Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: SATURDAY JANUARY 18TH 2025

TOPIC: PRODUCE SONS

MEMORISE:

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient towards all men.” - (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

READ: PHILEMON 1:10-18 (KJV)

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

MESSAGE:

In the context of today's topic, a son is someone who looks like you and has some of your traits. In (1 Samuel 22), David accommodated people who were vagabonds, and he later raised them to become valiant men like himself. Jesus Christ spent only three-and-a-half years with His disciples, but by the time He left, they had been so transformed that they were just like people who had gotten formal education (Acts 4:13). When someone has spent some time with you, can other people notice a positive difference in him or her?

The Bible says that if you delicately bring up a servant from childhood, that servant will later become a son to you (Proverbs 29:21). Childhood here refers to a time when a person doesn't understand much about life. If you have people working with you, raise them like they are your children. Correct them when the need arises, teach them the things they need to learn and don't give up on them while they are still working on their weaknesses. After a while, they will become just like sons and daughters to you.

Many people say that they cannot tolerate nonsense when, in reality, they are just impatient with people. Such people forget that patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). Many of the people who support me today were initially rough around the edges, to put it mildly. However, the Lord helped me to train them. I didn't give up on them, and after a while, they became like sons to me, handling sensitive assignments. If you want to be successful as a leader, you have to learn to invest in people.

In Yorubaland, an adage says that the one whose children will be many cannot be short-tempered. Sometimes, the reason people are lonely is that they have driven the children God sent to them out of their lives by their intolerance. There are many people with great potential out there that can become great if someone trains them. However, this is not to say that you should continue to tolerate people who persistently do terrible things or engage in criminal acts. After many warnings and efforts to change such people, if they refuse to change, you can handle the case as Paul did in (1 Corinthians 5:5). However, if people are generally of good behaviour but have some negative traits and are willing to become better, don't use your impatience to throw them out into the world. 

 KEY POINT:

Seek to produce sons out of the people God has sent into your life. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EXODUS 8-10

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE 

HYMNAL: 20 - STAND UP! STAND UP FOR JESUS 

1 Stand up, stand up for Jesus

ye soldiers of the cross;

lift high his royal banner,

it must not suffer loss.

From vict'ry unto vict'ry

his army he shall lead

till ev'ry foe is vanquished

and Christ is Lord indeed.

2 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

the trumpet call obey;

forth to the mighty conflict

in this his glorious day.

Ye that are men now serve him

against unnumbered foes;

let courage rise with danger

and strength to strength oppose.

3 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

stand in his strength alone;

the arm of flesh will fail you,

ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the gospel armor,

each piece put on with prayer;

where duty calls or danger,

be never wanting there.

4 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

the strife will not be long;

this day the noise of battle,

the next, the victor's song.

To him that overcometh

a crown of life shall be;

he with the King of glory

shall reign eternally.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL

Friday, 17th January 2025

DON'T OUTGROW CORRECTIONS

Special Note.

These prayer points are not written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, but by one of his, disciples, of Christ, who was inspired and  mandated by the Holy Spirit, effective, January 1st, 2015, to start writing these prayer points, based on the Open Heavens Daily Devotional  authored by Pastor E. A. Adeboye.

Some of the prayer points are deep spiritually and may not be understood by carnal minds.

If you want to be blessed from these prayer points, you must first, surrender Your life, to the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, by saying this prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me all my sins. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal destruction in hell fire. In Jesus' name, I pray.”

PRAYER POINTS

1.Father, thank You for making me Yours, and for the great privilege of having people around me who can correct me whenever I am wrong.

2.Father, thank You for making me Your son/daughter as a result of my faith in You as written in John 1:12; help me to listen to corrections and never to become a "servant", in Jesus' name.

3.Father, please, help me never to be against myself; help me not to be my own enemy, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, help me to avoid the consequences that comes with doing the wrong things. I choose to be corrected by words, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please, make me wise and not to feel too big to take honest feedbacks from the people You have placed me over as a leader, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please, surround me with people that will always tell me the truth; no matter how hard it seems, help me never to outgrow corrections, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please, give me the grace to humble myself to accept corrections without getting angry. Please, give me a listening ear with a willing heart to obey, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please, help me to avoid the pitfall of feeling like I am infallible even when I know that I have erred; help me not to outgrow corrections, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, even when I'm being criticized with evil intentions, help to learn from the corrections and improve on the areas I need to, in Jesus' name.

10.‭Father, please, do not leave me to destroy myself, give me a new heart that takes to corrections, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, please, help me to effect positive changes in my life after receiving corrections, in Jesus' name.

12.Father, thank You for helping Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in all areas of life.

Help him not to outgrow corrections; bless his ministry, home, and family (biological and spiritual), and help them to remain a shining light forever, in Jesus' name.

13.Father, bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus' name.

14.Father, let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus' name.

15.Your Personal petitions.

( Philippians 4:6)

16..In Jesus' name I pray.

(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

17.Thank You Father for answered prayers.

(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

#happy2025

#GodBlessOurNation

These prayers have no expiry dates! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus' name.

Kindly, purchase your own hard copy or online version of the Open Heavens devotional & buy for your friends too, as a potent evangelism tool. God bless you, as you sow, into Pastor E.A. Adeboye's, books ministry.

Note:

You may not add, subtract or rearrange these prayer points.

 The Holy Spirit is the author, though He used someone, who, out of humility has refused to take glory for it, by not putting his name. It is plagiarism to use, or pass as your own, someone else writing or work. The original author of these prayer points is the Holy Spirit. So, share, but don't share His glory with Him in the process.

Remain blessed, as you obey, in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: FRIDAY JANUARY 17TH 2025

TOPIC: DON'T OUTGROW CORRECTIONS

MEMORISE:

“While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” - (Hebrews 3:15)

READ: PROVERBS 15:10-12 (KJV)

10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

MESSAGE:

For every action or inaction, there are consequences. This is why you should consider it a great privilege when you have people around you who can correct you whenever you do something wrong so that you do not have to suffer terrible consequences. Unfortunately, some people do not listen to corrections. The Bible refers to such people as servants.

A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer. (Proverbs 29:19)

You can choose between being corrected by words or by consequences. If you are wise, you will choose to be corrected by words so that you can avoid the consequences that come with doing the wrong things. Those who are wise do not wait for people to correct them. Rather, they regularly ask the people around them for feedback to know if they are on the right track or not. In Matthew 16:13, Jesus Christ asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I am?" In other words, He was asking, "Based on my character and words, what is the impression that I give people about myself?"

Beloved, it is important that you regularly give people the opportunity to tell you what they think of you, especially when you are a leader. You can make it anonymous so that they can give you honest feedback.

It is quite possible for someone to grow to a level where people begin to say he or she is infallible, even in situations where the fellow knows that he or she has erred. It is important to avoid this pitfall and ensure that you still have people around you who will always tell you the truth. You should never outgrow corrections. Even when people criticise you with evil intentions, you can ignore their motives and listen to see if there is really something that you need to correct or improve on.

Beloved, you will avoid so many troubles in life if you are the kind of person who listens to corrections. If people correct you once or twice and they see that you got angry, they will leave you alone. This will be dangerous because, even though they can see you heading towards a ditch, they will let you fall into it. Even God will leave you alone after He has corrected you over something for a while and you refuse to listen (Romans 1:28). May God not leave you to destroy yourself, in Jesus' name. 

 REFLECTION:

When was the last time you effected a positive change in your life after receiving a correction? 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  EXODUS 5-7

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE 

HYMN: 30 - WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD 

1 When we walk with the Lord

in the light of his word,

what a glory he sheds on our way!

While we do his good will,

he abides with us still,

and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a burden we bear,

not a sorrow we share,

but our toil he doth richly repay;

not a grief or a loss,

not a frown or a cross,

but is blest if we trust and obey.

3 But we never can prove

the delights of his love

until all on the altar we lay;

for the favor he shows,

for the joy he bestows,

are for them who will trust and obey. 

4 Then in fellowship sweet

we will sit at his feet,

or we'll walk by his side in the way;

what he says we will do,

where he sends we will go;

never fear, only trust and obey.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL

Thursday, 16th January 2025

IDENTIFYING THE JERICHO WALL (3)

Special Note.

These prayer points are not written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, but by one of his, disciples, of Christ, who was inspired and  mandated by the Holy Spirit, effective, January 1st, 2015, to start writing these prayer points, based on the Open Heavens Daily Devotional  authored by Pastor E. A. Adeboye.

Some of the prayer points are deep spiritually and may not be understood by carnal minds.

If you want to be blessed from these prayer points, you must first, surrender Your life, to the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, by saying this prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me all my sins. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal destruction in hell fire. In Jesus' name, I pray.”

PRAYER POINTS

1.Father, thank You for Your presence that had seen me through to another glorious year in life. Thank You for Your promise to be with me forever.

2.Father, please, help me never to be against myself; help me not to be my own enemy, in Jesus' name.

3.Father, please, deliver me from every bad habit or negative traits that may hinder me from making progress, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, help me never to waste opportunities given to me to make a difference in life; uproot and destroy every spirit of laziness in my life, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please, make me a man/woman of few words with great results; help me not to be a talkative. Make me wise and not a fool, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please, uproot every trait of dishonesty in my life; make me a man/woman of integrity. Let my YES be YES, and my NO be NO, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please, help me to keep my integrity in handling sensitive responsibilities, at all times and in all situations, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please, help me to be faithful in every little task/assignment committed to my hands, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, no matter the pressure, help me to say what I mean, and to mean what I say at all times, in Jesus' name.

10.‭Father, please, make me wise. Don't let me be the wall of Jericho in the path of my progress, in Jesus' name.

11.Holy Spirit, help me to let go of any habit or trait that can hinder my progress, in Jesus' name.

12.Father, thank You for helping Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in all areas of life.

Let every force and wall standing in his way, disappear now; bless his ministry, home, and family (biological and spiritual), and help them to remain a shining light forever, in Jesus' name.

13.Father, bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus' name.

14.Father, let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus' name.

15.Your Personal petitions.

( Philippians 4:6)

16..In Jesus' name I pray.

(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

17.Thank You Father for answered prayers.

(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

#happy2025

#GodBlessOurNation

These prayers have no expiry dates! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus' name.

Kindly, purchase your own hard copy or online version of the Open Heavens devotional & buy for your friends too, as a potent evangelism tool. God bless you, as you sow, into Pastor E.A. Adeboye's, books ministry.

Note:

You may not add, subtract or rearrange these prayer points.

 The Holy Spirit is the author, though He used someone, who, out of humility has refused to take glory for it, by not putting his name. It is plagiarism to use, or pass as your own, someone else writing or work. The original author of these prayer points is the Holy Spirit. So, share, but don't share His glory with Him in the process.

Remain blessed, as you obey, in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 16TH 2025

THEME: IDENTIFYING THE JERICHO WALL. III

MEMORISE: A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

Proverbs 19:24

READ: Proverbs 6:4-11

4. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7. Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8. Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

MESSAGE 

As I conclude my discussion on the forces that can obstruct a person's progress, I want you to know that the real wall of Jericho hindering people's progress may actually be they themselves and not necessarily a spiritual force or a relationship. No matter how much support such people get in order to progress in life, if they have certain bad habits or traits, they will still not make progress. Romans 8:31 says:

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

The answer to the above question is 'we ourselves'. Even if the Almighty God is for you, you must ensure that you are not against yourself. Certain negative traits can make a fellow work against himself or herself in the journey of life. These traits are hindrances to progress. For example, laziness is a great hindrance to progress. King Solomon, considered by many to be one of the wisest people who ever lived, said in Proverbs 6:10-11:

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.

When we were building what has now become Redemption City, I knew some people who worked with us who were lazy. If only they were hardworking, considering all the work that was done then, they would have been very wealthy by now. Nobody wants to give opportunities to a lazy fellow. This is because lazy people will eventually waste the opportunities that are given to them.

Another trait that can be a wall of Jericho to a person is talkativeness. Proverbs 29:20 says that a fool has more hope for tomorrow than the one who is always quick to talk.

Dishonesty is yet another trait that can be a wall of Jericho to a fellow and hinder his or her success. This is because nobody will trust people who lack integrity to handle sensitive responsibilities. Jesus Christ said in Luke 16:10 that whoever is faithful in a little will have more committed into his or her hands. If you say one thing and turn around to do something completely opposite, it will be difficult for you to have access to the things that you have been asking and trusting God for.

Beloved, be wise. Don't be the wall of Jericho in the path of your progress.

ACTION POINT: 

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you let go of any habit or trait that can hinder your progress.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 24: I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS 

1. I want to be like Jesus, 

So lowly and so meek; 

For no one marked an angry word, 

That ever heard Him speak.

2. I want to be like Jesus, 

So frequently in prayer; 

Alone upon the mountain top, 

He met His Father there.

3. I want to be like Jesus, 

I never, never find 

That He, though persecuted was 

To anyone unkind.

4. I want to be like Jesus, 

Engaged in doing good; 

So that of me it may be said, 

"He hath done what he could."

5. I want to be like Jesus, 

Who sweetly said to all, 

"Let little children come to Me," 

I would obey the call.

6. But oh, I'm not like Jesus, 

As anyone may see; 

O gentle Savior, send Thy grace, 

And make me like to thee.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL

Wednesday, 15th January 2025

IDENTIFYING THE JERICHO WALL (2)

Special Note.

These prayer points are not written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, but by one of his, disciples, of Christ, who was inspired and  mandated by the Holy Spirit, effective, January 1st, 2015, to start writing these prayer points, based on the Open Heavens Daily Devotional  authored by Pastor E. A. Adeboye.

Some of the prayer points are deep spiritually and may not be understood by carnal minds.

If you want to be blessed from these prayer points, you must first, surrender Your life, to the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, by saying this prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me all my sins. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal destruction in hell fire. In Jesus' name, I pray.”

PRAYER POINTS

1.Father, thank You for Your plan and purpose for my life; thank You because You are able to carry me to my promised land.

2.Father, please, may the people I love not become a hindrance to my progress in life; deliver me from the wrong relationship that may hinder my progress, in Jesus' name.

3.Father, please, in my journey to my promised land, separate me from every evil communication, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, separate me from anyone that will hinder me from hearing from You and fulfilling Your vision for my life, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please, in choosing mentors or spiritual fathers, Holy Spirit, guide me in my choices, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please, whoever You have placed over me as my spiritual father, help them to constantly grow in You, and may I not be limited in progress too, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please, help me in the choices of friends; help me not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of the scornful, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please, let my delight be in the law of the LORD; And in Your law, may I  meditate day and night; help me to keep away from the company of bad friends, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, deliver me from every enemy who poses as a friend but they are actually the wall of jericho in the life and, in Jesus' name.

10.‭Father, henceforth, let no wall be able to stand in my way of progress this year; let every evil wall limiting the progress of my nation, fall, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, please, help me to stay away from friends that will hinder my progress, in Jesus' name.

12.Father, thank You for helping Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in all areas of life.

Let every force and wall standing in his way, disappear now; bless his ministry, home, and family (biological and spiritual), and help them to remain a shining light forever, in Jesus' name.

13.Father, bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus' name.

14.Father, let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus' name.

15.Your Personal petitions.

( Philippians 4:6)

16..In Jesus' name I pray.

(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

17.Thank You Father for answered prayers.

(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

#happy2025

#GodBlessOurNation

These prayers have no expiry dates! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus' name.

Kindly, purchase your own hard copy or online version of the Open Heavens devotional & buy for your friends too, as a potent evangelism tool. God bless you, as you sow, into Pastor E.A. Adeboye's, books ministry.

Note:

You may not add, subtract or rearrange these prayer points.

 The Holy Spirit is the author, though He used someone, who, out of humility has refused to take glory for it, by not putting his name. It is plagiarism to use, or pass as your own, someone else writing or work. The original author of these prayer points is the Holy Spirit. So, share, but don't share His glory with Him in the process.

Remain blessed, as you obey, in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

WEDNESDAY 15TH JANUARY 2025

TOPIC

IDENTIFYING THE JERICHO WALL (2)

MEMORISE

1 Corinthians 15:33

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

BIBLE READING

2 Samuel 13:1-14 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.

5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

MESSAGE

Today, I will continue the discussion I started yesterday on the factors that can hinder a person’s progress. Sometimes, the wall hindering your progress could be someone you have a relationship with. Many people don’t know it, but sometimes, even the people you love may be a hindrance to your progress.

In Genesis 12:1-5, Abraham took Lot with him when God called him to leave his family behind and go to a place that He would show him. However, it wasn’t until Lot separated from him in Genesis 13:14-17 that God spoke and showed him the land He had promised.

The spiritual authority a person submits to can also hinder the fellow’s progress (1 Kings 13:1-24). This is why you must carefully choose your spiritual father or mentor with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. John 15:20 says that the servant cannot be greater than the master. Whomever you choose to be your master will determine how far you can go. Prayerfully choose someone who is constantly growing so that there won’t be a limit to your progress.

Another kind of person that can be a wall of Jericho that is hindering your progress is your friend. To a great extent, those you call your friends will determine how far you will go in life. This is why Solomon warned his son in Proverbs1: 10-15 not to keep company with certain kinds of friends.

When I became born again, one of the first things I did was to change my friends. It was painful, but if I had remained in their company, I would never have come this far in life. Amnon would have lived a long and good life as a son of David, but he ended up badly because he had the wrong friend. In Samuel 13:3, the Bible says, “But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab…”

There are people who pose as friends but are actually like the wall of Jericho. If you have such friends, stay away from them because they are enemies of progress. If you have a friend who you only gossip with, but you never pray or discuss the Bible, that friend will become a hindrance to your progress. If you have friends whose pieces of advice are contrary to what the Bible says and are always encouraging you to reduce your dedication to God, such friends are a wall of Jericho between you and God’s perfect plan for your life. Beloved, please run away from such friends.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to stay away from friends that will hinder my progress in life, in Jesus’ name.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 47 -50

HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH

1 Guide me, O my great Redeemer,

pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but you are mighty;

hold me with your powerful hand.

Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,

feed me now and evermore,

feed me now and evermore.

2 Open now the crystal fountain,

where the healing waters flow.

Let the fire and cloudy pillar

lead me all my journey through.

Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,

ever be my strength and shield,

ever be my strength and shield.

3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,

bid my anxious fears subside.

Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,

land me safe on Canaan’s side.

Songs of praises, songs of praises

I will ever sing to you,

I will ever sing to you.