Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday August 31, 2014:NO FAITH, NO MIRACLE

TOPIC: NO FAITH, NO MIRACLE

Memorise: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Ephesians 3:20

Read: Mark 10:49-52
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday August 30, 2014: WHEN REVIVAL COMES II

TOPIC: WHEN REVIVAL COMES II

Memorise: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Read: Psalm 51:1-3
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday 29th August, 2014 titled: WHEN REVIVAL COMES I

TOPIC: WHEN REVIVAL COMES I

 
Memorise: Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Psalm 85:6

Read: Psalm 85:4-7
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday 28th August, 2014 titled: LESSONS FROM REBEKAH

TOPIC: LESSONS FROM REBEKAH

Memorise: And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. Genesis 25:22

Read: Genesis 25:20-23
20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday August 27, 2014: REWARD FOR LABOUR

TOPIC: REWARD FOR LABOUR

Memorise: And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat. Joshua 24:13

Read: Genesis 31:3-7
3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5 And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
 

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday August 26, 2014: DISCIPLESHIP

TOPIC: DISCIPLESHIP

Memorise: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

Read: Mark 8:34-37
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday August 25, 2014: WHAT SEEK YE?

TOPIC: WHAT SEEK YE?

Memorise: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Read: Luke 12:29-31
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Message
In most 21st century societies, the hustle for survival is the preoccupation of many families and individuals living below the poverty line, while fashion, entertainment, lavish spending and accumulation of state-of-the-art technology are the concern of those that are well-off. The lifestyle of many, and ultimately what they pursue in life, is driven by their philosophy of life and the economic class they belong to. Many people seek wealth, fame, power etc, and they would do anything including participating in heinous crimes to achieve their goal. However, the Bible in Matthew 6:31-32 says that God knows we have need for food, clothes and accommodation:

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday August 24, 2014: THE MATERIALIST'S MISTAKE

TOPIC: THE MATERIALIST’S MISTAKE

Memorise: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15

Read: Psalm 49:6-10
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday August 23, 2014: FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE

TOPIC: FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE

Memorise:
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrew 12:17

Read: Hebrew 12:9-12
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday, August 22, 2014: SIGNS AND SYMBOLS

TOPIC: SIGNS AND SYMBOLS

Memorise: And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Matthew 16:3
 
Read: Matthew 16:1-3
1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday 21st August, 2014: SELF EXAMINATION

TOPIC: SELF EXAMINATION

Memorise: yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?  2 Corinthians 13:5
 
Read: Matthew 7:3-6
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday August 20, 2014: GOING IN CIRCLES?

TOPIC:GOING IN CIRCLES?

Memorise: And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.
Numbers 32:13

Read: Numbers 14:33-36
33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, 

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday 19th August, 2014 Titled: DIVINE ENCOUNTER

TOPIC: DIVINE ENCOUNTER

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 1:11-13
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

Message

God in His infinite wisdom created every human being with the potentials and abilities that they need to fulfil His purpose for their lives. Unfortunately, some pass through life without realising this potential; some others who do, fail to fully exploit it. Only a negligible few are able to exhaust their God-given potentials on earth. Recognising your potential starts from knowing the Lord Jesus and discovering your purpose in life. Knowing your purpose in life is tied to a relationship with the Creator of the heavens and earth. From today’s Bible reading, we understand that a very vital part of God’s plan for everyone created in the image of God is to become a “son of God”.

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday 18th August, 2014: DEPART FROM EVIL

TOPIC: DEPART FROM EVIL

Memorise:For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 1 Peter 3:10
Read: 1 Peter 3:10-13
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday 17th August, 2014: COUNT THE COST

TOPIC: COUNT THE COST

Memorise: And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.Luke 14:27

Read: Philippians 2:5-8
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.
 
Message
The Bible speaks of counting the cost in several passages. But counting the cost is particularly presented in a very powerful way in Philippians 2:5-8. Verse 5 of this scripture admonishes us to have the mindset that was also in our Master Jesus.

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday 16th August, 2014: STUDENT OR SCHOLAR?

TOPIC: STUDENT OR SCHOLAR?

Memorise: Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? John 3:4

Read: John 3:1-4
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday 15th August, 2014: DOUBT DESTROYS

TOPIC: DOUBT DESTROYS

Memorise: And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1:34

Read: John 1:29-34
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday 14th August, 2014: WHAT CARRIAGE IN GOD'S PRESENCE?

TOPIC: WHAT CARRIAGE IN GOD’S PRESENCE?

Memorise: Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Ecclesiastes 5:1

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:1-3
1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday 13th August, 2014: FOOLISH COMPARISON

TOPIC: FOOLISH COMPARISON

Memorise: For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12

Read: 2 Corinthians 10:12-18
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday 12th August, 2014: THE FOLLY OF THE WISE

TOPIC: THE FOLLY OF THE WISE

Memorise: And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
Ecclesiastes 1:13

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:17-24
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday 11th July, 2014 Titled: KNOWLEDGE IS LIMITED

TOPIC: KNOWLEDGE IS LIMITED

Memorise: I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. Ecclesiastes 1:16

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:14-18
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday 10th August, 2014: KEYS TO GREATNESS

TOPIC: KEYS TO GREATNESS

Memorise: For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37

Read: Psalm 103:1-5
1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

How a woman almost seduced me – Pastor E.A Adeboye

The story of how a Lagos socialite tried to seduce him gives give credence to the saying that the bigger the head, the bigger the headache. This readily formed the nucleus of Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s sermon on Thursday night at the ongoing 62nd annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG.

It was a deliverance service and almost one million people had converged at the auditorium of the Redemption Camp for the event and they were held spellbound when, their revered General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye started to narrate a ministry-threatening experience he had to the consternation of the crowd.

Preaching a sermon titled; ‘The yoke-destroyer’, the man of God enumerated three different kinds of yoke that truncate one’s dream of nosy future to include; physical yoke, material yoke and spiritual yoke, explaining that the Holy Spirit is the only yoke destroyer who is able to destroy any form of yoke in any man’s life. He further challenged the congregation to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and be agents of God who will be breaking yokes, noting that there were certain forces or challenges of life that human beings cannot solve by their own efforts except through the help of the Holy Spirit.

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday 9th July, 2014: QUALITIES THAT BREED GREATNESS

TOPIC: QUALITIES THAT BREEDS GREATNESS

Memorise: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.  Proverbs 22:29

Read: 1 Samuel 16:14-19
14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday 8th July, 2014: DRIVING FORCE BEHIND GREATNESS

TOPIC: DRIVING FORCE BEHIND GREATNESS

Memorise: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24

Read: Hebrews 11:1-6
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday, August 7, 2014: SURE PATHS TO GREATNESS

TOPIC: SURE PATHS TO GREATNESS

Memorise: Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Psalm 48:1

Read: Ephesians 1:17-21
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday 6th August, 2014 titled: HOW RESOLUTE ARE YOU?

TOPIC: HOW RESOLUTE ARE YOU?

Memorise: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6

Read: 2 Kings 2:19-22
19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday, August 5, 2014: A VISON PROPELLED LIFE

TOPIC: A VISION PROPELLED LIFE

Memorise: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8

Read: 1 Timothy 3:1-7
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday 4th August, 2014: THE WAYS OF GOD

TOPIC: THE WAYS OF GOD

Memorise: He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. Psalm 103:7

Read: Exodus 33:12-23
12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday 3rd August, 2014: THE CENTRE OF A WISE FAMILY

TOPIC: THE CENTRE OF A WISE FAMILY

Memorise: Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 1 Peter 3:8

Read: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7
1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday, August 2, 2014: A LOVING & PERMANENT GUEST

Open Heavens for Saturday, August 2, 2014

TOPIC: A LOVING & PERMANENT GUEST

Memorise: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  Matthew 6:26

Read: John 7:38-39
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Message
Based on the fact that the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Jesus after His baptism (Luke 3:22), the dove is used as an emblem of the Holy Spirit. A study of some characteristics of the dove will therefore give us insight on the Person of the Holy Spirit. The most striking characteristic of the dove is that it is one of the cleanest birds on Earth. God the Holy Spirit is pre-eminently holy. Holiness is so essential to His nature that His name consists of the word “Holy”. Whenever the Holy Spirit moves, He convicts the heart of men of sin, of righteousness and of judgement (John 16:8). He is a clean Spirit, and to be a friend of His, you have to move close to Him in holiness.

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday 1st August, 2014: ARE YOU A HYPOCRITE?

TOPIC: ARE YOU A HYPOCRITE?

Memorise: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Matthew 6:5

Read: Mark 7:1-6
1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.