Open Heaven For Today 2024 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – To Be The Greatest, Serve
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TOPIC: To Be The Greatest, Serve
MEMORISE: "But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister": Mark 10:43
READ: Matthew 20:20-28(KJV)
20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 25-27
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
In God’s kingdom, to become the greatest amongst any set of people, you must be the lowest of all of them.
This does not sound logical to the natural man, but that is how God made it. The higher you want to go, the lower you must first go.
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 1 Corinthians 1:27-28
The above Scripture tells us that God does not choose people that believe themselves to be the best to lead, He chooses those that are humble enough to serve others.
I studied Jesus’ ascension into heaven and realized that God raised Him seven steps high after He had gone seven steps lower (Philippians 2:9-11).
Though His disciples called Him ‘Master,’ He was humble enough to wash their dirty feet. Can you wash the feet of those you are leading?
When there is plenty of work to be done, can you take the lowest of all the work?
There are people who somehow get to the top without serving, but before long, they will lose their position if they refuse to serve.
Some years ago, we held a camp meeting at a secondary school when the students were on holiday.
We arrived at the school, and I went to check the toilets. They were an eyesore as there were faeces everywhere.
I told my team how horrible the toilets were and that we had to wash them in preparation for those that would be attending the camp meeting.
I intentionally chose the dirtiest of all the toilets and washed it. When the rest of the team saw me washing the toilet, they were moved to wash the other toilets.
When we were building the first auditorium at Redemption City, some church members would come to the building site when they had closed from their offices to help out with the construction work as we did not have enough money to pay labourers.
Every single evening, I worked with them, carrying cement and doing every other thing that needed to be done even though I was the General Overseer. This is how I have remained at the top – by serving.
Action Point
Do something today in service of your colleagues and/or subordinates. 1 Corinthians 1:27-28
HYMN 16: "Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
1 ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”
CHORUS
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!
2 O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3 Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4 I’m so glad Learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend,
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
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.
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.
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