Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY JULY 30TH 2024

THEME: COMFORT VS FELLOWSHIP

MEMORISE: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:20

READ: Hebrews 10:24-25

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

MESSAGE

Today, I want you to consider very well the choice of deciding to stay at home and watch services online over attending physically. Today's Bible text clearly states that you are not to forsake the fellowshipping together of breth ren. Therefore, if you

choose to attend a service online when you can very well attend that service physically, you are forsaking the fellowshipping together with brethren for your comfort.

Due to your preference for comfort over fellowship, many things might follow. Some of these may include picking up phone calls or browsing social media while the service is going on. Also, you might be eating and drinking when you should be concentrating on receiving the bread of life from heaven. In that state, it is easy to welcome distractions from visitors who knock on your door and even things that you suddenly remember that you ought to have done. These things will take your mind completely off the service and make you miss out on what God is doing at that moment. On the other hand, if you are present at a service physically, there will be little or no distractions because almost everybody around you will be focused on God. They will be praying or worshipping God fervently, and the environment around you will be charged; that fire will kindle your own fire

too. This is not the same as watching a service on TV. Tell me, if you put on your TV and a TV station is showinga house that is burning, will you feel the heat in your house?

Except there is absolutely no way to attend a physical service, either due to distance or other challenges, you cannot get the same impact from the service by watching it at home. God sees your heart; He knows when you are choosing comfort over fellowship with the brethren. He is the one who said that you should not forsake the fellowshipping together of the brethren, so He will not encourage you to disobey Him. There is always a

difference between someone watching God move and someone being a part of the move of God.

KEY POINT

Never choose comfort over fellowshipping physically with other believers.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 57-59

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 15: PASS ME NOT O GENTLE SAVIOUR 

1 Pass me not, O gentle Savior,

Hear my humble cry,

While on others Thou art calling,

Do not pass me by.

Refrain:

Savior, Savior,

Hear my humble cry;

While on others Thou art calling,

Do not pass me by.

2 Let me at a throne of mercy

Find a sweet relief;

Kneeling there in deep contrition,

Help my unbelief. [Refrain]

3 Trusting only in Thy merit,

Would I seek Thy face;

Heal my wounded, broken spirit,

Save me by Thy grace. [Refrain]

4 Thou the Spring of all my comfort,

More than life to me,

Whom have I on earth beside Thee?

Whom in heav'n but Thee? [Refrain

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL

Monday, 29th July 2024

YOUR PHONE vs YOUR BIBLE

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.  Father, thank You for the various scientific inventions that have made living more comfortable and communication, more effective 

2.  Father, thank You for the spread of the gospel of salvation in Christ Jesus through the various scientific gadgets 

3.  Father, please, in any area I have loved these inventions, including my phone, more than You, the Creator, please, have mercy and forgive me of all my sins, in Jesus' name 

4.  Father, help me not to get addicted to my phone or live by it but by every word from Your mouth, don't let my phone replace Your word in my life, in Jesus' name

5.  Father, please, help me to occupy my mind with Your word, to meditate on it day and night and not on social media junks, in Jesus' name 

6.  Father, deliver me from whatever and anything that has drawn me away from You, in Jesus' name

7.  Father, help me to be addicted to Your word again, to study it first thing in the morning and last thing in the night everyday, in Jesus' name 

8.  Father, help me to exercise a lot of self-control on the use of my phone and the Bible, in Jesus' name

9.  Father, help me to do away with anything on my phone that I am addicted to other than Your word, in Jesus' name 

10.  Father, please, help me not to allow my phone to become the devil's weapon against my spiritual life, in Jesus' name

11.  Father, bless your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye;  grant him divine health and long life; and, bless his ministry, home, and family (biological and spiritual), forever, in Jesus' name.

12.  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.

13.  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.

14.  Your Personal petitions.

( Philippians 4:6)

15 .In Jesus' name I pray.

(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

16.  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 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: MONDAY JULY 29TH 2024

THEME: YOUR PHONE VS YOUR BIBLE

MEMORISE: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:3

READ: Exodus 20:3-6 

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

MESSAGE

Today's cell phones are extremely effective; with them, you can communicate with anybody in the world. Despite this being a positive thing, you must be careful not to live under your phone's

influence. You must not get addicted to your phone or live by it because Jesus said that man is to live by every word that comes out of God's mouth (Matthew 4:4). Your Bible is what you must be addicted to and live by, not your phone. If you are not conscious of this, your phone may easily replace the word of God in your life, and this is quite dangerous because the Bible says that our God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14).

When you wake up in the morning, do you pickup your phone first or your Bible? You may say that you pick up your phone to check the time, but really, do you study the apps on your phone first or the verses in your Bible? Throughout the day, what do you have more on your mind, what you saw on your phone or what you read in the Bible? You are to meditate on God's word day and night, not on social media feeds and reels. When you want to start a conversation with your friend in your DM, what interesting thing do you start with, a funny meme or a Scripture? Ephesians 5:19 says that we are to speak to each other in psalms and hymns, but many no longer have such conversations; it is all about celebrity gossip and memes. Can you see that there is a need to repent if your heart has been drawn away from God for so long without you knowing it? It is time to return to God's word and become addicted to it again. It is time to begin to study the word first thing in the morning and last thing at night every day.

If your heart has been drawn away from God, to bring your heart back to God's word, you will have to exercise a lot of self-control. You must take decisive actions and stick with them. For example, decide to charge your phone far from you and put your Bible beside vour pillow at bedtime. This way, you will read it before you sleep and pick it up when you wake up. You may need to delete some apps that you are addicted to. The time spent on them can be put to better use in prayers and the study of the word of God.

KEY POINT

Don't allow your phone to become the devil's weapon against your spiritual life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 53-56

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 HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL

Sunday, 28th July 2024

GOOD FOLLOWERSHIP (Part 4)

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.  Father, thank You for loving and instructing me on good followership

2.  Father, thank You for preparing and equipping me with all the needed qualities for good leadership 

3.  Father, please, in an area I have not lived up to expectations as a good follower, please, have mercy and forgive me for all my sins, in Jesus' name 

4.  Father, no matter how strong my leader may appear, help me to be an encouragement to him/her to succeed, in Jesus' name

5.  Father, please, whenever You lay something in my heart to do to encourage my leader, help me not to hesitate, in Jesus' name 

6.  Father, help me not to add to the stress on my leader but to reduce it through my encouragement, in Jesus' name

7.  Father, whatever You will use to encourage my leader through me, help me to cooperate with You in doing the same, in Jesus' name 

8.  Father, help me to stand by my leader even in his trying times, help me not to fail my leader when he/she needs me most, in Jesus' name

9.  Father, let it be well with my leader in my place of work and ministry, help him/her to finish well and finish strong, in Jesus' name 

10.  Father, in whatever troubles my leader may be going through, please , encourage him now, make me a good follower of my leader, in Jesus' name

11.  Father, bless your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye;  grant him divine health and long life; and, bless his ministry, home, and family (biological and spiritual), forever, in Jesus' name.

12.  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.

13.  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.

14.  Your Personal petitions.

( Philippians 4:6)

15 .In Jesus' name I pray.

(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

16.  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 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: SUNDAY JULY 28TH 2024

THEME: GOOD FOLLOWER-SHIP 4

MEMORISE: Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; Romans 15:30

READ :MATTHEW 26:36-38

36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

MESSAGE 

As I conclude my teaching on good followership which I started some days ago, it is important to note that no matter how strong leaders may appear to be, they need to be encouraged sometimes by their followers. This is primarily because leadership is full of ups and downs. During the down moments, encouraging leaders will go a long way in helping them to succeed.

Speaking words of encouragement, sending gifts, and honouring your leaders in whatever way you can, will help them feel encouraged to keep going, despite the burden of leadership.

Many years ago, I felt discouraged. I had resigned from my lucrative lecturing job to become the church’s General Overseer and spent almost all my time praying for people and teaching them.

There was a lot of burden on me, yet it seemed no one appreciated my efforts. One day, I was so discouraged and tired of my position as the General Overseer and then I fell asleep in my office.

When I woke up, a young girl was in my office with a cake. She said that God had told her to bring me the cake. I don’t really like cakes, but I  take it because I was really touched by her thoughtfulness.

When God lays it in your heart to do something to encourage your leader, please do not hesitate to do it; it may be the difference between the leader giving up or continuing the work

A good follower will always try to reduce the stress on a leader rather than add to it. Leaders are human beings like you; they face challenges just like you do, and even more as a result of the leadership position they occupy.

You may not be able to totally relieve them of the stress that comes with leadership, but you can encourage them so they don’t feel all their effort is a waste, and so they can keep doing more.

Some years ago, I was really down, but what helped me to get up and keep going was the message of one of my daughters in the Lord.

She said, “Daddy, let God carry you.” Your message may be what God will use to encourage your leader.

When Jesus was close to His crucifixion, He took Peter, James and John to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray alongside Him; He needed their encouragement for the task ahead.

Pray for your leaders. Sometimes, seeing that you are praying for them is the encouragement they need to keep going.

ACTION POINTS

Send a message or buy a gift for your leader today to encourage them for all the work they do and the burdens they bear.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 50-52

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. I need Thee, O I need Thee; Ev'ry hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee! 

2. I need Thee ev'ry hour, Stay Thou near by; Temptations lose their pow'r When Thou art nigh. I need Thee, O I need Thee; Ev'ry hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee! 

3. I need Thee ev'ry hour, In joy or pain; Come quickly and abide, Or life is vain. I need Thee, O I need Thee; Ev'ry hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee! 

4. I need Thee ev'ry hour, Teach me Thy will; And Thy rich promises In me fulfill. I need Thee, O I need Thee; Ev'ry hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee! 

5. I need Thee ev'ry hour, Most Holy One; O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son! I need Thee, O I need Thee; Ev'ry hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee!

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL

Saturday, 27th July 2024

GOOD FOLLOWERSHIP (Part 3) 

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.  Father, thank You for the gift of salvation and assurance of eternity through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ 

2.  Father, thank You for giving us leaders after Your heart, especially for the life of our leader in RCCG, Your son, Pastor E.A Adeboye, thank You for the exemplary spirit of humility and wisdom in him

3.  Father, thank You for helping Your son to live in complete obedience to Your instructions and for grace to make corrections that would have caused havoc in the body of Christ

4.  Father, please, whatever errors and mistakes I have committed that will cause others to wander out of faith, please, have mercy on me 

5.  Father, please , as a leader help me not to commit blunders that will put the followers in trouble, in Jesus' name 

6.  Father, help me not to be too arrogant or proud to take corrections from my followers when my errors are pointed out to me, in Jesus' name

7.  Father, as a follower, help me not to keep quiet when my leader is going the wrong direction, help me to correct them with respect, in Jesus' name 

8.  Father, in correcting my leader, help me to ensure that it is for the good of the leader and other followers rather than to show that I know better, in Jesus' name

9.  Father, help me not to lead others astray in error but help me to accept my errors and correct my wrongs even when it will require me to apologize publicly, in Jesus' name 

10.  Father, help me to show love and respect in presenting matters to my leader, help me not to stand aloof when my leader is committing a blunder, in Jesus' name

11.  Father, bless your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye;  grant him divine health and long life; and, bless his ministry, home, and family (biological and spiritual), forever, in Jesus' name.

12.  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.

13.  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.

14.  Your Personal petitions.

( Philippians 4:6)

15 ..In Jesus' name I pray.

(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

16.  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 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 JULY 27TH 2024

THEME: GOOD FOLLOWERSHIP III

MEMORISE: But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.    Galatians 2:11

READ: Galatians 2:11-14 

11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

MESSAGE

The major leadership challenge is that some people see leaders as being superhuman when they are not. I mentioned yesterday that leaders need help sometimes, but beyond that, you should also note that they can make mistakes.

When leaders err, people are sometimes afraid to correct them. However, leaders need to be corrected so they don't put their followers in trouble. I'm sure one of David's regrets was not listening to Joab when he was told not to conduct a census because it led to the death of over 70,000 of his followers (1 Chronicles 21:1-14).

As a good follower, you must not keep quiet when you see your leader going in the wrong direction; respectfully correct them. Years ago, I published a book in which I tried to justify the statement of the midwives in Exodus 1:15-19, where they said that the Hebrew women were very strong and delivered their babies without assistance. Somebody who read the book boldly came to me and said, "I know you are the General Overseer, but sir, this justification is wrong." I realized the error, thanked him, and said, "I will go to God; He knows I didn't mean to lead anyone astray." 1 re-wrote the book, stood before the congregation, and said, "1 have made a mistake. I wrote something in this book that should not have been written. I apologize." I added, "So we don't keep remembering it, I won't tell you what the mistake is, but I want you to return the copies you have bought, and for every copy you return, I will give you two." I got all the books back and burnt them. Thank God someone was bold enough to correct me. Today, with how God has increased our influence, it would have been difficult to erase that error from the minds of people in the body of Christ if that fellow had felt that I could not be corrected.

In correcting a leader, ensure that it is for the good of the leader and other followers rather than to show that you know better. discuss with the leader privately, showing love and respect. present the matter in a way that will be easy to accept or find someone that is closer to the leader to present it on your behalf. The leader might find it easier to take the correction from that fellow than from you.

KEY POINT

Don't stand aloof when your leader commits a blunder, correct him or her with love and respect.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 47-49

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 30: 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.