Open Heavens 31 May 2015: Sunday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – It Is for Your Good

Open Heavens 31 May 2015: Sunday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – It Is for Your Good

Memorise: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28

Read: Genesis 50:15-21 (KJV)

15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Bible in One Year: 1 King 2, Luke 1:26-56

MESSAGE:

From the beginning, the devil’s modus operandi has been to sow the seeds of doubt in the heart of mankind with regards to the plan and intentions of God for them. For example, while God’s reason for restraining Adam and Eve from eating the forbidden fruit was to keep them alive, healthy and prosperous, the devil came and told them that God did so because He did not have their good at heart (Genesis 3:4-5). It was this type of doubt that the devil sowed in the heart of Joseph’s brothers after the demise of their father. Thank God Joseph was a man who knew the mind of God; He quickly quenched their doubts. For us His children today, God has revealed His plans and intentions for us in Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

This is not an after-thought; rather, this has always been God’s intention for us from the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:26). It is therefore a sin to doubt the good in God’s motives when He directs us to do something or live in a particular way that is contrary to what the devil or the world expects.

Because Joseph knew the mind of God concerning all that happened to him, he rejected hero-worship from his brothers and allayed their fears. He comforted them by making them understand that their negative actions towards him were used by God to fulfil His eternal good purpose in his life. Genesis 50:19-20 says:

“And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

In other words, Joseph was saying to his brothers that it was not they but God who sent him to Egypt for a clearly defined purpose. Paul corroborates this truth in our memory verse.

The Lord is saying to you that you should stop complaining about what is happening to you now; it is for your good. Things will work out for your good if you continue to love God even in that so-called unpleasant situation, which has a divine purpose attached to it. Once again I say to you: it is for your good, and you will soon know why.

Prayer Point: Father, according to your word, let all things work together for my good from today in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 30 May 2015: Saturday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – A Conscience Void of Offence

Open Heavens 30 May 2015: Saturday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – A Conscience Void of Offence

Memorise: And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. - Acts 24:16

Read: Romans 14:16-21 (KJV)

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

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

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

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

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

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

Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 1, Luke 1:1-25

MESSAGE:

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 29 May 2015: Friday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – What Has Your Affection?

Open Heavens 29 May 2015: Friday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – What Has Your Affection?

Topic: What Has Your Affection? [Friday May 29, 2015]

Memorise: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. - Colossians 3:2.

Read: Colossians 3:1-6 (KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 23-24, Mark 15:33-16:8

MESSAGE:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer Point: Sweet Holy Spirit, fill my heart with love for the things of heaven in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 28 May 2015: Thursday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Caring for the Needy

Open Heavens 28 May 2015: Thursday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Caring for the Needy

Memorise: For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. - Deuteronomy 15:11

Read: Matthew 25:34-40 (KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 21-22, Mark 15:6-32

MESSAGE:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. WEDNESDAY 27 MAY 2015. THEME : THE PRICE OF BEING A STANDARD.

MEMORISE : Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 2
CORINTHIANS 6 : 17.

READ : 2 CORINTHIANS 6 : 14 – 18.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship
hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple
of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith
the Lord Almighty.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 SAMUEL 19 : 16 – 20 : 26 AND MARK 14 : 53 – 15 : 5.

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

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

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

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

AUTHOR : Pst. E . A ADEBOYE.

Open Heavens 26 May 2015: Tuesday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Dress to be Addressed

Open Heavens 26 May 2015: Tuesday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Dress to be Addressed

Memorise: And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. -Exodus 2:19

Read: Exodus 2:16-20 (KJV)

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon today?

19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 18:1-19:15, Mark 14:32-52

MESSAGE:

Many of today’s Christians don’t pay attention to their physical appearance. They have overstretched the fact that physical appearance may be deceptive at times.

Although the Bible confirms this to be true in Proverbs 31:30, it is also true that what you show on the outside is a reflection of who you are on the inside. In my culture, there are two sayings of the elders which appear to contradict, each other, but which contain eternal truths that cannot be wished away. The first one says: “The way you appear determines the level of respect people will accord you.” In other words, if you dress like a slave, you will be treated like a slave.

The other saying is: “A gorgeous dress does not guarantee nobility. “That is to say, a slave can dress like a king but this does not make him a king.

The experience of Moses when he fled to Midian confirms the truth that a person is more often than not addressed based on the way he or she is dressed.

Moses was not an Egyptian; he was Hebrew, but he was called an Egyptian by the daughter of the priest of Midian. Why did they call him an Egyptian? It's most certainly because of his general appearance. The lesson we should learn from this story as Christians is that we should allow what is inside us to reflect on the outside. For instance, if you are actually saved from sexual immorality, your manner of dressing must not promote it.

Many years ago, some foreign teachers came to teach in our Bible College, and they taught our students that how they dressed did not matter, rather, it was that which was inside of them that was important. To correct this wrong teaching, I went to the nearby market to buy two similar oranges. The only difference between them was the fact that one was yellow while the other was green. I took the oranges to the class, showed them to the students and asked: “Given an option to choose, which one would you choose out of these two oranges?” they chose the yellow orange because according to them, the yellow one would be sweeter. Then I further asked how they arrived at this conclusion, since they had not even cut them open. They replied, “The outside appearance shows what is inside.” That drove home the message.

When you dress in a way that people begin to wonder whether you know the difference between the “public” and the “private” parts of your body, then you need to learn Christian dressing ethics. Christians should allow the Holy Spirit to guide them on their physical comportment as becoming of saints. Others may dress inappropriately, but children of God cannot.

Action Point: Look into your wardrobe, bring out any attire that promotes lust and sexual provocation and get rid of them. Let your wardrobe be born-again.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 25 May 2015: Monday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – You Are God's Sanctuary

Monday, 25 May 2015

Open Heavens 25 May 2015: Monday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – You Are God's Sanctuary

Memorise: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? -1 Corinthians 6:19

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 16-17, Mark 14:10-31

MESSAGE:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 24 May 2015: Sunday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Are You Ready?

Open Heavens 24 May 2015: Sunday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Are You Ready?

Memorise: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV)

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

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

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

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

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

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 14-15, Mark 13:24-14:9

MESSAGE:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, 

Open Heavens 23 May 2015: Saturday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Don’t Be Careless

Open Heavens 23 May 2015: Saturday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Don’t Be Careless

Memorise: Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. -Matthew 24:42

Read: Matthew 24:37-44 (KJV)

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 12:24-13:39, Mark 13:3-23

MESSAGE:

While some commandments of God are very glaring, some others appear in covert mode, such that many don’t even see them as commandments. One of such subtle commandments is the commandment to “watch” (Matthew 24:42). This commandment can also be expressed this way: don’t be careless. It is unfortunate that many children of God today are careless about their Christian life, and by so doing, they have shipwrecked their faith. They live their lives as if they have nothing to lose to the enemy. Such Christians need to be reminded that they have at least one crown to protect – the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8).

The Lord in Revelation 3:11 says this to us:

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

Our Lord Jesus Christ expressly commanded us to watch. Have you pondered on why He gave us this command? It is because He knew He would not be coming back as quickly as we would expect, and that there would therefore be the tendency for us to become careless with respect to our readiness for His return.

We are all living witnesses of the spiritual decadence that is enveloping the Church today. The Lord used the experience of Noah’s period to warn us that His coming will be sudden. He said it will be business as usual for most people at this time, and they will have no inkling whatsoever of what is about to happen (Matthew 24:37-39).

When I see Christian brothers and sisters being careless about holiness, I begin to wonder whether they still believe the words of the scriptures, particularly those that came directly from the mouth of our Lord Himself. Different scriptures are being fulfilled in our time more than ever before, and so many seem not to bother!

In the early days of spiritual awakening, some Christians would not even want to marry in order to avoid the cares of this life. But these days, even some pastors are changing two, three or four women in rapid succession. It used to be that Christians dressed for the purpose of covering their nakedness, but today, we dress for “fashion”. Some Christian women even compete with call girls in their mode of dressing. This scenario playing itself out may be as a result of the “delay” in the return of our Lord. Yet, the scripture has already warned us against this in Matthew 24:43-44:

“But know this, that if the Goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Prayer Point: Dear Holy Spirit, as promised by the Lord Jesus, always bring to my remembrance the need to watch and not be careless in the area of my readiness for the Lord’s return.

Open Heavens Daily Devotionalwritten by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 22 May 2015: Friday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Power of Sight II

Open Heavens 22 May 2015: Friday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Power of Sight II

Memorise: By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; -Hebrews 11:24

Read: Genesis 13:14-18 (KJV)

14 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:

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Bible in one Year: Samuel 11:1-12:23, Mark 12:28-13:2

MESSAGE:

The power of spiritual sight is apparent in anyone who has it. Such a person can see into the future and therefore does not exercise any form of fear. We can see these attributes manifested in Elisha in 2 Kings 6:11-18. Elisha’s servant could not see what his master saw, and so he was afraid of the human army attempting to arrest them; but read what happens in 2 Kings 6:17

“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 around about Elisha.”

People often ask me why I don’t go about with police escorts like many great men of God do. My answer is simple: it is great men who need human protection, and if only God would open the eyes of those who are so concerned about my safety, they would see that those who are with me are more than those with the enemies who would want to attack me.

What really kept Abraham going in his journey of faith was the power of what he was seeing. God, in several instances used audiovisual aids to build up his faith (Genesis 13:14-17, Genesis 15:5-6). What God showed Abraham was so convincing that he stopped worrying about his state of childlessness until the child of promise came.

Moses also was endowed with the power of sight; he saw into the future of the Hebrew while they were still in bondage (Hebrews 11:24-26). He saw that someday these people would be set free, while their tormentors would be in agony. He therefore preferred the temporary shame of identifying with the people of God, to the enjoyment of temporary bliss that would lead to eternal damnation. This quality qualified Moses to lead the people of God. He who sees what others can’t see will ultimately lead the rest. I pray that whatever is blocking your vision will be removed today in Jesus’ Name. A man with the power of sight will often act reasonably well. For example, after King Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth man in the fiery furnace, his perception changed (Daniel 3:23-30). May the Lord open your eyes to see the pleasant surprises that God has in store for you, so that you don’t backslide before the time of your divine visitation.

Prayer Point: Father, please grant me the grace to remain committed to my future, and strengthen me to do all that is required of me to attain the glorious future.

Open Heavens Daily Devotionalwritten by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 21 May 2015: Thursday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Power of Sight I

Open Heavens 21 May 2015: Thursday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Power of Sight I

Memorise: Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. -Proverbs 29:18

Read: John 9:1-7 (KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible in one Year: 2 Samuel 7:18-10:19, Mark 12:13-27

MESSAGE:

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

“The light of the body is the eye.”

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heavens Daily Devotionalwritten by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 20 May 2015: Wednesday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Turning Point IV

Open Heavens 20 May 2015: Wednesday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Turning Point IV

Memorise: He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. -Ecclesiastes 5:10

Read: 2 Kings 5:15-20 (KJV)

15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

16 But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.

19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.

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

Bible in one Year: 2 Samuel 5:1-7:17, Mark 11:20-12:12

MESSAGE:

Gehazi was the servant of Prophet Elisha. He was privileged to be the apprentice of a great prophet and had the potential of inheriting at least thedouble portion of Elijah’s power that was upon Elisha. However, his covetousness ruined his destiny as a would-be great prophet. He decided to got after the material things of this world at the expense of his prophetic calling. He was so determined to go after worldly things that he even swore by God that he must “possess his possessions”. Like present-day worldly preachers, he seemed to be saying:”….. after all, he that labours by the altar must feed by the altar.” Consider his words in 2 Kings 5:20:

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

Once his son of covetousness was found out by his master, the leprosy of Naaman was transferred to him and all his generation after him (2 Kings 5:27).

Judas Iscariot is another individual we should learn from. He had almost the same moral and spiritual problem as Gehazi: covetousness and greed. The Bible says he was a thief, and being the treasurer of Jesus’ ministry, he often stole from the purse (John 12:4-6). His greed got to the level where he took a decision that condemned him to eternal perdition: he decided to sell his Master, the King of glory (Matthew 26:14-16). Before Judas Iscariot realised his folly, he had already ruined the opportunity of having himself numbered among the twelve apostles. He ended up committing suicide.

“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest and elders,… And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” -Matthew 27:3-5

Children of God in the 21st century must be wary of materialism. It is deadly; through it may not look that way. This is why John the Beloved warned us against worldliness, as if he knew what would become of the Church in the end-times (1 John 2:15-17).

Prayer Point: Father, guide me never to take a wrong decision that will blight my future in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotionalwritten by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 19 May 2015: Tuesday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Turning Point III

Open Heavens 19 May 2015: Tuesday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Turning Point III

Memorise: And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? -Genesis 25:32

Read: Genesis 25:29-34 (KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible in one Year: 2 Samuel 3-4, Mark 11:1-19

MESSAGE:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heavens Daily Devotionalwritten by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 18 May 2015: Monday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Turning Point II

Open Heavens 18 May 2015: Monday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Turning Point II

Memorise: And Ruth said, intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: -Ruth 1:16

Read: Ruth 1:11-16 (KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible in one Year: 2 Samuel 1-2, Mark 10:32-52

MESSAGE:

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

After moving to the land of Israel with her mother-in-law, Ruth eventually remarried Boaz, who was a distant relation of her late husband. This union produced an ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ, Obed (Ruth 4:13-17). Anytime I remember the decision I made to serve the Lord in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, after the founder personally followed up on me by visiting my residence just after my first visit to the Church, I give glory to God. When I was making the decision to turn away from my self-righteousness and academic pride, little did I know that I was entering into a lifetime for joy in the service of the Lord. I am grateful to the Holy Spirit who helped me make the decision. I pray for you that the Lord will help you to make the decision that will turn your life around for the best today, in Jesus’ Name. you will decide to serve God in spirit and in truth as from today in Jesus’ Name. the last mention of Orpah in the Bible was when she was at a crossroads, and she made the decision to return to her idols.

“And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.” Ruth 1:14-15

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

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

Open Heavens Daily Devotionalwritten by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 17 May 2015: Sunday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Turning Point 1

Open Heavens 17 May 2015: Sunday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Turning Point 1

Memorise: And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. -Exodus 3:3

Read: Exodus 3:1-6 (KJV)

1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Bible in one Year: I Samuel 29:31, Mark 10:1-31

MESSAGE:

A turning point is a defining moment; it is a moment of decision that either makes or mars the life of a person. In life’s journey, there are always crossroads where you have to decide whether to go to the right or to the left. At such moments, if you make the right call, glory to God, but if you make the wrong decision, may God have mercy on you. The Bible contains several examples of people who took either positive or negative turns while at crossroads. Moses is one of such persons. In today’s Bible reading, Moses made a turn that sealed not only his destiny but also that of the Jews for good. I pray for you today that God will guide you to always make the right call when you are at a crossroads in your life, in Jesus’ Name. When Moses turned to see the great sight of the burning bush, the Bible says it was then the Almighty God spoke. There are some necessary turns you must make in order to fulfil your destiny. There are steps you must take to make progress. The Bible in Exodus 3:4 says:

“And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.”

From the moment, a dialogue ensued, followed by a commissioning for an assignment of eternal value (Exodus 3:10).

Another example of someone who took the right turn was Elisha. His decision  to answer the call of God to the office of a prophet made kings call him “my father” (1 kings 19:19-21, 2 kings 6:21). Also, the decision of Daniel, that he and his colleagues would not defile themselves with the king’s meat, made him outlast several kings and serve as a reference point of excellence to them all (Daniel 1:8, Daniel 1:21, Daniel 5:11-12). The day Peter forsook his big catch of fish at the lake of Gennestaret, he sealed his destiny as a foremost apostle whose shadow would heal the sick (Luke 5:10-11, Act 5:15). The turning point Paul experienced on the road of Damascus resulted in him writing more than a third of the entire New Testament, not to mention the special miracles of the Lord performed through him (Acts 9:3-8, Acts 19:11-12).

I encourage you to prayerfully decide what you want to do with you life today. Are you born-again, sanctified and Spirit-filled? Your decision today will determine if you will partake of these experiences or not. God will take over your life from the moment you make up your mind to serve Him in spirit and truth.

Action Point: Make a lasting, positive decision on what you want to do with the remaining years you have to spend on earth, and pray that God will help you stand by this decision in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotionalwritten by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 16 May 2015: Saturday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Child of Destiny

Open Heavens 16 May 2015: Saturday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Child of Destiny

Memorise: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nation. -Jeremiah 1:5

Read: Exodus 1:15-17 (KJV)

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

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

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

Bible in one Year: I Samuel 26-28, Mark 9:30-50

MESSAGE:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heavens Daily Devotionalwritten by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Open Heavens 15 May 2015: Friday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Uncircumcised in Heart?

Memorise: Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. -Acts 7:51

Read: Romans 6:1-10 (KJV)

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Bible in one Year: I Samuel 24-25, Mark 9:2-29

MESSAGE:

In his sermon just before he was killed, Stephen spoke to a Jewish audience made up of people who were circumcised in the flesh as required by God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:10). However, Stephen revealed to them that there exists a circumcision beyond that of the flesh: the circumcision of heart and ears (Acts 7:51). This circumcision is spiritual. He admonished them to accept it in order to belong to the new dispensation of grace. They rejected his message and held tenaciously to the old order, which Paul declared as irrelevant under this new dispensation. 1 Corinthians 7:19 says:

“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.”

those of us who claim to know God and claim to be born-again must be careful not to fall into the same error as the Jews to whom the gospel was first preached, the circumcision of our heart and ears must not be one professed by mouth only. Our Pentecostalism must not turn to lawlessness. We must truly be circumcised in our heart and hearing, so that the message of the gospel may always have a place in our lives. We must heed the warning of Hebrews 12:15-16

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”

We tend to glory in many things as Pentecostals, as if attending a Pentecostal Church is the main ticket to heaven. Many of us have become docile in spiritual matters. The enemy is taking advantage of this passive attitude to penetrate and adulterate Pentecostal beliefs. This is why homosexuality, lesbianism and the reconstruction of the Bible doctrines handed to us by the apostle and prophets are being considered. What we must do as individuals and as a family is to retrace our steps back to our first love for the Bible and the sound teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, such as these inRevelation 3:2-3:

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”

Prayer Point: Pray for God to send revival upon His Church, especially among Pentecostals who are now growing lukewarm.

Open Heavens Daily Devotionalwritten by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God