OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL FOR SATURDAY MAY 21ST 2022: THE SEVEN SEALS III

THEME:  THE SEVEN SEALS III

MEMORISE: 

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. Revelation 6:6 

READ: Revelation 6:5 -6

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

MESSAGE

In the Bible reading for today, we see the third seal opened and a man on a black horse coming forth with a pair of balances in his hand. Revelation 6:6 says:

And l heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny...

At this time, as a result of the war we discussed yesterday, the economy of the whole world will be affected. Agriculture in particular will suffer because most men who would have cultivated crops and reared animals would have been drafted into the army. Even where there is food, transporting it will be a problem so there will be famine all over the world. Bread will be weighed before it is sold. Food will be extremely expensive.

Revelation 6:6 further says: 

and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Scarce as food will be, luxury goods will not be touched; they will be very much available. Alcoholic drinks that are consumed by the rich will remain but how will a poor and hungry person get money to buy whisky?

Those who think that they are suffering now, yet are still living in sin have not seen anything yet. Those who miss the rapture will experience extreme hunger. Even those that have money will not find enough food to buy. While we in heaven will be enjoying unlimited pleasures, singing and dancing, those on earth will be starving and wailing. Any person who thinks that sin is sweet now should go on sinning; a time is coming when he will realise that sin is bitter. Choosing a life of holiness is the best decision you can ever make because it secures your future in heaven. If you say something is too big for you to drop now in order to make heaven, wait until that time and see if that thing will even be relevant at all.

DECLARE

Nothing will ever be big enough to make me miss heaven, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Esther 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE 

HYMNAL: TO GOD BE THE GLORY

1 To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life our redemption to win,

And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

 

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

  Let the earth hear His voice;

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

  Let the people rejoice;

Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

  And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.

2 Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

To every believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender who truly believes,

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

3 Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

But purer, and higher, and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY MAY 20TH 2022: THE SEVEN SEALS II

THEME:    THE SEVEN SEALS II.

MEMORISE:  

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Revelation 6:4

READ: Revelation 6:3 -4

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

MESSAGE

After the Anti-Christ has arrived and has been crowned, the second seal will be opened. Now, remember that from yesterday’s study, we say that the whole world was happy with their new leader who seemed to be a promoter of peace. However, when the second seal is opened, they will see the true colour of their leader. He will provoke war. At that time, all his diplomacy will be gone.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Matthew 24:15

The words of Daniel referred to by Jesus in the above passage are in Daniel 11:31:

And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

The arms that will be on his part are represented by the man on the red horse that will be released when the second seal is opened. Now the Anti-Christ will have the military at his fingertips. Though he would have allowed the Israelites to rebuild their temple, he will sacrifice pigs on the altar of that temple. Anyone that knows Jewish law will know that Jews can never tolerate that. War will break out! This will be the war of all wars. Some countries will support the Anti-Christ and some will be against him. I pity those who will be on earth at this time. The war will be terrible, so terrible that Jesus warned thus:

Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not it the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Matthew 24:16-21

I pray you will not miss the rapture, in Jesus’ name.

 

 KEY POINT

Let he who is wise stay away from sin.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Nehemiah 12-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: HO MY COMRADES SEE THE SIGNAL 

1. Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!

Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

Refrain:

“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” 

Jesus signals still;

Wave the answer back to heaven, 

“By Thy grace we will.”

2. See the mighty host advancing, 

Satan leading on,

Mighty ones around us falling, 

courage almost gone!

3. See the glorious banner waving, 

Hear the trumpet blow!

In our Leader’s Name we 

triumph over every foe.

4. Fierce and long the battle rages, 

but our help is near,

Onward comes our great Commander, 

cheer, my comrades, cheer!

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL FOR SUNDAY MAY 8TH 2022: MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES II

THEME: MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES II

MEMORISE: 

The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. 2 Kings 5:27 

READ: 2 Kings 5:20 - 27

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

MESSAGE

It's is important to make the right choices in life, especially because one's children could also be affected by them. When the army that invaded Sodom took lot into captivity in Genesis 14:8-12, they didn't leave his children at home. The children were taken into captivity because their father made the choice to stay in Sodom. Kora, Dathan and Abiram decided to oppose Moses and they died with all their family members (Numbers 16:28-33). Gehazi decided to follow Namaan to get some gifts, even though he knew his master would not approve. When Elisha cursed Gehazi with leprousy, he said it would be on him and his seed forever (2 Kings 5:27). In Daniel 6, when some people decided to plot against Daniel so that he could die in lion's den,  their children were not call to the meeting; however, when Daniel came out of the den alive and the king summoned those who plotted so that he could throw them in the Lions' den, he asked that their wives and children suffer the same consequences.

It may interest you to know that the choices of your relatives and close friends also have an impact on you. Thus, when a relative is making wrong choices, warn him or her because when trouble comes, the fellow wouldn't be the only one to suffer. This is particularly true of your children. If your child is going the wrong way, warn the child and do everything in your power to ensure that he or she returns to the godly path. 

Proverb 29:15 says,  

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Even if a person does not suffer anything as a direct result of not correcting his or her child, such a person would still experience shame and this is a terrible thing. The elders says that one can get embarrassed once, but shame last forever. You don't want to live in shame forever just  because you did not warn your child when he or she started going wrong. You therefore need to be very particular about the choices your children make. Don't just leave them to themselves- guide them, while depending on the Holy Spirit to help you know which way is best for the child.

PRAYER POINT

Father, help me to guide my children to always make godly choices in life, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 12-15

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE 

HYMNAL: O 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 defence 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 HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL FOR SATURDAY MAY 7TH 2022: MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES I

THEME: MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES  I

MEMORISE: 

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12 

READ: Proverbs 3:5 -8

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

MESSAGE

In life, we make choices every day. There are little choices and

 there are major ones. The Bible reading for today says we should not lean on our own understanding in making a choice at all. For example, the choice of passing a particular route on your way to work or wherever you are going should not be made alone. Ask "Lord, which route should l take as l go out now?" Your 'little' choices must be committed into the hands of God.

If little choices should be committed into God's hands, then how much more major ones. The choice of which school to apply to, which organization to work for, which neighborhood to live in and so on, can have far-reaching consequences on our lives. For example, it was during my undergraduate days that I met a lecturer who decided to supervise me for my Master degree in the University of Lagos. Thus, I did my masters at Unilag, and it was while I was there that I became born again in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, joined the workforce of the Church and eventually became the General Overseer as God had ordained it. Thank God that He ordered my steps right, even when I was not yet born again. Now that I am born again, He has been faithful to guide me aright all through, even up to now.

The choice of what school to attend or what organization to work for can end up determining who you marry. The choice of which country to settle in can determine if you will fulfill your destiny or not. Our memory verse today shows clearly that wrong decision can lead to very grave repercussions. We need God's guidance for us to be able to make the right decisions (Proverbs 14:12). 

According to 2 Corinthians 4:18, what you see in the physical is temporal; it is in the spirit that you get the real picture of things. Jesus Christ said in John 14:26:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.

As a true child f God, you have the Holy Spirit within you. Whenever He prompt you to take the right decision, make sure you follow His lead so that He can take you to that great destiny that God has prepared for you.

PRAYER POINT

Holy Spirit, guide me in all my choices and give me the grace to always listen to You, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 8-11

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE 

HYMNAL: WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD IN THE STORM OF LIFE

1 Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift or firm remain? 

    We have an anchor that keeps the soul

    Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,

    Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

      Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love. 

2 It is safely moored, 'twill the storm withstand,

For 'tis well secured by the Savior's hand;

And the cables passed from His heart to mine,

Can defy the blast, through strength divine. 

3 It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,

When the breakers have told the reef is near;

Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,

Not an angry wave shall our bark o'erflow. 

4 It will surely hold in the floods of death,

When the waters cold chill our latest breath;

On the rising tide it can never fail,

While our hopes abide within the veil.

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY MAY 5TH 2022: THE STRENGTH OF TWO OR THREE

THEME: THE STRENGTH OF TWO OR THREE

MEMORISE:  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19

READ: Ecclesiastes 4:9 -12

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

MESSAGE

There is power in numbers. By God's standard and according to today's Bible  reading, two individuals have an advantage over one. We also see this in our memory verse today, where Jesus told us (His followers) that when as little as just two of us come together to ask God for something, He will,perform it (Matthew 18:19). This shows us that the Lord wants us to be united as He assures us that whatever we ask of Him in agreement shall be done.

We all need partners to work for success in our Christian race. God provided a partner for Moses in the person of Aaron his brother (Exodus 4:10-17). Hur, another minister under Moses, aided him in his Intercessory prayer for Israel's victory in their war with the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-13). Some Christians are ignorant of the spiritual aid they can get from their fellow believers. During a crisis, we need partners, as in case of David's encounter with a descendant of giants. It was Abishai - David 's aide, who killed the giant that would have slain David. No one knows the rank of Abishai in the army, yet he was David's rescuer on that terrible day of the battle 2 (Samuel 21:15-17).

In the Bible reading of today, the word of God expressly tells us the benefits of the numerical strength of a people. This is why l always emphasize the numerical growth of the Church. The benefits of the numerical strength of the Church cannot be overemphasized. A project is more easily accomplished by 200 people than with just 20. This also reveals the benefit of marriage. A lot of blessings accrue to holy matrimony and this is why the Bible says two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

Another major benefit of coming together as Christians is the privilege to enjoy the presence of the Lord. Jesus Christ promised in Matthew 18:20 that wherever  two or three persons are gathered in His name, He will fellowship with them. Beloved, let us endeavour to encourage communal Christian living and mutual support -the benefits are indeed numerous (Psalm 133:1-2).

ACTION POINT

The church should encourage corporate social responsibility that enhances unity and power.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE 

HYMNAL: CONQUERORS AND OVECOMERS NOW ARE WE

1 Conquerors And Overcomers Now Are We,

Through The Precious Blood Of Christ We’ve Victory

If The Lord Be For Us We Can Never Fail,

Nothing Against His Mighty Power Can Ever Prevail.

(Refrain)

Conquerors Are We, Through The Blood Of Jesus

God Will Give Us Victory, Through The Blood Of Jesus

Through The Lamb For Sinners Slain,

Yet Who Lives And Reigns Again,

More Than Conquerors Are We,

More Than Conquerors Are We.

2 In The Name Of Israel’s God We’ll Onward Press,

Overcoming Sin And All Unrighteousness;

Not To Us But Unto Him The Praise Shall Be,

For Salvation And For Blood Bought Victory. (Refrain)

3 Unto Him That Overcome Shall Be Given,

Here To Eat Of Hidden Manna Sent From Heaven,

Over Yonder He The Victors Palm Shall Bear,

And A Robe Of White, And Golden Crown Shall Wear. (Refrain)

GOFAMINT PROPHETIC DECLARATION FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2022: OUR MONTH OF DIVINE GOODNESS AND MERCY

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” (Ps 23:6)

WELCOME TO MAY 2022
OUR MONTH OF DIVINE GOODNESS AND MERCY

• This month, you will enjoy the goodness of God in the land of the living.

• The days of your life shall be long and fruitful because of God's goodness and mercy to you.
• The goodness and mercy of God will preserve you and your household from all diseases, sorrows and pains, this month and beyond.
• Any pattern of evil and negative occurrences in your life is hereby canceled by the mercy of God.
• God’s mercy will rewrite your story, His glory will shine forth on you.
• God’s goodness and mercy will erase your mistakes and setbacks. You will enjoy resounding victories from now.
• Everywhere you go, it will be testimonies of God's goodness and mercy following you.
• The goodness and mercy of God will answer for you in times of need.
• The goodness and mercy of God will take you to heights of glory beyond your expectations.
• Nothing will take you away from the Presence of God and the fellowship of the saints.
• Every step you take this month shall be ordered and marked with the goodness and mercy of God.
• Your path is evil and shame-free, in Jesus mighty name.
• You will enjoy divine direction in all you do.
• In the place of confusion, you will have divine clarity.
• Because God's mercy never fails, there shall be no more failure for you.
• No more academic failure, no more business failure, no more health failure, no more ministry failure, no more financial failure, in Jesus mighty name.
• All round success is yours from this day forward.
• This shall be a season of uninterrupted progress and forward movement for you and every member of your household, in Jesus mighty name.
• Every assembly and service of GOFAMINT Worldwide will enjoy a refreshing season of God's goodness and mercy.
• Diverse and unprecedented testimonies of divine goodness and mercy shall break forth in all GOFAMINT Assemblies worldwide.
• So shall this month be better than the last for you, your household, and the entire Gospel Faith Mission International, in Jesus mighty name.

#GOFAMINT

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2022: FOLLOW JESUS CLOSELY II

THEME: FOLLOW JESUS CLOSELY II

MEMORISE:

“I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.” - (Psalm 26:5)

READ: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV)

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

15. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

MESSAGE:

In continuation of our enquiry from yesterday into why Peter denied Jesus, let us look at Mark 14:54 again:

*"And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire"*

When Peter followed Jesus from afar into the palace of the high priest, he chose to sit with the servants. Who were these servants? Mark 14:65 gives us an insight into the kind of people they were:

*"And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands"*

These servants were the same ones striking Jesus with the palms of their hands and Peter was sitting with them. In Proverbs 21:16, the Bible talks about the congregation of the dead. This is a congregation of people that do things against the will of God. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were able to stand strong, refusing to deny their God because they were in the company of fellow believers and not unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 15:33) says:

*"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners"*

If you spend a lot of time with people who are always talking about the latest clothes and television shows, gossiping about others, planning on how to commit sin right there in front of you, (1 Corinthians 15:33) says they would corrupt you. The more of such sinful and worldly conversations you expose yourself to, the weaker your commitment to Christ would be. Eventually, you would find yourself doing things that you have earlier vowed never to do. Leave the congregation of the dead. (2 Corinthians 6:14) instructs you thus:

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

REFLECTION:

Are your current friends and associates bringing you closer to Jesus or compelling you to deny Him every now and then?

HYMNAL: - HO! MY COMRADES, SEE THE SIGNAL

1. Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!

Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

Refrain:

“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;

Wave the answer back to heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

2. See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on,

Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone!

3. See the glorious banner waving, Hear the trumpet blow!

In our Leader’s Name we triumph over every foe.

4. Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near,

Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

2 Kings 24 - 1 Chronicles 1

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY 1ST APRIL 2022 : THERE IS HOPE

THEME THERE IS HOPE

MEMORISE:  For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9:4

READ: Job 14:7 -9 

7 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.

8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

MESSAGE

One of the major things I have come to learn in my decades of walking with Christ is that there is no hopeless situation with God. It does not matter how bad the circumstances are, my God can reverse the seemingly irreversible. In 2 Kings 4:1-7, the Bible tells us of a woman who was so poor and deep in debt that her creditors only hope of recovering their money was to sell her sons. However, in just one day, God turned her story around and she not only had enough to pay off her debt, she also had money to live on for the rest of her life. It doesn’t matter how poor you are now; I decree: God will prosper you, in Jesus’ name.

Your problem may be one of sickness. There is no one so sick that God cannot heal, I was in Ireland a few years ago when a Pastor brought a handkerchief to me to pray on. The lady he wanted to lay the handkerchief on was in the hospital and the doctors had said that she only had a 0.01% chance of surviving. I prayed on the handkerchief and the Pastor took it to her, My God then took the 0.01% chance of survival the doctor had mentioned and used it to give her a 100% healing. Beloved, it does not matter what report the doctors have given concerning you; as long as you can read this or listen to someone else read it to you, I decree that you are healed in Jesus’ name.

In the Redeemed Christian Church of God, we have witnessed several miraculous conceptions and childbirths. In some cases, the women were over sixty years old and some had been declared by medical doctors as unfit to conceive and deliver children. Sarah was 90 years old when she had Isaac. It doesn’t matter how old you are now, those who called you barren will soon be attending the naming ceremony of your children, in Jesus’ name.

God says in Jeremiah 32:27

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

 

The question is “Do you believe that He can do it?” James 1:5-7 says whoever comes to ask God for anything without having faith should not expect that he will receive answers to his prayers. A song writer once sang, “Don’t give up on God because He won’t give up on you”. There is hope that all things will turn around for your good if you keep your faith active and live according to God’s will.

ACTION POINT

Do somethings today that will really show God that you believe He can turn your situation around for the better.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Samuel 31-2 Samuel 2

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL:  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;

O 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;

O bear me safe above,

a ransomed soul!

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY 14TH MARCH 2022: THE WORK OF GRACE - PART I

THEME: THE WORK OF GRACE - PART I       

MEMORISE

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen". 2 Peter 3:18

READ: 1 Timothy 1:15 -17

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

MESSAGE

Every sinner belong to the Devil (1 John 3:8) and is a servant of sin (Romans 6:16). A servant in this context is like a prisoner who has lost his or her freedom. For us to be free, we need grace and this can only be found in the truth of the word of God according to John 8:31-32. The difference between a sinner and a saint is that the saint hears the truth and embraces it while the sinner hears but ignores it. For example, the Bible says:

*"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"*. 1 John 1:8-9.

The above Scripture contains the truth that set me free some decades ago. Coming from a highly disciplined family, I grew up as a moralist and so thought I was far better than many people. I did not think I was in any serious sin that could warrant my need for a saviour. However, the grace of God beamed upon my soul and when I saw my filthy life of hypocrisy, I cried out for salvation.

It is grace of God that brings salvation to humanity (Titus 2:1); however, anyone who trivializes the grace of God is dead already. Noah found grace before God (Genesis 6:8), and this led to his salvation. If, however, Noah had toyed with the grace, he would have perished as well.

Indeed, it is by grace that we are saved and we must never deny its importance in performing all God-given assignments as we see in 2 Corinthians 9:8:

*"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you;  that ye, always having all things, may abound to every good work."*

Beloved, the Lord has already made His grace abound towards you by giving His only begotten Son - Jesus Christ as a ransom for your soul(John 3:16). Forsake your sins today and access this divine provision by surrendering your life to Jesus Christ. It is the only way to escape the eternal damnation that awaits everyone ho rejects the grace of God. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

PRAYER POINT 

Father, thank you for your grace that abound towards me. Please Lord, help me make the best of it, in Jesus name.

HYMNAL : LET US WITH GLADSOME MIND

1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,

Praise the LORD, for He is kind:

For His mercies shall Endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

2 Let us sound His Name Abroad,

For of gods He is the God:

For His mercies shall Endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

3 He with all-commanding Might,

Filled the new-made world With light:

For His mercies shall Endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

4 All things living He doth feed;

His full hand supplies their Need:

For His mercies shall Endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

5 He His chosen race did Bless,

In the wasteful wilderness:

For His mercies shall Endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

6 He hath with a pious eye

Looks upon our misery:

For His mercies shall Endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

7 Let us therefore warble forth

His high majesty and worth:

For His mercies shall Endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 24- Judges 2

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR WEDNESDAY MARCH 9TH, 2022: NUMBER YOUR DAYS I

THEME: NUMBER YOUR DAYS I

MEMORISE:

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

READ:Job 14 VS 1-2 (KJV)

1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

MESSAGE:

There are many lessons we can learn when we number our days - in other words, when we put a tally on our days in order to evaluate how we are faring. Numbering our days in form such as birthdays, anniversaries of special events and so on can teach us great lessons and wisdom according to our memory verse today.

Why should we number our days? Our Bible reading for today gives us an answer. Man, born of a woman is of few days and even these few days are full of trouble. The Scripture likened man to a flower that blossoms then gets cut down and as a shadow that eventually disappears. These clearly show that man’s time on earth is short and hence must not be wasted.

We can count our days effectively by evaluating our lives, asking such questions as, “Do I have a goal at all?” “What are my goals?” “To what extent have I achieved my goals?” “Since I have a few days and these few days are full of challenges within and without, what am I doing in preparation for eternity?”

We can also number our days effectively by counting our blessings like the Psalmist did when he penned Psalm 103 - particularly verses 1 to 5. This will give us a sense of gratitude to God who has blessed us with multiple blessings even within our short stay here on earth. The Bible says:

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. - (Hebrews 13:14-15)

Another important reason we should number our days is the evaluation of how much work we have done for the Lord. When we consider the Great Commission (Mark 16:15) and remember that we have limited time on earth, it compels us to work harder and faster as the work of the Master demands urgency (John 9:4).

May the Almighty God help us to make excellent use of our time here on earth, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:

Ensure you evaluate your life carefully, count your blessings and name them one by one. Also, commit to doing more for the Kingdom of God.

HYMNAL - WHEN UPON LIFE'S BILLOWS YOU ARE TEMPEST TOSSED

1 When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. 

Refrain:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

2 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by. [Refrain]

3 When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. [Refrain]

4 So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. [Refrain]

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Joshua 9-11

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2ND, 2022: GOD IS SOVEREIGN

 THEME: GOD IS SOVEREIGN

MEMORISE:

*“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he had pleased.”* (Psalm 115:3)

READ: Daniel 4:34-37 (KJV)

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

MESSAGE:

The truth about God’s absolute sovereignty is seen in our Bible reading today. King Nebuchadnezzar declared, *“And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me. and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation”* - (Daniel 4:34).

Our memory verse confirms this truth about our God who is in heaven and does as He pleases. These Scriptures are food for thought for those who would want to live a good life here and in the hereafter. One major lesson here is that God is capable of doing and undoing anything. He can kill and He can make alive. Where then, is the bragging of mere mortals who, by a stroke of grace, are placed in privileged positions and begin to behave like the Almighty?

King Nebuchadnezzar learnt his lesson the hard way, however, God was gracious to him and he lived to tell the story of the consequence of his pride. King Herod was not as fortunate as Nebuchadnezzar because in his arrogance, an angel of the Lord struck him and he was eaten up by worms before dying (Acts 12:21-23).

One then wonders why those in authority tend to act as if they have the power of life and death. Some even wrongly allow themselves to be addressed as if they are truly sovereign like the Most High God. This is the reason some of them refuse to allow Christ to reign in their domain. They would do everything possible to obstruct the gospel. How ignorant they are! The Psalmist says, *“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision”* - (Psalm 2:2-4).

I can attest to the absolute sovereignty of God in every area of life and that is why I am determined to serve Him for the rest of my days. It would be best if you did the same.

ACTION POINT:

Join me to thank the sovereign Lord for adding another year to my life today. Please pray that I will finish well in the mighty name of Jesus.

HYMNAL:

Hymn- O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder

1 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

2 When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

3 And when I think how God, his Son not sparing,

Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the cross, my burdens gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin:

4 When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation,

To take me home, what joy will fill my heart!

Then I will bow in humble adoration,

And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 20-23

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY 1ST MARCH, 2022: WHO SAID WHAT? - V

THEME: WHO SAID WHAT? - V

MEMORIZE:

And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

2 Chronicles 20:20

BIBLE READING:

2 KINGS 7:1-20

1. Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

2. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

3. And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

4. If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

5. And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

6. For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

7. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

8. And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

9. Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.

10. So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.

11. And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within.

12. And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.

13. And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.

14. They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

15. And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.

16. And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

17. And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

18. And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:

19. And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

20. And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.

MESSAGE

The place of the Bible as the unchangeable and living word of God should be firmly established in our hearts.

Apart from the fact that the word is Holy-Ghost inspired, it is also prophetic.

That is why Mark 13:31 says, Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away, which is also echoed in Luke 16:17 that says, And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Therefore, the word of God according to the Bible is empowered to work for whosoever believes and acts on it for salvation, healing, deliverance, prosperity, and so on.

Having faith in God and the power of His word is vital to successful Christian living.

Faith in God is the sure way to be established and experience all-round success in life. Belief in Gods prophets is a sure means to growth and prosperity.

Anyone who fails to believe in God may have great parents, be filled with great talents and endowments, have great abilities and strength, be well connected, and even reach celebrity status, yet such a person will not be established or end his or her sojourn on this earth well.

Isaiah 7:9 says, .. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

This brings us to the memory verse today which shows that our belief in God and His genuine prophets will ensure that we succeed in life.

Just like that lord in our Bible reading for today, he disbelieved the word of the prophet and it cost him his life while others enjoyed the abundance prophesied.

We have numerous examples of how the lives of individuals and even a whole nation were turned around for the better through the intervention of a prophet.

Great personalities in the Bible like David, Saul, Rebecca, Jehoshaphat, the widow of Zarephath, Nebuchadnezzar, and others, benefited greatly from the services of prophets, therefore it is necessary to identify genuine prophets of God in order not to trivialize prophetic ministrations to our own disadvantage.

We must also avoid falling into the trap of false prophets. The fact is that if God said it, that settles it.

By the grace of God, I know from personal experience that the word from the mouth of a genuine prophet of God is one of the most potent weapons on earth.

I therefore prophesy to you today that it is well with you, your family, your business and ministry, in Jesus name.

KEY POINT:

Having faith in God and the power of His word is vital to successful Christian living.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE.

BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:

DEUTERONOMY 17:1-20, DEUTERONOMY 18:1-22, DEUTERONOMY 19:1-21

HYMNAL:

THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR

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;

Holy through the Spirit’s guiding;

All must be well.

3. We expect a bright tomorrow;

All will be well;

Faith can sing through day 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 HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY 28TH FEBRUARY, 2022: WHO SAID WHAT? IV

THEME: WHO SAID WHAT? IV

MEMORIZE:

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and ail liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

BIBLE READING: GALATIANS 5:19-21

19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

MESSAGE

The Bible is a sacred document provided by God Himself as the approved source of information for man about everything in life.

The Bible is called the word of God because it contains all that God has to say about everything in creation, either visible or invisible.

We therefore consult the Bible to know the mind of God on issues of life and eternity.

For example, Hebrews 9:27 says,

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Concerning the judgement, 2 Corinthians 5:10 says,

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

We are further told in Matthew 25:41, Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

Mark 9:44 adds, Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. These passages speak of hell – a place where those who do not have faith in Christ are sentenced to suffer forever.

It is obvious form the behaviour and lifestyle of many people that they are not conscious of the reality of hell.

So was the case in Bible days.

Luke 16:23 says,

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

By this time, it was too late for the rich man.

He then made a passionate appeal for his relatives in Luke 16:27-28, saying father, that thou wouldest send him to my fathers house that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

The rich man's request was flatly refused on the basis that living souls should listen to their prophets and preachers.

Hell is real and everything the Bible says about it is true. Psalms 9:17 tells us that The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.

Galatians 5:19-21 identified some things that fall under the works of the flesh, things that are sure to take anyone who practices them to hell fire.

Beloved, keep away from these sinful acts to escape the agony that awaits all sinners in hell.

May the Lord help you to stay blameless, in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please don’t let me ever be a candidate of hell, in Jesus name.

BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:

DEUTERONOMY 13:1-18, DEUTERONOMY 14:1-29, DEUTERONOMY 15:1-23, DEUTERONOMY 16:1-22

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE.

HYMN: 

HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you tully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

CHORUS

Are you washed in the blood,

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless?

Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Saviour’s side?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!

Pure and white in the blood of the Lamb?

Will your soul be ready for His mansions bright,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;

There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,

O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SUNDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2022: WHO SAID WHAT? III

THEME: WHO SAID WHAT? III

MEMORISE: 

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18 

READ: Matthew 5:27-29

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

MESSAGE

As we continue with our study on “Who said what”, we need to be mindful that the Creator of heaven and earth gave us a user’s manual – the Bible. The Bible is called the word of God because it contains all that God has to say about everything in creation. Therefore, you look into the Bible to know the mind of God about any issue of interest. For example, in Hebrews 13:4, the Bible says, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”. Genesis 2:24 further say, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh”, The Christian marriage is therefore a covenant ordained by God which establishes and defines the marital relationship between a man and a woman.

Marriage is sanctified by God as a means of maintaining family life. Above all, marriage is honorable in all that it entails, with a strong warning against whoremongers, adulterers, and anything that defiles the marriage bed. Marriage is a sacred bond between a man and his wife and vice versa. Those who break the marriage covenant are equally pursued by God’s judgment, just as murders are.

The emphasis here is on sexual immorality. The Bible holds that sex is honorable within the marriage setting; immorality then comes in when sex is contracted before marriage or outside wedlock. Obviously, sexual immorality is not something that a child of God pursues as an ambition; many times it occurs as the result of a careless and unserious attitude to some seemingly harmless but very dangerous behavior. These include immodest dressing and comportment, undue closeness to persons of the opposite sex, exposure to books, audio, and video materials with explicit sexual content, partial or complete nudity, and other compromising behavior. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee fornication…but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body”. Also, 2 Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee also youthful lusts…” The main warning in our user manual- the Bible, against sexual immorality is to flee. Beloved, if you go against the provisions of your manufacturer, you would run into a malfunction.

A word is enough for the wise.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please deliver me and my family from sexual immorality, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 10-12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: O God Our Help in Ages Pasti

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 your throne

your saints have dwelt secure;

sufficient is your arm alone,

and our defense is sure.

3 Before the hills in order stood,

or earth received its frame,

from everlasting you are God,

to endless years the same.

4 A thousand ages in your 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,

soon bears us all away;

we fly forgotten, as a dream

dies at the op’ning day.

6 O God, our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come,

still be our guard while troubles last,

and our eternal home!

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR WEDNESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2022: DIVINELY MADE II

THEME: DIVINELY MADE II

MEMORISE

"Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

1 Samuel 2:30

READ: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee.

MESSAGE:

As explained yesterday, the fact that man was created in the image of God empowers him to be great in life. However, we have seen that the pronouncements of God may not necessarily manifest in the lives of individuals until the attached conditions are met. Psalm 33 : 8 – 9 says, “Let all the earth fear the Lord: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast”. Numbers 23 : 19 says, “God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Mark 13 : 31 says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away”. Furthermore, Isaiah 55 : 11 says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”.

It is however unfortunate that despite the plan of God for man to be great, not everyone will accomplish this, for various reasons. In the case of Cain in Genesis 4 : 10 – 14, he failed woefully because he allowed jealousy and hatred to push him to commit murder, and he incurred the course of God. In 1 Samuel 2 : 30 – 36 two young prophets were already on the path to greatness, simply by being Eli’s children, but they lost their chance by messing around with holy things, thereby desecrating the altar of God and making themselves into children of Belial. They both died miserable and untimely deaths on the same day. In the case of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5 : 20 – 27, he was in line to become the greatest national prophet of his time but ruined everything with greed. He ended up losing the glorious opportunity to be an honoured servant of God and also inherited the leprosy of Namaan. Judas Iscariot was initially numbered among the twelve disciples who learned at the feet of Jesus throughout His earthly ministry. However, he allowed greed to make him give his Master away for only thirty pieces of silver.

Do not be a hindrance to the fulfillment of God’s promises in your life, I pray you will surrender all to Jesus Christ and hold on firmly to Him. God’s promises will be fulfilled in your life, in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please uphold me by Your power to the end, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 16-17

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: Jesus My Lord, My God, My All

 1. Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all,

hear me, blest Savior, when I call;

hear me, and from thy dwelling place

pour down the riches of thy grace.

Refrain:

Jesus, my Lord, I thee adore;

O make me love thee more and more.

 2. Jesus, too late I thee have sought;

how can I love thee as I ought?

And how extol thy matchless fame,

the glorious beauty of thy name? 

 3. Jesus, what didst thou find in me

that thou hast dealt so lovingly?

How great the joy that thou hast brought,

so far exceeding hope or thought! 

 4. Jesus, of thee shall be my song;

to thee my heart and soul belong;

all that I have or am is thine,

and thou, blest Savior, thou art mine.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2022: DIVINELY MADE 1

THEME: DIVINELY MADE 1

MEMORISE: 

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

Genesis 1:27 

READ: 

Hebrews 2:6-8

6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.

MESSAGE

Genesis 1:27-28 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 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."

Being created in the image of God and having dominion over everything He created is the best thing that ever happened to man. Psalm 139: 14 says we are fearfully and wonderfully made, while Hebrew 2:7 says, "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:"

As it was in the beginning so it is now. Sin led to the loss of man's original status. As Adam and Eve short-changed themselves at the beginning by surrendering their authority to the enemy out of ignorance, so are many still doing today.

Sin turned us to servants, without authority. We became ineffective and weak carriers of God's image. However, out of merry and compassion, Jesus Christ came to clean up the mess by paying the ultimate price. About this, Colossians 1:13-15 says, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" Therefore, every human being, irrespective of color, nationality, lineage, or birth conditions, is wonderfully made with the potential for greatness.

Unfortunately, however, many are living far below their potential. Jesus came to show us how to live in this world as carriers of God's image so that we may follow in His footsteps. 1 John 2:6 says, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." To reach our full potential in this world, we must accept Jesus as our Lord and  follow His footsteps daily.

You will fulfill your glorious destiny , in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to closely follow Your footsteps to the end, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Number 14-15

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: Nearer My God To Thee

1. 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!

2. Though like the wanderer,

The sun gone down,

Darkness be 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!

3. There let the way appear,

Steps unto heav’n;

All that thou sendest me,

In mercy giv’n;

Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to theee

4. 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, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

5. Or if, on joyful wing

Cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,

Upward I fly,

Still all my song shall be

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2022: PRAYERS FOR YOUR MARRIAGE

THEME: PRAYERS FOR YOUR MARRIAGE

MEMORISE

 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. Ecclesiastes 4:9

READ: 1 Peter 3:6-7

6 "Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

MESSAGE

If you are not yet married, use the prayer points below to speak into the marriage the Lord will give you soon. However, if you are not planning to get married at all, please pray for the marriages of your relatives, neighbors and members of your local assembly.

1. Thank you father, for the gift of my spouse and all you have given us as a couple. Thank you for keeping our home and sustaining the love we share. Thank you for not allowing the enemy to steal, kill and destroy this marriage, in Jesus name.

 2. Father, let my marriage glorifyYou this year. Let people be drawn to you because of my marriage. Use my spouse and I Lord, to rebuild people's confidence in the marriage institution, in Jesus name.

 3. In this year, God will use my marriage like never before. God will use me and my spouse mightily for His work, in Jesus name.

 4. Father, every time I call on your name in this year, please answer me by mercy. Let your mercy speak for me, my spouse, children and all my loved ones, in Jesus name.

 5. Sin and disobedience will be far from my home. My spouse and I will not walk in disobedience, in Jesus name.

 6. Father, please reveal your will for our marriage so that we can please You in all our ways, in Jesus name.

 7. Lord, when you come back please, let me and my family reign with You in Jesus name.

 8. Father, anything in my marriage that does not align with Your will, please remove it today in the mighty name of Jesus. 

 9. Father, in every way prosper us as a family. Prosper us so we can sponsor Your work on earth. Prosper us so we can be Your kingdom treasurers, joyfully financing your work here on earth, in Jesus name.

 10. Father, I decree that there will be no divorce or separation in my marriage. I decree that my marriage will not fail God in the mighty name of Jesus. 

 11. I decree that my spouse and I will live long lives in good health and sound mind with joy, serving the Lord, in Jesus name.

 12. Your personal prayer points for your marriage.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 11-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: I Love This Family of God

I love this family of God,

So closely knitted into one,

They've taken me into their hearts,

And I'm so glad to be a part of this great family.

I love this family of God,

So closely knitted into one,

They've taken me into their hearts,

And I'm so glad to be a part of this great family.

I love this family of God,

So closely knitted into one,

They've taken me into their hearts,

And I'm so glad to be a part of this great family.

I love (I love) this family (This family of God) of God,

So closely (So closely knitted) knitted into one, 

(Oh so knitted into one)

They've taken me into their hearts,

And I'm so glad (So glad to be a part) 

to be a part of this great family.

I love this family.

They've taken me into their hearts,

And I'm so glad to be a part (so glad to be 

a part of this) of this great family.