Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY MAY 9TH, 2023.

THEME: HE CAN CHANGE HIS MIND

MEMORISE: 

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 

Acts 13:22 

READ: Deuteronomy 8:11 -20

11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.

MESSAGE

When God promotes you, you must never forget that your loyalty must be to Him and only Him. 1 Samuel 15:15-24 records that when Saul became king, he forgot the One who put him there. God sent him on a mission; he failed, and his reason was, "I feared the people". Don't try to lower the standard of God because you want to be popular.

Don't forget that God is sovereign; He can do and undo. He can change His mind. Each time we read 1 Samuel 2, we love to quote verse 8 and ignore verse 7 which says that the Lord makes rich and makes poor, He can take a beggar from the dunghill and promote him until he is sitting with princes. In 1 Samuel 2:30, He said to Eli, "I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me forever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me l will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed". He can promote and He can demote.

Never forget that God always has a substitute ready. You can never hold God to ransom. If He promotes you and you think that without you, He cannot do anything, He would just bring in the substitute. For over a decade, King Saul was still on the throne, but David had already being chosen and anointed king. Saul was merely carrying the title but David was the approved king. Right in the house of Eli, little Samuel was already rising - the one who would take over was already there, in waiting.

My prayer is that God will promote you, but don't forget that when He does, you must put Him first and obey Him completely. You must help others and never use your position to oppress people. Proverbs 22:22-23 says God Himself will plead the case of those who oppress others. Let your promotion birth promotion for many other people too.

Perhaps you are the one resisting God's promotion by indulging in one sin or the other. The Bible says if you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, He will lift you. Surrender all to Him and let Him begin to lift you.

PRAYER POINT 

Father, as you promote me, I promise to always do Your will, in Jesus name. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 5-7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

1 I need Thee ev'ry hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

Refrain:

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Ev'ry hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

2 I need Thee ev'ry hour,

Stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their pow’r

When Thou art nigh. 

3 I need Thee ev'ry hour,

In joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide,

Or life is vain. 

4 I need Thee ev'ry hour,

Teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises

In me fulfill.

Open Heaven Prayer Points

Prayer Points on Yesterday’s Open Heavens: 

(Sunday, May 7, 2023)

SHOWING OFF IN CHURCH

Special Note.

These prayer points are not written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, but by one of his , 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 establishing Your church as a place of worship and for Your decree that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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

3.Father, let Your church not be a place of strife and unhealthy rivalry and competition to show forth our worldly affluence and wealth, in Jesus name

4.Father, let there be peace and unity in the church, in Jesus name.

5.Father, let the spirit of moderation and humility prevail in Your church, in Jesus name.

6.Father, help me to refrain from doing anything that will bring shame and reproach to Your church or holy name, in Jesus name.

7.Father, let Your fire consume every carnal and worldly thoughts and habits in my life, in Jesus name.

8.Father, let Your church be a place of praising and worshipping You, as it is originally established to be, in Jesus name.

9.Father, grant us favour and let many be added to Your church daily, as we do things in one accord and praise You, 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, books ministry.

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 HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 8TH, MAY 2023.

THEME: WHY GOD PROMOTES

MEMORISE

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

Mark 10:45

READ: MATHEW 20:20-28

20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

MESSAGE

God never does anything without a purpose. He promotes  people primarily to fulfil His Purpose. God promotes men so that they can use their promotion to serve and bless others. A tree does not consume its own fruit; it produces fruit for others to benefit from. You don’t become fruitful just for your own self, but rather, so that you can be of service to others.

According to Exodus 2:11-15, Moses was a fugitive, he was running away from Pharaoh because he had just committed murder, but by the time we get to Exodus 7:1, God said “ See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh…..” God promoted Moses so that he could deliver the nation of Isreal. This is why, in Exodus 14:21-28, God could use Moses to clear a way through Red Sea for the whole nation. 1 Samuel 16:11-13 tells us that when God wanted to appoint a king in his family, He chose the only one that nobody considered relevant- David. By the time He had promoted David, one of the reasons for his promotion came up in the next chapter- God used him to deliver a nation from a terrorist(1 Samuel 17:1-51)

When God promoted a man, it is so that he can help others fulfil their destiny. You can help others become who God wants them to be. This is why I don’t say a word when people criticise us for planting so many churches, because a lot of people would never have discovered their purpose if they were not sent out. The purpose of God promoting you is to help others become what He planned for them. I Pray that you will remember to help others fulfil their destinies when God promotes you.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 22:30 that God sought just one man who would stand between Him and the people so that He would not destroy their nation. But found none. Maybe God is waiting to promote you. If You are willing to help others, God will find you worthy of promotion. 

KEY POINT

The heart of service will attract divine promotion.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 Chronicles 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 30: WHEN WILL 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 Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: SUNDAY MAY 7TH, 2023.

THEME: SHOWING OFF IN CHURCH

MEMORISE: 

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 

Acts 4:32 

READ: 1 Corinthians 11:18 -22

18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

MESSAGE

On habit that seems to have crept into the Church recently, is that of showing off to other Church members. There are people who go to Church majorly to show off their new clothes or some other material possession. This is completely outside 

God's plan for the Body of Christ. God's original plan for the Church is for everyone to be united and have everything  in common. The Bible says in Acts 2:46-47:

And they, continuing daily with one accord in temple, and

breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The reason Church is not growing as fast as it should is that ther is no singleness of heart. When people prefer to outshine one another in showing their material possessions than actually caring about each other and the gospel, the Church cannot grow. The reason we have not won the whole world to Christ is that the Church is not united.

The Holy Spirit does not move in the midst of divided people. When the Holy Spirit descend in the Upper Room, the people were in one accord (Acts 2:1). Until Ch I stains love each other and are in one accord, the Church cannot experience the move of the Holy Spirit as it should.

Many Church leaders wonder why the Holy Spirit is not moving as much as they expect, not knowing that the problem is in the divisions within the Church. Some pastors give special attention to the Richie. The Church. Apostle James said in James 2:15 that you should not give the rich preferential treatment against those that are not so rich, or else you would become a judge with evil thoughts. It doesn't matter how rich they are, they should not not be praised for showing off I. The Church, but rather, rebuked.

Believers should dress well and can own luxurious items. However, it is wrong to flaunt material possessions with the intent to oppress others. The Church must unite and cease to be a place where people compete to,outshine one another over material possessions.

REFLECTION 

When you go to Church, do you show off your material possessions? If yes, stop it henceforth.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 27-29

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 20: STAND UP,STAND UP FOR JESUS

1 Stand up, stand up for Jesus

ye soldiers of the cross;

lift high his royal banner,

it must not suffer loss.

From vict'ry unto vict'ry

his army he shall lead

till ev'ry foe is vanquished

and Christ is Lord indeed.

2 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

the trumpet call obey;

forth to the mighty conflict

in this his glorious day.

Ye that are men now serve him

against unnumbered foes;

let courage rise with danger

and strength to strength oppose.

3 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

stand in his strength alone;

the arm of flesh will fail you,

ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the gospel armor,

each piece put on with prayer;

where duty calls or danger,

be never wanting there.

4 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

the strife will not be long;

this day the noise of battle,

the next, the victor's song.

To him that overcometh

a crown of life shall be;

he with the King of glory

shall reign eternally.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS: 

(Saturday, May 6, 2023) 

WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS 

Special Note.

These prayer points are not written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, but by one of his , disciples, of Christ, who was inspired and mandated by the Holy Spirit, effective, January 1st, 2015, to start writing these prayer points, based on the Open Heavens Daily Devotional, authored by Pastor E. A. Adeboye.

Some of the prayer points are deep spiritually and may not be understood by carnal minds.

If you want to be blessed from these prayer points, you must first, surrender Your life, to the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, by saying this prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me all my sins. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal destruction in hell fire. In Jesus' name, I pray.”

*Prayer Points* 

1.I worship and adore You, my Father, You, who has been from everlasting to everlasting.

2.We worship and adore You, my Father,  because Your thoughts are not our thoughts, and, Your ways are not our ways;

3.Father, as the heaven is higher than the earth, so, are Your ways higher than the ways of men.

4.I believe You, my Father, as the creator of heaven and the earth and the Alpha and the Omega.

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

6.Father, please, give me divine wisdom and revelations from above that will make me wiser than my enemies and confound them, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please, give me wisdom and understanding to the secret things of this world, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, give me divine solution to every challenge standing before me right now, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, see me through, let me never be stranded or go astray; and grant me eternal life, 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, books ministry.

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:  SATURDAY MAY 6TH 2023

THEME:  WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS

MEMORISE:  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Psalm 73: 17

READ: Psalms 73:1 -17

1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

MESSAGE

As a younger Christian, l had many difficult questions for my pastors. For example, since Genesis 1:1 says,  "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth", l asked where He was before He created Heaven , but none of them could answer. Since l could not get answers from my pastors, l turned to God and He answered me,

The reason we don't understand certain things in the word of God is in Isaiah 55:8-9:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Some of the things that you are trying to explain with logic are far higher and deeper than what the ordinary human mind can process. In the Sciences, we say, "Prove,it and l,will believe you". God however says, "Believe me and l will prove it". If you are not ready to believe God's word because you don't understand it, you may never experience the power in it and you would be the one on the losing end.

There was one particular question l had from the story of Elisha and the Syrian army who had come to arrest him in 2 Kings 6:8-23. Elisha told them that they were in the wrong place then led the to Samaria where they were captured and then later released.

I wondered for a long time how God could have supported how Elisha deceived the soldiers, until the day He explained by asking, "My son, if death were to come knocking on your door asking for you. Would you welcome it in? If sickness comes asking for you, will you hug it? If poverty comes asking for your address, will you say it is in the right place?"

When you have questions, turn to God for answers. He alone can open your eyes to behold the wonders in His word (Psalm 119:18).

KEY POINT

When you have questions turn to Christ for answer.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 24-26

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: BLESSED ASSURANCE

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

  This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,

  Praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest;

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Open Heavens Daily Devotiona by Pastor E.A. are

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 

DATE:  FRIDAY MAY 5TH 2023

THEME:  PRAYERS FOR ELDERS

MEMORISE:  And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isaiah 46:4

READ: 1 Peter 5:1 -4

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

PRAYERS:

1. Father, thank You for our elders. Thank You Lord, for giving them long life and good health.

2. Father, please forgive all the sins our elders may have committed in the past so that they can have peace in their old age.

3. Father, please give our elders wisdom and understanding to counsel the younger ones correctly.

4.Please Lord, if there is any elder who has not surrendered his or her life to You, please let them encounter You so that they can make heaven.

5. Father, please comfort any elder who,is lonely. Please Lord bring people around the who will show them love and care.

6. Father, please give our elders good health. Don't let the diseases that are common to old people come upon the elders around us, Lord.

7. Father, don't let the godly efforts of our elders go to waste. Let their children carry on their legacy successfully.

8. Father, we ask for unity between elders and youths. Whatever may have caused disunity between elders and you the in families, Churches or communities is destroyed now, in Jesus' name.

9. Father, please answer the prayers of our elders by fire, in Jesus' name. James 5:14 says we should go to the elders for prayers when we are sick. As they pray for us Lord, please let their prayers be answered speedily, in Jesus' name.

10. Father let our elders leave a good inheritance for us. Let only blessings flow from them to the younger ones, in Jesus' name.

11. Father, bless every child who desires to care for his or her parents but does not always have the means, in Jesus' name.

Your personal prayer points for the elders in your family, Church and community.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 20-23

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 22: SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER

1 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 

that calls me from a world of care, 

and bids me at my Father's throne 

make all my wants and wishes known. 

In seasons of distress and grief, 

my soul has often found relief, 

and oft escaped the tempter's snare 

by thy return, sweet hour of prayer! 

2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 

the joys I feel, the bliss I share 

of those whose anxious spirits burn 

with strong desires for thy return! 

With such I hasten to the place 

where God my Savior shows his face, 

and gladly take my station there, 

and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer! 

3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 

thy wings shall my petition bear 

to him whose truth and faithfulness 

engage the waiting soul to bless. 

And since he bids me seek his face, 

believe his word, and trust his grace, 

I'll cast on him my every care, 

and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!