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Open Heavens 30th October, 2015 by Pastor E.A Adeboye

 

CHOSEN FOR LAUGHTER
Memorise: And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. Genesis 21:6
Read: Genesis 21:1-6, 21 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.
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
 Bible in one year: Deuteronomy 12-13, Ephesians 5
MESSAGE!
We serve a God that fills the mouth of his chosen with laughter. Some chosen of the Lord testified of this in Psalms 126:2 saying:
“Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”
In Genesis 18:1-14, when the Lord visited Abraham and Sarah and ate in their tent, He promised them that they would have a son in nine months’ time; but Sarah laughed because her husband was over 99 years old and she herself was 90 years old. She thought that this promise was a joke borne out of how much the three august visitors enjoyed the meal that she and Abraham had prepared. God asked why she laughed, but she denied that she laughed. Nine months later, she gave birth to laughter, and she laughed for the rest of her life (Genesis 21:6). Today, God will be sustained. But how can God make you laugh, your laughter will be sustained. But how can God make you laugh today? God makes you laugh when you receive an unexpected divine visitation. It is one thing for you to pay God a visit, like when you attend a church programme or a special programme like the Holy Ghost Service; but it is another thing for God to visit you. It is a beautiful experience when God visits a congregation or group of people, but it is even lovelier when God picks out an individual in a large congregation for divine visitation. The Lord will single you out for a divine visitation this season in Jesus’ Name.
In John 5:2-9, there was a multitude of sick folks at the pool called Bethesda, but when Jesus visited there, He went straight for the man who had been sick for 38years, healed him and left the place. In like manner, in Mark 10:46-52, Jesus enteredJericho and passed through it looking for whom to visit. He saw none in Jericho, but as He was leaving, in the midst of a crowd, he saw a blind beggar outside the city gate, healed him and continued with His journey. As Jesus healed these people, He introduced laughter into their lives. There was no record that either of them was ever sick again. Whatever criteria He uses to determine candidates for His visitation shall work in your favour today. Out of the crowd of those who need children, the Lord will visit you with yours. Out of the crowd of those who need promotion, the Lord will promote you. Out of the crowd of those who need special anointing, the Lord will visit you specially today. However, flee from sin, and do only what pleases Him. Be faithful in your tithes and offerings, and worship Him. 
Prayer Point

 

Father, I have wept for too long; from now on, introduce laughter into my life and make me laugh forever.

CLOTHED WITH JESUS’ ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS by Joseph Prince

29
Oct

Leviticus 1:6

And he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces.

Do you know who first clothed man with coats of skin? It was God Almighty Himself, when He found Adam and Eve hiding behind the bushes because they were afraid of Him. They had become fearful and conscious that they had sinned against God. In their sin-consciousness, they realized that they were naked and that the glory of God, which had been their covering, was gone.

So God killed an animal to clothe Adam and Eve with coats of skin. (Genesis 3:21) An animal had to die and its bloodied skin became their covering. This speaks of the blood of Jesus that covers you when He became your burnt offering. The Lamb of God did not just take away your sins. He also gave you His righteousness.

Beloved, you are covered by Jesus’ blood. You are righteous by His blood. God has clothed you with the robe of righteousness, which was paid for by Jesus’ blood. I am not talking about a physical robe made of cloth. I am talking about the robe of righteousness that was on Jesus when He said to the storm, “Peace, be still!” and there came a perfect calm (Matthew 8:23–27), when healing flowed from Him to the sick and when He raised Lazarus from the dead. (John 11:38–44)

When you believe that you are righteous because of Jesus’ blood, you will see the effects of wearing His robe of righteousness. You will see miracles happening before your very eyes. You become a blessing magnet, a favor or grace magnet. It is not your own righteousness, but the righteousness of Jesus which you have put on, that is attracting all these blessings of God into your life.

My friend, have the consciousness of being clothed with Jesus’ robe of righteousness. Every day, come to God and say, “Father, I thank You that Jesus is my burnt offering. He covers me from head to toe with His righteousness. What He is to You, I am. As He is now, so am I. I am in Him.” And you will see the manifestations of the blessings of health, wholeness, protection and provision that the robe attracts!

Thought For The Day

It is not your own righteousness, but the righteousness of Jesus which you have put on, that attracts the blessings of God into your life.

BLESSED IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE by Joseph Prince

28
Oct

Romans 5:1

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

We are not trying to get peace with God. We already have peace with God, having been justified by faith through our Lord Jesus Christ. This peace with God brings us the peace of God, which guards our hearts and minds. (Philippians 4:7) Then, the peace of Godinside us will also translate into the peace of Godoutside us—in all our outward circumstances.

Firstly, we will find that what would normally cause us much care and anxiety will no longer be the case. Secondly, not only will everything turn out well, but we will also be blessed in more ways than one. This is what happens when Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is our peace.

A church member, though stricken with cancer, enjoyed the peace of God, knowing that He was her healer. She later received confirmation from two different doctors that she had been completely healed of cancer. In addition to receiving her blessing of complete healing, she also received from her insurance company a critical illness claim of S$50,000!

Another church member, upon hearing news of her retrenchment, committed the matter to God, believing that He would work all things out for her, especially her loss of a regular income. Shortly after, she received her retrenchment package—a substantial five-figure sum. And within days of her retrenchment, she received calls from her contacts in the industry, offering her jobs, two of which were jobs in well-known multinational corporations (MNCs).

At that time, she had not yet started looking for a job, so the calls were unexpected but welcomed. She finally opted to work for one of the MNCs—a dream come true for her—at a salary that was 30 per cent more than her previous one! When she simply prayed, “Abba Father, I trust You to look after me,” and rested in His love and peace, she was abundantly blessed.

Beloved, because Jesus is your peace, you are blessed in more ways than one. Your soul will prosper. Your health will prosper. Your finances will prosper. Your loved ones will be taken care of. Your relationships will flourish. You will enjoy the favor of God. All because you have the Prince of Peace!

Thought For The Day

Because you have peace with God and the peace of God, you are abundantly blessed!

FORGIVE AND LET GOD DO THE REST

26
Oct

Ephesians 4:32

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

People like to say, “I can forgive, but I cannot forget.” Have you heard that before? Now, in the first place, nowhere in the Bible does God tell you to forgive and then to forget. It is not in the Bible! The devil is adding something here to make the whole thing burdensome.

God only tells us to forgive because God in Christ has forgiven us a debt we cannot pay. When we do this, we do ourselves a favor because harboring bitterness and unforgiveness can sometimes destroy our health!

So just forgive and let God take care of the rest. When you really forgive, sometimes, He makes you forget. But sometimes, you still remember the incident because it was a major thing in your life. Yet, when you look back at it, the pain is no more there. The sting is gone and you are not bitter.

Joseph had forgiven his brothers before they came and bowed before him. He remembered what they did to him, but he did not remember it with bitterness. (Genesis 50:15–21) So you may remember the incident, but the bitterness is gone because you have put the cross in the picture—“God in Christ forgave me. Daddy, I forgive you. Mama, I forgive you. My cousin, I forgive you.”

When you forgive, forgive by faith, not by your feelings. We walk by faith, not feelings. (2 Corinthians 5:7) Some people are waiting for feelings—“I am waiting, Father, for the right emotion to come on me to forgive that person.” That “right emotion” may never come!

No, forgive by faith, and do it once and for all. Spend time in prayer. Take out your diary and write it down: “Father, I bring this person before you. You know what he did to me. Father, as You forgave me through Jesus’ cross, even though I did not deserve it, by faith, I now forgive this person and I let my anger against him go in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

Once you forgive by faith, you will see the sting of bitterness removed from your heart. You will experience the peace and joy of God filling your mind, and see a greater measure of wholeness in your body!

Thought For The Day

When we forgive others, we free ourselves from bitterness and unforgiveness which can destroy our health!

Grace inspirational by Joseph Prince…TRUE TO YOUR ASSESSMENT

25
Oct

Leviticus 27:12

…the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be.

Your colleague says that this week is going to be a lousy one because the new boss is mean. You disagree and say that it is going to be a blessed week. Both of you will go through the same week, but with very different outcomes. While your friend’s week will indeed turn out to be a lousy one, yours will be filled with the favor of the Lord!

In the Old Testament, when someone brought what he had to the priest for a valuation, whatever the priest assessed the value of the item to be, it was so. If he assessed it to be of good value, then it was of good value. If he assessed it to be of poor value, then it was of poor value.

Today, you are also a priest because of Jesus’ blood. (Revelation 1:5–6) And “as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be”. If you assess your year to be one of financial breakthroughs, so it will be for you. If you assess your life to be filled with divine health, so it will be for you.

There was a stroke patient who was bedridden. While listening to my recorded sermons, he assessed that with God as his salvation, his life would be long and satisfying. (Psalm 91:16) He believed that God would help him walk again. Not too long after his assessment, he was able to walk and was no longer bound to the bed! The next assessment he made about his health was complete recovery with God as his helper.

Actually, you have more authority than the Levitical priests of the Old Testament. They were of the old priesthood of mortal men. But you are of the greater and “forever” priesthood of Jesus! (Hebrews 7:8, 17) Not only that, you are a king-priest. (Revelation 1:6) In other words, you are a king as well! And as a king, your assessment is also binding because where the word of a king is, there is power! (Ecclesiastes 8:4)

My friend, this means that you have a double portion of assessment power. Therefore, boldly assess good things for your life, and it will be so for you!

Thought For The Day

As you, the priest, assess your situation, so it shall be.

Grace inspirational today 24th October 2015… by Joseph Prince…GOD HAS SEEN YOUR FUTURE AND IT IS GOOD!

24
Oct

Isaiah 54:2

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.

At the end of 2004, during one of our services, the Lord told our church this: “I your God have gone ahead of you and I have already been to your future. I have seen it. And I declare that it is good.”

Although this word was given through me to our church, I believe that it is not only for our church, but also for every member of the body of Christ.

I tell you, when God declares your future good, it will be good! It will be filled with many wonderfully good days!

So what do you do when the Lord tells you that you are going to have a good future loaded with His blessings? You prepare for it! In other words, before the blessings come, before the increase comes, He wants you to enlarge the place of your tent and stretch forth the curtains of your dwellings.

For example, if you are believing God for a child, start reading books on babies and preparing the baby’s room. In fact, prepare to have more than one child. Start looking for a bigger place for your family for God says, “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.” Get ready for expansion!

My friend, God wants you to get ready, and expect such favor and increase in the days ahead that “you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited”. (Isaiah 54:3)

Because God has declared your future good, know that you stand on favor ground today. Expect good things to happen to you. Expect to see the favor of God on you and your family. Expect the blessings and increase of the Lord. Expect many good days to show up in your life!

Thought For The Day

Get ready for expansion because the Lord has been to your future and He declares that it is good!

WHEN HELP IS VOLUNTEERED – Monday October 19th 2015

WHEN HELP IS VOLUNTEERED 

Memorise: Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

Read: Esther 5:1-3, 5 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

 

2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

3 Then said the king unto her, what wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

Bible in one year: Numbers 28-29, Galatians 1

 MESSAGE!

After Esther touched the sceptre of a mere mortal king, death was turned into life for her; how much more will great things happen to those who touch the sceptre of the King of kings. I can assure you that lots of transformational changes await those who can touch the sceptre of the Most High God – the Lord Jesus Christ. I was once invited to a Fall Gospel Business Men Fellowship meeting in Port Harcourt (South-South Nigeria). I was asked to speak on “The New Anointing”; so I told them what the anointing can do in the life of a man. At the end of the message, virtually everyone wanted to torch the man of God. I had to be smuggled out of the hall where the meeting held. As we drove off, a very desperate woman ran towards the car with her handkerchief and rubbed it against the car and said, “There is power here now”, and she went home. Unknown to her, while she was away, one of her sisters had gone completely insane. It was so serious that it took six men to hold her down. When she got home and saw what was happening, she asked them to make way for her, because she had power in her hands. She simply laid the handkerchief on the girl and she became normal instantly.

In addition, after Esther touched the sceptre, the king asked her, “My queen, what can I do for you?” Normally, when you approached a highly placed individual for a favour, you should be the one to ask for help. But in this case, we see the king volunteering help to Esther. This tells us that when your day of favour dawns, the Almighty God will volunteer to help you. Furthermore, we see that the volunteered assistance was very significant. The king offered to give Esther up to half of his kingdom. If she had asked for it, she would have gotten it.  When your day of favour dawns, God will be ready to grant your request, no matter how big, difficult or how impossible it may sound. This season, the Lord will volunteer to help you. He will give you an open cheque, saying “My child, just ask anything you want and I will do it!” During this season of your favour, your request shall not be grievous to God. Even when you are at a loss over what to ask, the Lord will lead you to ask right by His Spirit.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26

Prayer Point

Father, You know my needs more than I do, please meet all of my needs today.

Grace daily by Joseph Prince! 18th October, 2015…HEIR OF THE WORLD TODAY

18
Oct

Romans 4:13

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

God promised Abraham that he would be the heir of the world. Now, don’t be too quick to say, “Well, that promise was made only to Abraham and not me.” The verse says, “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” So the promise was not just made to Abraham, but to “his seed” as well, that is, you and I who belong to Christ—“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29)

Notice that God did not say that you would be the heir of the country you are living in, but heir of the world! The Greek word for “world” here is kosmos, which means the universe as well as the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, advantages and pleasures. All these are yours to inherit through the righteousness of faith in Jesus and His finished work at the cross. This righteousness is given to you as a gift from God, so you don’t have to earn it through good works.

For God to fulfill His promise, He has to prosper you. You can’t be the heir of the world and be in lack or in debt! Not only that, He must keep you healthy because you can’t inherit the world when you are sick and always flat on your back.

Don’t listen to people who tell you that you will only get to enjoy these blessings when you get to heaven one fine day. Why would you need riches in heaven? There, even the streets are made of pure gold. (Revelation 21:21) And why would you need healing in heaven? There is no sickness there. So you need the health and provision in the here and now!

Beloved, God wants you to be the heir of the worldtoday. So lay hold of your rich inheritance today. Jesus paid for it with His blood. Don’t push it all to the sweet by and by!

Thought For The Day

You are an heir to the universe as well as the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, advantages and pleasures.

Weekend Delight : WHY PRAISE by Bro Yomi Oladejo 17/10/2015

Weekend Delight : WHY PRAISE by Bro Yomi Oladejo. 17/10/2015

Praise is the very essence of our living and when God created man at creation it was for His Praise. It is important for us has a Christian to know why we must praise God. And also what praise brings on the table for every faithful Praise star of God. Praise is the unfailing access to God. it is the proclamation of God’s representation and glory in our lives Psalms 22:3 & psalms 92:1-2 Praise can also be define simply has the food of God i.e. food is good to our body and praise is God’s food to see God’s Glory Isaiah 42:8.

The subject of praise is so important to God and we must know that praise is a spiritual medium through which God enforces what is written concerning you and removes what is not of him in your life

                      WHY PRAISE

Praise is a key to receiving help from God 2 chronicles 20:2-13 i.e. Praise is a defense in battle

God Always Show up in Praise 2 chronicles 20:15. when you praise God expect to see God coming down on your behalf bodily

God take the lead when you praise i.e. Praise guarantees divine direction in all situation of life

2 chronicles 20:16-20

Praise is a weapon to defeat your enemy 2 chronicles 20:21-24

Praising God will enrich you 2 chronicles 20:25

Praise is an addition and while you continue in it..it simply turns into multiplication of songs, blessings and divine presence of God

Praise makes the enemies fear you and stay clear off you 2 chronicles 20:29

Praise is all round rest 2 chronicles 20:30

The story of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah against the children of Moab and Ammon when they came against him in battle. Three things I learn from this scripture is that Jehoshaphat

  • He seek first the lord in Praise by acknowledging who He is and Given Glory and honor to God..
  • He also seek the counsel of the prophet of God and abide by the instruction and direction believing the prophet of God and counsel of God’s messenger
  • Jehoshaphat is a man of faith. he was stupid enough to believe God and appoint singers to praise the Lord even at the battle field..

I don’t know what it  is you are going through today in your life and what you seeking God for direction and help for..but today in the name of Jesus Christ has you begin to praise in faith this heavenly mystery your heaven will open and your testimony shall be established in Jesus Name…

 

Grace inspirational 16th, October 2015, by Joseph Prince… JESUS YOUR HIGH PRIEST INTERCEDES FOR YOU

16
Oct

Hebrews 7:25

…He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

The verse says that Jesus always lives to make intercession for us. Once, I used to think that this meant that Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand today, praying all the time for us, waiting and hoping that the Father will do something for us.

But that is not true. Look at what Jesus prayed when He stood before Lazarus’ tomb. He declared, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” (John 11:41) He prayed these words even before Lazarus came forth from his tomb alive. Jesus knew that what He said would come to pass because the Father always hears Him. (John 11:42)

So what does “Jesus always lives to make intercession for us” mean?

Because Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), we get a picture of what happens when we pray when we understand what the high priest in the Old Testament did with the burnt offering of a bird. (Leviticus 1:14–17)

The birds brought to the high priest are a picture of our prayers “flying” to the Lord Jesus because we pray to the Father in Jesus’ name. Now, just as the high priest removes the bird’s feathers after killing it, Jesus removes all that is superfluous and unclean from our prayers, such as unbelief and self-centeredness.

Then, just as the high priest offers the bird as a burnt sacrifice, a sweet aroma to the Lord, Jesus our High Priest adds His perfection, beauty, excellence and fragrance, which the Father so delights in, to our prayers. That is how He presents our prayers to the Father. That is how He lives to make intercession for you.

My friend, you don’t have to run to a church leader to get him to pray “more powerfully” for you. You can pray yourself. Then, take advantage of Jesus’ intercession for you and say, “Lord Jesus, I don’t know what else to say…please intercede for me.” And when Jesus gives His personal touch to your prayer, you can be sure that it will be answered!

Thought For The Day

Jesus removes all that is superfluous and unclean from our prayers, and adds His perfection, beauty, excellence and fragrance to them!