RCCG Open Heavens 6 August 2026 Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye – NOT BY MIGHT

Topic: NOT BY MIGHT

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Memorise:

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
— Zechariah 4:6 (KJV)

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 (KJV)

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.
12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

RCCG Open Heavens 6 August 2026 Today Message by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

What a person will become during his or her sojourn on earth will not depend solely on the fellow's efforts. African elders have an adage that says, "Hustling and bustling does not translate to wealth." This is true because, for instance, dockworkers who offload cargo from a ship from sunrise to sunset typically would earn only a fraction of what the Chief Executive Officer of a wharf, who sits in an air-conditioned office, sipping tea and merely signing documents, would earn. At the end of a month, the fellow's salary might even be more than what a hefty, hardworking dockworker will earn in a whole year!

Today's Bible reading makes it clear that the fact that a fellow can run swiftly does not mean that he or she will win a race, and the fact that a fellow is strong does not mean that he or she will defeat an enemy. The passage goes on to say that bread is not to the wise, neither are riches to men of understanding. This means that a fellow's advanced level of education alone will not determine how wealthy he or she will become.

I recall that I was in Redemption Camp (now Redemption City) sometime between 1983 and 1984, spending time alone with God, and crying to Him. I said, "God, I'm not asking for clothes, a car, or a house. I was minding my business as a lecturer at the university when You asked me to come and serve You. I agreed, and I really want to serve You; however, I need power to do Your work. I don't want to be an ordinary pastor; I want to excel." In desperation, I added, "God, it is either You empower me, or You take me home." My prayer touched Him, and that night, the entire campground shook due to an earthquake that sent tremors as far as Ijebu Ode, a town several kilometres away. The Lord visited me and empowered me with His anointing to excel.

Beloved, you need God's anointing to excel. It is God who gives power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), it is only His anointing that can teach you everything you need to know (1 John 2:27), and it is only through Him that you can do all things (Philippians 4:13). This is why you must cry out to God to anoint you just as I did several years ago. I pray that my Daddy will empower you to excel, in Jesus' name.

Prayer Point:
Dear Lord, please visit me and empower me to excel, in Jesus' name.

Bible in One Year:
Jeremiah 9-11

Hymn 1: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

Verse 1:
All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Verse 2:
Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Verse 3:
Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all.
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Verse 4:
O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Open Heavens Devotional 6 August 2026 Commentary

Theme: The Burden Bearer reminds you that success is not by might or human effort alone—it is by His Spirit and His anointing. Hard work without God's empowerment leads to frustration; the anointing unlocks supernatural efficiency and excellence.

Major Keywords: Not by might, anointing, Holy Spirit power, supernatural excellence, success by God's Spirit, Daddy Adeboye's testimony.

Commentary Summary:

  • Hustling Is Not Enough: The dockworker works harder but earns less than the CEO because of position and anointing. Ecclesiastes 9:11 declares that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise. Human effort alone does not guarantee success.

  • You Need the Anointing: God gives power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), His anointing teaches you all things (1 John 2:27), and through Him you can do all things (Philippians 4:13). Without the anointing, you remain ordinary; with it, you excel supernaturally.

  • Daddy Adeboye's Testimony: He cried out to God in desperation at Redemption Camp, not for material things, but for power to excel in ministry. God visited him with an earthquake and anointed him to excel. Desperation and seeking God's presence position you for supernatural empowerment.

  • Key Truth: Your education, skill, and hard work have limits. The Spirit of God has none. Cry out to Him for the anointing to do what your natural abilities cannot accomplish.

Reference to Theme: This message, NOT BY MIGHT, establishes that your success in life and ministry depends on God's Spirit, not your own strength. You must be desperate for His anointing, seek Him alone, and expect Him to empower you to excel beyond natural ability.

Action Steps:

  1. The Desperation Check: Are you desperate for God's anointing, or are you just comfortable with your current level of success? If you are not desperate, ask God to give you a holy desperation.

  2. The Prayer Retreat: Set aside time this week to be alone with God. Even if it is just a few hours, separate yourself from distractions. Cry out to Him for empowerment.

  3. The Anointing Audit: Where have you been relying solely on your own effort? Identify one area and ask God for His Spirit to empower you there.

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