BIBLE IN A YEAR: Prov. 19-21
PEACE-PRONE OR STRIFE-PRONE?
Friday, February 19, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12)
READ: James 4:1-3
Apart from blossoming deserts and switching from animal to human diet, another benefit of the Millienial Reign of Christ is the cessation of wars. Isaiah 2:4 says, “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”. During this period, the earth will experience unprecedented peace because the Prince of Peace is at the helm of world affairs.
All previous war equipment, military hardware, chemical and biological weapons will no longer be needed. But rather than destroy them, they would undergo mechanical and chemical transformation into agricultural tools. That means during this era, soldiers, commandos and marines will no longer be needed. They will turn into farmers. War schools will become agricultural universities and research centers. The term ‘bloody civilians’ will no longer be heard as the whole world would become a world of civilians!
“Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Phil. 2:3). Before God delivers this peace wholesale to the world, He wants you to have it at retail level. If you have Jesus, He will give you peace. Although you are spiritually mobilized to fight against forces of darkness, however you are a civilian within the Christian fold.
That means you are not expected to fight fellow men because we are not called to physical fights. (Eph. 6:12). If you claim to be born again but you are still prone to strife, quarrel etc, it is doubtful if the Prince of Peace is within you. If your wife is not different from a punching bag, it shows you do not have the Prince of Peace in you. Where He dwells, there is cessation of all wars. James 4:1 says wars and fightings emanate from the flesh not from the Spirit.
If you are rebellious or spear head revolts and rebellion against constituted authorities, you are of your father the devil. If you are openly opposing and confronting your leader, it is obvious you need to be born again. The Prince of Peace is missing in your life. How peaceful are you living with both believers and unbelievers today?
ACTION POINT:
Ask that the peace of Jesus Christ would radiate around you and your family this year.
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Pastor E. A Adeboye
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Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Working for Good- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Prov 15-18
WORKING FOR GOOD
Thursday, February 18, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28)
READ: Romans 8:28-30
“Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:22). Many people think God should consult them for advice over how He does His things. They may argue or even tell the Lord what He did could have been better done in their preferred way. Who are you to dictate to God? Such attitude brings to light our ignorance and doubt. God’s knowledge cannot be compared to ours.
For instance, He knows the end of every line of action even at the beginning of that action. This is why you must trust His judgment. What is important is not your will but His. Trust His sense of judgment at all times because His decisions are not limited to what your eyes can see today but also what may happen tomorrow. Many years ago, while we lived in a part of Lagos that harbored several drug addicts and reckless drivers, my children asked me to buy them a bicycle.
When I declined, they failed to understand. But after we relocated from that part of Lagos some years later, without a repeat of that request, I bought them the bicycle. If I had obliged their request at the first time, they might not be alive today. God still deals with us based on what He knows about us today and tomorrow. The Lord will not give you the blessing you are not prepared for lest it destroys you.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). An adage says The man who forfeits what he cannot keep to have what he cannot lose is no fool. If you insist on having your way every time, you will get into serious problems and truncate your glorious destiny.
Submit to His will today. If you are a bonafide child of God, all things - pains, sorrow, pleasure, joy, disappointment, lack etc. will work together to take you to God’s divine destination for you. Recently, the Lord taught me that joy is tasteless to the one who has not experienced sorrow. If you have never been hungry, you will not appreciate food.
My host during a visit to the United States begged his son to eat his chicken in a well-stocked restaurant. I was surprised because in my days as a child, I could only eat chicken during Christmas time. Light has no meaning until you taste darkness. Both the black and white keys combine to produce good music from the piano. All things are working for your good!
ACTION POINT:
If Joseph had not been sent to prison, he would not have met the chief butler whose divine assignment was to powerfully recommend him to Pharaoh.
WORKING FOR GOOD
Thursday, February 18, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28)
READ: Romans 8:28-30
“Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:22). Many people think God should consult them for advice over how He does His things. They may argue or even tell the Lord what He did could have been better done in their preferred way. Who are you to dictate to God? Such attitude brings to light our ignorance and doubt. God’s knowledge cannot be compared to ours.
For instance, He knows the end of every line of action even at the beginning of that action. This is why you must trust His judgment. What is important is not your will but His. Trust His sense of judgment at all times because His decisions are not limited to what your eyes can see today but also what may happen tomorrow. Many years ago, while we lived in a part of Lagos that harbored several drug addicts and reckless drivers, my children asked me to buy them a bicycle.
When I declined, they failed to understand. But after we relocated from that part of Lagos some years later, without a repeat of that request, I bought them the bicycle. If I had obliged their request at the first time, they might not be alive today. God still deals with us based on what He knows about us today and tomorrow. The Lord will not give you the blessing you are not prepared for lest it destroys you.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). An adage says The man who forfeits what he cannot keep to have what he cannot lose is no fool. If you insist on having your way every time, you will get into serious problems and truncate your glorious destiny.
Submit to His will today. If you are a bonafide child of God, all things - pains, sorrow, pleasure, joy, disappointment, lack etc. will work together to take you to God’s divine destination for you. Recently, the Lord taught me that joy is tasteless to the one who has not experienced sorrow. If you have never been hungry, you will not appreciate food.
My host during a visit to the United States begged his son to eat his chicken in a well-stocked restaurant. I was surprised because in my days as a child, I could only eat chicken during Christmas time. Light has no meaning until you taste darkness. Both the black and white keys combine to produce good music from the piano. All things are working for your good!
ACTION POINT:
If Joseph had not been sent to prison, he would not have met the chief butler whose divine assignment was to powerfully recommend him to Pharaoh.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The poor can give more- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye
| BIBLE IN A YEAR: Prov 12-14 |
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;” (2 Cor. 8:3)
READ: Mark 12:41-44
Entering your ultimate financial breakthrough may not come as easy as some think. It may involve sowing at a time most inconvenient; it may mean to seemingly endanger your today and tomorrow through a selfless seed. Your gift is not necessarily measured by the size, volume or amount of what you have given but by what you have left after the act of giving. In Mark 12:41-44 when the Lord Jesus sat to observe how people gave, He saw that the rich gave fat offerings while the poor gave far less. But then there was a poor widow who gave her only two mites.
The worth of what she gave was very insignificant but because she gave all she had and had nothing left, the Lord declared her to be the greatest giver. Some lessons we learn from this are that poverty is not what stops the poor from giving but their unwillingness. There is no one so poor that he or she does not have something to offer to the Lord. In addition, being poor does not stop the poor from being the greatest givers.
It is easier for the poor to let go his or her all, than for a multi-millionaire to give all his millions. Are you always complaining that you cannot give because you are poor? That is the excuse the devil is robbing you with. If you check yourself very well, you may even be richer than this widow or the widow of Zarephath. If they could through giving provoke a complete turn around in their situation, you too can.
The Corinthian church was another example. They were in deep poverty but that did not stop them from giving and supporting the Kingdom business. Even Paul testified that they gave beyond their power. They even offered themselves ( 2 Cor. 8:2-3). The poor of today is the potentially rich individual of tomorrow. Are you poor today?
Do you know that God can cause you to overtake the wealthiest person in your community if you can apply God’s principles of giving? If a widow with no one, no job, or relation to depend on could give her all, why can’t you who have a job, parents, relations and friends give more? God is looking out for sacrificial givers. If your giving is below the level of such sacrifice, you are not prepared for the great financial harvest that is coming your way.
ACTION POINT:
You may be poor financially but there are other areas you are richer than the financially rich. Nobody is entirely poor!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Making your family preferred- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye
| BIBLE IN A YEAR: Prov. 8-11 |
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart” (Matt. 17:1)
READ: Matthew 17:1-2
“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart” (Matt. 17:1). The Lord was to choose three people for a special encounter on the mountain top and two of them were from the Zebedee family, whereas so many families were not even considered to have one of their sons as part of the favored trio. Although God’s plan of salvation is for whole families, it is left for every family to determine how that plan will affect them. When Mrs. Zebedee was notified of her sons’ quest for Heavenly greatness, she encouraged them.
She even took the issue to the Lord on their behalf. Even though they went about it the wrong way, the Lord corrected them and showed them how to be great in Heaven. That was how James and John became part of the Lord’s trio. What did the parents of the other disciples do to encourage their children? As a parent, you have a great part to play in the lives of your children. Whether they will become what God wants them to be or not, and how soon they get there, has a lot to do with the foundation you provide for them. Failing to play your God-given role, can retard, delay or even erode their destiny.
Every member of your nuclear and extended family must not only become a born again Christian, but a minister of God. It is wrong if you are the only saved member of the family: You will be a lone ranger. But if you are able to get others to join you, it increases your voice, stand and influence. A particular parent observed the change in the conduct and character of his son since he started going to church. He was so impressed that he accompanied him to church one day. That was how he became integrated in the faith and has risen to become a senior pastor in the church. Do not be silent until your unsaved spouse is saved.
Don’t be quiet until that child is born again. Every member of your family must be converted. No member of your family must be missing in Heaven. If any family is to be favored for a special Heavenly blessing, it must be your family. But what are you doing to attract this? Whatever price you need to pay - in evangelism, prayer and fasting, love seed, follow up, constant teaching of the Word, encouragement, etc. pay it and ensure that members of your family are not only in God’s Kingdom but that they are preferred.
ACTION POINT:
Mrs. Zebedee took her sons’ case to the Lord so that they can be preferred. Ask the Lord to show you what to do to make your family preferred.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Exposed to His light- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Prov. 4-7
EXPOSED TO HIS LIGHT
Monay, February 15, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also” (Gen. 1:16)
READ: Genesis 1:14 -18
Light is a very powerful force. When there is light, darkness has no choice than to hide where you may not easily find it. John 1:5, says, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not”. The truth is, not all light can outshine darkness. For instance, Genesis 1 talks of categories of lights. “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also” (Gen. 1:16).
There are lights of the sun, moon and stars. Then there are man-made lights of varying sizes. If you flick on the tiny bulb of a torch light in the midst of total darkness, you will only see the spot that torch is pointing at. Everywhere else would be surrounded by darkness. The size of a light determines the area it will dominate or rule over.
The Sun rules over the day because it is far brighter than the moon. If the moon were to replace the sun during the day, there would be darkness during a period that should be experiencing day time. Similarly, if you bring the sun to replace the moon during night time, the night will turn into day. This tells us that what determines the result of a situation is the amount of light it is exposed to. This means exposing varying degrees of light on the same situation will give you different results. The volume of the light of God’s Word that you are exposed to will determine the degree of change you can experience.
The intensity and size of God’s light in you will determine your sphere of domination. Although, God has commanded you to dominate everything according to Genesis 1:28, the actual scope of your domination will be determined by the amount of God’s Word that is in you. The Word is the light of the world. If you lack the Word, you lack the light that gives definition to your ability to dominate. As you increase your Word content, you enlarge your coast.
Staying away from the Word automatically reduces your glow and ultimately your ability to control forces, situation and circumstances. On the other hand, the moment you stop shining as light, darkness will swallow you up. If you want to be victorious over forces of darkness, be daily exposed to more light from His Word.
ACTION POINT:
If you cannot positively affect people in your environment, it is because your light is engrossed by darkness.
EXPOSED TO HIS LIGHT
Monay, February 15, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also” (Gen. 1:16)
READ: Genesis 1:14 -18
Light is a very powerful force. When there is light, darkness has no choice than to hide where you may not easily find it. John 1:5, says, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not”. The truth is, not all light can outshine darkness. For instance, Genesis 1 talks of categories of lights. “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also” (Gen. 1:16).
There are lights of the sun, moon and stars. Then there are man-made lights of varying sizes. If you flick on the tiny bulb of a torch light in the midst of total darkness, you will only see the spot that torch is pointing at. Everywhere else would be surrounded by darkness. The size of a light determines the area it will dominate or rule over.
The Sun rules over the day because it is far brighter than the moon. If the moon were to replace the sun during the day, there would be darkness during a period that should be experiencing day time. Similarly, if you bring the sun to replace the moon during night time, the night will turn into day. This tells us that what determines the result of a situation is the amount of light it is exposed to. This means exposing varying degrees of light on the same situation will give you different results. The volume of the light of God’s Word that you are exposed to will determine the degree of change you can experience.
The intensity and size of God’s light in you will determine your sphere of domination. Although, God has commanded you to dominate everything according to Genesis 1:28, the actual scope of your domination will be determined by the amount of God’s Word that is in you. The Word is the light of the world. If you lack the Word, you lack the light that gives definition to your ability to dominate. As you increase your Word content, you enlarge your coast.
Staying away from the Word automatically reduces your glow and ultimately your ability to control forces, situation and circumstances. On the other hand, the moment you stop shining as light, darkness will swallow you up. If you want to be victorious over forces of darkness, be daily exposed to more light from His Word.
ACTION POINT:
If you cannot positively affect people in your environment, it is because your light is engrossed by darkness.
Solution to Economic crisis- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye
Family Crisis in America - God's Solutions: Home, Family & Emotional Health
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Prov. 1-3
HAVEN FROM FAMINE
Sunday, February 14, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him” (Gen. 26:12)
READ: Genesis 26:1-6
“Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years” (2 Kings 8:1).
There are special blessings reserved for those who have made themselves special to God. This once again confirms that God treats us the way we treat Him. How are you treating God today? When a seven-year famine was coming upon the land, prophet Elisha saw many people but singled out the Shunammite woman for that piece of information. Not only that, he guided her to go to other lands without famine. If you are close to God, He will guide and help prevent you from entering into danger.
One thing we learn here is that God has a recipe for every famine. In 1 Kings 17:1-16, after a self-inflicted famine, God asked Elijah to leave where he was for the place He had arranged for him to have provision. God always has a place of refuge in times of famines. Sometimes, that place is outside the area affected by famine but at other times it is within the famine-ravished land as it happened to Isaac in Genesis 26:1-16.
Isaac thought of escaping to Egypt to avoid the famine but God warned him to stay there and sow during the famine. He obeyed and got so great a harvest that he became the envy of all the Philistines. When he had become too powerful, prosperous and enlarged, Gerar could no longer contain him. Apart from a secure location, there are things you can do to escape famines. You could sow your best in times of lack to avoid a famine. Quite a number of people travel out searching for greener pastures.
Do you take time to ask the One who knows how to contain famines? If you run without consulting God, would you know if where you are going to would be worse? Many Nigerians in Nigeria are living better lives than some who left the shores of Nigeria in a bid to escape the hard times. Even in your profession, trade or business, if you are precious to God, He will warn you of emanate storms and give you the recipes to apply. Cultivate a working and lasting relationship with the Lord and you will access relevant information that could affect your today or tomorrow. Remember God is the original haven from famine.
ACTION POINT:
Famines affect people differently. While the larger majority may be experiencing worse times, a minority may be experiencing their best times.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Prov. 1-3 HAVEN FROM FAMINE
Sunday, February 14, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him” (Gen. 26:12)
READ: Genesis 26:1-6
“Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years” (2 Kings 8:1).
There are special blessings reserved for those who have made themselves special to God. This once again confirms that God treats us the way we treat Him. How are you treating God today? When a seven-year famine was coming upon the land, prophet Elisha saw many people but singled out the Shunammite woman for that piece of information. Not only that, he guided her to go to other lands without famine. If you are close to God, He will guide and help prevent you from entering into danger.
One thing we learn here is that God has a recipe for every famine. In 1 Kings 17:1-16, after a self-inflicted famine, God asked Elijah to leave where he was for the place He had arranged for him to have provision. God always has a place of refuge in times of famines. Sometimes, that place is outside the area affected by famine but at other times it is within the famine-ravished land as it happened to Isaac in Genesis 26:1-16.
Isaac thought of escaping to Egypt to avoid the famine but God warned him to stay there and sow during the famine. He obeyed and got so great a harvest that he became the envy of all the Philistines. When he had become too powerful, prosperous and enlarged, Gerar could no longer contain him. Apart from a secure location, there are things you can do to escape famines. You could sow your best in times of lack to avoid a famine. Quite a number of people travel out searching for greener pastures.
Do you take time to ask the One who knows how to contain famines? If you run without consulting God, would you know if where you are going to would be worse? Many Nigerians in Nigeria are living better lives than some who left the shores of Nigeria in a bid to escape the hard times. Even in your profession, trade or business, if you are precious to God, He will warn you of emanate storms and give you the recipes to apply. Cultivate a working and lasting relationship with the Lord and you will access relevant information that could affect your today or tomorrow. Remember God is the original haven from famine.
ACTION POINT:
Famines affect people differently. While the larger majority may be experiencing worse times, a minority may be experiencing their best times.
Negative Heart Transplant- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exo. 38-40
NEGATIVE HEART TRANSPLANT
Saturday, February 13, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23)
READ: Romans 1:21-28
God can reduce a tree to a stump. And He can do it in a moment of time like it happened to Sennacherib after he blasphemed the living God. Whenever God leaves someone, the fellow enters into bondage. For instance, after the Spirit of God departed from king Saul, an unclean spirit took over him and tormented him (1 Sam. 14). One way to steer clear of bondage is to ensure that God is always with you. Similarly, when Samson lost his hair, he was put in chains. If you do not want to be in satanic chains, ensure the Holy Spirit never leaves you. Do not yield to any advise to indulge in whatever can grieve Him. If you grieve Him, He will take His leave (Eph 4:30).
“Let his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him” (Dan. 4:16). One frightening reality that we can see in Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliating experience is that if you fail to use your heart for what it was created for, you could lose it to something far less human. Nebuchadnezzar had a heart transplant. A spiritual surgical operation was performed and his human heart was taken away and replaced with that of a beast. This was a negative heart transplant! This tells us that the heart can easily change its nature or form depending on what it is exposed to. This is why you must guard your heart with all diligence (Prov. 4:23).
Ezekiel 11:19 talks of some people who had another negative heart transplant. On this occasion, they had their hearts exchanged for a stone. Have you seen people who hardly feel for their fellow men? They are victims of a negative heart transplant. Witches and wizards and people of the occult undergo such heart transplant. When their hearts have been replaced with stones, their loved ones become like strangers to them, hence they can easily donate them as sacrifices.
In today’s reading, some people had their hearts darkened because they failed to glorify and thank God but freely engaged in evil imaginations. If you take whatever God does for you for guarantee, you will be walking your away into a negative heart transplant. Being thankless and unappreciative have negative impact on the human heart. What is the state of your heart today? Have you become irresponsive to the Word? Do you sin and do not feel condemned? You are a victim of negative heart transplant. Ask God to deliver you today.
ACTION POINT:
Spend all your free moment today in thanking God for what He has done for you.
NEGATIVE HEART TRANSPLANT
Saturday, February 13, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23)
READ: Romans 1:21-28
God can reduce a tree to a stump. And He can do it in a moment of time like it happened to Sennacherib after he blasphemed the living God. Whenever God leaves someone, the fellow enters into bondage. For instance, after the Spirit of God departed from king Saul, an unclean spirit took over him and tormented him (1 Sam. 14). One way to steer clear of bondage is to ensure that God is always with you. Similarly, when Samson lost his hair, he was put in chains. If you do not want to be in satanic chains, ensure the Holy Spirit never leaves you. Do not yield to any advise to indulge in whatever can grieve Him. If you grieve Him, He will take His leave (Eph 4:30).
“Let his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him” (Dan. 4:16). One frightening reality that we can see in Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliating experience is that if you fail to use your heart for what it was created for, you could lose it to something far less human. Nebuchadnezzar had a heart transplant. A spiritual surgical operation was performed and his human heart was taken away and replaced with that of a beast. This was a negative heart transplant! This tells us that the heart can easily change its nature or form depending on what it is exposed to. This is why you must guard your heart with all diligence (Prov. 4:23).
Ezekiel 11:19 talks of some people who had another negative heart transplant. On this occasion, they had their hearts exchanged for a stone. Have you seen people who hardly feel for their fellow men? They are victims of a negative heart transplant. Witches and wizards and people of the occult undergo such heart transplant. When their hearts have been replaced with stones, their loved ones become like strangers to them, hence they can easily donate them as sacrifices.
In today’s reading, some people had their hearts darkened because they failed to glorify and thank God but freely engaged in evil imaginations. If you take whatever God does for you for guarantee, you will be walking your away into a negative heart transplant. Being thankless and unappreciative have negative impact on the human heart. What is the state of your heart today? Have you become irresponsive to the Word? Do you sin and do not feel condemned? You are a victim of negative heart transplant. Ask God to deliver you today.
ACTION POINT:
Spend all your free moment today in thanking God for what He has done for you.
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