Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020.

THEME: BECOMING AN EXEMPLARY LEADER III.

MEMORISE:

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 8:12

READ: Genesis 11:4-5

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

MESSAGE:

We have seen that if you want your followers to have one language, then you must ensure the vision is big and clearly articulated from the onset.

If your vision is to ensure there is a restroom in every building in your city, people may not take you seriously as it may appear too simple a task. However, if your goal is audacious like that of Barack Obama- the first black President of the United States of America, the people would follow you with all their heart.

God-given vison usually seem impossible to achieve; however, He is able to fulfil whatever He has promised (Romans 4:21). A vision worth pursuing is that which appears impossible to achieve. If for nothing else, people will follow to see if it will actually be achieved.

One day in 1988, I announced we were going to hold a crusade in Lagos where four million people would be in attendance. It really looked impossible, bu at the end, we discovered over six million people attended. Of course, while many did come to be part of the big vision, some came to see if we would actually have the projected attendance. People were so many that not all could see or hear what was happening on the altar, but they stayed until the end because it was a vision that was worth becoming a part of.

The crowd attracted international media and ever since, we have had gatherings with even larger numbers by God’s grace. I know the power of God has always drawn people to our programmes; however, it is proven that if your vision appears impossible, you will attract attention. The vision of the people in Genesis 11:5 was so big that it got God’s attention.

“And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.”

Can your vision attract God’s attention? If people don’t see your vision as impossible, then you need to rethink it.

KEY POINT:

The vision worth following is one that seems impossible to achieve.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Haggai 1-2.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 29: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised

Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

May we ever, Lord, be bringing

All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,

There will be no need for prayer—

Rapture, praise, and endless worship

Will be our sweet portion there.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

 Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Friday, September 18, 2020) - 

Becoming An Exemplary Leader 2

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, 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 all the visions You have given me concerning the works of the kingdom, You have entrusted unto me.

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

3.Father, please, give me the grace to write down all the divinely given visions, and to run with them, in Jesus name.

4.Father, as a leader, in my own right, please, give me the grace to be able to share my visions with my followers, in clearly unambiguous terms, that they may also run with them, in Jesus name.

5.Father, as a follower, help me to key into the visions of my leader, and adopt it as my own, for the overall progress and expansion of Your kingdom, in Jesus name.

6.Father, please, go ahead of me and straighten every crooked path, and remove every obstacle to the actualisation of my divinely given visions, in Jesus name.

7.Father, empower me spiritually, financially and materially, to enable me execute my divinely given visions and those of my spiritual leader, in Jesus name.

8.Father, please, make me an unrepentant and committed soul winner, and church planter, in Jesus name.

9.Father, please, give me the grace to make heaven at last, and to help as many people, as possible, to make heaven, in Jesus name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and reward him for all his labours in Your vineyard, 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 18TH SEPTEMBER 2020.

THEME: BECOMING AN EXEMPLARY LEADER II.

MEMORISE:

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 

Genesis 11:4

READ: Genesis 11:1-6

1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

MESSAGE:

Rarely will anyone see a better way of doing things and not connect with it. If you want to do the extraordinary, your followers must first and foremost share the same vision with you.

Before the people started working on the project in Genesis 11. The leaders had spelt out the vision to everyone. Don’t expect people to join you when they don’t know where you are going. Sell your vison so convincingly that they will adopt it as their own and be ready to pay any price to get there. Habakkuk 2:2 says:

“ And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”

As a leader, is your vision written for all your followers to see? Is it plain enough for them to understand? Is it to see? Is it plain enough for them to understand? Is it available on all ‘tables’ rather than just your table? If you answered yes to all, then you have laid the right foundation for your followers to key into your vision.

Long before our exponential growth started in the RCCG, we made it compulsory for the vision and mission statements to be displayed publicly in every parish. Everyone knew our number one vision is to make heaven and the second is to take as many as possible with us. So, we were always looking for ways to start new parishes of the Church. Today there are so many parishes around the world, not because I am an expert at planting them, but because the vision is no longer just mine, it everyone’s.

Sometime ago, I prophesied that the work would be so much, I wouldn’t be able to attend to all and even ushers would perform wonders. Today, by the grace of God, miracles happen during praise and worship sessions at some of our services. A lot of members and workers are already being used of God. One woman even raised three dead people in one day, something I am yet to do.

REFELCTION:

Is your vision plainly written down for all your followers to see?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 4-6.

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.

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: (Thursday, September 17, 2020) - 

Becoming An Exemplary Leader 1 

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, 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, with You, all things are possible.

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

3.Father, please, make me an exemplary and innovative leader, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, give me a penchant for hard work and help me to study and imitate the lifestyles of exceptional and exemplary leaders, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, as a leader, help me to think outside the box; to see solutions, beyond the limitations, in Jesus' name.

6.Holy Spirit, please, give me new ideas that can bring about major improvements and innovations, in my life, career and ministry, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please, make a way for me, where there seems to be no way; and, make seemingly impossible projects and situations in my life, family and ministry, possible, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, arise, and scatter every opposition from the pit of hell against my dreams and aspirations, in life and ministry, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, let whatever I lay my hands upon to do in this world, be successful, in accordance to Your word and promise, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye; please, let him finish well and strong, 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: THURSDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2020.

THEME: BECOMING AN EXEMPLARY LEADER I.

MEMORISE:

And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 

Genesis 11:3

READ: Genesis 11:1-4

1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

MESSAGE:

Naturally, humans search for leaders and role models. For example, anyone who wants to become a great footballer would begin to study whoever is greatest in the sport at that point in time. He would find out his diet, where and how long he practices and all there is to know about the fellow.

Unfortunately, few people have exemplary leadership qualities today. You can’t do things the usual way and expert people to follow. Innovate; you have to go beyond the ordinary to be called ‘extraordinary’.

No aspiring footballer will make a role model out of a striker who only scores goal s occasionally. However, the one who scores hattricks regularly will be a leader to many. You must show results that are far greater than the norm.

In Genesis 11:3, the leaders of these people were innovator. While everyone else used stones to build, they decided to make bricks. While everyone else used mortar, they used slime. The leaders in this story asked the people to take up a seemingly impossible task of building a tower that would reach heaven, yet no one argued. They trusted that if these leaders could come up with innovations like bricks and slime, they could lead them to achieve their aim. So, for the followers, it was not a question of whether the goal was achievable or not. They thought “I must be part of this great feat.”

You shouldn’t plead for loyalty. People aren’t following because they cannot see anything special about your leadership. Some are even doubting if you can really achieve your goals.

To be a leader, always think outside the box. Don’t think in terms of limitations, think in terms of solutions. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you new ideas that can bring about major improvements and innovations.

ACTION POINT:

You want to be an exemplary leader? Go beyond the ordinary always.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 1-3.

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 shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. 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 blessed if we trust and obey.

4. 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.

5. 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: (Wednesday, September 16, 2020) - 

Choose Your Company Wisely 

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, 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, my Father, for the salvation of my soul, and for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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

3.Holy Spirit, my senior partner, I ask that You fill me afresh to the brim and accompany me every inch of the way, in my life's journey, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, give me the spirit of discernment, that will enable me to know the type of spirit operating in anyone, that I am associating with, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please, give me the grace never to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever, in all areas of my life, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, give me the grace to choose my friends wisely; let me never sit with vain or wicked persons, nor be attracted to the congregation of evil doers, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, empower me to walk away from the company of fools, that I may not be destroyed, and help me to walk with wise men, that I may be wise, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, give me the grace never to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but to always reprove them, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, empower me to associate with genuine children of God, so that Your blessings upon their lives can rob on me, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and, uphold him till the end, by Your right hand of righteousness, 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: WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2020.

THEME: CHOOSE YOUR COMPANY WISELY.

MEMORISE:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14

READ: Psalm 26:4-5

4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

MESSAGE:

You can attract blessings just by being around the right people. Likewise, it is possible to pick up curses by being in the wrong company. That is why the Psalmist said in Psalm 26:4-5:

“I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.”

Some time ago, I travelled abroad for a crusade and noted the absence of a particular son of mine who was ill at the time. I went to the hospital and while praying for him, I felt the power of God come down mightily. The next day, I got a report that not only had my son been healed and discharged, but also everyone else in the ward. They got their healing just because they shared the same ward with my son.

Who you associate with has a great influence on what you attract. This is why you must be friends with good Christians. Search for people who are wiser than you and be their friends. Proverbs 13:20 says:

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

Don’t stay in the midst of gossips or people jesting about about their sinful acts. If you find yourself among those smoking and drinking, leave immediately.

Always choose your partners and associates carefully. Partner with genuine children of God. If the person carries the blessings of God, you can be sure that your project(s) will be blessed. When you are in business with one who is suggesting you cut corners, give brides or cheat, break such relationships because that fellow will invite the devil into your enterprise. 

God commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, not that everyone must be our friend. We must choose our friends wisely. Keep your associations pure.

ACTION POINT:

Dissociate yourself from every ungodly friend today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Daniel 10-12.

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.

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.