Open Heaven For Today 2024 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Work
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TOPIC: Work
MEMORISE: "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings". Jeremiah 17:10
READ: Proverbs 22:28-29 (KJV)
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 23-24
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
The Bible makes it plain that God values work. Whether you’re a full-time parent, bus driver, artist, or engineer, God is concerned about your work, as long as what you do for a living is legitimate.
Work is a major component of God’s overall plan for man. In the Garden of Eden, after God made man, He told him to tend the garden (Genesis 2:15).
This means that any man that does not work is malfunctioning because man was made to work.
The value of work is inherent. Work gives pleasure, which is why some retired people are still working even after their retirement.
There is no pleasure in just sitting around from morning until night-time, doing nothing.
Many wealthy people fall into depression when they feel like they have made a lot of money and don’t need to work anymore.
There is no pleasure in accomplishing nothing. For example, when you work on a garden, you will get a lot of pleasure when you see the fruits in that garden begin to blossom.
The memory verse for today says that God will give every man according to the fruit of his doings, so if a fellow does nothing, he or she will get nothing.
This is why 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says:
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
The reason God gave you talents is so that you can put them to work. If a believer does not use his or her talents, he or she will answer to God on the last day (Matthew 25:14-30).
God cannot condone laziness at all. John 5:17 says:
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. If God is working, He will not allow you to be lazy.
My God is not a God of lazy people. If a believer is lazy and is asking God for blessings, He will ignore such a believer.
Working hard is a godly value, and laziness is ungodly. You cannot claim to be a Christian and yet be lazy.
Even if you are unemployed, pray to God and find something that you can do to contribute positively to the society, no matter how small it may be.
From doing this, God will open greater doors for you. You cannot afford to lie around doing nothing; it is against God’s plan for you.
Key Point
No lazy fellow can receive anything good from God.
HYMN 26: There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing
1 There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
2 There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
3 There shall be showers of blessing:
Send them upon us, O Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come, and now honour Thy Word.
4 There shall be showers of blessing,
Oh, that to-day they might fall,
Now, as to God, we’re confessing.
Now as on Jesus we call!
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Love Those Who Hate You
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TOPIC: Love Those Who Hate You
MEMORISE: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you"; Matthew 5:44
READ: Matthew 5:38-48 (KJV)
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
For many Christians, when they are having a dispute born again. As they don’t seem to like a fellow or the fellow doesn’t like them, they treat him or her badly.
Jesus Christ said in Luke 6:35 that you must not only love your enemies, you should also be kind to them.
When you know the right things to do for people, whether you are on good terms with them or not, do it. The Bible says that it is sinful for you to know something good that you are supposed to do and not do it.
James 4:17 says:
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Don’t victimize someone with your position because the person is not your friend. Whether you are the one who is right or not does not matter, the moment you decide to victimize them, you become the one who is wrong.
In the Bible reading for today, Jesus Christ said clearly that you are not to repay evil with evil, rather, you are to repay evil with good.
The reason for this is that He does not want your heart to abhor any form of corruption or evil at all. Apostle Paul said that when you decide to avenge yourself or repay evil for evil, you are letting evil overcome you.
Romans 12:20-21 says:
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
The Scripture above says that you should love, care for, and even provide for those that hate you.
You shouldn’t relate with people based on whether they love you or not or on how they treat you; you should relate with them based on how God wants you to.
Don’t let evil overcome you in a bid to repay someone or show them how powerful you are.
If evil overcomes you, it means that you are now on the side of the devil as opposed to the side of God.
I will conclude this teaching with the words of Apostle Paul in Romans 12:18:
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Key Point
Whether you are on good terms with someone or not, be good to them.
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 – Personal Devotion
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TOPIC: Personal Devotion
MEMORISE: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Psalm 42:1
READ: Psalm 63:1-8 (KJV)
1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
You cannot get close to someone by relating with him or her only in a group. If you really want to get close to someone, you will need to spend some time alone with that fellow.
It is necessary to have your family devotion, where all members of your family come together to study the Bible and pray, and its absolutely necessary to attend Bible study and prayer meetings with other Brethren. However, you cannot get close to God if you don't sit alone with your Bible to study it and spend time alone with Him in prayers; this is your personal devotion time.
God relates with individuals, not groups. Even in a group, when God wants to talk, He addresses Himself to individuals. For example, He was talking to all members of the church in a city when He said,
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelations 3:20).
Though God was talking to the entire church, He used singular pronouns. This is why many-a-times, when I am ministering, and God wants to give someone a miracle, He will say through me,
"There is some here...." .
Two or three people may get their miracle from that proclamations, but He addressed each of them separately.
God wants to have an individual relationship with you. The relationship your pastor, parent or Bible study leader has with Him does not apply to you; He wants to connect wit you personally, and until He has built a personal connection with you, you cannot really know Him.
To build this personal connection with God, you must have a personal altar. This is a place and/or time when you meet with Him daily. You must set aside a time every day to study your Bible and pray.
You will discover as you start having personal time with Him that there will always be an ongoing conversation between yourself and Him every time, either on something He is teaching you or something that you are trying to understand as you study your Bible. Your altar is not a place you come to only when you need something from Him, it is a place you come to regularly to build a personal relationship with Him.
Reflection
How is your personal relationship with God?
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 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Working For God
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TOPIC: Working For God
MEMORISE: "Then said they unto him, what shall we do, that we might we might work the works of God? John 6:28
READ: Hebrews 6:9-14(KJV)
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
Open Heaven For Today 27 August 2024 MESSAGE:
When I got born again in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, those that served in the church were not called workers, they were called children of God. There was a reason behind that. When a child gets to his father's house and sees that things are not placed where they should be, he or she naturally starts putting things right. However, when a visitor comes into that same house, he or she will simply find a place to sit and remain there.
If you see God as your father, whenever you get to His house, you will do whatever you can to make things work smoothly. You wouldn't go to your father's house and not care about the outlook and advancement of the place.
There are many benefits of being a worker in God's house. One of them is stated in 2 Timothy 2:6:
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
Because you are a husbandman, one who is cultivating the land to produce fruits for everyone, you will be the first partaker of those fruits. In other words, when you work to make services run smoothly, you will be the first partaker of the blessings and miracles that happen in those services. No one works for God without getting reward. Hebrews 6:10 says it clearly:
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour to love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
God will never forget whatever labour you do out of love for Him. God decreed in Leviticus 19:13 that no labourer must be denied his or wages. Do you think He will not reward you for working directly with Him? Your wages when you work for Him include protection, provision, a sound mind, deliverance, speedy answers to prayers, and a whole lot more.
while it is fine for a church to employ or pay professionals for some services, I always tell church members who are adamant about charging a fee for rendering any service without being employed by the church that they shouldn't expect anything from God again, as they cannot get paid twice for the same service. As a worker in a church, once you insist on getting paid money for any service you render in the church, you have made yourself a hireling in His house and not a child.
Reflection
Are you really a child of God or just a visitor in His house?
HYMN 4: To The Work! To The Work! We Are Servants Of God
1 To the work! to the work! we are servants of God,
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the might of His power our strength to renew,
Let us do by His grace what He calls us to do.
Work for Him by His grace;
Work thru Him for His praise;
Work with Him all the days;
And work in Him in many ways.
2 To the work! to the work! let the hungry be fed;
To the fountain of life let the thirsty be led;
In the cross and its vict’ry our glory shall be,
While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”
3 To the work! to the work! in the strength of the Lord,
By the pow’r of His Name, with the light of His Word,
All the slaves of the darkness of Satan set free
And His riches of grace in His glory we’ll see.
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