OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2021 – RICHES WITHOUT SORROW

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 18th February 2021 Is “RICHES WITHOUT SORROW”

Memorise: Proverbs 28:22

“He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.”

Read: 1 Timothy 6:9-11 (KJV)

9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

God wants His children to be rich, but according to our Bible reading today, He warns them to flee the inordinate ambition to be rich at all costs. These days, many people engage in cybercrime and ritual killings just to get rich. There are some others who are good at falsifying figures so as to get some gain.

I assure you that ill- gotten wealth will always have sorrow in it. I have seen all kinds of wealth in my little time as a Pastor and tell you, many wealthy people are living in so much sorrow that they are willing to give up all they have in exchange for peace of mind. Many people have used ill- gotten money to buy cars without knowing that they have bought what would drive them to their early graves.

You see, if you follow the will of God, He will bless you without adding any sorrow. I believe this is the kind of wealth you want: wealth with no sorrow attached.

Matthew 6:33 says:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

(1 Timothy 6:10-11) also says:

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

This clearly means that the only way to get wealth without sorrow is to get it in righteousness. I assure you according to the word of God that riches will pursue and overtake you if you put the kingdom of God first in your life. I am speaking from experience. There were times when I was unable to go to Lagos from the Redemption Camp because I did not have 2 Naira for tollgate fees. I would console my wife by saying “Maybe our not going is God’s way of making us avoid an accident on the way”. There was to be no accident, it was just that I did not have 2 Naira.

I did not complain then because I knew that my tomorrow would be glorious as long as I kept seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. I did not allow my lack to push me to steal Church funds.

When any opportunity to get rich through sin comes your way, you had better flee, because wrapped in that juicy fruit is sorrow and destruction.

KEY POINT: Only God can give you wealth without any kind of sorrow attached to it. Seek Him first.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 19-21

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 FRIDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2021 – LEARN FROM MICHAL

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 12th February 2021 Is “LEARN FROM MICHAL”

Memorise: 2 Samuel 6:23

“Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.”

Read: 2 Samuel 6:16-23 (KJV)

16. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

17. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

19. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

20. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

21. And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore will I play before the LORD.

22. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight; and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

23. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

Michal is the only woman recorded in the Bible who never gave birth to a child in her lifetime. We see the reason in our Bible reading for today, David had just triumphantly brought in the Ark of the Covenant to Israel and was coming home to bless his household when Michal welcomed him with mockery. How do you welcome your husband when he gets home from work? Is it with honour or contempt like Michal?

Many years ago when I wasn’t as popular as I am now, a very distinguished person visited our home while I was away. When I arrived, I greeted him and went into my room to pray. My wife joined me and we prayed together as we normally do. When she came out afterwards, she apologised to the guest for leaving him all by himself but he said “No Ma’am, I have seen such a great example today”.

Dear wife, your husband deserves far more honour from you than any dignitary anywhere. Always welcome him home like a king who has returned to his palace. The home should be where he refreshes himself before he goes out again to face the world; help him to feel refreshed. Make him always happy to return home, not sad that he has to come and face a nagging wife again. Some men spend long hours at the office, not because they are working but because they want to spend less time at home. Don’t make your home like that.

It is a terrible thing for a wife to mock her husband. The Bible says you are to submit to your husband as unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:22). If you mock your husband, you are mocking your own head and if it is not well with the head, it cannot be well with the body. Your husband’s current financial state doesn’t matter, don’t mock him. Even when he makes a mistake, do not mock him. There are certain blessings that can come to you through your husband, but if you keep mocking him, the blessings will not flow from him to you. On that faithful day when David had danced so much for God, the anointing on him must have been special. He was coming home to bless his family, which included Michal. Her barrenness could have ended that day. However, instead of a blessing, she got a curse.

Your husband is the priest of your home; he is representing God in that home

It is dangerous to mock a representative of God. Learn from Michal.

ACTION POINT: Make a commitment today that you will always honour your husband.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 16-18

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 11TH FEBRUARY 2021 – WORKING AGAINST YOURSELF?

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 11th February 2021 Is “WORKING AGAINST YOURSELF?”

Memorise: Romans 8:31

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Read: Matthew 18:23-34 (KJV)

23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence; and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30. And he would not; but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me;

33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

 

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

God is great and He has great plans for His children. However, there are many people who work against the plan of God for their lives. Romans 8:31 says:

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Many people answer the question above by saying “Nobody”, and I always wonder which Bible they are reading, because in my own Bible, the answer was not given. The Bible was silent about the answer. Let us therefore look at it logically, If God be for us can the devil be against us? Definitely not, because James 4:7 says that if we submit to God, then we can resist the devil and he will flee. If God be for us, can demons be against us? No way, because Mark 16:17 says we are to cast demons out. If God be for us, can witchdoctors be against us? No, because Isaiah 54:17 says no weapon formed against us shall prosper. If God be for us, there is only one fellow who can be against us: ourselves.

Disobedience is the major thing that makes many people work against themselves even when God is for them. Disobedience has destroyed many destinies in the past. God is the master sculptor. When a sculptor wants to make a masterpiece and the wood decides to break off where it shouldn’t, he may then be left with no choice than to toss it into the fire as firewood.

Unfortunately, this is the reality of many people God had destined for greatness. If you refuse to obey God, He will not force you, but your actions may make His original plan not come to pass anymore. This is why you must obey God to the letter at all times, no matter how difficult it may appear. Facing difficulties while obeying God is far better than the anguish of an unfulfilled destiny caused by disobedience to His word.

Beloved, I leave you with this passage:

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: – (1 Peter 5:6)

KEY POINT: The cost of indiscipline is far higher than that of discipline.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 13-16

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons/guide Was Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2021 – A TIME TO FLEE 3

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 9th February 2021 Is “A TIME TO FLEE 3”

Memorise: 1 Corinthians 10:14

“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Read: Deuteronomy 4:23-24 (KJV)

23. Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

24. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

 

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

Our God is a jealous God. He hates to share you with any other god. That is why you must flee idolatry. Idolatry means worshipping idols. Anything you regard higher than God is an idol, whether you are doing consciously or not. This is why you need to check who you are worshipping at every point in time. For some people, it is their jobs. They don’t joke with their job at all; even when it clashes with God’s will, their job is priority. Jesus said:
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. – (Luke 16:13)

The moment your source of income has become so important that it takes priority over God, you are serving an idol. Many people purposely leave most of their money at home and take just a little amount to Church because they know that God can ask them to give more than they planned for. When God tells some people to sow a seed that they don’t want to sow, they quickly tell their spouse because they know he or she will disagree, then they go back to God and say “Lord, you see that I wanted to sow, but my spouse refused” You forget that God can see your heart (Proverbs 16:2). When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him, Abraham could have quickly told Sarah, knowing that Sarah could hide the boy. He however kept mute; he didn’t even say anything to the boy who was to be sacrificed. This is a heart that puts no other thing before God.

God does not want any other position in your heart but number one. The moment something else is competing with Him, He excuses Himself. He said you should either be hot or cold; if you are lukewarm, He will spew you out of His Mouth (Revelations 3:16).

I once told a brother that we were going for evangelism on a Monday and would like to use his car. He immediately replied that he needed the car to go to work. I then assured him that all the vehicles we needed were already prepared; it was just a test. He couldn’t even take public transportation to work for only one day so that the word of God could be preached to lost souls.

At one point or the other, God will ask you to choose between His will and something or someone you love very much. I hope you choose God.

REFLECTION: Is God really number one in your life?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 9-10

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons/guide Was Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 2021 – THE JOY OF SALVATION

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 5th February 2021 Is “THE JOY OF SALVATION”

Memorise: 1 Peter 1:8

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

Read:  Psalms 16:8-11 (KJV)

8. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

 

Our God is a cheerful God and that is why joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Psalms 100:4 says when you come into His presence, you are to do so with praise.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. – Psalms 100:4.

You cannot praise someone with a frown on your face. In other words, when you come to His presence, you are to come cheerfully. This also implies that if you are always cheerfully praising Him, then you would be living constantly in His presence. God loves being around cheerful people. That is why the moment you give your life to Christ and He starts living within you, He will give you joy.

A Professor who I had just led to Christ came to me one day and asked “I hope it is not a problem that since I became born again, I have been feeling this joy within me. I don’t even know why, but somehow I have just been happy”. I said “That is not a problem; it is God’s presence within you that is making you joyful”.

Do you still feel the same joy that you felt when you became born again? If the joy is gone, then you need to check to be sure the salvation is still there. When David lost his salvation, he wrote in Psalms 51:12:
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Are you glad whenever it is time to go to Church? Are you excited to be in God’s presence or do you have to be cajoled before you can go to Church? I remember when got born again and would watch illiterate market women answering questions during Sunday school with Scripture quotations I had never read. I determined that I had to know the word of God. I was always excited to go for Bible Study. Up until now, that excitement has not reduced. When I hear someone preaching the word, I listen with rapt attention and even take notes. Do sermons still shake you? Are you still excited to learn more from the bible? Can you, like David says:
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Psalm 122:1

Does the word of God still excite you or are you growing cold?

PRAYER POINT: Father, don’t let me ever recover from the excitement of being in Your presence, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 14-15

 

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 4TH FEBRUARY 2021 – FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 4th February 2021 Is “FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS”

Memorise: Isaiah 1:19

“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:”

Read: Deuteronomy 28:1-13 (KJV)

. 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.

8. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

9. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

10. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them;

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 11-13

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

BOSS, [3 Feb 2021 at 12:55:23 PM]:
…Many people do not get the benefits God has promised in His word simply because they do not follow the instructions attached to those benefits. My mathematics background has made it easy for me to understand this scriptural principle. In mathematics, there are always conditions to be fulfilled to solve certain problems. It is the same in the kingdom of God; if you want the blessings, you must first fulfil the conditions.

Today’s memory verse did not just say “if you are willing”, it says you must also be obedient to eat the good of the land. I have been invited to Ministries where the Holy Communion is served in the morning or afternoon and I always politely decline from partaking. The Bible says it is the Lord’s Supper, not the Lord’s Breakfast or Lunch. It is very clear; the Communion is to be taken in the evening if you would get the benefits attached.

Some other people also say they have not been getting the benefits of paying tithes as promised in the Bible. Malachi 3:10 says:
“Bring ye ALL the tithes into the storehouse…”

The Scripture says ALL, not some; it also says you are to bring the tithes to His storehouse. If you take it anywhere else or do not bring ALL, you should not expect the benefits meant for faithful tithers.

My Father-in-the Lord once gave this analogy back in the day when the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was in charge of electricity distribution in Nigeria. He asked “If you find a NEPA pole fallen by the road as you are going to pay your electricity bill, and you decide to use the money meant to settle the bill to fund the repair, would you get a bill waiver at the NEPA office simply because you have used your money to erect their pole?” No, you would still be billed because the instruction is clear: you are to pay your bills i

nto a designated account!

Beloved, when you see a blessing in the Bible that you want to claim, check thoroughly for all the conditions attached to it. Fulfil the conditions and then you can enjoy the blessing.

OPEN HEAVEN THURSDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 2021 ACTION POINT:

Make up your mind to always obey God’s commands, if you want His blessings.

 

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 MONDAY 25TH JANUARY 2021 – LIKE A CHILD 1

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The Topic of Open Heavens for 25th January 2021 Is “Like A Child 1 ”

MEMORISE: “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” – 1 John 4:8

READ: Matthew 18:1-7 (KJV)
1. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

 OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY

In today’s Bible reading, Jesus’ disciples were asking Him “Who will be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” He answered by putting a little child in front of them. He went on to say that anyone who wants to enter the kingdom of Heaven at all has to be like a little child. Matthew 18:3 says: And said, Verily  say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

What makes children good models? First, children do not understand bitterness; they do not keep malice If you offend a little boy and he says he will not play with you anymore, five minutes later, you would most likely see him running all over you again. The heart of a little child is full of love and that’s exactly what God expects of His children.

Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-39: …Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. If you want to enter Heaven at all, you have to love like a little child.

Little children love irrespective of status, they do not care whether you are a pauper or the President; they play with everyone the same way. They do not keep records of wrongdoings; if you wrong a child now, few minutes later, he or she would have forgotten about the matter. Do you love like a child? Do you show love to even those who offend you? Do you discriminate against the cleaner in your office just because the fellow is junior to you?

How do you speak to your house help? All these things will show if you are like a child or not. They will determine whether you will enter the kingdom of Heaven or not. As for me, even if you step on my toes from now until tomorrow. I will not allow you to send me to hell so I will continue to show you love. We may not be friends because Jesus didn’t say we should be friends with everybody, but I will still love you.

I will forgive you even before you offend me. I will not wish you evil or withhold benefits from you just because you offended me. If you want to make Heaven, love like a child.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me to love and forgive like a child.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 40-42

HYMNAL: HYMN 20 – PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY, THE KING OF CREATION

1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear, now to His temple draw near,
Join me in glad adoration.

2. Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
Sheltering you under His wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen, all that is needful has been sent by His gracious ordaining?

3. Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do, if with His love He befriend you.

4. Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen, sound from His people again;
Gladly forever adore Him.

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.