OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR WEDNESDAY 23RD JUNE 2021 – THE NAME OF THE LORD

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 23rd June 2021 Is“ THE NAME OF THE LORD”

MEMORISE: Psalm 124:8

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

READ: Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)

9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name;

10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

When we call on the name of the Lord, we remind Him of what He has done in the past, which He is capable of doing over and over again. At such times, when we call Him by the name that is associated with some specific wondrous deed of His, He is moved to repeat what He did initially and in greater dimension. Each name of the Lord describes some of His attributes and what He is capable of doing among the children of men. For example, the Lord’s name – Jehovah-Nissi – meaning the Lord is my banner (as in a war) speaks to the words “hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation” – (Exodus 17:16). When you are confronted with a need that only God can meet and you call Him by His name – Jehovah-Jireh, you are reminding Him of His miraculous provision of a ram according to Genesis 22:13-14.

When you call on the name of Jesus Christ in faith, you get miracles. This is because the name of Jesus Christ has been highly exalted, according to today’s text.

For example, the Almighty God sent an angel to announce to Joseph what name the miraculous child should bear that is, Jesus, and gave the reason for it:

…for he shall save his people from their sins. – (Matthew 1:21)

The greatest thing the name of the Lord Jesus Christ does to humanity is the work of salvation. The Bible says:

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. – (Acts 4:12)

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; it is a shield and a sure defence against demonic attack. When someone is genuinely associated with the name of the Lord, the fellow will live a victorious life without limitation. The Bible also says:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. – (Mark 16:17)

Every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord (Romans 14:11). This is the reason those who are genuinely saved cannot be attacked successfully by demons. My prayer is that as many as are reading this devotional today are delivered from all forms of demonic oppression in the name of Jesus Christ. However, whoever wants that name to work for him or her must surrender to the Lordship of the Owner of the name.

PRAYER POINT: Father, let every evil knee and tongue bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ concerning my life, home, work and business in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 18-22

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons/guide Was Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer Of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, 

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY 22ND JUNE 2021 – REMEMBER ME, O LORD 2

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 22nd June 2021 Is“REMEMBER ME, O LORD 2”

MEMORISE: Genesis 30:22

“And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.”

READ: 1 Samuel 1:17-19 (KJV)

17. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

18. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

19. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah; and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

When we say God always remembers, we do not mean that He forgets things or people. ‘God remembers’ means that He has decided to do something. Our Bible reading for today says God remembered Hannah. God could not have forgotten her because she and her family went to Shiloh every year to worship Him (1 Samuel 1:3). When God remembers an individual in need, his or her problems will become history. Rachel in today’s memory verse had been barren for years. When God remembered her however, she gave birth to the choice son of Jacob – Joseph. When God flooded the earth, Genesis 8:1 says:

And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;

Beloved, like Noah and his family came to understand, there are conditions for God’s remembrance. One, you must be godly even among the perverse generations of men. It is sad that now, many ‘Christians’ have become ungodly with the excuse that the world is perverted. At the end of time, Noah will be a witness against such people (Matthew 24:37-39). Despite the immoral state of his world, Noah remained godly. No wonder he found grace with God, and was described as a just and perfect man (Genesis 6:8,9). Two, God must see in you the intent to worship Him before He can remember you for good. Our God is a prudent investor (Genesis 8:20-22).

Hannah, in spite of her state of barrenness, was a devout woman who followed her husband in the worship of Jehovah. It was on one of such occasions that God remembered her and gave her a prophetic proclamation through His priest, which came to pass before the next Shiloh programme. For God to remember you, you must be consistent in His worship. The Bible says that it is good to worship the Lord (Psalm 92:1).

As you worship the Lord this year, the Almighty will remember you for good in Jesus’ name. As long as you live in holiness you will experience divine remembrance, in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT: Father, remember me today. Lord, please bring to manifestation all Your promises concerning me, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 10-17

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons/guide Was Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer Of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, One of The Largest Evangelical Churches in The World and Also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. 

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR SATURDAY 1ST MAY 2021 – SECRETS OF FRUITFULNESS

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 1st May 2021 Is“SECRETS OF FRUITFULNESS”

MEMORISE: 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

READ: Genesis 26:12-14 (KJV)

12. Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.

13. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great;

14. For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants; and the Philistines envied him.

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

God may grant you financial favour, but it is your responsibility to work towards getting to the pinnacle of all-round abundance. You must be diligent physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Hebrews 11:6 says God “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Diligence in hard work is always rewarded. We can learn something from farmers here. As they nurture the good seeds they have planted, they also work hard to get rid of the weeds that grow alongside them. Beloved, beyond hard work, you need to plan carefully and pray hard. Genesis 26:12-13 says:
Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

Anyone who desires an encounter with God, which will result in abundant blessings, must be ready to work hard and pray hard. Paul said in (1 Corinthians 3:6):
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

He recognised that while he may have done his part, God had a huge role to play. Beloved, lazy people cannot experience all-round blessings. If you are not prepared to work hard and pray hard, then you are not ready for any form of super-abundance.

You must involve God in your planning then watch Him give you abundant fruitfulness and an overflowing harvest (Proverbs 16:3). As Malachi 3:10 prescribes, you must also be sure to honour God with your substance: your tithes, offering, and the very first of every increase you receive (first-fruits). Until you begin to do this, you may not be able to enjoy the full benefits of your hard-earned harvest.

Some harvests are wasting away because of disobedience. Many people are fruitless simply because they refuse to obey God’s command, thus their harvests go into bags with holes.

Put God first from today and you will experience unprecedented abundance.

ACTION POINT: Think of the ways in which you have been deficient in your responsibility to God in tithe, offering, first-fruit and giving to the poor. Repent and make restitution.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 17-19

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons/guide Was Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer Of

The Redeemed Christian Church of God,

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY 30TH APRIL 2021 – THE HARVEST WILL SURELY COME

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 30th April 2021 Is“THE HARVEST WILL SURELY COME”

MEMORISE: James 5:7

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

READ:  GENESIS 8:20-22

20. And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

21. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

22. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

The time between sowing and harvesting could be short or long depending on the type of seed and some environmental factors.

Farmers know this; thus, they are never in a hurry.

However, some believers today are of the opinion that they can sow in the morning and reap that same morning.

They must remember that the duration of the harvest is dependent on what you want to reap.

Some crops can be harvested within three to six months, and others may require more time.

There are set procedures for harvesting. The seed must first die before it sprouts, then within a specified period, it grows until it bears fruit.

It is only at the stage of maturity that farmers begin to harvest.

As children of God, you must learn to wait. Romans 12:12 says your attitude while waiting must be such that you are always:
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Sadly, some ‘believers’ are too much in a hurry to take their harvest.

They engage in anti-Christian practices, and end up burning their spiritual fingers in the fire of lust and greed (1 Timothy 6:10).

The harvest can be in any form: promotion, compensation, recognition of hard work among others.

When you are putting in your best in an organisation, you must wait for the management to appreciate your devotion to work, and not begin to agitate for it.

In fact, what you think is ‘best service’ may just be you being zealous or ambitious.

It may shock you if your employer says your best is not good enough for recognition.

This is why you must remain humble and continue to work faithfully.

I recall a farmer who hurriedly harvested his yam many years ago; he ended up depriving himself of a bumper harvest as his impatience disrupted the growth potential of the tubers.

Unripe yam tubers are never as delicious as those harvested at maturity.

I pray that as you sow on good ground, your harvest will come bountifully. The Almighty will give you the patience to wait for it, in the mighty name of Jesus.

 PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me to patiently wait for my day of glorification, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOSHUA 14:1-15, JOSHUA 15:1-63, JOSHUA 16:1-10

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons/guide Was Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer Of

The Redeemed Christian Church of God

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY 29TH APRIL 2021 – THE CURE FOR DEFEAT

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 20th April 2021 Is “The Cure For Defeat”

MEMORISE: Psalm 51:1

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

READ: Deuteronomy 28:1-7 (KJV)

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 11-13

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

When a person transgresses the law of God, he or she becomes profane. Unless there is a quick return to the word of God, such a fellow may likely suffer permanent defeat like Samson, who died along with his enemies. You will not die with your enemies in the mighty name of Jesus.

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.” – Psalm 119:1-3.

It is possible that you have suffered defeat, perhaps due to carelessness. I have good news for you. The Scripture reading for today contains what you need to do to get back on your feet and how you need to do it.

You must pay close attention to the voice of your Lord God. Many Christians today are not ready to listen to God. The reason is not far-fetched; 1 Corinthians 1:18 says the word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. It is sad that some preachers encourage their flock not to pay attention to the Epistles anymore; they say the contents are not meant for Christians of today. Beloved, we are not only to pay close attention to the word, we must also be diligent enough to observe and do all His commandments.

What are His commandments? You are to come out of unequal yoke with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 14,17,18), repent of your sins and forsake them genuinely (Revelation 2:5). These are two of the things you must do to cure yourself from any defeat you may have suffered. David knew this secret and he employed it to his advantage as we see in our memory verse for today.

I pray that, in whatsoever areas of your life you may have suffered defeat, the Lord Himself will restore you and grant you permanent victory in the mighty name of Jesus.

Open Heaven 29 April 2021 ACTION POINT:

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you assess your life and see where you need revival. Then call upon the Lord to revive you.

Open Heaven 29 April 2021 HYMN 18: Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour

1. Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

2. Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

3. Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

4. Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons/guide Was Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer Of

The Redeemed Christian Church of God,

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR WEDNESDAY 28TH APRIL 2021 – THE AGONY OF DEFEATED CHAMPIONS

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 28th April 2021 Is“THE AGONY OF DEFEATED CHAMPIONS”

MEMORISE: John 5:14

“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

READ: Joshua 7:1-5 (KJV)

1. But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

2. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

3. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.

4. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men; and they fled before the men of Ai.

5. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men; for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down; wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

It is painful enough to be defeated in one round of a contest, but even more so if one becomes an ex-champion, surrendering a crown totally. This is because as soon as a fellow emerges as a champion, people’s expectations of him or her would have increased. The attention of so many people – enemies inclusive, would be on the person. Thus, a champion has more enemies than an ordinary contender. I pray that you will not be an ex-champion in the mighty name of Jesus.

The story in today’s Scripture reading is a sad one. The people of God had just recorded a victory over the great city of Jericho and were going to occupy a small village called AI. To their surprise, they were utterly defeated. Their leader Joshua was downcast but he understood the reason for the defeat after he enquired from God There is a lesson from this event: It is that there is always a reason for every setback a child of God suffers. Therefore, it is very important for children of God to carry out periodic self-examinations. James 1:13-15 says:

t no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

God warned the Israelites not to take anything from Jericho after its destruction, Achan however defied the instruction; he stole part of the accursed materials. This singular act of disobedience turned the entire nation to ex-war champions, and they remained so until the accursed things, the thief and his household were removed from the congregation of the people of God.

Beloved, you must abstain from ungodliness because it is deadly. Romans 6:23 says “the wages of sin is death”. Once you are forgiven, you have to forsake sin and then restitute your ways. Jesus Christ told the man. He graciously healed in John 5:14 to go and sin no more, so that something even more terrible would not befall him. As you go out today, examine yourself and see if you are still standing right with God (2 Corinthians 13:5). May the Lord grant you victory always.

PRAYER POINT: Holy Spirit, please help me to be vigilant in maintaining my victory in Christ. Help me Lord, so I do not fall into any temptation.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 9-10

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons/guide Was Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer Of

The Redeemed Christian Church of God

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY 27TH APRIL 2021 – ENEMIES OF DIVINE BLESSINGS

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 27th April 2021 Is“ENEMIES OF DIVINE BLESSINGS”

MEMORISE: 1 Samuel 2:7

“The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.”

READ:  Hosea 4:17, Hosea 5:9 (KJV)

Hosea 4:17

17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Hosea 5:9

9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

Ephraim was once God’s preference and a symbol of divine blessing. Genesis 48:20 says Jacob blessed Ephraim thus:

…In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

David also went on to describe Ephraim as “the strength of mine head” (Psalm 106:8). Indeed, Ephraim was a beneficiary of divine blessing. How then did he now become an object of ridicule later on? The answer is in Hosea 4:17: Ephraim joined himself to idols.

Idolatry is the act of preferring any other thing to the Almighty God – anything, whether it is your culture, race, idea or achievement. Idolatry could also be an insatiable craving for material things of this world (1 John 2:15-17). When you begin to have an excessive desire for children, cars, degrees or anything else to the point that they become ‘untouchables’ to the One who gave you power to acquire them in the first place, then you are guilty of idolatry. This was the exact undoing of King Nebuchadnezzar as we see in Daniel 3:3.

Years ago, a certain young man in my village would carry his bicycle on his head when he got to a muddy road, just to avoid the wheels becoming messy from the mud! He made an idol of the bicycle.

Idolatry is one of the arch-enemies of divine blessings. In Exodus 20:3, God warned the children of Israel against idolatry saying “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”. However, when they became comfortable in the promised land, they joined themselves with the heathens to worship other gods. For this reason, they suffered servitude under neighbouring kingdoms (Ezekiel 23:5-12). A nation that hitherto had been enjoying divine blessings became slaves all over again because of idolatry. This was what Ephraim did and his divine blessings became a curse as we see in Hosea. 5:9.

The word of the Lord has come to you today: beware of idolatry! Put God first in all you think, say or do and you will not be a victim. Your blessings shall not be reversed in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me pull down every strange altar I have consciously or unconsciously erected to compete with You in my life, home, business or ministry, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 7-8

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons/guide Was Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer Of

The Redeemed Christian Church of God,