Topic: STAGNANCY IS NOT YOUR PORTION
Memorise: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thoushalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 28:2
Read: John 5:2-9,
Bible in one year: Ezra 4:1-6:12, John 5:19-47
Message: On the 20thof July, we looked at the states of progress represented by retrogression and repression. One lesson we must learn is that sometimes, repressive forces are not necessarily interested in taking over the harvest of their victims; rather, all they want to do is ton ensure that all the labour and efforts of their victims are wasted, so that they can mock and laugh them to scorn (Judges 6:3-16).
Every repressive force seen and unseen that is interested in wasting all your honest efforts shall be destroyed by the fire of the Holy Ghost in Jesus’ Name.Moreover, another state of progress is stagnation. This is a state of standstill. Inthis state, there is no forward or upwardmovement. The fellow operating in this state remains on the same spot in spite of his or her efforts. In a situation of stagnancy, effort does not count, because it appears there is some invisible rope tying the victim to the same spot. In our Bible reading, we readabout a man who was sick for 38 years. This man was operating in a state of stagnancy. He was at the pool of Bethesdawaiting for an angle to stir up the water. He was waiting for a once-a-year miracle available to just one person. The unfortunate thing is that he was not alone. There was a crowd also waiting to take this same chance. As a result, he kept on waiting for several years!
There are some people who are so full of hope at the beginning of a year, but atthe end of that year, they realise that they are still at the same spot. When I was schooling at the University of Lagos, there was a particular student who had been there for eight years, but he never went beyond year one. He kept changing from one faculty to the other and from one department to another. We met him there and left him there. Have you been stagnant? Are all your efforts futile? Have you been so long on the same spot? The Lord will intervene in your situation today! The Lord will turn things around for your good. I rebuke every force keeping you on the same spot. Whatever is tying you down is destroyed now. That miracle that yourstagnant situation is trying to deny you is released to you now in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: I command every spirit of stagnancy keeping me and my family on the same spot, in the Name of Jesus Christ, pack your load and leave now!
Monday 27 July 2015
Sunday 12 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - FASTING IS RELEVANT – Monday July 13, 2015
Topic: FASTING IS RELEVANT
Memorize:
In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. -2 Corinthians 11:27
In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. -2 Corinthians 11:27
Read: Matthew 17:14-21
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said,O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them,Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said,O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them,Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
MESSAGE:
When you pay the price for greater heights in your relationship with God and in ministry, you will be moved up to operate at a new level. When the price is paid, you will not only see the invisible, you will also hear the inaudible. In 1st Kings 18:41, while others were busy discussing the miracle fire that fell suddenly from Heaven, Elijah rose up and declared the sound of abundance of rain. Noted that no other person saw the sign or heard the sound. You shall hear the inaudible from today in Jesus’ Name! However, to operate at this level, you must be given to fasting and prayer. In 2nd Corinthians 11:27, Paul said that he fasted and often. The moment you sign up for this level of ministry, the struggle between your flesh and your spirit will take a new dimension, while the flesh will be pulling you to the fight. You need fasting in order to weaken the flesh and strengthen your spirit.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63
Using the arm of flesh at this level of ministry will definitely meet with disappointments. You need to walk in the Spirit by following the Holy Spirit’s directions; this empowers your spirit-man and subdues the flesh. A while ago, one of my sons asked me “Daddy, now that you are over 70, will you stop fasting?” I laughed and replied, “The moment I quit fasting, you can begin to expect my departure, because I have resolved no to be a relic. As for as I am concerned, the day I cease to be relevant, I go.” Elisha remained relevant until death. Even on his deathbed, he was still dictating the future, instructing the king on what would happen and how he could have victory. In the Name of Jesus, you shall not be lost in oblivion. You shall be relevant in your generation and beyond your generation. Are you prepared to subdue your flesh? The flesh has pegged the rise of many of child of God. If you do not have control over your stomach or appetite, you are not prepared for the ministry of signs and wonders. If you are still indulging in sin, you are not yet serious about the move of the miraculous in your life. Consider what is outstanding in your life and strive to meet up today!
Using the arm of flesh at this level of ministry will definitely meet with disappointments. You need to walk in the Spirit by following the Holy Spirit’s directions; this empowers your spirit-man and subdues the flesh. A while ago, one of my sons asked me “Daddy, now that you are over 70, will you stop fasting?” I laughed and replied, “The moment I quit fasting, you can begin to expect my departure, because I have resolved no to be a relic. As for as I am concerned, the day I cease to be relevant, I go.” Elisha remained relevant until death. Even on his deathbed, he was still dictating the future, instructing the king on what would happen and how he could have victory. In the Name of Jesus, you shall not be lost in oblivion. You shall be relevant in your generation and beyond your generation. Are you prepared to subdue your flesh? The flesh has pegged the rise of many of child of God. If you do not have control over your stomach or appetite, you are not prepared for the ministry of signs and wonders. If you are still indulging in sin, you are not yet serious about the move of the miraculous in your life. Consider what is outstanding in your life and strive to meet up today!
Key Point:
If you want heavenly results, feed your spirit. If you feed your flesh, it will deliver sin to you.
If you want heavenly results, feed your spirit. If you feed your flesh, it will deliver sin to you.
Bible in one year: 2 Chronicles 7:11-9:28,Luke 22:14-38
Saturday 11 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - TOUCH NOT – Sunday July 12, 2015
Topic: TOUCH NOT
Memorize:
He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophet no harm. -1 Chronicles 16:21-22
He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophet no harm. -1 Chronicles 16:21-22
Read: 1 Samuel 30:1-8
1 AND it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5 And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
8 And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
1 AND it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5 And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
8 And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
MESSAGE:
In today’s Bible reading, while David and his men were away, the Amalekites invaded Ziklag, defeated the city and set it on fire; after which they took members of their families – wives, sons and daughters as captives. When they returned and saw the situation of Ziklag, David and his men were really distressed, disappointed and discouraged. It was more so for David because the incident brought so much disaffection, bad blood and misunderstanding between him and his men; to the extent that they blamed him for the incident and spoke of stoning him to death. 1st Samuel 30:6 says:
“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
There are some lessons we can learn from this. The first thing we see here is that whenever you arise to fight the people of God, you lose your defence and you or your family may suffer for it. David was running from King Saul and he went to take up refuge with the Philistines, who were enemies of God (1st Samuel 27:1). When a battle ensued between Israel and the Philistines, he decided to team up with them to fight his own people (1st Samuel 29). Thank God he was sent back home by the Philistines who realised who he was. By the time he go back home, the covering over his family was blown, and his loved ones had been taken captive. Never team up with the enemy against the people of God! Whatever your justification might be, never fight anyone who is named after the Name of Christ, irrespective of how long he or she has been in the faith. You will blow your cover and endanger innocent lives. Certain things that should not be heard of are happening to believers today, because they are busy fighting one another. The second lesson here is they are busy fighting one another. The second lesson here is that even when he had not fight against his people, just because he had pitched his tent with the enemies of God, his family suffered for it. If you pitch your tent in Sodom, when the fire comes to destroy Sodom, it will equally engulf you. Check your life today! Are you fighting, speaking against or treading upon on any child of God? You are courting trouble! Have you partnered with unbelievers to torment, oppress, rob, deny, persecute or deal with a believer in Christ? Repent today, apologise and desist from such actions before they boomerang on you or your family.
Key Point:
God strictly warms that His bona fide children must not be touched. Anyone who touches them will definitely pay dearly for it.
God strictly warms that His bona fide children must not be touched. Anyone who touches them will definitely pay dearly for it.
Bible in one year: 2 Chronicles 6:12-7:10,Luke 21:25-22:13
Friday 10 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - CONNECTING DESTINY HELPERS – Saturday July 11, 2015
Topic: CONNECTING DESTINY HELPERS
Read: 1 Samuel 10:3-4
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
MESSAGE:
God created us to be interdependent. This is why there are several parts in the human body, but all of them work towards the same goal. No man or woman is an island. For you to fulfil your destiny, here are certain people God has sent your way to help you. The degree of success you record and the pace of speed at which you moved will depend to a large extent on your ability to meet your helpers and gain access to their help. On the road to his destiny in Egypt, Joseph was at a loss, wandering in a field while looking for his brothers. God sent him a helper who connected him to their location in Dothan. Genesis 37:15 says:
“And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?”
This is one thing that the anointing can do for you. It connects you with your destiny helpers and compels them to help you. After being anointed, Saul was told of certain men he would meet on his way, who would help him. One way the devil keeps people on the same spot for years is by preventing them from meeting their helpers. If this fails, he blindfolds them so that they do not recognise their helpers even after they meet them. Every plan to separate you from meeting with or recognising your helpers shall be destroyed in Jesus’ Name.
“And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?”
This is one thing that the anointing can do for you. It connects you with your destiny helpers and compels them to help you. After being anointed, Saul was told of certain men he would meet on his way, who would help him. One way the devil keeps people on the same spot for years is by preventing them from meeting their helpers. If this fails, he blindfolds them so that they do not recognise their helpers even after they meet them. Every plan to separate you from meeting with or recognising your helpers shall be destroyed in Jesus’ Name.
However, some people meet their helpers but never find favour before them. This also is one of the ways the enemy hinders people’s progress. But when you are anointed, your helpers will not only favour you, the anointing will compel them to help you. Saul and his father’s servant had exhausted their supplies while returning home; but on their way, they met three men loaded with provisions who offered them some even without being asked.
“And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.” 1st Samuel 10:4
“And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.” 1st Samuel 10:4
Saul and his servant had no choice but to accept what was offered to them. The anointing covered their shame, so much so that even when they did not have, they did not have to beg, this season, the anointing will connect you with your destiny helpers and compel them to help you. Even before you express your need, the need would have been met; the anointing will cover your shame. By the anointing, all your helpers that have abandoned you shall locate you and help you in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point:
Father, expose all my helpers to me and connect me to them.
Father, expose all my helpers to me and connect me to them.
Bible in one year: 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11,Luke 21:1-24
Thursday 9 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - PRAYER PROVOKES BLESSINGS – Friday July 10, 2015
Topic: PRAYER PROVOKES BLESSINGS
Memorize:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -Matthew 7:8
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -Matthew 7:8
Read: Luke 1:5-14
5 THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
5 THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
MESSAGE:
One great lesson from Jacob’s penile experience, documented in Genesis 32:24-32, is that prayer provokes blessing. A key part of this experience in Genesis 32:28-29 thus read:
“And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. and he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? and he blessed him there.”
After changing Jacob’s name to Israel, the Lord further blessed him. This tells us that having a new name is desirable, but securing a blessing that will empower the new name to achieve its prophetic meaning in the life of its recipient is even more preferable. Some people who once had negative names have changed them; this is good but don’t stop here. Ask that God will bless your new identity, so that your new name will speedily work for you and finally take you to your place of destiny.
“And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. and he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? and he blessed him there.”
After changing Jacob’s name to Israel, the Lord further blessed him. This tells us that having a new name is desirable, but securing a blessing that will empower the new name to achieve its prophetic meaning in the life of its recipient is even more preferable. Some people who once had negative names have changed them; this is good but don’t stop here. Ask that God will bless your new identity, so that your new name will speedily work for you and finally take you to your place of destiny.
Similarly, you will notice that a blessing was pronounced on Israel in the place of prayer, not at some other place. Blessings are attracted to you while you are praying. The blessings that manifest after your moments of concerted prayers were first delivered to you in the place of prayer. In Acts 12:1-17, it was while the children of God were taking turns to pray that freedom was delivered to Peter who had been incarcerated by the authorities. In addition, the gift of a baby boy, in the person of John the Baptist, was delivered to Zacharias while he and the people were praying in the temple. This gift manifested nine months later (Luke 1:65-66).
Effective prayer is like a collection basket for blessing. If you can pray, you will have a place where your required blessings will be dropped for you, but if you cannot pray, you can be certain that even when God decides to give you a particular blessing out of mercy, you will not have a receptacle to receive it. This is one reason why some blessings that are brought to people are returned to Heaven. Effective and sustained praying over an issue tells the heavenly hosts that you are truly prepared to receive what you are asking for. Prayer provides that landing platform for your miracles and blessings. You desire God to bless you; have you prepared the platform on which the answer to your request will be laid?
Key Point:
Prayer is a platform for collection, and only those who engage in it will reap its dividends.
Prayer is a platform for collection, and only those who engage in it will reap its dividends.
Bible in one year: 2 Chronicles 1-3, Luke 20:19-47
Wednesday 8 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - WONDERFUL MIRACLE – Thursday July 9, 2015
Topic: WONDERFUL MIRACLE
Memorize:
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. -Romans 15:19
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. -Romans 15:19
Read: Ezekiel 37:1-10
1 THE hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Gᴏᴅ, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LᴏORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
1 THE hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Gᴏᴅ, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LᴏORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
MESSAGE:
Miracles have a lesser degree of awesomeness when compared to wonders. Let us closely look at examples of these. It is undeniable that the raising of the dead through prayer is a great act of God. In 1st Kings 17:17-24, when the son of the widow of Zarephath died and Elijah was informed; the prayed, paced up and down, threw himself on the child about three times and the child came back to life. This was a miracle no doubt; but when dead bones cause the dead to be raised to life, it is a great miracle. This happened in 2nd Kings 13:20-21. Someone died and was being conveyed to the burial site, but because the mourners sighted a band of enemy soldiers heading in their direction, they threw the corpse into a nearby grave. Coincidentally, that was where Elisha had been buried. Elisha’s body had decayed leaving only his bones behind. As soon as the corpse touched his bones, the dead man came back to life and ran after his fleeing relatives.
However, when you compare all these great miracles with Ezekiel’s experience documented in today’s Bible reading, you will conclude that they are incomparable in awesomeness. What Ezekiel experienced was a wonder. Ezekiel was taken to a valley full of dry bones and God asked him if the bones could live again. This man of God immediately realised he had come face to face with a situation his faith could not handle. “Lord, this is beyond my faith. Only You can tell”, he replied. God then said to him, “Don’t pray, don’t touch, just prophesy to them and say, Dry bones, hear God’s word and come together, every bone to its bone as it was originally”. Oh! That was easy to say, and he said it as he was commanded, even though he knew it sounded far-fetched. How can you ask dead, dry bones to hear? Oh yes, they can hear, though not your words but God’s Word. This is why you should not stop speaking the Word of God to dead situations, people and things. They all have ears to hear God’s Word and they respond to it. Meanwhile, as the dry bones began to move to form their original bone structure, Ezekiel must have been saying, Wonderful! But God was not done yet; He commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the wind. Now, this was a bit more outlandish! At least the bones he could see, but the wind he could not see. He however obeyed, and the wind began to blow. Breath came into the lifeless entities that had been formed from the dry bones. In no time, a valley full of dry bones was taken over by a strong and able army. Always use God’s Word to call up what you want to see in the Name of Jesus Christ, and it will be so.
Prayer Point:
Father, in my life, family, workplace and ministry, make us recipients of your wonders.
Father, in my life, family, workplace and ministry, make us recipients of your wonders.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 28:9-29:30,Luke 19:41-20:18
Nicki Minaj says she'll never have a child outside wedlock!
That's real cool any way, well said! Even her ex, Safaree said recently that Nicki refused to have a child with him.
These men in Bayelsa replaced cake candles with lighted cigarettes
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - FAKE PROMISES & SCALES – Wednesday July 8, 2015
Topic: FAKE PROMISES & SCALES
Memorize:
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. -Proverbs 20:10Read: Proverbs 20:7-10
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
MESSAGE:It is unfortunate that some people make promises and don’t bother to keep them. This is one area that requires restitution. Broken promises can stand against you in eternity. This is why you should not make a promise you are not prepared to keep. Politicians easily fall prey here. When they are campaigning for votes, they will promise heaven and earth, but after their election, may of them fail to live up to their promises. If you are a child of God and a politician, let people know the difference between light and darkness by making sure you fulfil your promises. One of the characters of a person who will enjoy the ever-abiding presence of God and make heaven is keeping of promises. Psalm 15:1&4b says:
“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill… He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.”
There is a user of this devotional: you have made several promises to individuals and even to the Church of God but failed to keep them. Your inability to fulfil them is keeping back certain promises made to you from being fulfilled. If you can repent and fulfil your pending promises, the door will be opened to promises made to you to be fulfilled.Closely allied to the issue of trustworthiness is the use of fake weights and measures, especially in trading activities. Some people beat in their measuring cups so that they can make more profit. That is fraudulent. Believers should not manipulate their instruments, but measure accurately. Serve completely and charge for it. Sell a full cup of the full amount and not ¾ of a cup for the full amount. You cannot be asking for God’s blessings and be doing what He hates. Proverbs 11:1 says:
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.”
Just as individuals offend here, so also do governments and government agencies. For instance, any government agency making people pay for services not rendered is fraudulent and destroying itself. One way this happens is through the use of fixed estimates by power companies. When a person’s monthly consumption of energy is 200 units, why must such a person be compelled to pay for 300 or more units? This is serious fraud. This also applies to fuel (gas) stations. Some of them tamper with their meters so that instead of the requested quantity being delivered, fewer litres are dispensed for the same price. They believe people will not know, but what about God? In any way you are delivering below what is expected of you or your organisation, repent and return the difference to the owners before it is too late.
Key Point:
Whatever is not originally yours that you take from others by deceit can never truly add to you.Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 26:1-28:8,Luke 19:11-40
Tuesday 7 July 2015
See the size of a Python residents saw on a wire above them in a Welsh village
Police say the snake escaped its tank and managed to climb out of an upstairs window before making its way along the telephone wire. The Python was halfway down the drainpipe before it was captured. More photos after the cut...
Monday 6 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - LOVE MUST BE RECIPROCATED – Tuesday July 7, 2015
Topic: LOVE MUST BE RECIPROCATED
Memorize:
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. -John 15:10
Read: John 15:9-10
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
MESSAGE:
God loves us so much the He gave us Himself as a gift. Giving Jesus Christ to die for us was the same as giving Himself to us (1 Timothy 3:16). But He did not stop there, He went further, pointing out to us in Romans 8:32 that: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.”
However, love should be a two-way exchange, and not one-sided. If you love someone and your love is not being reciprocated, after a while, something will happen to that love. That love may grow cold or even die. The same applies to the relationship between God and us. If you check through the scriptures, you will learn that whenever God does something for someone, He expects them to do something in return. It is one thing to be loved and another thing to abide in that love. While you were in your sins, God demonstrated His love for you by sending Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, to die for you. When you respond to this divine initiative by repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you will be washed by His blood and forgiven. After this, God increases His love towards you, and when you reciprocate, that love increases.
Love begets greater love. If you want to sustain or increase the love that God has for you, reciprocate His love. In today’s reading, Jesus tells us that when He came to earth as a man, He was loved by the Father; but to sustain that love, He had to keep the Father’s commandments. What the Father expected of Jesus is what He expects of us today. There is no way you will continue in God’s love when you deliberately break His commandments or refuses to obey Him. If He has loved you, He expects you to love Him too. He expects your obedience. He also expects you to love other brethren. How have you reciprocated the love of the Lord? even though afflictions, persecutions, angles, Satan, what we see and what we can’t see cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39), disobedience, manifested by violation of His word, can deal that love a terrible blow.
Action Point:
List some things you have never done that you can start doing to reciprocate the love of God. Do them from today!
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 23:25, Luke 18:35-19:10
Memorize:
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. -John 15:10
Read: John 15:9-10
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
MESSAGE:
God loves us so much the He gave us Himself as a gift. Giving Jesus Christ to die for us was the same as giving Himself to us (1 Timothy 3:16). But He did not stop there, He went further, pointing out to us in Romans 8:32 that: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.”
However, love should be a two-way exchange, and not one-sided. If you love someone and your love is not being reciprocated, after a while, something will happen to that love. That love may grow cold or even die. The same applies to the relationship between God and us. If you check through the scriptures, you will learn that whenever God does something for someone, He expects them to do something in return. It is one thing to be loved and another thing to abide in that love. While you were in your sins, God demonstrated His love for you by sending Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, to die for you. When you respond to this divine initiative by repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you will be washed by His blood and forgiven. After this, God increases His love towards you, and when you reciprocate, that love increases.
Love begets greater love. If you want to sustain or increase the love that God has for you, reciprocate His love. In today’s reading, Jesus tells us that when He came to earth as a man, He was loved by the Father; but to sustain that love, He had to keep the Father’s commandments. What the Father expected of Jesus is what He expects of us today. There is no way you will continue in God’s love when you deliberately break His commandments or refuses to obey Him. If He has loved you, He expects you to love Him too. He expects your obedience. He also expects you to love other brethren. How have you reciprocated the love of the Lord? even though afflictions, persecutions, angles, Satan, what we see and what we can’t see cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39), disobedience, manifested by violation of His word, can deal that love a terrible blow.
Action Point:
List some things you have never done that you can start doing to reciprocate the love of God. Do them from today!
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 23:25, Luke 18:35-19:10
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - THE PRICE MUST BE PAID – Monday July 6,2015
Topic: THE PRICE MUST BE PAID
Memorize:
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. -Joshua 1:5
Read: 2 Kings 6:15-17
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
MESSAGE:
After God chose Joshua to succeed Moses, Joshua was afraid, as he wondered how he could ever fit into Moses’ big shoes. Therefore, God came to reassure him, calm his fears and promised to be with him. He said to him Joshua 1:5 that:
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, son I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Thereafter, he had a smooth ride in ministry until the day the children of Israel fled before Ai. Joshua felt disappointed that God had gone back on His promise, so he went back to God and asked Him “Lord, I thought You said nobody would be able to withstand us. He come we are fleeing before a little city like Ai?” God replied “That is correct, but you are not disconnected from me, and until you resittute and deal with the sin, I will not continue with you.”
If God will use you for great signs and wonders, you must be prepared to make instant restitution. God is about to do great exploits, but if you are not prepared to pay the price, you will be a spectator and not a key player. Have you stolen God’s money, particularly tithes, first fruits and offerings? Pay back immediately! Did your members contribute some money for a particular thing but you diverted it to something else? Restitute! Have you been looking at the wrong direction? Restitute by facing the direction God wants you to take.
There is a price to pay to be a minister or vessel of signs and wonders, one of which is a readiness to operate in by physical and spiritual realms simultaneously. When you pay this price, you will start seeing the invisible. You will not only see angels and the heavenly hosts like Elisha’s servant in today’s Bible reading, you might equally see demons. This should not scare you. When you can see demons, you will immediately see them in any demon-possessed individual brought to you, and when you cast them out, you will be able to know whether they have really gone or are just pretending to have done so. Asking demons how many they are inside their victim is of no use when the minister cannot see them. Even if there is just one of them, because You cannot see him, he can lie to you. How prepared are you to pay the price?
Action Point:
If God’s promise to you is not being fulfilled exactly as He promised it, find out what you may be doing wrongly.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 20:22, Luke 18:9-34
Memorize:
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. -Joshua 1:5
Read: 2 Kings 6:15-17
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
MESSAGE:
After God chose Joshua to succeed Moses, Joshua was afraid, as he wondered how he could ever fit into Moses’ big shoes. Therefore, God came to reassure him, calm his fears and promised to be with him. He said to him Joshua 1:5 that:
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, son I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Thereafter, he had a smooth ride in ministry until the day the children of Israel fled before Ai. Joshua felt disappointed that God had gone back on His promise, so he went back to God and asked Him “Lord, I thought You said nobody would be able to withstand us. He come we are fleeing before a little city like Ai?” God replied “That is correct, but you are not disconnected from me, and until you resittute and deal with the sin, I will not continue with you.”
If God will use you for great signs and wonders, you must be prepared to make instant restitution. God is about to do great exploits, but if you are not prepared to pay the price, you will be a spectator and not a key player. Have you stolen God’s money, particularly tithes, first fruits and offerings? Pay back immediately! Did your members contribute some money for a particular thing but you diverted it to something else? Restitute! Have you been looking at the wrong direction? Restitute by facing the direction God wants you to take.
There is a price to pay to be a minister or vessel of signs and wonders, one of which is a readiness to operate in by physical and spiritual realms simultaneously. When you pay this price, you will start seeing the invisible. You will not only see angels and the heavenly hosts like Elisha’s servant in today’s Bible reading, you might equally see demons. This should not scare you. When you can see demons, you will immediately see them in any demon-possessed individual brought to you, and when you cast them out, you will be able to know whether they have really gone or are just pretending to have done so. Asking demons how many they are inside their victim is of no use when the minister cannot see them. Even if there is just one of them, because You cannot see him, he can lie to you. How prepared are you to pay the price?
Action Point:
If God’s promise to you is not being fulfilled exactly as He promised it, find out what you may be doing wrongly.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 20:22, Luke 18:9-34
Saturday 4 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - SANTAN TARGET THE HOLY – Sunday July 5, 2015
Topic: SANTAN TARGET THE HOLY
Memorize:
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. – Acts 12:1
Read: Acts 6:8-15
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
MESSAGE:
Holiness is very necessary for anyone who wants to fulfil destiny and make it to Heaven. Holiness also makes God to hide you in His bosom (Psalm 91:4). In other words, holiness provides a cover for the holy, whereas sin exposes the sinner. Sin exposes the one who commits it to shame, disgrace and pain, and it makes the sinner vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. When you combine holiness with being a vessel of honour, you become doubly precious to God. You become like a delicate egg in His hands. This is why Psalm 103:13-14 says God will treat such a vessel with lots of care, remembering how weak and fragile he or she is. From today, the Lord will treat you with special care. You will be special to God and He will hide you in His love in Jesus’ Name.
Moreover, as an instrument of honour, never rest on your oars. Whatever level you may be on presently, you have only started; you have not yet attained the heights that God is taking you to. If you think that you have already arrived with respect to Kingdom tasks, you may attract unwanted things to yourself. Note however that the more God uses you, the more you will be of interest to the kingdom of Satan. Satan never wants any believer in Christ to end up in Heaven; so he will do all he can to stop you. Take Peter for instance: he loved Jesus so much that he vowed never to deny Him. This he said in spite of what Jesus had foretold would happen (Matthew 26:34-35). Satan saw Peter as a vessel of honour in God’s hands and immediately marked him out as a target. He did everything possible to being him down, but Jesus prayed for him and he overcome.
Similarly, Satan picked on another vessel of honour – Stephen. Stephen was holy, full of faith and full of Holy Spirit. He was also full of wisdom and was used to perform mighty signs and wonders in the early Church. Satan therefore stirred up serious opposition against Stephen, but he overcome them. When this failed, the enemies connived and brought false witnesses to lie against him. Satan never keeps to any rule of decency when he fights. He fights dirty. He kept working at it until he got Stephen killed (Acts 7:56-60). But unknown to him, when he thought he had won the battle, his chief vessel of persecution, Saul, was arrested by God and did even far greater works for God than Stephen did. In the end, the devil regretted his action. He wished he had left Stephen alone to have been spared the immense irrecoverable losses he got from his ex-loyal fanatic –Paul.
Action Point:
Pray that every target of Satan in your local church be protected from falling.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 17:19, Luke 17:20-18:8
Memorize:
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. – Acts 12:1
Read: Acts 6:8-15
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
MESSAGE:
Holiness is very necessary for anyone who wants to fulfil destiny and make it to Heaven. Holiness also makes God to hide you in His bosom (Psalm 91:4). In other words, holiness provides a cover for the holy, whereas sin exposes the sinner. Sin exposes the one who commits it to shame, disgrace and pain, and it makes the sinner vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. When you combine holiness with being a vessel of honour, you become doubly precious to God. You become like a delicate egg in His hands. This is why Psalm 103:13-14 says God will treat such a vessel with lots of care, remembering how weak and fragile he or she is. From today, the Lord will treat you with special care. You will be special to God and He will hide you in His love in Jesus’ Name.
Moreover, as an instrument of honour, never rest on your oars. Whatever level you may be on presently, you have only started; you have not yet attained the heights that God is taking you to. If you think that you have already arrived with respect to Kingdom tasks, you may attract unwanted things to yourself. Note however that the more God uses you, the more you will be of interest to the kingdom of Satan. Satan never wants any believer in Christ to end up in Heaven; so he will do all he can to stop you. Take Peter for instance: he loved Jesus so much that he vowed never to deny Him. This he said in spite of what Jesus had foretold would happen (Matthew 26:34-35). Satan saw Peter as a vessel of honour in God’s hands and immediately marked him out as a target. He did everything possible to being him down, but Jesus prayed for him and he overcome.
Similarly, Satan picked on another vessel of honour – Stephen. Stephen was holy, full of faith and full of Holy Spirit. He was also full of wisdom and was used to perform mighty signs and wonders in the early Church. Satan therefore stirred up serious opposition against Stephen, but he overcome them. When this failed, the enemies connived and brought false witnesses to lie against him. Satan never keeps to any rule of decency when he fights. He fights dirty. He kept working at it until he got Stephen killed (Acts 7:56-60). But unknown to him, when he thought he had won the battle, his chief vessel of persecution, Saul, was arrested by God and did even far greater works for God than Stephen did. In the end, the devil regretted his action. He wished he had left Stephen alone to have been spared the immense irrecoverable losses he got from his ex-loyal fanatic –Paul.
Action Point:
Pray that every target of Satan in your local church be protected from falling.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 17:19, Luke 17:20-18:8
Friday 3 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - THE ANOINTING SPEAKS – Saturday July 4, 2015
Topic: THE ANOINTING SPEAKS – Saturday July 4, 2015
Memorize:
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. -1 John 2:27
Read: 1 Samuel 10:1-9
1 THEN Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
MESSAGE:
The anointing creates the opportunity for you to be entrusted with God’s heritage. This great responsibility requires that you have divine information and guidance to carry out the assignment. As stated in our memory verse, the anointing speaks to or teaches the anointed, providing him with divine information. If you have the anointing, it will speak to you; it will tell you the truth. If you say you are anointed but you cannot hear from God, your anointing is very much in doubt. Based on 1st John 2:20, one way you can know that you are anointed is by the divine information released to you. The more the anointing on your life, the more you should have access to divine information (Number 12:6-8). To what extent does then anointing speak to you?
What does the anointing teach? If you closely look at Saul’s experience. You will learn that the anointing reveals future events to the anointed. After Saul was anointed by Samuel, the latter told him of a series of events that he was going to experience sequentially, and they happened accordingly. Do you know that God loves speaking to you? God is looking for those He can share certain vital information with before they occur. No wonder Amos 3:7 says,
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
Any information that is only accessible by God is God’s secret. The anointing makes God share His secrets with His anointed. Do you hear God’s voice? How often does He speak to you? Does He confide in you concerning future events that will affect you or members of your family? As we speak, there are some people who are acquainted with divine information of events that will occur in some 2,3,5 or 10 years’ time. May the Lord anoint you afresh and open to you the door of communication, granting you access to knowledge of events long before they happen. When you know what will happen in the future, you will be guided on how to handle your today and tomorrow.
Prayer Point:
Father, make me sensitive to Your voice. Help me never to mistake Your voice for that of any other person.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 15:16; Luke 17:1-19
Memorize:
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. -1 John 2:27
Read: 1 Samuel 10:1-9
1 THEN Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
MESSAGE:
The anointing creates the opportunity for you to be entrusted with God’s heritage. This great responsibility requires that you have divine information and guidance to carry out the assignment. As stated in our memory verse, the anointing speaks to or teaches the anointed, providing him with divine information. If you have the anointing, it will speak to you; it will tell you the truth. If you say you are anointed but you cannot hear from God, your anointing is very much in doubt. Based on 1st John 2:20, one way you can know that you are anointed is by the divine information released to you. The more the anointing on your life, the more you should have access to divine information (Number 12:6-8). To what extent does then anointing speak to you?
What does the anointing teach? If you closely look at Saul’s experience. You will learn that the anointing reveals future events to the anointed. After Saul was anointed by Samuel, the latter told him of a series of events that he was going to experience sequentially, and they happened accordingly. Do you know that God loves speaking to you? God is looking for those He can share certain vital information with before they occur. No wonder Amos 3:7 says,
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
Any information that is only accessible by God is God’s secret. The anointing makes God share His secrets with His anointed. Do you hear God’s voice? How often does He speak to you? Does He confide in you concerning future events that will affect you or members of your family? As we speak, there are some people who are acquainted with divine information of events that will occur in some 2,3,5 or 10 years’ time. May the Lord anoint you afresh and open to you the door of communication, granting you access to knowledge of events long before they happen. When you know what will happen in the future, you will be guided on how to handle your today and tomorrow.
Prayer Point:
Father, make me sensitive to Your voice. Help me never to mistake Your voice for that of any other person.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 15:16; Luke 17:1-19
Thursday 2 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - PRAYER CAN SUBDUE PEOPLE – Friday July 3, 2015
Topic: PRAYER CAN SUBDUE PEOPLE – Friday July 3, 2015
Memorize:
He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. -Psalm 47:3
Read: Genesis 32:6-12 & 33:4
Genesis 32:6-12
6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
Genesis 33:4
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
MESSAGE:
When Jacob was told that his brother, Esau, who had sworn to kill him, was coming to meet him with four hundred men, he was justifiably afraid and distressed. However, he prayed to God for deliverance, reminding Him of His covenant with his father. Several things happened to Jacob as a result of this prayer. After he prayed, God changed his name from Jacob to Israel (Genesis 32:28). Prayer can rename a situation or an individual, and it can also terminate the regime of an evil era induced by a bad name. When prayer ends a bad name, there will no longer be any reason to call the fellow by the former name. God told Jacob “From today, nobody will call you that name again.” As soon as He said it, every reproach the name had attached to him was completely erased. Royalty took over from there. From today, you shall no longer be called barren! You shall labour without receiving a commensurate harvest. From today, sorrow, tears and disappointment have ended in your life!
Beside this, prayer gave Jacob power with God and helped him prevail over the anger of his brother. To subdue impossible human beings, you need power with God. The extent to which you can control men will be determined by the power you have with God, because it’s God who subdues men under you (Psalm 47:3). Whenever you pray intensely from your heart, power is produced. The power that prayer generates can be channelled towards achieving any goal. When you pray effectively concerning your business, the power to succeed in it is released to you. If you are struggling in your studies, you need to pray intensely, and the power to enable you all that you should do to succeed in your academics will be released.
Acts 1:8 declares that when the Holy Spirit comes, power comes with Him. When you pray in the Holy Ghost with your heart, power comes. This power may come in the form of understanding difficult subjects you are studying, wisdom to relate with subordinates in such a manner that garners their support to enable you succeed in your assignment or ministry, and so on. Prayer also helps you to be victorious over men. Are people rising up against you? Pray! As you pray, they will be subdued. Is anyone threatening your life like Esau did to Jacob? Pray, and the Lord will subdue them.
Action Point:
One weapon every leader requires to keep the loyalty of their subjects and subordinates is prayer. Pray that God will keep those under your faithful to your righteous cause.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 12:14, Luke 16:14-31
Memorize:
He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. -Psalm 47:3
Read: Genesis 32:6-12 & 33:4
Genesis 32:6-12
6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
Genesis 33:4
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
MESSAGE:
When Jacob was told that his brother, Esau, who had sworn to kill him, was coming to meet him with four hundred men, he was justifiably afraid and distressed. However, he prayed to God for deliverance, reminding Him of His covenant with his father. Several things happened to Jacob as a result of this prayer. After he prayed, God changed his name from Jacob to Israel (Genesis 32:28). Prayer can rename a situation or an individual, and it can also terminate the regime of an evil era induced by a bad name. When prayer ends a bad name, there will no longer be any reason to call the fellow by the former name. God told Jacob “From today, nobody will call you that name again.” As soon as He said it, every reproach the name had attached to him was completely erased. Royalty took over from there. From today, you shall no longer be called barren! You shall labour without receiving a commensurate harvest. From today, sorrow, tears and disappointment have ended in your life!
Beside this, prayer gave Jacob power with God and helped him prevail over the anger of his brother. To subdue impossible human beings, you need power with God. The extent to which you can control men will be determined by the power you have with God, because it’s God who subdues men under you (Psalm 47:3). Whenever you pray intensely from your heart, power is produced. The power that prayer generates can be channelled towards achieving any goal. When you pray effectively concerning your business, the power to succeed in it is released to you. If you are struggling in your studies, you need to pray intensely, and the power to enable you all that you should do to succeed in your academics will be released.
Acts 1:8 declares that when the Holy Spirit comes, power comes with Him. When you pray in the Holy Ghost with your heart, power comes. This power may come in the form of understanding difficult subjects you are studying, wisdom to relate with subordinates in such a manner that garners their support to enable you succeed in your assignment or ministry, and so on. Prayer also helps you to be victorious over men. Are people rising up against you? Pray! As you pray, they will be subdued. Is anyone threatening your life like Esau did to Jacob? Pray, and the Lord will subdue them.
Action Point:
One weapon every leader requires to keep the loyalty of their subjects and subordinates is prayer. Pray that God will keep those under your faithful to your righteous cause.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 12:14, Luke 16:14-31
Wednesday 1 July 2015
Open Heavens Daily Devotion - HE IS WONDERFUL – Thursday July 2, 2015
Topic: HE IS WONDERFUL
Memorize:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7
Read: Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
MESSAGE:
One of the names or titles of our Lord Jesus Christ is wonderful (Isaiah 9:6). The word ‘wonderful’ is a combination of these two words: ‘wonder’ and ‘fully’, which jointly mean full of wonders. Acts 2:22 says,
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”
The terms miracles, wonders and signs in this scripture are placed according to their order of awesomeness. It means that wonders are superior to miracles in awesomeness and of a higher grade. When you look at Jesus, you will discover that everything about Him is full to wonders. His Name is Wonderful because it is far highly exalted above every other Name (Philippians 2:9-11). His Name commands the compulsory obedience of every force or power that exists.
Not only is His Name full of wonders, but His love is also wonderful. No one else can love you like Jesus does. He loves you even much more than you love yourself. What about His peace? It is very unique; it is unlike anything the world can offer you (John 14:27). No wonder Philippians 4;7 says His peace passes all human understanding. If God gives you peace? It is equally wonderful. Matthew 28:18 says:
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
All authority comes under His divine majesty, what about His grace? It is also full of wonders. The riches of His grace goes beyond what we are currently enjoying in this world (Ephesians 2:7). His grace is inexhaustible to the fellow who knows how to relate with Him, which is why He has a throne of grace that we can boldly approach to receive mercy (Hebrews 4:16). Grace made God’s provision available to us at the expenses of Christ sacrificing His life on the cross of Cavalry. In addition, His joy is wonderful, and so is His strength. If you have Jesus Christ in you and you give Him the freedom to do whatever He likes in your life (i.e. you regard Him as Lord and not as a guest), His wonders will be replete in every area of your life. Do you allow Him to do His wonderful works in your life?
Prayer Point:
Father, come and perform Your wonders in every area of my life.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 9:35-11:47, Luke 15:25-16:13
Memorize:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7
Read: Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
MESSAGE:
One of the names or titles of our Lord Jesus Christ is wonderful (Isaiah 9:6). The word ‘wonderful’ is a combination of these two words: ‘wonder’ and ‘fully’, which jointly mean full of wonders. Acts 2:22 says,
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”
The terms miracles, wonders and signs in this scripture are placed according to their order of awesomeness. It means that wonders are superior to miracles in awesomeness and of a higher grade. When you look at Jesus, you will discover that everything about Him is full to wonders. His Name is Wonderful because it is far highly exalted above every other Name (Philippians 2:9-11). His Name commands the compulsory obedience of every force or power that exists.
Not only is His Name full of wonders, but His love is also wonderful. No one else can love you like Jesus does. He loves you even much more than you love yourself. What about His peace? It is very unique; it is unlike anything the world can offer you (John 14:27). No wonder Philippians 4;7 says His peace passes all human understanding. If God gives you peace? It is equally wonderful. Matthew 28:18 says:
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
All authority comes under His divine majesty, what about His grace? It is also full of wonders. The riches of His grace goes beyond what we are currently enjoying in this world (Ephesians 2:7). His grace is inexhaustible to the fellow who knows how to relate with Him, which is why He has a throne of grace that we can boldly approach to receive mercy (Hebrews 4:16). Grace made God’s provision available to us at the expenses of Christ sacrificing His life on the cross of Cavalry. In addition, His joy is wonderful, and so is His strength. If you have Jesus Christ in you and you give Him the freedom to do whatever He likes in your life (i.e. you regard Him as Lord and not as a guest), His wonders will be replete in every area of your life. Do you allow Him to do His wonderful works in your life?
Prayer Point:
Father, come and perform Your wonders in every area of my life.
Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 9:35-11:47, Luke 15:25-16:13
Photos: Woman steals flat screen TV, puts it between her legs and walks away
A store in Lusaka, Zambia posted a CCTV footage of a woman effortlessly stealing a flat screen plasma TV from their store and placing it between her legs while a female accomplice looks out for her. She then walks away normally like nothing happened.
Suicide bombers attack hospital in Maiduguri
Acting INEC Chairman Mrs Amina Zakari assumes office
Full Bio of Mrs Aisha Buhari
Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari is the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected at the last general election, held on March 28, 2015.
She hails from Adamawa State, North-East Region of Nigeria. Her grandfather, Alhaji Mohammed Ribadu, was Nigeria’s first Minister of Defence. Her twenty-five years marriage to the former Head of State is blessed with five children and a granddaughter.
Mrs. Buhari has a Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Strategic Studies (MIASS) from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Public Administration from Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma. She is currently undertaking a Counseling Course on Co-Dependency in the United Kingdom.
Prior to acquiring her higher degrees, Mrs. Buhari had earlier pursued a career in Beauty and fashion and obtained a Diploma in Beauty Therapy from the Carlton Institute of Beauty Therapy, Windsor, United Kingdom and specialized in Permanent Make-up, Mesotherapy and Miocro-dermabrasion. As well as obtained Certificate from a French beauty school, Estheitique Academie in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Japanese Gold Facial and Towel-folding Techniques.
Her natural passion for beauty and fashion is overwhelming, and this makes her interestingly unique, as she works, teaches and mentors young ones on beauty and fashion. In her almost fifteen years in the beauty industry, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has trained, mentored and empowered hundreds of Nigerians in her chosen profession, beauty. She is the Founder/Managing Director of Hanzy Spa and Principal of Hanzy Beauty Institute, Kaduna and Abuja.
She is a Resource Person to National Basic Technical Education (NBTE) on Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology and has participated in the curriculum development of Small Medium Enterprises for NBTE. She is an advocate of Women and Girl-child educationhaving from an area that is educationally disadvantaged for the female gender.
Her life philosophy is: if the environment is safe, if there is no corruption in governance and public life, there would be enough resources in any nation to meet the important needs of the common people including those of women and the youth.
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