Open Heavens

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 


DATE: SUNDAY OCTOBER 29TH, 2023.


TOPIC: FASTING IS A WEAPON OF WAR


MEMORISE:

"And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." - (2 Chronicles 20:3)


READ: ESTHER 4:16-5:3 (KJV)


MESSAGE:


There was this man called Mordecai - Esther's uncle. There was also Haman - an officer of the king, who hated Mordecai. Haman expected everybody to bow to him, but Mordecai wouldn't bow to anybody except God. Haman decided to hang him and destroy his people completely. Haman got the king to sign the death warrant of all the Israelites.


When Mordecai heard of the decree from the king, he went to Esther, who was then the queen, for help. Esther replied in Esther 4:1-17 that they should all fast, and then she would go and see the king. They fasted for just three days and things began to change from that point. By the time we got to Esther 5:1-6, Esther appeared before the king without being summoned and the first result of the fasting was that instead of the king asking her to be killed, he spared her life. Fasting can change death to life.


The next thing that happened is that Esther found unusual favour before the king. The king told Esther that though he is yet to know what she wants, but she should consider it granted already, even up to half of his kingdom. When you fast, you get more than you ask for. By the time we get to Esther 6, the king couldn't sleep until he honoured Mordecai. A good deed that Mordecai did many years previously, which had been forgotten, made the king restless until it was repaid. When you take fasting seriously, all your past benefits that you have been denied can be brought forward and handed over to you.


In Esther 7, the enemy of the entire nation became completely uprooted, and then in Esther 8, the house of Haman was given over to Esther. Proverbs 13:22 says that the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just; do you think the wicked will let go of his wealth easily? You get it by fasting and praying. Wealth changes hands when you fast. Mordecai also got promoted because promotion comes from God (Psalm 75:6-7), and since fasting draws you closer to God, it leads to promotion.


Finally, in Esther 8:3-17, the Jews were saved from destruction, and the Bible also says all the people around became Jews because they were afraid of the Jews. Fasting is a powerful weapon of warfare. Begin to use this weapon from today.


KEY POINT:

Fasting is a powerful weapon of warfare and vehicle of promotion.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: LUKE 19-20


AUTHOR PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 


HYMNAL: 3 - ANCIENT WORDS


1. Holy words long preserved,

For our walk in this world,

They resound with God's own heart;

Oh, let the ancient words impart.


REFRAIN: 

Ancient words, ever true,

Changing me and changing you,

We have come with open hearts;

Oh, let the ancient words impart. 


2. Words of life, words of hope,

Give us strength, help us cope,

In this world, where e'er we roam;

Ancient words will guide us home.


3. Holy words of our faith,

Handed down to this age,

Came to us through sacrifice;

Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ.


4. Holy words long preserved,

For our walk in this world,

They resound with God's own heart;

Oh, let the ancient words impart.

Friday, October 27, 2023

LETS PRAY 🙏

 Isaiah 54:3 (KJV)  For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. May the word of God as spoken be made manifest in your life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.


Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 


DATE: SATURDAY OCTOBER 28TH, 2023.


TOPIC: FASTING TAKES YOU HIGHER


MEMORISE:

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 17:21


READ:

Acts 13:1-12


1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.


2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.


3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.


4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.


5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.


6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:


7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.


8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.


9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,


10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?


11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.


12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.


MESSAGE:


When you start fasting, you will notice changes which show that your flesh no longer controls you. First, fasting will bridle your tongue. During a fast, it becomes clear to you that many a time, you don't gain anything by talking. James 1:26 says if you say you are religious and you cannot control your mouth, you are deceiving yourself. Thus, as you fast and talk less, you also sin less.


Fasting also helps you to control your temper, particularly prolonged fasting, because you would have no energy to fight anyone. When you get angry easily, it is because you have a lot of energy; let me see how you will get angry when you have been fasting for twenty-one days and nights! If anybody offends you, you would simply say, "God bless you, just leave me alone". Ecclesiastes 7:9 says clearly that you should control your anger because anger rests in the bosom of fools.


You should ask yourself how come your body hates fasting. Galatians 5:17 says the flesh lusts against the Spirit. In other words, your flesh wants to fight the Spirit. If we do not say there is fasting tomorrow, you can wake up and not eat until 2 p.m., but once we announce that there will be fasting, some people would eat until midnight and still wake up hungry. This is because the devil does not want you to fast; this should tell you that fasting is good for you. When you learn to fast, you will be amazed that there are certain agents of darkness in your life that you have been coping with, but they move easily when you fast. Matthew 17:14-21 tells us that there was a demon the disciples tried their best to cast out but could not, without fasting and prayer. There are certain mountains that won't move unless you back your prayers with fasting.


In Exodus 17:8-13, when there was a war to be fought between Israel and the Amalekites, Moses went to the mountain top and lifted his hands, while Joshua was below the mountain, fighting. Whenever Moses' hands were up, the children of Israel would be winning the battle, but when his hands came down, they would start losing. The spiritual controls the physical. The solution to that lingering problem could just be some days of fasting in addition to your prayers.


KEY POINT:


Fasting lifts you higher so you begin to operate in a realm higher than the natural.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

LUKE 16-18


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 shall He 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.

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS:


Friday, October 27,  2023


TAMING THE FLESH 


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 the salvation of my soul.


2.Thank You, Father, for creating me in Your image and likeness and for giving me dominion and authority over all the works of Your hand.


3.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.


4.Father, release upon me the power to walk in the spirit, that I may not fulfill the lust of the flesh, in Jesus' name.


5.Father, give me the power and the grace to live above all the activities and works of the flesh, in Jesus' name.


6.Father, give me the power to keep my body under subjection and control of the spirit, so that I myself will not be a castaway after preaching to others, in Jesus' name.


7.Father, the power and the grace to fast often and to pray without ceasing, release upon my life, in Jesus' name.


8.Father, let Your Holy Spirit take dominion and authority over my life and let the flesh be completely subdued, in Jesus' name.


9.Father, give me the grace and the power to manifest the fruits of the spirit and to also reign with You in eternity, 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.

LETS PRAY 🙏

 Isaiah 48:3 (KJV) I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. May the former things that proceed from the mouth of God; bless, keep you strong and standing, keep you in the  knowledge of Him, never looking back, but resolute in having faith in Him who never fails nor disappoints in Jesus mighty name.


Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 


DATE: FRIDAY OCTOBER 27TH, 2023.


TOPIC: TAMING THE FLESH


MEMORISE:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16


READ: GALATIANS 5:16-25


16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.


17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.


18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.


19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,


20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,


21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,


23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.


24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.


25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.


MESSAGE:


The flesh is a very powerful weapon in the hands of the devil. Galatians 5:17 says the flesh and the Spirit are always in constant war against each other. The flesh always wants you to commit sin, while the Spirit wants you to please God. If the flesh wins the battle, then ultimately, the devil has won over your soul; that is why you must put your flesh under your control at all times, and one of the major ways to do that is to fast often.


Only a few select people have fasted for forty days and forty nights. The only three recorded for us in the Scriptures are Moses, Elijah and Jesus Christ. It will interest you to know that only the three of them were there on the mount of transfiguration, glowing like the sun. Today's message is not for the faint-hearted; it is for those who really want to grow.


Don't let anybody tell you that fasting ended when Jesus Christ said, "It is finished" on the cross; fasting is for now. In Matthew 9:14-15, some people came to Jesus Christ and complained about His disciples not fasting. He said that after His death, resurrection and ascension, the people would fast. Fasting is for now, and we will fast until the Bridegroom returns. When He returns, there will be no need for fasting anymore because 1 John 3:2 says that when He returns, we shall see and be like Him. When the rapture comes, those who are not dead will have their bodies transformed to become like the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. At that time, we won't need food; whatever He eats in His new body is what we will be eating, but until then, while your body is still the way it is, warring against the Spirit, you must fast to remain in the light of Christ.


There are those who will tell you fasting is not for the age of grace. They are big liars. Paul - the Apostle of Grace, said in 2 Corinthians 11:27 that he fasted often. He fasted often so he could subdue the flesh, and it would not cause him to be cast aside (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Apostle Paul said many people run a race, but only one will win. If you want to enter the Kingdom of God, then you must make fasting your lifestyle.


ACTION POINT:


Set apart days in the year for fasting and praying.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

LUKE 13-15


AUTHOR:

PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 


HYMN 17

PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN


1. Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;

To His feet your tribute bring.

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,

Evermore His praises sing.

Alleluia! alleluia!

Praise the everlasting King!


2. Praise Him for His grace and favour

To His people in distress.

Praise Him, still the same as ever,

Slow to chide, and swift to bless.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Glorious in His faithfulness!


3. Fatherlike He tends and spares us;

Well our feeble frame He knows,

In His hand he gently bears us,

Rescues us from all our foes.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Widely yet His mercy flows!


4. Angels, help us to adore Him;

You behold Him face to face.

Sun and moon, bow down before Him,

Dwellers all in time and space.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise with us the God of grace!

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS:


Thursday, October 26, 2023 


NO ROOM FOR LAZINESS 2 


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're the rewarder of them that diligently seek You.


2.Thank You, Father, for creating me in Your image and likeness; and for Your purpose and pleasure.


3.Thank You, Father, for giving me the power to do work.


4.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.


5.Father, let every spirit of slothfulness, depart from my life, in Jesus' name.


6.Father, release upon my life the spirit of profitable hard work, in Jesus' name.


7.Father, empower me by Your grace to labour to enter into Your rest, in Jesus' name.


8.Father, give me the grace to eat the fruits of my labours and never to beg for anything, in Jesus' name.


9.Father, deliver me from time wasting ventures; empower me to  concentrate on profitable kingdom business, 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.