Memorise: If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Proverbs 24:10
Read: 2nd Samuel 17:1-3
1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
Bible in one year: Joshua 1-2, Jeremiah 42:1-17

1. “And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:” 2nd Samuel 17:2
2. The above scripture reveals one of the strategies that our adversary, the devil, uses to get at us: he seeks to attack and strike us when we are weary and weak.
3. No matter how strong you are spiritually, you are still vulnerable, because every human being is limited and weak.
4. Understanding your vulnerability and mitigating it is one of the keys to living a triumphant Christian life.
5. When you feel weak and vulnerable, that is a good time to fast and pray. The truth is, when you are vulnerable, you are at your moment of least resistance to sin. In such moments, just a little pressure can make you fall in sin.
6. However, being vulnerable reminds us that we were made from dust and reveals to us that we greatly need God’s help (2nd Corinthians 12:9).
7. Indeed, you are most vulnerable when you need help the most and help is nowhere near. It is during such moments that you need to go to God confessing your helplessness and asking for His help lest you fall.
8. How does one end up in a vulnerable state? Continuous exposure to temptations can gradually weaken your defence. This is why you must avoid every appearance of evil. For example, if alcohol used to be your lord before you were saved, after accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you would be wise to keep away from parties and social outings where alcohol would be served. You would also need to avoid viewing media publications promoting alcohol and sever your links with drinking pals; otherwise, if you continuously frolic around these, you will soon become vulnerable.
9. In addition, repeatedly avoiding or neglecting spiritual tools that can build up your spiritual muscles and defences will definitely make you vulnerable.
10. If you cannot pray, fast, study the Bible, and attend Church services with the brethren on a regular basis, you will soon become vulnerable.
11. Similarly, if you keep bad friends or advisers, or you are a lone ranger who fails to mix, you will definitely become vulnerable.
12. It is difficult to bend and break a broom but very easy to break a single broomstick.
13. Before striking, the devil will usually try to isolate an individual from those who can help him or her resist temptation. This is why you need God to choose true friends for you.
14. Lastly, failure to develop your faith spiritually will leave you vulnerable. Fortify yourself today!

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 When we submit to Him it becomes easy for us to do His will. We long to please Him at every moment and time. And as we seek His face the devil is shut out of our lives hence we become invulnerable to his attack. May God continually strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point
Are events separating you from fellow believers as you tilt towards loneliness? Watch it! It could be another ploy of the devil to isolate and finish you off.
HYMN
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. Refrain
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. Refrain
 
 

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20

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: Proverbs 11:23-25
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Bible in one year: Acts 27-28, Jeremiah 41:4-18

1. John 15:16 says you have been chosen to bear fruits and to sustain these fruits. To bear fruit, you are required to win souls regularly.
2. Newly saved souls are like new born babies that require a lot of care and nourishment in order to grow into adulthood (1 Peter 2:2).
3. To sustain such converts therefore, there is a need for us to keep planting churches. No wonder Genesis 1:28 says that if you are fruitful, you must strive to multiply.
4. Plant a parish and continue planting more. Just repeat the right things you are doing that works. Do not wait to start a church of 2000 people. You can start small churches of about 20-50 people and these will grow into churches of 100, 150 and more. The house fellowship unit can be effectively used in doing this. You can start a house fellowship with just a few people and as it grows, you can split it and have another house fellowship centre. In doing this, you are applying the principle of scattering to multiply. As these grow, you will soon have enough people to start a church parish.
5. How effective is your house fellowship centre? Are you even a member of a house fellowship?
6. Another area where you can apply the principle of scattering to multiply is in the area of giving. Luke 6:38 says if you give, you shall receive in return. Keep giving and God in His own way will give you your reward.
7. Today’s Bible reading reveals that it is possible to scatter but yet increase, whereas you can hold back and remain poor.
8. There is a particular man I know; when he goes anywhere and people get to know he is around, they would gather round and he will fling bundles of money at them; every one of them then scrambles for their share of this money. Someone once asked me why this man does this, and I told him that the devil knows the principle of scattering to increase. lf you go to a witchdoctor for a charm to make you rich, one of the conditions he would likely give you is that you must learn to scatter some of your wealth to the poor.
9. This is a universal principle; so if unbelievers practice it, they will get results. So would believers if they can practice it.
10. Consider the weeds that grow rapidly around us; they multiply so fast because they scatter their seeds through the wind, water and by sticking to so many different things.
11. In the past, those of us who were Bible study leaders went all out to meet the needs of the gospel by sacrificing our salaries and the little we had. Today, many years after, I see the same people who once lived in a room and parlour now living in their own mansions.
12. Are you ready to pay the price of multiplication through scattering?

The one that owns everything can never lack anything. When we are asked or admonished to give it is for us to get blessed. 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. Luke 6:38 He loves a cheerful giver. So whatever we give to God either in service or money, it should be done joyfully. A lot is put in by a mother to nurture an infant to adulthood. This is a process through night and morning. I pray we shall not be weary in scattering that we may increase in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for blessing us daily with the word of truth; the word of God.

Action Point
When you want to scatter your seeds, start with needy members of your local church.
HYMN
1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above.
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.
[Refrain]
3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honour Thy Word.
[Refrain]
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!
[Refrain]
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.
[Refrain]

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20

Memorise: And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. Luke 1:20
Read: Luke 1:5-20
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Bible in one year: Acts 24-26, Jeremiah 40:7-41:3

1. Do you know that God is a person and not a force? Because He is a person, He has emotions. His emotions are manifested in Him being pleased or displeased, happy or grieved, and so on.
2. Those who are wise will seek to do the things that will make God respond to them with a favourable emotion.
3. One way you can upset God is by doubting Him. According to Hebrews 11:6, before approaching God, you must believe that He exists and that He will respond to your call. It is pretty impossible to relate with God without faith. In fact, Romans 14:23b says, “…. For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
4. Once you give room to doubt as regards to who God is and what He can do, you have opened the door to sin.
5. How can the One who made the heavens and earth make a promise to you and you will not believe Him? How can the One who brought water out of a rock, and the One who turned a valley of dry, useless bones into a full-bodies army not be trusted (Exodus 17:5-6, Ezekiel 37:1-10)? If He could resurrect a whole army, resurrecting you is simply a walk in the park for Him. It is a great insult to doubt that God can do what He says He will do. Are you living by faith or in doubt?
6. God feels personally displeased when we doubt Him. It is a worse situation when His servants who should know Him better, get caught up in the web of unbelief.
7. It is important to know that God responds to your doubts and unbelief. When God sent Angel Gabriel to tell Zacharias that his aged wife would have a baby, he found it difficult to believe because they had both grown old. For the reason of his unbelief, he was struck with dumbness until the prophecy was fulfilled.
8. Are you trusting God for the fruit of the womb but you are now over 40 or even 50 years old? Have you like Zacharias given up on the possibility of having a child? Do not give up on God!
9. Always remember this: if God chooses to give you a baby at the age of 70, He will definitely renew your body and make it able to carry the baby. Your age will definitely not diminish, but your body will be renewed and made younger.
10.Trust Him.
11. At the point when some people already have their miracle quite close to them, they suddenly begin to doubt God and hence destroy the process.
12. Stop doubting God! You can never get anything good from it.

There has never been any record of a good result from doubting God. Doubting the creator of the universe is a big sin. Doubt is not of faith and it can displease God. Why will man know what can displease God and go ahead with it? Let’s strive to please our Maker in all we do, it is wise to do so. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in strength, wisdom, knowledge and understanding in Jesus name.

Key Point
You are either in faith or in doubt but definitely not in both. Where are you?
HYMN
1. My faith looks up to thee, 
thou Lamb of Calvary, 
Savior divine! 
Now hear me while I pray, 
take all my guilt away, 
O let me from this day 
be wholly thine! 
2. May thy rich grace impart 
strength to my fainting heart, 
my zeal inspire! 
As thou hast died for me, 
O may my love to thee 
pure, warm, and changeless be, 
a living fire! 
3. While life’s dark maze I tread, 
and griefs around me spread, 
be thou my guide; 
bid darkness turn to day, 
wipe sorrow’s tears away, 
nor let me ever stray 
from thee aside. 
4. When ends life’s transient dream, 
when death’s cold, sullen stream 
shall o’er me roll; 
blest Savior, then in love, 
fear and distrust remove; 
O bear me safe above, 
a ransomed soul! 

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20

Memorise: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Ephesians 5:18
Read: Ephesians 5:17-19
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Bible in one year: Acts 22-23, Jeremiah 39:11-40:6

1. The moment you give your life to Christ, a long drawn out battle for your soul begins.
2. While your spirit would want to begin to exercise control over your soul as it rightfully should, your body would resist it and ask you to go in the opposite direction. To be victorious in this protracted battle, you need to understand your new nature and the life of the Spirit, so that you can easily flow in it.
3. From time to time, people ask me how I was able to grow in the Spirit, but they are never satisfied with the answer l give them.
4. Let me share some of what helped me with you. The moment you become born again, your spirit man is brought back to life. The fish is born in water and so cannot survive outside its natural habitat – water. John 3:6 says, ”That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
5. Therefore, now that your spirit man is born again, you are expected to gravitate towards the things of the spirit if you want to grow. Your new birth is a spiritual experience, and only the things of the Spirit will help you grow.
6. One way to grow in the Spirit is to repeatedly experience being filled with the Holy Spirit.
7. On the day of Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit descended, the disciples gained their first experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4 says, ”And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
8. Later on, when they gathered to table a pressing challenge before the Lord, they prayed earnestly, and they experienced the in-filling of the Holy Spirit against Acts 4:31 says ”And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
9. Furthermore, to successfully live the life of the spirit, it is not enough to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. You must pursue a growing, personal relationship with Him and crave for more opportunities to be filled by Him. No wonder Ephesians 5:18 commands us to be filled with the Spirit.
10. Like the disciples, if you want to be filled over and over again, be separate from the things of the flesh, have fellowship with God where you can worship Him in spirit and in truth, attend Church services together with like-minded believers, feast on His word and pray in tongues regularly.

We have the responsibility to carefully observe and carry out these things mentioned by Pastor E.A Adeboye in today’s devotional. The first thing is to separate from the things of the flesh. Another one is to have fellowship with God where you can worship Him in spirit and in truth. Also attend Church services together with like-minded believers. Lastly, feast on His word and pray in tongues regularly. I believe if we faithfully do these things daily we shall be refilled. Blessed be God for Pastor E.A Adeboye for as we study the Open Heavens devotional we are daily refreshed.

Action Point
Consistently try to increase the amount of time you spend praying in tongues. Pray in tongues and sing in tongues. This will help your spirit grow.
HYMN
1. Oh, spread the tidings ’round,
Wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts
And human woes abound;
Let every Christian tongue
Proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!
Refrain:
The Comforter has come,
The Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from Heav’n,
The Father’s promise giv’n;
Oh, spread the tidings ’round,
Wherever man is found—
The Comforter has come!
2. The long, long night is past,
The morning breaks at last,
And hushed the dreadful wail
And fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills
The day advances fast!
The Comforter has come!
[Refrain]
3. Lo, the great King of kings,
With healing in His wings,
To every captive soul
A full deliv’rance brings;
And through the vacant cells
The song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come!
[Refrain]
4. O boundless love divine!
How shall this tongue of mine
To wond’ring mortals tell
The matchless grace divine—
That I, a child of hell,
Should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come!
[Refrain]
5. Sing till the echoes fly
Above the vaulted sky,
And all the saints above
To all below reply,
In strains of endless love,
The song that ne’er will die:
The Comforter has come!
[Refrain:]

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20

Memorise: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
Read: Matthew 6:9-13
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Bible in one year: Acts 20-21, Jeremiah 38:24-39:10

1. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing for your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
2. God is a God of purpose and He is highly organised. He plans far ahead of His deeds. For instance, Ephesians 1:4 says that long before God laid the foundations of the earth, He had already chosen us to live a holy and blameless life before Him.
3. God knows exactly what He wants and where He is going. God could not have created the world and everything in it without a definite plan and purpose for His creation (Isaiah 45:18).
4. He has a will which is clearly revealed by His word. May God cause you to know His plan for your life and give you the grace to follow it in Jesus’ Name.
5. From the teaching of Jesus commonly known as “the Lord’s prayer”, one thing is very clear: only the will of God is done in Heaven where He dwells. No one can violate His will or commandment over there and continue to stay there. He cannot live with rebels; hence, Lucifer and the angels who rebelled against God were thrown out of Heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15).
6. Everyone and everything existing in Heaven conforms to God’s will and plan, and they all make Him happy. How about on earth?
7. Since the fall of man, Satan and his demons have done a lot to cause men to take after their rebellious path. For this reason, Jesus Christ came so that we can once again unite with those in Heaven in doing God’s will and pursing His pleasure. Matthew 6:10 says, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
8. Why were you saved? God saved you so that you can join His family in Heaven in doing His will. David had this understanding, and so he said in Psalm 143:10: “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
9. You are here on earth to do His will and not to please yourself (Romans 12:2). For this reason, Colossians 1:16 says we were created by Him and for Him. You were created for His purpose.
10. At the end of time, only those who followed God’s will diligently on earth will be translated to continue doing so in Heaven.
11. Whose will are you following? Are you daily doing God’s will or yours?

The ultimate responsibility of every believer should be centered on pleasing the Almighty God. He who knows the end from the beginning. Most times, instead of submitting everything to God and allow His will to be done in our life, we strive and try to do things in our own ways which eventually lead to failure. We should learn from Peter, a fisher man who has made all efforts yet failed to catch any fish, but as soon as he submitted his will to God, the tide turned in his favour. Consider what Peter said “But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Luke‬ ‭5:5‬. When was the last time you responded to God with “at Your word” May we always submit our will to God. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and equip him with greater wisdom to impact us more in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, teach and grant me grace to do Your will with all my heart.
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
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,
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,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power 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,
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,
ever, only, all for thee. 

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20

Memorise: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Matthew 7:13
Read: Matthew 7:13-14
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Bible in one year: Acts 18-19, Jeremiah 38:14-23

1. God wants to change your life, but beyond this, He wants to change your final destination.
2. Over the ages, many people have had to move from one location to another within the same country. Others have had to relocate to other countries for one reason or the other.
3. However, at the end of the day, irrespective of where we live, we shall all arrive at a final destination. That destination is eternal and cannot be changed after we die.
4. There are two eternal destinations: Heaven and Hell. Whether you believe it or not, you are heading towards one of these. The Bible is very clear on the truth that every sinner is heading to Hell. Psalm 9:17 says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
5. If you are still living in sin, Jesus Christ has come to change your eternal destination from Hell to Heaven. For this change to happen, you have to accept the remedy for sin which He has made available in His Blood.
6. If a person does not achieve this crucial change before death, all other achievements during his or her lifetime will fade into nothingness, and the fellow will be faced with an eternity in Hell. 
7. The shocking truth about this is that God will never force a person to change his or her final destination. He won’t force you to change from the hell-bound way to the heaven-bound narrow path. He allows you to make your decision and to live with the eternal consequences hereafter.
8. I was taking to an important personality recently about being born again. He kept arguing with me, and so I told him this: “Sir, it is not something we should quarrel about. It is not compulsory for you to go to Heaven. If you prefer to go to Hell, it is your choice.” Then he said, “Why are you begging me to be born again or to give my life to Jesus?” I laughed and replied, “Me, begging you? I am not begging you but only sounding a note of warning. If you choose to wind up in Hell, it is your choice.”
9. Some people think that as long as they do not believe in the existence of Hell, they cannot go there. Hell is real! Many people are entering into Hell every day, and yet it is not full (Proverbs 27:20).
10. If the only feat you can achieve on earth is to avoid Hell, it is worth the trouble.
11. Many people were mocking those who preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to them during their life time until they ended up in Hell.
12. Hell is worse than any type of suffering or punishment you know on earth.
13. Do everything possible to avoid it by genuinely giving your life to Christ today.

God always give room of choice to everyone. But then He present to us the best choice to make and gives us clear signs and pointers to the best choices. If anyone then choose to go the other way it becomes such person’s liability, business or sole responsibility if the result of such choice surfaces. We should always beg God to help us walk in His will, plan and directions for our lives. We shall all end our journey well in Jesus name. We will not forfeit the heavenly mansion, rewards and eternal joy for this worldly things in Jesus name. The grace for greater works is released unto Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point
To make Heaven your final destination, do the following: repent and confess your sins to God; ask Him to cleanse your sins with the Blood of Jesus; invite Jesus into your life and confess Him as your Lord and Saviour and ask God for grace to live for Him till you die.
HYMN
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back, No turning back
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
No turning back, No turning back
My cross I’ll carry, till i see Jesus
My cross I’ll carry, till i see Jesus
My cross I’ll carry, till i see Jesus
No turning back, no turning back.
 
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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20

Memorise; Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me. Proverbs 30:8
Read: Proverbs 30:7-9
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Bible in one year: Acts 16-17, Jeremiah 38:1-13

1. What you get from God depends on how contented or dissatisfied you are.
2. While some people ask nothing from the Almighty God who has all things and who can do all things, some others ask for crumbs.
3. Your desire and request go a long way in determining what you get in life. In Matthew 15:21-28, when the woman whose daughter was tormented by demons met the Lord, all she asked for was crumbs: “And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Matthew 15:27
4. Even today, after Jesus had said that the children of the Kingdom are meant to eat at God’s table, many of these children still prefer the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table (Luke 12:32, Matthew 15:26). Where is your focus: the table or the crumbs?
5. Similarly, there is a correlation between your desire and your trust in God. If you really have faith in God, you will be able to ask big. The Bible says those who know their God shall do exploits (Daniel 11:32).
6. In other words, when you know little or nothing about God, when asked to make a request, you will be afraid of asking for too much, and so you will be confined to asking for so little.
7. However, when you know how inexhaustible the resources of God are, it will stir up courage in your heart to ask for big, great and impossible things. Therefore, if you are asking for a used car, a tiny rented apartment or a job that can barely take you away from starvation, it is very possible that you do not know or trust God enough.
8. In today’s Bible reading, Agur made a very humble request. He asked for neither poverty nor wealth. He feared poverty, lest he might be tempted to steal; and he also feared wealth, lest he deny God. Just enough was that he asked for.
9. Using the children of Israel as a model of God’s plan for your life, you will observe that God took them from the wilderness, where they had Manna that was just enough for each day, to a land flowing with milk and honey, where they had more than enough (Exodus 16:15-19, Deuteronomy 6:10-11, Joshua 5:12).
10. Just enough might mean not having reserves to take care of emergencies. That means, in an emergency, you may be forced to go cap in hand borrowing.
11. Are you asking but asking for too little? How can your joy be full if all you have is little? Are you asking for little in consideration of others who are also asking God for the same things?
12. You can never exhaust God’s resources. Ask big and stop limiting yourself!

God’s riches is inexhaustible. He is the All sufficient one and He is available to meet all our needs. We are left with the option to take as much as we want from our father. The woman in our Bible reading who demanded for the grace to eat crumbs got her desire. How much more we who have been saved by grace? Let us see God as He is and not deprive ourselves of what God has provided for His heirs. God bless and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point
Ask God for something really big that only He can do for you.
HYMN
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

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Memorise: Bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance. Matthew 3:8
Read: Matthew 3:1-10
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Bible in one year: Acts 14-15, Jeremiah 37

1. “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:” Joel 2:12
2. Fasting can be used to demonstrate genuine repentance before God.
3. Exemplifying the above scripture, Prophet Daniel embarked on a fast to show repentance for his sins and the sins of the children of Israel in Daniel 9:3-20.
4. All through the Old Testament, when individuals or a group of people fell into sin and judgement was imminent, they returned to God in fasting and mourning, expressing sorrow for sins committed.
5. How truly sorrowful are you when you sin against God? Is there any deep sorrow for sin anymore?
6. Today, when you see a believer asking God for pardon over a wrong he or she has committed, you will be amazed. A few seconds after he or she has apologised, he or she is seen carrying on as if nothing ever went wrong. There is no manifestation of godly sorrow.
7. People do not see offending God as anything anymore. They hide behind grace to cover up their evil lifestyle. However, can God be fooled?
8. The “repentance” of some people today is highly questionable. True repentance must be backed up by godly sorrow. 2nd Corinthians 7:10 says “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
9. Genuine repentance must exhibit the fruits of humility, confession, brokenness, a desire for restitution where necessary and a commitment to never return to the evil act.
10. Take King Ahab as a case in point. He was a wicked king with a satanic wife, Jezebel. The wickedness perpetrated during his reign far exceeded that of other regimes (1st King 21:25). Yet, when God spoke to him about an impending judgment, he immediately readjusted, tore his royal robe, wore sackcloth, humbled himself and fasted (1st Kings 21:27). When God saw the fruit of repentance in him, He deferred His judgement till the next generation.
11. When you say to God “Father, I’m sorry, please forgive me”, is there any fruit of repentance to back it up?
12. Some leaders get involved in terrible sins, and after whispering, “Father, I am sorry”, they continue as if nothing ever happened. Is that genuine repentance?
13. People hardly weep or mourn over their shortcomings anymore. They hardly set themselves apart in fasting and prayer to reach out to God for mercy. No wonder they continue in their sins.
14. If you are sorry, you will bring forth fruits consistent with repentance through your actions. Do you have such fruits? 

Today’s devotional left us with so many questions to answer as a believer. The big one I want us to deeply ponder upon is this- can God be fooled? If anyone is asking for forgiveness that is not genuine with fruit of repentance, let it always ring in our mind that God can not be fooled. This leaves us with the option to genuinely seek for repentance when we sin and go back to the rebellious state no more. God help us to do His word in Jesus name. Blessed be God for Pastor E.A Adeboye. His wisdom and knowledge in the things of God is expanding by each day in Jesus name.

Key Point
Repentance goes beyond just saying, “I am sorry”. Your comportment and inner resolve go a long way to validate or discredit claim.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
 

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Memorise: 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. John 15:2
Read: John 15:1-6
1 I 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.
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.
Bible in one year: Acts 12-13, Jeremiah 36:20-32

1. Just as it is needful to pray and fast, it is also needful to win souls to God’s Kingdom regularly. Don’t just win one, two or five souls and stop, continue to win souls at all times. John 15:16 says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
2. Do you know that regular evangelism can keep you in shape spiritually? If you belong to Christ, you are like a living tree that produces fruit (Psalm 1:3). Any tree that produces good fruit will definitely be appreciated by its owner.
3. Bearing spiritual fruit is one obvious sign that you are still spiritually alive.
4. If you are winning souls often, it shows you are growing spiritually.
5. It takes obedience to the Holy Spirit and partnership with Him to win a soul and to give life to the spiritually dead.
6. If you are not bearing fruit, it could be because you are dead or separated from God. A dead fellow cannot be used as an agent of life.
7. Moreover, in the course of soul-winning, there are some ideas, teachings and abilities that the Holy Spirit will endow you with which you may not easily access through any other means.
8. The truth is that those who go out for evangelism never go out alone. Why? Since they are out to obey the Lord’s command. Which is so important to the Godhead, the Trinity works with them (Mark 16:20).
9. The Lord sees to it that the word of the evangelist does not fall to the ground (Hebrews 2:3-4).
10. The evangelist is a true fellow-worker with God. On the other hand, the fellow who does not win souls is not bringing joy to God’s heart and is also not showing signs of spiritual life.
11. If you continue your Christian life without leading others to Christ, you may be cut off from your Source (John 15:2, Luke 13:7). It therefore follows that if you want to grow spiritually, you must make soul-winning a regular activity.
12. You must win souls and continue to win more souls.
13. If you are actively winning souls, you will experience God’s special love and attention. God will also answer your prayers more easily, and increase your capacity to be fruitful by taking away hindrances to fruitfulness from your life.
14. Using your attitude to soul-winning as a benchmark, are you dead or alive?

There is a depth of God that can be accessed only by winning souls. We were brought to Christ so that we can bring others to Him. John 15:16 says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” He chose us that we may bring forth fruit and that the fruit should abide. This is like an open cheque for us because the later part of the scripture says whatever we ask the Father in Jesus name after bearing fruits and it remains He will give to us. From the creation of man, God ordained it that we should multiply and be fruitful. The Holyspirit enables us once we take the step of obedience as regards soul winning. He gives utterance to us once we yield to Him. I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalms 81:10. The grace to yield to the call of soul winning is released unto us in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and renew his strength in Jesus name.

Action Point
To catch up on the number of souls you should have won in the past, launch an aggressive personal evangelism outreach drive to bring in at least 100 souls to God kingdom.
HYMN
Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Refrain:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.

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Memorise: So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16
Read: Revelation 3:15-16
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Bible in one year: Acts 10-11, Jeremiah 36:4-19

1. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.” Revelation 3:15
2. If there is one state that God never wants His children to be in, it is the state of lukewarmness.
3. As seen in the above scripture passage, the Lord speaks His mind on this issue in very strong terms. He says if you want to be hot, be hot, and if you want to be cold, be cold; if you are neither cold nor hot, He will spit you out of His mouth.
4. God has zero tolerance for lukewarmness.
5. As foretold by the Holy Spirit long ago, many Christians in these last days are falling into the state of lukewarmness.
6. Lukewarm people are tasteless in God’s mouth, and hence He cannot stand them.
7. You cannot mix your worship of God with the worship of an idol. How can you put the Ancient of Days on the same platform as an idol that is the contraption of men’s hearts? God is greatly insulted by this.
8. If you want to be a Christian, be a completely devoted one. Serve Him with your life and ensure you glorify Him in all that you do. If you however do not want to be a Christian, do not pretend to be one.
9. One soul I wish I could have won for Christ is Fela Anikulapo kuti, the late Nigerian Afro-beat music icon. I loved him for one thing: he was not a pretender. His lifestyle clearly showed that he was not on the side of Christ. This man married 27 wives in one day! He was a law unto himself.
10. Some people say they are serving God, and at home they have one wife but outside, they have several mistresses.
11. Stop pretending! If you want to serve, serve Him, but if you don’t want to serve God, stay away from Him. Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well.
12. A lukewarm fellow will say he likes something, whereas he hates that same thing in his heart. He or she lives a false life.
13. Some people appear to be very active and zealous for God when they are in their country of origin, but when they travel abroad, you will not believe they are the same person you thought you knew. Such people are unable to stand for the truth, and so will find excuses to justify their lack of zeal for the things of God.
14. Lukewarm people are dream-killers and acts as bad influencers. If you are hot and you stay around them, they can discourage you by their attitude.
15. Are you lukewarm? It’s time to come out of that state today! Take a stand for the truth and for living right!

When we pretend to be upright in our walk with the Lord to the world He knows our true stand. When we give an idol a place as much as we give God it is not hidden to our king. Psalms 94:9‭-‬11 says: He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not He correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not He know? The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Everyone in his or her mind knows where he or she truly belongs. We are aware of the fact that God does not reckon with the lukewarm and it is only wise for whoever is in this category to make amends. May we never be forsaken by God as a result of lukewarmness in Jesus name. Pastor E.A Adeboye is a great blessing to the world because we are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. More grace to him in Jesus name.

Key Point
Those who find it difficult to stand up for Jesus still love the world.
HYMN
1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
[Refrain]
3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
[Refrain]
4.To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
[Refrain]

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