Devotionals

Memorise: “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1st Timothy 1:5
Read: 1st Timothy 1:5-9
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
Bible in one year: Psalm 120-134, Zephaniah 2:13-3:8

1. Salvation through Christ is such a great experience, but the devil in his characteristic manner has introduced counterfeits into people lives.
2. The consequence of possessing a counterfeit salvation experience is a life of pretence.
3. To guard against this wile of the devil, the Holy Spirit in 1st Timothy 1:5, admonishes us thus: ‘’Now the end of the commandement is charity out of a pure heart, and of good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.’’
4. While God wants us to show love to all, he equally cares about the source of this love.
5. The source of a thing goes a long way in determining its quality and value.
6. You cannot bring something good out of an evil heart. If you do, that good thing is already tainted. For instance, even though you see lots of food in dunghill, you will not go to eat from there.
7. God is therefore saying that you should do away with pretence and hypocrisy, because they taint whatever good works you are doing. He is saying that if you will show Him love, make sacrifices for His sake, or give to His cause, such actions must come out of a pure heart, with a good conscience and done with sincerity; otherwise, the doer of these works may not get any reward.
8. Are you saved? Is your salvation genuine or false? 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says if you are saved, old things are passed away. This means that if you were stealing before, after experiencing salvation, you will stop stealing. You cannot continue stealing and still lay claim to salvation.
9. While my father-in-the-Lord was alive, if you claim to be saved, he would ask you these questions. What were you saved from? ‘’What were you doing before that you no longer do now?’’
10. Today, people claim they are saved, and yet they still steal, lie or fornicate. What kind of salvation is that?
11. In one of my missionary trips outside Nigeria, a man came to me and said, ‘’ Sir, I heard that you are a prophet of God and that your prophecies are deadly accurate.’’ ‘’ is that so?’’ I replied and further added, ‘’I am not a prophet but Pastor, but I do hear from God once a while.’’ He then asked me to tell him his future. I asked him if he was born again and washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, and His response was ‘’No’’. So I said to him, ‘’future will be terrible’. Alarmed, he said, ‘’How how do you know? You don’t even know my name, and you have not even prayed!’’ I told him there was no need for that because Isaiah 3:11 says ‘’ Woe to the wicked!’’ On the other hand, if you are saved, your tomorrow will be alright.
12. Are you saved? Did you genuinely give your life to Jesus Christ on particular day? If not, do it today!

Entering into God’s presence requires a clean heart. Psalms 24:3‭-‬4. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. God is not mocked and He cannot be deceived. He knows and sees all things. We should therefore make our ways right before Him and walk before Him without pretence. God bless and equip Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point
The afterlife has no room for pretence. It’s all about reality and truth.
HYMN
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Chorus:
O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Chorus:
3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Chorus:
4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Chorus:
5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
Chorus

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Memorise: “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13
Read: Hebrews 4:11-14    
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Bible in one year: Psalm 119, Zephaniah 2:1-12

1. The way a child of God relates with sin is indicative of the level of brokenness he or she has attained.
2. An unbroken fellow tries to cover up sin. He or she tries to play smart with sin, particularly when its repercussions are not immediately apparent. In proverbs 28:13, the Holy spirit has this message for such people: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
3. If you fall into sin and the most important thing to you at that moment is that no one should know what you have done, it is because you are not broken.
4. In any case, to what extent can you truly hide sin? For how long can you cover up your evil deeds? Can you hide your sins from God?  Hebrews 4:13 answer this: “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
5. Thinking that you can hide away your sins from God is living in a fool’s Paradise. This can be compared to the proverbial ostrich which buries his head in the sand to hide from predators, not realizing that is body is still visible to its enemy and vulnerable to attack.
6. Not only are your sin never hidden from God, they are equally not hidden from the saints in Heaven. Hebrews chapter 11 provides a list of saints that ran this race ahead of us and are now in Heaven. Hebrews 12:1 calls them a ‘cloud of witnesses’. These brethren know and can see all we are doing.
7. Someone who was privileged to visit Heaven and return to earth said that there is a curtain in Heaven that anyone there can pull and the fellow will be able to monitor the activities of anybody here on earth. Another brother who also had that same privilege spoke of how saints in Heaven gather together in a place like a stadium, where they watch earthly saints facing crucial trials of their faith. When a saint being watched compromises, they shout in disappointment, just like when your favourite football team concedes a goal.
8. In contrast, when a person stands for his or her faith in Christ, they shout with excitement.
9. Be aware that you are being watched.
10. If only you can imagine the number of eyes monitoring you, you would be conscious of the fact that nothing you do is hidden!

When a man genuinely surrenders unto Christ, he should be broken such that sin looses it’s grip on such person. Let’s call ourselves to repentance if we are yet to be broken. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
The next time you are tempted to sin in secret, just imagine multiple eyes peering at you from every corner of the enclosure you are in.
HYMN
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Chorus:
O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Chorus
3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Chorus
4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Chorus
5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
Chorus

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20

Memorise: “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, wherein have we despised thy name?” Malachi 1:6
Read: Malachi 1:6-8  
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.
Bible in one year: Psalm 113-118, Zephaniah 1

1. For your prayer to be a sweet savour before the Almighty God, you must be prepared not only to praise Him but also to honour His Name.
2. You cannot truly claim to belong to God without reverencing or honouring His Name. This is why the Lord posed this crucial question to us in Malachi 1:6:  “A son honoureth his father and a servant his master: if then I be a Father, where is mine honour? and if be a master, where is my Fear? Saith the LORD of hosts unto you, o priest, that despise my name. And ye say, wherein have we despised thy name?”
3. If you look at the types of relationships referenced in the above Scripture passage, you will agree with me that the lower member of each relationship owes a type of honour to the higher member.
4. A son owes his father a high degree of honour and respect borne out of love. Also, a servant owes his master some degree of fear, honour and regard, as the master is the source of the servant’s livelihood. As a result of those, a father can demand honour of his son, just as a master can demand honour of his servant. However, when it comes to our relationship with God, many people who claim to be God’s children, prefer to relate with God without giving Him the honour due to His Name. Unsurprisingly, this is unacceptable to the One to whom all honour is due.
5. Today, the Lord is asking, “where is honour?” in other words, there are many honour-thieves in the Christian fold.
6. Are you an honour-thief? If you call on God’s Name without giving it the high regard it deserves, you are an honour-thief. If you fail the materials test, by offering to God a detective gift or a gift that does not befit His status as the King of kings, nor reflect the level of His blessings on your life, you are an honour-thief.
7. If you treat His assignments or handle His work with anything less than the honour due to Him, you are an honour-thief.
8. If your lifestyle makes people look down on your God, you are an honour-thief.
9. If you offer torn currency notes to God, when you know you cannot even use such to pay for things, you are an honour-thief.
10. Do you honour the Lord in all you do?

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Proverbs 3:9 Whoever reverence God will enjoy plenty and abundance on every side. He is worthy of every honour and adoration. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Carefully come up with 5-10 ways of honouring God. Go ahead and implement them.
HYMN
On a hill far away
Stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Chorus:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last 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.
(Chorus)
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.
 (Chorus)  
To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where his glory forever I’ll share.
(Chorus)

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Memorise: “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Habakkuk 2:1
Read: Habakkuk 2:1-3
1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Bible in one year: Psalm 108-112, Habakkuk 3

1. The power of vision is one very crucial lesson we can learn from Elisha’s unshakeable focus when his master was about to be taken up to heaven (2 kings 2: 1-15).
2. Vision gives directions.
3. What you see is what you attain, and what you focus on determines what comes to you in life.
4. You can never rise above your vision.
5. While speaking to Abraham concerning His promise that Abraham’s descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, the Lord plainly told him that what he would possess would be determine by the extent of his vision. Genesis 13:15 says “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will give it, and to thy seed forever.”
6. People have often said that what the mind can conceive can be achieved. What can you see? What can you picture or envision concerning your future?
7. For your mind to be able to see clearly, you have to be born again and have a recreated spirit which is capable of seeing things the God sees them (Romans 12:2).
8. In addition, what you focus on is equally very important. This is because what you focus on expands and fills your sight.
9. Your focus affects you significantly, shapes your life and determines what you attract to yourself.
10. The sons of the Prophets in all three locations Elijah visited before his rapture to heaven focus on loss. They focused on the fact that their national Prophet would soon be raptured, and they would soon be without their leader. Consequently, that was exactly what they got. On the other hand, Elisha focused on his singular goal of receiving a double portion of the Spirit of his master, Elijah, and he got it. We have a way of attracting what we focus on. What or who is your focus? 
11. Hebrews12:2 says we should look unto Jesus. In other word, it says we should make Jesus Christ our Focus. Furthermore, 2nd Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as a glass the glory of the Lord, are change into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
12. When we focus on Jesus, we will begin to change from what we are into what He is.
13. Focusing on Jesus is a major change medium that will definitely make us what we ought to be.
14. Until you focus on Him, you will unknowingly be focusing on other things, individual or even yourself. What is your focus today?

The power of our mind can bring into existence whatever we desire. It is then left to us to see what is right. God is big enough to accommodate all our dreams as well as bring it to pass. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point
Catalogue what you spend your time doing in a day, and this will give you a good indication of what your focus is really is. 
HYMN
1. O Jesus, I have promised, 
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.
2. Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
I dare not trust my judgment:
Thy way shall be my will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.
3. O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.
4. Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in Heav’n receive me,
My Savior and my Friend

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20

Memorise: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7         
Read: Daniel 2:46-49
46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
Bible in one year: Psalm 106-107, Habakkuk 2:2-20

1. The Scriptures declare that wisdom is a major asset we must acquire (Proverbs 4:7).
2. To get wisdom, you have to first lay its foundation stones with knowledge.
3. What you know can determine your position in life. It was what Joseph knew, together with the ability to interpret dreams, that God used to move him from prison to the throne (Genesis 41:1-44). In other words, the stop-gap between you and your place of destiny is knowledge.
4. Can you truthfully say that you know enough to get you to your place of destiny? If your answer is in the negative, then start acquiring knowledge today.
5. In many corporate organizations, preference is given to those who have acquired more knowledge than others. This is why there is a tendency to select employees with higher degree for higher positions in these organizations. So don’t just remain stagnant in knowledge, acquire more of it!
6. Enroll for higher degrees and relevant online or offline training programmes to position yourself for a more successful career ahead of time.
7. What you know can promote you and bring you before kings. Furthermore, what you know can deliver you from death. No wonder the Lord in Hosea 4:6a, said: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:”
8. It was the information Daniel and his colleagues received from God that delivered them and the rest of the wise men of Babylon from death. In other words, what you don’t know can kill you.
9. Ignorance is not just a disease, but also a killer – a worse killer than some diseases. Ignorance is a terrible destroyer!
10. Lack of knowledge can lead to a lot of wasteful spending. For example, if a person doesn’t know the importance of maintaining good hygiene, he or she will fall sick often and waste money on treatments that could have been avoided.
11. Do you know that many people are being taken advantage of by the devil because they do not know their rights and privileges in God’s Kingdom? They do not know that they have been healed by the stripes of Jesus, and so they continue in sickness. 
12. If you fail to know that Jesus has paid the price for you to be rich, you will remain in poverty and even celebrate it like some people do today.
13. What do you know?

Wisdom is profitable in every affair of life. It has a special way of putting it’s carrier over in life. It is therefore important for us to ignore the pain, stress and cost of acquiring it because the aftermath of it’s acquisition is worth it. God will help us to take the bold step and acquire the needed knowledge for greater and higher life. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
If you do not yet have a degree and you are less than 60 years, consider enrolling for one.
HYMN
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!
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!
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.
When life’s swift race is run,
Death’s cold work almost done,
Be near to me.
Blest Savior, then, in love
Fear and distrust remove.
O bear me safe above,
Redeemed and free!

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20

Memorise: Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20
Read: Luke 10:17-20
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, l beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, l give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Bible in one year: Psalm 102-105, Habakkuk 1:1-2:1

1. If you are sure of your salvation from sin, you need to be grateful to God.
2. The reason is that there is nothing else in the whole wide world that can transform a sinner into a saint other than the Name of Jesus and the power of His Blood. Acts 4:12 says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men,whereby we must be saved.”
3. No hero from any country can save you; neither can any prophet from any age or dispensation deliver you.
4. No amount of money can buy you out of Hell, and no level of good works or moral uprightness can redeem you either. Only faith in the Name of Jesus and faith in the cleansing power of His Blood can save you.
5. Thank God that Jesus fully paid the price of our redemption! If He had only paid in part, you can be sure that no one would have been saved today, going by Satan’s antecedents. However, Jesus fully paid for our redemption Hallelujah! To show that the price has been paid in full, shortly before He died on the cross, He publicly declared “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Therefore, you ought to daily thank God for your salvation.
6. How often do you appreciate Him for saving your soul?
7. Today, many believers celebrate their birthdays, graduation from school, promotion at the office, appointments, winning big contracts and other major achievements in life, but many of these people forget to even say “Thank You Jesus for the salvation of my soul”. This is the benefit that should give you the greatest joy!
8. After the 70 disciples sent out by the Lord for evangelism returned with fantastic testimonies of the success of their outing, the Lord shocked them by telling them that they were rejoicing over what was not the main issue.
9. He then told them what the object of their joy should be: Not withstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20.
10. Your salvation from sin is far more important than any other achievements you have on earth. Great is the value that God and the whole of heaven place on it.
11. You should therefore thank God for it every day of your life, it is well worth it.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Thank you God for the salvation of my soul. It is very important we thank God for saving us. This is because some people are perishing without the opportunity of being saved. Some heard the word but didn’t receive the Saviour. Let’s pray that God should uphold us in our journey and for others who are yet to receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour to be saved in Jesus name. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
If you knew the severity of eternal hell, you would treasure the salvation of your soul and thank God always for it.
HYMN
1 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds 
in a believer’s ear! 
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, 
and drives away our fear. 
2 It makes the wounded spirit whole 
and calms the troubled breast; 
’tis manna to the hungry soul, 
and to the weary, rest. 
3 O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend, 
my Prophet, Priest, and King, 
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, 
accept the praise I bring. 
4 How weak the effort of my heart, 
how cold my warmest thought; 
but when I see you as you are, 
I’ll praise you as I ought. 
5 Till then I would your love proclaim 
with every fleeting breath; 
and may the music of your name 
refresh my soul in death.

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20

Posted by admina

Memorise: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Read: Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Bible in one year: Psalm 93 – 101, Nahum 3:5-19

1. To experience exploits in your life, you must have a personal relationship with God.
2. You must believe that He lives and love Him with all your heart.
3. You must also learn to trust in Him.
4. The command to pay tithes on your earnings simply places a demand on you to trust in God. Your response to this command shows the level of trust you have in Him.
5. If you can pay your tithe correctly, it shows that you trust God for your livelihood, but if you find it difficult to be faithful in doing this, it simply shows that you trust more in your earnings than in God to sustain you.
6. After I became newly born again and we were taught to pay tithes, I laughed and said in my mind, “These people do not know that I am a mathematician. If 100% is not enough for me, how can 90% be enough after I have paid 10% as tithe? Thank you very much! Even though these people are not educated, they still want to use their smartness to take 10% of my income from me. Let them try and take it” However, down the line, God convinced me by Himself and I observed remarkable changes in my life.
7. In those days, I was a lecturer in the university. I had a car but was afraid to drive in Lagos so I got a driver. At the end of the month, I would pay my driver his salary, but by the middle of the next month, I would have to borrow money from him to buy petrol (gasoline). This happened month after month. I continued to struggle with my finances and even had to spend all my earnings. However, when I started paying my tithes, I suddenly realized I did not need a driver anymore, because boldness came from nowhere and I could now drive myself. Also, I did not have to visit hospitals again because I now had the Great Physician as my doctor. My children did not fall sick again, and that leakage in my finances was blocked off. All of a sudden, doors of opportunities began to open to me because I trusted the Lord.
8. Are you still struggling with tithing? If you are, it only shows that you do not trust God to take care of you.
9. The truth is, whatever you are paid may never be sufficient to meet all your needs because you are limited to that source, whereas you are open to various devourers.
10. In contrast, when you tithe, you will have access to resources beyond your income because God’s storehouse will be opened to you, and He will also block every source of losses in your life. It is a matter of choice.
11. Why don’t you start trusting God from today by paying your tithe faithfully?

It’s important for us to understand that when God’s gives instruction, it’s never for restriction or that He needs our money but for our God. The Bible say “If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭36:11‬‬‬. The first prerequisite is obedience. Believe me prosperity is your inheritance but total submission to your maker matters. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
It is shocking to know that quite a number of God’s children cannot trust God with their finances.
HYMN
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in endless praise.
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.
Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
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.
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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Memorise: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12
Read: Matthew 27:3-5
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that l have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver inthe temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

1. One unfortunate thing about backsliding is that backsliders often fall so slowly that they hardly notice their deteriorating state. By the time some of them realise how far they have gone, it is rather too late. 
2. Are you a backslider? May the Lord restore you fully to Himself today!
3. According to James 1:14-15, backsliding is a process that progresses from lust to sin, and ultimately ends with death.
4. In Luke 22:3-6, Judas accepted to be paid 30 pieces of silver to betray his Master. He must have thought he was going to make some quick, free money. He probably believed that nobody would be able to capture Jesus. After all, how could anyone apprehend the man who calmed the storms by His words? However, after the plot blew up in his face, he felt so disappointed in himself that he returned the money and committed suicide by hanging himself. The question is, why steal or accumulate what you are not going to spend?
5. Do you know that some people who are stealing, particularly from God, will not be able to spend their evil loot? Those who steal God’s money to buy a car are only driving a moving coffin which can claim their lives at any time. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:12
6. On the straight and narrow way to Heaven, overconfidence has killed quite a lot of people, preventing them from making it to the very end. A case in point is Samson. His fall from grace, which led eventually to his tragic death, was a gradual process. From violating little instructions not to eat anything from a dead animal as a Nazirite, to unwholesome jesting and riddles that made light of the commandments of God he had broken, to visiting a harlot, and eventually ending his ministry on Delilah’s laps (Judges 14-16, Numbers 6:1-21).
7. Overconfidence has brought many people to the pitiable place where they are now.
8. Always remember that nobody can stand by his or her own power alone, except God helps the fellow. In fact, we are so weak that we need to always rely on God’s strength to live the Christian life.
9. Have you ever thought or even boasted that you cannot fall? You are just like Peter who boasted that he would never deny Christ, but at the end of the day he denied Him thrice (Matthew 26:31-36).
10. Recognise your weakness and engage in regular Bible study, prayers and fasting to draw strength from God.
11. Furthermore, deliberately avoid any appearance of evil that can tempt you, and break any tie that can lure you back into sin.
12. The Lord will keep you from falling, and He will restore you if you are already down.

Our father in the Lord clearly listed and discussed things that can make a believer backslide in today’s devotional. The breakdown is easy and simple enough for anyone to understand. Please let us pray that the holy Spirit will continue to lead and help us stand in the way of the Lord. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in wisdom, grace and strength in Jesus name.

Action Point
Pray that God will keep genuine Christian leaders across the globe from falling.
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 will follow;
Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till l see Jesus
My cross I’ll carry, till l 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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Memorise: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62
Read: Luke 9:61-62
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Bible in one year: Psalm 81-88, Nahum 1

1. When you walk with God, not only must you be obedient, your obedience must also be complete.
2. From the story of how Elisha stuck with Elijah till the latter was taken up to heaven, we learn that until you obey to the very end, certain blessings may not be received, and certain promises may not be fulfilled by God (2nd Kings 2:1-15). This is very serious issue as it calls for endurance.
3. Would Elijah have been raptured if he had refused to go on to Jordan, after obeying God’s instructions to go to Bethel and Jericho, and after several years of obedience to God in ministry? I very much doubt it. Similarly, if Elisha had not served and followed Elijah till the very end, would he have received a double portion of the Spirit on his master? I don’t think so. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22
4. Beloved, to get very special blessings or rewards from God, you must be ready to serve Him till you take your very last breath. You must pay your tithe, obey Him, win souls, worship Him, and follow peace with all men until your very last second on earth.
5. Heaven is not for those who run the marathon for years and give up just a little before the finish line; rather, it is for those who endure all things to the very end. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
6. In God’s Kingdom, there is no room for half measures. It is either you are following Him to the end or you are not following Him at all.
7. If you have decided to serve Him, Please don’t stop to look back! Looking back can disqualify you, rendering you unfit for God’s kingdom.
8. Today, it is rare to get a committed worker or minister like Elijah, who would be doggedly determined to reach his goal without being discouraged, distracted or disillusioned.
9. Have you turned aside from God’s calling on your life? Are you busy making excuses as to why you cannot obey God, saying “after all, God understands”? Sorry, God does not understand you going back on your commitments. He does not understand compromises. If you are in such a state, come out fast and hold the fort to the very end!

Strong finish requires right standing with God and rugged movement against distracting storms that can turn us back from the pathway of life. It is demanding yes and true but we should dare to stay through it all because crowns of glory awaits us. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 We pray that may Go strengthen and equip Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater impact in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
You cannot afford to stop your race to Heaven now, because you have put in so much to get to where you are today.
HYMN
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in endless praise.
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.
Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
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.
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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20

Memorise: To him that overcometh will l grant to sit with me in my throne, even as l also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:21
Read: Revelation 3:21-22
21 To him that overcometh will l grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Bible in one year: Psalm 78-80, Micah 7:8-20

1. Man’s surest source of rest is Jesus Christ because He never breaks His promises (Matthew 11:28-29, 2 Corinthians 1:20).
2. In John 16:33, He assures us that as long as we are in this world, tribulations and problems will come, but because He successfully overcame them, He will see us through if we put our trust in Him. Therefore, because He overcame and we are following in His footsteps, we are also bound to overcome.
3. Are you struggling with sin and expressing doubts on whether you can ever overcome like Jesus did? Fear not and do not doubt!
4. You can overcome that besetting sin! The truth with such sins is that the one who keeps falling into them has not truly made up his or her mind to stop them.
5. The Bible declares that sin shall not have dominion over you, and God cannot lie (Romans 6:14). If you are therefore falling into sin and you probe yourself a little deeper, you will find some level of tolerance for that sin, or some excuse you always give for why you cannot stop committing that sin, or even some iota of likeness for that sin. If the devil can find any of these in you, he will celebrate, knowing that any of these can keep you perpetually at the bus stop of that sin.
6. If you are serious about stopping a bad habit, you will have zero tolerance for it. To him that overcometh will l grant to sit with me in my throne, even as l also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:21
7. God does not have double standards in the criteria He uses for allowing people into Heaven, or for giving them rewards for work done on earth.
8. Jesus Christ is God’s standard.
9. So if you will enter into eternal rest in Heaven, you must meet with God’s standard as exemplified by Jesus Christ.
10. If you will be rewarded by God in Heaven, Jesus says you must be prepared to overcome the same way He overcame while He was here on earth.
11. You can run the Christian race without stress when you follow in His steps.
12. Have you taken pains to study the life of Jesus? You noted how He responded to temptations, sin, enemies, friends, difficulties, lack, needs, challenges in ministry, and betrayal by associates? God expects you to respond as Jesus did in all these situations. If you do so, you will be granted access to the privileges reserved for overcomers in Heaven.

Every Christian should emulate Jesus in faith, lifestyle and deeds. He is a true picture of a perfect role model and to succeed and overcome in christian race we must desire to be like Him. May God help us in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
You cannot overcome if you fail to study Jesus Christ and respond to situations the way He did.
HYMN
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!
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.
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,
You wilt find a solace there.

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