Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: WEDNESDAY MAY 10TH, 2023.

THEME: DIVINE HELP 1

MEMORISE: 

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 

Psalms 121:2

READ: 1 Kings 17:8 -16

8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

MESSAGE

Divine help refers to the intervention of God to get a man to a place he is trying to reach. The help of God is always on time; God is never late (Psalm 46:1). Just at the moment when you need help, He will be there-in the nick of time (Psalm 124:1-7).

In 1 Kings 17:8-16, we read a story of a widow in a time of famine. She was going to prepare her last meal so that she and her son could eat before dying. Unknown to her, help was already on the way and that seemingly last meal was the first of many more. Your help is already on its way, in Jesus' name.

Many years ago, during our annual Convention in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, my wife came to me and said, "Darling, we need N5,000 to feed the people today". This was a lot of money in those days. Although l had no money on me then, l responded, "Good l will send for you". She left and l turned to the helper of the helpless, praying for a way to feed everyone there.

Not long after, a man was driving past and decided to stop by. He asked what we were doing and l told him we were having a convention. He said, "That is a very wonderful idea. Next year, l will be part of it". I thought, "I am talking of today; this man is talking of next year". The man then put his hand in his pocket and said, "But for now, have this". He gave me an envelope and left. I opened the envelope and found N1,000 in it. I said, "Thank you Lord; one down, four to go. Before long, the youths came to my office and at the end of their visit gave me an envelope with N2,000 in it. Within a short time, l had all the money needed for the feeding. In the nick of time, God send help to me. Your help will come today, in Jesus' name.

The interesting thing about God is that He is the Reverser of the irreversible, so even when it looks as if He is late, He can reverse time for your sake. Sarah laughed when God told her she would carry a child because she believed it was already too late for her and Abraham, but she carried a child to term and delivered safely (Genesis 21:'1-2). Even if it seems as if God is late, l decree: He will reverse time for your sake, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT 

Father, even if You have to reverse time so that You can help me, just help me in this season, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 8-11

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: IN CHRIST ALONE

1 In Christ alone my hope is found 

He is my light, my strength, my song 

This cornerstone, this solid ground 

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm 

What heights of love, what depths of peace 

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease 

My comforter, my all in all 

Here in the love of Christ I stand  

2 In Christ alone who took on flesh 

Fullness of God in helpless babe 

This gift of love and righteousness 

Scorned by the ones He came to save 

Till on that cross as Jesus died 

The wrath of God was satisfied 

For every sin on Him was laid 

Here in the death of Christ I live  

There in the ground His body lay 

3 Light of the world by darkness slain 

Then bursting forth in glorious day 

Up from the grave He rose again 

And as He stands in victory 

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me 

For I am His and He is mine 

Bought with the precious blood of Christ  

4 No guilt in life, no fear in death 

This is the power of Christ in me 

 life's first cry to final breath 

Jesus commands my destiny 

No power of hell, no scheme of man 

Can ever pluck me from His hand 

Till He returns or calls me home 

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand