Open Heavens | Daily Devotional

Open Heavens 28 September 2018 – He will surely Remember

by dailyd | Sep 28, 2018 | Open Heavens

Topic: He will surely Remember

Memorise: “And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.”– Esther 6:3

Read: Esther 6:1-12 (KJV)

1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?

7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,

8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:

9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 13-15, Mark 14:32-52

MESSAGE:
One characteristic attribute of our Father in heaven is that He remembers details of past, present and future events. For this reason, it is dangerous to be part of bad events which He has noted down for judgment, because He will surely remember (1 Samuel 15:2-3). The good thing is that he will surely remember your good works also. Today’s Bible reading narrates a classic example of remembrance of good works. On the night before the day when Haman intended to get the king’s permission to hang Mordecai, the God who specializes in remembering and recompensing good deeds took sleep away from the eyes of King Ahasuerus, and he could not sleep no matter how hard he tried. . Naturally, when a person cannot sleep, he or she tries to find something to do. The Lord used this to lead Ahasuerus to open the book of records for Mordecai’s sake. The king found in it that Mordecai had been instrumental to foiling an assassination plot against him. He then asked a question, which serve as food for thought: “What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this?” There is one fundamental lesson that every person, especially children of God, must learn here. It is imperative to always remember every good deed people do to us. A proverb in my native language says, “Failure to appreciate good deeds is like daylight robbery.” I pray that your good works of many years shall be remembered this season, and you shall be honored in Jesus’ Name.

Beloved, learn from the experience of Mordecai that God will always cause people to repay your good deeds. In this regard, the Lord said in Luke 6:38a:

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.”

What the Lord is saying here is that God will compel men, even when they are not willing, to bless you for your good deeds. The interesting aspect of Mordecai’s story is that the fellow who wanted to get permission to kill him came into the palace court just at the nick of time to be used by the king in honoring this same Mordecai. I pray once again that your enemies shall become your stepping stone to glory in Jesus’ Name. I just want to encourage you to be addicted to good works (Romans 12:9). Many children of God block their way to glory and honor because they are bankrupt of good deeds, even though they are born again. Beloved, good deeds are proof of your encounter with the Master who himself went about doing good (Acts 10:38, James 2:18).

Prayer Point:
Father, help me to combine good works with my faith so that I may be like You indeed. Also, please remember me for the past deeds Your Holy Spirit has helped me sow in people’s lives.

Friday Hymn 6: A New Thing
(Tune: There shall be showers of Blessing)
1. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because GOD will do new things
Sinners will soon be forgiven
Prodigals will come home soon.

Chorus:
Shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Rivers in desert now flowing
Halleluyah to our king.

2. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Sickness and sorrow will be gone
Bondage will be forgotten.

3. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
The barren will be fruitful soon
Failure will be forgotten

4. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Poverty will be forgotten
Stagnancy will soon be gone.

5. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
To all miracles are given
There shall be celebrations

6. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Many will have testimonies
Of prayers answered fully

7. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
One of us will chase a thousand
Two will conquer ten thousands.

8. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Songs of praises we will sing
Halleluyah to our King.

Open Heavens 28 September 2018 Friday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heavens 28 September 2018 Friday Daily Devotional

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Open Heavens 27 September 2018 – Lessons from Mud

Open Heavens 27 September 2018 – Lessons from Mud

by dailyd | Sep 27, 2018 | Open Heavens

Topic: Lessons from Mud

Memorise: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”- Genesis 2:7

Read: Jeremiah 18:1-6 (KJV)

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 10-12, Mark 14:10-31

MESSAGE:
It is amazing that something as precious as humanity could come out from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). However, this could only happen because God worked on it. What a great lesson this is to the wise! Any person who allows God to work on him or her will become a vessel unto honor in God’s hands. The Holy Spirit confirms this truth in 2 Timothy 2:21, saying:

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Unfortunately, observing the history of mankind has taught us that the mud of the earth often seems to be wiser than majority of the people who ever lived. Why? When the Almighty God wanted to make something precious from the dust, it did not protest against God’s work. In contrast to this, what do we see in mankind? We see stiff resistance whenever God wants to glorify Himself through them. For this reason, many people do not fulfill their destinies on earth.

The Lord took Jeremiah to a potter’s house where the potter was working on a lump of clay. In the process, the clay was marred in the potter’s hands and he made it into another vessel that he liked, according to his pleasure. Not once did the clay protest the potter’s intentions. In Jeremiah 18:6, the Lord then asked this question:

“O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Although man was made out of dust he was glorified after the Lord God had worked on him. Along the line however, he became marred through the machinations of the devil. To the glory of God, the Great Potter is working on us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Beloved, have you been worked upon by the Lord? Are you even allowing God to work on you? If not, today is the day of salvation. You must surrender your life to God through Christ and confess your sins to Him for forgiveness. Isaiah prayed a prayer on behalf of the nation of Israel, which should also be our prayer today. In Isaiah 64:8-9, he said:

“8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. 9 Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.”

Learn from the clay in today’s story. If you can pray this prayer today, the Lord will work on your marred life, business, family, job or studies and cause great restoration to take place in them.

ACTION POINT:
Pray the prayer in Isaiah 64:8-9, applying it to appropriate areas of your life.

Also Read: Open Heavens 26 September 2018 – It Shall Not Stand!

Open Heavens 27 September 2018 Thursday Hymn 4: Trust and Obey
1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Open Heavens 27 September 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heavens 27 September 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional.

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Open Heavens 26 September 2018 – It Shall Not Stand!

Open Heavens 26 September 2018 – It Shall Not Stand!

by dailyd | Sep 26, 2018 | Open Heavens

Topic: It Shall Not Stand!

Memorise: “For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.”- Psalm 125:3

Read: Nehemiah 4:1-15 (KJV)

1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 7-9, Mark 13:24-14:9

MESSAGE:
I want you to see today’s topic as a prophetic word from God coming to you with power. You may be wondering “What is it that shall not stand?” The counsel of the wicked against you shall not stand in Jesus’ Name. In this regard, there are many lessons to be learnt from Nehemiah and his team of builders. It is amazing that there are people who are opposed to good things of life, but the good news is that for those who know the true God, the counsel of the wicked will never stand. When Nehemiah got to know of the conspiracy hatched by Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabians and their other devilish allies like the Ammonites and Ashdodites, he called for prayer. Nehemiah 4:9 says:

“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”

Beloved, if your suffering must cease and the conspiracies of the wicked against you must no longer stand, you must learn to pray.

Furthermore, observe that Nehemiah set a watch, day and night, against the evil conspirator. Jesus told the disciples in Mark 14:38 to watch and pray. Nehemiah and his team did not watch alone, because they knew that “except the Lord keep the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1) at the same time, they did not pray alone; they also watched. Very often, children of God fail in the area of watching. They are carefree, but this is not the will of God for our lives. God wants us to be vigilant, so that together with him, we will continue to frustrate the counsel of the wicked. In addition, Nehemiah also did something strategic, as seen in Nehemiah 4:16-17:

“16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.”

There was precise division of labor, with everyone knowing his or her responsibility. Every one of them also had their weapon of war ready, even as they engaged in the work of building. To frustrate the counsel of the wicked, we must be sensitive to the Spirit always and be ready to engage in spiritual warfare at all times. Beloved, let us comport ourselves in such a way that our Father in heaven will know that we mean business, and He will not allow the counsel of the wicked against our destiny and our endeavors to stand in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, strengthen my hands in battles and frustrate the counsel of my enemies.

Wednesday HYMN 18: CONQUEROR AND OVERCOMERS NOW ARE WE
1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing ‘gainst His mighty power can e’er prevail.

Chorus
Conquerors are we, thr’o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.

2. In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.

3. Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.

Open Heavens 26 September 2018 Wednesday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heavens 26 September 2018 Wednesday Daily Devotional.

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OPEN HEAVENS 25 SEPTEMBER 2018 – MULTIPLY

OPEN HEAVENS 25 SEPTEMBER 2018 – MULTIPLY

by dailyd | Sep 25, 2018 | Open Heavens

Topic: Multiply

Memorise: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”– Genesis 1:28

Read: Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (KJV)

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

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

14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 4-6, Mark 13:3-23

MESSAGE:
A major characteristic of every living thing is growth. If a child that was born 5 years ago now looks like a 5 year old child, this is only normal. If an orange tree you planted four years ago is now yielding fruits this is also normal. You don’t need a miracle to grow, it is just natural. Multiplication on the other hand is a special thing. God did not tell us to grow, He told us to multiply. Other people may be growing, but we as children of God must multiply because it is a command from God. You may be wondering “How can I begin to multiply?” Notice that when God told His children to multiply in Genesis 1:28, it was a time when there was no sin and they had constant fellowship with Him. The simple secret to multiplication is to live holy and to have God with you. Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His children. If you want God to be with you always, then you should live a lifestyle of giving praise to Him.

Many years ago, I was preparing for a three-day program. While I was in my prayer room, I was praying to God saying “Lord, heal the sick today, show forth your power and do mighty miracles.” Suddenly I heard God respond sharply to me, and He said “Keep quiet! What about all the miracles I have done in the past? Have you thanked me for them?” My response to Him was ” Lord I’m sorry, thank You for all the miracles you have done for us; now today heal the sick, and perform great miracles…” He suddenly cut me short again, saying “keep quiet! I don’t want to hear any request from you for the next three days; all I want you to do is to praise Me.” This was very difficult for me because my mind was set on having the people who would be attending the program receive their miracles. I struggled with the instruction but I obeyed. After the program was over, God told me to tell my people to prepare; He said that we had been experiencing increase in our church, but that from that time forward we would be experiencing multiplication, and that has been our story ever since. Do you want to multiply? Learn to praise God regularly, and avoid sin. Taking Solomon as a case study, when he became king, he feared the Lord and kept away from sin. His only desire was to rule the people according to God’s will. There was even a time he sacrificed twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep, all just to worship God (2 Chronicles 7:5). In 2 Chronicles 2:1, he determined to build a house for God and spared no expenses at all in building this house for God. All the while, he kept multiplying. He multiplied so much that silver and gold were like stones in his kingdom (2 Chronicles 1:15). However, the moment his heart turned away from the things of God, the anointing for multiplication dried up, so that by the end of his reign, he was taxing the people heavily just so that he could maintain his lifestyle. Determine today to stay away from sin and stay in the place of worshipping God and your multiplication will be unending.

KEY POINT:
God multiplies those who live a lifestyle of holiness and praise to Him.

TUESDAY HYMN 6: A NEW THING
(TUNE: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING)
1. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because GOD will do new things
Sinners will soon be forgiven
Prodigals will come home soon.