Wednesday 30 May
ADAM WAITED
Memorise: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; Genesis 2:21
Read: Genesis 2:21-25
When dealing with God, you cannot but learn to be patient. Many have lost their miracles because they could not endure for an additional minute, hour, day, month or year and so on. If you have expectations -particularly great expectations, you will have no choice but to wait as long as is required. Patience is part of the price you pay in receiving from God. During the period of waiting, God will check out certain things in your life and help you learn and add what you lack, make you better prepared, and cause you to understand Him some more, so that when He releases the blessing, it will endure.
If you check from the beginning, you will see men having to wait on God to get their desires. If the issue is of paramount importance, they may be required to wait longer. Adam had to wait on God before he received Eve. Genesis 2:21 -2 5 says God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam. All the while God prepared Eve for Adam; the latter was asleep, resting in God's presence. He was in a state where he was not doing anything by his strength but wholly leaned on God's power, wisdom, ability and timing. He waited until Eve came. Unfortunately, many singles today are too much in a hurry. They want God to give them a spouse yet, they pray for five minutes and in the sixth minute, they expect their life partner to surface. It does not work like that! If you want a good wife or husband from God, you must give Him some time to prepare him or her. Although the spouses of some brethren are ready and available, they themselves are however not prepared. If God releases their heart desire to them in their unprepared state, there would be serious problems in homes started by such couples. To hasten the preparations of your Eve or Adarn, pray, wait on the Lord and study His Word. Obey God in every area and make Him happy with you. Also, start to get ready for marriage. Read books on family life, work on your attitude and character and learn to be more tolerant and accommodating.
Key Point:
The extent to which you are ready to wait will determine the size of the blessing God will be prepared to release to you. How long can you wait?
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
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RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
TUE. 29/05/2012 - HIDING YOUR PILLOW? - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Tuesday 29 May
HIDING YOUR PILLOW?
Memorise: For the drunkard and the Button shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Proverbs 23:21
Read: Proverbs 26:13-16
God reveals in Revelation 1:6 that if you are born again, you area king with God. As such, you should be decked with your royal robe. But do you know that laziness strips the believer of this robe replacing it with rags? A king that is clothed in rags will be treated like a slave or mad fellow. How are you clothed today? Many people cry to God to prosper them but when God looks at them intending to answer them, He realises .they have no capacity to contain His blessings. Do you know that to prosper, you require hard work? To sustain it, you may require a higher level of hard work. Hence, Proverbs 22:29 says:
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
If you fail to work hard when you are young, you will be compelled to work nard when you are old.
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Lamentation 3:27
One of my teachers - a philosopher told us a story sometime in 1952 or 1953. He said everyone coming into the world comes with a pillow of suffering and until the pillow is worn out, you won't die. Some will engage their pillow very early in life, struggle and work hard so that before middle age, the pillow is worn out, leaving them to spend the rest part of their lives in pleasure. But others will hide theirs in the ceiling without working until they are old; and since they cannot die without getting the pillow worn, they will fetch it from the ceiling and start to work at old age. When you see an old man working as a gate keeper, selling fire wood or pushing a truck, it is likely because he hid his pi Now while a youth. Hebrews 11:6 says God rewards the diligent seeker. While some people who started working hard early in life are retiring at 40 or 45 years, others are just starting work at 60. Are you young? Engage your hands in something profitable and don't be idle. Only ensure that it is something legitimate and God-glorifying. Don't fold your hands! If there is no job, you can create one for yourself. Ask God for inspiration.
KEY POINT:
If you will not work until you get your dream job, you are very lazy and operating outside of faith. But if you excel in little jobs, they will pave way for the dream job to come.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
HIDING YOUR PILLOW?
Memorise: For the drunkard and the Button shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Proverbs 23:21
Read: Proverbs 26:13-16
God reveals in Revelation 1:6 that if you are born again, you area king with God. As such, you should be decked with your royal robe. But do you know that laziness strips the believer of this robe replacing it with rags? A king that is clothed in rags will be treated like a slave or mad fellow. How are you clothed today? Many people cry to God to prosper them but when God looks at them intending to answer them, He realises .they have no capacity to contain His blessings. Do you know that to prosper, you require hard work? To sustain it, you may require a higher level of hard work. Hence, Proverbs 22:29 says:
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
If you fail to work hard when you are young, you will be compelled to work nard when you are old.
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Lamentation 3:27
One of my teachers - a philosopher told us a story sometime in 1952 or 1953. He said everyone coming into the world comes with a pillow of suffering and until the pillow is worn out, you won't die. Some will engage their pillow very early in life, struggle and work hard so that before middle age, the pillow is worn out, leaving them to spend the rest part of their lives in pleasure. But others will hide theirs in the ceiling without working until they are old; and since they cannot die without getting the pillow worn, they will fetch it from the ceiling and start to work at old age. When you see an old man working as a gate keeper, selling fire wood or pushing a truck, it is likely because he hid his pi Now while a youth. Hebrews 11:6 says God rewards the diligent seeker. While some people who started working hard early in life are retiring at 40 or 45 years, others are just starting work at 60. Are you young? Engage your hands in something profitable and don't be idle. Only ensure that it is something legitimate and God-glorifying. Don't fold your hands! If there is no job, you can create one for yourself. Ask God for inspiration.
KEY POINT:
If you will not work until you get your dream job, you are very lazy and operating outside of faith. But if you excel in little jobs, they will pave way for the dream job to come.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Monday, May 28, 2012
MON. 28/05/2012 - TREAT GOD WITH CARE! - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Monday 28 May
TREAT GOD WITH CARE!
Memorise: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee, Romans 11:21
God is the Potter and we are the clay. Going by Jeremiah 18:1-4, you can either yield yourself completely to Him letting Him do whatever He wants with your life, or He may change your destiny completely. Because Eli's children refused to fully yield to God, He changed His mind concerning the glorious future ahead of them (1 Samuel 2:30). Initially, He wanted them as a priest-producing lineage, but later, God said the survivors of Eli's generation would be beggars. Their destinies were changed from being fathers of the nation to servants and beggars. It is a terrible thing to resist God! Are you resisting Him today? Is there any instruction He has given to you that you have not yet complied with? Repent and restitute your ways! Stop toying with naked wire that is carrying current at high voltage! You could be electrocuted because our God is the Consuming Fire (Hebrew 12:29). Although Hebrews 9:27 speaks of an appointment with death for everyone on the face of the earth, however, Proverbs 10:27 says that day is moveable. That means if you abide by God's commands, you can live longer but if you misbehave, God can reduce your years from 90 to 50.
You should know that your tomorrow is in the hands of two people - God and yourself. As the Alpha and Omega, He controls tomorrow (Revelation 1:8). If you relate with Him correctly, then according to the words of prophet Isaiah, it shall be well with you. Yet, the same Isaiah says woe to the wicked for it shall be ill with him (Isaiah 3:11). If only you can obey Him in every area, your tomorrow will be a settled matter; but if you decide to select what you want to do, your tomorrow is in trouble. How are you living today? Are you living for God or for man or even for yourself? Are you still accommodating sin in your thoughts? Are you living in secret sin? Is there any grudge against someone? Are you involved in some kind of deception or lies? Is your Kingdom service now purely for commercial gains? Watch it! Follow the right path so that the fire that was supposed to protect you does not turn against you.
KEY POINT:
Your works after you are born again are so powerful that they can rewrite God's plan for your life and affect your destiny. Mind what you do!
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
SUN. 27/05/2012 - RELEVANT BY DILIGENCE - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Sunday 27 May
RELEVANT BY DILIGENCE
Memorise: We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:1-9
God loves hardworking people but hates the laziness. When He looks for people to give assignments, He often looks for hardworking people. If you see a lazy and nonchalant fellow occupying an ecclesiastical position, ask him how he got there because God has no business with lazy bones. Even when a person becomes mad, that state of insanity does not take away industry or hard work from the fellow. When you observe mad men, you will know those who were hardworking and those who were lazy, among them. The lazy ones will sit all day long or scavenge in one location for virtually the whole day, but the hardworking ones will go far distances - even travelling several kilometres on foot. Sometimes while travelling from one state to another, you will see some mad fellows moving from one state to the other all on their feet. Very hardworking mad fellows can easily receive the mercy of God. If you see them, pray for them and the Lord will deliver them.
Why did Jesus in Mark 5:1-20 come all the way to a graveyard in search of a mad fellow bypassing other people? It was because that mad man was a diligent follow and He knew that after his deliverance, he would use his energy and diligence to serve the Lord. Hence, Jesus delivered him and he became an evangelist, combing the whole country for Jesus. Similarly, if you are an extrovert, it is great. God wants you to use that extroverted nature to reach out to people, make friends, go from place to place speaking for Him and leading souls to Christ. If you were extroverted before you were saved but thereafter you became introverted and hardly speak with anyone, you are getting something wrong. One reason God saved you was because of your extroverted nature which He expects you to use for the increase of His Kingdom. Paul was an extrovert and worked for Satan but after his conversion, he worked much more for Jesus touring different countries for the Lord. Are you adequately engaging your temperaments?
KEY POINT:
Night crawlers and those who travel from place to place attending clubs and parties are potential instruments in God's Kingdom. Lead them to Christ.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
RELEVANT BY DILIGENCE
Memorise: We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:1-9
God loves hardworking people but hates the laziness. When He looks for people to give assignments, He often looks for hardworking people. If you see a lazy and nonchalant fellow occupying an ecclesiastical position, ask him how he got there because God has no business with lazy bones. Even when a person becomes mad, that state of insanity does not take away industry or hard work from the fellow. When you observe mad men, you will know those who were hardworking and those who were lazy, among them. The lazy ones will sit all day long or scavenge in one location for virtually the whole day, but the hardworking ones will go far distances - even travelling several kilometres on foot. Sometimes while travelling from one state to another, you will see some mad fellows moving from one state to the other all on their feet. Very hardworking mad fellows can easily receive the mercy of God. If you see them, pray for them and the Lord will deliver them.
Why did Jesus in Mark 5:1-20 come all the way to a graveyard in search of a mad fellow bypassing other people? It was because that mad man was a diligent follow and He knew that after his deliverance, he would use his energy and diligence to serve the Lord. Hence, Jesus delivered him and he became an evangelist, combing the whole country for Jesus. Similarly, if you are an extrovert, it is great. God wants you to use that extroverted nature to reach out to people, make friends, go from place to place speaking for Him and leading souls to Christ. If you were extroverted before you were saved but thereafter you became introverted and hardly speak with anyone, you are getting something wrong. One reason God saved you was because of your extroverted nature which He expects you to use for the increase of His Kingdom. Paul was an extrovert and worked for Satan but after his conversion, he worked much more for Jesus touring different countries for the Lord. Are you adequately engaging your temperaments?
KEY POINT:
Night crawlers and those who travel from place to place attending clubs and parties are potential instruments in God's Kingdom. Lead them to Christ.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
SAT. 26/05/2012 - PROVOKING WHAT CHANGE? - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Saturday 26 May
PROVOKING WHAT CHANGE?
Memorise: Behold therefore the goodness and seventy of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shall be cut off. Romans 11:22
Read: Isaiah 38:1-8
God moves in mysterious ways to perform His wonders. In performing such wonders, God can overrule anybody's decision, action or plan at any time. He can also overrule His own decisions but nobody can overrule God's. Overruling Himself reveals His two sides. In Isaiah 38:1-8, the Most High sent His prophet to King Hezekiah asking him to put his house in order because his time was up. But Hezekiah told God he was not ready to die yet. What did God do? The Lord sent His prophet back to tell him that he would no longer die but rather have an additional 15 years. On this side, God could allow His mercy prevail over your life to a point that He will bend the rules just to favour you. This season, the Lord will bend the rules in your favour in Jesus name.
On the other side, God could overrule His earlier promise due to certain circumstances. We see this in the story of Eli (1 Samuel 2:30) when God changed His initial plan concerning them. The Most High is a wonderful friend to keep when on your side, but a very dangerous enemy when not on your side. If He was once on your side but later becomes your enemy, you are in serious trouble. He is not someone you can cheat and go free. Ecclesiastes 8:11 says:
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Some people think God is too busy to keep records of everybody's activities. Oh how deceived they are Nobody can fool God. Some people only engage in eye service activities - things done in God's house merely to be noticed whereas the fellow is not sincere. Why many continue their nefarious activities is because God's judgement appears a bit slow. But if you think those who are secretly stealing from the church are getting away with it, you are deceived. What they are stealing in secret will soon expose them publicly. If you are secretly sinning, you can make God to reverse His promise and plan for your life.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, have mercy on me in any way I have disobeyed You. Please, never change Your original plan for my life.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
PROVOKING WHAT CHANGE?
Memorise: Behold therefore the goodness and seventy of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shall be cut off. Romans 11:22
Read: Isaiah 38:1-8
God moves in mysterious ways to perform His wonders. In performing such wonders, God can overrule anybody's decision, action or plan at any time. He can also overrule His own decisions but nobody can overrule God's. Overruling Himself reveals His two sides. In Isaiah 38:1-8, the Most High sent His prophet to King Hezekiah asking him to put his house in order because his time was up. But Hezekiah told God he was not ready to die yet. What did God do? The Lord sent His prophet back to tell him that he would no longer die but rather have an additional 15 years. On this side, God could allow His mercy prevail over your life to a point that He will bend the rules just to favour you. This season, the Lord will bend the rules in your favour in Jesus name.
On the other side, God could overrule His earlier promise due to certain circumstances. We see this in the story of Eli (1 Samuel 2:30) when God changed His initial plan concerning them. The Most High is a wonderful friend to keep when on your side, but a very dangerous enemy when not on your side. If He was once on your side but later becomes your enemy, you are in serious trouble. He is not someone you can cheat and go free. Ecclesiastes 8:11 says:
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Some people think God is too busy to keep records of everybody's activities. Oh how deceived they are Nobody can fool God. Some people only engage in eye service activities - things done in God's house merely to be noticed whereas the fellow is not sincere. Why many continue their nefarious activities is because God's judgement appears a bit slow. But if you think those who are secretly stealing from the church are getting away with it, you are deceived. What they are stealing in secret will soon expose them publicly. If you are secretly sinning, you can make God to reverse His promise and plan for your life.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, have mercy on me in any way I have disobeyed You. Please, never change Your original plan for my life.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Friday, May 25, 2012
FRI. 25/05/2012 - QUALIFYING FOR WISDOM - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Friday 25 May
QUALIFYING FOR WISDOM
Memorise: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Hebrews 12:16
Read: Genesis 39:7-13
It is on record that an excellent spirit was found in Daniel (Daniel 6:3). This is the Spirit of wisdom. He does not come cheap but is given only to those who deserve Him. Matthew 7:6 says holy things are not meant for dogs and precious things are not for sinners. Who can possibly receive the Spirit of wisdom? He is (or those who are pure and undefiled like Joseph. It is common to hear that a man is chasing a lady but in Joseph's case, it was the madam of the house that was after him. Some men wish they had the opportunity to sleep with the wife of their boss. If it does not come, they can spend hours fantasising on a possible occurrence. Joseph had all the chances of sleeping with his master's wife but he did not. She made all the promises you can think of but he knew his promotion was from God and not the woman. She sexually harassed him daily yet he refused to give in. One day, she set him up so that it was just the two of them at home. Then she grabbed him saying, "Whether you like it or not, you must sleep with me today", yet he wiggled out and took to his heels. Reason? He did not want to offend the One who holds his destiny. He did not want to mortgage his destiny for a few minutes of sinful pleasure (Genesis 39:7-23).
Today, many youths set themselves no limits. Like Esau, they do not mind "enjoying" the offer of free sex at the detriment of their destinies. Fornication and all forms of lust have robbed many youths of their bright future. It has emptied their future of its goodness, leaving them with chaff. Who will receive the Spirit of wisdom? It is men like Daniel who purposed in his heart not to defile himself with foods offered to idols (Daniel 1:8). Unfortunately, some so-called Christians look forward to the sacrificial rams slaughtered by Muslims when they know the truth that Jesus Christ is our sacrificial Lamb and so any other sacrifice is unnecessary and idolatrous. Are you pure and undefiled? Ask God 'or the Spirit of wisdom today.
KEY POINT:
Many youths who expect a bright future have nothing awaiting them but emptiness. The future lost to fornication can only be recovered through Jesus Christ.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
QUALIFYING FOR WISDOM
Memorise: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Hebrews 12:16
Read: Genesis 39:7-13
It is on record that an excellent spirit was found in Daniel (Daniel 6:3). This is the Spirit of wisdom. He does not come cheap but is given only to those who deserve Him. Matthew 7:6 says holy things are not meant for dogs and precious things are not for sinners. Who can possibly receive the Spirit of wisdom? He is (or those who are pure and undefiled like Joseph. It is common to hear that a man is chasing a lady but in Joseph's case, it was the madam of the house that was after him. Some men wish they had the opportunity to sleep with the wife of their boss. If it does not come, they can spend hours fantasising on a possible occurrence. Joseph had all the chances of sleeping with his master's wife but he did not. She made all the promises you can think of but he knew his promotion was from God and not the woman. She sexually harassed him daily yet he refused to give in. One day, she set him up so that it was just the two of them at home. Then she grabbed him saying, "Whether you like it or not, you must sleep with me today", yet he wiggled out and took to his heels. Reason? He did not want to offend the One who holds his destiny. He did not want to mortgage his destiny for a few minutes of sinful pleasure (Genesis 39:7-23).
Today, many youths set themselves no limits. Like Esau, they do not mind "enjoying" the offer of free sex at the detriment of their destinies. Fornication and all forms of lust have robbed many youths of their bright future. It has emptied their future of its goodness, leaving them with chaff. Who will receive the Spirit of wisdom? It is men like Daniel who purposed in his heart not to defile himself with foods offered to idols (Daniel 1:8). Unfortunately, some so-called Christians look forward to the sacrificial rams slaughtered by Muslims when they know the truth that Jesus Christ is our sacrificial Lamb and so any other sacrifice is unnecessary and idolatrous. Are you pure and undefiled? Ask God 'or the Spirit of wisdom today.
KEY POINT:
Many youths who expect a bright future have nothing awaiting them but emptiness. The future lost to fornication can only be recovered through Jesus Christ.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
THU. 24/05/2012 - FORGIVENESS NOT NEGOTIABLE - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Thursday 24 May
FORGIVENESS NOT NEGOTIABLE
Memorise: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15
Read: Matthew 6:12-15
It is difficult to avoid friction in any society. An African proverb says: The one who says, don't touch me, will not go to the market, and the one who says, Don't spill water on me, will not go to fetch water from the local river. As long as you interact with people, misunderstanding is bound to come. No reasonable person will be angry without a cause. It is friction that generates hurt, pain, bitterness and un-forgiveness. When the one you trust disappoints you, it hurts. When people speak evil or lie against you, you will feel pain. As long as you live in a community, somebody must step on your toes. The truth is, offences must come but the problem here is how do you handle them when they occur? For instance, if you are upset by somebody and you allow bitter thoughts, anger, or un-forgiveness, it will affect your heart. If you don't handle such negative feelings properly, they will affect your relationship with God to an extent that God wilI no more answer your prayers.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalms 66:18
But you may ask: Why will God not answer my prayers when I was the one offended? It's because God is keenly interested in your relationship with your fellow man hence He says in Hebrew 12:14:
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Jesus further says that if you refuse to forgive your fellow man, your Father in Heaven will also retain your sins against you from that moment. As seen in the memory verse, if you allow bitterness inside you, it will not only trouble you, it will also defile you. In addition, in Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus says if there is a problem in your relationship with your brother, whatever you offer to God will be rejected except you first reconcile with the fellow. You forgive your offenders not because you like to but because you have to; not for their sake but for your sake; not necessarily for their good but for your own good; not because you desire it but because God commands it and obeying God in that aspect will be counted to you as an act of righteousness.
ACTION POINT:
Take some time out and list all the people who have offended you. Go to meet them one by one and say to them: Brother, what you did to me really hurt me. I didn't want to forgive you, but because I love myself so much, I have no choice but to forgive and release you.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
FORGIVENESS NOT NEGOTIABLE
Memorise: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15
Read: Matthew 6:12-15
It is difficult to avoid friction in any society. An African proverb says: The one who says, don't touch me, will not go to the market, and the one who says, Don't spill water on me, will not go to fetch water from the local river. As long as you interact with people, misunderstanding is bound to come. No reasonable person will be angry without a cause. It is friction that generates hurt, pain, bitterness and un-forgiveness. When the one you trust disappoints you, it hurts. When people speak evil or lie against you, you will feel pain. As long as you live in a community, somebody must step on your toes. The truth is, offences must come but the problem here is how do you handle them when they occur? For instance, if you are upset by somebody and you allow bitter thoughts, anger, or un-forgiveness, it will affect your heart. If you don't handle such negative feelings properly, they will affect your relationship with God to an extent that God wilI no more answer your prayers.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalms 66:18
But you may ask: Why will God not answer my prayers when I was the one offended? It's because God is keenly interested in your relationship with your fellow man hence He says in Hebrew 12:14:
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Jesus further says that if you refuse to forgive your fellow man, your Father in Heaven will also retain your sins against you from that moment. As seen in the memory verse, if you allow bitterness inside you, it will not only trouble you, it will also defile you. In addition, in Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus says if there is a problem in your relationship with your brother, whatever you offer to God will be rejected except you first reconcile with the fellow. You forgive your offenders not because you like to but because you have to; not for their sake but for your sake; not necessarily for their good but for your own good; not because you desire it but because God commands it and obeying God in that aspect will be counted to you as an act of righteousness.
ACTION POINT:
Take some time out and list all the people who have offended you. Go to meet them one by one and say to them: Brother, what you did to me really hurt me. I didn't want to forgive you, but because I love myself so much, I have no choice but to forgive and release you.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
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RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
WED. 23/05/2012 - PUTTING GOD ON THE RUN? - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Wednesday 23 May
PUTTING GOD ON THE RUN?
Memorise: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalms 37:4
Read: Psalms 37:3-7
When the lame man at the Beautiful gate saw Peter and John, he expected to get some money but he got what money could not buy - healing. This tells us that sometimes, God may not exactly give us our requests based on our limited expectations. Being the good God that He is, even when we are looking for fish, He wants to make us fishers of men. When we are looking for healing of a particular ailment, God wants to turn us into His healing agents in addition to giving us good health. When the erstwhile tame man was healed, he did not go back to beg for bread. He could now walk with his legs and seek for a decent job. He could now fend for himself. Do you know that many times we focus on our wants while God focuses on our needs? While you focus on today, the Lord is focusing on your tomorrow. While we are looking for a beautiful lady that we can present to people as wife today, the Lord is looking for an incomparable heart that will jointly make Heaven with us. May the Lord cause you to see your needs and not wants.
Expectation releases the power to patiently wait on the Lord until He grants our desire. If you have no expectation, you can barely wait for anything. David knew how to wait on the Lord and this was one reason he remained in God's good books but his predecessor could barely wait. When he felt God was not keeping to time, he went ahead to do what he wanted and used that delay to justify his action. No wonder he was quickly rejected by God. For some believers everything must be now. Like Saul, they cannot wait even for few minutes. If God would bring their blessing to church at 12.05 but the church closes at 12 noon, they would prefer to forfeit their blessing and leave at 12 noon. When the programme is going on, they are always so impatient, checking the time every now and then. When they reach their set closing time, they rise up and leave church even while the sermon is still on. It is good to keep to time but do not be so time conscious that you plan God out of your service. God is at liberty to fix when to bless His own but if you are hasty, you will miss out.
KEY POINT:
Impatient people want the world to revolve around them at their pace but at the end they have nothing to show for their haste.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
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Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
PUTTING GOD ON THE RUN?
Memorise: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalms 37:4
Read: Psalms 37:3-7
When the lame man at the Beautiful gate saw Peter and John, he expected to get some money but he got what money could not buy - healing. This tells us that sometimes, God may not exactly give us our requests based on our limited expectations. Being the good God that He is, even when we are looking for fish, He wants to make us fishers of men. When we are looking for healing of a particular ailment, God wants to turn us into His healing agents in addition to giving us good health. When the erstwhile tame man was healed, he did not go back to beg for bread. He could now walk with his legs and seek for a decent job. He could now fend for himself. Do you know that many times we focus on our wants while God focuses on our needs? While you focus on today, the Lord is focusing on your tomorrow. While we are looking for a beautiful lady that we can present to people as wife today, the Lord is looking for an incomparable heart that will jointly make Heaven with us. May the Lord cause you to see your needs and not wants.
Expectation releases the power to patiently wait on the Lord until He grants our desire. If you have no expectation, you can barely wait for anything. David knew how to wait on the Lord and this was one reason he remained in God's good books but his predecessor could barely wait. When he felt God was not keeping to time, he went ahead to do what he wanted and used that delay to justify his action. No wonder he was quickly rejected by God. For some believers everything must be now. Like Saul, they cannot wait even for few minutes. If God would bring their blessing to church at 12.05 but the church closes at 12 noon, they would prefer to forfeit their blessing and leave at 12 noon. When the programme is going on, they are always so impatient, checking the time every now and then. When they reach their set closing time, they rise up and leave church even while the sermon is still on. It is good to keep to time but do not be so time conscious that you plan God out of your service. God is at liberty to fix when to bless His own but if you are hasty, you will miss out.
KEY POINT:
Impatient people want the world to revolve around them at their pace but at the end they have nothing to show for their haste.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
TUE. 22/05/2012 - GOD IS SEARCHING - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Tuesday 22 May
GOD IS SEARCHING
Memorise: Wherefore, Moved, seeing that ye took for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Peter 3:14
Read: 1 Kings 19:19-21
Lazy people love to sleep. Proverbs 19:15 says slothfulness casts the slothful into deep sleep. As good as sleep is, it is bad to sleep when you should be working. If you find yourself given to much sleep, watch it, slothfulness might be creeping into your life. The slothful can sleep at any given time. God hates laziness with a passion. If you are lazy, you will not be in God's good books. You will not enjoy God's favour if you are lazy. In spite of the volume of work available in the Kingdom, God has no assignment for the lazy unless they first deliver themselves from laziness. God shops around for the hardworking. In today's reading, God saw Elisha very busy in his farm and told Elijah to call him and God was not disappointed.
Are you a hardworking teacher? God has a place for you. Are you a goal-getting industrialist? God is looking for you. Are you a very conscientious trader, labourer or cleaner? God has a place for you. God is looking for the hardworking. If you are a hardworking fellow, you are a bit like God because God is very hardworking. He achieved so much in six days before He took a rest on the seventh (Genesis 1 & 2). If you are an achiever, a creative person or someone who can stay up at night to work, God has a place for you. If you have not received Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Saviour, do so today because no matter how hardworking you are, if there is sin in your life, it will disqualify you from being used of God. How hardworking are you? Laziness is the bane of the Christian faith today. But as we step into the thresholds of the last days, God is searching for those who will turn the world upside down, who will conquer cities for Christ, and those who will be prepared to pay any price just to please God. How do you handle the assignment given to you in God's house? Do you face it with the spirit of perfection or with nonchalance?
KEY POINT:
The greatest threats to effective evangelisation of the world today are fear and laziness. If you cannot conqueror these two enemies, you are going nowhere.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
GOD IS SEARCHING
Memorise: Wherefore, Moved, seeing that ye took for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Peter 3:14
Read: 1 Kings 19:19-21
Lazy people love to sleep. Proverbs 19:15 says slothfulness casts the slothful into deep sleep. As good as sleep is, it is bad to sleep when you should be working. If you find yourself given to much sleep, watch it, slothfulness might be creeping into your life. The slothful can sleep at any given time. God hates laziness with a passion. If you are lazy, you will not be in God's good books. You will not enjoy God's favour if you are lazy. In spite of the volume of work available in the Kingdom, God has no assignment for the lazy unless they first deliver themselves from laziness. God shops around for the hardworking. In today's reading, God saw Elisha very busy in his farm and told Elijah to call him and God was not disappointed.
Are you a hardworking teacher? God has a place for you. Are you a goal-getting industrialist? God is looking for you. Are you a very conscientious trader, labourer or cleaner? God has a place for you. God is looking for the hardworking. If you are a hardworking fellow, you are a bit like God because God is very hardworking. He achieved so much in six days before He took a rest on the seventh (Genesis 1 & 2). If you are an achiever, a creative person or someone who can stay up at night to work, God has a place for you. If you have not received Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Saviour, do so today because no matter how hardworking you are, if there is sin in your life, it will disqualify you from being used of God. How hardworking are you? Laziness is the bane of the Christian faith today. But as we step into the thresholds of the last days, God is searching for those who will turn the world upside down, who will conquer cities for Christ, and those who will be prepared to pay any price just to please God. How do you handle the assignment given to you in God's house? Do you face it with the spirit of perfection or with nonchalance?
KEY POINT:
The greatest threats to effective evangelisation of the world today are fear and laziness. If you cannot conqueror these two enemies, you are going nowhere.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Monday, May 21, 2012
MON. 21/05/2012 - SERVE GOD ALONE - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Monday 21 May
SERVE GOD ALONE
Memorise: No man con serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
Read: Matthew 6:22-24
God demands full commitment from all His children. If you say you are born again, then never stand in God's way. Some years ago,! was invited by the Anglican Church to preach on any topic I was led to speak on. I decided to speak on salvation, sanctification and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. One of the members carne and asked: "If the wind wants to blow and somebody is blocking it, what will happen?" I replied, "Whoever is blocking the way will be uprooted^'. Our God is sitting in Heaven- and saying to you, ''this is the deal". Agree with Him and receive the benefit or reject the offer and be prepared for destruction. Psalms 33:8-11 says the whole world should fear Him because whatever He says stands.
In the Kingdom, there is no room for partial commitment. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus says it is impossible to serve two masters. Are you outwardly asking God for something but secretly trying other fetish powers? Repent and come out of such because God cannot be mocked. If God were to grant that request, you would go and give thanks to the devil. God does not share His glory with anyone. What got Ananias and Sapphira into trouble was because they wanted to serve God half -heartedly (Acts 5:1-11). Even the Israelites were told in the wilderness to either go and possess the land or die in the wilderness (Numbers 14:20-32). The strength of the Roman Empire could be traced to their level of commitment. If while at the battle front any soldier displayed any sign of weakness, such a soldier was instantly killed by fellow soldiers. As a result, they conquered every nation they went to. What is your level of commitment to the King of kings? Are you one leg in, one leg out? Is your commitment dependent on how committed others are? To what extent have you obeyed the Lord's commands? Is your spouse, child, parent, work or school making you decrease your commitment to God? Ask the Lord to help you. Beef up your commitment today. Put back the firewood you took off the altar of sacrifice and consecrate yourself afresh to the Lord and to H is work.
KEY POINT:
The one who is partially committed to God remains on a spot as long as the commitment is partial.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
SERVE GOD ALONE
Memorise: No man con serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
Read: Matthew 6:22-24
God demands full commitment from all His children. If you say you are born again, then never stand in God's way. Some years ago,! was invited by the Anglican Church to preach on any topic I was led to speak on. I decided to speak on salvation, sanctification and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. One of the members carne and asked: "If the wind wants to blow and somebody is blocking it, what will happen?" I replied, "Whoever is blocking the way will be uprooted^'. Our God is sitting in Heaven- and saying to you, ''this is the deal". Agree with Him and receive the benefit or reject the offer and be prepared for destruction. Psalms 33:8-11 says the whole world should fear Him because whatever He says stands.
In the Kingdom, there is no room for partial commitment. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus says it is impossible to serve two masters. Are you outwardly asking God for something but secretly trying other fetish powers? Repent and come out of such because God cannot be mocked. If God were to grant that request, you would go and give thanks to the devil. God does not share His glory with anyone. What got Ananias and Sapphira into trouble was because they wanted to serve God half -heartedly (Acts 5:1-11). Even the Israelites were told in the wilderness to either go and possess the land or die in the wilderness (Numbers 14:20-32). The strength of the Roman Empire could be traced to their level of commitment. If while at the battle front any soldier displayed any sign of weakness, such a soldier was instantly killed by fellow soldiers. As a result, they conquered every nation they went to. What is your level of commitment to the King of kings? Are you one leg in, one leg out? Is your commitment dependent on how committed others are? To what extent have you obeyed the Lord's commands? Is your spouse, child, parent, work or school making you decrease your commitment to God? Ask the Lord to help you. Beef up your commitment today. Put back the firewood you took off the altar of sacrifice and consecrate yourself afresh to the Lord and to H is work.
KEY POINT:
The one who is partially committed to God remains on a spot as long as the commitment is partial.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
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