Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY AUGUST 25TH 2024

THEME: PEER PRESSURE

MEMORISE: For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.    2 Corinthians 10:12

READ: Romans 12:1-3

1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

MESSAGE

Peer pressure is one of the greatest enemies of a Christian. The most dangerous thing about it is that it is not specifically listed amongst the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-2 1, and so many Christians are not careful of it. Also, many people think that peer pressure only applies to teenagers, but it is also present among older people. For example, when you go to a wedding, and you join your peers in dancing to worldly songs because you don't want them to see you sitting aside, that is peer pressure making you do something against God's will. You cannot please God and man at the same time. King Saul tried to please men, and he displeased God as a result. He lost his throne and died a shameful death (1 Samuel 31:1- 6).

Don't try to dress like the world because you don't want to seem 'left out'. Don't try to use dirty slangs to show that you are also familiar with current trends. Many years ago, I was a guest minister somewhere, and when the man of God who was to introduce me went to the altar to do the introduction, he said that he liked everything about me except the way I dressed like a hunter with my short- sleeved suits. I replied that I am not a hunter, I am a soldier. His remarks did not make me change the way I dress, even though my colleagues were wearing flowing agbada around that time. Today, God has raised me very high amongst my colleagues. Children of God are not influenced by peer pressure; they are led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14). When a Christian starts doing things because of what people will say or think, such a believer has stopped being led by the Spirit of God, and the fellow is already losing his or her sonship.

The word of God says in 2 Corinthians 6:17 that you must be separate. If people are to be seen as your peers, let them be people who have separated themselves for Christ. Amongst these people, you can bow to the peer pressure of who is praying the longest, who has memorized more Scriptures, who wins the most number of souls per day, et cetera. That is the only kind of peer pressure that is good for a Christian; pressure to please God more and draw closer to Him, not pressure that relates to carnal things.

REFLECTION: 

Are your actions influenced by other people's perception of you or by the Spirit of God?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 9-12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 31:  YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION

1. Yield not to temptation,

For yielding is sin;

Each vict’ry will help you,

Some other to win;

Fight valiantly onward,

Evil passions subdue;

Look ever to Jesus,

He will carry you through.

Refrain:

Ask the Savior to help you,

Comfort, strengthen and keep you;

He is willing to aid you,

He will carry you through.

2. Shun evil companions,

Bad language disdain;

God’s name hold in rev’rence,

Nor take it in vain;

Be thoughtful and earnest,

Kindhearted and true;

Look ever to Jesus,

He will carry you through. 

3. To him that o’ercometh,

God giveth a crown;

Through faith we will conquer,

Though often cast down;

He who is our Savior,

Our strength will renew;

Look ever to Jesus,

He will carry you through.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL

Saturday, 24th August 2024 

KNOW YOURSELF

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, I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

2.Father, thank You for making me Your choice one, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a peculiar person.

3.Father, thank You for saving my soul from sin to show forth Your praises, thank You for calling me out of darkness into Your marvellous light.

4.Father, forgive me of all the lies and false whispers that I had allowed from the devil, have mercy on me and deliver me from the doubts in my heart.

5.Father, I destroy every lie from the pit of hell that had hindered me from walking in the identity and authority You have given me, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, give me the full understanding of who I am in You and help me to see myself the way You see me, in Jesus' name 

7.Father, because I am more than a conqueror through Christ, I declare, whatsoever that stopped others in the past will not be able to stop me, in Jesus' name

8.Father, I take my space and place as the head and never the tail, I shall be above only, and never beneath, in Jesus' name

9.Father, I know You as the Truth, The Way and Life, I refuse to listen or accept the devil's lies, I am a winner and not a loser, I will succeed and never fail, in Jesus' name

10.Father, in You I live, I move, and have my being for I am Your offspring; Satan, get behind me now, 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 AUGUST 24TH 2024

THEME: KNOW YOURSELF

MEMORISE: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:     1 Peter 2:9

READ: Psalms 139:13-14

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

MESSAGE

Many-a-times, the devil whispers things into our ears to deceive us so that we will not walk in the identity and authority that God has given to us. This is why it is necessary to know who you truly are in Christ. A king's son that does not know whohe is will beg for food even in his father's palace. You must know who you are, and you can only know this when you see yourself the way God sees you. How does God see you?

If you are confronted by a situation that seems tough and the devil is trying to tell you that you will not win, remember what the Bible says in Romans 8:37: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Even though that situation may have conquered some people in the past, it cannot conquer you because you are more than a conqueror through Christ who loved you and loves you forever. Sometimes, the devil will tell you that you are not good enough to be at the top or achieve your goals. Laugh and quote Deuteronomy 28:13 to him:

And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath;…" The Bible says that you will be above only, so there is no space for you at the bottom; the only space available for you as a child of God is above, and you will take your place, in Jesus' name.

The devil can say whatever he wants, but when you know the truth,, you will not listen to him or accept his lies. When you know the real you in Christ, you will ignore whatever the devil says because you know that he is a liar (John 8:44). As you ignore him, your actions and thoughts will also follow suit. You will not let his lies dictate what you do or what you don't. His words must not shape your thoughts concerning what you believe about yourself or not.

The devil is too small to control the thoughts and actions of a believer. Your living, moving and being must be in Go and not in any other counsel as we see in Acts 17:28:

For in him we Live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

KEY POINT

When you know your true identity in the Scriptures, the devil will not be able to deceive you again.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 5-8

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAV'N

1.  I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n

Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;

Wonderful things in the Bible I see,

This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

Refrain:

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves even me.

2. If I forget Him and wander away,

Still He doth love me wherever I stray;

Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,

When I remember that Jesus loves me.

3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,

When in His beauty I see the great King,

This shall my song through eternity be,

“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”

4. Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him;

Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem;

Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree;

Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!

5. If one should ask of me, how can I tell?

Glory to Jesus, I know very well!

God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,

Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

6. In this assurance I find sweetest rest,

Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;

Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee,

When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 

Friday, 23rd August 2024 

PRESERVE THE SHEEP 

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, I worship You for You are The Greatest and Good Shepherd, thank You for preserving me from the hands of the enemies 

2.Father, thank You for laying Your life down for me to save my soul from eternal damnation 

3.Father, thank You for counting me among Your sheep, thank You for nourishing my soul with the word of life.

4.Father, as an under-shepherd with You, in any area I have failed the sheep You placed in my care, please, have mercy and forgive me

5.Father, please, help me to feed the sheep You have placed me over, may I not starve them of the right nutrition of Your word, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, as a leader, help me to feed the sheep with the accurate word of God and protect them from false teachers who are wolves in sheep's clothing, in Jesus' name 

7.Father, as a parent, help me never to fail You in my responsibilities over the children You have put under my care, in Jesus' name

8.Father, give me the grace to learn under You, the very truth and let nothing stop me from teaching the same to Your sheep, in Jesus' name

9.Father, preserve us from the false teachers and their teachings flying all around the social media, help us not to be carried away with the signs and miracles they perform, in Jesus' name

10.Father, as a leader, help me to teach the undiluted word of God and help me as a follower too to confirm all teachings like the Berean Christians, 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: FRIDAY AUGUST 23RD 2024

THEME: PRESERVE THE SHEEP

MEMORISE: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.    Matthew 7:15

READ: Acts 20:28-31 

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

MESSAGE

A shepherd can fail his sheep in two major ways. One of the ways is by not giving them food and making them starve to death, while the other is by not protecting them from predators. If you are a leader in the body of Christ whom God has placed over some of His sheep, you must ensure that you preserve them by feeding them with the accurate word of God and protecting them from false teachers who are actually wolves in sheep's clothing.

In Acts 20:28, shepherds are told sternly to feed the flock in their care. If you are not teaching the people that God has put in your care the true and complete word of God, you are killing them spiritually, and God will not spare you for that. No human being can live long if he/she is malnourished, so also, the souls of the people in your care will perish if they are malnourished. As you teach them prosperity, also teach them holiness. As you teach them about Christ's love, don't leave out the fact that He is also the consuming fire. Don't worry about the church's growth, do what God has called you to do, and He will grow His church.

The apostles regularly warned the sheep about false teachers and their teachings (2 Corinthians 11:13-1 5, 2 Peter 2:1). They were protecting them from wolves, and we must do the same. There are all sorts of doctrines going around these days that are completely opposite to God's word. Don't ignore them; tell your people never to listen to such teachings. If you don't tell them to stay away from such teachings because you don't want to offend anyone, you will leave them to be devoured by wolves.

Social media has created many opportunities for false teachers to confuse some of the sheep with their teachings. The sheep may see someone working miracles and believe that he or she is a genuine minister of God. They might start listening to the fellow's teachings, so you must ensure that what they are listening to is not the lure of a wolf. Teach your followers to be like the Berean Christians who always checked any teaching they heard against the word of God (Acts 17:10-11).

Whether you are a pastor, head of a department, house fellowship leader, or parent, if you have been placed as a spiritual leader over some people, it is your responsibility to ensure that the devil does not devour them.

KEY POINT

Leaders: Teach the undiluted word of God Followers: Confirm all teachings like the Berean Christians.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 1-4

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 every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

1. 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.

2. 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, and watching unto prayer,

Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.

3. 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 HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL

Thursday, 22nd August 2024

HANDLING OPPOSITIONS

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 fighting my battles in my walk with You

2.Father, thank You for Your love for me that has made me more than a conqueror 

3.Father, please, in any area that I have sinned and fallen short of Your glory, forgive and have mercy on me

4.Father, in my work with You, empower me never to bow to oppositions within and without, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, help me to remain fervent despite the attacks that may arise against me , help me to keep going forward for You, in Jesus' name 

6.Father, every good work You have called me to do for You, empower me to complete it and not to bow to oppositions, in Jesus' name

7.Father, silent every mocker against Your work in my hands and put all my mockers to shame, in Jesus' name

8.Father, take care of every threat around me against Your work in my hands, in Jesus' name

9.Father, in the face of discouragement, I receive encouragement by the help of the Holy Spirit, I receive resources for Your work in my hands, in Jesus' name 

10.Father, help me to patiently wait on You for instructions, help me to keep trusting You in the midst of mockers, threats and discouragement, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, I bring before You, the mockery, threats and discouragement against Your work in my hands, arise and let Your enemies be scattered and help me to keep working for You, in Jesus' name.

12.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.

13.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.

14.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.

15.Your Personal petitions.

( Philippians 4:6)

16 ..In Jesus' name I pray.

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

17.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: THURSDAY AUGUST 22ND 2024

THEME: HANDLING OPPOSITIONS

MEMORISE: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:   1 Peter 4:12

READ: Nehemiah 6:1-16 

1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)

2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O

God, strengthen my hands.

10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

MESSAGE

Oppositions are different from persecutions. Persecution happens when someone attacks you because you are a Christian, while oppositions happen when you are attacked in a bid to stop you from doing whatever you have planned to do for God. Many people have set out to do things for God and were faced with opposition that made them back down. Some of them remained fervent Christians, but the opposition discouraged them from going ahead to do what was in their hearts for God. If we allow oppositions to stop us from doing what God has called us to do, many souls will perish in hell, and the devil will oppress people because the Christians are quiet. Therefore, rather than allow oppositions to stop you, you must learn to keep going despite them.

One man who faced opposition and kept going until the work was done was Nehemiah. He had set out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, despite the fact that it was not going to be an easy task - then, opposition arose. If you study the book of Nehemiah, you will see the three major tools of opposition that the devil employs against Christians: mockery (Nehemiah 4:3), threats (Nehemiah 4:7-8) and discouragement (Nehemiah 4:10). He can raise people to mock you for what you are doing, but you must ignore them. Some people will threaten you with many things or even death if you continue to do what you are doing for God. However, you should not be afraid because God will take care of such people for you. Lastly, the devil can bring discouragement by making the work more difficult. He can do it by ensuring the unavailability of resources or some people's refusal to cooperate with you. Whether the devil brings one or all of these things your way, if God has given you a vision, you must never back down.

Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. Nehemiah 4:9

Nehemiah's default response to all the opposition he faced was to pray. Prayer is not a last resort but your primary defense against oppositions. As you do all that you humanly can to forestall oppositions, put your trust in God. Place your ears on His chest to hear the next instruction He will give you; after all, you are doing His work. The people opposing you are actually opposing Him, so let Him do the fighting while you keep working.

KEY POINT

The way to overcome oppositions is to report them to God; let God do the fighting while you keep working.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lamentations 3-5

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: TO THE WORK, TO THE WORK

1. To the work! To the work! We are servants of God;

Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;

With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew,

Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.

o Refrain:

Toiling on, toiling on,

Toiling on, toiling on;

Let us hope, let us watch,

And labor till the Master comes.

2. To the work! To the work! Let the hungry be fed;

To the fountain of life let the weary be led;

In the cross and its banner our glory shall be,

While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”

3. To the work! To the work! There is labor for all;

For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall;

And the love of our Father exalted shall be,

In the loud swelling chorus, “Salvation is free!”

4. To the work! To the work! In the strength of the Lord,

And a robe and a crown shall our labor reward,

When the home of the faithful our dwelling shall be,

And we shout with the ransomed, “Salvation is free!”