Open Heaven For Today 2024 – Open Heavens 18 May

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Banishing Fear

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TOPIC: Banishing Fear

MEMORISE: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee : be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness". Isaiah 41:10

READ: Matthew 10:26-31(KJV)

26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 5-7

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 

The above passage tells us clearly that the Holy Spirit which God gives to us is not a Spirit of fear.

This also implies that fear is not a feeling, but a spirit, and that spirit is not from God. As Christians, whenever we find a spirit that is not of God around us, we must banish such a spirit immediately.

Today, fear is banished in your life, in Jesus’ name.

The antidote to fear is faith. Ephesians 6:16 says:

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” 

When this Scripture was written, soldiers had to go to war with shields as it was essential for their survival against the attacks of the enemy.

Likewise, we are to quench the fiery darts of the enemy with the shield of faith.

What are these fiery darts? They are the imaginations through which the spirit of fear creeps into a man’s life. This is why 2 Corinthians 10:5 says:

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The knowledge of Christ casts down fearful thoughts and imaginations. The more of God you know, and the more aware you are of His power and love for you, the less afraid you will be. You must subject every negative thought to the truth of God’s word. When the thoughts come, you should respond with the word of God that counters them. As you do this over and over again, you will overcome those fears.

You cannot know God without studying His word, hence, to truly banish fear from your life, you need to study God’s word consistently. The Bible says in Romans 10:17: … faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The more of God’s word that you constantly listen to, the more your faith will grow. This will ensure that there is no room for fear in your heart. Study the word of God and meditate on it every day.

Memorise His word, especially the portions that speak specifically to the fears you have. As God’s word dwells richly in your heart, every form of fear will disappear.

Key Point

Studying and meditating on the word of God banishes fear.

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 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – God Hates Lies

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TOPIC: God Hates Lies

MEMORISE: "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie". Revelations 22:15

READ: Acts 5:1-11(KJV)

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 1-4

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

Revelation 22:15 tells us that as far as God is concerned, liars and dogs are in the same category.

John 8:44 says that the devil is a liar and the father of lies, so, if you tell a lie, you are declaring openly that your father is the devil.

Years ago, I travelled to llesha and on my way back to Lagos, I decided to visit my late father in the Lord.

I was close to his house when I remembered that he had taught us not to visit men of God empty-handed. So, I stopped to buy some oranges in Surulere.

As my father in the Lord was eating the oranges, he said, 

“Wow, these oranges are sweet, did you buy them on the road?”

I understood that the road he was asking about was the road between llesha and Lagos, not Surulere, however, I said, “Yes sir”.

The moment I said so, the Holy Spirit said, 

“You lied”. I said, “What is the difference?

After all, I bought them at the roadside in Surulere.” Again, the Holy Spirit said, “You lied”.

I said, 

“How does it affect the sweetness of the orange?”

The Holy Spirit did not leave me alone, so I said to my Father in the Lord, 

“Papa, you asked a question just now. I actually bought these oranges in Surulere.” 

The old man nodded his head and said, 

“Hmmm, Holy Spirit.” 

He knew who was dealing with me.

This is why it is surprising that many Christians have gotten so used to lying, even in the church.

A lying tongue is an abomination to God (Proverbs 12:22). God is irritated by lies, irrespective of where it is told.

If God hates lying lips, it means that the prayers of a liar will be unanswered. God does not want to hear the voice of a liar.

This is why many are struggling; the lies they love to tell have become a barrier between them and God.

Lying can cut a man’s life short. In Acts 5, the man and woman who lied to God’s representative fell down and died.

This is a warning to every child of God who tells lies. God does not want you to be destroyed. Do not tell lies.

Action Point

Make up your mind that you will only tell the truth from now on.

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 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Do Not Steal

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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

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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

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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]