ALLOW NO BARRIERS TO THE GOSPEL
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” - (Isaiah 61:1)
READ: 1 Corinthians 9:16-17
People keep asking why The Redeemed Christian Church of God is so successful all over the world. As a matter of fact, we are in some nations where Christianity is not allowed. In some of these nations, we baptise people secretly, and whenever we want to talk about the blood of Jesus, we say BOJ. We have had considerable impact in some of these nations because we did not allow anything deter us from spreading the gospel. We hold Bible Study meetings in open fields and miracles happen. Sometimes, the political leaders in such places come quietly at night, acknowledging that our God is the Almighty.
There was once a lady evangelist and missionary who was working in a village in Africa. In that village, she got everybody to become born again. The people realised what God had done for them, and they were on fire for Him. The lady then decided to convert those in the neighbouring village too. She informed the people around her about her plans, but they were not in favour of it. "You can go to another village, ma'am, not there," they advised. She asked, "Why not?" They replied, "Because there are lions on the way. We have been hearing them roaring, and when they roar like that, it means they are hungry. Please, don't go near that village." "But I must go," she insisted. So, a very elderly and feeble man said to her, "Okay, if you must go, I will go with you." The evangelist looked at him and said, "If a lion attacks, even I can defend myself better than you can." The man said, "You don't understand; lions don't attack when they are full. They only kill when they are hungry. So, the idea is this: I will walk ahead of you, the lions will kill and eat me, and then your way will be clear." Those villagers were ready to lay down their lives for the gospel to reach the unreached.
Beloved, God will not be asking you for too much by telling you to preach to your boss, for instance. However, if you are afraid you might lose your job and refuse to do it, you will be hindering an unsaved soul from hearing the gospel and becoming saved. Do not let any barrier keep you from preaching the gospel; God is counting on you to prevent many people from heading towards eternal damnation.
ACTION POINT:
Always use every opportunity you have to tell people about Jesus.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 25-27
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR E A ADEBOYE
Rivers LG Election: A Mockery of Democracy
The conduct of the Rivers State local Government election is rascality taken too far. It represents a double tragedy for our democracy when a Sole Administrator - himself illegally appointed - dares to conduct an election that should empower the people. This is not democracy; it is the outright desecration of its very foundation.
Such actions are unconstitutional, legally untenable, and morally indefensible. They send a dangerous message that the rule of law can be discarded at the whim of those in power. But the truth remains unshaken: illegality can never give birth to legitimacy. Any structure erected on a foundation of lawlessness is a danger to both the state and the people.
Nigeria cannot afford to continue on this perilous path. We cannot pretend to practise democracy while silencing the will of the people - especially at the grassroots, where democracy matters most.
If we truly seek progress, we must uphold the sanctity of the ballot, safeguard the people’s right to choose, and insist that leadership at every level flows from their mandate - not from contraptions that mock democracy. Only then will governance have meaning, and only then can the sacred bond of trust between leaders and the people be restored.
A New Nigeria is POssible. – PO
PRAISE THE LORD
“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” - (Psalm 150:6)
READ: Psalm 107:1-9
In (2 Samuel 6:14), the Bible says that David danced with all his might. God loved David so much and was always with him because he was always praising Him. Whenever demons tormented Saul and David played the harp, God's presence would fill the room, and the demons would run away (1 Samuel 16:23). Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of Israel. When you praise God regularly, demons cannot stay around you because once light comes in, darkness must flee (John 1:5).
Beloved, you must learn to praise God daily. In the Scriptures, you'll find many reasons to praise Him. In Genesis 17:1, God calls Himself Jehovah Elshaddai, the God who is more than enough. In Genesis 18:9-14 and Jeremiah 32:27, He is revealed as the God of all flesh, with whom nothing is impossible. In Exodus 15:26, He introduced Himself as "... the Lord that healeth thee" because He is the Great Physician. In Psalm 24:7-10, He introduced Himself by two titles: The King of glory and the Lord of hosts. In Psalm 23:1, He presents Himself as Jehovah Rohi, the Good Shepherd who provides everything you need. In Genesis 16:13, He is El-Roi, the All-seeing, All-knowing, ever-attentive God. He cares intimately about you and knows you by name (Exodus 33:17). In Jeremiah 32:17-19, He is El Gibhor, the mighty God who rescues. In Exodus 17:15, He is called Jehovah Nissi, your mighty banner of deliverance. In Isaiah 1:24, He is Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts; He fights visible and invisible battles on your behalf and gives you victory over the enemy.
According to Ezekiel 48:35, He is Jehovah Shammah, the ever-present One. He is always there when you need Him, and He never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:4). He is the Alpha and Omega of your life (Revelation 21:6); He always has the first and final say (Isaiah 44:6). He alone is God (Psalm 86:10); He is always good (Psalm 73:1), ever faithful (Lamentations 3:23), all-sufficient (Genesis 17:1), and never changing (Malachi 3:6). God is your comforter (John 14:16), deliverer (2 Samuel 22:2), helper (Psalm 54:4), teacher (John 14:26), strength, and song (Exodus 15:2). He is your very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19) and does exceeding, abundantly above all you can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). He saved you and will keep you until the end (Jude 1:24).
Beloved, you have breath in you; therefore, you have every reason to praise God.
ACTION POINT:
Make a habit of praising God for His goodness and wonderful works every day.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 23-24
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
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NO CASE IS HOPELESS
“Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” - (Genesis 18:14)
READ: Jeremiah 32:26-27
Some years ago, a woman, who was married to a very wealthy man, was barren. She and her husband sought a solution from everywhere and spent lots of money, but nothing changed. One day, one of her husband's relatives told her to stop wasting her time because some witches had taken her womb, and she could never bear a child. She came to a Holy Ghost Service, and God spoke, "There is someone here; you have just been told that you have no womb. Don't worry because I will give you a set of twins." Not long after that, she became pregnant. At the hospital, a doctor examined her and said, "It looks like there is a child here." She replied, "No, it's not one child; God promised to give me a set of twins." The doctor said, "You should be thanking God that there is even one." She went back for another test about three months later, and the doctor said, "There are two babies here." When the time came for her to deliver, she was flown to one of the best hospitals abroad, and she requested a Caesarean Section. After bringing the babies out, the surgeon searched and could not find a womb inside the woman. When she came around after the anaesthetics she was given wore off, the surgeon came to her and said, "I have performed more than 3,000 operations. This is the first time I am bringing a set of twins out of a woman who has no womb."
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
Beloved, no matter what anybody has said about the negative situations that might exist in your life, your case is not hopeless. When men say that a case is hopeless, it is because they have not met the God who turns hopeless cases around. Elisabeth's barrenness seemed to be a hopeless case until God sent His angel to speak with her husband, Zechariah (Luke 1:5-25). If the world has called you barren and labelled your situation hopeless, in the name that is above every other name, the Lord will visit you and change your story. If you have been weeping in sorrow, you will now weep for joy, in Jesus' name. Don't give up; put your trust firmly in God.
KEY POINT:
No case is hopeless if you put your trust firmly in God.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 18-20
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
HAPPY 44TH BIRTHDAY TO PASTOR NATHANIEL BASSEY || Nigerian Gospel Music Minister & Convener, Hallelujah Challenge
We pray for greater grace, deeper intimacy with God, & unending joy in your journey. May your oil never run dry & may your light keep shining for generations to come
NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS
“For there is no respect of persons with God.” - (Romans 2:11)
READ: Matthew 8:5-13
God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34); whatever He has done for somebody else before, He can do for you also. For example, in (1 Kings 17:8-16), there was a widow who had only one meal left. God paid her a visit, and that final meal lasted another three years. In (2 Kings 4:1-7), there was another widow who had only one pot of oil. The Lord moved in her situation, and the oil kept multiplying until there was enough to sell to pay all her debts and live on for her lifetime. If you've seen God do something you desire for somebody, take that as an assurance that He can do the same for you. When you come across an account of a kind of miracle that you desire in the Scriptures, rejoice because your own miracle is on its way. As long as they're His children, God isn't partial to anyone or any type of people; all that matters to Him is that you believe, because all things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23). God is a God of principles, and anyone who follows His principles and has faith in Him will experience His goodness and power.
Jesus couldn't do many mighty works in His hometown because of the people's unbelief (Matthew 13:58). Even though they were His townspeople, as long as they didn't have faith, they couldn't receive miracles. Unbelief closed the doors of miracles to them, and Jesus, who had the Holy Spirit without measure (John 3:34), could only heal a few sick people (Mark 6:5). No matter how close you think you are to God, if you harbour unbelief, you may limit what He can do in your life and through you.
When someone has faith, regardless of the fellow's nationality, ability, or status, he or she will experience great miracles. When Jesus was on earth, while some Jews were dying in their sicknesses because of their unbelief, some Gentiles were receiving jaw-dropping miracles. The Centurion in today's Bible reading is an example of a Gentile whose faith attracted miracles. He understood that distance isn't a barrier when faith is present, and Jesus was amazed at his great faith.
Beloved, if you have faith in God concerning a miracle you've seen or read about, God is able to replicate the same in your life. It doesn't matter how terrible your situation is or the obstacles that surround you; if you believe, you will see God's glory at work (John 11:40).
KEY POINT:
God is no respecter of persons. He only respects and responds to His principles and our faith.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 13-15
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
WONDERFUL 1
“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” - (Isaiah 25:1)
READ: John 11:38-45
Wonderful means ‘full of wonders'. God is such a wonder that the Bible calls Him Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6).
Years ago, I was travelling from Ibadan to Ilorin within Western Nigeria, and there was this narrow bridge along the way that couldn't contain two vehicles driving side by side at the same time. There was a sign which read, 'Narrow Bridge Ahead,' so that when drivers approached the bridge and saw another vehicle on the bridge coming in the opposite direction, they could wait for the vehicle to pass through. On this day, my driver and I were already on the bridge, and a trailer was coming from the other side at great speed. The driver was supposed to stop for us to pass to the other side, but for unknown reasons, he didn't. We were headed for a collision, and there was no time to pray; we could only shout, "Jesus!" We met in the middle of the bridge, and somehow, the vehicles passed by each other. When we got to the other side, my driver was shaking like a jellyfish as he parked the car. If he had looked behind him, he would have noticed I was shaking even more than he was. When he regained his composure, I had also regained mine a bit. He turned to me and asked, "Daddy, what happened?" I replied, "God enlarged the bridge." Throughout the rest of our journey, he kept saying, "Wonderful!" and I told him, "That's His name."
Everything about God is wonderful. His works are wonderful (Psalm 107:8) - He created the heavens and the earth in just six days! Psalm 40:5 also tells us that many are His wonderful works, and they cannot be numbered. His testimonies are also wonderful (Psalm 119:129) - He parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22) and caused the formidable walls of Jericho to crumble on their own (Joshua 6:20). His knowledge is wonderful (Psalm 139:6). His counsel is also wonderful (Isaiah 28:29) - you can never find a greater or better adviser than the Almighty God. Even when His counsel appears foolish to the human mind, it is infinitely wiser than the wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 1:25).
My wonderful God does great wonders. I pray for you today; you will experience His wonders before this year ends. When Lazarus came back to life after four days in the grave, it was a wonder. My wonderful God will visit every dead matter in your life and cause you to experience great wonders, in Jesus' name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please stretch Your wonderful hands towards me and cause me to experience great wonders, in Jesus' name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 5-8
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
Declare this today:
By the authority in the name of Jesus, I am delivered from every bondage, curse, limitation and oppression. Every chain is broken, every yoke is destroyed and every demonic embargo is lifted off my life.
#ArchbishopNick
YOU CAN BE FILLED WITH MORE 2
“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 Kings 4:6)
READ: 2 Kings 4:1-6
Today, I will continue my discussion about being filled with the anointing in various levels and degrees. The fact that a believer's spiritual battery is very full today does not mean that it cannot still be fuller. There is actually no limit to how full your spiritual battery can be. (1 Corinthians 12:31) says that you should covet earnestly the best gifts. You must be very covetous when it comes to being filled with the anointing.
When you read (2 Kings 1:9-12), where Elijah called down fire to burn two sets of soldiers when they came to arrest him, you will know that he was full of the anointing. However, by the time you get to (2 Kings 2:9-15), Elisha told Elijah, "I want more than you have, sir." Elijah was so full of the anointing that he could call down fire from heaven any time he wanted and shut the heavens so it would not rain for more than three years, yet Elisha wanted a double portion of that same spirit - and he got it! You also can receive more of the anointing than your spiritual leaders.
Beloved, you can be filled with the anointing to higher and higher degrees. Colossians 2:9 tells us that the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus. Jesus was really full of the Holy Spirit, yet He constantly separated Himself to get more of the anointing (Matthew 14:23). Anytime He performed a special miracle, He would quickly separate Himself to get more. The One who carried the fullness of the Godhead bodily constantly went apart to get more and more. One of the major reasons many ministers of God rise and fall is that as soon as they get to a certain height, they stop getting filled. They stop studying their Bibles like before and reduce their prayer times because they now have busy schedules. Every athlete knows that he or she must work hard to become a champion. However, to remain a champion, he or she must work even harder. This is the secret to continuous growth in God.
As long as you remain thirsty for more, God will pour more into you. When Elisha told the woman in today's Bible reading to borrow vessels, the oil kept pouring as long as there were empty vessels remaining. The more you yield to God, the more He will pour His anointing into you and make you a wonder to the world.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please fill me more and more with Your anointing every day.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 49
#Pray Almighty Father, give me a large and generous heart towards the poor, needy and the less privileged around me in #Jesus Name. Give me the grace to be sensitive to the needs of people around me and use me as a channel of blessing to minister to their needs in Jesus Name.
ALWAYS REFILL 7
“For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” - (John 6:55)
READ: 1 Corinthians 11:26-34
As I conclude this series, I want you to know that you can also be refilled spiritually through the Holy Communion. In John 6:48-51, Jesus said, "If you eat My flesh, you are eating the bread of life." In other words, He was saying, "The bread of life is My body." When you eat the body of Christ, you are eating a body that is full of virtue and the anointing of the Holy Spirit; you are taking all that virtue into yourself. If you take the Holy Communion worthily, there is no way your spiritual battery won't be recharged. When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of Jesus' garment, He said that virtue had gone out of Him (Mark 5:25-34). When you eat the bread, you are eating virtue because it symbolises the body of Christ.
The wine of the Holy Communion, which symbolises the blood of Jesus, contains the very life of Jesus (Leviticus 17:11). Colossians 2:9 says, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Therefore, taking His life into you by drinking the wine of the Holy Communion is taking in the fullness of the Godhead into yourself, provided you drink the wine worthily.
In ancient Yorubaland, if traditional medicine men were consulted to heal people who were really sick and were at the point of death, they would usually ask the relatives of the dying fellow to bring his or her clothes and an effigy that represents him or her, among some other things. They would then wear the fellow's clothes on the effigy and take it to the centre of the town very late at night. If someone else sees the effigy as he or she is passing by, the sick fellow would live, and the one who saw the effigy will die. The elders would say that the life of the fellow who came out at night to see what he or she shouldn't have seen has been substituted for the life of the dying fellow. This is an attempt of the devil to copy God's principle of substitution.
Beloved, when you take the Holy Communion worthily, your weaknesses are taken away, and you receive the strength of Christ. You receive His life and substitute all your weaknesses for His unending, limitless power. Eat the flesh of Jesus and drink His blood regularly; He will recharge your spiritual battery and provide you with the strength and power to fulfil His purpose for your life.
KEY POINT:
The Holy Communion refills you and recharges your spiritual battery when you take it worthily.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 44-46
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
— Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
As you depart, may God’s peace surround you. May you feel His comforting presence and be guided by His loving hand in all that you do.
We encourage you to stay connected with us across our social media platforms, for important information and uplifting messages that will continue to nurture your spirit.
Go forth in His power and grace, confident that God is with you, every step of the way!
It's a NEW LEVEL!
#ConquerorsGlobalAssembly #BishopDavidAbioye #healingandcommunion
ALWAYS REFILL 6
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” - (Jude 20)
READ: 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
Over the past two days, I have discussed God's word and worship as ways to recharge your spiritual battery. Today, I will talk about another powerful way you can recharge your spiritual battery: praying in the Spirit.
If you want to talk to a man, you will connect better with him when you speak his language. The way to connect seamlessly with God is to talk to Him in His language: praying in the Spirit. I discovered early in ministry that if I spend time with God in secret, He will spend time with me in the open. If I wait upon Him before any programme, then He will show up! For example, whenever I'm preparing for the Holy Ghost Service, I make sure that I spend at least three days locked up with Him alone - away from my wife and children. I would wait on Him, praising Him and seeking His face for the programme ahead because Isaiah 40:31 says, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." I would spend time recharging my spiritual battery by praying in the Spirit. After I have spent many hours with Him, day and night, even before I start preaching many times, He begins to work miracles.
Praying in the Spirit charges you up and helps you to remain on fire for God. Flies don't like hot stoves. When a stove is cold, you'll see them playing around it. However, when the stove is turned on, it becomes unapproachable for them. They won't come near it because they can't stand fire. When you pray in the Holy Ghost, you are setting yourself on fire, and anything linked with darkness cannot stay around you.
When you pray in the Spirit, you become energised, and this increases your spiritual fervency and sensitivity. As you pray in the Holy Ghost, you access mysteries in God's heart because only the Holy Spirit knows the mysteries of God. Today's Bible reading tells us that through the Holy Spirit, we can know the things that have been freely given to us; praying in the Spirit brings us to the understanding of these things. These mysteries will help you to stay spiritually charged up for God.
Beloved, make a habit of praying in the Spirit, and if you are born again but cannot pray in the Spirit, ask God for the gift today.
ACTION POINT:
Spend time praying in the Spirit every day.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 40-43
Families Who Once Lived Stable Lives Now Slip Into Poverty Due to Incompetent Leadership Lacking Capacity, Compassion — Peter Obi Knocks Tinubu's Regime https://t.co/nsa8dpzAKx
ALWAYS REFILL 1
“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”- (Mark 14:38)
READ: 1 Kings 19:1-4
In today's Bible reading, after Elijah had called down fire on Mount Carmel, lots of virtue had gone out of him, and he needed to refill. He had just won a victory, and a revival had started, but he got down from the mountain to discover that Jezebel was as unrepentant as before. However, because the anointing upon Him was now depleted, he couldn't stand to face her, so he fled.
Sometimes, people do mighty things with the anointing, thinking that is all, but not long after they are done, they discover that more things that need the anointing are waiting. A fellow can raise the dead in church, and people will rejoice; however, when that fellow gets home, there may be another problem waiting to be solved with the anointing. This is why it is important to recharge your spiritual batteries as soon as possible every time you use the anointing.
Many pastors host programmes, and when hosting the programmes, they fast and pray. However, the moment the programme is over, they begin to feast and do not allow God to refill them with His anointing. By the following Sunday, people discover that it is not the same fellow who ministered the previous Sunday that is ministering because the anointing had been depleted and had not been refilled. Fasting and all other ways to become filled with the anointing are not to end when programmes end; they are to be a lifestyle. After periods of high spiritual activity where a lot of the anointing is used up, it is important to be refilled to at least the level that you were before, if not even higher.
Beloved, you must remain vigilant and sensitive at all times because you have an enemy who never takes a break. He always goes around like a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Have you just had a great victory? It is not time to let your guard down; it is time to return to the secret place to recharge and refill. It is time to guard your heart with all diligence so you can remain fit and relevant for God's next agenda. The Bible recorded many instances where Jesus retreated to refill. For example, after a major ministration in Mark 1:34, the next verse says that He retreated into a solitary place to pray. He's our perfect model, and we must do the same to remain relevant in God's kingdom.
KEY POINT:
After every victory, retreat into God's presence for a refill.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 25-27
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
OVERFLOWING HEALTH
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” - (3 John 2)
READ: Acts 5:14-16
God's will is not just for us to be healthy but to overflow with health. You can be so healthy that when sick people touch you, they will become healed. The Lord Jesus was overflowing with health, which is why the woman with the issue of blood simply touched the hem of His garment and was healed (Matthew 9:20-22).
Years ago, a teenager who had sickle cell anaemia and had been sick all his life stood up to give a testimony in church. He said, "I heard that Daddy G.O. is coming to this church next Sunday. I want to testify that I will be healed next Sunday." Somebody called me to tell me the teenager's testimony, and I started praying that God would allow me to meet him. As God would have it, the young man was standing outside as I got to the church and came out of my car. He didn't look like a teenager at all; he looked so tiny. He came to me and said, "Daddy, I've been sick all my life, but I am confident that since you have come to this church today, I will be healed today." I hugged him and said, "It will be unto you according to your faith." I got his letter some months later, and he wrote, "Dear Daddy, I want to thank God, and I want to thank you. I have been healed since the day you came to our church."
Beloved, Jesus didn't just die for you to be healthy; He wants your health to overflow such that any sick person you lay hands on will become healed and healthy. He said in Mark 16:17-18:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
In (1 Peter 2:24), the Bible says that Jesus paid for your health; this is why you must hate sicknesses and diseases passionately. Just as Peter's shadow healed the sick (Acts 5:15) and handkerchiefs taken from Paul's body drove out diseases from people (Acts 19:12), God wants you to overflow with health and become a channel of healing and health to others. I pray that you will live in constant health all the days of your life and that the healing anointing will flow through you to others, in Jesus' name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please fill me with overflowing health so that I will never be sick again, and the sick will be healed through me, in Jesus' name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 4-5
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye