Open Heavens Devotional: ENLARGING GOD’S SERVICE – Monday, July 9, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 2 Corinthians 12:15

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:13-15

Bible in one year: Luke 4-6

When God is looking for those to call, He looks for hard working people because He is not lazy. God cannot entrust things of eternal value into the hands of lazy people. One thing you can be certain about concerning the 12 apostles the Lord chose, is that they were all hardworking people. Is it Peter, James, John, or Matthew the tax collector or even Judas who was their treasurer? Balancing the account is not an easy job for the lazy. How hardworking are you?

Another criteria God uses in selecting those He will use is their determination to serve Him all the days of their lives. Some people serve God now just because of their present circumstance, status or location. The day there is a change in any of these, particularly in a negative sense, it will affect their commitment. But there are those who have decided to serve Him in all circumstances and until their last breadth. In 2 Corinthians 12:15, Paul says:

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

He also said in Philippians 3:7-8 that all his gains were counted as losses to enable him know Jesus more. Have you resolved to serve Him to the end? Some brethren are asking God for the anointing to heal the sick or raise the dead while God is asking them, “How many souls have you won to me since I saved you?” Grace meets you on the move, the idle fellow would therefore be bypassed. Paul made a great sacrifice to appreciate God’s salvation. Some people have never made any major sacrifice to the Lord since they got saved. By His grace I got saved in July 1973. The following year, I was in my village. I did not have much but I repaired a shop and agreed with the owner that what I spent in that renovation would be converted into renting the shop for church use. It covered up to 17 years. We did not spend up to that when we built our own church. I also went everywhere preaching the Gospel. God’s grace is meant to be used for God’s Kingdom. What are you doing for Him?

ACTION POINT:

Take a stock of your achievements for the Kingdom since you got saved. Compare your findings with the goals you earlier set and see the difference.

Open Heavens Devotional: FACE TO FACE – Sunday, July 8, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Bible in one year: Leviticus 24-27

Just like unbelievers, some believers equally have reasons to be shaken when it occurs to them that death is near. When you hear that death has come, what will come to mind? Is my heart right with God? Is there any pending restitution? Do I owe anybody including God tithes? Is there anyone I have not forgiven or made peace with? Have I finished the assignment God gave to me? How about my family? Have I written my will and appointed the person to execute it? Is there any legacy I am leaving behind that could negatively impact on my family after my departure? Will the Lord be ready to receive me as I return to Him today? These questions and several others will come to mind. If you have any of such unanswered questions, start providing the answers and do something about them now. Prepare for your departure. Some parents leave nothing for their children. What are you leaving behind for yours?

However, although we fear death, it is only when we die or are raptured that we can stay in Heaven. It is only in Heaven you will have no pain, death or sorrow and God will wipe all tears from your eyes (Revelation 21:3-4). On earth, even if all is well with you, you may still have a reason to be sorrowful when empathizing with others who are bereaved or suffered a major loss as instructed in Romans 12:15. As a believer, you should not fear death because it is only a door into eternal bliss where you will see Jesus face to face. Some people have seen Him in dreams and visions, but after death, you as a believer in right standing with God will see Him face to face, hold Him, walk with Him, play and laugh with Him. What took Job through his darkest moments was the joy of seeing Him face to face (Job 19:25) and the joy of knowing Him. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:12:

For now we see through a glass, darkly: but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Yes, a day is coming, whether through death or the rapture when we shall be with Jesus throughout eternity. An eternity in the physical presence of the lover of souls, the One who died for us; this is something far beyond our imagination. Death can only help you to enter into that day.

KEY POINT:

When the issue of holiness is settled in your life, come death or rapture you are ready.

Open Heavens Devotional: HOLD ON TO GOD – Saturday, July 7, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Psalms 130:6

Read: Psalms 130:5-6

 Bible in one year: Leviticus 20-23

Anyone who is too much in a hurry will most likely miss out from God’s agenda. God is very patient. If you will walk with Him, you too must be patient or else you will find yourself going ahead of Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing”. Luke 11:9-11 says keep knocking until the door opens; wait as long as it takes. You may never get some valuable blessings if you are not patient. One particular year, immediately after we rounded up our Convention, I told my people I need rest and therefore would not attend to anyone. A woman from the north came and asked if I was home. They said yes, but also told her that I was not going to see anybody. They served her food and told her I was not coming out that day. She replied that she was in no hurry and that any day I decide to come out, I will meet her there. Later, my wife came and told me that the woman had refused to go until she sees me. I had to suspend my rest to meet her in my sleeping dress.  I asked her what her problem was and she said it was her head. She said whenever something good was coming, her head would refuse it and that I should just touch her head and she will go. So I did and she left.

When was the last time you held unto God like Jacob or like this woman and told Him you are tired of being an ordinary, powerless Christian or minister; that you were going nowhere until He did something about your situation? That was the kind of persistence we knew in time past. When I newly joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God newly, after the morning service we would go home. By the time we returned for the evening service, there would still be people who have not left, still settling their issues with God. You cannot persist like that and not expect something good to happen to you. If you can hold on to God, He will take you serious and attend to you. If you are too busy to wait on Him, He will tell you He is busier. After all, you may just attend to some tens or hundreds of issues while He is attending to billions on earth and at the same time attending to the billions in Heaven, besides all the animals, birds, fishes etc. Learn to hold on to God!

ACTION POINT:

Until Jacob wrestled with God, the prince in him remained buried. Release your princely potentials by wrestling with God today.

Open Heavens Devotional: THE ESSENCE OF GOD (PART 3) – Friday, July 6, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Isaiah 42:8

Read: 1 John 1:1-5

Bible in one year: Leviticus 17-19

In the month of April, we looked at the essence of God through the prism of colours. God is light; hence we are looking at His essence through the colours of the rainbow, which are the same colours that result from the dispersal of white light when passes through prism.

Blue is the colour of love. 1 John 4:8 says God is love. Blue is also the colour of the ocean – referring to its inexhaustibility. While introducing Himself in Genesis 17:1, God simply says He is the inexhaustible One – The Almighty God. Some have asked me why I am not envious of others who are so blessed, and I tell them that there is enough for all. God’s goodness in your life shall never run out in Jesus name. Similarly, blue is the colour of the sky which means that when God wants to promote you, there will be no limit. Deuteronomy 33:27 says:

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them

When God lifts you up with His massive hands, there is no stopping you and nobody can bring you down. For instance, when God picked up a young shepherd boy at the backside of the desert and began to promote him, he became a king, but even long after his demise, the promotion continued until he became the father of the King of kings (Mark 10:47). Your rise this year shall not stop. Your promotion shall outlive you. You will be reckoned with in Heaven’s hall of fame.

Another colour of the rainbow which we see in the dispersal of light is green. It is the colour for Go in a traffic light. It refers to the power of progress. Green is the colour for growth. Green is also the colour of promotion. Psalms 75:6-7 says promotion comes from one source – above – from God. 1 Samuel 2:8 says God can pick a beggar from the dunghill and place the fellow among kings. This season, the Lord will promote you to your next level. Green is the colour of abundance (Psalms 23:1-5). It is also the colour of fruitfulness (John 15:1-5). Green stands for power which is fully available with God (Jeremiah 32:27). Are you lacking any of these? Cry unto the Lord today and He will supply all your needs.

PRAYER POINT:

In my life Lord be glorified always and help me avoid the pitfalls on my way. Father, stabilize my nation on her path to progress, prosperity and Godly fear.

Open Heavens Devotional: WHOLESOME CONTROL – Thursday, July 5, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

Read: Luke 19:29-35

Bible in one year: Leviticus 14-16

In Luke 5:1-7, Peter allowed the Lord to enter his boat and immediately, failure jumped out of that boat. It is wisdom to allow the Lord free space in your heart and life. He does not usually impose Himself on anyone, but expects us to invite Him. It is only the areas you allow Him to reign over that will be no-go areas for the devil. If you allow Him to reign in every area of your life, you will never know sorrow, defeat or poverty again. Some time ago, I visited a country not too far away from Nigeria to see some of our missionaries. At the airport, while awaiting the plane that will bring me back to Nigeria, I emptied my pocket to the missionaries since I knew my driver will be waiting to receive me at the airport in Nigeria. While waiting, the airline announced that the plane that was to take us to Nigeria will first stop over in a far country before coming for us. Then I became hungry. I was not fasting and I had no money left on me. Suddenly it occurred to me that I could decree since my God was in charge. I simply decree that the officers of the airline would have no rest until I left their country. Within five minutes, they rushed to meet us upstairs and asked for those travelling to Nigeria. They asked if we have been given anything to eat. We replied in the negative and they brought us cakes and coke. I finished mine before others so the leader of the team gave me the last slice with another bottle of coke. Not long after that, we heard another announcement that the plane that should take us will first get to Nigeria before going to that far country. Then I prayed that their peace should be restored. When you allow the Lord to have His way in your life, not only will He reign in your life and circumstances, He will also cause you to reign over situations and circumstances. As you allow Him into every department of your life, the Lord will cause you to reign over every opposition and manipulation of the enemy. From today you shall reign over failure, sickness and barrenness. It is well with you.

KEY POINT:

Calling Jesus Christ your lord is not enough; it is only the areas of your life that you give to Him that He will be lord over. Is Jesus truly your Lord? 

Open Heavens Devotional: THE YOUNG GIVER – Wednesday, July 4, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that witholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Proverbs 11:24

Read: John 6:5-13

Bible in one year: Acts 21-24

Our God can go to extremes in areas such as giving. When He really wants to give, He gives massively. Imagine using 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes to feed 5,000 men, excluding children and women. Going by the fact that women were usually more among the followers of Jesus, that could have been about 12,000 people or more. Yet, there were leftovers. As awesome as this miracle was, it must not be forgotten that a young boy created the platform for God to perform this miracle of super abundance by first giving up his lunch. I once asked my children what happened to the 12 baskets of extras that came out of that miraculous provision and they replied that each of the apostles must have gone home with one basket. But they were wrong. All 12 baskets would have been given to that little boy because where the water comes from, is where it will return. Just imagine that boy getting home with 12 baskets of bread and fishes. His parents must have asked how he got them and he would have told them the story. I believe that family would have learnt a big lesson concerning giving.

Learn from this story. Do you think the boy was the only one with food in the midst of that crowd? No! What happened to others who had some food? Their food was hoarded and so remained that way. If that boy had kept back his meal just like others, the crowd could have starved because God needs man to give something for Him to multiply. If you bring empty hands He will multiply your emptiness and at the end of the day, you will be the greater loser. Some of those who hid their food would have been asked to help the boy carry his booty home. They would have been saying: “this provision could have been mine”! They would have regretted their action. Furthermore, there might have been some of them who would have wanted to offer theirs but either they were too slow or they were still thinking or praying about it when the boy beat them to it. Be quick to give to God. Always lead others in giving because there is a reward for it. Like that boy, children and teens should learn to give to God. They are not too young to give to God. Parents must give their children offering to give in church and teach them how to pay their tithes on the gifts they receive from others. The earlier, the better.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, help me to lead others when it comes to giving.

Open Heavens Devotional: CHANGE YOUR GARMENT – Tuesday, July 3, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colossians 3:10

Read: Colossians 3:8-10

Bible in one year: Leviticus 8-10

After Elisha saw Elijah being taken away, he cried out. The next thing he did was to tear his clothes (2 Kings 2:12-14). Why did he do that? According to Colossians 3:8-10, you have to put off the old man before you can put on the new man. What constitutes the old man?

But now ye also put off all these: a`nger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Colossians 3:8

Sin is a type of clothing; righteousness is another type of clothing. Anyone who wears the garment of sin will be clothed in shame but the one who wears righteousness will be clothed in God’s glory. When Adam sinned, he lost his robe of righteousness and God’s glory was lifted from him. When Jesus came, He came to take away our rags and being full of God’s glory, anyone who wears Him will be covered in His glory. The truth is that as long as you put on a cloak of sin, you will not be attractive for God’s use. Elisha realised the enormity of a new walk with God he was embarking on and he immediately tore his rags so that he could put on the new man. He was very wise.

There are some people who are being proposed for a higher spiritual assignment yet they will make no serious preparation. That is foolishness. A minister of God was being nominated by his pastor for ordination some years ago. When the time the list released, his name was on it so he went to tell his pastor he saw his name on the list. The pastor told him that although he sent his name, he will not advise him to be ordained that year, going by certain shady things involving the brother, but he insisted on being ordained. He was therefore told to go into a period of fasting and prayer. Later the Pastor learnt that this brother was busy watching home video during the time he should be fasting. Ordination came and he was ordained a deacon. He took the next Sunday message and all hell broke loose. His creditors started looking for him in order to arrest him. That was how he ran away from church. Anytime God is about to take you higher, it is a time to examine your garment and destroy it if it is stained with sin.

KEY POINT:

Are you yearning for promotion? What are the practical evidence of your preparation? Ordination adds value only to the prepared.

Open Heavens Devotional: KEYS OF PRAYER AND HOLINESS – Monday, July 2, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. Proverbs 28:8

Read: Proverbs 13:11-12

Bible in one year: Leviticus 5-7

A very important key of the Kingdom is prayer. John 14:14 says:

If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.

This is an open cheque. Speaking of prayer, we should also note that it includes thanksgiving and praises. If you can give thanks and praise God while praying effectively, closed doors will be forced open. However, for your prayers to work, you must maintain a right standing with God. James 5:16 says:

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

To open doors, your prayer should be persistent, hot and fiery. It should be laced with God’s word stating the basis of your prayer and arguing your cause. How do you pray? Strive also to pray in the Holy Ghost to increase the effectiveness of this key.

Another key is the master key of holiness (Deuteronomy 28:1-13). If you live holy, all doors will look in your direction and open to you. Many people think they can get rich through fraudulent means. Yes, they can but that leaves God out of the equation. Any blessing that God is not in is cursed. Some people do not want to hear about holiness when business is being discussed because they think it will hinder increase or prosperity. How wrong! Holiness will only prevent you from receiving cursed money and any increase that may erode your blessings. But on the other hand, holiness will deliver true riches and lasting prosperity to you. It is the money, increase or promotion you make through the fear of God that shall endure. Deuteronomy 23:18 says God forbids any prostitute from bringing an offering or tithe into His house from the proceeds of her illicit trade. It is an abomination! Proverbs 20:23 says it is wrong to cunningly reduce the cup or vessel for measuring seeds or food items in a bid to cheat the buyer. In doing your business, you must not tell lies, or make false declarations. You don’t have to lie about your age or fill forms that you have several dependants when you don’t, because you want to reduce your taxes. God wants you holy so that the key of holiness can work for you.

KEY POINT:

If you try the key of giving, faith, praise or prayer while living in sin, they will not work. For these keys to work, they must be combined with the key of holiness.

Open Heavens Devotional: JUDGEMENT IS COMING – Sunday, July 1, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:13

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Bible in one year: Leviticus 1-4

Death seals the fate of an individual. The Holy Ghost, writing through Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 makes clear the fate of faithful believers: finding themselves immediately with Jesus once they are absent from the body; while Jesus in Luke 16:22-23 makes clear the fate of those that live outside of God’s percepts: being welcome to hell as they close their eyes in death. There is no middle place. There is no purgatory as taught by some religions or Christian denominations. It is either Heaven or Hell. Wherever you land at death is where you will live forever. It is either death or Jesus comes to take you home at the rapture. These are the only two exit points from this world into eternity. Where will you spend eternity?

People quake whenever they hear of death because after death, judgment follows. Hebrews 9:27 says:

And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment:

The creator of man has an appointment with man. He does not seek their inputs concerning this appointment, although those who are very close to Him could negotiate and shift the date of the appointment. Whether you like it or not, you must keep that appointment someday, either through death or through the rapture. A sinner who dies will go to hell. Revelation 20:11-15 says after they are judged at the Great White Throne Judgment, the inhabitants of hell will be thrown into the lake of fire. That is like saying, from frying pan to fire. The lake of fire is far worse place than hell fire. Just one sin is enough to take you there. On the other hand, those who believe in Jesus Christ, not just church goers, but those who received Christ into their lives and have the evidence of a change of life will face their judgment too. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 says every work we have done will be passed through God’s fire. Any work that did not meet up with God’s standard will be burnt. On that day, many believers will weep their eyes out when they see their works burnt. The issue is not just working for God but working to meet God’s standard or expectation. Any work done with wrong motives will be burnt. Any work done not at the time God requested but at the convenience of the doer may be burnt. Some people may have nothing left after the fire. You still have time now to make amends. You must not lose your reward!

KEY POINT:

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Unfortunately, concerning matters of eternity, many who were forewarned never believed the truth until they died and found it so. But alas they were unprepared.

Open Heavens Devotional: YOUTH: HOW DECENT? – Saturday, June 30, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise:   Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.  1 Timothy 4:16

Read: 1 Timothy 4:12-16

Bible in One year: Psalms 70-72

If you will be relevant in God’s plan for the last days, you must totally discard this end time instant gratification bug. Today, many students are after instant education. Obtain your degree now! This is why education standards are falling in Nigeria universities and tertiary institutions. We have to return to core values in our educational system. Too much emphasis is being place on certificates. It is not all about certificate. Anybody can buy one from the shelf of fraudsters and call himself or herself a graduate. The certified must prove by their performance and character that they earned the paper they carry. If they cannot prove this, it is most likely that certificate was stolen. Let us return to the era of merit. Let us go back to adopting true, healthy value system that can move us forward.

God is not happy with half-baked people. If the Disciples of Christ were half-baked, we would have completely lost the essence of Christianity by now. Speaking to the youthful pastor Timothy, Paul admonished him to attend to reading, exhortation and to doctrine (1 Timothy 4:13). God still wants you to pay attention to studying the Word of God and reading books to develop yourself. Youths are expected by God to be examples to their nation in word, life-style, love, spirit, faith and in purity.  As a youth, your dressing should show that you are not conforming with the world. Your clothes must be right. Your hair must be trimmed and combed. No wearing of dread locks. No sagging- allowing your trousers to drop to reveal your pant. That is madness! No miniskirts or undue exposure of what should be covered as a lady. Be decent. You are a youth for Jesus so remember to stay different in order to glorify God.

KEY POINT:

Get your basics right. As a Christian youth, you must not bring shame to the Lord because of half-baked education.