Thursday 11 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Thursday 11 July 2013 CHANGE YOUR LEVEL By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Thursday 11 July 2013
CHANGE YOUR LEVEL 
By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: Genesis 26:13Read: 2 Kings 2:9-15
PRAYER POINT
Every champion started as a potential champion. If they could change their level, so can you. Father, move me to my next level



It is possible to wine and dine with the King of Glory and not have a life transforming encounter with Him. Several crowds that followed Jesus remained onlookers: just seeing the signs He performed without having personal testimony. May you not allow complacency to rob you of your full potential in Christ. If you look at the life of those who become champions, there was a time when they were just potential champions – a time when they were yet to fully develop their potential. But later on, they moved on from that point. Take for instance David: by the time he was anointed to be king in the presence of his brethren in 1 Samuel 16:11-13, he was a potential champion. In fact, Saul was still on the throne. Also, in Judges 13:24-25 when the Spirit was moving Samson from time to time, he was
just a potential champion. Similarly, in 1 Samuel 3:2-18, Samuel was a baby prophet who did not even know how to identify God’s voice. So was Elisha in 1 King 19:19-21 when the mantle was first put on him.  In every potential champion, there is a seed of greatness. Yes, whether you believe it or not. There is a seed of greatness inside of you. If you are born- again, God has planted a divine seed in you. It is not every potential champion that will eventually become a champion. If you allow the seed of greatness to lie fallow in you, you will never go beyond being a potential champion. It is okay to begin as a potential champion but a terrible offence to die as one. Every potential champion would need to face several situations, circumstances and experiences before becoming a champion. For instance, after his first anointing, Davis was anointed again before becoming king over Judea (2 Samuel 2:4). In 2 Samuel 5:3, he finally became king over all Israel. This was when is potential was fully realised. Similarly, it was in 1 Samuel 3:19-21 that Samuel became an established prophet over the whole of Israel, while in 2 Kings 2:8-15, Elisha became an established prophet. There is a price to pay to move from being a potential champion to being a champion. If David could pay the price and move, you too by God’s grace will pay the and move to your place of destiny. 

Wednesday 10 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 10 July 2013 DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT WEAKNESS By Pastor E. A. Adeboye


DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT WEAKNESS
Memorise:  “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” Romans 6:12
Read: Judges 16:6-12
Bible in one year:  Jeremiah 1-2
Action point: The weakness you ignorw will take advantage of you. Daily ask god to turn your weakness into your point of strength
 
While fighting with the enemy, God sometimes helps us by causing the enemy to verbalise their evil intent like it happened to Samson in Judges 16:6. If your enemy tells you his plan towards you, what are you supposed to do? Sometimes, the enemy will be so full of the evil plot that he will spill it out unawares; for the mouth releases what the heart is full of (Matthew 12:34). If you share your secret with a particular friend, and you observe that your plans are repeatedly frustrated, you don’t need a soothsayer to tell you to either cut off from that enemy disguised as a friend or keep your secrets to yourself afterwards. The enemy will do just about anything to know the best way to get at you. One area he will concentrate on is your weak point. He will carefully study you to know your weak point and usually, it does not take him too long to discover this. Wisdom demands that you first identify your area of j weakness before your enemy does. There is no human being without one, yet if you can prayerfully present your weakness to the Lord and follow the instructions of the Holy Spirit, over a period of time, your point of weakness can become your point of strength. If you are easily seduced into lust by looking at naked pictures of the opposite sex, do something fast about it. Avoid being exposed to any form of indecent exposure of the opposite sex - be it live or in pictures. Watch the gate of your eyes carefully. A particular brother once discovered his weakness in this area and as part of checkmating his flesh, he made sure that whenever he was addressing a lady, he did not look at her eyes. Some people felt he was too weak but he did not mind their comments. All he was concerned about was how to ensure he did not become taken in temptation. Many Christians know their weak points yet they dare their flesh and even the devil, at the end, they become casualty of the power of darkness. Do you know your weaknesses? What are you doing about them? Prayerfully minimise any exposure to a source of temptation. Use the word of God to renew your mind and to strengthen yourself and ask God to uphold you. You will not fall.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 9 July 2013 YOU CAN OVERTAKE By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 9 July 2013 
YOU CAN OVERTAKE 
By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: "… for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord." Isaiah 54:1b
Read: 1 Samuel 2: 20– 21

Prayer Point: Father, lay Your hand upon me and cause me to overtake all those who took advantage of me and those who have gone ahead of me.
Bible in one year: 2 Timothy 1-4
A single contact with God can make the difference in the life of an individual. For some years, some people have laboured in ministry, business, academics and career with nothing to show for it. If you are in such situation, a contact that will usher a season of positive change is coming your way. When the hand of God was laid on Elijah in 1 Kings 18:41-46, he outran King Ahab who had earlier taken off with speed on his chariot of horses. How can ordinary legs overtake horses? When God lays His hands on you, your progress will be so rapid that none of your enemies will be able to catch up with you. From the above scripture, we learn that when God's hand is upon you, the time you lost that worked against you will be recovered, and will work in your favour. Ahab ran ahead of Elijah yet the latter still overtook him. Also, when God's hand is upon you, every limitation or deficiency that should have stalled your progress will rather advance you. Imagine a man on his two feet beating a chariot of horses! This tells us that even when you lack the latest technology, you can still emerge the best if God's hand is upon you. This season, God's hand will rest upon you for good.
David, a young shepherd boy had contact with God and he became a king (1 Samuel 16:11-13). Many people had already written off Hannah as permanently barren until she had contact with God and the result was six children including Samuel (1 Samuel 2:21). At the end, God permanently shut her mockers up as she had more children than Peninnah. Isaiah 54:1 was fulfilled in her life. The time you started having children does not necessarily determine how many you will have. You can start early and have few children or start late and have many children. Hannah started late yet she had more children. Are you trusting God for the fruit of the womb? Have you been waiting for a long time? Are you asking when will it ever be my turn to have a baby? Your turn has just arrived. Get ready, you are about to overtake those who are years ahead of you. It is al lowed.

Monday 8 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 8 July 2013 attitude of worship-2 By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 8 July 2013 attitude of worship-2 By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelations 4:10-11
Read: Revelations 4:2-11

Bible in one year: Titus 1-3, Philemon
Key Point: If your worship is devoid of humility, it will not be acceptable


You can take different positions in worship, but a great position in which to worship God is to go flat on your face on the ground. Do you know this is still the practice in Heaven? Revelation 4:10 says,
"The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,"
When you go on your face before God, you are telling God that you are not in any way competing with Him. You are making yourself of no reputation in His presence. It means everything you have amounts to nothing. This is why the 24 elders in their highly exalted position in Heaven push their crowns aside, lie flat on their faces before God, and worship God. Some of us are still very proud when we say we have come to worship God. The clothes we wear are far more important to us than the worship we need to offer to God. How much is that cloth? When your life is not even enough to worship God, is it a cloth of a few thousands of Naira, Pounds, Dollars, or Euros that will be of greater worth to you?
When you lie on the ground before Him, you are saying, 'Not I but thou be seen, heard and feared oh Lord1. If you can, this is a great position to take whenever you truly want to worship the Lord. It is a position of complete and absolute surrender. It is a position of showing your depth of weakness so that His strength can take over. It is a position that shows you count yourself as nothing so that He can take you up. It is a position that will definitely get something out of God. How do you worship God? If you go to Him telling Him that you are strong, He may either let you go just the way you came or even take away the strength you think you have. But a broken and a contrite heart God cannot despise.

Sunday 7 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 7 July 2013 MIND YOUR CONFESSION By Pastor E. A. Adeboye


RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 7 July 2013 
MIND YOUR CONFESSION 
By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth” Proverbs 6:2
Read: Numbers 14: 26-31
Bible in one year:  1Timothy 4-6
Prayer point: Most of the things that come our way are products of our confession. Stop calling negative things to yourself!
 
Every seed sown has its time to speak. There are situations you may find yourself that only your seed will speak for you. At such a time may your account in heaven be found in credit. Some years ago, I had a friend who was a great support to my ministry. While praying one day, the Lord said, ‘Son, your friend is about to die within the next one week in London: go to him now’ I immediately bought a ticket and went to London to see and pray with my friend. It has been over 14 years since that incident and he is still alive because he had some credit with God. This is why irrespective of what anybody says, you cannot afford to be a bench warmer in God’s house. Similarly, I had another friend who was also very supportive. Sometime in 1995, he heard in his ear that he should go and put his house in order because he was about to die. When he told me, I laughed it off because I knew that I could talk it over with my Daddy that I still needed my friend’s support, being so useful to me. More than 16 years after, he still lives. Do you have a solid deposit with the bank of Heaven that you can draw from today? If not, take steps to build one. 
A great lesson to be learnt from the Shunammite woman recorded in 2 Kings 4:18-26 is the need to be careful of what you say especially when going through a trying period. When this woman’s only son died, she was saying ‘All will be well’ and from there graduated to ‘All is well’. And all became well. She did not start to lament over her problem. Be careful with your tongue because it contains the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). Even when good may be coming your way, you can use your tongue to turn it off; your tongue can also become a snare (Proverbs 6:2). No wonder God asked Moses to tell the Israelites that it is what they said into His ears that He will do to them (Numbers 14:28). In those days, when it was difficult for us to make ends meet, I use to tell my wife that things will not continue to be tough for us, and that our tomorrow will be alright. What are you confessing about your tomorrow and today?

Saturday 6 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 6 July 2013 BE HIS FRIEND By Pastor E. A. Adeboye


RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 6 July 2013 
BE HIS FRIEND 
By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father 1 have made known unto you.” John 15:15
Read: Genesis 18:17-18
Bible in one year:  Psalm 40-42
Key  point: God wants to upgrade you to the level of friendship but it will take your cooperation and willingness
 
The God we serve is not only a God of choice and promise but also a friendly and loving God. Genesis 18:17 says, 
“And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” 
By this, God meant that because of his friendship with Abraham, it has become difficult for Him to hide certain future events from him. As high as God is, yet is He not ashamed to make the works of His hands His friends. Our Lord Jesus Christ also exhibited the same character. In John 15:1 5, Jesus declared: 
“Hence forth i call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father 1 have made known unto you.” 
In other words, when you newly give your life to Christ, He may keep some secrets from you until He tries you out and sees you are ready and worthy of being trusted with divine secrets. In the Kingdom, a child is seen as no different from a servant until he grows into maturity (Galatians 4:1-2). If you are wise and move on from being a child who may or may not obey Him, to being His bond servant—who would always obey Him you will begin to earn His trust and confidence. Then, He will start to share some secrets with you, and would wait to see how you handle such privileged information. When He has tested your level of commitment, love and loyalty and He is satisfied, He will upgrade the relationship by making you a friend. Abraham was a friend of God and Christ’s disciples were also elevated to become His friends. From that moment onwards, He told them virtually everything the Father revealed to Him. At what level are you operating? Becoming His friend has nothing to do with the number of years spent in the Kingdom. There are believers of 5, 10, and 20 years or more who are still children and hence like servants. They have not been able to upgrade their relationship to friendship status; yet, there are converts of six months or one year of whom the Lord is almost finding it difficult to do without. They are already operating as His friends, enjoying lots of divine secrets. Locate yourself where you are and rnove up.

Friday 5 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 5 July 2013 LIKE A DREAM CHAMPION? By Pastor E. A. Adeboye


RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 5 July 2013 
LIKE A DREAM CHAMPION? 
By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like then that dream” Psalm 126:1
Read: Psalm 126:1-4
Bible in one year:  Psalm 37-39
Action point: Ask that as many as are in various bondages, such as prostitution, alcohol, sodomy, drug addiction, masturbation, serial killing etc, be liberated by the blood of Jesus

Sometimes, when the King of glory pays you a visit, things will happen so fast that you may think that you are dreaming. When Peter had such a visit, he thought he was dreaming. After the angel led him out of the prison and finally vanished, that was when he realised it was no dream (Acts 12:1-11). A brother who never believed he could own a car in his life time received a great shocker one day when a relative bought him a car and asked somebody to deliver it to him. He asked: ‘Is this for me?’ The one who brought it said Yes’. The man simply turned around and began to walk away. He thought he was dreaming. Psalm 126:1-3 says when God visited His people who were in captivity, their deliverance came like a dream. Then those who were full of sorrow became filled with might and laughter. The truth is: after waiting for long to receive a particular blessing, when the blessing is to come, it will be in a hurry, especially if there is a divine visitation influencing it. In the name of Jesus, your blessing shall come to you like a dream. That good desire that has been denied you for so long will be delivered to you this season. Your blessings are going to locate you in a hurry. However, you may want to ask: How can I initiate a divine visitation? This can be done through prayer. Acts 12:5 says before Peter’s divine visitation, the church prayed without ceasing. Don’t give up on your prayers! Be persistent until God shows up. Also, high praises in the midst of that unpleasant situation can attract God’s visitation as was the experience with Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25-26). In addition, you can attract God’s visit when you give what nobody else has given, It could be money, time, dedication, etc. This was how Solomon attracted a divine visitation (2 Chronicles 1:6-12). Moreover, you can attract God’s visit by honouring God in different ways, particularly with your first fruits. God says He will honour those who honour Him (1 Samuel 230). Are you prepared to honour Him? Go ahead and provoke God’s divine visitation today!

Thursday 4 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Thursday 4 July 2013 STILL A POTENTIAL CHAMPION? By Pastor E. A. Adeboye


Memorise: "and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be " Ecclesiastes11:3b
Read: Proverbs 6:9-11

Bible in one year: Psalm 34 – 36Key Point: A potential champion and a champion started from the same place but - while the former did not do enough to bring his potential into reality, the latter went the extra mile

There are three categories of champions: potential champions (champions to be), reigning champions (existing champions), and ex-champions (those who were once champions). Of the first category, virtually everyone was born into this world with the potential of becoming a champion. But as you would expect, it is one thing to have the potential to be something, but it is an entirely different ball game to run with the vision and actualise this potential. Every man is a potential father but not all men become fathers. This also applies to women. Not all women who had the potential of becoming a mother eventually became one. Every good potential in your life shall be pursued to its logical conclusion in Jesus name. In Bible times, Gehazi had the potential of having four times the anointing on Elijah, he could have become a super champion, but he bungled it.
In 1977, at a Congress we held at Ilorin (Nigeria), during the prayer time, I told the brethren that God told me that one day, The Redeemed Christian Church of God will be all over the world, and that it will take place very soon. They said amen. I was speaking as a potential champion then. Some among those who said amen left us. Also, in 1983, during our first Church Convention at the camp grounds, when we had about 15 or 16 buildings in all, we slaughtered a total of 10 cows during the Convention. I told them that someday, we will be using trailers to bring cows to our Conventions, and they said amen. In that particular year's Congress held at Ilorin, I travelled in the company of a brother we were ordained together as pastors on the same day. On our way, I prophesied that The Redeemed Christian Church of God will soon be all over that place. He said amen. Today, out of the five of potential champions ordained the same day with me; I am the only one still in The Redeemed Christian Church of God. Of the five, I loved one so much. Whenever 1 travelled to his station of service, we would sleep on the same bed. As we lay on the bed, I share with him the future the Lord had shown me. Yet, as close as we were, he never caught the fire. It is possible to sleep by the fire and never be ignited. May you not die as a potential champion! May your potentials become a reality this season. What are you doing to bring your potentials into reality?

Wednesday 3 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 3 July 2013 LITTLE BY LITTLE By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 3 July 2013 LITTLE BY LITTLE 
By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: "As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all" Ecclesiastes 11:5
Read: 1 Corinthians 10:11-13

Bible in one year: Psalm 31 – 33
Action Point: People fall little by little and rise little by little. If you don’t want a negative surprise, watch little developments that are taking place in your life.

It is good to know the weapons with which to engage the enemy, but this is not enough. It is important to also know the techniques of the enemy so that you will be guided on how to apply the weapons you have. The more I study the devil, the more I am convinced that he is a good boxer. In boxing, there are three major types of blow: the jab, the hook and the uppercut. The average boxer aims at hitting the head of his opponent but he may not start there. He starts with the jabs at the head, while the opponent is dodging these jabs, his stomach is exposed and the boxer capitalises on this to give the hook on the stomach. If he succeeds in hitting the solar plexus in the stomach, the opponent tilts forward and the boxer gives the uppercut because the head is closer and most likely not protected.
This tells us something about Satan's modus operandi, particularly in bringing down committed, Heaven-bound Christians. Although his goal is to completely severe the believer from his helper, so that members of the kingdom of darkness can do whatever they like with the fellow, he carries out this plan on a piecemeal basis. To succeed in this plan, the enemy can be very patient. The devil is satisfied with separating you from the Vine little by little. As is commonly said, 'Little drops of water make the mighty ocean.' This is why you must be concerned about your decrease in spiritual matters as little failings lead to a great fall. If you are gradually accepting Satan's excuse - It doesn't matter, know that something is wrong somewhere. If you have moved from no lie to little lies once in a while, you are already heading for a fall. If your Bible study has decreased, you are backsliding. If a little anger is now permitted by you, know that great anger is on its way. Never allow the little sins! Never give room for secret sins. No matter the size, sin is ultimately going to separate you from God your Ally. Take steps to know Cod more, obey Him and have more of Him. Little by little keep making efforts to grow in faith no matter how little the effort is each time. Don’t stay at same spot!

Tuesday 2 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 2 July 2013 YOU WILL MAKE IT! By Pastor E. A. Adeboye


RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 2 July 2013 
YOU WILL MAKE IT! 
By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” 2Corinthians 11:29
Read: 2Corinthians 11:23-30
Bible in one year:  Psalm 28-30
Key point: Grace is the antidote to your problems and challenges. Ask God for more grace daily
 
The midwives of Exodus 1 did not fail God over the purpose for which He planted them at the general hospital. If they did not fail God in spite of their trying circumstances, you too will not fail God over His purpose for your life. If there was somebody who should not make it, it was Paul. When he was on the side of the devil, he was Satan’s egg and the arrow head of Satan’s rebellion. But from the time he encountered the Lord Jesus, all hell broke lose: he faced all kinds of challenges. What are you going through? Paul has gone through worse situations. He has been exposed to the worst kinds of danger — from the weather, men, beast and even so- called fellow believers (false brethren), yet he stood for Christ to the end.
A lesson from the life of Paul simply tells us that in spite of the level of hindrances, diversions, distractions and disturbances that come your way, if you truly want to finish strong, you will. Paul finished his course. By the grace of God, I will finish my course. Satan can use just about anybody including the leader that you so love and trust. If he wants to introduce a major hindrance on your way to finishing your assignment or making Heaven, he will stir up someone you never expected to hurt you to do something to you that will become a permanent 2’ hindrance to your progress. It happened to Paul. Certain believers he thought were together with him set him up; but for the Lord who had been his trust, he would never have recovered. God helped him out and he pushed the incident aside and moved on. Are you a victim of the plans of so-called brethren? Are you still grieving over j your losses and brooding over the pains? Receive grace and forgive them and move forward; if not, you have just terminated your progress and Satan and with his demons ‘ will celebrate defeat. Has your leader or leader’s wife offended you? Please forgive, release the fellow and move on. See the fellow and tell him or her how hurt you were by what he or she did, but that God has given you grace and you have forgiven him or her. Nothing must take Heàven from you. You will finish strong. You will make it.

Monday 1 July 2013

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 1 July 2013 HEAVENLY HOME-COMING By Pastor E. A. Adeboye


RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 1 July 2013 
HEAVENLY HOME-COMING 
By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2Corinthians 5:8
Read: 2Kings 13:20
Bible in one year:  Psalm 25-27
Action point: Pray for prisoners on death row worldwide that they will have a contact with God that will make them to end up with God. You can also create the time to visit the prison and pray for them.
 
Death is a sure event that is bound to happen. It strikes with no regard to the status of its victim. The earlier we realise the certainty of death, the better for us as it brings us freedom. When a believer dies, people will be hit with sorrow, including ministers of God. Is this not ironical? Are we not the ones preaching that Heaven is far better than the earth? So why are we sorrowful when one of God’s beloved has gone home? Or how else will they go home? Are they going to ride a bicycle there? Oh, we want to go there by the rapture: fine, but do you know the exact date for the rapture? 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, 
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 
Yet, we don’t want to be absent from the body through death but we want to be in the physical presence of the Lord. What an irony! If you take time to study Revelation 21, you will have a good picture of Heaven — golden streets, no night, no sunlight, the temperature is supernaturally regulated, everlasting joy, etc. If you truly want to get to Heaven, you should be prepared to know more about one method of passage into it - death. I lost my fear of death from my mother’s experience. Death separates the dead from the living and from other things they had been close to. 
Unfortunately, today, many people are still living in deception — still holding to old stereotypes about death and eternity. Some including highly educated people, still believe in reincarnation — that when they die, they will return to this world as a baby. Some believe if they commit suicide for a religious cause, that they will go to Heaven. But they will find themselves in hell. You have no right to stop the life you did not start. You are God’s property and if you dare take your life, you will end up in eternal hell. You cannot kill a human being like yourself in the name of religion and think you will ever get to Heaven. Which heaven? God’s judgment will take its full course. The sad news for suicide bombers is that while they terminate their lives and go to eternal hell, those who sent and paid them on that mission would still be living, and may give their lives to Christ and end up in Heaven.