Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday December 31, 2014: IT PAYS TO LIVE HOLY II

TOPIC: IT PAYS TO LIVE HOLY II

Memorise: For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. Zechariah 2:5
 
Read: Job 1:8-10
1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 

MESSAGE
Everybody in this world wants to be secure. Witchcraft is prospering because people feel insecure and they are looking for security from any available source. The unfortunate thing is that, looking for security from the forces of darkness is looking for security from the very person who wants to destroy you. Those who are living a holy life have the protection of the Lord Almighty. This is because God has built a hedge around them. In Job 1:9-10, the Bible tells us that God had put a hedge around Job and his household. God put a hedge around Job because he served Him. Job got into the predicament that befell him because God wanted to prove a point to Satan. Around every holy child of God, there is an unseen wall. Satan cannot pass through this wall because it is made of fire. The Bible in Zechariah 2:5 says,

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday December 30, 2014: IT PAYS TO LIVE HOLY I

TOPIC: IT PAYS TO LIVE HOLY I

Memorise: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Romans 6:22

Read: Proverbs 11:17-18
11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

 MESSAGE
There is a sure reward for all those who are living holy. Men will go the extra mile to get a great reward from an endeavour, no matter the sacrifices it may require of them. Holiness requires from us certain sacrifices; we have to forgo certain things. I can assure you that there are several rewards for living holy. God is not merely asking us to live holy; He also promises “sure rewards” for living holy. For example, long life is a sure reward of holy living according to Proverbs 11:19. Sin leads to death while holiness leads to life. You will die young if you are indulging in sin. But if you are living holy, Satan will not be able to get you into a snare that can lead you to death. Another reward is found in Hosea 10:12:

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday December 29, 2014: BE STEADFAST IN FAITH

TOPIC: BE STEADFAST IN FAITH

Memorise: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
 
Read: Revelation 3:7-11
3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday December 28, 2014: PERFECT CHRISTIAN?

TOPIC: PERFECT CHRISTIAN?

Memorise: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Read: Job 1:5-8
1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday December 27, 2014: IS GOD SILENT?

TOPIC: IS GOD SILENT?

Memorise: Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1

Read: Isaiah 59:1-3
59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday December 26, 2014: CHRISTIAN COURTSHIP

TOPIC: CHRISTIAN COURTSHIP

Memorise: Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4
 
Read: Ephesians 4:14-15
4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

MESSAGE
It is one thing to choose the right partner in marriage; it is another thing to choose the right approach to courtship. A wrong approach to courtship, particularly Christian courtship, can have a negative impact on the right choice. Therefore, believers that are in courtship must be Christian through and through if they would eat the good of the land of marriage (Isaiah 1:19). An important lesson for ladies to learn is that, a man is at his best in courtship. He would call you by different pet names. He would tease you and make you feel secure. These are the normal sweet words you should hear in courtship. However, when the wedding ceremony is over, his hidden shortcomings will be exposed because he can no longer hide them. The saying that “love is blind” is true but marriage is the tool to open the eyes of the blind lover. You will discover the real personality of a man or woman after the wedding ceremony.

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday December 25, 2014: RIGHT CHOICE IN MARRIAGE

TOPIC: RIGHT CHOICE IN MARRIAGE

Memorise: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  2 Corinthians 6:14
 
Read: 1 Kings 11:1-4
11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
11:2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday December 24, 2014: RIGHT CHOICE?

TOPIC: RIGHT CHOICE?

Memorise: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Deuteronomy 30:19
 
Read: Deuteronomy 30:19-20
30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
30:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

MESSAGE
There comes a time in the life of everyone that a choice has to be made between two alternatives. Choice means deciding between possibilities. It means accepting an option while rejecting another. For every choice made, there is always an alternative forgone. This is why it is important to make the right choice in life. It is unfortunate that some so-called Christians don’t have an alternative forgone. They want to have their cake and eat it at the same time. They want to be in Christ and at the same time be in the world. 1 John 2:15-17 means nothing to them. As long as you are alive, you will be confronted with making choices. It might be the choice of a career, the business to run, the partner to marry, a call to fulfil, the location to dwell in or the God to serve.

“And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.”
Jeremiah 21:8

One of the most critical choices to make in life is the choice between death and life. You need to take responsibility for your life by making choices that will make you live. This includes choosing whom to serve. This is the greatest choice to make in life. This choice determines the kind of life you will live on earth and where you will spend eternity. Choosing to serve God is the greatest decision because the consequence goes beyond this world. Jesus made it clear that His servants would be with Him in glory. Being a follower of a hero is not as important as knowing the end of the hero. Jesus in John 12:26 said:

“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
 
Moses called heaven and earth to witness, when he asked the children of Israel to choose between the gods of the heathen and the God of their fathers, and by implication between the life-giving God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the dead gods of the nations around them (Deuteronomy 30:15-18). Who is your master, Jesus or Satan? Jesus made it clear that after death, no one can switch over to the destination of a master he or she did not serve while here on earth. In other words, the devil cannot claim sincere followers of Jesus Christ, just as the followers of the devil cannot spend eternity with Jesus except they repent before their death. Therefore, choose whom you will serve today – Jesus or Satan? I encourage you to choose Jesus, the Giver of life.

Action Point: Decide to serve God through Jesus today because He is The Way, The Truth and The Life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ACTS 12: 6-13:52; SONG OF SOLOMON 3

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday December 23, 2014: NO IMPOSSIBILITY

TOPIC: NO IMPOSSIBILITY

Memorise: For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37
 
Read: 2 Kings 2:9-10
2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 

MESSAGE
Elijah told Elisha that he had asked a hard thing, after the latter requested for a double portion of his anointing. This tells us that even for a great prophet of God, there were things considered hard and difficult. However, in Matthew 19:26, we are told that all things are possible with God. The track record of God’s almightiness shows that truly nothing can be difficult for Him. All we need to do is to leave everything in His hands. He is capable of doing what no earthly president or emperor can do because the Psalmist says that power belongs to God (Psalm 62:11). Even when a man promises to do something for you, what he can do is limited to the extent his strength can carry him, whereas God has unlimited power and resources. Also, the influence of a man determines what he can do to influence your situation positively. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday December 22, 2014: FORSAKING ALL TO GAIN ALL

TOPIC: FORSAKING ALL TO GAIN ALL

Memorise: And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.  1 Kings 17:15
 
Read: Mark 10:28-30
10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday December 21, 2014: DETECTING FALSE PROPHETS

TOPIC: DETECTING FALSE PROPHETS

 Memorise:
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

Read: 1 John 4:1-4
4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
4:3 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.
4:4 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. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday December 20, 2014: THE FULLNESS OF TIME

TOPIC: THE FULLNESS OF TIME

Memorise: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1
 
Read: Acts 2:1-4
2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

MESSAGE
When the day of Pentecost was fully come, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus Christ. This event makes it clear that our God is a God of times and seasons (Daniel 2:20-21). If you look at the life of Elizabeth - the mother of John the Baptist, you may be wondering: Why the delay of the fruit of the womb in the life of such a devoted daughter of Zion? The answer is found in the later event of the birth of John the Baptist, who Jesus Christ acknowledged as the greatest of all the prophets (Matthew 11:11). He was born by the same woman that was considered barren for many decades. When the fullness of time came, Elizabeth conceived and gave birth to the forerunner of the Messiah (Luke 1:11-16). 

The Almighty God moves very fast whenever He wants to do something. When it seems God is slow in taking action, you can be sure that it is because His time has not fully come. God is not a slow worker at all. This is established from the creation story where in six days, God accomplished the creation of the entire universe (Genesis 1). There is a time in a man’s life when delay is not a good option. In 1 Samuel 17:51, we read of the fast move of God in David’s life. It would have been another story if David had delayed in separating the head of Goliath from his body after the stone from his sling had dazed Goliath to the ground. The Bible says:

“Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.“

One characteristic of the fullness of God’s time is its sudden arrival. The Bible says:

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:1-2
 
It took God just one day to kick away famine from Samaria according to 2 Kings 7:1-18. Suddenly, food became surplus in the land after God moved into the situation of a people who had started killing their children for food. For someone using this devotional, you will receive sudden breakthroughs this season in Jesus’ Name. Your day of celebration shall fully come this season in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please let my miracle come suddenly in a way that the enemy will not be able to do anything about it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ACTS 4-5; ECCLESIASTES 12: 9-14

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday December 19, 2014: WHAT DO YOU WANT? II

TOPIC: WHAT DO YOU WANT? II

Memorise: Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. Esther 5:3
 
Read: Proverbs 4:7-8
4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 


MESSAGE
The awesomeness of wisdom is stated in the Bible reading of today. There are lots of lessons on wisdom we can learn from the experiences of Bible heroes and heroines like Solomon and Esther. One of such lessons is this: 
 “There are things that money cannot buy, but wisdom can get you almost everything you need in life”.  

Open Heavens Devtional for Tuesday December 16, 2014: GATES AND EVERLASTING DOORS

TOPIC: GATES & EVERLASTING DOORS

Memorise: Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18
 
Read: Psalm 24:7-10
24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
 
Message
When you work like an elephant and eat like an ant or you are sorrowful while others are rejoicing, it may be that you are under the influence of gates and everlasting doors. When you continue to meet brick walls in all directions you move, you may be under the influence of gates or everlasting doors. The good news for someone using this devotional is that God is going to lift the negative gates and everlasting doors that have been standing on your way to success today in Jesus’ Name. There are lessons to learn from today’s Bible passage. The first is that gates have heads, and whatever has a head must also have a body, and whatever has a head and a body is an entity. Secondly, these entities are unseen, which means that they are spiritual entities that cannot die. Therefore, it takes the power of the Most High to deal with them. I pray that every spiritual entity working against your progress shall be destroyed today in Jesus’ Name.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12
 
For us to deal with spiritual gates and everlasting doors, we need spiritual weapons. This is the reason why the Holy Spirit said that we should put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:11). What are the components of the armour of God? The armour includes: truth, righteousness and the acceptance of the gospel of peace. This means that for evil gates and doors to shift ground for your good, you must be born-again by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 3:5). Not only this, you must also live in truth and righteousness. Moreover, you must take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the word of God with prayer and supplication. The King of Glory will come into your life and the situation of gates and everlasting doors will disappear. 

There was a rich man who was plagued with negative gates. When we were called to assist him with prayers so that he might be delivered, we asked him to give his life to Christ but he refused. The gate and everlasting doors of Hell got rid of him. My prayer for you is that you will not be a victim but a victor in Jesus’ Name. For this to happen, today is the day of salvation for you if you are a sinner. If you are a backslidden believer, you must repent and return to your first love.

Prayer Point: Father, every evil gate and everlasting door blocking my way to breakthrough, destroy them completely today in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ESTHER 1-3:15; ECCLESIASTES 9: 13-10:7

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday December 15, 2014: FEAR,NOT A CHRISTIAN VIRTUE

TOPIC: FEAR, NOT A CHRISTIAN VIRTUE

Memorise: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
 
Read: Psalm 91:5-6
91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 
 
Message
You have nothing to fear if you have given your life to Jesus. Those of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ can say with all boldness that we shall not be afraid. Today’s Bible reading says that: provided you surrender your life to the Almighty God and provided you are dwelling in His secret place, and provided you are abiding under His shadow, you have nothing to fear. Fear is from the devil. There was no fear until the devil crept in. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday December 14, 2014: POWER TO MAKE HEAVEN

TOPIC: POWER TO MAKE HEAVEN

Memorise: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  Revelation 3:21
 
Read: Revelation 3:20-22
3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday December 13, 2014: POWER TO GET WEALTH

TOPIC: POWER TO GET WEALTH

Memorise: Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Proverbs 8:18
 
Read: Malachi 3:10-12
3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. 

MESSAGE
There are many misconceptions about some issues of life that the children of God must rid themselves of. One of such issues is wealth. The Almighty God said in Proverbs 8:18:

“Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.”
 
Can you believe it that God is in possession of riches and righteousness? This revelation counters the notion that you cannot be righteous and be rich at the same time. Today, I decree that power to get wealth shall come upon you in Jesus’ Name. Many people think that wealth is alien to God and that the realm of riches belongs to the devil. Hence, they go after the devil who deceives them to think that he is the custodian of riches. The devil dangled this lie at Jesus in Luke 4:5-7, but He did not fall for it. The truth is: only God gives power to get wealth. He blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in their generations (Genesis 22:15-18, Genesis 26:12-14, Genesis 30:43).

For those of us upon whom the ends of the world are come, in Deuteronomy 8:18, God said:

“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
 
When Jabez cried unto God in 1 Chronicles 4:10, God blessed him beyond people’s wildest imagination. This same God will give you power to get wealth today in Jesus’ Name. The despondent fisherman - Peter, suddenly became prosperous when He encountered the King of Glory at the lake of Gennesaret. He was looking for additional hands to help him gather in his great harvest of fishes (Luke 5:4-9). 

The question now is: “How do we get this power to become wealthy?” Simple, according to Deuteronomy 8:18, remember the Lord God who supplies power to get wealth. Worship Him with fear and trembling. We must learn to meditate on His word and follow its principles (Joshua 1:8, Deuteronomy 28:1). We must not forget to imitate Him in hard work because, this same God that said “riches and honour are with me” is still busy working, according to Jesus Christ in John 5:17. So, hard work will open the flood gate of wealth to you. You must not be lazy (Proverbs 10:4). Furthermore, we must obey His commandments in the area of tithe, offering and giving of first fruits (Malachi 3:10). We must also remember the needy, the widow and the orphans (Proverbs 19:17). Finally, we must live and spend our income prudently and modestly (Proverbs 21:17).

Prayer Point: Father, please give me power to get wealth and I promise I will remember you, worship you and remember the needy according to your word.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: NEHEMIAH 6: 15-8:18; ECCLESIASTES 8:10-17

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014

Open Heavens devotional for Friday December 12, 2014: POWER TO ASK AND TO RECEIVE

TOPIC: POWER TO ASK AND TO TO RECEIVE

Memorise: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 1 John 5:14

Read: 1 John 5:14-15
5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

MESSAGE
Many people do not know that there is power behind asking and receiving. If you do not believe this, study the story of Jesus and His disciples’ encounter with the demon-possessed boy in Matthew 17:14-20. Only the children of God can decree a thing and have it established (Job 22:28). This is why it is important to be born-again if you want to possess the power to ask and to receive what you ask for. The boldness to ask (in faith) and the power to receive belong to God and He gives these to His children.

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday December 11, 2014: POWER TO BECOME A CHILD OF GOD

TOPIC: POWER TO BECOME A CHILD OF GOD

Memorise: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

Read: John 1:9-13
1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 
 
MESSAGE
There is virtually nothing anyone can do without power. Power is described as the ability to act or produce an effect. It is also described as possession of control, authority, or influence over others. The types of power available in this world include: physical, mental, political, economic and spiritual. The good thing about the type of power we are considering today is that it pervades all spheres of human endeavour. This power is the power to become a child of God. It takes a great deal of power to become a child of God; therefore, if anyone wants to become a child of God, he or she must access the power that is required to bring about this transformation. This power is accessed by receiving Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. The power to become whatever God designed you to be shall come upon you today in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday December 10, 2014: SERVICE TO THE ANOINTED

TOPIC: SERVICE TO THE ANOINTED

Memorise: He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
Matthew 10:41
 
Read: Matthew 10:40-42
10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday December 9, 2014: WHAT TO DO TO GET THE BEST

TOPIC: WHAT TO DO TO GET THE BEST

Memorise: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Read: Philippians 4:15-17
4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 

MESSAGE
One of the qualities which earned Elisha greatness is hard work. Even if God decides to bless you today, there is a level you may never get to if you are lazy. Those who want extraordinary blessings must be prepared to work extraordinarily hard. The Bible in Proverbs 22:29 says,

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday December 8, 2014: YOUR BEST IS ON THE WAY

TOPIC: YOUR BEST IS ON THE WAY

Memorise: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
 
Read: 1 Kings 19:19-21
19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
19:20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
19:21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday December 6, 2014: HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS

TOPIC: HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS

Memorise: For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Job 14:7
 
Read: 2 Kings 4:1-7
4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
4:2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
4:3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4:4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
4:5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
4:6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
4:7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday December 5, 2014: SECRETS OF ABUNDANCE II

TOPIC: SECRETS OF ABUNDANCE II

Memorise: But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.  Luke 4:26
 
Read: Luke 4:25-26
4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

MESSAGE 
Working hard and praying hard are prerequisite to enjoying God’s abundance. Apart from these, another secret of abundance is consistent sowing. You must keep sowing if you want to experience abundant life. The first seed you sow may open the door to blessings, but it takes persistent sowing to keep the door of blessings open. Let us take a closer look at the story of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:10-16). What opened the door of blessing to her was the first cake she made for Elijah, but what kept the food flowing was the fact that everyday, she kept on making cakes for Elijah. Your initial act of giving can take you to a level of abundant blessing. 

However, what will lead you to the level of ultimate abundance is persistent giving. The loss would have been unimaginable, if by the third day, this widow had stopped giving. This would have resulted in the drying up of her source of supply. Let us also learn a lesson from Solomon’s example. The first time he sacrificed unto God, he offered a thousand offerings. God prospered Him in no small measure through a mighty harvest that was unleashed on him. The next time he sacrificed unto God, he offered twenty two thousand oxen. 1 Kings 8:63 says:

“And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.”

Solomon kept on increasing in wealth because he kept on giving. At the end, he attained the level of ultimate financial breakthrough. He became so rich that nobody could attempt to count the amount of silver he had. For someone reading this devotional, you will become so rich that only higher denominations of money will matter to you. When your workers bring in the proceeds from your business, you will tell them to hand in the higher denominations and keep the lower denominations for themselves. Let’s ask ourselves this question: 

“What is the mystery behind the giving done by the widow of Zarephath?”

It is an uncommon faith in God. It is this faith that made her to give her only means of sustenance. She gave her only food to Elijah because she needed to surrender the future into the hands of the God of Elijah. For these secrets of abundant blessing to work for you, you must first give your life to Jesus Christ. You must surrender your life to Him today if you have not done so already. Today can become your moment of supernatural breakthrough.

Prayer Point: Father, I hand over my life to you; take care of my future in the Name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 CHRONICLES 33:1-34:33; ECCLESIASTES 4:1-16

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday December 4, 2014: SECRETS OF ABUNDANCE I

TOPIC: SECRETS OF ABUNDANCE I

Memorise: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
 
Read: Genesis 26:12-14
26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
26:13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
26:14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. 


MESSAGE:
You must be prepared to work hard if you want abundance. Nevertheless, it is quite a different thing to work hard, and another thing to experience abundance. Although God may grant you open doors to financial favour, it is your responsibility to work towards getting to the pinnacle of all-round abundance. To achieve this, you will be required to do a great deal of hard work. Diligence in hard work is always rewarded. Farmers work hard to reap beautiful harvest. When farmers sow seeds, they begin to grow, but weeds also alongside the seeds sown. Therefore, besides nurturing the good seeds, you must also work hard to get rid of weeds. You are not only expected to work hard, but also to pray hard. Anyone who desires an encounter with the Almighty, which would yield the ultimate abundant blessing, must be ready to work and pray hard.

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday December 3, 2014: WAIT FOR YOUR HARVEST II

TOPIC: WAIT FOR YOUR HARVEST II

Memorise: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:4

Read: Hebrews 6:11-15
6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 


MESSAGE:
I learnt a valuable lesson some years ago. When the crowd of participants at our monthly Holy Ghost service began to increase, I decided to select seven elders to help in the area of ministering to people. I gave each of them neckties that I had used during previous ministrations. “Put on these neckties; they are already soaked with God’s anointing during my previous ministrations” I told them. Whenever they wore those neckties and ministered, supernatural miracles always occurred. As signs and wonders happened in the area of ministration, something else happened in my own life. I was showered with gifts of neckties. 

Each time my close acquaintances travelled, they came back with just one type of gift - neckties. Wherever they travelled to, the only gifts they brought to me were neckties. Then I asked God, “Why are these people just giving me neckties? Can’t they come up with some other gifts beside neckties?” God gave me insight into what was happening. He said, “Son, if you sow ties, you will reap ties.” I quickly got the message and decided to start sowing shoes. I located pastors who wore my shoe size and I gave them a good number of my shoes, among which were some of my best shoes. I expected a harvest of new shoes in the first month following my act of giving, but there was no gift of shoes for me. 

When another month rolled by and there was still no gift of shoes for me, I went to God and said, “Daddy, you told me that if I sow, I would reap.” It was then the Lord taught me another lesson, He said, “Son, if you plant maize, you can harvest it within three months, but if you plant yam, you will wait a little longer”. The Almighty God said to me, “Shoes are of greater value than ties, the greater the quality of the seed sown, the more time you will have to spend in waiting for the harvest. You have planted shoes and you will have to wait a little longer; but the moment the harvest starts, there will be no stopping it”. Later, I was showered with shoes of all sizes and colours: big, small, white, green, black and all kinds of sophisticated shoes. When the harvest eventually came in full, I was pleasantly surprised. James 5:7 says, 

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
 
If you have sown any seed, your harvest will soon come. Just wait a little while and your harvest will locate you in the Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please let my harvest come speedily and help me not to be weary in well-doing.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 CHRONICLES 29:3-30:27; ECCLESIASTES 3:16-22

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday December 2, 2014: WAIT FOR YOUR HARVEST I

TOPIC: WAIT FOR YOUR HARVEST I

Memorise: Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
James 5:7

Read: Genesis 8:20-22
8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Message
There is a time span between seedtime and harvest time. The time between sowing and harvesting could be short or long depending on the type of seed sown. If the seed is significant, you may have to wait for some time before you reap the harvest. Farmers are never in a hurry. They know that they must wait for the harvest if they desire a good yield. Some believers are of the opinion that one can sow in the morning and reap in the evening. It is quite possible, but it depends on what you want to harvest. Some crops can be harvested within three to six months, while others may require more than one year before the farmer can harvest them. There is no magic in farming as there are set procedures for planting and harvesting. 

When a farmer plants seeds, it dies and sprouts again; then within a specific period, it grows until it bears fruit. It is at this maturity stage that the famers begin to harvest. So, you have to wait for the time of harvest. As the Lord lives, the harvest will surely come if you sow on a good ground in Jesus’ Name. Children of God must learn to wait for their harvest to come. It is sad to note that some children of God are too much in a hurry to take their harvest. This is why they go into practices that are not Christ-like and in so doing they get their spiritual fingers burnt by the fire of lust and greed. The Bible in James 5:7 says:

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”

Your harvest can take any form. It may be a promotion or recognition for hard work. While faithfully serving an organisation for instance, you must learn to wait for management to appreciate your sense of devotion to duty and not agitate for recognition. It will be tantamount to blowing your own trumpet if you do so. As a matter of fact, it may be that you are merely ambitious but you think you are putting in your best. It may shock you if your employer declares that your so-called best is not good enough for recognition! When I lived in the village, any farmer who hurriedly harvested his yam tubers ended up denying himself a bumper harvest, as he would have disturbed the yams from developing into large tubers. Such unripe yam tubers are not as delicious as those which reach the ripe age before harvest. I pray that the Almighty Father will give you the patience to wait for bountiful harvest from your sown seeds in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, give me adequate patience to wait for my day of glorification in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 CHRONICLES 26: 1-29:2; ECCLESIASTES 3:1-15

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014 

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday December 1, 2014: GIVERS NEVER LACK

TOPIC: GIVERS NEVER LACK

Memorise: There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Proverbs 11:24

Read: Luke 6:38
6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday November 30, ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE

TOPIC: ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE

Memorise: And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Isaiah 10:27

Read: Psalm 26:1-6
1 A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday November 29, 2014: CAST YOUR BURDEN ON CHRIST

TOPIC:CAST YOUR BURDEN ON CHRIST

Memorise: Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Read: 1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Message:
What a marvellous thing to know that I don’t need to bear my burden by myself anymore. We have an express and authoritative assurance that God carries our loads of burden. This means that I need not get worried over anything anymore. In fact, His word in Psalm 55:22 is not a mere admonition, it is a command. In it He says:

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday November 28, 2014: VICTORIOUS IN JESUS

TOPIC: VICTORIOUS IN JESUS

Memorise: 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. Isaiah 54:17

Read: Deuteronomy 30:19-20
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. 
 
Message:
Some of life’s experiences are contrasting pairs. There is the good and the bad, success and failure, progress and retardation, joy and sorrow, peace and trouble, the list goes on. It is my prayer that your experiences in life will not consist of the negative element of the various contrasting pairs in Jesus’ Name. Nevertheless, much as no sane person will wish for himself the negative aspects of life, there is no single person that will not face a challenge of life at one point or the other. Life’s challenges vary in nature and magnitude. There are challenges that come as a result of efforts towards achieving greatness, these are necessary in order to attain greater heights. Anyone facing such should be prepared to tackle them with endurance and the assistance of God.

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday November 27, 2014: WORLD CHANGERS

TOPIC: WORLD CHANGERS

Memorise: And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Acts 17:6

Read: Acts 8:5-12
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Message:
Jesus left a group of 11 apostles behind when He ascended to heaven. He left them with a purpose and a mission to the world. He left them in the world, not to get absorbed or influenced by it, but to change it. Did they succeed? They very well did. Not long after Jesus had gone, in far away Thessalonica, the people exclaimed that the Christian brethren had “turned the world upside down”. This was an acknowledgement of the fact that they had brought change to the world (Acts 17:6).

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday November 26, 2014: THE ALL-KNOWING GOD

TOPIC: THE ALL-KNOWING GOD

Memorise: O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Psalm 139:1

Read: Psalm 139:1-6
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
 
Message:
God is the only one whose knowledge covers both actual and possible happenings. He knows everything about things that are, and He has the knowledge of all things that could have been. Concerning you, He knows everything, down to the very thought of your heart. Even the things you will think of in future, He knows them (Psalm 139: 1-2). The devil’s knowledge is not in any way close to the level of God’s knowledge at all. He does not know the thought of your heart unless you reveal it one way or the other. Don’t ever make the mistake of equating Satan’s level of knowledge with that of God. Although Satan makes the most of his limited knowledge in advancing the interest of his kingdom, God is able to turn his wisdom and the wisdom of all your enemies into foolishness. This was demonstrated in the case of Moses, who was born to deliver Israel from their captivity in Egypt.

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday 25th November, 2014: DIVINE COMPASSION

TOPIC: DIVINE COMPASSION

Memorise: And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 

                  - Luke 7:13

Read: Luke 7:12-15

12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Message
At many times, the compassion that we as human beings show towards the plight of others cannot go beyond sympathising with them. This is especially so in the face of serious and intimidating needs, pains or sorrowful incidents. We plead with others, speak words of encouragement and consolation, and of course we pray with them. This is understandable, but why is it so? It is so because we are humans and not God, creatures and not the Creator. With God however, it is a different situation.

God’s compassion always leads to a definite action that brings about a change in the situation and experience of the one on whom He shows compassion. Someone actually described God’s compassion as mercy in action. Divine action always accompanies divine compassion, to the extent that the most hopeless situation can be brought back to life again, just like it happened in the case of the dead body of Lazarus, which had been in the grave for four (4) days, but was brought back to life again (John 11). What is that situation in your life that is considered hopeless and for which you are tired of human limited compassionate expressions. In the Name of Jesus, your case will receive the attention of God’s compassion this season and shall be transformed.

Consider the case of the widow in our Bible text. Humanly speaking, her case of tragedy had gotten to a point of no return by reason of the demise of her only source of consolation, following the death of her husband (i.e. her only son). Indeed, she received a great outpouring of limited human compassion, which could not go beyond weeping and wailing along with her, and accompanying her with the remains of her son to his grave. Just then, a drastic turn to her situation occurred because the divine compassion of God in Jesus Christ met her. I say to you in that trouble of yours, God’s compassion is engaging you for a complete turn-around now in Jesus’ Name. The Bible records in Luke 7:13-15 that:

“And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.“

Hallelujah! God will have compassion on you and you will have testimonies in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point: Pick an issue confronting you or your family, ask that the compassion of God be made manifest in that situation in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 5:2-7:3 ; Proverbs 31: 1-15

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014