Monthly Archives: March 2020

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY 31ST MARCH 2020: STAGNANT WATER

MEMORISE:

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Proverbs 11:24

READ: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

MESSAGE

Stagnant water stinks- not necessarily because it is dirty, but because it does not share itself with others. A stream with flowing water on the other hand remains fresh and fragrant. If you are the kind of person who loves to hoard the good things you have, then you are a stagnant water. It may seem like a good idea to hoard your possessions so that you alone can enjoy them, but soon you will discover that you are stinking to everyone else around.

Many people like to hoard knowledge. The moment they know something that can impact others positively, they hide it and refuse to pass it on. Any teacher will tell you that you understand a subject better the more you teach it. This means that the more knowledge you hoard, the duller you become. If you are a student, make a point of duty to always teach your colleagues any subject that you understand and they don’t. This way, you get a better understanding of the subject and stand a better chance of exceling in it.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to be number one always. My love to be number one has spurred me to always share whatever knowledge I have. The more knowledge I share, the more I receive. This is also applicable in your office; teach others how to get things done. That is what Jesus Christ would have done if He were in your shoes. Do not think that teaching others would make them better than you. Jesus said in John 13:16:

“ Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.”

As long as you don’t relax and stop learning, the people you teach cannot know more than you. As long as you are their teacher, you will keep rising higher. Every true leader long for the growth of others. If you try to inhibit the growth of those around you, they will end up rising above you and leading you, but if you actively pursue their growth, you will realize that God will raise you higher and continue to make you their leader.

REFLECTION:

Do I hoard knowledge from others? Am I a pool of stagnant water?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 6-7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 19: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus name

Refrain:
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness veils His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath His covenant His blood
Supports me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

When He shall come with trumpet sound
O may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY 30TH MARCH 2020–STOP IT!

MEMORISE:

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Proverbs 29:1

READ: Revelation 22:11-12

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

MESSAGE

God is merciful. In fact, He is the Father of mercies (2 Corinthians 1:3). Romans 9:15 however tells us His mercy will not always be accessible to everyone.

This means that even though God is merciful, He still reserves the right to withhold His mercy when He wants. Don’t take His mercy for granted. If God has overlooked your wrongdoing a number of times, then I think you should know that the more He overlooks, the less time you have until your cup is full.

A woman- very sick and at the point of death, was brought to me for prayers some years ago. As I laid my hands on her, I felt the anointing flow through my hands like warm oil and when it got to her head, it bounced back. I enquired the cause of this from God and He said He had warned her several times to repent but she had refused; now it was His own turn to refuse to heal her. I ran to the altar and cried for mercy on her behalf; there was hardly any scripture on mercy that I did not quote. Then I ran back and laid hands on her head the second time; the anointing bounced back again. I ran to God pleading for mercy again, laid my hands on her the third time, yet the anointing bounced back. I tried to lay my hand on her head again but it was too late as she had given up the ghost.

In another incident, an elderly man who was the head of the occult in his village led some other cultist into a church where I was preaching. I seized the opportunity to preach the gospel to them with all my heart. When I made the altar call, the leader- the elderly man – was the first to give his life to Jesus. A few weeks later, he passed on.

The woman did not stop when she had the chance to, despite several warnings from God, and she faced the consequences. The elderly man on the other hand was wise enough to stop when he received a warning from God and he must have made it to heaven. Are you still committing one sin or the other? If you are wise, you will heed this warning now and stop it. Don’t wait until He withholds His mercy.

KEY POINT:

If you take mercy of God fror granted, a day will come when He will withhold it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 3-5

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.

1. All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
o Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

2. All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

3. All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

4. All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

5. All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 29TH MARCH 2020–WORKERS IN THE LORD’S VINEYARD.

MEMORISE:
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. Acts 6:3

READ: Acts 6:1-7

1And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

MESSAGE

Before any organization recruits employees, the criteria for qualification would have been determined. Similarly, there are qualifications God expects all workers in His vineyard to meet up with. In Acts 6:1-3, when the first sets of Church workers were to be selected. It was mandatory that they had an honest report filled with the Holy Ghost. This is how the work of God can grow. After Spirit-filled workers had been chosen in Acts 6, verse 7 says:

“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

It is wonderful to work for God but God is not seeking just anyone to work for Him, He is seeking spirit-filled workers. It is pathetic when someone comes to Church for the first time, willing to surrender to Christ and then he sights his girlfriend or someone who asked him for a bribe in the course of the week amongst the workers. He then says to himself “If these are the kind of people serving God, then I am not interested.”

How will the word of God increase when even the workers are not living by it?

Every worker in the Ushering, Media, Choir, Sanitation, Prayer team, Follow-up, Protocol, Evangelism, traffic control, and all other departments must be Spirit-filled. Deuteronomy 34:9 says Joshua was filled with the Spirit of wisdom. He was the Personal Assistant to Moses. Everyone assisting a Pastor to do the work of God must be filled with the Holy Spirit; otherwise they will get him/her into trouble. In 2 Kings 5:20-27, but for the intervention of the Holy Spirit, Gehazi, the Personal Assistant of Elisha could have put him in trouble. There are Church workers who collect money on behalf of their Pastors without informing them. It is dangerous to be unfaithful in your service to God. Just ask Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, as recorded in Leviticus 10:1-3.

REFLECTION:

God is seeking spirit-filled workers, do you qualify?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 1-2

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS.
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 SATURDAY 28TH MARCH 2020–DUTIES OF THE BRANCH.

D

MEMORISE:
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4

READ: John 15:1-5

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

MESSAGE

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

Since Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches, what then is our duty as a branch? The primary duty of the branch is to bear fruit, to win souls. He said if you don’t bear fruit, then you are no longer qualified to be a branch (John 15:2). How many souls have you won for God since the beginning of this year? Are you sure you are still His branch? In Genesis 1:28, the first commandment to human beings was to be fruitful and multiply. It was a blessing, more importantly, a commandment.

To carry out your duties appropriately as a branch, you must abide- stay connected to the vine. Any branch that disconnects from the Vine will die fruitless. If you don’t abide in Him, how can you bear fruits? You abide in Him by fellowshipping with Him regularly and staying away from sin. He hates sin. So the moment you begin to dip your hands into it, He will disconnect you from Himself. When you abide in Him, He passes spiritual nutrients to you on a regular basis. In other words, in those times of fellowshipping with Him by studying your Bible and praying, you begin to blossom spiritually and the same works that He did during His earthly ministry, you too will begin to do and even more according to John 14:12.

When you start performing the kind of miracles that He performed while on earth, it will be easy to win souls. In fact, the souls will be the ones coming to ask you to let them meet with your God. Abiding in Him is the most important duty of a branch. If you can abide in Him, you will be fruitful and everything else will fall in place.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, give me the grace to win more souls to Your kingdom.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 22-24

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 9: 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!

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY 27TH MARCH 2020-DO YOU RESEMBLE JESUS?

MEMORISE:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

READ: John 15:3-7

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

MESSAGE

When you ask someone to introduce him or herself, you want the surname, first name and so on. In the above passage, Jesus introduced Himself as the Vine and His Father is the Husbandman. He went on to say in verse two that His children are the branches. At other times, Jesus introduced Himself as the Door, Lamb, Way, Truth, Life, Resurrection, Alpha, Omega and so on. As strange as these illustrations may seem, they carry the true picture of who He is.

He is the Vine and we are His branches; therefore, we are an extension of Him. If you open up a vine and you open up a branch, you would find the same thing in both of the; one is only bigger. That is why Jesus said in John 9:5 that He is the light of the world and then said in Matthew 5:14 that we are the light of the of the world; this simply means that we bear the light of Jesus. 1 John 4:17 tells us that as He is, so are we in this world. In Romans 8:16-17, we are called join heirs with Christ. This means that we are His brothers, this the same genes that are in Him are in us also. Ephesians 2:6 says we are seated together in heavenly places. In Acts 4:13, people saw Peter and John speak and they recognize Jesus in them. All these scriptures make one thing clear; as long as you are a child of God, you are to resemble your Father.

But then, how come we have so many ‘Christians’ who don’t resemble Christ? The answer is in our memory verse for today- they do not behold His glory. If you immerse yourself in God’s presence everyday- studying your Bible and praying, you will begin to resemble Him as the days go by. When a man and a woman have been married a few years, they begin to look, sound and even think alike. That is because they have been spending time together for long. Who you spend time with determine who you become. You want to truly resemble Jesus? Spend time with Him daily.

REFLECTION:

Can anyone take a look at you and say you resemble Jesus Christ in your words and actions?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 19-21

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS.

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY 26TH MARCH 2020–GOD’S PRINCIPLE.

MEMORISE:
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7

READ: Galatians 6:4-5

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

MESSAGE

God has principles and even He abides by them. For example, His principle is that for the cleansing of sins, there must be the shedding of blood, so when the blood of animals was not enough to take away sins, He did not change the principle; rather He sent His own Son (which was a great sacrifice) who was completely unpolluted to shed His blood for our sins (Hebrews :13, 10:12). This is why I wonder how people do things contrary to the principles of God, yet expect good result. If God, in His sovereignty abides by His own principles, then we ought to also.

One of His principles is that if you don’t work, you will not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). So, when a lazy fellow is asking for a breakthrough, I wonder if he expects God to drop the money into his lap. If you want to be wealthy, then you have to be willing to work and work hard. Another principle of wealth that God has laid down is the principle of giving. Do you know that even herbalist use this principle and it works? Yes, because God’s principles are universal; whoever obeys them will reap the fruits. The reason many Christians are still in poverty is simply because they do not give. Luke 6:38 says:

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

One general principle of God is that whatsoever you sow is what you will reap (Galatians 6:7). , This means that if you want kindness, sow kindness to others. If you want help, help others. There are so many prayers that will not be answered until we begin to work in line with God’s principles. His word is yea and amen; you cannot use prayers to cajole Him into going against His word. Do the right thing!

KEY POINT:

When you want something from God, check what His word says about it, then obey.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 16-18

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD.

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to 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
Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

Then in fellowship sweet
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
Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY 25TH MARCH 2020-HE CAN ERASE YOUR PAST.

MEMORISE:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

READ: Luke 15:11-24

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

2 Corinthian 5:17-19

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

MESSAGE
Jesus came for one assignment: to shed His blood for the remission of our sins. 1 John 3:8 says:
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

For Jesus to erase your sins, all He needs you to do is confess them. It does not matter how badly you have sinned, the moment you confess and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior, He will cleanse all that unrighteousness away.

The devil however will keep coming to remind you of all your sins. When he comes, quote 1 John 1:9 to him:
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Tell him that the fellow he is talking about is dead because 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that when you give your life to Christ, you become a new creature and old things have passed away; all things have now become new. Don’t ever allow the devil to make you feel guilty for sins that no longer exist as far as God is concerned.

After confessing your sins, you are to forsake them. Proverbs 28:13 says:

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Forsaking your sins means throwing away anything connected to your old lifestyle and sincerely resolving never to go back to it. If you still hang around the same friends and places that made you sin, enjoying the same worldly music or movies that your ‘old man’ used to love, then you are unwilling to let God erase your past. Confess your sins and forsake them today, you will experience peace like never before.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I ask that You erase every sin in my past and give me a brand-new life today in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 12-15

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY 24TH MARCH 2020-SHEEP OR GOAT.

MEMORISE:

Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Psalm 119:4

READ: Matthew 6:31-34

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

MESSAGE

Jesus is the Shepherd of sheep, not goats. John 10:27 says:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

The sheep is totally dependent on the shepherd while the goat is stubborn and disobedient. No matter how anointed you are, if you are disobeying or ignoring God in any way, you are behaving like a goat.

Jesus Christ said His sheep hear His voice and they follow Him. Did you see any part of that passage that talked about the sheep asking questions? No. when Jesus gives an instruction, His sheep follows immediately. They trust Him and know that He will not mislead them.

Has God been telling you to reach out to certain people for so long but you are stalling? Has He been asking you to write a book but you are wondering if people will buy it? Has He been nudging you to sow something into His work but you are wondering how you will cope after sowing the seed? Obey today. It is a dangerous thing for God thing for God to stop asking or nudging you to do something, because it means He gets a replacement for you.

Many times, His instructions don’t make logical sense, but that is exactly what miracle is- something that is logically impossible. A long time ago, God asked me to tell the Pastors in The Redeemed Christian Church of God not to contribute for feeding during the annual convention anymore; that He would use me to feed the people. I was afraid, so I ignored the instruction until He said “You are about to lose a miracle”. I quickly announced it, though my plan was to sell the two cars we owed back then to pay for the feeding. I had decided that, once the provision ran out in the middle of the Convention, I would simply announce that the programmes was over, assured everyone that they had received their miracles and could go home. What little faith I had! It has been over twenty years now and I have not had to sell any car to feed the people during our programmes.

KEY POINT:

When God instructs, His sheep obey immediately and completely.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 9-11

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD.

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to 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
Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

Then in fellowship sweet
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
Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY 23RD MARCH 2020–INGREDIENTS OF PERFECTION.

MEMORISE:
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31

READ: 2 Peter 1:1-11

1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

MESSAGE

When we talk of Christian perfection as demanded by our Lord Jesus Christ, many may think the demand is a ‘mission impossible.’ This is not true, especially when we consider the ‘grace factor’ which is exclusive to those who are born by the Spirit of God (John 3:3-5). Now, what are the ingredients of perfection? The first is grace according to our text. It is grace that imparts on us the divine nature and power (1 John 2:15-17). Peter entreats us to add virtue to our faith. Virtue is the behavior that exhibits excellence. Virtue also must be accompanied by knowledge or else your good intention may be evil spoken of. To knowledge we are encouraged to add temperance if we are not going to be guilty of being arrogant because the Bible says: “…. knowledge [without temperance] puffed up, but charity edifieth.” (1 Corinthians 8:1). You must be patient with others – dealing with them with understanding. However, chief among these ingredients is charity which in modern language is love (Matthew 22:39).

“ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” 2 Peter 1:8-9

We can see in the above scripture that, indeed, perfection has ingredients which, when present in our lives as Christians, bring us to the level of perfection as required by the law of liberty (James 1:25). Here we see the need to be well-grounded in the word of God. The problem with modern-day soul winners is that they do not do due diligence in feeding converts with the sincere milk of the word- precept by precept, line upon line according to Isiah, the prophet (Isaiah 28:9-10).

Beloved, we must be perfect, even as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please make me perfect by your grace.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 5-8

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 29: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 22ND MARCH 2020–TRUE WORSHIPPERS.

MEMORISE:
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Corinthians 14:15

READ: 2 Kings 3:156-17

15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.

17 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

1 Samuel 16:23

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

MESSAGE

Worship is the most important part of any meeting with God. Anyone who is not baptized in the Holy Ghost should not be a worship leader. A good voice is not the qualification to be a worship leader. There is difference between a talented singer and the anointed one- which are you?

Worshippers are supposed to glorify God and it takes the Holy Spirit to do this. In John 16:13, Jesus Christ said it is the Holy Spirt who would glorify Him. John 4:23-24 tells us that God is a Spirit and those who worship Him are to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

While the presence of God is felt when some singers get on the stage and miracles happen, others do so without the same results because they have not connected with the Holy Spirit. Our spirits are lifted when singing hymns and choruses- not because they were written by angels but by people who were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit breathed on them and they wrote what He inspired them to write. The Spirit never dies, that is why hymns are evergreen. When next you are writing a song, remember that the letter kills but the Spirit makes alive (2 Corinthians 3:6).

If you are a chorister, seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit if you are a Pastor, make sure that everyone who climbs on the altar to lead worship is baptized in the Holy Spirit. Let there be no instrumentalist who is not baptized in the Holy Ghost. Worship is like food to God let us be very careful with the kind of food we bring to His table. If there are no instrumentalists, we have a ten-stringed instrument provided by God- our hands. God made voices and hands before musical instruments. If that is the only pure thing you have to offer Him, He is fine with it.

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Psalm 47:1

KEY POINT:

The role of a worship leader is not to entertain, but rather, to bring down the power of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.

1. All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
o Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

2. All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

3. All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

4. All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

5. All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!y

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