OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS.

Monday, January 18, 2021

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2021.

THEME: MCY: FAMILY TIES.

MEMORISE:

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:26

READ: Matthew 10:35-38

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

MESSAGE:

The' F' in our equation for Resistance in the "Mathematics of Christ in You” (MCY) series that we started on January 11, stands for Family Ties. As difficult as it sounds, if Christ is going to operate freely in you, some family ties would have to suffer, as we see in todays' memory verse. What Jesus was saying is that your love for Him, relative to what you feel for your family, should be incomparable. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son who he loved, Abraham wasted no time in trying to do so. Of course, God only wanted to find out what Abraham's choice would be if he had to choose between Him and his son.

I once had a similar experience. As the youngest and only male child of my mother, I had a close relationship with her. Before I met Christ, I would always spend Christmas with her. However, after joining the Redeemed Christian Church of God and becoming a Pastor, I had to spend my Christmas instead at the Christ The Redeemer's Congress. One particular year, we were going to have the programme at ljebu lgbo, Nigeria. Since I would not be around during Christmas, I decided to visit my mother on December 23rd to tell her I would see her after the programme. On getting there, l found that she was dying. I was in a dilemma; the programme had to start in two days. I was one of the organizers yet no one in the Church knew where I had gone, and there were no mobile phones in those days. It was a difficult choice, but I said to my mother "You know I love you and would love to stay by your side, but I have to go because Jesus is calling". Thank God for good mothers, she made it easy for me. She said My son, I understand. I can already see your involvement with Jesus Christ". She then prayed for me. I thought it was going to be our last conversation; it turned out to be a test by God because she lived for another eleven years.

From the report I received, even before I got to ljebu lgbo, she had recovered. God wanted to find out who I would choose if I had to make a decision between Him and my m other who I loved so much.

Nothing, not even family ties should come between you and God.

KEY POINT:

God must come first in every aspect of your life. Nothing, not even Family ties should be placed before Him.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 21-23

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: IN CHRIST ALONE.

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Open Heavens Prayer Points

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: (Monday, January 18, 2021) -

MCY: BITTERNESS

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, for being the Author and Finisher of my faith.

2.Thank You, Father, for, I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.

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 a forgiving spirit, that I may also receive forgiveness for my sins, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, uproot from my life every root of bitterness and unforgiveness, that may defile me, in Jesus' name.

6.Father strengthen me to break every chain of bitterness and unforgiveness, in my life, in Jesus' name

7.Father empower me by Your grace, to forgive everyone who has offended me, in the name of Jesus.

8.Father, any restitution that I need to make, for my healing to be complete and perfected, please, give me the grace to make it, in Jesus' name.

9.I speak to every mountain of bitterness and unforgiveness in my life, "be thou removed and be cast into the sea", in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A.Adeboye, and perfect everything concerning his life, family and ministry, 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 18TH JANUARY 2021.

THEME: MCY: BITTERNESS.

MEMORISE:

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 6:14

READ: Mark 11:23-26

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

MESSAGE:

We have been treating the "Mathematics of Christ in You" (MCY)since January 11. The 'B' in our equation for Resistance stands for Bitterness. If you refuse to forgive those who have offended you, you are only multiplying your suffering because the fellow who offended you, is going on with his or her life yet you are suffering spiritually. It is like stopping to rant at someone who sped past your car at a traffic fight you are only delaying yourself further. I quickly forgive those who offend me because I don't want to get myself into trouble. I cannot allow bitterness to disconnect me from God. Hebrews 12:15 says:

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"

Unforgiveness can defile you and lead to some very serious sicknesses too. There was a man who was bloating. The doctors could not find anything wrong, so he came to the Church. God revealed that the man had some restitutio n to make. We eventually found that this man chose not to forgive his son- in-law.

When he was going to give out his daughter in marriage, he made the young man promise to take good care of her. Unfortunately, the boy started beating the wife. Her father pleaded with him, but things only got worse. One day, the husband fired a gun at his wife but missed narrowly. That was when the man asked his daughter to leave finally; however, he swore to never forgive the boy and to deal with him.

The man was told that he had to forgive, and in fact. according to Matthew 18:15 he had to be the one to go to the son-in-Iaw. The man went because he wanted to be healed. As he reached his son-in-law's house, the young man tried to escape. The man however said I have not come to fight I have come to beg you. I have forgiven you and I want you to do the same". As they hugged and wept, the man who had been bloat suddenly reduced in size to such an extent that his wedding ring dropped from his finger to the ground. He was healed.

Forgive, so you can be free.

KEY POINT:

Stop punishing yourself; forgive everyone who has offended you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 17-20

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: 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.

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Open Heavens Prayer Points

Prayer Points on Today’s Open Heavens: Sunday, January 17, 2021

MCY: LUST (II).

Special Note:

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:

Prayer Points:

1.I worship and adore, You, my Father, who is able to keep me from falling, and present me faultless before Your throne of glory, with exceeding joy.

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 a humble and a contrite heart and grant me more of Your grace, in Jesus name.

4.Father, give me the grace to flee fornication; let me never yield to any temptation to defile my body, which is Your temple, in Jesus name.

5.Father, let every Delilah that has been assigned to frustrate Your grace and anointing upon my life, be frustrated and disgraced, in Jesus name.

6.Father, deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and let all my enemies fall, and be consumed by their own evil counsels, and traps that they set for me, in Jesus name.

7.Father, grant me the grace to dwell eternally in Your secret place, and let me abide under Your protective cover forever, in Jesus name.

8.Father, empower me to hunger and thirst perpetually, for righteousness, and

fill me to the brim with Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.

9.Father, let me always be willing to give up anything, in order to remain righteous and do Your perfect Will, 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.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 17TH JANUARY 2021.

THEME: MCY: LUST II.

MEMORISE:

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18

READ: Judges 16: 4-20

4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.

6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.

7 And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

9 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.

10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.

11 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

12 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.

14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.

15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;

17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.

19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.

MESSAGE:

A hungry and thirsty fellow is one who is desperate for food and water. Have you ever seen someone who has been stranded on a desert for a whole month? If he sees water anywhere, he would do anything, and I mean anything, to drink it. The same applies to a person who has been deprived of food for many

days. In the same vein, God expects us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. He expects us to desperately pursue righteousness. Jesus gave a parable in Matthew 13:44-46 that the kingdom of God is like a man who found treasure in a field and went to sell all that he had so he could buy that field and

own the treasure. Psalm 63:1 says:

"..... My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water."

You should be willing to give up anything just to remain righteous. The reverse is the case these days; people are very quick to sacrifice their righteousness in order to gain some pleasures of this world.

Don't deceive yourself with contemporary Christianity. If you are not desperately hungry to live a holy life, you become easy meat for the devil. You need to be desperate enough to cut off your right hand if that hand is going to cause you to sin (Matthew 5:30). In other words, if social media is the means through which immoral thoughts get into your mind, then you must be ready to delete those social media apps from your phone. If you are lusting after your secretary, then you must be ready to let go of such a person. If being a staff in that organization causes you to stain your garment of holiness, then resign! Only the violent can take the kingdom of God and they must take it by force. Don't be afraid to be asked why you pursue this Jesus so much. Fear of what people may say will make many lose their righteousness and consequently, the kingdom of God. You must hunger and thirst for righteousness at all times.

KEY POINT:

Flee every appearance of the lust of the flesh!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 34-36

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 29: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY STAIN?

1 What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:

O precious is the flow

that makes me white as snow;

no other fount I know;