Open Heavens Devotional.

Monday 9th November, 2015.

WHY HE WAS GIVEN.

Memorise

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
- John 14:3.

Read: John 14:1-3.

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Message

What is life? In simplistic terms, we can define life as the opposite of death. When you travel to a far country, say for a period of three months, you will experience a temporary separation between you and the people, things and locations you are familiar with. But when death occurs, it permanently separates you from the things you love, from your loved ones and from the places you are familiar with. God gave Jesus to us to give us life, and to destroy the one who had the power of death - the devil (Hebrews 2:14). For this reason, wherever the process of death has been activated, Jesus can terminate it and restore life fully. In John 11:25, He declared Himself to be the Resurrection and the Life. God's gift to us in the person of Jesus shows how much God loves us - to the point of giving us the gift of life (John 3:16). With Jesus, death cannot permanently take hold of you (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Also, Jesus came so that we would not die financially. To be financially dead is to be financially bankrupt. Have you experienced this in your business? The Lord will bring your finances back to life. Jesus became poor so that you can be financially free (2 Corinthians 8:9). Because of the price Jesus has paid, financial freedom is yours from today! Jesus is our Shepherd so that we would not lack anything good (Psalm 23:1). In addition, Jesus was given so that we might not die mentally. A mentally dead fellow is one who has lost control of his or her mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 says:

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Even for the mentally sick, Jesus can restore the intellect. You can regain your mental wholeness. Whatever is wrong with you mentally, the Lord will put right today in Jesus' Name.

Moreover, Jesus was given to us so that we can have a permanent relationship with the Almighty God for the rest of our lives. Through Jesus, you have access to your heavenly mansion after your sojourn on earth. This is one reason why you must not break the relationship between the Lord and yourself. Nothing on earth is worth separating you from Christ. Never allow anything, no matter how alluring, to break you off from the love of Christ. He was given generally for everyone but specifically for you. Ensure you respond positively to God's love so that you can maximally enjoy the benefits of knowing Him. It is well with you.

Prayer Point

Father, grant me grace to remain in Your love till Your Son returns to take me home.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Tuesday 10th November, 2015.

CLEAN UNDER THE CARPET?

Memorise

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
- Colossians 3:9.

Read: Exodus 22:10-12.

10 If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:

11 Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

12 And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.

Message

The advent of sin brought problems into the relationship between God and man, and in the relationship between man and his fellow man. The day you were born-again, your quarrel with God was laid to rest, but not the quarrel with men. It takes restitution to settle pending issues with men. Apostle Paul was conscious of this and that was why in Act 24:16 he said:

“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

Have you settled your pending restitutions?

Many years ago, while still an unsaved school teacher, I had a visitor for whom I had to take a bed from school dormitory. After his departure, I retained the bed, and when I eventually left the school, I took it with me. Seven years later, I gave my life to Jesus, and when I learnt about restitution, I decided to obey. I paid back to the school double the value of that bed. I felt it was not right returning it, having used it for seven years. When I did this, I had peace. Do you know that your peace is tied to those pending restitutions? In other words, even though the Lord wants your peace to be full, there is no way this can happen except you restitute your wicked ways.

Moreover, do you know that when somebody puts something in your care and it gets missing, you are expected to restitute, unless the owner specifically says you should not? If you borrowed somebody’s car and damaged it while in your custody, it is your responsibility to repair it, but if you cannot afford to repair it at that time, report the matter to the owner, apologise and humbly ask him to help you repair it, promising to repay him as soon as possible. If the owner says you should not bother to settle the bill, then and only then are you free. The Christian life is a life of responsibility. You cannot afford to destroy things and hide them. Some house-helps, children or wards mistakenly destroy valuable things in the house and conceal their wrong-doing. This is wrong! The matter should be exposed so that the appropriate disciplinary measures will be meted out. That issue you swept under the carpet will one day be discovered. Right your wrong today!

Action Point

Carry out pending restitution so that you can have peace of mind.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Wednesday 11th November, 2015.

WEALTH WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS.

Memorise

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
- Luke 18:24.

Read: Luke 18:18-25.

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Message

The truth of God’s word that you are exposed to will determine the degree of freedom you experience. In the past, many of us were held under one type of bondage or the other by the devil through our wrong beliefs; but thank God for the truth we later received. Can you imagine we once believed we needed to be poor in order to get to Heaven, because we had heard that the love of money is the root of all evil? The devil knows and quotes the scriptures, but he usually manipulates or misquotes it to confuse, deceive or get you to offend God. God did not say that money is evil, but that the love of money is the root of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). If we had no money, how would we have built some of the great kingdom projects we have undertaken at the Redemption Camp? For example, we had to use several tons of steel spanning several kilometres and several tons of cement to build the auditorium where people come to receive salvation from God. The truth is, neither wealth nor poverty can take you to Heaven; your saving faith in Jesus Christ is what will take you there. The poorest man who does not know the Lord will end up in Hell, just as the richest man who is born-again will continue his life in Heaven.

God wants you to prosper in three main dimensions: spiritually, in health, and in all that you lay your hands upon, including your business and finance (3 John 2). However, when you love and crave money to the extent that you are ready to sacrifice your salvation for it, you are in a precarious situation. When the rich young ruler came to ask Jesus how he could make it to Heaven, the Lord put him to test, saying “Since you have kept all of the Law, do one more thing: sell all you have, and give the proceeds to the poor, then come and follow me.” The man failed the test because he loved money more then the salvation of his soul. It seems he said in his heart, “Sir, you can keep your salvation while I keep my money.” Some people who profess to know the Lord still cannot place money where it belongs. They will do just about anything to get money: steal, defraud, inflate cost of materials and so on. Such people are in serious trouble, because no covetous, greedy or lying fellow will enter Heaven. Nonetheless, God does not want you to die poor. The wealth He has for you shall locate you this season in Jesus’ Name.

Key Point

Wealth gotten through honest means is a blessing, but fraudulent wealth is a curse.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Thursday 12th November, 2015.

PRAYER QUERIES ROOTS.

Memorise

Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
- Isaiah 40:24.

Read: Isaiah 40:22-24.

22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

Message

Jacob’s experience at Peniel reveals that prayer addresses the foundation of problems (Genesis 32:24-30). In other words, it tackles the root cause. Most times, when attempts are made to solve a problem, the focus is on the peripheral or at the surface level. When you attack the symptoms of a problem but leave it roots, the problem may seem to fizzle out for a moment, only for it to make a powerful, formidable comeback. Prayer is so important that it can cause problems to receive queries from Heaven. After Jacob prayed, the root of his problems received a query from God. Genesis 32:27 says:

“And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.”

As you pray, God will query the foundation of your problems! The foundation of Jacobs’s problem was his name. As he prayed, there was a divine shake-up. Some people do not believe that prayer can tackle problems emanating from their ancestry. They believe that since the particular problem affecting every member of their family from one generation to another began several generations ago, nothing can be done about it, especially if the person it all started with is dead. Nothing can be further from the truth! Why is Jesus the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End if He cannot go into the past and undo evil deeds? From today, as you pray, the Lord will query the foundation of your problems. 

The foundation of a problem quakes when God queries it. The foundation of that nagging problem in your life, family, workplace and ministry receives a divine query today! God is a specialist at dealing with roots. In Isaiah 40:24, God declared thus:

“Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.”

When God queries the foundation of a problem, the roots will no longer hold it down. That means the days of that problem are numbered. That long-standing situation that has caused you so much pain, tears and sorrow is receiving a divine query now! Its roots will no longer hold you down. The root of that problem has just its grip over your life in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, by Your word, blow upon my problems and let them wither from their roots today.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Friday 13th November, 2015.

FAITH RECOVERS LOSSES.

Memorise

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
- Mark 5:36.

Read: Mark 5:23-24 & 35-43.

Message

Faith in Jesus Christ is so powerful and relevant that if there is any area where every believer in Christ needs to grow, it is in the area of faith. Faith is believing that God is who He says He is. Faith is also believing that God can do everything He says He will do. Faith is giving God the benefit of the doubt not to go below His promise in the face of contrary circumstances. Are you in any form of bondage? If only you can believe in the power of Jesus to set you free, you will be free. Also, if you can believe that you can recover any of your missing valuables that money cannot buy, you will have it. This was demonstrated in the case of Jairus, whose only daughter died. It seemed his world had crashed. The most important person to him was gone. For most people, that loss would have been permanent or irrecoverable. Sometimes, when something or someone goes missing, a reward is offered to the one who helps in finding the missing person or item. The size of the reward would depend on the value the owner places on the missing item or person. In the case of a kidnapping, a large amount of money would be demanded as a ransom by the captors before their victim can be set free. All these are cases of temporary loss; in the event of a permanent loss such as the death of a loved one, what ransom can be paid?

In today's Bible reading, Jairus' daughter was in a critical condition, and he went to Jesus, asking Him to come and pray for her. On the way back home with Jesus, somebody came from his house to tell him that it was too late as the child had given up the ghost. When Jesus heard the message, He simply told Jairus, "Don't be afraid; only believe." Why did Jesus say this? He knew the bad news was capable of affecting the faith of Jairus, causing him to doubt. Jairus held on to the Restorer, and his child lived. If you have faith in Jesus, no loss is permanent. If you lost a child, He can restore that child to you or give you another child. If you lost a job, you can recover it or be given something better; if only you believe Jesus can do it. What is that situation of loss you have experienced? Invite the Restorer, Jesus Christ, to step into it. Hold on to Him in faith until your desire is met.

Prayer Point

Father, increase my faith and that of Your people in my local assembly, so that we can receive the good things we are holding onto You for.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Saturday 14th November, 2015.

THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE.

Memorise

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgement, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
- Eccl. 3:16.

Read: Genesis 25:19-23.

19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:

20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

21 And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.

23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Message

Looking at the life of Esau, one cannot but learn a few lessons from him. Esau was the firstborn of Isaac. He was a twin. Being the first of the twins, he was supposed to inherit the double portion blessing meant for firstborns. But he had a major challenge: before his birth, a prophecy that would rob him of his rightful place had already gone forth. His problem started while he was still in the womb of his mother! Esau’s mother, Rebekah, has a lot of discomfort during her pregnancy, and so she went to ask the Lord what the matter was.

“And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger that the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”
Genesis 25:23.

The forces that would truncate Esau’s destiny were already in place before his birth. Therefore, from the very day he was born, he was born into trouble. Do you know that like Esau, many people are born into trouble? Before Moses was born, the decree that made it illegal for him to live had already been passed. He was born to die prematurely, but God stepped into the scene and preserved his life (Exodus 1:15-2:9). Similarly, after Jesus was born, a decree was passed to kill Him (Matthew 2:13-19). King Herod and his army were on the lookout for Him. They searched so thoroughly that for the child Jesus to be safe, God had to instruct Joseph to escape with Him to another country, Egypt. The Lord who delivered Moses and Jesus will also deliver you! Have some people seen your destiny while you were in your mother’s womb, and declared war against you? The Lord will arise for you and put them to shame in Jesus’ Name.

We should learn from the circumstances surrounding Esau’s life that you cannot correctly compare one person with another, because their foundations are not the same. One of them might make easy progress in life with no trouble at all, because he or she was born into peace, while the other fellow may have been battling to survive even from the mother’s womb. Every battle that pre-dates your birth is terminated today! The Lord will put to flight all unknown enemies working against your destiny!

Prayer Point

I paralyse every destiny manipulator or destroyer, sent on a mission against me, my family and members of my church, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Sunday 15th November, 2015.

AM I FOREVER SAVED?

Memorise

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:4.

Read: 1 Timothy 1:18-20.

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Message

When Paul embarked on his Christian race, he focused on it wholeheartedly, so that nothing would derail him from the race. That is why in Acts 20:24, he said:

“But none of these things move me, neither count I myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

The possibility of starting the Christian race and not reaching the finish line is obvious from Paul’s statement in the Scripture above. However, across the globe today, several preachers are teaching erroneous doctrines, saying all that matters is to believe in Jesus Christ, and you will be saved forever, irrespective of your conduct after you are saved. They teach that if you are saved today, you will surely make it to Heaven, even if you continue to live like the devil. Some say that any work of righteousness on your part, even after you has been saved, amounts of self-righteousness, which according to them, and cannot take you anywhere. They also teach that you are automatically made perfect once you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. They will want to tempt you by asking if you are righteous. If you sincerely say you still have some areas of your life you are working on, they will discredit you and say that you are depending on your works to make it to Heaven. Such preachers say that it is okay to sin occasionally, as long as you do not do so very often. These are all lies.

You need to know that it is possible to fall from grace, as stated in our memory verse. Do not let teachers with itching ears deceive you. They will tell you what appeals to your flesh and call it “the good news”. No! It is called deception. They mix the truth of God’s word with a bit of deception. Some will tell you that the day you were born-again, all your sins, past, present and future, have been forgiven, and so if you commit any sin afterwards, there is no need to confess it. It is all a lie! If indeed you are saved and therefore forever saved, why does the Bible instruct you to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)? Why does scripture repeatedly say that only those who endure to the end shall be saved (Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13)? Why did the lord of the unprofitable servant banish him to outer darkness in Hell (Matthew 25:30)? Take heed, lest you fall! It is possible to fall from grace. Be careful how you run the race!

Key Point

Believing that consistent, righteous works are not needed after salvation is taking the grace of God out of context.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Monday 16th November, 2015.

ETERNAL LIFE STARTS HERE.

Memorise

And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent.
- John 17:3.

Read: John 17:1-3.

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his
eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is
come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may
glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh,
that he should give eternal life to as many as
thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent.

Message

In order to enjoy the things that God has
provided for us through Jesus Christ, we need
to have an in-depth understanding of what
these things are; one of which is everlasting
life. Out of God's love for us, we have the
privilege of partaking in this everlasting life
(John 3:16); but what is everlasting life? This
is life that never ends. It is the type of life
that even death cannot terminate. It means,
living with God inside of you on this earth, and
continuing with this life after going through
the gates of death. Eternity does not start
after death, it starts now. Jesus declared thus
in John 17:3:

"And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent."

If you want to have eternal life, it starts with
receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and
Saviour, but it does not end there. It
continues with having an intimate knowledge
of God. It requires knowing His word. Every bit
of God's word that is revealed to you adds
virtue to the life of God operating within you.
Although some people are saved, they have
little or no evidence of the presence of the
divine life in them, because they do not know
whom they have believed. How much do you
know of Him who gave His life for you?
Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 1:12 declared that:

"For the which cause I also suffer these
things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I
know whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that he is able to keep that which I
have committed unto him against that day."

The knowledge of the Holy Trinity is the
source of eternal life. The more you know
Jesus, the more impossible it is for you to be
made ashamed. The knowledge of Jesus drives
away spiritual and physical shame. If you
know Jesus, you will not be ashamed or shy of
being identified with Him, or to suffer for Him.
Knowing Him helps you to trust Him. The level
of trust or confidence you place in God is a
function of what you know about Him. Are you born-again? Congratulations! The eternal life of God is present inside you; but this has to
be jealously guarded and sustained by
building a more intimate relationship with the
Holy Spirit, and by increasing in the knowledge
of God.

Prayer Point

Father, let the presence of Your divine life be
increasingly made manifest in me every day, in
Jesus' Name.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Tuesday 17th November, 2015.

FRAUD IN RELATIONSHIP.

Memorise

Thou art snared with the words of
thy month, thou are taken with the words of thy mouth.
- Proverbs 6:2.

Read: Exodus 22:16-17 (KJV).

16 And if a man entice a maid that is not
betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely
endow her to be his wife.

17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto
him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

Message

In different areas of human relationship,
offences arises in the course of interacting with one another. These offences can sometimes bring physical and emotional injury to people, especially in relationships between the opposite sex. One offence that is pronounced in relationships today, which was foretold by the apostles of old, is covenant breaking. Apostle Paul lists this among the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men in Romans 1:31:

“Without understanding, covenant-breakers,
without natural affection, implacable,
unmerciful:”

It is also listed as treachery in 2 Timothy 3:4. In relationships between the opposite sex,
covenant breaking is a situation where one party makes a promise to the other party concerning a future commitment, but later fails to keep his or her promise. As a Christian, God expects you to restitute such acts. In our Bible reading, God said if a man deceived a lady by promising to marry her, as a result had sex with her, he had to marry her, unless her parents refused to give her to him. In such a case, the man would be required to pay her bride price, even though he may not be given the bride. These principles still apply today. Today, there are instances where a
lady agrees to marry a man, and as a result, he invests a lot on her education, sets he up in
business or helps her get a good job; but by the
time he expects her to become his wife, he
receives the shock of his life when she elopes
with another man. He will then realise that all
along she was not really in love with him. This is fraudulent! Such a man would never have made those sacrifices if he knew she would not
eventually become his wife. If you find yourself in such a situation, go and restitute. What you received was by fraud and must be returned. If you are not prepared to be bound by written agreement, why feign consent? Today’s memory verse warns against this. There are cases where a lady would ask a man to send her abroad to school or to work, and in some cases, the man may even acquire a property abroad in her name as proof of his love and commitment to her, all with the understanding that there will be marriage down the line; only for her to dump him after getting abroad. That is a terrible seed that will deliver the fraudster an evil harvest. If you are in that situation, immediately go and
restitute your ways. These scenarios cold also
happen the other way round. These are men,
who with the promise of marriage were
sponsored by some women to become
somebody, only for them to dump these women
for some other ladies. Go and restitute!
Everything obtained by fraud must be returned.

Key Point

Any good thing that is built on lies and deceit will definitely crash at an unexpected moment.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Wednesday 18th November, 2015.

ARE YOU IN ERROR?

Memorise

Jesus answered and said unto them, ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
- Matthew 22:29.

Read: James 5:19-20.

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Message

After your heart is illuminated by the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, you need to carefully guard this light, to prevent it from getting dimmed or extinguished by the introduction of “another gospel” into your heart. Guarding against falling into the error of another gospel involves being grounded in the knowledge of God’s truth as revealed in the Scriptures and yielding your heart to the Holy Spirit to teach you the truth of God’s word. We are not to take a part of God’s word in isolation nor give personal interpretation of God’s word, but rather, allow the Holy Spirit to interpret the Scriptures with the Scriptures. This way, what we believe will always be based on God’s true word.

I had an encounter with a member of an organisation that forbids its members from mentioning the Blood of Jesus. There are very intelligent people in that group. In a conversation with one of them, I said, “Sir it is written in Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. Who do you think is afraid of the Blood of Jesus? It is only one fellow – the devil, because Revelation 12:11 says the devil was overcome by the Blood of the Lamb. Anyone who says you should not mention the Name of Jesus or the Blood of Jesus is of the devil.” This fellow heard this truth but did not like it. If you are in a religious organisation or group where they restrict your freedom to read the Bible, you are in the wrong place. If they tell you that because we are now in the time of grace, the Old Testament no longer applies, take to your heels!

Also, if you find yourself in an assembly where they cannot mention the Name of Jesus Christ directly, but rename Him as “the righteous one” or “the holy one”, you are in a very dangerous zone; take flight immediately! If your place of fellowship tells you that the Name of Jesus and the Blood of Jesus are no longer enough, and that after prayer in Jesus’ Name, you need to add the word “fire” or something else, you are in error. If you are in a place where they tell you that the Name of Jesus is too hallowed to be used, and that in reverence, you should pray to God in the name of any other individual like Mary, an angel or a dead saint, and that these individuals can acts as mediators between God and man, they are in error. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man (1st Timothy 2:5). Read your Bible, hold on to the truth and let no man deceive you.

Prayer Point

Dear Holy Spirit, I yield my heart to the truth of God’s word, and to your teaching of this truth.

I am following this thread daily from now on. Nice job you're doing.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Thursday 19th November, 2015.

LOOK UPWARDS!

Memorise

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
- Psalm 121:1.

Read: Psalm 121:1-2.

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which
made heaven and earth.

Message

In the course of our walk with God, we
encounter challenges of life that test the level and quality of our faith; but praise God that we have the assurance of the Lord that there is no mountain our faith cannot surmount (Matthew 17:20). For those who are in Christ, problems arise in order to generate testimonies. The size of the problem you encounter will determine the size of your testimony. If you ask God for a big testimony, then you must be ready to face a big challenge. What made the testimony of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego most outstanding was not just the fact that they went through the fiery furnace, but the fact that the furnace, heated to its most intense level, could not harm them (Daniel 3:19-24). Are you going through fire at the moment? Fear not! Look up to God and He will see through.
Are you confronted with any issue of life? In what direction are you looking for solution?
If looking forward, backward and sideways has not helped you, then it is time to look up. Looking ahead, behind or sideways simply suggest dependence on self or on people. Depending on a fellow man operating at the same level as you is a foolish thing to do; you cannot access true help that way. Jeremiah 17:5 says:

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”

Furthermore, looking down implies looking at the devil and his forces of darkness, because they are under your feet. Of course you can’t go to the architect of a problem for its solution. You need to know that until you look upwards for God’s intervention, you
may never get your blessing.
There was a particular nice woman who had an epileptic son. Whenever he had a seizure, it was so bad. Wherever she rented an apartment, people loved her for her good nature, but after they realise her son was epileptic, they would show her the exit door with some apology. This made her move houses so often. Then one day, while going
with the boy to the market, at the very heart of town, the boy experienced a seizure and everyone fled. She grabbed the boy, stood him on his feet, lifted her eyes to God and said,

“O God, I am here without anyone to help me, but I know you are there, please help me.”

From that day, her son was healed of that condition. Has an unpleasant situation brought you to a most disgraceful place? Look up to God today, hold unto Him and He will make a way for you. The Lord will terminate your shame and turn it into honour.

Prayer Point

Father, give me the grace to always focus my gaze on You.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Friday 20th November, 2015.

HOW PROPHETIC ARE YOUR NAMES?

Memorise

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
- Matthew 1:21.

Read: Exodus 2:5-10.

5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.

9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.

10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

Message

The name you bear is very important because it serves as your identity, and your future may be connected to it. The name a person bears is sometimes indicative of the experiences he or she will encounter in life. Take for instance Moses: this name means "drawn out of water" (Exodus 2:10). No wonder water was a recurring decimal in his life. He turned water into blood (Exodus 7:19-20); he parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22); he turned bitter water into sweet water (Exodus 15:24-25); he brought water out of the rock (Exodus 17:5-6); and the issue that denied him entrance into the Promised Land was about water (Numbers 20:8-20). Knowing how significant the name of an individual is to his destiny, God had to change the names of several people in the Bible (Genesis 17:5, Genesis 32:28, Mark 3:16, Acts 4:36). My mother told me that after my birth, she intended to name me Elisha, but on her way to see the priest for my baptismal name, she forgot, so she named me Enoch. I told her I like the two names: Elisha, the man with the double portion anointing, and Enoch, the man who walked with God, so I took the two names. By the grace of God, the prophetic essence of these names is being fulfilled in my life today. Examine your names: if there is any evil name among them, reject it, and if there is a good name you desire, add it to what you have, and the Lord will back it up.
A good name should glorify God; for this reason, any name attached to an idol, local deity or unclean spirit must be discarded. A good name should also be prophetic. A name such as Christopher means "the bearer of Christ". It is a prophecy that the child so named will bear the person of Jesus Christ any where he goes. A name such as Gabriel means "able-bodied one of God" or "strong man of God". That is very prophetic! A good name should give the bearer something positive to work towards: it should be a challenge, a promise or a goal he or she should strive to realise. How prophetic is your name? On the other hand, many people are yet to see the fulfilment of the promise in their names. For instance, someone who is named after wealth may still be living in squalor, and someone named after glory may still be living in shame. If you find yourself in this type of situation, pray hard that God will cause the good promise and prophecy in your name to be fulfilled, and also work towards its realisation.

Prayer Point

Father, speedily bring into manifestation, every good prophecy or promise inherent in my name, in Jesus' Name.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Saturday 21st November, 2015.

ENTERING HIS PRESENCE.

Memorise

He that hath clean hands, and a pure
heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto
vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
- Psalm 24:4.

Read: Psalm 24:3-4 (KJV).

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Message

It is always a great experience to be in God's
presence, because the fullness of joy and
everlasting pleasures reside there. Psalm16:11b says:

"...in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right
hand there are pleasures for evermore."

However, the state of our lives determines what we derive from God's presence. According to Psalm 68:2-3, while the righteous receive joy in God's presence, the enemies of God or those with wicked schemes will melt like wax before the fire of His presence. While the fire of God's presence protects His own, it acts as an incinerating agent against the enemies of God's people. As you live in obedience to God from now on, the fire of God that protects you will destroy your enemies in Jesus' Name.
With this knowledge of the potency of God's
presence, every child of God should desire at all times to be in His presence. Nevertheless, you don't enter the presence of a king just anyhow; there are certain protocols you must follow.
How much more, when entering the presence of the King of kings? How then do we enter God's presence? Going into the presence of God is not about going into a place of worship; it is about being taken up into His presence, or His presence coming down to you, through heartfelt praise and worship. In a gathering filled with God's glory, it is possible that some people there will not have access to God's presence due to their nonchalant and standoffish attitude. From our Bible reading, we understand that if you truly want to enter into God's presence, particularly if you want to benefit from the pleasures at His right hand, you must have clean hands and a pure heart. In other words, entering the church auditorium is just not enough; likewise, praising and worshipping God with the
lips is just not enough. This is so because when
God's presence descends upon an assembly,
God will ask His angels to carry out a personality check on everyone present, to know those who have met with His conditions, and only those found worthy will be the beneficiaries of His presence that day. Beloved, you must have clean hands. Your hands must not be tarnished with the blood of anyone or with the filth of a foul means of livelihood. Your hands must have been washed by the Blood of Jesus for them to be deemed clean. Similarly, your thoughts, plans and motives must be pure before you can enter into God's presence. Prepare yourself and ensure you follow heaven's protocol whenever you want to access the presence of God.

Prayer Point

Father, cleanse my heart and my hands with the Blood of Jesus, as I access Your presence today to partake of the pleasures at Your right hand.

Open Heavens Devotional.
Sunday 22nd November, 2015.

TOTAL COMMITMENT: A MUST.

Memorise
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.
They went forth, and entered into a ship
immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
- John 21:3.

Read: 2 Kings 2:1-8 (KJV).

Message
If you must walk with God, you must be
prepared to meet the conditions He has set; one of which is total commitment. To be committed is to be completely given to a cause. It involves facing a particular direction without turning back, irrespective of the challenges that come your way. This character trait was present in Elisha. After following and serving his master, Elijah, for years, Elijah called him one day and said this to him:

"Elisha, I am about to be taken home; it would be a good idea for you to go back to your family, your abandoned farming business and your old lifestyle".

Elisha laughed and replied him, saying:

"My father, I have left all these for several years and followed you with all my heart. If I go back now, where do I start from? Where do I get the capital to start my large scale farming business again? Sir, wherever you go, I go." Nevertheless, Elijah did not stop there; he still tested him two more times.

Beloved, do you know that your pastor or leader can be used to test your commitment? He or she could cut your wages or salary, deny you certain allowances or even give you an almost impossible condition to fulfil in order to continue an assignment you have been doing, just to test your commitment. If you consider the test with a natural mindset, you will be discouraged and miss out on what God wants you to see.
Sometimes, unknowingly or deliberately, your
leader or pastor may even be very mean to you. Would you say because he or she is mean to you, you will abandon the assignment God has given to you? When God has an assignment for you, He can use your pastor, boss or other superiors to assign it to you, but the work is not from them; it is from God. If your pastor or leader is making it impossible for you to perform that assignment, report the matter to God and ask Him for more grace to be committed. If you compare Elisha with Peter, you will discover that the former was more committed than the latter.
When there was no more action and Jesus was
not around, Peter chose to return to his fishing business, and he took some people along with him. If you return to the place or condition you were called out from, how committed are you (Hebrews 11:13-16)?

Action Point

As close as John the Beloved was to Jesus, when Peter decided to return to fishing, he followed. Never let any man be your yardstick for divine service except Jesus Christ.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Monday 23rd November, 2015.

WHAT LIFE IS NOT.

Memorise

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
- Luke 12:15.

Read: Luke 12:15-20 (KJV).

Message

In the materialistic world we live in today, not
many people have the right understanding of
what life is. An example here is the farmer in
today's Bible reading, who experienced a major breakthrough in his farming business, to the extent that he decided to go on a leisure spree for the rest of his life, because he could afford it.
He thought he had finally made it; he therefore wanted to enjoy life and the fruit of his hard work, but little did he know that he was just being foolish. John 17:2 tells us about the life which Jesus gives:
"As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."
The moment you receive the Lord Jesus Christ
into your heart, you receive life. This life is not a temporary form of life that will pass away;
rather, it is eternal life. The nature of this life is such that it is sustained by growing in the
knowledge of God and in the knowledge of His
Word (John 17:3). May you never lose the
eternal life of God that is within you in Jesus'
Name.

Today, so much time and focus is placed on the
acquisition of wealth and material things, but in our memory verse, the Lord Jesus Christ said that the worth of a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things that he has. Having 100 exotic cars, 100 houses spread across the world and billions in your bank account is not true life. Also, life is not to be defined by the level of physical charm or beauty that you exude, because Proverbs 31:30 says beauty is simply vanity. Beauty without the fear of God is vain, but adding the salvation of God in Christ Jesus and meekness to your physical appearance will make you truly beautiful. In addition, power is not life. In 2 Kings 5:1, we read of Naaman who was great and powerful but a leper nonetheless. Power belongs to God and is transient. If you have power or you have attained greatness in this world, but you do not know Jesus personally, it is all vanity. That is not
life! Life is also not in achievements. In Daniel
4:29-33, after a world ruler, King
Nebuchadnezzar, finished boasting about his
achievements, God asked him to go and eat
grass in the bush for seven years. Life is not
about how many academic qualifications you
have acquired, nor is it about worldly wisdom; if it was, the wisest man to ever live on earth
would not have called life vanity (Ecclesiastes
2:17, Ecclesiastes 9:9). What do you think is life? Have you encountered the true life?

Key Point

A wrong perspective of life has misdirected so much of people's time, efforts and money towards things that are eternally irrelevant.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Tuesday 24th November, 2015.

FRAUD IN BUSINESS DEALINGS.

Memorise

Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
- Leviticus 19:11.

Read: Nehemiah 5:1-13 (KJV).

Message

God hates extortion; hence He prohibits it. In
our Bible reading, after the children of Israel
returned to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, the rich ones among them began to extort the poor until they cried out to Nehemiah. Nehemiah rebuked the rich who did this, and he asked them to make restitution. When this was done, there was great joy in the land. We see a similar situation in the case of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10).
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector who
amassed wealth by defrauding the poor. The day he received Jesus Christ, he immediately
decided to share his wealth into two and give
one part of it to the poor. Thereafter, he offered to apply the Mosaic Law on restitution, by restoring fourfold of whatever he fraudulently received from people (Exodus 22:1). Jesus did not tell him that his step on restitution was unnecessary, rather He reinforced it. Luke 19:9 says:

"And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation
come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a
son of Abraham."

Moreover, restitution equally affects employer-employee relationships. In Leviticus 19:13, God warns against extorting your workers:

"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning."

Do you know it is wrong to withhold your
worker's salary or wages a day beyond the
agreed date of payment? There are employers
who sit on their staff salaries for weeks and
months and expose them to untold hardship,
and yet they expect their staff to be faithful in
their work. That is wickedness! Such employers must make restitution by releasing the salaries and paying an inconvenience allowance.

However, if the employer genuinely does not
have the funds to pay the staff and he explains
the situation to them before hand, he is
exonerated. Some people trade with the salaries and benefits of their staff for months before releasing their pay. They do this to derive gain for themselves. This also is wickedness. Why is it that retired people who contributed all their working years to a fund cannot access their money or receive their pension after retirement?
God hates fraud, whether it is perpetrated by an individual, organisation or government.

Key Point

When you occupy a public office, you are accountable to God and to the people you
are serving in that office.

Open Heavens Devotional.
Wednesday 25th November, 2015.
REJECTING EVIL WRITINGS.
Memorise
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; - Colossians 2:14.
Read: Colossians 2:14-15.
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Message
The prophecy that worked against Esau as firstborn was already in place before his birth (Genesis 25:23). If you ever find yourself in a situation where there has been a negative declaration concerning you, rise up and fight! Do not leave your destiny to fate like some people would do. God can change any negative decree pronounced on your life and destiny. This is why Isaiah 54:17 says:
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."
You can condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. Has anyone used his or her tongue to place a curse or limitation on you, or has anyone pass some negative judgment on you? Don't just stand there! Condemn it, cancel it, reverse it and return it back to its sender! From today, no spoken judgment against your life and destiny shall stand! Every evil word spoken into your life or destiny shall be disappointed! Your stance against contrary prophecies should not be limited to spoken words alone. Jesus has fully paid for the reversal, nullification or cancellation of every negative written judgment or pronouncement concerning you. Hence, Colossians 2:14 says,
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."
Any writing done by man that is contrary to your destiny shall be cancelled in Jesus' Name! Don't just accept written verdicts that contradict God's will and word! When you go for a medical test, and the written result says you have a particular ailment, thank the hospital for their assistance, but take that result before God. Protest that result, cancel it and plead the Blood of Jesus against it. Stand on the healing that the Lord has already provided for you. What you accept shall become yours. What you steadfastly reject will move away from you. That sack letter shall become your confirmation letter; that letter of demotion shall become your letter of promotion, if only you can steadfastly hold on to God to effect the change. Have you been failing your examinations? Work harder on your studies, and reject the negative results in prayer. The Lord will turn your failure into success. Claim the good success that God promised you in His word, and it will be yours. From today, every evil writing against you shall work in your favour!
Prayer Point
Father, reverse every evil spoken or written declaration working against my life right now, in Jesus' Name.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Thursday 26th November, 2015.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

Memorise

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep,
and am known of mine.
- John 10:14.

Read: John 10:11-14.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good
shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth
the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and
fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and
scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Message

One of the earliest jobs that man engaged in
after the Fall was that of shepherding
animals. Abel was described as a shepherd in
Genesis 4:2. The job of a shepherd is a
difficult one, and it involves a lot of
discomfort and sacrifice. Jacob's testimony in
Genesis 31:40 should give you an idea of
what it takes to be a shepherd. He said:

"Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed
me, and the frost by night; and my sleep
departed from mine eyes."

However, there are different kinds of
shepherds. There are shepherds who do the
work purely for monetary consideration: these
are referred to as hirelings. The slightest
inconvenience or threat encountered while
watching over the sheep puts the hireling to
flight. There are also regular shepherds, who
show some care for the sheep and are
prepared to take some minimal risks on their
account. Beyond these aforementioned is the
Good Shepherd. He loves the sheep so much
that He can sacrifice anything for them,
including His life. Jesus revealed Himself as
the Good Shepherd in John 10:11, saying:

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd
giveth his life for the sheep."

The reality of Jesus as the Good Shepherd
assures us of God's tremendous love, care and
compassion. The Good Shepherd is ever ready
to accommodate any level of risk for the
sheep. He takes time to get personally
acquainted with each of His sheep. He knows
their strengths and weaknesses, and on this
basis, He is able to give them adequate
guidance. He knows His sheep and calls them
by name.
As a servant of God or as a leader in your
God-given area of endeavour, you have been
called to be like the Good Shepherd; but you
can choose to serve God as a hireling, a
regular shepherd or like the Good Shepherd
Himself. How are you serving God today? How
much risk are you prepared to take for the
sheep the Lord has placed under your care?
To what extent are you ready to serve the Lord
without monetary considerations, but just for
the sake of the love of Christ? Can any
member of your flock call you a good
shepherd like your Lord? As a shepherd, at
whatever level you are currently operating, you can move forward to the next level. If you
want the Good Shepherd to be everything to
you, it follows that you must first be a good
shepherd to those He has placed under your
care. If you are doing your work as a good
shepherd, you will never take advantage of the
flock under you. While some pastors are
thinking of how to improve the lives of their
members and help them to become financially
free, others are milking their members dry.
What kind of shepherd are you?

Action Point

Adopt the attitude of a good shepherd in
relating with those you lead.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Friday 27th November, 2015.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THESE VOICES?

Memorise

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
- John 10:4.

Read: John 10:2-5.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Message

On your way to Heaven, one thing you need to identify clearly is the various voices you will hear. Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14;10, indicates the existence of different voices, each with its own character:

“There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.”

Virtually everything seen and unseen has a voice, but of interest to the success of your race to Heaven is the recognition of the following voices: God’s voice, your own voice, the voice of men, and the voice of Satan and his demons. It is your duty to identify the voices that you hear, so that you can know how to respond appropriately. God’s voice must be heard, understood and obeyed. God’s voice can come audibly as a still small voice, through the word of God, from sermons, as prophecy, through dreams, in visions and through any other medium He chooses to use at a point in time. Obeying God’s voice always adds value to the hearer, giving direction and upliftment. Every time you listen to and obey God’s voice, you are saved from harm, given solution to a problem, divinely assisted, healed and blessed. God does not just speak; He speaks to His children for a good purpose. He could speak to warn you of dangers ahead. This is why you must ask God for grace to recognise His voice.

A particular brother who claimed to have been led of God, proposed to three different sisters, asking their hands in marriage. It is very clear that if he was ever led at all, he did not know how to recognise God’s voice. John 10:4-5 states clearly that God’s sheep know and follow His voice. If you are following a stranger’s voice, it is doubtful you are saved; but if you are sure of your salvation, then it is pertinent that you learn to recognise His voice by paying attention to Him when He speaks to your spirit. This may occur while studying God’s word, praying, worshipping or while in church. Learn how He speaks. Test what you hear as His voice with His word, because if it is truly God speaking, He will not say anything against His written word. In the same way, you need to identify the voice of the flesh, which will always want you to do things that will satisfy its lusts. You should also identify the voice of devils, which will overtly or covertly nudge you to disobey God or violate His word. You must acquaint yourself with God’s voice from today!

Action Point

Father, as Your sheep grant me grace to recognise Your voice at all times.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Saturday 28th November, 2015.

SEEK REVELATION.

Memorise

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
- Ephesians 1:17.

Read: Acts 16:25-34.

Message

There is a relationship between information, knowledge and revelation. Information is a collection of known facts on a subject matter, particularly those garnered from cumulative experiential knowledge. There are pieces of information to help you in various areas of life. For instance, in marriage, there is a lot of information that can help a couple with martial problems to improve their situation, which can be found in books, tapes, CDs, DVDs, seminars and so on. As long as a couple does not access such information, it remains simple information, but the moment they take it, it becomes knowledge. The knowledge you receive but fail to act upon cannot profit you. If anything, it will lead to condemnation when the negative event that could have been averted through the use of that knowledge finally occurs. However, getting insight into how knowledge can be applied in solving a specific problem is dependent on inspiration, which is closely related to wisdom. Having knowledge is good, but having revelation is much better, because revelation tells you how to apply your knowledge to a specific situation you are confronted with in order to get the best results.

Take for instance the jailer in today’s Bible reading; by asking Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, it shows he already had the knowledge that salvation was available, but he did not know how to get it. It also shows that information was available on salvation at that time. Although he had obtained the knowledge about salvation, he remained in the dark and joined the authorities to punish and oppress innocent citizens, because he had no revelation on salvation. When eventually he caught the revelation of salvation through Jesus Christ, He received Jesus into his heart and restituted his ways. He washed, fed and took care of the same prisoners whose beating and imprisonment he had supervised. As long as you remain at the level of knowledge, you are bound to make series of mistakes or take regrettable steps concerning certain situations of life. Today, many people have information but lack revelation. They acquire knowledge but do not know how best to utilise it. Being religious is all about having knowledge. That is why you find out that the most religious people commit the greatest sins. Beloved, knowledge is not enough! You need revelation. This was the essence of Paul’s prayer in our memory verse. Call on God to give you revelation concerning the things you know. Revelation links you with the purpose of a thing, in order to optimise that purpose.

Action Point

Religion fanatics like Saul of old persecute other religious people, because they have knowledge but lack revelation. Pray that God will reveal Himself to them.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Monday 30th November, 2015.

KNOWING HIM IS LIFE.

Memorise

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving-kindness, judgement, and rightousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
- Jeremiah 9:24.

Read: Jeremiah 9:23-24.

23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Message

Life is not what many people think it is. It is not about financial or material abundance; neither is it about physical endowments. Life is definitely not about power, achievements or worldly wisdom. What then is life? Jesus answers this question in John 17:3

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

True life is knowing God and Jesus Christ. In today’s Bible reading, God instructs us not to boast of our wisdom, might or riches. He said if we want to boast, we should boast in what we know about Him. When you engage in such boasting, the essence is not to flaunt your knowledge like some people do today; rather, it is to rejoice in the fact that God has revealed Himself to you to that extent. Why should you take pleasure in knowing God? Why should knowing God be something you should be proud of? It is because knowing God can do certain powerful things in your life and in the lives of others around you.

“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel 11:32.

By the revelation of God given to Daniel, we are made to understand that knowing God produces strength and exploits. What kind of exploits are being referred to here? When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and you daily increase in the knowledge of the Holy Trinity, you will not only have eternal life, but the life of God will also be channelled through you to others. For instance, you will lay your hands on the blind, and as the divine life flows through you to such a fellow, he will begin to see. When you pray for the barren, the divine life will cause her to conceive. This is life! When your life begins to bring joy to the lives of many others, that is life. The life of God flowing through you will make you the light of the world, causing those in darkness to see. The divine life will also make you the salt of the earth, giving good taste to a tasteless world. This life of God is not predicated upon the material world but on the relationship you have with the Lord. How is your spiritual life? Have you gauged your spiritual life lately?

Prayer Point

Father, reveal Yourself to me, and help me to respond to You the way You expect me to.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Tuesday 1st December, 2015.

OVERCOMING BY PRAYER.

Memorise

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, pray that ye enter not into temptation.
- Luke 22:40.

Read: Luke 22:39-41.

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Message

The moment you gave your life to Jesus Christ, a battle line was drawn between you and the kingdom of darkness. Unhappy that he has lost you to God’s kingdom, Satan’s main goal is to secure your return to his kingdom. One major tool he tries to use in accomplishing this mission is temptation. The devil and his agents will bring temptations your way to make you to do things that would break your relationship with God. This is where prayer comes in. prayer is one veritable tool that prevents you from falling into Satan’s traps. This is why Jesus urged His disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Luke 22:40 says:

“And when he was at the place, he said unto them, pray that ye enter not into temptation.”

When you pray, the strength to overcome temptations is released to you. A Christian who fails to pray will sooner or later become a victim of the tempter. The extent to which you will overcome temptations is determined by how robust your prayer life is. If you have been raising and falling so often, check your prayer life and the way you study God’s word. If you can improve on both, you will experience more stability in your faith.

One of the modus operandi of Satan is to show you dazzling sights that could tempt you to follow him. In other words, he presents an object of temptation in a bright and attractive way; repainting an evil thing in brilliant and attractive colours. For instance, a prostitute is labelled a commercial sex worker, in order to support the excuse that he or she is simply trying to earn a living, whereas the essence of prostitution is fornication and adultery. In tempting people, the devil and his agents make sin look attractive and inviting, almost with an air of irresistibility. Prayer deadens these illusions by painting sin in its real colours. Every time you pray over an object of temptation, it becomes less inviting and less attractive. As you pray, the desire to sin is brought under subjection. Through prayer, we obtain grace to walk in the reality of the truth that our flesh has been crucified (Galatians 5:24). Prayer strengthens our spirit man and keeps the flesh where it belongs: crucified and dead on the cross of Calvary (Romans 6:6). It connects your spirit with the Holy Spirit and separates you from the devil, by moving your focus towards Heaven and away from the allure of the world. How prayerful are you? No believer in Christ can triumph without using the weapon of prayer.

Prayer Point

Father, please give me the grace to pray like Jesus prayed while on earth.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Wednesday 2nd December, 2015.

THE GOD OF PURPOSE.

Memorise

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
- Ephesians 1:11.

Read: Ephesians 1:9-12.

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Message

Our God is a meticulous God. He does not do anything without first planning for it. His plans are sometimes mapped out thousands or millions of years before they are executed. We need to learn from this character of God and apply its principles in our life. Before God created man, He knew that the first Adam would fall into sin, and so He began to make preparation for the second Adam. In the same vein, before you were created, God knew all the details about you. Because He knew your strengths and weaknesses, He prepared the appropriate help you would need to succeed, even before you were born. If you can draw very close to God, He will share a bit of His foreknowledge with you. Do most events take you by surprise, or do they occur as a fulfilment of what God had already shown you? Also, at what point do you plan for events and activities that you know would happen? For example, at what point do you plan for your children: is it long before they are born, just before they are born or after their birth?

Not only does our God plan, He also has a purpose behind everything He does. That is why Ephesians 1:11 says:

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"

We are all products of His divine purpose. Believe it or not, everything and everyone created by God has a purpose (Revelation 4:11, Jeremiah 1:4-5). God has a general plan into which His specific plan for your life fits. You were created unique, and you are one of a kind. There can never be another you among all the billions of people on earth.

The exact details of your life are in God's hands. Although God has a specific plan for everyone He created, it is unfortunate that only a negligible few ever get to know and fulfil that plan. Do you know why you are here? Do you know why God made you? Have you keyed into the purpose of God for your life? Are you where God wants you to be and doing what He wants you to do? You need to know that when God is working in you and through you, it is to accomplish His purpose and not yours, even though He grants you your own desires sometimes. Have you keyed into His plan for your life?

Prayer Point

Father, I submit to Your plan and purpose for my life. Help me to recognise them, and keep me from straying from them.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Thursday 3rd December, 2015.

THE HOLY GOD.

Memorise

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
- Psalm 22:3.

Read: Exodus 15:9-11.

9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Message

Holiness is an intrinsic part of God's nature; it is His very essence. Everything about Him is wrapped up in holiness. His love, mercy, power, justice, glory and all of His character reflect His holiness. Every action of God is designed to perpetuate His holiness. When He exhibits love, it is borne out of His holiness. If He is angry, it is because of His holiness. When He judges sin, it is out of His holiness. In His dealings with all His creatures, whether in Heaven, on earth or beneath the earth, one theme rings out: holiness. No wonder the seraphs in His presence keep repeating "Holy, Holy, Holy".

Isaiah 6:3 says this about them:
"And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

Similarly, Apostle John reports of the four beasts in Heaven who do not rest day and night as they chant:
"...Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
Revelations 4:8.

In the same vein, Psalm 48:1 says God's mountain is the mountain of holiness, while Psalm 93:5 says God's house is holiness. His glory also is reflective of His holiness, hence in Exodus 15:11, He is said to be "glorious in holiness". Furthermore, in Isaiah 35:8, His way is called the way of holiness. As a result of these, it is very easy to trace God's address in Heaven. If you want to visit Him, simply ask for holiness way, mountain of holiness, holiness house, holiness throne, glory of holiness, and you will meet God Himself who is holiness personified!
If you understand how holy God is, then you will appreciate why He cannot stand sin in any form. When God called you out of sin, He called you into holiness. Jesus understands the Father perfectly, hence He used His Father's measure of perfection as the standard we should follow (Matthew 5:48). In other words, we should blend into God to the extent that His holiness will flow through us. You cannot be holy on your own. Nobody can. But if you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are at the starting point. From there, God will give you the grace to be holy as you submit to Him, obey Him and flee from sin.

Prayer Point

Father, let Your nature of holiness flow seamlessly through me every second from today.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Friday 4th December, 2015.

MEAL OF REMEMBERANCE.

Memorise

And when he had given thanks,he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
- 1 Corinthians 11:24.

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (KJV).

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

Message

The Holy Communion is a very significant meal. Unlike regular meals, it is a meal of remembrance. When some people take this meal, they forget to heed the instruction in today's Bible reading, where the Lord repeatedly said "...this do in remembrance of Me". In other words, the meal reminds us of God's power of transformation. As you take the meal, God is saying to you:

"Remember who you were before, and what I have made you now; remember how you were dead in sin and trespasses, but the Holy Spirit has now quickened your spirit man. You were dumped and disowned before I received you and sealed you with the Holy Spirit. Remember how you thought you could buy salvation by being religious and buying things for your church before the Holy Spirit illuminated your mind and showed you the true way of salvation."

The meal of remembrance simply calls you to remember your past life and compare it with what God is doing in you presently.

When I consider just a few things from my past life, and compare them with what I see today, I cannot but be full of appreciation and gratitude to God, thanking Him for all He has done. Sometimes, while in the car, as I express gratitude to God, my driver would have to look back, wondering what is going on. Looking at my past, nobody would believe that I could become what I am today. After news about me reached the ears of my mathematics professor, he travelled all the way from Onitsha (South-East Nigeria) to the Redemption Camp, just to confirm if the Adeboye he was hearing about was that the same little boy whom he taught mathematics. The first time he came, I was not in, but my wife was; so he met my wife and asked her if I was the one, and she confirmed it. He later visited again, and this time around he met me. As we discussed, in astonishment, he kept on saying, "Adeboye! Adeboye!", and I replied "Sir". In all you do, don't forget who you were before the Holy Spirit took you up. As you take the Holy Communion, remember where you are coming from and where the Lord has taken you so far. See His goodness in your life and just thank and praise Him.

Action Point

Reflect over what your life was before you met Jesus and what it is today; thank God for all He has done for you.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Saturday 5th December, 2015.

THE NATURE OF LOVE.

Memorise

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
- 1 John 3:1.

Read: John 3:16-17 (KJV).

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Message

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
- John 3:16.

This scripture is often used in reaching out to sinners with the aim of winning them to the Saviour. It is a very well-known scripture, loaded with lessons, not just for reaching out to the lost, but also for those who have believed in Jesus Christ. From it, we learn that love gives. To demonstrate His love for the world, God had to give something. Giving is a means of expressing love. No matter how much you profess love, it may never be taken seriously until you give something. Also, we see that love gives its best. It is possible to give to a beggar without loving him. If you really love someone, it will be expressed through the quality of gift you give the person.
If we were to examine our claim of love for God by the gifts we give to Him, it would be difficult to believe our claim. Some people love God with their lips but not with their pockets. Some love God with their tongues but not with their hearts. The love some people profess to have towards God does not affect their substance, time or talent. How sincere is their love for God?

In addition, we learn from John 3:16 that love is sacrificial. God offered Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for the world (Ephesians 5:2). God had billions of angels but only one begotten Son. To redeem man from the slave market of sin, He could have chosen to offer one of His angels and not feel the pain of sacrifice, but He chose to offer His only begotten Son. That was most sacrificial! Giving the only thing you have is a huge sacrifice. Throughout eternity past, there had been no separation between God the Father and God the Son, not even for a second. But because of His love for us, while Jesus was bearing the sins of the whole world, God the Father had to take off His eyes from His Son (Mark 15:34). What a sacrifice! Do you love God? How sacrificial is that love? Can you afford to give your only car, house or even life to God for the love that you have for Him? When God considers your relationship with Him, will He see the true mark of love in it?

Key Point

True love is measured by its sacrificial nature.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Sunday 6th December, 2015.

UNDEFEATABLE?

Memorise

What should we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
- Romans 8:31.

Read: 1 Samuel 17:45-49.

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

Message

To be defeated is to be overcome by a physical, spiritual or circumstantial enemy. It could also mean failure to succeed or win in a war, contest, game or temptation. Defeat is usually accompanied with regret, sorrow, pain, shame and even death. It could also result in the loss of freedom, position, title, money and power. When Adam and Eve were defeated by Satan in the Garden of Eden, they lost their lives spiritually, lost their relationship with God, and their exalted position was gone. Out of deep regret and shame, they tried to hide themselves from the presence of the Almighty (Genesis 3:. Defeat is such a terrible experience that it can cause the defeated to conclude that death is better than life. When Samson, the champion of Israel, was defeated, he lost everything including his confidence and will to survive; so much so that he opted to die (Judges 16:30). In defeat, Ahithophel, the great counsellor, committed suicide (2 Samuel 17:23). I pray that you will never suffer defeat again in Jesus’ Name.
Meanwhile, defeat can be avoided by trusting in the Lord (Isaiah 26:3) and wearing the spiritual armour prescribed in the word of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). The story of David and Goliath is a good example of what a Christian can do to become un-defeatable (1 Samuel 17). David took a casual walk into the camp of the Israelites to deliver some bread and cheese to his brothers and the captain of their unit. He was not a trained warrior, neither was he in anyway prepared for the battle ahead. He only happened to hear the boastings of Goliath and was challenged by his offensive statements against the Lord. David’s state of mind as he approached the battle is revealed in 1 Samuel 17:47:

“And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.”
David defeated Goliath by trusting in the Lord and by relying on the power of His word. In 1 Samuel 17:45b, David declared:
…..I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”

In essence, David was saying: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Are you living a victorious life or wallowing in defeat? Do you want to remain undefeated? Give your life to Jesus now, trust in the Lord with all your heart and be assured that as long as God is on your side, no one can be against you.

Prayer Point

Father, please don’t let me ever suffer any kind of defeat again, in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Monday 7th December, 2015.

THE WAY INTO HIS PRESENCE.

Memorise

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- John 14:6.

Read: John 14:1-6.

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Message

The Lord Jesus is the way out of every unpleasant situation that anyone can ever experience. He is the way out of sorrow, sickness, death and embarrassment. He is Heaven's approved lifeline to those who are sinking. In any negative situation you find yourself, Jesus Christ will make a way out for you this season.

Moreover, besides being the way out, Jesus is also the way in. He is the way into the presence of God. No wonder He told Thomas in John 14:6 that:

"...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

One place you should long to be often is the presence of God. Every time you access God's presence, something good comes your way. The more you enter into God's presence, the more He causes His will in Heaven to prevail over your situation or circumstance on earth. As you enter His presence and stay there, a part of His glory rubs off on you; covering your shame and bringing you joy and laughter. God's presence is the place where you can find all the joy you need. In fact, your joy is made full in His presence (Psalm 16:11). These are just some of the many reasons why you should ensure you access God's presence daily.

To go into the presence of earthly kings and presidents is not an easy thing. By the grace of God, I have had the opportunity of visiting a few heads of states and presidents of nations. The first time I visited the head of a particular African nation, it was a very instructive experience. I had to go through multiple security checks. At the point of entry, there was security check. At the general reception, there was another security check. At the special reception, another check. Getting to the presidential reception, I underwent the final screening before accessing the presence of this head of state. After going through all these checks, I concluded that it was much easier getting into God's presence.

Thank God that all I have to do to get into the presence of God is to say "In the Name of Jesus". How often do you enter into God's presence with boldness by the Blood of Jesus? We are encouraged to do so in Hebrews 4:16:

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Action Point

The Blood of Jesus has made it easy to access God's presence; be thankful and give Him glory for it.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Tuesday 8th December, 2015.

BE MERCIFUL.

Memorise

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
- Matthew 6:12.

Read: Matthew 18:27-35.

Message

Mercy is an attitude of compassion, favour and care towards the unfortunate, afflicted and helpless. Mercy is an unmerited assistance that originates from the divine attributes of God, and it is grounded in His very nature. Mercy is a special prerogative of the Almighty God Himself, and therefore may not be properly defined in isolation of His person. Psalm 86:15 describes Him thus:

"But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."

Little wonder why in the Bible, acts of mercy are usually borne out of love, compassion, favour or grace. Several times, God's mercy is also described as enduring forever (1 Chronicles 16:34).

It is important to note that from the beginning, God has always applied mercy while handling human affairs. It was mercy that moved Him to make aprons for Adam and Eve after their sin caused His glory to depart from them (Genesis 3:21). Because of His mercy, He preserved Noah and His family (Genesis 7). The same mercy located Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David and the prophets. However, mercy was personified and more pronounced in the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. In all His interactions with people, the Bible recorded that He was always moved by love and compassion whenever He saw their afflictions and misery. Matthew 9:36 says:

"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

In essence, we are who we are in Christ because of God's mercy (Titus 3:5). Forgiveness, salvation, healing, deliverance, joy and everything we have in Christ are by the grace and mercy of God. So, as beneficiaries of His great mercy, we are commanded to show the same mercy to others. Luke 6:36 says:

"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."

God expects that His merciful dealings in our lives will move us to show mercy to others. Our Bible reading today paints a vivid picture of God's expectation of us as Christians, in relation to the issue of mercy. The master was displeased with the wicked servant because he refused to show mercy to his fellow servant. Above all, remember that obedience to the word of God is always handsomely rewarded; therefore, be merciful.

Prayer Point

Sweet Holy Spirit, fill my heart with God's mercy, and let it flow from me to my neighbours.

Open Heavens Devotional.

Wednesday 9th December, 2015.

TRUNCATING YOUR CHILD’S DESTINY?

Memorise

For, Io, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
- Judges 13:5.

Read: Judges 13:2-5.

2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

3 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Message

Because God is a God of purpose, He never does anything without a purpose. When He speaks, He has a purpose of what He says. When He laughs, there is also a purpose (Psalm 37:13). When He created you, it was for a purpose. May you fulfil God’s purpose for creating you in Jesus’ Name. Do you know that God’s plan and purpose for your life had been concluded long before He laid the foundations of the earth (Ephesians 1:3-5)? However, for you to fulfil this purpose, you need to understand it, and you need do everything to ensure it is not derailed. Our Bible reading shows how crucial it is to understand purpose. When an angel was sent to announce to Manoah’s wife that she would conceive and give birth to Samson, it was for a specific purpose: the child was to be set apart unto God as a Nazarite. One lesson here is that even when God has a specific purpose for a person, it is the responsibility of parents not to derail this purpose, right from the point of conception, until God’s plan is fulfilled. For example, if Samson’s mother had insisted on taking alcoholic drinks or eating anything classified as unclean after she had been warned by the angel, she would have derailed God’s purpose for Samson.

The plan of God for Samson was that the Holy Spirit would start working on him right from when he was in his mother’s womb; but if his mother had consumed alcohol, two spirits would have been at war in her: the Holy Spirit and the spirit of alcohol (a demonic spirit). Because the Holy Spirit would not work where the spirit of alcohol holds sway, Samson would never have become what God planned for him to be. This simply tells us that the physical and spiritual state of parents, particularly mothers, is of great importance, right from the conception of a child. The actions of a mother affect the foetus in her womb and can alter the destiny of a child. The actions of a pregnant woman who smokes cigarettes or marijuana, often takes alcohol or hard drugs such as cocaine and so on will definitely affect the baby in her womb. Sometimes, the physical structure of that baby is tampered with, leading to abnormal foetal development or deformities. Such children could even develop mental health issues and find it difficult to live normal lives. Worse still, if a child ends up being aborted, the destiny of that child is completely destroyed. Beloved mothers, abstain from anything that can cause harm to your unborn child! Do not be guilty of truncating your child’s destiny!

Action Point

You will give account of all the children who came into this world through you. Be careful!

Open Heavens Devotional.

Thursday 10th December, 2015.

YE ARE MY WITNESSES.

Memorise

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
- Isaiah 43:10.

Read: 1Kings 18:36-39.

36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

Message

A witness is an observer, who having witnessed the occurrence of an event, gives a full and accurate account of what happened. God emphasizes the role and importance of witnessing. He has also given detailed instructions about the conduct of witnesses, whether in evangelism, legal processing or in general affairs of the church. In several passages of the Bible, God repeatedly called on us to be His witnesses (Isaiah 43:12b, Luke 24:48). Mostly importantly, Jesus in Acts 1:8 said this to His disciples:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

This confirms that one of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to equip and empower the Body of Christ for the purpose of witnessing. Therefore, witnessing is a major assignment of the Church. The role of Christians as witnesses is not limited to our immediate community; rather it extends to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Why is witnessing so important that God lays so much emphasis on it? First and foremost, it is to prove Him as the only true God who created all things by His wisdom and determines the course of all things (Acts 17:24-28). Whenever God says “ye are My witnesses”, it is to prove Him as a covenant keeping God who always brings His words to pass in the life of His people (Numbers 23:19). The emphasis on witnessing is also to prove that human disobedience is always as a result of unbelief and unwarranted stubborn rebellion. So, we are to constantly testify or witness about sin and righteousness to ourselves as believers, and against the ungodly people of this world (Isaiah 59:12, Mathew 24:14).
Finally, the emphasis on witnessing may also indicate a systematic build-up of evidence against those who refuse to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Jude 1:15 reveals that heaven will present convincing evidence against the ungodly on the day of judgement. Be warned, Jesus is coming soon!

Prayer Point

Father, I surrender all to You today, please wipe away all evil reports that testify against me, and help me to live holy from this day onward in Jesus name.