Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2020.

THEME: BUILD UP YOUR FAITH.

MEMORISE:

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Jude 1:20

READ: John 20:25-29

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

MESSAGE:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

As a believer, you must already have some level of faith. However, irrespective of the current level of your faith, you still have a duty to grow and strengthen it. Just like your physical body needs food and exercise to stay strong and healthy, your faith also needs food and exercise. The word of God is the food that our faith needs to become strong so as to do exploits for Him.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

You must study your Bible diligently every day. The more of the study of God’s word you do, the more of His abilities you will see and every fear that has previously weakened your faith will vanish.

Alongside the word, another delicacy you must add to your diet in order to have strong faith in prayers in the Holy Ghost as seen from today’s memory verse. The indwelling of the Holy Ghost empowers a person for exploits. Acts 10:38 says:

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

The Holy Ghost is responsible for miracles, signs and wonders. Hence, if you want your faith to birth signs and wonders, you must pray in the Spirit often. Paul said he prayed in the Holy Ghost more than all the other disciples (1 Corinthians 14:18); no wonder God was able to use him to achieve so much.

Your faith needs exercise to grow and stay alive. Faith without works is dead (James 2:20). You have to put your faith into action, then leave the rest to God. If the miracle doesn’t happen the first time, keep exercising your faith and very soon, it will be strong enough for exploit. 

ACTION POINT:

From today, resolve to pray in the Holy Ghost for at least one hour every day.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Zachariah 8-14.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 13: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS.

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;

The world behind me, the cross before me;

The world behind me, the cross before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;

Though none go with me, still I will follow;

Though none go with me, still I will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

No turning back, no turning back.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

 Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Sunday, September 20, 2020) - 

Becoming An Exemplary Leader 4 

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, Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace; thank You, for always interceding for Your church.

2.Thank You, Father, for Your faithfulness and  promise that the gates of hell will not prevail over Your church.

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

4.Father, arise, and frustrate every plan of Satan to cause strife and division in Your church, and in the body of Christ, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, let Your fire consume every spirit of pride in my life and in the body of Christ; and, wear upon me the garment of Your humility, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please, fill me to the brim with Your Holy Spirit, and, let all the activities of the flesh be subdued, in Jesus' name.

7.Lord Jesus, please, unite Your church in love, as You are united with the Father, in love.

8.Father, please, use me to promote peace and unity among brethren, instead of engaging myself in divisive tendencies of gossiping and backbiting, in Jesus' name

9.Father, please, empower me by Your grace, to achieve my goals, visions and dreams, and fulfill my destiny, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and empower him to achieve all his set goals, dreams and visions, 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 20TH SEPTEMBER 2020.

THEME: BECOMING AN EXEMPLARY LEADER IV.

MEMORISE:

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. 

Genesis 11:6

READ: Genesis 11:1-8

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.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

MESSAGE:

A great leader must be able to foster unity amongst his/her followers. Unfortunately, many leaders fall short of this and it limits the achievement of their goals. In today’s memory verse, God said “The people is one.” Grammarians could argue that after ‘people’, ‘are’ should follow, but God used ‘is’ to show how unified the people were.

This unity would have made them achieve their goal if God had not intervened (Genesis 11:6).

What then is that vison of your that looks impossible to achieve? Rest assured that if you have a united team working on it, you can pull it off. Jesus’ earthly ministry only lasted three years, yet thousands of years after, His gospel is still spreading like wildfire. This is as a result of the Holy Ghost in our midst, who did not come down until the Apostles were in one accord (Acts 2:1-3). The Holy Ghost leveraged their unity to spread the gospel.

To foster unity amongst your followers, don’t give any room for gossiping or backbiting. If you do, it can cost you your vision.

Also, you cannot afford to show you have a favorite follower. Even though John was Jesus’ favorite amongst His disciples, He was careful not to ever mention it. Jesus had refused to answer a question that others asked Him. But He could not refuse John, so He answered with an analogy, so as not to raise eyebrows in John 13:25-26:

“He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.”

Finally, unity is fostered by humility. When the system is just and everyone is working to achieve the same goal, there will be progress. Remember, the Lord said: a Kingdom divided against itself shall not stand (Mark 3:24).

KEY POINT:

If you can ensure unity amongst your followers, the will be no point too high for your to reach.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Zachariah 1-7.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 18: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.

1. My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray,

Take all my guilt away,

Oh, let me from this day

Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart

Strength to my fainting heart,

My zeal inspire!

As Thou hast died for me,

Oh, may my love to Thee

Pure, warm, and changeless be,

A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,

And griefs around me spread,

Be Thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn to day,

Wipe sorrow’s tears away,

Nor let me ever stray

From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,

When death’s cold, sullen stream

Shall o’er me roll;

Blest Savior, then in love,

Fear and distrust remove;

Oh, bear me safe above,

A ransomed soul!

Open Heavens Prayer Points

 Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Saturday, September 19, 2020) - 

Becoming An Exemplary Leader 3 

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 the capacity You have given me to dream big dreams, and see big visions.

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

3.Father, with You, all things are possible; please, empower me to  dream dreams and see visions, that men could identify and run with, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, let all my dreams and visions, be in accordance with Your revealed will, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, let there be unity of purpose among Christians and in the body of Christ, in this nation, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, let any vision that I will pursue in Your kingdom, be one that will glorify Your name, and not one, to make a name for myself, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, empower me to dream big and to see great visions that will positively attract Your attention and support, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please, go ahead of me and remove every obstacle and hindrance to the actualisation of my divinely given visions, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, provide everything that I need spiritually, materially and financially, in order for me to actualise my divinely given visions, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and, help him to actualise every outstanding vision and dream,  that he may have, 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 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.