Open Heaven 26 August 2019 – In Need of Bodyguards?

Open Heaven 26 August 2019 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – In Need of Bodyguards?

Topic: In Need of Bodyguards? (Open Heaven 26 August 2019)

Memorise: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” – Psalm 91:11

Read: Psalm 91:1-13 (KJV)

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

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

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

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

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

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

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 10-11, Ezekiel 40:5-23

Open Heaven 26 August 2019 Monday MESSAGE:

Bodyguards are security personnel specially trained to protect wealthy and powerful individuals. They are usually found around very important personalities and their family members. As a matter of fact, some people are not seen in public without bodyguards because they don’t feel safe without them. Nevertheless, human bodyguards are limited in power, and the cost of having them is beyond the reach of the average person. However, the good news for Christians is that we have bodyguards in this world, of the spiritual kind, who are automatically appointed to every child of God the moment we become born again. Unlimited in power, they are invincible and operate at a speed much faster than the speed of light. The most amazing thing about our bodyguards is that their services have been fully paid for with the Blood of Jesus. That is why Hebrews 1:14 says:

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


When a child is born, what happens to that child depends on the available support system. The stronger the support system, the more fortified that child is for success in life. Princes and princesses benefit from the services of royal servants. As children of God, our Father has provided angels as part of our support system. Psalm 91:10-13 says it is the duty of our Father’s angels to ensure that no harm befalls us. Angels are therefore our personal bodyguards, who go with us wherever we go. When the children of kings go out, they don’t go alone. When going to school, they are taken in chauffeur-driven cars, whereas the children of ordinary people trek even through the woods or bush paths without any form of protection. From this day onward, be conscious of and utilize the angelic protection you have around you.

A brother shared a testimony about a flight he was on. He said while airborne, the first two engines of their plane suddenly failed. In panic, their pilot told them that the plane would crash if the third engine also shuts down. Not long after, the third engine also failed, and pandemonium broke out on the plane. All the while, this brother was sitting by the window, He turned to his left to look out, and he saw a huge angel who smiled at him and whispered to him that he was carrying the plane. To the surprise of everyone else, the plane safely landed an hour later at the nearest airport. Nobody could explain how they managed to land except this brother. He said if he had told them what happened, they would not have believed him. In the Bible, when Daniel was thrown into the den of lions, an angel went ahead of him to shut the lion’s mouth (Daniel 6:22). This season, you also shall receive the full complement of your heavenly Father’s support system, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 26 August 2019 Monday Action Point:

Commit your family members into God’s hands, asking that His angels will stand guard over them.

Open Heaven 26 August 2019 Monday Hymn 7: My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less

1 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chorus:
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness seems to veil His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.

3 His oath His covenant and blood
Support me in the ‘whelming flood:
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

4 When the last trumpet’s voice shall sound,
O may I then in him be found.
Clothed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before his throne.

Open Heaven 19 August 2019 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Divine Wisdom & Understanding

Topic: Divine Wisdom & Understanding (Open Heaven 19 August 2019)

Memorise: “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” – 1 Kings 3:9

Read: 1 Kings 3:15-28 (KJV)

15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

19 And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.

22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 24-25, Ezekiel 36:16-32

Open Heaven 19 August 2019 Monday MESSAGE:

A person who possesses competency in knowledge and skill has great potential to succeed in life. When such competency is derived from God, it is referred to as divine understanding. Succeeding in life is all about recognizing and utilizing the opportunities God brings our way, coupled with making the right choices in life. A person endowed with divine understanding is therefore able to excel in life because he or she has the ability to discern what is true, ethically right and sound, based on God’s word. God alone possesses wisdom and understanding in the absolute sense, and He gives these to those who seek them from Him with a humble heart. In relation to people, divine wisdom refers to the abilities God gives in every area of life, including craftsmanship, knowledge and insight for right decisions. Divine wisdom cannot be received by those whose confidence is based on human cleverness and insight without God’s revelation. This kind of human wisdom may produce temporary success in life, but it often comes to naught in the long run (1 Corinthians 3:19-20).

Understanding is built on the foundation of knowledge and the ability to use it correctly. There are different ways God imparts understanding to a person. For example, understanding can be received in the place of observing how others live or do things (Proverbs 24:30-32). It can also be acquired through studying God’s word and His wondrous works in the universe (Psalm 119:130, Job 37:14-20). Understanding can also come from parental guidance or as a result of practical experience in life (Proverbs 4:1-5). Above all, it can be received through the impartation of God’s Spirit in the place of prayer, as it happened to Solomon (1 Kings 3, Ephesians 1:15-18).

Worldly wisdom and understanding build pride and false hope in people, who go on to arrogate success in life to themselves and not to the Almighty God. This folly has led to the downfall of many people and kingdoms all over the world, as seen in the example of Babylon in Isaiah 47:10-11. No wonder Proverbs 26:12 says:

“Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”

Furthermore, in Isaiah 29:14, the Bible says worldly wisdom shall perish. The people of this world can never receive the wisdom of God. Divine understanding is only accessible to those who are willing to give up their reliance on human insight in exchange for God’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:14-15). May the Lord fill you with divine understanding today in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 19 August 2019 Monday Prayer Point:
Father, please fill my heart with divine understanding today in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 19 August 2019 Monday Hymn 3: Trust and Obey
1 When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey

Chorus:
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

2 Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3 Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

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

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

Open Heaven 18 July 2019 – The Vessel that God Uses

Topic: The Vessel that God Uses (Open Heaven 18 July 2019)

Memorise: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” – 2 Timothy 2:20

Read: 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (KJV)

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Bible in One Year: Joshua 10-11, Ezekiel 18:30-19:14

Open Heaven 18 July 2019 Thursday MESSAGE:

In today’s memory verse, the Holy Spirit makes it clear that there are different categories of vessels, all of which God uses. In other words, there is no one who comes into the world without serving one divine purpose or the other. The question is, what material are you made of, and what category of vessels do you belong to? There are vessels made of gold, silver, wood and clay. However, more sobering is the classification of vessels into those for honour and those for dishonour. I pray that you will be a vessel unto honour in Jesus Name. Pharaoh was a vessel unto dishonour. In Romans 9:17, the Bible says concerning him:

“For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.”

A deep secret in the above scripture is that man is given the freewill to choose what type of vessel he wants to be. Pharaoh was given ample opportunity to write a beautiful history concerning himself as a king who feared God and save his people the agony of catastrophic destruction. What did he do with that opportunity? He bungled it and perished in the Red Sea. Unlike him, Abimelech who took Abraham’s wife listened to God, did exactly what God instructed him to do, and he was blessed (Genesis 20:2-18). His barren wife and maidservant became fruitful. The king of Nineveh also was a vessel unto honour. He led his city to repentance, and they obtained God’s mercy because they chose to obey His instructions.

Today’s Bible text gives a clue on how to become a vessel unto honour. In it the Holy Spirit emphatically says that whoever chooses to be a vessel unto honour, such as a minister of the gospel, must be blameless, among other requirements. The reason for this high standard is not far-fetched: honourable assignments are meant for honourable people. Sinners are not honourable in the sight of God. No wonder 2 Timothy 2:21 says:

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

This is the higher ground to which the Lord is calling us. We can be vessels of honour if we choose to be. All that is required of us is to do what the Holy Spirit specified in 2 Timothy 2:21. Cleanse yourself of the dishonourable works of the flesh, be sanctified by grace and let the Holy Spirit dwell in you. God bless you.

Open Heaven 18 July 2019 Thursday Prayer Point:
Father, please make me a vessel unto honour in Your hands, in Jesus Name.

Also Read Open Heaven 17 July 2019 – Put your Gift to Use

Open Heaven 18 July 2019 Thursday Hymn 4: Take My Life, And Let It Be
1 Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heaven 16 July 2019 – What do you See?

Topic: What do you See?

Memorise: “And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.” – Exodus 2:2

Read: Psalm 127:1-5 (KJV)

1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Bible in One Year: Joshua 6-7, Ezekiel 17:22-18:13

Open Heaven 16 July 2019 Tuesday MESSAGE:

What parents see in their children goes a long way to determine how well they treasure them. As God’s heritage, it is important that parents see the image of God in their children, so that they can nurture them for the glory and pleasure of God, who is their rightful Owner. Unfortunately, some parents, especially in under-developed nations, treat their children as domestic animals or working machines, so much so that you begin to wonder if they purposely gave birth to them for economic reasons. Many abuse their children by engaging them in money making ventures and making them become breadwinners at a tender age. I know of a man who has about thirteen children. He gives them out to serve as domestic workers and collects the wages of their labour to feed himself. Clearly, he does not see his children as carriers of God’s image.

Furthermore, some couple decide to abort pregnancies they are not prepared for. However, you look at it, this is murder- a grievous sin against God and humanity. God asked me to tell someone reading this devotional that the pregnancy you are about to terminate is your glory; don’t abort the child that will bring God’s glory upon your life. When “stuck” with an unwanted child, many parents go ahead to despise such a child, instead of seeing him or her as a pleasant surprise from God. These are all examples of ungodly parenting.

In Exodus 2:1-4, we see what godly parents look like. Moses’ mother, Jochebed, was a godly parent. Even then though Pharaoh had ordered all sons born to Hebrew families to be killed at birth, she saw God’s image in her own child and did all she could to preserve him. Exodus 2:2 says:

“And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.”

When the baby could no longer be hidden, she decided to commit him into the hands of his original Owner, the Almighty. In all this, Moses’ parents never imagined that this child was to become the deliverer of the whole nation of Israel. The Lord asked me to tell someone using this devotional that, that child you think is a problem will turn around to put smiles on your face in your lifetime. All you need to do is to give that child the best you have as a springboard for his or her leap into destiny. Children are carriers of God’s image, and unless we see them in that light, there is the tendency to abuse them and lose the blessings accompanying them. In light of what today’s Bible reading says about children, I encourage all parents to first surrender their lives to God, and then it will be easy for them to also surrender their children to Him for supreme care. Parents who do this will not be denied their blessings in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 16 July 2019 Tuesday Prayer Point:
Father, please open my eyes to see Your image and glory in the children You have given me, and help me cooperate with You in the fulfilment of their destinies.

Also Read: Open Heaven 15 July 2019 – To Obey is better than Sacrifice

Open Heaven 16 July 2019 Tuesday Hymn 16: God Give Us Christian Homes
1 God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the master’s
Will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty thy love hath wrought;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!

2 God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!

3 God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in queenly quest
Strive to show others thy way is best
Homes where the lord is an honoured guest;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!

4 God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!
Amen.

Open Heaven 15 July 2019 – To Obey is better than Sacrifice

Topic: To Obey is better than Sacrifice (Open Heaven 15 July 2019)

Memorise: “And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” – 2 Corinthians 10:6

Read: 1 Samuel 15:17-22 (KJV)

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Bible in One Year: Joshua 3-5, Ezekiel 17:7-21

Open Heaven 15 July 2019 Monday MESSAGE:

Disobedience has the evil tag of being the first sin man committed. The deadly mystery of this sin is that disobedient people more often than not never accept blame for their act. They tend to give excuses and blame other people or “factors beyond their control”. This is what Adam did when God questioned him concerning his disobedience. Genesis 3:12 says:

“And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”

Unfortunately, his excuse did not clear him of responsibility, nor did it deter God from punishing him. Another person who gave excuse for disobedience is King Saul. In today’s Bible reading, when he was confronted with his sin, he tried to justify himself by using the good act of sacrifice as an excuse for his disobedience. In response to his attempt at justifying himself, God’s prophet told him in 1 Samuel 15:22:

“…Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Let us take a closer look at King Saul’s excuse for disobeying God. 1 Samuel 15:21 says:

“But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.”

Saul’s excuse was that it was not him, but the people who took the spoil. This makes one wonder who was leading who in the battle against the Amalekites. He was just trying to pass the buck. He felt he could appease God or His prophet, Samuel, by presenting a big offering in the form of sacrifice:

Beloved, in what areas are you disobeying God? You better repent today and cultivate the habit of living by the dictates of the infallible word of God. No amount of service you render to God can take the place of obeying His word. No amount of money given as seed offerings, tithes or donations can justify indulging in fraudulent practices at your place of work. May the Lord give you the grace to obey His commandments to the letter in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 15 July 2019 Monday Prayer Point:

Father, please help me to obey you willingly and completely as a show of my gratitude to You for Your goodness and mercy over me.

Open Heaven 15 July 2019 Monday Hymn 3:

Trust and Obey

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

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

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

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

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

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

25 Health Scriptures to Ascertain your Healing

1. Deuteronomy 7:14-15: Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

2. Deuteronomy 30:19-20: 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: 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 them.

3. Exodus 15:26: If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

4. Exodus 23:25-26: And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill.

5. 1 Kings 8:56: Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

6. Psalm 91:9-10, 14-16: Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

7. Psalm 103:1-5: Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

8. Psalm 107:17, 19-21: Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9. Psalm 118:17: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

10. Proverbs 4:20-24: My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

11. Isaiah 41:10: Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

12. Isaiah 53:4-5: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

13. Jeremiah 1:12: Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

14. Jeremiah 17:14: Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

15. Jeremiah 30:17: For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord.

16. Joel 3:10: Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

17. Nahum 1:9: What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

18. Matthew 8:2-3: And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

19. Matthew 8:16-17: When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

20. Matthew 15:30-31: And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

21. Matthew 18:18-19: Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 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.

22. Matthew 21:21-22: Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

23. Mark 9:23: Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24. Mark 10:27: And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

25. Mark 11:22-24: And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Open Heaven 12 July 2019 – Fighting God?

Open Heaven 12 July 2019 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Fighting God?

Topic: Fighting God? (Open Heaven 12 July 2019)

Memorise: “Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” – Jeremiah 2:5

Read: Isaiah 45:5-9 (KJV)

5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

9 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?

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 31-32, Ezekiel 16:15-34

Open Heaven 12 July 2019 Friday MESSAGE:

The title of today‘s devotional is a question we all need to answer. Is it possible for a mere mortal to fight God? The word of God makes it clear that even though it’s an exercise in futility, in reality, it is something people do. Psalm 2:1-3 says:

“1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”

This scripture describes what is happening in our world today. The governments of several nations have taken counsel against God and against Jesus Christ, His anointed. Teachings about God have been thrown out of public schools, praying publicly in the Name of Jesus is forbidden, and preaching in public space in the Name of Jesus Christ is illegal in many societies. As prophesied in this scripture, some societies have cast away the Biblical cords of restraint that hitherto defined morality. In the name of freedom of though and self, they have broken off the bands of God’s commandments and created room for individuals to indulge in and advocate for all manner of profane lifestyles. People should remember that all those who towed this path in times past ended up being destroyed. You cannot fight against God without grave consequences.

Are you guilty of fighting God? Do you even believe in Him? Those who don’t believe God exist are indirectly saying that they are not answerable to His authority. This sets them in direct confrontation with God, and He can choose to prove His existence to them, pharaoh provoked God to prove Himself by this utterance in Exodus 5:2, saying:

“…Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.”

Those who provoke God to prove His existence and capabilities are fighting Him. Those who move God to jealousy by breaking the covenant they made with Him are also fighting Him (Isaiah 45:9; Jeremiah 2:5). The children of Israel broke the covenant they had with God by disobeying His ordinances. This made God jealous, causing Him to fight against them. I pray that you will not provoke God’s anger in Jesus Name. What is the state of the covenant between you and the Lord Jesus Christ, which you entered into at the altar of repentance? Have you crucified Him afresh and put Him to shame by falling away from the truth (Hebrews 6:4-6)? Are you abiding by the covenant to tithe, or have you joined scoffers to trample God’s commandment under foot? Beloved, in whatever area you are fighting God, repent today before it is too late.

Open Heaven 12 July 2019 Friday Action Point:
Examine whether you have broken any part of your covenant with God and repent.

Also Read: Open Heaven 11 July 2019 – The Signs Still Follow

Open Heaven 12 July 2019 Friday Hymn 17: Hold The Fort

1 Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

Chorus:
“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 27 June 2019 – Preparing for Divine Communion

Open Heaven 27 June 2019  – Preparing for Divine Communion

Topic: Preparing for Divine Communion (Open Heaven 27 June 2019)

Memorise: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”- 1 Corinthians 11:28

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (KJV)

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 1, Ezekiel 5:5-17

Open Heaven 27 June 2019 Thursday MESSAGE:
The Lord’s Supper, also known as the Last Supper, refers to the very last meal our Lord took before He was crucified on the cross of Calvary. This very important and mysterious meal also referred to as the Holy Communion is a multi-dimensional meal with diverse implication. The Lord’s Supper is interconnected with the Jewish Passover in a special way because Christ is the Passover Lamb that was sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7). This special meal therefore brings to remembrance the Lord’s suffering and sacrificial death and represents the establishment of a new covenant for humanity in the Blood of Jesus. It also points us to Calvary, the place of Jesus’ suffering, crucifixion and death. Consequently, a certain level of sober reflection is expected when we celebrate the Holy Communion. By partaking in the Lord’s Supper, we also depict the coming marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 19:1-9). This adds a forward-looking dimension to this holy meal, so that it is not viewed simply as a memorial of past events alone. Essentially, the Holy Communion is not just a routine practice; it a celebration in faith, as we continue to hope and sing “Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus!”

Before celebrating communion as a memorial, there must be a clear understanding of and strict compliance with God’s instructions as it relates to the Holy Communion. It is most holy and meant for sanctified members of the family of God only. Anyone who is unclean or who is a stranger to the household of faith cannot partake of it. It is a most powerful meal that brings healing and deliverance from all kinds of bondage, but at the same time, it poses danger to anyone who partakes of it unworthily. Therefore, the importance of adequate preparation for divine communion cannot be overemphasized. The Holy Spirit cautions in 1 Corinthians 11:27 that whosoever eats the Holy Communion unworthily shall be guilty of profaning and sinning against the Body and Blood of Jesus. He then compels us to carefully examine our spiritual state and current standing with God, to deal with any sins we haven’t confessed yet and repair any broken relationship with God and man, before partaking of this meal. He warns that the Holy Communion should not be taken lightly, specifying that those who partake of it unworthily do so at the risk of eternal damnation. In 1 Corinthians 11:30, He reveals the bombshell that many in the Church are sickly and some have even died because they were ignorant of the power embedded in the Holy Communion and handled it carelessly. I pray that every time you take the Holy Communion, the power of death will be destroyed over you and the divine life of God will flow into your body, soul and spirit in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 27 June 2019 Thursday Action Point:
Thank the Lord for His Body which was broken for you, and for His Blood which was shed for your sins.

Open Heaven 27 June 2019 Thursday Hymn 4: Take My Life, And Let It Be
1 Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heaven 26 June 2019 – The Danger of Fruitlessness

Open Heaven 26 June 2019  – The Danger of Fruitlessness

Topic: The Danger of Fruitlessness (Open Heaven 26 June 2019)

Memorise: “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”- John 15:2

Read: Luke 13:6-9 (KJV)

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 34-36, Ezekiel 4:4-5:4

Open Heaven 26 June 2019 Wednesday MESSAGE:

“Be fruitful” is the very first statement God made to mankind. This statement was pronounced both as a blessing and command. It is therefore obvious that fruitfulness is the heartbeat and overriding objective of the Almighty God for mankind. Out of His abundant love, God conferred fruitfulness as an irreversible blessing on mankind so that every human being is empowered to bear fruit effortlessly. He also made it a commandment so that everyone, without exception, must bear fruit. Fruitfulness is so important that Jesus in John 15:8 said that the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit, and by bearing much fruit, we demonstrate that we are His disciples indeed. Consequently, God reacts to fruitlessness the same way He reacts to rebellion, because failure to bear fruit is actually rebellion against the commandment and purpose of God for mankind (Luke 3:9, Matthew 21:19).

The question is, are you bearing fruit? What type of fruit are you producing? If you have not yet given your life to Christ, God expects you to first bear the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8). For those who are saved, God expects us to bear the fruit of the Spirit and produce the fruit of souls won into His kingdom (Ephesians 5:8-9, Matthew 28:18-20).

Our Lord Jesus Christ gave the disciples many Parable, including the Parable of Talents to teach them the importance of faithfulness in stewardship. In that parable, all the servants put their talents to profitable use. Except the servant to whom was entrusted one talent (Matthew 25:14-30). This servant went and dug the ground to hide his lord’s money where it lay fallow. When his lord returned and all servants rendered account of their stewardship, he was seriously reprimanded for his lack of productivity. His talent was taken away from him and given as bonus to another servant. In like manner, the Lord expects every one of His children to diligently put their talents and gifts into profitable use for the advancement of His kingdom. We are to do the works of Christ, of which spreading the gospel and soul-winning is paramount.

 If we fail to be fruitful or productive, we may be guilty of receiving the grace of God in vain, thereby becoming unprofitable servants. I pray that you will never be considered an unprofitable servant in Jesus’ Name. God is keenly looking out for our fruits, expecting us to bear fruit spiritually, physically, financially and materially. He will judge our individual and corporate performance by the quality and quantity of fruit we bear. May you bear fruits that abound and remain, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 26 June 2019 Wednesday Prayer Point:
Father, please rebuke fruitlessness and stagnancy in my life today, in Jesus’ Name.

Also Read: Open Heaven 25 June 2019 – Be Determined!

Open Heaven 26 June 2019 Wednesday Hymn 12: Deeper, Deeper In The Love Of Jesus

1 Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Chorus:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

2 Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

3 Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

4 Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

5 Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

Open Heaven 25 June 2019 – Be Determined!

Open Heaven 25 June 2019 – Be Determined!

Topic: Be Determined! (Open Heaven 25 June 2019)

Memorise: “After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”- Acts 19:21

Read: Act 21:10-15 (KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 32-33, Ezekiel 3:16-4:3

Open Heaven 25 June 2019 Tuesday MESSAGE:

To be determined is to be singled-minded. it also means having firmness of purpose or being resolute to achieve success in any assignment committed into one’s hands. Determination is essential for anyone to succeed and be effective in life and ministry. God is looking for men and women who are faithful and determined stewards to commit special assignment to. Indeed, 2 Chronicles 16:9 says that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro the whole earth in search of determined people. It was in the process of this search that He found David (Psalm 89:20). When God searches a person out and commits an assignment into his or her hands, such a person must realize that stewardship is trust that must not be abused, and all stewards of God’s resources will give account of their service to God. As a faithful and dedicated worker in God’s vineyard, you have to be focused on your own mandate and never use another man’s parameters to evaluate your life (2 Corinthians 10:12). To be focused is to have a target and work towards actualizing it to the glory of the Almighty, keeping in mind that the business of God’s kingdom requires haste. In John 9:4, the Lord says:

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

To be commended by the Lord on His return, you must do His work heartily and cheerfully. It is my earnest prayer that as you devote all available energy and resources to the assignment committed into your hands, the Lord himself will prosper your determination in Jesus’ Name.

Determination is reflected in the lives of the heroes of faith. Noah showed determination in building the ark and carrying out all of God’s instructions to specification. Abraham displayed determination by obeying God to the letter. Moses showed determination in leading the Israelites out of Egypt and effectively communicating the will of God to them, and Nehemiah the builder was determined to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, even under hostile conditions. Sarah, David, Daniel, Esther and the prophets were all dedicated vessels of God who left legacies which endure even today. Above all, Jesus Christ displayed uncommon determination and steadfastness, not only to come to this world but also to go to Jerusalem to die for our sin (Luke 9:51). Determination is a virtue that is highly rewarding. The Bible says that God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). All the heroes of faith were greatly rewarded during their lifetime, and God gave them everlasting peace and joy in heaven. As you strive with determination in all your assignments, God will crown your efforts with resounding success, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 25 June 2019 Tuesday Action Point:

Pursue your God-given dreams with vigour, even if you have tried and failed in the past.


Open Heaven 25 June 2019 Tuesday Hymn 17: Hold The Fort
1 Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

Chorus:
“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 24 June 2019 – Bowels of Mercies

Open Heaven 24 June 2019 – Bowels of Mercies

Topic: Bowels of Mercies (Open Heaven 24 June 2019)

Memorise: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”- 1 John 3:16

Read: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (KJV)

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 30-31, Ezekiel 2:8-3:15

Open Heaven 24 June 2019 Monday MESSAGE:

Mercy is a concrete expression of compassion and love. It means to have pity or to feel concern out of sympathy for someone. Mercy is part of God’s core nature, and it defines that character in Him by which He faithfully keeps His covenant, fulfils His promises, and maintains His relationship with His children, despite our shortcomings, unworthiness and unfaithfulness (Exodus 34:6-7). This is very well explained in Romans 9:15-16, which says:

“15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”

Mercy connotes lovingkindness, goodness, grace, favor and steadfast love. The most prominent aspect of mercy is the compassionate disposition to forgive an offender, coupled with finding a way to help the offender out of his or her sorry situation. These qualities make it possible to lovingly correct fellow Christians who fall into error, instead of passing hostile judgement on them. Here is how the Holy Spirit commands us to deal with each other in Ephesians 4:2-3:

“2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Furthermore, while identifying the qualities that the Body of Christ must have, mercy and kindness are prominent on that list. He says in Colossians 3:12:

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

God designed mercy to be an essential part of the Christian community, because it reveals the state of our heart. It is an intense inner feeling that usually manifests itself as compassionate acts of love and kindness. We are recipients of God’s mercy through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we live our lives in daily anticipation of new mercies from God. The consistent new outpouring of God’s mercy is the seal of God’s love for His children (Lamentations 3:22-23). In response to past, present and future gifts of God’s mercy, we also must be channels of divine mercy both within the Church and out there in the world (Jude 1:21-22). The Bible teaches us to take up the responsibility of showing mercy through the help ministry and assisting the less privileged (1 Corinthians 12:28). Charitable giving is a proper response to God’s mercy and a mark of genuine spirituality. I pray that you will be a candidate for God’s mercy and a dispenser of it, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 24 June 2019 Monday Prayer Point:

Father, let Your nature of mercy find expression through me to others, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 24 June 2019 Monday Hymn 14: Let Us With A 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 blaze 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.

Seeds of Destiny 21 June 2019 Devotional – The Enemies of Great Destiny

Topic: The Enemies of Great Destiny [Seeds of Destiny 21 June 2019 Devotional]

What you don’t understand, you cannot confront or conquer; what cannot be identified cannot be rectified; what is not defined cannot be refined.

SCRIPTURE: Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. Genesis 49:3-4.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It is one thing to have great potential but it is another thing entirely to have great destiny.

In life, experiences have always shown that having a great potential does not necessarily translate into having a great destiny automatically. It is one thing to have great potentials but it is another thing entirely to have a great destiny.

Now, one reason why great potentials do not automatically translate into great destinies is because of the existence of enemies of destiny. It is very important to understand these enemies because what you don’t understand, you cannot confront or conquer; what cannot be identified cannot be rectified; what is not defined cannot be refined.

Now, what are the enemies of great destiny?

i) Iniquity: Sin corrupts destiny.

ii) Indecision: This is inability to make up one’s mind. A person who cannot make up his mind cannot amount to anything on earth.

iii) Indiscipline: Discipline undergirds distinction and destiny. Discipline is doing what is required to achieve what is desired; indiscipline, on the other hand, is the failure to do whatever is required in order to achieve whatever is desired.

iv) Lack of vision: Where there is no vision, there is no future. Your destiny or dignity is enhanced by your vision.

v) Pride: Pride resists your distinction. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). The absence of humility was responsible for the fall of Lucifer and Queen Vashti (Isaiah 14:12-14, Esther 1:19).

vi) Societal influence: To surrender to the influence of society is to sacrifice one’s future. A person who cannot have a mind of his own except the popular opinion of society can never amount to anything relevant in life.

Beloved, my significant counsel is, make up your mind to overcome these enemies of destiny in order to fulfil destiny.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Go through today’s message again.

2. Make up your mind to overcome the enemies of destiny in order to fulfill your destiny.

PRAYER: O Lord, I ask for the grace to overcome the enemies of destiny. Help me never to be a victim of iniquity, indecision, indiscipline, lack of vision, pride and societal influence, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

AMAZING FACT: In an effort to investigate the lie that the practicing of Christianity contributes to poor self-image, negative feelings, guilt, and therefore mental illness, a nursing instructor at Kishwaukee College and staff nurse at Rochelle Community Hospital found that the opposite is true, namely, that Christian belief and practice actually lead to better mental health.

QUOTE: The money that does not belong to you that you take; the woman that does not belong to you that you sin with, will hinder you from having access to what God planned for you on earth. Take it from me: taking what is not yours, forbids you from having what is yours.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD: Grace to overcome the enemies of destiny is released on you now, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 21 June 2019 – The Missionary Call

Open Heaven 21 June 2019 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Missionary Call

Topic: The Missionary Call (Open Heaven 21 June 2019)

Memorise: “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”- Luke 5:8

Read: Acts 13:1-5 (KJV)

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 23-35, Lamentation 4:17-5:22

Open Heaven 21 June 2019 Friday MESSAGE:

Over the years, I have always used every possible opportunity I get to remind my children that soul-winning is not an option for a Christian, it is a necessity. Although God has made provision for the salvation of mankind, the Holy Spirit declares in Romans 10:13-15 that sinners may not have access to salvation unless preachers are sent. This highlights the importance of answering the call to missions. The call of God refers to God summoning individuals or groups of people to Himself for the purpose of fellowship and service, both in this world and in eternity. A great example of this is the call of the disciples by the Master in Mark 3:14, which says:

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

The call of God may be tied to a specific place, task or vocation in life, and it might also be of a general nature. For example, God called Abraham, Moses and Jeremiah for specific purposes (Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus 3:4, Jeremiah 1:5), and after Christ’s successful ministry on earth, He called all His disciples to accomplish the general mission of reaching out to the whole world (Matthew 28:18-20). The primary mandate of the Church is to reach out to all the nations of the earth with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, teaching and baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. This is our Great Commission. Referring to our mandate, an author once wrote, “It was a Jew who brought the Gospel to Rome; a Roman who took it to France; a Frenchman who took it to Scandinavia; a Scotsman who evangelized Ireland; and an Irishman that in turn made the missionary conquest of Scotland. No people have ever received the Gospel except at the hand of an alien”.

It is critical to note that every member of the Church has an obligation to preach the gospel, because our Lord said in Mark 13:10:

“And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”

Soul winners are not born; they are made out of ordinary individuals who possess a yielded spirit, commitment to do God’s will, compassion for lost souls, and a deep sense of God’s calling. I pray that you will not disappoint God’s grace upon your life, and that you will become an incurable soul winner in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 21 June 2019 Friday Prayer Point:

Father, please help me to fulfil my calling as a soul winner in Jesus’ Name.

Also Read: Open Heaven 20 June 2019 – More than Conquerors

Open Heaven 21 June 2019 Friday Hymn 15: Must I Go, And Empty-Handed

1 “Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?

Chorus:
“Must I go, and empty-handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him:
Must I empty-handed go?

2 Not at death I shrink nor falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty-handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.

3 O the years in sinning wasted;
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I’d gladly bow.

4 O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet ’tis day;
Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,
Strive for souls while still you may.

Seeds of Destiny 20 June 2019 Devotional – Your Company And Your Destiny

Topic: Your Company And Your Destiny [Seeds of Destiny 20 June 2019 Devotional]

I don’t know what is making you to live lower than your expected level, possibilities and potentials; I decree that you will not die until you fulfill God’s purpose for your life, in Jesus’ Name.

SCRIPTURE: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” – Proverbs 13:20

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Your Company either limits or assists your destiny.

An American shepherd once told an interesting story: a cub (young lion) was found by a shepherd. The shepherd carried it and nurtured it among the sheepfold. The cub grew up and thought it was a sheep, so, it began to eat grass and move along with the sheep. Thus the cub became a de-lionized sheep or a sheepified lion. Once in a while, a big lion would come to the sheepfold to pursue the sheep. While the sheep would be running for their lives, the cub that grew in their midst (that is, the de-lionized sheep or the sheepified lion) would also run from the bigger lion. Then, one day, the cub saw its face in the water and discovered that it looked exactly like the bigger lion that always came to chase them away along with the sheep. So, when the bigger lion came on another occasion and began to pursue the sheep as usual, the cub (de-lionized sheep) refused to run from the bigger lion while all the sheep ran away. When the bigger lion played with the cub and discovered that it looked exactly like itself, it took the younger lion from the sheepfold into the company of other lions to be trained on how to roar and tear flesh.

You see, the cub was limited; it had great potentials but it was limited by a major factor – its company. It would have died as a sheep with the potentials of a lion. Your company either limits or assists your destiny.

Beloved, this is very critical! I don’t know what is making you to live lower than your expected level, possibilities and potentials; I decree that you will not die until you fulfill God’s purpose for your life, in Jesus’ Name. I decree that you are coming out from every low level of life; you are rising up to become who you are meant to be in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: Your Company either limits or assists your destiny.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Disassociate yourself from every company that kills destiny.

2. Ask God to bring into your life the right company that would facilitate your destiny fulfilment.


PRAYER: O Lord, help me to identify the right company that would facilitate my destiny fulfilment. Deliver me from every wrong association, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.


AMAZING FACT: Researchers from the Erasmus Medical Centre and the London School of Economics and Political Science found that older Europeans are mentally better off attending church than participating in sports, charity work and political and community activities.

QUOTE: Strong faith is a product of strong relationship. Culled from 15 KINGDOM STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL by Dr Paul Enenche.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD: The Lord release every wrong association from your life, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 10 June 2019 – Good Followers Make Good Leaders

Open Heaven 10 June 2019 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Good Followers Make Good Leaders

Topic: Good Followers Make Good Leaders (Open Heaven 10 June 2019)

Memorise: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”- 1 Corinthians 11:1

Read: John 13:12-17 (KJV)

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 4, Jeremiah 51:24-40

Open Heaven 10 June 2019 Monday MESSAGE:

Our Lord Jesus Christ was recognized as a great teacher when He was here on earth. He taught so wonderfully that those who heard Him were astonished at His teachings. Mark 1:22 says:

“And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.”

While teaching His Disciples His principles on leadership, He said to them in Matthew 20:28:

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

In this one verse, He addressed issues of leadership, power, authority and human dignity. The power in this verse lies in the fact that it upturns the notion of what greatness really is, by establishing how a leader must first humble himself or herself in providing necessary service to others. Jesus further expanded His teachings on leadership to include the fact that anyone who desires to be a leader must first be a good follower. He also explained that even though the leaders of the world might exercise authority and control over their subjects, it must not be so among children of God in Luke 22:26, He said:

“But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

As disciple of Jesus Christ, we are expected to walk in these principles. Every potential leader in the Body of Christ must first learn to be submissive in service and followership. In Matthew 23:11, Jesus said to His disciples that he who desires to be the greatest among them must first be the servant. He also taught them in Mark 9:35 that if anyone desired to be the leader amongst them, the same fellow must humble himself to take the least position and serve others. To further emphasize the role and importance of service in Christianity, Jesus told His disciples in John 13:13-15:

“13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

A disciple cannot be above his Master; neither can a servant ever be above his Lord. We are expected to live a lifestyle that honors God. The leadership principles Jesus taught are firmly built on fellowship, service, humility, obedience, and loyalty. If you want to follow Jesus Christ acceptably, you must align your attitude with His principles on leadership.

Open Heaven 10 June 2019 Monday Prayer Point:

Father, please grant me the grace to continually live a life of service to You as a good follower of Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 10 June 2019 Monday Hymn 14: Let Us With A 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 blaze 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.

Open Heaven 7 June 2019 – Cover That Nakedness Please!

Open Heaven 7 June 2019 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Cover That Nakedness Please!

Topic: Cover That Nakedness Please! (Open Heaven 7 June 2019)

Memorise: “Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.”- Lamentations 1:8

Read: 2 Samuel 11:2-4 (KJV)

2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 27, Jeremiah 50:17-34

Open Heaven 7 June 2019 Friday MESSAGE:

Nakedness refers to the absence of clothing and it also refers to the wearing of only underwear. It simply means being inadequately or inappropriately dressed. To be naked is to be bare, lightly dressed or to wear skimpy, revealing or insufficient clothing. These days, people are obsessed with showing of their wealth through fashion. As heroes and mentors to many, the rich and famous tend to influence a lot of people to follow their footsteps.

Unfortunate, this platform is being used to promote nudity in fashion. If you look at the world today, a greater percentage of fashion style reflects nakedness, particularly in western countries. If the lady’s cleavage is not exposed, the dress is viewed as old-fashioned. If the skirt is not short, such that the lady can’t sit down comfortably without having to cross her legs or continually draw down her skirt to cover her laps, it is not fashionable. If the man’s trousers are not super tight, it is not fashionable. It is however said that instead of world to look to the church for healthy and sensible fashion inspiration, the church is copying the world, which is why indecent and provocative dressing is commonplace in the church of God today. You will go to some churches and wonder whether you are in a brothel. Christ has called us to walk in love, so if you know that you dress seductively and this could cause someone to stumble in lust, you better have a rethink. What is your motive when you say you want to dress to kill? If you want to make heaven, you must judge your motives and actions by the word of God and make necessary adjustments.

The essence of clothing first and foremost is to cover human nakedness. God is the first one who designed and provided clothes, and His primary purpose was to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve after they attempted to sew fig leaves together as aprons to cover their nakedness (Genesis 3:21, Genesis 3:7). So many people today are wearing fig leaves and calling them clothes. For any clothing to be appropriate for a child of God, whether male or female, it must meet the standard that God set in the beginning by adequately covering human nakedness.

Moreover, we are Christ’s ambassadors; an ambassador does not do anything that will tarnish the image of the country he or she represents. As a matter of fact, an ambassador positively projects the cultural heritage of his or her country always. The culture of the kingdom we belong to is holiness, righteousness and the fear of God, and we must project it in this world of sin and godlessness. Furthermore, we have the responsibility of making our body suitable for the Holy Spirit to dwell in (1 Corinthians 3:16). As the temple of God, defiling your body through nudity has consequences (1 Corinthians 3:17). Henceforth, dress as a worthy ambassador of God’s kingdom.

Open Heaven 7 June 2019 Friday Prayer Point:

Father, please expel nudity and destroy immorality in Your Church, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 7 June 2019 Friday Hymn 3: Trust And Obey

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heaven 6 June 2019 – Bed Undefiled

Open Heaven 6 June 2019 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Bed Undefiled

Topic: Bed Undefiled (Open Heaven 6 June 2019)

Memorise: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”- Hebrews 13:4

Read: Proverbs 5:15-21 (KJV)

15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.

18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

Bible in One Year: Leviticus 26, Jeremiah 50:2-16

Open Heaven 6 June 2019 Thursday MESSAGE:

Whichever way you look at it, marriage is honourable, and this is why those who have rebelled against God in their sexual orientation want to cloak their dishonourable lifestyle with the honour God has bestowed on marriage. Despite what the world is trying to turn it into, the institution of marriage remains God’s perfect arrangement to meet the needs of companionship between a man and a woman who are adults. If discovering and choosing to love a person is beautiful and courtship is exciting, solemnizing a union in a wedding ceremony is divine. After a couple is joined together in holy matrimony and God’s blessings are pronounced on them, they become partners in a sacred institution. The sanctity of marriage is not a figment of human imagination. God indeed designed marriage to be holy, and so it should be approached with great respect and due veneration. This is why today’s memory verse describes marriage as honourable and advise against defiling it, with a strong warning that God’s judgement will fall on anyone who indulges in sexual immorality in marriage.

Another reason why God created the institution of marriage is the need to satisfy sexual desire within an environment of accountability and responsibility. God wants married couples to find sexual satisfaction in marriage (1 Corinthians 7:2). In His infinite wisdom, He provided marital sex as a wise alternative to infidelity and sexual disorder. Today’s bible reading says you should drink water out of your own cistern, meaning that sexual thirst should only be satisfied within the privacy of marriage. Furthermore, sexual body parts and sexual acts are not public property to be shared with strangers (Proverbs 5:16-17). “Strangers” in this context refers to anyone who has not “Known” you through marriage (Genesis 4:1). Only within marriage did God bless uninhibited sexual joys (Proverbs 5:18-19). Take note that God deliberately used the words “at all times” and “always” in Proverbs 5:19, to remove limits from a married couple’s sexual enjoyment of each other (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). Brethren, please abstain from sex outside marriage, for God has promised to judge all fornicators and adulterers (Hebrews 13:4). Your momentary sinful pleasure is liable for eternal judgment, so ask yourself, is it really worth it (Proverbs 5:20)? He who created all things in heaven and earth for His own pleasure has every right to guide human affairs in conformity with His supreme purpose. Think on these things, and may God engrave them on the tablet of your heart in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heaven 6 June 2019 Thursday Prayer Point:

Father, please uphold every marriage and let Your power reign in every home, in Jesus’ Name

Open Heaven 6 June 2019 Thursday Hymn 16: God Give Us Christian Homes

1 God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the master’s
Will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty thy love hath wrought;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!

2 God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!

3 God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in queenly quest
Strive to show others thy way is best
Homes where the lord is an honoured guest;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!

4 God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!
Amen.