Open Heavens Daily Devotion - STAGNANCY IS NOT YOUR PORTION – Monday July 27th 2015

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!

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

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.