Monthly Archives: December 2019

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY 31ST DECEMBER 2019–YOU SHALL LAUGH LAST.

MEMORISE:
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

READ: Psalm 30:1-5

I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

MESSAGE

The story was told of two women married to two men who were closely related. The husband of the first woman got a lucrative job and within three years, he had built a house for his family of five. Meanwhile, the husband of the second woman was not gainfully employed; he was just surviving by doing different menial jobs around. Unfortunately, because of her family’s good fortune, the first woman deployed a negative attitude towards the second woman. The most disheartening aspect of this story is that these two women were worshiping in the same assembly. The rich woman taunted the other woman so much that she almost left her local church. As God would have it, the husband of the second woman got employed by a company, and six months down the line, the company where his relative worked was liquidated and sold to his new employers. The management of the buying company was magnanimous enough to absorb the workers of the liquidated company into their workforce, but at lower cadre compared to their initial designations. So, the husband of the first woman had to manage with a subordinate position in the buying company, and he wasn’t happy when he discovered that he would be an assistant to his relative, and that his salary was 50% less than that of his relative, who was less than 6months on the job. The ways of God are past finding out! I pay that this year will end with you laughing last in Jesus’ Name.

The laughter that is most desirable is the one that comes last, because Ecclesiastes 7:8a says:
“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:”
Are you going through a trying period? The word of the Lord comes to you today from John 16:20 as follows:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”

Are you living your life in wickedness? The Lord is also saying to you today in James 4:8b-10:

“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

He also says in Matthew 5:4:

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

In other words, those who mourn in repentance for their sins and misdeeds will laugh last. Beloved, to be able to laugh last, you need to give your life to Christ today, and you will escape the everlasting agony of an eternity in hell. Jesus is holding out His arms to welcome you into His kingdom today. Run into His arms and you will discover you and peace like never before.

ACTION POINT:
Take stock of how well you did in all aspects of your life this year, and thank God for bringing you thus far.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Song Solomon 5-8
Malachi 3:16-4:6

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
o Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

4. 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!

5. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY 30TH DECEMBER 2019–BE WATCHFUL.

MEMORISE:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8

READ: 1 Peter 5:8-10

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

MESSAGE

The topic of today’s devotional is not a piece of advise that can be ignored; rather it is an express command to be taken seriously if we want to the finishing line in our Christian faith. In Matthew 26:41, during His hour of distress, our Lord said unto His disciple:

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

A quick lesson here is that temptation is a reality of life. The only way out of it is to watch and pray to ward off the tempter and his agents. Today’s Bible reading tells us why we must be vigilant and watchful: our adversary, the devil, is busy looking for whom to devour. He is described by the Lord as a thief with a threefold mission: to steal. Kill and destroy (John 10:10). In spite of the fact that we have an indomitable Ally in the person of our Lord, He himself laid down an example for us by watching and praying. We can therefore not do without being watchful and prayerful in our Christian calling.

What are we to watch out for? We need to watch out for the tempter’s tricks, some of which can take the form of lust of the flesh. Samson did not watch enough to see the ditch his flesh was leading him into. Even when his parents warned him against the Philistine maidens, he refused to heed their words of reason, choosing instead to follow the leading of his flesh. Judges 14:3 says:

“Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.”

Another thing we must watch out for is the lust of the eyes. The world is full of abominable scenery nowadays. We must be careful of what we look upon and what we see around us. The unfortunate thing is that these horrible images are creeping into the Church nowadays- first to the pew and now to the altar. Lastly, we must watch out for the pride of life. Pride destroyed the devil and he is introducing it into people’s lives today to destroy them. The Church is becoming too flamboyant these days, and this is distracting us from our core assignment. Please don’t be caught in this trap of the devil. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 says:

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

Let all your actions be guided by sobriety and watchfulness, so that you don’t become a champion of yesterday.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, help me to live soberly in this perverse generation, and guide my feet not to be caught in the devil’s traps.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Songs of Solomon 1-4
Malachi 2:17-3:15

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 29TH DECEMBER 2019: SONGS OF TRIUMPH.

Memorize:
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:3

READ: Exodus 15:1-11

1Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

MESSAGE
Today’s Bible reading records a classical song of triumph that Moses and the Israelites sang after overcoming the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s forces. After they were liberated from the shackles of slavery in Egypt. The children of Israel were faced with the greatest battle of their lives when they found themselves trapped between the Read Sea before them and Pharaoh’s army behind. At that moment, they fell into a state of despair and murmured against Moses and His God, who took them by His mighty hands our of the land of Egypt. They forgot all the mighty works He did to bring them out, so much so that He killed all the firstborns of Egypt. However, God had mercy on them, and He overthrew Pharaoh’s plan to return them to slavery. After witnessing God’s great intervention on their behalf, songs of triumph filled their mouths and they began to sing, even without any rehearsals. I prophesy to a user of this devotional today; you will experience a victory over your enemies that will put new songs of triumph in your mouth in Jesus’ Name.

David faced so many battles in his life, but at the end of every battle his songs were always songs of triumph. For example, he sang in Psalm 124:1-3, saying:

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:”

Beloved, you also can sing many songs of triumph provided you choose the correct ally in the battle of life. Our God is a specialist in all forms of warfare- be it ground, underground, marine, underwater or air warfare, it doesn’t matter to Him. What He did with Pharaoh and his host is a good example of his marine and submarine warfare capabilities. The battle He fought for the Israelites in 1 Samuel chapter 7 is an example of His ground warfare abilities. In Exodus 9:18-25, He showed His ability to fight from the air by sending hailstones upon the Egyptians. Describing the mightiness of God in battle, the Holy Spirit said in Isaiah 12:5-6:

“Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

So, if I were you, I would ensure that this God, who is mighty in battle, is my ally, and I would surrender every battle of my life to Him to fight in His own way. Do this today, and you will always have songs of triumph to sing.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I come to You today, please be my Ally in the battles of life, and give me new songs of triumph over all my enemies, to the glory of Your Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 8-12
Malachi 2:1-16

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: YES, I KNOW I AM A VICTOR.

1. Yes, I know i am a victor
For the Bible tells me so
God made me more than a conqueror
Much stronger than all my foes.

Refrain:
Jesus loves me and i love him
Together we rule the world
Christ with me I will overcome
By his blood, his Name, his word_

2. Yes, I know i am a victor
Stronger than sickness, disease
By his stripes I am superior
Far above infirmities
Refrain:

3. Yes, I know i am a victor
Stronger than demons i am
To satan i am a terror
I am free, o yes, i am
Refrain:

4. Yes, I know i am a victor
Stronger than lack, poverty
All my needs Jesus provides for
I have life abundantly
Refrain:

5. Yes, I know i am a victor
Barrenness no more indeed
Fruitful is the God i live for
All my dreams shall be fulfilled
Refrain:

6. Yes, I know i am a victor
By his strength i shall succeed
No more loss and no more failure
Glory to glory proceed
Refrain:

7. Yes, I know i am a victor
No more sorrow, no despair
Jesus Christ is my own succour
Tomorrow is joy and cheer
Refrain:

8. Yes, I know i am a victor
very soon I’ll reign with him
His promise is my sure anchor
He’s coming to take me home
Refrain:

9. Jesus loves me and i love him
We rule this world together
as He is so right now I am
Hear me shout Halleluyah
Refrain:

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY 28TH DECEMBER 2019: THE KING IS COMING.

MEMORISE:
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1 Thessalonians 4:16

READ: Acts 1:9-11

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

MESSAGE

One of the anchors of our faith in Christ ia the hope that He is coming back. Again (1 John 3:2-3). Unfortunately, not a lot of people are still excited about this great event, which will surely take place. As a matter of fact, teachings on the last days and second coming of Christ have not been heard in some churches in the last five to ten years! This is not surprising because this attitude is in line with what the Lord foretold would happen in the last days, saying in Luke 17:26-27:

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.”

As revealed by the Holy Spirit in today’s memory verse, the Lord’s coming is not going to be a secret event. He is coming with great grandeur, in His true personality as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. It is laughable that some so-called scholars claim that Jesus has already come secretly, while some others claim He has changed His mind and is not coming back again! On the day of His ascension, the angels who spoke with the disciples made it clear that He will return the same way He left.

There are some salient truths about the King we are expecting that we need to establish today. First is that He interacted with His disciples for forty days after His resurrection from the Dead, and He even ate with them (Acts 1:3, John 21:7-15). So, He is not a ghost, an apparition or the result of the disciples’ hallucinations. He was seen by over five hundred men, not counting the women who were also His disciples (1 Corinthians 15:4-8). So, his resurrection from the grave is not based on the wishful-thinking of just a few fanatics. Secondly, He ascended into heaven through the sky in the presence of His disciples. There was no gimmick or hidden magic trick about it. After His ascension, angels testified that He would return in like manner. Therefore, nobody should be deceived that Jesus Christ has secretly returned. As a matter of fact, He has no reason to return in secret. In light of these truths, believers must be ready for the imminent return of the King of kings. The amazing thing is that despite the stories Jesus told about kings who traveled and returned requesting accountability from their servants, many do not seem to understand that these parables are intended to prepare us for the events of the last days. I pray that you will be wise enough as the children of Issachar to accurately observe and understand the times and seasons we live in (1 Chronicles 12:32). God will keep you to the very end in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please let me not be put to shame at the return of the King of Kings, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 4-7
Malachi 1

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 17: HOLD THE FORTH.
1. Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.
o Refrain:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to Heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

2. See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on;
Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone!

3. See the glorious banner waving! Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s Name we triumph over every foe.

4. Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near;
Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer!k

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2019: BEAUTY FOR ASHES.

MEMORISE:
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; Psalm 30:11

READ: Isaiah 61:1-3

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

MESSAGE

One tactic the devil uses to gain access into the lives of God’s children is portraying our loving heavenly Father in bad light. His end game here is to make us fail from grace and glory into shame and pity. He successfully used this ploy against Eve in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:4-5 documents his approach:

“ And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

The devil portrayed himself here as being more loving and caring than God! Hope deceitful! We see this character being manifested by his agents in the world today. When a man, who is actually ravenous wolf, begins to show exceptional care for a young girl beyond what her parents can afford, he is actually seeking to devour a precious part of the innocent girl’s life. A housewife who shows more care to a domestic male servant or driver than her husband may be walking in the same spirit as Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:7-20). If you find yourself in such a situation, please run for your dear life. The Holy Spirit already warned us about this, saying in Proverbs 6:26:

“ For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.”

Contrary to what the devil and his agents would have us believe; God loves us. He proved His love for us by giving us the gift of Himself in His Son (John 3:16). The Son said in John 15:13:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Did you notice that He called us His friends in this verse? It is a foolish thing to think that anyone can love us like God the Father and His only begotten Son do. It is because of this love that he promises you beauty for ashes in today’s Bible reading, beloved, do not listen to the negative comments of the devil about the Lover of your soul, who is specifically sending this message to you today so that you may know He has not forgotten you. He sent me to tell you that He is processing your prayers for the appointed time. So, don’t be weary in your heart, because you are next in line for a testimony. The God who did wonderous things in David’s life, so much so that He penned the words of today’s memory verse after overcoming all his foes, will do the same for you this season in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please fulfil your pleasant promises and purpose for my life speedily this season in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 1-3
Zechariah 14:10-21

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, 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,
Oh, 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;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2019–PEACE LIKE A RIVER.

MEMORISE:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

READ: Isaiah 48:17-19

17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

MESSAGE

One of the reasons why Jesus was born is to give us peace like a river (Luke 2:14). It is a great thing to the peace of God inside. If you have God’s peace, you will experience peace in the totality of your man, because this peace applies the balm of serenity to our minds and hearts. Without mincing words, it is not a good thing to lack inner peace. The devil uses turbulent storms to generate crisis in people’s lives, leading to worry and anxiety. This is one method he uses to steal God’s peace away from us, but God will not allow his evil ventures to succeed in your life in Jesus’ Name. many people whose peace the devil has stolen seek peace through the use of tranquilizers and depressants, while some others turn to illicit drugs or alcohol. Some even dabble in mystic pseudo-religious movements to find solutions to their lack of peace. All of these sources do not possess peace, and so they cannot give peace to anyone. God is the only source of peace, and He has appointed His Son as the prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Speaking through the Holy Spirit, He describes His remedy against any raging storm of the devil that wants to steal our inner peace, saying in Philippians 4:6-7:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

From this verse, we understand that prayer holds the key to walking in God’s peace. Through prayer, we are able to beat back the devil’s evil arrows of anxiety and worry. Spending time alone with God to thank Him and present our petitions is the most effective tranquilizer. There is no solution to inner disquiet as effective as prayer, and it always, works.

The peace of God transcends all understanding. In other words, it is above and beyond what we understand. The next time you sense a great inner shaking or even just a slight inner disquiet, try prayer. Shut yourself away to be alone with God, and pray God’s word back to Him. Thank Him for who He is and for all His grace and goodness; then tell Him about your anxieties and concerns, and He will intervene to change things for you. When you finish praying, you will discover that the peace of God has filled your inner man. A quiet inner serenity and calm will reign I you, even if the storm is still raging around you. I know this to be true from experience and from what God’s word says. God’s word is practical and its promises work in every circumstance of life. Have you ever considered that your lack of inner peace might be God’s way of calling you to prayer? God may be calling you to have fellowship with Hm, and in the process He will restore His peace that transcends all understanding to your life.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please let your angel be on guard over all my family members in this festive period, and let Your peace that passes all human understanding rule our hearts in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 29-31
Zechariah 13:7-14:9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, 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,
Oh, 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;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY 25TH DECEMBER 2019-THE GREATEST GIFT.

MEMORISE:
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9

READ: Luke 2:8-20

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

MESSAGE

The greatest gift a person can give is the gift of himself. If Abraham understood this, he would not have complained to God about not having a child after God had offered Himself to him as a gift, saying in Genesis 15:1b:

“Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

In like manner, God has offered Himself a gift to all of mankind in the person of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 3:16). As you celebrate His birth today, you need to understand the magnitude of what God has done in sending Him into the world for the salvation of mankind. No wonder He said to the Samaritan woman in John 4:10:

“If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

If you catch the revelation that Jesus is God Himself wrapped up as a gift just for you, your perspective will change from asking for petty things to desiring more of Him in your life. Having Him in your life is more than enough for you. This is why Colossians 2:10 says:

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

Those who know who He is and have received Him into their lives know that they need nothing more. Having Jesus in your life grants you access to all the resources of heaven, so what more do you need beyond Him (John 16:15)? To give us a better understanding of this mystery, the Holy Spirit asks us a question we should ponder on in Romans 8:32, saying:

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

It is one thing to be offered a gift, and it is another thing to accept this gift. It is one thing to accept an offered gift, and it is another thing to know the worth and capabilities of that gift. Ultimately, for a person to benefit from the benevolence of a gift, its content has to be unpacked and deployed to meet the needs of its recipient. Have you accepted the Greatest Gift that God can give into your life? Today is a great day to do so if you haven’t. he is standing at the door of your heart waiting to enter in, if only you acknowledge that He loves and cares for you, and that He shed His Blood on the cross of Calvary to cleanse your sins. After acknowledging this, you need to declare it with your mouth and also confess your sins to him. Ask Him to come into your life and reign over you as your personal Lord and Savior. If you have done this, congratulations! You will begin to discover so many things about this Greatest Gift of God as you begin to study about Him through a Bible, and these will propel your life to the zenith. Hallelujah!

PRAYER POINT:

Father, I thank You for giving me the gift of Yourself in Jesus, and I thank You that I am complete in Him; I therefore confess that lack, sickness and failure have no place in my life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 26-28
Zechariah 12:10-13:6

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER.

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
o Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY 24TH DECEMBER 2019: THE PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT.

MEMORISE:

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11

READ: Ephesians 1:11-14

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.

MESSAGE

When our Lord Jesus Christ was leaving the earth, He promised that He would send us a comforter who would teach us all things (John 14:26). That Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, came on a certain day of Pentecost, and He has been with the Body of Christ ever since then (Acts 2). The Lord sent Him to serve as His representative in our lives, and His ministry in us is so invaluable. His presence in man’s life is transformative and empowering, so much so that those who don’t have Him or who are not full of His presence do not know what they are missing. He is such a precious partner in accomplishing the will of God for our lives in this world.

When a person becomes born again, the fellow suddenly begins to feel an unusual peace within. That is the effect of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is that person also begins to sound an alarm whenever he or she is about to commit a sin. Such a fellow has a choice to either ignore this warning or take heed. If you are a child of God, I am sure you experience this whenever you are about to commit a sin. My advice is that you yield to His warning, because the Holy Spirit can be displaced from a person’s heart. If you often ignore His voice, you will soon realize that you cannot hear Him anymore. If you continue living in sin, He will leave and other spirits will take His place (Matthew 12:43-45). May you never experience this in Jesus’ Name.

Not only does the Holy Spirit help us to live a holy life, He also teaches and helps us to pray (Romans 8:26). Prayer is a way of communicating with our heavenly Father. If you don’t communicate often with your Father, your relationship with Him will become strained, and you will soon find yourself doing things that are contrary to His will. Hence, it is important to pray regularly. However, many Christians would rather talk about prayer than pray. The Holy Spirit always nudge us to pray. Whenever you feel this nudge, please go to a separate place and pray. Sometimes, it’s not that you don’t want to pray, you just don’t know what to say when you start. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you in such moments. Lastly, what distinguishes our lives as Christians is the fruit of our character. The Holy Spirit influences our character through the manifestation of His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). He helps us to live a life filled with love, joy faith, patience, peace, gentleness, meekness and temperance. Consciously cultivate a relationship with Him and He will manifest more of His precious works in your life.

ACTION POINT:

In this festive season, let the Holy Spirit guide your steps speech, actions and motives.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 23-25
Zechariah 11:15-12:9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: WHEN THE POWER OF GOD DESCENDED.

1. When the power of God descended
On the day of Pentecost,
All the days of waiting ended,
They received the Holy Ghost.
O Lord, send the power just now,
O Lord, send the power just now,
O Lord, send the power just now,
And baptize, everyone.

2. Tongues of flame came down upon them,
And they preached the word in power,
Listening multitudes awakened
Turned to God that very hour.

3. We are waiting Holy Spirit
We are all of one accord,
Lord fulfil just now the promise
That is given in Thy Word

4. Fill and thrill us with thy presence,
Grant the blessing that we need
Flood our souls with wondrous glory,
While the prayer of faith we plead.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY 23RD DECEMBER 2019–THE HERITAGE OF GOD.

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: 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.

MESSAGE

The word “Heritage” refers to a cherished property or inheritance, having special architectural, historical or natural qualities and values. It reveals the sense of history, personality, importance, authority and worth of a people or Nation. It is therefore not surprising that God commanded the Israelites to document historical events, Covenants, laws and Commandments that formed their heritage in order to preserve them forever (Exodus 17:14, Exodus 34:27, Deuteronomy 11:20). God and His kingdom also have heritage. The people of God in all generation are the heritage of God (Psalm 94:5). The Bible therefore refers to the Israelites, the Church of Christ, and little children as God’s heritage (Joel 3:2, 1 Peter 5:3, Psalm 127:3). Since a heritage refers to assets of monumental value, the Lord’s heritage is therefore something very precious to be protected and watched over with all diligence. This should give you an idea of your worth to God as a Christian.

In the beginning God created us in his own image and for His pleasure, but man later fell from grace and became a slave to sin. In His mercy, God to approached the slave market and repurchased us by offering the precious blood of Son, Jesus, as ransom for us. By this heavy investment, God has secured a double claim of ownership over us: as the beautiful work of His hands, and as His adopted children, bought with the precious Blood of Jesus. Little wonder the Holy Spirit in 1 Peter 2:9 describes those in Christ in these terms:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”

All of mankind have the opportunity of becoming God’s children through faith in Jesus Christ, who came into this world to redeem us from sin and Satan over two thousand years ago. As you celebrate His birth this season, remember what He came to do and do not let it go to waste in your life. Jesus came to manifest the nature of God and demonstrate His character to us, so that through His example we can imitate the ways of our heavenly Father in our daily lives. Those who live their lives in this manner, under the saving grace and lordship of Jesus Christ, are those considered to be God’s Heritage. Just as human beings spare no expense to preserve their heritage, God can go to any length to preserve those that are His heritage. Are you part of God’s heritage?

KEY POINT:

Abiding in an environment of accountability prevents character erosion.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 20-22
Zechariah 11:1-14

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 9: IN CHRIST ALONE.
1. In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

2. In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

3. There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

4. No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 22ND DECEMBER 2019-DIVINE PROTECTION.

MEMORISE:
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1

READ: Psalm 91:1-16
1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

MESSAGE
A Refuge is a secured shelter or a place of protection from danger and distress. It is a good stronghold that is commonly used for retreat, healing and renewal. It is therefore comforting that the Bible refers to God as our refuge 2 Samuel 22:3 says:

“ The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.”

In effect, God is our Fortress, Strong Tower, Rock of Defense, our shield, our shade of protection and our shelter in the time of storms. Indeed, He is a mighty God with incredible capabilities. As the Lord of hosts and our Mighty man in battle, He is mighty to deliver and mighty to save.

A father’s capability and actions go a long way in affecting the life of his child. Our heavenly Father does not only neutralize weapons designed against His children; He also protect them from harm. I have experienced His goodness in this regard several times, and I would like to share one of these with you today. At a time when I was still very young in the 50’s, we had mining activities going on in my village and our roads were very narrow. Nigeria was still under colonial rule back then. Usually, white men came in a jeep to collect the gold that the miners got. The white men were so powerful in those days that the villagers believed that if a white man killed person’s child, that person would still have to say “thankyou” to them, to avoid being sent to prison. For this reason, they were very much dreaded. One day, my sister and I were returning from the farm when we suddenly heard the sound of a jeep moving towards us at top speed, my sister immediately grabbed my hand and we both jumped out of the way, landing in an empty mine pit. We barely escaped the jeep, but before we could have a sigh of relief, we found ourselves before a deadly snake. However, because our heavenly Father can preserve lives, I lived to tell the story. In Luke 10:19, God empowered all believers in Christ to have authority over snakes, scorpions and over demonic agents and all their activities. I therefore prophesy in the Name that is above all other names: God will protect you and defend everything that is yours this season. I testify that God’s word is trustworthy, reliable and dependable, and this word says in Psalm 20:7-8:

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”

Irrespective of what you may be passing through right now, trust God and call upon His Name today, and He will give you all-round peace.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, that You for being my hiding place and my refuge; please keep me secure to fulfil my assignment in life, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 16-19
Zechariah 10

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, 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,
Oh, 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;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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