He Judges His Ministers – RCCG Open Heavens Of Monday 19th August 2013

He Judges His Ministers – RCCG Open Heavens Of Monday 19th August 2013

HE JUDGES HIS MINISTERS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

Read:

Numbers 12:1-10

(Numbers 12:1) And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

(Numbers 12:2) And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

(Numbers 12:3) (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

(Numbers 12:4) And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

(Numbers 12:5) And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

(Numbers 12:6) And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

(Numbers 12:7) My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

(Numbers 12:8) With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

(Numbers 12:9) And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

(Numbers 12:10) And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

Open Heavens Devotional Message
Many people view wisdom from different angles. But if we were to use the fear of God as the yardstick for measuring wisdom, then you can be very certain we have quite a number of foolish people among us. Psalm 111:10 says,

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”

Not many of us fear God – even ministers of God! We fear our bosses in our work places. We fear those who approve contracts for us. We fail to fear the One who should be our fear and dread (Isaiah 8:13). Can you believe that some ministers of God find it difficult to join the congregation in praising God? At praise or worship time, you will find some of them standing straight and looking in a sanctimonious way as if they have forgotten that the day they became ministers of God, they were placed right in God's palms. If God wants to deal with His ministers, He does not need to search for them; all He needs to do is close His hands.

Do you say you are a worker or minister and you still tell lies? Do you steal? Do you falsify reports or approve reports that you know are not true? Remember God is seeing you. Do you know that many titled orthodox ministers fear God more than we so called Pentecostals; this is why many scandals are rife in our midst than theirs. If you do not know anything about God, do know that He is a Consuming fire. He is quiet because He is so powerful.

When a river is shallow, it makes a lot of noise. In Numbers 12:1-16, when Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, God summoned the three of them and asked the offenders why they were not afraid to speak against His faithful servant. God left in anger without doing anything, yet as soon as He left, Miriam was covered with leprosy. What if He had decided to do something, would Miriam have survived it? Ministers of God, God still judges His servants. Tread carefully and fear Him.

Bible In One Year:

Key Point
Like any of God's children, ministers of God will give account to God, but God will use a higher standard for them as much is expected of them.

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Do Something To Be Something – RCCG Open Heavens of Friday 16th August 2013

Do Something To Be Something – RCCG Open Heavens of Friday 16th August 2013

DO SOMETHING TO BE SOMETHING BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. Proverbs 27:18

Read:

2 Kings 2:1-8

(2 Kings 2:1) And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

(2 Kings 2:2) And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

(2 Kings 2:3) And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

(2 Kings 2:4) And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

(2 Kings 2:6) And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

(2 Kings 2:7) And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

(2 Kings 2:8) And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

Open Heavens Devotional Message
Do you know that you can go through this world without your impact being felt? Surprisingly, this is the experience of most people all through their lives; they lived without being noticed. If you look at the scriptures, you will find quite some names which were mentioned once or twice in the bible which never amounted to anything in God’s Kingdom. May that not be your portion! During state functions, while special attention is given to important dignitaries such as governors, ambassadors, ministers, commissioners, etc. every other person will be classified and received in the common place. For such people, it really does not matter to the organisers of the function whether they are entertained or not.

The reason some people will never become God’s favourite is that even when they have the potential, they refuse to develop it. They have the wings but just refuse to fly. In 2 Kings 2:1-15, it was common knowledge that Elijah, the nation’s prophet and spiritual head was about to be taken to Heaven. All the sons of the prophets in the prophetic school knew of this, yet they refuse to fly. Only Elisha acted on that information and he became a divine eagle. Before that transition, many sons of the prophets in the prophetic school looked down on Elisha. They saw him no more than a servant that he was. He was not schooled in theology like they were. He was not certified like they were.

They were recognized as prophets-to-be but he was only a messenger. Even on the day of Elijah’s transition, when they saw Elisha, they flaunted the spiritual information at their disposal: ‘Hi messenger, do you know that you are about to be separated from your master today?’ it is not impossible that some of them really desired to take over from Elijah but they did nothing about it. At the end, after a receipt of the double portion of the spirit upon Elijah, they bowed to Elisha having seen the evidence that he was now carrying twice what his master once carried. Doing nothing simply takes you nowhere.

Bible In One Year:

2 Kings 15-17

Key Point
What separates achievers from non-achievers is the price they have prepared

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Set Up – RCCG Open Heavens of Thursday 15th August 2013

Set Up – RCCG Open Heavens of Thursday 15th August 2013 - Rat Trap

SET UP BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

Read:

Genesis 32:24-30

(1 Samuel 11:1) Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

(1 Samuel 11:2) And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

(1 Samuel 11:3) And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

(1 Samuel 11:4) Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

(1 Samuel 11:5) And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

Open Heavens Devotional Message
In 2 Kings 5:20, Gehazi not only resolved to pursue Naaman but also to take something from him. Little wonder he got what he sought! Matthew 7:7 says it is what you seek that you will find. What are you seeking? When this question was thrown at Paul, he said he was seeking to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection, and he got it. Be careful of what you are searching for! However, there is a dangerous twist when Naaman turned to receive and attend to Gehazi. This simply tells us that the devil makes backsliding very easy. Gehazi did not have to run after Naaman for too long. If he did, he would probably have grown tired and could have changed his mind. It is common knowledge that you don’t need much strength of effort to descend a hill. Usually, while facing a temptation, the devil makes it so alluring and easy to get. He tells his potential victim to go ahead and immediately feed on his or her lust. This is one reason to suspect anything that seems good but appears so easy to achieve; it could just be a satanic booby trap!

Satan easily plans the fall of men and women. He sets people up. Have you ever wondered what Uriah’s wife was doing naked at that time of the day, considering it was not yet night? David got up from bed and he felt like taking a stroll; unknown to him, Satan had set up both of them to fall into the sin of adultery. Every satanic set up to bring you down shall fail.

Many years ago, while I was still young in the village, I overheard the native medicine man saying that if one is preparing medicine to heal the sick and seven leaves are required, which must be arranged in a particular order; that if one misses the order by one step, the healing charm would not work. But that if one requires seven leaves to prepare an evil charm, by the time the fellow gets five, the charm will take effect. James 4:8 says if you choose to pursue God, He will equally simplify the process for you. For every step you take towards God, He will take a longer stride towards you. In other words, if you truly want to serve God in the midst of difficult circumstances, He will be there to back you up with His grace.

Bible In One Year:

2 Kings 11-14

Key Point
To sin is like going down a slope, while to live holy live is like climbing a hill.



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Prayer Is Key – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 13th August 2013

Prayer Is Key – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Tuesday 13th August 2013 - Praying Girl

PRAYER IS KEY BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:26

Read:

Genesis 32:24-30
(Genesis 32:24) And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of (Genesis 32:25) Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

(Genesis 32:26) And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 

(Genesis 32:27) And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

(Genesis 32:28) And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

(Genesis 32:29) And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

(Genesis 32:30) And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Open Heavens Devotional Message
Apart from making sacrifices and sowing seeds, another step you must take to enter your next level is prayer. You need to pray because it is only God who can bring you from the past to the present and take you from the present to the future. He is the one who is totally in charge of the elements of time and chance that are required to move you to your next level (Ecclesiastes 9:11). John 15:5 says without God, we can do nothing. If you look at the lives of patriarchs of old, you would see the role prayer played. Abraham and Isaac were great intercessors and Jacob too was a prayer warrior. After wasting several years, it got to a point that he realised he could no longer continue without prayer; so he tarried in God’s presence and wrestled with God until his name was changed and his destiny was released. Do you realise that if he had refuse to breakthrough in prayers, he could have been shut out of the destiny that had been earlier prophesied about him? Many people who claim to know Jesus are still separated from their next level because they have refused not just to pray but to pray through. what Is the essence of praying without getting result?

Looking back in retrospect, I can tell you that my father-in-the-Lord Pa Akindayomi was a seasoned prayer champion. Many years ago, Baba came to visit me in Ilesa (South-west Nigeria).
Then, I lived in a small house on the outskirts of the town and the toilet was outside the house. When I was going to bed that evening, Baba was on his knees praying. I woke up at night to go to toilet and he was still praying. On rising up the following morning, Baba was still praying. I became afraid and began to wonder how I could cope with a man like him. I also wondered what he was praying about, but today I know better. Are you really keen on entering your next level? Then you cannot afford to ignore prevailing prayers. Arise today and hold on to the Lord in prayers until your answer is delivered.

Bible In One Year:

2 Kings 4-6

Prayer Point
Father, help me to pray my way through to my next levels.



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Will People Celebrate Your Exit? – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 12th August 2013

Will People Celebrate Your Exit? – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Monday 12th August 2013

WILL PEOPLE CELEBRATE YOUR EXIT? BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.” Proverbs 11:10

Read:
Proverbs 11:10-11

(Proverbs 11:10) When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

(Proverbs 11:11) By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Open Heavens Devotional Message
Are you a professing believer in Christ and it seems a small thing to you when you tell a lie? It is doubtful if you are still saved. You cannot be genuinely saved and find it easy to lie. Today, I wonder if it is the same salvation that some of us got that such people have, or whether there are different versions of salvation nowadays. Nonetheless, let us pray persistently for the salvation of those at the helms of affairs – be it religious or secular. If those in secular authority refuse to be converted and to rule in the fear of God, the alternative is to convert the voters who will cast the votes for the righteous. Why? This is because thieves will always vote for thieves like themselves.

“When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.” Proverbs 11:10

From the above scripture two events are mentioned that bring joy to people: when the righteous is given the privilege of ruling, joy comes; and when the wicked rulers are sacked or moved out of the way, there is jubilation. Every wicked ruler over your life or destiny that has refused to change shall be uprooted in Jesus name. However, it is important you look at yourself and ensure that you are not wicked to others.

If you are a lecturer and refuse to let any of your female students to pass your course for turning down your sexual advances, you are a wicked fellow. If you are asking for bribe before you perform the duties you are paid for, you are a wicked fellow. If you delay or deny your staff their entitlements, you are a wicked fellow. If you gang up against others or blackmail or lie against them so that you can takeover their job, contract or opportunity, you are a wicked fellow, you are not a Christian. If you are making life unbearable for those under you, you are a wicked fellow. Do know that those you are maltreating are crying to God, and one day you will be shown the way out and people will celebrate your exit? In any way you been oppressing others, repent today and restitute your ways.

Bible In One Year:
2 Kings 1-3

Key Point:
Go and restitute to all those you have oppressed.

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The Spirit Releases Potentials – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 10th August 2013

The Spirit Releases Potentials – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Saturday 10th August 2013

THE SPIRIT RELEASES POTENTIALS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

Read:

Judges 6:19-21

(Judges 6:19) And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

(Judges 6:20) And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

(Judges 6:21) Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

Open Heavens Devotional Message
The Holy Spirit is often symbolized by fire. In judges 6:19-21, when Gideon offered an angel of God a meal, he was asked to package it in a basket and place in on a rock. Thereafter, the angel touched it with his staff and fire came. Inside every wood is the potential of a fire, which is why it is called firewood. But if the wood does not contact fire, it would die and rot away like an ordinary wood. This simply tells us that inside every Christian, there is the potential of becoming a mighty man or woman of God. However, and most unfortunately many Christians may live and die as ordinary people, without performing a single miracle, because the Holy Spirit fire has not come to change an ordinary firewood.

When Jesus borrowed Peter’s boat and taught the people from it, He afterwards gave him a boat-sinking catch of fishes, He then told him he would become a fisher of men from that day (Luke 5:1-11). Yet, for the next three years, Peter did not manifest in a dynamic way the potential to win souls that was in the inside of him. However on the day of Pentecost, when he came in contact with fire, the potential which had been buried within him for three years suddenly erupted. He preached a single sermon and won 3000 souls! (Acts 2:41) You are not on earth by accidents. God did not create you just to eat, drink, go to work, return from work of school, play, go to church, and shout Hallelujah!

Your life is more than that! God has a purpose for creating you. There is a destiny in you that must be fulfilled. That potential in you must be fully exploited for the Lord. But, have you contacted the fire that can release your hidden potential? Have you contacted the Holy Spirit who alone can unearth your buried destiny? Draw closer to the Holy Spirit of Grace today and you will fulfill your destiny. There is a user of this Devotional, who has been worried over how to fulfill the glorious destiny God had earlier spoken of. Just draw closer to the Holy Spirit and obey Him completely and your destiny will be released.

Bible In One Year:
Psalm 114-118

Prayer Point:
Holy Spirit, as I draw closer to You this period, release my destiny from where it has been buried.


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Babe, Grow Up! – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 9th August 2013

Babe, Grow Up! – RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Friday 9th August 2013

BABE, GROW UP! BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise:

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18

Read:

1 John 3:18-19

( 1 John 3:18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

( 1 John 3:19) And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

Open Heavens Devotional Message
One way of identifying God’s favourite is in the brazen boldness they display wherever they are. They fear nobody but God and avoid nothing else but sin. One great attribute of the eagle which should be manifested in the life of God’s favourites, is the way it dies. It is pretty difficult to find the carcass of an eagle anywhere in the jungle. Why?

This is because when it is old and about to die, it flies up to the highest mountain, sits and faces the sun, and as the sun sets, it drops and dies. This simply assures divine eagles of a glorious end ahead. You shall not die in disgrace. You shall not die in dishonor. Your transition shall be glorious because you are a divine eagle. Do you know that Elijah left this world in God’s chariot of fire, triumphantly? You too, at old age, when your work on earth for the master is done, shall leave victoriously in Jesus name.

However, and this is most unfortunate, most Christians never become God’s favourite even after they have received forgiveness, salvation, deliverance, healing and several other blessings; they remain at the level that they were at salvation virtually all through their lives. They never climb to the level of sanctification. They receive healing but never get to be used by God to impact healing on the sick. They receive deliverance but are never able to set any captive free; they are blessed but never become blessing to others; they have wings but they refuse to fly.

Such Christians remain fledglings all through their lives. You cannot afford to go through life and remain at the bottom! God said you shall be head and not tail. What are you doing at the bottom of the ladder? There are heights before you. There are battles to fight and win. There are giants to fight and defeat. That you have been under does not mean you should die there. There is no divine commendation for those who failed to grow in God’s grace that was made available. Rise up today and start working to get to the top. You shall get there.

Bible In One Year:

Psalm 109-113

Key Point
A general is identified by the battles he has fought and won, and the glory he has brought to his country. What have you achieved for the Kingdom that warrants you being called a Kingdom general?



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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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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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