Open Heaven For Today 2024 – Open Heavens 4 September

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Be Wary Of Offence

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TOPIC: Be Wary Of Offence

MEMORISE: "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle". Proverbs 18:19

READ: Genesis 27:38-41(KJV)

38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Open Heaven For Today 2024 – Open Heavens 4 September

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 36-38

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

Many Christians take people’s love and loyalty for granted. When a brother or sister in Christ loves you, be careful not to disappoint them because if you do, and the fellow is offended, they may never regain the love they had for you.

If someone is willing to make sacrifices for you, take that as a challenge for you to also make sacrifices for them.

When they are loyal to you, you must also be loyal to them. The closer someone is to you, the more careful you must be not to offend them.

Many ministers of God feel that because they are the head of a ministry, they can do whatever they like without caring about the people that love them.

For some, the moment they become popular, they begin to take those who started out with them for granted. Many sworn enemies today are people who were close friends yesterday.

There is an English proverb that says,

“Make new friends and keep the old; one is silver, the other is gold.”

Old friends are gold; they knew and loved you when you were nothing.

As years pass by, your new friends will also start turning to gold. You can keep making new friends but keep the old ones.

One thing that has helped us in RCCG is that everyone who laboured with us when we were still very small is honoured and appreciated.

This way, the younger ones see that if they work hard, they will not be neglected.

The worst enemy anyone can have is the enemy within his or her household. An enemy that goes in and out with someone is very dangerous.

Believers must be careful not to offend their brothers and turn them into enemies; they are likely to suffer greatly for it.

When you notice that there is something that may offend your brother, call him aside and discuss it with him.

Matthew 5:23-24 says that when you go to God with an offering, and you remember that a brother has something against you, you are to leave your offering there and seek to reconcile with that brother before you come back to give the offering.

Note that the Bible does not say,

“If you have something against the brother,”

but,

“If the brother has something against you.”

Don’t put a stumbling block between yourself and God. The Bible says in Romans 12:18,

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

As much as it may be in your power, live in peace with everyone around you.

Key Point

A brother’s love is strong, but it must never be taken for granted.

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 – Take Heed To Doctrine

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TOPIC: Take Heed To Doctrine

MEMORISE: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee". 1 Timothy 4:16

READ: 2 Timothy 4:2-5 (KJV)

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 33-35

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

These days, many Christians look for ways to water down certain doctrines and prove that they are useless.

When the doctrine of their Bible-believing church dictates that they should not dress in a certain way, for example, they go about looking for Hebrew and Greek interpretations of Scriptures to say that the doctrine is useless– this is not right.

Doctrines are a major part of your Christian walk. Although they can sometimes appear to be tough to live by, they are codes of conduct that will keep you consecrated.

A doctrine may not seem interesting when you are living by it, but if you keep doing so, over time, you will realize that it has helped you to stay strong in the faith.

God is always solidly behind doctrines. In fact, 2 Timothy 3:16 says that one of the reasons God gave us Scriptures is so that we can get doctrines from them:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

You must note, however, that doctrines are gotten from the Scriptures by the representative of God in the leadership of a denomination.

The head of another denomination may not develop a doctrine from that same Scripture, but as long as the fellow whom you call your Father in the Lord develops a doctrine from a Scripture, you have to live by it.

The early Church was strong with very fervent Christians because they continued steadfastly in the doctrines of their leaders, the Apostles, as we see in Acts 2:42:

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Note that you are not to choose which doctrine to follow based on convenience but based on your conviction that the one who brought the doctrine developed it from the Scriptures.

You should also be convinced that the person is the spiritual leader that God wants you to submit to.

Doctrines raised from the Scriptures will set you apart from the world. They are a great catalyst for your spiritual growth and well-being.

Key Point

Doctrines are not there to imprison you but to further strengthen your consecration to God.

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 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Persevere

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TOPIC: Persevere

MEMORISE: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God". Revelation 2:7

READ: Proverbs 4:25-26 (KJV)

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 31-32

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

One thing that everyone who is born again must learn is that the Christian walk is not a sprint but a marathon. I have been born again since 1973, and I am still on the journey until now.

We were told back then, “Jesus is coming soon.” ‘Soon’ has run into more than 51 years now, and we are still awaiting His arrival. This tells you that without perseverance, you cannot win in the Christian race.

It is good that you resisted temptation yesterday and did not fall, but that is not enough to ensure that you will remain standing until the end.

You must also resist the temptation that is coming tomorrow. If a believer relaxes because of the things he or she has overcome in the past, it is likely that the fellow will be brought down by future temptations.

It is in perseverance that many Christians fail. The devil knows that if he brings temptation to you once, you might not fall.

However, he knows that if he keeps bringing the temptation over and over again in different forms and intensities, one day, when you are relaxed spiritually, you will likely fall.

This is why having oil for today is good, but you must always have extra oil for tomorrow. The ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 were all virgins, meaning that they were all pure.

They all had oil which signifies the Holy Spirit, but while they were waiting for the arrival of the Groom, they all slept because the Groom tarried. However, only the ones with extra oil were able to meet with the Groom.

Proverbs 24:10 says: If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. You must be prepared for the day of adversity.

Believe me, without extra strength, you will not be able to persevere until the end.

Therefore, read your Bible beyond what you need for today, pray longer hours than you need for today, and serve God more fervently than is necessary for today.

Doing these will build in you the strength that you need to persevere. Many people have yielded to fraud in their offices because the oil finished, and they didn’t have extra to keep them on fire.

Some yielded to fornication and adultery because their strength failed. Don’t make this mistake; get extra oil always.

Key Point

Your fire needs to last until rapture or when you are called home.

HYMN 31: Yield Not To Temptation

1 Yield not to temptation,

For yielding is sin;

Each vict’ry will help you,

Some other to win;

Fight valiantly onward,

Evil passions subdue;

Look ever to Jesus,

He will carry you through.

Refrain:

Ask the Savior to help you,

Comfort, strengthen and keep you;

He is willing to aid you,

He will carry you through.

2 Shun evil companions,

Bad language disdain;

God’s name hold in rev’rence,

Nor take it in vain;

Be thoughtful and earnest,

Kindhearted and true;

Look ever to Jesus,

He will carry you through. [Refrain]

3 To him that o’ercometh,

God giveth a crown;

Through faith we will conquer,

Though often cast down;

He who is our Savior,

Our strength will renew;

Look ever to Jesus,

He will carry you through. [Refrain]

Open Heaven For Today 2024 Sunday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Who Owns You?

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TOPIC: Who Owns You?

MEMORISE: "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error". 1 John 4:6

READ: 1 John 4:1-7(KJV)

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 28-30

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE

When you read Bible verses like 1 Corinthians 6:20, which says that you have been bought with a price, you might begin to wonder, “Bought from who?

When did I consent to being owned by someone else which warranted buying me off that fellow?” This expression in itself tells us that every human being, whether they know it or not, and regardless

and until they become born again, they remain properties of the devil.

Nobody is totally independent; every single person is owned by one spirit or the other. The question now is, who owns you?

You can tell who owns a property by the way the property is being used; a property will reflect the character and personality of its owner.

That is why Matthew 7:18-20 says: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

If you are owned by Christ, people will see the character of Christ, which is also known as the fruit of the Spirit, in you.

Does your character reflect Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness and Temperance? (Galatians 5:22-23).

If these do not define you, then it is likely that it is not God who owns you.

Since there are only two divides in the spirit realm – the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God, anyone that God does not own, is owned by the devil.

This person will automatically engage in the works of the flesh as listed in Galatians 5:19-21.

When you read that passage, you will see that many of the people who do these things do not even know that they are acting in accordance with their owner – the devil.

For example, many people who envy think that it is just natural for humans to envy; they don’t know that envy can only stay in their hearts because they are not owned by the One who is Love Himself.

The Bible tells us in Romans 6:16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

When Christ becomes your owner, you will no longer behave in line with the character of the devil. Surrender your life to Him today if you are yet to do so.

Reflection

Based on the fruits of your character, who really owns 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.