Wednesday 6 January
TOPIC: WHITHER YOUR FREE WILL?
MEMORIZE: “And Jesus said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9: 62)
READ: Philippians 2: 5-11
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deut. 30:19)
The power to choose is a manifestation of one of God’s uncommon gifts to man – free will. This is one of your greatest assets which God will not violate. It is not in His character to compel anyone against his or her will on any issue. According to the above scripture, the one who gave us the power to choose also respects our choice. He can only advice us when exercising our will so that we do not make the wrong decisions. In Revelation 3:20, the Lord says He is standing at the door of your heart. He will not break through to gain entry forcefully because He is not a thief. If you choose to open the door to Him, after knocking for sometime, He would leave. But there are consequences for not responding to God’s knocks. What is that area in your life that the Lord has been gently knocking at the door of your heart but you turned deaf hears? Repent and open to Him today!
Moreover, once you have opened the door to the Lord on an issue, He expects total commitment. You cannot afford to look back after saying ‘Yes’ to Jesus. Today, some believers who said ‘Yes’ to holiness are now allowing secret sin. Some who said ‘Yes’ to the truth are now accommodating some lies. Are you turning back from your promise, vow, dedication and commitment to the Lord? Luke 9: 62 says doing so makes one a misfit for the Heavenly Kingdom. Like the marriage institution, it is a lifetime commitment. And like marriage, it is only death that should terminate – no, transform it into the eternal plane. The moment you enter Jesus’ boat, you are bound to submit to His captainship. As a result, you have to voluntarily submit your free will; from that moment, He must be in charge. You can no longer dictate to Him. You cannot afford to do just anything you want to do. From then on, you must ask: ‘What shall I do Lord?” it is when you give up your free will that God will be compelled to take absolute control of your life and situation, and help take decisions for you. From that time, the government of your life is put on His shoulders. Are you still retaining this asset or have you given it to Him? Remember, Jesus left us an example of relinquishing His will according to today’s reading.
ACTION POINT:
Giving up your will is a mark of brokenness: Before you can be God’s battle axe, you must first be broken.
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Pastor E. A Adeboye
Pastor E. A Adeboye
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Provoking the spoken word - daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Tuesday 5 January
TOPIC: PROVOKING THE SPOKEN WORD
MEMORIZE: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Pet. 1: 20)
READ: 2 Peter 1: 19-21
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Jesus Christ is the Word. You can categorize God’s Word into three: The Written Word (the Bible), the Spoken Word and the Living Word. The Written Word is the word documented. The Bible is no ordinary book. It is the revelation of God to mankind by the Holy Spirit. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1: 21). The Holy Spirit spoke through sanctified vessels and His words were later documented as the Bible. This shows us a link between the Spoken Word and the Written Word. Some skeptics have tried to fault the Bible but it remains faultless. Severe persecution that arose against the church during the dark ages tried to completely wipe out every copy of the Bible, yet it is still with us today because you cannot eradicate God’s Word. What is your relationship with the Bible?
“But he answered and said, It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light” and it was so. Occasionally, God speaks. In Acts 13: 2, the Holy Spirit called for Barnabas and Saul to be set apart for a special assignment. Whenever God is present in a gathering, if the atmosphere is conducive for Him, He will speak to His people using any consecrated and willing vessel. Our Lord Jesus says to live the life of faith, you need to know what God is saying at the moment. That means God has a message for you in that particular situation you find yourself. If you can hear what the Spirit is saying concerning an issue and you comply with His instruction, you will emerge victorious. Do you care to know what God is saying about the step you are about to take? There are directions that God is about to give to you, but do you take time to provoke Him to say what should be said? Before the Spirit spoke to prophets and teachers, they provoked the Spoken Word. You can provoke the Spoken Word to come through any of God’s vessels via worship, praise, thanksgiving, fasting or just waiting on Him. What have you done to provoke the Spoken Word?
ACTION POINT: If you fail to obtain the Word you need at the moment, there may be a gap between your present and future.
TOPIC: PROVOKING THE SPOKEN WORD
MEMORIZE: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Pet. 1: 20)
READ: 2 Peter 1: 19-21
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Jesus Christ is the Word. You can categorize God’s Word into three: The Written Word (the Bible), the Spoken Word and the Living Word. The Written Word is the word documented. The Bible is no ordinary book. It is the revelation of God to mankind by the Holy Spirit. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1: 21). The Holy Spirit spoke through sanctified vessels and His words were later documented as the Bible. This shows us a link between the Spoken Word and the Written Word. Some skeptics have tried to fault the Bible but it remains faultless. Severe persecution that arose against the church during the dark ages tried to completely wipe out every copy of the Bible, yet it is still with us today because you cannot eradicate God’s Word. What is your relationship with the Bible?
“But he answered and said, It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light” and it was so. Occasionally, God speaks. In Acts 13: 2, the Holy Spirit called for Barnabas and Saul to be set apart for a special assignment. Whenever God is present in a gathering, if the atmosphere is conducive for Him, He will speak to His people using any consecrated and willing vessel. Our Lord Jesus says to live the life of faith, you need to know what God is saying at the moment. That means God has a message for you in that particular situation you find yourself. If you can hear what the Spirit is saying concerning an issue and you comply with His instruction, you will emerge victorious. Do you care to know what God is saying about the step you are about to take? There are directions that God is about to give to you, but do you take time to provoke Him to say what should be said? Before the Spirit spoke to prophets and teachers, they provoked the Spoken Word. You can provoke the Spoken Word to come through any of God’s vessels via worship, praise, thanksgiving, fasting or just waiting on Him. What have you done to provoke the Spoken Word?
ACTION POINT: If you fail to obtain the Word you need at the moment, there may be a gap between your present and future.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
IT IS POSSIBLE- daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye
Monday 4 January
TOPIC: IT IS POSSIBLE
MEMORIZE: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11: 24)
READ: Ezekiel 37:1-10
The word ‘supernatural’ is a fusion of two words – ‘Superior’ and ‘natural’. Supernatural therefore means something superior to the natural. It exceeds the natural to the point of compelling things to be done that would ordinarily not be done. The supernatural can cause events contrary to natural laws to take place. Anyone operating at the realm of the supernatural therefore does what everyone else terms ‘impossible’. One such instance is Ezekiel’s encounter with dry bones. It takes supernatural power to reverse the irreversible. It also takes this power that is beyond human ability to move the immovable. This is also the kind of power that is required to win your nation for Jesus. This new year, you will encounter the supernatural to a point that whatever was irreversible will be reversed, and whatever was immovable would be moved in your favour in Jesus name.
During one of our Holy Ghost Services, the power of God was present and several miracles were happening around the altar. As a result, many people stood to catch a glimpse of what was responsible for the widespread excitement. There was a short man in the congregation who also sought to see what was going on but was limited by his stature. Others blocked his view and at a point he whispered: “Oh Lord, I wish I were taller”. And God heard that whisper in the midst of the noise. Then the Lord revealed his case and asked me to tell him that He had already made him two inches taller. By the time he looked at his trousers, he saw them two inches shorter because he had grown taller by that measure! By natural means it is impossible for anyone to grow two inches taller within seconds, but by supernatural means, it is possible. What is that physical challenge you are having in your body? By the power of God, it shall be resolved today. This year, what everyone had deemed impossible will be possible to you. By the power of the Most High, what you found most impossible to accomplish will become possible. Every chain of impossibility around that nagging situation is broken now in the victorious name of Jesus Christ. Possibilities will be your experience from now.
ACTION POINT:
The desires of the Righteous shall be granted: so watch your desires!
TOPIC: IT IS POSSIBLE
MEMORIZE: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11: 24)
READ: Ezekiel 37:1-10
The word ‘supernatural’ is a fusion of two words – ‘Superior’ and ‘natural’. Supernatural therefore means something superior to the natural. It exceeds the natural to the point of compelling things to be done that would ordinarily not be done. The supernatural can cause events contrary to natural laws to take place. Anyone operating at the realm of the supernatural therefore does what everyone else terms ‘impossible’. One such instance is Ezekiel’s encounter with dry bones. It takes supernatural power to reverse the irreversible. It also takes this power that is beyond human ability to move the immovable. This is also the kind of power that is required to win your nation for Jesus. This new year, you will encounter the supernatural to a point that whatever was irreversible will be reversed, and whatever was immovable would be moved in your favour in Jesus name.
During one of our Holy Ghost Services, the power of God was present and several miracles were happening around the altar. As a result, many people stood to catch a glimpse of what was responsible for the widespread excitement. There was a short man in the congregation who also sought to see what was going on but was limited by his stature. Others blocked his view and at a point he whispered: “Oh Lord, I wish I were taller”. And God heard that whisper in the midst of the noise. Then the Lord revealed his case and asked me to tell him that He had already made him two inches taller. By the time he looked at his trousers, he saw them two inches shorter because he had grown taller by that measure! By natural means it is impossible for anyone to grow two inches taller within seconds, but by supernatural means, it is possible. What is that physical challenge you are having in your body? By the power of God, it shall be resolved today. This year, what everyone had deemed impossible will be possible to you. By the power of the Most High, what you found most impossible to accomplish will become possible. Every chain of impossibility around that nagging situation is broken now in the victorious name of Jesus Christ. Possibilities will be your experience from now.
ACTION POINT:
The desires of the Righteous shall be granted: so watch your desires!
Singing Hymns
Sunday 3 January
TOPIC: SINGING HYMNS
MEMORIZE: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3: 16)
READ: Ephesians 5: 15-19
One healthy habit believers should cultivate is the act of singing hymns. This was a common feature in the early church. In Paul’s epistle to the Ephesian brethren, he enjoined them to be engaged in this activity. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Some songs that we commonly sing as praise or worship songs are far from what they are intended. Today, you have all kinds of songs – including those that feed our pride and glorify the flesh and even the devil. Non use of appropriate praise and worship lyrics has seriously hampered our worship. As a result of this, there is so much waste of both our time and God’s time while claiming to praise or worship God.
One thing we learn from today’s reading is that for you to maximize your gains from hymns, you must be born-again, baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled with the Spirit. The truthe is that these hymns come from divine inspiration just as the Holy scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit and as a result, you need to be in the spirit to get the best from them. We also learn that we can speak to ourselves through hymns and psalms. This is true! Most hymns are loaded with wonderful words of wisdom that remain relevant to our faith today. There are vital lessons to learn from each hymn. They are so well written that sometimes you cannot but magnify God for the lives of the hymn writers. Colossians 3;16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”. Another lesson here is that for you to derive the best from hymns, your heart must be full of God’s word. A heart that is void of God’s word will naturally struggle with the message in hymns and spiritual songs. If you are close to your Bible, you will appreciate hymns more than the fellow who keeps a distance from the word. Singing hymns and psalms helps you to maximize worship time. Hymns are ideal during personal or family devotion, naming ceremonies, weddings, house warming, house fellowships and in all church services.
ACTION POINT: Take a minimum of one hymn per day and ask God to minister to you through it.
TOPIC: SINGING HYMNS
MEMORIZE: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3: 16)
READ: Ephesians 5: 15-19
One healthy habit believers should cultivate is the act of singing hymns. This was a common feature in the early church. In Paul’s epistle to the Ephesian brethren, he enjoined them to be engaged in this activity. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Some songs that we commonly sing as praise or worship songs are far from what they are intended. Today, you have all kinds of songs – including those that feed our pride and glorify the flesh and even the devil. Non use of appropriate praise and worship lyrics has seriously hampered our worship. As a result of this, there is so much waste of both our time and God’s time while claiming to praise or worship God.
One thing we learn from today’s reading is that for you to maximize your gains from hymns, you must be born-again, baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled with the Spirit. The truthe is that these hymns come from divine inspiration just as the Holy scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit and as a result, you need to be in the spirit to get the best from them. We also learn that we can speak to ourselves through hymns and psalms. This is true! Most hymns are loaded with wonderful words of wisdom that remain relevant to our faith today. There are vital lessons to learn from each hymn. They are so well written that sometimes you cannot but magnify God for the lives of the hymn writers. Colossians 3;16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”. Another lesson here is that for you to derive the best from hymns, your heart must be full of God’s word. A heart that is void of God’s word will naturally struggle with the message in hymns and spiritual songs. If you are close to your Bible, you will appreciate hymns more than the fellow who keeps a distance from the word. Singing hymns and psalms helps you to maximize worship time. Hymns are ideal during personal or family devotion, naming ceremonies, weddings, house warming, house fellowships and in all church services.
ACTION POINT: Take a minimum of one hymn per day and ask God to minister to you through it.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
Saturday 2 January
TOPIC: HEARSAY OR EXPERIENCE?
MEMORIZE: “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Ps. 103:1)
READ: Genesis 22: 6-14
God is a lover of names and titles. However, none of His names or titles is for fun; each of them describes God in a specific sense. That is , one way we can get to know God or He can reveal Himself to us is through His names or titles. Also, each of God’s names is a covenant instrument capable of bringing the obedient believer into a covenant with God so as to release its inherent blessings on the fellow. Every time God reveals Himself to you particular name or title, you are automatically made richer as your access to realizing God’s promises in your life is broadened. It is one thing to claim all the promises of God in the scriptures but another thing for God to specifically give you one of His promises already written in the Bible as a result of cutting a fresh covenant with you. God will be more committed to one than the other.
When Abraham embarked on a journey into obedience while going to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah, his son asked of the lamb for the sacrifice and he responded our of his limited knowledge about God that the Lord will surely provide. It was right on that mount that God introduced Himself to him as Jehovah Jireh – the Lord my provider. From that moment, it was no more what he thought or read about God’s ability to provide, or even what people said about it, but the first hand experience he had with God. Many of us have not experienced God by His names or titles. All we do is confess His promises. The Lord wants you to move beyond that level! Move from hearsay to personal experience. When God has not revealed Himself to you by His names, Satan can easily rob you of your kingdom benefits. But when you have known and proved God by divine revelation, you shall be strong and do exploits.
ACTION POINT: The Abrahamic covenant was enlarged by God’s revelation to Abraham as the Jehovah –Jireh. What are you doing to enlarge yours today?
TOPIC: HEARSAY OR EXPERIENCE?
MEMORIZE: “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Ps. 103:1)
READ: Genesis 22: 6-14
God is a lover of names and titles. However, none of His names or titles is for fun; each of them describes God in a specific sense. That is , one way we can get to know God or He can reveal Himself to us is through His names or titles. Also, each of God’s names is a covenant instrument capable of bringing the obedient believer into a covenant with God so as to release its inherent blessings on the fellow. Every time God reveals Himself to you particular name or title, you are automatically made richer as your access to realizing God’s promises in your life is broadened. It is one thing to claim all the promises of God in the scriptures but another thing for God to specifically give you one of His promises already written in the Bible as a result of cutting a fresh covenant with you. God will be more committed to one than the other.
When Abraham embarked on a journey into obedience while going to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah, his son asked of the lamb for the sacrifice and he responded our of his limited knowledge about God that the Lord will surely provide. It was right on that mount that God introduced Himself to him as Jehovah Jireh – the Lord my provider. From that moment, it was no more what he thought or read about God’s ability to provide, or even what people said about it, but the first hand experience he had with God. Many of us have not experienced God by His names or titles. All we do is confess His promises. The Lord wants you to move beyond that level! Move from hearsay to personal experience. When God has not revealed Himself to you by His names, Satan can easily rob you of your kingdom benefits. But when you have known and proved God by divine revelation, you shall be strong and do exploits.
ACTION POINT: The Abrahamic covenant was enlarged by God’s revelation to Abraham as the Jehovah –Jireh. What are you doing to enlarge yours today?
God and Planning -OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
FRIDAY 1, JANUARY
TOPIC: HEAVEN AND EARTH MIX
MEMORIZE: “And the Lord God formed man formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7)
READ: Genesis 2:4-7
Welcome to year 2010! God is the greatest goal-setter and goal-achiever. In Genesis 1: 1-31, we see Him at work at creation. God first set goals before going ahead to accomplish them. He never does anything without a plan. For instance, in making man, God first went to the drawing board to plan. The Trinity in council decided to make man. In that plan, it was agreed what man would look like, what their role would be and what level of authority would operate. The future of man was determined at creation. Thereafter, God began to put some resources together to achieve His plan. “And the Lord God formed man formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7). God gave man a shape like a potter does to his vessels. Thereafter, God imparted a divine resource – His breath (Spirit) into the clay and the unique product called Man evolved. After man’s creation, God did not leave them alone but followed up on them to make sure they achieved God’s purpose of creating them. We have a lot to learn from God.
One lesson here is that plans must precede programme of actions. Live a well-planned, thought-out life. You must have a plan for your life. You must have a plan for your family – for your spouse, for each of your children and wards. When you fail to plan your family, you allow them to fit into the enemy’s plan. Whether you believe it or not, the enemies have a plan for every member of your family. So it is either you have a plan for them and destroy that of the enemy in their life, or you see them dancing to the tune of the puppet master. Plan each day. Plan each week and month. Plan your church activities for the year. Always plan ahead. Set clearly defined goals. Then identify all the resources you would require to attain each goal. Thereafter, implement your plan and carefully evaluate them. Another important lesson here is that for any plan to be unbeatable, it must have both physical and spiritual inputs. God combined dust and His Spirit. If you limit all your efforts to physical inputs, that plan is likely to fail, but if you combine both physical inputs with spiritual inputs – prayers, seeking God’s direction, enlisting divine support by the power of the Spirit, you will succeed. Ensure there is always a mixture of Heaven and Earth in all you do. Happy new year!
ACTION POINT: Spend at least one hour thanking God for witnessing year 2010.
TOPIC: HEAVEN AND EARTH MIX
MEMORIZE: “And the Lord God formed man formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7)
READ: Genesis 2:4-7
Welcome to year 2010! God is the greatest goal-setter and goal-achiever. In Genesis 1: 1-31, we see Him at work at creation. God first set goals before going ahead to accomplish them. He never does anything without a plan. For instance, in making man, God first went to the drawing board to plan. The Trinity in council decided to make man. In that plan, it was agreed what man would look like, what their role would be and what level of authority would operate. The future of man was determined at creation. Thereafter, God began to put some resources together to achieve His plan. “And the Lord God formed man formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7). God gave man a shape like a potter does to his vessels. Thereafter, God imparted a divine resource – His breath (Spirit) into the clay and the unique product called Man evolved. After man’s creation, God did not leave them alone but followed up on them to make sure they achieved God’s purpose of creating them. We have a lot to learn from God.
One lesson here is that plans must precede programme of actions. Live a well-planned, thought-out life. You must have a plan for your life. You must have a plan for your family – for your spouse, for each of your children and wards. When you fail to plan your family, you allow them to fit into the enemy’s plan. Whether you believe it or not, the enemies have a plan for every member of your family. So it is either you have a plan for them and destroy that of the enemy in their life, or you see them dancing to the tune of the puppet master. Plan each day. Plan each week and month. Plan your church activities for the year. Always plan ahead. Set clearly defined goals. Then identify all the resources you would require to attain each goal. Thereafter, implement your plan and carefully evaluate them. Another important lesson here is that for any plan to be unbeatable, it must have both physical and spiritual inputs. God combined dust and His Spirit. If you limit all your efforts to physical inputs, that plan is likely to fail, but if you combine both physical inputs with spiritual inputs – prayers, seeking God’s direction, enlisting divine support by the power of the Spirit, you will succeed. Ensure there is always a mixture of Heaven and Earth in all you do. Happy new year!
ACTION POINT: Spend at least one hour thanking God for witnessing year 2010.
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