Taiwo Their daddy’s daddy

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[Taiwo Their daddy’s daddy @Akinbrt]

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[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

LOVE SHOULD NOT HINDER GOD'S WILL

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. - (Matthew 16:23)

READ: 1 Samuel 17:26-31

In December 2018, I went for the RCCG's annual Let's-Go-A-Fishing evangelism programme, as I usually do. The roads were bad, but I didn't let that bother me because I was already used to travelling on bad roads. However, the roads were so bad that year that by the third day of the programme, my body broke down completely, and I had to spend Christmas Day in bed. When it was time to return to Redemption City, I was so weak physically that I couldn't go by road. Therefore, arrangements were made for a helicopter to transport me. When the helicopter arrived, a crowd of people gathered around it, making it difficult for me to get on board. My protocol team managed to get me on board the helicopter; however, the crowd made it impossible for it to take off. They clung to the helicopter, and the situation became so charged that one of its windows broke. To God's glory, I survived that encounter and returned home safely.

Sometimes, people who love you may think that they are acting in your best interests; however, their actions might be causing more harm to you than good. The people who gathered around the helicopter, as I narrated above, didn't do so because they wanted to hurt me. They gathered because they love me, but they didn't know that their actions might have seriously harmed me.

In today's Bible reading, Eliab was trying to protect David as every big brother would do. His younger brother had no combat training whatsoever, yet he was determined to challenge a seasoned warrior. If you were in Eliab's shoes, you would also have done everything possible to prevent David from facing Goliath. However, even though he had good intentions, his actions might have prevented David from fulfilling his destiny.

Beloved, you must be careful to know when your loved ones are acting in a manner that would limit you from fulfilling God's plan for your life. In Matthew 16:21-23, Peter, who had just declared that Jesus is the Son of God, started to rebuke the Master because He began to talk about His impending death. He obviously loved Jesus, yet he almost became a stumbling block to the Lord fulfilling His earthly assignment. I pray that God will help you discern whenever your loved ones' actions are hindering His will for your life. May He give you the courage to refuse to allow their words and actions prevent you from doing His will, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to discern when my loved ones are not mindful of Your will concerning my life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalms 34-37

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

START FROM YOUR JERUSALEM

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

READ: Luke 16:10-11

Many Christians profess that they are the light of the world, which is good because it is the mandate that Jesus gave his followers in Matthew 5:14. However, many of them have not even allowed the light of Christ to shine in their homes, nor have they preached the gospel of Christ to anyone around them. Do you know that if every Christian took it upon themselves to win their hometown to Christ, the whole world could have been saved by now?

When Jesus Christ stepped into my life, He not only used me to greatly extend the reach of His light in my village, Ifèwàrà, but He also used me to bring the name of my village to the world. Today, the people of Ifèwàrà are glad that Adeboye is from there because they are enjoying the benefits of the light of Christ. Believe me, the development of your hometown rests on your shoulders as a Christian because when you allow God's light to shine there, the whole world will begin to take notice of the town. No one can ignore light.

When Jesus gave His disciples the mandate to go out and be witnesses to all nations, He told them to start from Jerusalem, then move to Judea and Samaria before taking over the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). God's plan is always that we should start from our 'Jerusalem'. Beloved, your Jerusalem is your family and immediate community. Tell your family members about Jesus. Preach to your neighbours. Let them see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Your witnessing will not be effective if you want to start from the uttermost parts of the earth. In fact, God will not give you access to the ends of the earth until you have proven yourself faithful in your Jerusalem. He said that He will only commit more into the hands of the fellow who has been faithful in little (Luke 16:10). If you despise your little corner, God will not commit bigger territories into your hands.

Beloved, ask the Lord how you can be more faithful in your Jerusalem. Ask Him to show you how to shine His light before your immediate family effectively. Allow Him to teach you how to show the love of Christ to your neighbours and colleagues at work. May God shine His light through you to your family members, colleagues, members of your community, and the world at large, in Jesus' name.

REFLECTION:
Do you reflect God's love to your family members, neighbours, and colleagues?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalms 22-27

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

A BRAND-NEW HEART 1

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. - (Hosea 10:12)

READ: Ezekiel 36:25-30

According to (2 Corinthians 5:17), when a fellow becomes born again, he or she immediately becomes a new creature. In Ezekiel 36:26, God said that He will take away our stony heart and replace it with a heart of flesh. When people give their lives to Jesus Christ, they exchange their stony hearts for hearts of flesh. However, despite this, the world is plagued with many people who claim to be believers, but whose hearts appear not to be different from those of unbelievers.

Sadly, some people who serve as ministers of God also still appear to have hearts like unbelievers. Some of them go as far as not forgiving fellow ministers who have offended them. This is wrong, and it was not so at the inception of the Church. The Bible says that the Church was in one accord (Acts 1:14), and believers were called Christians because they were Christ-like (Acts 11:26). Unfortunately, however, you might find some self-professing Christians today accepting bribes or dancing in nightclubs because they still have stony hearts.

From the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23, it is very clear that there was nothing wrong with the seeds that were sown. The seeds, which Jesus revealed to be the word of God, were potent, as God's word is always potent. However, despite the potency of the seeds, only a fraction of them yielded a harvest. The reason some of the seeds did not bear fruit was the ground on which they fell, and as Jesus explained, the heart of a fellow in which the word of God is sown is the major determinant of whether the word will bear fruit in his or her life or not.

Beloved, if you are living in sin, or if you allow the circumstances around you to determine how you receive the word of God and how it will operate in you, then you have a stony heart, and God's word will not bear fruit in you. For His word to bear fruit in you, you must repent of any sin that might exist in your life and cry out to Him to wash you clean, transform you, and give you a heart of flesh. God will answer you and make your heart a fertile ground for His word to grow. I pray that you will continually experience the blessings in God's word as you surrender your life completely to Him, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give me a heart of flesh and let Your word bear fruit in me.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 21-24

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

DON'T REMAIN IN BONDAGE

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. - (Galatians 5:1)

READ: Matthew 11:28-30

Years ago, a young man heard me preach on the importance of surrendering all to God, then came to me saying, "Daddy, I have surrendered all to God now." I smiled and responded, "Praise God! This means that we would be able to borrow your car because we want to go somewhere tomorrow for an assignment, and we had been wondering how we would transport ourselves." He replied, "Ha! Tomorrow is Monday and I must go to work." I said, "I know. We just want to borrow your car for one day." He then said, "Ha!" I smiled and said, "My son, we don't need your car. I just wanted you to know that you have not surrendered everything to God as you claimed."

Sometimes, what keeps people in bondage is their attachment to material things. If Jesus sets a fellow free from satan and the bondage of sin, and the fellow still clings to the things of the world, he or she will remain in bondage even though Jesus has 'unlocked his or her cell'. Galatians 5:1 urges you to stand fast in the freedom Jesus has given you so that you will not become entangled again with the yoke of bondage. To receive freedom, all you have to do is come to Jesus, but remaining free is a huge responsibility that requires you to stand fast in your liberty.

In today's Bible reading, Jesus encouraged everyone who is experiencing bondage to bring their burdens to Him so He can give them rest. It is important to understand that God doesn't force liberty on people. This means that you must be willing to receive His freedom and stay in it. Anyone who loves the things of this world has chosen to remain in the devil's captivity because the love of the Father will not be in the fellow. Such a person cannot walk in liberty and cannot abide with God forever (1 John 2:15-17).

Beloved, there is no benefit at all from associating with the devil. The riches that the devil promises those who serve him keeps them in bondage and actually robs them of their soul, which is far more valuable than all the wealth in the world (Mark 8:36-37). You must be willing to let go of anything that keeps you in chains and cry out to God for deliverance. If you are currently experiencing bondage in any part of your life, I pray that the Lord will deliver you by His mighty power, in Jesus' name.

KEY POINT:
Those who love the things of the world cannot walk in God's liberty.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 9-12

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

STRENGTH IS NOT ENOUGH 2

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. - (Psalm 84:4)

READ: Isaiah 40:28-31

Yesterday, we saw how Peter fell into temptation because he couldn't keep watch in prayer (Matthew 26:40-43). Prayerlessness is one of the signs that a believer is relying on his or her own strength. Unlike Peter, however, David kept watch day and night in the place of prayer (Psalm 55:17). He often stayed awake at night, spending time with God and meditating on His word (Psalm 63:6, Psalm 119:148). He was so aware of the limitations of his strength that on many occasions in the Bible, he enquired of the Lord to know what He wanted him to do (1 Samuel 23:1-5, 1 Samuel 30:8-9). However, in (2 Samuel 11?), where he obviously didn't enquire of the Lord but rather gave in to lust, he got into a predicament that negatively impacted his lineage (2 Samuel 12:9-12).

Daniel also knew the importance of prayer. He knew how much he needed God in the strange land of Babylon, and the Bible tells us that he prayed thrice daily (Daniel 6:10). Even when a decree was made that nobody should pray to anyone except the king, he was too aware of the limitations of his strength that his first reaction was to open his windows and pray as usual. His response to everything was prayer.

Prayer is so important that the Bible urges us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The moment you don't feel like praying or see the need to pray is actually the time to pray more intently because prayerlessness can leave a believer in a weak state and cause such a believer to lose his or her spiritual vitality. Once the devil douses a believer's spiritual fire, he can ruin him or her. Praying puts us in a posture of humility before God, where we acknowledge that we cannot do anything without Him. It keeps our hearts tender and reminds us of the limitations of our physical strength. When we cultivate a lifestyle of waiting on God in prayer, we renew our strength daily (Isaiah 40:31) and are able to overcome the devil's temptations (Matthew 26:41).

Beloved, how do you respond to life's challenges? Do you always try to solve them with your wisdom and strength first? Do you only run to God when everything you've tried fails? Do not make God a spare wheel in your life, rather, He should always be your first resort. Cultivate the habit of praying without ceasing, and you will live victoriously all the days of your life, in Jesus' name.

KEY POINT:
When you cultivate a lifestyle of prayer, you will tap into the Lord's strength daily.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Esther 6-10

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. - (2 Timothy 3:12)

READ: Matthew 5:10-12

All Christians will experience tribulations in the world (John 16:33), and being persecuted is one of the tribulations that every true believer must face. It is true that persecution is naturally unpleasant; however, it is a thing of joy to know that Jesus promised in Matthew 5:10 that those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are blessed and will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Today's memory verse says that every believer who chooses to live a godly life must experience some form of persecution, whether it is severe or mild. In whatever form it comes, persecution is naturally unpleasant. Therefore, to escape it, some believers compromise their faith and begin to conform to the world. As a believer, your witness for Christ will not be effective if you compromise your faith at every hint of persecution. Christians who compromise their faith in the face of persecution miss the opportunity to become more effective witnesses for Christ.

Every time the apostles endured persecution, they were presented with a greater opportunity to witness Christ to others. In Acts 4:1-3, the religious leaders in Jerusalem ordered Peter and John to be thrown in jail until the next day and threatened them severely not to preach in the name of Jesus anymore. After that incident, the apostles experienced God's power in a greater dimension and received more boldness to speak God's word (Acts 4:31-33). When they were scattered abroad after Stephen's death, they witnessed Christ everywhere they went, and the gospel spread mightily as a result (Acts 8:4).

Child of God, whether you are persecuted for not compromising your Christian values or outrightly punished for preaching the gospel, God's grace is sufficient to keep you from turning away from Him. His strength will carry you through every difficult moment when you keep your focus on Him. If you are experiencing persecution for being a Christian, know that you are not alone. When Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, He referred to Himself as Jesus, the One whom Paul was persecuting (Acts 9:4-5). This means that those who persecute you are also persecuting Jesus, and He is fully with you in your tribulations.

Beloved, don't ever give up on your faith in the face of persecution; instead, draw strength from the One who promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He is the ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1), and He will be with you always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

KEY POINT:
Blessed are those who endure persecution for righteousness' sake; they shall inherit the kingdom of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Chronicles 12-16

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

SECRETS TO LONGEVITY 1

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; - (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

READ: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I am 84 years old, I have been born again for 53 years, and by God's grace, I have been the General Overseer of RCCG for 45 years. To the glory of God, I am still working tirelessly for my Daddy even at my age. I have remained a strong Christian, and the church has continued to grow by God's grace. Over the next few days, I will share some secrets about longevity with you and tell you how to remain on God's path for your life without going astray.

The first secret to longevity is knowing when to hide, when to fight, and when to run. Many Christians think that because they are in Christ, they never have to hide; after all, the One with all power is backing them up. This is why many believers have not stayed on the path that God has set before them and have ended their race prematurely. In (1 Kings 17:1), after Elijah told the king that there would be no rain until he commands it, it was God Himself who told him to go and hide. There will always be a time to hide if you are going to last long. Elijah had proclaimed himself as the only one who could bring the rain back, so naturally, I believe that there would have been a lot of pressure on him to command the rain to return. Therefore, rather than facing that pressure, he had to go into hiding.

Whenever you notice that there will be pressure on you to say certain things or take some actions prematurely or without specific instruction from God, you should go into hiding. For instance, no matter how pressured I feel to speak before elections in Nigeria or when something significant happens, I always keep silent if God has not yet spoken. This is why people still want to hear what I have to say after all these years, because they know that it will be from God.

Another time to hide is when brethren try to fight you. God never supports Christians fighting each other; rather, we are to love one another, which is what differentiates us from unbelievers (John 13:34-35). Therefore, to ensure that you do not get into fights with brethren who are trying to pick fights with you, don't respond to them; rather, go into hiding. May God give you the wisdom to hide yourself when required so that you can stay the course and fulfil His perfect will for your life.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give me the wisdom to know when to hide.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Chronicles 17-19

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD 1

And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. - (1 Kings 18:46)

READ: Nehemiah 2:1-18

Years ago, I sat for a mathematics examination, and when I was handed the question sheet, I discovered that I could not understand any of the questions. Even though I was really good at mathematics, my mind had become totally blank. By then, I was sweating profusely. I looked around me, and I saw my coursemates writing earnestly. Since I knew that any student who failed an examination would be allowed to retake it the following year, I decided to leave the examination hall after a while. As I was about to stand up, I felt a mighty, though invisible, hand pin me to my seat. After another 15 minutes of wondering what to do, I decided to go through the questions again. Suddenly, I realised that my understanding had returned to me and I could now answer all of them. I started answering the questions, and I was able to finish answering them within the stipulated time. By the grace of God, I passed the examination with flying colours. Several years after the incident, I realised that it was God's mighty hand that kept me on my seat during the examination, restored my understanding, and gave me supernatural speed. Even though I started slowly, His hand made me catch up with and even overtake some of my coursemates who had started writing before me.

In today's memory verse, the mighty hand of the Lord rested on Elijah, and he outran the king's chariot, which must have been pulled by the fastest horses in Israel at the time. God's mighty hand gave him supernatural speed. Likewise, in today's Bible reading, when Nehemiah wanted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild it, the mighty hand of God gave him great favour before the heathen king he worked for and also before the leaders in Jerusalem. He experienced supernatural speed in rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem because of God's mighty hand upon him.

Beloved, if you are a child of God, you can also experience the mighty hand of God upon you by spending quality time in prayer and studying His word daily. You must also humble yourself before Him and commit all your ways to Him so that you can receive His grace that births supernatural speed (James 4:6). I pray for you today that the mighty hand of God will rest upon you and give you supernatural clarity and speed in all areas of your life, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please let Your mighty hand rest upon me and grant me supernatural understanding, speed, and favour, in Jesus' name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Chronicles 7-9

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

WHEN HE IS IN THE BOAT 1

And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. - (Exodus 33:15)

READ: Mark 4:35-41

Years ago, I travelled to Abonnema in Rivers State, Nigeria, to hold a crusade. At that time, the only way one could get to Abonnema from Port Harcourt, the state capital, was by sea. Shortly before the crusade, we heard that a boat capsized on that sea and many people lost their lives. That news, however, did not deter me, as I had made up my mind to go for the crusade. I called a meeting with the workers at the RCCG National Headquarters in Ebute Metta and asked for volunteers to accompany me. One of the workers raised his hand and asked me, "Sir, can I be in your boat?" I told him that he could. Then he responded, "That will be good." I asked him why he said so, and he replied that he knew that whatever boat I travelled in would not sink. He had so much confidence in a mere mortal like me because he knew that God is with me.

In today's Bible reading, the disciples were travelling in a ship with Jesus. After a while, a terrible storm arose, but to their surprise, He remained fast asleep. In fear, they woke Him up, and He stilled the storm. After that, they arrived at their destination safely. This is a testament to the fact that it is a great blessing to have Jesus in the boat of your life!

Beloved, if you are a child of God, Jesus is in your boat as you journey through the waters of life. I know this because He said in Matthew 28:20 that He will be with you at all times. This is why, in the midst of life's challenges, you must trust the One who is in the boat of your life because He alone has the power to make you victorious. If God is in the boat of your life, no weapon that is fashioned against you will prosper. If you involve Him in every step you take, you can rest assured that all your endeavours will turn out fine. If you have not yet given your life to Christ, surrender completely to Him today and acknowledge Him as the Controller of your life. When you do this, He will not only begin to direct your ways, but He will also walk with you every step of the way as you journey through life.

KEY POINT:
When Jesus is in your boat, you will overcome every storm.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Chronicles 1-2

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; - (Colossians 4:2)

READ: Matthew 9:35-38 (KJV)

1. Lord, I thank You for Your church. Thank You for the gift of Your body and the godly communities of believers.

2. Father, please empower Your church to function as the salt of the earth indeed so that everyone who comes into the church will begin to experience sweetness in their lives, in Jesus' name.

3. Lord, please strengthen every leader in Your church. Empower them with wisdom, courage, and determination to do the work of ministry and shepherd Your flock.

4. Father, please sanctify Your church. Help us to be a true reflection of Your holiness to the world, in Jesus' name.

5. Father, please banish every form of darkness and evil from Your church, in Jesus' name.

6. Father, please provide for the needs of Your church. Supply all our needs according to Your riches in glory, and empower us to do Your work, in Jesus' name.

7. Father, please let Your Love flow mightily within Your church. Help us to love one another fervently with pure hearts, in Jesus' name.

8. Father, please help those who are living in hypocrisy within Your church to repent. Help them to truly surrender to Your word, in Jesus' name.

9. Father, please uproot false doctrines and ungodly traditions from Your church. Let the faith of Your people be based on Your undiluted word, in Jesus' name.

10. Father, please empower faithful ministers of the gospel to preach Your word without fear. Deliver them from wicked men and laws that can limit them from preaching Your word with boldness, in Jesus' name.

11. Dear Lord, please arise and help all the persecuted churches around the world. Strengthen their faith and help them not to deny You, in Jesus' name.

12. Your personal prayers for the church.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Kings 3-5

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

FIRE CARRIERS 1

But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. - (2 Kings 3:11)

READ: 2 Kings 2:1-14
When a piece of wood is set on fire, it burns. Similarly, a fellow who has given his or her life to Jesus Christ can burn for Him, and the fire that burns in such a believer is the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are two ways by which a believer can catch fire: directly from God, just like Moses and Elijah, or through other people who have caught the fire of God and have become fire carriers. For example, Joshua received his fire from Moses (Deuteronomy 34:9), and Elisha received his from Elijah (1 Kings 19:19). Joshua was called Moses' servant (Joshua 1:1), and wherever Moses went, he was there to serve him. While Joshua served Moses faithfully, the latter laid his hands on him, and he received the spirit of wisdom. If you feel like you are too important to serve those whom God has placed over you, it means that you are not ready to carry the fire of God. Serving Moses could not have been easy, but Joshua willingly paid the price. In Exodus 24:13-18, the Bible says that he went with Moses to Mount Sinai, where they stayed for 40 days and nights. He served Moses wholeheartedly, and when Moses laid his hands upon him, he transferred all the honour and grace he had to him (Numbers 27:18-23). This is why, as a child of God, you must honour those whom God has placed over you.

Elisha was another person who received God's fire through honour and service. People knew him as the man who poured water on Elijah's hands (2 Kings 3:11). Despite his wealthy background, he was willing to stoop very low to honour and serve God's prophet, Elijah. While the other sons of the prophets were busy predicting what would happen to Elijah (2 Kings 2:3), Elisha was busy following the man of God and serving him. Eventually, he received a double portion of the anointing that was upon Elijah.

Beloved, if you want to be a carrier of the fire of God, you must serve Him wholeheartedly and be willing to also serve and honour the anointed people He has placed over your life. I pray for you today: may you never become too proud to honour and serve those whom God has placed over your life. In the name above every other name, you will carry the fire of God upon your life and do mighty exploits in His kingdom.

KEY POINT:
Serving and honouring the people whom God has placed over you is a channel through which you can receive His fire.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 17-19

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

HELP IS ON THE WAY!

Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, Nor take up their names into my lips. - (Psalm 16:4)

READ: Exodus 20:1-5

Sometime in 1980, there was a woman in RCCG who was trusting God for the fruit of the womb. Although we all prayed for the woman as a church, my wife and I took it upon ourselves to pray for her regularly on our family altar. Shortly after, she informed us that she was pregnant. On hearing the good news, we were really happy for her. We were dancing and singing praises to God on her behalf when she told us, "Somebody advised me to look elsewhere for a solution to my childlessness." She continued, "The people I went to for a solution also used the Bible. However, they also performed some traditional rituals and asked me to participate in certain rituals as well. Look at the result now; I am pregnant." This happened over four decades ago, yet the last time I heard of her, she was still pregnant.

There was another woman who also desperately wanted a child. She got tired of waiting on God, so she sought fetish means to find a solution to her problem. Shortly after, she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy. After she had her baby, she told those who were still waiting on the Lord, "You better take action and get a solution to your problem like I did, instead of wasting your time praying." When the woman's son was about six years old, he went into her room one day, stripped himself naked, and said, "Let's have sex." The mother was shocked and asked him, "What did you say?" The boy responded, "I said I want to have sex with you." The perplexed mother then took him to a deliverance minister. During the deliverance session, the boy said, "Don't waste your time; I am not possessed. I am a demon incarnate."

Beloved, do not seek any kind of help outside God. Those who seek other gods and alternatives to God will eventually end up in sorrow. Today's memory verse says that the sorrow of those who seek after other gods shall be multiplied. Those who seek help apart from God always pay dearly for it because the devil has nothing free to give. I implore you today to continue to tarry in God's presence. Put your complete trust in Him because His help is on the way, and He will never disappoint you (Hebrews 10:35-38). I pray that the Lord will continue to uphold you and strengthen your faith in Him, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to wait patiently on You for Your help at all times.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 4-7

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

THERE IS POWER IN YOUR HANDS

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. - (Mark 16: 18)

READ: Mark 1:40-45

In today's Bible reading, a leper came to Jesus, saying, "l know that if You want to, You can make me clean." In those days, leprosy was deemed incurable; however, when the man encountered Jesus, he was immediately cleansed. In Acts 3:1-11, Peter and John saw a man who had been born lame, and Peter said to him, "...In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." When the lame man didn't rise to his feet, Peter took him by his right hand and lifted him up. Immediately, the power of God flowed through Peter's hands into the lame man's bones, and he Jumped up.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. - (John 14:12)

In the Scripture above, Jesus said that anyone who believes in Him will do greater works than the ones He did while He was on earth. If you are a child of God, you must know that your heavenly Father has anointed you with His power. This means that your hands are not ordinary - they have become God's channel of healing, deliverance, and restoration. Jesus Christ has paid the price for pains and sicknesses, and that is why 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 lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." This means that if you are a true child of God and you lay hands on the sick, they will recover. When you lay your hands upon them, God's power will flow through your hands to heal them. I decree that from now on, when you touch the sick, they will be healed.

I usually tell Christians who are doctors, "Before you administer medications to your patients, obtain their permission to lay hands on them, then pray for them." I also tell them, "You will encounter situations where there will be nothing more you can do for your patients medically. At those times, hand their cases over to the One who said, 'I am the Lord that healeth thee.'"

Beloved, if you are a child of God, your hands are powerful because they have been anointed by God. Therefore, exercise your faith in Him by laying hands on the sick for their healing, and you will begin to see special miracles happen through you.

KEY POINT:
The hands of Christians are not ordinary; they are God's channel of healing, deliverance, and restoration.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Samuel 22-24

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

MINISTERS OF LIGHT 1

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. - (Matthew 4:16)

READ: Matthew 5:14-16

Light is powerful. It drives away darkness and reveals whatever is hidden. In John 9:5, Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 1:4-5 also says, "In him was life; and the life was the light and of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." These Scriptures confirm that Jesus is the Light. However, in Matthew 5:14, the same Jesus said to His disciples, "Ye are the light of the world..." God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19); hence, if Jesus says His disciples are the light of this world, if you are His disciple, then you are light.

James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God, who is the Father of lights. If our Father is the Light, then His children must be light. God expects you to shine, and in today's Bible reading, He commands you to let your light shine so that men will see your good works and give glory to Him.

As a child of God, you are a minister of light, and this means that you must shine. God has called you an able minister of the new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6); therefore, your life must reveal God's glory and grace. In John 14:12, Jesus said that those who believe in Him will do the works He did and even surpass them by doing greater works.

When the light of God shines in a place, impossibilities become possible. We can see this in the life of Jesus Christ; wherever He went, miracles, healings, and deliverance happened in abundance. In John 9:1-7, He gave sight to a man who was born blind. Likewise, in John 5:1-9, He healed a man who had an infirmity for 38 years. He also healed some lepers in Luke 17:11-19, as well as a man who was possessed by a legion of demons (Mark 5:1-20). The Bible says in Matthew 4:23-25 that Jesus' fame spread throughout Syria because of the great miracles He was performing. People saw Him as the Light and were willing to follow Him wherever He went.

Beloved, as a child of God, light is your identity, and this light must shine so brightly that it eliminates every form of darkness around you. I pray that the light of God in you will never become hidden, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to walk in the fullness of my identity as light, in Jesus' name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Samuel 17-18

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

BLESSINGS DON'T COME CHEAP

And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. - (Exodus 23:25)

READ: Genesis 22:1-18 (KJV)

Ephesians 1:3 tells us that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; however, walking in those blessings doesn't come cheap. God's blessings are invaluable; for instance, the blessing that He pronounced over Abraham in today's Bible reading is still in effect today. Christians, Muslims, Jews, and people from all cultures and nationalities partake in Abraham's blessing because blessings go root-deep. You must note, however, that Abraham's blessing didn't come cheap; he was willing to sacrifice his only son to God in complete obedience to His will. God's blessings are available, but as I always say, in God's kingdom, nothing goes for nothing.

When Isaac wanted to bless Esau in Genesis 27:1-4, he asked him to go hunting and prepare a special meal for him with his catch. He wanted Esau to do something special for him to provoke the kind of blessing that nobody can reverse. While Esau went hunting in the field for a deer, his mother and brother got busy, preparing what Isaac loved. Both sons had to work hard in one way or the other with the aim of receiving their father's blessing. When God called Abram and asked him to leave his father's house, He pronounced some blessings on him (Genesis 12:1-3). However, those blessings were little compared to the blessing in today's Bible reading, where God swore by Himself. This is the highest form of blessing that anybody can receive from God, and Abraham did something to provoke it. You can position yourself before God in such a way that will make Him go over and beyond to bless you and your seed.

Years ago, I was at an airport with two heavy bags, and two of my spiritual children approached me. The one who got to me first merely greeted me, while the second not only greeted me but also collected my bags. I greeted both of them and said, "God bless you" to the one who collected my bags. The other one who only greeted me asked why I didn't bless him too, and I asked him what he had done for me that would have made me bless him. If the fig tree in Mark 11:12-14 had produced fruit to relieve Jesus of His hunger, it would have received a blessing, not a curse.

Beloved, when you bear fruit for God by serving Him and pleasing Him in all you do, you will receive wonderful blessings that will surpass your imaginations from Him.

KEY POINT:
Serving God wholeheartedly and pleasing Him attracts His blessings

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Samuel 8-12

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

ATTAINING GOOD SUCCESS 2

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. - (Joshua 1:8)

READ: Joshua 1:1-9

When Zerubbabel wanted to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, Zechariah told him that it wouldn't be by power or might but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6). It is possible to succeed and achieve results that could never have been produced by your efforts - I am a living proof of that reality. As I write this, the RCCG is in over 190 countries across the world, and I have yet to visit some of them. This is a good example of results beyond efforts. God can give you victories that have nothing to do with how powerful, wise, strong, or influential you are they will only be by His unfailing mercies and love.

In Psalm 37:5, David advises you to commit your way to the Lord and trust in Him to bring your plans to pass. This is important because if you don't surrender all to the Lord and He gives you success, you might likely forget Him and begin to feel as if you have become successful because of your abilities. Some people become successful and lose their sleep and peace because they have not surrendered to the Lord. When I became the General Overseer of the RCCG, we had only 39 branches in Nigeria. Now, the church has thousands of branches across the world, and my blood pressure remains normal because I know that God is behind it all. Every night, I go to bed without worrying about anything. I am at peace because I have committed and surrendered everything to God.

God wants all His children to enjoy good success. In today's memory verse, He showed Joshua an important key to attaining such success: meditating on His word. To meditate is to think deeply about something. God told Joshua to keep the book of the law in his heart and on his lips at all times because He knows that whatever is in his heart and on his lips will eventually become his reality. God knows that if He can get you to believe that He wants you to be successful, and you profess this in faith, nothing will stop you from succeeding. If you are reading this and have experienced many struggles and failures, I decree that things will change for the better from today, in Jesus' name.

Beloved, meditate on the word of God day and night and confess the things He has said concerning you; that is the key to experiencing and enjoying good success.

ACTION POINT:
Set time apart daily to meditate on God's promises concerning your success.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Joshua 21-22

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

ATTAINING GOOD SUCCESS 1

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. - (John 14:23)

READ: Romans 8:31-39

When God's children have to fight through obstacles and challenges, they often have scars from the battles before they finally receive their trophies. There is, however, a better way for children of God to succeed, and this is winning without a fight, as we see in Romans 8:37, which says that we are more than conquerors simply because God loves us. I will discuss this today in continuation of the series I started two days ago.

When God loves a person specially, He makes them more than conquerors, meaning that they enjoy victories without fighting. Imagine a scenario where a boxer fights hard to win a championship belt, then hands it over to his wife along with all the proceeds from the boxing match. In such an instance, the wife won the boxing championship without even fighting. I pray that the Almighty God will give you victories without fights, in Jesus' name.

Some people say that God loves everyone equally, but this is not really true. Jesus had twelve disciples, but some were closer to Him than others. You will recall how Jesus took only Peter, James, and John with Him to the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-3). Those three disciples were clearly closer to Jesus than the others. However, one of them, John, was even much closer to Him. For example, when Jesus was asked to reveal the identity of the person who would betray Him, He didn't give a direct answer until John asked Him (John 13:21-26).

Beloved, there's a secret I want to share with you on how to make God love you specially. Jesus said, in John 14:23, that if you love Him, you will keep His word, and His Father will love you so much that He will make His abode in you. This is a special kind of love that He has reserved only for those who obey all His commands. When you live your life according to His will, God will fight your battles for you, and no one can be against you (Romans 8:31). Your life will be filled with experiences that demonstrate God's special love for you. Even when it seems as if destruction is looming, one way or the other, God will manoeuvre things to your favour and even promote you (Daniel 3:8-30).

Beloved, loving God by keeping His word is your guarantee to attaining good success and experiencing victory without a fight.

REFLECTION:
Do you keep all God's commands?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Joshua 18-20

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

HE CAN FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST YOU

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. - (Psalm 37:5)

READ: Exodus 14:21-28

Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we wrestle against principalities and powers; however, many people don't realise this early in life, so they fight endless battles without knowing how to emerge victorious. Many make lofty plans but never succeed in executing them. However, as we see in today's memory verse, the secret to ensuring that your plans succeed is to commit them into God's hands and put all your trust in Him. If you allow God to be in charge, you will surely succeed.

There are certain possibilities when a fellow is fighting the battles of life. The first possibility is that of failure. The possibility of failure, however, turns into an assurance of failure if God is fighting against the fellow. James 4:6 tells us that God resists the proud, meaning that He fights against those who think that they can achieve things without Him. Therefore, when the enemy tempts you to do things your own way, look for wrong shortcuts, cheat, defraud, lie, or use ungodly means to get ahead, resist him because you will only be setting yourself against God if you fall for his temptations. In the days ahead, I will discuss the other possible outcomes that a fellow can experience while fighting the battles of life.

In today's Bible reading, God parted the Red Sea and made a way for the Israelites where there was none previously. While they were passing through dry land in the midst of the sea, their enemies followed them into the midst of the sea, hoping to bring them back into bondage. However, God helped His people and fought against their enemies. When the enemies realised that God was against them, they cried out, "Let us run away from these Israelites because it is clear that God is fighting for them" (Exodus 14:25).

When God is fighting against someone, that fellow is bound to fail. This is why, wherever you are and whatever you plan to do, you must first ensure that God is not fighting against you. One way to ensure that God is not fighting against you is to be holy. Holiness is the master key to success, but sin will make God your enemy. If you decide to use crooked means to succeed, even if you appear to actually be succeeding, the success won't last. Beloved, you cannot afford for God to be against you. If you want your plans to prosper, live a holy life and run away from anything that will make God turn against you.

KEY POINT:
When God is fighting against a fellow, whatever that fellow does will not prosper.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Joshua 11-13

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[The Word Of GOD @RCCGworldwide]

ASK FOR HIS HELP

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - (Proverbs 3:5-6)

READ: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Yesterday, I discussed failure as the first possible outcome in the battle of life. I also noted that this possibility becomes an assurance when God is fighting against a fellow. The second possible outcome in the battle of life is that it is possible to win, but with numerous struggles.

When God promises to go with you in your endeavours, success is assured, but you may need to fight. For example, in Exodus 3:10-12, God told Moses to go to Egypt and set the children of Israel free from bondage. This assignment scared Moses, but God promised to be with him. Moses obeyed God and appeared before Pharaoh, demanding the freedom of the Israelites, but the latter refused to let them go. Moses persisted in his demand, and Pharaoh continued to resist until he eventually submitted to the mighty power of the Almighty God. When the Lord is with you, no matter what the enemy says or does, you will win.

In (1 Samuel 17:1-51), everyone in the camp of Israel was afraid of Goliath, and for forty days and nights, he terrorised the nation. When David went to the king to seek his permission to fight the giant, the king looked at him and asked in disbelief if he was really capable of doing so. David recounted the things that God had done through him, and when Saul heard them, he said, "Go, and the Lord be with you." The Lord went with David, and he was victorious over Goliath. Beloved, when the Lord is with you, the possibility of failing in the battle of life vanishes.

Child of God, don't consider anything in your life as an accident. Before your birth, God carefully arranged everything about your life, and when He is with you in life's battles, you will undoubtedly win. In today's Bible reading, Jabez asked God to help him succeed in life. God answered him and put an end to his struggles. You don't have to keep struggling to succeed when you can call on the Lord to give you victory. Although Jacob had been blessed by his father, he struggled until he surrendered everything to God. Jacob held on to God until He blessed him (Genesis 32:24-32).

Beloved, stop trying to succeed by yourself; surrender your plans to God and ask Him to help you like Jabez did, and He will give you good success.

KEY POINT:
Those who surrender their plans to the Lord and seek His help won't struggle to succeed.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Joshua 14-17

Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye

[Pastor Adeboye @PastorEAAdeboye]

I decree over you;
Every yoke in your life shall be consumed by fire.

Day 2
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