Open Heaven 8 June 2018: [Friday] Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
The Sure Armour II
THE SURE ARMOUR II – Friday June 8th 2018
Memorise: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:17
Read: 2nd Corinthians 6:1-7 (KJV)
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 22, Acts 7:44-8:3, Hymnal: Sing hymn 15
Message:-
Yesterday we examined truth and righteousness as components of the sure armour of God. Today, our memory verse introduces two more components of this armour. Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit.

SALVATION
Our complete victory against the enemy begins and ends with the salvation of our souls. Our warfare with the kingdom of darkness started in the Garden of Eden, where the devil stole the mandate to rule over this world from Adam. Eve chose to believe the devil’s lie and Adam disobeyed God by yielding to the devil. Adam sold himself and by extension his descendants to the enemy when he sinned against his Maker. This is the reason why Jesus always addressed the problem of sin first before addressing any other problem confronting those who came to Him. Before Jesus healed the man sick of the palsy in Luke 5:17-26, He said to him:

“Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”
Luke 5:20b


Jesus is still addressing the issue of sin first today. This is the reason why I know that as you surrender your life to Jesus today, the helmet of salvation will be your heritage, and you will have victory over your tormentors in Jesus’ Name.

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
The sword of the spirit is the word of God. It is an offensive weapon with which we attack the enemy, and it is powerful through God to the pulling down of the devil’s strongholds. Hear what the Holy Spirit says in Hebrews 4:12 about the power that is inherent in God’s word:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Open Heaven 29 May 2018: [Tuesday] Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Soldiers of the Cross
SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS – Tuesday May 29th 2018
Memorise: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2nd Timothy 2:3
Read: 2nd Timothy 2:1-11 (KJV)
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 7, Acts 2:1-28, Hymnal: Sing hymn 16
Message:-
It is important for a child of God to recognise and understand the purpose of the multifaceted life we are called to by God. For this reason, the Holy Spirit reveals to us in 2nd Timothy 2:3 that we have been called to be soldiers of Jesus Christ. A Soldier does certain things to fulfil his or her vocation. Enduring hardness, shunning worldly pleasures and distractions, and keeping to the rules of military service are some of the basic characteristics expected of a soldier. Soldiers are also required to fight to defend the territorial integrity of their country from external attacks. In addition, they are to engage in warfare to expand the territory of their commander-in-chief, monarch or emperor. As it is in the physical, so it is in the spiritual. The comportment of a soldier is that of discipline, and a Christian soldier should be even more disciplined. This will help him or her to endure hardness, which means learning to be full and also to be empty as the situation demands (Philippians 4:12). If a soldier of the cross is not disciplined enough to endure hardness, he or she will end up like Esau, who sold his birthright for a plate of pottage (Hebrews 12:16). Our Lord Jesus laid down a good example for us to follow in this regard when He refused to turn stone into bread even though He was hungry (Luke 4:3-4). A soldier of Jesus Christ avoids any distraction that would take his or her focus away from the way of the cross he or she is fighting to defend. Materialism is not a problem for a true soldier of Jesus Christ who has learnt to be modest. Concerning this, our Commander-in-chief in Luke 12:15 said this to us:

“Take heed, and beware of covetousness: of a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Open Heaven 28 May 2018: [Monday] Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Grace II
GRACE II– Monday May 28th 2018
Memorise: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17
Read: Romans 3:20-25 (KJV)
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Bible in one year: 1st Kings 5-6, Acts 1, Hymnal: Sing Hymn 3
Message:-
Grace is God’s character by which He shows Himself as being compassionate, loving, merciful, accepting and generous to all mankind. God’s grace shield sinful mankind from His wrath grants them forgiveness and bestows on them His righteousness so that they can live and grow up in faith and obedience to Him. Grace and mercy are particularly expressed through God’s covenant with His chosen people and through Jesus Christ’s atoning death on the cross. Throughout the Bible, the notion of grace is abundantly present even where the word is not mentioned. Whenever Jesus brought healing to the sick and deliverance to the oppressed, divine grace was on display. The grace of God is especially expressed through salvation from sin, offered by Jesus to all of mankind. Speaking about Jesus as the embodiment of God’s grace. Titus 2:11 says

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”

Message:-
Submission is a humble attitude wherein authority is duly recognised and obedience is willingly rendered without any resistance whatsoever. God commands submission to Himself, to civil authorities and to appoint leaders in His Church (James 4:7, 1st Peter 2:13, Hebrews 13:17). Submission is also commanded in relationship such as marriage (Colossians 3:18). The crux of the message of our Lord Jesus Christ is submission to the will and purpose of God as revealed in His word. In Matthew 7:24-27, He said those who hear the word of God and submit to its authority in obedience can be likened to a wise person who built his or her house upon the rock, and the house survived a terrible storm. In contrast, He compared those who reject the authority of God’s word to a foolish person who built his or her house on sandy soil without strong foundations, and the house was destroyed by storm. Therefore, not being submissive to the word of God, which manifests itself as disobedience, is very costly indeed. I pray that you will receive the grace to submit totally to the will of God concerning your life today in Jesus’ Name.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example of submission. Today’s Bible reading reveals the extent He went to in order to submit Himself to His Father. No wonder the Holy Spirit wants us to have the same mind that He had. In John 10:17, Jesus revealed that total submission is the secret of the Father’s love for Him. Hear what He said to the Father in Hebrews 10:7 when He was coming into the world:

“Then said I, Lo, come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

Concerning the submission of the Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews 5:8 also says:

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”

Jesus learnt to obey God’s instructions even when He knew it would yield personal loss and suffering for Him. Little wonder the Bible says He was obedient unto death. This obedience unto death was demonstrated in Matthew 26:39 when He was faced with the reality of death on the cross, and He made this agonising prayer to God saying:

“….O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

For Jesus, obedience to God was His primary concern, and every other thing, including His personal interest, was secondary, May the Lord give His Church this same mind-set in Jesus’ Name.
Key Point
If you want to get the same results that Jesus got, be submissive to God like He was.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
Sing hymn 12
TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET
IT BE
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.


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,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.


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


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


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,
It shall be Thy royal throne.


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

Open Heaven 22 May 2018: [Tuesday] Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Exercising Your Delegated Authority
EXERCISING YOUR DELEGATED AUTHORITY – Tuesday May 22nd 2018
Memorise: And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. Exodus 14:15
Read: Exodus 14:10-16
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more forever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
Read: Luke 10:19
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 19-20, 1st John 2:7-27, Hymnal: Sing hymn 16
Message:-
It is one thing to be given authority, and it is another thing to exercise the authority delegated. Some Christians are suffering today because they do not exercise the divine authority given to them as children of God. Some children of God are like Moses in today’s Bible reading, crying helplessly at the Red Sea with the army of Pharaoh fast approaching. The children of Israel also did not help matters because they murmured against his leadership at this critical point. The perfect storm faced by Moses at the Red Sea made him forget who he was and the enormous power of God had vested in him. In Exodus 7:1, God had told him:

“And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.”

Unfortunately, either Moses forgot this or his mind could not grasp the extent of its meaning. Although crying to God is not wrong by itself, there is time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1). This was not the time for Moses to cry; rather, it was a time for him to exercise the authority given to him by God. Nevertheless, God graciously reminded Moses that the authority to deal with the situation was already at his disposal. In Exodus 14:15-16, God said to him:

….Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”

Message:-
The reason why many children of God are not living a triumphant life daily is because they refuse to submit themselves to the authority and lordship of their Father, the Authority. Some are like the prodigal son who sought premature freedom and independence from his father (Luke 15:12-13). In today’s Bible reading, we see a man who knew that it was to be under authority and the blessings that come along with it. This man is the centurion, whose faith our Lord Jesus Christ described as great. After Jesus had decided to go with him to heal his servant, this centurion did not deem it necessary for Jesus to go to his house, because he was a man under authority and he understood the attendant implications of this. He knew Jesus Christ was under authority and had great authority. He also believed that if Jesus exercised His authority over demons from where He was, they would obey Him. Hear what he said in Matthew 8:8b:
“Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”

It is interesting to note the contrast between the proud attitude of Naaman and the humble disposition of this centurion to spiritual authority (2nd Kings 5:11). The Holy Spirit reveals the secret to spiritual authority in James 4:7 where He says,

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

This is where the problem lies with some children of God. First things first: we must submit to the authority of God in His word before we can resist the devil and his attacks. When we follow this order, the devil will definitely flee from us because we are operating under God’s authority in His word. Regardless of who is speaking it, the word of God must be respected and given its rightful place in our lives. You must submit to the authority of God’s word by being a doer of it if you will experience a performance of its purpose in your life (James 1:25). Beloved, are you under the authority of the Almighty God in His word? It is all well and good if you are. However, if you find it difficult to submit to God’s authority in His word, you will experience the frustration of the word not working for you. If you are in this situation, repent today and submit to God’s authority in His word that is forever settled. One more lesson you should learn from today’s Bible reading is that while many shall come from all over the world to benefit from the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the children of the kingdom who refuse to submit to God’s authority would be cast away. This will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.