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

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday November 24, 2014: WHEN GENTLENESS IS MISAPPLIED

TOPIC: WHEN GENTLENESS IS MISAPPLIED

Memorise: The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.  Luke 16:16

Read: Matthew 11:11-12
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Message:
Gentleness and meekness are fruit of the Spirit which must be found in children of God. However, some children of God have misunderstood gentleness as demanded by scripture to mean tolerating everything, including the enemies that they should get tough with. The Bible says that right from the time John the Baptist appeared to preach the kingdom of God, obtaining the kingdom of God has required violence. This is so because, just as God has made provision for us in Christ to enter into the kingdom, there is an opposing kingdom of darkness that want to do everything it can to prevent us from accessing the kingdom of God and its benefits. Hence, you have to be violent with the enemy. You are not meant to go softly with Satan and his emissaries, no! The scripture gives us a clearer picture of this in Luke 16:16, which says:

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday November 23, 2014: STAY FOCUSED

TOPIC: STAY FOCUSED

Memorise: Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Ephesians 5:1-2
 
Read: Ephesians 5:1-8
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday November 22, 2014: FELLOWSHIP-HOW VITAL!

TOPIC: FELLOWSHIP – HOW VITAL!

Memorise: That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3
 
Read: Mark 3:13-15
13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Message:
God desires to fellowship with His people on earth, despite the fact that in Heaven, there are four (4) living creatures and twenty four (24) elders round about His throne, with thousand of thousands of angels worshipping before Him (Revelation 4:2-6, 5:11). God has a special place for us in His heart in spite of all that is going on in heaven. May you not fall short of giving satisfaction to God in the area of fellowshipping with Him in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday November 21, 2014: YOU CAN STAND OUT II

TOPIC: YOU CAN STAND OUT II

Memorise: And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. Luke 19:5

Read: Luke 5:17-20
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday November 20, 2014: YOU CAN STAND OUT I

TOPIC: YOU CAN STAND OUT I

Memorise: And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:  Deuteronomy 28:13

Read: Luke 5:17-26
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday November 19, 2014: FOR CHRIST'S SAKE DON'T!

TOPIC: FOR CHRIST’S SAKE DON’T!

Memorise: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Read: Psalm 137:1-4
137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
137:3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
137:4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

MESSAGE
A negative change is generally abhorred by men. Everyone craves progress. We always desire to keep ascending the ladder of success. No one wants to make a u-turn in the journey of greatness. The greatest journey whose end has the greatest significance is the journey to Heaven. This journey is only made in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. Only through Him does man have access to God.

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday November 17, 2014: HE HAS THE LAST SAY.

TOPIC: HE HAS THE LAST SAY

Memorise: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Isaiah 54:10
 
Read: Joel 3:16-17
3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
3:17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.


Message
The situation in the world is steadily becoming alarming. Big and strong economies are becoming shaky while some are crumbling already, even though trade is expanding with mind blowing technological breakthroughs and rapid succession of invention of devices across every facet of human endeavour. Violence in various forms of inhuman treatment of man by fellow man is also on the increase. This includes terror activities, civil disturbances, kidnappings, rapes, murderous acts, drugs, human trafficking and sale of human beings as mere commodity etc. All these and several more are pointers to any child of God that the end of all things is fast approaching and that these are not the days to live carelessly.

These happenings are at a stage that any observant mind will sense palpable fear in the world, just like the Bible said it would be (Luke 21:26). For you a child of God however, you need not panic in your heart because God has given you an idea of the events that will occur in these last days. He also has given you His promises of hope and has put His Holy Spirit in you. One of such promises is in Joel 3:16: 

“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.“
 
It is required of you as a child of God in this end-time, to get close to the word of God in order to see global events in light of what is written in it. This will give you hope and encourage your mind on how close the eventual return of our Lord is. His return means release from earthly pains and limitations for you, but the beginning of sorrows for those who don’t have a relationship with Him.

Nevertheless, you need to know that the children of God that will do valiantly in these last days, are not those who only depend on feeding on the word of God that they hear via public ministrations, but those who go beyond this by spending time with God in His word through private study like the Berean brethren (Acts 17:10-11). Great strength for the race comes from this. In these evil days, you will not be a victim but a victor in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Pray that your focus will remain on making Heaven and that you will remain fervent in spirit and steadfast in the love of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 CHRONICLES 10-12; PROVERBS 27:15-28:1

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday November 16, 2014: COMMITMENT

TOPIC: COMMITMENT

Memorise: For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Read: John 9:3-6
9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

Message:
The Master Himself is our example in commitment. He told us that He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He demonstrated this by the way He lived. He lived serving and ultimately served us by giving His life for us. Furthermore, He was also serving His Father and was committed to doing the will of His Father. When He was about leaving the earth, He said this to us: as my Father have sent me, so send I thee (John 20:21). How committed are you to Jesus and to His will?

Open Heavens devtional for Saturday November 15, 2014: GROWING IN GRACE

TOPIC: GROWING IN GRACE

Memorise: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18
 
Read: Colossians 2:6-7
2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

MESSAGE:
Even though little children and babies enjoy many benefits such as being carried, being assisted in every situation and receiving prompt attention and care when they cry, it is not a desirable thing to remain a baby or a child. It is neither in the interest of the child nor that of its parents that a child or baby remains stagnant in growth and not mature. In like manner, while Jesus as the Great Shepherd of his people will gather the young ones with His arms and carry them in His bosom (Isaiah 40:11), He would not be delighted in having them remain immature indefinitely. To remain a babe in the faith for too long is to make yourself a liability to the body of Christ and an unnecessary burden for the leaders set over you. Such Christians don’t know their full rights in Christ, and hence, the enemy takes advantage of their ignorance to afflict them and cheat them. It is common knowledge that in the natural world, children do funny things that can bring them harm, the same applies spiritually. 

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday November 14, 2014: NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

TOPIC: NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

Memorise: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
 
Read: 1 John 3:7-9
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

MESSAGE
There is a nature that is of the Earth and there is a nature that is of Heaven. Since the fall of man, the earthly nature of man has become corrupted and therefore is greatly under the influence of the kingdom of Satan. Characteristic features of this nature are: wickedness, moral perversion – sodomy and all sorts of indecent sexual practices, deception, fraudulent practices, poverty, ignorance, sickness etc. A person not in Christ carries this polluted nature around and is capable of manifesting any of its devil influenced character, irrespective of social and educational status. However, when a person comes to Christ, the power of the cross of Christ destroys this nature of sin and the person is given a new nature which is of God; a nature whose feature and expression include a holy character. The character of this new nature is described in 2 Peter 1:4:

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday November 13, 2014: SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER

TOPIC:  SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER

Memorise: Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; - Romans 12:12

Read: Ephesians 6:18

6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Message
In virtually every field of human endeavour, there are great men and women. Be it in science, arts, sports, politics, governance and religion, history is full of people regarded as great in these various fields. Many of such people were given to causes that are ephemeral and mundane.

Open Heavens devotional for Wednesday November 12, 2014: MY BODY, HIS PROPERTY

TOPIC: MY BODY, HIS PROPERTY

Memorise: 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. - Romans 12:1

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Message
The passion of God behind the admonition in today’s memory verse is evident. The goodness of God and His commitment to our well-being is far beyond our imagination. Can you comprehend this: that having paid the ultimate price for our redemption, He is still passionately pleading with those of us that are His, for our own sake, to keep our bodies? Though it is in our own best interest, yet He pleads with us. To start with, a person that says he or she is enjoying himself with cigarette smoking or taking of hard drugs does not know what he is saying. Such a person is destroying himself in bits.

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday 11th November, 2014: BEWARE OF PRIDE II

TOPIC: BEWARE OF PRIDE II

 Memorise: And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. - Ephesians 6:9

Read: Romans 12:3-10

12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  

12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  

12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;  

12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.  

12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  

12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday 10th November, 2014: BEWARE OF PRIDE

TOPIC: BEWARE OF PRIDE

Memorise: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. - Proverbs 16:18

Read: Isaiah 40:13-17
40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
40:14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and    
 taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance:     
 behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
40:16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
40:17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

Message
A person that is self-existing and is self-sufficient is the only one that has the right to be proud. There is however no single person in all of human history that is self-existing or self-sufficient.
Only God, who is the creator of all things that there is – man, animals, elements, molecules, atoms etc, is self-existing and self-sufficient. The Bible in 1 Timothy 6:16 says this of Him:

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday November 9, 2014: SHINE THE LIGHT

TOPIC: SHINE THE LIGHT

Memorise: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.    Matthew 5:16
 
Read: Matthew 5:14-16
5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Message:
Just as “Arise” from yesterday’s Bible reading is a command, ”Shine” in today’s passage is also a command. The command to shine is a call to you to show the light inside you. This implies that you should show forth your good works and show the world that you belong to God. Action they say speaks louder than voice. Jesus Himself said by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:20). It can also mean to roll back or resist darkness. In the natural world, when light shines where there has been darkness, the darkness recedes. Therefore you as a child of God are to kick out the devil; kick him out of your family, out of your workplace and out of your community (Mark 16:17). Sicknesses, failure, demonic oppression, bondage and sorrow are all manifestations of darkness. It is your duty to kick them out.

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday November 8, 2014: ARISE NOW!

TOPIC: ARISE NOW!

Memorise: And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  Hebrews 12:13

Read: Isaiah 60:1-3
60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

 Message:
When God speaks, it can be in various forms: it can be an advice, an invitation, an encouragement, a warning, a declaration or a command. The word “Arise” in the divine statement of today’s Bible reading is purely a command. Just like in Genesis 1:3, where God commanded light to appear in the midst of prevailing darkness, “Arise”, is a command from the Commander-in-Chief Himself to you today.

Your spiritual position or posture, prior to receiving this command to arise, will determine the type of response expected of you. Hence, to an already dead fellow, arise means come back to life. If your spiritual case can be said to be a dead situation, this day, you will come back to life in Jesus’ Name. To the one who is asleep, arise means wake up. If you have been spiritually asleep, by God’s mercy you are being awoken from your slumber in Jesus’ Name. To the one who is sitting down, arise means stand up. To be sitting is better spiritually than to be asleep, yet this is far from what God expects. If you have been spiritually sitting or you are spiritually a lame person (Hebrews 12:13), your spiritual feet receives strength now and I command you to be upstanding in Jesus’ Name. 

To the fellow standing, arise implies that he should jump into action, this was the situation of Samuel in the house of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:12-13). If however you are already walking, arise to you means that you should begin to run. David was already in action against Goliath, but a time came he stepped up his action by running towards Goliath before releasing the stone from his sling (1 Samuel 17:48). This implies you need to add speed to your action. Suppose you are running already, arise to you means that you should begin to fly. Possibly, you are already in the air flying, then arise to you implies that you should begin to soar (2 Corinthians 3:18).

All these changes in position are possibilities with God, not just by your own strength. Once you are willing and you trust in Him, you will experience your desired change. However, you have to recognise your current state. A dead fellow feels nothing, for such people, no matter what they hear they are not touched, they don’t feel it. Unfortunately, there are even some ministers of God like that; they are impervious to the voice of God. “Arise now” may be the last chance for such to come alive. Whatever your state may be, a change for the better is possible, and it is coming your way this season in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point: Sincerely assess your spiritual position and pray accordingly.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 KINGS 13: 1-15: 16; PROVERBS 23: 14-28

SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, VOLUME 14, 2014

Open Heavens Devotional for Friday November 7, 2014: GOD'S OWNERSHIP OF ALL II

TOPIC: GOD’S OWNERSHIP OF ALL II

Memorise: Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4

Read: Isaiah 40:13-18
40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
40:14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
40:16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
40:17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

Open Heavens Devotional for Thursday November 6, 2014: GOD'S OWNERSHIP OF ALL I

TOPIC: GOD’S OWNERSHIP OF ALL I

Memorise: The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Psalm 24:1

Read: 1 Chronicles 29:10-16
29:10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
29:12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
29:13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
29:14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
29:15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
29:16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday November 5, 2014: WORSHIPPING BLINDLY

TOPIC: WORSHIPPING BLINDLY

Memorise: Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
John 4:22
 
Read: Exodus 32:2-4
32:2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
32:3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Message:
The void created in man, following the departure of God’s glory from him as a result of the great fall in the Garden of Eden (Romans 3:23), yearns to be filled up. Unfortunately, the archenemy of man - Satan, has blinded the eyes of many to the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only means by which this void can be filled (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Open Heavens Devotional for Tuesday November 4, 2014: BE NOT AN ESAU

TOPIC: BE NOT AN ESAU

Memorise: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  Hebrews 12:16
 
Read: Genesis 25:29-34
25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
25:31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
25:32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
25:33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Open Heavens Devotional for Monday November 3, 2014: THE WORD

TOPIC: THE WORD

Memorise: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
 
Read: Isaiah 40:6-8
40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

MESSAGE
The word of God is God communicating with us and the word of God is God revealed to us. In it we see His nature and His character. The word of God is forever settled in heaven. The word of God is a living spirit (John 6:63). The word of God reveals the mind of God and therefore His will to us. What can man do without the word of God? Nothing! It is the word of God that gives us the means of salvation from sin. It confronts us with the reality of our fallen state, the doom of sinners and the way out through the love and mercy of God. It is the same word that serves as our compass on our journey to Heaven (Acts 20:32).

Open Heavens Devotional for Sunday November 2, 2014: BLESSED HOPE

TOPIC: BLESSED HOPE

Memorise: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Titus 2:13
 
Read: Titus 2:11-14
2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
 
Message:
What is our hope as Christians, and why have we chosen to turn our backs on the world and its pleasures? It is the hope of glory, honour, immortality and an eternity spent in the bosom of our Lord (Romans 2:7). This mother of all hopes shall be made manifest at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Normally, a person hopes for something good and pleasant. However, for the children of God, there is no hope that compares with the return of Jesus to Earth. It is on account of this hope of Jesus returning for His people, that Apostle Paul confidently declared in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 that:

Open Heavens Devotional for Saturday November 1, 2014: HOW HIGH IS YOUR VOLTAGE?

TOPIC: HOW HIGH IS YOUR VOLTAGE?

Memorise: Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.  2 Corinthians 2:14
 
Read: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Message
The level of decadence in the world in these last days is on the increase, just as predicted in the Bible (Matthew 24:12). There is widespread acceptance of degenerate behaviours just like the Bible said it would be (2 Timothy 3:1-8). Believers that are still here on earth, seeing and hearing all these evil on a daily basis, no doubt have a responsibility of ensuring that they operate at a very high spiritual voltage level. A believer at a low spiritual voltage level, risks being overwhelmed by the moral and spiritual current of the world, with the potential of being swallowed up by same. Whereas, the expectation of the Lord is that our high voltage of righteousness would flow and overwhelm the decadence in the world. The pervasiveness and popularisation of obscene acts, requires that a child of God be spiritually hot at all times. Note that a continuous exposure to the same stimulus tends to gradually but steadily gain strength in eliciting a response, which eventually might lead to participation. There is therefore the need for a child of God to always put precautionary measures in place.