Open Heaven For Today 2024 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Where Is Your Vision?
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TOPIC: Where Is Your Vision?
MEMORISE: "And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakkuk 2:2
READ: Habakkuk 2:2-3(KJV)
2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 20-23
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
Light can be shining brightly outside, but if your eyes have grown dim, it will not matter because you will be unable its brightness.
Genesis 27:1 says that Isaac waxed old, and his eyes became dim that he could not see.
This tells you that when a person's vision dies, it means old age has set in.
In Ecclesiastes 12:1-3, when Solomon said, ".... those that looked out of the windows be darkened," that was his way of saying, "When your eyes can no longer see as a result of old age".
So, one of the ways you will know you are in your old age is when you no longer have visions. Joel 2:28 tells us that you get to an old age when visions become replaced with dreams.
The right visions drive people to run (Habakkuk2:2) to ensure that they are fulfilled, while those who dream usually do nothing to bring their dreams to reality.
Some years ago, I was talking to some three elders who are also my special friends, and I told them that the definition of old age is 'dreamers'.
As long as you still have a vision you are pursuing, it means you are not yet old.
This is why I sometimes joke that only those who are older than me are elders because I am still pursuing my vision.
So, I am still young, even at 82.
It is pathetic to see young people who are already old because they have no vision.
Yes, they talk about dreams for their future, but they are mere wishes because you don't see them pursuing them at all.
When I see such young people, I often think to myself,
" Young fellow, where is your vision?"
When a person becomes a dreamer instead of a visioner, then the fellow is old.
Such a person's day, which is the time he or she has to spend on the earth, is almost over.
The word of God says in Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
In other words, when a person's vision is gone, the fellow is on his or her way out.
I believe God is talking to a specific reader of this devotional. You had great visions, but now, you have forgotten about them. Wake up!
Reflection
What is the vision you have been actively pursuing?
HYMN 12: Onward Christian Soldiers!
1 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 banner go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
2 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!
3 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.
4 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 thro’ countless ages
men and angels sing.
5 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.
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Eternity
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TOPIC: Eternity
MEMORISE: "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17
READ: John 14:1-3(KJV)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 17-19
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
To some, eternity seems like a far-off idea that should not be given much thought.
However, it is a reality you much not lose sight of. The truth is, everyone will have to ask themselves, where will I spend eternity? God has provided answers to this question in the Bible and has made them plain and accessible because He doesn't not want eternity and the events surrounding it to take anyone unawares.
It is therefore surprising that some Christians live in this world without eternity on their minds.
Such Christians can be easily spotted from their lifestyles and attitudes toward the things of God.
They live as if they will be on earth forever, whereas Hebrews 13:14 says:
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
This was not the lifestyle of the heroes of faith. From the things they set their effections on and their confessions, people could tell that they were eternity-minded.
Hebrews 11:13-14 tells us that they saw themselves as strangers and pilgrims on earth. Hebrews 11:16:
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherever God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
What a glorious testimony this is. I desire this for myself, and I pray that you will also have such a testimony, in Jesus' name.
Dont let the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches blur your vision of the place Christ has prepared for you.
Eternity is real, and where a person spends eternity is determined by the way he or she lives in this present world (Romans 2:3-10).
The place Christ has prepared for you is a place where you will no longer die, it is a place of joy and pleasant experiences (Revelation 22:1-7).
On the other hand, there is another place where whoever rejects God's grace in Christ will spend eternity.
This place was prepared to punish the devil and his demons, but those who live their lives to please the world, their flesh, or the devil will also partake in it (Matthew 25:41).
It is a place of everlasting fire and pain. May you not be found there, in Jesus' name.
To escape this horrible and eternal torment, give your life to Christ today, and if you have done so, live holy and remain eternity-minded.
Prayer Point
Father, please don't let me miss eternity with You.
HYMN 2: Amazing Grace
1 Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
2 Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
This grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
3 The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
4 Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease:
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.
5 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine;
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine.
6 When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Alpha and Omega
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TOPIC: Alpha and Omega
MEMORISE: "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" Isaiah 46:10
READ: John 1:1-5(KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 13-16
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
In Revelation 1:8; our Lord Jesus Christ reavels Himself as Alpha and the Omega. later on in Revelation 21:6, He describes Himself as the Beginning and the End.
For further emphasis, in Revelation 22:13,
He said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Thi means that everything starts and ends with Him.
From the scriptures above, you will clearly see that you cannot start anything without God's permission, and you cannot finish anything without His approval.
This is good news for you, especially if you areabout to embark on a project. Just talk to the Alpha and Omega about it.
God is the one who began this world, and He is the One who will end it.
In other words, everything in this world is under His control, therefore, when you are close to Him and let Him guide you throughout your life, you will have a better quality of life because the One in control is your guide.
This is why Proverbs 3:5 says:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
God knows what will happen before it happens. He knows where there is danger and where your blessing are hiding.
He said in Isaiah 45:3 that He will show you the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches in secret places. He knows these things because He is the Beginning and the End.
This is why David wrote confidently:
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:1-2
If I may ask, who is your shephard? Who guides you through life? For me, I know that I am too foolish to go through life on my own, and this is why I have made the Beginning and the End my Shephard.
When I was looking to buy land for the Redeemed Christian Church of God's campground, I admired a particular location because it was on a major road, and in my own limited mind, it was perfect.
However, God guided us to the location we are now, which has now proven to be so much better because He is the End. Those who let Him guide their decisions never regret it
Action Point
Let God guide you every move and decision. He knows the end from the beginning.
HYMN 28: Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
1 Guide me, O my great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.
2 Open now the crystal fountain,
where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
ever be my strength and shield,
ever be my strength and shield.
3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever sing to you,
I will ever sing to you.
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Trust God
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TOPIC: Trust God
MEMORISE: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
READ: Proverbs 3:5-8 (KJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
Many people who claim to trust God with all their hearts surprisingly depend on their own understanding and attempt to strategise their way through life.
The question, however, is, how deep is our understanding? Do we understand as much as God does? You must understand that two captains cannot be in charge of a ship at the same time.
It is either you let God take the wheel of your life, or you leave Him out of it.
You cannot be in the driver's seat and only remember God anytime you run into trouble; you must trust Him totally and rely on Him for everything.
If you are truly a child of God, you must always be led by Him. (Romans 8:14).
Trusting God does not start out easy; He will work on you, and as He leads you, He will mould and shape you to become a better person.
When you trust God to lead you, everything you touch prospers. Abraham was a man who trusted God competely, and he prospered greatly.
He left everything he ever knew for a land that God said He would show him. He left without a plan; he was determined to trust God all the way.
Shortly after, he grew so big that he had 318 men who could go to war with him living under his roof (Genesis 14:14).
He was so rich that he rejected a king's gift so that the king would not take glory for his prosperity.
When you trust someone, you dont ask unnecessary questions.
When you board a plane, you trust that the pilot knows what he is doing and that he will take you safely to your destination; you dont ask to see his license or inspect the condition of the plane.
If you can trust human beings with your life that much, how much more the Most High God?
I leart to trust God very early in my Christain walk because my Sunday School teacher taught me that if a son is at the top of a high place and his father asks him to jump, he will not ask questions because he knows that his father will catch him.
The moment I leart that, I began to trust God so much that once He says "Jump," I jump, knowing that He will catch me.
Everything we have achieved in The Redeemed Christain Church of God to date has been purely based on trust. When He say move, I move. No arguments.
Action Point
Trust God with all your heart, and stop learning on your own understanding.
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 Heavens 30 April 2024 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – He Cares About Your Body
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MEMORISE: "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19
READ: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (KJV)
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
The above passage tells us clearly that God wants your spirit, soul, and body to be preserved blameless until His coming.
This is opposed to what many people say about God only caring about our spirit and soul, and not our body.
God cares about your body, and He wants it to be blameless.
He cares about what you wear (1 Timothy 2:9), how you use your body (1 Corinthians 9:27), and if you get a tattoo or not (Leviticus 19:28).
He cares as much about your body as He cares about your soul.
The truth is, the state of your soul will determine the state of your body. What is inside will show on the outside.
Many years ago, I invited some ministers to teach at The Redeemed Christian Bible College.
They told the students that I was too legalistic by placing restrictions on how they use their bodies and that God only cares about the soul.
By the time I got back to the class, the students had believed the people I invited.
I needed to convince them otherwise, so I went to get two oranges. One orange was yellow, and the other was green.
I raised both oranges up in the class and asked, “Which of these two oranges is ripe?”
They all pointed at the yellow one. I asked again, “How did you know?” They said it was obvious from the outside that it was ripe on the inside.
With that, I told them, “If Christ that you claim to have on your inside is not showing on the outside, it is likely that you do not have Christ in the first place.”
Whether we like it or not, people look at your outward appearance and make conclusions about Christianity based on what they see you do with your body.
If you look like the people of the world, they will believe that you are just like them and that there is nothing special about you.
They will not listen to the gospel you are preaching if you are dressed like a harlot or a hooligan.
Don’t make someone turn away from the gospel because of your outward appearance, keep your body blameless.
Reflection
Can people tell that you are born again just by looking at you
HYMN 7: I Am Thine O Lord
1 I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine. [Refrain]
3 Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend! [Refrain]
4 There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee. [Refrain]
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