Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 30TH APRIL 2020.

THEME: PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN WITHNESSING.  

MEMORISE:

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47

READ: Acts 4:31-37

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

MESSAGE 

All Christians are called to witness the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. This witnessing entails telling sinners, the wicked, poor, sick, oppressed, bound and hopeless about the power of God to set them free. Christians usually witness to others by presenting themselves as beneficiaries of the grace, mercy and love of Jesus so others may follow in their footsteps by accepting Him as their Lord and Savior.

Unfortunately, many Christians witness for Jesus in words alone. For these categories of Christians, their lifestyle contradicts the message they preach and this pushes the unsaved further from salvation. This is where practical Christian witnessing comes into play. Practical Christian witnessing is Christianity without pretense. It is revealed in behavior, proven by action or performance, tested by trial and undeterred by persecution. Matthew 5:16 says:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Knowing God is not the same as going to church, and loving God is not the same as being involved in church activities. If you love God it will show in the way you conduct the affairs of your life. If you know God, the evidence will be seen in the way you relate with people around you. If anyone is living contrary to God’s word, all that he or she offers to God will amount to nothing before the Almighty. Sometimes ago, at the Redemption Camp, I had to tell everyone “If you know you are not genuinely saved by the blood of Jesus, there is no need to give any offering to God. He will not accept the offering and worship of sinners.” Our lives must count for God first, before other things can follow. God wants His children to be His true representatives. 1 Peter 2:12 says: “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to be faithful to You and to live a practical Christian life before the world.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 5:1-10

1 Chronicles 11-12

 

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 20:  NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

o Refrain:

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;

All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,

There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;

Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Wednesday, April 29, 2020) -

*Positive Obsession*

Special Note:

These prayer points are not written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, but by one of his numerous disciples, of Christ, who was inspired and mandated by the Holy Spirit, about 5 years ago, (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.Thank You, Father, for creating in Your image and likeness, and for Your purpose and pleasure.

2.Thank You, Father, for first loving me, in that,  while I was yet a sinner, You gave Your son, Jesus, to die for me.

3.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, give me the grace and  boldness to declare Your total Will, in this wicked and perverse generation, without fear or favour, at all times, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, help me to endure persecution and hardness of life; let nothing be able to separate me from Your love,  in Jesus' name.

6.Father, in the midst of life's challenges and adversities, I declare that I am  more than a conqueror, through Christ that loves me.

7.Father, let me become obsessed with commitment to You and the things of Your kingdom, even, unto the point of death, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please give me the grace to love You with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind, in the mighty name of Jesus.

9.Father, give the grace, also, to love my neighbour as myself; and,let nothing  be too big or too costly for me to surrender for Your use, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and meet him today and everyday at the points of his needs, in Jesus' name.

11.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.

12.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.

13.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
14.In Jesus' name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
15.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
#GodBlessOurNation

These prayers have no expiry date! 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 book Ministry, in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 29TH APRIL 2020.

THEME: POSITIVE OBSESSION. 


MEMORISE:

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Acts 4:19


READ: Romans 8:35-39


35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


MESSAGE

An obsession is an excessive devotion to someone or something, even to the point of personal loss, injury or death. The word is often applied in a negative sense, but the Bible tells us that Jesus loved and obeyed God to the point of obsession. The word of God counsels us to develop the particular kind of mind that was in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5-8 says:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus….. being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Jesus during His earthly ministry loved God and was obedient to His commandments even to the point of death- an excruciating death on the cross. God therefore expects all His children to follow Christ’s example by loving Him with all our being. If you have ever been so deeply and passionately in love with someone to the point of obsession, you may lose your appetite and forget to eat, your mind may become occupied with nothing else but that person. This kind of positive obsession is hinged on love. Matthew 22:37-38 has this to say: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

Therefore, we are enjoined to first and foremost love God with all our hearts, because we need to have the love of God before we can truly appreciate what love is and then reciprocate by showing love to others. 1 John 4:7-8 says: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” As Christians, we must obsessively love God with all our being, and always radiate His love to our neighbors.


PRAYER POINT:

Father, please give me the grace to love You with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 102-104.


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 11:  I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

1. I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
o Refrain:
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

2. If I forget Him and wander away,
Still He doth love me wherever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me.

3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song through eternity be,
“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”

4. Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him;
Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem;
Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree;
Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!

5. If one should ask of me, how can I tell?
Glory to Jesus, I know very well!
God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,
Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

6. In this assurance I find sweetest rest,
Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee,
When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Tuesday,  April 28, 2020)

*PECULIAR PEOPLE*

Special Note:

These prayer points are not written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, but by one of his numerous disciples, of Christ, who was inspired and mandated by the Holy Spirit, about 5 years ago, (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.Thank You, Father, for creating me in Your image and for the salvation of my soul.

2.Thank You, Father, for calling me out of the darkness of this world, into Your marvelous light in Christ Jesus.

3.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, fill me to the brim with Your Holy Spirit, and  let there be no room or space for the flesh to operate, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, let Your Holy Spirit take  dominion over my life, and let all the activities of the flesh be subdued, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, let nothing be done carnally in my life; let all my thought and actions be controlled and directed, by Your indwelling Holy Spirit, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, let Your fire consume in my life, the lust  of of the flesh, the lust  of the eyes, and the pride of life, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please let my life glorify and praise Your name forever; please use my life to draw men unto You, in the mighty name of Jesus.

9.Father, give me the grace to walk in Your statutes, and keep all commandments, perpetually, and do them, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and uphold him by Your right hand of righteousness, till the end, in Jesus' name.

11.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.

12.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.

13.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
14.In Jesus' name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
15.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
#GodBlessOurNation

These prayers have no expiry date! 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 book Ministry, in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 28TH APRIL 2020.

THEME: PECULIAR PEOPLE. 


MEMORISE:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 1 Peter 2:9


READ: Leviticus 26:1-12


1Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.

2 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.

3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.

7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.

8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.

10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.

11 And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.

12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.



MESSAGE

Human beings have some characteristics and attributes that cut across people from all nations of the world. Principal amongst such is the adamic nature of sin we all inherited from our first parents. This can also be described as carnality- the desire to fulfil the lust of the flesh according to Galatians 5:16-17. Romans 8:6-8 talks about the carnal nature:
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

By this, indeed, a man who is led by the flesh is living at variance with the will of God. As clearly evident in human behavior around the world, humanity is at enmity with God by rejecting His commandments, and declaring freedom to do whatever catches our interests. The desire to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of the life are the major factors that drive the society across the world today. The story is however different for those who have accepted the offer of salvation made available to humanity through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. On this, 1 Peter 2:9 says: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”

The peculiarity of God’s people includes the adoption into His family, whereby we can call Him Abba Father (Romans 8:15). It is indeed a privilege every human should seek as it is the best thing that can happen to anyone. If you are already a member of God’s family, congratulations! Please hold fast to your faith until the end. If however, you are yet to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I urge you to do so right away, so you can join this group of peculiar people and have cause to praise the name of God forever.


PRAYER POINT:

Father, please let my life glorify and praise Your name forever. Please use my life to draw men unto You, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 7-10.


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 5:  DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS.

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
o Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Monday, April 27, 2020) -

*WATCH ALWAYS!*

Special Note:

These prayer points are not written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, but by one of his numerous disciples, of Christ, who was inspired and mandated by the Holy Spirit, about 5 years ago, (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.I worship and adore, You, my Father, for the weapons of our warfare which are not carnal, but mighty through You to the pulling down of strongholds.

2.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus' name.

3.Father, quicken my mortal body and empower me to watch and pray, that I may not fall into temptation, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, wake me up from my slumber; don't let me sleep the sleep of death, in the midst of wicked and vicious arrows of the enemies, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, empower me to put on Your whole armour, that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, help me to live soberly and be vigilant and watchful, that I may not be a prey of the devil, who walks about, seeking whom to devour, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, expose every hidden trap set for me by the enemies and give me the grace to avoid and flee from them, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, deliver me from all forms of yokes and bondages to sin, such as, pride, worldliness, self-righteous, immorality, lukewarmness, complacency, spiritual barrenness and rebellion against constituted authority, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, help me to watch and protect Your church against secularisation, false prophets and doctrines, sexual immortality and sinful practices, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye; uphold and shield him and his family from every evil arrow of the enemies, in Jesus' name.

11.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.

12.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.

13.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
14.In Jesus name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
15.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
#GodBlessOurNation

These prayers have no expiry date! 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 book Ministry, in Jesus name.

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 27TH APRIL 2020.

THEME: WATCH ALWAYS!


MEMORISE:

Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38


READ: Ephesians 6:10-18


10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;


MESSAGE

The memory verse of today is one of the warnings in the Bible that should send chills through anybody’s spine. I consider it very scary. After the All-knowing God had carefully assessed the circumstances surrounding human existence, He concluded that humans need to be careful to survive this dangerously deceptive world. Sobriety and vigilance are the two major components of watchfulness. To be watchful is to be alert, watching over someone or waiting for some significant event. The Bible lays particular emphasis on the need to watch for fake prophets (Matthew 7:15), false doctrines (Hebrews 13:9), the antichrist (2 John 1:7) and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:42).

God expects every one of His children to be sober and vigilant in watching against temptations and sin such as pride, worldliness, self-righteousness, immorality, complacency, lukewarmness, spiritual barrenness and rebellion against constituted authority. We must not be confounded by negative news around the world; rather we should respond with understanding as persons who are informed and therefore well-prepared to watch for signs of the end times.
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Beloved, wake up! Christians cannot afford to lose focus for a moment; our heart must be kept with all diligence. We must watch the crafty attempts of the enemy to attack the authority of Scripture. Watch against worldliness and the quest for ungodly pleasures. Every member of the body of Christ must watch against the secularization of the Church and protect its sanctity against false prophets, sexual immorality and all sinful practices.


PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to be sober and watchful in all things, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 81, 88, 92-93.


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 26:  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 shall He lead,
Till every 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, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, 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.