OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL…DATE: FRIDAY 3RD FEBRUARY 2017THEME: RESULT-PRODUCING PRAYER

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL…
DATE: FRIDAY 3RD FEBRUARY 2017
THEME: RESULT-PRODUCING PRAYER 
Memorise: 
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Read: Mark 11:22-26 
11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
MESSAGE:
Result-producing prayers are prayers that remove mountains. They are prayers that put the forces of hell to flight. They part Red Seas and make a way for you into your promised land. These are prayers that guarantee the achievement of impossible feats and open the door to outstanding success. They are prayers that put business ideas in the heart of entrepreneurs and make their businesses remain at the cutting edge of prosperity even during an economic crunch. It is the type of prayer that stills every storm in the life of an individual. Result-producing prayers make deliverance from evil powers possible. By these prayers, a beggar is raised from the pit and made a channel of blessings to generations after him. From today, your prayers will command outstanding results in Jesus’ Name.
A lot of people pass through this world like an ant: unnoticed and unknown. Their minds are so beclouded by the powers of darkness that they do not understand the will of God for their lives. There are several people at various crossroads in life who have no clue of what to do next. For some, their hopes are dashed and purpose lost. It is only in the place of prayer – result-producing prayer – that you can put a stop to such activities of the devil. Prayer is a wonderful privilege the saints of God can use to access the promises of God. When you engage in violent prayer, it releases your faith. Faith in turn enables you to call those things that be not as though they exist. It sees life in death, prosperity in poverty, salvation in the enslavement of sin, fruitfulness in barrenness, redemption in destruction and miracles in the face of insurmountable problems.
The problem I have seen in the Body of Christ is that ministers theorise prayer. Prayer is a potent weapon that can produce speedy results. It should be consciously engaged in settling any unrest, challenges, confrontations, intimidations and difficulties that one faces in the journey of life. Prayer is not theoretical, but a practical demonstration of God’s power. I have been to prayer meetings where ministers preach so much about prayer but end up not leading people in prayers. I have also seen people, who were asked to lead prayers, get distracted by other issues after getting to the pulpit. The power of the cross of Calvary will destroy every yoke, bondage, spell, attack and curse that has been waging war against your prayer life in Jesus’ Name.  
Key Point:
It is dangerous for a minister of the gospel to preach more than he prays.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

Luke 16:17

Isaiah 29:15-30:7
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 
HYMN 4: THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR
1 Through the love of God our Saviour,

all will be well.

Free and changeless is his favour,

all, all is well.

Precious is the blood that healed us,

perfect is the grace that sealed us,

strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,

all must be well.
2 Though we pass through tribulation,

all will be well.

Ours is such a full salvation,

all, all is well.

Happy, still in God confiding,

fruitful, if in Christ abiding,

holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,

all must be well.
3 We expect a bright tomorrow,

all will be well.

Faith can sing through days of sorrow,

‘All, all is well.’

On our Father’s love relying,

Jesus every need supplying,

in our living, in our dying,

all must be well.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.DATE: TUESDAY 17TH JANUARY 2017.THEME: FIRST DEAL WITH SIN

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
DATE: TUESDAY 17TH JANUARY 2017.
THEME: FIRST DEAL WITH SIN
Memorise: 
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Mark 2:5
Read: Mark 2:1-12
2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
2:6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. 
MESSAGE:
In Romans 6:23, the Bible establishes that there is a relationship between sin and death. From observation, we know that sickness is an agent of death. For the discerning mind, it follows that there is also a relationship between sin and sickness. In 1 Kings 17:17-18, when the son of the widow of Zarephath died, she cried out to God’s servant saying, 

“What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?” 1 Kings 17:18b
What was she really saying? She had the understanding that death could come as a result of sin, and that sickness is agent or forerunner of death. If you want to enjoy the long life that God has promised His children, you must therefore keep a safe distance from sin. If you are still living in sin after confessing Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and at same time you expect God to keep death far away from you, you must be joking. Every act of sin you willfully engage in exposes you to the agents of death. You shall not destroy yourself before your God-ordained appointment with death in Jesus’ Name! 
Similarly, In Mark 2:1-12, when a man who was paralysed from neck down was brought to Jesus, as bad as his condition was, the Lord simply ignored what every other person cared about and forgave him his sins first. Nobody thought this was relevant. The Lord did this because He could see that this man’s spiritual condition was far worse than his physical state of health. For this reason, I often marvel when some ministers focus on healing the sick before preaching salvation to them. Several prayers for the sick are unanswered because of the presence of sin in their lives. It is wisdom to deal with the sin in the life of the sinner before asking God to heal the fellow. If the sick sinner is healed before being asked to surrender to Jesus, he may refuse to surrender at all after receiving the healing. He may think his healing is by chance and not from your prayer, and if returns to his sin, the sickness may come back. If he then dies in his sin, his soul will go to hell. But if the fellow is first made to receive Jesus Christ before being healed, there is a greater chance of him following the Lord. Even if the healing is not manifested, if he dies, his soul is saved from eternal hell. Always deal with sin first! 
Key Point: 
When confronted with the problems of sin and sickness, it is wisdom to deal first with sin because it could be the root cause of the sickness. 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

Mark 5-6

Isaiah 13:17-14:11
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE.
HYMN 5: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN 
1. The Great Physician now is near,

   The sympathizing Jesus;

   He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,

   Oh, hear the voice of Jesus. 

   

Refrain:

Sweetest note in seraph song, 

sweetest name on mortal tongue;

sweetest carol ever sung, 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 
2. Your many sins are all forgiven,

  Oh! hear the voice of Jesus;

  Go on your way in peace to heaven, 

  and wear a crown with Jesus. 

[Refrain] 
3. All glory to the risen Lamb!

  I now believe in Jesus;

  I love the blessed Savior’s name,

  I love the name of Jesus.
[Refrain] 
4. His name dispels my guilt and fear,

  No other name but Jesus;

  Oh! how my soul delights to hear

  The charming name of Jesus. 
[Refrain]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.DATE: MONDAY 9TH JANUARY 2017.THEME: TAKE THIS RIDE!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
DATE: MONDAY 9TH JANUARY 2017.
THEME: TAKE THIS RIDE! 
Memorise: 
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Proverbs 11:25
Read: Proverbs 11:24-26
11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
11:26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. Proverbs
MESSAGE:
For all those who have received the gift of righteousness through the finished work of Calvary, the design of God for our lives is that we live by His favour. The psalmist spoke prophetically about this in Psalm 5:12:

“For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”
The reality of this was manifested in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:52), and the early church also experienced the same (Acts 2:47). However, there are some keys that unlock the door to experiencing God’s favour. One of these keys is found in today’s Bible reading, which says:

“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself” Proverbs 11:25
Before you can access the fatness and abundance you desire from heaven, you must first learn to give to the Lord what you treasure: your best and your all. This is what brings about the difference in results experienced by a person living by God’s favour and a person living by labour; one is definitely easier to achieve than the other. Towards the end of a particular year, one of my sons preached on the difference between labour and favour. He cited two examples: Jacob and Isaac. According to him, when Jacob wanted a wife he laboured for 14years before he could get his heartthrob, but when Isaac wanted to marry, he just went on a stroll. One laboured but the other was favoured. I have decided to enjoy divine favour. I am tired of labouring. I want to continually live in the realm of divine favour, and to do so, I will sow as I have never done before, because favour responds to the law of harvest. 
Are you not tired of increase dependent on labour? Why exert everything you have for several years to get a particular blessing, when you can pay a little price through sowing and still get great results in a shorter time, without much stress? One effective way of redeeming the time, as admonished in Ephesians 5:16, is to dump less effective methods for better, faster and less stressful ways of doing things. You are not redeeming the time when increase only through labour. This implies that so many things will have to wait until you have the strength to work for them. Why go by labour when you can rise on the wings of divine favour? Choose the vehicle to your place of destiny today! 
Action Point: 
The price you pay to ride a flight by favour, through sowing seeds, is far cheaper than what you have to pay through labour. 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

Matthew 18-19

Isaiah 7:10-25
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE.

 

HYMN 8: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS 
1. “Great is Thy faithfulness,” 

O God my Father, 

There is no shadow of turning with Thee; 

Thou changest not, 

Thy compassions, they fail not 

As Thou hast been 

Thou forever wilt be.
Chorus: 

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” 

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” 

Morning by morning new mercies I see; 

All I have needed 

Thy hand hath provided, 

“Great is Thy faithfulness,”

Lord, unto me!
2. Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, 

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, 

Join with all nature in manifold witness 

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. 
3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, 

Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; 

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, 

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.DATE: SUNDAY 8TH JANUARY 2017.THEME: PURSUING THINGS?

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
DATE: SUNDAY 8TH JANUARY 2017.
THEME: PURSUING THINGS? 
Memorise: 
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Proverbs 23:5
Read: Proverbs 23:4-5
23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 
MESSAGE:
How you start a year is very important, because it can dictate the tone for the year. But more importantly, how the year ends will be determined by the goals you set and your pursuit of them. Some people start a year with little or nothing but end it in a great way; whereas some other people who start the year with quite a lot have little or nothing to show by the end of it. Why is this so? To get the most out of the year, you need to understand the actors and factors at play in determining the course of the year. One of such actors is God. 
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
At the onset of every year, most people go about seeking material things. They set material goals and device strategies to accomplish them. Thereafter, they begin a race down the line and shun anything that might affect the realisation of their goals, dreams and aspirations. Yet, at the end of the year, many are still miles apart from the attainment of those goals. Even when they attain their goals, such people are often still left with great vacuum in their soul that nothing else can fill. This is simply the result of God being left out of the picture in their pursuit of material things. 
By its very nature, wealth can be very elusive. Before dissipating so much energy in pursuing wealth like most people will do this year, please consider what the patriarchs of old said about it. King David said that it’s possible to heap up wealth for users and spenders you do not know (Psalm 39:6). The patriarchs also said it’s very dangerous to put your trust in the riches you have amassed because you can be disappointed by them when you least expect it (Psalm 62:10, Proverbs 11:28). The preacher in Proverbs 23:5 further adds that riches can suddenly develop wings and take flight from where you think you have kept them securely. Where do they fly to? They fly towards Heaven, back to God their original owner. For these reasons, you must put God at the center of all your pursuits this year so that they can be meaningful. If you choose to seek and pursue after God, you will get the material things of this world with little effort. This year, be wise! Don’t waste your time and effort pursuing things that should be pursuing you. 
Prayer Point: 
When you run after material things at the expense of a thriving relationship with God, you tell Him to His face that He is not important in your life. 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

Matthew 16-17

Isaiah 6:8-7:9
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE.

 

HYMN 7: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED. 
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.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONALDATE : TUESDAY 3 JANUARY 2017THEME : ARISE AND SHINE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE : TUESDAY 3 JANUARY 2017
THEME : ARISE AND SHINE 
Memorise: 
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1
Read: Isaiah 60:1-5 (KJV)
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

 

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
MESSAGE:
Sometimes, we as children of God become so familiar with a passage of Scripture that we lose the essence of the truths embedded in it by the Holy Spirit. One such passage is Isaiah 60:1:
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”
The first truth of Holy Spirit is the relaying to our spirit through this passage today is that this statement is an express command. Here, the Almighty God is commanding us to arise! It is someone who is either sitting or laying down that would be commanded to arise. So, when God says “Arise”, it presupposes that you are either sitting down idle, or that you are on a bed enjoying the sleep of death. I command this day that whosoever is wasting away his or her time in idleness or in the sleep of sin and death will arise in the Name of Jesus Christ! In addition, we are not commanded to arise into obscurity; rather, we are commanded to arise and shine. I also decree that all who are reading this devotional today will arise from their state of obscurity and mediocrity and come to the limelight of success in Jesus’ Name. Arise and shine:
Another truth worthy of note in this same verse of Scripture is this: God is announcing that your light has come. Before now, the Lord did not command you to arise and shine because there was nothing to aid your shinning; but now, He is declaring that your light has come. I therefore say prophetically to you today that your light has come in Jesus’ Name. Here is the big revelation we must not allow to slip away from us: the Holy Spirit in Isaiah 60:1 declares “Thy light is come.” You may be wondering, “What is the light?” the question however should not be what, but Who is the light? John 8:12 reveals the answer:
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Isaiah’s prophetic writing in Isaiah 60:1 came to pass the day Jesus Christ came into this world.

 

Indeed there is darkness in this world; majority of us are witnesses of this fact. The darkness we are talking about is not the absence of physical light. We are talking about spirit darkness, principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12). Here are some pertinent questions for you to answer: Are you still in darkness? Why has your light not come? It may be because you have not embraced the Light. If that is the case, today is your day. Accept Jesus, the Light, into your life today and darkness will no longer comprehend you, and therefore will be unable to stop you (John 1:5).
Prayer Point:

 

Father, let the light of your Son, Jesus, shine upon me today, and let His glory help me.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Matthew 6-8 and Isaiah 2:6-22, 
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE 
HYMN 4 : THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR
1 Through the love of God our Saviour,

all will be well.

Free and changeless is his favour,

all, all is well.

Precious is the blood that healed us,

perfect is the grace that sealed us,

strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,

all must be well.
2 Though we pass through tribulation,

all will be well.

Ours is such a full salvation,

all, all is well.

Happy, still in God confiding,

fruitful, if in Christ abiding,

holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,

all must be well.
3 We expect a bright tomorrow,

all will be well.

Faith can sing through days of sorrow,

‘All, all is well.’

On our Father’s love relying,

Jesus every need supplying,

in our living, in our dying,

all must be well.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONALDATE : SUNDAY 1 JANUARY 2017THEME : STARTING A NEW YEAR

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE : SUNDAY 1 JANUARY 2017
THEME : STARTING A NEW YEAR
Memorise :
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecclesiastes 7:8
Read : Job 8:5-7
5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
Message 
Welcome to this New Year! It is always good to experience something pleasantly new. At the dawn of a new year, hopes are renewed, aspirations are born and expectation are high. But when the ups and downs of life take their toil in the course of the year, many people are able to sustain the zeal and zest that they started the year with. Does this sound familiar? For some, it appears as if the events they experience in the course of a year are set up to completely dash their hopes. If this has been your experience, it shall be different this time around in the mighty Name of Jesus . 
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
As you take in the fresh New Year breeze, know for sure that God has something great in store for you which will unfold in the course of this year. Something huge is coming your way, so let your hope be fixed on the Lord. God wants you to end this year big and great, and to have your heart overflowing with joy. Remember that in the Kingdom of God, the end of a thing is always of greater significance than its beginning. Hence, the Holy Ghost in Job 8:7 said:
“Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.”
Because some people start a new year with little or nothing, they don’t expect anything great to come their way that year. If you find yourself in a such situation, know that if you settle some key issues in your life, you can be assured of a greater, bigger and glorious year. First, start the year with God ( Proverbs 8:17 ). If you still living in sin, the greatest way to start this year is by going on your kneels, confessing your sins to God, asking for His forgiveness and inviting Jesus Christ to be your captain and pilot from now onwards. Also, you need to cultivate a personal relationship with God by studying the Bible regularly, fellowshipping with others in Bible-believing church, worshipping God and taking time to pray on a daily basis. In addition, daily ask God for direction, wait to receive it, and be sure to follow as he leads. Utilise all opportunities that come your way and give your best to God and His work. If You do all these, I assure you this year will end very well for you.
Action Point : 
Thank God for gaining you access to this New Year. Let your thanksgiving be a daily offering to God this year. 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Mathew 1-3 and Isaiah 1:1-17
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN : MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
1: My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

  Savior Divine;

Now hear me while I pray;

Take all my guilt away;

Oh, let me from this day

  Be wholly Thine.
2: May Thy rich grace impart

Strength to my fainting heart,

  My zeal inspire;

As Thou hast died for me,

Oh, may my love to Thee

Pure, warm, and changeless be,

  A living fire.
3:While life’s dark maze I tread,

And griefs around me spread,

  Be Thou my Guide;

Bid darkness turn to day,

Wipe sorrow’s tears away,

Nor let me ever stray

  From Thee aside.
4: When life’s swift race is run, 

Death’s cold work almost done,

 Be near to me.

Blest Saviour, then, in love

Fear and distrust remove.

O bear me safe above,

Redeemed and free!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SATURDAY 31ST DECEMBER 2016. THEME: ACCEPTABLE SERVICE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: SATURDAY 31ST DECEMBER 2016. 
THEME: ACCEPTABLE SERVICE 
Memorise: 
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 

James 1:27
Read: Romans 12:1-2
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 
MESSAGE
The major difference between David and the other soldiers at the war front was simply the fact that David could not stand the insult and blasphemy against the God of Israel. He knew God so well, and he feared and honoured Him so much that he decided to confront the giant warrior called Goliath without any fear of losing his life. David, in this case, took the meaning of acceptable service to another level. It can be very painful when the authority of God is so challenged, you will want to do anything to defend Him even if it means doing so with your life. In 1 Samuel 17:23-26, Goliath came out, boasted exceedingly and asked; “Where is the God of Israel?” For as many as had no intimate relationship with God, this threat, challenge and disgrace meant nothing to them. But then, one day, a little boy who loved the Lord was there, he heard Goliath talk against his God and he got very angry. His love for God propelled him to dare this giant that was bringing shame on God and His people. 
It can be very painful when you have a problem that has persisted, especially when you know that your God is more than able to solve it. People may even ask, “Did you not say your God can do all things? Why has He not done yours?” Yes, it can be painful, but you must be prepared to love God to the extent of not minding what people say about your condition. 
In Palms 115:1-3, when the unbelievers were asking the psalmist: “Where is your God?” instead of being embarrassed or wallow in self-pity, he was not bothered. Infact, he began to make excuses for God because of his love for Him. He replied them: “Are you asking of my God because of this little problem? My God is still in Heaven. He is still on the throne and He cannot be dethroned. If you must know, my God does whatever He pleases and He is not accountable to anyone. Whether He does it or not, you cannot take Him to court. He knows the right time to solve this problem because your time and mine may not be His. Is it not for me? I am prepared to wait for His time; I am not in any hurry”. With that kind of answer, the mouths of the enemies will be stopped. How much do you love God? The proof of your love for God against all odds is the mark of an acceptable service unto Him!
Prayer Point:
Father, I commit my life to You wholeheartedly. 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Numbers 7:84-10:10

Psalms 140
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 
HYMN 14: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
Onward, Christian soldiers, 

Marching as to war, 

With the cross of Jesus going on before. 

Christ the royal Master, 

Leads against the foe; 

Forward into battle, 

See His banners go! 
Chorus:

Onward, Christian soldiers! 

Marching as to war, 

Looking unto Jesus, 

Who is gone before. 
At the sign of triumph 

Satan’s host doth flee; 

On then, Christian soldiers, 

On to victory! 

Hell’s foundations quiver 

At the shout of praise; 

Brothers, lift your voices, 

Loud your anthems raise. 
Chorus:
Like a mighty army 

Moves the church of God; 

Brothers, we are treading 

Where the saints have trod. 

We are not divided, 

All one body we, 

One in hope and doctrine, 

One in charity. 
Chorus:
Crowns and thrones may perish, 

Kingdoms rise and wane, 

But the church of Jesus 

Constant will remain. 

Gates of hell can never 

Gainst that church prevail; 

We have Christ’s own promise, 

And that cannot fail. 
Chorus:
Onward then, ye people, 

Join our happy throng, 

Blend with ours your voices 

In the triumph song. 

Glory, laud, and honor 

Unto Christ the King, 

This through countless ages 

Men and angels sing. 
Chorus.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONALDATE: FRIDAY 30TH DECEMBER 2016THEME: THE LORD’S SPOKESMAN

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRIDAY 30TH DECEMBER 2016
THEME: THE LORD’S SPOKESMAN 
Memorise: 
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
Read: 1 Peter 4:10-11
4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 
MESSAGE
The first instruction that God usually gives to any appointed spokesperson in the Bible is to be bold. Moses, Joshua, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were all enjoined to be bold and courageous to face the task ahead of them. This is simply because human beings are always rebellious to God’s commandments, this is more so with the rich, powerful and influential people in the society. Without boldness, it becomes difficult to speak against such prominent people out of fear of reprisal. However, when God surrounds your life with His presence as a mountain, you become immune to all attacks of your enemies. It is not that they won’t try; but their attempts will fail. Many believers take God’s protection for granted, because it is not physical or tangible to them, however, it is very visible to their enemies who operate in the negative spiritual realm. 

For so long, Satan desired to harm Job but could not, because of the protective wall he called a hedge. 

“Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Job 1:10
The enemy knows the areas God’s protection covers in the lives of believers. They know the areas that are exposed, and and it is those exposed parts that they usually target. If you are toying with sin, you are gradually exposing yourself to the enemies. From Satan’s reply, he must have been frustrated in previous attempts to harm Job. He could touch just anybody but Job. As long as you are inside the protective cover of the Lord, the enemies will be frustrated concerning you. They will look for every opportunity to strike at you, but finding none, they will attempt to distract you from the path of holiness into sin. If they can succeed in getting you to sin and especially get you to continue in that sin, God will withdraw, and they will take over. Ensure you remain under His cover. 
Prayer Point:
Father, please, help me never to shed Your covering over me in Jesus’ name. 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

Numbers 7:1-83

Psalms 139:17-24
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 13: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE
1. 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?
Chorus:

Wonderful story of love,

Wonderful! Wonderful!

Wonderful, wonderful story of love. 
2. 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,
Chorus:
3. 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
Chorus.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONALDATE: MONDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2016THEME: NO TREACHERY

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: MONDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2016
THEME: NO TREACHERY
Memorise: 
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

Matthew 19:6
Read: Malachi 2:11-16
11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
MESSAGE
Today’s devotional is meant to remind children of God of the fact that sexual immorality is ravaging promiscuous youths and careless married people in the body of Christ. Many are facing unexplained challenges as a result of their illicit sexual activities. I often tell my spiritual children that if anything God has given to you is precious to you, then keep satanic offers billions away from it. John 10:10 says whenever the devil comes, forget the promises he makes; it is to steal and destroy what you already have. If he cannot steal from you, he won’t waste his time coming in the first place. How then could you think that when you give in to the devil by committing adultery and fornication you will not lose something? You are so greatly decieved! The greatest losers are those who engage in sexual sins, especially because their bodies are involved, they drive God out of their hearts and welcome in the devil. Oh! If only you knew what you lost by that single act of sex, you will never do it again! If you are still living in fornication or adultery, you are a big time loser. Repent and the Lord will deliver you by His mercy today in Jesus’ name. The book of 1 Corinthians 6:15 says:

“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.”
Proverbs 6:26 says it is the precious thing you have that the devil targets when he tempts you with sex. While you are relishing in ecstasy for a few minutes of pleasure, you are losing what it took you several years of agonizing prayer, fasting, seeking God’s face and self-denial to obtain. It is like pulling down a house. Some people build their house for up to six months, one year, five years or even more. But bring a bulldozer or let there be a fire outbreak in that house and the house is down in a matter of minutes. Fornication razes you down even below your foundation in a matter of minutes! Every fornicator is a loser. Fornication or adultery does not allow it’s victims to have permanent blessings. When God gives such victims a blessing that they are expected to secure through righteousness, the moment they fornicate, the blessing is eaten up and before they realize it, everything is gone. Are you secretly fornicating or committing adultery even as a Christian worker, or minister? You are undoing yourself. Repent and stop it now before it takes your life and sends you to hell!
Prayer Point:
Father, please cleanse your Church from every form of sexual sin in Jesus’ name. 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

Leviticus 26:14-27:34  

Psalms 136
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
1. Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless 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.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.DATE: SUNDAY 25TH DECEMBER 2016.THEME: BE DILIGENT

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
DATE: SUNDAY 25TH DECEMBER 2016.
THEME: BE DILIGENT
Memorise: 

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. Proverbs 21:5
Read: Proverbs 6:6-11
6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
6:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
6:8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
6:9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
6:10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
6:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. 
MESSAGE:
Diligence can be defined as a conscientious hard work and perseverance, particularly with regards to your relationship with God. The Bible presents diligence in a highly favourable manner, which clearly shows that God loves hardworking people but hates the lazy ones. When He looks for people to use for assignments, He chooses hardworking people. If you see a lazy and nonchalant fellow occupying an ecclesiastical position, ask him how he got there because God has no business with lazy bones. Even when a person become mad, that state of insanity does not take away hard work from the fellow. When you observe mad men, you will know those who were hard-working and those who were lazy. The lazy ones will sit all day long or scavenge in one location for virtually the whole day, but the hard working ones will go far distances, even travelling several kilometers on foot. Very hardworking mad fellows are possible candidates of God’s mercy. If you see them, pray for them and the Lord will deliver them. 
Diligence results in a rich harvest and links you up with the high and mighty in the society. That is why Jesus, In Mark 5:1-20, came all the way to a graveyard in search of a mad fellow, bypassing other people in the process. It was because that mad man was a diligent fellow and Jesus knew that after his deliverance, he would use his energy and diligence to serve the Lord. Hence, Jesus delivered him and he immediately became an evangelist, combing the whole country for Jesus. 
Similarly, you need to use the temperament that God gave you to serve Him, for example, if you are an extrovert, God wants you to use that extroverted nature to reach out to people, go from place to place speaking for God and leading souls to Christ. If you were extroverted before you were saved and thereafter you became introverted and hardly speak with anyone, you are getting something wrong. One reason God saved you was because of your extroverted nature which He expects you to use for the increase of His Kingdom. Paul was an extrovert and worked for Satan, but after his conversion, he worked much more for Jesus, touring different countries for the Lord. Are you adequately engaging your temperaments? Are you diligently handling the Kingdom business? 
Prayer Point: 
Father, please let my work bring maximum benefit to the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ name. 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

Leviticus 24:17-26:13

Psalms 135
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE.

 

HYMN 2: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED. 
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 feel Thee near me;

The world is ever near;

I see the sights that dazzle,

The tempting sounds I hear;

My foes are ever near me,

Around me and within;

But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,

And shield my soul from sin.
3. Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,

In accents clear and still,

Above the storms of passion,

The murmurs of self-will;

Oh, speak to reassure me,

To hasten, or control;

Oh, speak, and make me listen,

Thou Guardian of my soul.
4. 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.
5. 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 to rest receive me,

My Savior and my Friend.