jesus Christ, and you will on daily basis have access to divine information that will keep you away from evil.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Number 1-2; 1 Corinthians 13:1-14:5


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 2: I NEED THEE, OH, I NEED THEE.

1. I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

o Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

5. I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: NOT FOR KINGS!

MEMORISE: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” – Ephesians 5:18

READ: Proverbs 23:29-35 (KJV)

29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 26; 1 Corinthians 11:17-12:11

MESSAGE

Our imagination cannot begin to grasp the extent of the many benefits which our redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ grants to us. The price that was paid on the cross of Calvary forever changed our state, our status and our future. One of the changes it made to our status is revealed to us in Revelation 1:5b – 6:

“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

It is clear from this scripture that those who have been redeemed by the precious Blood of the Lamb are kings. To leave no doubt in our minds, our status of royalty is further declared to us in 1 Peter 2:9. Having been taken from the dunghill of sin and made kings unto God, the least we can do is to comport ourselves in a manner that aligns with our new status. In order for us to continually live in the reality of our royal status, the Holy Spirit has gone the extra mile to clearly define what we should and should not do as kings unto God. One of those things we should not do is clearly stated in Proverbs 31:4 as follows:

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:”

I believe this is clear enough. For those who want to live their lives as kings unto God in this world and reign as kings with Jesus Christ in the world to come, total abstinence from alcohol is not an option.

Today’s Bible text further explains to us the reason why alcohol is not for kings. It may seem harmless at the time it is being gulped down the throat, but when it arrives in your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, what does it do? It stirs up things in you that are contrary to the nature of God that you share. Proverbs 23:33 mentions some of such things:

“Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.”

Just take a look at Noah to understand what alcohol can do to a great man (Genesis 9:19-25). It eventually brought an everlasting curse upon one of his beloved children. I pray for you that your appetite will not put you in trouble in Jesus’ Name. Please drop your contentious argument about drinking alcohol today. Count it a worthy sacrifice you need to make to follow after the Master. Seek to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit and the appetite for wine will fade into oblivion (Ephesians 5:18).

Action Point: Always be cautious of the content of any drink handed over to you for consumption to ensure that it is non-alcoholic before you drink it.

HYMN 12: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE

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 power 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 Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: THE MAKING OF DISCIPLES


MEMORISE: “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

READ: Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 25; 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:16

MESSAGE
A disciple is a disciplined follower of Jesus Christ, committed to the life and principles of God’s kingdom which Jesus Christ came to teach and demonstrate on earth. When He was leaving the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ instructed those who were already His disciples to make disciples of all nations of the world. Why is it necessary to make people Christ’s disciples, and how do we make disciples of people? What does the kingdom of God stand to gain when people are made disciples of Jesus Christ? These are questions worth our consideration. We are to make disciples of all nations of the world because it is the Lord’s commandment. The Lord commanded us to do this because He wants to reconcile all mankind back to God. 2 Corinthians 5:19 says,

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

After a lost soul has experienced the new-birth in Christ, God expects that a systematic teaching of His word will follow in order to transform the new believer into the image of Jesus Christ. For this reason, the Holy Spirit in Isaiah 28:9-10 says:

“9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”

One characteristic of a genuinely born-again fellow is the desire to grow through God’s word (1 Peter 2:2-3). Such a person should therefore not be starved of the sound teaching of the word. If you have led a person to Christ, it should be your desire to see that person grow into the stature of the Son of God (Ephesians 4:13-15).

The Church and the world stand to gain peace as the number of the disciples of the Prince of Peace increases. Terrorism will be eliminated. There would be no Al-Qaeda, ISIS or Boko Haram sects. Murder, drug addiction, homosexuality and other acts of sin will become unpopular. Police stations and prison yards will perpetually be on holiday. The earth will become a paradise. This will come to fulfillment, because the Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 6:10, taught us to pray thus:

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

ACTION POINT: Put up a soul winning outreach in your locality; arrange an effective house-fellowship where your potential converts will be taught the rudimentary tenets of the Christian faith and begin to disciple people.

Hymn 15: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.

There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee

Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Theell

Open Heaven Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.


MEMORISE:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:17

READ: Exodus 13:20-22

20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

MESSAGE

Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed to His disciple a very important aspect of Hs being when He declared Himself as the Light of the world in John 8:12:

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

He followed this up by manifesting this attribute when He performed a creative miracle in order to bring the light into the life of a man who had never been able to see (John 9). Before creating eyes where non existed before, to signify the purpose of what He was about to do, He declared in John 9:5:

 “ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

I pray that any form of darkness engulfing your life will disappear today in Jesus’ Name. You cannot drive away darkness. All you need to do to make darkness disappear is to let in the light. For this reason, I ask you to allow Jesus into every area of your life without exception, because wherever He is, there will be light. If He enters your life today, light has enter into you.
From today’s memory verse, we understand that Jesus is also the Father of lights. It then follows that if Jesus is the Father of lights, He must have children who are lights. Who then are the children of the Father of lights? We Christians are. He revealed our identity to us  in Matthew 5:14, saying:

 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

There is no hiding place for genuine children of Light, because they cannot but function to expose the works of darkness. As lights, we are to guide those who are in darkness out of it (Romans 2:19). As our Lord is the Light of the world, so are we. We must shine on His behalf by exposing the evil of sin and wickedness of the devil and his agents. Doing this will certainly attract persecution and so we must be battle-ready against the kingdom of darkness. Our focus must be on Jesus Christ the Light from whom we obtain our light. Let’s hold on to His message to us in John 15:19:

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

This is where the problem lies: children of the Light today are not ready to be hated. They would rather conform to the world instead of using their light to transform the world. God will help you shine brightly as an agent of transformation in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me shine for You in the darkness of this world, and according to Your word, don’t let darkness comprehend my light in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 23-24; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 5: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though- none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: HE ALONE IS GOD.


MEMORISE:

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1Timothy 2:5

READ: Exodus 20:1-6

1And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

MESSAGE

The God whom I serve is not only the beginning, He is also the ending (Revelations 1:8). This is why he can give a lost soul a new beginning and also bring those without hope to an expected end (Exodus 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, jeremiah 29:11). This simply means that the Almighty God that I serve is the All in all who fills everywhere (Psalm 139:7-13, Ephesians 4:9-10). The supremacy and pre-eminence of the Almighty God of heaven and earth was not bestowed on Him by any man or creature; they are inherent in Him (1 timothy 6:16). His supremacy and pre-eminence must be acknowledged by all His creation (Psalm 103:19-22). In today’s Bible text, God demands exclusive worship from those He calls His own. He clearly spelt out this demand because He knows that there is a tendency for mankind to worship the contraptions of his heart. Who is the God that you serve; the self-existing God or a contraption borne out of the imagination of men’s heart? A lot of people today have idolized other men to the point of worship. They follow what such people say and believe whatever they spew out of their mouths, even when such things are contrary to what the Creator has said in His word. Some people worship whatever the imaginations of their heart brings to them by believing that they are what their thoughts say they are, contrary to what God created them to be. To such people, their imagination is their god and they bend in whatever direction it leads them. This is why some people subject themselves to gender reassignments surgery, based on what their imagination dictates. As a human being, whether you like it or not, there will be always be something you worship, even though you don’t realize it. It is a dangerous thing t make anything aside from god of heaven the object of your worship, because this elicits a curse from heaven. Jeremiah 17:5 says,

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”

Moreover, the Lord commanded that we should not bow to anything or anyone but Himself. This was the position Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego took when they were faced with option of bowing or burning (Daniel 3). They chose to burn rather than bow to the image of King Nebuchadnezzar. Today, for fear of death, many arre bowing to the image of witchcraft, sorcery and various occult groups, Jesus came to deliver such people, if they will accept Him (Hebrew 2:14-15). Don’t let anyone deceive you, there is no other god besides the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus is the only way to Him ( Timothy 2:5). Accept Jesus today and put your absolute trust in Him alone.

ACTION POINT:

Is there anything or anyone playing God in your life? Renounce the dominion of such persons or things over your life and begin to worship the one true God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 21-22; 1 Corinthians 9:8-23


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 13: IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE.

1. Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

2. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
3. To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

4. Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render; oh, help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.

5. Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: JUDGED BY THE COMPANY YOU KEEP.


MEMORISE:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

READ: 2 Chronicles 18:28-32

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.

31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORDhelped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

MESSAGE

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

 Psalm 1:1

Why does the Holy Spirit counsel us not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful? It is simply because you will be judged by the company you keep. The story in today’s text is food for thought and a lesson to all those who think they can still keep their old friends after their new birth experience. Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah went in the company o Ahab, the evil king of Israel, to fight a battle. Despite the warning by God’s prophet that the outcome of the battle would not be favorable, he still went ahead with Ahab to fight in this battle (2 Chronicle 18:9-16). Meanwhile, Ahab decided to disguise himself as an ordinary soldier, while he persuaded Jehoshaphat to dress in his royal robes. Unknown to Jehoshaphat, the king of Syria had instructed his soldiers to go after the king of Israel alone. So, on sighting Jehoshaphat dressed in royal apparel, the soldier went after him, thinking he was the king of Israel. He would have been killed, but for divine intervention. One lesson here is that the king of Judah would not have been attacked if he had not kept company with an evil king who was under God’s judgment (2 Chronicle 18:27). Another lesson is that keeping company with the ungodly exposes you to the dangers of a fraudulent lifestyle. Why did King Ahab disguise himself as if he was not a king? One can only assume that his motive was to set Jehoshaphat up for intense attack.

There have been stories of young school girls who have been defiled because of the promiscuous company that they kept. So-called “friends” have set friends up for gang rape. One reason why children of God must be wary of keeping company with the ungodly is that the children of this world this world know how to maneuver through the dangers of a sinful life, but the children of light don’t know the ways of this world (Luke 16:8). The story was told of a good boy who went out for the very first time in the company of drug addicts. Unfortunately, they were raided by law enforcement agents and this boy was arrested along with the drug addicts. His parents could not believe it when the news got to them. A Christian who keeps company with the ungodly will end up becoming a victim. It is certain that nothing good can come out of such relationships. Therefore, be careful of the people you associate or partner with.

ACTION POINT:

Check out the friends and brethren you associate with. Withdraw from any one of them who exhibits ungodly attitudes.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 19-20; 1 Corinthians 8:1-9:7


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 5: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...

DATE: TUESDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: THERE SHOULD BE NO COMPLEX.


MEMORISE:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Corinthians 12:11

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:1-12

1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

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.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

MESSAGE

There is one silent source of confusion in the body of Christ which must be addressed for the sake of the advancement of God’s kingdom. It is a combination of attitudes and feelings known as the “complex”. A complex is a mental or psychological state that should be alien to the Body of Christ. It manifests itself as inferiority or superiority complex. Ironically, the church has lived with this issue through the ages. Apostle Paul in today’s text warns us against the manifestation of such attitudes- whether as inferiority or superiority complex. How does the issue of “complex” operate in the Body of Christ? It is through the exhibition of spiritual gifts. There was an issue with the demonstration of spiritual gifts in the Church at Corinth, whereby some offices were considered superior and some other spiritual gifts were looked down on as inferior.  Against this background, Paul wrote to the Corinthian brethren to enlighten them on the distribution and operation of the different offices and spiritual gifts in the body of Christ. The analogy of human body parts used by Paul to explain this spiritual truth is very profound. In 1 Corinthians 12:17, Paul rhetorically asks,

“If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?”

The truth is that the whole body cannot be the eyes; if this where the case there would be no movement, which is the prerogative of the legs. Therefore, if the eye cannot do without the legs and the ears cannot do without the nose, why should the eyes or ears think that they are superior to the legs or nose? Unfortunately, this was the situation in the Church at Corinth, as is the case in a typical church organization today. We must recognize this reality and work towards eradicating the anomaly by continuously teaching ourselves the truth of God’s word. The most important thing about spiritual gifts is that their recipients must use them for the edification of the Body Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Corinthians 12:7). Another mystery of spiritual gifts is that those gifts which some consider as less important are equally as important as those held in high esteem (Corinthians 12:22-25). For example, if we ignore the ministry of intercession because intercessors are often not known or seen like the evangelist and minstrels, the Church may become a comfortable zone for demons to operate, and then the preacher and the choir will preach and sing with no effect. The Church must begin to appreciate the gifts of God in each member of the Body of Christ and celebrate them for who they are as very important and valuable. There should be no complex of any kind.

ACTION POINT:

Identify the spiritual gifts God has deposited in your life and begin to use them for the advancement of God’s kingdom in your local church assembly.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 17-18; 1 Corinthians 7:17-40

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 15: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

There let me see the sight, an open Heaven;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: IN JESUS NAME.


MEMORISE:

 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

READ: Mark 16:15-18

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

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

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

MESSAGE

Prior to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, God placed high value on the Name to be given to His only Begotten Son, so much so that He sent an angel to signify what His Name should be (Matthew 1:21). There is absolutely nothing that the Name of Jesus Christ cannot accomplish for whosoever believes in Him. This Name cannot be ignored by the devil or any of his fallen angels. Why is this Name so powerful? It is because God has bestowed astonishing power, privilege, authority and honor on that Name (Philippians 2:9-11). Above all else, this Name breaks the power of sin. Acts 10:43 says:

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

One amazing truth about this Name is that all its accomplishments are to the glory of God the Father, and for this reason, the Father will not spare anyone who despises it. Of course, the Name carries the authority of its Owner, and is capable of doing whatever its Owner can do. Just as your signature can take millions of money out of the bank without you necessarily being there, so also the Name of Jesus perform the feats that Jesus Christ performed, but only when all the necessary conditions for its use are met by the user. Some of these conditions are spelt out in today’s Bible text. Demons are cast out by the Name of Jesus Christ. You may not appreciate this function of His Name until your eyes of understanding are opened to the diabolical and destructive activities of demons in the lives of people. This Name also empowers us to lay hand on the sick for healing. One of the greatest weapons of torment in the hand of the devil is sickness, but through faith in the use of this Name, sicknesses and diseases are vanquished.
A woman who was diabolically attached with a terrible cough was brought to one of our church programmes. A simple prayer was said for her in the Name of Jesus Christ and she was healed. The agent of the devil who inflicted her with this infirmity wondered how she got healed. Because the one who prepared the charm for her said the sickness had no cure. The librated lady told her adversary that she got her healing in the church. The wicked woman then begged her ex-victim to take her to Jesus where she confessed her sins and became a child of God as well. The Name of Jesus indeed brings healing (Acts 3:1-16). Peter in Acts 3:16a testified thus about this Name:

“And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

This Name will also work wonders in your life; if you just believe, you will see the glory of God.

ACTION POINT:

Apply the Name of Jesus to areas of your life that needs deliverance.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 15-16; 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:16


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 14: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER
1. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
o Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

2. At the name of Jesus Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, All one Body we,
One in faith and Spirit, One in charity.

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the Church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ’gainst that Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, which can never fail.

5. Onward, then, ye people! Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: STRONGER THAN DEATH.


MEMORISE:

Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21:13


READ: Acts 21:8-14

8And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

MESSAGE

It is very dangerous for a person to believe in religious falsehood, particularly because the love the person has for what he or she worships can be stronger than death. We can see the negative impact of this manifested in the proliferation of suicide bombers in the world we live in today. The unfortunate and sad aspect of this satanic phenomenon is that people engaged in such acts believe that they are dying for God’s cause, but nothing could be further from the truth. No wonder Jesus, in John 4:22, said to the woman at Jacob’s well in Samaria:

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

One man who knew who he was worshipping and worshipped Him in spirit and in truth was Paul. His worship of God was based on his love for Him and his love for fellow men. This is unlike some today, whose worship is based on the hatred for others who do not share their ideology; hence their commitment to bring sorrow, tears and even death to them. A demonstration of the strong love Paul had for God is seen in today’s Bible reading. His determination to please the Master is highly intimidating to those of us living in such times as these. He was determined to pay the supreme price, if that was the will of God for his life. This contrasts with what is happening in the Church today, where people are still arguing about whether they need to give up the worldly lifestyle they were living before becoming born again. Some people find it difficult to change content of their wardrobe which contradicts the new life they profess to have embraced. Some so-called Christians do not have the love for Christ that is strong enough to make them abandon their appetite for alcohol and other sinful substances. The commitment some people have for Christ does not take their eyes away from women other than their wives. Unlike such people, Paul refused to back down from proclaiming the Name of Jesus to the world, despite the accurate prophesy concerning the suffering his commitment to the cause of the gospel would bring on hime (Acts 21:13). How God would love to have many more Christians like Paul today! Heaven clearly acknowledge and recorded the sacrifice ad trials of those who have gone ahead of us in Hebrews 11:36-37;

“And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;”

Is your commitment to Christ comparable to the commitment shown by them? Examine your commitment to Christ today and determine whether you are worthy of being called His disciple.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me love You, even as You love me.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 14; 1 Corinthians 5:1-6:11


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 12: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE.

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 power 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 Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: GREATER WORKS THAN THESE.


MEMORISE:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12

READ: 2 Kings 2:9-15

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

15 But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.

MESSAGE

When Elisha requested for the double portion of Elijah’s anointing, he was simply asking for the ability to do greater works than what his master had done. Here is Elijah’s response to his request:

“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 Kings 2:10

One lesson we should quickly learn from this response is that any child of God asking God for more of His gift or blessings is actually courting higher responsibilities. Asking for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit required great faith on the part of the upcoming prophet. In the same vein, It requires faith from us to believe that we can do greater things than Christ did. As far as Elisha was concerned, nothing could be allowed to come between him and the anointing for greater works. He therefore, keenly watched and followed the footsteps of his master. As they took a walk and talked, A chariot of fire and flaming horse parted them. Elisha beheld this, and he cried out to signify that he saw everything and had met the condition Elijah laid down for him. He tore his clothes and picked up the mantle that fell from Elijah while he was being transported to heaven, signifying that he was ready to change his old garment to a new one for a new life of greater exploit. I have good news for you: someone greater than Elijah is now present with us, and His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. He came to die for our sins and to rescue us from all forms of damnation. Bible testifies that He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). To be able to do what He did and even greater things than He did, you must decide to follow Him all the way, just as Elisha did with Elijah. In order to be intimate with Jesus Christ, doing His bidding is not optional. After Elisha got the double portion of Elijah’s spirit, other sons of the prophets had to acknowledge the beautiful thing that had taken place in his life, and they all bowed to him. A greater experienced awaits those who give their lives to Christ, because demons will begin to bow to them. This is just part of the Lord’s promise to us (Mark 16:17-18).

What is expected of us, therefore, is to abide in Him and follow His way of life and the ideas He brought from His Father, even if this requires our having to suffer for him. 1 Peter 2:21 say:

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please count me worthy to do greater works that my Master did while on earth, and let Your Name be glorified through me.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 13; 1 Corinthians 4


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 2: I NEED THEE, OH, I NEED THEE.

1. I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

o Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

5. I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: DESTINY HELPERS.


MEMORISE:

For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Philippians 4:16


READ: 2 Samuel 23:8-23

8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.

19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

MESSAGE

Everybody needs at least one destiny helper in his or her lifetime. In spite of the amount of wealth you may think you have, it is a grievous mistake to ever think you can be a lone ranger. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to accomplish the work of redemption, and yet He needed destiny helpers. Here is what the Bible says concerning Him in Mark 3:14:

“And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,”

It is equally amazing to discover that even mighty angels require help in carrying out their assignment (Daniel 10:12-13). In our text today, a roll call of David’s destiny helpers is given. Even though David was a mighty man of valor, his destiny would have been truncated time and again, but for the intervention of these destiny helpers, especially when opposition, persecution and even death stared at him in the face. Read what the Scripture says about the impact made by one of his destiny helpers in 2 Samuel 21:15-17:

“Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.”

Just like David, apostle Paul also had several destiny helpers, even though he was highly anointed. He made reference to one of such helpers in today’s memory verse. You must never think of living life as a lone ranger.

Destiny helpers are those who assist you in accomplishing your god-given assignment in life. They hold up your hands when you are weary and cover up your inadequacies when you are weak. One common character with which you can recognize destiny helpers is their unflinching love towards the one they are meant to help. Against all odds, they are always there to help. Think about those you consider to be your destiny helpers; are they really destiny helpers or destiny destroyers? You must seek God’s face to provide appropriate destiny helpers for your life, and you must appreciate them as God’s gift and encourage them. Note that all of David’s destiny helpers became generals in his army when he became settled o the throne: don’t use and dump your destiny helpers.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please send me my destiny helpers today. Grant them grace to help me accomplish my assignment, and make them unrelenting in helping me fulfill my destiny in life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 10-12; 1 Corinthians 3


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 11: OH GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST.

1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

4. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

6. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: THE COMPASSIONATE PROSECUTOR.


MEMORISE:

 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:8

READ: John 16:7-11

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

MESSAGE

Looking at the title of today’s Bible study, you may begin to wonder how a person can persecute a case and be compassionate at the same time. This is ironic because a persecutor is expected to press the case for the law to have its full course. Who then is this prosecutor who manages to indict and show compassion all at once? The Lord Jesus Christ answers this question in today’s memory verse. The person He refers to is the Holy Spirit. Based on the revelation of the Lord, let us consider the three-pronged strategy by which the Holy spirit carries out His assignment of prosecuting the world. Note first of all that it is compassion that motivates the Holy Spirit to persecute the world while there is still time to make amends. A time will come when the whole world will stand before the throne of Christ to be judged of all their works (2 Corinthians 5:10). There will be no excuse permitted on that day, because the Compassionate Persecutor would have already given each man a dress rehearsal of what will happen in heaven’s court.

The first of the Holy Spirit’s three-pronged strategy is to make the world aware of the destructive nature of sin and cause each and everyone to run away from it. This is why those who preach the gospel must allow the Holy Spirit to use them to read the “riot act” to their audience and not shy away from the reality of the pending doom that awaits those who will not believe in or accept the only Savior of mankind. The early disciples allowed the Holy Spirit to do this work through them and a sample of the result is glaring in Acts 2:37:

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

The second arm of His strategy is to make the world see the need to be upright in heart, and the need to be in right standing with the righteous God through the Mediator if the new covenant, Jesus Christ. Thirdly the Holy Spirit works to make the world aware of the judgment and punishment that awaits the devil and his cohorts. He does this  so that men may be wary of listening to the devil and avoid being condemned along with him. The Compassionate Prosecutor speaks truth to all those who will listen and be free from the eternal consequences of God’s judgment (John 16:13, John 8:32). How friendly are you with the Holy Spirit? Do you only love Him because He comforts you in times of distress or do you still love Him when He probes into your life and reproves you? I encourage you to make the Holy Spirit your Senior Partner, Guide, Mentor and Confidant; He will never lead you astray.

PRAYER POINT:

Compassionate Holy Spirit, please strongly reprove the people in my locality of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and let Your work of conviction have free course in their hearts in Jesus’ Name.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 8-9; 1 Corinthians 2


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 3: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SINS

1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

o Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my cleansing this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my pardon this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3. Nothing can for sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of works, ‘tis all of grace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4. This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: HOLY UNTO THE LORD.


MEMORISE:

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  Psalm 91:14 

READ: Daniel 1:1-8; Daniel 6:18-22

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
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.

MESSAGE

According to Psalm 91:14, one sure weapon against experiencing destruction and calamity is a life of holiness. Opinions differ on what it means to live a holy life, and to some, such a lifestyle is unattainable. However, with reference to biblical heroes of faith. I have been able to explain what holiness is all about. Holiness simply means obedience to God’s instructions. As long as you obey God’s commands, He sees you as an acceptable carrier of his image and He will love you for that. In John 14:21 & 23b, the Lord Jesus Christ expounded on this truth, saying:

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him……If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Every child of God who knows God’s holy nature will also know that before the Trinity would decide to dwell within a person, he or she must be living a consecrated and holy life.

In our text for today, we see how Daniel guarded himself against the calamity and destruction that would have terminated his destiny later in life. Daniel 1:8a says

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank:”

Please note that a portion of the king’s meat and some measure of the king’s wine were part of Daniel’s entitlements as an undergraduate in the University of Babylon where he was studying in preparation for service in the king’s court, but he declined having them. Glory to God that Daniel’s modest life of consecration to God paid off for him on the day of calamity when he was thrown into the den of lions. He could testify to his friend, King Darius, in Daniel 6:22, saying:

“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.”

Beloved, endeavor to live holy though a modest life of consecration unto God, and you can be sure of divine protection because of God’s love.


PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to live holy for You and keep me safe in the holiness of your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 6-7; 1 Corinthians 1


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 5: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back
.
3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2018

THEME: CARELESS WARRIORS? 


MEMORISE:

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

READ: 1 Samuel 30:1-6

And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

MESSAGE

I have watched with pity and dismay as many children of God, particularly ministers of God, carelessly fight spiritual battles at the expense of their own lives and family. If you desire to be triumphant in every area of life, you need to pay attention to what the Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples in today’s memory verse. You need to apply caution and be strategic in all that you do. To see the big picture of the challenges confronting, you need to watch. To get direction and strength from heaven to help you confront these challenges, you need to pray. In today’s Bible text, we have the story of the careless group of warriors: David and his mighty men of valor. While they went about fighting for survival as mercenaries, they left their own camp unprotected. Before they returned from their raid, their own camp had been raided and burnt, and their wives and children were taken away as captives by the enemy. When they discovered what the enemy had done, these men of war were so distressed that they wept like babies. They didn’t just weep, they even revolted against their leader, David, and spoke of stoning him to death. However, faced with that volatile situation, David did something worthy of emulation: he encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).

There are a good number of lessons we can learn from this story; first of which is that as you Lord’s battle even the Lord of Host expects you to watch your back. Our God does not expect you to be presumptuous. The words of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning counting the cost before building a tower or fighting a foe are pointers to strategic planning in spiritual warfare (Luke 14:28-32). Secondly, there should be division of labor in spiritual warfare. We should not all be at the war front at the same time. All bases must be covered. The early church realized this truth on time, and so the apostles gave themselves to the ministry of word and prayer while they appointed others to look after the administration of corporate social responsibilities (Acts 6:1-7). Thirdly, persons in leadership positions should always be proactive. David’s proactive move to seek God’s face was what saved the day. He inquired of the Lord on how to go about recovering all that they had lost (1 Samuel 30:7-8). At the end of the day, what they should have done in the first place was what they later did. They learnt that they should always organize themselves into bands with different roles. When they pursued to recover all, not all of them pursued after the raiders, but when they shared the spoils of war, those who went to battle had the same portion as those who waited behind to look after their stuff. This principle did not go down well with some of David’s men who did not understand it (1 Samuel 30:21-24). Indeed, God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8)!

KEY POINT:

Watch and pray as you engage in spiritual warfare.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 4-5; Romans 16


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 14: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

1. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
o Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

2. At the name of Jesus Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, All one Body we,
One in faith and Spirit, One in charity.

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the Church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ’gainst that Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, which can never fail.

5. Onward, then, ye people! Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.