Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2020.

THEME: FREEDOM FROM DEPRESSION I. 

MEMORISE:

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows

Hebrews 1:9

READ: 1 Peter 1:1-9

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

MESSAGE:

It would be hypocritical to act as if one cannot see how fast depression is taking over the minds of many people today. I want to let you know that there is a tested and sure way out of depression. Suicide is not a way out because that will only lead to hell, and believe me, the depression and suffering in hell is far worse than what obtains here on earth. Don’t go that route at all. Alcohol is also not a way out of depression. If anything, it makes matters worse because the repercussions of actions taken when under the influence of alcohol will lead to further depression. Food does not heal depression either. Many depressed people choose to ‘eat away their worries’, but unfortunately, food does not cure depression. At best, it would only make their stomach full so that they become so tired that they sleep off.

What a depressed fellow really needs is joy. You see, happiness depends on happenings, but joy comes from the Lord, irrespective of prevailing circumstance. The first step to having joy is to become a believer in Christ. 1 Peter 1:8 says:

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

When you become a born-again Christian, loving righteousness and hating iniquity, God will anoint you with the oil of gladness above your fellows (Hebrews 1:9). Joy is the fruit of the Spirit and a means by which a born-again Christian may be identified (Matthew 7:17). 

Finally, depression thrives is silence. Speak out today if you are struggling with unhappiness. Seek counseling from a more mature Christian, preferably a pastor of the same gender in a bible-believing church. Also, as brethren in Christ, we all ought to consciously look out for one another, showing kindness and love at all times.

The joy of the Lord will keep strengthening us all in the mighty name of Jesus.

KEY POINT:

Maintain a close relationship with God from today and you will say goodbye to depression forever.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   Matthew 23

Luke 20-21

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: Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Judging The Sin Or The Sinner?

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; You are the righteous and perfect judge.

2.Thank you, Father, for your mercy that endures forever, over my life; for if you're to mark sin, no one shall stand.

3.Thank you, Father, for not sending your son into the world not to condemn, but that the world through Him might be saved.

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

5.Father, please, give me the grace not to condemn or pass judgements on others, over what I am equally guilty of, in Jesus name.

6.Father, please, help me not to hastily take positions on public or private issues, without making proper findings, in Jesus name.

7.Father, empower and help me to remove the beam in my own eyes first, that I may see clearly to remove the speck, in my brother's eyes, in Jesus name.

8.Father, give me the grace to judge sin, in meekness, with the goal of bringing sinners and backsliders to repentance and reconcile them with You, in Jesus name.

9.Father, please, empower me to preach the word in season, out of season, to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, 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 Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2020.

THEME: JUDGING THE SIN OR THE SINNER? 

MEMORISE:

 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2

READ: Matthew 7:1-5

 1Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

MESSAGE:

As Christians we must resist the urge to hastily take positions on both public and private issues without making proper findings. It is very easy to judge others, even more so now with the advent of social media.

Though a crime suspect is yet to be pronounced guilty by a competent court, a lot of people would have made competent court, a lot of people would have made conclusions already about him/her especially if the suspect’s appearance portrays him/her as a criminal. People are especially good at speaking out against things they find offensive. Sadly, their focus may be on the person, instead of the action.

In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus cautions us against judging others in a hypocritical way. We shouldn’t be habitually critical of others when we need correction as well. Only God’s judgments are flawless (John 8: 15-16). Don’t be quick to condemn someone else’s actions. God is patient, but He would not overlook anyone’s disobedience (Romans 2:1-5). Don’t attack people, be a good example for others (Romans 14:13).

While believers are not to condemn others, we are however not to ignore or condone sin. There is a difference between the judgment that comes with discernment. John 7:24 says:

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

If you see another believer falling into sin, you should confront the person in a respectful and loving way. In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus teaches us to judge sin, not the sinner.

The ultimate goal of confronting a believer who is backsliding is so the fellow can repent and abide. Thus, when we judge sin, let it be done in meekness with the goal of repentance and reconciliation. This is the will of God (Galatians 6:1).

KEY POINT:

John 7:24: judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   Matthew 22

Mark 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: (Monday, November 2, 2020) - 

The Saints And The Wicked 

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 creating me in Your image and likeness, 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, please, give me the grace to endure the afflictions that come with my calling and help me to be faithful till the end, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please, let me never be numbered among the wicked, whose end is everlasting banishment from Your presence and glory of power, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please, don't let me suffer here on earth for Your kingdom and still suffer with those that You have destined for destruction, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, destroy every spirit of disobedience, laziness, hypocrisy, backbiting, lukewarmness, lips and eyes services, that have crept into my life, as a worker in Your vineyard, before they destroy me, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, give me the grace to deny myself, carry my cross and follow You, habitually, on a daily basis, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, arise, and frustrate the tokens of liars over my life and make diviners against my peace, mad; let me not miss any of Your promised rewards and grant me eternal life, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and reward him abundantly, for all his labours of love, 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: MONDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2020.

THEME: THE SAINTS AND THE WICKED. 

MEMORISE:

 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

READ: 2 Thessalonian 1:5-10

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

MESSAGE:

The wicked are people who do not know God and those who probably know Him but do not seek Him (Psalm 10:2-13). Their lifestyle shows that they don’t believe in the gospel of Christ and that they do not have any regard for God. On the other hand, there are saints- the people of God; these are the people who believe. Though they may suffer persecutions and afflictions for the Kingdom, they remain faithful children of God.

Paul assumes the saints who have believed and remain steadfast even in their afflictions that God will grant them relief and their afflictions would come to an end due in course. Christ will be glorified in them, and they in Him (2 Thessalonians 1:12). On the other hand, God will repay the persecutors with affliction; He will mete out justice. He says in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 that the retribution will be:

“……. everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

The wicked would not cease to exist because of God’s final judgment, rather they would be deprived of being in God’s presence forever.

Daniel also declared:

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2

Jesus described the judgment thus “ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25: 41, 46). Revelation describes the fate of the wicked thus:” …… and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10).

Beloved, a life without Christ is one full of crises – both when the fellow is alive, and even after death. Too many people pay lip service to following Christ but actually do not in real sense of it. Examine your life and choose to deny yourself and follow Christ daily to escape eternal damnation.

REFLECTION:

Which are you: wicked or saint?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   Mark 11

John 12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 8: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS.

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain:

Are you washed in the blood,

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;

There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,

Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

Open Heavens Prayer Points

 Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Sunday, November 1, 2020) - 

Wolves In Sheep's Clothing 

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,  the glory and the lifter up of my head.

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

3.Father, please, expose and disgrace every wolf in sheep's clothing around me, and in Your church, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, arise, and scatter every evil conspiracy against my life, family, business and ministry, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, frustrate and thwart every plot of the enemy to terminate my life and abort my dreams, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, let every enemy masquerading as my friend, make mistakes that would expose them, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, let every wicked arrow targeted against me backfire upon the enemy, and let me laugh last over all my enemies, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, let every evil counsel over my life, ministry and destiny, never see the light of the day, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, let all things work together for my good, as I place my trust in You, and let me sing the songs of victory and triumph, over all my adversaries, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye; please, do not allow the enemies to prevail over his life, ministry and family, 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 1ST NOVEMBER 2020.

THEME: WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING. 

MEMORISE:

 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

Mark 14:18

READ: Psalm 41:6-12

6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

MESSAGE:

 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

2 Corinthians 11:26

As we see above, Apostle Paul enumerated the dangers he had encountered in the course of preaching the gospel and ‘perils among false brethren’ made the list. You must be wary of false brethren within your family, neighborhood, workplace and even in your local assembly.

In 1 Samuel 17:26-28, while David was making enquiries about the reward for slaying Goliath, his elder brother wanted him to go back to look after sheep. The elders say that if the household enemy cannot kill a person, neither can the external ones. David was already dreaming of how he was going to become a giant-killer but his brother wanted to silence him, just as Joseph’s brothers sought to kill his own dreams in Genesis 37:17-20. One would think that his brothers would have been interested in helping him become a great ruler as he had dreamed, after all, they would have been “the great ruler’s brothers”. Rather, they not only wanted his dreams to be aborted, they also wanted to kill him.

Don’t be fooled; not everyone smiling with you genuinely wishes you well, so be careful who you share your dreams with. Be like David and follow the counsel of God rather than those of men.

When I became the General Overseer of RCCG, there was a man I had considered to be a good friend as we had done some wonderful things together for God in the past. I went to visit him one day to discuss my new assignment as the General Overseer. When I got to his house, he drove me away, saying he had hated me since the day I came into the Church. I was shocked and really felt sad.

I pray that every wolf in sheep’s clothing around you shall be exposed and disgraced in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, every wolf in sheep’s clothing around me, expose this week in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   Luke 18:15-19:48

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!