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OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2016

Tuesday March 1, 2016

CAST AND CATCH

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

Read : Luke 5:4-7

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.


MESSAGE :

There are rewards for righteous behaviour and there are punishments for evil deeds. The person who gives freely will never lack any good thing while the one who believes that there is wisdom in being stingy will never receive anything. There are some people who mainly focus on their wealth. They are never concerned about the welfare of others. Unfortunately, they are short-changing themselves because when you don't give, you can never have an opportunity to be blessed.

After speaking to the multitude from Peters boat, He told him to launch out into the deep, and the miracle of that catch was so evident that it had a lasting impact on all the beholders, this is what is considered the quality of a true miracle.

There is a user of this devotional, I decree in the Name that is above all names, my father will give you a mouthwatering miracle in Jesus' Name. It doesn't matter how hard things may be, your blessings will be daily manifested to the world in Jesus' Name. There is nothing as pleasant as the Lord instructing you. The moment I hear my father instructing me on anything, it doesn't matter how hard it may be, I obey, knowing that it will always end in favour. The reason some people withhold what they have is because they don't want it to leave their hands, but in the economy of God, whatever leaves your hand does not leave your life, it will always bring forth a great harvest.

From the Experience of Peter and his colleagues, their nets broke so bad that they had to beckon on others for help. I always said this; there is at least one of my children who when he goes to the bank to deposit money, because of how much the money usually is, the bank closes for 3 days. And I believe this will be your portion in Jesus' Name.

No matter how hard it is to believe, God is not bothered, because He will still do what He wants to do just to show the world that He is God.

In the words of a hymn writer, you must always remember that you are not your own, you are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ). Give your whole life to Jesus; let Him take all your moments and your days. Withhold not your hands from moving for him. Let him take all your moments and your days. Withhold not your hands from moving for Him. Let your feet be swift in His business. The moment we give our lives to the Lord. We become partners with Christ. Just as in a partnership, there are normal partners and there are active partners. This is equally applicable in your relationship with Christ; you cannot put in your all and lack any good things. Some people have money, but some of the most precious things in life is priceless. God has divinely selected you so that He can be glorified in your life. Peter waited on the Lord with his boat. He wasn't in a hurry, he did not see himself wasting away while others were busy catching fish, and one instruction from God made the results of others pale in comparison to his. As you wait on the Lord with your sacrifice, service and gifts, the Almighty God who controls the times and seasons will give you an unprecedented breakthrough in Jesus' Name.


KEY POINT :
If you honour God, He will honour you in return.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
John 5:19-6:59;
Job 30:24-31:4

Day 50, Monday 29th February, 2016

1) Thank God for sustaining us through the 50 days of fasting and Prayer.

2) Thank God for answered prayers

3) Thank God for granting us the strength to grow through the 50 days fast. I Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 18:46-50

4) Glorify God for speedy answers to prayer request presented to Him.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MONDAY FEBRUARY 29 2016

CHILDREN! FOLLOW THE WAY.

MEMORISE :
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: PROVERBS 1 : 8.

READ : EPHESIANS 6 : 1 - 3 :
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Message

The Bible teaches that children have mandatory responsibilities to their parents. As a matter of fact, Children owe their parents certain important duties that include the obligation to respect, honour and obey them. Children are the heritage of the Lord and God has a special interest in their well-being. Meanwhile God is a disciplinarian as revealed in Revelation 3 : 19 : “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

God has decided to commit the discipline of children to their parents as caretakers for Him; therefore, children must cooperate with their parents to make the work easy for their own benefit. Obedience in this respect attracts long life and prosperity.
If you invested so much in your children, but have retired and they are gainfully employed, yet they ignore you, will you be happy with them? Some fathers have placed curses on their children for neglecting them. A righteous child will not neglect his parents at any time. He will make sure that those of them that are not saved are led to Jesus. After all, that is the greatest gift he can give them. Besides that, he will ensure that they have a roof over their heads and their needs are met in the area of feeding, clothing, healthcare, etc.

God has joined children to their parents as partners in progress. For two people to work in agreement, they must see and mind the same thing. They must be focused on the same goal.

God’s focus is that children have parents that will be godly examples to them, while making efforts to bring them up in the way of the Lord. God wants parents that will introduce their children to Him at very tender ages, so that they may learn to obey God and become familiar with His commandments, worship and fellowship. Children should be careful not to be a source of sorrow and pain to their parents. Proverbs 17 : 25 says :
“A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.”

I pray that God in His mercy will visit every Christian home and intervene in the life of every wayward child today in the Name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT :
Father, please help me to always accept correction joyfully in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOHN 4 :30 - 5 : 18 AND JOB 30 : 16 - 23.

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2016

Sunday February 28, 2016

LOVE, THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW II

Memorise: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God,
and keep his commandments.- 1st John 5:2

Read: 1st Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.


MESSAGE :

The memory verse for today tells us in very strict terms the godly means of measuring love among brethren. Any show of love that does not stem from the love of God and obedience of His commandments, should be considered fake and deceptive.

It should be noted that the focus of Apostle Paul here is not on the fulfilment of the Mosaic Law, but rather about the biblical principle as established by God for Christian practice. This is to cement in our hearts the teachings of Jesus which emphasizes that we are not operating under the law anymore, but under the love of Christ. Living under the grace and liberty of Jesus empowers humanity first to love God and then to love one another.

The big question is, in what sense does love fulfil the totality of the law? And, how does the idea of fulfilling the law through love compare to doing the works of the law? Romans 13:9-10, says:

“For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

The answer to the above question is embedded in this passage. Accordingly, if the love of God is shed abroad in your heart, you will be able to fulfil the law without grumbling, but with joy. This is why Paul reduced the commandments to only one, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”

As I have often counselled my children, Love can insulate you from the pain, discouragement, and difficulties associated with any given task. Love can reduce the length of an assignment from years to days by fulfilling each day with excitement, hope and fun. Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, because of the love he had for her (Genesis 29:20).

No price is too much to pay for the one you love. Jacob served a total of 14 years waiting for Rachel, but did not realize he had waited that long, if a man truly loves a woman, he will be prepared to wait for her to be ready before marriage. The one who loves you will not compel you to sleep with him before you are married. To the world, one faulty yardstick for measuring love is one’s readiness to go into pre-marital sex. Anyone who claims to love you but cannot wait for you to be ready before you go into marriage does not truly love you. Love is not hasty but patient. Anyone who is not ready to pay a price for you does not really love you.

Furthermore, obedience is the natural result of love. You will never want to disobey or rebel against the authority of someone you truly love. All the vices mentioned in the above passage such as adultery, murder, stealing, false witness, covetousness, and others are not compatible with love, rather, they are all contrary to love. It is absolutely impossible to think about doing any of these to your neighbour while also claiming to love God. This is contrary to the Word of God (1st John 4:20)

PRAYER POINT :
Father, please help me to love you and my neigbours in pratical terms in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
John 3:16-4:30;
Job 30:9-16

DAY 48, Saturday 27th February, 2016
ENLARGED TERRITORY!
Prayer Points:

1. Father, Let Me Experience Enlargement Over Every Area Of My Life In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! 1 Chronicles 4:9-11

2. Lord, Let Your Hand Be Upon Me. I Declare No Restrictions To Preaching Of The Gospel In Our Land In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Ezra 8:21-23

3. Father, Let Your Hand Be Upon Our Churches Let Signs And Wonders Be A Daily Occurrence In Our Churches In The Name Of Jesus. Amen!, 1 Corinthians 4:20, Acts 4:33, Acts 5:15-16

4. Ask God To Pour Out His Holy Spirit Upon Our Nation And Bring Revival That Will increase Our Churches In Numbers, Wealth, Influence, Power And Authority In The Name Of Jesus. Amen!Joel 2:28

5. Declare a change of status In Every Area Of Your Life For Divine Change And Improvement In Churches That Divine Wisdom And Instruction Will Flow From The Pulpit In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Genesis 32:28

6. Declare That You Will Multiply! Nations Shall Come Out Of You And Your Children Shall Reign As Kings And Queens On Earth In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Genesis 35:11

7. Ask God For Wisdom And Deep Understanding So That Nothing Will Ever Overwhelm You In Life As You Operate In Enlargement In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! 1 Kings 4:29

8. Confess You Have Carried Your Dream Long Enough! You Have Held Onto The Promises Of God Long Enough. Declare That This Is Now Your Time To Enter And Break Forth Into Enlargement In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Isaiah 66:9

9. Ask God To Come Into Every Situation That Constitutes A Mountain In Your Life Such That Through Him You Overcome. Declare To God That You Will Not Let Him Go Until He Blesses You And You Conquer This Mountain In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Psalm 18:29, Genesis 32:26

10. Renounce Every Negative Pronouncement From Your Ancestors And Those Who Have Parental And Spiritual Authority Over You That Has Been Keeping Your Enlargement On Hold! Declare Them Null And Void With The Blood Of Jesus. Ask God To Activate Every Man He Has Ordained To Connect You To Your Enlargement In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Daniel 5:9-12, Genesis 41:14, Exodus 17:12

B. Add Your Personal Prayer Request For Day Forty-Eight! Make Your Personal Requests Known With Thanksgiving! Philippians 4:6

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2016

LOVE, THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW I

Memorise:
These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17

Read: 1st Corinthians 13:1-3

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Message

The Bible takes the subject of love so seriously that love is equated to the sum total of all the commandments of God. The Bible goes further to say that love is the fulfilment of the law. The use of the word ‘law’ in the New Testament sense, is usually a reference to all the commandments and statutes recorded in the Old Testament and specifically those in the first five books of the Bible known as the books of Moses (Pentateuch). Now, the reality that God equates love to the whole of the Old Testament commandments is a serious food for thought. The Bible in 1st Corinthians 13:1-2 says:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
The above passage speaks clearly about the importance of love and how children of God should view or rate love on the scale of spirituality. Here, God compared some special spiritual gifts of uncommon value to love. Speaking in the tongues of men and angels seems to mean the ability to speak in heavenly tongues and at the same time interpret it in the language of men. This has always been a very rare gift which is highly sought after in the body of Christ, yet, anyone with this rare gift but without love, is described as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. In essence, such is viewed by God as a mere noise-maker. Furthermore, the Bible says if one should have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries and have all knowledge, even if the person should have enough faith to do great miracles, without love, such a person amounts to nothing in the eyes of God. This simply means that love is the golden rule by which whatever gifts we exhibit and whatever services we offer to God are measured.

Therefore, love is the ultimate commandment. Romans 13:10 says:
“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
As I always ask my children, do you truly love God? What price have you paid as proof of that love? If you love what you do, it will be easy to do it with all your heart. Love is missing in our fellowship with God today. All you get from some is lip service. This is professing love without backing it up with physical evidence. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”. Your service to God must come from your heart, borne out of love. The service that pleases God is one from the heart rendered in love, as God is love. If you are born again, you have the capacity to manifest agape love. To what extent does this love manifest itself in your life and service? Do you know that faith requires the oil of love to operate effectively? (Galatians 5:6). Add love to your faith and you begin to bask in the glory of God, because He will equally respond out of greater love and your life will never be the same again.

Prayer Point

Father, help me to love You with all my heart in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 1:1-3:15 and Job20:21-30:8

Day 47, Friday 26th February, 2016
PRAYER FOR NEW BEGINNING

1) Lord, anoint all members of RCCG to excel, Daniel. 5:14, Deuteronomy. 28:13

2) Lord, anoint your church with fresh oil, Psalm 92:10

3) Lord, grant all members power to prosper this year in Jesus Name, Deuteronomy. 8:18

4) Lord, Let your church arise and shine in year 2016 in Jesus Name, Isaiah 60:1

This is an act of wickedness, d woman shld be prosecuted according to d law

Day 45, Wednesday 24th February, 2016

1) Father, renew your fire and passion for the work of the ministry in me.

2) I declare that my walk with the Lord will not be in vain, Philippians 2:16, 1 Corinthians 15:58

3) I declare that as I walk with the Lord, I will not fail Him.

4) Declare that as you receive strength and grace for the work that your strength is made perfect in Him.

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2016

Wednesday February 24, 2016

ARE YOU PREPARED?

Memorise: Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 14:1

Read: 2nd Timothy 4:6-8

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.


MESSAGE :

In the Bible, the word ‘Heaven’ is often used in three ways: to described a physical part of the universe which is above the sky, the prevailing condition whenever God reigns in the affairs of men, and the invisible dwelling place of God, also known as paradise.

Today’s devotional focuses on the need to prepare for heaven, the dwelling place of God, and what such a preparation entails. First, the Bible presents heaven as the dwelling place of God, where His manifest presence is a permanent feature, as He is the only source of light there. Because of the constant presence of God in heaven, it is a place of extreme joy and peace. Heaven is also a place of recognition, reward, celebration, and total rest from trouble. Holiness is the only acceptable currency in heaven.

Several passages of the Bible stress life’s misery and brevity using two vivid metaphors of “a fading flower or withering grass” and “a swiftly passing shadow”. That life offers little joy, peace and satisfaction is well known even to children. Also, all human beings are familiar with the progressive labour, pain, insecurity, sorrow, and disappointments that we all have to endure as long as we are alive. Furthermore, the concepts of death and the afterlife presented in the Bible reveals the God had purposely packaged heaven as the final destination for all humans that pass the entrance examination. John 14:2-3 says:

“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. 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.”

This is an expression of God’s love and mercy to all human beings. Out of this everlasting love, the Almighty God has convincingly and systematically revealed His eternal plans and purposes to humanity, about how we are created to start our lives here on earth for the singular purpose of doing the perfect will of God. This is to enable us live our lives in ways that honour God in all things, for the ultimate goal of spending eternity with Him in heaven. Therefore, the above passage makes it very clear that heaven is being specially prepared only for those who are prepared to do whatever it takes to enter. I therefore pray that God will help our preparations and graciously admit us into heaven in Jesus’ name.

Now, Matthew 19:23 says that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven, not because riches and wealth are evil, nor because heaven was made only for the poor, but because the typical characteristics of affluent people are contrary to the will of God. Such behaviours include pride and confidence in human wisdom, fame, achievements, money, and power. Anyone found with these will not enter into heaven. The truth is; Jesus extends the promise of heaven to all who come to Him by faith without classifications such as financial status, gender, age, culture or nationality. Matthew 18:3 says except a person is converted and becomes a little child in faith, total submission and obedience to the will of God, he or she will not enter into heaven.

Finally, Matthew 7:21 says, not all churchgoers will be admitted into heaven, but only those that operate in the will of God. The big question is, are you prepared for heaven?

ACTION POINT :
Father, please whatever will make me miss heaven; take it out of my life in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Luke 19:28-21:24;
Job 28:7-19

DAY 44, Tuesday 23rd February, 2016
PRAYER FOR SUPERNATURAL ABUNDANCE
Prayer Points:
1. Father, Give Me Wisdom And Understanding To Operate In Enlargement In The Name Of Jesus. Amen!

2. Father, I Declare That I Enter And Break Forth Into Enlargement In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Psalm 4:1

3. Father, I Will Not Let You Go Until You Bless Me And I Conquer This Mountain In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Psalm 18:29, Genesis 32:26

4. Lord, Activate Every Man You Have Ordained To Connect Me To My Enlargement In The Name Of Jesus. Amen!Daniel 5:9-12, Genesis 41:14, Exodus 17:12

5. Supernatural Progress And Abundance Is My Portion! I Will Be Selected From The Crowd For Lifting Up And Enlargement This Year 2016 And Beyond In The Name Of Jesus. Amen!

6. Father, You Sent Jesus For Us To Live In Abundance! I Take Divine Authority And Prevail Over Every Enemy Who Wants To Steal, To Kill And To Destroy My Abundant Life In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! John 10:10

7. Every Pharaoh And His Plans Against My Divine Supernatural Abundance Shall Fail In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Exodus 1:16

8. Father, This Season Make My Insurmountable Problems To Crumble At Your Feet! We Shall March Forward Into Progress! Upliftment! Peace And Joy That Will Lead To My Supernatural Abundance In The Name Of Jesus. Amen! Joshua 6:20

9. Father, This Is The Confidence That We Have In Jesus That Everything We Have Asked You According To Is Will You Hear And Grant Our Request In The Name Of Jesus. Amen!

10. Choose Your Song Of Praise And Worship To Adore God Because There Shall Be A Performance And A Fulfilment In The Name Of Jesus. Amen!

B. Add Your Personal Prayer Request For Day Forty- Four! Make Your Personal Requests Known With Thanksgiving! Philippians 4:6

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2016

Tuesday February 23, 2016

HOW OLD ARE YOU?

Memorise : So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.- Psalms 90:12

Read : Psalms 90:1-12

1 LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.


MESSAGE :

The theme of Psalm 90 focuses on making the most of the short lifespan that we have as mortal human beings. The passage speaks of death as returning to dust, and discusses the total lifespan of man as being transitory, like an ordinary grass of the field. It also describes what humans proudly refers to as glorious years as a short lifespan spend serious labour and great sorrow.

Therefore, Psalm 90 discusses the concept of human life with such an unpleasant and derogatory language that it calls to mind the need to find a way of making the best out of life. The situation is made worse by the complimentary witness of other Bible passages such as Ecclesiastes 1:2:

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Job 14:1-2 that's says :

MAN that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Furthermore, the experiences of life tallies with the Word of God in the most perfect sense, as revealed in the biblical testimonies of people such as Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Esther, Ruth,David, Solomon, Elijah, John the Baptist, and the Apostles. The Stories of the life of these people of God are full of hard labour, uncertainty, disappointment, betrayal, persecution,failure, and death. Though there people were mostly prophets and anointed kings, yet their stories show that they ended well only by divine intervention.

Bible scholars generally identified Moses as the author of Psalm 90. The counsel of this great prophet who succeeded in life despite having his own fair of troubles and tribulations should therefore be taken seriously. Psalms 90:12 says :

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

True wisdom comes from God alone and it is quite different from worldly wisdom that is based on human cleverness, insight, and intuition without Gods revelation which brings little profit. This passage speakers of the ability to make the most of our time in this world, despite the brevity of life. To do this require a new understanding of the Meaning of life. To number our days is to value the time we have by using it for eternal purposes. Focusing on eternity which then produces a heart of wisdom, enables a child of God to live in line with the word of God.

Godly wisdom is made available by digging deep into the Word of God. It is received through total submission to the will of God, impacted to Christians by Gods Holy Spirit, and graciously given in response to the fervent prayers of the saints of God. As you begin to dip deeper into the Word of God in total submission to His will in prayers, He will pour down His heavenly wisdom upon your life in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINT :
Father, please fill me with the wisdom to excel in life and ministry in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Luke 17:11-19:27;
Job 27:13-28:6

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2016

Tuesday February 23, 2016

HOW OLD ARE YOU?

Memorise : So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.- Psalms 90:12

Read : Psalms 90:1-12

1 LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.


MESSAGE :

The theme of Psalm 90 focuses on making the most of the short lifespan that we have as mortal human beings. The passage speaks of death as returning to dust, and discusses the total lifespan of man as being transitory, like an ordinary grass of the field. It also describes what humans proudly refers to as glorious years as a short lifespan spend serious labour and great sorrow.

Therefore, Psalm 90 discusses the concept of human life with such an unpleasant and derogatory language that it calls to mind the need to find a way of making the best out of life. The situation is made worse by the complimentary witness of other Bible passages such as Ecclesiastes 1:2:

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Job 14:1-2 that's says :

MAN that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Furthermore, the experiences of life tallies with the Word of God in the most perfect sense, as revealed in the biblical testimonies of people such as Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Esther, Ruth,David, Solomon, Elijah, John the Baptist, and the Apostles. The Stories of the life of these people of God are full of hard labour, uncertainty, disappointment, betrayal, persecution,failure, and death. Though there people were mostly prophets and anointed kings, yet their stories show that they ended well only by divine intervention.

Bible scholars generally identified Moses as the author of Psalm 90. The counsel of this great prophet who succeeded in life despite having his own fair of troubles and tribulations should therefore be taken seriously. Psalms 90:12 says :

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

True wisdom comes from God alone and it is quite different from worldly wisdom that is based on human cleverness, insight, and intuition without Gods revelation which brings little profit. This passage speakers of the ability to make the most of our time in this world, despite the brevity of life. To do this require a new understanding of the Meaning of life. To number our days is to value the time we have by using it for eternal purposes. Focusing on eternity which then produces a heart of wisdom, enables a child of God to live in line with the word of God.

Godly wisdom is made available by digging deep into the Word of God. It is received through total submission to the will of God, impacted to Christians by Gods Holy Spirit, and graciously given in response to the fervent prayers of the saints of God. As you begin to dip deeper into the Word of God in total submission to His will in prayers, He will pour down His heavenly wisdom upon your life in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINT :
Father, please fill me with the wisdom to excel in life and ministry in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Luke 17:11-19:27;
Job 27:13-28:6

moscobabs:
j
thanks op for this .....the charge dies not effect we masses as though .

.Biz men will suffer it more. if I transfer into your current account expect to pay #50 o. me have only one current account with stanbic and na salary account my 3 other banks na saving so Im safe.. lol

but My own salary current account is being chrged nah by Fidelity Bank

Me wey Fidelity dey charge #50 for my salary acct(current account), wetin I go do nah

CastedDude:
I am telling u... she's already filled with so much hatred and pain...she needs CHANGE

not dis type of negative changee we are witnessing in dis country o

Remii:
bros, even GEJ made mistake about "How much did Nwobodo "stole" ........... It is called slip of tongue. We need to be worried about the revelation in her comment not the gaffe. JAMB guys have been conniving with some cabal to clean out, their forms and scratch card should be less than N200 if they are making N16B without remittance to govt after FGN paid their salaries and operational expenses.

what **mouth agape** change! Changee!! Changeee ooo

Day 43, Monday 22nd February, 2016
Father, reveal to me your agenda and plan for the next level of my life.

Father, give me the revelation of who I am in you.

Declare that the Lord will single you out and cause you to rise up amongst your peers. 2 Kings 9:2

Father, let our leaders follow your leading and anoint their eyes to see beyond the natural.

Father, release your power, might, strength and ability upon me.

Lesson to Bubu; being brash doesn't pay sometimes

Maj. Gen. Paul Ufuoma Omu (rtd), soldier and administrator, rose to the rank of Major-General and was a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, AFRC before his exit from the army in 1990. Omu served as military governor of the South-Eastern State during the Murtala Mohammed administration and was a point man of the Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade between 1984 and 1985 when he served as chairman of one of the feared military tribunals established by that government to try alleged corrupt politicians.
Omu also served as director-general of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS before his recent engagement as chairman of the board of the institute.
Omu is married to Stella, a former senator who rose to become the Senate Chief Whip and in that position became the first and only female president pro tempore of the Senate.
In this interview he shares his views on the events that culminated in the death of Gen. Murtala Muhammed forty years ago among other issues. Excerpts:

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Ochuko Akuopha

It has been a quiet life since you disengaged from the military. What have you been really doing?

It has been a quiet life since I was born. Even in active service, I was not known to be a loud person; I have been quiet from youth till I joined the army and retired, so there has been no difference at all.

Why did you choose this quiet retirement to your community above the common practice of generals taking to partisan politics after retirement?
I gave that background that it is my nature. The army didn’t change me and politics certainly is not for me. I prefer my quiet life and that is why I retired home. I have been home now for 25 years since I retired and that is my life; I am not involved even in local politics.

But you are the immediate past President General of the Isoko Development Union, IDU. That’s more like local politics?
The IDU is non-political. It is a socio-cultural organization and it wasn’t like I wanted to be PG. There was a crisis and they pleaded with me to come to rescue and bring some sanity into the system and that was what I did for two years. As you know, I have handed over to a younger person to carry on.

There was stability for the two years I came in. I told them I was a PDP card carrying member, but that doesn’t make me a politician. I can vote but I didn’t seek for political office. Being in IDU is sheer community service; it has nothing to do with politics.

You were one of the key players when the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed was Head of State. Can you share your personal view about the life and times of the former Head of State and what he stood for?

This question is a difficult one because when you talk about your former boss, you have to be very careful of what you say. Muhammed was an outgoing and very energetic person and when he took over government, he had to appoint people to assist him; that is, governors to take over the states and ministers to run the ministries and so on.

I was in far away Maiduguri as Brigade Commander then when, on the radio, I was appointed military governor of South Eastern State, now Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. So that was my first direct relationship, because in the army he was in the Signals while I was in the Infantry. We really did not work close together before the government in which he became Head of State and I was military governor under him.


Gen. Omu
He was very energetic and hard working and sometimes he was brash. When I say brash, I mean he was in a hurry to get things happen. Unfortunately, he could not achieve much before he was assassinated. We came on board with him in August 1975 and in February 1976, he was assassinated. I didn’t work with him that close for up to one year.

The public knew the man as full of integrity and plans to change Nigeria positively. From your position what were some of those specific aspirations and strategies that his government intended to achieve?

For instance, there was this much controversial issue of the sack of civil servants, the reorganization of the civil service.

Security and protocol

It wasn’t a popular move, but he did it and it drove some fear into the system. Then another major thing was his choice of Abuja as Federal Capital Territory. Those were parts of the major landmarks of his administration.

But generally as I was saying, he was a very brash man. Sometimes he didn’t care whose ox was gored. He was a very vibrant young man but unfortunately, he couldn’t carry everyone along before he was assassinated.

Actually it was all because of a breach of security and protocol. They advised him to go with escort, but he was saying he was popular and doubted if anyone would kill him? He didn’t move into Government House at that time from his residence where he was as a military officer. He would go to work like that in Dodan Barracks. He didn’t move into Dodan Barracks as he was living in the army official residence in Ikoyi.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/how-murtalas-brashness-cost-him-his-life-gen-omu/

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MONDAY FEBURARY 22 2016.

APOSTATE OR REFORMER?

MEMORISE :

Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. JAMES 5 : 4.

READ : 1 KINGS 18 : 41 - 46 :

41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Message

Apostasy in Christendom refers to religious rebellion. It is the withdrawal of loyalty or a breaking away from the leadership or authority of God. An apostate is a practicing Christian that once pledge allegiance to God and the Bible doctrines, then afterwards turned back to live contrary to his avowed belief and declaration of faith. On the other hand, a reformer refers to a person that is making efforts to bring back those that strayed from godly commitments, to the proper form of Christian life. A reformer would do everything possible to instruct apostates, Christians and unbelievers, in the complete renewal of biblical instructions of Christianity.

Apostasy occurred in several places in the Bible, and each occurrence reveals God’s displeasure and terrible anger against apostates and anyone that incites the people to rebel against Him. I have frequently shared stories of several individuals who came to accept Jesus at the peak of their troubles when their situations were hopeless, and later decided to abandon God after they had received divine solutions to their problems through Jesus. Some years ago, when we tried to follow-up on one of such people, he said that a hospitalised fellow is usually allowed to go home after a successful medical treatment. He viewed the Church as a hospital and though he didn’t have any business with God whatsoever after being healed. The end of such ungrateful and rebellious people is always worse than their beginning. I pray that you will not be overcome by the spirit of apostasy in Jesus’ name. Hebrew 6 : 4 - 6 says :
“For it is possible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

It is important to note that apostasy is not a casual sin but a voluntary rejection of God’s will. It is a conscious departure from the Fatherhood of God, and a deliberate walk away from Jesus Christ and everything He stands for. This is the reason why the above Bible passage presents apostasy as a terrible error that is virtually impossible to remediate. May the Lord deliver anyone that is in any form of backsliding today in Jesus’ name.

On the other hand, the main assignment of a reformer is to call the Church of God and His people into genuine repentance and a careful reconciliation between contemporary Christian practice and Bible doctrines. The body of Christ must be delivered from end-time lukewarmness, modernism, and the doctrine of relativity that is presently holding it in captivity. May we yield ourselves to be used as the Lord raises reformers that will re-ignite the fire of revival in the body of Christ today in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT :
Father, please set me on fire and use me as an instrument of reformation in Your Church in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : LUKE 14 : 25 - 17 : 10 AND JOB 27 : 1 - 12.

Dem no value their life abi?

Dis can only haPpen in the era of Change

The woman must be devil incanate, for doing such. Haba

Dis man go mak d dollard run leave dis presidential seat o

Day 42, Sunday 21st February, 2016
MARRIAGES & FAMILIES – Colossians 3:18-21
Pray for divine love in our marriages. 1 Corinthians 7:2-3, Hosea 2:14-20
Pray that our families would be worthy ambassadors of God’s kingdom.
Father, let every trial in our marriages become testimonies James 1:17, 2 Corinthians 5:20
Father visit us with, uncommon favour, unexplainable miracles and unbelievable testimonies.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21 2016

BLESSINGS OF KNOWING THE TRUE GOD

MEMORISE :

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.

READ : 1 KINGS 18 : 21 - 24 :

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

Message

It is common amongst Christians to tell stories of our lifestyle before we became acquainted with the true God. Many confess being in bondage to various gods who ruled over them with an iron fist, through the observance of ridiculously expensive practices in terms of time and money. These gods include expensive lifestyles, unnecessarily plentiful entertainment, ungodly fashion, wasteful pastimes, membership of exclusive clubs and fraternities, etc. Furthermore, some were overcome by addiction and therefore were ruled by alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, smoking, nightlife and other dangerous habits. Worse still, many were enslaved to ideologies, taboos, cultism, idols, and demonic spirits. These gods exert their influence on people in different ways, as a result of which many fall into diverse sins, disappointments, stagnancy, sickness, demonic possession, fruitlessness, indebtedness, bankruptcy, failure, and death. Job 5 : 7 says, “man is born unto trouble” and Job 14 : 1 says: “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” I prophecy to anyone that is facing one trouble or the other in this world, God will show mercy and deliver you today in the name of Jesus.

The Almighty God is fully aware of human helplessness in circumstances of life, therefore, out of love, He offered Jesus as a remedy to anyone that will accept Him as Lord and Saviour. This is the essence of the declaration of Jesus in Matthew 11 : 28 & 30 that says :
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

This passage is an open invitation to anyone that is labouring under the heavy yoke of the devil, anyone that is oppressed or in servitude, anyone experiencing stagnancy or fruitlessness, and anyone that needs physical, mental, or spiritual healing. Jesus says, “come unto me and I will give you rest from all your troubles.” Come to Jesus today for deliverance from the strong hold of sin, addiction and all forms of immorality. Come to Jesus and He will put an end to your mysteries, disappointments and failures. Come to Jesus and He will turn your sorrows to joy.

Knowing the true God therefore translates to salvation from sin and deliverance from evil. It is not burdensome at all because the relationship is based on the love of God. Everything depends on a sincerity to accept the reality of your situation and ask God for help. First, you must accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, after which you must vow to walk away from your sinful lifestyles and embrace a life of holiness. From this moment, the abundant blessings of the Lord will begin to pour into your life without measure in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT :

Father, please let me begin to enjoy the blessings of knowing you in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : LUKE 12 : 35 - 14 : 24 AND JOB 26.

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2016

Friday February 12, 2016

FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE? III

Memorise: And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.- Genesis 2:18

Read: 1 Samuel 19:9-12

9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.


MESSAGE :

Let me start by clarifying something about being alone. Being alone could be in two ways, by solitude and by loneliness.

Solitude is by being alone on purpose; an international separation from people for a period, such a person can be alone by the river side or watching television without being lonely. There is a biblical basis for solitude (Exodus 33:7,11, Luke 5:16, Luke 22:41), therefore, solitude could be a good thing.

However, loneliness is usually never desired. Prolonged loneliness may sometimes lead to depression. Being alone is the very fast aspect of creation that met with God's disapproval and His harsh judgment of not being good, and 1 Corinthians 1:25 says,

"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

Therefore, God's assessment of "being alone" should be taken seriously. God in His infinite wisdom decided to solve the problem of being alone by providing a "help meet for the man". A perfect companion that is suitable for him, one that will cancel out the negative effects of "being alone".

Now, fulfilling the purpose of God in life in general and marriage in particular depends largely on our understanding and total submission to the manufacturer's instructions. A simple, direct, Holy Ghost inspired and time tested meaning of this passage is clear to all. Help refers broadly to aid or assistance, the word "helper" may connote subordinate, but does not necessarily imply inferiority. Hosea 13:9 refers to God as Israel's helper, also, Genesis 2:18-25, describes how God provided the suitable helper for the man.

The declaration of Adam, that Eve is the bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh is a pointer to the fact that marriage creates the closest of all human relationships and should be cherished as such. We are to note also that only Eve was created and not several Eves or another Adam. This is the confirmation that God established heterosexual monogamy as the divine pattern for marriage at creation.

However, the languages of Ephesians 5:22-25 is probably clearer on the God given roles of husbands and wives.

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"

Every child of God that is determined to fulfil God's purpose must live according to the order of marriage ordained by Almighty God. Marriage is the foundation of life according to the Bible. Consequently, marital failure may as well translate to failure in life and ministry.

PRAYER POINT :
Father, I believe in the institution of marriage according to the Bible, please help me to build a strong, happy and joyful home in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Mark 12:41-14:42;
Job 20:20-29

Day 32, Thursday 11th February, 2016
OPEN THE FLOODGATE OF HEAVEN
Father, please release the flood of righteousness. Psalm 51
Father, release the flood of your Power, Victory, and peace to our entire nation.
Father, help me to obey your word.
Father, help me to obey your voice.
Father, let the nations of the earth be blessed through me, Zechariah. 10:1
Father, in a special way, do something new in our lives.

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2016

Thursday February 11, 2016

FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE II

Memorise: And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.- Genesis 2:15

Read: Genesis 1:26-28

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.


MESSAGE :

At the beginning of creation and before the fall of man in Genesis chapter three, the instruction given to humanity can be safely classified into three categories.

Category one is to cultivate the land and to keep it. The words “subdue”, “have dominion”, and “rule” are all pointers to what is required to effectively keep the land as steward-kings of God’s creation.

Category two is the institution of law with the purpose of teaching people to live under authority.

The third category is the institution of marriage to expose people to the principle of love and teach people to live for someone other than themselves.

From that very beginning, God made it very clear that He is not abandoning us to ourselves to figure things out all alone. He wants us to use everything we have to serve Him and humanity, therefore manual labour or service at this level was not the result of the fall, rather it was part of God’s original purpose for humanity. The truth is evident in Genesis 2:15-18, which says:

“And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

The starting point of fulfilling God’s purpose for anyone therefore, is to be productive. Since we are discussing the very first set of instructions to humanity, obedience to God must necessarily start from here. A true believer is to provide for his near relatives and his immediate family at the same time. It is not by choice; failure to provide for one’s family is equal to denial of the faith as stated in 1st Timothy 5:8:

 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
This is the major reason why believers must be busy doing something worthwhile in life. If a Christian is unable to care for his family, such a person will be unable to love and care for others. The Bible says that such people are worse than infidels.

Now it is possible to be in such a state temporarily due to several reasons, but it must not be accepted as permanent status. A faithful Christian will soon find favour with God and man that will pull him or her out of such despicable situation.

I therefore prophecy into the life of anyone in such a situation reading this devotional today, the Great Provider will transfer you from poverty to abundance today in Jesus’ name. For those that are looking unto God for profitable ventures, receive it now in the name of Jesus. From this day, you will begin to fulfil God’s purpose for your life in the mighty name of Jesus.  

PRAYER POINT :
Father, please help me to fulfil my purpose in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Mark 10:46-12:40;
Job 20:1-19

Day 26 Prayer Points(50 Days Fasting and Prayer)
Day 26, Friday 5th February, 2016

1) Lord, let only the God fearing rule our nations. Proverb. 1:7, Psalm 33:12

2) Father, let there be stability in all nations. Proverb. 28:2, Proverb. 11:11

3) Father, we reject loss of lives and property in 2016 in Jesus name. Joel 2:25-26

4)Lord, avert natural disasters this year in Jesus name. Psalm 91

Omo see Gobe...