Monthly Archives: February 2021

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY 1ST MARCH 2021. THE VESSEL GOD USES.

MEMORISE:

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 2 Timothy 2:20-21

READ: 2 Timothy 2:19-21

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

MESSAGE:

There was this young lady at the University of Lagos who had been praying, “God use me, use me for Your glory. Lord use me, I want to be able to heal the sick, to cast out demons. I want to be used by You, Lord”. She kept praying this prayer for so long, but God kept quiet. One day, she needed to use the toilet and at that time, for one reason or the other, there was water shortage on the campus, so all the toilets were dirty. She peeped into the first toilet and quickly shut the door as soon as she opened it. The second one was worse. Finally, she realized that she couldn’t use any of the toilets, so she left the place and then God spoke to her. “My daughter”. “Yes Lord” she replied. “I thought you wanted to use the toilet” He said. ”Yes Lord, but it is too dirty”. Then God said, “I also want to use you, but you are too dirty”.

God does not use dirty vessels. If you want God to use you, then you must first purge yourself clean. He said in Isaiah 59:2:

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

He cannot stand sin at all. Sin irritates Him, so how do you expect Him to use you if you are still committing sin?

Another reason He cannot use a dirty vessel is that whoever He uses becomes His representative and a model for other people to follow’. Naturally, the moment people see someone working miracles in the name of Jesus, they tend to follow him or her and even copy his or her lifestyle. If God uses a sinner, what message is He passing to the world isn’t He then saying that it is okay to sin? God forbid. For this reason, when God is looking for someone to use, He will first take the fellow through a series of tests and training just to ensure that the person is strong and equipped enough to withstand temptations and sin when He eventually starts using him or her.

Those who are really serious about God using them have to always subdue the flesh. They learn to walk in the Spirit because if they live by the flesh they will sin. They fast often, they stay away from bad company and media content that could pollute their minds. They study the word regularly because they want to know God more. Daniel 11:32 says it is those who know their God that will be strong and do exploits.

KEY POINT:

Are you really serious about wanting to be used by God? Show Him by your lifestyle.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 4-6

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 24: Take My Life, And Let It Be.

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2021. NOT FOR DOGS.

MEMORISE:

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. Matthew 15:26

READ: Isaiah 59:1-2

1. Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

MESSAGE:

Many people see God as a magician. They come to Him only when they need to see a ‘magic trick’; though they say what they want is a miracle. Such people want to live anyhow they like, yet have God perform miracles for them whenever they need it. I laugh when I encounter such people.

Jesus said that God is our Father and I know He prefers to be addressed as such. If you don’t believe me, read Matthew 6:9. He taught His disciples to pray saying “Our Father”. God wants man to fellowship with Him for who He is and not just for the miracles they can get from Him. Think about it, if God created man with the sole purpose of seeking Him for miracles, then the Garden of Eden would not have had everything man needed to survive.

If you don’t have a relationship with God and you don’t fellowship with Him regularly, then He is not your Father. His miracles are for His children only, so don’t bother coming to Him for miracles.

The funny thing is that when sinners come to God just for miracles, they question His power when they don’t get it. The problem however is with them and not God. The Bible says:
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” Psalm 66:18

Years ago, a woman was told that I have a special anointing for making the barren fruitful, so she attended one of our Conventions. In those days, we were not so many so I could lay hands on everybody with ease. When she came, I laid hands on her and she fell under the anointing. One year later, she returned complaining that in spite of my prayers, she was still barren. I was going to pray for her again when the Lord said, “Ask her how many boyfriends she has” If I didn’t know the voice of God, it would have been difficult to ask because she was a rich and powerful woman. I mustered some courage and said “Errm… how many boyfriends do you have Ma?” “Six” she answered. I then said “You have a husband and you also have six boyfriends. How then can you expect the Holy One of Israel to give you a child?”

My Father’s miracles are only for His children. Are you His child?

KEY POINT:

To qualify for a miracle, you must live a holy life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 1-3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: 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 27TH FEBRUARY 2021. DANGERS OF ALCOHOL III.

 

MEMORISE:

Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Habakkuk 2:15

READ: Genesis 19:31-38

31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:

32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

37 And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

MESSAGE:

“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!” Habakkuk2:15

Not only is it sinful to drink alcohol, it is also sinful to offer it to others. I used to think it was alright to give alcohol to other people to drink as long as I was not drinking it until my Father-in-the-Lord preached that It was wrong and he backed it up with the Bible passage above.

The day I heard that message, I got rid of all the alcoholic drinks I kept at home for entertaining visitors because I didn’t want a curse on my head. In those days, I had friends who were sailors, and whenever they travelled, they brought me all kinds of alcoholic drinks. Some of my other friends knew this and always visited whenever they wanted a drink. Whenever they arrived, they would say “We can’t pass the house of the king without saying hello to him”. Little did I know that I was the ‘king’ of alcohol. I thank God that I am now well known for soul winning and holiness.

Habakkuk 2:15 says if a person knows the dangers of alcohol and avoids it, but still gives it to others, then woe unto that person. As such, when you are organizing a party and some people are suggesting that you serve alcohol even though you don’t drink, tell them that you don’t want any curse on yourself.

If you truly love your neighbors and relatives, you would be persuading them to stop taking alcohol, not offering it to them. The Bible says:

“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.” Proverbs31:6

Are your relatives and friends ready to perish? Do you want to be a tool in the hand of the devil to make anyone perish? If your answer is ‘no’ then you shouldn’t offer anyone alcohol.

When Lot’s daughters offered their father alcohol, they thought they were doing him good, but their ill -conceived decision later on created enemies for Israel (Genesis 19:37-38).

KEY POINT:

Offering alcohol to people will bring a curse upon you and ultimately lead to their destruction.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Philippians 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN:O LORD OUR Help IN AGES PAST

1. O Lord, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home;

2. under the shadow of your throne, your saints have dwelt secure. Sufficient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood, or earth received its frame, from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.

4. A thousand ages in your sight, are like an evening gone, short as the watch that ends the night, before the rising sun.

5. The busy tribes of flesh and blood, With all their lives and cares, Are carried downward by your flood, And lost in following years.

6. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, soon bears us all away. We fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the op’ning day.

7.O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, O be our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home.

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2021-DANGERS OF ALCOHOL II.

MEMORISE:
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Proverbs 31:6

READ: Proverbs 31:4-6

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

MESSAGE:
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
The Bible says it is only fools who take alcohol. Alcohol makes a fool of anyone who consumes it, so much that, the drunkard standing on solid ground can begin to think he is sleeping in the middle of the sea. He would think he is lying on a bed. Imagine such mockery.

” Oh, I just want to take a little; I can’t get drunk. I know how to control myself.” No one starts drinking with the intention of misbehaving and acting foolish. It starts with looking at the drink and desiring it. The moment you start desiring it, you are already treading close to the trap of the devil and you will soon fall if you don’t take your eyes and mind off it. If you know that you struggle with taking alcohol, why would you go for a meeting in a bar? You are only tempting yourself. If you want to stop drinking, then you have to overcome the fear of losing the friends who drink with you.

When I met Christ and stopped drinking, I lost friends because whenever they visited me, I offered them soft drinks instead of the assorted alcoholic beverages we used to drink. I lost friends, but God replaced them with many brothers and sisters in Him.

Proverbs 31:4 says:
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:”

In other words, the one who drinks cannot make clear decisions. If a person cannot make good decisions, how then would such a person excel in life? How would he or she become great and fulfil destiny? If you want to achieve greatness in life and have all your dreams come true, you have to let go of alcohol.

How do you stop taking alcohol? Stop looking at it. Don’t look at the drink or it’s container at all. Don’t watch the adverts, don’t spend time around people who drink or talk about alcohol.

“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Proverbs 23: 31-32

Abstain from alcohol, it ruins destinies.

KEY POINT:
Don’t drink any form of alcohol and If you know anyone who does, show them the message for today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 11-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2021: DANGERS OF ALCOHOL I.

MEMORISE:
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Proverbs 23:29 -30

READ: Proverbs 23:29-35

29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

MESSAGE:
Many people have argued about whether it is right for a Christian to drink alcohol or not. Some say it is okay to drink but not to drink too much. However, that is not what my Bible says. The Bible says that you should not even look at alcohol no matter how alluring it might seem to you.

“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Proverbs23:31-32

You see, the Bible says if you as much as look at alcohol, it will eventually bite you like a serpent. I think that alone should be enough to make you stay away from alcohol.

No alcoholic can make it to heaven. How do I know? It is there in our Bible reading for today- Proverbs 23:33:
“Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.”

Anyone who takes alcohol will behold strange women and their heart will utter perverse things. Can someone who lusts after strange women make it to heaven? Can a person whose heart is full of perverse things go to heaven? The answer is no, so someone who drinks alcohol cannot be serious about making heaven.

Stop taking alcohol. You cannot control the influence of alcohol; it rules over whoever takes it. However not only will it rule over the fellow, it will also bring evil to the person. A number of evil things amongst several others that could befall an alcoholic are listed in our Bible reading for today. The alcoholic will have woes, that is, curses. An alcoholic will have sorrows, in other words, such a person will be depressed. A person who takes alcohol will have contentions, that is, he or she will always be fighting one thing or the other. People who take alcohol will have babblings: complaints upon complaints. They will have wound without cause – wounds to their lives and aspirations. They will have redness of eyes which reflects a violent heart. I could go on and on.

Certainly, no bottle of beer, wine or liquor is worth any of the evils mentioned above.

Beloved, abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

ACTION POINT:
Don’t drink any form of alcohol and If you know anyone who does, show them the message for today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 11-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2021-PERSEVERANCE.

MEMORISE:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:18

READ: 2 Corinthians 6:3-7

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

MESSAGE:
The word perseverance can be simply described as being persistent in doing something despite difficulties and delay in achieving success. No one can excel in the Christian journey without perseverance.

2 Timothy 4:2 encourages us to:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

The fruit of the Spirit – longsuffering (Galatians 5:22) is exhibited in the life of a believer who perseveres.

In the Christian race, without perseverance it is very easy to fall away from the faith. No wonder Jesus said in the book of Matthew 24:13:
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Endurance and perseverance are integral to our Christian walk. A believer who cannot endure suffering will be unable to do the wiII of God.

Suffering is one of the ways God purges us of every impurity. Without suffering, the flesh will grow strong and hinder your spiritual growth (Isaiah 48:10).

What kind of hardships should believers endure?

Persecution: Jesus said believers will be persecuted for believing in Him. John 15:20 says”… If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”

Affliction: Sometimes believers would be afflicted but the Bible says it is working for us ” … a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Momentary Lack: Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:12 “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” So when lack comes along, we must learn to endure in faith knowing that the storm wiII be over soon.

It is however comforting to know that despite all the challenges we will face in our Christian race; the crown of life awaits us if we persevere (Revelation 2:10).

REFLECTION:
Would you endure hardship for the sake of the gospel?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EXODUS 8:1-32, EXODUS 9:1-35, EXODUS 10:1-29

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 2021-GUARD YOUR HEART.

MEMORISE:
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

READ: Psalm 119:10-12

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.

MESSAGE:

It is shocking how believers engage in all manner of conversations and associations carelessly. If you know the value of your heart, you would guard it jealously. In 2 Samuel 13 we see a classic case of what happens when a person does not guard his or her heart. Amnon who was prince and could have married any lady in the land lusted after his half-sister who was a virgin. He then engaged in a seemingly harmless conversation with a friend who watered the seed of evil already planted in his unguarded heart. The evil desire then blossomed and led to his untimely death in verses 28 and 29 of the same chapter. The man who advised him to rape his sister is the same one who announced his death to David, his father (2 Samuel 13:32). Choose those you associate with wisely (Psalm 1:1).

Be careful of whom you listen to and be mindful of what you let into your heart. Jesus said in Matthew 5:8:

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

If you allow impurities to dwell in your heart, forget about ever seeing God.

In Matthew 12:34, Jesus said:

“… for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

In other words, your lifestyle and speech are an overflow of the meditation of your heart. Believers who listen to worldly music and also allow their children to listen to them are courting trouble. The result may not be instant, but it will accumulate and surely begin to yield ungodly fruits.

King David knew the secret to a clean heart, and he shared this in Psalm 119 :11:
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Meditating on the Scriptures, listening to recordings of sound teachers of the gospel and keeping company with fellow believers are some of the primary ways through which we can keep our hearts guarded. You can only express what you have in your heart. Thus, if you constantly expose your heart to God’s word, you would guard your heart from all forms of ungodliness. Motivational words cannot cure sinful thoughts, only the word of God can.

Fill your heart with the word of God.

ACTION POINT:
Guard your heart diligently with the word of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 5-7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2021–THE POWER IN A NAME.

MEMORISE:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Philippians 2:10

READ: Philippians 2:9-11

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

MESSAGE:
Many people wonder why names are important. Well, to start with, a name says a lot about the bearer. The Bible says that whatever Adam named the animals, that is what they were called (Genesis 1:19). What you are called has serious consequences on what you become.

When I was a lecturer at the University of Lagos, there was a Professor’s typist who everyone jokingly called Prof. Whenever they called him Prof, he would smile and reply, “Yes, yes”. Then one day, he made a life changing decision. “I am a typist, but everybody calls me Professor. Then a Professor I will become”. He then began to attend evening classes and little by little, he passed his exams and gained admission into the University. Before I left the University of Lagos, the typist was already studying for his Ph.D. All these came about because a typist was called a Professor.

God takes names very seriously. In Genesis 17:5 He changed Abram’s name to Abraham, then in Genesis 17:15 He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah.

God also changed Jacob’s name as well in Genesis 32:28:
“And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel…”

God changed their names when He wanted to promote them. He gave them new names that reflected what He wanted to make out of them. This teaches us that if we want to go to a new level, we should begin to bear the name for that level.

Just as we see in our Bible reading for today, God exalted Jesus by giving Him a name that is above every other.

What is the next level that you want to attain? Start bearing a name that reflects that new level from now. However, if you think that you might get into trouble by asking people to call you that name, stand in front of your mirror and begin to call yourself that name as often as you can.

Some believers answer to funny nicknames that are not a reflection of who they want to be; worse still, some even call themselves such names in a bid to appear modest. Don’t answer to such nicknames anymore. The name you answer to is what you will become.

REFLECTION:

What is the name that you are called? Is it a reflection of what you want to become? If not, change that name immediately.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 2-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1: ALL HAIL THE POW’R OF JESUS NAME.

1. All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!

2. Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!

3. Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!

4. Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!
————————
Remember: ‘There Is No Problem Without Solution; Jesus Is The Solution To All Problems.
————————

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2021-THE ONLY WISE GOD.

MEMORISE:
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. Romans 16:27

READ: 1 Corinthians 1:19-31

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 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;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

MESSAGE:

Our focus in today’s study is on one of the attributes of God – wisdom. God’s wisdom is beyond human understanding. His wisdom has no end, and no one can ever compete with him. Indeed, there is no basis for comparison. The depth of God’s wisdom is unsearchable. God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. 1Corinthians 1:25 tells us that even the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man, and His weakness is stronger than man strength.

One of the numerous ways God showed His infinite wisdom is the way He paid the price for our sins. While the devil was rejoicing that Jesus would be disgraced publicly with a shameful death, God was rejoicing because that was exactly what He needed to save the world (1 Corinthians 2:8). It was after the death of Jesus and the rise of the Apostles, sharing the gospel around the world that Satan realized that he had played by the script of the Omniscient God. While anyone would have seen God’s silence when Jesus was being crucified as foolish, it was actually wisdom. This is why I know that though the devil may be laughing at you now, he does not know that God only allowed him to win the battle so that he would lose the war over your life. You will laugh last in the mighty name of Jesus.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

Do you want God to give you wisdom? The first step is to fear Him (Proverbs 9:10). When you fear God, you will refrain from all unrighteousness. Your colleagues may call you a fool for not falsifying figures for your gain but soon, when they begin to see you enjoying things that they cannot afford, they will know that you are actually wise. When you fear God and stay away from evil, you begin to walk in wisdom.

Finally, ensure that you specifically ask God for wisdom and give it to you.

“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

At the end of time when those who are foolish are thrown into the lake of fire and we who have received the wisdom of God are reigning with Him in eternity, then it will be clear that we made the right choice.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, put Your fear in my heart so that I may be wise.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 1

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2021–ALL POWER BELONGS TO GOD

MEMORISE:
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Psalm 62:11

READ: Job 26:12-14
12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

MESSAGE:
My God is very powerful. God’s power is everlasting; it never fails nor diminishes. Only an all-powerful God could have created the sun with mere words (Genesis 1:3). Only an all-powerful God would part the Red Sea with a blast from His nostrils so His children could cross safely and then close it back to drown their pursuers (Exodus 15:8). Usually, food grows from the ground, but it takes an all-powerful God to rain food down from Heaven for His children to eat (Exodus 16:13-15,31).

In our Bible reading for today, Job described the omnipotent nature of God when he said:

“He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Lo, these [are] parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?” Job26:12-14

How we describe God captures but a tiny fraction of the power He wields. Our minds cannot fully comprehend His power and that is why a lot of times, we undermine His omnipotence. Often times, we are quick to forget that nothing is beyond God. Luke 1:37 says that with God nothing shall be impossible. Jeremiah 32:17 says:
“Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.”

God is able to bring to pass anything He desires. Many believers are living with problems today because they have not come to the understanding that all power in heaven and on earth belong to God. He is not a God that is limited by time or the acts of men. He is the Mighty Man in Battle, the Ancient of Days, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Undefeatable Champion, The Almighty God!

If you know how powerful God is, you will never undermine His ability to turn your situation around and give you victory in all battles of life.

Go before Him today in faith that He is the Almighty God and He will surely prove His Omnipotence in your life.

PRAYER POINT:
Lord, help me to acknowledge at all times that all power belongs to You alone.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ephesians 4-6

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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