Open Heaven For Today 2025 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Handling Opportunities
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TOPIC: Handling Opportunities
MEMORISE: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.. Ecclesiastes 9:11
READ: Ecclesiastes 9:10-11 (KJV)
10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Nehemiah 11-13
Open Heaven For Today 2025 MESSAGE
The author I referred to in yesterday’s teaching also said, “Life is an opportunity; seize it.” I agree with this saying. Indeed, life is an opportunity, and you must grab it with both hands.
I learnt a poem way back in 1957 which says,
“There is a tide in the affairs of men Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries.”
The above poem means that when people take an opportunity and make good use of it, they will attain higher heights; however, if they let it go, it might never be regained. Believe me, God is fair to all. He will, at one time or the other, present you with the opportunities you need to fulfil your destiny. The rest of your life will then depend on how you use the opportunities He has given you.
Today’s memory verse says that time and chance happen to ALL. Everyone will have their time and chance, but some will not seize it.
When some people are struggling, especially the elderly, it is likely that they misused their time and chance when they were younger.
Many people don’t even recognise an opportunity when it comes. This is why you must always be spiritually alert. Imagine what would have become of me if I did not use the opportunity of being in The Redeemed Christian Church of God correctly, or if I had left the church at the slightest provocation. At that time, I wouldn’t have known it, but I would have walked away from my destiny.
People who are easily offended often miss their opportunities because opportunities sometimes come in unattractive packages. For Samuel, his opportunity came in the house of Eli and his wayward sons. If Samuel had gotten offended as a child and told his mother that he wanted to return home, he might have missed the opportunity to become the great prophet whose word never fell to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19).
For David, his opportunity came when he obeyed his father’s instruction to take food to the battlefield for his brothers (1 Samuel 17:14-20). I pray that you will discern your opportunities and use them well, in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point
Father, help me see the opportunities You send my way, and please empower me to seize them, in Jesus’ name.
HYMN 15: Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour
1 Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
2 Let me at a throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief. [Refrain]
3 Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace. [Refrain]
4 Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in heav’n but Thee? [Refrain]
Open Heaven For Today 2025 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Life Is A Challenge
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TOPIC: Life Is A Challenge
MEMORISE: The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. Proverbs 12:24
READ: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 (KJV)
1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Nehemiah 8-10
Open Heaven For Today 2025 MESSAGE
An author once said, “Life is a challenge; meet it.” I would even go further to say, “Rise above it.” Nowadays, however, many young people are seeking a ‘soft life’; there is nothing like a soft life. When I was in secondary school, my teacher taught me that every human being brought a pillow into this world, which must be used before we leave. If some people choose not to use the pillow when they are young, they will definitely use it when they are old. According to my teacher, that pillow represents hardship.
If young people choose to put aside pleasures and go through the hardship of discipline to study, work hard, and nurture the right relationships in their youth, they will enjoy their old age. However, if they choose to party and play around in their youth, when they are old, they will either be lonely or have no choice but to work hard to make ends meet. What my teacher called a pillow is what the Bible calls “the yoke’ in Lamentations 3:27:
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
There is no easy road to success; the fact that a fellow was born by a successful person does not mean that the person will succeed in life.
If you are a youth and you want to reign in life, shun laziness. You must also remember your creator in the days of your youth before the difficult days come (Ecclesiastes 12:1). You don’t own your life; take up your cross and follow Jesus so that it can be well with you all the days of your life.
Key Point
Those who rule and reign in life are those who are diligent.
HYMN 23: 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 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – From Healing To Experiencing Miracles
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TOPIC: From Healing To Experiencing Miracles
MEMORISE: That which was from the beginning, which we have neard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of life: 1 John 1:1
READ: Mark 5:25-34 (KJV)
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 8-10
Open Heaven For Today 2025 MESSAGE
There is nothing like being a testifier and experiencing testimonies personally. When you read of mighty miracles in the Bible or hear testimonies of the great things God has done for His people, you might not fully understand His ‘Almightiness’. However, this will not be the case if you personally experience His supernatural intervention.
Before the spies came to Jericho in Joshua 2:1-23, Rahab had heard of the many mighty miracles of God. She hadn’t seen any of those miracles. but she believed them and her faith eventually made her experience some of God’s miracles. When you hear a testimony or read about something that God did in the Scriptures, let it build faith in you.
The faith built from the testimonies you hear can help you to also experience miracles, like the woman in today’s Bible reading who was reported to have heard about Jesus (Mark 5:27).
I struggled to believe in divine healing and health when I first became born again. In those days, I was always down with malaria and I kept taking medications. One day, I saw an elderly man, whom I had always known to have a bent back, walking perfectly upright in church. I was eager to know what had happened to him, and while sharing his testimony, he said that he had gone to evangelize as usual when someone started insulting him in the neighborhood. The fellow told him that if his God is so powerful, He would have healed him from his condition.
On hearing this, the man said that he got angry and stood straight. He said that even though his back was burning with pain, he stood straight because he couldn’t stand hearing someone talk about his God in that manner.
On getting to his house, the pain disappeared completely. When I heard that testimony, my faith was stirred. and I knew that divine health was possible. I allowed Jesus to become my doctor, and by His grace, I have not had to take malaria medications ever since. I experienced a miracle because my faith increased when I heard someone else’ testimony.
Beloved, if you have heard a testimony from someone about a kind of miracle that you are believing God for, let it build faith in you. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34); if He has given someone a miracle, He is willing and able to do the same for you. I pray that you will experience a mighty miracle from God today, in Jesus’ name.
Action Point
Meditate on testimonies concerning the things you are believing God for until they build faith in you.
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 2025 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – From Prophecy To Decree
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TOPIC: From Prophecy To Decree
MEMORISE: And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1:3
READ: Psalm 33:6-9 (KJV)
6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 8-10
Open Heaven For Today 2025 MESSAGE
Prophecies can be conditional. For instance, Isaiah 1:19 says that you will eat the good of the land if you are willing and obedient. Also, Isaiah 3:10 says, “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him…” However, when it comes to decrees, God does not attach conditions. In today’s memory verse, He said,
“Let there be light,” and there was light.
There had been many prophecies concerning Abraham, including prophecies that he would be the father of many nations and that his children would be as many as the stars in the sky. However, in Genesis 18:14, God simply said, “In nine months’ time, Sarah will give birth to a son.” That is a clear example of turning a prophecy into a decree.
As a child of God, there is always something you need to do to turn prophecies into decrees.
When you provoke a blessing from God, He is likely to turn the prophecies He has given you into decrees. To provoke God into doing this, you need to honour Him. Honouring God does not always have to do with material things.
Abraham didn’t give his visitors any gifts; he simply honoured them by hosting them in his home. You can honour God by simply obeying His commands, such as His command to win souls (Matthew 28:19-20). You can also honour Him by serving in your local assembly and honouring him with your firstfruits (Proverbs 3:9).
Another way to honour God is by having faith in His word. In Luke 7:1-10, when the centurion sent the elder of the Jews to plead with Jesus to come and heal his sick servant, Jesus was ready to do so until the man sent his friends to say, “Lord, you don’t have to come to my house because I believe Your word is just as powerful as You are. Just speak a word, and my servant will be healed” (Luke 7:6-8). Jesus was amazed at the man’s faith, and his servant was healed immediately. Giving God thanks is yet another way to honour Him.
In Luke 17:12-19, ten lepers cried out to Jesus for mercy, and He asked them to show themselves to the priests. They received their healing on the way, but only one of them returned to glorify God. Jesus then decreed his wholeness because he returned to give thanks.
Beloved, as you follow these principles, I pray that every good prophecy you have received will become a decree, in Jesus’ name.
Key Point
You can provoke God into turning His prophecies concerning you into decrees by honouring Him.
HYMN 15: Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour
1 Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
2 Let me at a throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief. [Refrain]
3 Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace. [Refrain]
4 Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in heav’n but Thee? [Refrain]
Open Heaven For Today 2025 Sunday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Created For A Purpose
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TOPIC: Created For A Purpose
MEMORISE: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Isaiah 46:11
READ: Ephesians 1:9-12 (KJV)
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 1-4
Open Heaven For Today 2025 MESSAGE
If a boy who was sent on an urgent and important errand by his parents stops to play football on the way, how do you think his parents will feel when they discover his foolishness? This is similar to what many people do concerning God’s assignment for their lives. God has sent everyone on earth to fulfil a purpose. However, many people put God’s purpose aside and start doing whatever they like.
Before your birth, God prepared an assignment for you to fulfil on the earth. Everyone created by God has a purpose (Ephesians 2:10), and God has a general plan into which His specific purpose for your life fits. In Galatians 1:13-16, Paul said that God separated him unto Himself from his mother’s womb. By the end of his life, He said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 4:7). John the Baptist knew that God sent him ahead of Jesus to prepare a way for Him and announce His arrival to the Israelites (John 1:29-36). When Jesus came to him, he declared, “…Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Because he did his assignment very well, Jesus gave this testimonial about him: “… Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:” (Matthew 11:1l). What will God’s testimonial about you be? You have a particular assignment on earth, and you must not let anything prevent you from fulfilling it.
Determine not to allow anything stop you from becoming who God has ordained you to be. While it is commendable for someone to know God’s purpose, it is also necessary for that fellow to fulfil God’s purpose God’s way. For example, Moses was destined to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, but he first attempted to do it his own way, and it almost cost him his life. God had to put him through a refining process that eventually set him on the right path (Exodus 2:11-15).
Beloved, God has a special purpose for your life, and He also has the blueprint you must follow to fulfil it. This is why you cannot afford not to have an intimate relationship with Him. Your relationship with Him will determine whether you will keep in step with Him to fulfil His purpose for your life or not. I pray that nothing will distract you from fulfilling God’s purpose for your life, in Jesus’ name.
Key Point
Cultivate and maintain an intimate relationship with God so you can fulfil His purpose for your life.
HYMN 4: To The Work! To The Work! We Are Servants Of God
1 To the work! to the work! we are servants of God,
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the might of His power our strength to renew,
Let us do by His grace what He calls us to do.
Work for Him by His grace;
Work thru Him for His praise;
Work with Him all the days;
And work in Him in many ways.
2 To the work! to the work! let the hungry be fed;
To the fountain of life let the thirsty be led;
In the cross and its vict’ry our glory shall be,
While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”
3 To the work! to the work! in the strength of the Lord,
By the pow’r of His Name, with the light of His Word,
All the slaves of the darkness of Satan set free
And His riches of grace in His glory we’ll see.
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