Open Heaven For Today 2024 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Reason For His Birth 3
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TOPIC: The Reason For His Birth 3
MEMORISE: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16
READ: Galatians 4:5-7(KJV)
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelation 4-7
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
Over the last two days, I have been discussing the reason for the birth of Jesus Christ, and I will go a little further today. Before He was born, the Holy Spirit could only come upon certain individuals. However, after Jesus Christ came to the earth and ascended back into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside every believer (John 14:16-17).
This is why He said in Matthew 11:11 that the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist who was the greatest of all the prophets before Him.
Do you understand what that really means? It means that you are greater than Elijah, a man who called down fire from heaven at will. The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ paved the way for God to put His very own Spirit in you. Now, you can be like Him in word and in deed. Isn’t this awesome?
As a child of God, you carry God inside you, and this means that you are no longer an ordinary human being. You are now the temple of God.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
As the temple of God, it means that whatever cannot be found in God should not be found in you. Elisha may have died of sickness in his old age (2 Kings 13:14), but because you are carrying God inside you, sickness has no place in your body. Moses may have had anger issues, which eventually prevented him from entering the promised land, but you cannot be limited by such because God Himself is living inside you. You bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and no bad habit or weakness can find its place inside you. The bible says in 1 John 4:4:
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.
You are an overcomer because the Sovereign God loves you and has made His abode inside you. Romans 8:37 also says:
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us
No matter what the devil throws at you, as long as the Holy Spirit is still residing in you, you will always be triumphant. Never give in to fear; remember that the Almighty God Himself is dwelling inside of you, and since He can never lose a war, you will experience victory in all areas of your life at all times.
Prayer Point
Thank you Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit to live inside me.
HYMN 27: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
1 What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge–
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Reason For His Birth 2
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TOPIC: The Reason For His Birth 2
MEMORISE: Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17
READ: 1 John 2:1-6 (KJV)
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelation 1-3
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
Today, I will continue the teaching I started yesterday on the reason for the birth of Jesus Christ. The Bible makes us understand that God came down in human flesh to live amongst men (John 1:14), and the beauty of this is that He felt the same pains that we feel. There is a proverb that says, “It is he who wears the shoes that knows where it pinches.” Jesus Christ wore our shoes and so, He knows exactly how we feel at every point in time. Hebrews 4:15 says:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
The best leader you can have is one who leads by example. Such leaders do not just give instructions, they also get down to do the work alongside their followers. Jesus Christ came into this world in the flesh to feel exactly what we feel. He went through the same temptations that we are going through now and showed us by example that we can live without sin. Having passed through the same things that we are passing through, He is a worthy advocate for us with the Father, such that if we fall into sin, He is there to plead with the Father on our behalf and help us get back on our feet (1 John 2:1). What great height of love this portrays! This is why in Revelation 5:1-10, He was the only one that was found worthy to open the scroll because of the sacrifices He has made to ensure that your name is written in the book of life.
Beloved, don’t walk the journey of your Christian faith alone. Lean on God at all times.
When you are feeling tempted, remember that He has also gone through the same temptation. Approach the throne of grace boldly and tell Him that you need His help (Hebrews 4:16); He is not the kind of leader that will turn His back on you. He said that you should live holy because He has also been tempted before, and He overcame, therefore, He can also help you to overcome temptations.
It is easier for a sailor to sail a ship through a storm if he or she is taking directions from another sailor that has sailed through such storms before.
Let Jesus teach you how to live above sin, and as He teaches you, make sure that you listen to Him and obey Him. You will surely be victorious.
Prayer Point
Lord Jesus, I surrender to you, please help me to overcome every temptation that comes my way.
HYMN 28: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
1. Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah!
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven! Bread of heaven!
Feed me now and evermore (2ce)
2. Open Thou the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow:
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer! strong deliverer!
Be Thou still my strength and shield (2ce)
3. If I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside:
Bear me through the swelling torrent,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises! songs of praises!
I will ever give to Thee (2ce)
4. Saviour, come! We long to see Thee,
Long to dwell with Thee above;
And to know in full communion,
All the sweetness of Thy love.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus!
Take Thy waiting people home (2ce)
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Sunday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Be Holy
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TOPIC: Be Holy
MEMORISE: And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. Leviticus 20:26
READ: 1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV)
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;.
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
When God says you should be holy as He is, it is not for His good. God is Almighty and All Sufficient, so your holiness will not add or remove anything from Him. Whether you decide to live holy or not, God will remain God.
The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin brings troubles, sorrow, chaos, and a low quality of life to sinners.
It is a burden on the heart of a sinner. This is why lie detectors are able to detect lies because a person’s heart goes through stress whenever he or she tells a lie.
Many people do not live long because their heart is always stressed due to the atrocities they commit.
It is wise to live holy; living holy brings peace of mind, wealth, favour with God, and long life.
Most sinners think that they are very smart, however, living in sin is dangerous and can destroy them.
I will rather be a fool for God so that I can live a peaceful life and enjoy all of His blessings.
Some people say that living holy is hard because they are trying to live holy by their own efforts.
When the Bible says that you should be holy as your Father in heaven is holy, it is only saying,
“Be like God.”
The elders in Yorubaland where I come from usually say that when a leaf stays attached to a soap, it becomes a soap itself.
When you draw close to God, you will automatically become like Him. The way to live holy is to draw close to God.
The more you behold His glory, the more you’re transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18)
If you have not yet given your life to Christ, you should do that immediately; this is the first step in living a holy life.
If you are a Christian, you should study your Bible daily. David said in Psalm 119:11,
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
When you fill your heart with God’s word, there will be no space for sin to dwell in. You also need to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
When you pray, you empower your spirit above your flesh, and the temptations to sin become less effective on you (Matthew 26:41).
Beloved, spend quality time with God by studying His word and praying daily. This will influence you to live in a way that is pleasing and acceptable to Him.
Key Point
Be holy as God is holy.
HYMN 23: Take My Life And Let It Be
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Lord Who Covers You
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TOPIC: The Lord Who Covers You
MEMORISE: And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8
READ: Isaiah 41:10-13(KJV)
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. Psalm 121:5
The Lord, in the Scripture above, is referring to a cover over you. The Lord being a shade on your right hand means that His shadow will always be over you, hence, you can never be alone.
There is no way you can separate a man from his shadow. It doesn’t matter where you go, your shadow will always be by your side.
Therefore, whenever you feel alone, remember that God is right there by your side; one of His titles is ‘The Lord Who Covers You’ (Psalm 121:5).
I pray that the covering of the Lord will remain over you and all that concerns you at all times, in Jesus’ name.
You may sometimes get into situations where you will look around you, and there seems to be no one to help you out.
At such times, remember that God is by your side, and He is as close to you as your shadow.
The Bible says in Hebrews 13:5: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Our God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19). If He said that He will never leave you nor forsake you, it means that He is always by your side.
He is there to protect you whenever you need protection. This is why the Bible says in Isaiah 54:17: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
The Shadow is there to advise you when you are confused about which decisions to make.
This is why He said that you will always hear a voice behind you, telling you which way to go (Isaiah 30:21).
He is there to encourage you when you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of life. That is why He said in Isaiah 41:10: Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Beloved, do not be afraid; the Lord of all lords is with you at all times. He is as close to you as your shadow. Trust Him with your life completely.
Reflection
Have you made the Lord your cover?
HYMN 19: Rock Of Ages Cleft For Me
1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.
2 Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law’s demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
3 Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.
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