RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. FRIDAY JULY 31 2015.

THEME : PARTAKING IN A DIVINE AGENDA.

  

MEMORISE : And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his
kingdom there shall be no end. LUKE 1 : 33.
READ : LUKE 1 : 31 – 33.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and
shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there
shall be no end.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : NEHEMIAH 4 : 1 – 6 : 14 AND JOHN 7 : 1 – 24.

MESSAGE
When God says He will do a thing, He is telling you what He has already done in
the realm of the Spirit. It is already a settled matter. If He says He will give
you peace, it means that peace is already released to you. Every good promise
that God has made to you shall become reality shortly in Jesus’ Name. When
Jesus made this promise in Matthew 16 : 18 :
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build
my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
He was simply saying something He had already done. He was telling Peter what
He had already finished, long before Peter was born. Luke 1 : 33 declares that
there is no end to the increase of God’s kingdom. This means that whether the
devil and the world like it or not, the Church will keep marching on. It also
means that even when you do not know how to access the funds you need to
build that local assembly to the glory of God’s Name, God knows. He has already
provided for all the churches that would be built in His Name, even before the
foundation of the world was laid. This is why I know that you will not be
stranded or frustrated over the assignment of enlarging God’s kingdom on
earth. God’s provision for your assignment shall be evident this season in
Jesus’ Name.
Moreover, it is important to note that since God has set out to build His
church, if you cooperate with Him, He can use you to build His kingdom.
Building His church is God’s agenda. God is looking for those who will cooperate
with Him to establish His agenda of building His church. Are you willing to
partner with Him? Long ago, God decided that He would take a general from the
Syrian army and turn him into a worshipper of Jehovah ( 2 Kings 5 : 1 – 19 ). In
today’s setting, it is like saying God wants to take the Sultan of Sokoto (the
traditional head of Muslims in Nigeria) and turn him into an evangelist or a
pastor. Some people will say this is impossible, but with God nothing shall be
impossible ( Luke 1 : 37 ). Once He has set out His plan, and His Word has gone
forth, He will do it. To get Naaman to become a worshipper of the Living God,
the Lord needed someone to cooperate with Him. It was a housemaid in
Naaman’s household who told her mistress that there was a prophet in Israel
who could cure her husband’s leprosy. Like this handmaid, are you ready to
cooperate with the Lord in building His church?

ACTION POINT :
Every child of God has a role to play in building the kingdom of God. So, don’t
just sit on the fence!
# AUTHOR_Pst_E_A_ADEBOYE .

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. WEDNESDAY JULY 29 2015.

THEME : ASK FOR PERMISSION!

  

MEMORISE : Thou shalt not steal. EXODUS 20 : 15.
READ : GENESIS 49 : 3 – 4.
3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength,
the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
4 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.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : EZRA 8 : 24 – 10 : 44 AND JOHN 6 : 25 – 51.

MESSAGE
One commandment that God gave to the children of Israel in the wilderness,
which is still very relevant to us today, is the commandment not to steal
( Exodus 20 : 15 ). Stealing can occur physically, in the realm of the soul and
spiritually. Physical stealing can further be classified as stealing from man and
stealing from God ( Malachi 3 : 8 ). To steal is to take another person’s
property without their consent or approval, particularly with the intention of
not returning it. As a growing child, teenager or youth, if you take your
parent’s money without their consent, you are a thief. Some youths will say
“Whatever belongs to my father belongs to me. I should be free to take any of
his things whenever I like.” No sir! Your parents have plans for all that they
have. Taking their things without their approval can destabilise some of those
plans. It can also inflict pain, sorrow and untold hardship on your parents. A
child who is well brought up will ask his or her parents for what they want and
give them the opportunity to approve or deny the request. The right rule to live
by is: anything your parents are not ready to give you must not be taken. If
you take it, you are a thief and not better than any robber out there.
Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, slept with Bilhah his father’s concubine on his
father’s bed ( Genesis 35 : 22 ). According to their tradition, after his father’s
death, he could have inherited her as the firstborn, but he could not wait for
his time. Jacob kept quiet about this when he heard it. Reuben did not realise
that Jacob knew, and he did not restitute. Eventually, when it was time to
receive the generational blessing, Reuben was cursed and his destiny was
thwarted ( Genesis 49 : 3 – 4 ). A curse awaits children who steal from their
parents. Zechariah 5 : 3 says :
“Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the
whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side
according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side
according to it.”
Even the prodigal son knew well enough to ask for his share of his father’s
property before spending it ( Luke 15 : 12 ). Today, some children either
neglect their parents or fast-track their death so that they can have faster
access to their wealth. Doing such is murder and robbery! No doubt, the
blessing will surely turn into a curse. Children, as long as you live with your
parents, totally submit to them like Jesus did. Never take anything that
belongs to them without their willing consent. Also, do not threaten them to
accede your request.

ACTION POINT :
Return all that you have taken without the consent of the rightful owners
from today.
# AUTHOR_Pst_E_A_ADEBOYE .

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. TUESDAY JULY 28 2015.

THEME : NOT MOVED BY TEARS!

   

MEMORISE : I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy
lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all
thy name. PSALM 138 : 2.

READ : PSALM 138 : 1 – 3.
1 A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will
I sing praise unto thee.
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy
lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all
thy name.
3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with
strength in my soul.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : EZRA 6 : 13 – 8 : 23 AND JOHN 6 : 1 – 24.

MESSAGE
If there is anything we need so dearly to succeed in life, it is wisdom. In God’s
manual for life, wisdom is declared to be the principal thing ( Proverbs 4 : 7 ).
What then is wisdom? Practically speaking, wisdom is the correct application of
knowledge. The fellow who is educated but fails to apply what he or she knows
appropriately will be considered a fool. This is why education alone does not
confer wisdom. There are several professors who, in spite of all their chains of
degrees, still operate in folly. If knowledge alone is wisdom, then no doctor
would engage in smoking because all doctors know that smoking is injurious to
health. A particular doctor who smokes was asked “You are a doctor; you know
smoking is bad for your health and yet you still smoke. Why?” Can you believe
his reply? He said “Everybody will eventually die by one means or the other
someday. Some will die in an accident; some will die by an assassin’s bullet. I
have chosen to die by smoking cigarettes.” Wisdom therefore is having
knowledge and applying it correctly for your personal benefit. Are you an
educated fool? It is time to change your ways.
As a worker in God’s vineyard, it is important to know that God is not moved by
emotions, tears, or by rolling on the ground. Rather, He is moved by the
correct application of the principles contained in His Word. His Word is declared
to be forever settled in Heaven ( Psalm 119 : 89 ). God is a God of principles;
hence, a mathematician like me finds it easy to enjoy Him, because
mathematicians are not often moved by emotions. Take for instance this
equation: 2 + 2 = 4. Whether you like it or not, it always remains the same.
If you like, you can weep from morning till evening saying “I want 2 + 2 to be
6.” It will not change anything, because 2 + 2 = 4 will ever remain the same, be
it on earth, on the moon or under the sea. When you know that God is not
moved by emotions but by His Word, wisdom demands that you apply His Word
more often. Psalm 138 : 2 says,
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy
lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all
thy name.”
Obeying God’s Word moves Him. God honours those who stand on His Word. This
means that you need to increase in the knowledge of God’s Word so that you will
be able to stand on it. Give more time to knowing His Word and stand on it
today.

ACTION POINT :
Pick a problem confronting you, and find out God’s principles on how to solve it.
Simply apply these principles, and check out the result you will obtain.
# AUTHOR_Pst_E_A_ADEBOYE .

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. MONDAY JULY 27 2015.

THEME : STAGNANCY IS NOT YOUR PORTION.

  

MEMORISE : And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if
thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. DEUTERONOMY 28 : 2.

READ : JOHN 5 : 2 – 9.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the
Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered,
waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the
water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was
made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that
case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is
troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth
down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked:
and on the same day was the sabbath.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : EZRA 4 : 1 – 6 : 12 AND JOHN 5 : 19 – 47.

MESSAGE
On the 20th of July, we looked at the states of progress represented by
retrogression and repression. One lesson we must learn is that sometimes,
repressive forces are not necessarily interested in taking over the harvest of
their victims; rather, all they want to do is to ensure that all the labour and
efforts of their victims are wasted, so that they can mock and laugh them to
scorn ( Judges 6 : 3 – 16 ). Every repressive force seen and unseen that is
interested in wasting all your honest efforts shall be destroyed by the fire of
the Holy Ghost in Jesus’ Name.
Moreover, another state of progress is stagnation. This is a state of
standstill. In this state, there is no forward or upward movement. The fellow
operating in this state remains on the same spot in spite of his or her efforts.
In a situation of stagnancy, effort does not count, because it appears there
is some invisible rope tying the victim to the same spot. In our Bible reading,
we read about a man who was sick for 38 years. This man was operating in a
state of stagnancy. He was at the pool of Bethesda waiting for an angel to
stir up the water. He was waiting for a once-a-year miracle available to just
one person. The unfortunate thing is that he was not alone. There was a crowd
also waiting to take this same chance. As a result, he kept on waiting for
several years!
There are some people who are so full of hope at the beginning of a year, but
at the end of that year, they realise that they are still at the same spot. When
I was schooling at the University of Lagos, there was a particular student who
had been there for eight years, but he never went beyond year one. He kept
changing from one faculty to the other and from one department to another.
We met him there and left him there. Have you been stagnant? Are all your
efforts futile? Have you been so long on the same spot? The Lord will intervene
in your situation today! The Lord will turn things around for your good. I
rebuke every force keeping you on the same spot. Whatever is tying you down
is destroyed now. That miracle that your stagnant situation is trying to deny
you is released to you now in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT :
I command every spirit of stagnancy keeping me and my family on the same
spot, in the Name of Jesus Christ, pack your load and leave now!
# AUTHOR_Pst_E_A_ADEBOYE .

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. FRIDAY JULY 24 2015.

THEME : SETTLED.

   

MEMORISE : for he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
PSALM 33 : 9.
READ : 33 : 8 – 11.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in
awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the
devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all
generations.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 CHRONICLES 33 : 10 – 33 : 33 AND JOHN 3 : 22 – 4 : 15.

MESSAGE
Whenever God says a thing, you can be sure that it is already done. That is why
Psalm 33 : 8 commands the whole earth to fear this great and awesome God:
whatever He declares is done, and His commandments are always established.
For Instance, when John the Baptist by divine revelation announced Jesus as
the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world ( John 1 : 29 ), he was
only announcing something that had already been planned, decided and
concluded before the foundations of the earth. The Bible clearly states this
truth in Revelation 13 : 8 :
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not
written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
In other words, before God laid foundations of this world, He had already seen
how things would turn out for the human race He was yet to create; so He
decided in advance that at some point in time, Jesus Christ would come to this
world, be crucified and die for the sins of all men.
So when you hear God saying something, it is not about what He wants to do,
but about what He has already done. When a road is rehabilitated and the
governor of a state comes to declare it open, it does not mean that the road is
new or has just been constructed. The road could have been in use for several
years or months before it was properly constructed with drainages, pedestrian
pathways, culverts, trees lining the middle, footbridges, etc. The
commissioning of the road is simply launching the road into another phase. In
the same vein, whatever God says He will do has already been done in the
spiritual realm. It has been concluded. Those in Heaven can see it already; it’s
only a matter of time before it materialises in the physical realm. The
awesomeness of God is further revealed when we realise that no man can speak
of what he wants to happen in the future and have it that way except God
sanctions it. The Bible declares this in Lamentations 3 : 37 :
“Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it
not?”
Therefore, has God said He would do something in your life, family, ministry,
business or career? It is already settled. In the spirit realm, it can already be
seen. All you have to do is to bring it into manifestation in the physical realm
through prayer, thanksgiving and worship. Your greatness is settled. Your
tomorrow will be alright. It is a settled matter. It shall be well with you, and
you will end well in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT :
Thank God for past Holy Ghost Convention. Pray that this year’s
Convention will be most outstanding in power, miracles, wonders and signs.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

THURSDAY JULY 23 2015.

THEME : THE SPIRITUAL MARATHON.

MEMORISE : But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. MATTHEW 24 : 13.

READ : HEBREWS 12 : 1 - 3.
1 WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 CHRONICLES 32 : 1 - 33 : 9 AND JOHN 3 : 1 - 21.

MESSAGE
The day you genuinely gave your life to Christ, you began a race. It is a spiritual race. The race to Heaven is not a sprint but a marathon. It is not something you run with all your strength for just one day and it ends there. Unlike the regular marathon that goes through streets and paths already marked out, you may have to take unmarked routes and paths hitherto unknown while running this race. Also, unlike in regular marathons where you can meet someone who has successfully finished the race for tips, those who have run this peculiar race to the end are definitely not around on earth for people to consult with.
By the grace of God, as young as I am in Christ, I have been running this race for more than forty years now, and I am yet to reach the finishing line. There are people who joined this race some fifty or sixty years ago, and they are still on it till now. Every race has its peculiar nature. If you need patience and a lot of tact while running an earthly marathon, you will need much more of these while running the heavenly race. No wonder Hebrews 12 : 1 says,
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed, about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”
However, just like it happens in earthly marathons, there are several casualties in the heavenly race. Some people start a marathon like a sprint. They run far ahead of others, but after some time, they lose steam and begin to retrogress while those they left behind overtaken them. Also, there are those who fall and injure themselves, ending up in an ambulance. There are also those who out of exhaustion are unable to continue the race, and so they drop out. There are even those who after running for a while, gradually step out of the path, and are disqualified. All these scenarios are applicable to the spiritual marathon. Since you started the race to Heaven, have you been affected by any of these? Have you stepped out of the path of the race? Have you run out of steam? Have you fallen and refused to rise up? Get up today! The Lord will give you strength. Persist some more. Take it one day at a time. Call on the Lord to help you. Never give up. Each day that passes draws you closer to the finishing line. You will make it in Jesus’ Name!

PRAYER POINT :
Father, grant me grace to run the race to Heaven with wisdom, patience and perseverance
AUTHOR Pst E A ADEBOYE.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Wednesday 22 July

UNFORGIVENESS & ITS RESTITUTION

Memorise: Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1st John 3:15

READ: 1st John 2:9-11

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Bible in One Year:
2nd Chronicles 30-31 & John 2

MESSAGE:                                      
As children of God, we must always be watchful of pitfalls capable of nullifying all our efforts towards making Heaven. For example, God expects you to make restitution when you have told a lie incriminating an innocent person. In the same vain, if you have injured someone, you need to restitute. An example of this can be found in Acts 16:33-34, where the jailor who had contributed to the predicament of Paul and Silas took them to his house, treated their injuries and gave them decent food. Have you injured someone physically, emotionally or psychologically? Restitute your ways. In addition, if someone offends you so hard that you promised never to forgive the fellow, there is a need to forgive and release that individual so that you can make Heaven at last. Anyone who hates his brother has stepped out of God’s light into darkness and is seen as a murderer in the sight of God (1st John 3:15). If you are in hatred, you are out of eternal life. Has anyone offended you to the extent that you resolved not to forgive? You must change that decision now if you do not want it to hinder your trip to Heaven. I once hated a particular man very much, because of the way he maltreated my family and I. But after I gave my life to Christ, I did not only forgive him, I also went to tell him he was forgiven. It was not an easy thing for me to do, but by the grace of God, I did it.

Is there un-forgiveness in your heart over some hurt or offence done to you? If you love yourself, forgive today. Forgiveness must be communicated to the one you have forgiven except it is done without sincerity. Some people say, “I have forgiven my offender but I will not tell him so.” How will the fellow you forgave know that he or she is forgiven? When a person is offended, it is like being owed some kind of debt. It is when forgiveness is released that the debt is paid. Refusing to forgive your offender sustains the debt, and we are commanded not to owe any man anything but love (Romans 13:8). The irony of un-forgiveness is that the one who refuses to forgive hurts himself or herself the most. The offender may be going about with a free mind, but the offended carries a heavy heart. Also, by begrudging the offender, the offended cannot move beyond where he or she is. Un-forgiveness ties the offended to the same spot. I hope you are not the one pegging your rise by not releasing your offender?

ACTION POINT:                          
List the names of people you hold a grudge against or who hold a grudge against you, and prayerfully reconcile with them immediately.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. TUESDAY JULY 21 2015.

THEME : THE PRINCIPAL PERSONALITY.

  

MEMORISE : Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom: and with all
thy getting get understanding. PROVERBS 4 : 7.

READ : PROVERBS 4 : 5 – 9.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the
words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep
thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting
get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when
thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she
deliver to thee.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 CHRONICLES 28 : 5 – 29 : 36 AND JOHN 1 : 29 – 51.

MESSAGE
Today’s Bible reading defines wisdom as the principal thing in life. Wisdom is
most important because you need it to relate effectively with God, the devil
and his cohorts. You also need wisdom to govern your relationships with friends
and foes. At work, at school and in the ministry, you need wisdom. With
wisdom, you can successfully handle all your life’s pursuits. Wisdom connects
everything you do. Wisdom can mean the difference between life and death,
success and failure, wealth and poverty, growth and retardation. Everything
you can ever ask for will come to you if you have wisdom. There are different
types of wisdom operating in the natural and spiritual realms. There is devilish
wisdom, human wisdom and divine wisdom. Jesus Christ is declared to be the
Wisdom of God in 1 Corinthians 1 : 24 :
“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of
God, and the wisdom of God.”
If wisdom is the principal thing, and Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God, it
therefore follows that Jesus Christ is the Principal Person. There is a link
between the principal thing and the Principal Person. But why is wisdom so
crucial? Proverbs 3 : 35 says,
“The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”
Your pursuit of wisdom will deliver you glory. No wonder the Bible says if you
have Jesus Christ, you automatically receive glory (Colossians 1 : 2 7).
Conversely, if you lack wisdom, shame will be waiting at around the corner for
you. There is a direct link between wisdom and a glorious future. Glory is the
opposite of shame. Sickness, disease, failure, defeat, poverty, barrenness,
stagnation, disappointment are all products of shame. When you have Jesus,
you receive wisdom, and when you get wisdom, you have access to glory, which
makes every token of shame disappear. As the principal thing, getting every
other thing without getting wisdom amounts to a waste of time. In the same
vein, acquiring material wealth, academic degrees and attaining heights in any
field without having a personal relationship with the Principal Person converts
one’s gains into one big loss! In all that you strive for, never stop seeking for
more of Jesus and His wisdom!

KEY POINT :
Having Jesus can deliver every other thing to you, but getting every other
thing cannot give you Jesus.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. THURSDAY JULY 16 2015.

THEME : POSITIONED FOR GENERATIONAL BLESSING.

   

MEMORISE : There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the
righteous. PSALM 14 : 5.

READ : GENESIS 48 : 13 – 19.
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left
hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought
them near unto him.
14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who
was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands
wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and
Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day.
16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be
named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them
grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of
Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from
Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the first
born; put thy right hand upon his head.
19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall
become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall
be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 CHRONICLES 16 : 1 – 18 : 27 AND LUKE 23 : 18 – 43.

MESSAGE
Shortly before Israel’s death, Joseph his son visited him with his two sons.
When it was time to bless the boys, he positioned Manasseh his firstborn to
come under his father’s right hand, while Ephraim would come under the left.
He knew the implication of position and blessing. But when Israel stretched his
hands to bless the boys, he crossed his hands, placing his right hand on the
younger and his left hand on the older. Joseph protested but Israel insisted.
Let us draw out a few lessons from this passage. The first of these is that
after a period of service comes a time of reward. Hence, John the beloved
warns in 2 John 8 that :
“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but
that we receive a full reward.”
It is therefore possible to labour for something and never get the reward.
There will always be a time to reap after sowing. Hence, you need to be very
careful what you sow, because the harvest is always around the corner.
Another lesson from today’s Bible passage is that after a long stretch of
service, there comes a time for the impartation of generational blessings. That
is, after serving God for several years, a time comes when the blessing that
transcends you will be delivered to your children. This can only be done if you
have brought up your children in the way of the Lord. Generational blessings
come from God. It is more than just a right; it is a reward for quality and
consistent service. Psalm 23 : 30 says :
“A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.”
When the time comes for a generational blessing to be transferred to your
children and your grandchildren, may they not be found wanting in Jesus’
Name. The implication of this is that whatever effort you put into God’s
Kingdom is duly recorded, and that for all your efforts in God’s kingdom, a
reward awaits your children. This is why you cannot afford to get tired of
loving, serving, pleasing and sacrificing to God. Such efforts help to lay a solid
foundation for your children’s future. To what extent are you preparing your
children for their tomorrow? Abraham served God and it created a higher
platform for Isaac. Isaac also served the Lord and Israel rode on the pedestal.
Israel continued from there and Joseph was given a soft landing. Joseph loved
the Lord and it affected his sons positively. What kind of blessing will be
transferred to your children through your service?

KEY POINT :
Whether your children will have a smooth ride to destiny or not depends on your
relationship with God today.
AUTHOR : Pst. E . A ADEBOYE.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. WEDNESDAY JULY 15 2015.

THEME : ACCOMPLICE TO SIN?

   

MEMORISE : Who knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such
things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them
that do them. ROMANS 1 : 32.

READ : ROMANS 1 : 29 – 32.
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;
whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are
worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 CHRONICLES 13 : 15 AND LUKE 22 : 63 – 23 : 17.

MESSAGE
In trying to rationalise and condone certain types of sin, some people have
painted them in different colours. Take lying for instance. This evil act has
been categorised by some into white, black and so on. Whether it is a grave lie
or a lie that cannot hurt a fly, a lie is a lie. Leviticus 19:11 says it is wrong to
lie to other brethren. The devil is the father of all liars according to our Lord
Jesus Christ ( John 8 : 44 ). If you wilfully engage in lies, you definitely have
the devil as your father. The Bible declares that outside the gates of Heavens
are liars :
“For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and
idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Revelation 22 : 15.
If a lie is as trivial as people say it is, why would liars be categorised with
fornicators, murderers and idol worshippers? If a lie is not grievous, why
would the gated of Heaven be shut against liars? Also, in the above Scripture,
a distinction is made between those who love lies and those who tell the lies. In
other words, some people are branded liars and not because they told a lie, but
because they are in accomplice to a lie. If you cover up someone who has lied,
you are an accessory to the lie and as a result, a liar yourself. We understand
from our memory verse that while two people may commit a particular sin, ten
others may be punished along with them for complicity. This is why you must be
very careful. In the process of recommending someone for ordination for
example, the fellow may lie that he is a house fellowship leader and provide an
address, whereas he is not. If his pastor knows the truth but turns a blind eye
and goes ahead to present such a candidate for ordination, he has become an
accomplice to a lie and might be on his way to Hell unless he repents. This goes
for everyone who knows the truth but cover it up. Do not be taken over by the
sin of others! If some people choose to sin, let them face its consequences all
by themselves. Never support, sponsor or encourage anyone over sinful act.
You must be able to tell the fellow that he or she has sinned and condemn that
action with all gravity. Never become the pillow on which the sinner will find
solace whenever he or she wants to sin, or else, you will partake of divine
judgement and end up in Hell together.

KEY POINT :
A lot of people will go to Hell because they take pleasure in those who sin.
AUTHOR : Pst. E . A ADEBOYE.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. TUESDAY JULY 14 2015.

THEME : PHILIPPIANS 4:19 WAS EARNED.

  

MEMORISE : Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to
your account. PHILIPPIANS 4 : 17.
READ : PHILIPPIANS 4 : 14 – 19.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my
affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I
departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning
giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your
account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the
things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice
acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by
Christ Jesus.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 CHRONICLES 9 : 29 – 12 : 16 AND LUKE 22 : 39 – 62.

MESSAGE
If you are enjoying God’s love, you must be ready to give something in return
to him as a demonstration of your love for Him. This was demonstrated by the
church at Philippi in today’s Bible reading. Paul reported that they were the
only ones who stood with him during the period of his trial and need. After he
left Macedonia, some churches used that as an excuse not to support him
anymore, but not the brethren at Philippi. Even after he travelled to
Thessalonica, they repeatedly sent provisions to meet his need there. Today,
some people still hide under the cover of distance to shy away from showing
love through giving. They would say “You are so far away and that is why it is
so difficult to send assistance to you.” If it is difficult to send assistance
now, it was much more difficult to do so then. As challenging as it was then,
the brethren in Philippi found a way around the difficulties and supported Paul.
They knew what they were doing. They become a major financial backbone of
the ministry of Paul. Paul declared that by virtue of their being so sacrificial in
giving, he was full, having all his needs met. It was based on this that he
prayed that God would supply all their needs in Philippians 4 : 19.
Just as you have needs, so does God have needs. If you can meet Gods needs,
He will surely meet yours. The project of expending God’s kingdom on earth has
needs. There is therefore a need to support anymore or any cause that is
dedicated to meeting these needs. Why did Paul not pray the same prayer for
the other churches? It is because a person has the responsibility to provoke
the blessings that come to him or her as an individual, family or church. Before
you expect so much from God, ask yourself what you have done to provoke what
you are expecting. As revealed in Philippians 4 : 17, know that everyone has an
account with God :
“Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your
account.”
Everything you give to God grows that account. It is when your account is full
that your harvest will come. The church at Philippi got their harvest. What
about you? What have you given to God in demonstration of your love for Him?
What contributions have you made to grow your local parish and meet their
needs? How have you met the needs of your pastor and his family?

KEY POINT :
Can your pastor say like Paul that he is full and has no needs as a result of your
care?
AUTHOR : Pst. E . A ADEBOYE.

TIME NA MONEY

TIME NA MONEY!

Your time is valuable. It’s a limited, finite resource that, once used, can never be reclaimed. Yet too many people waste it with little or no thought to the ramifications. By getting a full understanding of how your time is spent and spending the time to ensure you understand your priorities; you will be able to stop wasting time and live a more meaningful, full life. Learn how not to waste your time and live a more productive and happy life in 7 easy steps:

 

1. Prioritize your day.

Often we are more efficient when we are the busiest. Take the holidays for example. We have a list as long as Santa’s and seemingly no time to get it done, yet we do. So let’s learn from that and prioritize tasks like it’s just before your holidays. Create a list containing everything that must be done that day. That will help you prioritize your day and not waste time on things that don’t matter.

 

2. Create a list every morning. Write it down. And stick to it.

Planning out your day and the steps that need to be taken for it to be successful is the quickest way to stop wasting time. You need a visual reminder of what needs to be done and how much has been completed. This can’t be done “in your head”. Be clear on what you need to do. It needs to go on a sheet of paper, in your phone, emailed to yourself, or placed on your desk each and every day. Most people don’t realize they are wasting time until it’s too late. Plan ahead and ensure you know exactly what you need done each and every day.

 

3. Value your time and learn to say no.

Make sure you value all your available time.  Helping others is a great thing, but stop pleasing people at the expense of your own productive time. Ensure that your lists and tasks get done before helping others. By focusing on staying productive in the tasks that you do, you will find you will have much more time to help others without cutting into your productivity.

 

4. Take time to find out what you do well and what needs improvement.

Be proactive about becoming more efficient. Track your time for a few days and find out the pattern you spend time on. Write down everything.  If you spend 5 minutes checking Facebook, write it down. You may find that those 5-minute distractions add up to a much larger chunk of wasted time than you expect. Be sure to look for trends. Did a task take longer on a certain day? Did you find that you’re more productive in the morning or just after lunch? Find the time when you’re most focused and the tasks that need the most concentration, and put them together.

 

5. Understand all ramifications of major decisions.

Major decisions, changes and projects can seem like a great decision, and often these changes need to be made. But large, sweeping changes often lead to inefficient management of your time and wasting time. Take the time to think through and project out how these decisions will play out in the long run. Who will be affected, and what might the response be? By understanding the ramifications, you can better steer clear of the pitfalls of productivity that a new major change can bring.

 

6. Keep your mind sharp.

A healthy person of mind and body is a productive person in practice. Learn something new every day, read a book or study a second language. Don’t give up habits that help you warm up; rather, continually work out your brain.  You’ll be more productive and perceptive.

 

7. And your body fit.

The same is true of your body. Spending 30 minutes, three times a week can do wonders for your energy levels.  An active person will be a more productive person.  You’ll sleep better and your time awake will be more focused and productive.

Never forget how valuable your time really is.  Taking time to reflect about your current processes, focus on planning your future endeavours and taking care of your body and mind will continue to make your time more productive and your life more fulfilling.

 

John Piper said, “My joy grows with every soul that seeks the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Remember, you have one life. That’s all. You were made for God. Don’t waste it.”

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. MONDAY JULY 13 2015.

THEME : FASTING IS RELEVANT.

  

MEMORISE : In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 2 CORINTHIANS 11 : 27.

READ : MATTHEW 17 : 14 – 21.
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain
man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes
he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how
long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was
cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him
out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto
you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this
mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall
be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 CHRONICLES 7 : 11 – 9 : 28 AND LUKE 22 : 14 – 38.

MESSAGE
When you pay the price for greater heights in your relationship with God and in
ministry, you will be moved up to operate at a new level. When the price is paid,
you will not only see the invisible, you will also hear the inaudible. In 1 Kings
18 : 41, while others were busy discussing the miracle fire that fell suddenly
from Heaven, Elijah rose up and declared the sound of abundance of rain. Note
that no other person saw the sign or heard the sound. You shall hear the
inaudible from today in Jesus’ Name! However, to operate at this level, you
must be given to fasting and prayer. In 2 Corinthians 11 : 27, Paul said that he
fasted and often. The moment you sign up for this level of ministry, the
struggle between your flesh and your spirit will take a new dimension. While
the flesh will be pulling you forcefully to the left, the spirit will be pulling you
to the right. You need fasting in order to weaken the flesh and strengthen
your spirit.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I
speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6 : 63.
Using the arm of flesh at this level of ministry will definitely meet with
disappointments. You need to walk in the Spirit by following the Holy Spirit’s
directions; this empowers your spirit-man and subdues the flesh. A while ago,
one of my sons asked me “Daddy, now that you are over 70, will you stop
fasting?” I laughed and replied, “The moment I quit fasting, you can begin to
expect my departure, because I have resolved no to be a relic. As for as I am
concerned, the day I cease to be relevant, I go.” Elisha remained relevant until
death. Even on his deathbed, he was still dictating the future, instructing the
king on what would happen and how he could have victory. In the Name of
Jesus, you shall not be lost in oblivion. You shall be relevant in your generation
and beyond your generation. Are you prepared to subdue your flesh? The flesh
has pegged the rise of many a child of God. If you do not have control over your
stomach or appetite, you are not prepared for the ministry of signs and
wonders. If you are still indulging in sin, you are not yet serious about the
move of the miraculous in your life. Consider what is outstanding in your life
and strive to meet up today!

KEY POINT :
If you want heavenly results, feed your spirit. If you feed your flesh, it will
deliver sin to you.
AUTHOR : Pst. E . A ADEBOYE.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SUNDAY 12 July, 2015
THEME: TOUCH NOT

Memorise: He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophet no harm. 1st Chronicles 16:21-22

READ: 1st Samuel 30:1-8

Bible in One Year:
2nd Chronicles 6:12-7:10 & Luke 21:25-22:13

MESSAGE:                                          
In today’s Bible reading, while David and his men were away, the Amalekites invaded Ziklag, defeated the city and set it on fire; after which they took members of their families – wives, sons and daughters as captives. When they returned and saw the situation of Ziklag, David and his men were really distressed, disappointed and discouraged. It was more so for David because the incident brought so much disaffection, bad blood and misunderstanding between him and his men; to the extent that they blamed him for the incident and spoke of stoning him to death. 1st Samuel 30:6 says:

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

There are some lessons we can learn from this. The first thing we see here is that whenever you arise to fight the people of God, you lose your defence and you or your family may suffer for it. David was running from King Saul and he went to take up refuge with the Philistines, who were enemies of God (1st Samuel 27:1). When a battle ensued between Israel and the Philistines, he decided to team up with them to fight his own people (1st Samuel 29). Thank God he was sent back home by the Philistines who realised who he was. By the time he got back home, the covering over his family was blown, and his loved ones had been taken captive. Never team up with the enemy against the people of God! Whatever your justification might be, never fight anyone who is named after the Name of Christ, irrespective of how long he or she has been in the faith. You will blow your cover and endanger innocent lives. Certain things that should not be heard of are happening to believers today, because they are busy fighting one another. The second lesson here is they are busy fighting one another. The second lesson here is that even when he had not fight against his people, just because he had pitched his tent with the enemies of God, his family suffered for it. If you pitch your tent in Sodom, when the fire comes to destroy Sodom, it will equally engulf you. Check your life today! Are you fighting, speaking against or treading upon on any child of God? You are courting trouble! Have you partnered with unbelievers to torment, oppress, rob, deny, persecute or deal with a believer in Christ? Repent today, apologise and desist from such actions before they boomerang on you or your family.

KEY POINT:                                  
God strictly warns that His bona fide children must not be touched. Anyone who touches them will definitely pay dearly for it.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...
DATE : SATURDAY 11th JULY 2015
THEME : CONNECTING DESTINY HELPERS

Memorise:
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heavens and earth. Psalm 121:2

Read: 1st Samuel 10:3-4
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.

Message
God created us to be interdependent. This is why there are several parts in the human body, but all of them work towards the same goal. No man or woman is an island. For you to fulfil your destiny, there are certain people God has sent your way to help you. The degree of success you record and the pace or speed at which you move will depend to a large extent on your ability to meet your helpers and gain access to their help. On the road to his destiny in Egypt, Joseph was at a loss, wandering in a field while looking for his brothers. God sent him a helper who connected him to their location in Dothan. Genesis 37:15 says:
“And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?”
This is one thing that the anointing can do for you. It connects you with your destiny helpers and compels them to help you. After being anointed, Saul was told of certain men he would meet on his way, who would help him. One way the devil keeps people on the same spot for years is by preventing them from meeting their helpers. If this fails, he blindfolds them so that they do not recognise their helpers even after they meet them. Every plan to separate you from meeting with or recognising your helpers shall be destroyed in Jesus’ Name.
However, some people meet their helpers but never find favour before them. This also is one of the ways the enemy hinders people’s progress. But when you are anointed, your helpers will not only favour you, the anointing will compel them to help you. Saul and his father’s servant had exhausted their supplies while returning home; but on their way, they met three men loaded with provisions who offered them some even without being asked.
“And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.”
1st Samuel 10:4
Saul and his servant had no choice but to accept what was offered to them. The anointing covered their shame, so much so that even when they did not have, they did not have to beg. This season, the anointing will connect you with your destiny helpers and compel them to help you. Even before you express your need, the need would have been met. The anointing will cover your shame. By the anointing, all your helpers that have abandoned you shall locate you and help you in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer point:
Father, expose all my helpers to me and connect me to them.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 CHRONICLES 4:1-6:11 and LUKE 21:1-24
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

FRIDAY JULY 10 2015

THEME : PRAYER PROVOKES BLESSINGS

Memorise: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:8

READ: Luke 1:5-14

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

Bible in One Year:
2nd Chronicles 1-3 & Luke 20:19-47

MESSAGE:                                      
One great lesson from Jacob’s penile experience, documented in Genesis 32:24-32, is that prayer provokes blessing. A key part of this experience in Genesis 32:28-29 thus read:

“And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. and he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? and he blessed him there.”

After changing Jacob’s name to Israel, the Lord further blessed him. This tells us that having a new name is desirable, but securing a blessing that will empower the new name to achieve its prophetic meaning in the life of its recipient is even more preferable. Some people who once had negative names have changed them; this is good but don’t stop here. Ask that God will bless your new identity, so that your new name will speedily work for you and finally take you to your place of destiny.

Similarly, you will notice that a blessing was pronounced on Israel in the place of prayer, not at some other place. Blessings are attracted to you while you are praying. The blessings that manifest after your moments of concerted prayers were first delivered to you in the place of prayer. In Acts 12:1-17, it was while the children of God were taking turns to pray that freedom was delivered to Peter who had been incarcerated by the authorities. In addition, the gift of a baby boy, in the person of John the Baptist, was delivered to Zacharias while he and the people were praying in the temple. This gift manifested nine months later (Luke 1:65-66).

Effective prayer is like a collection basket for blessing. If you can pray, you will have a place where your required blessings will be dropped for you, but if you cannot pray, you can be certain that even when God decides to give you a particular blessing out of mercy, you will not have a receptacle to receive it. This is one reason why some blessings that are brought to people are returned to Heaven. Effective and sustained praying over an issue tells the heavenly hosts that you are truly prepared to receive what you are asking for. Prayer provides that landing platform for your miracles and blessings. You desire God to bless you; have you prepared the platform on which the answer to your request will be laid?

KEY POINT:                              
Prayer is a platform for collection, and only those who engage in it will reap its dividends.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. THURSDAY JULY 9 2015.

THEME : WONDERFUL MIRACLE.

  

MEMORISE : Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of
God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully
preached the gospel of Christ. ROMANS 15 : 19.
READ : EZEKIEL 37 : 1 – 10.
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the
LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very
many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O
Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye
dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to
enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you
with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am
the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise,
and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the
skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say
to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and
breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and
they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 CHRONICLES 28 : 9 – 29 : 30 AND LUKE 19 : 41 – 20 : 18.

MESSAGE
Miracles have a lesser degree of awesomeness when compared to wonders. Let
us closely look at examples of these. It is undeniable that the raising of the
dead through prayer is a great act of God. In 1 Kings 17 : 17 – 24, when the son
of the widow of Zarephath died and Elijah was informed; he prayed, paced up
and down, threw himself on the child about three times and the child came back
to life. This was a miracle no doubt; but when dead bones cause the dead to be
raised to life, it is a greater miracle. This happened in 2 Kings 13 : 20 – 21.
Someone died and was being conveyed to the burial site, but because the
mourners sighted a band of enemy soldiers heading in their direction, they
threw the corpse into a nearby grave. Coincidentally, that was where Elisha
had been buried. Elisha’s body had decayed, leaving only his bones behind. As
soon as the corpse touched his bones, the dead man came back to life and ran
after his fleeing relatives.
However, when you compare all these great miracles with Ezekiel’s experience
documented in today’s Bible reading, you will conclude that they are
incomparable in awesomeness. What Ezekiel experienced was a wonder. Ezekiel
was taken to a valley full of dry bones and God asked him if the bones could live
again. This man of God immediately realised he had come face to face with a
situation his faith could not handle. “Lord, this is beyond my faith. Only You
can tell”, he replied. God then said to him, “Don’t pray, don’t touch, just
prophesy to them and say, Dry bones, hear God’s word and come together,
every bone to its bone as it was originally”. Oh! That was easy to say, and he
said it as he was commanded, even though he knew it sounded far-fetched. How
can you ask dead, dry bones to hear? Oh yes, they can hear, though not your
words but God’s Word.
This is why you should not stop speaking the Word of God to dead situations,
people and things. They all have ears to hear God’s Word and they respond to it.
Meanwhile, as the dry bones began to move to form their original bone
structure, Ezekiel must have been saying, Wonderful! But God was not done
yet; He commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the wind. Now, this was a bit more
outlandish! At least the bones he could see, but the wind he could not see. He
however obeyed, and the wind began to blow. Breath came into the lifeless
entities that had been formed from the dry bones. In no time, a valley full of
dry bones was taken over by a strong and able army. Always use God’s Word to
call up what you want to see in the Name of Jesus Christ, and it will be so.

PRAYER POINT :
Father, in my life, family, workplace and ministry, make us recipients of your
wonders.
AUTHOR : Pst. E . A ADEBOYE.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. WEDNESDAY JULY 8 2015.

THEME : FAKE PROMISES & SCALES.

   

MEMORISE : Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike
abomination to the LORD. PROVERBS 20 : 10.

READ : PROVERBS 20 : 7 – 10.
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with
his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to
the LORD.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 CHRONICLES 26 : 1 – 28 : 8 AND LUKE 19 : 11 – 40.

MESSAGE
It is unfortunate that some people make promises and don’t bother to keep
them. This is one area that requires restitution.
Broken promises can stand against you in eternity. This is why you should not
make a promise you are not prepared to keep.
Politicians easily fall prey here. When they are campaigning for votes, they will
promise heaven and earth, but after their election, many of them fail to live up
to their promises. If you are a child of God and a politician, let people know the
difference between light and darkness by making sure you fulfil your promises.
One of the characters of a person who will enjoy the ever-abiding presence of
God and make heaven is keeping of promises. Psalm 15 : 1 & 4b says :
“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?….He
that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.”
There is a user of this devotional: you have made several promises to individuals
and even to the Church of God but failed to keep them. Your inability to fulfil
them is keeping back certain promises made to you from being fulfilled. If you
can repent and fulfil your pending promises, the door will be opened for
promises made to you to be fulfilled.
Closely allied to the issue of trustworthiness is the use of fake weights and
measures, especially in trading activities. Some people beat in their measuring
cups so that they can make more profit. That is fraudulent. Believers should
not manipulate their instruments, but measure accurately. Serve completely
and charge for it. Sell a full cup for the full amount and not 3/4 of a cup for
the full amount. You cannot be asking for God’s blessings and be doing what He
hates. Proverbs 11:1 says:
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.”
Just as individuals offend here, so also do governments and government
agencies. For instance, any government agency making people pay for services
not rendered is fraudulent and destroying itself. One way this happens is
through the use of fixed estimates by power companies. When a person’s
monthly consumption of energy is 200 units, why must such a person be
compelled to pay for 300 or more units? This is serious fraud. This also applies
to fuel (gas) stations. Some of them tamper with their meters so that instead
of the requested quantity being delivered, fewer litres are dispensed for the
same price. They believe people will not know, but what about God? In any way
you are delivering below what is expected of you or your organisation, repent
and return the difference to the owners before it is too late.

KEY POINT :
Whatever is not originally yours that you take from others by deceit can never
truly add to you.
AUTHOR : Pst. E . A ADEBOYE.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 7TH 2015
THEME: LOVE MUST BE RECIPROCATED

Memorise: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10

READ: John 15:9-10

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love: even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Bible in One Year:
1st Chronicles 23:25 & Luke 18:35-19:10

MESSAGE:                                        
God loves us so much that He gave us Himself as a gift. Giving Jesus Christ to die for us was the same as giving Himself to us (1st Timothy 3:16). But He did not stop there, He went further, pointing out to us in Romans 8:32 that:

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

However, love should be a two-way exchange, and not one-sided. If you love someone and your love is not being reciprocated, after a while, something will happen to that love. That love may grow cold or even die. The same applies to the relationship between God and us. If you check through the scriptures, you will learn that whenever God does something for someone, He expects them to do something in return. It is one thing to be loved and another thing to abide in that love. While you were in your sins, God demonstrated His love for you by sending Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, to die for you. When you respond to this divine initiative by repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you will be washed by His blood and forgiven. After this, God increases His love towards you, and when you reciprocate, that love increases.

Love begets greater love. If you want to sustain or increase the love that God has for you, reciprocate His love. In today’s reading, Jesus tells us that when He came to earth as a man, He was loved by the Father; but to sustain that love, He had to keep the Father’s commandments. What the Father expected of Jesus is what He expects of us today. There is no way you will continue in God’s love when you deliberately break His commandments or refuses to obey Him. If He has loved you, He expects you to love Him too. He expects your obedience. He also expects you to love other brethren. How have you reciprocated the love of the Lord? even though afflictions, persecutions, Satan, what we see and what we can’t see cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39), disobedience, manifested by violation of His word, can deal that love a terrible blow.

ACTION POINT:                              
List some things you have never done that you can start doing to reciprocate the love of God. Do them from today!

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Monday 6 July, 2015

THE PRICE MUST BE PAID

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Memorise: There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Joshua 1:5

READ: 2nd Kings 6:15-17

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Bible in One Year:
1st Chronicles 20:22 & Luke 18:9-34

MESSAGE:                                        
After God chose Joshua to succeed Moses, Joshua was afraid, as he wondered how he could ever fit into Moses’ big shoes. Therefore, God came to reassure him, calm his fears and promised to be with him. He said to him Joshua 1:5 that:

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, son I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Thereafter, he had a smooth ride in ministry until the day the children of Israel fled before Ai. Joshua felt disappointed that God had gone back on His promise, so he went back to God and asked Him

“Lord, I thought You said nobody would be able to withstand us. How come we are fleeing before a little city like Ai?” God replied “That is correct, but you are disconnected from me, and until you resittute and deal with the sin, I will not continue with you.”

If God will use you for great signs and wonders, you must be prepared to make instant restitution. God is about to do great exploits, but if you are not prepared to pay the price, you will be a spectator and not a key player. Have you stolen God’s money, particularly tithes, first fruits and offerings? Pay back immediately! Did your members contribute some money for a particular thing but you diverted it to something else? Restitute! Have you been looking at the wrong direction? Restitute by facing the direction God wants you to take.

There is a price to pay to be a minister or vessel of signs and wonders, one of which is a readiness to operate in by physical and spiritual realms simultaneously. When you pay this price, you will start seeing the invisible. You will not only see angels and the heavenly hosts like Elisha’s servant in today’s Bible reading, you might equally see demons. This should not scare you. When you can see demons, you will immediately see them in any demon-possessed individual brought to you, and when you cast them out, you will be able to know whether they have really gone or are just pretending to have done so. Asking demons how many they are inside their victim is of no use when the minister cannot see them. Even if there is just one of them, because You cannot see him, he can lie to you. How prepared are you to pay the price?

ACTION POINT:                        
If God’s promise to you is not being fulfilled exactly as He promised it, find out what you may be doing wrongly.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS

Sun 5 July
SATAN TARGET THE HOLY
Pst E.A.Adeboye
OPEN HEAVENS

Memorise: Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. Acts 12:1

READ: Acts 6:8-15

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Bible in One Year:
1st Chronicles 17:19 & Luke 17:20-18:8

MESSAGE:                                          
Holiness is very necessary for anyone who wants to fulfil destiny and make it to Heaven. Holiness also makes God to hide you in His bosom (Psalm 91:4). In other words, holiness provides a cover for the holy, whereas sin exposes the sinner. Sin exposes the one who commits it to shame, disgrace and pain, and it makes the sinner vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. When you combine holiness with being a vessel of honour, you become doubly precious to God. You become like a delicate egg in His hands. This is why Psalm 103:13-14 says God will treat such a vessel with lots of care, remembering how weak and fragile he or she is. From today, the Lord will treat you with special care. You will be special to God and He will hide you in His love in Jesus’ Name.

Moreover, as an instrument of honour, never rest on your oars. Whatever level you may be on presently, you have only started; you have not yet attained the heights that God is taking you to. If you think that you have already arrived with respect to Kingdom tasks, you may attract unwanted things to yourself. Note however that the more God uses you, the more you will be of interest to the kingdom of Satan. Satan never wants any believer in Christ to end up in Heaven; so he will do all he can to stop you. Take Peter for instance: he loved Jesus so much that he vowed never to deny Him. This he said in spite of what Jesus had foretold would happen (Matthew 26:34-35). Satan saw Peter as a vessel of honour in God’s hands and immediately marked him out as a target. He did everything possible to bring him down, but Jesus prayed for him and he overcome.

Similarly, Satan picked on another vessel of honour – Stephen. Stephen was holy, full of faith and full of Holy Spirit. He was also full of wisdom and was used to perform mighty signs and wonders in the early Church. Satan therefore stirred up serious opposition against Stephen, but he overcome them. When this failed, the enemies connived and brought false witnesses to lie against him. Satan never keeps to any rule of decency when he fights. He fights dirty. He kept working at it until he got Stephen killed (Acts 7:56-60). But unknown to him, when he thought he had won the battle, his chief vessel of persecution, Saul, was arrested by God and did even far greater works for God than Stephen did. In the end, the devil regretted his action. He wished he had left Stephen alone to have been spared the immense irrecoverable losses he got from his ex-loyal fanatic –Paul.

ACTION POINT:                          
Pray that every target of Satan in your local church be protected from falling.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE : SATURDAY 4th JULY 2015
THEME : THE ANOINTING SPEAKS

Memorise:
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and
ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing
teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as
it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1st John 2:27

Read: 1st Samuel 10:1-9
1 THEN Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and
kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed
thee to be captain over his inheritance?
2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two
men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and
they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are
found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and
sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come
to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going
up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another
carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of
wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread;
which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the
garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou
art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of
prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a
tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall
prophesy:
6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt
prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do
as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will
come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice
sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I
come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from
Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to
pass that day.

Message
The anointing creates the opportunity for you to be entrusted
with God’s heritage. This great responsibility requires that you
have divine information and guidance to carry out the assignment.
As stated in our memory verse, the anointing speaks to or teaches
the anointed, providing him with divine information. If you have
the anointing, it will speak to you; it will tell you the truth.
If you say you are anointed but you cannot hear from God, your
anointing is very much in doubt. Based on 1st John 2:20, one way
you can know that you are anointed is by the divine information
released to you. The more the anointing on your life, the more you
should have access to divine information (Number 12:6-8). To what
extent does then anointing speak to you?
What does the anointing teach? If you closely look at Saul’s
experience. You will learn that the anointing reveals future
events to the anointed. After Saul was anointed by Samuel, the
latter told him of a series of events that he was going to
experience sequentially, and they happened accordingly.
Do you know that God loves speaking to you? God is looking for
those He can share certain vital information with before they
occur. No wonder Amos 3:7 says,
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret
unto his servants the prophets.”
Any information that is only accessible by God is God’s secret. The
anointing makes God share His secrets with His anointed. Do you
hear God’s voice? How often does He speak to you? Does He
confide in you concerning future events that will affect you or
members of your family?
As we speak, there are some people who are acquainted with divine
information of events that will occur in some 2,3,5 or 10 years’
time. May the Lord anoint you afresh and open to you the door of
communication, granting you access to knowledge of events long
before they happen.
When you know what will happen in the future, you will be guided
on how to handle your today and tomorrow.

Prayer point:
Father, make me sensitive to Your voice. Help me never to mistake
Your voice for that of any other person.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 CHRONICLES 15:16 and LUKE 17:1-19
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 3rd JULY 2015

THEME: PRAYER CAN SUBDUE PEOPLE

MEMORISE: He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations
under our feet. Psalm 47:3

READ: GENESIS 32:6-12 & 33:4,
6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy
brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred
men with him.
7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the
people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the
camels, into two bands;
8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then
the other company which is left shall escape.
9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my
father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy
country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the
truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff
I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the
hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and
the mother with the children.
12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed
as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
33:4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his
neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

MESSAGE
When Jacob was told that his brother, Esau, who had sworn to kill
him, was coming to meet him with four hundred men, he was
justifiably afraid and distressed. However, he prayed to God for
deliverance, reminding Him of His covenant with his father.
Several things happened to Jacob as a result of this prayer. After
he prayed, God changed his name from Jacob to Israel (Genesis
32:28).
Prayer can rename a situation or an individual, and it can also
terminate the regime of an evil era induced by a bad name. When
prayer ends a bad name, there will no longer be any reason to call
the fellow by the former name.
God told Jacob “From today, nobody will call you that name again.”
As soon as He said it, every reproach the name had attached to him
was completely erased. Royalty took over from there.
From today, you shall no longer be called barren! You shall no
longer move around in circles. You shall no longer labour without
receiving a commensurate harvest. From today, sorrow, tears and
disappointment have ended in your life!
Beside this, prayer gave Jacob power with God and helped him
prevail over the anger of his brother.
To subdue impossible human beings, you need power with God. The
extent to which you can control men will be determined by the
power you have with God, because it’s God who subdues men under
you (Psalm 47:3).
Whenever you pray intensely from your heart, power is produced.
The power that prayer generates can be channelled towards
achieving any goal.
When you pray effectively concerning your business, the power to
succeed in it is released to you. If you are struggling in your
studies, you need to pray intensely, and the power to enable you
all that you should do to succeed in your academics will be released.
Acts 1:8 declares that when the Holy Spirit comes, power comes
with Him. When you pray in the Holy Ghost with your heart, power
comes. This power may come in the form of understanding difficult
subjects you are studying, wisdom to relate with subordinates in
such a manner that garners their support to enable you succeed in
your assignment or ministry, and so on.
Prayer also helps you to be victorious over men. Are people rising
up against you? Pray! As you pray, they will be subdued. Is anyone
threatening your life like Esau did to Jacob? Pray, and the Lord
will subdue them.

ACTION POINT:
One weapon every leader requires to keep the loyalty of their
subjects and subordinates is prayer. Pray that God will keep those
under you faithful to your righteous cause.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 CHRONICLES 12:14 and LUKE 16:14-31
AUTHOR: Pst E. A ADEBOYE