Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E A ADEBOYE

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: TUESDAY, MAY 13TH 2025

TOPIC: DIVINE VISITATION 

MEMORISE:

“And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.” - (Genesis 21:1)

READ: GENESIS 18:1-14 (KJV)

1  And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

MESSAGE:

In today's Bible reading, Abraham got a divine visitation that turned his story around for good. For many years before that time, God had made promises to him, but he was still waiting for them to be fulfilled. His wife, Sarah, had even given up hope completely. However, after the divine visitation, laughter followed. For the next few days, I will discuss more about divine visitation.

There is something special about the visitation that Abraham experienced. The Bible says that the LORD visited him, and he lifted up his eyes and saw three men. I believe that one of them was God Himself because when you read carefully, you will find out that the Bible referred to the One speaking among them as 'LORD' (Genesis 18:13). This means that your divine visitor can be God Himself. For example, in (2 Chronicles 1:6-12), it was God Himself that appeared to Solomon.

You may say, "How can I expect God Himself to pay me a visit?" In John 1:1, the Bible says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Your divine visitor can be the Word. In Psalm 107:20, the Bible says that God sent His word, and it healed them and delivered them from their destruction. In (1 Kings 17:2), the Bible says that the word of God came to Elijah. Also, in (1 Kings 18:1), the word of God came again to Elijah with an instruction; "No more hiding." I pray that God's word will pay you a visit today, in Jesus' name.

Some people have prayed, and God has heard them; however, He is waiting for them to study their Bibles so they can receive the Word He has sent to them to meet their needs and solve their problems.

When God sends His word, healing and deliverance follows, and everything that previously looked impossible will suddenly become possible. Are you aware that God has already sent His word to you and that His word says He has supplied all your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19)?

Beloved, you do not have to wait for the next big revival or miracle service to have a divine encounter. God has sent His word to you already, and you can experience His divine touch just by engaging with the pages of your Bible. God's word carries His power; engage with it regularly, and you will not miss your time of divine visitation, in Jesus' name. 

 KEY POINT:

You can have a divine encounter with God by studying your Bible diligently. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  2 CHRONICLES 21-24

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. 

3 Trusting only in Thy merit,

Would I seek Thy face;

Heal my wounded, broken spirit,

Save me by Thy grace. 

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?

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL

Monday, 12th May, 2025

FOR YOUR GOOD

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 calling me according to Your purpose, thank You, for my coming to this world is not by accident, and thank You the unfolding events in my life.

2.Father, You are a very great God; thank You for all You are doing to bring me close to You on a daily basis. Thank You for making all things work together for my good.

3.Father, thank You for helping me go through all that I needed to, in order to fulfill my destiny. Thank You that I am still alive today, and I am grateful that I am a work-in-progress in Your hands.

4.Father, thank You because You are in control of the events around my life and ministry, for Your thoughts for me are of peace and not of evil.

5.Father, please, I don't want to walk in the dark, in Your mercy, please, show me clearly, the very purpose You created me for, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please, no matter how difficult things may appear, help me never to depart from Your very purpose for my life, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please, for every opportunity that the devil may present to me to make me depart from Your purpose, help me in Your mercy to properly position myself so that everything may work together for my good, in Jesus' name

8.Father, please, help me to love You and to stay in Your purpose that everything will continue to work for my good, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, help me to embrace Your purpose for my life, and never to leave the place You have prepared for me to enjoy Your purpose, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, I reject every offer that will make me miss my place of Your purpose. Lord, let everything begin to work together for my good, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, send help to Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in all areas of his life.

Let everything work together for his good; bless his life, home, and family (biological and spiritual), and help them to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, 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

TOPIC: FOR YOUR GOOD

DATE: MONDAY MAY 12TH 2025

MEMORY VERSE:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”-(Romans 8:28) 

READ: PSALM 112:1-10(KJV)

[1] Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD,  That delighteth greatly in his commandments.  

[2] His seed shall be mighty upon earth:  The generation of the upright shall be blessed.  

[3] Wealth and riches shall be in his house:  And his righteousness endureth for ever.  

[4] Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness:  He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.  

[5] A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth:  He will guide his affairs with discretion.  

[6] Surely he shall not be moved for ever:  The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.  

[7] He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:  His heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.  

[8] His heart is established, he shall not be afraid,  Until he see his desire upon his enemies.  

[9] He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor;  His righteousness endureth for ever;  His horn shall be exalted with honour.  

[10] The wicked shall see it, and be grieved;  He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away:  The desire of the wicked shall perish.

MESSAGE:

In Jeremiah 1:5, God said to Jeremiah, "...Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee..."You did not come to the world by accident: hence, God will not let the events of your life unfold by accident. As long as you are a child of God, everything that happens to you, whether you consider them good or bad, will wol together for your good, as we see in today's memory verse. 

When you really consider all that God did to bring you close to Himself, you will know that He is great. Believe me,the mere fact that you are still alive today means that God has not finished with you yet. Before t you would go through in you were born, He saw all that you fulfil your destiny. Therefore, be at rest because order to fulfil God is in control. His thoughts towards you are of good and not of evil to bring you to an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11). 

‭

[11] For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

Not long after I joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God, God made it clear to me that I was fulfilling His purpose for my life. He told me very clearly that although I was an academic, I was to follow a spiritual leader who didn't have formal education. At one time, the same person who invited me to the church advised me to leave. After I organised the first Christ the Redeemer's Congress which was a huge success, he told me, "Now, we have found your ministry. You can organise it, and I will finance it; we don't need this church." However, I just smiled and refused his offer. There were people who made my life very difficult because I decided to stay in the church. There were several opportunities to leave, but God was merciful, and He showed me that I was properly positioned for everything to work together for my good. 

Beloved, all things will work together for your good when you love God and stay in His purpose. However, you can't disobey Him and expect that things will turn out for your good. You can't leave the place God has asked you to stay or stay where God has asked you to leave and enjoy what God has prepared for you. If you are living in sin, turn to God today and repent. No matter how terrible your past is, once you turn to Him, He will make everything work together for your good.

KEY POINT:

All things will work together for your good when you embrace God's purpose for your life

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 CHRONICLES 17-20

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE

HYMN 13:- JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW 

1. Jesus loves me, this I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong; They are weak, but he is strong.  

Refrain: 

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. 

2. Jesus loves me He who died Heaven's gate to open wide. He will wash away my sin, Let his little child come in. 

3. Jesus loves me, loves me still Thơ' I'm very weak and ill From His shining throne on high He will watch me where I lie.  

4. Jesus loves me He will stay Close beside me all the way, If I love Him when I die He will take me home on high.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

Prayer Points on today's Open Heavens 

Sunday, 11th May, 2025

God's Timing

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 Your ways are perfect and Your timing is precise; You are never late to show up neither are You too early to appear for me.

2.Father, thank You because You are a covenant keeping God, and nothing is hard for You to do; You remain faithful to keeping Your promises to man at the appointed time.

3.Father, please, may I not miss the appointed time for my miracles, and may my miracle not pass me by, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, help me to be found at my duty post at my appointed time for my miracles, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please, for whatever You have said concerning my life and family, I know You are able to bring it to manifestations; please help me to trust You still for the fulfilments, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please, pay me a visit this season and bring Your promises to manifestations in my life, family and ministry, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, Your prophecies for my life may appear impossible but please, Lord, help me to receive them by faith, for I believe they will surely come to pass in my life according to Your timing, in Jesus' name

8.Father, please, help me to remain steadfast in You, as I wait on You for the fulfilment of Your prophecies, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, because nothing is too hard for You to do, please, let every of my prayers be answered speedily, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, please, help me to wait for Your appointed time for me, and help me never to bow to satanic counsel, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, send help to Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in all areas of his life.

May he live to see the fulfilment of all the promises You made to him; bless his life, home, and family (biological and spiritual), and help them to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, 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 HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: SUNDAY MAY 11TH 2025

TOPIC: GOD'S TIMING

MEMORIZE:

Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 

Genesis 18:14

READ: GENESIS 21:1-2

1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

MESSAGE:

God's ways are perfect, and this includes His timing (2 Samuel 22:31). In Genesis 12:1-3, He promised Abraham, "Through your seed shall all the earth be blessed." At that time, Abraham had no child, and 25 years later, nothing had happened. However, one day, Abraham was sitting in front of his tent, and his appointed time came. In Acts 2:1, the Bible says, "...when the day of Pentecost was fully come..." God didn't act one minute too soon or too late.

Beloved, there is an appointed time for your miracle. When that day comes, nothing special might seem to be happening, but your miracle will not pass you by. You might just be going about your normal business like Abraham, who was just sitting in front of his tent. Moses appointed time met him at the backside of a desert while going about his shepherding duties (Exodus 3:1), and Peter's time came while he was waiting in the upper room (Acts 2). For Saul of Tarsus, his appointed time came as he was travelling to cause havoc (Acts 9). 

I received a prophecy in 1961 that I would be travelling abroad regularly. At that time, travelling abroad was a really big deal in my village, and I had not even been to Lagos State, where the international airport is located. However, when it was time for that prophecy to start manifesting, it was beyond my wildest imagination. Also, when I became the General Overseer of RCCG, I left my wife and children in Ilorin to live in a one-room 

apartment at Mushin (a relatively poor suburb in Lagos). I wanted to bring my family over to live with me, but I couldn't do that due to the size of my apartment. I went to God in prayers and explained the challenges I was facing. I told Him to help me get decent accommodation. God's response to me was shocking. He said, "Son, I have decided to build you a city." I was asking Him for a boys' quarters, but He was talking about a city. Today, Redemption City is the manifestation of that prophecy. These prophecies and more looked impossible when I first received them, but God has fulfilled them in my life according to His timing.

Beloved, if God has made promises to you, don't be discouraged if you are yet to see them come to pass. God is not a liar; if He makes a promise, He will surely fulfil it (Numbers 23:19). Wait for His appointed time.

KEY POINT:

Remain steadfast in God: the appointed time for the fulfilment of His promises will surely come.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 CHRONICLES 12-16

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST MY KING

1 Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages let His praises ring,

Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God. 

Chorus:

Standing, standing,

Standing on the promises of God my Saviour;

Standing, standing,

I’m standing on the promises of God. 

2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God. 

3 Standing on the promises I now can see

Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;

Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,

Standing on the promises of God. 

4 Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,

Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,

Standing on the promises of God. 

5 Standing on the promises I shall not fall,

List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.

Resting in my Saviour as my All in all,

Standing on the promises of God.

Open Heavens Prayer Points

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL

Saturday, 10th May, 2025

GOD'S CALL

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 Your call on me, out from the darkness into the marvelous light of Your kingdom.

2.Father, please, open my eyes, and help me to identify and recognize the specific area of Your calling on me, in Jesus' name.

3.Father, please, help me to stay at my duty post, to operate in my area of calling so I can fulfill my destiny and impact lives positively, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, in any area of my life Your call is on, help me to use the resources You have given me to advance Your kingdom, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please, I don't want to set myself against Your purpose for my life; help me not to struggle or move outside the place of Your call on me, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please, help me to abide in the same calling You have called me so I will not be isolated from Your grace and provision, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, help me to remain focus on my area of calling, and never distracted by the prosperity on the call of others, in Jesus' name

8.Father, please, help me to serve You wholeheartedly in my area of calling, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please, help all our young people to recognize their area of calling and to focus on it wholeheartedly, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, if i have missed my area of calling, please, restore me to Your original call and help me to do what You want me to do without comparison with others, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, send help to Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in all areas of his life.

Help me to operate in his area of calling successfully; bless his life, home, and family (biological and spiritual), and help them to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, 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, MAY 10TH 2025

THEME: GOD'S CALL

MEMORISE: 

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

1 Corinthians 7:20

READ: 2 Chronicles 26:3-21

3.  Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

4. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

5. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

6. And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

7. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims.

8. And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.

9. Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.

10. Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.

11. Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.

12. The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.

13. And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

14. And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.

15. And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

16. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

17. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:

18. And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.

19. Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.

20. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

21. And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.

MESSAGE 

Many people believe that God only calls individuals into pulpit ministries - this is untrue. If God only calls people to serve Him on the pulpit, then it means that He is leaving other important areas of life to the devil. Every believer has a calling in one area of life or the other. In the Bible, we see God calling people into government. Joseph was called into leadership, and his obedience preserved the lives of his people (Genesis 45:7). Daniel was also called to shine God's light in the government of idolatrous Babylon, and he obeyed. He served under several kings and fulfilled his calling to reveal the power and presence of God through his roles in the government (Daniel 6:25-28). Also, Nehemiah wasn't called into the office of a priest; he was called to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and he did this joyfully (Nehemiah 2:1-5). Esther stayed at her duty post in the government house before God called her into the influential position of the queen in the palace (Esther 2:16-17). Her submission to God saved the lives of the Jews when Haman, their enemy, plotted to destroy them (Esther 7).

God also calls people into business. Lydia of Thyatira was a seller of purple, an expensive cloth worn by kings and queens. Only very rich people could afford her wares, and God positioned her there so that she could use her resources to advance the kingdom (Acts 16:14).

God calls people to serve in different areas of life. Do you know the area He has called you into? People who live or move outside their places of calling will struggle because they have set themselves against God's purpose for their lives. In 2 Chronicles 26:16-21, the Bible tells us about King Uzziah, who decided to operate in another office that God did not call him into. As Israel's king, he enjoyed God's grace and favour until he decided to operate in the office of a priest. He went into the temple to burn incense and didn't return the same way; he came out leprous and was isolated. Whenever people operate in places God has not called them into, they become isolated from His grace and provision.

Beloved, if God has called you to serve Him in any area of life, focus on your calling in that area. Do not compare yourself to other people who are flourishing in other areas. Obey God wholeheartedly in your calling, and you will experience His abundant grace and provision.

KEY POINT: 

Find out what God has called you to do and focus on it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 8-11

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 endless praise,

Let them flow in endless 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.