OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY - 30/05/2015 – A CONSCIENCE VOID OF OFFENCE – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

A CONSCIENCE VOID OF OFFENCE

Memorise

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Acts 24:16

Read

Romans 14:16-21

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Message

The Church of Jesus Christ on earth will be healthy and pleasant if Christians would live with a conscience void of offence. Unfortunately, offences often arise here and there in the Body of Christ today. This is caused by the misuse of opportunities, wealth and other material possessions. For this to be uprooted from the Church, we need to apply the spiritual principles that Apostle Paul laid down in 1 Timothy 6:17-18:

"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;"

A good number of Christians are still living under the bondage of a conscience filled with guilt. Why? It is because they have not being totally cut off from their terrible past. For instance, some of them are still living with women who are not their first wives. Some others are still living in houses they stole money to build or buy. Some find it difficult to sever their relationship with their old satanic clubs. These and many other entanglements are the reasons why they are not totally free. Some of these Christians put their pastors in tight corners, because their problems just refuse to go away. It then appears as if the pastor does not have enough anointing to deal with such problems. They then move from church to church without finding rest for their souls. The abuse of wealth and position, particularly those that are ill-gotten, robs you of a free conscience. This is why the expected life of peace, joy and contentment, which is our greatest gain and which makes us peculiar as children of God, has eluded some.

A common saying among Christians guilty of the abuse of wealth and position is "My conscience does not condemn me." The question is: which conscience are you talking about? Is it the dead one that has become reprobate? Some of them even say "As many as are led by the Spirit are the children of God." Which spirit are you talking about? Can the Spirit of God, who inspired the writing of the scripture, turn around to tell you that what He inspired men to write was a mistake? Beloved, let us not deceive ourselves any further. Let us live a Christian life devoid of offence against God and men, particularly those of the household of faith.

Prayer Point

Father, with the Blood of Jesus, please purge my conscience of all dead works that bring offence, in Jesus' Name.

Bible in one year

1 Kings 1; 
Luke 1:1-25

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – FRIDAY - 29/05/2015 – WHAT HAS YOUR AFFECTION? – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHAT HAS YOUR AFFECTION?

Memorise

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2

Read

Colossians 3:1-6

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Message

I have observed that one of the reasons why many Christians find it difficult to live according to the standards of the Bible today is that their mind is not set on the things of heaven, and the reason for this is the coming of material prosperity to the church. Is it then a mistake that God has prospered us materially? Certainly not! Abraham was blessed, Isaac was blessed and Jacob was also blessed, but yet, they all served the Lord. King David even blessed the Lord for material prosperity among other things. Psalm 103:1&5 says,

"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name...Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

I have always said that the grace you need to manage material prosperity is far greater than the grace you need to manage poverty. When God begins to prosper you, you must begin to pray harder for more grace to manage the prosperity, or else, your affection may shift from the things of heaven. It is foolishness to serve the Lord and be mindful of the things of heaven when you are poor, only for you to forget the Lord who has prospered you when the wealth comes. This is why the Bible in Proverbs 1:32 says:

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

For many children of God, when they were still struggling to make ends meet, their prayers used to be "Thy Kingdom come." Nowadays, they live their lives as if they are not going to die any more, and as if Jesus cannot come at any moment. It's not hard to identify those whose affection is set on the things of heaven, because they are always busy investing in the expansion of God's kingdom. Because their investments are in heaven, their hearts are always thinking about heaven.

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Matthew 6:20-21

There is no certainty in whatever treasures you keep on earth. Your investment in the things of heaven is what you will be left with if you make it to heaven. Therefore, begin to set your affections on heavenly things from today.

Prayer Point

Sweet Holy Spirit, fill my heart with love for the things of heaven in Jesus' Name.

Bible in one year

2 Samuel 23-24;

Mark 16:1-8

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY - 28/05/2015 – CARING FOR THE NEEDY – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CARING FOR THE NEEDY

Memorise

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Deuteronomy 15:11

Read

Matthew 25:34-40

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave the drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Message

The Bible says something very fundamental about our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ which many of us do not pay close attention to. This relates to caring for the needy. Proverbs 22:9 says:

"He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor."

One of the quickest ways to be blessed by God is to care for the poor. The Almighty God said that the poor shall never cease out of the land, and it is His prerogative to take care of such poor people. In as much as God will not come down to do this duty Himself; He has commanded those who are blessed with resources to give to those who do not have. Whoever acts on God's behalf by catering for the needy and the poor will be bountifully blessed by Him. This is one of the secrets of divine blessing.

Apart from blessings in this world for those who cater for the poor, our Lord Jesus Christ goes further to assure them of eternal blessings. He said that such people will be adequately rewarded in the kingdom of God. Matthew 25:34-35 says:

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:"

One of the respected general overseers of a church in Nigeria once gave the testimony of how he got saved during the Nigerian Civil War. According to him, as he was running from place to place for safety during the war, he stumbled on the small residence of a Christian couple and they received him into their home. To his surprise, he had barely settled down to rest in this couple's house when the wife placed a big plate of rice before him. He wondered how the couple managed to prepare such sumptuous meal in the first place, and how they could sacrifice such a delicious meal to a wanderer like himself. There and then, he decided to serve the God who was able to take care of this couple even in the time of war. That was how he became a Christian. Today, he has a successful Christian ministry that is spread all over the place. One fact remains, the couple that led him to Christ through sacrificial hospitality will share in the reward of the harvest of souls being credited to his ministry.

Prayer Point

Father, grant me the grace and the provision I need to care for the needy in Jesus' Name.

Bible in one year

2 Samuel 21-22; 
Mark 15:6-32

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY - 27/05/2015 – THE PRICE OF BEING A STANDARD – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE PRICE OF BEING A STANDARD

Memorise

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

2 Corinthians 6:17

Read

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

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

To become a standard or a positive reference point, there is a price to pay. Going through the Bible, one will see that all those who got outstanding approval from God had at least one thing in common, which is that they stood out for God before they became a reference point. One of such Bible heroes is Elijah. He stood out for God on Mount Carmel. He risked being killed by the numerous prophets of Baal whom he had challenged. As a matter of fact, he was considered to be Public Enemy No. 1 by the ruler of his day, Ahab (1 Kings 21:20).

Another Bible hero is Daniel. He stood out alongside three other young Hebrew men in order to be outstanding and thus became a standard. Several times, he risked being killed because of his stand for godliness. He knew his God and would not compromise his allegiance to Him. On one occasion, a decree forbade everybody from praying to God, but he put his life at risk by praying. He showed that he was different from every other person. The Bible says he did not go into hiding to pray; rather, he opened his windows and prayed three times a day until he was found out (Daniel 6:10). He disobeyed the malicious decree, which his malicious fellow presidents made King Darius to sign. One striking thing in this story was the statement of these presidents in Daniel 6:5:

"Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

The question is: if it becomes a crime to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, will you be found guilty? It is unfortunate that Christians are steadily losing their virtue as salt and the light in this world of darkness. Christians are no longer setting the standard for godly, virtuous living. They are allowing this corrupt world to overwhelm them, failing to realise that the state of corruption they are witnessing today was predicted in the Bible so long ago to prepare us to meet its challenges (2 Timothy 3:1-5). This is the reason why in today's Bible reading, God commands us to come out from among evildoers, particularly false brethren. This is part of the price of being a standard; you must stand out and not conform to this world (Romans 12:2). May the Lord give you the grace to obey in Jesus' Name.

Action Point

Watch out for the evil deeds of this world and try to separate yourself from doing them. You will soon be noticed as different, and you will become a standard to the glory of God.

Bible in one year

2 Samuel 19:16-20:26;
Mark 14:53-15:5

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY - 25/05/2015 – YOU ARE GOD'S SANCTUARY – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

YOU ARE GOD’S SANCTUARY

Memorise

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19

Read

1 Corinthians 6:15-20

15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

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

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Message

The most pleasurable sin to the flesh is sexual immorality. Incidentally, this particular type of sin is the most deadly because its consequences are not only spiritually unpleasant but also physically humiliating. In our Bible reading, Apostle Paul warned the Church at Corinth against sexual immorality. He explained that we are the temple of God. The implication of this is that your body does not belong to you, but rather, it belongs to God. He further revealed to us the judgment that would follow if we defile the temple of God – our body. In 1 Corinthians 3:17 he wrote:

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

Are you currently involved or planning to go into any form of sexual immorality? God is warning you today. You better desist before it is too late. If sickness has turned your body into its permanent place of abode, and you have claimed all the promises of God concerning healing to no avail, it would be wise of you to examine yourself. Is there any sexual sin you have committed and you have not confessed? I am afraid to tell you that you may be under God’s judgment, and there is nothing any anointed man of God can do about it unless you repent. You have defiled God’s temple; you therefore need to make amends through genuine repentance that involves confessing and forsaking this sin entirely. I know of a man of God who appeared fervent, but suddenly he was stricken with a strange sickness. This sickness persisted for so long a time that I began to wonder what was actually responsible for his affliction. One day, the Lord decided to satisfy my curiosity. Someone came to tell me some secret things about this man of God without knowing how close I was to him. He was flirting around with women, including widows! The Bible in Proverbs 9:17 says a whore sits at the door of his or her house calling customers who lack understanding to come and patronise him or her, saying

“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

This is the deceit of the devil. There is nothing in that strange woman or man you are going out with that is not present in your spouse. The same scripture in Proverbs 9:18 says:

“But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.”

I pray that you will not go to Hell as a result of either pre-marital or extra-marital sexual adventures.

Prayer Point

Dear Holy Spirit, please prepare me as a pure and holy dwelling place for You in Jesus’ Name.

Bible in one Year

2 Samuel 16-17;
Mark 14:10-31

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY - 25/05/2015 – YOU ARE GOD'S SANCTUARY – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SUNDAY - 24/05/2015 – ARE YOU READY? – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

ARE YOU READY?

Memorise

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

Read

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Message

The admonition of Apostle Paul in today’s Bible reading is addressed to those he referred to as “brethren”. His first admonition is against ignorance (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Ignorance is the first weapon the devil uses to make Christians not ready for the rapture! Going by the words of Paul’s warning, other people on earth can afford to be ignorant, but we who are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ cannot afford to be. One reason why many Christians are not watchful anymore is the supposed delay in the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. They feel He may not come as expected; therefore, they have thrown godliness with contentment to the wind. Such Christians display their ignorance by not recognising the fact that although the great trump of God has not yet been sounded by the archangel, there is the individual trumpet, which the angel of death sounds when your time on earth is up.

In 2 Peter 3:1-11, Apostle Peter also attacked the spirit of ignorance in the brethren. Specifically in 2 Peter 3:8-9 he said:

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Are you a beloved of the Lord? Then, you cannot afford to be ignorant of the fact that the two thousand and fifteen years following the Lord’s first advent is just two days and a few seconds by the Lord’s timing. One of my sons wrote an article at the end of the second millennium which he titled “Two Days Are Gone” – pointing to the truth in Peter’s epistle above. We must do everything within the available grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship (the helpful partnership) of the Holy Spirit to be ready for the rapture. To remain rapturable, you need to take very seriously the words of Romans 12:1-2:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Action Point

Carry out a personal assessment of your readiness for the return of our Lord.

Bible in one year

2 Samuel 14-15;
Mark 13:24-14:9

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SUNDAY - 24/05/2015 – ARE YOU READY? – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY - 21/05/2015 – THE POWER OF SIGHT I – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE POWER OF SIGHT I

Memorise

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18

Read

John 9:1-7

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

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

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Message

There are 3 categories of sight, all of which are very important. These categories include: physical, mental and spiritual. Today’s memory verse rightly summarizes the risk a person without the power of sight is taking in life. The story of the man born blind in our Bible reading shows us some of the challenges a person without the power of sight faces. For as long as he was blind, this man had to be content with sitting on one spot, begging (John 9:8). Before Jesus met this man, he was already on the verge of frustration and despondency, but after his encounter with Jesus, many things took place in his life. His life was transformed for good, such that the one who had been a liability to his parents suddenly could go out and work for a living. Also, those who had been passing black to him as white before his miraculous experience would desist from doing so, because he could now see. Moreover, the danger of falling into ditches was now history in his life. The Bible in Luke 11:34a says:

“The light of the body is the eye:”

It is a great thing to have physical sight. More often than not, what we see affects our personality and our perception of life generally. For example, because my father never saw a house fitted with a modern toilet or bathtub, he never aspired to build a house with such facilities till he died.

However, some people with physical sight lack the power of mental sight. Lack of mental sight leads to lack of knowledge which in turn leads to lack of wisdom, and as we know, wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7). Wisdom has been defined as the correct application of knowledge, but it is only the knowledge that you have that you can apply. I pray that you will not lack mental sight in Jesus’ Name. I am praying this prayer for you because of what the Bible says in Proverbs 17:25:

“A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.”

In addition to physical and mental sight, we most importantly need spiritual sight. Having spiritual sight is the bedrock of all good success. Spiritual sight exposes you to deeper truths in the word of God. Every word of God suddenly becomes meaningful to you (2 Timothy 3:16). Those who don’t have spiritual sight to illuminate their understanding cherry-pick only those areas of scripture that favour their easy-going Christianity. You need to pray for all three categories of sight today so that you can fulfil your destiny here on earth.

Prayer Point

Father, open my physical, mental and spiritual eyes to see and buy into the great future You have for me.

Bible in One Year

2 Samuel 7:18-10:19;

Mark 12:13-27

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY - 21/05/2015 – THE POWER OF SIGHT I – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY - 19/05/2015 – THE TURNING POINT III – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE TURNING POINT III

Memorise

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

Genesis 25:32

Read

Genesis 25:29-34

29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Message

While the decisions made at crossroads resulted in a great future for Moses, Elisha, Daniel, Peter, Paul and Ruth, the decision of Esau at such a moment blighted his future. Esau found himself at a crossroads when his brother, Jacob, offered him food (a present need) in exchange for his birthright (a future asset). He experienced a negative turning point when he chose to sell his birthright. He filled his stomach with bread and pottage of lentils, gulped some drinks, rose up and went his way, but he forever lived to regret it. The Bible in Hebrews 12:16-17 says:

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”

Another figure who took a decision that led to a negative turning point was Reuben, the first son of Jacob. He defiled the bed of his father by sleeping with his father’s concubine. When Reuben was taking this decision to humiliate his father, little did he know that he was destroying his own future. Our Father in heaven deserves our honour and not humiliation. We humiliate our Heavenly Father when we offer Him worship that is polluted with sinful habits (Malachi 1:6-7). As priests of God (Revelation 1:6), when we lift up unholy hands in worship to God, we are offering polluted “bread” on His altar. This is the reason why the Bible in Romans 12:1 says:

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

The most fearful thing in the story of Reuben is that after he did the abominable act, he did not realise that his father knew about it, because his father never even mentioned it (Genesis 35:22). However, on the day of reckoning, his father placed a curse on him (Genesis 49:3-4). I will therefore encourage you to pray that the Lord will, through the blood of Jesus Christ, undo whatever you have done wrong in the past that is troubling you now even as a Christian.

Prayer Point:

Father, please undo whatever I have done in the time of ignorance that has placed a curse on me.’

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Samuel 3-4;

Mark 11:1-19

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY - 19/05/2015 – THE TURNING POINT III – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY - 18/05/2015 – THE TURNING POINT II – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE TURNING POINT II

Memorise

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Ruth 1:16

Read

Ruth 1:11-16

11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Message

After Ruth lost her husband early in life and there was no child to show for the relationship, she could never have dreamt that she would be a mother of many nations through Jesus Christ our Lord (Matthew 1:5). Ruth would have been long forgotten but for a turning point in her life when she made the decision in today’s memory verse. Her sister-in-law, Orpah, kissed their mother-in-law goodbye and left, but Ruth refused to let go. She was resolute in her decision to stay with Naomi.

After moving to the land of Israel with her mother-in-law, Ruth eventually remarried Boaz, who was a distant relation of her late husband. This union produced an ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ, Obed (Ruth 4:13-17). Anytime I remember the decision I made to serve the Lord in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, after the founder personally followed up on me by visiting my residence just after my first visit to the Church, I give glory to God. When I was making the decision to turn away from my self-righteousness and academic pride, little did I know that I was entering into a lifetime of joy in the service of the Lord. I am grateful to the Holy Spirit who helped me make that decision.

I pray for you that the Lord will help you to make the decision that will turn your life around for the best today, in Jesus’ Name. You will decide to serve God in spirit and in truth as from today in Jesus’ Name. The last mention of Orpah in the Bible was when she was at a crossroads, and she made the decision to return to her idols.

“And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.”

Ruth 1:14-15

Beloved, what type of situation are you passing through now, and what decisions are you making? Have you weighed the decision you are making, and is God being brought into the picture? Think about this and go into prayer as you go about your business today.

Prayer Point:

Holy Spirit Divine, please lead me aright in my decision-making process at all times.

Bible in one Year

2 Samuel 1-2;
Mark 10:32-52

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY - 18/05/2015 – THE TURNING POINT II – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY - 16/05/2015 – CHILD OF DESTINY – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

CHILD OF DESTINY

Memorise

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5

Read

Exodus 1:15-17

15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Message

A child who must fulfil destiny can never be destroyed by the enemy. The fact that you are alive today is a pointer to the fact that you have a destiny to fulfil, and this destiny is a good one (Jeremiah 29:11). By Pharaoh’s calculations, Moses was born to die. He orchestrated a diabolical arrangement with the midwives so that even before Moses was born, death was already waiting for him. However, the plan of God for Moses was quite different from Pharaoh’s plan. The good news is that God’s plan for you supersedes that of any human entity (Lamentations 3:37). Always be conscious of the fact that you are created for a divine purpose.

Although the children of God are a specially selected group of people (Ephesians 1:4-5), there are serious questions they must ask themselves and provide answers to in order to fulfil their destiny. Such questions include: will the plan of God for my life be fulfilled? The answer to this question is yes; that is if you are in good standing with God, because the counsel of God shall forever stand (Psalm 33:10-11). However, every child of God must remember that they can ignorantly upturn the plan of God for their lives as seen from the life-story of Eli the priest (1 Samuel 2:30).

Another question a child of God must ask if he or she would fulfil destiny is: can the plan of God for my life be completely fulfilled? The answer to this question may be positive for some and negative for some others. For example, God’s plan for Joshua was unfortunately not fulfilled completely. In Joshua 1:3-4, God declared that He would help Joshua to fully capture the whole of the Promised Land. God even spelt out its boundaries to him. But alas, at the twilight of Joshua’s life, God said this to him in Joshua 13:1:

“Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.”

What a disappointment. For you to fully realise God’s purpose for your life, you must make up your mind to be completely obedient to Him in everything He commands. When you consider the devastating effects of partial obedience on King Saul (1 Samuel 15:17-23), and the failure of King Joash of Israel who was asked to strike his arrow on the ground severally but stopped after the third strike (2 Kings 13:18-19), you will learn how to obey God completely.

Prayer Point

Father, help me to completely obey You in all areas, so that I may fulfil Your divine purpose for my life.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Samuel 26-28

Mark 9:30-50

 

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – SATURDAY - 16/05/2015 – CHILD OF DESTINY – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY - 14/05/2015 – YOU NEED THE DIVINE TOUCH – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

YOU NEED THE DIVINE TOUCH

Memorise

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

Matthew 9:21

Read

Matthew 9:20-22

20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Message

The entrance of sin into this world destroyed so many things about humanity. It provoked God to pronounce a curse on the ground and banish mankind to a life of sorrow and pain in Genesis 3:16-17:

“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;”

The unifying theme of God’s pronouncements on Adam and Eve was sorrow. From that moment onwards, sorrow has been a heritage of humanity. But praise God, because whatever the Almighty God touches is bound to be good, irrespective of its initial condition. This is why every man born of a woman needs the divine touch of God. Only the regeneration of a man’s spirit through God’s divine touch can put an end to his heritage of sorrow.

In today’s Bible reading, we see a woman in whom the heritage of sorrow manifested as an issue of blood for twelve years! In Luke 8:43, the Bible says she had spent all she had in seeking healing from physicians to no avail. At this point in her life, only a divine touch could put an end to her years of agony and sorrow. Then one day, she came across the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. Her faith was so strong; she believed in her heart that all she needed from Him was a passive divine touch. She believed that based on the power in the divine touch, she did not need an active touch for her to be made whole. This singular act of faith was commended by Jesus Himself. I pray for someone using this devotional that your day of deliverance is here in Jesus’ Name. The Almighty God will touch and perfect everything concerning you in Jesus’ Name.

It is most unfortunate that the divine touch of God is going around the world today through the power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is being rejected in many quarters. No wonder Jesus wept and lamented in Luke 19:41-42. The woman with the issue of blood recognised the person of Jesus. She knew her contact with His divinity would solve her problem, and so it was. Once, again may the Lord touch you today as you yield to Him in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, please touch me with your mighty power of deliverance today in Jesus Name.

Bible in one year

1 Samuel 21:10-23:29

Mark 8:22-9:1

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – THURSDAY - 14/05/2015 – YOU NEED THE DIVINE TOUCH – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY - 13/05/2015 – YOU CAN BE REPLACED! – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

YOU CAN BE REPLACED!

Memorise

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Revelation 3:11

Read

Esther 7:9-8:2

9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

Message

It is great folly to contend with God. This is why I pity those societies that have become anti-God and are challenging His commandments. God spoke about such people in Isaiah 45:9, saying:

“Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?”

God can enthrone and dethrone at will. He does whatever pleases Him. You are blessed when God acts positively towards you, but if He decides to move against you, pray for His mercy. The Bible in Daniel 2:21 says:

“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”

It is a grievous experience when God decides to replace an individual. Haman the Agagite experienced this, and you can see the result in our Bible reading today. King Ahasuerus promoted Haman above all his fellow princes. However, he thought it was by his own making that the promotion came. Little did he know that promotion does not come from the east or west, but from the Almighty God alone (Psalm 75:6-7). So, he began to misuse his highly exalted position to victimise the people of God. He continued to misbehave along this line until the Almighty God who ordained his promotion decided not only to demote him, but also to replace him. I pray for you as a child of God, that whosoever is using his or her position to victimise you shall be replaced in Jesus’ Name.

For God not to replace you, you must learn from those He has replaced. You can be replaced if you don’t make the best of the position of authority you are given to serve God’s people. Beware of divine replacement because it can affect your future generations. Eli was replaced, and his house lost the priesthood forever. God categorically said that although He was the One who said Eli’s house would walk before Him as priests forever, He had changed His mind about this (1 Samuel 2:30). Please run away from whatever will make God replace you. If you have done such things, you must repent quickly before he removes your candlestick (Revelation 2:5).

Prayer Point:

Dear Holy Spirit, nudge my heart away from doing anything that will make the Father replace me in Jesus’ Name.

Bible in one year

1 Samuel 20:1-21:9;

Mark 8:1-21

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – WEDNESDAY - 13/05/2015 – YOU CAN BE REPLACED! – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE