Open Heaven For Today 2023 – Open Heavens 14 December

Open Heaven For Today 2023 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – God Has Favourites

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TOPIC: God Has Favourites

MEMORISE:"As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated". Romans 9:13

READ: Romans 9:10-16 (KJV)

10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Timothy 1-6

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

When you look at the Apostles of the Lord, you will see that there were twelve of them, but there were three in the inner circle and there was one who was called The Beloved.

These three were the favourites of Jesus Christ and He took them with Him everywhere He went.

When He was going to Jairus’ house, He had all the twelve disciples with Him, but it was only those three who He took with Him (Mark 5:35-42).

Peter, James and John saw His power; they saw Him raise the little girl from death while the others only heard about it.

Why did the Lord have a special inner circle amongst His disciples and why did He love one of them specially?

Well, the simple answer is that God has favourites.

Many people say that God has no favorites. This is not true.

The question you should be asking therefore is 

“How do I become one of His favourites?”

When you read Romans 9:11-16, the Bible says a woman was pregnant with a set of twins.

Before they were born, God said the elder would serve the younger, that He loved one and hated the other even, when they were not yet born.

He said He would have mercy on whom He will have mercy and compassion on whom He would have compassion.

He said it is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, but of the Lord who hat showeth mercy.

In Acts 10:34-35, the Bible says:

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

This passage makes me see clearly that God looks out for certain things in people before He makes them His favourites.

I took a close look at Peter, James and John – His three favourite disciples. I studied Peter and John especially, because it wasn’t long after Jesus’ ascension that James was killed.

I will share what I learnt from these two with you in the next two days.

PRAYER POINT

Father, even if You will only pick one person as Your favourite, please let it be me.

HYMN 6: – I Am So Glad That Our Father In Heav’n

I am so glad that our Father in heaven

Tells of His love in the Book He has given;

Wonderful things in the Bible I see,

This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

Refrain:

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves even me.

2 Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him;

Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem;

Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree;

Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!

3 In this assurance I find sweetest rest,

Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;

Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee,

When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.

4 Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,

When in His beauty I see the great King,

This shall my song through eternity be,

“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”

5 If one should ask of me, how can I tell?

Glory to Jesus, I know very well!

God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,

Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

Open Heaven For Today 2023 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Dangers of Fame

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TOPIC: Dangers of Fame

MEMORISE:"Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God". 1 Samuel 15:30

READ: 1 Samuel 15:24-30 (KJV)

24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

28 And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  2 Thessalonians 1-3

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

Fame is something that many people pursue without actually knowing just how dangerous it is.

Once you are in the limelight, you have to become extra careful.

You have to watch your every move because people are looking at you.

Sometimes when we go for an event and I am to sit at the high table, my driver will say “You sit at the high table and we will sit where we can eat”.

Those at the high table, though hungry, always act otherwise.

Even if they eat at all, it would only be a little, with plenty of caution because all eyes are on them.

When you are famous, it is as if you are on the high table everyday of your life and believe me honestly, there is nothing like just being free to do whatever you want to do without anyone looking at you.

When you are famous, you cannot even take a stroll outside or play in a public place like every other person.

One of the dangers of being famous is that people tend to forget that famous people are human beings too.

I thank God that I have never been after fame so I show regularly that I am as human as anybody can be.

I still occasionally buy roasted plantain on the roadside.

These days it has become more difficult to do that because of the escort vehicles, but as often as I can, I still do, not minding who is looking at me.

I am not after fame so whatever anybody thinks is their own business.

When you are famous, people expect more from you than the average person and if care is not taken, you would not want to disappoint them.

Don’t pursue fame; as exciting as it may seem, it comes with a lot of problems.

Fame may come as you fulfil your assignment on earth, but it should not be your goal.

Those who chase after people knowing and liking them all the time are likely to get into trouble.

In our Bible reading today, King Saul got into trouble with God because he wanted to look good in the eyes of the people.

The only fellow you should live to please is God.

KEY POINT:

Pursuing fame will land you in trouble.

HYMN 3: – Ancient Words

1. Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world

They resound with God’s own heart

Oh, let the ancient words impart

Chorus

Ancient words ever true

Changing me and changing you

We have come with open hearts

Oh, let the ancient words impart

2. Words of Life, words of Hope

Give us strength, help us cope

In this world, where e’er we roam

Ancient words will guide us home

3. Holy words of our Faith

Handed down to this age

Came to us through sacrifice

Oh heed the faithful words of Christ

4. Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world

They resound with God’s own heart

Oh let the ancient words impart

Open Heaven For Today 2023 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Two Types Of Salvation

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TOPIC: Two Types Of Salvation

MEMORISE: “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:” – Romans 9:27 (KJV)

READ: Matthew 22:8-14 (KJV)

8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Thessalonians 1-5

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

Jesus said clearly in Matthew 7:21 that not all who call Him ‘Lord’ will enter into the Kingdom of God. 

This implies that not everyone who is dancing and praising God in Church will go to heaven.

Anyone who is a child of God is regarded as an Israelite, but then our memory verse today says that though there will be many who will become born again, only a remnant amongst them will be saved on the last day.

Not every Prophet, Pastor or evangelist will make it to heaven. Don’t think that every man who says he is a man of God will make it to heaven. 

Thus, when you hear of certain men of God doing some ungodly things, don’t let it surprise you; some of them are not on the narrow path to heaven at all.

There are two categories of Salvation. There is instant salvation, the kind that happens when people answer the altar call (Romans 10:13) and then there is the ultimate salvation, which happens when you endure to the end as seen in Matthew 10:22:

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

The fact that you are standing now is great, but you must stand until the end to be saved. 

Some people teach that once you are saved, you are saved forever; that you can be saved and then live like a child of the devil and you would still make it to heaven. 

That is the devil’s lie. You must guard your salvation jealously as shown in Philippians 2:12:

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

The devil will do everything within his power to take you back to himself. 

Don’t think that because you have done many great things for God, you now have a sure ticket to heaven. 

You must remain standing until the end if you would make it to heaven.

KEY POINT:

You must remain standing until the end if you would make it to heaven.

HYMN 21 – Standing On The Promises Of Christ My King

1 Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages let His praises ring;

Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:

Standing, standing,

Standing on the promises of God my Savior

Standing, standing,

I’m standing on the promises of God.

2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

3 Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,

Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,

Standing on the promises of God.

4 Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

List’ning ev’ry moment to the Spirit’s call,

Resting in my Savior as my all in all,

Standing on the promises of God.

Open Heaven For Today 2023 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Embrace His Word Completely

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TOPIC: Embrace His Word Completely

MEMORISE: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” – Matthew 15:9 (KJV)

READ: Matthew 15:7-9 (KJV)

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Colossians 1-4

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

Occasionally, particularly when I find myself amongst top academicians and theologians, they like to tell me that you can believe whatever is in the New Testament, but the Old Testament should not be believed. 

This is because anytime they find something in the Old Testament that is not convenient for them, they want to brush it aside. 

Malachi 3:10 for example that talks about tithing is ignored by such people. They ignore Proverbs 3:9-10 too. 

Then I ask them, what about Isaiah 54:17 which says no weapon fashioned against you shall prosper? What about 

“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want” 

in Psalm 23:1? What about Deuteronomy 28:13 that says you shall be head and not the tail, you shall be above only and not beneath? I encourage you to know that every Scripture is written by the Holy Spirit and every bit of it must be embraced.

Aside from Scripture, there are people who do something and say, 

“God will understand”. 

The Bible does not say anywhere that God understands sin, but rather that He hates it. Psalm 5:4 is very clear about this:

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

If you call yourself a Christian, you have to stay away from sin. (2 Timothy 2:19) says:

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

If you are lukewarm, God pushes you out of Himself forcefully and if you are away from God, then you are with the devil. 

He says in Revelation 3:16, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

Don’t be lukewarm. If you jettison holiness during tough times, then you are not a child of God.

KEY POINT

Your claim to Christianity is not genuine if you live holy only when it is convenient for you.

HYMN 23 – Take My Life, And Let It Be

1 Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in endless praise,

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.