Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 24TH AUGUST 2020.

THEME: REDEEM YOUR VOWS.

MEMORISE:

When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. Deuteronomy 23:21

READ: Ecclesiastes 5:4-6

4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

MESSAGE 

It is a terrible thing to make a vow to God and not fulfil it. The Bible puts the people who do such in the same category as those who say there is no God- fools (Ecclesiastes 5:4). Many people have made vows based on resources that they don’t have. While they may claim to be making such vows by faith, is it not better to say “Lord if you give me this contract, then I will give you so and so percent of the money” than to make vows beyond your actual present reality.

“Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?” Ecclesiastes 5:4-6

From the Bible verse above, we see that there is an angel assigned to the recording and collection of vows. That is how seriously God takes vows. Ecclesiastes 5:6 shows that when a vow defaulter prays, instead of getting an answer to the prayer, he/she gets God’s anger. Then it goes ahead to say that God could destroy the work of their hands too! By now, it should be very clear to you that it is better not to make a vow at all than to make one and not fulfil it. Think very carefully before you make any vows.

Now, in case you have made a vow you did not fulfil, if at all you can, I advise you to quickly go ahead and do so now. If it is however, something that you cannot fulfil, then you should go before God pleading for mercy. Acts 17:30 says:

“ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

So, go ahead and cry to Him for mercy, but now that you know, ensure you don’t make vows carelessly again.

ACTION POINT:

Think of all the vows you have made in the past and didn’t fulfil. Do your best to fulfil them now. God takes vows very seriously.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lamentations 1:1-3:36

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 17:  MUST I GO AND EMPTY HANDED.

1. “Must I go, and empty-handed,”

Thus my dear Redeemer meet?

Not one day of service give Him,

Lay no trophy at His feet?

o Refrain:

“Must I go, and empty-handed?”

Must I meet my Savior so?

Not one soul with which to greet Him,

Must I empty-handed go?

2. Not at death I shrink or falter,

For my Savior saves me now;

But to meet Him empty-handed,

Thought of that now clouds my brow.

3. Oh, the years in sinning wasted,

Could I but recall them now,

I would give them to my Savior,

To His will I’d gladly bow.

4. Oh, ye saints, arouse, be earnest,

Up and work while yet ’tis day;

Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,

Strive for souls while still you may.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

 Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Sunday, August 23, 2020) - 

Show Some Kindness 

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, because the earth is Yours and the fullness thereof, and they that dwell therein.

2.Thank You, Father, for Your promise to always meet me at the points of my needs, according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

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

4.Father, let Your fire consume in my life, every spirit of selfishness, self-centeredness and stinginess, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, give me words that will minister grace, love and encouragement to those who are weighed down by challenges and adversities of life, in Your vineyard, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, empower me to be able to identify and be sensitive to the needs of the less privileged in Your church and around me, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, give me a generous heart to give to the needy and the less privileged that You have helped me to identify, even, before they open their mouth to ask, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, give me the grace not to shut my ears to the cry of the poor, so that when I cry to You for help, You will hear me, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, give me the grace to encourage someone today, in Your church, with a gift, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye; answer all his prayers and meet him at the points of his needs, today and everyday, 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 Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST, 2020. 

THEME: SHOW SOME KINDNESS.

MEMORISE:

Let brotherly love continue.

Hebrews 13:1

READ: Isaiah 35:3-8 (KJV)

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

MESSAGE:

A Christian may be smiling on the outside because he/she is accustomed to looking cheerful, whereas on the inside, the person could be going through a lot of challenges. The ties and the hats we all wear to Church on Sunday cover the empty stomachs or the depressed thoughts of some workers in the Church.

Sometimes the Pastor is going through a marital crisis, but he still has to settle issue in the marriage of a Church member.

We need to look out for each other every now and then. We need to pick up the phone and call the brother or sister to ask how they are doing. We need to bring a gift, no matter how small to church once in a while to give someone. Believe me, the one who is strengthening others also needs strengthening once in a while.

When you notice the commitment level of a particular brother or sister wanting, before you accuse or judge them, find out how they are faring first. Checking on them, whether they are in Church or not, shows that you love them.

Sometimes, the devil brings suggestions to some of the ‘strong’ Christians to drop out of the Christian race, but just a word of encouragement from you, a smile or a show of love can give them strength to continue in the race.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says:

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will life up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”

Even as General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, many years ago, I decided to resign because I thought the people I was praying and caring so much for did not care about me. It was a little girl whom God sent to bring me a cake that He used to bring me out of that depressed state.

Even though I don’t like cake, I ate this one and ever since, I have not considered resigning again. You don’t know the effect that a little encouragement could have on your brethren.

Show kindness to one another always.

ACTION POINT:

Look for at least one person in Your Church today and just encourage the person. If you can give a gift, go ahead and do so.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 51-52,

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 armour,

And watching unto 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: (Saturday, August 22, 2020) - 

How Hard Are You Joined To Jesus? 

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

2.Thank You, Father, for making me more than a conqueror, through Christ that loved me and gave His life for me.

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

4.Father, let every spirit of lukewarmness that has crept into my life and Your church be consumed by Your fire, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, rekindle the fire of Your revival in my life and in the entire body of Christ, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, let me be well grounded and rooted in You, and let nothing be able to separate me from Your love, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, let every chain that the devil has been using to draw me away from Your presence be consumed by fire, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, uproot from my life, and remove from my way, anything that has been competing with Your glory in my life, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, empower me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and body; and, let nothing be too precious or too costly, for me to surrender for Your use, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and keep him without blemish or wrinkle 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 Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST 2020.

THEME: HOW HARD ARE YOU JOIN TO JESUS.

MEMORISE:

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

Philippians 1:21

READ: Romans 8:35-38

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,

MESSAGE 

“And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.”  Acts 18:7

Justus’ house joined hard to the synagogue. How attached are you to the Church? Do you see the Church as just a part of your life or is it your entire life? Are you only a Church-goer or are you involved in the activities of the Church? Is Sunday the only time you think about Church or do you also attend mid-week services and other soul-lifting programmes? Are you more joined to your circular job than you are to the Church? Do those who you relate with everyday know you are a member of the body of Christ? How hard are you joined to Jesus?

If I have to be involved in something, I would be fully involved. If you are truly a child of God, you would not be dormant in your Father’s house. Get involved, join the workforce, give towards the work of God.

Years ago, we needed to fill an area of the Headquarters church in Ebute-Metta with sawdust so as to reclaim land and have more to build on. I bore a basin of the sawdust on my head, back and forth, without any shame. A traffic jam on the main road caused a student of mine to seek an alternative route near the church to his destination. Seeing me, he cried out “Ah Oga” (meaning ‘Sir’). I looked at him and asked “Who is Oga? I am no Oga in the house of my God; I am merely working for Jesus my Master.” I am fully joined to the house of God. There is nothing being done to advance God’s kingdom that I will not get involved in, even if it is just to pray for them. How hard are you joined to the Church of Christ?

Those who are joined hard to the house of God always enjoy His presence in every area of their lives. Because they are very useful in His Kingdom business, He in turn makes anything that concerns them His business. It pays to be joined hard to the Church of Christ. I am a living witness.

ACTION POINT:

Join the workforce in your local Church, if you haven’t done so already. Be more fervent for the things of the kingdom.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 49-50

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 12:  I AM THINE O LORD.

1. I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

And it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith

And be closer drawn to Thee.

Refrain:

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,

By the pow’r of grace divine;

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,

And my will be lost in Thine.

3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour

That before Thy throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God

I commune as friend with friend!

4. There are depths of love that I cannot know

Till I cross the narrow sea;

There are heights of joy that I may not reach

Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

 Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Friday, August 21, 2020)

True To Your Calling? 

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 likeness; and for making me a member of the body of Christ, through 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, please, give me the grace to fulfill my calling and to play my divinely assigned role in the scheme of things in Your kingdom, in Jesus' name.

5.Holy Spirit, help me to identify my calling in life and empower me to fulfill my destiny, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, if what I am currently doing is not my calling or my profession, please, take me by Your mercy and grace into my calling and to the place of my destiny fulfillment, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, once You have shown me my calling, please, give me the grace to abide and stay within it, and not to be lured into other ventures, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, let  all things work together for good for me, as I place my trust in You, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, let every obstacle in my life be a stepping stone into my miracles and breakthroughs, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye; please, give him more grace to fulfill Your purpose and plans for his life, 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 Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST 2020.

THEME: TRUE TO YOUR CALLING.

MEMORISE:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 

1 Corinthians 12:11

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

MESSAGE 

There are many people in ministry today who are going off track because they are operating in areas wherein they were not called. Some out of personal ambition, are operating in callings that are not their while others are innocently operating in the wrong callings out of concern. Having a burden about something or seeing a need does not automatically translate to a calling

“And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 

2 Timothy 2:5

According to the above Bible verse, anyone who does things outside the will of the Master will be disqualified. Everyone who God has called is scored by Him. If what you are doing is outside God’s calling for your life, no matter how good you are in that calling or ministry, it is regarded as irrelevant.

Paul was greatly burdened by how the Jews were walking outside the will of God. He kept preaching to them, yet they were persecuting him. The greatest persecution he got were from the Jews because God was trying to point him in the direction of his calling- the Gentiles first, then to kings and then to the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). Had he not been so persecuted by the Jews, he would not have been able to take the gospel to as many gentiles as he did. Thank God that in Acts 18:5-6, he finally decided to leave the Jews and go to the gentiles to whom he was primarily sent.

God calls people for a reason and if everyone were to leave their calling to attend to someone else’s, there would be trouble. Imagine someone who is called to cause a great evangelical revival being so burdened about leadership in the nation that he distracts himself by contesting elections. Imagine what would happen if the one who is to find the cure to incurable disease were to become burdened about the economy that he gets a job in the ministry of Finance. You need to identify your calling through the guidance of the holy Spirit and stay in it so as to fulfil your destiny and more importantly, for the world to be a better place.

REFLECTION:

Are you true to the calling of God upon your life?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 46-48

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.

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.