Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2022.

THEME: THE RICH MAN'S BROTHERS

MEMORISE:  

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 

Luke 16:31

READ: Luke 16:19 -31

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

MESSAGE

Imagine there is a robbery on the street next to yours and your neighbor comes to inform you about it. I'm sure you would immediately, take all necessary precautions to ensure that you don't get robbed too. If we care so much about our earthly possessions, why then don't we care about our souls? The rich man told Abraham that if someone did not go back from the dead to warn his brothers about hell, they would not listen to the prophets around them. Abraham responded that if they didn't listen to prophets, they would likewise not listen to a resurrected Lazarus. If you are ignoring the preachers warning you about hell now, you are already on your way there. Even though many people have died and come back to life with stories about heaven and hell, some people have not repented. If the message of Jesus Christ is not enough for you to repent from your sins, l don't know what greater message can make you do so.

For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 10:26-27

If you continue to ignore the gospel of Christ or commit sin even when you know the anguish of hell, then you are toying with eternal damnation. Many times, the dead wish that they could tell us what is happening on the other side but they can't communicate with us here. While many are suffering in hell, some of their family members on earth are basking in the pleasure of sin, unaware of the dangers that await them if they don't repent. There are also many in heaven constantly hoping that all their family members make it to heaven too.

A man who went to heaven and came back shared his story. He said whenever someone gives his life to Christ, there is great rejoicing in heaven because the fellow has escaped damnation. However, when a Christian backslides, they are all sad because the fellow will be heading for hell. Brethren, God has sent me to you today to warn you about the life after. Live holy so that you will end up in heaven and not hell.

KEY POINT 

Set aside every weight of sin so that you can win the race to heaven. If you don't go to heaven the only other option is hell.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 41-45

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 8: I'M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY

1 I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining every day;

Still praying as I onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

 

Refrain:

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand

By faith on Canaan’s tableland;

A higher plane than I have found,

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

2 My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts arise and fears dismay;

Though some may dwell where these abound,

My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

3 I want to live above the world,

Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;

For faith has caught the joyful sound,

The song of saints on higher ground.

4 I want to scale the utmost height

And catch a gleam of glory bright;

But still I’ll pray till rest I’ve found,

Lord, lead me on to higher ground.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS: 

(FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2022)  

DON'T MISS YOUR PURPOSE

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 Tha in hell fire. In Jesus name, I pray.”

Prayer Points:

1. worship and adore You, my Father, for Your thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are Your ways, our ways.

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, take me off every road leading to eternal destruction that I am currently treading, ignorantly or consciously, in Jesus name.

4.Father, please, give me the grace never to follow the world's wisdom, but Your ways alone, in Jesus name.

5.Father, give me the grace to walk in the footsteps of my lord Jesus, who is my perfect example, in Jesus name.

6.Father, fill me with Your anointing, power and wisdom, and let my preachings and counsels, have great positive transformational impacts on Your children and on sinners, in Jesus name.

7.Father, empower me to always look unto You, the author and the finisher of my faith, for direction, counsels and wisdom, and not unto any man, in Jesus name.

8.Father, help me not to ever lean on my own understanding, but to acknowledge You in all my ways, in Jesus name.

9.Father, please, put Your fear in my heart, and let Your fear restrain and constrain me from putting forth my hands into iniquities, in Jesus name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye;  and, bless his ministry, home, and family (biological and spiritual), forever, 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 dates! 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  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: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2022.

THEME: DON'T MISS YOUR PURPOSE

MEMORISE: 

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

Proverbs 14:12 

READ: Proverbs 3:5 -8

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

MESSAGE 

Many people have lost the purpose of God for their lives. They are living below God’s standard and expectations for their lives. There is a method by which God operates, but as long as people keep choosing to do things in a worldly manner, they will never achieve the purpose of God for their lives.

For my thought are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

God does not think like man does. In fact, the Bible says His foolishness is wiser than men (1 Corinthians 1:25). You cannot achieve His purpose by trying to do things with worldly wisdom; you will end up missing it. Don't try to copy others, copy the One who called you. Jesus achieved His purpose for coming to earth because He said:

Verily, verily, l say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he Seth the Father do: for what things so ever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:19

For young ministers of the gospel, don't try to do things the way you've see other popular ministers do things; your calling is not as theirs. When I was younger in ministry, there were people whose sermons were very mesmerizing. As interesting as their sermons were, l stayed put to the way God had taught me to preach; by His grace, people's lives were transformed and the Church grew. For those who are teaching deep theology, at the end of the sermon, when you ask the people what they learnt, they would just say, "Oh, Pastor was on fire today"; there was no real change in the lives of the people. My beloved, don't follow the crowd. Hebrews 12:2 says, "Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith...?

I see some music ministers; they start well, singing great spiritual songs that attract the Spirit of God; but then they move on to those that will move the crowd and if you notice, their ministries begin to go down from there on. Be wise; if you want to have a long-lasting impact and eventually fulfill your destiny, do everything God's way and not the way the world does it.

PRAYER POINT 

Father, please give me the grace to never follow the world's wisdom but your way always in Jesus name.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 37-40

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 28: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD 

1 When we walk with the Lord 

in the light of his word, 

what a glory he sheds on our way! 

While we do his good will, 

he abides with us still, 

and with all who will trust and obey. 

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there's no other way 

to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

2 Not a burden we bear, 

not a sorrow we share, 

but our toil he doth richly repay; 

not a grief or a loss, 

not a frown or a cross, 

but is blest if we trust and obey.

3 But we never can prove 

the delights of his love 

until all on the altar we lay; 

for the favor he shows, 

for the joy he bestows, 

are for them who will trust and obey.

4 Then in fellowship sweet 

we will sit at his feet, 

or we'll walk by his side in the way; 

what he says we will do, 

where he sends we will go; 

never fear, only trust and obey.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS: 

(Thursday, September 1, 2022) 

FAKE FRIENDS 

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 Tha in hell fire. In Jesus' name, I pray.”

Prayer Points: 

1.Thank You, Father, for the grace to see another new month, and the beginning of the new RCCG Calendar year.

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, expose, disgrace and chase away from my life, every fake friend, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, let every grave digger and mourner,  waiting for me, this year, be disappointed, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, turn the tide against my enemies, and let me laugh last over them, in Jesus' name 

6.Father, let the ground open up and swallow every stubborn pursuer of my life and destiny, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, go ahead of me this new RCCG year, and straighten every crooked path, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, disappoint the devices of the crafty concerning me, and let their hands be unable to perform their enterprise, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, let every enchantment, divination, and evil arrow, targeted against me or any of my children, go back to sender, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye;  and, bless his ministry, home, and family (biological and spiritual), forever, 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 dates! 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  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.

Happy New Month!!!

Happy RCCG New Year!!!

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022.

THEME: FAKE FRIENDS

MEMORISE: 

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. 

Psalms 55:21

READ: Proverbs 26:23 -27

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

MESSAGE

When you read the story in Mark 5:35-42, you see what happened in the house of Jairus. It tells you that fake sympathizer have been in the world long ago. When Jesus came and said everyone should go out because the child was not dead, but only sleeping the Bible reported that they laughed him to scorn. They switched from weeping to laughing within a second. That means they were not sad to start with at all! I am happy that Jesus chased them out of the house. In the name that is above every other name, Jesus will chase every fake friends out of your life.

When the widow of Nain in Luke 7:11-17 was going to bury her only son and Jesus met her on the way, there were a lot of people there who pretended to be sympathizing with her, but l am sure they must have been saying "Is she the only one in the town? Why is it that tragedy upon tragedy is befalling her? First the husband died, now the only boy she had is dead. God must be punishing her for her sins". That is what they must have been saying, until Jesus got there and stopped the procession. One of my children once said the grave diggers were waiting they had already dug the grave. The mourners were waiting to do the final mourning at the grave yard, but the Almighty God disappointed them. Every grave digger waiting for you shall be disappointed this year. Everyone waiting to mourn over you will be disappointed in Jesus name. Anyone who thought he or she had succeeded in making you sad. By the time God turn the tide, you will laugh last.

Everyone at one time or the other will encounter fake friends, that is why you must be careful who you call, "Friends". Not everyone who calls themselves your friend should be close to you. Not everyone who comes close to you should know your secrets. Not everyone should be given  access to your inner circle. The Bible says that you should love even your enemies (Matthew 5:44), but it does not says everyone should be your friend, so, love them from a distance. Be good to people, but don't make them your friends if they have not really proven to you beyond any reasonable doubt that they are true friends. You don't need many friends. Proverbs 18:24 says there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. It didn't say there are many friends, it says "a friend".

KEY POINT 

Beware of fake friends.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 34-36

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 14: 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,

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,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer 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,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer 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,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

5. Or if, on joyful wing

Cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,

Upward I fly,

Still all my song shall be

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS: 

(Wednesday, August 31, 2022) 

TAKE CARE OF PASTORS 

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 Tha in hell fire. In Jesus' name, I pray.”

Prayer Points: 

1.Thank You, Father, for all Your pastors, faithfully and dutifully committed to Your service, day and night, in Your vineyard.

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, give me the grace to be generous and kind to my pastor, as Your representative in our midst, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, You have commissioned Your pastor to bless us; please, don't let me do anything that will attract his curses or make him withhold his blessings from me, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, don't let me become too familiar with Your pastor sent into our midst, as to take him for granted, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, help me not to wait for my pastor to request for help before I give to him; give me the grace to be sensitive to his needs, and give to him before he opens his mouth to ask, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, as the man of God labours to bless us day and night, please, give me the grace to also pray for him to succeed, because his success is our success too, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, put the seed, financial and material,  that I will sow regularly into the life of my pastor into my hands, and let him not lack any good thing, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, meet my pastor at the points of his needs, financially, materially and spirituality, at all times,  and reward him abundantly for all his labours of love in Your vineyard, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye;  and, bless his ministry, home, and family (biological and spiritual), forever, 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 dates! 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: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31ST, 2022.

THEME: TAKE CARE OF PASTORS

MEMORISE: 

And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house. 

Ezekiel 44:30

READ: 2 Kings 4:8 -37

8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.

12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.

13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.

16 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

25 So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite.

26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.

27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

30 And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.

31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.

34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.

37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.

MESSAGE

In Ezekiel 44:30, God gave some special power to His priests; they can place a blessing on or lift a blessing off a person. This is why you should do something to provoke a Man of God to at least say "God bless you". The blessing will be fully backed up by God Himself. A simple, "God bless you" from a true Man of God can change your story forever.

When l moved from Lagos to Ilorin many years ago, l needed someone to do electrical works at my new place so a brother from the Church in Lagos came over to do it for me. After he was through with the work, he didn't charge me. He only requested for transport fare back to Lagos. I gave him his transport fare, and simply said "God bless you " and he left. when he got to the Motor park, he met an old friend who introduced him to some businesses and to cut a long story short, he had bought a car of his own within weeks. Elisha simply said to the Shunamite woman that, according to the time of life (nine months), she was going to have a baby, and it was so. Although she didn't believe him, nothing could stop her miracle baby from coming because that word was backed by the power that God has given to His priests to bless whoever they want.

Don't take the Pastors of your local assembly for granted because you see him every week. If he is truly a man of God, a simple word of blessing from him can change your life. Don't wait for your Pastor to tell you what he needs. Find something you know he will appreciate and when you give it to him and he prays for you, say a big amen because that prayer is backed by God. When you give to God's representative, it is the same thing as giving to God Himself. Matthew 10:40-41 says:

He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward and he that receiveth a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

When you take care of the men of God around you, you are setting yourself up for divine blessings.

ACTION POINT 

Look for something that your Pastor will appreciate, even if it is just a word of encouragement and give to Him today.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 31-33

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 15: NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD

1 Now thank we all our God

with heart and hands and voices,

who wondrous things has done,

in whom his world rejoices;

who from our mothers' arms

has blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love,

and still is ours today.

2 O may this bounteous God

through all our life be near us,

with ever joyful hearts

and blessed peace to cheer us,

to keep us in his grace,

and guide us when perplexed,

and free us from all ills

of this world in the next.

3 All praise and thanks to God

the Father now be given,

the Son and Spirit blest,

who reign in highest heaven

the one eternal God,

whom heaven and earth adore;

for thus it was, is now,

and shall be evermore.