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Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye,… 6th, December 2015, Undefeated

December 6th 2015
Memorise: What should we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against

us? Romans 8:31

Read: 1st Samuel 17:45-49, 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord‘s, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
Bible in one year: Psalm 81-87, Hebrews 10:19-11:3
MESSAGE!

To be defeated is to be overcome by a physical, spiritual or circumstantial enemy. It could also mean failure to succeed or win in a war, contest, game or temptation. Defeat is usually accompanied with regret, sorrow, pain, shame and even death. It could also result in the loss of freedom, position, title, money and power. When Adam and Eve were defeated by Satan in the Garden of Eden, they lost their lives spiritually, lost their relationship with God, and their exalted position was gone. Out of deep regret and shame, they tried to hide themselves from the presence of the Almighty (Genesis 3:8). Defeat is such a terrible experience that it can cause the defeated to conclude that death is better than life. When Samson, the champion of Israel, was defeated, he lost everything including his confidence and will to survive; so much so that he opted to die (Judges 16:30). In defeat, Ahithophel, the great counsellor, committed suicide (2nd Samuel 17:23). I pray that you will never suffer defeat again in Jesus’ Name.
Meanwhile, defeat can be avoided by trusting in the Lord (Isaiah 26:3) and wearing the spiritual armour prescribed in the word of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). The story of Daniel and Goliath is a good example of what a Christian can do to become un-defeatable (1stSamuel 17). David took a casual walk into the camp of the Israelites to deliver some bread and cheese to his brothers and the captain of their unit. He was not a trained warrior, neither was he in anyway prepared for the battle ahead. He only happened to hear the boastings of Goliath and was challenged by his offensive statements against the Lord. David’s state of mind as he approached the battle is revealed in 1st Samuel 17:47:
“And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.”
David defeated Goliath by trusting in the Lord and by relying on the power of His word. In 1st Samuel 17:45b, David declared:
…..I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
In essence, David was saying: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Are you living a victorious life or wallowing in defeat? Do you want to remain undefeated? Give your life to Jesus now, trust in the Lord with all your heart and be assured that as long as God is on your side, no one can be against you.  
Prayer Point
Father, please don’t let me ever suffer any kind of defeat again, in Jesus’ Name.  

 

KEY TO USEFULNESS Today: 2015-12-06

Sanctification remains the key to usefulness in this kingdom.

God requires and demands man’s sanctification to guarantee His usefulness. Jeremiah 15:19

“…and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth…”

Sanctification makes you as one with God. It alligns you with God.

Isaiah 6:5-8; 52:11; Zechariah 3:1-8, Psalm 15:1-5; 24:3,4 ; 4:3, Ecclesiastes 9:8, II Timothy 2:19-22, Proverbs 25:4

Keep your vessel constantly clean to keep God constantly at work.

God detest unclean environment.

What God is looking for first is how we live, not what we do.

It is our cleanliness before our activities.

God has no problem working the moment he can find clean vessels to work through, nothing less than pure vessels is acceptable to him.

Clean up and God will show up. Exodus 19:11

Daily cleansing is the guarantee for daily usefulness.

GOD MAKES ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

06
Dec

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

In this verse, “all things” is literally all things—the good, the bad and the ugly! Now, it does not mean that all things are from God. Some things, such as accidents, sicknesses, broken relationships and divorces are not from Him. They are from the devil or just part of the fallen world that we live in. But what this verse does tell us is that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”. That is our inheritance as God’s beloved children.

Do the people of the world have this inheritance? No. When bad things happen to them, they are what they are—bad things. But when bad things happen to the children of God, it does not end there. God can make those bad things work together for good. In other words, the devil may throw lemons at you, but God can take those lemons and make refreshing lemonade for you!

For example, if you have been retrenched, believe that God, who makes all things work together for good, has a better job for you. Indeed, we have received testimonies from church members who have ended up with better jobs and higher salaries after they were retrenched.

It is important you remember that God is not behind anything bad or ugly. But when those things happen, know that He can make all things work together for good. And don’t let anyone tell you that all things will work together for good only if you love God and are called according to His purpose. These two things are not conditions but descriptions of believers. Believers are those who love God because they know that God first loved them. (1 John 4:19) And they are called according to His purpose for they have been born again and belong to Him.

My friend, because you have been born again, all things in your life will work together for good. This is your inheritance as a beloved child of God!

Thought For The Day

God is not behind anything bad or ugly. When those things happen, know that He can make all things work together for good.

FOR WHAT CAUSE ARE YOU LIVING? Today: 2015-12-02

FOR WHAT CAUSE ARE YOU LIVING?

Today: 2015-12-02

Life without a cause will end under a cloud.

Living without a cause is like living  under a curse.

Cause is the cure to fainting. With a cause you cannot faint. II Cor.4:16,17

Strong people are those motivated by their cause.

It is the greatest motivation to life. It makes one tireless and ever “drivy”.

A man with a cause is usually self encouraging.

Keeping in view what awaits you is what gives you strength to waiting.

If you know what awaits you, you will never be tired of waiting.

If you see the gains you will never feel the pains.

Pains don’t last, it is gains that endure.

Pain will soon fade out, gains will make you fat and make you shine.

Your cause will put you on the run, make you boisterous; keeps you motivated.

It is your cause that keeps you inspired.

When you have no more cause, you expire – II KI.4:7,8

It is your cause that advances you

Open Heavens, by Pastor E.A Adeboye..THE GOD OF PURPOSE – Wednesday December 2nd 2015

THE GOD OF PURPOSE 
Memorise: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Ephesians 1:11

Read: Ephesians 1:9-12, 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Bible in one year: Psalm 64-68, Hebrews 7:11-28
MESSAGE!
Our God is a meticulous God. He does not do anything without first planning for it. His plans are sometimes mapped out thousands or millions of years before they are executed. We need to learn from this character of God and apply its principles in our life. Before God created man, He knew that the first Adam would fall into sin, and so He began to make preparation for the second Adam. In the same vein, before you were created, God knew all the details about you. Because He knew your strengths and weaknesses, He prepared the appropriate help you would need to succeed, even before your were born. If you can draw close to God, He will share a bit of His knowledge with you. Do most events take you by surprise, or do they occur as a fulfilment of what God had already shown you? Also, at what point do you plan for events and activities that you know would happen? For example, at what point do you plan for your children: is it long before they are born, just before they are born or after their birth?

 

 

Not only does our God plan, He also has a purpose behind everything He does. That is why Ephesians 1:11 says:
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”
We are products of His divine purpose. Believe it or not, everything and everyone created by God has a purpose (Revelation 4:11, Jeremiah 1:4-5). God has a general plan into which His specific plan for your life fits. You were created unique, and you are one of a kind. There can never be another you among all the billions of people on earth. The exact details of your life are in God’s hands. Although God has a specific plan for everyone He created, it is unfortunate that only a negligible few ever get to know and fulfil that plan. Do you know why you are here? Do you know why God made you? Have you keyed into the purpose of God for your life? Are you where God wants you to be and doing what He wants you to do? You need to know that when God is working in you and through you, it is to accomplish His purpose and not yours, even though He grants you your own desires sometimes. Have you keyed into His plan for your life?
Prayer Point

 

Father, I submit to your plan and purpose for my life. Help me to recognise them, and keep me from straying from them.

GOD KNOWS YOU INTIMATELY

02
Dec

Matthew 10:30

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

As much as I love my wife and daughter, I have never bothered to count the number of hairs on their heads. I don’t have the time to do so and I doubt I will ever want to.

Every day, your hair drops. Yet, God knows how many hairs are left on your head. And He also knows how many are growing back! He knows because He bothers to count them again. When it comes to you, He always has time for every little thing about you.

So when Jesus said, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered,” He was not exaggerating. He never exaggerates. He means what He says and He says what He means. So for the Lord to say that the very hairs of your head are all numbered means that He wants you to know that He is very interested in you and has intimate knowledge about you—your body, family, finances, relationships…everything in your life!

He knows the pain you have been having in your body. He is aware of the financial worry which you have been keeping from your family. He sees how your nasty boss is treating you. He understands the hurts you have been keeping in your heart. He hears your heart’s cry for a miracle baby.

Your heavenly Father wants you to know that as long as something concerns you, He does not overlook it, even if it is about your pet, as a church member found out. She panicked when she first discovered that her pet terrapin had gone blind. Then, remembering my messages on confessing healing for our bodies, she did the same for her pet! Three months later, the terrapin’s eyes were wide open and able to see!

God knows you intimately. He knows every small problem you are worried about and every single burden you have. And when you approach Him for help, He has all the time for you as if no one else exists. That is how valuable you are to Him and how absorbed He is in you!

Thought For The Day

God knows every single care you have and He has all the time for you as if no one else exists.

Wisdom Encourages Patience by Joyce Meyer – posted December 01, 2015

 

A man’s wisdom gives him patience. 
—Proverbs 19:11 NIV

People often ask me, “How can I learn contentment and stability?” One way, straight out of the Bible, is patience.

God wants us to use wisdom, and wisdom encourages patience. Wisdom silently tells us to wait a little while, until the emotions settle down, before you do or say something. Then check to see if you really believe it’s the right thing to do. Emotions urge us toward haste, telling us we must do something and do it right now! But godly wisdom tells us to be patient and wait until we have a clear picture of what we are to do and when we are to do it. I like to say it like this: Let emotions subside and then decide. We need to be able to step back from our situations and see them from God’s perspective. Then we need to make decisions based on what we know rather than what we feel.

Power Thought: I have the wisdom to develop patience and emotional stability.

 

GOD HEARS YOUR PRAYERS

01
Dec

Romans 4:7–8

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Some people think that if they were more “right” with God, then He would hear their prayers. For example, they sometimes believe that if they had not quarreled with their wives or had those bad thoughts earlier in the day, then God would answer their prayers.

God is not like that. He wants you to know beyond any doubt that you can always come to His throne of grace with boldness and have every confidence that you will receive His mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16) You see, because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, you are already right with God. You don’t need to do anything to make yourself more right with God.

In fact, by faith in Jesus, you have received the righteousness of God Himself! (2 Corinthians 5:21) And no matter how many mistakes you make, you will never lose that righteousness because in the first place, God gave it to you apart from your works. (Romans 4:5–6) In other words, God did not impute righteousness to you because you were good, but because you believed in Jesus.

Because of what Jesus has done for you at the cross, all your sins—past, present and future—are forgiven. God will by no means ever remember your sins or count them against you! (Hebrews 8:12, 10:17)

My friend, because Jesus has been punished for your sins, today, God is not counting your sins against you. This means that your sins won’t stop Him from hearing and responding to your prayers. So you can always run into His presence knowing that you can boldly stand in and enjoy His presence and His love.

When you know this truth, it is going to set you free in your relationship with God. You can talk to Him without fear or any sense of condemnation. You can practice His presence and trust that He always hears you. Should something happen at home or at work, you don’t always have to call for your church leaders—you pray and God hears you!

Beloved, you are righteous in Christ and God hears your prayers—all because of Jesus!

Thought For The Day

Because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, you are already right with God. So when you pray, God hears you!

HOW TO ACCESS NEW LEVEL Today: 2015-12-01

HOW TO ACCESS NEW LEVEL

Today: 2015-12-01

In our leadership endeavours we are expected to keep climbing to new levels. But this is practically impossible without facing new challenges.

On the way to any new level are new devils.

On the way to your future is an Esau.

Before Jesus could assume the level of global fame he was led by the spirit to the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil alongside with wild beasts therein. Mk.1

His initial level of publicity was at His baptism in Jordan.

He was immediately led into the wilderness to be approved for the new level.

Temptation is not abandonment but a stretch to spread.

Temptation advances destiny.

When you’re stretched you don’t return to previous state. Lk4:1-14, Mk1:9-13,

Open Heavens 1st, December 2015. .. By Pastor E.A Adeboye.

OVERCOMING BY PRAYER 
Memorise: And when he was at the place, he said unto them, pray that ye enter not into temptation. Luke 22:40

Read: Luke 22:39-41, 39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Bible in one year: Psalm 57-63, Hebrews 6:13-7:10
MESSAGE!
The moment you gave your life to Jesus Christ, a battle line was drawn between you and the kingdom of darkness. Unhappy that he has lost you to God’s kingdom, Satan’s main goal is to secure your return to his kingdom. One major tool he tries to use in accomplishing this mission is temptation. The devil and his agents will bring temptations your way to make you to do things that would break your relationship with God. This is where prayer comes in. prayer is one veritable tool that prevents you from falling into Satan’s traps. This is why Jesus urged His disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Luke 22:40 says:
“And when he was at the place, he said unto them, pray that ye enter not into temptation.”

 

When you pray, the strength to overcome temptations is released to you. A Christian who fails to pray will sooner or later become a victim of the tempter. The extent to which you will overcome temptations is determined by how robust your prayer life is. If you have been raising and falling so often, check your prayer life and the way you study God’s word. If you can improve on both, you will experience more stability in your faith.
One of the modus operandi of Satan is to show you dazzling sights that could tempt you to follow him. In other words, he presents an object of temptation in a bright and attractive way; repainting an evil thing in brilliant and attractive colours. For instance, a prostitute is labelled a commercial sex worker, in order to support the excuse that he or she is simply trying to earn a living, whereas the essence of prostitution is fornication and adultery. In tempting people, the devil and his agents make sin look attractive and inviting, almost with an air of irresistibility. Prayer deadens these illusions by painting sin in its real colours. Every time you pray over an object of temptation, it becomes less inviting and less attractive. As you pray, the desire to sin is brought under subjection. Through prayer, we obtain grace to walk in the reality of the truth that our flesh has been crucified (Galatians 5:24). Prayer strengthens our spirit man and keeps the flesh where it belongs: crucified and dead on the cross of Calvary (Romans 6:6). It connects your spirit with the Holy Spirit and separates you from the devil, by moving your focus towards Heaven and away from the allure of the world. How prayerful are you? No believer in Christ can triumph without using the weapon of prayer. 
Prayer Point
Father, please give me the grace to pray like Jesus prayed while on earth.