Psalms 138:3 (KJV) In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. May Lord by His mercy open the Heavens unto you, hear the prayers you pray, strengthen you to achieve beyond your expectations in Jesus mighty name.
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: MONDAY OCTOBER 30TH, 2023.
TOPIC: JESUS IS LORD: NO CONTROVERSY 1
MEMORISE:
"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."
Matthew 28:6
READ: MATTHEW 28:1-6 (KJV)
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
MESSAGE:
The Lordship of Jesus Christ was confirmed and established the day He resurrected from death because no one has ever done that by himself. The Bible says: "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). This was repeated with greater emphasis according to the account of Luke on the Mount of Transfiguration where God, the Father, spoke to the inner caucus who were to spread the news later. The account says:
While he hath spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. - Luke 9:34-35
Even after all these, the world still had not accepted Him as the Lord.
However, from John 8:46 when He boldly questioned, "Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" up to His death in Matthew 27:54 when the soldiers said to themselves, "...Truly this was the Son of God", the Lordship of Christ was being confirmed and established. In our text for today, we read the account of the resurrection of our Lord:
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. - Matthew 28:5-6
Apostle Paul wrote: "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). May the Lord bless you as you exercise your faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that anyone who believes in Jesus will not be condemned however, those who do not believe in Him are condemned already because they did not believe in the name of the only begotten son of God - Jesus Christ (John 3:18).
Which group would you like to belong to?
PRAYER POINT
Father, I believe Jesus is Lord. Please, let His Lordship be made evident in my life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: LUKE 21-22
AUTHOR PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
HYMNAL: 18 - PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY, THE KING OF CREATION
1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation;
Join the great throng,
Psaltery, organ, and song,
Sounding in glad adoration.
2. Praise to the Lord, over all things he gloriously reigneth:
Borne as on eagle-wings, safely his saints he sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen,
How all thou needest hath been,
Granted in what he ordaineth?
3. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee;
Surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee;
Ponder anew,
What the Almighty can do,
Who with his love doth befriend thee.
4. Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath breath join with Abraham's seed to adore Him!
Let the Amen
Sum all our praises again,
Now as we worship before Him.
PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS:
Sunday, October 29, 2023
FASTING IS A WEAPON OF WAR
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 spiritual weapon of warfare that You have given to us, in fasting.
2.Thank You, Father, for all that You have helped me to accomplish through fasting, in Jesus' name.
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 my life the power and the grace to use this weapon of fasting, regularly and with ease, in Jesus' name.
5.Father, paralyse and scatter every evil plan of the enemy to victimize and delay my progress and promotion, in Jesus' name.
6.Father, let every evil plot to cut short my life backfire, upon the plotters, in Jesus' name.
7.Father, grant me unusual favour, anywhere I turn to, for help, as I fast, in Jesus' name.
8.Father, let all my benefactors and helpers become restless and unable to sleep, until I am favoured and helped, in Jesus' name.
9.Father, let all my good deeds in Your vineyard be remembered and rewarded, now, 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.
Luke 6:12 KJV And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. May the Lord by His Spirit empower you in the place of prayer to effective, effectual outcomes in Jesus mighty name.
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.
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
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.
