Get Intimate With God – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 7th August 2013

Get Intimate With God – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 7th August 2013

GET INTIMATE WITH GOD BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalms 119:103

Read:

1 Kings 19:11-13

(1 Kings 19:11) And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

(1 Kings 19:12) And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

(1 Kings 19:13) And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Open Heavens Devotional Message

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Worldly things are temporary while heavenly things are eternal. In other words, earthly things like wealth, material possessions, earthly achievements and goals, position and fame are all for the earth and therefore short lived. One day they shall all cease. On the other hand, spiritual things like things about God and His Kingdom, serving God at whatever capacity, doing God’s will and spiritual goals are heaven bound an have eternal consequences. The average believer is torn between focusing on the physical and the spiritual. Where is your focus today?

Your focus will be determined by your level of spiritual maturity. The joy of growing old in the Lord is that it opens your eye to seeing more of the unseen than what is commonly seen. More intimacy with God gives you a shaper spiritual vision and a keener spiritual audio ability. One of the ways God speaks is through the still small voice according to 1 Kings 19:11-13. To be able to hear Him by this very low voice, you must completely down play noise and seek Him in absolute quietness. This may require you finding a very quiet place for God and you, and He will speak to you. When you deliberately draw closer to God, you will hunger and pant after His Word. You will go beyond reading to studying and digesting God’s sweet Word (Psalm 119:103).

Moreover, how can you prolong your days on earth? This is a function of what you do and what you don’t do. Stop cheating on others! Deuteronomy 25:15 says,

“But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee”.

If you are into manufacturing, and make a product on whose packet you write 10 grams, let it not be less than what you declared. It is your duty to ensure that whatever you use for measurement is right. Do not employ false measure. Some traders would beat in their measuring cans, tins and containers so that they can save something for themselves every time they sell their goods. A true believer in Christ cannot do this because he or she fears God. How honest are you in your dealings?

Bible In One Year:

Psalm 103-105

Prayer Point
Father, as I grow older in Christ, help me move closer to you and be more like you.



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Sow Towards Your Next Level – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 6th August 2013

Sow Towards Your Next Level – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 6th August 2013

SOW TOWARDS YOUR NEXT LEVEL BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass. Isaiah 32:20

Read:

Isaiah 32:15-20
(Isa 32:15) Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

(Isa 32:16) Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

(Isa 32:17) And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

(Isa 32:18) And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

(Isa 32:19) When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.

(Isa 32:20) Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.

Open Heavens Devotional Message
Everyone has a next level. As successful as you may consider yourself to be, there is a level you have not attained, a height you have not climbed, a feat that has not been achieved. No matter how anointed you are, there is a level of anointing you have not reached. The earlier you realise and accept, the better for you. Many people like Moses saw their next level but could not enter in. may you never be a victim of seeing but not possessing your blessing in Jesus name.

To enter your next level, you must be prepared to sacrifice your Isaac. The next level comes by sacrifice. How much are you willing to give to enter into your next level? Similarly, you can enter into your next level by sowing. In Genesis 26:2-14, we see how Isaac entered into his next level through sowing the seed he had at a period of famine. There are seeds and there are fruits. Seeds are meant to be sown while fruits are meant to be eaten. Seeds are for the future while fruits are for today. If you are wise like Isaac, you will never convert the seed that should give you a tomorrow into a fruit that should sustain you for the moment. Isaac virtually starved when he sowed what others should have eaten. He suffered a while but when the yield came, he became greater than the nation which ate their seeds.

Those who sow their seeds will always be greater than those who eat their seeds. In The Redeemed Christian Church of God, there is a track record of meaningful sowing. It is the sowing of the past that has brought us to present location. In Port Harcourt, a woman sowed three of her houses and landed property. Sometimes, some people would empty their pockets for the work of the Lord. I have had to sow my car too. What are you willing to give to move to your next level? If what you are prepared to sow is far from what God expects you to sow, your seed will be unable to deliver your next level.

Bible In One Year:

Psalm 100-102

Key Point
No matter how high you have gone, there is still a height you have not reached.




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A Joyous Ending – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 4th August 2013

A JOYOUS ENDING BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18

Read:
Luke 7:11-15

(Luke 7:11) And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

(Luke 7:12) Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

(Luke 7:13) And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

(Luke 7:14) And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

(Luke 7:15) And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Open Heavens Message
Every part of the human body is important and is given to us for some reason. The mouth particularly is given to us to protest against any contrary condition we may be experiencing. If you fail to cry out when you should, you may be prolonging the negative situation you are in. I was out for a prayer walk one night and did not really care if anybody was around.

I had a very crucial issue to settle with God so I laid prostrate on the road. Then one fellow came to me and called Daddy. In my heart I wondered, ‘what is his business about this?’ Who is daddy when there is trouble? According to Luke 11:9-10, we are instructed to ask, seek and knock but the duration for making the request is not stated; in other words, we are to continue to ask, seek and knock until we receive our desire – till our joy is full (John 16:24). How are you asking?

Moreover another lesson from the Shunammite woman of 2 Kings 4:18-26 is that all is well that ends well. When you go through scriptures, you will see several people who encountered problems but at the end, they had a pleasant, glorious ending. How a given situation ends is more crucial. In Mark 2:1-12, we read of a man who was paralysed. He was borne by four people because his situation had made him heavier, but at last he walked home by himself. In Mark 5:1-20, we see how a notorious mad man became an evangelist. 

Similarly, in Luke 7:11-15, we read of a woman who was happily married and had a son. At some point, she lost her husband then her son, and was embarking on a journey to bury him when she encountered Jesus. At the end, her trip into lasting sorrow became a trip into permanent joy and comfort when the lord raised up her son from the dead. Are you in a particularly sorrowful situation? The Lord will step in and your end shall be glorious. Fear not, the problem you think will kill you will not kill you. The problem will be terminated so that your joy might be full. You shall end in joy.

Bible In One Year:
Psalm 94-96

Prayer Point:
Father, irrespective of what I am going through today, let my end be glorious.



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Paying For Spiritual Service – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 3rd August 2013

PAYING FOR SPIRITUAL SERVICES BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

Read:

1 Corinthians 2:12-13

(1 Corinthians 2:12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

(1 Corinthians 2:13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Open Heavens Message
One reason many people are failing God in ministry and in their secular jobs is because they are copying methods rather than following the Lord. Another reason is that they are following after the wrong things. If you pursue the wrong things or focus on what is not needful, it will definitely affect your results. When Naaman was leaving with all the goodies he came with, Gehazi vowed to go after him. What are you running after?

God sees the hearts of men. Naaman came to the man of God hoping to pay for his healing. The man of God was sensitive to the Spirit of God and so he refused to take a gift from him. There are some servants of God who have never refused a gift before. In fact, if something is not offered to them after God has used them to be a blessing, they take offence and begin to complain. Such people are following the path of Gehazi.

Romans 3:24 says we are justified freely by His grace. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 and Romans 8:32 say that God has freely given us the things of the Kingdom. Did you pay for your salvation, sanctification or baptism in the Holy Spirit? Did you pay for the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit that makes the miraculous possible in your life? Matthew 10:8 says,

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

Today, the greed of some ministers of the Gospel makes them to compel or cajole recipients of blessings from God's grace on their life to pay in cash or in kind. In other words, the concept of free reception and free delivery is fast becoming obsolete. Some ministers will say, 

'I laid hands on you and the cancer in your body disappeared. You know how much it costs to treat an incurable disease like cancer. If it is half of what you would have spent on treatment, go and bring it; after all, it is not easy to acquire the anointing'.

Has the anointing suddenly gone on sale? The Lord frowns seriously at this! If recipients of miracles on their own decide to show appreciation, that is fine; but it is very wrong for them to be compelled or cajoled to 'pay' for what they have received. If they pay, they may never see the need to turn their lives over to God.

Bible In One Year

2 Thessalonians 1-3

Key Point
If you sell the gift of God which should be freely given, you will be made to pay back on the day you have nothing at hand.



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Who Do You Fear? – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 2nd August 2013

WHO DO YOU FEAR? BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25

Read:

Proverbs 29:25-27
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25

Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD. Proverbs 29:26

An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. Proverbs 29:27

Open Heavens Message
The favourites of God often share similarities with eagle. One outstanding trait of the eagle is its ability to see its enemy coming long before it arrives, and as a result, decide on how to deal with it. Usually, when a snake is about to penetrate the nest of an eagle, the latter would have seen it earlier. The eagle will wait for the right moment to strike. Without warning, it will strike by grabbing it by the neck, take it to a great height and drop it from there. This will lead to the death of the snake.

As a favourite of God, when the enemies are planning their evil attack, the Lord will reveal it to you so that you will know how to handle your enemies. How often does God forewarn you of the plans of your enemies? When Herod was seeking the life of baby Jesus, Joseph was warned. If you hardly ever get divine warning about the scheme of your enemies, it is doubtful if you are God’s favourite. It simply means you need to work on your relationship with God.

In addition, the favourite of God enjoys divine security which leads to unusual boldness. Hence, Proverbs 28:1 says such believer have the boldness you find in lions. If you are a divine favourite, you will fear no man but God. Proverbs 29:25 says,

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

Whenever you are afraid of a man, you will definitely fall into a pit. There is a link between the fear of man and snares. If you carry out a fact-finding quest on those who found themselves in one trap or another, you will discover that majority of them got there because they were afraid of somebody or some persons. The fear of the Israelites made king Saul to be rejected.

If you are afraid of offending men because you do not want to be sacked, spoken against or prosecuted, you will definitely offend God. Men are not to be feared but loved, respected or honoured. God is the only one you should fear. God’s favourites do not care about the opinions of men but about what God thinks about them. What do you fear?

Bible In One Year:

Lamentation 3-5

Action Point
Ask God to help you grow in love and in the fear of God.



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Power In The Blood – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Thursday 1st August 2013

POWER IN THE BLOOD BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28

Read:

Matthew 26:26-28
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. Matthew 26:26

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; Matthew 26:27

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28

Open Heavens Message
Wrong use of the tongue can be so destructive that it can forever severe one’s link with the Saviour in a situation such as blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. May this never be your portion in Jesus name. However, avoid everything that attracts you into sin as they are targeted at breaking your link with the Vine. Just feeding your eyes lustfully for a few minutes on pornographic materials and websites could have the end result of breaking the tree-branch relationship that exists between Jesus and you.

At the first Holy Communion service with the disciples, the Lord said,

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Matthew 26:28

In other words, He was saying that if you have been detached from the Vine and already withering, when you reconcile with God and receive the blood, you will be revived. The blood is so powerful that it can flush out every stranger hibernating in your body. Matthew 15:13 says,

“But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up”.

The doctors will tell you that one reason you bleed after cutting your skin is because the body system recognizes that once there is an opening in the body, strangers can come in; so the blood rushes out to prevent strangers from coming in. Is there any contamination in your system? It shall be uprooted. Every virus, germ or bacteria hibernating in your system shall die and be flushed out as you partake of the blood of Jesus Christ made available through the Holy Communion. Revelation 12 :11 says the blood of Jesus can give you victory over the devil.

As you partake of the Holy Communion, key into it in faith and receive your victory over forces of darkness. As soon as the sick branch is healed, it begins to bear fruit again (John 15:5). Are you a sick branch? Or have you become detached through compromising with sin? Repent from your heart, dump that sin that broke you away from the Vine and reconnect today. If you are not yet born-again, it means you have never been connected to the Lover of your soul. Confess your sins, forsake them and invite Jesus Christ into your heart and confess Him as your Lord. As you do so, you will be attached to the Vine.

Bible In One Year:

Lamentation 1-2

Action Point
The blood of Jesus was under utilised by believers today. Apply this blood on every area of life, using it to attack every opposition you are facing.



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It's Your Turn To Shine - Open Heaven of Wednesday 31st July 2013

IT’S YOUR TURN TO SHINE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. Proverbs 10:5

Read:

Psalms 102:12-13
But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. Psalms 102:12

Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. Psalms 102:13

Open Heavens Message
“Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.”
Psalms 102:13
There is a time for everything under Heaven. One reason you should arise and shine is because the time for you to shine is now. You might have been playing church all along but now is the time to shine. The best time to do something is at the time that is most appropriate for it. If you get married before the appropriate time, there will be lots of issues bordering your maturity and expectations. A particular young girl was given out in marriage by her parent to a mature man who sponsored her to one of the tertiary institutions.

While there, she saw no sense in living with so many dos of and don’ts. She wondered why she could not be free to go to parties, roam around from joint to joint like her colleagues and just live a carefree life. Several times the man reminded her that she was no more a single girl but a married lady, and that she should shun youthful lusts, but she saw these as some form of bondage. She resisted and before long, the relationship parked up.

“He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.”
Proverbs 10:5
It is a crime to sleep in summer. It is wrong for you to be sleeping or to be resting at ease while other believers are out in the field winning souls. It is wrong to fold your arms or pretend not to notice what is going on when others are busy giving towards the building of your church. It is possible that you can hide or your lack of participation is unnoticed, yet the result will be evident to all.

You cannot reap what you did not sow, so it is only wise for you to sow what you expect to reap. This is your time to shine. Some people are just waiting to see you shine. If only you can shine now, you will be able to ignite the fire in the lives of others. What is stopping you from shinning now? Put it off and shine for your time has come!

Bible In One Year:

Deuteronomy 32-34

Prayer Point
Father, from today and until I take my last breath on earth, help me to shine.


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Sin Is A Bad Painter – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday day 30th July 2013

SIN IS A BAD PAINTER BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
Memorise:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Read:
Mark 2:1-12

(Mark 2:1) And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

(Mark 2:2) And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

(Mark 2:3) And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

(Mark 2:4) And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

(Mark 2:5) When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

(Mark 2:6) But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

(Mark 2:7) Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?

(Mark 2:8) And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

(Mark 2:9) Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

(Mark 2:10) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

(Mark 2:11) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

(Mark 2:12) And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Open Heavens Message
''And God saw everything that he made, behold, it was very good. And the evening and morning were the six day.'' Genesis 1:31

The above scripture speaks of the events that occurred at the beginning, when God created the Heaven and earth. He examined all He made and they were very good. There was sickness, sorrow or lack. All you could find was blessing, fruitfulness, multiplication, longevity, dominion and abundance. But that was before the advent of sin. From Genesis 3:16-19 after man fell, his fall gave rise to several negative things that never existed until then - curses, painful conception and delivery, sorrow, sweat, hardship, etc.

What was once very good became very bad when sin came in. There is a link between sin and everything evil. This also tells us that sin can change the colour of events, situations and circumstances from bright beautiful colours to dark and repulsive ones. Believe it or not, sin paints your today and tomorrow in colours you detest

Sin is a very powerful force. It is so powerful that it conquered the whole of the human race. It changed the bright and glorious outlook of the earth. According to Psalm 107:17-18 it brought sickness and affliction. Bondage, failure and helplessness also came because of sin (Psalm 107:10-12). What of barrenness and poverty? Psalm 107:33-34 confirms that these came through sin, hence Romans 6:23 concludes that sin always delivers death to sinners.

As powerful as sin is, forgiveness comes, it even much more powerful. When forgiveness comes, it is able to restore the bright pictures of your life, which were lost to sin. Forgiveness turns the tide of the life and destiny of a sinner. In today’s reading, when the paralyzed man was brought before the Lord, He forgave him his sins and thereafter, helplessness, sorrow, sickness disappeared and healing was delivered. Are you in need of a miracle from God but you are still living in sin? Immediately acknowledge your sins, confess them and ask for God’s forgiveness, then invite Jesus into your heart

Bible In One Year:
Deuteronomy 29-31

Prayer Point:
Father, every negative colour sin has painted my life and destiny with, change it into something glorious

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Leading With God's Fear – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 29th July 2013

LEADING WITH GOD'S FEAR BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
The God of Israel Said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 2 Samuel 23:3

Read:
2 Samuel 23:1-4

(2 Samuel 23:1) Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

(2 Samuel 23:2) The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

(2 Samuel 23:3) The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

(2 Samuel 23:4) And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Open Heavens Message
In Exodus 1:15-21, a Pharoah who did not know Joseph came on board and passed a decree to kill all male Israelites that were born. we see here that ---link--power must be balanced---link--- with fear of God for it to be productive. It occurred to me that if we leave the government of our nation in the hands of someone who lacks the fear of God, we are all bound to pay dearly for it. Even unborn children and many innocent people will suffer for it. This is why we should obey 1 Timothy 2:1-3. Verse 2 of that scripture says we should pray,

''For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty''

That means the level of peace and quiet we experience in our nation is a function of number of quality prayers rendered on behalf of our leaders. Some believers tell you they are not interested in politics. They do not care who rules over them. Yet, they complain of excessive taxation, bribery and corruption, and misrule of such leaders. If you do not pray for those who lead you, then you have lost your right to complain. Beside those in secular government, you must equally prayerfully determine who becomes your next General Overseer, Senior Pastor or Pastor. If the wrong fellow takes up any of these ecclesiastical positions, you will surely suffer. Pray that God will never allow anyone who lacks the fear of God to rule over you. This also applies to the one who you accept to be your husband. If he lacks the fear of God, that home is doomed. Wake up today and start to pray! You would be amazed how much you can achieve through prayer. Your prayer can affect who governs you. Use this power to get the appropriate candidate that will bring joy to and it will be well with you. As a student, you can prayerfully ask for your right teacher, lecturer or supervisor that will be instrumental to your success. Start to ask the Lord for a leader with the fear of God from now on.

Bible In One Year:
Deuteronomy 26-28

Action Point:
A leader who fears God is accountable to God and the people under him or her. Ask that only such leaders will govern your life and nation from now on.

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Danger Of Silence – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 28th July 2013

DANGER OF SILENCE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

Read:
2 Kings 4:1-7

(2 King 4:1) Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

(2 King 4:2) And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

(2 King 4:3) Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

(2 King 4:4) And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

(2 King 4:5) So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

(2 King 4:6) And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

(2 King 4:7) Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

Open Heavens Message
There are several lessons to be learnt from the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:18-26, one of these is that in her time of need, she cried persistently for help until she got it. Another aspect for which she must commended is that when her son died, she did not immediately set out for the man of God but she first exercised her faith by placing the boy on the bed of the man of God. It was when the matter was beyond her faith that she set out to meet the man of God.

Today, many Christians are very lazy. They hardly exercise their faith in times of crisis. They used to calling one person or the other over most trivial matter. What happens if there is a crisis and there is no one you can call? Start trusting in the Lord. god wants you to grow. If only you can exercise your faith, no matter how small, it will begin to grow.

When the boy failed to wake up the bed of the man of God, she decided to take the matter to the man of God himself. Sighting her from afar, Elisha sent Gehazi his servant to her but she failed to disclose her problem to him. This raises the question of credibility and integrity. If as a minister of God people cannot share confidential matters with you, it may be that you rate quite low in integrity. If you are loose tongued and what is shared with you in secret filters out, and probably become common knowledge, then you will end up overseeing strangers. Are you trustworthy as a leader?

Moreover when she got to the man of God, she grabbed his feet, resolving not to leave him. The reason many people are still nursing their problem is because they are too quiet. If you keep quiet God will assume that you are enjoying the situation and He too will be silent on the matter. A widow of one of the sons of the prophets had a serious financial problem that could have led to her untimely death but she kept quiet. It was when she cried out that God arose for her. What situation are you or your family in? Cry out today and the Lord will come to your rescue.

Bible In One Year:
Deuteronomy 23-25

Key Point:
It is your outcry that tells God that you truly need what He thought you needed

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Secure Your Salvation – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 27th July 2013

SECURE YOUR SALVATION BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
Memorise:
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Philippians 2:16

Read:
Philippians 2:12-16

(Php 2:12) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

(Php 2:13)For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

(Php 2:14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

(Php 2:15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

(Php 2:16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Open Heavens Message
If you are born-again, go further to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, walk in the Spirit. Do everything possible to retain the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Several years ago, I used to preach to my mother to give her life to Jesus, but she would tell me she has been a Christian before she was married to my father. Yet, I would ask her: “Are you really born-again?” When she could no longer stand the pressure, she asked me what I wanted her to do, so I led her to Christ. After this, I was worried about the genuineness of her salvation, so I told God I needed to see the evidence of her conversion especially because she was advanced in age; I wanted God to baptize her with the Holy Spirit before she dies, so that I can be certain she is born-again.

During a visit one afternoon, while praying for God’s help so that she would be baptized with the Holy Spirit that same day, I fell asleep. Two of my daughters visited and met me sleeping, so they went to ask mama whether she had been baptized of the Holy Spirit. They took some time with her and mama received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

It was the noise that woke me. Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? If you have, are members of you nuclear and extended families saved? If they are, praise God, but don’t stop at that; help them to receive the Holy Spirit. Luke 24:49 says,

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with the power from high”

The presence of the Holy Spirit will be a witness of conversion to Christ as well as make them witnesses of the power of the Gospel according to Romans 8:9 and Acts 1:8. Do not take for granted that you are saved or that your loved ones have given his or her life to Christ, take further steps to secure that salvation by having more of the Spirit of Jess Christ.

Bible In One Year:
Deuteronomy 20-22

Action Point:
If you have not experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit, pray that the Lord will baptize you with His fire. You can also see your pastor to pray with you.

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Don’t Inhibit This Chemistry – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 26th July 2013

DON’T INHIBIT THIS CHEMISTRY BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
Abide in, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4

Read:
John 15:1-5

(Joh 15:1)I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

(Joh 15:2)Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and everybranchthat beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

(Joh 15:3)Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

(Joh 15:4)Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Open Heavens Message
To succeed in life and in ministry as a believer, you must understand the relationship that exists between you and the Lord. You need to dully understand your rights, privileges and obligations. Today’s reading tells us that there is a tree-branch relationship between us and the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the tree – the Vine while we are the branches. If all is well with the tree, all will be well with the branches. If the vine is fruitful, the branches, all other things equal.

What passes through the vine also passes through branches. If the vine is fruitful, the branches too will bear fruit. For a branch to be unfruitful, while connected to a fruitful vine is a rarity except the branch is sick or detached from the vine. No branch produces fruit on its own except through the vine. As a believer in Christ, whatever is produced through you – be it physical or spiritual or otherwise is by the power of working in you, which is Jesus Christ.

Once in a while, it is possible for a branch to be sick. According to Psalm 107:17, sin brings affliction. The branch that goes into sin will end in affliction. But when this happens, Psalm 107:20 says as that branch repents, God will send His Word to deliver healing to the sick. Who is that Word? John 1:1,14 says it is none other than the Word that was in the beginning, Who was made flesh – the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, John 6:51 says to live, you must eat of His flesh. Beloved, being a branch of the Vine and a partaker of the flesh and blood of the Lord, you must know that there is a divine chemistry operating in you, which you must never allow sin to inhibit.

While you live free from sin and you take the Holy Communion in faith, John 6:56 says you and Jesus will co-exist in each other. This is a very powerful revelation. If you walk in this revelation, the divine nature becomes manifest in your human nature. Your weakness will be absorbed by His strength. Your limitation will be absorbed by His super-abundance, and you will gradually manifest His person. The chemistry that connects you with Jesus is so profound that you must not allow anything external to inhibit it. As long as your relationship with Him is unbroken, you will be able to access all that God has for you. Guard your link with Jesus jealously.

Bible In One Year:
Deuteronomy 17-19

Action Point:
List 20 things that happen or cannot happen to you knowing that Christ is in you and you are in Him

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Copying Methods – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Thursday 25th July 2013

COPYING METHHODS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

Read:
Acts 19:11-19

(Act 19:11) And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

(Act 19:12) So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

(Act 19:13) Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

(Act 19:14) And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

(Act 19:15) And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

(Act 19:16) And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

(Act 19:17) And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

(Act 19:18) And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

(Act 19:19) Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Open Heavens Message
While some servants of God can lay a demand on the anointing of God upon their lives, and God will immediately answer, some others cannot because they really do not have any credit in their heavenly account. Take for instance Gehazi who was the servant of Elisha. In 2 Kings 4:29-31, Elisha gave Gehazi his rod to go and place it over the dead son of the Shunammite woman. As soon as he received it, he did not even wait to pray but rushed off, only to return and tell his master nothing happened.

Gehazi spoke like his master and tried to configure things, yet nothing happened. This tells us that it is possible to be on the same bed with someone show is on fire and not catch the fire. It is not the anointing oil, it is not the staff of office; it is not how well packaged the words are; it is not your oratory abilities. You can have all these but if you do not have any credit with God, all these will fail you. It is easy to talk the talk but walking the walk is what is most important.

In Acts19:11-19, when the sons of Sceva saw the miracles that Paul did, they became interested. Unknown to him they bbegan to study the 'methodologies' and at the end, they tried to replicate what they saw, but because they lacked the relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ, they paid dearly for their abuse of His name. Never copy others by prophesying except when God has spoken to you, or you will pay dearly for it.

Today, some pastors who do not have the word of wisdom or knowledge, and are not prepared to pay the price for these gifts, are gradually imitating those who have it. They want to belong to the class of spiritual leaders by applying guesses and common sense. The things of the Spirit do not work like that. If you copy the methods but lack the Spirit, you can never get the result of the Spirit. What are you copying? Is it from men or from God?

Bible In One Year:
Deuteronomy 13-16

Prayer Point:
A copy cannot be the same as the original. Why copy when you can have the original?

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Resisting Darkness – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Wednesday 24th July 2013

RESISTING DARKNESS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
The light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not john 1:5

Read:
John 1:45

(John 1:45) Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Open Heavens Message
We are enjoined to arise and shine in Isaiah 60:1. To shine could mean Fulfill your purpose. It could mean Resist darkness. John 1:5 says

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

You are not saved to fold your arms and be idle, but to resist darkness. Paul fought the good fight of faith and a part of that fight is to resist evil. The more you increase the number of lights around a place, the less darkness you will have there. This is the wisdom in planting churches. The more churches we planted, the more forces of darkness will be driven away.

There was a time in my village that if a well-dressed individual was going there with a car, on arrival at Ife (South-West Nigeria), the fellow would have to park the car, change to a less flamboyant dress and unpolished shoes before heading for the village. On getting home, after greeting them, they may ask how long the visit would be, and then the individual would lie that he would stay for three days whereas he was already preparing to leave. When it is time to leave, if the way to the motor park is to the right, he will follow the left and after going some distance, the fellow would reconnect the road to the park.

Why all that pretense? It was because darkness was thick and prevalent in the area. If they discovered the fellow had achieved something in life, that visit might just be his last visit to the village. But today, things have changed because the light of God has shone over them.

Now, I can even visit in a helicopter and be seen by people, yet no evil is envisaged. If you are a light of this world, you will shine by resisting evil. Every soul you win to the Kingdom further reduces the pressure of sin and death upon the community where you are. Do all it takes to enlarge the coast of the Kingdom because in doing this, you will not only be shining, but also multiplying good in the midst of a dark world.

Bible In One Year
Ecclesiastes 7-9

Action Point:
Go out and win souls into God’s Kingdom and thereafter thank Him for His light that is spreading into those lives and community at large.

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Why You Must Abide – RCCG Open Heavens Devotion Tuesday 23rd July 2013

WHY YOU MUST ABIDE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

Read:
Proverbs 18:6-8

(Pro 18:6) A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

(Pro 18:7) A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

(Pro 18:8) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Open Heavens Message
In John 9:6-7, a man who was born blind had contact with the Lord and his eyes were opened in a very dramatic way. If just one contact could do that much, how much more when you abide in Him. When you abide in Christ, He makes everything to become new. 2 Kings 4:8-17 tells of the Shunammite woman who offered Elisha food, and he decided to abide more regularly in the apartment she built for him.

Because he was abiding there, this woman who had lost hope of becoming a mother became the mother of a son. When you abide, there is a new beginning. The widow of Zarephath had the servant of God abiding with her and her son and what was supposed to be her last meal became the meal that sustained the trio for over two years of famine. Are you abiding in Christ? If you are today in Christ, tomorrow in sin, you are not abiding in Him.

Moreover, why do you need to abide in Him? Abiding in Him creates the perfect atmosphere to get the best results from God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 says,

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

If you are in a hurry to study God’s word, it will not sink into you, and you will be unable to reach the depth where you can get revelation. You need to read, study, memorise and mediate on the word, so that you can have good success (Joshua 1:18). You cannot continue in sin and expect a breakthrough from God because God is a miracle worker and not a magician. Abiding in Him helps you to stay holy.

Several years ago, a woman wanted to be fruitful. Like others who came. I laid hands on her and prayed. Much later she was angry that nothing happened even though she fell under the anointing. While I was about to pray for her again, the Lord stopped, and told me to ask this great woman how many boyfriends she had, beside her husband, and she said six. What some people are seeking is magic not miracle to prosper and become fruitful or successful through Him, you must be holy.

Bible In One Year
Ecclesiastes 7-9

Key Point
Anytime you step out of Christ, you are exposed to the bullets and arrows of the enemy. Stay in Him!

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Strike A Balance – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 22nd July 2013

STRIKE A BALANCE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Proverbs 29:2

Read:
Exodus 1:15-21

(Exo 1:15) And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one wasShiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

(Exo 1:16) And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

(Exo 1:17) But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

(Exo 1:18) And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

(Exo 1:19) And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

(Exo 1:20) Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

(Exo 1:21) And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

Open Heavens Message
Earlier, God had promised Abraham that through him, the whole world would be blessed. Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob and Esau, and Jacob had 12 sons. By the time they got to Egypt, they were 70 in number. Thereafter God began to multiply them over a period of time to such an extent that they became a mighty nation within Egypt. The Egyptians however became afraid of them.

After all the Pharoahs that knew about joseph died, one came who did not know Joseph. This Pharaoh came up with an evil strategy against the children of Israel. We ought to learn a new few lessons from these events. We know that changes are bound to occur as one government gives way for to another. Some will recognize and represent your interest while some others will not.

Yet, irrespective of the earthly government in power at any given moment, the divine government of the Most High God remains unchangeable. Since this divine government is the highest level of government, it can impose its will on all earthly governments. Therefore to remain relevant at all times, stay connected with the government of heaven.

I once asked God why He decided to hide so many truths in the Book of Exodus, and He replied that the Book of Exodus is the book of rapture. He said just as the children of Israel went en mass from Egypt so will the saints leave the world someday. Are you prepared for this glorious day? Remember there may be no notice other than a reminder like this one you are having now.

Moreover, we also learn how dangerous it is to have power without the fear of God. A man who can order the death of innocent babies is a dangerous fellow, which is why we must pray fervently that from now onwards, anyone without the fear of God will never rule our nations again.

Anyone in government who does not care about preserving the lives of those under him or her has failed in governance. When the righteous are in authority, joy should flood the city, state, or community. But if you claim to be righteous and those under you are in sorrow during your dispensation, you are a shame to the Body of Christ. How is your life bringing joy to others?

Bible In One Year:
Ecclesiastes 4-6

Action Point:
Using Psalm 72:7, pray that during your tenor in ministerial or secular affairs, the righteous will flourish and peace shall abound all through your sphere of influence.

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Watch Attitude To Prophecies – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 21st July 2013

WATCH ATTITUDE TO PROPHECIES BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
For by their words thou shalt be justifies, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:37

Read:
Proverbs 18:6-8

(Pro 18:6) A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

(Pro 18:7) A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

(Pro 18:8) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Open Heavens Message
Your confessions have a way of affecting your today, and particularly your tomorrow. If there is one thing you should do more often, it is to speak positively into your future, prophesy into your today and tomorrow and God will back it up. Don’t let the negative pronouncements of others stop you; rather, change the situation in your favour by your own confessions because Matthew 12:37 says,

“For by their words thou shalt be justifies, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

It is interesting but surprising to know that what have pegged the progress of some people is not the curses placed on them but the words they have spoken against themselves. Stop speaking against yourself! Eradicate words and phrases like these from your dictionary: ‘I cannot do it’ (except for something negative). ‘This task is not for people like me’, ‘Those who are saying I can make it in life are only deceiving me because nobody ever made it in my family’, ‘It is an impossible task’, etc. rather fill your diction with ‘I can’, ‘It is possible’, ‘I will succeed’, ‘Even if there is no way for others there will always be a way for me’

My father-in-the Lord once told me this story. Two men went before the oracle and the priest told one of them, “you will be king”, and the other, “You are a servant”. Then they left. The one told he would be king began to rejoice and celebrate his forthcoming fortune, but the other man challenged the verdict of the oracle. “Why must I be servant?” after thinking over it, he resolved there and them not to be one.

He got two cutlasses and sharpened them very well, took some food items and travelled to a far location to work. Each stroke from his cutlass backed by his confession: “I refuse to be a servant” from his labour, his farm became so big. One day, a hunter in the midst of famine stumbled on his farm and returned to tell the villagers he had found food. So the villagers came to beg the man to give them food in exchange for becoming their king. So this farmer became king while the one prophesied to be king became his servant.

Bible In One Year:
Ecclesiastes 1-3

Key Point:
A prophecy about you may be good but what you do with it is more important.

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When The Spirit Departs – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 20th July 2013

WHEN THE SPIRIT DEPARTS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
Cast me no away from your presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Psalm 51:11

Read:
Psalm 51:1-12

(Psa 51:1)To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

(Psa 51:2) Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

(Psa 51:3) For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

(Psa 51:4) Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

(Psa 51:5) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

(Psa 51:6) Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

(Psa 51:7) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

(Psa 51:8) Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

(Psa 51:9) Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

(Psa 51:10) Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

(Psa 51:11) Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

(Psa 51:12) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Open Heavens Message
Every believer in Christ needs the Holy Spirit. As long as He is with you, all is well, but the moment He leaves you, trouble follows. When He was with Samson, everyone saw him as a real-life Superman or Spiderman; but when He left him, Samson became an ordinary man and his enemies dealt with him (Judges 16:18-20). While the forces of darkness find it easy to deal with those without the Holy Spirit, it is an uphill task for them to deal with someone who is full of Holy Spirit. If you truly desire to be untouchable, make sure the Holy Spirit is very much with you. Demons are afraid of believers in Christ, not for their sake but because of the Spirit of God upon them.

Many years ago, while we were starting a church in Ife, a particular young and proficient female church singer mounted the stage and began to sing: ‘My city is heavenly Jerusalem. Witches, wizards and other evil doers cannot go there’. In that place, there were over 200 deities and demons. Suddenly, we observed that her mouth opened to sing but no words came out. Obviously, the witches and wizards felt she was confronting them while she lacked the power of the Holy Spirit, and so they seized her voice, she had to undergo some prayer afterwards in order to regain it. it is foolishness to dare the enemy wen your Ally is not with you.

Moreover, when the Holy Spirit departs, the joy of salvation goes with Him. If you doubt this ask David. When David sinned, the Holy Spirit left and so went his joy. This was why he began to ask for the restoration of the joy of his salvation in today’s reading. When was the last time you woke up singing? When the Spirit leaves, the relationship between you and the Lord Jesus Christ becomes like noise without substance. Romans 8:9 says if you do not have the Holy Spirit, you have nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Why? You are connected to Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Beloved, do all it takes for the Holy Spirit not to leave you! But if He has already left, then do everything possible to bring Him back.

Bible In One Year:
Numbers 34-36

Prayer Point:
Father, whatever happens, please let your Spirit never depart from me.

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Exceeding Greatness By Sacrifice - RCCG Open Heavens Devotion Friday 19th July 2013

EXCEEDING GREATNESS BY SACRIFICE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. Psalm 50:5

Read:
Genesis 22:7-14

(Gen 22:7) And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

(Gen 22:8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

(Gen 22:9) And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

(Gen 22:10) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

(Gen 22:11) And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

(Gen 22:12) 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.

(Gen 22:13) 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.

(Gen 22:14) 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.

Open Heavens Message
Our God is a covenant keeper. This is why He hates the acts of truce breakers with a passion. If you want your future to be exceedingly great, make sure you are connected through a covenant to God. God is taking us to the level of exceeding greatness. Don’t let anybody deceive you by telling you that you have reached a height nobody has achieved for God. Simply tell them that whatever they consider as your height is truly the beginning of your achievement for God. Tell them they have not seen anything yet.

However, how do you get to your next level – the level of exceeding greatness? Sacrifice is required. In Genesis 22:1-18, Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac and Isaac was willing to be a sacrificial lamb. You cannot get to the height of exceeding greatness without a sacrifice. When The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was just starting, there was sacrifice. People worked selflessly and with all their hearts. Bricklayers worked for free, so also did carpenters, etc. at the present location of the RCCG Headquarters, the lagoon water was so close and so we had to push the waters backwards by pouring in saw dust.

At that time, I was already a lecturer in the university, but I was glad I had the opportunity to salvage the church and contribute my quota. I got a big basket to carry saw dust. One day, there was a serious traffic jam in Lagos and motorists decided to look for short cuts. In the process, one of my former students saw a particular car going off the congested road and he followed, believing the driver was taking a known alternative route.

That was how they came through our church compound and he saw me carrying a big basket of saw dust. He shouted in disbelief. To get to the next level, you must be prepared to sacrifice. In fact, the quality of your next level will be determined by the quality of your sacrifice. I never knew that I would become a pastor in the RCCG then but I rejoiced at the opportunity to serve God sacrificially. Are you humble enough to serve God at any level of sacrifice He requires of you?

Bible In One Year
Numbers 31-33

Prayer Point
Father, the grace to make the ultimate sacrifice that will take me to my greatest heaight, give to me today. Take me to the very top..

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Laying Demands On Your Calling - RCCG Open Heavens Devotion Thursday 18th July 2013

LAYING DEMANDS ON YOUR CALLING BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memory Verse:

And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 2 Kings 1:10

Read:

2 Kings 1:9-12

(2 Kings 1:90) Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.

(2 Kings 1:10) And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

(2 Kings 1:11) Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

(2 Kings 1:12) And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

Open Heavens Message
Every potential champion faces the risk of never becoming a champion. Becoming a champion is a process which involves a lot of effort on the part of the would-be champion; while it takes nothing – no effort on your part to die a potential champion. This is exemplified by Judas Iscariot. He was one of the very few portfolio holders in the ministry of Jesus. He was indeed a potential champion but because he never realised it, Satan deceived him, he lost his ministry and somebody else replaced him (Acts 1:15-20). This is one dangerous side of doing nothing about your potential: it will not only affect your destiny but it can also result in you being replaced. May you never be replaced in God’s end time plan. Revelation 3:11 says

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

The potential you do nothing about may be lost.

In 2 Kings 5:20-27, Elijah was called a man of God. Bearing such a title suggests that one has been with God for a long time. Consequently, people would have certain expectations of such a fellow. If you are a man or woman of God, or a divine champion, people will naturally expect to see the miraculous in your life and ministry because they believe you have the power that goes with the title or office. But do you? In 2 Kings 1:9-12, Elijah said if he is a man of God, then fire should come from Heaven to roast the soldiers and it happened immediately. Such a request lays a demand on the anointing and on the call of God upon a servant of God.

The truth is, not many servants of God can lay such a demand on their calling and receive expedited answer because they have lost the essence of their calling to compromise, sin or disobedience. When such a call is made, it is only God that can answer it depending on the individual’s present (not past) standing with God. God recognised and openly confirmed Elijah as His servant, can He do the same with you? When some people make such demands, they are put to shame. That shall not be your portion. It is possible to be a man of God and walk with God to the end. That was the case with Enoch (Hebrews 11:5); this will be said of you as well.

Prayer Point
If you are faithful to God, He will honour you when you lay a demand on your calling. But if you are not, be sensible enough not to make such demands

Bible In One Year:

Numbers 28-30

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