OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2020

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: THURSDAY 26TH NOVEMBER, 2020.

THEME:  CHOOSE YOUR KING WISELY.

MEMORISE:

“Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!” Ecclesiastes 10:16

READ: ECCLESIASTES 10:16-18 (KJV)

16. Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17. Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18. By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1 THESSALONIANS 1-5,

2 THESSALONIANS 1-3

MESSAGE:

As seen in our memory verse of today, if the king of a territory is a child, the whole land suffers the woe. In other words, you must choose your leaders very carefully.

Whenever you have the opportunity to elect a leader in your country or an association you belong to, learn to put sentiments aside and elect a mature and responsible person with a credible track record. 

Any single lady who has more than one suitor has a decision to make. She could choose based on looks, money or God’s will. 

If she chooses based on money and looks alone, she will face the music when the time comes. 

However, if she chooses God’s will, then she is on the path towards having a great marriage and a wonderful family.

Beloved sister, marriage is a lifetime commitment; imagine how terrible it would be to have an immature king for the rest of your life.

Older women who married immature men must have ignored the red flags they saw during courtship. 

Are you also ignoring the signs of immaturity and irresponsibility in that man courting you?

Proverbs 6:10-11 says:

“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man!” 

Run when you meet a man who is always sleeping when he should be working, or playing when he should be studying.

Before you decide on a local church to attend, watch the Pastor’s attitude closely. A Pastor could be anointed but immature. 

These ones could be likened to babies handling guns; so much power in immature hands. 

Elisha was like that when he first received the anointing in (2 Kings 2:23-24).

Forty-two children lost their lives in a single day because he got angry when they began to call him names. 

After that day, Elisha learnt to be mature and was always in control of his temper.

An immature leader whether spiritual or in the secular world is dangerous. Choose your leaders wisely.

PRAYER POINT: 

Father, please give me the gift of discernment so I may please You with my choices.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2020

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: TUESDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2020 

THEME: LEARN FROM THE FALL OF SAMSON II

MEMORISE:

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” – (Matthew 5:28)

READ: JAMES 1:12-16 (KJV)

12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man;

14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

GALATIANS 4-6

MESSAGE:

Every temptation that a fellow yields to will lead to a bigger one. This is why many people are deep in sins they once vowed never to commit. 

The fall happens slowly until the fellow is completely submerged in sin.

The devil lures believers into sin so as to destroy them. This is his goal. To achieve this, he comes in subtle ways first, with thoughts and seemingly harmless sins, focusing on the heart. 

He knows that if the heart can fall, it is only a matter of time before the body falls too. Proverbs 14:14 says:

“The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways…”

Your spiritual destiny would be determined by your decision to either accommodate or expel the subtle suggestions of the devil. 

When you start thinking of being in bed with a woman who is not your wife or you start spending money that is not your own, that is the devil trying to get you to fall, using your heart first.

The devil could also try to cut you away from the people who helped you grow in the faith. 

When you consider the story of Samson, you will discover that he spent most of his time outside Israel. 

If the devil can successfully separate you from people who helped you grow spiritually, and your prayer life begins to wax cold; before long, you would stop studying your Bible and start permitting sin in your life. 

This is why you must never forsake the fellowship of the brethren (Hebrews 10:25, Proverbs 27:17).

You may have yielded to temptation in the past, the good news is that restoration is possible. 

Though Samson fell, he was restored to the Lord before his death; so much so that he was listed among the fathers of faith in Hebrews 11. Proverbs 28:13 says:

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

If you would confess your sins, forsake them and rededicate your life (for backsliders), God is willing to accept you.

ACTION POINT:

Check your life. Are you yielding to the lure of the devil already? God is able to restore you if only you would ask Him for help.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SUNDAY 22ND NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2020 

THEME: GOD'S DIRECTION: HOW SENSIBLE?

MEMORISE:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” – (Isaiah 55:8)

READ: JUDGES 7:1-15 (KJV)

1. Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod; so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

2. And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

3. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

4. And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there; and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

5. So he brought down the people unto the water; and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

6. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men; but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

7. And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand; and let all the other people go every man unto his place. I

8. So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men; and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

9. And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.

10. But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host

11. And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host

12. And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.

13. And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.

14. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

15. And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

ACTS 15-16

MESSAGE:

God’s directions may not always make sense to us, because as humans, we are too short- sighted to see what He does and too dull to think as He (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Gideon experienced the seeming illogicality of Gods directions firsthand. He thought he had been mistaken for someone else when the angel of God called him a man of valour. 

Gideon was cowardly but God had decided to use him to lead His people to victory over their enemy. 

Even when Gideon eventually accepted to lead the Israelites in battle, God still went ahead to prune his army of thirty-two thousand soldiers (32,000) down to just three hundred (300)! Three hundred men against an army!

Although it looked like an impossible mission, at the end of the day, Gideon was victorious. 

No matter how unreasonable an instruction from God may be, as long as it is from Him, it will surely end in victory. Isaiah 30:21 says:

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

We were preparing for a crusade in Benin many years ago. Everything had been set when I thought to talk to God about it. He told me we should go to Ede instead. 

We had just concluded a crusade in Ilesha (very close to Ede), and so I felt that anyone who wanted to come from Ede should have been at that crusade. 

However, since I have learnt never to disobey God, I told my people “God said we are going to Ede.” 

We went to Ede and when it was time for the monarch of the town to greet the people during the crusade, he said he did not have money, but offered us land in any quantity we desired. 

After the crusade, I called my people together and we decided to ask for fifty acres of land. That seemed like a lot, but when I went back to ask God, He said we should ask for five hundred hectares. 

This did not make any sense at all because the developed part of Ede was not that large, but I asked anyway. 

We got the land and today, the Mission School of the RCCG as well as the Redeemers University are sited on that land.

KEY POINT:

Even if His instruction does not make sense, just trust Him and obey.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR 21ST NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER, 2020.

THEME: SEEK GOD’S DIRECTION ALWAYS.

MEMORISE:

“And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” 1 Samuel 30:8

READ: 2 SAMUEL 5:17-25 (KJV)

17. But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

18. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19. And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up; for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

20. And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

21. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

22. And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23. And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

24. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

25. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

JAMES 1-5

MESSAGE:

Many times, there are things that make common sense to us and we just want to go ahead and do them without asking God if we should or not. 

Let us learn from David, a man who we find seeking Gods face for direction a lot of times in the Bible.

In (1 Samuel 30:1-8), David had just returned from battle to find out that his people had been attacked. 

All their belongings along with their wives and children had been taken by the enemy. His soldiers who had lost everything they lived for were considering stoning him to death, but in the middle of all these, David took time to ask God if he should pursue the attackers.

In (2 Samuel 5:17-25), David asked God how he should attack the Philistines in war and God gave him a strategy that worked. After that, he was to face them in battle again and everything looked exactly like the previous one. 

David still went back to ask God what to do. You must never assume that you know what to do at any point in time.

Proverbs 3:5 says:

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

Still learning from David, there were also times when he failed to seek Gods guidance before taking decisions and the results were woeful. 

A classic example is the census of Israel the devil made him conduct (1 Chronicles 21) which brought God’s wrath upon the nation.

No matter how brilliant you are in your field of practice, always lean on God for what to do and what not to do. Many people have made great mistakes that are still hurting them because they thought they were making the right move based on their professional assessments.

When you get your salary at the end of the month, do you ask God what you should use the money for? When you are going out in the morning, do you ask Him what route to take? When you are about to have a business meeting or presentation, do you ask God for the right approach?

There is a lot to gain from always asking God for advice. If you want to win in every area of your life, ask God for what to do per time.

KEY POINT:

Never assume that you know what to do; always ask God for direction.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR 20TH NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 20TH NOVEMBER 2020 

TOPIC: THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

MEMORISE:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” – (Romans 1:16)

READ: ACTS 2:14-42 (KJV)

14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words;

15. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy;

19. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke;

20. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come;

21. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

22. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know;

23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain;

24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

25. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved;

26. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope;

27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

29. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

30. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

34. For David is not ascended into the heavens; but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

35. Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

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

38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

ACTS 13-14

MESSAGE:

The world today is full of sorrow, pain and agony. More people are going into depression nowadays. 

Suicide rates have gone up, there are wars and rumours of wars, fights and even more violence. 

The only people living peacefully are those who are connected with the Prince of Peace, those who have Christ living in them. 

When a person becomes born again, the first thing he/she experiences is peace. Believe me, the gospel of Christ is the only way out of all the chaos in this world. 

If you have not yet embraced the gospel of Christ, I would advise that you do so right away so that you can begin to live a peaceful and joyful life.

If you already know Christ and you don’t share His gospel with people around you, then it is clear that you don’t love them. 

The Gospel of Christ is good news to the broken-hearted, joy to the depressed, strength to the weary and life to the dying (Luke 4:18). Don’t keep it to yourself, share it with the world. 

Jesus wants to save, heal and deliver them, but He needs you to introduce Him. 

Whenever I hear about someone who committed suicide or did something terrible because they were experiencing depression, I hurt deeply within me. 

I always wish I had the opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with them before the issue got out of hand. Some of them are with you in the office, your neighbourhood and there are no restrictions in your meeting with them.

Sharing the gospel of Christ goes beyond just words, it also involves your actions. 

It entails how you smile when you see them, asking about their wellbeing, caring for them genuinely as Christ cares for us. Don’t just preach the gospel, show love to them practically. James 2:15-16 says:

“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”

Are you sharing the gospel of Christ to the brokenhearted?

ACTION POINT:

Share the gospel of Christ with someone this weekend.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY 19TH NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: THURSDAY 19TH NOVEMBER, 2020.

THEME: HEALING FOR GOD’S CHILDREN.

MEMORISE:

And said, 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.” Exodus 15:26

READ: PSALMS 103:2-3 (KJV)

2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits;

3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

ACTS 11-12

MESSAGE:

Are you aware that it is possible for you, your friends and family members never to fall sick again? Yes, it is. 

For over forty years, the Lord has been my healer and He can be yours too.

According to today’s memory verse, anyone who lives holy will become so dear to God that He will ensure they are never ill again.

Read more: https://www.rccgonline.blogspot.com/2020/11/open-heaven-daily-devotional-for_17.html

Imagine being free from all pains that sickness brings, imagine never having to spend on hospital bills ever again. God says it is possible if you begin to live holy and have faith in His healing powers.

The Gospels give numerous accounts of how Jesus healed people of different infirmities and illnesses including blindness, deafness, leprosy, seizures and paralysis. He even raised dead people to life! Matthew 8:16 says:

“When the evening 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.”

Notice the word all in the above Bible verse. He has the power to heal any sickness. The only thing that can stop you from having divine health is sin. 

Beloved, I encourage you to run away from sin like you would from a plague.

“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14

Jesus’ advice to the man at the pool of Bethesda is quite instructive. We can conclude that if he had been living a holy life before, he wouldn’t have had to waste thirty-eight years of his life in the pain and discomfort of sickness.

It is very likely that after hearing Jesus warning, he would have avoided sin every way he could.

However, he had already wasted thirty-eight years of his life which could not be recovered. You don’t have to waste any period of your life nursing a sickness; Jesus has made you an offer: avoid sin from today and begin to live in divine health.

KEY POINT:

Sickness, more often than not is a by-product of sin.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR WEDNESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: WEDNESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2020

THEME: UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURE

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.” – (1 John 2:27)

READ: 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13, 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 (KJV)

1 THESSALONIANS 2:13

13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 TIMOTHY 2:15

15. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

ACTS 9-10

MESSAGE:

The Bible, though written in plain English (or your native language) is still difficult for some people to understand. 

This is because the letters do not carry the message; it is the Spirit of God that does. (2 Corinthians 3:6) says:

“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

You cannot understand the Scriptures without the help of the Holy Spirit, this is why many unbelievers keep misinterpreting it with some even calling it foolishness. (1 Corinthians 2:14) says:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

When you pick your Bible to read, first pray, asking that the Holy Spirit gives you understanding. 

You have to be sensitive to the Spirit also, because He could be leading you to read a particular passage from where He wants to speak to you that day. 

People vary in the depth of revelations they receive from the word of God and this is because of their varying levels of infilling by the Holy Spirit. 

The more of the Holy Spirit you carry, the deeper the revelations you will get from the word of God.

You must also note that the word of God is new every time you read it. Never approach any Scripture with familiarity. 

Many a-times, I read passages of the Bible that I had been reading for several years and the Holy Spirit interprets it to me in a completely different light. 

The reason preachers are able to come up with new messages every day despite using the same version of the Bible for centuries is simply because the word of God is never old.

I pray that God will expose the mysteries of His word to you every time you read it in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:

Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding every time you read your Bible.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: TUESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2020 

THEME: UNEQUALLY YOKED

MEMORISE:

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

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 6:13-18 (KJV)

13. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

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

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

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

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

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

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

ACTS 7-8

MESSAGE:

Who you associate with is a great determinant of whether God will be silent over your matter or if He will act on your behalf. 

In Genesis 12:1, God told Abraham to leave his father’s house and go to a land He would show him. Unfortunately, Lot Abrahams nephew, went with him. 

Lot being with Abraham hindered God from delivering the promise to him, but the moment Lot was separated from him, God remembered His promise.

“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” – (Genesis 13:14-15)

Thank God for His mercy that caused Abraham and Lots men to fight so that Lot could be separated from him (Genesis 13:1-18). 

I pray for you today: God will separate from you any friend or associate hindering Him from fulfilling His promise to you, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Joshua was experiencing victory upon victory until one day when he faced a small army that defeated him. That day, he had to investigate what made him fail and then he found out that there was a bad egg in his company Achan. 

After getting rid of Achan, the victories resumed (Joshua 7:1-28  & Joshua 8:1-35 ). The Almighty God who I serve will reveal to you any Achan in your family, company or Church in the mighty name of Jesus.

God wants to help some people, but He would not because of their friends and associates. 

It is either the person’s sins make it difficult for God to be involved in whatever the fellow is involved in or He knows that if He gives you what He wants to, with that fellow still in your life, it would result in more harm than good. 

Who are your friends? Who are your business partners? Who are you planning to get married to? Who is squatting with you in your house? You need to choose these people with care. 

If you choose a business partner who mutters incantations when you are praying, that project is not likely to go well because a house divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:25).

ACTION POINT:

Prayerfully review the kind of people you associate with from today.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY NOVEMBER 16TH, 2020

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: MONDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2020  

THEME: VICTORY THROUGH PRAISE

MEMORISE:

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” – (Psalms 34:1)

READ: 2 CHRONICLES 20:17-22 (KJV)

17. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them; for the LORD will be with you.

18. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

19. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

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

21. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

22. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

ACTS 4-6

MESSAGE:

Living a life of praise is not only the most enjoyable way to live, it’s also one of the most powerful ways to change your life. 

Praise isn’t what you do only after a miracle has happened; it is what actually makes the miracle happen.

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” – (2 Chronicles 20:22)

From the passage above, we see that it was when they began to sing and praise that the Lord moved. 

If you are waiting for God to do a miracle before you start praising Him, you have got it all wrong. 

It is when you praise Him that the miracle will happen. It is by faith that you get miracles; the evidence that you truly have faith in God is in your praising Him even before the miracle happens.

Can you praise God in the face of danger? Can you praise Him when all seems not to be well and you are feeling down? 

You see, that is exactly the best time to praise Him. It is when you praise Him in that situation that He will minister strength to you. 

Staying down and closing your mouth is exactly what the devil needs for him to keep you in that situation. 

He knows that the moment you start praising God, the game has changed in your favour. 

Since God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3), your praise will bring Him into that situation and the devil will be defeated.

My beloved, it doesn’t matter how you feel at any point in time, don’t let the devil take the praise of God away from your lips. 

When the devil comes with his trouble, don’t face him; he is too small to get your attention. 

Face the living God and give Him the best praise. Go to a quiet place and shout the praise of God loud and clear so that the devil will tremble. 

What you will realise is that, just as God did for the people of Judah, He will move on your behalf when you begin to sing and praise Him. Halleluyah!

KEY POINT:

Praise God always, even when you are feeling down.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SUNDAY 15TH NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: SUNDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2020 

THEME: MIND WHAT YOU EAT

MEMORISE:

“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.”- (Proverbs 23:20)

READ: PROVERBS 23:1-3, 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 (KJV)

PROVERBS 23:1-3

1. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee;

2. And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

3. Be not desirous of his dainties; for they are deceitful meat.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:31

31. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

ACTS 1-3

MESSAGE:

I have often heard people say that you are what you eat. This is a wise saying because what you eat can affect who you are – both physically and spiritually. 

If you eat food that makes your body weak such that you are always lethargic and cannot pray or study your Bible for long hours, your spiritual strength will be low. 

If on the other hand, you eat organic and healthy food, not only will your body be strong, you will also soar spiritually because you can spend long hours praying and studying your Bible.

It may interest you to know that the devil also uses food to recruit people into secret societies. 

That is why it is not expedient to eat at every occasion you attend. 

Before you eat anything that is offered to you, whether in public or in private, make sure you pray on it first and ask God for permission. John 6:11 says:

“And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”

One day while I was preaching, I saw a woman dash out of the hall and some ushers ran after her. 

She then was brought to me after the service. She said while I was preaching, her clothes caught fire so she had to run out. 

Many years before that incident, she had gone to see a white-garment prophet because she had been losing all her children. 

Eventually, she met the prophet’s wife who, upon hearing the woman’s problems, gave her a kolanut to eat. 

From that night, she started finding herself in meetings whenever she slept at night, eating human meat with some other people. 

Eventually, it was her turn to provide the meat and she was asked to submit her children – the same ones whose lives she was trying to protect in the first place. 

We prayed a simple prayer that day and when she got home, she excreted a dead snake. Thus, God rescued her from the deadly kolanut.

Mind what you eat and drink.

KEY POINT:

Pray before you eat, drink or even take a snack. Mind what you eat.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER, 2020.

THEME: HOLD NO GRUDGES

MEMORISE: 

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” Matthew 6:14

TEXT: MATTHEW 18:23-35 (KJV)

23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be mad

26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence; and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30. And he would not; but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me;

33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?

34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

LUKE 24,

JOHN 20-21

MESSAGE: 

A person holding grudges can be likened to one consuming poison yet expecting another fellow to die in his/her stead. 

When you hold a grudge against someone, you are killing yourself gradually. When you refuse to forgive someone who wronged you, you have only opened the door to hurt and more hurt.

While the fellow on the other hand may be living his/her life in peace, you keep hurting each time you see or remember him/her. 

Many people have died of hypertension because they refused to forgive someone who offended them. It is for your own good that you forgive that fellow who offended you. Don’t give anyone a license to keep hurting you; let it go.

From our Bible reading and memory verse of today, it is evident that whenever someone is holding a grudge against another, God will bypass the offender and refuse to forgive the one holding the grudge. 

Imagine going to hell just because you refused to forgive someone who offended you, only for that fellow to repent and end up in Heaven.

Luke 6:37 tells us that if you condemn someone, God will condemn you too. 

James 2:12-13 says:

“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgement without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgement.”

God will neither answer the prayer nor accept the gift of anyone living in unforgiveness because the sacrifice of a sinner is an abomination to Him (Proverbs 15:8). 

God wants you to forgive everyone who has offended you, because only then would you obtain mercy from Him.

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Mark 11:25

ACTION POINT:

Forgive anyone who has offended you today, then pray for them, blessing them also as you do.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER, 2020.

THEME: SPARE THE ROD, SPOIL THE CHILD.

MEMORISE:

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15

READ: PROVERBS 23:12-14 (KJV)

12. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

13. Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

14. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

MATTHEW 28,

MARK 16

MESSAGE:

In the school I attended in my village, there were children from both affluent and poor homes. 

One day, a child from an affluent home committed a misdemeanour, and a teacher meted out corporal punishment to him.

This was an approved medium of discipline in the school but the boy reported to his father who came to school the next day and beat up our teacher. 

Our teacher reported the assault to the local police, however the rich man had been there earlier to bribe them, so the police did not act on the report.

Our teacher, frustrated and deeply aggrieved, returned and divided the class into two. He put the children of the rich on one side and the rest of us on the other side. 

He vowed never to flog the children from rich homes again, but would continue to do so to those of us from poor homes.

Today, only a few among the children that were not flogged have amounted to something in life. 

If you love your children, you would not spare the rod when they err. 

Eli’s children grew to become wayward and God held him accountable for not being firm enough with them (1 Samuel 2:29-34).

Conversely, God did not hesitate to bless Abraham because He was confident that the patriarch would command his children and household to keep His laws (Genesis 18:17-19). 

The second law of thermodynamics says everything left to itself tends to disorder. 

In the same vein, any child not strictly cautioned to behave properly will ultimately become spoilt.

I know using the rod on children is now considered child abuse in this generation, however you must know that there is a difference between correcting a child in love and abusing a child.

“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”Proverbs 13:24

The rod is not just the cane, it connotes firm correction when children err. 

You cannot be permissive with a child all the time and expect him/her to grow up with good morals.

God expects you to compel your children and entire household to serve Him (Genesis 18:19). Don’t spare the rod.

REFLECTION:

God expects you to command your children and household to uphold his statutes, as Abraham did.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY 12TH NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: THURSDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 2020

 

TOPIC: ACTIONS OVERSHADOW WORDS

MEMORISE: 

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” – John 13:15

READ: JOHN 13:12-15 (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.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

LUKE 23, 

JOHN 18-19

MESSAGE: 

Many parents complain that their children do not obey them. Most times however, the parents are to blame. 

Children can see and hear more than we know; they absorb all information from their homes both consciously and subconsciously.

When there is a difference between the words and actions of a parent, the children become confused and will most likely follow the actions of their parents since ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. 

The best way to teach children is by example. Lead the way and they will follow. 

I recall an instance when my children were small. We had a visitor who came with his child. One of my sons went into my room, wore my tie and came out to meet the little boy. 

He laid his hand on the boys head and said Fall down. We all laughed, but I never forgot the lesson. 

The boy had observed that whenever I laid my hands on people they would fall, but even beyond that, he noted that I always had my tie on when doing so.

What attention to detail! That is how detailed children are in their observations. 

Hence, you must deliberately set the right examples. 

Paul, in Philippians 4:9 said: 

“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

A father who cannot get his eyes off ladies will raise a promiscuous boy. A mother who constantly gossips will raise a gossiper.

Start being the right examples to your children from now. 

You want them to read their Bibles and pray daily? Do the same. 

If you want your child to be kind to others, be kind too. 

When little children always see their parents punching away at their phones and hardly ever see them with books, it will take God’s grace for the children to enjoy reading.

Be deliberate about your actions, bearing in mind that your children can see everything you are doing, and they will also follow the same path. Set a worthy example; do the right things always.

KEY POINT: 

Showing an example is a thousand times more effective than verbal teaching.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER, 2020

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2020

TOPIC: CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP 4

MEMORISE: 

“I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1-11 (KJV)

1. Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 

2. If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 

4. Have we not power to eat and to drink? 

5. Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 

6. Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 

7. Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 

8. Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 

9. For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 

10. Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 

11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Matthew 27, 

Mark 15

MESSAGE: 

I have observed that when some people say they want a coach and/or mentor, what they are actually seeking is a sponsor. Your coach and/or mentor is not under any obligation to finance you. 

If anything, you should be the one gifting him/her, taking his/her children out for a fun day, making yourself available to help in any way you can and so on.

You need their wealth of experience. Your relationship with your coach and mentor should not be parasitic but symbiotic – as he/she gives to you, you should also give back to him/her. 

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:11 

“If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”

It is your responsibility to make your coach and mentor proud. 

Many times, I have had to answer for the actions of my children-in-the-Lord, whether I was aware or not. It would be unfair to your coach and mentor if you misbehave, because it could bring about a bad public image for him/her.

Finally, even if you become richer, greater and more popular than your coach and mentor, you must remain completely submissive to them. 

Jesus said the disciple cannot be greater than the master (Matthew 10:24). If that is the fellow that God has paired you with for discipleship, no matter what they do, you must remain submissive in line with the word of God, until their death.

David became more famous than Saul, but he never lost his respect for him, not even when Saul was trying to kill him. 

Samuel was the one whom God sent to tell Eli about how he would fall, but Samuel never felt that because he had been chosen to replace him, the old prophet was now to be ignored (1 Samuel 3:9-21).

Never dishonour your discipler. God would not have anyone disrespect His chosen vessels (Psalms 105:14-15 ) no matter how little and inconsequential you may consider the action. Learn from the mistake of Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 12:1-15).

Yes, Jesus wants us to perform greater works than He did, but that cannot make us greater than He. Never forget: a disciple may achieve greater feats than his master, but cannot be greater than he (Matthew 10:24).

KEY POINT: 

Do you have a parasitic or symbiotic relationship with your coach and/or mentor?