Tuesday 25 August 2015

Time to Fast - Tuesday August 25, 2015

Time to Fast - Tuesday August 25, 2015

Memorise: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: -Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Read: Matthew 9:14-15 (KJV)

14. Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 39:1-41:36; John 20:1-23

MESSAGE:

It is good to fast, but it is important to know why you should fast. One of the reasons why we fast is so that we can be empowered to deal with demons and forces of darkness. In Matthew 17:14-21, a demon-possessed boy was brought to Jesus' disciples, but they could not cast out the demon. They later asked the Lord why. He told them that some demonic cases may not be solved by praying alone, but by combining prayers with fasting. We fast in order to be battle-ready, so that whenever the devil raises his ugly head, we are able to give him a good knock. Some people are surprised and disappointed when they do not succeed in casting out demons after quoting Luke 10:19. This Scripture says:

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

If you want this Scripture to be effective in your life, then you must learn to fast and win souls to Christ. When you win souls to Jesus, you automatically put on the boots of the gospel, and as a result, no demon will be able to harm you.

Moreover, we also fast while preparing for high-powered ministrations, just like our Master who began His ministry with a fast (Matthew 4:1-2). Some people ask God to fulfil His promise that we would do the same works Jesus did and even greater works (John 14:12). To those people, Jesus says "Fine, simply start where I did - with a 40-day fast." Many years ago, during the centenary celebration of modern Pentecostalism in Azusa, Los Angeles, a lot of speakers from prominent ministries were invited from across the globe. From Africa, only two people were invited to speak, and by the grace of God, I was one of them. There was a special room where the speakers waited before moving to the stage. All kinds of food and drinks were available in this room. When I got there, I saw those slated to speak eating, drinking and chatting. An usher asked me what I would like to have, but I declined. The lady then asked, "Won't you take even a cup of tea?" In my heart, I knew that was not the appropriate time for me to eat or drink. It was time to hook on to the Spirit so that my ministration would be impactful; so, I took nothing. After God used other speakers powerfully, when it was my turn, the fire fell. If you truly want your sermons to be effective, feed your spirit and not your flesh. As you wait on Him from today, you will have greater results.

Action Point: Use one to three days to wait on the Lord, just to thank, praise and worship Him.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

Wednesday 12 August 2015

Look Beyond the Bus Stop - Wednesday August 12, 2015

Look Beyond the Bus Stop - Wednesday August 12, 2015

Memorise: For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. - Hebrews 12:3

Read: Hebrews 12:1-3 (KJV)

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

2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 11-13; John 12:9-26

MESSAGE:

From Hebrews 12:1, we understand that a race has been set before us as Christians. We did not initiate the race, but our decision to fellow Jesus Christ automatically signed us in as partakers. Moreover, this race is an unusual marathon. If you lack patience, you cannot run the race. If you want to run it like a spirit, you would only be wasting your time, because God will not redesign the race for you; rather, you are the one who needs to adjust to His programme.

The Christian life is a process and not a single event. As a process, you are expected to move from one stage to another. You must be like a traveller who goes from one bus stop to another, continuing his journey until he reaches his final destination. In the course of the journey, you may be required to stop over at the bus stop of lack. This is meant to test your faith and ability to trust God for provision. No matter how long you stay there, never turn that bus stop into your destination. God may allow you to stop over at the bus stop of ridicule, to test whether you will continue the race in spite of belittlement. Those who overinflated egos and those who hold themselves in high esteem may have problems here. Do you know that some people have called off their trip to Heaven just because they were mocked, ridiculed and laughed to scorn? Never truncate your journey to Heaven because of any unpleasant experience encountered at any bus stop. The very Author and Finisher of this race also went through this bus stop. People mocked Him and seriously ridiculed Him, but He overcame it all with the weapons of prayer, patience and quietness, and he finally reached the finish line. He got to the end because He focused on the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2) How you see the race that is set before you will definitely affect your attitude to it. While many people see what is before them as a worrisome race, Jesus saw the same as a joyous event. Therefore, one way you can run this race victoriously is by ignoring the challenges on the way and focusing on the rewards that await you on the other side. If your heart is on what you will receive in Heaven, you will not turn your bus stop into a destination by building a tent there. How are you handling this race? After the present unpleasant experiences comes the glorious, eternal experience of joy, awaiting you on the other side. Don’t miss out on it!

Key Point: If you do not focus on the silver lining at the end of the marathon race to Heaven, you will grow weary along the way.

Tuesday 11 August 2015

Spirit, Not Flesh - Tuesday August 11, 2015

Spirit, Not Flesh - Tuesday August 11, 2015

Memorise: Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? - Hebrew 12:9

Read: Isaiah 40:6-8 (KJV)

6. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

7. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

8. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 8-10; John 11:45-12:8

MESSAGE:

Man is limited because he is confined to a body made from dust (Genesis 3:19). He is also limited because even at his best, he is comparable to the flowers of the field (Isaiah 40:6-8), which grow, glow, fade and die. Sometimes, because they are glowing so beautifully, they are cut and used either for play or for decoration, after which they die. Unlike man, God is not limited, because He is Spirit and He is not made of dust. Jesus in John 4:24 revealed the nature of God to us when He said:

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Not only is God a spirit, He is the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9). All spirits derive their powers from Him. If you can appreciate how powerful angels are, then you can begin to comprehend this God who created and empowered billions of angels and has the power to command them to cease to exist in a moment. Imagine that one angel alone, razed down the entire army of a mighty nation in just one night (2 Kings 19:35). This should give you a little insight into how great and mighty the Father of spirit is.

To break away from our limitations as humans, we must move towards becoming more of spirit by becoming more like God. Man is a tripartite being made up of spirit, soul and body. All three components must be developed in that order. Your spirit must be given the greatest priority in development, followed by your soul. Your body should not be developed to the detriment of your spirit and soul. If you are not born-again, your spirit is dead, and the soul is heading for Hell. In the unsaved state, the flesh is in charge of an individual’s life. The flesh is a servant of sin and therefore, a slave to Satan. Wherever the flesh rules, Satan is in control. If your body is what dictates to you when you pray, how you pray, how often you eat, what to do with your passions and how you relate with God, you can be sure that it will never draw you closer to God. It will do everything possible to separate you from God and keep your spirit-man dead or weak. The longer you live in the flesh by gratifying it lusts, the weaker you become in the spirit. But if you can be born-again and develop your spirit-man by feasting regularly on God’s word, praying in the Holy Spirit, walking in obedience to God and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, your limitations will give way to your empowered form. Decide to grow your spirit-man in all you do from today!

Action Point: Whenever you worship God, always engage your spirit-man.

Monday 10 August 2015

Normal & Assisted Progress - Monday August 10, 2015

Normal & Assisted Progress - Monday August 10, 2015

Memorise: He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: -Psalm 78:70

Read: Genesis 27:1-10 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;

4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.

8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:

10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 5-7; John 11:28-44

MESSAGE:

On the scale of progress, after the state of retardation comes the state of normal promotion. This refers to a state of progress where growth occurs at a normal rate or at a generally acceptable pace. A person operating on this level moves step by step and from stage to stage. In some organisations, it is normal to be promoted from one level to another once in four or five years. However, the problem with this kind of promotion is that it is ordinary; there is nothing exceptional about it. It is at variance with the abundant life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10). Normal promotion is not exactly what God has planned for you as a child of destiny. It is crowded at this level of progress. In all their lifetime, some people have never experienced any type of progress beyond the normal. If you are in this category, the Lord is moving you to something higher this season in Jesus’ Name. From a crowded school of prophets and teachers in Antioch, the Holy Ghost separated Paul and Barnabas to an exceptional life in ministry (Acts 13:1-2). The Lord will separate you from the crowd and make you exceptional in Jesus’ Name.

Beyond the state of normal promotion is a state known as assisted promotion. This is experience when someone is personally interested in your welfare and choose to assist you by taking you to a level you are  not yet due for. The three Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego experienced this in Daniel 2:49

“Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”

After their friend, Daniel, was made a great man, they were assisted to the top based on his recommendation. Note however that this state of progress still requires hard work, as this may even be the reason why you were considered for elevation in the first place. Another example of assisted progress can be found in the story of Isaac and his family. Isaac called his beloved son and firstborn, Esau, and instructed him to go hunt and prepare him a delicious meal so that he could transfer the generational blessing to him. As he left to do so, his mother, who overheard her husband’s instructions, decided to arrest the blessing from Esau and pass it over to Jacob, her own beloved son. She therefore designed a plot to assist him, and she schooled him on what to do. In the Name of Jesus, the Lord will raise people to assist you into a level you were not expected to attain. Human and divine assistance shall work in your favour this season in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, let human and divine assistance relocate me to the top.

Sunday 9 August 2015

Your Blessings Are Reserved - Sunday August 9, 2015

Your Blessings Are Reserved - Sunday August 9, 2015

Memorise: The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant place; yea, I have a goodly heritage. - Psalm 16:6

Read: Psalm 16:5-9 (KJV)

5. The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

6. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

7. I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

8. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 3-4; John 11:1-27

MESSAGE:

One thing that robs many people of peace is the uncertainty of the future. If you are living in right standing with God, your future is guaranteed not by man or by the economy of your nation, but by God. Hence, Isaiah 3:10 says:

“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”

Are you saved, sanctified and living a life that pleases God daily? If you are, then you have no reason to be worried about your tomorrow. Your future is secured in Christ. This is the reason why Jesus charged His own not to worry over what to eat, drink or wear (Matthew 6:25-34). With this assurance, Apostle Paul also in Philippians 4:6 said:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.”

Are you afraid of what your future will bring? Fear not! Your tomorrow will be great. If you are truly in Christ and you are not toying with sin, your tomorrow shall be far greater than your today! Your end shall be glorious.

Another reason why the righteous have peace is the assurance that they will prosper. Our Heavenly Father in Isaiah 1:19 promised that:

“If ye be willing and obedience, ye shall eat the good of the land:”

If you are holy, your portion of divine blessings is reserved for you. Part of the wealth of this world has been reserved by God just for you. Nobody can take your portion from you. When you know this, you will not be moved or be afraid, no matter what you go through. No wonder today’s Bible reading says that while God was sharing land to His children, a good portion, very fertile and fruitful, was allotted to you. It also assures you that God is the One who secures your blessing so that no one can steal it from you. As you live in righteousness before Him, simply put your trust in Him. Ask Him to lead you to your reserved land. Nothing will take your reserved portion of blessings away from you. Simply please God by regularly worshipping and thanking Him; win souls and support the expansion of His kingdom on earth. As you do these, He will surely lead you into the portion of divine inheritance reserved for you.

Action Point: Thank God for reserving a blessing for you in His safe heaven.

Tuesday 4 August 2015

HOLD ON TO THE TRUTH - Tuesday 4th August 2015

HOLD ON TO THE TRUTH - Tuesday 4th August 2015

Memorise: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: NEHEMIAH 12:27-13:31 and JOHN 8:31-47

Read: John 17:13-17
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Message

Hosea 4:6 reveals that that knowledge is an indispensable commodity if one is to become relevant in God’s scheme of things. It also tells us that contrary to what some people believe, what is responsible for the destruction of God’s people is not the devil; rather, it is their ignorance. This means that the enemy capitalizes on what you do not know to plunder you. If you fail to recognize and act on your kingdom rights for instance, the devil will definitely take advantage of you. If you do not recognise that good health is your right, Satan will definitely shove sickness down your throat. The devil loves those who rob themselves of their rights through a false sense of humility, because they are helping him to do his dirty work. If you believe that poverty is part of godliness, or that you do not need to fight or resist the evil plans of the enemy, or that being sick is part of the cross you are to bear in the Christian faith, Satan will definitely celebrate your ignorance. To this end, the devil will do everything to keep such a fellow in the dark concerning the truth.

Do you know that there is a difference between stating the facts and knowing the truth? The facts are what can be physically perceived in a given situation. Facts are a product of the natural human senses. Satan tries to control his victims using the prevailing circumstances. Most times, he controls manipulates and distorts the things we can see. As long as you choose to believe what you can see, you may likely end up as a victim of sight and a prisoner of the devil. This is why 2nd Corinthians 5:7 says:
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight)”

On the other hand, the word of God is truth (John 17:17). Facts can easily change, hence, it is wrong to base your victory or joy on them. Rather, base it on God’s word which is settled in Heaven forever. For instance, when you have prayed for healing and you are standing in faith to receive it, you must be prepared to discountenance the facts that sight brings to you. You must be ready to ignore or resist the pains, discomfort and weakness you can still feel. You must confess the healing and good health which the word of God has promised you, even if you are yet to experience it. As you keep on insisting on what God’s word says, eventually the truth will swallow up the facts.

Key Point: Every situation that confronts you introduces a conflict between facts and truth; what prevails is a function of your choice.

Sunday 2 August 2015

HOLINESS DELIVERS PEACE - 02 August 2015

HOLINESS DELIVERS PEACE - 02 August 2015

Memorise:
I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. Isaiah 57:19

Read: Isaiah 57:19-21
19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : NEHEMIAH 8:13-9:38 and JOHN 7:40-8:11

Message
Long life and mercy are two benefits derivable from living a life of holiness. In addition to these, peace is another dividend of a holy life. A fellow living a sanctified life enjoys God’s peace at an optimum level. If you are saved and still lack peace, ask God to sanctify you wholly. The moment He does this, you will begin to enjoy peace that is way beyond human understanding. After interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel gave him this piece of advice.
“Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”
Daniel 4:27

While great peace is available for the upright, there is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 57:21). There is a user of this devotional, you lost your peace sometime ago and you have tried everything possible to get it back without success. Your peace disappeared after you were mean to a particular child of God, and you made life unbearable for this fellow. If you ask God for forgiveness and make restitution to this fellow, your peace shall be restored.

Moreover, a call to holiness is a call to peace. Our God is the Author of peace (1st Corinthians 14:33), and Jesus is declared to be the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). A father can only give whatever he has to his son. If you have God, you will definitely have peace. That peace will grow as you live holy. It is possible to be wealthy and not have peace. It is also possible to be healthy and lack peace. Peace cannot be bought with money. One of the attributes of God’s kingdom is peace (Romans 14:17). If you therefore want peace, you must first seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness. In Psalm 29:11, God promises to bless His own with peace. This really means that after God has blessed His children, He will add peace to it. If you are blessed and no peace is added, those blessings can transform into a curse at some point. Some people are “blessed” and yet, sorrow, pain, regret and trouble are added. Such blessings are already cursed! Do you have the peace of God?

Key Point:
Sin always brings trouble. If you want peace but you are still living in sin, you are responsible for your own troubles.

Saturday 1 August 2015

FAVOUR FROM A DISTANCE- Saturday August 1 2015

FAVOUR FROM A DISTANCE- Saturday August 1 2015
Memorise:
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isaiah 60:3
Read:
Exodus 3:1-4
The Burning Bush
1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Message
When your day of favour dawns, favour will locate you wherever you are. Sometime ago, we went to hold a crusade in Italy. While we were preaching, the message was being aired over the radio. Suddenly, the Lord said that there was a man listening to me via the radio who was impotent. The Lord asked me to tell the fellow that his virility was restored. Meanwhile, the man in question was lying on his bed in his house, far away from where we were. As soon as he heard the word, his manhood was restored. Favour located him at home. By the time he tried to locate us at the crusade ground, we had closed and left for the hotel where we were staying. When he got to the hotel, he burst into our room saying he was the one whose case was addressed, and that he had received his miracle. This season, favour will locate you right where you are. Right in your home, in your living room, on your bed, favour will visit you in Jesus' Name.
Favour can always locate you, even from a distance. After Moses had spent about forty years in exile in Midian, God sent favour to locate him at the backside of the desert, in the form of an angel manifested as a burning bush which was not consumed. I also have experienced God's favour in a foreign land. The first time I travelled outside Africa, I went to Canada for the World Conference of Applied Mathematicians. I knew no one there and had no idea what kind of food I would be eating there. Meanwhile, my wife was at home praying that God should take care of me. At about that same time, someone was looking through the list of mathematicians who had come for the conference. As he checked, he saw my name, Enoch Adeboye. He mused that it could be a French name, even though he had every reason to believe it is a Nigerian name. He decided to check up on me. On his way to my hotel room, this man resolved to speak to me in Yoruba language; he said to himself that if I replied, then I must be a Nigerian. He eventually got to my door and knocked. "Who is it?" I asked. "Emi ni (I am the One)" he replied. "Wole (come in)", I responded. Before that day Was over, I was eating pounded yam right there in Canada. Favour can locate you outside the shores of your land. God can use somebody you do not know to favour you. Are you away from home right now and in need of favour? God will cause favour to locate you! Someone you do not know will favour you today in Jesus' Name.
Prayer point:
Father, let Your favour locate me today from the four corners of the earth.
Bible in one year:
Nehemiah 6:15-8:12
John 7:25-39