Open Heaven For Today 2025 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Don't Outgrow Corrections
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TOPIC: Don't Outgrow Corrections
MEMORISE: While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. as in the provocation. Hebrews 3:15
READ: Proverbs 15:10-12 (KJV)
10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 5-7
Open Heaven For Today 2025 MESSAGE
For every action or inaction, there are consequences. This is why you should consider it a great privilege when you have people around you who can correct you whenever you do something wrong so that you do not have to suffer terrible consequences. Unfortunately, some people do not listen to corrections. The Bible refers to such people as servants.
A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer. Proverbs 29:19
You can choose between being corrected by words or by consequences. If you are wise, you will choose to be corrected by words so that you can avoid the consequences that come with doing the wrong things. Those who are wise do not wait for people to correct them. Rather, they regularly ask the people around them for feedback to know if they are on the right track or not. In Matthew 10:15, Jesus Christ asked His disciples,
“Whom do men say that I am?”
In other words, He was asking,
“Based on my character and words, what is the impression that I give people about myself?”
Beloved, it is important that you regularly give people the opportunity to tell you what they think of you, especially when you are a leader. You can make it anonymous so that they can give you honest feedback.
It is quite possible for someone to grow to a level where people begin to say he or she is infallible, even in situations where the fellow knows that he or she has erred. It is important to avoid this pitfall and ensure that you still have people around you who will always tell you the truth. You should never outgrow corrections. Even when people criticize you with evil intentions, you can ignore their motives and listen to see if there is really something that you need to correct or improve on.
Beloved, you will avoid so many troubles in life if you are the kind of person who listens to corrections. If people correct you once or twice and they see that you got angry, they will leave you alone. This will be dangerous because, even though they can see you heading towards a ditch, they will let you fall into it. Even God will leave you alone after He has corrected you over something for a while and you refuse to listen (Romans 1:28). May God not leave you to destroy yourself, in Jesus’ name.
Reflection
When was the last time you effected a positive change in your life after receiving a correction?
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 2025 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Identifying The Jericho Wall 3
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TOPIC: Identifying The Jericho Wall 3
MEMORISE: The slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as being it to his mouth again. Proverbs 19:24
READ: Proverbs 6:4-11(KJV)
4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 1-4
Open Heaven For Today 2025 MESSAGE
As I conclude my discussion on the forces that can obstructs a person's progress, I want you to know that the real wall of Jericho hindering people's progress may actually force or a relationship. No matter how much support such people get in order to progress in life, If they have certain bad habits or traits, they will still not make progress. Romans 8:31 says:
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
When we were building what has now become Redemption City, I knew some people who worked with us who were lazy. If only they were hardworking, considering all the work that was done then, they would have been very wealthy by now. Nobody wants to give opportunities to a lazy fellow. This is because lazy people will eventually waste the opportunities that are given to them.
Another trait that can be a wall of Jericho to a person is talkativeness. Proverbs 29:20 says that a fool has more hope for tomorrow than the one who is always quick to talk.
Dishonesty is yet another trait that can be a wall of Jericho to a fellow and hinder his or her success. This is because nobody will trust people who lack integrity to handle sensitive responsibilities. Jesus Christ said in Luke 16:10 that whoever is faithful in a little will have more committed into his or her hands. If you say one thing and turn around to do something completely opposite, it will be difficult for you to have access to the things that you have been asking and trusting God for.
Beloved, be wise. Don't be the wall of Jericho in the path of your progress.
Action Point
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you let go of any habit or trait that can hinder your progress.
HYMN 24: I Want To Be Like Jesus
1 Earthly pleasures vainly call me;
I would be like Jesus;
Nothing worldly shall enthrall me,
I would be like Jesus.
Refrain:
Be like Jesus - this my song,
In the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus, all day long,
I would be like Jesus.
2 He has broken every fetter,
I would be like Jesus;
That my soul may serve Him better,
I would be like Jesus. [Refrain]
3 All the way from earth to glory,
I would be like Jesus;
Telling o’er and o’er the story,
I would be like Jesus. [Refrain]
4 That in heaven He may meet me,
I would be like Jesus;
That His words “Well done” may greet me,
I would be like Jesus. [Refrain]
Open Heaven For Today 2025 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Identifying The Jericho Wall 2
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TOPIC: Identifying The Jericho Wall 2
MEMORISE: Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33
READ: 2 Samuel 13:1-14 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 47-50
Open Heaven For Today 2025 MESSAGE
Today, I will continue the discussion I started yesterday on the factors that can hinder a person’s progress.
Sometimes, the wall hindering your progress could be someone you have a relationship with.
Many people don’t know it, but sometimes, even the people you love may be a hindrance to your progress.
In Genesis 12:1-5, Abraham took Lot with him when God called him to leave his family behind and go to a place that He would show him.
However, it wasn’t until Lot separated from him in Genesis 13:14-17 that God spoke and showed him the land He had promised.
The spiritual authority a person submits to can also hinder the fellow’s progress (1 Kings 13:1-24). This is why you must carefully choose your spiritual father or mentor with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
John 15:20 says that the servant cannot be greater than the master. Whomever you choose to be your master will determine how far you can go.
Prayerfully choose someone who is constantly growing so that there won’t be a limit to your progress.
Another kind of person that can be a wall of Jericho that is hindering your progress is your friend.
To a great extent, those you call your friends will determine how far you will go in life.
This was why Solomon warned his son in Proverbs 1:10-15 not to keep company with certain kinds of friends.
When I became born again, one of the first things I did was to change my friends. It was painful, but if I had remained in their company, I would never have come this far in life.
Amnon would have lived a long and good life as a son of David, but he ended up badly because he had the wrong friend. In 2 Samuel 13:3, the Bible says, “But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab…”
There are some people who pose as friends but are actually like the wall of Jericho. If you have such friends, stay away from them because they are enemies of progress.
If you have a friend who you only gossip with, but you never pray or discuss the Bible, that friend will become a hindrance to your progress.
If you have friends whose pieces of advice are always contrary to what the Bible says and are always encouraging you to reduce your dedication to God, such friends are a wall of Jericho between you and God’s perfect plan for your life. Beloved, please run away from such friends.
Prayer Point
Father, please help me to stay away from friends that will hinder my progress in life, in Jesus’ name.
HYMN 28: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
1 Guide me, O my great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.
2 Open now the crystal fountain,
where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
ever be my strength and shield,
ever be my strength and shield.
3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever sing to you,
I will ever sing to you.
Open Heaven For Today 2025 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Identifying The Jericho Wall 1
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TOPIC: Identifying The Jericho Wall 1
MEMORISE: Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; which turneth the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. Psalm 114:7-8
READ: Joshua 6:1-20 (KJV)
1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.
7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.
8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.
9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
11 So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.
17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 44-46
Open Heaven For Today 2025 MESSAGE
In today’s Bible reading, the children of Israel were close to the promised land, but a mighty wall stood in their way.
Joshua knew that their progress would be affected by the wall, and God gave him the strategy to bring the wall down and lead His people into what He had prepared for them.
When it feels like something is obstructing your access to God’s promises, you first need to identify exactly what it is so you can ask God for the strategy to overcome what is hindering your progress.
If you have not identified what is stopping your progress, you may be fighting the wrong battles while the actual enemy remains unchallenged
In many cases, the forces of darkness are the wall of Jericho that hinders the progress of people since the devil’s only job is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
If you notice that something bigger than you is blocking your way when you are about to succeed in an endeavour, you need to pray against that force.
The good news is, Isaiah 54:17 says: 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.
Beloved, if you are a child of God and you’re serving Him diligently, you have the legal right to condemn whatever forces that may arise against you.
Some of these evil forces are stubborn and will not stop if you tell them to go just once. Hence, you need to pray and fast persistently before they go.
Jesus said in Mark 9:29 that some demons cannot be overcome except by prayer and fasting.
If you have done all these and you still cannot see any change, you probably need to find someone who can join you in prayers so you can engage the prayer of agreement.
Deuteronomy 32:30 says: How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
You can also ask a minister of God with higher authority to pray for you. After taking these steps, there is no force that can stand in your way.
Prayer Point
I speak to every force standing in my way of progress; disappear now, in Jesus’ name.
HYMN 10: In Christ Alone
1 In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
2 In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
3 There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
4 No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
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