Monthly Archives: September 2018

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST 2018- NOT YOUR SUBORDINATE

Memorise: And the LORD God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18
Read: 1 Peter 3:7-9
7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Bible in one year: Ecclesiastes 8-12, Mark 11:1-19

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

1. The way some men relate with their wives is unbecoming of a child of God.
2. Some husbands deal with their wives like a highhanded boss would deal with an employee. When one beholds such sights, one begins to wonder whether it was love that brought them together in the first place or something brought them together in the first place or something else. They talk to their wives as if their wives are nonentities.
3. Husbands who behave in this manner do not understand the essence of a woman in a man’s life Genesis 2:18 says it all: “And the LORD God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” What led to this decision, seen in Genesis 2:20, is equally intriguing: “And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam, there was not found an help meet for him.”
4. We need to note some points from these two scriptures, first of which is that as fearfully and wonderfully made as Adam was, he needed a helpmate, of which none was found amongst other creatures. God then decided to create a woman customized and tailored to meet this need.
5. Secondly, men do not seek help from an inferior entity; at best, they look in the direction of an associate that is lest equal to their status.
6. Thirdly, if Adam needed help, he required a quality helper to render it, and this was exactly what God provided. Therefore, any man who treats his wife as an inferior being does not know God and cannot appreciate God’s gift in the woman God has given him. This is an unfortunate situation.
7. The word “weaker” used when describing women as vessels should not be taken to mean “inferior vessel”; rather, it is best interpreted as flexible vessels. Indeed, women are flexible, and they must be if they would serve the purpose for which they were created as helpmates o men. It is however unfortunate that some men take advantage of the flexible nature of women to extort and manipulate them. The consequence of this terrible act is seen in Malachi 2:14: “yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.”
8. Furthermore, note that God is angry with domestic treachery and unfaithfulness. It has negative effects on your spirit and on the children of your union. If your marriage is experiencing difficulties, may God restore peace to it today in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

God is not only delighted when we obey Him, He blesses us and we enjoy peace like a river. This is a reprove for a user of this devotional and I enjoin you to take heed if you are the one. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, please help to restore and maintain peace in my home as I give due regard to my spouse from now on in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where Bible is loved
and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will
is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty
Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true
and strong
Homes that are free from the
Blight of wrong
Homes that are joyous with love
and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in
caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is
best,
Homes where the Lord is an
honoured guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 2018- DON’T GAMBLE WITH YOUR LIFE

Memorise: The meek will he guide in judgement: and the meek will he teach his way. Psalm 25:9
Read: Psalm 25:8-14
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Bible in one year: Ecclesiastes 4 – 7, Mark 10:35-52

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

1. From the beginning, God’s plan for mankind has been that we should live our lives guided by His counsel and direction in the place of fellowship. When we refuse to consult with God before taking decisions, we end up gambling and fumbling, which more often than not damages a fellow’s destiny irreparably. The reality of this truth is visible in the lives of our parents and Abraham. It would have been a different story completely if Adam and Eve had told the devil to allow them confirm from God the truth of his counsel. It would have also been a different story if the father of faith had consulted with God before consenting to Sarah’s proposal to have a child through Hagar. The world would have been saved the ordeal of the violent tribe which troubles the nations of the world today (Genesis 16:1-12).
2. You must be divinely guided in your endavours if you will not fumble. As revealed in today’s memory verse, it takes a heart of meekness to receive God’s guidance. The proud will not seek guidance, and even if the guidance is offered freely, the proud will reject it with impunity. For this reason, Proverbs 9:8 says:
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”
3. Beloved, God can only guide the meek because He does not waste His time with those who despise His counsel. In accordance with His principles, when His people despise His counsel, God leaves them alone (Hosea 4:17).
We are told in today’s Bible reading that the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him (Psalm 25:14). In other words, the fear of the Lord will also earn us divine guidance, so that we do not gamble with our lives. An example of someone who did not gamble with his life is King David. In 1 Samuel chapter 30, after his camp at Ziklag was raided and he wept with his men for the calamity that had befallen them, David not only encouraged himself in the Lord, he also inquired from Him on the next line of action to take. 1 Samuel 30:8 says:
4. “And David enquired at the Lord, saying, shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
This assurance form the Lord motivated him to pursue and recover all.
5. This is praiseworthy because he did not allow the emotions of their great loss to push him into taking a gamble by pursuing the raiders without consulting God first. Beloved, I encourage you to begin to entrust your life into God’s hands and never pursue a course of action without first seeking divine counsel about it.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

The summary of today’s devotional is that you must first consult the Almighty God before making any decision in order not to fumble. Have you been gambling with your life and everything around you is failure? why can’t you just make a simple decision that henceforth, you will always consult Him before you move and you shall not be disappointed in Jesus’s name. May God continue to honour pastor E.A Adeboye for this wonderful devotional.

Prayer Point:
Father please guide me in my entire life’s journey, in Jesus Name
HYMN
1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word,
What a glory He shed on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH 2018- THE WINDOW OF THE HEART

Memorise: The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Matthew 6:22
Read: Matthew 5:27-29
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Bible in one year: Ecclesiastes 1-3, Mark 10:13-34

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

1. It is unfortunate that in the Church today, we underestimate the evil effects of nudity and exhibitionism. It has gotten so bad that in some quarters semi-nudity has become a norm. We pretend as if we don’t know or understand the motive behind suggestive dressing and what it triggers in the minds of the opposite sex. It seems a good number of people have lost the understanding of the difference between private and public body parts.
2. Today’s memory verse says that the light of the body is the eye and that our eye should be single. In other words, our eyes should not carry the abominable weights of sinful sights into our hears. The question is, how can the eye be single when it is exposed to what should be covered by men and womenfolk alike. Some women expose their contours and we pretend as if we are blind to it or that our body has suddenly become dead wood. Some men, including some pastors, put on trousers that are fitted to the point of being too tight.
3. The reason why many men are caught in the web of extra-marital wanderings is that their ‘eye’ is double or triple. In other words, they carry many satanic images of the opposite sex in their sub-consciousness.
4. What is the consequence of our eye not being single? The Lord said the whole body would be full of darkness. No wonder such people grope in darkness towards eventual destruction and experience a bitter ending after the “honey” they were after turns sour.
5. Pornographic websites have dealt deadly blows to the gentle souls of several people. As saints unto the Lord, we must not engage in viewing such sites, because it is what you see that you desire.
6. If something has not come into your sub-consciousness, particularly through your eye, you may not crave it. It was after Eve saw the forbidden fruit that she fell in love with it. You will be wise to adopt Job’s principle in Job 31:1, wherein he said: “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”
7. Our sisters should make a covenant with their bodies that they would not allow it to become a stumbling block to others, knowing that causing the fall of a saint is grievous in the sight of the Lord. They should also remember that Beersheba’s nudity was what ignited David’s woes; he saw it and his eye ceased from being single (2 Samuel 11:2).
8. Our brothers should also learn when not to look or stare. Most importantly, they should mortify the deeds of the body because there will always be daughters of Jezebel around to entice them. Romans 8:13 says: “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Action Point: make a covenant with your eyes today that you will not look upon iniquitous sights anymore.
Hymn
On a hill far away stood an old
rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and
Shame;
And I love that old cross where
the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was
Slain.
Chorus:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last l lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so
despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For dear Lamb of God left his
Glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
In that old rugged cross, stained
with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus
suffered and died   
To pardon and sanctify me.
To that old rugged cross I will ever
be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly
bear;
Then he’ll call me some day to my
home far away,
Where his glory forever I’ll share.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 2018- CUSTODIANS OF THE MASTER KEY

Memorise: And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. Isaiah 22:22
Read: Matthew 16:13-19
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Bible in one year: Proverbs 29-31, Mark 9:38-10:12

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

1. Today’s memory verse is a prophetic message from God the Father to God the Son, speaking of how Jesus would possess the key of the house of David so that He could open easily and shut without any resistance. No wonder doors obeyed Him while He was here on earth. For example, He shut the door of the issue of blood in the life of a woman who had suffered for 12years (mark 5:25-34). He also opened the door of sight to a bind man at the gate of Jericho (Luke 18:35-43).
2. In today’s Bible reading, after Peter made a profound confession of faith received by revelation from the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ promised to give him the master key of the kingdom. The Lord could make this promise, because He is the possessor of this key (Revelation 3:7). However, this promise is not only to Peter, but also to everyone who believes and confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord (John 17:20, Mark 13:37). It is amazing therefore to see children of God running helter-skelter in search of the master key, whereas they have access to this key already. Speaking about this key, the Lord said in Matthew 16:19
3. “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”.
The meaning of this scripture is that God the Father gave Jesus Christ the Son the master key to open and shut, and Jesus in turn handed this key over to those who believe in Him. So, we now are the custodians of the master key. How effectively we use this key is another question altogether. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus that we will not be wasters of this great grace that can shut the doors of calamity and open the gates of blessings, not only for ourselves but also for those who God has put within the sphere of our influence.
4. Years ago, a young man came to us for prayers because of premature death that had been ravaging his family over the years. We prayed a simple prayer to the Almighty Father, who through His Son handed the master key over to us. We shut the door against premature death and opened the door of abundant life in Christ to this young man, and this put an end to the calamity of premature death in his family.
5. In like manner, I shut the door of all forms of calamity against you and I open the door of celebration that has been shut against you from today in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Have you been struggling with breaking through in your journey of life, I urge you to partner with the one who has the master key to every shut door by the enemies of freedom. The bible says I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. May the Lord continue to honour Pastor E.A Adeboye.

Action Point:
Using the master key given to you by the Lord, shut the door of sorrow the enemy has opened against you and open the door of victory and celebration that had been shut against you.
HYMN
1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing ‘gainst His mighty power can eer pereval.
Chorus:
Conquerors are we, thr’o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.
2. In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.
3. Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH 2018- GOD’S LOVE

Memorise: 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. 1 John 3:1
Read: Isaiah 49:14-18
14 But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
Bible in one year: Proverbs 26-28, Mark 9:14-37

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

1. The Bible declares that our God is love (1 John 4:8). He is love because no one else can love Him. What greater love can a man have for his friends than to lay down his life for them?
2. Our God’s love is incomparable with any other.
3. People may claim to love, but you will find out that when their love is tested, it fails woefully.
4. In contrast to this, God’s love never fails! He loves us so much that He has our names inscribed on His palm (Isaiah 49:16). Irrespective of the number of Children He has all over He knows every single one of us by name (Isaiah 43:1). Even every strand of our hair is important to Him, so much so that He numbered each one ant not a single strand can fall without Him noticing (Luke 12:7).
5. His love is unconditional, because while we were still living in sin, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Believe it or not, a breastfeeding mother can forget her child, but our God can never forget us.
6. He loves us even more than our earthly parents do, and nothing can separate us from His love. He will never withhold anything good from us; all we have to do is ask Him.
7. With man, love comes with conditions.
8. Some people only love people of the same or higher social class, and they treat every other person with contempt. As wealthy and highly placed as our God is, He does not behave this way. He came down from His kingdom of many mansions and golden streets to be born in a manger, amongst animals, just so that He could associate with us and help us out of condemnation.
9. He does not see you as a liability; rather He sees you as a friend to be treasured.
10. Believe me honestly, God has His eyes on you all the time.
11. He loves you so much that He doesn’t want you to get hurt. You may ask, “Why then am I going through all these troubles?” Our God did not promise that the road would be smooth all through life, but He promised that He would be with us all the time (Isaiah 43:2).
12. His presence with you is assurance that no trouble can consume you, and that you will rejoice at the end of the day. However, have you given your life to Christ?
13. He wants to take away your heavy burden, but He can’t do that if you are not ready to accept His yoke of lordship. In Matthew 11:28-30, says: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
14. Accept God’s offer of love today. Surrender your life to Him and begin to live a new of great possibilities.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

It is good to know that the promises of God comes with assurance without limitations. As he said”  But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget. Isaiah 49:14-15. Beloveth, God’s love for you is awesome, all you need is to decide to have a relationship with him. May the Lord bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for feeding us with God’s word on daily basis through the open Heavens devotional.

 
Key Point: The devil may seem like the man with the goodies, but don’t be deceived, his mission is to steal, kill and destroy.
Hymn
The Great physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to
cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!
Chorus:
Sweetest note in seraph song;
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung:
Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Your many sins are all forgiv’n,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
The veil ‘twixt you and God is
riven,
Redemption wrought by Jesus.
All glory to the dying Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Savior’s name,
I love the name of Jesus.
His name dispels my guilt and
fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delights to hear
The precious name of Jesus!

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH 2018- KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD OR EVIL?

Memorise: 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. James 1:5
Read: Genesis 3:1-5
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 
Bible in one year: Proverbs 23-25, Mark 8:31-9:13

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

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

1. Many people don’t know that it is dangerous, if not a curse, to possess the knowledge of evil.
2. To have the knowledge of evil is to know how to do evil.
3. In Genesis 3:5, when the devil told our first parents that their eyes would be open and they would be like God, knowing good and evil, he was literally saying “you will know how to do evil”, even though he did not tell them he was teaching them how to do evil. This is why it is wise for every child of God to understand the source and nature of any knowledge they are acquiring.
4. In James 3:17, the Holy Spirit recommends the type of applied knowledge we should seek after, saying: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
5. Do you know that some people acquire knowledge that destroys their entire life? When a young boy learns how to smoke marijuana or other narcotic substances, he becomes emboldened and begins to feel he has “become a man”. What folly this is!
6. When a young girl is introduced to premarital sex, she may be deceived that such carnal knowledge will make her “a real woman”. Although she may be excited about it, the truth is she has only learned how to do evil, and it will destroy her destiny. This is why parents must endeavour to fill their children with godly knowledge before it is too late.
7. God’s wisdom in Proverbs 22:6 says: “Train up a child in the way he would go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
8. There are ways the devil introduces his “curriculum” on the knowledge of evil to mankind.
9. In today’s Bible reading, he used the deductive method to achieve his goal. He asked “Did God say you should not eat of every tree of the garden?” He was pretending not to know which of the fruits in the garden was forbidden. Would God have arranged for his children to starve by commanding them not to eat of every tree of the garden?
10. Even today, the devil still uses this style. For example. He may come to you saying, “Did God say you should not drink any wine?” The answer is definitely “No, what God said is that I should not drink alcoholic wine.” He may also say to you, “Yes, I know God would not want you to have sex because it is bad!” The answer is “No, what God said is that I can only have sex with my spouse.”
11. The devil is a liar; please don’t believe his lies.

Action Point: Watch the kind of knowledge you acquire over the internet, and review the kind of blogs you read.
Hymn
Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal of love;
Wake te immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Chorus:
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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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH 2018- DOING THE RIDICULOUS

Memorise: But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Read: Hebrews 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 [a]of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”
19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
Bible in one year: Proverbs 20-22, Mark 8:11-30

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

1. As a mathematician, when I first gave my life to Christ, the paying of tithes to God was ridiculous to me, and I saw it as a subtle way through which pastors wanted to swindle me of my hard-earned money. Prior to this time, my 100 percent was not enough; by the middle of any month, I had to borrow money from my driver to buy fuel. I then wondered within myself that if 100 percent was not enough, how then could 90 percent be? Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit won this argument, and today, I am a living testimony of the faithfulness of God to every person who pays tithes. Hebrews 11:6 reveals that without faith it is impossible to please God.
2. Faith in God enables a person to do the ridiculous.
3. God asked Gideon to go to the battlefield with a “ridiculous” number of soldiers (three hundred) as against the thousands of Midianite soldiers opposing them. As if that was not enough, even the three hundred soldiers were not to carry any weapon of war, but rather an earthen vessel each (Judges 7:7-25)! Gideon complied with these instructions in faith and he got a miraculous victory.
4. Moreover, concerning the salvation of our souls, it takes believing the “ridiculous” before the miraculous can be experienced.
5. The Bible in John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Bible further state that the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). That scripture says “all unbelieving people of this world cannot understand. In fact, nobody can explain it. It belongs to the realm of faith.
6. In addition, many of those who have ever experienced the miracle of healing have a testimony of doing the ridiculous before they got the miraculous. An example of this is the story of the ten lepers (Luke 17:12-19). In spite of the fact that leprosy was still visible on their skin, Jesus told them to go and present themselves to the high priest to show that they were healed of their leprosy, because they needed to reintegrated into their communities. They proceeded to show themselves to the high priest. In order to get the miracle of healing, they confronted the risk of being stoned to death for coming out of isolation as lepers. However, they got healed on their way; their “ridiculous” faith earned them miraculous healing!
7. My experiences in my Christian walk and particularly as a minister of the gospel have taught me that unless you agree to do whatever God asks you to do, however ridiculous it may sound, you cannot experience the miraculous.
8. Beloved, as you exercise faith in Jehovah-Rapha today, your healing shall be made manifest in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Prayer Point: Father, increase my faith to the level of being able to do the ridiculous in order for my miracle to manifest
Hymn
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word,
What a glory He shed on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH 2018- THE WINE RUNS OUT

Memorise: And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. John 2:3
Read: Proverbs 1:24-33
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Bible in one year: Proverbs 16-19, Mark 7:24-8:10

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

1. In today’s Bible reading, God, personified as Wisdom, bemoans men’s carefree attitude to His warnings against the day of calamity. God Himself is calling out to mankind like He called unto Adam when he hid himself in the Garden of Eden.
2. Adam seems to be wise than many inhabitants of the world today, because he came out of his hiding place so that God could cover his nakedness (Genesis 3:21).
3. God’s message to the world today says “I have waited enough: I have been stretching out My hands of love towards you and you have refused to come.” If this message applies to you, please respond to His call; any further delay is dangerous. The danger in delaying is declared in Proverbs 1:26 & 28: “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:”
4. It is a wise thing to have God as your Ally before the day of calamity or overwhelming challenge.
5. For those who do not know God or who have strayed from His way, the day of greatest calamity is the day death comes calling. Why? The day of death is a day of reckoning, when all deeds are brought to judgement (Hebrews 9:27).
6. The story of the marriage in Cana of Galilee, from where today’s memory verse is taken, teaches a couple of relevant lessons on having God as your Ally before the day of calamity comes (John 2:9-10).
7. Firstly, Jesus Christ was invited to the wedding ceremony, ahead of the moment of shame that arose due to insufficient preparation. Shame was averted that day because the Present Help in time of need was involved.
8. Secondly, Jesus’ mother asked them to do; they obeyed this and got the miracle of provision.
9. Thirdly, wine symbolizes merriment and joyous events. The presence of wine in a place signals celebration.
10. The truth is that there will always be a time when the wine of your life would run out and you would be confronted by your inadequacies as a mortal being.
11. It will be too bad for you not to have Jesus in your life before that day. Why? His presence guarantees supplies that are far better than what the world can provide, as testified to by the master of ceremony at the marriage in Cana of Galilee (John 2:9-10).
12. Beloved, I am therefore appealing to you run out of steam. You must get God involved in all you do because no matter how brief that venture is, you will need him along the way.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Prayer Point: Father, I invite You anew into my life, I repent of whatever I am currently doing without involving You, please take over my life’s ambition and control it in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH 2018- WISE BUT FOOLISH

Memorise: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; I Corinthians 1:27
Read: Isaiah 35:4-10
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 
Bible in one year: Proverbs 13-15, Mark 6:53-7:23

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

1. When you expound the things of God to the “wise men” of this world, they will consider you to be a fool.
2. When you talk about the resurrection of the dead and the outcome of Jesus’ death and resurrection, they will use their limited knowledge of the natural world to demonstrate your natural “foolishness”.
3. It is ironic that those who profess themselves to be wise in this world are declared to be fools before God (Romans 1:22).
4. As a believer in Christ, you should therefore not be offended if you are classified as foolish by the “wise men” of this world.
5. Based on the words of our memory verse, if the world considers you to be foolish because your life is based on the principles of God’s word, you are blessed indeed.
6. Remember that the devil came to our first parents disguised as a loving guidance counselor. He advised them to follow his diabolical wisdom, and this led them into a state of foolishness. They realized belatedly that the wisdom the devil was introducing them to was actually foolishness in disguise, and ever since then, the wisdom that fills the hearts of men is perverted wisdom of the devil, otherwise known as craftiness (1 Corinthians 3:19).
7. This manifests as wisdom to cheat and get ahead of a neighbor, wisdom to defraud the government, wisdom to pervert the course of justice and wisdom to do diabolical things, in contrast to this, the wisdom of God cries out in Proverbs 8:5-8 saying: “O ye simple, understand wisdom; and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing mouth forward or perverse in them.”
8. This scripture reveals the nature and character of godly wisdom. You will observe that these characteristics are in direct opposition to what the children of this world consider as wisdom.
9. Any wisdom that does not cut corners is considered foolishness by the children of this world. What they consider to be wisdom leads to both earthly and eternal perdition. A good example of the wisdom of this world is what Absalom exhibited against this father. The Bible says he stole the heart of an entire nation away from his father the king (2 Samuel 15:6). This is the way of the world.
10. In contrast to such ways, today’s Bible reading speaks of the highway of holiness, through which the unclean shall not pass.
11. It is equally interesting to read that although those passing through it may be considered fools by the world’s standard, they shall not go wrong in it (Isaiah 35:8). They will not err, because their Guide is the Lord of hosts (John 14:6).
12. Beloved, do you seek wisdom? Do you want to be wise in things pertaining to godliness?
13. The way to profitable wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and Jesus Christ is that wisdom that you need.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Prayer Point: Father, please let the character of Your wisdom begin to manifest in my life, in Jesus Name.
Hymn
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word,
What a glory He shed on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH 2018- GREAT GOD II

Memorise: Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Psalm 150:2
Read: Psalm 139:1-14
1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Bible in one year: Proverbs 9 – 12, Mark 6:30-52

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

1. One page is definitely not enough to praise this great God, neither are all the pages of this book sufficient to extol His Names.
2. This God is greater than the greatest.
3. Think of anything great that anyone has ever done; my God has surely done greater.
4. In mathematics, He is the greatest. He perfectly calculated the distance needed between all the elements of the universe and their velocities, so that they move together and are just at the right distances apart to maintain a balance. He is also bigger than the biggest, so much so that He uses the whole earth as His footstool (Isaiah 66:1).
5. For someone’s feet to be so big that He needs a footstool as large as the earth, you can be sure that He is indeed a very big fellow. No other entity is as big as this.
6. In like manner, He is richer than the richest. My God has never gone broke, and He can never be broke. The whole earth and its fullness are His: all the natural resources and precious stones, known and unknown to man, belong to Him. He is the God that has money everywhere, even in the belly of a fish (Matthew 17:24-27).
7. A bible scholar once explained his take on what Jesus meant when He said He would do whatever we ask in His Name (John 14:13-14). He explained that the literal translation of that scripture to English from Greek is that even if we ask Him for anything that does not exist, He will create it and give it to us. He is so rich that He even possess things that are not yet in existence! He can therefore never be stranded. He will show Himself through you as the one who is richer than the richest in Jesus’ Name.
8. My God can do all things. He not only raised the dead, He also raised up dry bones and transformed them into a mighty army (Ezekiel 37:1-10).
9. Psalm 139 says my God knows all things, and nothing is hidden from Him. He is everywhere, and so He sees everything. You can’t run away from His presence. Furthermore, He can heal all sicknesses and diseases. In Matthew 8:3, Jesus touched a man with leprosy. Not only did He not get infected with the disease, the man was also healed instantly.
10. During one of our Holy Ghost Services in Nigeria, God instructed that all those who had incurable diseases should come to the front of them with my prayer altar, and I should just walk in front of them with my prayer staff. As I did as instructed, they were getting healed. Those whose healing required surgery just fell and slept off while God performed the needed operation on them with invisible hands. After that night, several people testified of getting healed of incurable diseases.
11. Who is God to you? Is He your doctor or your provider? Is He your helper and your friend?
12. A popular saying goes, “show me your friend and I will tell you who you are.” If you make Jesus your friend, He will give you the ability to do all that He can do.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Action Point: Come to the winning side today and surrender your life to this great God.
Hymn
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love
To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the rue life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.
Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light.
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render, O help us to see:
‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, Victorious, Thy great name we praise

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