Monthly Archives: April 2017

Memorise: Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? Isaiah 43:13
Read: James 1:5-8
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Bible in one year: Numbers 30-31, Jeremiah 23:23-40

1. God can make you laugh when He decides to overrule your doubts.
2. Going by the standard set in today’s Bible reading, if you are double minded over an issue you brought before God, you should not expect anything from Him.
3. However, if you doubted God in a given situation and He overlooks your doubt and grants your petition, know for sure He is doing it solely because of His grace.
4. In Genesis 18:9-15, when God visited Abraham and said his wife Sarah was going to have a baby in nine months’ time, she laughed. She could not believe that she could ever be pregnant at age 90. She laughed because she had never seen such a thing happen before.
5. Are you laughing over God’s promises and declarations over your life? Are you laughing because you have never seen anyone who experienced that kind of miracle? Stop your laugh of doubt and believe God today! Why? If there is no precedent to follow, God can make yours the precedence that others would refer to.
6. A life of faith is so important to God that four different times in the Bible, He repeatedly said “The just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38).
7. However, as a manifestation of His sovereignty, He also says that whenever He makes up His mind to do something, nobody and nothing can hinder Him – not even your doubts (Isaiah 43:13).
8. I pray that every good plan and purpose of God for your life shall be established in spite of your doubts in Jesus’ Name!
9. We see this truth demonstrated in 2nd Kings 4:8-17. When Elisha declared to the Shunammite woman that she would have a son after nine months, she replied, “Man of God, please don’t deceive me.” This meant that she did not believe him. Although Elisha did not say anything after that, God had already spoken, and so the matter was settled. She thereafter had her baby in accordance to Elisha’s declaration.
10. This season, God will overrule your doubts and give you that expected miracle!
11. There are some people who believe God’s promise for a little while and then fall into doubt again. Over the years, they have continuously swung back and forth between faith and doubt and so have not been able to receive God’s promise.
12. This season, by the mercy of the Most High God, the Lord will override your doubts and make the impossible possible in your life in Jesus’ Name. God’s mercy will show up for you today! Your laughing season starts now.

Doubt is of the devil and should not be found in the dictionary of believer. Doubt is the opposite of faith and without faith the Bible says it is impossible to please God. Hebrew 11:6. There are a lot of opportunities, blessings and miracles that we have lost in the past simply because of lack of faith. Consider Hebrew 11:1-2 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”  The elders in this verse of the Bible were Heroes of faith like Abraham, who did not stagger at the promise of God. May the lord help us to live a life of faith without doubt in Jesus’ name. God bless and increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, in Your mercy, override my doubts and every stumbling block on my way, and cause my laughter to begin today.
HYMN
1. My faith looks up to thee, 
thou Lamb of Calvary, 
Savior divine! 
Now hear me while I pray, 
take all my guilt away, 
O let me from this day 
be wholly thine! 
2. May thy rich grace impart 
strength to my fainting heart, 
my zeal inspire! 
As thou hast died for me, 
O may my love to thee 
pure, warm, and changeless be, 
a living fire! 
3. While life’s dark maze I tread, 
and griefs around me spread, 
be thou my guide; 
bid darkness turn to day, 
wipe sorrow’s tears away, 
nor let me ever stray 
from thee aside. 
4. When ends life’s transient dream, 
when death’s cold, sullen stream 
shall o’er me roll; 
blest Savior, then in love, 
fear and distrust remove; 
O bear me safe above, 
a ransomed soul! 

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20

Memorise: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
Read: Ephesians 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having pre-destinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Bible in one year; Numbers 28:29, Jeremiah 23:9-22

1. From our memory verse today, we understand that there are physical blessings and there are spiritual blessings.
2. The best way to distinguish between these two categories of blessings is to look at their lifespan.
3. Physical blessings are temporal, while spiritual blessings are enduring and external in nature. An example of a physical blessing is the rain that God sends on all of humanity. Another example is the air we all have access to breathe. Having a wife of a husband also falls under the category of physical blessings, and so also is having children. Both physical and spiritual blessings come from the Lord.
4. However, the better of these two categories of blessings is spiritual blessings.
5. Spiritual blessings, though manifesting in the physical world, transcend the present age. This is why Apostle Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 15:19 thus:“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
6. Spiritual blessings cannot be quantified in material or monetary terms. They include the Holy Spirit and His gifts, power and victory over principalities and powers, redemption through the Blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, etc.
7. The crux of all spiritual blessings can be seen in this response of our Lord Jesus Christ to the question about reward for sacrifice which Peter asked Him: “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive and hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30
8. The spiritual blessing of eternal life crowns the physical blessings we have access to through our fellowship with Christ.
9. No matter how long we live on earth, we shall depart from it one day. The question is, “Where will you spend eternity?”
10. Would it be in Heaven or in Hell? My prayer for you is that you will not spend eternity in Hell in Jesus’ Name.    

If you can pause to reflect and think of the goodness of God and His unfailing promises concerning the righteous, you will always glorify Him. Consider this: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:3‬. However, believers should endeavor to earnestly desire spiritual blessings as we are encouraged by Apostle Paul “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:31‬. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye for yet another great revelation in today’s devotional. More grace for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point
Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today, and you will be blessed with spiritual blessings. If you are saved, pray that the Lord will load your life with His spiritual blessings today.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

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20

Memorise: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14
Read: Romans 8:14-17
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Bible in one year: Numbers 26-27, Jeremiah 22:24-23:8

1. There is a song that was popular among children of God some decades ago which reveals not only privilege meant only for the children of God but also their appreciation of what privilege. It goes thus: “Something more than gold; The spirit of God in the heart of man; something more than gold.”
2. According to our memory verse, as many as are led by the spirit of God, are the children of God. In other words, only those who are children of God have the privilege of being directed and guided by the Holy Spirit.
3. Conversely, only those who are guided by the Spirit of God are genuine children of God.
4. If you take a look at the account of how God formed man from the dust of the earth, you will observe that in spite of the fact that every part was properly fixed and fitted, man could not fulfil the purpose of his creation until God put His Spirit in him. Genesis 2:7 says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
5. After man fell, the Spirit of the Lord departed from him, and he became a shadow of his glorious past. Man became afraid of himself. Adam and Eve lost trust in each other, so much so that they were ashamed of seeing each other’s nakedness. Fear ruled the heart of man because the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him. Man lost his sense of purpose and direction. God appeared in the cool of the day and man took cover with his wife, who he now viewed as the source of his troubles (Genesis 3:12).
6. The certainty of what tomorrow holds eluded humanity, and man groped in darkness, being tormented by different taskmasters until God decided to have mercy on us through the grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
7. The moment we accept His grace of adoption, we begin to enjoy the privilege revealed in Romans 8:15-16: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
8. I believe you now understand the reason why the old-time believers sang with great excitement that the Spirit of God in the heart of a man is something more than gold.
9. The Spirit gives us the assurance that we are children of God. This consciousness gives us the impetus to live like Him in this world, and also grants us boldness based on the assurance that with God, our Father, on our side, no evil can come near us.
10. So, if you are yet to become a child of God, don’t delay further; give your life to Christ today, and you will be adopted into the household of God.

There is a portion of the Bible that specifically states that our  body without the spirit is dead and today’s topic is just a reminder to every believer who think they can live without being conscious of the person of the Holy Spirit who lives inside. Just like Apostle Paul revealed in Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Walking in the Spirit means all the days of life, we are conscious of Him and obey His voice regardless of how strong the instructions or directions. Brethren, consider this ” “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” ‭James‬ ‭2:26‬. Thank God for Pastor E.A Adeboye and the inspiration to write the Open Heavens Daily Devotional. May His grace never depart from him in Jesus name.

Action Point
Thank God for His precious gift of the Holy Spirit and for all that His Spirit does in your life.
HYMN
1 O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound.
Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!
Refrain:
The Comforter has come! The Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n,
O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found:
The Comforter has come!
2 The long, long night is past; the morning breaks at last;
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]
3 Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings,
To every captive soul a full deliv’rance brings;
And thro’ the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]
4 O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine
To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine –
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine?
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]

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20

Memorise: Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7
Read: Mark 7:24-30
24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Bible in one year: Numbers 23-25, Jeremiah 22:11-23

1. Without a doubt, the responsibilities associated with being a child of God in this present age of spiritual perversion are highly demanding. Nevertheless, our benevolent Father, knowing our frame, has placed several pleasant privileges at our disposal as His children, to ease our sojourn through wicked world.
2. The first privilege we enjoy when we become children of God is that we are moved from the position of a servant or slave to that of a son and an heir of God (Galatians 4:7). This is the reason why we must have passion for evangelism, especially to Muslims, who believe that they are slaves of God.
3. God did not create us in His image for the purpose of making slaves out of us.
4. Anyone who has not come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed a slave to sin and not a slave of God (Romans 6:16-18).
5. In the story of the Syro-phoenician woman in our Bible text, Jesus Christ did not mince words in revealing her true spiritual state to her as a slave of sin, in order to cause a change in her spiritual life. Fortunately for this woman, she admitted her spiritual poverty, and she was therefore given the hand of fellowship in adoption, so that she could be a parker of the food meant for God’s children. Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
6. Another striking thing in this story is that this woman was likened to a dog and she accepted it. Do you know why? It’s because this verdict came from the Way, the Truth and the Life Himself; when He speaks, He speaks with valid authority. So, when Jesus calls a sinner a dog, that is exactly what he or she is.
7. This is why the liberal theologians who want to be 21st century compliant would want to rewrite the Bible so that it can be “politically correct”.
8. Take note of the fact what is politically correct can be spiritually bankrupt.
9. In light of these truths, you can therefore see how great your privilege is when you are a child of God.
10. Being a child of God grants you access to the food of salvation, deliverance, healing and prosperity that is meant only for children of God.
11. If you are not yet a child of God, don’t delay further; today is the day of salvation and adoption.
12. Give your life to Christ today, admit your spiritual poverty and let Him cleanse you in His Blood.

The promise of God concerning the righteous is amazing and sometimes looks unrealistic but the truth is, in Him there is no darkness. He is not a man that he should lie. As the word of God says in John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” ‭‭That means as soon as you receive and accept Him as your Lord and savior, you have the permission to be called His sons. Also in the book of John, He regards us a friends, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”‭‭John‬ ‭15:14-16‬. May God strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works I Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, I call You Father because you are a Father indeed. Make me Your own child through Jesus Christ, and bestow upon me the privileges of being Your child today.
HYMN
Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Refrain:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.
 

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20

Memorise; Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1st Thessalonians 5:22
Read: 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Bible in one year: Numbers 22, Jeremiah 21:11-22:10

1. Yesterday, we looked at some of the responsibilities of the children of God in ensuring that they finish the Christian race in triumph.
2. Another of these responsibilities is that children of God must be on the lookout for whatever appears to be evil and run away from it. Anything that can lead to fornication or adultery, anything that has a shade of idolatry, or anything that has to do with love of money falls into the category of things you should flee from (1st Corinthians 6:18, 1st Corinthians 10:14, 1st Timothy 6:9-10).
3. Living a holy life is not automatic as some presume; we have to make a conscious effort to live holy. We wrestle not against flesh and blood; rather, we wrestle against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).
4. To be effective in our warfare, our strategy has to be both offensive and defensive in nature.
5. How do we engage in defensive warfare? It is by tactically abstaining from the world of darkness and sin.
6. In today’s Bible reading, we are exposed to the practical way of engaging in defensive spiritual warfare.
7. The first thing is not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers because the Bible expressly says that friendship with the world is enmity against God, and that whosoever will be a friend to the world is an enemy of God (James 4:4).
8. It is however unfortunate that some Christians don’t see this as an eternal truth.
9. Even some pastors will tell you that we must be friendly with the world in other to win them. The question is ever since we have been making friends with worldly people, how many of them have we won? Instead, on arrival, they pollute the Church, and we end up becoming more like them! The problem is that the Church does not want to take the lonely stand for the truth anymore; we want to be world-compliant.
10. Have we forgotten that the Almighty God assures us that even if the world forsakes us, He would be with us (Hebrew 13:5)? How happy our God would be, if His Church would take the stance that Shadrach, Mechach and Abednego took in Babylon, when they were faced with Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace (Daniel 3:16-18).
11. Beloved, it is your responsibility not only to rebuke the words of darkness but also to run away from all appearances of evil when necessary. Joseph did this successfully, and although he suffered for it for a while, he was later exalted to become the Prime Minister of Egypt (Genesis 39:11-23).
12. That will be your story in Jesus’ Name. As you separate yourself to the Lord in holiness, your purity will stand you out from the crowd and cause you to be exalted in Jesus’ Name.

God makes every of His instruction clear whenever He gives it to His children. He is also faithful to fulfil every promises made when we obey this instructions. Let’s meditate on Psalm 1 as said by our Father in the Lord and I pray the Holyspirit will minister to us and help us not to be hearers of the word only but doers too in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye. We are blessed to have him in this generation.

Action Point
Read Psalm 1 meditatively and pray that God will help you to always shun the presence of evil and its agents.  
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

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20

Memorise: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1st Peter 2:2
Read: 1st John 3:1-3 (KJV)
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Bible in one year: Numbers 20-21, Jeremiah 21:1-10.

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. All those who have accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their life are children of God, by the grace of adoption through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5). As children of God, while God has some responsibilities to make a success of our walk of faith in this world, we also have some responsibilities we have to bear in this regard.
2. Peter, in today’s memory verse, points out that one of our responsibilities as children of God is to desire things that are beneficial to our spiritual growth. When some new converts become children of God, due to zeal without knowledge, they begin to nurse some good desires which are inappropriate or unhealthy for sustaining their victory in the Christian race.
3. For example, some converts after giving their lives to Christ immediately begin to desire the office of a pastor, evangelist or Christian minister of any sort. Although these are good desires, they are inappropriate and ill-timed.
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4. The first responsibility of a believer when he or she becomes a child of God is to desire the sincere milk of the word so that he or she can grow to maturity through it. It is after this that he or she can think of rendering service to the Kingdom work.
5. Physically speaking, when a little baby desires to eat bread, yam, or rice, such desires could kill him or her. In the same vein, when a newborn believer desires to be a pastor or an evangelist overnight, he or she would not last long. This is the mistake some Christian organisations make when they make converts out of Muslims and traditionalists and immediately turn them into tools of evangelism.
6. The resultant effect is that such converts, without having depth in the word of God, would begin to see themselves as evangelists. Based on my experience and observations, more often than not, such converts don’t last. For this season, children being born into God’s family must take time to study the word of God and become well grounded in it.
7. In our Bible reading today, we see another responsibility of children of God, which is that they must keep themselves pure (1st John 3:3). After being cleansed and purified by the Blood of Jesus, children of God have the responsibility of not going back to their old vomit or staining their garment of righteousness with the filth of this world (Ephesians 5:26-27).
8. Practically, you achieve this by measuring your action against the standard of God’s word. Anything that is contrary to the word of God is filth that must be avoided. This is the more reason why all children of God need to be grounded in the word first before anything else.

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SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

As rightly mentioned by our father in the Lord Pastor E.A Adeboye. “The first responsibility of a believer when he or she becomes a child of God is to desire the sincere milk of the word so that he or she can grow to maturity through it”. The kingdom of God is not a joke and require spiritual battle and if we fail to grow and become approved for use by God, the kingdom of darkness is given room for expansion and such is not permissible by God. There is need to feed ourselves with spiritual food as the word of God says in 2 Timothy 2:15″ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. Please, beware and know that we have responsibilities to grow in Christ.

Action Point
Make sure you read, study and apply the word of God to your day-to-day living as a child of God, and you will grow in faith.
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HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

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20

Memorise: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17
Read: Ezekiel 33:14-16
14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Bible in one year: Number 18-19, Jeremiah 20:7-18

1. Expectedly, you may be wondering what God is not interested in. God is not interested in the death of a sinner (2nd Peter 3:9).
2. Many sinners don’t even know that God has no delight in condemning them.
3. It is therefore necessary that those who know this truth should make it known to them. “Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.”
Ezekiel 33:14-15
4. It is clear from the above Scripture that God is not interested in the death of any sinner, but desires that the sinner repents and turns away from his or her wicked ways.
5. It is amazing that God Almighty promised that none of the sins committed by a converted sinner will be remembered any more.
6. God is always wanting to restore fellowship with His human creation back to what it was in the beginning, if only they would appreciate His love for them.
7 Jesus Christ in John 15:13 said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
8. If indeed we are the friends of Jesus, we then must do whatever He commands us to do (John 15:14).
9. Are you a friend of Jesus or willing to be one? If you are willing to be a friend of Jesus, you must accept Him today, because tomorrow may be too late. The Bible says: “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2nd Corinthians 6:2
10. For believers who would always pray that sinners should “fall down and die”, I will like to admonish you to stop wasting your time, because if the fellow you are praying against is candidate for salvation in the future, your prayers may be an exercise in futility.
11. This is why the Lord God said vengeance is His (Romans 12:19).
12. May God fill our hearts with the compassion of Christ, so that we can be more concerned about the salvation of sinners rather than their death.

SIN (Simple Instruction Neglected) as defined by bible scholars is deadly and can destroy. As the Bible says that the wages of sin is death. Someone dwelling in sin might not be aware of it and sin it’s a virus that can spread and can be contacted by an ignorant fellow, there is need for believers to step in to make it known to the world the consequences of sin. The Bible says “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs‬ ‭14:34‬. The meaning of that is sin can destroy both the doer and those around the doer. However, the good news is that God is willing that everyman should come to repentance from sin regardless of the gravity of sin, He is calling for repentance. Imagine this promise of God in the book of Isaiah “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:18
Prayer Point
Father, fill my heart with the compassion of Jesus, so that I would care for sinners even as You do. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May his strength be renewed in Jesus name.

HYMN
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
You wilt find a solace there.

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Memorise: And he said unto them, Go ye into all  the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
Read: Ezekiel 33:1-6
1 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Bible in one year: Numbers 16-17, Jeremiah 19:10-20:6

1. We are often quick to judge Biblical characters when they do not measure up to God’s expectation in one area or the other.
2. We should however not allow our judgemental opinions to becloud our minds from the salient lessons God is trying to pass across to us through the failings of these characters.
3. To drive home this point, the Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
4. Among such characters are father Abraham and Isaac, who both misrepresented their wife as their sister. We also have prophets like Elijah, who opted to die in the face of adversity, and Jonah, the prophet who chose to run away from God’s assignment.
5. In the New Testament, we have apostles like Thomas, who said he would not believe in Christ’s resurrection unless he saw and touched the palms of His hands.
6. The shortcomings of these characters exposes their humility to us, and it also serves as a challenge to us that if characters with such shortcomings can go on to do great things for God, so can we in spite of our inadequacies.
7. Let’s take a closer look at Prophet Jonah, and compare his attitude to that of believers in the Church today.
8. In Jonah 1, we read of how the word of the Lord came to him, instructing him to go and warn the people of Nineveh against the impending doom hanging over their heads because of their wickedness. Instead of carrying out God’s assignment, Jonah chose to flee to Tarshish, because he wanted the people of Nineveh to receive God’s judgement. He knew if these people heard the warning and repented, God would not punish them as He had earlier planned.
9. However, Jonah wanted them to receive God’s punishment because of all they had done to the children of Israel.
10. In like manner, our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us to go and preach the gospel of salvation to sinners.
11. Following the principles set out in our Bible reading, if we do not obey the Lord’s commandment, God forbid that their blood be required of us.
12. We must beware of Jonah’s mistake so that none of us becomes another Jonah in the Church. Jonah landed in the belly of a fish before he understood the foolishness of trying to run away from God.
13. Are you being called into the ministry of soul-winning?
14. Stop running from your responsibility!
15. Let us take the assignment of soul-winning seriously, and we will not miss our reward. Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

Some Christians delight in seeing other people go astray despite the fact that they are sent to reach out to these sinners. Some other shy away from the responsibility of being their brother’s keeper and watch them backslide without making any effort to help them retrace their steps back to Christ. This is a call for repentance to anyone in Jonah’s coat. There is a need for us to learn what God is pointing out to us at every point in time when we study. We have been commissioned to bring the lost to Christ and this we must do diligently. He is able to help us stay in His way and do His will if we will let Him help us. I pray we won’t miss it in life in Jesus name. I pray God will release grace for greater impact upon Pastor E.A Adeboye and bless him immensely in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, help me to win souls for You on a daily basis.
HYMN
Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Refrain:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.

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Memorise: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit the taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2
Read: Luke 13:6-9
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Bible in one year: Number 14-15, Jeremiah 18:19-19:9

1. Fruit-bearing is a necessity for every child of God. When the Scripture in Deuteronomy 7:14 says none shall be barren, this promise fundamentally extends to soul-winning and all other activities that populate the Kingdom of God.
2. Our Heavenly Father is delighted when we in partnership with the Holy Spirit turn the hearts of men away from their wicked ways to the way of righteousness. For this reason, He reserved a special promise for such people in Daniel 12:3: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
3. The obligation to bear fruit becomes more critical when we consider what our Lord Jesus Christ said in today’s memory verse. He said He would take away every branch in Him that does not bear fruit. Nothing can be more serious than that. I pray that you will never be alienated from the Lord Jesus Christ in Jesus’ Name.
4. Moreover, today’s Bible reading amplifies the fruit-bearing responsibilities of the children of God. The parable it references was equally given by our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. The “certain man” in the parable is no other person than God, the Father. The vinedresser is no other person than Jesus Christ, the compassionate Advocate who makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). He is the one pleading on behalf of fruitless trees in God’s vineyard, which is the world.
6. The danger of an endless wait for a tree in God’s vineyard to bear fruit is made clear in Luke 13:8-9, which says: “And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”
7. Are you bearing fruits? Another pertinent question is, what type of fruits are you bearing?
8. For a sinner, he or she must bear fruits worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8).
9. For believers, we must win souls into the Kingdom, thus fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
10. More importantly for believers, we must also bear the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Believer seems to ignore the truth that being saved by grace calls for an assignment for the expansion of the Kingdom of God. Fruit bearing is an important assignment that must be carried out by every believer. Just like our father in the Lord stated “winning of souls” and to proof this truth, Jesus in John 15:16 says “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” John‬ ‭15:16.‬ ‭Brethren it’s high time we stepped out and begin to carry out this fruit bearing assignment as it’s the main reason why you are Ambassadors of Christ here on earth. May the almighty God help us. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in strength and wisdom in Jesus name.

Action Point
Draw a soul-winning plan for yourself and your family and sincerely follow it up in your neighbourhood. Also, pray that your converts will manifest the fruits of repentance and the fruit of the Spirit.
HYMN Action Point
Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Refrain:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.

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20

Memorise: The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22
Read: Deuteronomy 8:10-18
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Bible in one year: Numbers 12-13, Jeremiah 18:1-18

1. Many children of God dread prosperity because of the challenges associated with it, particularly when it relates to material prosperity.
2. The reason for this attitude can be put down to either ignorance of the word of God concerning prosperity, or ignorance of the need for the children of God to prosper, if they would not live at the mercy of the ungodly. The Bible in Proverbs 22:7 says, “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
3. In our Bible reading today, we discover some truths about God’s purpose concerning the prosperity of His people. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
4. God gives power and opportunities to His children to get wealth for one singular reason: to prove Himself faithful to His word.
5. In other words, the issue of God’s children becoming wealthy is not about them but about God and His infallible word.
6. This is why those who pick and choose what they feel is suitable for them in the word of God are losers; God cannot be mocked.
7. Such people want the blessings of Abraham, but do not want to keep the covenant that Abraham kept with God. Jesus in John 8:39d said: “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”
8. Beloved, I have good news for you: God is interested in the prosperity of His people (3rd John 2). Not only is God interested in your prosperity, He also gives you the power to make wealth and to prosper.
9. Furthermore, the prosperity from God is without negative repercussions and sorrow.
10. The Lord who prospers is the same Lord who protects. He will not give you a car that will become a death trap. He will not give you a child that will break your heart. If you believe this, you will see the glory of God.
11. Finally, in order to receive the prosperity that is devoid of sorrow, you must ensure that the prosperity you are seeking is from the Almighty God.
12. This suggests to us that there is a counterfeit prosperity which puts its beneficiaries in tight jackets of regret and sorrow.
13. The devil is the giver of counterfeits, but Jesus is the true source of eternal blessings.
14. You can never regret being prospered by His benevolence because He paid the price of your prosperity in full. 2nd Corinthians 8:9 says, “For ye know the grace our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he become poor, that ye though his poverty might be rich.”

“The devil is the giver of counterfeits, but Jesus is the true source of eternal blessings.” Let us expantiate on this. We have heard of rich people at different times who ended their lives miserably because the source of their wealth is the devil. Everything the devil deceitfully offer to man is already set in place by God for His children. But ignorance makes the victim of these deceits jump at the offer. When God bless you He adds no sorrow, condition or pain. As said by our father in the Lord, “You can never regret being prospered by His benevolence because He paid the price of your prosperity in full.” We shall be partakers of this blessing in Jesus name. God is so faithful that He blessed us with Pastor E.A Adeboye. May He be praised and strengthen him the more in Jesus name.

Key Point
Stop cutting corners. At God’s own time and in God’s own way, He will prosper you.
HYMN
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

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