Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2020.

THEME: DON’T MISS HEAVEN. 

MEMORISE:

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. Revelation 21:21

READ: John 14:1-3

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

MESSAGE:

No matter how beautiful any earthly city is, none is one-tenth as beautiful as heaven, and this is a fact. Do you know any city with streets and highways of pure gold? The answer is ‘NO’, however, Revelation 21:21 says the streets of Heaven are made of pure gold. Jesus says in John 14:2:

“ In my Father's house are many mansions…...”

Many years ago, I had the privilege of seeing my mansion in Heaven. It was already as big as an entire city, yet it was still being built. I asked the angel taking me on a tour what I would need a mansion that big for and he said there was a room in it for each of my spiritual children whenever they came to visit.

I once heard the story of an old couple who died and went to Heaven. When the angel taking them round got to a place where food was stored, they were surprised to see all sorts of food there- some of which their doctors had told them to stay away from on earth. The man, surprised, asked if those food items were not dangerous to their health. The angel told them there are no health issues in Heaven. The man turned to his wife in excitement and said “You should have let us eat whatever we wanted, so that we would have died and gotten here much earlier”

If you love music, Heaven is a place where you can hear the best music ever. The angels have such melodious voices that we coined the phrase ‘Angelic Voices’. Their melody and harmony is so sweet and perfect that when you hear them, you would get lost in the music.

A long time ago, some of us were praying for an elder who was dying when he suddenly looked up and said “Oh what beautiful voices, of what sweet music!” I knew he was hearing the angels singing to welcome him to Heaven, so we stopped praying and let him go.

In Heaven, there is no pain, no worries, just fun and worship to the Most High God. I am determined never to miss Heaven; I don’t know about you. 

REFLECTION:

With the way you live your life now, are you on your way to Heaven or hell?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   Matthew 25

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 27: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE.

1. Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

*Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,

Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use

Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart, it is Thine own,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

 Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Friday, November 6, 2020) - 

God Thinks About You 

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, my Father, for being my refuge and strength, and a present help in trouble.

2.Thank You, Father, for the salvation of my soul and for the precious blood of Your son, Jesus, that was shed at Calvary, for the remission of my sin.

3.Thank You, Jesus, for laying down Your life for me, even, while I was yet a sinner.

4.Thank You, Father, for Your thoughts toward me, which are thoughts of good and not of evil, to bring me to an expected end.

5.Thank You, Father, for Your abiding presence in my life and for Your promise never to leave nor forsake me.

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

7.Father, arise, and destroy every evil covenant and curses over my life and destiny, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, give me the grace to walk continually in obedience and to do Your perfect will at all times, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, uphold me by Your right hand of righteousness till the end, and grant me the grace to see You in glory, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and grant him divine health and strength for the remaining journey ahead, 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 6TH NOVEMBER 2020.

THEME: GOD THINKS ABOUT YOU. 

MEMORISE:

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:5

READ: Psalm 139:17-18

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

MESSAGE:

The sand at the beach is literally uncountable, yet the Lord says His precious thoughts outnumber them (Psalm 139:17-18). That is how much God thinks about you and me. No one else will ever think about you that much- not your spouse, not your child, nobody. Nobody will care about you as much as God- your perfect Heavenly Father- thinks and cares about you. Isn’t that awesome.

You may often hear voices in your head saying “No one is going to marry you, you are such a disaster, you are never going to be successful, you will always be at the same point, this sickness will kill you….” But NO! the devil is a liar! Those are not the thoughts of God about you! He says in Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

When you are a true child of the living God, He is always with you. In Hebrews 13:5, He says:

“……..I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

No matter what you may be going through, God is ever with you, able and willing to help. That is why Psalm 46:1 says:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Do you know that as a true child of God you are a friend to Jesus? in John 15:14, He says:

“ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Jesus loves you so much that He gave His very life for you. The Bible says in John 15:13 that:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

The only way you can repay this love of God is to surrender all to Him and continue walking in His will. He thinks a lot about you, don’t disappoint Him.

REFLECTION:

Isn’t it great to know you are in God’s thoughts and that He wants the best for you always?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   Matthew 24

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

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

1. I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n

Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;

Wonderful things in the Bible I see,

This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

Refrain:

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves even me.

2. If I forget Him and wander away,

Still He doth love me wherever I stray;

Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,

When I remember that Jesus loves me.

3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,

When in His beauty I see the great King,

This shall my song through eternity be,

“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”

4. Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him;

Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem;

Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree;

Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!

5. If one should ask of me, how can I tell?

Glory to Jesus, I know very well!

God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,

Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

6. In this assurance I find sweetest rest,

Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;

Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee,

When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

 Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Thursday, November 5, 2020) - 

Freedom from 

Depression 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 Your love and care for me, for it is by Your mercy that I have not been consumed.

2.Thank You, Father, for bringing me out of the miry clay and horrible pit of this world; and for setting my feet upon a rock, and establishing my goings.

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

4.Father, give me the grace to endure the cross and look beyond my present suffering, unto the joy that is set ahead of me, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please, show me the path of life, and give me the grace to dwell in Your presence at all times, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, wear upon me the garment of Your praise, and put a new song in my mouth, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, let every source of sorrow and depression in my life dry up, and let me experience Your unspeakable joy, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, give me beauty for my ashes, and the oil of joy for my mourning, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please give me a garment of praise in place of heaviness of heart, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye; let the spirit of depression be far away from him, 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.

DAY 3: THURSDAY 5TH NOVEMBER, 2020.

TOPIC: LET DAVID OF OUR TIME ARISE

BIBLE TEXT: Psalms 89:20-22

INTRODUCTION: The nation Israel, just like Nigeria (Your Nation), was highly favoured by God but saddled with both internal and external problems that hindered the purpose of God. Then God found David, who bridged the internal gaps and subdued external oppositions.

PRAYER POINTS: RCCG NOVEMBER 2020 FASTING PRAYER POINTS FOR 30 DAYS – 

1. Father, we thank you for the creation of this nation Nigeria (Your Nation).

2. Father, we thank you for blessing the Nigeria in all areas

3. Father, we thank you for prophesies that revealed your plans and purposes for Nigeria.

4. Father, have mercy on Nigeria and please forgive all our errors in Jesus' Name.

5. Father; forgive all our past attitude of ingratitude in Jesus' name. 2 Tim 3:2

6. Father, bring forth the David you have prepared for Nigeria in Jesus' Name.

7. Father, give us in Nigeria, a leader that knows you though may not be known himself.

8. Father, give us a leader that honours you above all other things like David in Jesus' Name.

9. Father give us a leader that will transform the lives of all that are frustrated in this nation.

10.Father, give us a leader that will silence all that are singing the song of division in Nigeria.

11.Father, please give us a leader that will deliver us from all forms of external oppression in Jesus' Name.

12.Father, please give us the leader that will silence and disappoint all the external forces that believe nothing good can come out of Nigeria.

13.Father give us the leader that will bridge the gap between the East and West, and between the North and South in Jesus' Name.

14.Father give us a leader that will always seek your approval before taking crucial decisions.

15.Oh God raise up people like the Joseph, David, Daniel for the revival of our nation in Jesus' name.

16.Father, give Nigeria a leader that will bring back the glory of this nation that was lost in Jesus' Name.

17.Father give us a leader that will openly declare you as the God of Nigeria in Jesus' Name.

18.Father give us the leader that will deliver this nation from the hand of devourers in Jesus' Name. Mal 3:11

19.Lord we pray for the leader that will restore the tabernacle of God to Nigeria in Jesus' name.

20.Lord arise and turn the enemies of Nigeria against themselves, in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 2020.

THEME: FREEDOM FROM DEPRESSION II. 

MEMORISE:

 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18

READ: Psalm 40:1-5

 1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

MESSAGE:

Yesterday, we looked at how a relationship with Christ can drive depression away from a person’s depressed. A Christian may get depressed when life’s challenges make them lose sight of how great God is or how much He loves them.

I have experienced this before. I was already the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God then, and the Church was growing, but somehow, I felt the people I was patronizing did not care about me. I felt I was laboring in prayers and fasting for them, but they didn’t care, so I decided that I was going to resign as the General Overseer of the Church. With my decision made, I took a nap and when I woke, there was a young girl who had come to see me. She said God told her to come and give me a cake. I was so touched by the gesture that even though I don’t like cake so much, I ate that one. Then God said “I thought you said no one cared”. I realized that I had paid so much attention to appreciation from the people that I did not remember how much God cares for and loves me.

Now, when as a believer you are feeling depressed, what you need is to go deep into the presence of God because Psalm 16:11 says:

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

You cannot be engulfed in the presence of God and not feel His love and care for you; that love you feel will bring joy to your soul. How can you get into the presence of God? Simple. Through praise and worship. David said in Psalm 100:4 that with thanksgiving, you enter into the gates of God and with praises, you enter into His courtyard. When you praise and worship God for a long period of time, you will feel His presence come down greatly and since in His presence there is fulness of joy, you will begin to feel a joy that is beyond understanding. That is why Isaiah 61:3 says a garment of praise will replace a spirit of heaviness:  

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness…..”

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please give me a garment of praise in place of every heaviness in my heart 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   Mark 13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 3: BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE.

1. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,

All ye that are upright in heart;

And ye that have made Him your choice,

Bid sadness and sorrow depart.

o Refrain:

Rejoice, rejoice,

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice;

Rejoice, rejoice,

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice.

2. Be joyful, for He is the Lord

On earth and in Heaven supreme;

He fashions and rules by His word—

The “Mighty” and “Strong” to redeem.

3. What though in the conflict for right

Your enemies almost prevail?

God’s armies, just hid from your sight,

Are more than the foes which assail.

4. Though darkness surround you by day,

Your sky by the night be o’ercast,

Let nothing your spirit dismay,

But trust till the danger is past.

5. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,

His praises proclaiming in song;

Let gratefulness give all a voice,

The loud hallelujahs prolong!

Open Heavens Prayer Points

 Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Wednesday, November 4, 2020) - 

Freedom From Depression 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.Thank You, Father, for Your thoughts over me, which are thoughts of good and not of evil, to bring me to an expected end.

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

3.I silence every evil voice from the pit of hell, suggesting suicide, alcohol, gluttony and backsliding, as a way out of my current life's challenges, in Jesus' name.

4.I decree that I shall not die but live, to declare the goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living, in Jesus' name.

5.I come against every spirit of depression, frustration, despair and anxiety in my life; I bind them and cast them into the bottomless pit, in Jesus' name.

6.I confess that God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, of love,  and of a sound mind; I therefore paralyse everything causing me fear and anxiety, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, restore unto me the joy of Your salvation, and renew the right spirit within me, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, anoint me with the oil of gladness above my fellows, and let Your joy, never depart from me, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, give me the grace to be willing to seek spiritual help and guidance from manifestly born again and spirit filled counsellors in Your church, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and, give him victory over every known and unknown adversaries, 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.

Day 2: RCCG, Fasting and Prayers for (your country).

WEDNESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER, 2020.

PERSONAL AND NATIONAL HEALING.

EXODUS 15: 26,2 CHRONICLES 7:14.

INTRODUCTION: Sins come with consequences which hurt a lot. The consequences are wounds which can be spiritual, emotional, physical or financial. Only God has the ability to heal all kinds of wounds (Exod. 15:26). Many are wounded already and we need God to heal us individually and as a nation at this moment as we pray to him.

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Father we thank you because you have the power to heal all manner of wounds.

2. Father we thank you for your mercy that endures forever. 2 Chronicles 5:13

3. Father we repent of all our past errors committed as leaders and followers in this nation in Jesus' name.

4. Father we repent of all sins of adultery, idolatry, ritual, looting, kidnaping, killing etc. and let your blood cleans us in (your country) in Jesus name. 1John 1:9

5. Father, heal every individual that is wounded by your stripe in Jesus name. Isaiah 53:5

6. Father, heal our nation of all wounds in the mighty name of Jesus.

7. Father, release the spirit of humility upon this nation, that we will always acknowledge your supremacy in all areas, in Jesus' name. 2 Chronicles 7:14

8. Father, please heal our nation Nigeria as you did in Jericho, in Jesus' name.

9. Father, release the spirit of obedience upon all citizens of this nation in Jesus name. Ezekiel 36:27

10. Father, release abundant grace for us in Nigeria to be separated unto you Lord in Jesus name.

11. Father, please heal all the nations in the world that are wounded in Jesus name. Rev. 22:2

12. Father we come against every evil altar polluting our land. All evil altars, be wasted in Jesus' name. Haggai 2:22

13. Lord of host; let your fire consume all evil altars in any part of (your country) in Jesus' name.

14. Every Inherited strange behaviour and habits in our lives working against our spiritual revival be destroyed in Jesus' name. Jeremiah 31:29

15. Father, contend with any power contending with the fulfilment of your purpose in (your country) in Jesus' name. Isaiah 49:25

16. Every evil covenant working against (your country) is broken by the blood of Jesus.

17. Father, restore the glory of (your country) that was lost in Jesus' name.

18. We command every mountain or obstruction on our path to new (your country), become plain now in Jesus' name. Isaiah 40:4

19. Father, restore greatness, progress and unity to (your country) in Jesus' name. Gen 20:14

20. The revolution that has started will not lose focus and be aborted in Jesus name. Zech 4:9

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.