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​OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL…

 DATE: FRIDAY JULY 14TH 2017.

THEME: FOUNDATION: HOW STRONG?

 

MEMORISE:

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 

1 Timothy 6:19

 

READ: Psalm 11:3-5

3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
4 The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
5 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
MESSAGE:

The foundation of any building or structure is very important. According to Proverbs 22:6, if a child is given the right foundation, it will be easy for him or her to build on it and succeed in life. The question then is, what kind of foundation are you laying for your child or ward? Do you know that some parents are the ones who push their children into destruction? For instance, if you have a child whose Christian foundation is not solidly established and you send such a child into the society with liberal values, don’t be surprised to see the child follow ungodly lifestyle. For this reason, when you are considering tertiary education for your child, also put into consideration how that child will access spiritual growth in the institution you want to send him or her to. An ideal school should be able to satisfy the academic, moral and spiritual needs of a child. All these should be well balanced. A child’s foundation is laid from kindergarten to university, after which the child will be able to continue in the righteous path of his or her upbringing. Do your children have a solid foundation in Christ? Is their foundation strong enough to carry whatever will be built on it?

 

On the other hand, the strength of a child’s foundation is a function of several factors such as: the spiritual level of the parents, the values upheld in that family, the parents’ level of education, the financial resources available to the child, and so on. It is true that you cannot give what you don’t have. This invariably means that as parents, the more you invest in your spiritual life, the greater the chances of giving your children a more solid foundation. Children learn a lot by simply copying their parents. Many parents engage in certain unhealthy habits and their children are watching them. The laughable thing is that some parents who practice unwholesome habits even warn their children not to try such. To believe that their children will take them seriously is to engage in self-deception. Some men have girlfriends and their children are aware of this, but they beg them never to tell their mothers. Some even bring such ladies home and bribe their children to keep their mouth shut. How can such children ever grow up to become faithful to their spouses? The strongest legacy you can give your children is to live the kind of life you desire to see in them.

 

PRAYER POINT: 

Father, help me to lay a very solid foundation for every member of my family.
 

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

 

HYMN 16: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES
1. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,

Homes where the Master’s will is sought,

Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

 

2. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the father is true and strong,

Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,

Homes that are joyous with love and song;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

 

3. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the mother, in caring quest,

Strives to show others Your way is best,

Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!
4. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the children are led to know

Christ in His beauty who loves them so,

Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY JULY 4TH 2017

 

THEME: HAVING A SERVANT SPIRIT

 

Memorise:

 

For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Luke 22:27

 

Read: Luke 22:24-27

 

22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

 

22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

 

22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

 

22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

 

Message:

 

Signs and wonders easily flow in an atmosphere where authority is respected. The moment a person becomes rebellious or refuses to submit to the authority of leaders, God withdraws and so do His signs and wonders. If you want God to use you in the miraculous, learn to remain submissive to the authority of those set over you by God. Moreover, another attribute of the fellow God will use to perform signs and wonders is the possession of a servant spirit. If you take a critical look at the person of Philip as recorded in the book of Acts, chapters 6 and 8, you will see a man who happily obeyed when he was sent to serve food as an usher, even though he was full of faith, power and the Holy Spirit. If some people had such credentials as these, they would suddenly become very choosy in the nature of assignments they are willing to carry out. If a pastor asks some workers to clean the toilet today, they may give the pastor a look that says, “Don’t you know who I am? Is it because I am a worker in your church? In my place of work, I am a Managing director” Nobody is contesting with you. The truth remains that in God’s kingdom, a worker is a servant. When you get to your office, you can be the boss there, but when you are in God’s house, you must be prepared to serve. Do you know that anyone who is unwilling to serve can never reach the top in God’s house?

 

You need to always remember that even the Lord Jesus Christ came as a servant! In Luke 22:26, He admonished us with these words:

“But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

 

Not only did He instruct us to serve, He himself did exactly that. He came as one who serves (Luke 22:27). Do you remember He washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:5)? This is why I teach my students at the School of disciples that the hands that cannot do manual labour cannot heal the sick. Some people have abandoned house chores to their domestic workers and other helpers. If you really want God to use your hands to perform signs and wonders, then you must engage them in manual labour. By virtue of my position as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, people try to keep me from doing chores. However, do you know that even with all the help and assistants at my disposal, when I realized they are not around, I quickly iron some of my wife’s clothes or go to the kitchen sink to wash some plates? I know what I am doing. Are you a servant or a lord that everyone must obey?

 

Prayer Point:

 

Father, give me the servant spirit of Jesus Christ, so that I may serve others just as He did.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1 Samuel 14

Lamentation 4:19-5:22

 

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

 

HYMN 14: TAKE MY LIFE

 

1. Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days,

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.

 

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.

 

4. Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use

Every pow’r 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.

 

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.

​OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY JULY 3RD 2017

THEME: FOCUSED ASKING

 

Memorise:
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Luke 11:8
Read: Luke 11:5-10
11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
11:6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
11:7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 

Message:
One of the conditions to be met before one’s burden is lifted is the need to see that burden is an anomaly. You must acknowledge the existence of the burden, and be willing to be helped, before you can be set free from it. In john 5:2-9, Jesus asked the man who had been sick for 38 years, “Do you want to be made whole?” you may wonder why Jesus asked him such an obvious question. Why didn’t he just heal him straightaway? The truth is, not everyone wants to be helped. I have shared the story of a sick woman whom I prayed for many times without results. Then one day, the Lord told me, “Ask her if she wants to be healed”. Initially, I wondered what kind of question that was, but later I asked her, “woman, do you want to be well?’. To my utmost shock she replied, “No”. In my astonishment I asked her why not, and she said, “When I was well, immediately my husband closed from his work place, he would go to club houses, but since I took ill, after work, he comes home to me. I would rather be sick and retain my husband’s attention”. There is also the case of a witch who was brought to us for deliverance some time ago. Although we prayed, she would not be delivered. So, I asked, “Woman, do you want to be delivered?” “She replied, “Do you want me to lose the power I use in controlling my husband? I don’t want to be free.” As long as you are not willing to let go of the burden on you, there is nothing God will do to take it off you. In any case, God does not force things on you against your will, except in very rare cases.
In addition, you must be ready to cry to the Burden Bearer for help like Bartimaeus did in Mark 10:46-52. He cried once and again saying:

“Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me”

 

When others shouted him down, he raised his voice even higher. He kept calling until the Lord heard him. If you are weighed down by a burden and you pray lackadaisically, it simply shows that you are not really concerned about that burden. If you are, you will throw caution and decorum to the wind and call upon the Lord with your whole heart, and He will answer you. Some people call on God for a little while and stop. Such people may not get the answer they seek because they are not desperate enough. If you want results, call on Him and continue calling on Him. Use every opportunity you have to call on Him. Let Him see that you have resolved not to give Him rest until he answers you. When He sees that the answer to your prayers means everything to you, He will answer. As you call on Him this season, the Lord will answer you speedily in Jesus’ Name.

 

Key Point:
If you are not ready to petition God repeatedly until He has no breathing space, you are not desperate enough for your desired change.

 

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1 Samuel 12-13

Lamentation 4:2-18

 

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 4: THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR
1. Through the love of God, our Savior,

all will be well;

free and changeless is his favor,

all will be well;

precious is the blood that healed us,

perfect is the grace that sealed us,

strong the hand stretched out to shield us,

all will be well.
2. Though we pass through tribulation,

all will be well;

ours is such a full salvation,

all will be well.

happy when in god confiding,

fruitful if in Christ abiding,

holy through the Spirit’s guiding,

all will be well.
3. We expect a bright tomorrow;

all will be well;

faith can sing through days of sorrow,

all will be well;

on our Father’s love relying,

Jesus every need supplying

in our living, in our dying,

all will be well.

ACCESSING TRUE HUMILITY – Saturday 14th January 2017

Memorise: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2:3

Read: Philippians 2:3-8 (KJV)

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

 Bible in one year: Matthew 27-28, Isaiah 10:20-11:5, Hymn: Sing hymn 9

MESSAGE:

One of the virtues that made the work of our salvation possible is humility. It took great humility for our Lord Christ to take up the form of a man and to die the shameful death of the cross. The secret of our Lord’s humility lies in the state of His mind. For this reason, the Holy Spirit in Philippians 2:5 says this to us.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

Many Christians believe they are humble, but only adversity reveals a man’s true character. It takes the mind of Jesus being transplanted into you to experience true humility. God’s humility is not feigned like what we generally see today. A man behaves and speaks as though he is humble, but under provocation he throws caution to the wind. At this point, you will see how haughty or cocky he really is. Are you struggling to stay humble? Ask that the mind of Christ be made manifest in you today! Do not stop asking until you see yourself manifesting Christ humility. When you surrender your life to Jesus at salvation, the mind of Christ is grafted into your spirit (1st Corinthians 2:16). Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 14 January 2017:- accessing true humility. It however takes the sanctification experience to fully manifest this new mind without struggling. Through sanctification, there is an overflow of grace that is released to you, enabling you to easily manifest the nature of God that you have received through salvation.

We need true humility today like never before. Many years ago, I was the official interpreter for the founder of our church: translating his sermons from Yoruba, the local dialect, to English. Then one day, a pastor was asked to preach, and he came and asked me to interpret for him. I felt insulted. “Who do you think you are to be asking the interpreter of the General Superintendent to interpret for you?” I mused. Right then, God taught me a big lesson which cost me a lot, but thank God I was later restored. Later on, I became the General Overseer (G.O.) of the church, and I had the opportunity of visiting one of our church parishes. I got there during an evening service, and one of the deacons was about to preach. He had already opened his Bible to begin the message when he was told “the G.O. is here.” I was brought up to the altar and he said to me, “Thank God you are here sir, please go ahead and preach. “I answered, “No, you go ahead and preach, while I interpret for you.” “I can’t do that sir” he replied. Then I said, “I command you to.” For five minutes, he was shaking because here he was, a deacon preaching, and the G.O. was interpreting. The Holy Ghost then took control of him and he was able to focus on the word. Through humility, it becomes easy to submit one to another and to esteem others better than ourselves. Are you humble? Open heavens for today.

Prayer Point

Father, grant me the grace to easily manifest the mind of Christ in humility every day.

FAITH LIKE A CHILD’S? – Monday October 10th 2016

FAITH LIKE A CHILD’S? – Monday October 10th 2016

 

Memorise: And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

Read: Matthew 18:1-6, (KJV)

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

 

Bible in one year: Ezekiel 46:19-48:35, Psalms 77:11-20

MESSAGE

The child-like faith is what everybody requires, not only to make it to heaven but also to enjoy his or her days on the earth. If we do not believe this because it sounds illogical, we must believer it because Jesus said it. What is then required of us is to pray for the kind of faith that is comparable with that of a little child. The first thing about a little child is that he is very trusting. In my living room several years ago, there used to be a portrait of a little child looking so innocent with the inscription; “Non Problem”. The faith that will enable us not to see problems but see only God who specialises in solving problems is the best for us.

Another characteristic trait of little children is that they forgive easily. Unlike adults who keep malice, children forgive and forget the wrong done to them almost immediately after it’s done. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:32:

“And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Children fulfil his Biblical injunction freely. Children could be very generous with their things except in some unusual occasions. Without knowing the spiritual implication of their actions, children are tender hearted with their peers. This is exactly what God wants from us. In Colossians 3:12-13, the Bible also says:

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another and forgive one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

There are many blessings we will access from the throne of God our Father if we can begin to take after children. For example, if we freely forgive those who wrong us like a child will do, our prayers will receive quick answers from God. In Mark 11:25, Jesus Christ said:

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

This instruction that comes from our Lord is simply saying that before we pray, we must first forgive! We can see the reason many of our prayers are not answered; we refuse to forgive. I pray that a user of this devotional will find grace to forgive and be kind hearted in Jesus’name.

Prayer Point

Father, please help my faith and transform me to be able to forgive freely and be tender hearted in Jesus’ name.

Open Heavens 23 September 2016:- The Sure Solution

THE SURE SOLUTION – Friday September 23rd 2016

Memorise: Pray without ceasing. 1st Thessalonians 5:17

Read: James 5:13-16, (KJV)

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

Bible in one year: Ezekiel 7-9, Psalms 66:10-20

MESSAGE

Prayer is a means of communicating with God, it is primarily offered by addressing God directly in the name of Jesus. Prayer may include petition, entreaty, supplication, thanksgiving, praise, hymns, and lament. The Bible stresses the importance of prayer and commends a life of prayer that is characterized by simplicity of expression, sincerity of heart and trust in God’s ability. It is important to note that prayer plays a vital role in our quest to access more of God’s glory. It is a ladder we can climb to enter into God’s presence. The more you pray, the more of His presence you will encounter, leading you into more of His glory. At the mount of Transfiguration, when the Lord moved His prayer gear to a higher level, He saw Himself in the presence of His Father and His clothes shone with God’s glory (Luke 9:29). Open Heavens 23 September 2016:- The Sure Solution

After this experience, Jesus returned to the domains of men, empowered to gain victory over men, demons and challenges that came His way. Prayer is the sure answer and the ultimate solution to all problems and challenges of life. God commanded us to pray in Jeremiah 33:3 by saying:

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Through the instrumentality of prayer, there is no problem too big that cannot be solved; the issue is: many people are too lazy to pray their way into God’s presence to enable them access the level of glory they require to reign over Satan, situations, circumstances and their fears. Wake up! Rise up in prayer and begin to pray your way into His presence today! Bear in mind the evil judgment and all manners of calamities always befall those that do not pray. God wants His children to develop the habit of praying always, 1st Thessalonians 5:17 says: “Pray without ceasing”; Romans 12:12 talks about “…Continuing instant in prayer”; and Luke 18:1 says, “….men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Children of God have no excuse for operating a prayer-less life. James 4:2 says:

“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”

23 September 2016 open heavens

The Word of God makes it very clear that the failure of many among the people of God is not due to laziness, lack of ambition, or poor preparation, but to a lack of prayer. According to 2nd Chronicles 7:14

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray…”

Many personal problems of individual Christians and some corporate challenges in the Body of Christ will turn to testimonies if any God’s people will pray.

Prayer Point

Father, please rekindle the fire of prayer in my life in Jesus’ name.

COME BACK HOME – Tuesday August 2nd 2016

COME BACK HOME 

 

Open Heavens 2 August 2016: Monday daily devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye – Come back home.

Memorise: There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked. Isaiah 48:22

Read: Isaiah 48:18-22, (KJV)

18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

 

Bible in one year: Hebrews 9-10, Psalm 25

There was a point in the life of the children of Israel when God had to bring to their remembrance what He had done for them. He had to draw their attention to their rebellion over the years starting from the point when He used Moses to deliver them from captivity. The children of Israel soon forgot the faithfulness of God and began to attribute their freedom and victory to idols. How easy it is for us to forget the investments of God in our lives. He delivered them from their afflictions. He made them partakers of His glorious presence. He never left them alone for a moment. He enlightened them and guided them to their destinations. Yet, they began to praise the idols they had made with their hands. God tried different methods to get their attention but they ignored Him. He sent them prophets and raised judges for them. He sent His servants to them to forewarn them of the consequences of their actions and occasionally appeared to them but they never listened until they met their destruction. They forgot the reason for which they were called ‘the people of God. They refused to retain God in their knowledge; they trusted in their idols and intellects, and as a result began to engage in what was not convenient until they lost the peace and joy of the living God.

This is also true of the time and days we live in. God wants us to come back to His love, despite our state of wickedness. God is still interested in having us to Himself for our good. There is great joy and happiness for those who repent and come back to God. The opportunity is here and I want you to take advantage of the grace of God that is available now. Choose good and not evil. Choose life and not death. Choose blessing and not curse. There can never be peace for a wicked man because he is a stranger and an enemy of God. There is no peace for those who stand in opposition to the Almighty God. They do so to their own peril. Unspeakable happiness and joy comes to those who align themselves with God but uneasiness, fear, sorrow, trouble and destruction comes to those who forget where He is bringing them from. When you are on the Lord’s side, there will be quietness, peace, calm and comfort because you are a friend to God and not an enemy.

Like the prodigal son, you may have wasted all that has been committed into your hands. You may have gone beyond where help can reach you but the grace of God is longer than the stretch of your iniquities, therefore return home. Remove rebellion from your heart. Let there be light and a change of heart. Make a fresh resolution that you won’t backslide again.

“Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!”

Psalms 81:13

As you make this strong decision, you will begin to see the peace you desire in your heart. All the good your heart has desired and all the comfort you have ever longed for becomes a reality. Your peace is a function of His presence in your life. Begin to relate with Him daily, praise and worship Him. See His Word as what you must feed on and obey Him even when you don’t seem to understand. As you do this, you will enjoy the prosperity and protection of the Almighty God. His blessings in your life will never be interrupted and you will continue to enjoy all that God has to give. (2 August 2016 open heavens)  

Prayer Point

Father, please help me to return to you fully

THE BLAMELESS VESSEL – Wednesday July 6th 2016

THE BLAMELESS VESSEL 

Memorise: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. Isaiah 52:11

Read: 1st Timothy 3:1-7, (KJV) 1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.



 Bible in one year: Acts 27:28, Song of Solomon 8:8-14

MESSAGE

One thing that anyone who wants to be used by God should bear in mind is the need to be blameless. This is the prerequisite for a child of God who wants to serve God at any level. The Bible says in 1st Timothy 3:1-2a:

“This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A Bishop then must be blameless….”

Being blameless has two advantages: Firstly, it saves the vessel the calamity of being destroyed by the User, the Almighty God. When a person volunteers to serve the Lord, it is dangerous for the fellow to be unclean, because the holiness of God destroys unclean vessels, just like electric current without insulation. There is a measure of holiness that God Himself bestowed upon man through obedience to His Word, which qualifies man to serve Him. The Bible says concerning Isaiah, how he admitted his sinful state, then God purified and cleansed him of his iniquity to qualify as a true prophet (Isaiah 6:5). Then, the angel of the Lord came and touched him with fire from Heaven and he was purged of his iniquity. Here, we see the mercy of God upon the vessel that He decided to use for His glory. There is a lesson we must learn from this scripture: the prophet admitted his sinful state and God came to his aid for cleansing. How wonderful would it be if those who profess to be children and ministers of God will be homely with the verdict of God concerning the Adamic nature of man and surrender to His holiness for mercy?

The second advantage of a blameless vessel is that his life glorifies the Almighty God. God is honoured in his life and He shows-off the fellow, then ultimately prospers and protects him eternally.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, has thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”

Job 1:8

Through Job suffered many trials, but just as the Bible says, his end was better than his beginning;

“So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning….”

Action Point

Father, I want to be blameless, please help me to live a life of obedience to Your Word and let Your Name be glorified in my life.

Open Heavens Daily, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye

PREACH THE WORD – Monday June 20th 2016

PREACH THE WORD Memorise: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 2nd Timothy 4:2

Read: 2nd Timothy 4:1-4, (KJV) 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

Bible in one year: Esther 1-3, Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:7

MESSAGE

This is part of the final charge by Apostle Paul to his spiritual son, Timothy. Timothy needed some courage to fulfil his calling as an apostle, and Paul reaffirmed to him the fact that if he would be a useful evangelist in the hands of God, there was no better time than that moment to make full proof of his calling by preaching the undiluted Word of God. Divine utterance of the Word of God is a tool anyone who desires to have a profitable ministry must have. There are many preachers today who have turned the pulpit to an entertainment platform. You see a lot of sinners feeling very comfortable in such churches because the Word of God has been watered down. The 21st century Church is no longer interested in reproving and rebuking her members, the preachers are after saying only what the members want to hear.

The Word of God is a hidden truth that is usually beyond human understanding. There are some who sweat profusely jumping from one point to another in the name of preaching, and at the end, when you ask the listeners what they gained; you will be amazed at the kind of response you get, it is the Word of God that we are charged to preach, not the theologies and philosophies of men. The Word of God alone can liberate the sinful soul and bring newness of life to those who hear it. It is through the Word of God alone that those living in sin can be reproved of their sins. It is the Word that encourages those who are faithful to remain in the faith.

In this time when fake teachers and heretic preachers abound, there is the need to reaffirm our commitment to preach the correct doctrines of God. It doesn’t matter how many ‘preachers’ conjure unscriptural sermons, we have to ensure we counter their heresies with the correct Word of God. It is the Word of God that determines your place in the scheme of things. The Word of God is forever settled. It does not grow old and you can never improve on it. The Word brings back to life everything that is dead in the lives of people. I want you to embrace the Word like never before, because it is the Word that delivers the benefits of God to you.

“And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”

2nd Timothy 3:15

God’s Word communicates God’s wisdom and peace into your life. The moment you become a doer of the Word of God, you become feared and respected by the devil and his demons.

Prayer Point

Father, let Your Word be active in my life in Jesus name.

VESSEL UNTO HONOUR? – Saturday June 4th 2016

VESSEL UNTO HONOUR? 

Memorise: Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from

freshly lusts which war against the soul; 1st Peter 2:11

Read: 1st Peter 2:5-11, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 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 marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

 

Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 20:24-23:15, Ecclesiastes 2:9-17

MESSAGE

When we realise the extent to which God can go to cleanse humanity from the pollution of the devil, then we will realise that God is not interested in quantity but in spiritual quality. During the time of Noah, God wiped off the people from the earth because of their sins, but spared Noah and his family. Hence, salvation is a personal thing and if you are going to be a vessel unto honour, you must be ready to stand alone and do that which is right in the sight of God. Sodom and Gomorrah did not escape the righteous judgement of God because they had fallen far beyond the point where they could turn back from their evil ways, they had no desire whatsoever to turn from their evil ways and return to their Maker.

Those who are vessels unto honour will always live because Christ is alive in them. They have a living hope because the Living Word dwells in them. As vessels unto honour, you must not allow the nature of rebellion to find expression in you because you are the Lord’s own. You have direct access to God, because you have been separated from this world and unto Him.

This is why we must always focus our attention on Jesus for direction in every aspect of our lives, so that we can be effective weapons in His hand. We must continue to spread the love of Jesus in our communities and beyond. We must awaken people to their spiritual needs because we have been called out of darkness into the light of God. God gives every one of us the opportunity to be useful in His plans on earth. The responsibilities are on us to determine the extent to which we will do exploits for the Lord. We must immediately respond to the prompting and instructions of the Lord before it is too late.

As we see all challenges confronting our world on a daily basis, there is the need for all Christians to come into a higher level of uncompromising commitment to the Shepherd of our souls. There is the need to connect with God in intimacy, so that we can have access to revelations of things to come. All those things which can easily distract us from reaching the ultimate height of God for our lives must be prevented.

“Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which doth easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”

Hebrews 12:1

As vessels unto honour, you must be ready to pay the price to be true disciples of Jesus. Others can, but you cannot, because you have been separated unto God for good works.

Prayer point

Father, help me to abide in You thoughtout my lifetime in Jesus’ name.