Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY DECEMBER 17TH, 2023.

THEME: HOLD FAST

MEMORISE: 

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. 

Job 27:6 

READ: Revelation 3:10-13  

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

MESSAGE:

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, l would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 4:2

God is preparing a place for you. However, if you are still commiting sin and feeling it is okay to do so, sorry you have no place in heaven. The place He is preparing in heaven is only for those living holy and are without blemish,mspkt or wrinkle. He is coming back only for these people as they will be presented to Himself as His bride (Ephesians 5:7).

It is interesting to know however, that Jesus may be preparing a mansion with the name of someone on it, but that fellow may eventually not stay in that mansion while someone else takes his or her place. That is why Revelation 3:11 says, "Behold, l come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take the crown."

In the days when it was considered a crime in a certain country to believe in Jesus Christ, some soldiers arrested five young Christians. In the peak of terrible cold weather, the soldiers stripped these five boys and sent them into a freezing lake. The soldiers built a fire to keep themselves warm and said to these boys, " All you need to do to come to his warm fire and have your clothes on is to deny Jesus Christ". After a little while, the  boys began to freeze in the water. When they were about to freeze to death, one of the boys raised his hand and told the soldiers he was no longer make Christian. They told him to come to the fire, God opened the eyes of one of the soldiers and he saw five angels, each one carrying a crown, just waiting for thses boys to breathe their last so they could crown them and welcome them home. As the boy who denied Jesus began to walk out of the lake, his angel turned to go away with his crown. The soldier  cried, " Angel, wait for me, l will take the crown",. He removed his clothes, jumped into the lake, died with the other four boys and took the crown of that young man.

Starting a race is of little consequence; what really matters is if you reach the finish line.

PRAYER POINT

Father, whatever price I have to pay, don't let me lose my crown. Don't let me lose heaven., Lord.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hebrews 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 23: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

1 Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3 Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

5 Take my will, and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS: 

Saturday, 16  December, 2023  

JOHN THE BELOVED 

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 bringing me out of the darkness of this world into Your marvelous light in Christ Jesus.

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, draw me closer and make me one of Your most beloved disciple, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, never allow any evil prophecy or revelation to come to pass over my life and destiny, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, let me never disappoint or betray You, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please, make me a committed and dedicated disciple of Christ, to the point of being called a 'fanatic for Jesus', in Jesus' name.

7.Father, let me always be the first to volunteer my services, whenever, there is any crucial assignment to be done for You, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please, make me a committed, unrepentant, and dedicated soul winner, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, make me  Your confidant; count me worthy to be entrusted with Your divine secrets, 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 🙏

 Psalms 34:15 (KJV)  The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. May the Lord by His mercy hear your cry in prayers, answer you and bring your request to manifestation in Jesus mighty name. 

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 16TH, DECEMBER 2023.

THEME: JOHN THE BELOVED 

MEMORISE: 

Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

John 13:23

READ: John 13:21-28

21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

MESSAGE

Further into my study of how to become God's favourite, I found that there was another disciple who also followed Jesus on the day He was crucified. It was this disciple that helped Peter access the courtyard as we see in John 18:15-16. This other disciple apparently was John the Beloved as he referred to himself in the third person all through his account of the gospel. When you read John 19:26-27, you will find that it was John who took the mother of Jesus into his own house. Anyone who looks after your mother must be very close to you.

I've always said that when you describe somebody as a Christian fanatic, it simply means he loves the Lord more than you. In John 20:1-8, the Bible tells us that when they brought news to the Apostles that Jesus was risen, John was the first Apostle to get to the tomb. In John 13:21-26 when the disciples sought to know who would betray the Lord, Peter beckoned to John and told i him to ask Jesus, because he knew that John was the closest to Him. Thirteen people were at the table and two of them were speaking in codes the others could not understand. John was so close to Jesus that he could rest his head on His chest (John 13:23).

In our Bible reading for today, we see that it is only John that Jesus trusted with the identity of who would betray Him. Jesus trusted John with His secrets. When God can trust you with His secrets, you become extremely close to Him. Jesus made John His confidant, that is why you find that in Revelation 1:1-20, it was John the Beloved whom Jesus chose to reveal the story of what will happen in the end times, thousands of years ahead of his time. In Revelation 10:4, there are things Jesus revealed to John that He said were for his ears only.

When you truly love God, you become willing to seek and fulfill His primary heart desire which is to bring souls into His kingdom.

REFLECTION 

Do you love God enough to place your head in His bosom?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Philemon 1

And Titus 1-3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: IN CHRIST ALONE

1. In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand.

2. In Christ alone! – who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe. This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save: Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied – For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live.

3. There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine – Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

4. No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS: 

Friday, 15  December, 2023 

PETER THE ROCK 

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 upon the rock and for Your abiding decree that the gates of hell shall not prevail upon it.

2.Thank You, Father, for, first loving me, in that while I was yet a sinner, You died for me.

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, the grace to follow You for who You are, and not for what I can get from You, please, release upon my life, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, empower me to maintain a consistent, holy and closer walk with You, all the days of my life, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, help me to feed Your flock and to follow You till the very end, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please, grant me the grace for total surrender - to leave all and to  follow You, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please, give me the power and the grace to follow You, in season and out of season; when it is convenient and when it is not, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, empower me to love You, more, irrespective of what I can get from 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.

LETS PRAY 🙏

 John 6:11 (KJV)  And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. May the Lord by His Spirit grant you and I the grace to give our lives to Him that we may have an abundance of His sufficiency and glory in Jesus mighty name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY DECEMBER 15TH, 2023.

THEME: PETER THE ROCK

MEMORISE: 

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Matthew 16:18 

READ: John 21:15-18  

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

MESSAGE

In my study of what it takes to become a favourite of God, l saw in Luke 5:1-11, where the Bible tells us that after Jesus paid Peter a visit and performed that miracle of boat-sinking catch, Peter left all and followed Him. He didn't sell the fish he caught that day. However, all the other disciples also left everything they had and followed Him (Matthew 19:27), so there must be something extra about Peter. I saw a bit of this in Mark 14:54 when Jesus was to be arrested and the disciples, fled. The Bible says Peter followed afar off, but at least he followed. Where were the others?

Peter always followed Jesus because there was a rope permanently tied to Him and the Lord- the rope of love. The love Peter had for Jesus was like a magnet drawing him closer to the Lord daily.

As soon as Peter recognised the Lord after His ressurrection, he jumped into he sea to go and meet Jesus. He abandoned the great catch of fish that he had just gotten - again. Clearly, this shows that Peter was very much interested in the Lord, not what the Lord could give. He was interested in the Lord Himself. Those who become God's favourites are people who are not after what God can give them but after God Himself. They just love God with all their hearts - whether He gives them anything or not. It is this selfless love that made God choose Peter as His spokesman.

In Acts 2:14-40, on the day of Pentecost, who preached? Peter. In Acts 3:1-8 at the Beautiful Gate, who spoke to the lame man? Peter. When God wants to uproot Ananias and Sapphira - the first known pretenders in he Church, it was Peter He used. The Lord will not make you His favourite when He sees that your belly is actually your God and not Him (Philippians 3:19). Some people want to be able to command the devil, but he mocks them because he knows that they love the things of the world, so they are under his control, not the  other way around.

REFLECTION

Do you really love God - regardless of what He can give you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Timothy 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: I'VE FOUND A FRIEND IN JESUS

1 I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;

The Apple-tree of trees, in Him alone I see

All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.

In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay,

He tells me every care on Him to roll:

He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

2 He all my griefs has taken, and all my sorrows borne;

In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower;

I’ve all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn

From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power.

Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,

Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal:

He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

3 He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,

While I live by faith and do His blessed will;

A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,

With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.

Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,

Where rivers of delight shall ever roll:

He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.