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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#ChildNotBride: Nigerian Senate Stop Under-aged Child Marriage - Sign The Petition!

Let's join hands and save our girl children from under-aged marriage. Concerned Nigerians are petitioning the Nigerian Senate. Please join the fight, it may be your 13 year old sweet innocent, tender, naive daughter or niece that the "Yerimas" out there will want to marry tomorrow.

Please Sign the #ChildNotBride petition online by clicking HERE
Petition by Glimmer of Hope Foundation

1. Adolescent pregnancy brings detrimental social and economic consequences for a girl, her family, her community and her nation.

2.The risk of maternal mortality is higher for adolescent girls 

3.Many girls who become pregnant drop out of school, drastically limiting their future opportunities. Adolescent pregnancy only fuels the intergenerational cycle of poverty and ill health 

4.They are still minors and their sexual reproductive rights should be protected

To:
Nigerian Senate, National Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria
House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria
Senator Bukola Saraki, National Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria 

Stop under-aged child marriage

Sincerely,
[Scopium Nwabueze]

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Miss Bayelsa, Anna Banner Wins Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria 2013

Finally a winner has emerged in just concluded Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria (MBGN) 2013. Miss Bayelsa wins Most Beautiful Girl 2013! I'm not surprised at all. I knew it was going to happen. We all saw that coming.

Miss Abuja, Miss Adamawa, Miss Akwa Ibom, Miss Bayelsa and Miss Imo made to the top 5 MBGN 2013.

Miss Abia was called out among top 15 and then sent back in what the presenters termed typographical error on their list. And Miss Imo was called into the top 15 instead. What kind of typo is that? I think it was a nasty mistake if you ask me. How can you call out some for the top 15 MBGN and then send the person back again, the person will feel really bad you know.

Miss Imo wasn’t a bad choice after all. After watching her answer her question, I said concluded she was coming second on the heels of Miss Bayelsa. I was really impressed with her answer. She was calm, confident and composed. The 2013 MBGN contestants generally looked really beautiful. So much colour glam and glitz with their fashion and all.

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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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Proudly Nigeria: Nigerian Technology Entrepreneur, Chinedu Echeruo’s HopStop.com Acquired By Apple

Stories like this makes me happy. I mean very happy. It confirms the Nigeria brand slogan which is "Good People, Great Nation" There are millions of Nigerians like Chinedu Echeruo making this nation proud. I celebrate Nigerian progress anytime any day. 

According to AllThingsDigital, Apple has confirmed acquisition of HotStop, The Wall Street Journal’s publication.  HotStop was owned by Nigeria's information technology expert Chinedu Echeruo. HopStop.com was founded in 2005. It makes mobile applications for both iOS and Android that covers over 300 cities and that helps people get directions or find nearby subway stations and bus stops. Terms of the deal had not been disclosed as at the time of this publication.

HopStop has oft been compared to Israel’s Waze which was recently acquired by Google for $1.1 billion. The move is seen as Apple’s plan to bolster its map offering especially given Google’s recent acquisition of Waze.

A serial entrepreneur, Chinedu Echeruo grew up in Eastern Nigeria and attended King’s College, Lagos. He attended Syracuse University and the Harvard Business School in the United States and founded HopStop.com after working for several years in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Leveraged Finance groups of J.P Morgan Chase where he was involved in a broad range of M&A, Financing and Private Equity transactions. He also worked at AM Investment Partners, a $500 million volatility-driven convertible bond arbitrage hedge fund.

He founded and raised nearly $8 million for his two U.S based internet companies; Hopstop.com and Tripology.com. Tripology.com was acquired in 2010 by American travel and navigation information company, Rand McNally. He was named Black Enterprise Magazine’s Small Business Innovator of the year and listed in the magazine’s Top 40 under 40 and is currently a partner and head of the Principal Investing group at Constant Capital, a West Africa based investment bank.

True to form, Echeruo is working on yet another venture but this time, focused on small businesses in Africa. Check out a video of Chinedu Echeruo below at last year’s TedxIkoyi where he talks about his latest project for small businesses in Africa; “crowd sourced business in a box.”

According to him:

“There is no reason why every entrepreneur should have to reinvent the wheel every single time in all the countries in Africa. My idea is to essentially to have one place where a budding entrepreneur can access a template for starting a business, and then customize it to suit their own situation. Essentially a business-in-a-box.”

Source CP Africa

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