Open Heaven For Today 2024 – Open Heavens 2 February

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Different Types Of Sons 1

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TOPIC: Different Types Of Sons 1

MEMORISE:- So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." Galatians 4:31

READ: Galatians 4:19-31(KJV)

19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 16-18

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

There are many categories of children and i will be discussing some of them today.

The first type I will look at are the ones referred to as ‘prodigal’ like we have in Luke 15:11-24.

By the grace of God, I will never become a prodigal son, in Jesus’ name.

I’ll encourage you to say the same prayer for yourself.

When God blesses me, I will not squander His blessings; I will use them for His work.

Some people believe that the only way you can show that God is blessing you is by showing off: wearing golden shoes and clothes, and walking as if you own the whole world.

These are the attributes of people that are referred to as prodigal sons, and I have made up my mind never to become such. What about you?

Another category of children that the Bible talks about are those that bring grief to their fathers.

The Bible says that a foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him (Proverbs 17:25).

I have equally made up my mind never to be one of such, in Jesus’ name.

Psalm 14:1 says that the fool is one who says that there is no God, and it goes on further to say that a fool is a corrupt person.

I acknowledge God in all that I do, and I refuse to be corrupt. I will never cause my Father in heaven grief. What about you?

If you go to Matthew 3:16-17 however, the Bible talks of 

‘My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.’ 

This is the kind of son I want to be.

I want to be the kind of son that God will look down on and say, “This one, I love him.” You can be that kind of friend too.

God has had sons who became friends over the ages.

Abraham was a friend of God (Isaiah 41:8), and I am sure He is also saying, “Adeboye is my friend.”

You can tell who will become a beloved child of God as well as His friend by how much time they are willing to spend in His presence.

The kind of sons that yearn for a close fellowship with God and desire to please Him at all times are the ones who don’t just read the Bible but also study and meditate on it daily so as to know God more and draw closer to Him.

Key Point

Sons who will grow to become God’s beloved and friends enjoy staying in His presence for long hours

HYMN 11:– I've found a friend in Jesus

1 I have found a friend in Jesus, He‟s everything to me; 

He‟s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul!

The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see

All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.

In sorrow He‟s my comfort, in trouble He‟s my stay; 

He tells me every care on Him to roll. (Hallelujah)

Chorus:

He‟s the Lily of the Valley,

the Bright and Morning Star; 

He‟s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. 

2 He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;

In temptation He‟s my strong and mighty tower; 

I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn

From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power. 

Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore, 

Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal: (Hallelujah)

3 He‟ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here, 

while I live by faith and do His blessed will;

A wall of fire about me, I‟ve nothing now to fear; 

with His manna He my hungry soul shall fill. 

Then sweeping up to glory, I‟ll see His blessed face, 

where rivers of delight shall ever roll. 

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Becoming A Son Of God 2

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TOPIC: Becoming A Son Of God 2

MEMORISE: And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever." John 8:35

READ: Exodus 33:12-17(KJV)

12 And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 14-15

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

A son dwells in the house of God, he does not come and go, he dwells in the presence of his Father. 

Many people come and go from the presence of God. The sons are the ones that abide in His presence; wherever they go, they ensure that His presence is with them.

How do you remain in God´s  presence? First, you don`t joke with your quiet time with Him. 

That is when it is just you and Him in the morning, conversing. That is when you study your Bible and pray. 

You should start your day with Him and  become addicted to speaking to Him every morning. 

Beyond that, dont make any decision without first asking for His input. You should ask Him for which outfit to wear, which route to take on your way to work, and so on. 

When you live basically on His voice, you are dwelling in His presence continually. Psalm 10:4 says that those who dont have God in all their thoughts are proud and wicked.

God must be in all your thoughts. He must be the motivation behind everything you do. Everything you do must be done for His glory. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says:

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

A son is always seeking to glorify his Father`s name. He never wants to do anything that will make people say, 

"And you call yourself a child of God." 

As such, he lives conscious of whose he is. He doesn`t do anything that is outside the leading of his Father because he never wants to leave the presence of his Father.

When you read Mark 15:34-37, you will see that it was when Jesus saw that the Father had forsaken Him that He gave up the ghost. 

He could bear all the pain as long as God was with Him, but the moment He was that He was no longer in the presence of His Father, He gave up the ghost. 

That is how addicted you must be to God`s presence. If you are a son of God, abiding in His presence must be like breathing to you.

Reflection

How attached are you to One you call you Father?

HYMN 27:– What a Friend We Have In Jesus

1 What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

2 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.

3 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,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Becoming A Son Of God 1

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

TOPIC: Becoming A Son Of God 1

MEMORISE:And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17

READ:1 John 3:8-9(KJV)

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 11-13

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

Yesterday, I distinguished clearly between being a son of God and being a servant of God.

I am quite sure that you choose to become a son of God rather than a servant.

How then can you become a son of God?

Being a son of God requires that you fulfil some obligations. A son is a major stakeholder in whatever the father does.

He takes whatever belongs to the father as his because he is not a servant but a son.

John 10:12 says that the hireling (servant) will not give his life for the sheep, but Jesus, the Son of God, gave his life for the sheep.

In the same vein, you must be ready to spend and be spent for the salvation of men on earth. Nothing must be too hard for you to do so that people will not perish in hell.

A servant can see souls perishing and turn the other way, but not a son; a son will go out and preach the gospel to them until they give their lives to Christ and remain steadfast in the Lord.

If you are not an incurable soul winner, your sonship is in doubt.

A son resembles his father. It is only what he sees his father do that he does. That is why 1 John 3:9 says:

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

True sons of God hate sin. Don’t mind those who tell you that once you have given your life to Christ, you can go ahead and commit sin – they are liars!

Real children of God have the seed of God in them, and that seed makes it difficult for them to sin.

If they fall into sin, that seed begins to bite them, and they become very sorry for what they have done.

They go back to their Father, like any genuine child will do, and plead for forgiveness. Nobody can keep committing sin on purpose and claim to be a son of God – that fellow is a liar.

A child that does not resemble his father is called a bastard.

It was recorded that Jesus loved righteousness and hated iniquity (Hebrews 1:8-9).

If you are truly a child of God, you will hate sin and love righteousness because of His seed within you.

Key Point

You cannot remain in sin and claim to be a child of God.

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. 

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Servant Or Son?

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TOPIC: Servant Or Son?

MEMORISE: I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:" 1 Chronicles 17:13

READ: Luke 15:11-32 (KJV)

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 8-10

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

Whenever I insist that I am not a servant of God, but a son of God, some wonder if there’s a difference between children of God and servants of God.

Simply put, a son of God has several advantages that a servant of God does not have.

In John 8:35, 

the Bible says that, unlike a servant, a son abides in the house forever. A servant can resign or be sacked, but a son cannot be sacked.

When a father says, 

“I reject you as my child, I disown you,” 

it is a joke because his blood is running in the child; he can’t take the blood away. Hence, a child will always be in the house.

The implications of this alone are many. Psalm 23:6, for example, says:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

The one who dwells in the house forever has the assurance that goodness and mercy shall follow him forever.

Also, according to Psalm 91:1,

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

A servant is always a visitor; he comes into the presence of the master when he is needed and goes out when he is not needed. A son, however, is a dweller; he stays in the house all the time.

Furthermore, according to John 5:20, the son sees everything that the father does; the servant does not see everything his master does.

There is beauty and joy in knowing what God is doing and being able to see ahead of time what God is going to do.

For example, years ago, when problems were brewing, I told those close to me, 

“Trouble is coming, but at the end of it, somebody is going to laugh,” 

and so it happened because I have the privilege as a son to see what my Father is doing.

There are certain things that can happen to servants that will never happen to children. For example, as good as Job was, God called him “My servant,” little wonder God allowed Satan to experiment with him (Job 1:8-12).

My Father will never permit the enemy to experiment with my health, resources or anything that concerns me because I am His son.

Tomorrow, by His grace, I will commence a study on how to become a son of God.

Key Point

Being a son of God is superior to just being His servant.

HYMN 27:– What a Friend We Have in Jesus

1 What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer!

2 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!

3 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 your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he’ll take and shield you;

you will find a solace there.