OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: THE BLOOD OF JESUS I.

MEMORISE:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin. 1 John 1:7

READ: Hebrews 9:11-14

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

MESSAGE

The Blood of Jesus is the most powerful substance I know. I know how powerful it is because I have used it countless times and it has worked for me. The most important thing that the Blood of Jesus can do is wash away sins. Every sinner carries a burden of guilt. However, the moment the fellow surrenders his/her life to Christ, the Blood of Jesus washes away his/her sins. From that moment, the fellow is completely pure and none of his sins exists anymore. Isn’t that wonderful? If you are still carrying the burden of sin, I advise that you ask Him to cleanse you with His Blood today and you will experience great peace like never before.

Aside from washing away sins, the Blood of Jesus is also a potent weapon to overcome Satan. Revelation 12:11 says:

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...”

Is Satan tormenting you in any area of your life? Just plead the Blood of Jesus on it and you will overcome him.

The greatest covenant anyone can enter into is a blood covenant. If it so happens that your forefathers have entered into a covenant with the devil and you noticed certain trends in your linage, the Blood of Jesus is the only thing that can break it. A long time ago in my family, one of our fathers impregnated his maid and his wife at the same time. While the wife was well-cared for after delivery, the maid, because of her status, was given food without oil-very dry and unappetizing, despite having delivered a son. The maid, hurt, placed a curse on the family and from that moment on, any child born and given anything with oil to eat died. The family found out and oil became forbidden for children in the home. Then I met Christ and His Blood overcame the ancestral curse in my family.

The Blood of Jesus is powerful enough to overcome Satan and all his demons.

PRAYER POINT:

I plead the Blood of Jesus on my linage and I use it to break every curse or evil covenant that exists in my family in the mighty Name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 7-9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS.

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

o Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: THE BLOOD OF JESUS I.

MEMORISE:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin. 1 John 1:7

READ: Hebrews 9:11-14

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

MESSAGE

The Blood of Jesus is the most powerful substance I know. I know how powerful it is because I have used it countless times and it has worked for me. The most important thing that the Blood of Jesus can do is wash away sins. Every sinner carries a burden of guilt. However, the moment the fellow surrenders his/her life to Christ, the Blood of Jesus washes away his/her sins. From that moment, the fellow is completely pure and none of his sins exists anymore. Isn’t that wonderful? If you are still carrying the burden of sin, I advise that you ask Him to cleanse you with His Blood today and you will experience great peace like never before.

Aside from washing away sins, the Blood of Jesus is also a potent weapon to overcome Satan. Revelation 12:11 says:

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...”

Is Satan tormenting you in any area of your life? Just plead the Blood of Jesus on it and you will overcome him.

The greatest covenant anyone can enter into is a blood covenant. If it so happens that your forefathers have entered into a covenant with the devil and you noticed certain trends in your linage, the Blood of Jesus is the only thing that can break it. A long time ago in my family, one of our fathers impregnated his maid and his wife at the same time. While the wife was well-cared for after delivery, the maid, because of her status, was given food without oil-very dry and unappetizing, despite having delivered a son. The maid, hurt, placed a curse on the family and from that moment on, any child born and given anything with oil to eat died. The family found out and oil became forbidden for children in the home. Then I met Christ and His Blood overcame the ancestral curse in my family.

The Blood of Jesus is powerful enough to overcome Satan and all his demons.

PRAYER POINT:

I plead the Blood of Jesus on my linage and I use it to break every curse or evil covenant that exists in my family in the mighty Name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 7-9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS.

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

o Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb![img][/img]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 2ND FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: THE BLOOD OF JESUS II.

MEMORISE:

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11

READ: Exodus 12:1-13

And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,

2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.

12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

MESSAGE

The Blood of Jesus is a very potent weapon in the hand of a believer; unfortunately, some don’t use it at all while others underutilize it, allowing the devil to take undue advantage.

“… and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.” Exodus 12:23

It is also a marker. In the verse above, God asked the Israelite to mark their door posts with the blood of a pure lamb, so when the angel of death sent to kill the first born of the Egyptians saw it, they would be spared. Jesus is our Lamb and His Blood is purer than that of any other. When it covers your life, the devil cannot touch you. I decree in the mighty name of Jesus: any evil coming your way this year will pass over once it sees the Blood of Jesus.

A couple once complained to me about the quarrels in their home. They lived alone, whenever either spouse kept money anywhere in the house, they would not find it, each time, both would deny ever taking the money. While we were talking, it occurred to me that the situation could be the devil’s manipulation, so I told them to cover their money with the Blood of Jesus when next they wanted to keep any in the house. I knew that when the devil came for the cash and saw the Blood, he would be unable to touch it. They obeyed and the money stopped vanishing in their home. All your possessions that the devil keeps touching are covered with the Blood of Jesus from now on.

Now that you know the power of the Blood, begin to use it effectively. Plead the Blood on everything that belongs to you so the devil will never be able to touch it again.

However, Jesus’ Blood is only potent in the hands of a believer. So, if you are still stained by sin, ask to be washed in it today. Only then can the Blood work mightily for you.

KEY POINT:

The Blood of Jesus is only potent in the hands of a believer.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 7-9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 15: IN CHRIST ALONE.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

*��OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.*

*DATE: MONDAY 3RD FEBRUARY 2020.*

*THEME:: LET YOUR MODRATION BE KNOWN (1)*

*MEMORISE:*
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5

*READ*: Deuteronomy 4: 23-24

23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

*MESSAGE*
This generation is generally called the digital age because with a handheld device, you can connect with anyone in the world. This is actually very good but the concern is in such device taking total control of you.

These days, many are so preoccupied with their phones that they do not have time for God and what matters to Him. For some, the first thing they pick when they wake in the morning is the phone and not the Bible. Others can spend one hour on social media yet cannot spend same studying God’s word or praying.

This shows that such hearts are more drawn to the phone than God. Don’t give the devil the liberty to rob you of God’s blessing.

Are you not already giving a phone the place of God? Have you observed that the position many take when using a phone is such that their heads are bowed? (Exodus 34:14). Exodus 20:2-3 says:

“I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

If you have to delete applications on your phone that you are addicted to, do so. If it will take you to place a Bible over your phone at night so when you reach out for the latter in the morning, it is the former you would pick instead, do so.

Put measures in place to ensure you prioritize activities that will make you grow spiritually.
Many Christians now prefer electronic Bibles.

However, with the Bible applications on the phones and tablets, there would be distractions from other applications on the device and the Spirit in the word of God cannot minister to a distracted mind. If you must use the electronic Bible, it would be best to go offline to cut off distractions from calls and messages.

I play the audio Bible before I go to bed so that all night, God’s word is being read aloud in my room while I am sleeping. You can do so too.

REFLECTION:
Which one takes more of your time daily, you Bible or social media? If it is the later, repent and commit to amending your ways.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 13-15

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: HYMN 2 – ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.

1. All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
o Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

2. All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

3. All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

4. All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

5. All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

*��OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.*

*DATE: TUESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY, 2020.*

*THEME::* *LET YOUR MODERATION BE KNOWN (II).*

*MEMORISE:*
Put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
(Proverbs 23:2)

*BIBLE READING:*

PROVERBS 23:21(KJV)

PROVERBS 25:16 (KJV)

PROVERBS 23:21

21. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

PROVERBS 25:16

16. Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

*MESSAGE:*
As much as food is necessary for humans to stay alive, it could also be the cause of untimely death for some.

This is primarily because such people have refused to exercise moderation and care in their food intake.

Today’s memory verse says you should control your appetite, exercise restraint even if it appears you may die by doing so.

Don’t be like Esau who, because of hunger, in Genesis 25:32 claimed:

“ … Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? ”

Listen: You will not die by exercising discipline on yourself. It is indiscipline that kills. Sometime ago, some rats were used for an experiment.

They were put in two groups – A and B. The ones in the first group – A, were fed very well, thus they grew fresh and robust while the ones in group B were given fewer rations, so they were not as fat as those in the first group.

After some time, all the rats were injected with the same measure of a disease. Those in group A died while those in B survived.

The researchers found a strong connection between overfeeding and the failure of the rats in group A survive the disease.

Watch the quantity of food you consume, especially when you are about to go to bed. It may be difficult at the start, but keep at it, your body will adjust.

Avoid junk and genetically modified food. As much as possible, reduce how often you take canned food.

In fact, eating too much processed food has been linked with the development of cancer.
It is best to eat organic fruits and vegetables as they are healthy. Grow some of your food if you can.

God is interested in your spiritual wellbeing but He is also very interested in your health.

That is why He took care of sicknesses through the stripes on His body (Isaiah 53:5) before His crucifixion for your sins at Calvary.

He needs you to take care of your body because the healthier you are, the more effective you will be in His service.

KEY POINT:
It is foolish to eat dangerously and expect to live in divine health.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EXODUS 16-18.

HYMNAL: HYMN 27 – TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE.

1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2. Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine:
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: LET YOUR MODRATION BE KNOWN III.

MEMORISE:

We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. James 3:2

READ: James 3:2-13

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

MESSAGE

In Isaiah 40:31, Christians who wait upon the Lord are compared to “an eagle” – often referred to as the “king of birds”. There are many kinds of birds; why did the Lord choose the eagle and not the parrot or some other kind for this illustration? The answer is not far-fetched. Several distinguishing factors set the eagle apart from the parrot and indeed other birds. While an eagle is big, strong and high flyer, parrot is weak and cannot fly as high. While one may enjoy the company of a parrot, when serious issues are to be discussed, it is usually shut out while “an eagle” is invited. Are you a parrot or an eagle?

The eagle does not talk much; it tends to act instead. It doesn’t move with a flock, like many people with gossip cliques today. Perhaps this is why it soars above storms- it has immense ability to use the storms to its advantage. How you use your mouth can determine if you will overcome a storm or be subdued by it. Watch it! Talk only when necessary.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 13:3

Going by the above, the less likely you are to get into trouble and vice versa. Words are powerful, so be careful with them. You cannot retrieve any utterance. Matthew 12:36 says we shall be held accountable for every idle word we speak, so always think before you speak. You don’t have to response every time you are criticized. You don’t have to always say what’s on your mind. Bridle your tongue before it puts you in trouble.

Ask yourself: why do I talk too much? For some, it’s because they like noise and cannot stay quiet. Some want to impress; others talk to show they are good debaters and yet others, to display how current they are. If you talk too much, control your tongue or excuse yourself whenever you find yourself in such situations and soon enough, you will find yourself talking less and with moderation.

REFLECTION:

Be careful of what you say, when you say it, how you say it, where you say it and to whom you say it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 19-21

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 20: NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
o Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 6TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: HEAVENLY INVESTMENTS.

MEMORISE:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44

READ: Matthew 6:19-21

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

MESSAGE

The problem with some 21st Century Christians is that they do not know the value of heavenly investments, which yield dividends both in this life and eternally. This is unfortunate because they focus more on earthly investments and this is the exact opposite of our Lord’s injunction in our Bible text today. Earthly investments are prone to corruption. Jesus explains in the parable of the rich fool that choosing earthly investments over heavenly ones is not wise.

“...then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21

The Bible also says:

“Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Proverbs 23:5

A story was told of a young man who was attacked by hoodlums on his way home, the very night he gave his life to Jesus Christ. They asked him, “Your money or your life: which do you want to surrender?” To their amazement, the young man said “I am sorry; I do not have either of the two things you are asking for!” The gang leader, out of curiosity at the response of the young man asked “What do you mean you do not have life or money to surrender?” The young man replied “I am just coming from church where the pastor persuaded me to give my life to Christ and I did. At the end of the service, I was also asked to give my substance to God’s work and I emptied my pockets for the work of Jesus who saved me without any charge!” The leader said “I see, because you have amused me this evening, I will let you go, but next time, always remember to reserve something for us!” As funny as this story may sound, it carriers an eternal truth: Investing in the Kingdom of God is the best decision you can ever make as it yields both earthly and heavenly rewards.

CALL TO ACTION:

God bless you as you invest in His Kingdom.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 41-42

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.

1. All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

o Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

2. All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

3. All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

4. All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

5. All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: GREAT FAITH.

MEMORISE:

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? Mark 12:24

READ: Hebrews 11:1-13

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

MESSAGE

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Having faith means believing something that you are yet to see physically, so much so that you can feel it already. If you are hoping for a baby for example, faith is you hearing him/her cry; carrying and feeding him/her even when the baby has not manifested physically. Faith is the currency of operations in the spiritual realm which controls the physical; it is the greatest currency in the world. With faith, everything is possible (Mark 9:23).

However, there are different categories of faith. Some people have no faith at all. They believe in total impossibility and are consumed by fear. Some have little faith as Jesus pointed out in Matthew 6:30. These ones believe that impossibilities can be possible, but only for certain people like their Pastor or General Overseer. They don’t believe they also can work miracle.

However, there is faith as the grain of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20). This faith, though small, can move mountains. It is the starting point for a man of faith. There is also great faith, according to Matthew 15:21-28. It is the kind that does not accept “No” for an answer, it is persistent. Not only does the fellow with great faith believe that all things are possible, he also endures even when manifestations are delayed. Your faith will become great in the mighty name of Jesus.

Faith comes by hearing *and hearing* by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The volume of His word in you determines your level of faith in Him. If your faith will increase, you must be addicted to God’s word. Meditate on it day and night. Season your words with the scriptures at all times (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).

When the word of God dwells richly in you, your faith will be great and nothing will be impossible to you.

KEY POINT:

Get addicted to your Bible and seek to always hear God’s voice.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 25-27

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: BLESSED ASSURANCE, JESUS IS MINE.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
I'm born of his Spirit and washed in his blood

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy and whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blessed
You know I'm watching and waiting, I'm looking above
Filled with His goodness and I'm lost in his love.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: MIRACLES ARE COMING.

MEMORISE:

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23

READ: Mark 11:22-24

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

MESSAGE

As we have seen from yesterday’s study, some Christians have little faith, and of course, they would not believe miracles can happen through them.

How I wish that the crowd at the Holy Ghost Services of the RCCG in Nigeria would have great faith to go out and start performing miracles. What a great revival that would bring! Jesus did not give the right to perform miracles to only a set of Christians, He said in Mark 16:17 that it is for believers.

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;”

Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to die for our sins? Do you believe that He is coming back soon to take His children to Heaven? If your answer to both questions is ‘yes’, then you are a believer. Therefore, you are fully qualified to work miracles. Don’t be afraid, just go ahead and pray, then leave the rest to God.

A long time ago, when my faith was not as strong as it is today, whenever someone came to me for prayers, I would just pray and expect miracles to happen later. One day, a woman came for prayers with her child who was about ten years old and had been dumb from birth. As I began to pray “In the name of Jesus….” The child said “Amen”. I nearly jumped out of the window- I was that afraid. There I was, not expecting an immediate miracle but before I even prayed, it had happened.

Imagine if I had stopped praying after trying a few times without seeing any instant miracles. The truth is that no great ‘miracle evangelist’ was so from birth; rather, he/she continued praying for people even when the results were not obvious, then one day, the miracles started happening. If you are a true believer, the *power* to work wonders is already in your hands, just go ahead and pray. If you pray for one person and nothing happens, pray for the next. Just keep praying, the miracles are coming.

KEY POINT:

Don’t stop praying for people; your days of working miracles are closer than you think.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 28-29

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

o Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

4. There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

5. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: JOY IS COMING.

MEMORISE:

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

READ: 1 Peter 1:3-8

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

MESSAGE

Perhaps, the most sorrowful period of my life was when my wife was pregnant with our fourth child. Before we met the Lord, we had three children, all delivered through caesarean sections. We had decided not to have any more because the doctors said she couldn’t have a natural delivery and further surgeries may not have been safe. We became born again and one day, we came across Luke 1:37: “ For with God nothing shall be impossible.” These words gave us the assurance to have another baby.

Throughout the pregnancy, we didn’t see any doctor. Some of our friends were quite apprehensive. They said my wife could bleed to death during labor because she could rupture any of the three points where she had been sutured during her previous deliveries. I kept saying “No, that is not written in my Bible.”

On the delivery date, she labored for several hours to no avail. Then the second and third day passed and the baby was still not born. I was becoming really tense. On the third day, the devil whispered to me very clearly “Stupid man, you claim to have a Ph.D, fool, your wife is going to die tonight and you will see what her relatives will do to you.” Suddenly, a holy anger rose up within me and I said “Listen devil, if my wife dies tonight, I will seek permission from the General Overseer to preach on Sunday, and the first thing I will say is there is nothing that my God cannot do.” Immediate after, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit strongly with me and I began to pray. Not long after, I heard the cry of a baby. My wife was the only one at the maternity so it could only have been ours. After a short while, my Father-in-the-Lord, who had been with us all through, came out of the maternity and told me “Baba aburo (father of a newborn), go and say hello to your wife.” My joy knew no bounds.

Indeed, weeping may endure for a night, but joy surely will come in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Dear reader, hold on to the word of God, keep confessing it, shut the devil up in times of discouragement and very soon your joy will become full in the mighty name of Jesus.

KEY POINT:

Do not despair. Hold fast to the word of God, your joy will surely come.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 30-32

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 21: NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD.

1 Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

2 O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.

3 All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: THE POWER OF TESTIMONIES.

MEMORISE:

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11

READ: Luke 17:12-19

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

MESSAGE

Testimonies are very powerful. Revelation 12:11 confirms that the devil can be overcome by the word of our testimony. That is how important it is.

When it is testimony time, some people say to themselves “Let others mount the podium; I am too big for that.” Have you observed that those who frequently share testimonies always have new ones? This is becausedon't when you talk about what God has done in the past, He will be compelled to do more.

A testimony is a weapon of warfare. 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 shows this clearly. King Jehoshaphat knew how to give testimonies. Three different armies had gathered to destroy him, so he began to testify; God are You not the One who dide this? Are You not the One who did that? The God told him there was no need to fight that battle. Jehoshaphat and his people only had to sing and God destroyed these armies for them.

David was another man who knew how to give testimonies. There was nothing God did for David that he kept quiet about. This is perhaps why Israel won all their battles during his reign and has remained to date the greatest king Israel ever had. In fact, his testimonies are all over the book of Psalms. He said in Psalm 103:2:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:”

There is a lot to gain from sharing testimonies and a lot to lose from keeping God’s wonderous works to oneself. Have you been hiding your testimonies? Why not start relaying your testimony at every opportunity you have, even if it is with just one person and see what God will do in your life.

Some people say I love telling stories; the reality is that I actually just love bragging about what my God can do. I have noticed that the more of His great wonders I share, the more He does in my life. Share your testimony today and you will begin to experience more wonderous blessings from God.

KEY POINT:

Your testimony is a great weapon; start using it from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 33-35

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE.

1. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made Him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.
o Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice;
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice.

2. Be joyful, for He is the Lord
On earth and in Heaven supreme;
He fashions and rules by His word—
The “Mighty” and “Strong” to redeem.

3. What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail?
God’s armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.

4. Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o’ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.

5. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
Let gratefulness give all a voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: THE BELOVED I.

MEMORISE:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Hebrews 12:6

READ: Hebrews 12:6-11

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

MESSAGE

There are so many benefits attached to being the beloved of the Most High God, even to the point of enjoying sound sleep.

“…….. for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2

For every benefit though, there would be an attendant cost and yes, it is costly to be God’s favorite. Firstly, God chastens His own. What others could get away with would result in chastening and discipline for God’s beloved, should he/she attempt same.

A long time ago, when construction measurements were typically done in feet, I hired a man to do some work on the campground. However, instead of measuring in feet, he measured in meters. The Holy Spirit told me twice to correct him, but I refused, thinking “As a professional, he should know the difference between feet and meters; since he doesn’t know, let him suffer for it.” After he was done, one of his workmen offered me a handshake. The man was huge and his hand felt like iron. The pain shot straight to my brain. I turned to God and asked “Lord why?” He said “I told you to correct his boss but you refused.” Ah, but this punishment is too much for the offence” I grumbled. His response was “You are special to me, so I cannot take any nonsense from you.” If you want to be the beloved of God, then you must obey Him totally and adjust immediately when He chastens you.

Secondly, God sends His beloved on special assignments which are sometimes dangerous. When Goliath was to be killed, He sent David. When He needed to redeem mankind, He sent His only Son, Jesus. This is because He has put so much in them that He knows they will not disappoint Him.

For every successful mission God’s special children embark upon, He gives special rewards to them, just like Jesus was given a name that is above every other. Do you want to be the beloved of Jesus? If yes, get yourself ready for special chastisements, assignments and rewards!

REFLECTION:

Has God been chastising you about something for which you have refused to change? Adjust your ways.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 36-38

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE.

1. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made Him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.
o Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice;
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice.

2. Be joyful, for He is the Lord
On earth and in Heaven supreme;
He fashions and rules by His word—
The “Mighty” and “Strong” to redeem.

3. What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail?
God’s armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.

4. Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o’ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.

5. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
Let gratefulness give all a voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: THE BELOVED II.

MEMORISE:

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:18

READ: Genesis 22:11-18

11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

MESSAGE

Blessings are in level. It could be general or special. God causes the rain to fall on both the good and evil; He makes air available to everybody. These are general blessings. But He can also reserve special blessings- the greatest of them, for His beloved.

In order not to be seen as a partial, He puts up His beloved for great blessings and then leaves them to take critical decisions. Elijah asked the widow of Zarephath to surrender her last meal to him, and after she did, God blessed her with an unending supply of food. If anyone should ask God in future, “why did you send Elijah to that widow of all the widows in the land?” He would turn to them and ask, “Can you surrender your last meal?”

When He loves you, He will put you in line for irreversible blessings by asking you for a serious sacrifice. The moment you do it, He will bless you greatly. In Genesis 22:1-18, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son to Him, but as soon as he lifted the knife to kill the boy, God stopped him and swore by Himself saying “In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.”

Generally, God’s favorite will not lack any good thing. David, the man after God’s heart said confidently “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).when God loves you, He will ensure that all your needs are supplied even before you make a request and if you want more, He will give you in abundance. In 2 Samuel 12:8, He told David:

“And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.”

If you would obey Him absolutely from now on, God will put you in line for an irreversible blessing in the mighty name of Jesus.

KEY POINT:

God’s beloved would never lack any good thing.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 39-40

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS.

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
o Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

*��OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

*DATE:*: *FRIDAY 14TH FEBRUARY,2020.*

*THEME: PRAYERS FOR YOUR MARRIAGE*

*MEMORISE*: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

*READ*: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (KJV)

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

*PRAYERS*
1. Father, thank You for instituting marriage, thank You for giving me such a wonderful spouse. I adore You for making us meet each other and get married.

2. Father, make me a better husband/wife to my wife/husband.

3. Father, let the purpose for which You brought us together come to pass.

4. Father, give us a couple wisdom to raise a godly family.

5. Father, provide for all the needs of my family (mention the needs).

6. Father, every generational curse – either from my lineage or from my spouse’, destroy it today in the mighty name of Jesus.

7. Father, give us as a couple long lives. Don’t let us die young; let us fulfil Your purpose for our lives.

8. Husband: “Father, help me to love my wife like You love the Church.”

Wife: “Father, help me to submit to my husband as my head.”

9. Father, let every force breaking marriages fail over my marriage.

10. Father, wherever my spouse is weak, give me strength to lift him/her.

11. Father, make my marriage a godly model for other marriages to follow in the mighty name of Jesus.

12. Special prayer request for your marriage.

I stand with you in agreement today and pray that God will grant your requests in the mighty name of Jesus.

*PRAYER POINT*
Lord, please, help us as a couple to love You more and more with each passing day.

*AUTHOR:* PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE GENERAL OVERSEER OF THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD.

*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR*: Leviticus 5-7,

*HYMN 22 – O LORD MY GOD*

1. O Lord my God!
When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all
The worlds Thy hands hath made
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r thro’out
The universe displayed.

CHORUS:
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!

2. When through the woods
And forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze;

CHORUS:
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!

3. And when I think
That God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross,
My burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died
To take away my sin.

CHORUS:
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!

4. When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation,
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
And there proclaim,
My God, how great Thou art!

CHORUS:
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: QUESTIONING GOD?

MEMORISE:

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Isaiah 45:9

READ: John 11:20-33

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

MESSAGE

I am always surprised when I see people question God. Usually, they ask “Why me?”

But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Psalm 115:3

God id sovereign, He does as He pleases. If the kings of small towns or villages in Yorubaland could be called ‘kabio o si’, which means ‘None can question you’, how much more the King of the entire Universe- the One who laid the foundations of the earth and created all thing? It is a complete insult to question God.

One man who questioned God in the Bible is Job. He had suffered a lot: he lost his children and all his wealth in a day. To make matters worse, incurable diseases showed up on his body and even his wife turned against him. It is strange that all these happened to him despite God testifying that he was a perfect and upright man (Job 1:. It was so frustrating for him that his questions occupy several chapters in the book of Job. You may think his actions could be justified given all he had been through but God didn’t take it lightly. Like He is keeping quiet for most of the people questioning Him now, God didn’t say anything to Job until chapter 38. By the time He was through with His response, it was Job’s turn to keep quiet. He was dumbfounded and afraid, realizing the might of the One he had been questioning all along.

God is not your peer- stop questioning Him. He can see what you are going through and He cares. Instead of questioning Him, why not go to Him in prayer and supplication? In our Bible reading today, you will observe that neither Mary nor Martha queried Jesus in spite of their anguish. Rather, they worshipped and honored Him. Little wonder Jesus responded to their tears with compassion and raised their brother from death. He cannot ignore the tears of His children. Cry to Him for help. Ask Him for a way out of the situation, call other believers to pray with you, and you will begin to see changes in your situation.

KEY POINT:

Questioning God is only a waste of time and an insult to the Most High.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 8-10

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1: ALL HAIL THE POWER.

1. All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.

2. Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
ye ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.

3. Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all.

4. Let every kindred, every tribe
on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.

5. Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from his altar call;
extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod,
and crown him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod,
and crown him Lord of all.

6. O that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: NO LONGER A MISTAKE.

MEMORISE:

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19

READ: 2 Peter 2:20-22

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

MESSAGE

Indeed, I was puzzled when I first saw David described as a man after God’s heart. This was someone who had committed grave sins that made God angry. How could he then be a man after God’s heart? When I studied about David, I realized that he never repeated the same offence. Every time he offended God, he would become very sorrowful, genuinely repent and completely stay off that offense forever.

Once, he counted the Israelites when he shouldn’t have and God was angry with him. David repented and never did so again. Another time, he stayed back from war when kings were to be at the warfront. In his idleness, he slept with another man’s wife and to cover his tracks, killed him. The moment God confronted him, with his sin, he became repentant and never missed any war again until he was old and weak. David was a man after God’s heart because he never repeated the same mistake. Today, unlike David, many Christians have made a habit of repeating mistakes. They commit a sin, ask for forgiveness, and days later, return to it. When the Pastor ask why they keep backsliding, they claim they cannot help it. God is not mocked. No one can be tempted beyond their capacity to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13).

If you truly resolve in your heart not to commit sin against, you would not. You don’t want to commit fornication anymore, yet you keep staying alone in an enclosed place with the opposite sex. You don’t want to steal the money kept in your care by the organization again, yet you count it alone without a witness. Don’t fool yourself, if you came across a rabid dog and managed escape, wouldn’t you take an alternative route next time.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Once you can recognize anything that could lead to evil, the Lord says flee! Don’t join the multitude to commit sin. If it happened once, repent and forsake it. Don’t let it happen again.

ACTION POINT:

Make a list of those things that often make you sin and begin to avoid them from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 11-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: I AM THINE O LORD.

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow'r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I yet may know
Ere Thee face to face I see;
There are heights of joy that I yet may reach
Ere I rest in peace with Thee.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2020

THEME: THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS

MEMORISE:

Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Joel 3:10

READ: 2 Kings 4:18-37

4:18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

4:19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

4:20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

4:21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

4:22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

4:23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

4:24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

4:25 So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:

4:26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.

4:27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

4:28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

4:30 And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.

4:31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

4:32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

4:33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.

4:34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

4:35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

4:36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.

4:37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

MESSAGE

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
Proverbs 18:21

Your tongue is the most powerful part of your body. According to the Bible verse above, it can kill and as well bring to life. This is why you must be very careful how you use it. Many people don't realise how powerful the tongue is, so they kill things that should be alive in their lives and resurrect what should be dead. From now on, don't say you are poor; confess wealth. Stop saying you are sick; say you are healed. Don't speak evil about your country; speak good only. Speak positively into the lives of your children while you reject negative things. Don't refer to them as disobedient; call them obedient. Don't call them liars, thieves or prostitute; rather, always use positive words to describe them. What you say activates spirits to function; don't activate the wrong spirits in your children just because you want them to feel hurt or remorseful. Speak exactly what you want into their lives; it may be difficult, but it is worth it.

Aside from speaking into a child's life or situation, you also need to start speaking into the atmosphere. There may be no situation that you want to change with your tongue at the moment, but you can just begin to say that you and your children God has given you will live long and serve Him for the rest of your lives. You could say though a thousand may fall on your left and ten thousand on your right, not a strand of your hair will be hurt. You could also say that you will be the head and never the tail. Confess always that your tomorrow will be alright. Take a cue from the Shunamite woman in our Bible reading today. She told her husband "it shall be well" and it indeed was well with them.

Make it a habit to consistently use your tongue to speak what you want daily. Soon enough, you will see your life turn around for good and to God's glory.

ACTION POINT:

Begin to speak positive words into your life, your children's lives and every situation around you from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Leviticus 14-15

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

1. "Great is thy faithfulness"
O God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee:
Thou changest not, Thy compassion, they fail not,
As Thou has been Thou forever will be.

Chorus
"Great is Thy faithfulness!"
"Great is Thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided -
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

2. Summer and winter, and spring time and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

*��OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.*

*DATE: TUESDAY, 18TH FEBRUARY, 2020.*

*THEME:: HOSPITALITY: A DUTY FOR ALL CHRISTIANS.*

*MEMORISE:*
Use hospitality one to another without grudging. – (1 Peter 4:9)

*READ*: 1 PETER 4:9-10 (KJV)

9. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

10. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

*MESSAGE*
The central message of Christianity is love, so much when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He answered:

“. ..thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. ” Matthew 22:37-40

Hospitality is the duty of every Christian and in fact should be our way of life.

See every encounter you have with people as an opportunity to show forth the love of God. Help people.

You should never be rude or unaccommodating to anyone. God expects you to be hospitable to anyone you come across.

In Genesis 18:17, God who says He wouldn’t do anything without first telling His friend Abraham did not send angels to him directly.
He only asked them to take the route through Abraham’s house at the time he would be outside.

He expected that Abraham would call the angels in and host them. Being a true child of God, he did not disappoint his Father. Imagine, he hosted angels! (Genesis 18:1-16)

Many Christians have missed their blessings because they were not as hospitable as they should have been.

That sweaty fellow you did not offer a bottle of water could have been the key to your prayers being answered.

Many of us are hospitable to our guests, which is good, but we can actually do better.

Have you considered the widow on your street, the beggar on your way home and other disadvantaged people around you?

I must add that hospitality is not limited to giving out material things.It could also be shown through warmth and friendliness to people – a word of encouragement or just a smile.

From today, decide to be a true Christian and be hospitable to everyone you come across. God will bless you for it.

KEY POINT:
God wants you to be hospitable; don’t disappoint Him.

AUTHOR: Pastor E. A. Adeboye.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: LEVITICUS 16-18

HYMN 20 – NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE

1. Nearer, my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

2. Though, like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

3. There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou send’st to me
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

4. Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

5. Or if on joyful wing
Cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: BE UNTOUCHABLE.

MEMORISE:

Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. 1Chronicles 16:22

READ: Job 1:10

10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

MESSAGE

In the spirit realm, certain people are termed ‘untouchable.’ These ones have a wall of fire around them that make them too hot to be touched- even by the devil. The moment you become a child of God; you have access to this group.

Some Christians have once been secure, but somehow the devil seems to be touching them now. If you are in this category, it could be that God deliberately allowed the devil or you have backslidden and exposed yourself to danger. Job was untouchable until God permitted the devil. He was untouchable because he lived a holy life and prayed regularly.

If you are still telling ‘small lies’, the devil will not need permission from God before he touches you because he is the father of lies (John 8:44). In Joshua 24:9, King Balak invited Balaam to curse the people of Israel, but instead of curses, blessings came forth. They were untouchable by the plagues until they fell in the hands of beautiful ladies who seduced them into sin thereafter.

“Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.” Numbers 31:16

If you would not be vulnerable, you must have no business with the devil. Check your prayer life. A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. Each day without prayer makes one cold and the devil will be waiting until such a person has grown cold enough so he can touch him/her. That is why the devil tries to dampen the prayer life of an individual he hasn’t been permitted to touch.

When you become too busy to pray as you used to, watch out! That is the Devil trying to make you vulnerable so he can touch you, never let your prayer life get cold. May you receive divine help in the mighty name of Jesus.

KEY POINT:

The devil cannot touch you when are hot for God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 24-25

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 23: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.

1. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

o Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

2. At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ’gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

5. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: UNDERSTANDING LIFE.

MEMORISE:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

READ: Ecclesiastes 5:10-16

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

MESSAGE

“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

Having life abundantly does not refer to material things. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 says he who loves silver and gold will never be satisfied and abundance of the riches will not let him sleep. A Christian is not identified by how prosperous he/she is. Although God wants us to prosper financially, it is even as we prosper spiritually (3 John 2). He is more concerned with the prosperity of the soul than material blessing which is an addition. Matthew 6:33 says “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be ADDED….” True Christians are known by their fruits of righteousness and holy lifestyle.

A young man came and said he wanted to follow Him. The Lord told him to sell all he had before he could, and he went away sorrowful (Matthew 19:16-24). Many have lost their place in Christ due to the love of wealth. Today, some rich people are depressed because they cannot give up their wealth for Him.

One day, a professor who had just given his life to Christ said to me “Pastor, ever since I became born again, I have just been full of joy, I hope it is not dangerous to be too happy.” I said “That is the joy of the Lord, enjoy it.” He was a successful man, but all the while, he had not experienced joy until he met Christ. He got abundant life.

Abundant life in Him means you can fulfill your destiny. Peter wanted to be a millionaire, but Jesus told him that he would become a fisher of men. In Psalm 23:5, David did not say the table was filled with assorted food, instead anointing that ran over. Abundant life is overflowing anointing.

In God’s presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). This is the promised abundant life- joy like a river. Stay content in Christ so you can have abundant life. Remember, godliness with content is great gain (1Timothy 6:6).

KEY POINT:

Anything that takes you away from Christ has taken life away from you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 8-10

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

1. I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
o Refrain:
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

2. If I forget Him and wander away,
Still He doth love me wherever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me.

3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song through eternity be,
“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”

4. Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him;
Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem;
Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree;
Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!

5. If one should ask of me, how can I tell?
Glory to Jesus, I know very well!
God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,
Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

6. In this assurance I find sweetest rest,
Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee,
When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: UNDERSTANDING LIGHT.

MEMORISE:

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1:3

READ: Habakkuk 2:1-4

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

MESSAGE

The first thing God said before creation was “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Thousands of years later, in John 9:5, Jesus Christ said:
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

He was and is the light of the world. Light gives vision and vision is so important that without it, people will perish (Proverbs 29:18). How great you will be is determined by what you can see. In 2 Kings 2:9-15, when Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, the later said he had asked a hard thing, but that if he ‘saw’, he could have it. Elisha saw and he got the mantle. In Genesis 13:14-18, God told Abraham that all he could see was going to be given to him. Then God advised him not to stay in the place, but to move around so he could see more. This is why exposure is good. These days, being exposed has become even easier with the internet. You can ‘see’ any part of the world from your phone or computer.

When my father-in-the-Lord was *alive* and we would have a crowd over one thousand people at our Conventions, I thought that was big. Then I saw hundreds of thousands at Kenneth Hagin’s Camp meeting. I was also at Dr. Yonggi Cho’s church in South Korea and saw that every Sunday; they held seven services and would appeal to those in attendance not to show up next Sunday so those who couldn’t attend that week could attend the next. My prayer point changed! I realized I needed to expand my vision greatly. I did and by God’s Grace, millions of people attend our programmes.

Get exposed: through books, internet, travelling or talking to more experience people. Ensure that you expand your horizon every day. When God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant to see the chariots of fire surrounding him and his master, his confidence grew (2 Kings 6). Vision will also enable you to endure until the end (Hebrews 11:24-27). From today, receive light that will help you overcome all challenges in the mighty name of Jesus.

REFLECTION:

How big is your vision? Write it down and run with it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 11-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 19: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness seems to veil His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath His covenant and blood
Support me in the ‘whelming flood:
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When the last trumpet’s voice shall sound,
O may I then in him be found.
Clothed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before his throne.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY 2ND MARCH 2020.

THEME: FRESH OIL.

MEMORISE:

But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Psalm 92:10

READ: Psalm 92:10-15

10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

MESSAGE

The word ‘Fresh’ does not only mean something newly created, it could also mean ‘new impact’. For example, when somebody goes for a refresher course, iit is the same person and the same course, but now he is doing it so he can make new impact.

‘Dew’ is an embodiment of freshness. It refreshes everything it touches and makes it blossom. In Hosea 14:5 God says:

“I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.”

From this passage, it is clear that the dew, which symbolizes freshness, makes things to blossom anew. So, when we talk about fresh oil, we are talking about an anointing that makes dry things blossom. It is an anointing that makes the beautiful more so, the fruitful to abound even more and the great even greater. It is a dangerous thing when the anointing of a man begins to go stale. That is what happened to Saul and we see the link between Saul’s stale anointing and the absence of dew, from David’s statement in 2 Samuel 1:21 “Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.”

When a man has been doing many exploits, and all of a sudden, his frequency begins to reduce, he needs fresh oil. When someone is well on his way to fulfilling destiny and somehow, he begins to slow down, he needs fresh oil. Lack of fresh oil is what turns champions into ex-champions. I know that any boxer who does not keep refreshing his skills, no matter how good he is will soon be beaten in the ring. As long as the oil remains fresh on your head, great miracles and exploits will not cease in your life. Every time the oil is refreshed, you move from one level of glory to a higher level. If you are tired of being on a level for long and you want to go higher, seek fresh oil. Ask the Lord to anoint you afresh.

PRAYER POINT:

Today is my birthday, please pray for me, that the Lord should pour fresh oil on my head; that all the great things I have achieved will be small compared to the new exploits He will do in my life from now.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 18-20

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 21: NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD.

1. Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

2. Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!

3. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven—
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 6TH MARCH 2020.

THEME: PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH.

MEMORISE:

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:14

READ: Acts 1:1-18

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 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.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

MESSAGE

PRAYERS:

1. Praise the Head of the Church, glorify the One who established the Body of Christ, bless His name, adore His excellency, exalt Him above all things.

2. Father, let Your fire fall and put an end to all forms of Lukewarmness in Your Church.

3. Father, let Your fire fall and consume any agent of the devil, any plant that You have not planted in your Church.

4. Father, You promised us that the gate of hell will not prevail against Your Church; destroy every enemy of the Church today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

5. Father, empower Your Church as in the days of old so that miracles will become commonplace again amongst us.

6. Father, unite Your Church like the Apostles were united at the Upper Room so that we can begin to do the impossible. Remove strife, envy and unhealthy competition in Your Church.

7. Father, let Your Church not be ordinary, let our voice be heard and impact felt all over the world in the mighty name of Jesus.

8. Father, please help every local assembly that needs Your help in one way or the other.

9. Father, raise faithful men who will be sold out to You in this generation, to serve You with all their heart and all their might.

10. Father, every assembly or denomination where there is conflict, please Lord, calm the storm.

11. Father, every group, society or establishment terrorizing Your Church, if they refuse to repent, send Your fire into their midst and let them destroy themselves in the mighty name of Jesus.

12. Pray for your local assembly.

I join my faith with yours and pray that God will grant your request in the mighty name of Jesus.

KEY POINT:

An excellent spirit should be in every Christian because we have the excellent Father living in us.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 28-30

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD.

1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.

3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.

4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 11TH MARCH 2020.

THEME: THE HOLY SPIRIT.

MEMORISE:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26

READ: Acts 1:1-8

1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 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.

MESSAGE

The Old Testament, until Jesus died and rose, was the dispensation of God the Father. The millennium- when Jesus Christ will return to reign for a thousand years will be the dispensation of God the Son. We are however now in the dispensation of God the Holy Spirit.

So, who is the Holy Spirit? He is the third Person of the Trinity (2 Corinthians 13:14). He is Comforter. John 14:16 says:

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

He is the teacher (John 14:26). He is the One who reveals the future (John 16:13). He is the glorifier of Jesus (John 16:14). He is the source of divine power (Acts 1:. You may then wonder: if He is the third Person of the Trinity, what is the Trinity? Well, the Trinity consist of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). When we say the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, we recognize that human beings can only sympathize, it is the Holy Spirit who knows how best to comfort anyone who is sorrowful. Friendship with the Holy Spirt means joy forever.

The Holy Spirit is the One who can teach you the deep secrets of God. He not only teaches well; He also brings to your remembrance whatever you have forgotten. The Christian life becomes more joyful when from time to time, the Holy Spirit tells you what is to come. When God gave Jesus the name that is above every other name. the Holy Spirit went into action to ensure that everywhere the name of Jesus is called or used in prayer by His children, miraculous results are produced. The Holy Spirit gives the power to raise the dead, to make the lame walk the barren conceive. The moment you become born again, the Holy Spirit seals you as a child of God. So, whenever the devil sees God’s seal on you, he knows that you are untouchable. The fruit of the Holy Spirit also distinguishes you and helps men identity you. Indeed, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, by their fruits you will know be able to identify a child of God.

KEY POINT:

You need to befriend the Holy Spirit. It is the best relationship you can ever have.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 33-34

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 29: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee
Thou wilt find a solace there

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 31ST MAY 2020.

THEME: DON’T LOSE CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST.

MEMORISE:

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. Hebrews 10:35

READ: Hebrews 10:35-39

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

MESSAGE

Losing trust in Christ’s ability to do anything and everything has several terrible spiritual implications. For example, if anyone loses confidence in the sufficiency of Christ regarding the atonement for sins, such a person could turn to idols for supplementary atonement.

A displeased Paul wrote to the church in Galatia: “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21). They had apparently lost confidence in the grace that earned them salvation and had begun to resort to self-righteousness through religious activities.

Today, like the Galatian Church who considered keeping of the Jewish traditional laws, some people do not think the gospel is enough for them. So, they give in to demonic alternatives.

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth….. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:1,3

Do not lose confidence in God due to impatience. The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). Some people doubt Malachi 3:10-12 and then blaspheme because things are not going as planned despite their faithfulness in the payment of tithes and offerings. Some others now query monogamy as a Christian doctrine. Jesus Christ is however the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:. We cannot modify God’s laws to suit ourselves.

Brethren, nothing should make us fret, not severe persecutions, not trials of faith. God wants you to trust Him completely; there is no problem He cannot resolve. Never seek solutions on your problems from the devil or his agents. Psalm 16:4 says: “Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god……”

Make God your refuge and strength. He is a very present help and will never forsake you (Psalm 46:11, Romans 8:35).

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to hold on to You and let my confidence in Christ increase, rather than diminish in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 119: 89-176.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: IN CHRIST ALONE.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

open heavens DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: TUESDAY 9TH JUNE 2020.
THEME: THE UNCHANGING CHRIST
MEMORISE:
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
READ: John 5:20-29
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
MESSAGE
For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6
The statement above was made by God the Father and is representative of the entire God-head.
We live in very dynamic times, and this could make the future frightening, but there is hope for those who have faith in the Unchanging Christ, the Son of the Living God. Everything can change but God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit will never change; neither will His standards.
“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17
He said to those who are going into marriage “…Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.” (Mark 10:11-12). When the Pharisees attempted to justify divorce from the point of view of the Law of Moses, Jesus said: “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female... Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:4, �.
Whoever decides to flout this divine arrangement does so to his or her own peril, even though the consequence may not be immediate. Reuben slept with his stepmother but the consequence surfaced after many decades when he should have received blessings from his father (Genesis 49:4).
May those things that we regard as inconsequential not prevent us from entering into the Kingdom of God in the mighty name of Jesus. God’s standard does not change. Remember, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:cool.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please build up my faith in the unchanging Christ.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 22-24.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 21: NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD