Open Heaven For Today 2024 Monday 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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