Open Heavens Devotional For Thursday 31st July, 2014: A FRIEND IN JESUS

TOPIC: A FRIEND IN JESUS

Memorise: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14

Read: 1 Samuel 20:16-17
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.
17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday 30th July, 2014: SUCCESSFUL THROUGH MEDITATION

TOPIC: SUCCESSFUL THROUGH MEDITATION

Memorise: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8
 
Read: Psalm 1:1-6
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Open Heavens Devotional For Tuesday 29th July, 2014: BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS!

TOPIC: BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS!

Memorise: Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Corinthians 12:3

Read: John 14:26-27
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday, July 28, 2014: READY TO WORK?

TOPIC: READY TO WORK?

Memorise: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Philippians 3:13

Read: Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday 27th July,2014: WEEP NOT!

TOPIC: WEEP NOT!

Memorise: And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. Isaiah 63:5

Read: Isaiah 63:4-5
4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday 26th July, 2014: BLESSING AND LOCATION

TOPIC: BLESSING AND LOCATION

Memorise: He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; Psalm 113:7

Read: Numbers 11:24-29
24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.
25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.
27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday 25th July, 2014: HAVE FAITH IN GOD

TOPIC: HAVE FAITH IN GOD

Memorise: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23

Read: Numbers 23:19-21
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

Open Heavens Devotional For Thursday 24th July, 2014: ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH

TOPIC: ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH

Memorise: The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14

Read: Exodus 14:13-14
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Message
When young David stood before Goliath, he was not afraid, because he had certain master keys to unlock the door of opportunity before him. He applied the master keys of prayer, God’s word, the Name of Jesus, holiness and faith (1 Samuel 17:23-51). David was a man of faith; in Psalm 27:1, he made an exuberant declaration of his faith saying:

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday 23rd July, 2014: RETURN!

TOPIC: RETURN!

Memorise:  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Read: 1 Samuel 7:3-4
3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday 22nd July, 2014: TOTAL COMPLIANCE REQUIRED

TOPIC: TOTAL COMPLIANCE REQUIRED

Memorise: 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.  Malachi 3:10

Read: Malachi 3:8-10
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
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.

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday 21st July, 2014: CHANGE FOCUS

TOPIC: CHANGE FOCUS

Memorise: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

Read: Colossians 3:1-3
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday 20th July, 2014: THOSE GOD CALLS

TOPIC: THOSE GOD CALLS

Memorise: For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 1 Corinthians 1:26

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Open Heavens for Saturday 19th July, 2014: COMPELLING UNWILLING HELPERS

TOPIC: COMPELLING UNWILLING HELPERS

Memorise: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: Acts 9:15

Read: Acts 9:10-15
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday 18th July, 2014: BEFORE YOU ASK

TOPIC: BEFORE YOU ASK

Memorise: And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.  Isaiah 65:24

Read: Isaiah 65:23-24
23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday 17th July, 2014: CONFRONT, DON'T RUN

TOPIC: CONFRONT, DON'T RUN!

Memorise: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1
 
Read: Psalm 27:1-3
1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday 15th July, 2014: FORGETTING YOUR SOURCE?

TOPIC: FORGETTING YOUR SOURCE?

Memorise: And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.  Deuteronomy 8:17

Read: Deuteronomy 8:7-14
7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Open Heavens Devotional For Monday, July 14, 2014: CONSECRATION AND COMMITMENT

CONSECRATION AND COMMITMENT

Memorise:  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Read: Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 
 
Message
After experiencing the elementary levels of ministry, there is a need to move on to higher levels. To experience these higher levels, there are certain criteria that must be met. The first is a higher level of consecration. We can see this in the life of Paul when in Galatians 2:20 he said:

Open Heavens Devotional For Sunday, 13 July, 2014: LIFE INVOLVES RISKS

TOPIC: LIFE INVOLVES RISKS

Memorise: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14

Read: James 4:13-16
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday, July 12, 2014: PRAYERS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

TOPIC: PRAYERS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

Memorise: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Read: Acts 9:1-11
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday, July 11, 2014: LIVING ABOVE THE FLESH

TOPIC: LIVING ABOVE THE FLESH

Memorise: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 6:12

Read: Romans 6:12-18
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday, July 10, 2014: SATAN INTIMIDATES

TOPIC: SATAN INTIMIDATES

Memorise: The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1

Read: 1 Samuel 17:24-25
24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

Open Heavens Devotional For Wednesday, July 9, 2014: NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

TOPIC: NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

Memorise: Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. Ezekiel 36:25

Read: Psalm 40:1-2
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
 
Message:
Before you are saved, you are first drawn by God. It can be through a message, some miraculous act or even a divine visitation. God has been searching for you from the day of your birth but you may have ignored Him for too long. He may have used your friends, relatives and different media to reach out to you, but His message may have fallen on deaf ears. It is time to accept Him today so that all may be well with you.

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday, July 8, 2014: CURSED BLESSING

TOPIC: CURSED BLESSING

Memorise: Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Hosea 4:17

Read: Hosea 5:8-15
8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.
9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.
12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.
13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

Open Heavens Devotional For Monday 7th July, 2014: HUMBLE YOURSELF!

TOPIC:  HUMBLE YOURSELF!

Memorise: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10

Read: Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday 6th July, 2014: PRAYER ATTRACTS AUTHORITY

                                            TOPIC: PRAYER ATTRACTS AUTHORITY

Memorise: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:29

Read: Acts 4:23-31
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 

Open Heavens Devotional for July 5, 2014: NEW ALTAR BENEFITS

TOPIC: NEW ALTAR BENEFITS 

Memorise: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Read: 1 Kings 18:30-39
30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday, July 4, 2014: FEAR DISALLOWED

TOPIC:FEAR DISALLOWED

Memorise: For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalm 89:17

Read: Psalm 89:15-18
15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday 3rd July, 2014: NO WAIVERS

TOPIC: NO WAIVERS

Memorise: Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Hebrews 5:8

Read: Hebrews 5:8-9
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 
 
Message
Ministry is in stages. You start from being an onlooker – a spectator who is eager to observe and learn, then you move on to being sent, after which you get to the level of going on your own. I recall the first time I laid hands on people in church on returning from a Kenneth Hagin camp meeting in Tulsa, USA in 1979. I saw Kenneth Hagin laying hands on people and they fell under the anointing and received miracles. On my way back to Nigeria, I talked it over with God in the plane. The following Sunday, I asked people to queue up, I laid hands on them, and they fell under the anointing – a practice I never believed could happen.

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday, July 2, 2014: DRAWN BY THE FATHER

DRAWN BY THE FATHER

Memorise: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44

Read: John 6:43-45
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday 1st July, 2014: PEACE LIKE A RIVER

TOPIC: PEACE LIKE A RIVER

Memorise: O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18

Read: Isaiah 48:18-19
18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

Message
If you desire to combine long life with pleasurable days, you must keep your tongue from evil, do good, and depart from evil. You must seek peace and pursue it. This means that wherever there is a conflict, you must do everything in your power to install peace. You must vigorously follow after peace. Proverbs 16:7 says,