Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

 

DATE: WEDNESDAY 12TH JANUARY  2022.

 

THEME: LESSONS FROM ELISHA I.

 

MEMORISE:

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.                 

Proverbs 22:29

 

READ:   1 Kings 19:15-21

15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

 

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

 

17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

 

18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

 

19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

 

20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

 

21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

 

MESSAGE:

We can learn many lessons from the life and times of Elisha- the successor to the great Prophet Elijah. In the next few days, we shall consider some of these lessons, and we will start with ‘diligence’ today. For example, we see that Elisha- a prosperous farmer’s son, was working alongside his father’s employees when Elijah met him. He could have refrained from joining the workers, but he worked with them because he was a diligent man. To excel physically in your endeavors, you must be diligent (Proverbs 22:19); likewise, to excel spiritually, you must seek the Lord diligently (Hebrews 11:6).

 

Another lesson we can learn from Elisha is ‘good leadership’. As successful as he was, he was in the field with the hirelings, ploughing in his father’s farm (1 Kings 19:19). He was a leader by example- not a sit-at-home leader who issues commands while he himself would not lift a finger to do anything. To lead is to serve, according to the injunction of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 20:27. He was diligently doing his business when he received the call to the office of a prophet. Children of God should not be idling away in the name of a call that could be for a set time- they must be found busy doing legitimate business because the Lord does not call mediocre. Moreover, Elisha did not allow his call to becloud his obligation to honor his father before resuming at his divine post as a son of the prophet (1 kings 19:20). This confirms with the Scripture that says, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12).

 

It is a dangerous thing to fail in honoring our parents under the guise of either a new-found faith or calling in the ministry. I will forever be grateful to God who gave me the opportunity to honor my mother while she was still alive and I received a lifetime blessing from her. Beloved, let us take note of these lessons as we continue to examine the life and times of Elisha the prophet.

 

ACTION POINT:

Take time to study Prophet Elisha on your own and it will surprise you how many lessons the Holy Spirit will teach you.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 35-37.

  

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

 

HYMN 3:  DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS.

Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus

Daily let me go;

Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,

More of grace to know.

Refrain:

Oh, deeper yet, I pray,

And higher every day,

And wiser, blessed Lord,

In Thy precious, holy Word.

 

Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,

Take me deeper still,

Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,

And His perfect will.

Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,

Deeper let me go!

Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,

Let me fruitful grow.

Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,

Till all conflict past,

Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image

Perfected at last.

Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,

Holy faith and true;

In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom

Let me peace pursue.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS: 

(Tuesday, January 11, 2022) 

THE BLESSINGS OF COMMITMENT. 

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 Lion of the Tribe of Judah; You're the Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent God.

2.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me; let Your mercy prevail over any judgement of sin in my life, in Jesus' name.

3.Father, please, shut the mouth of every worldly roaring lion, seeking to devour me, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, arise on my behalf, and scatter every evil and satanic conspiracy, plots and gang-ups, from the pit of hell, against my life, ministry, career, and family, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please, give me an excellent spirit, and lift up my head above those of my enemies; let all my enemies come and bow down before me, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, for my labours in Your vineyard; let me be empowered spiritually and immunised, against every plot and weapons fashioned against me by the enemies, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, plead my cause with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me; take hold of Your shield and buckler, and stand up for my help, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, turn every evil counsel of my enemies to foolishness, and let them be confounded and put to shame, over my life, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please reward my commitment to Your Kingdom’s business, financially, materially and spiritually, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye; and reward him abundantly for all his labours of love in Your kingdom, 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.

Note:

You may not add, subtract or rearrange these prayer points. The Holy Spirit is the author, though He used someone, who, out of humility has refused to take glory for it, by not putting his name. It is plagiarism to use, or pass as your own, someone's else writing or work. The original author of these prayer points is the Holy Spirit. So, share, but don't share His glory with Him in the process. Remain blessed, as you obey, in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

 

DATE: TUESDAY 11TH JANUARY  2022.

 

THEME: THE BLESSINGS OF COMMITMENT.

 

MEMORISE:

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Daniel 6:22

 

READ:   Daniel 6:1-22

1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

 

MESSAGE:

Yesterday we discussed the price of commitment and noted that, as high as the price of commitment to Kingdom projects may be, it is highly rewarding. Today we shall dwell further on this and pray that we would be spurred unto greater commitment to godliness and Kingdom business in Jesus’ name.

 

Our text today is a classic example of the blessings of commitment, especially to godliness. King Darius was deceived into signing a deadly document that forbade everyone to pray to God or any other person asides the king himself, for thirty days. The perpetrators of this deceit knew Daniel was committed to praying to God and they sought to implicate him with the law. Darius later realized that he had been misguided into signing a death warrant for Daniel, whom he obviously admired and respected. Daniel continued to pray to God despite the law, and as expected, he was thrown into the den of lions. Darius could not sleep that night, and as soon ass it was morning, he ran to the den of lions to confirm the authenticity of the power of God and whether God had rewarded Daniel for his commitment to Him. The Bible says:

“And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”                                        Daniel 6:20

 

The God of Daniel- the Lion of the tribe of Judah had delivered him from the jaws of the lions. Daniel replied, confirming the reward of commitment to godliness;

“Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”                       Daniel 6:21-22

 

May you also reap the benefits and rewards of commitment to the Almighty God and His Kingdom’s business, in the mighty name of Jesus.

 

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please reward my commitment to Your Kingdom’s business, in Jesus’ name.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 32-34.

  

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

 

HYMN 12:  MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.

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!

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!

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.

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:

(Monday, January 10, 2022)

THE PRICE OF COMMITMENT.

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 first loving me, in that while I was yet a sinner, You gave Your only son, Jesus, to die for my sin.

2.Thank You, Father, for the salvation of my soul and for the gift of eternal life, through the substitutional sacrifice of Your son on the cross, for the sin He did not commit.

3.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me; let Your mercy prevail over any judgement of sin in my life, in Jesus name.

4.Father, let nothing be too big, or too costly, for me to surrender for Your use and for the expansion of Your kingdom, in Jesus name.

5.Father, please, give me the grace to deny myself and take up my cross daily, and follow You, habitually, in Jesus name.

6.Father, empower me to love You with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind; and to love my neighbour as myself, in Jesus name.

7.Father, let my love for You restrain me from sinning against You; empower me by Your grace to live above sin and above all the activities of the flesh, in Jesus name.

8.Father, wear upon me the garment of Your holiness; please, make me holy as You are holy, in heaven, and, deliver me from the persecution of man, in Jesus name.

9.Father, please help me to double my commitment to godliness and Kingdom projects, this year, in Jesus name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye; and, grant him divine health and strength, for the works 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

Please, share the Word of God.

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.

Note:

You may not add, subtract or rearrange these prayer points. The Holy Spirit is the author, though He used someone, who, out of humility has refused to take glory for it, by not putting his name. It is plagiarism to use, or pass as your own, someone's else writing or work. The original author of these prayer points is the Holy Spirit. So, share, but don't share His glory with Him in the process. Remain blessed, as you obey, in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 10TH JANUARY  2022.

THEME: THE PRICE OF COMMITMENT.

MEMORISE:

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.            

Luke 9:23

READ:   Matthew 22:35-40

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

MESSAGE:

A brother was discussing with me about how he had decided to be very committed to Kingdom work. I knew he was just probably trying to impress me, so I set a little test to see how serious he was in his commitment to Kingdom business. I told him the church would need his car for an outreach the next Monday. He protested immediately, saying that he would also need it to transport himself to work. I then told him that he had no idea what total commitment to God and His Kingdom’s business was. It was then I pointed out to him that we had already made provision for all the vehicles we would need for the outreach. I told him further that I had just wanted to test the genuineness of his claim of commitment to God.

In our Bible reading today, our Lord Jesus Christ based our commitment as His disciples on a great pillar called love-love for our Father in heaven and love for our neighbors. Our commitment to love goes a long way to fulfil the eternal and universal law. Love is however, so costly that even our Father in heaven paid a great price to demonstrate it to the whole world for the purpose of our salvation.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”                    John 3:16

In the same vein, when we are committed to loving our neighbors, many things will happen positively in our world. Firstly, keeping the commandments of God would be very easy. Our love for God will make us refrain from annoying Him through sin. David wrote: “ I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.” (Psalm 119:101). Holiness is the price we all must pay to be a part of Kingdom of God. Furthermore, our commitment to holiness may be very costly as we must be ready to pay the price of persecution according to 2 Timothy 3:12. To be a disciple and a friend of Jesus for that matter demands a price, according to Mark 10:30. Beloved, are you committed to soul-winning, giving to Kingdom projects and godliness? I congratulate you if you are because you will not miss your reward, in the name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to increase my commitment to godliness and kingdom projects, in Jesus’ name.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 30-31.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 1:  ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.

All to Jesus I surrender,

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

 

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,

Humbly at His feet I bow;

Worldly pleasures all forsaken,

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

 

All to Jesus I surrender,

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit,

Truly know that Thou art mine.

 

All to Jesus I surrender,

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power,

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

 

All to Jesus I surrender,

Now I feel the sacred flame;

Oh, the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory, to His Name!

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS:

(Sunday, January 9, 2022)

EBENEZER: AN EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE. 

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 that You have done for me, from the date of my conception, birth and to this day.

2.Thank You, Father, for all the battles You have fought and won on my behalf and for the grace to be counted among the living today.

3.Thank You, Father, for sending help to me from far and near last year, and for all the divine helpers You have assigned to help me, this year.

4.Thank You, Father, for where You started with me, for where I am and for where You're taking me.

5.Thank You, Father, for Your faithfulness, love, and mercy over my life, family and ministry; indeed, it is by Your mercy that I have not been consumed.

6.Thank You, Father, for the precious blood of Your son, Jesus that was shed at Calvary for the remission of my sin and the sins of the whole world.

7.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me; let Your mercy prevail over any judgement of sin in my life, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please give me a heart of gratitude in all situations and circumstances, this year, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, let Your grace be more than sufficient for me, in all areas of my life, family, academics and ministry, this year, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, like never before, this year, 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.

Note:

You may not add, subtract or rearrange these prayer points. The Holy Spirit is the author, though He used someone, who, out of humility has refused to take glory for it, by not putting his name. It is plagiarism to use, or pass as your own, someone's else writing or work. The original author of these prayer points is the Holy Spirit. So, share, but don't share His glory with Him in the process. Remain blessed, as you obey, in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 9TH JANUARY  2022.

THEME: EBENEZER: AN EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE.

MEMORISE:

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.                      

Psalm 103:1

READ: 1 Samuel 7:7-17

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord.

MESSAGE:

After the great victory over the Philistines in 1 Samuel 7:12, ebenezer- the stone of help was set up to celebrate and mark how far the Lord had helped the children of Israel. This was done to show appreciation and gratitude to God for His present help and continued support in the future. The Bible records that Israel was engaged in a prolonged war that stretched over many generations, yet they made a point to appreciate God for the success at the end of every battle. So also, children of God must learn to express heartfelt gratitude to God in all circumstances.

One of the numerous benefits of expressing gratitude to God is the fact that it usually propels Him to do much more than we can imagine. Gratitude motivates God to exceed the limits of His initial action. The story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:12-19 is a good example of this. Luke 17:17-19 says:

“And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

In the story above, ten lepers cried to Jesus for mercy to heal and cleanse them of their leprosy. Jesus did something strange; He did not pray for them as expected, but rather, told them to go and show themselves to the priests as required by the law according to Leviticus 14:2-7. While the lepers were on their way to the priests, they suddenly discovered their leprosy had vanished. Immediately, one them turned back to appreciate and glorify God. It was at this point that the one who returned to give thanks got something beyond his healing- he was made whole, such that there would be no scar or mark left to indicate that he had ever been leprous.

Sincere, heartfelt appreciation must be prompt and timely. Any show of gratitude that comes later than necessary is usually not acceptable. We need to have value for genuine thanksgiving and develop a grateful heart, so that expressions of gratitude will begin to flow out of our heart, mouth and actions to God forever.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please give me a heart of gratitude in all circumstances, in Jesus’ name.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 27-29.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 25:  TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life our redemption to win,

And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Refrain:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice;

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice;

Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.

Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

To every believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender who truly believes,

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

But purer, and higher, and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.