Tuesday 31 July
ANY DIVIDEND OF MENTORING?
Memorise: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
After Elijah's rapture to Heaven, Elisha moved on to the next phase of his life. Anyone who lives in the past will definitely experience a bleak future. One way I to recognize those living in their past is that they will not have fresh testimonies. If all you can do is testify of how God used you to win several souls some years ago, or how you were used in the area of healing in time past, you are still in your past. If you have nothing to show today as an evidence of your present walk with God, you are becoming history. Move forward today!
When Elisha got to the River Jordan, he smote the waters with his mantle like his father Elijah did (2 Kings 2:14), from this we see that anyone who will be great must have someone he follows-a mentor. Mentoring is not only relevant in business but also in ministry. God has provided in the Christian faith for His children to be mentored by the leaders He has given to them, so that they can know what their leaders know and even be greater than them. Elijah was great but his protégée Elisha was greater. Moses was great but could not take God's children into the land of promise but his protégée Joshua did. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul said:
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
A good mentor would always follow Christ and at the same time bring up his or her protégées to follow Christ by a lifestyle that mirrors Christ. Do you have a mentor? Do you have a pastor you can virtually pattern your life after? However, in every mentor-protégée relationship, there is always a limit. From the words of Paul, the student (learner) must stop copying his mentor (teacher) at any point the latter stops following the Lord. Today, there are some leaders who started on a good slate but they have gone into error. Anyone following such a leader will go deeper into the error of his or her mentor. Are there still Christian apprentices? Too many people want to become their own boss - start up a church or becoming the General Overseer of a church without necessarily undergoing tutelage. No wonder they bring shame and disgrace to the name of the Lord all too often. But if you follow a bona fide spiritual head and humble yourself to study, observe, ask questions, carry out practical, and be properly taught under him, you will be better prepared for the assignment God has for you.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, open my eyes to see the mentor you have given me and grant me the grace to faithfully follow Him.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
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RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
MON. 30/07/2012 - PRESUMPTUOUS? - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Monday 30 July
PRESUMPTUOUS?
Memorise: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:23
Read: Deuteronomy 1:42-44
God promised in Proverbs 23:18 that the expectations of the righteous shall be met, but many expectations are not granted today and people are wondering why. Why do expectations of believers fail? Expectations based on presumption will most likely fail. In other words, what you base your expectations on will determine whether it will be granted or not. When expectations are based on assumptions, disappointment is inevitable. Great expectations are founded on God's promises which are forever settled in Heaven. Deuteronomy 1:42-44 documents an account by Moses, where he warned the Israelites not to go and fight the Amorites because God was not with them. They paid deaf ears to his warning and went into the battle and got the disgrace of their lives. God has a strategy for every battle. There are some battles He will want you to fight, some He will want you to ignore and others He will fight Himself. Never fight any battle when God is not on your side. It is presumptuous to assume that because God gave you victory yesterday when you were in obedience, God will give you victory now that you are in disobedience; you will ho disappointed!
When God says don't go, you have no business going except you want to go and make a fool of yourself; that is if you even live to tell the story. Those Israelites assumed that since they had all the soldiers, war know-how backed up by their zeal, they can still manage to win the battle, but they lost out to a nation which normally would not be able to face them. Any expectation based on assumption is nothing but foolishness. When God disapproves of you doing something, it means He will not back you up. If you go ahead, you are on your own. Never blame God for what you suffer thereafter. Many people are entering marriages God told them not to. "By the time they start facing the music of their self guidance, they call on God but He may choose not to attend to them. Presuming that a particular business will give you lots of profit because it is doing so for others, without God's permission or direction may lead to disappointment. Are you entering ministry or starting a church based on presumption? You will be disappointed! God back to the Lord today!
KEY POINT:
God is not committed to what He has not commanded.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
PRESUMPTUOUS?
Memorise: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:23
Read: Deuteronomy 1:42-44
God promised in Proverbs 23:18 that the expectations of the righteous shall be met, but many expectations are not granted today and people are wondering why. Why do expectations of believers fail? Expectations based on presumption will most likely fail. In other words, what you base your expectations on will determine whether it will be granted or not. When expectations are based on assumptions, disappointment is inevitable. Great expectations are founded on God's promises which are forever settled in Heaven. Deuteronomy 1:42-44 documents an account by Moses, where he warned the Israelites not to go and fight the Amorites because God was not with them. They paid deaf ears to his warning and went into the battle and got the disgrace of their lives. God has a strategy for every battle. There are some battles He will want you to fight, some He will want you to ignore and others He will fight Himself. Never fight any battle when God is not on your side. It is presumptuous to assume that because God gave you victory yesterday when you were in obedience, God will give you victory now that you are in disobedience; you will ho disappointed!
When God says don't go, you have no business going except you want to go and make a fool of yourself; that is if you even live to tell the story. Those Israelites assumed that since they had all the soldiers, war know-how backed up by their zeal, they can still manage to win the battle, but they lost out to a nation which normally would not be able to face them. Any expectation based on assumption is nothing but foolishness. When God disapproves of you doing something, it means He will not back you up. If you go ahead, you are on your own. Never blame God for what you suffer thereafter. Many people are entering marriages God told them not to. "By the time they start facing the music of their self guidance, they call on God but He may choose not to attend to them. Presuming that a particular business will give you lots of profit because it is doing so for others, without God's permission or direction may lead to disappointment. Are you entering ministry or starting a church based on presumption? You will be disappointed! God back to the Lord today!
KEY POINT:
God is not committed to what He has not commanded.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
SUN. 29/07/2012 - AVOID THIS TRAP! - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Sunday 29 July
AVOID THIS TRAP!
Memorise: A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. Proverbs 29:5
Read: 1 Samuel 18:6-11
David had victory over challenges he faced. His problems started not long after God gave him victory over Goliath; some devil-inspired and highly immodest women began losing his praise
…Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 1 Samuel 18:7
Immediately King Saul heard the song, he was very angry and began to see David as a threat. He saw him as someone who was out to take over his throne from him; no wonder he fought this young boy with all the military might of Israel! Bui how was their relationship before then?
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his at armourbearer. 1 Samuel 16:21
King Saul had a mental challenge and David was brought to play the harp to get him relieved When he first saw this boy, it was love at first sight. The Bible says he loved David greatly to the extent that he specifically asked Jesse his father to allow him stay in the palace. He even put him over the soldiers (1 Samuel 18:5). Even when David offered to go and fight Goliath, King Saul tried to prevent him. However, after hearing David's testimonies and seeing his faith in the God of Israel, he reluctantly released him, transferring his personal armour to him and praying for him (1 Samuel 17:31-38).
After David defeated Goliath, what should have given David a higher leverage in favour before his boss was suddenly reversed to disfavour because of unguided praise singers. It was not David's fault but when he heard the song exalting his achievements above the king's, he could have asked the ladies to stop that song, but he didn't I don't think he enjoyed the persecution that followed. Beware of praise singing and praise singers! One thing that is causing supposed good leaders to miss the mark is the sycophants that surround them. Beware of those who come to you to say that you are the best thing that ever happened to the church, community or organisation. Many of them have hidden agendas. If you are easily carried away by such flattering lips, you will fall into their net and regret it for a long time to come. Surround yourself with those who can tell you the truth and correct or check your excesses They may appear unfriendly but at the end of the day, they may be the only true friends you have.
ACTION POINT:
Pray that every tongue that will sing your praise to /our detriment will shut up in Jesus name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
AVOID THIS TRAP!
Memorise: A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. Proverbs 29:5
Read: 1 Samuel 18:6-11
David had victory over challenges he faced. His problems started not long after God gave him victory over Goliath; some devil-inspired and highly immodest women began losing his praise
…Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 1 Samuel 18:7
Immediately King Saul heard the song, he was very angry and began to see David as a threat. He saw him as someone who was out to take over his throne from him; no wonder he fought this young boy with all the military might of Israel! Bui how was their relationship before then?
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his at armourbearer. 1 Samuel 16:21
King Saul had a mental challenge and David was brought to play the harp to get him relieved When he first saw this boy, it was love at first sight. The Bible says he loved David greatly to the extent that he specifically asked Jesse his father to allow him stay in the palace. He even put him over the soldiers (1 Samuel 18:5). Even when David offered to go and fight Goliath, King Saul tried to prevent him. However, after hearing David's testimonies and seeing his faith in the God of Israel, he reluctantly released him, transferring his personal armour to him and praying for him (1 Samuel 17:31-38).
After David defeated Goliath, what should have given David a higher leverage in favour before his boss was suddenly reversed to disfavour because of unguided praise singers. It was not David's fault but when he heard the song exalting his achievements above the king's, he could have asked the ladies to stop that song, but he didn't I don't think he enjoyed the persecution that followed. Beware of praise singing and praise singers! One thing that is causing supposed good leaders to miss the mark is the sycophants that surround them. Beware of those who come to you to say that you are the best thing that ever happened to the church, community or organisation. Many of them have hidden agendas. If you are easily carried away by such flattering lips, you will fall into their net and regret it for a long time to come. Surround yourself with those who can tell you the truth and correct or check your excesses They may appear unfriendly but at the end of the day, they may be the only true friends you have.
ACTION POINT:
Pray that every tongue that will sing your praise to /our detriment will shut up in Jesus name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
SAT. 28/07/2012 - MASTER YOUR DESIRES - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Saturday 28 July
MASTER YOUR DESIRES
Memorise: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12
Read: 1 Corinthians 6:11-13
If God has blessed you with wealth and riches, be extremely cautious so that your prosperity does not become your undoing. Solomon was so blessed that because he could afford most things that came his way, he went on an acquisition spree. He bought everything money could buy and acquired all that his eyes liked. He found himself in a pit of self-indulgence. In Ecclesiastes 2:10, he said:
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I with held not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
He had lost control! His money was now pushing him in every direction. Has God blessed you? Praise God! But never let it get to the point where you are no longer led by the Spirit but by the spirit of mammon. You should remain in control of what you have and not the other way. To this end Raul says:
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12
You don't have to buy something just because you can afford it. There are many things you can buy off the shelf but you don't because you do not need them. Abundance can kill and power without control corrupts. To distinguish themselves according to their class, rich men eat certain processed foods which at the end of the day give them special illnesses which the poor do not have. Many people like power but they fail to realise that it is a two-edged sword. Keep your power under lock and key! Deliberately refrain from over indulging yourself. If a water bed will takeaway your prayer life, don't buy it or if you have bought it, give it out. If television programmes will continue to tempt you, avoid the box. If a particular type of car or house will make you to become proud, do something about it. Never allow what was meant to serve you become your lord.
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, help me to put my desires under the control of your Spirit in me. Thank you for past conventions of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I pray that this year's Convention will witness God's special visitation, power and harvest of souls as never experienced.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
MASTER YOUR DESIRES
Memorise: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12
Read: 1 Corinthians 6:11-13
If God has blessed you with wealth and riches, be extremely cautious so that your prosperity does not become your undoing. Solomon was so blessed that because he could afford most things that came his way, he went on an acquisition spree. He bought everything money could buy and acquired all that his eyes liked. He found himself in a pit of self-indulgence. In Ecclesiastes 2:10, he said:
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I with held not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
He had lost control! His money was now pushing him in every direction. Has God blessed you? Praise God! But never let it get to the point where you are no longer led by the Spirit but by the spirit of mammon. You should remain in control of what you have and not the other way. To this end Raul says:
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12
You don't have to buy something just because you can afford it. There are many things you can buy off the shelf but you don't because you do not need them. Abundance can kill and power without control corrupts. To distinguish themselves according to their class, rich men eat certain processed foods which at the end of the day give them special illnesses which the poor do not have. Many people like power but they fail to realise that it is a two-edged sword. Keep your power under lock and key! Deliberately refrain from over indulging yourself. If a water bed will takeaway your prayer life, don't buy it or if you have bought it, give it out. If television programmes will continue to tempt you, avoid the box. If a particular type of car or house will make you to become proud, do something about it. Never allow what was meant to serve you become your lord.
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, help me to put my desires under the control of your Spirit in me. Thank you for past conventions of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I pray that this year's Convention will witness God's special visitation, power and harvest of souls as never experienced.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Friday, July 27, 2012
FRI. 27/07/2012 - WHICH ISRAEL IS IT? - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Friday 27 July
WHICH ISRAEL IS IT?
Memorise: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly: neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh; Romans 2:28
Read: Romans 2:25-29
When it's all been said and done, good will always have victory over evil, in Revelation 3:9, the Lord made a promise to the church in Philadelphia
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
This is a powerful promise but appears somewhat controversial. How can you tell the Jew that they are not regarded as Jews before God? Earlier, God specially chose to reveal Himself to the world through the children of Israel. This started right from the Old Testament. Even when Jesus came, He said He was not sent to the Gentiles but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, hence He sent His disciples only to them (Matthew 10:5-6). But when they took for granted that they were Jews and children of Abraham and thought they could do whatever they liked, John the Baptist told them that God could replace them with children from stones (Luke 3:8). But they did not believe. At some point, when the Lord was done with reaching out to them, He left them desolate (Matthew23:37-39).
Afterward the Lord created another entity which is His body, the Church of believers, comprised of believing Jews and Gentiles. These are the "Spiritual Jews” or [he "Israel of God". In this group there is no discrimination (Galatians 3:28-29; 6:15-16). All God's dealings according to His covenant with Abraham are now realised through being a spiritual Israelites. All the promises of God to Abraham are now also appropriated through this body of believers. They are the bride of Jesus Christ, in Revelation 3:9, God promised that the enemies of His church will bow own and worship before the spiritual Jews. The physical Jews expect Isaiah 49; 23 to be fulfilled but they have failed to realise that a change has occurred. These promises have now been transferred to the Church. Any physical Jew who fails to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour will together with other unbelievers bow to us Christians someday. Those who are persecuting the church today, will one day bow to us. Are you a part of the true Israel of God? If you are, do everything possible to keep it so.
KEY POINT:
To be relevant in God's end time plan, everyone, including natural Jews, Need to become a part of the Church - the spiritual Jews.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
WHICH ISRAEL IS IT?
Memorise: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly: neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh; Romans 2:28
Read: Romans 2:25-29
When it's all been said and done, good will always have victory over evil, in Revelation 3:9, the Lord made a promise to the church in Philadelphia
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
This is a powerful promise but appears somewhat controversial. How can you tell the Jew that they are not regarded as Jews before God? Earlier, God specially chose to reveal Himself to the world through the children of Israel. This started right from the Old Testament. Even when Jesus came, He said He was not sent to the Gentiles but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, hence He sent His disciples only to them (Matthew 10:5-6). But when they took for granted that they were Jews and children of Abraham and thought they could do whatever they liked, John the Baptist told them that God could replace them with children from stones (Luke 3:8). But they did not believe. At some point, when the Lord was done with reaching out to them, He left them desolate (Matthew23:37-39).
Afterward the Lord created another entity which is His body, the Church of believers, comprised of believing Jews and Gentiles. These are the "Spiritual Jews” or [he "Israel of God". In this group there is no discrimination (Galatians 3:28-29; 6:15-16). All God's dealings according to His covenant with Abraham are now realised through being a spiritual Israelites. All the promises of God to Abraham are now also appropriated through this body of believers. They are the bride of Jesus Christ, in Revelation 3:9, God promised that the enemies of His church will bow own and worship before the spiritual Jews. The physical Jews expect Isaiah 49; 23 to be fulfilled but they have failed to realise that a change has occurred. These promises have now been transferred to the Church. Any physical Jew who fails to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour will together with other unbelievers bow to us Christians someday. Those who are persecuting the church today, will one day bow to us. Are you a part of the true Israel of God? If you are, do everything possible to keep it so.
KEY POINT:
To be relevant in God's end time plan, everyone, including natural Jews, Need to become a part of the Church - the spiritual Jews.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
THU. 26/07/2012 - LUST OR LOVE? - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Thursday, 26th July
LUST OR LOVE?
Memorise: But God commandeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Read: Romans 5:7-8
A discuss on love would normally focus on a minimum of two people – the lover and the loved. The lover is the subject while the loved is the object. In a true love situation, the subject seeks the welfare of the loved, whether the object deserves it or not. Romans 5:7-8 says Jesus Christ died for us at a point no one else could have. While we were separated from Him as sinners with enmity between us, He died for us. How many of you can die for your enemies? If anything, most people would want their enemies dead this minute. What love can be greater than that of Jesus Christ? Most times, we misunderstand the word “love”. A man telling a lady, “I love you”, might really mean “I am lusting after you”. This is a counterfeit of God’s love. Lust is selfish, self-centered and seeks to exploit the object. Lust is dirty and does not care how it satisfies its ungodly desire, hence you find men raping ladies or being involved in incestuous sex, same sex intercourse or bestial sex. The one in lust is seeking for somebody to use. To him, the object of lust is only an object-just like any too or machinery used for work.
When a subject is lusting after an object, he will show a lot of interest, shower gifts and feign care for the object. The man will do anything to convince the lady he loves her. But as soon as he gets what he wants, the object will mean nothing to him. In some cases, after the man has succeeded in sleeping with the lady, the so called love turns into extreme hatred (2 Samuel 13:1-15). Just as it is in human relationships, so it is in our relationship with God. Many people who claim to love God do not love Him but are only desirous of what they can get from Him, He has become an object they can use to get what they want (John 6:25-27). Do you love God? Why do you love God? Examine yourself to see that your love is not really lust?
KEY POINT:
Are you seeking for God or His works?
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
LUST OR LOVE?
Memorise: But God commandeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Read: Romans 5:7-8
A discuss on love would normally focus on a minimum of two people – the lover and the loved. The lover is the subject while the loved is the object. In a true love situation, the subject seeks the welfare of the loved, whether the object deserves it or not. Romans 5:7-8 says Jesus Christ died for us at a point no one else could have. While we were separated from Him as sinners with enmity between us, He died for us. How many of you can die for your enemies? If anything, most people would want their enemies dead this minute. What love can be greater than that of Jesus Christ? Most times, we misunderstand the word “love”. A man telling a lady, “I love you”, might really mean “I am lusting after you”. This is a counterfeit of God’s love. Lust is selfish, self-centered and seeks to exploit the object. Lust is dirty and does not care how it satisfies its ungodly desire, hence you find men raping ladies or being involved in incestuous sex, same sex intercourse or bestial sex. The one in lust is seeking for somebody to use. To him, the object of lust is only an object-just like any too or machinery used for work.
When a subject is lusting after an object, he will show a lot of interest, shower gifts and feign care for the object. The man will do anything to convince the lady he loves her. But as soon as he gets what he wants, the object will mean nothing to him. In some cases, after the man has succeeded in sleeping with the lady, the so called love turns into extreme hatred (2 Samuel 13:1-15). Just as it is in human relationships, so it is in our relationship with God. Many people who claim to love God do not love Him but are only desirous of what they can get from Him, He has become an object they can use to get what they want (John 6:25-27). Do you love God? Why do you love God? Examine yourself to see that your love is not really lust?
KEY POINT:
Are you seeking for God or His works?
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
WED. 25/07/2012 - VALUE GIVER - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Wednesday 25 July
VALUE GIVER
Memorise: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in oil things he might have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18
Read: Colossians 1:15-18
If we study the lives of those who in Bible times carried the glory of God, we will understand their secrets. We can partake of the same glory by using these secrets. However, it must be stated here that the glory the Lord made available to New Testament saints by His blood far surpasses the entire glory of the Old Testament as the Old was only a shadow of and a fore runner of the New. Yet many of us are yet to manifest the glory of the Old Testament, how much more the New Testament. May you partake of this latter House glory in Jesus name.
An outstanding carrier of His glory under the Old Covenant was Moses. But how did it all begin? Exodus 3:1-6 says it all started with a personal encounter with the Lord. For every true carrier of God's glory, there must be a day in his or her life that the fellow personally encountered the Lord. This is more than your parents dedicating you to the Lord while you were still a babe, ft is beyond a family or community decision. Personal conversion to Christ is sacrosanct and foundational to partaking in God's glory. Some years ago, a particular "man of God" rose with predictions for each year. He became quite popular. One day, he was interviewed by the press on how he started up till his point of fame. While perusing his comments, it was observed that there was no mention of a day in his life in which he gave his life to Christ. He claimed to have had certain gifts right from the womb which brought him to his current level. Going by God's Word, he has not started. There are yet many people who are presiding over churches today and preach salvation messages because it is in vogue, but have never received Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour. They have not started. In God's Kingdom, you cannot skip a very foundational experience like salvation and think you can be relevant. All you will do will be without record and without reward. Do all the good in this world and all you get for each is a zero. Jesus is the only One that can add value to any life. Receive Him today!
KEY POINT:
John 1:9 says Jesus gives light to all who comes into the world. Anyone who has not received Him will spend his or her years in darkness.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
VALUE GIVER
Memorise: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in oil things he might have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18
Read: Colossians 1:15-18
If we study the lives of those who in Bible times carried the glory of God, we will understand their secrets. We can partake of the same glory by using these secrets. However, it must be stated here that the glory the Lord made available to New Testament saints by His blood far surpasses the entire glory of the Old Testament as the Old was only a shadow of and a fore runner of the New. Yet many of us are yet to manifest the glory of the Old Testament, how much more the New Testament. May you partake of this latter House glory in Jesus name.
An outstanding carrier of His glory under the Old Covenant was Moses. But how did it all begin? Exodus 3:1-6 says it all started with a personal encounter with the Lord. For every true carrier of God's glory, there must be a day in his or her life that the fellow personally encountered the Lord. This is more than your parents dedicating you to the Lord while you were still a babe, ft is beyond a family or community decision. Personal conversion to Christ is sacrosanct and foundational to partaking in God's glory. Some years ago, a particular "man of God" rose with predictions for each year. He became quite popular. One day, he was interviewed by the press on how he started up till his point of fame. While perusing his comments, it was observed that there was no mention of a day in his life in which he gave his life to Christ. He claimed to have had certain gifts right from the womb which brought him to his current level. Going by God's Word, he has not started. There are yet many people who are presiding over churches today and preach salvation messages because it is in vogue, but have never received Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour. They have not started. In God's Kingdom, you cannot skip a very foundational experience like salvation and think you can be relevant. All you will do will be without record and without reward. Do all the good in this world and all you get for each is a zero. Jesus is the only One that can add value to any life. Receive Him today!
KEY POINT:
John 1:9 says Jesus gives light to all who comes into the world. Anyone who has not received Him will spend his or her years in darkness.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
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Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
THU. 24/07/2012 - LEAVE YOUR PAST! - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Thursday 24 July
LEAVE YOUR PAST!
Memorise: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Philippians 3:13,
Read: Psalms 37:23-25
When God uses one of His servants to bless you, you can appreciate that servant of God but appreciate God much more. Why? God is the Source of the blessing while His servant is only a vessel. Never turn a vessel into your source. If you do, both you and the vessel may get into trouble with God. It was in light of this knowledge that Elisha, despite his devotion to Elijah did not forget the God of Elijah. He called for the God of Elijah and not for Elijah or his anointing at the River Jordan (2 Kings 2:13-14). Elisha faced a new reality after the departure of Elijah. It was a new phase for him. You need to walk in the understanding that life is in phases. When one phase ends, another begins. Psalms 37:25 says:
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
According to this scripture, there is the phase of being a youth and another phase of being old. A new phase had just begun in the life of Elisha. The phase of Elisha the servant, who went everywhere with his master had just ended and another phase of Elisha the national prophet with several attendants has just begun. When the time for his next phase came, he refused to continue in the old phase.
You must be ready to move forward. Stop living in the past. In 1 Samuel 25:1, after mourning the death of Samuel, David continued with his journey. Life continues irrespective of the challenges of each day, and so must you. Raul had to adopt a strategy of forgetting his past so that he could face his future (Philippians 3:12-14). Some people have lost their future to their past because somehow, they were never able to put the past behind them. Have you lost someone you love so much? Move on from that spot! Have you lost someone who promised to help sponsor your education or help set you up in business? Move on from that spot and another helper will surface. You could also receive direct help from above. Never allow past failures hinder your future success. Also, never allow past victories and successes hinder future ones. Stop dwelling in your past! As long as you remain at that bus stop of life, no new thing will come to you. Move forward! Take a step into your future today!
KEY POINT:
John 1:9 says Jesus gives light to all who comes into the world. Anyone who has not received Him will spend his or her years in darkness.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
LEAVE YOUR PAST!
Memorise: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Philippians 3:13,
Read: Psalms 37:23-25
When God uses one of His servants to bless you, you can appreciate that servant of God but appreciate God much more. Why? God is the Source of the blessing while His servant is only a vessel. Never turn a vessel into your source. If you do, both you and the vessel may get into trouble with God. It was in light of this knowledge that Elisha, despite his devotion to Elijah did not forget the God of Elijah. He called for the God of Elijah and not for Elijah or his anointing at the River Jordan (2 Kings 2:13-14). Elisha faced a new reality after the departure of Elijah. It was a new phase for him. You need to walk in the understanding that life is in phases. When one phase ends, another begins. Psalms 37:25 says:
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
According to this scripture, there is the phase of being a youth and another phase of being old. A new phase had just begun in the life of Elisha. The phase of Elisha the servant, who went everywhere with his master had just ended and another phase of Elisha the national prophet with several attendants has just begun. When the time for his next phase came, he refused to continue in the old phase.
You must be ready to move forward. Stop living in the past. In 1 Samuel 25:1, after mourning the death of Samuel, David continued with his journey. Life continues irrespective of the challenges of each day, and so must you. Raul had to adopt a strategy of forgetting his past so that he could face his future (Philippians 3:12-14). Some people have lost their future to their past because somehow, they were never able to put the past behind them. Have you lost someone you love so much? Move on from that spot! Have you lost someone who promised to help sponsor your education or help set you up in business? Move on from that spot and another helper will surface. You could also receive direct help from above. Never allow past failures hinder your future success. Also, never allow past victories and successes hinder future ones. Stop dwelling in your past! As long as you remain at that bus stop of life, no new thing will come to you. Move forward! Take a step into your future today!
KEY POINT:
John 1:9 says Jesus gives light to all who comes into the world. Anyone who has not received Him will spend his or her years in darkness.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Monday, July 23, 2012
MON. 23/07/2012 - HOPE FOR RESTORATION - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Monday 23 July
HOPE FOR RESTORATION
Memorise: For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Job 14:7
Read: Ezra 10:2-3
Sin is a cruel robber of hope. You will observe that as a believer in right standing with God, it is easy for you to express faith and hope but the moment you sin, the basis for faith and hope is eroded. Fear and doubt invade your heart. You will begin to wonder if the promise of God you have been waiting for will still be realised or not. Sin robs you of hope so you should keep away from it. After falling into sin, some people completely lose the hope of being forgiven or restored to faith. A young evangelist who faithfully won several souls to the Lord was a victim of this. He fell into fornication one day and the devil deceived him that because of that act he could never receive pardon. He believed that lie and continued to live in sin until he fell ill one day and was hospitalised. While there, he was in the same ward with another man - a pastor who carefully studied his Bible. He admired him. One day, the pastor asked him if he was a Christian and he said He used to be. "Used to? What happened?" The pastor asked and he told him his story. The pastor immediately swung into action showing him through scriptures that he could be forgiven and restored. Then he prayed with him and joy flooded his heart that night.
By the following morning when the pastor woke up, he did not see his ward mate, so he asked the nurses about him. He was informed that the man had joyfully passed on. After his tests, his wife - a medical doctor - announced to the pastor that he was free to go. Annoyed that he was kept in a hospital bed for days over nothing, he pondered on why God would allow that, only to realize he was used to restore hope to the hopeless. Have you backslidden and believe there is no more hope for your restoration? There is hope for you today! Go on your knees, confess your sins and re-rtvite Jesus into your heart as Lord and Saviour and dedicate your life to Him. He will forgive and restore you. From today's Bible reading, some men who were Israelites, violated God's command in Deuteronomy 7:2-3 yet they had hope for restoration. However, do not deliberately sin thinking you will always have opportunity to repent and be forgiven; you may not. But today, you can be restored to the Lord now. He will forgive you and put you back on track to Heaven.
ACTION POINT:
Prayerfully search for three backsliders around you and lead them back to Christ.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
HOPE FOR RESTORATION
Memorise: For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Job 14:7
Read: Ezra 10:2-3
Sin is a cruel robber of hope. You will observe that as a believer in right standing with God, it is easy for you to express faith and hope but the moment you sin, the basis for faith and hope is eroded. Fear and doubt invade your heart. You will begin to wonder if the promise of God you have been waiting for will still be realised or not. Sin robs you of hope so you should keep away from it. After falling into sin, some people completely lose the hope of being forgiven or restored to faith. A young evangelist who faithfully won several souls to the Lord was a victim of this. He fell into fornication one day and the devil deceived him that because of that act he could never receive pardon. He believed that lie and continued to live in sin until he fell ill one day and was hospitalised. While there, he was in the same ward with another man - a pastor who carefully studied his Bible. He admired him. One day, the pastor asked him if he was a Christian and he said He used to be. "Used to? What happened?" The pastor asked and he told him his story. The pastor immediately swung into action showing him through scriptures that he could be forgiven and restored. Then he prayed with him and joy flooded his heart that night.
By the following morning when the pastor woke up, he did not see his ward mate, so he asked the nurses about him. He was informed that the man had joyfully passed on. After his tests, his wife - a medical doctor - announced to the pastor that he was free to go. Annoyed that he was kept in a hospital bed for days over nothing, he pondered on why God would allow that, only to realize he was used to restore hope to the hopeless. Have you backslidden and believe there is no more hope for your restoration? There is hope for you today! Go on your knees, confess your sins and re-rtvite Jesus into your heart as Lord and Saviour and dedicate your life to Him. He will forgive and restore you. From today's Bible reading, some men who were Israelites, violated God's command in Deuteronomy 7:2-3 yet they had hope for restoration. However, do not deliberately sin thinking you will always have opportunity to repent and be forgiven; you may not. But today, you can be restored to the Lord now. He will forgive you and put you back on track to Heaven.
ACTION POINT:
Prayerfully search for three backsliders around you and lead them back to Christ.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
SUN. 22/07/2012 - VICTORY DEVOURERS - OPEN HEAVENS - KINGDOM 28
Sunday 22 July
VICTORY DEVOURERS
Memorise: Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Romans 13:2
Read: Judges 14-1-3
It is one thing to be victorious but another thing to retain the victory. Victory not retained turns a victor into a victim. In order to keep your victory and walk in it, it is very crucial to learn from those who lost their victory, the reasons why their victory was lost. May you retain your victory in Jesus name.
One Bible character who got victory over his enemies was Samson. He knew what it meant to be victorious because of the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit upon him, yet he died in the prison of his enemies. What rubbished his victory? In Judges 14:1-3, Samson failed to listen to his parents. He felt they were too old fashioned in their views. He could not be under the control or authority of anyone. The elders may not be as educated as you are, but there is something they know that has kept them victorious which you may not know with all your education. Anyone who cannot submit to authority will most likely lose the victory he or she has received. There are some wives who cannot submit to the authority of their husbands because they have a better job or earn better income than them. Sorry, you may not be able to retain your victory! When the Lord says you should submit, He did not exclude your position or income. A minister who cannot be controlled, instructed or corrected by his or her pastor will surely lose his or her victory.
Another reason Samson lost his victory was because he was unequally yoked together with a Philistine in marriage. Brother, of all the sisters in the Kingdom, you could not find one to marry except a lady of another faith? By that marriage, you have automatically become a loser, a big time loser. Are you unequally yoked with an unbeliever in business? Separate today! Are you heading for the altar to wed an unbeliever? Break that relationship now before you end up in your enemy's prison. In addition, Samson was not circumspect enough to know who to tell what. He opened his mouth and revealed his secrets to his enemy and they enslaved him. What are you telling people about yourself? Do you know who your enemies are? Samson was impatient and self-willed, not caring about God's will and he was very unthankful. In whatever form any of these is seen in your life, prayerfully expunge them today so that your victory will not be eaten up.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, today by your mercy, uproot every victory devourer in my life.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
VICTORY DEVOURERS
Memorise: Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Romans 13:2
Read: Judges 14-1-3
It is one thing to be victorious but another thing to retain the victory. Victory not retained turns a victor into a victim. In order to keep your victory and walk in it, it is very crucial to learn from those who lost their victory, the reasons why their victory was lost. May you retain your victory in Jesus name.
One Bible character who got victory over his enemies was Samson. He knew what it meant to be victorious because of the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit upon him, yet he died in the prison of his enemies. What rubbished his victory? In Judges 14:1-3, Samson failed to listen to his parents. He felt they were too old fashioned in their views. He could not be under the control or authority of anyone. The elders may not be as educated as you are, but there is something they know that has kept them victorious which you may not know with all your education. Anyone who cannot submit to authority will most likely lose the victory he or she has received. There are some wives who cannot submit to the authority of their husbands because they have a better job or earn better income than them. Sorry, you may not be able to retain your victory! When the Lord says you should submit, He did not exclude your position or income. A minister who cannot be controlled, instructed or corrected by his or her pastor will surely lose his or her victory.
Another reason Samson lost his victory was because he was unequally yoked together with a Philistine in marriage. Brother, of all the sisters in the Kingdom, you could not find one to marry except a lady of another faith? By that marriage, you have automatically become a loser, a big time loser. Are you unequally yoked with an unbeliever in business? Separate today! Are you heading for the altar to wed an unbeliever? Break that relationship now before you end up in your enemy's prison. In addition, Samson was not circumspect enough to know who to tell what. He opened his mouth and revealed his secrets to his enemy and they enslaved him. What are you telling people about yourself? Do you know who your enemies are? Samson was impatient and self-willed, not caring about God's will and he was very unthankful. In whatever form any of these is seen in your life, prayerfully expunge them today so that your victory will not be eaten up.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, today by your mercy, uproot every victory devourer in my life.
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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