OpenHeavens Daily Devotion - STEALING FROM YOUR EMPLOYER?, Wednesday August 19th 2015

 STEALING FROM YOUR EMPLOYER?

Memorise: Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; Ephesians 6:6

Read: Ephesians 6:5-8,

Bible in one year: Genesis 27-28, John 16:16-33

Message: One aspect of Christian character that is often neglected is our attitude to our place of paid employment. Some people out-rightly steal things kept in their care by their employer; such should not even be mentioned among Christians. However, there are other subtle ways people steal from their employers. When you accept to work for an organisation, there is an understanding or even a written agreement regarding your working hours. If you are to resume at 7:30 AM but you get late to work, you are stealing time from your employer. If you are to close at 5:00 PM but you leave at 4:00 PM, you are a thief. There are even situations where an employee will resume and close at the normal time, but while in the office, instead of concentrating on the assignment at hand, he or she will spend a good portion of time browsing the internet for personal leisure, watching television or videos, or just gallivanting and gossiping from desk to desk. If you are engaged in any of these, you are equally stealing time from your employer. In addition, taking or using for personal purposes any material or property that belongs to your organisation with permission amounts to stealing.

“Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”
Ephesians 6:6

Another way employees steal from their employers is by pretending to work when the boss is around but dumping the work or doing a shoddy job when the boss is not there. Today’s reading says that there should be a difference between a Christian employee and his or her non-Christian counterpart. While unbelievers may work just to be seen, believers should work as if they are doing that official assignment as a service to Jesus Christ. To this end, realising that the Lord is ever present, A Christian employee will work conscientiously because he or she knows that by doing his or her secular work to please God and to glorify His name, not only will the organisation pay for this service, God will equally give the fellow a good reward for a job well done. It means that you can actually earn double for doing a particular job once. If the effort you put into your job does not glorify God, you will be paid only by your employer, but if it does, you will be paid by your employer and by God. How do you handle your official assignments today?

Key point:
How can you win your employer to Christ if you cheat or steal from them?

Open Heavens Daily Dvotional - LIFE MORE ABUNDANT, Tuesday August 18th 2015

 LIFE MORE ABUNDANT

Memorise: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Read: John 10:9-11,

Bible in one year: Genesis 24:62-26:35, John 15:18-16:15

Message: God’s plan for His children is that they do not become sick at all (3rd John 2). All through His years on earth, our Lord Jesus Christ was never sick. If you believe in Him and fully obey Him, it is possible for you to never be sick again. Sickness is alien to God’s temple – your body. It is a stranger, an invader and a tool of the enemy. John 10:10 says the mission of the devil is to steal, kill and destroy. He wants to steal your health, kill your body and destroy you. But thank God, 1st John 3:8 Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Every work of darkness operating in your life shall be destroyed in Jesus’ Name.

Moreover, Jesus came to give life. The life He came to give is not in limited measure, but at a level described as being more than abundant. In other words, in superlative measure! Life is the opposite of death. Any resemblance of death in you shall be uprooted now! The life of Jesus gives includes physical life; hence, He can reverse the process of death in a human body (Acts 9:39-41). It also includes spiritual life: He imparts life to a spiritually dead fellow and is able to sustain this life until He returns (1st Peter 2:24). This is how those who were once sinners became saints and remain holy until they sleep in death or are caught up in the rapture. Jesus also gives intellectual life. He can resurrect the mental faculty of a dullard and turn the fellow into a genius (Acts 4:13). His abundant life includes financial life: He makes the deeply impoverished to become financially empowered (2nd Corinthians 8:9). The abundant life restores health to the sick, makes the barren fruitful, changes the story of the one covered with shame, gives beauty for ashes, joy to the sorrow-laden, compassion to the neglected and so much more. It is capable of multiplying provision of overflowing measure. Are you a beneficiary of the abundant life? Any blessing to you have in limited measure can be made available to you abundantly. This season, the abundant life that Jesus gives shall be your portion! Reject anything that is less than the abundant life! Do everything possible to live a life that is filled with God’s abundance.

 Key Point:
Although Jesus has made all good things abundantly available, your faith will determine the level of what you draw from it.

Open Heavens Daily Devotion - PROGRESS WITH SPEED, Monday August 17th 2015

 PROGRESS WITH SPEED

Memorise: Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Psalm 124:7

Read: Psalm 126:1-4,

Bible in one year: Genesis 24:1-61, John 15:1-17

Message: Promotion can come to you through either human or divine assistance. The assisted state of progress attained through this promotion moves you to a level where you are not supposed to be. The greatest promotion of all is that which transforms a sinner into a saint. This is only made possible through divine assistance. Because man could not attain this spiritual promotion by his own efforts, God came in to help us. This season, the Lord will assist you and move you to a level you are not qualified to occupy in Jesus’ Name.

Beyond assisted state of progress is the accelerated state of progress. This is progress of the unusual kind. It defiles time, expectations and protocol. Under the influence of this state of progress, you could be at the bottom now and find yourself at the very top moments later. David experienced this type of progress in 1st Samuel 16:11-13. He was just watching over his father’s sheep and goats in the fields when a messenger came and told him he was urgently needed at home. “What for?”, he asked. The messenger’s reply was “I don’t know, but we have a visitor – a man, I think he is a prophet, and he asked for you to come right away.” As soon as he got home, God told the prophet, “This is the fellow, anoint him now.” Samuel asked David to kneel before his brethren and he anointed him. By the time the boy got up, he was already a king. One moment he was a shepherd boy, and at the next, he was a king. That is accelerated progress!

At the registry on the day of my wedding, we could not but notice what was happening around us. A particular girl was dressed up to be wedded, but she waited endlessly for the bridegroom, not knowing he had absconded. She almost went berserk, but she eventually survived the disappointment. Not long after, she was married to a soldier. Unknown to her, the man who jilted her also joined the army. One day, there was a military coup, and the husband, the governor. So, anytime this girl was to enter the car, her former husband-to-be had to open the door for her. This season, God will overlook time, protocol and the arrangement of men in order ton accelerate your promotion! Your progress shall receive divine speed in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point
Father, by divine speed, move me, my family and members of my local assembly to the very top in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Daily Dvotion - PEACE THROUGH HIS PRESENCE, Sunday August 16th 2015

 PEACE THROUGH HIS PRESENCE

Memorise: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1

Read: Exodus 14:13-14, Bible in one year: Genesis 21:8-23:20, John 14:15-31

Message: The assurance that God is on the side of the righteous and not against them, give peace to their life. It is commonly said that “One with God is majority.” Even if the whole world is against you, as long as you know that God is on your side, you will not be afraid. As a child of God, because God has justified and cleansed you, there is now peace between you and Him (Romans 5:1). The rift of separation is gone! Condemnation is also gone! Praise God! As long as God stands by you, nobody can withstand you (Romans 8:31). If God is for you, it means that He loves you, and if He loves you, then you are more than a conqueror. If God is for you, He will personally take over the battles of your life. As you simply praise and worship Him, He will arise and engage your enemies in battle. You can be certain He will bring the victory back to you. While facing the Red Sea with no visible way to cross it, the children of Israel suddenly had the Egyptian army rushing furiously towards them. Faced with this impossible situation, Moses said this to them in Exodus 14:14:

“The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

When you have the Commander-in-Chief of the heavenly hosts fighting for you, oh what peace and joy will flood your heart in the midst of the storms of life! As long as Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is in your boat, that boat will never sink. A song writer wrote, “… No water can swallow the ship where lies, the Master of ocean and earth and skies”. This is so true. You can go to sleep in the midst of an earthquake when God is with you. That was why Peter sleep so deep after his arrest. Acts 12:6-7 tells of how he slept, bound between two soldiers:

“And when Herod would have brought Him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.”

He knew that even though he was in prison, He was safely in God’s hands. He also knew that God can do the impossible whenever He decides to. Are you anxious over how you will come out of that impossible situation? Fear not! What did Peter do to come out? Nothing! He slept while others prayed, yet he came out. You are coming out today in Jesus’ Name. Because God is with you, you will never fall. 

 Key point
The peace that God gives cannot be eroded by the storms of life.

Open Heavens Daily Dvotion - FAVOUR UPROOTS OBSTACLES, Saturday August 15th 2015

 FAVOUR UPROOTS OBSTACLES

Memorise: Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. Job 10:12

Read: Zachariah 4:6-9, 6.
 So he answered and said to me:“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’Says the Lord of hosts.7‘Who are you, O great mountain?Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!And he shall bring forth the capstoneWith shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”8Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:9“The hands of ZerubbabelHave laid the foundation of this temple;His hands shall also finish it.Then you will knowThat the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.

Bible in one year: Genesis 19:1-21:7,

Genesis 19:1-21King James Version (KJV)
19 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.
10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.
14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
 John 13:31-14:14
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Message: In the journey of life, the enemy can place obstacles in the way of a man to prevent the actualisation of his destiny. Zerubbabel was a man commissioned by God to rebuild the ruins of Jerusalem and to restore the worship of God at His temple. The Word of the Lord concerning this came expressly to him through several prophets and scribes, including Zechariah, Haggai and Ezra (Haggi 1:1-2, Zechariah 4:9, Ezra 2:1-2). In spite of these facts, the enemy still put difficulties along his way to prevent him from fulfilling God’s divine destiny for his life (Ezra 4:3-5). However, Zerubbabel found favour before God, and the unmerited favour of God was sent to uproot the obstacles the enemy placed in his way (Zachariah 4:7). This season, the Lord will remove every obstacle the enemy has placed in your way in Jesus’ Name.

 A particular sister trusting God for marriage attended one of our Holy Ghost services, and a word came from God that there was a lady present, whose mother was obstructing her from getting married. The Lord said if this mother continued to stand in her way, she would die within a week. On getting home, this lady told her mother the word she had heard from God. Her mother later stormed angrily into my office saying: “You are the one teaching people wrong things, and saying that I am going to die!” “When did I say that, mama?” I asked. “My daughter returned from your programme and came to tell me so”, she responded. To pacify her, I told her that I did not mention any names, and added, “Don’t mind her. That is how they claim what does not belong to them.” Pacified, she excused her daughter from my office. When we were both alone, she turned to me and said “Pastor, is it true that the mother in question will die?” “Mama, it is not you, but God’s word must be fulfilled. If the person in question fails to release her daughter to be married, within seven days, she will be buried”, I replied. She then confessed, “It is not that I don’t want her to marry, but the challenge is that if she marries, who will take care of me? She is the only one looking after me now.” I told her “Mama, if that is the issue, there is no problem. I will tell her husband that whatever your daughter has been doing for you before she was married should be sustained.” She then responded, “Alright, she can marry.” Within a week, after several years of waiting, a man looked in her direction and said she was the right woman for him. Today, the favour of God will turn God’s search light in your direction and completely flush out everyone standing between you and your expectations, in Jesus’ Name!

Prayer Point
Father, by Your favour, remove every obstacle frustrating the fulfilment of my destiny.

Open Heavens Daily Devotion - HE USES FISHERMEN, Friday August 14th 2015

HE USES FISHERMEN

Memorise: Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 1st Corinthians 12:22
Read: Luke 5:1-11, 

Luke 5:1   And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

  Luke 5:2   And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

  Luke 5:3   And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

  Luke 5:4   Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

  Luke 5:5   And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

  Luke 5:6   And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

  Luke 5:7   And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

  Luke 5:8   When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

  Luke 5:9   For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

  Luke 5:10   And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.  
Luke 5:11   And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. 

Bible in one year: Genesis 17-18, And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
 John 13:1-30

Message: When the time comes for God to fulfil a plan He has predestined to happen, He looks out for those He can use for this purpose. God does not discriminate in His choice of persons to use to accomplish His mission. He can use the great or the small. When the time came for Him to choose those who would serve and learn under His Son, He chose some raw fishermen. Our God is awesome, and His ways are past finding out! In today’s Bible reading, when Jesus found Peter, He told him that from that day, he would no longer catch fishes from the sea, but human souls from the world. If God can use a raw uneducated fisherman like Peter, He can use you more. You are very useful to God. However, do you make yourself available for His use? Ironically, as the number of ministers is increasing, the number of those who are available for God’s use is decreasing. As a result of this, many people bear the title of minister, but they are not available to perform their assignments. Have we forgotten the acronym F.A.T., which stands for Faithfulness, Availability and Teach-ability? If God will use you, these three must be the code you live by. Today, because the people we consider more suitable for kingdom assignments are either too busy or giving too much excuses, God is moving to those who have made themselves available to do His work, even when those people appear less suitable for the work. Are you available to serve God? If you can create time to do your secular work that you will have to leave someday, why can’t you create time to serve your Maker who can reward you for your service in eternity?

There are some people who feel God cannot use them, because they have not yet bagged a degree, amassed some wealth or become famous. Oh, how mistaken they are! Do you know that God can use you just as you are? He can use you even in your limited state, if you will only turn your life over to Jesus. Do not wait to get your miracle first before telling others about the love of God. In any way you can share the gospel with the unsaved, go on and do so. Lead others to Christ. Use your influence to motivate people to do the right thing. Be a positive, holy influence on your peers. Remember, if you bear fruit for God’s kingdom, it will be His responsibility to do what He can to make you more fruitful.

Action Point
You are very important to God. If you fail to play your role in the Body of Christ, it could bring losses to God’s kingdom. Determine to play your role today.

Open Heavens Devotional - SPIRIT, NOT FLESH. Tuesday August 11th 2015

Topic: SPIRIT, NOT FLESH

Memorise: Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? Hebrew 12:9; Read: Isaiah 40:6-8, Bible in one year: Genesis 8-10, John 11:45-12:8

Reading: Man is limited because he is confined to a body made from dust (Genesis 3:19). He is also limited because even at his best, he is comparable to the flowers of the field (Isaiah 40:6-8), which grow, glow, fade and die. Sometimes, because they are glowing so beautifully, they are cut and used either for play or for decoration, after which they die. Unlike man, God is not limited, because He is a Spirit and He is not made of dust. Jesus in John 4:24 revealed the nature of God to us when He said:

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Not only is God a spirit, He is the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9). All spirits derive their powers from Him. If you can appreciate how powerful angels are, then you can begin to comprehend this God who created and empowered billions of angels and has the power to command them to cease to exist in a moment. Imagine that one angel alone, razed down the entire army of a mighty nation in just one night (2nd Kings 19:35). This should give you a little insight into how great and mighty the Father of spirit is.

To break away from our limitations as humans, we must move towards becoming more of spirit by becoming more like God. Man is a tripartite being made up of spirit, soul and body. All three components must be developed in that order. Your spirit must be given the greatest priority in development, followed by your soul. Your body should not be developed to the detriment of your spirit and soul. If you are not born-again, your spirit is dead, and the soul is heading for Hell. In the unsaved state, the flesh is in charge of an individual’s life. The flesh is a servant of sin and therefore, a slave to Satan. Wherever the flesh rules, Satan is in control. If your body is what dictates to you when you pray, how you pray, how often you eat, what to do with your passions and how you relate with God, you can be sure that it will never draw you closer to God. It will do everything possible to separate you from God and keep your spirit-man dead or weak. The longer you live in the flesh by gratifying it lusts, the weaker you become in the spirit. But if you can be born-again and develop your spirit-man by feasting regularly on God’s word, praying in the Holy Spirit, walking in obedience to God and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, your limitations will give way to your empowered form. Decide to grow your spirit-man in all you do from today!

Action Point
Whenever you worship God, always engage your spirit-man.

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

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.

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!

Key Point:
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

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

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.

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.

Bible in one year: 2 Chronicles 6:12-7:10,Luke 21:25-22:13

Open Heavens Daily Devotion - CONNECTING DESTINY HELPERS – Saturday July 11, 2015

Topic: CONNECTING DESTINY HELPERS 

Memorize:
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heavens and earth. -Psalm 121:2

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.

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.

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

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.

Bible in one year: 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11,Luke 21:1-24

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

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.

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.

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.

Bible in one year: 2 Chronicles 1-3, Luke 20:19-47

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

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.

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.

Bible in one year: 1 Chronicles 28:9-29:30,Luke 19:41-20:18

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 20:10

Read: 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open Heavens Dailly Devotion - RETURN REDUCED WAGES! – Wednesday July 1, 2015

Topic: RETURN REDUCED WAGES! – Wednesday July 1, 2015

Memorize:
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. -Romans 13:8

Read: Genesis 31:36-42
36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

MESSAGE:

God is a righteous God, and as a result, He hates all forms of Fraud. According to Leviticus 19:13, it is a crime to delay your workers salary for 24 hours. Do you promptly pay your staff – whether church or secular? Another aspect of fraud is manipulating your workers’ salaries. One Bible character who was a victim of this was Jacob. All the years he worked for Laban, he suffered a great deal. He was deceived, cheated, made to bear the losses his boss should have borne and earned an ever-decreasing wage. Laban was extremely wicked. But do you know that some employers today are like Laban? They take all the gains of their businesses and push all the losses to their staff, irrespective of what caused such losses. Also, while they plan to make more profit and push their staff to work hard at it, they hardly ever plan to increase their salaries. If anything, they continue to come up with excuses as to why such salaries should remain at the same level, or even be reduced.

Laban reduced Jacob’s wages 10 times. If you are happy to cut down your staff salaries rather than increase them, though your business is not diminishing, you are toying with Hell. If your business cannot afford an employee anymore, it is better to let such staff go after paying their entitlements. Take note of the words of Romans 13:8:
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
Every cent, kobo or penny you fraudulent cut off the wages of your staff amounts to a debt you owe them. Also, the fact that you owe your staff shows your lack of love for them. You cannot be cutting down the salary or wages of those you love, while your business is doing fine. Do not be surprised that some employers who claim to be believers in Christ will die and get to the gate of Heaven, only to be told that they cannot enter in because of the debt they owe their staff. At that checkpoint, the entire amount owed will be found on them. They will then say “I am sorry; I am now prepared to pay the debts I owe my staff”, but the angles will say “Sorry, it’s too late.” The money such persons fraudulently stole from their staff will follow them to Hell-fire and torment them there for eternity. For your own good, go and restitute all the wages you have cut off without just cause.

Key Point:
Besides pride, another vice that God cannot stand in people is breaking of agreements. If you make a promise, you must keep it.

Bible in one year: 1, Chronicles 7:14-9:34,Luke 15:1-24