Open Heaven For Today 2024 – Open Heavens 16 May

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Do Not Steal

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

TOPIC: Do Not Steal

MEMORISE: "Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:10

READ: Joshua 7:13-26(KJV)

13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

14 In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the Lord taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the Lord shall take shall come by households; and the household which the Lord shall take shall come man by man.

15 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:

17 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:

18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.

20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord.

24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 35-36

Open Heaven 16 May 2024 MESSAGE:

Exodus 22:2-3 says that the death penalty is appropriate for a thief. Proverbs 29:24 also says that if you partner with a thief, you hate your soul.

You are not allowed to steal as a child of God.

Stealing means taking that which does not belong to you without the permission of the owner or using that which is not yours as if it were.

When I was a lecturer, I wrote a personal letter and wanted to use an official envelope. Then, God said,

“Don’t!”. I replied, “Why not?” He said, 

“That’s for official letters, not personal letters.”  responded,

“Lord, how much does an envelope cost?”

 and He said, 

“If you know an envelope is that cheap, go and buy yours.”

Jeremiah 17:11 tells us: As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

The scripture above is saying that if a person acquires wealth by fraudulent means, it will not last, and the fellow will eventually regret his or her actions.

For example, in 2 Kings 5:20-27, Gehazi fraudulently sought to amass material possessions from Naaman but ended up becoming a leper.

Several years ago, I was chairman of a high school’s board of governors. I decided to help the school by building a boys’ and girls’ hostel, a school hall, and the principal’s quarters.

The principal decided that it was also an opportunity for him to build a small house in his hometown with some of the resources provided for the school’s building project.

So, as the school buildings were being constructed, he was also building his little mansion.

When he finished, somebody surfaced and said, 

“Who built on my land?” 

He said, 

“I bought this land from so and so.”

The real landowner replied, 

“You bought it from the wrong fellow.” 

The principal said, 

“Okay, let’s not argue, how much do you want for the land?”

The man said he was not selling the land and asked him to remove his house. The house is still there today, uninhabited.

The landowner didn’t bother using the land, he clearly didn’t even need it. All the principal’s efforts were wasted, and his dreams were dashed because the word of God is clear.

The life of a thief is a terrible one. His days are full of curses, and there is no peace for him at all.

Beloved, it is only the blessing of God that comes without adding sorrow (Proverbs 10:22).

Key Point

Thou shalt not steal

HYMN 30:  When We Walk with the Lord

1. When we walk with the Lord,

In the light of His word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey!

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.

2. But we never can prove

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay,

For the favour He shows

And the joy He bestows

Are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

3. Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way,

What He says we will do,

Where He sends we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – God Hates Divorce

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

TOPIC: God Hates Divorce

MEMORISE: "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". Malachi 2:16

READ: Mark 10:2-12(KJV)

2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.

11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 32-34

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

These days, many people have tried to water down the standards of God because of modernization.

However, the Bible clearly states in 2 Timothy 2:19 that God’s foundation stands sure.

God said clearly in Malachi 2:16 that He hates divorce. Mark 10:9 also says clearly: What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The moment a man and a woman are joined together in holy matrimony, they are no longer two people but one flesh.

Just as you cannot decide to cut yourself into two and continue living, a married couple should never be divorced – God hates divorce.

They are joined until death separates them. This is why my late Father in the Lord used to say to brothers who were about to get married in the church, “Once you carry her, you have carried her for life.”

Luke 16:18 says that if you divorce to marry someone else, you are committing adultery.

The court may give you papers of divorce and a new marriage certificate; however, in heaven, you are recognised as an adulterous fellow.

If you are married, know this very well, God does not intend for you to ever get divorced; marriage is a lifetime commitment.

Knowing that the moment you are married, you are joined to your spouse for life, you must take extra caution to marry the right person if you are yet to be married.

If you have not heard from God with several confirmations, don’t get married yet.

It is better to be single and make heaven than to be married and have your marriage lead you to hell.

Believe me; you will be doing yourself a lot of good if you wait on God to lead you before you get married.

If your marriage is troubled, getting a divorce is not the solution.

You have already made a vow before God that you will be with your spouse until death separates both of you, and you must uphold that vow (Ecclesiastes 5:5).

Rather than considering divorce, go to God, the One who created the institution of marriage and cry to Him for help. Is there anything too hard for Him to do?

(Jeremiah 32:27). The answer is ‘No’, for nothing is impossible for Him to do (Luke 1:37), and this includes providing a solution to the problem in any marriage.

God hates divorce, and if you are truly His child, you will not want to do anything your Father hates.

Key Point

Marriage is a lifetime commitment. Getting a divorce is not an option.

HYMN 10:  In Christ alone

1 In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

2 In Christ alone, who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied –

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

3 There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

4 No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand:

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Don't Destory Yourself

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

TOPIC: Don't Destroy Yourself

MEMORISE: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen". Matthew 6:13

READ: Matthew 6:9-13(KJV)

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 29-31

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

In Matthew 6:9-13, the Lord was teaching the disciples to pray.

He said in verse 13 that they should cry to the Father, “Lead us not into temptation and in case we have already fallen into trouble, then deliver us from evil.”

This part of the Lord’s prayer bothered me for a while. Can God really lead someone into temptation? Then I read in Proverbs 22:14:

The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

This means that when someone is abhorred of God, such a person will be pushed into the mouth of a strange woman so that he can be destroyed completely.

You will understand this better when you read 1 Corinthians 3:17:

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

So, if you notice that it is becoming very difficult to overcome any temptation, you should go on a retreat for some days and cry to God for mercy.

He has promised that He will always make a way of escape for you (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Watch your steps. Don’t get yourself into a situation where God will say, “I have had enough of you. Go ahead and do as you like, and we will see the result of your actions.”

Have you toyed with sin and said to yourself, “There was no repercussion for the things I did in the past, so all is still okay?”

Don’t deceive yourself; everything you do on earth is recorded in heaven, even your idle words (Matthew 12:36).

If you don’t stop, one day, God will open that book and say, “Is this person taking me for a fool?

I will show him that I am not a fool and cause him to destroy himself.” May that not be your portion, in Jesus’ name.

Now, I know there might be someone reading this now who is still not willing to stop sinning. This is the kind of fellow described in 1 Timothy 4:2.

The truth is, your holiness does not help me in any way; it helps you.

I am not asking you to live holy so that I can make it to heaven, I am asking you to live holy so that you will not spend eternity in hell.

I have done my duty by bringing this message to you. A word is enough for the wise.

Prayer Point

Father, please don’t let me destroy myself.

HYMN 31:  Yield Not To Temptation 

1. When we walk with the Lord,

In the light of His word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey!

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.

2. But we never can prove

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay,

For the favour He shows

And the joy He bestows

Are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

3. Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way,

What He says we will do,

Where He sends we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Sunday   Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Accessing True Hope

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

TOPIC: Accessing True Hope

MEMORISE: "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us". Romans 5:5

READ: Romans 5:1-9(KJV)

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 21-24

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

One of the ways the devil attacks and hinders God’s plan for people’s lives is to lead their hearts into a state of hopelessness.

It is unfortunate that some people in the church today have yielded to the devil’s devices and are living a life that is full of hopelessness.

In Ecclesiastes 1:1-14, we see the richest and wisest king in the world speak with a tone of depression and loss of hope.

This tells us that money, power, and all the material things of life cannot give anyone joy and hope.

Those who allow the deceitful pleasures of sin to erode the love for God from their hearts will one day look at themselves and feel empty.

This was what happened in King Solomon’s life as we see in 1 Kings 11:3:

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

The Bible warns us in Hebrews 3:12 that we should take heed, “…lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

Solomon departed from God, and his life became empty even though he was a rich king.

There is no joy or satisfaction in having material wealth and losing your connection with God.

Mark 8:36 says: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Money and fame cannot give you hope. Only Christ in you can give you hope for a better tomorrow.

With Christ, you not only have high hopes for your future here on earth, but you also have an assured future in eternity.

If you have Christ, hold on tight to Him because that is the greatest possession you will ever have. 2 Peter 1:3 says:

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

If you have backslidden at one point or the other, do a self examination, identify where it all went wrong, and go to God in genuine repentance.

You should also ensure that you seek help from other believers around you.

Never be too proud to speak to someone that can help you regain your connection with God.

If your heart has been turned away from God, I pray that He will restore your connection with Him and take away every feeling of hopelessness you might be experiencing, in Jesus’ name.

Reflection

Re-examine your life. Do you prioritise God above all things?

HYMN 29:  When peace, like a river, attendeth my way

1 When peace like a river attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll;

whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Refrain (may be sung after final stanza only):

It is well with my soul;

it is well, it is well with my soul.

2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

let this blest assurance control:

that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

and has shed his own blood for my soul. Refrain

3 My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

my sin, not in part, but the whole,

is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;

praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Refrain

4 O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;

even so, it is well with my soul. Refrain

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Saturday   Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – He Has A Plan For You

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

TOPIC: He Has A Plan For You

MEMORISE: "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

READ: Jeremiah 29:1-14(KJV)

1 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;

2 (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)

3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,

4 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

11 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.

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 17-20

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

Whether you believe it or not, God has a plan for your life.

Even if your parents weren’t planning to have a baby when they had you, as long as God formed you in your mother’s belly and made you come out of the womb alive, He has a plan for you.

Jeremiah 1:5 illustrates this clearly: 

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and l ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Believe me, the plan that God has for you is a good one. He made that known in Jeremiah 29:11.

The question now is, are you walking in line with His plan for you? It is not enough for God to have a good plan for your life; if you refuse to live according to His plan, it will look like there was none in the first place.

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

God is willing to guide you in the direction you should go at every point of your life; He is willing to be your compass all through life.

Another question you must answer is, are you willing to draw close to Him enough to hear His voice?

After you have heard His voice, are you willing to obey Him, even when He asks you to do something that seems foolish?

Only those who draw close to God, listen to Him, and obey Him completely will fulfil His plan for their lives.

I thought I was on the right path when I was trying to become the youngest Vice Chancellor in Africa.

I thought that was a good plan until I met God and drew close to Him. Thereafter, He began to whisper into my ears which way to go at every point.

When He told me to leave my job and become the General Overseer of a church whose total monthly income was not up to my salary, that was a hard thing to do – thank God I obeyed.

I did not become the youngest Vice Chancellor in Africa, but today, many Vice Chancellors call me Daddy.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God also owns a university that has been rated as the second overall best in the country.

God’s plans will always be far greater than anything you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Reflection

Are you close to God enough to hear His voice leading you in line with His plan for your life?

HYMN 6:  Blessed Assurance

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain:

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Perfect communion, perfect delight,

visions of rapture now burst on my sight.

Angels descending bring from above

echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest.

I in my Savior am happy and bless’d,

watching and waiting, looking above,

filled with his goodness, lost in his love. [Refrain]