Pathway of the Foolish - Sunday 22, January 2017

Pathway of the Foolish - Sunday 22, January 2017

Memorise: The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. – Psalms 14:1

Read: Psalms 14:1-4 (KJV)

1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

Bible in One Year: Mark 14, Isaiah 19:1-15

MESSAGE:

One of characteristics of the godless is that they seek their personal goals without thinking about God. The things they seek after have overtaken the space that God created in them for Himself. Do you know that today, believers, using the excuse of not having time, are chasing after material things at the expense of cultivating a personal relationship with God?

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” - Psalm 14:1

If you think in your heart that God does not exist, even when you have not verbalised such thoughts, God has heard you. If you are one of those who believe that although God exists, He is too slow, too weak or too inconsequential to bring about the needed intervention in a given situation, you are in the same class with the godless. God simply call such people fools.

Why would God call someone a fool? If a person considers the whole observable universe – the sun, the moon, the stars, galaxies, planets, plants, the seas, lakes, rivers, beautiful landscapes, all the mineral deposits in the soil, water springs, the skyline, rain and various weather conditions – and still concludes in his or her heart that these things created themselves, though accepting that no human hand created them, such a person is best described as being on a fool’s path. You do not need anyone to tell you that there is a God somewhere; a very great and massive God who created all these things, and who supervises their operations. A fool is someone who denies obvious truths and facts. Similarly, a fool is one who decides to live the way he or she pleases. Many people live the way he or she please. Many people live their lives the way they do they do right now because they never think of the day of reckoning. Believe it or not, that day will come for everybody. A fool also is the fellow who pushes God aside but pursues the gift and blessing He gives. How can you desire to receive gifts from God without wanting to know the Giver of such gifts? Unfortunately, many believers are letting go of their personal relationship with God for material pursuits and are fast becoming fools. They are on the highway of foolishness. Are you considered a fool? Repent, beat a retreat and make God your number one priority today.

Key Point: Men hardly fail to take credit for their achievements, yet they readily rob God of His.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 16 June 2013 VICTORY OVER STORMS By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 16 June 2013 

VICTORY OVER STORMS 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:19

Read: Mark 4:35-41

Bible in one year:  Exodus 25-41

Key point: Just as the problems are bound to come, because you have Jesus, you too are bound to overcome. It is a balanced equation

In 2 Kings 4:18-26, we read of how a rich benevolent woman, who sowed so much into the life of a man of God, had her barrenness broken, and of how that son later died but was raised back to life. One lesson we learn here is that the fact that you have God does not mean that there will be no crisis in your life. Problems are part of life for everyone irrespective of religious beliefs. If anyone tells you that the moment you become a Christian there will be no more problems, the fellow is lying to you. That you were saved means that you have escaped from Satan’s prison. A Nigerian proverb says “It ¡s right for a slave to escape, and also right for the slave owner to pursue his slave”. The difference between a Christian and a non- Christian here is that in times of storms, you already have the Prince of Peace with you. With just a word from Him, the storm will cease. Psalm 34:19 says, 

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all”.

 Some believers think that if you are in God’s will or if you obey God’s instructions - for instance in taking a particular individual as your spouse in marriage, you will never have issues. This is not true. The truth is: when problems come on account of obeying God, you can confidently return to Him and ask Him to take care of it. In John 16:33, jesus says in spite of your trouble be joyful because F-lis victory over the world will secure your victory over that situation. If you look carefully at Isaiah 43:2, you will understand that we must go through fires and rivers. If God will use you for His greater purpose and glory, then you must be prepared to go through not only the rivers, but also the fire, but there will be no reason to fear because He will be with you. The fire will not consume you but it wi Il be an instrument of purifying you. Jesus was in the same boat with l-lis disciples and yet the storm arose (Mark 4:34—41) That He is in your boat does not insure you against storms but that your boat will never sink. The Prince of Peace is with you. Your victory is certain.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 15 June 2013 LIBERTY TO SIN? By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 15 June 2013 

LIBERTY TO SIN? 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “For brethren, we have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by love, serve one another” Galatians 5:3

Read: Galatians 5: 13-15

Bible in one year:  Exodus 18-20

Key point: Satan knows when to send a few of his army to capture a believer. Do you know when to resist individually and when to seek the support of others in resisting the devil?

Operating in the supernatural will naturally attract certain challenges. You cannot serve and please God and Satan at the same time. Any time you please God, you displease the devil. It is impossible for you to operate in the supernatural without attracting the anger or fury of the kingdom of darkness. After Elijah brought down fire from Heaven and killed all the 450 prophets of Baal, their grand matron — Queen Jezebel resolved to kill him within 24 hours. The more you operate in the supernatural, the greater the attack from the enemy. When a king wanted to arrest Elijah he sent three batches of soldiers and their captains in quick succession, but when Elisha who had a double portion of Elijah’s Spirit, was to be arrested, a whole army platoon was sent. Are you facing a band of soldiers or a whole army because of your faithfulness in serving God? The Lord will deliver you. 

Some people are still putting their trust in the arm of flesh as regards security. Such are only awaiting disappointment. How much can you pay a security guard for him to die for you? Be connected with the supernatural of God today! When you begin to operate in the supernatural, try and guard against these three things: indiscipline, pride and immorality. Indiscipline is rife in Pentecostal circles. We think that because we speak in tongues we can take liberty as license to live without control. If you study the life of Samson, you will realise that without discipline, you cannot go far in the things of the Kingdom. Some younger ministers serving under senior ministers have suddenly heard from God and have become general overseers so that nobody can oversee them or call them to order. When some leaders are transferred by their superiors, they will tell you they want to go and pray. Some workers and ministers will be transferred to a new parish and they will say because God has not spoken to them about the transfer, they will not go. They believe they are right, not knowing they are simply living in disobedience. Also, watch against pride. Never get to the point where no one can talk to you again. Lastly, watch against immorality.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 14 June 2013 WHEN HE VISITS By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 14 June 2013 

WHEN HE VISITS 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob.” Psalm 114:7

Read: Psalm 114:1-8

Bible in one year:  Exodus 14-17

Prayer point: Father, you have visited many and their lives changed. Visit me today and let my life change for good.

Divine encounters come in different ways but one of the most outstanding forms is when God decides to pay you a visit by Himself. Wherever the King goes, doors open to Him. Psalm 24:7 says, 

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.”

 Whenever the King of kings wants to come on a visit to His • own, He comes in without knocking on the door because He is the DOOR. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the disciples were assembled in a room one day. With the doors shut, Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst without knocking or passing through the door. Being the original Door, He does not need the permission of any door to give Him passage. Doors — not some but all open unto Him of their own volition. This is why you need God’s personal visitation. When He comes to you, all the doors of progress, success, growth, opportunities, enlargement, promotion etc. that have refused to open to you, will be compelled to open to Him and in the process, they will remain open to you. This season, all good doors that are shut against you shall open to you in Jesus name. 

In Acts 12:5-11, when the angel was delivering Peter, he did not need a key to open the door. When Peter rose and followed the angel, the door that had opened to the angel remained open to Peter also. When the door of the Red sea opened, the children of Israel walked through dry ground in the midst of the sea. But how did the sea part? Psalm 114:3 says when the Red sea saw the Almighty God coming, it grew legs and fled; that was how the children of Israel were able to have a thoroughfare in the sea. Doors cannot remain permanently shut to you. In fact, they have no choice if they cannot open because it is you, they will be forced to willingly open because of your divine Visitor. Cry out to God for Him to personally visit you. When He visits you this season, everything will tremble.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Thursday 13 June 2013 FOLLOWING FASHION OR CHRIST? By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Thursday 13 June 2013 

FOLLOWING FASHION OR CHRIST? 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise:  “And the world passeth away; and the lust thereof: but he that doet the will of God abideth forever” 1John 2:17

Read: 1John 2: 15-17

Bible in one year:  Numbers 1-3

Key point: The race after worldly fashion and the race to heaven are two distinct races leading to separate destinations. You must choose which one to run.

How you are dressed determines how you are received or treated. Your dressing is a part of your identity. How you dress equally affects your Kingdom walk. In 2 Kings 1:1-8, when the king was sick, he sent some people to enquire if he would recover or die. They met Elijah who told them that it was a sickness unto death. In order to verify the authenticity of that prophecy, the king asked for the name of the prophet but they could not tell because he did not disclose his name. But by the time they described the type of clothes he wore, the king immediately knew it was Elijah. Does your dressing portray you as a child of God? If you as a minister of God were to dress in regular clothes and not priestly robe or cassock, would your dressing showcase you as a servant of the Most High God? If you compare what John the Baptist wore in Matthew 3:1-4 with what Elijah wore, you would find some resemblance. Who do you resemble when you dress? How is your hairdo? What of your beard? How do you adorn yourself with jewelry — moderate or loud? What kind of dresses do you put on?

When Moses fled from Egypt to Midian after killing one of the Egyptians, he met the daughters of the priest of Midian and helped them. When they got home earlier than usual, their father asked why they were back home so soon. They said it was because they received protection and help from an Egyptian (Exodus 2:15-20). He was taken for an Egyptian because he dressed like one If you dress like the world, what follows worldly attires will equally follow you Worldly fashion is controlled by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life according to 1 John 2 16 Don’t be surprised to see pride and worldly lust gaining ground in your life if you are given to worldly fashion. If you are obsessed with the latest fashion and style, rather than running the heavenly race you were called into, you will find yourself running a race that God did not call you to The unfortunate thing about this is that those who are given to worldly fashion share a common destiny with what they are given to Are you following fashion or Christ?

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 12 June 2013 THE WORD AS A SPY AGENT By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 12 June 2013 

THE WORD AS A SPY AGENT 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1Corinthians 2:10

Read: 1Corinthians 2:9-11

Bible in one year:  Hebrews 11-13

Prayer point: It takes you being under God’s authority to operate by His authority

One weapon available to us as soldiers ¡n God’s army which is honoured in Heaven, on earth and beneath the earth, and a weapon that can never fail us is the name of Jesus. Another weapon we must always use is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Whenever God’s word is correctly applied to a given situation, the Holy Spirit skillfully uses the sword to deliver victory in that situation. Hebrews 4:12 says, 

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart’

The word of God is spirit and alive. It is full of power, extremely sharp and operates in every plane of existence - physical, spiritual, intellectual, psychological, physiological, financial, biological, etc. It is not limited by time and space, so it can be sent to address a problem in the past or create a good outcome in the future. The word of God can affect the tripartite constituents of man — spirit, soul and body. The word discerns the thoughts and plans of the human heart just like the Holy Spirit searches Out the thoughts and plans in God’s heart (1Corinthians 2:9-1 1). If you are conversant with the word by learning it, memorising it, meditating on it, preaching it to win souls regularly and obeying it, whenever you apply it to a situation, it will surely give you results. In fact when you preach it, it will search the hearts of your hearers and give you feedback. This is why at some point, you will be speaking out their hearts and they will think somebody who knows them has gone to tell you about them. Nobody told you. It is just the word in action! Never joke with the Bible! It is more than a literature book. It is more than just the world’s bestselling book. It is not just men’s words but was scripted by the Holy Spirit. The word written by the Spirit is made spirit whenever the Holy Spirit takes it over. Draw closer to the word of God so that you can be more victorious.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday11 June 2013 KNOCK By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday11 June 2013 

KNOCK 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Mathew 7:7

Read: Matthew 7:7-8h

Bible in one year:  Hebrews 8-10

Prayer point: The time you seek God affects what you can get from Him. Father, from today, help me to seek You.

In John 15:1-8, Jesus Christ says He is the vine and everyone who is born-again is a branch of that tree. If you let His word abide in you, there will be no reason to worry about fruitfulness. If you are asked to stay in a house, you first need is to locate the house. If you discover you are some distance from the house, you must carefully trace it until you find it. Psalm 34:10 says,

 “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”

Children, success, promotion, good health, etc. are good things, if you seek the Lord, you won’t lack them because Hebrews 11:6 says God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

We are assured in Matthew 7:7-8 that if we seek, we shall find. It is important to find what you are seeking. Not everyone who seeks will find what he or she is seeking for.

This is why we must take Isaiah 55:6 seriously: 

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

The seeker must seek at the right time. If the timing is wrong, you are likely not going to find Him. Proverbs 8:17 says, you must seek Him early in order to find Him. If you put God first, you will most likely find Him. Some people seek God when it is already late. It is important to seek Him first thing in the morning, before you go to work, before taking that new job, before you get married, etc. Do not be like those who procrastinate by saying they will seek God only after they have prospered or obtained their heart’s desire In addition, you must knock on the door. Matthew 7:7-8 says if you 4 knock, the door will open to you. If you knock acceptably, you will provoke the Lord to open the door to you In fact, Revelation 3:7 says He can permanently open a door to you and ensure nobody shuts it How are you knocking today2 One powerful knock with praise and worship can compel Him to open the door It could also be through giving It could be through thanksgiving Arise and knock the pearly gate today and it will be opened to you

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 10 June 2013 SEEK WISDOM By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 10 June 2013 

SEEK WISDOM 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “For the LORD giveth wisdom: Out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” Proverbs 2:6

Read: Proverbs 2:1-7

Bible in one year:  Hebrews 5-7

Action point: Ask for wisdom that will enable you to be on top of situations and will keep you steps ahead of problems, challenges and enemies

Wisdom is very essential to our daily living. James 1:5 says,

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him”

Wisdom comes in instalments and is available to all who are ready to ask, study God’s Word and walk closer with the Spirit of God — who is the Spirit of Wisdom. How do you get wisdom? First it is by getting information 2 Timothy 2 15 says,

“Study to shew thyseff approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Proverbs 2:1-7 says you should receive God’s words and instructions because in the process, you will be wise. The time spent with God’s Word is never wasted. Another way of accessing wisdom iš by receiving revelation — this means understanding the meaning or implication of the information received. If you are driving out of town in an area you have never been before and you see a sign post on which is written: narrow bridge ahead - this is information. The revelation here is the implication of that information: that the bridge cannot take two vehicles at a time and the realization that someone else may be on the bridge before you. Wisdom then instructs you to act on that revelation by slowing down. Take for instance the woman caught in adultery in John 8:3- 11. She was arraigned before Jesus and her offence was read out - that was information. But beyond this, Jesus had a revelation from God’s Word:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23  

Thereafter, Jesus simply applied that revelation by asking anyone among her accusers who had never sinned to start stoning the woman, and one after another, they silently disappeared. That is wisdom in operation. Furthermore, God can give you wisdom through a gift of the Spirit — the word of wisdom. Every leader needs wisdom. In every sphere of life wisdom is required. How much of wisdom do you have to operate as a leader, spouse, as a parent, in your workplace or ministry? Do you spend time to access information and further move towards revelation? Do you act on the revelation received?

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 7 June 2013 BUILD UP! By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 7 June 2013 

BUILD UP! 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost”. Jude 20

Read: Ephesians 3:20-21

Bible in one year:  Matthew 23-25

Key point: Every day, do something thet will add up to your spiritual build up, no matter how small

The Holy spirit just like the wind can move gently or massively. If you can cooperate with Him, He can do incredible things through you. This is why Ephesians 3:20 says:

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”

Whenever you ask God to do something for you or : through you, He will look inside you to know how much of His Spirit you carry. He may not do beyond what the measure of His Spirit within you can accommodate. So, if you are praying for a mighty move of God but you have a little measure of His Spirit in your life, you are praying amiss. If you want God to answer your prayer, first work on yourself by getting more and more of His presences power and grace through spending more time with the Holy Spirit; developing a better personal relationship with Him; praising, thanking and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth; feasting daily on His Word; living holy and living in total obedience to His voice, etc. Today’s memory verse points us to the fact that it is our personal responsibility to build up ourselves. It is your duty to build up your spirit man. To do this, you must increase your level of faith by hearing God’s Word and listening only to things that edify, and watching television  programmes that stir up your faith. You must keep off anything that is sinful both in words and in thoughts You must pray in tongues as long as possible daily. Lots of revelations, inner witnesses and certain knowledge can come to you through this. How are you building up your spirit man? It is like building a house one block is put on another before another block is added and they are all firmly attached each time. But as you are adding a block of obedience in worship, do not dismantle the block of witnessing or else you are building downwards not upwards. How are you building up the little fire in you? Is it still growing into a big mighty fire? 

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 31 May 2013 HE FEELS LIKE YOU DO By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 31 May 2013 

HE FEELS LIKE YOU DO 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorize: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” Hebrews 4:15

Read: Acts 9:1-6

Bible in one year:  Colossians 3-4

Prayer point: Father, grant me the full benefits of being the apple of Your eyes

If you are the apple of God’s eyes, you will be required to channel God’s love to those who are hurting. According to 1 john 4:78, this includes fellow believers; else you cannot claim to even know God. That is part of your responsibility, ¡t is an obligation. Being the apple of God’s eyes does not start and end with obligations, there are benefits, rights and privileges that accrue from this relationship with God. If somebody ¡s playing with you, the fellow can hit almost any part of your body, but not your eyes. Anyone who touches your eyes is out to provoke you. If you are the apple of God’s eyes, whoever touches you, touches God, and is playing with the Consuming Fire. 

“ In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old” Isaiah 63:9

This verse tells us that the Lord suffers whenever the apple of His eyes is suffering. He  does not just show sympathy . but He empathizes! A man and his eyes are one. If you hurt the eye of an individual, he will feel it throughout his whole body. If you feel that something is getting towards your eyes, what will you do? Even without thinking, you will not wait for ¡t to get there before you dodge or block ¡t. In Acts 9:1 -6, when Saul was heading for Damascus to touch the apples of God’s eyes, the Lord met him on the way and arrested him. God preempted Saul on that journey and asked why he was persecuting Him. Anyone touching you ¡s touching the Lord. Whatever you are going through, He is going through it with you. Hebrews 4:15 says He feels your infirmities and trials; hence He wants you to communicate with Him over any disturbing situation so that He can take it away. God stands by the apple of His eyes to any extent. Beloved, God is with vou.  He feels exactly what you feel He has a stake in shat concerns you. Being the apple of His eyes, He knows most  of what you are suffering ¡s because of His name you bear. He will uphold you. He  will stop your enemies before they : itch their evil plans against you Remember, He loves you.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 29 May 2013 ABRAHAM RESTITUTED By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 29 May 2013 

ABRAHAM RESTITUTED 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: Giving no offence in any thing; that the ministry be not blamed

Read: Genesis 13:14-18

Bible in one year:  Ezekiel 46-48

Key point: If you harbor a pending restitution, your progress will be impeded

Besides restituting in the areas of robbing people, lying concerning certain issues, etc., we need to also restitute in our dealings with God. This relates to instructions He has given to us. For instance, in Genesis 12:1-3, God made some powerful promises to Abraham subject to only three conditions. He fulfilled two of the conditions and felt the third one was unnecessary. In fact, he thought people will call him names for sending away his late brother’s son from living with him. By so doing, he mixed his petrol (gas) with water and everything began to go wrong. One day, as the problem became exacerbated and was now affecting peace ¡n his home, he realised what he did and asked Lot to separate from him. In Genesis 1 3:1 4-1 8, after that restitution, God resumed with him from where he stopped some 1 3 years earlier. In other words, his refusal to obey the third condition only fixed him on the same spot for that long! Beloved, as long as there is water in your petrol (gas), you might not hear from God. Have you stopped hearing from God and it bothers you? Check your life for any pending restitution and immediately settle the issue. Have you obeyed God in certain areas but failed to do so in one or more areas? Go and restitute today so that you can begin to make progress at the rate God intended for you. If you pay your tithes and offerings and the blessings are not coming, there may be some restitution hiding somewhere which you need to make. Until his restitution, Abraham’s beautiful wife that was a source of his joy became a source of sorrow as he ran from famine. He lost his wife and could have been killed but for God’s mercy. If you are constantly getting into trouble, find out if there is a pending restitution.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 27 May 2013 SIGNS ARE LIMITED By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 27 May 2013 

SIGNS ARE LIMITED 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “For we walk by faith and not by sight2” Corinthians 5:7

Read: Matthew 7:21-23

Bible in one year:  Ezekiel 40-42

Key point: Believers who often run after miracles from place to place end up as preys of satan. Pursue Jesus and you will find Him.

Signs and Wonders are important for church growth. Yet, as great as they are, they have their limitations. A Christian ¡s called to a life of faith not a life controlled by sight. Signs and wonders are primarily meant for unbelievers while believers are expected to believe even without seeing. To Unbelievers, seeing is believing hut to his followers, Jesus says: 

“if you believe then you will see” (John 1 1 :40). 

That is pure faith! In other words,  as a believer, it ¡s your faith that will bring your expectation into reality. So, if you lack faith in God in a particular area of life, you may not see anything. Signs and wonders have their limitations hence you need to reorder your priorities in line with the reality of God’s word. For instance, it is possible to perform miracles and be unable to make it to Heaven (Matthew 7:2 1 23). Some bona fide servants of God who walked ¡n the miraculous are ¡n hell, and many more will join them because of pride. What brought Lucifer down ¡f not pride? if you cannot ask God to clothe you with humility and meekness while He is performing signs and wonders through you, then it ¡s safer to let the power go. Some anointed of God who are Operating in signs and wonders but are secretly Sinning, unfortunately believe all ¡s well because some miracles still attend their ministry. All is not well! In his backslidden state, Eli still made a prophetic declaration Concerning Hannah at Shiloh and it came to pass. But how did he end his life? If you are living in secret sin but still see miracles being  performed through you, you ought to be really scared. Such miracles can never take you to Heaven. It ¡s holiness and purity of heart that will. Moreover, the devil can perform magic. Not every prophet ¡s of God even when they claim to heal the sick and perform miracles. Some believers, ¡n their desperate search for miracles have ended up with magic. Everyone who receives magic from Satan comes under his control and manifestation whether they know it or not and whether they like it or not. Have you received something from $at1in? Return it today!.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 24 May 2013 SURRENDER ALL By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

MAY24

Memorise: “But what things were gain to me; those I counted loss for Christ” Philippians 3:7

Read: Philippians 3:4-8

Bible in one year:  Ezekiel 31-33

Key point: The simplest way to get everything God can offer you is by offering him everything you have including your will.

Dedication is sustaining your effort on an increasing level over a given assignment, until it is done. On the other hand consecration is to surrender all-to put in all it takes — prayer, energy, talents, connections and everything. It is to be committed to something without reservation — to be wholly devoted to a cause. In Philippians 1 :2 1 , Paul said:

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 

By this Paul was saying whether alive or dead, his life revolves around Jesus Christ. The disciples of Jesus Christ left everything in order to follow the Lord. What have you left to follow Him? How consecrated are you to the Lord after singing for years: ‘Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee’?

A classic example of consecration in scriptures is the three Hebrew children — Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They humbly but boldly looked up at the king and said, ‘Oh king, long may you rule! On the matter of idolatry, we will not compromise our stand by violating the commandment of our God. He is able to deliver us; but even if he is not willing to deliver us now, we really do not mind because we are ready to burn in your fire than to violate His Word’.

A female evangelist went to preach in a village in East Africa. Thereafter, she decided to do the same in the next village. She was told that going there was very dangerous as she faced the risk of being eaten by lions on the way. Yet she was not deterred. Then an old man offered to go with her. He told her lions will only attack if they are hungry so he decided to be food for the lions by going ahead of her so that she can safely get to that village. This is consecration! in those days, consecration was rife among Christians, but today, it appears it has disappeared from the registers of most Christians. To surrender all means to give your spouse, children, reputation and wealth to the Lord. When someone heard that I had left my job as a lecturer to become a pastor, he said he was not surprised because Mathematicians are crazy people, and that I was simply Manifesting that madness. Have you surrendered all? 

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Thursday 23 May 2013 CLEAN ENOUGH? By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Thursday 23 May 2013 

CLEAN ENOUGH? 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

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: Zechariah 3:1-7

Bible in one year:  Ezekiel 28-30

Key point: All round cleanliness is required to relate with God as His representative.

In today’s Bible reading, we read of how Joshua the high priest, who was both a representative of God and a divine champion, was standing before an angel, putting on filthy garments. You would notice that Gods attention was focused on the dressing of His priest. Some people tell us today that since the inward appearance is more important to God, we should play down the outward appearance. The truth ¡s they are both important before God. If you are God’s representative, God is interested in your inner beauty as well as your outward dressing. God wants to know whether your physical clothes are clean or dirty. If .you are a Christian but you are dirty, you need reorientation and renewal of your mind. Some sisters leave their hair unkempt and unwashed until it begins to breed lice. Some brothers will wear the same boxers for one or two weeks. Some people do not have their bath or even brush their teeth in the name of fasting. No wonder whenever they are doing a private fast the whole world knows. What is keeping God and His favour away from some of His children is not sin but dirt. Demons are spiritually unclean beings so they flock around where there is sin and dirt. If you visit the houses of some people, dirty clothes will adorn the settees. You will have to wait for them to move the clothes off before you find space to sit down. Some people will eat and pile up dirty plates until there is no clean plate. Even when they give you what they claim to have washed, you will still see traces of food sticking to the plates, cups, cutlery and pots. If you are a dirty person, ¡t will show wherever you go. Some people take their dirty habits to church. They will litter where they sit with sweet wrappers, water sachets, and empty water bottles etc. instead of disposing them properly. Personal hygiene is very important both for healthy living as well as for relating with God and man. Are you keeping God far away from you by being unhygienic?

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 22 May 2013 DANCING FOR YOUR OWNER By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 22 May 2013 

DANCING FOR YOUR OWNER 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.” 2 Samuel 6:14

Read: 2 Samuel 6:12-16

Bible in one year:  Ezekiel 25-27

Key point: If you cannot dance for God, who els will you dance for?

Beside standing and lifting up holy hands and going on your knees, you can also dance in worship of the Most High God. When the African dog is wagging its tail at its owner, ¡t ¡s acknowIedging its owner. So when you dance before God with all your heart, you are  acknowledging God as your owner. This does not ¡nclude sexually provocative dancing. Some ladies dance to attract men and vice versa while some others dance to please God. Let your dance glorify God. l(you truly dance to please the Lord, aknowledging Him as your owner and thanking Him with all your heart, you will not leave His presence empty. You will leave with a load of His presence I and power. Also, the way you react when you receive news of a Kingdom victory is an indicator of whether the direction of flow of your heart mirrors that God. How do you feel when you hear that a soul has just been saved? If you ask how the Lord feels, you can be sure that Heaven will declare a party and they will be dancing to God’s glory including Jesus Christ Himself. For just one soul! Then what do you think will happen when 1 0, 1 00, 500, 1 000 or 10,000 souls are won to Him in a day? How do you feel? Has such Kingdom news ever made you dance?

“And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.” 2 Samuel 6:14

When the captured Ark of the Covenant was brought back to Israel, King David danced with all his might. He laid aside his position as king and danced as a subject of the King of kings. He did not know when he put aside his robe that was hindering him from dancing, and he began to leap and dance as a ‘commoner’ before Israel. It ¡s even possible he did some acrobatic display. David truly was a man after God’s heart! He did not care about the opinions of men hut of God. The truth ¡s, when a king ¡s before the King of kings, he must forget his position and pay due homage to Him who enthroned him. Are you too refined, too cultured, or too honourable to dance for your Owner?

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 21 May 2013 FAVOUR ERADICATES EMPTINESS By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 21 May 2013

FAVOUR ERADICATES EMPTINESS 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “And I will give these people favour in the sight of all Egyptians; and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty” Exodus 3:21

Read: Exodus 3:21-22

Bible in one year:  Ezekiel 22-24

Prayer point: Father, let your favour completely swallow every emptiness in my life.

The trial of your faith is very important as it plays a major role in your life. Nobody knows it all nor is fully prepared for what God wants to use him or her for. This is why God sometimes uses trials to prune us and bea.t us into shape so that we can conform to His will. In any trial you face, may God’s purpose for taking you through it be accomplished in Jesus name.

“And I will give this people favour in the sight of all Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:” Exodus 3:21

After the trial of your faith, comes the release of God’s  favour. One benefit of favour is that it prevents emptiness in the life of its beneficiary. For over 400 years, the Israelites laboured without pay, and there was no way they could take their oppressors to court. But the night God released favour to them after the Holy Communion, the curse of emptiness was totally destroyed from their lives. There are some people who have laboured for months or even years without pay. They could not take legal action against their oppressors. In some cases, some of those oppressors are fellow believers and even ministers of God who refuse to pay workers their dues. This is a situation of emptiness. It is a curse and not a blessing. If you are going through this, the Lord will terminate that situation in your life this season, and His favour will deliver what is pending to you. There is a User of this Devotional, for about three years, you laboured but could not take of the fruit. Congratulations! God has just smiled on you with His favour. What has been pending shall be speedily delivered to you. As you receive it, go and give thanks to God in your local parish and share your testimony to encourage others. Where there is no favour, there is bound to be emptiness, but when there is favour, emptiness ceases and abundance comes In. This season, abundance shall take over from the emptiness you have suffered in Jesus name. It is your season of favour.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 20 May 2013 SIGNS STOP OPPONENTS By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 20 May 2013 

SIGNS STOP OPPONENTS 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel, form the LORD of Hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion” Isaiah 8:18

Read: Acts 13:6-12

Bible in one year:  Psalm 22-24

Action point: If antagonists of the Gospel experience a sign, they will change. Ask that the antagonists of the Gospel will experience the wonder that would move them from their evil path.

Signs and wonders have a way of instigating faith and compelling belief. You cannot tell the impact just One sign or miracle will have on the assignment of a church, particularly if it is a notable or spectacular miracle. For instance, in the early church, when signs and wonders were wrought by the hands of the apostles, great multitudes were converted to the Christian faith (Acts 5:12-14). You need the power of the Holy Spirit in order to demonstrate to unbelievers that our God still performs wonders. In the life of a user of this Devotional, the Lord is beginning a spate of signs and wonders that will draw many to His kingdom. When the Lord does this, share your testimony and give God all the glory. You are for signs and wonders from now on. Even your children will begin to testify of the wonders that God will be performing through them.

In a meeting of apostles that was held some years ago, someone made a particular remark. He said that here in Africa we go for signs whereas they in the developed countries go for wisdom, as if we were focusing on the wrong thing. I replied that we go for signs and our churches are overflowing with people, but they go for wisdom and their churches are empty. In Acts 13:6-12, while preaching to a governor, a sorcerer tried to disturb the message, Paul simply commanded him to be blind for a period. The sorcerer left their presence blind. When the governor saw this, he immediately accepted Jesus. Even today, there are many agents of darkness like the sorcerer who do everything to hinder the spread of the Gospel. If you put the power of the Spirit to play and a wonder takes place, nothing will hinder those you are preaching to. Sometimes, you need the power to demonstrate the superiority of God’s power above contending powers. When this is done, God’s Kingdom will record a great harvest like on Mount Carmel. In addition, you and your family need signs and wonders. When the enemies try to hurt you but fail according to the promise in Isaiah 54:1 7, it is a glorious experience as they may end up surrendering to you, and asking to be introduced to your God. Ask God to manifest His power in your life as never before.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 19 May 2013 BE FERVENT IN SERVICE By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 19 May 2013 

BE FERVENT IN SERVICE 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” Romans 12:11

Read: Romans 12:10-11

Bible in one year:  Psalms 19-21

Action point: Prayerfully pick 5 non committed members of your church and follow them up until they are fully committed.

Another mark of a committed believer is commitment to God’s work. You cannot be in your Father’s house just warming the bench or pew while others are very busy. The committed believer is too happy to take on a task for the Master. If you want to frustrate such an individual, take away the assignment he or she was given, and it will seem his or her life is about to crash. This is so because the life of the committed revolves around service to the Most High God. Even when such fellow offends and is disciplined, it will be glaring to all that the fellow is going through an unpleasant moment. Did you say you are committed to God? Then what are you doing for God? You can’t be idle in God’s house and be committed. The committed does not choose tasks to be done. Send the fellow to stand outside the gate as a security personnel, he will be happy. Ask him to go and join sanitation workers where he will be cleaning toilets, he will be glad. The way he will handle tasks look down upon by most people, will elicit interest in other people about that task. Are you committed to God? In addition to working for God, when the committed believer works for God, his target is nothing less than excellence. He wants to do the work in such a way that will glorify God. Do you know you can do God’s work shoddily, and in the process stir up God’s anger against you? Our Lord Jesus Christ served God with passion. His zeal was overwhelming. If you met Jesus doing something, you will be attracted to join Him because He did it from His heart, with zeal and passion so that the Father may be glorified. The focus of the committed is the One who commissioned him. How do you handle divine assignments? Are you selective or do you happily take on whatever God assigns to you through your pastor? If you have been running from serving God, stop running! Ask God for forgiveness and inform your pastor that you are flow ready to serve God. He will lead you on how to become relevant in God’s house.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 19 May 2013 BE FERVENT IN SERVICE By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 19 May 2013 

BE FERVENT IN SERVICE 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” Romans 12:11

Read: Romans 12:10-11

Bible in one year:  Psalms 19-21

Action point: Prayerfully pick 5 non committed members of your church and follow them up until they are fully committed.

Another mark of a committed believer is commitment to God’s work. You cannot be in your Father’s house just warming the bench or pew while others are very busy. The committed believer is too happy to take on a task for the Master. If you want to frustrate such an individual, take away the assignment he or she was given, and it will seem his or her life is about to crash. This is so because the life of the committed revolves around service to the Most High God. Even when such fellow offends and is disciplined, it will be glaring to all that the fellow is going through an unpleasant moment. Did you say you are committed to God? Then what are you doing for God? You can’t be idle in God’s house and be committed. The committed does not choose tasks to be done. Send the fellow to stand outside the gate as a security personnel, he will be happy. Ask him to go and join sanitation workers where he will be cleaning toilets, he will be glad. The way he will handle tasks look down upon by most people, will elicit interest in other people about that task. Are you committed to God? In addition to working for God, when the committed believer works for God, his target is nothing less than excellence. He wants to do the work in such a way that will glorify God. Do you know you can do God’s work shoddily, and in the process stir up God’s anger against you? Our Lord Jesus Christ served God with passion. His zeal was overwhelming. If you met Jesus doing something, you will be attracted to join Him because He did it from His heart, with zeal and passion so that the Father may be glorified. The focus of the committed is the One who commissioned him. How do you handle divine assignments? Are you selective or do you happily take on whatever God assigns to you through your pastor? If you have been running from serving God, stop running! Ask God for forgiveness and inform your pastor that you are flow ready to serve God. He will lead you on how to become relevant in God’s house.

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 19 May 2013 BE FERVENT IN SERVICE By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 19 May 2013 

BE FERVENT IN SERVICE 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” Romans 12:11

Read: Romans 12:10-11

Bible in one year:  Psalms 19-21

Action point: Prayerfully pick 5 non committed members of your church and follow them up until they are fully committed.

Another mark of a committed believer is commitment to God’s work. You cannot be in your Father’s house just warming the bench or pew while others are very busy. The committed believer is too happy to take on a task for the Master. If you want to frustrate such an individual, take away the assignment he or she was given, and it will seem his or her life is about to crash. This is so because the life of the committed revolves around service to the Most High God. Even when such fellow offends and is disciplined, it will be glaring to all that the fellow is going through an unpleasant moment. Did you say you are committed to God? Then what are you doing for God? You can’t be idle in God’s house and be committed. The committed does not choose tasks to be done. Send the fellow to stand outside the gate as a security personnel, he will be happy. Ask him to go and join sanitation workers where he will be cleaning toilets, he will be glad. The way he will handle tasks look down upon by most people, will elicit interest in other people about that task. Are you committed to God? In addition to working for God, when the committed believer works for God, his target is nothing less than excellence. He wants to do the work in such a way that will glorify God. Do you know you can do God’s work shoddily, and in the process stir up God’s anger against you? Our Lord Jesus Christ served God with passion. His zeal was overwhelming. If you met Jesus doing something, you will be attracted to join Him because He did it from His heart, with zeal and passion so that the Father may be glorified. The focus of the committed is the One who commissioned him. How do you handle divine assignments? Are you selective or do you happily take on whatever God assigns to you through your pastor? If you have been running from serving God, stop running! Ask God for forgiveness and inform your pastor that you are flow ready to serve God. He will lead you on how to become relevant in God’s house.