CHOSEN BY GRACE- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

ACTION POINT:Father, give me the grace to justify your calling and endowments upon my life.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Luke 7 -9
CHOSEN BY GRACE Thursday, April 22, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8) READ: Ephesians 2:8-9 In John 15:16, Jesus says you did not choose Him but He chose you. In other words, He had chosen you ever before you saw the need to choose Him. Also, it is His choice of you that counts the most because if you choose Him but He rejects you, that choice will have no positive end. Talking of the chosen, whenever I attempt to study a Bible character like Abraham, I am amazed. Before Genesis 12 which talks of how God called Abraham, there was nothing unique that was recorded about him. He was the son of a particular man and lived among idol worshippers. There was nothing to indicate whether he was good or bad, yet God chose him. Our God is a God of choice. Psalm 115:3 says, “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased”. God is also a God of mercy.  He chooses to be merciful to whom He will (Romans 9:15-16). I am a product of His mercy.  He chose us by grace. This year, may the Lord choose to be merciful to you. In Exodus 3:1-4, the Consuming Fire came on a bush and it burned without a single leaf being consumed. If you consider this bush, there was nothing special about it. It did not have the best of locations as it was at the backside of the desert. It was not so green and beautiful enough to attract God to it. It was chosen out of God’s divine will. Ephesians 2:8-9 says our salvation is entirely by grace, not works. This is how God chooses the most unlikely people for Heavenly assignments. Imagine God choosing a persecutor like Saul as a divine vessel (Acts 9:10-18). If not for grace, many of us would never have been called to salvation, much more to become servants of the Most High God. In Jeremiah 1:4-5, God told this great prophet that he was chosen even before he developed as a fetus in his mother’s womb. Before His birth, he had been ordained. God has blessed many with beautiful talents and abilities and when they engage such talents, you would be amazed. As the Potter, He is free to do what He likes with His clay (Rom. 9:20-21). He may decide to give someone a beautiful voice while He gives efficient hands that can play the guitar or organ to somebody else. What is most important is yielding totally to the Lord and allowing Him to have His way in your life. Has the Lord endowed you with some talents or unique abilities? Are you effectively and effectually employing them in serving God? Always remember that you were chosen not because you were special but by grace. You are a product of divine choice so glorify God in all you do.

LICENCE FOR EVIL?- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Luke 4 - 6

LICENCE FOR EVIL?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010


MEMORIZE: “Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished” (Prov. 17:5)

READ: Prov. 22:22-23

“Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate” (Prov. 22:22). Another problem of the rich is that the richer they become, the poorer their workers become. They slave-drive their workers to unimaginable limits and at the end of the day pay them peanuts. Their workers are no more than a piece of machinery they must exploit maximally without feelings. And if they break down out of exhaustion from over use, they fire them and hire others. Some rich men have driven their workers to an early grave and yet, they never feel for them or their families.

Such people according to Proverbs 22:23, will have God to contend with. The temptation is there to exploit, mock or unjustly treat the poor. During raining season, some rich men will see the poor drenched in the rain and still splash dirty water on them without even stopping to say ‘Sorry’. No, their wealth has suddenly given them a license to be heartless and wicked.

If you say you are a believer and have been blessed by God, how is your relationship with your subordinates? Are you heartless, or wicked to them? Do you rob them of their rights because you have the money to buy judgment? Do you look down on the poor? Do you know that the table could turn against you and that victimized poor could suddenly switch positions with you?

Even in the church today, the highly privileged are oppressing the less privileged. As a senior pastor, why do you sit on the wages, salaries or stipends of your workers? It shows you lack understanding and the common milk of kindness. Workers must be paid their allowances promptly. If you delay by one month or more, you owe them interest on their money. If you deposit the salaries of your workers on fixed deposit so as to derive interest for yourself, you are wicked and greedy.

Today, after people have worked for the government for many years and have retired, years after, they will be unable to collect their pensions or gratuity from government because of mismanagement. God does not tolerate such wickedness. Whether individuals or government, the judgment of God will fall on those responsible and even their families. You cannot escape the evil harvest of your negative seeds. Repent and restitute today.

ACTION POINT: All oppressors end up oppressed. If you oppress others, sooner or later, it will be your turn.

Build up your reserves - Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Luke 1:3
REPLENISHING? Tuesday, April 20, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone” (Matt. 14:23) READ: Luke 15:11-14 One Bible character who experienced a famine but finally escaped its devastating effect is the prodigal son.  From today’s reading, it is obvious that no matter how large the initial capital or input may be, as long as it is being spent without replenishment, it will soon be exhausted. Even if you were given 100 million dollars and you begin to spend without replenishing your account, one day there will be nothing left. This is also true of spiritual things. What members of the RCCG are enjoying today are the harvests of prayer seeds of the past. The church founder was a mighty prayer warrior.  The move of God we experience today are as a result of the foundational prayers he had made. If we want to receive greater harvests tomorrow, then we must begin to sow in prayers now.  If we don’t, the reservoir will be exhausted.  “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good” (Eccl. 11:6). Not every income or increase that comes your way is meant to be eaten. Not every provision is disposable income. Your tithe must not be eaten. Part of your income are the seeds that will guarantee your future harvests. If you eat your seeds, you will lose your future. Sow, keep on sowing.  To be outstanding and remain relevant in any endeavor, you must be able to sow tirelessly in that area. Sow money.  Sow hours in intensive Bible study.  Sow in hearing or watching the sermons of others -particularly sound men and women of God. Some people were equipped with some sermons before they became ministers or pastors. After exhausting these sermons, they begin to go round in circles - repeating their messages. Also, sow in books and tapes. Do not spend all your income on fancy wears and pleasures. Build up your reserves. As you are giving out two or three, ensure you restock with four or five. After our Lord fed the multitude, He went to recharge His battery (Matt. 14:15-23). This was His constant practice. If Jesus had not gone to replenish His reserves, He would not have walked on water, stopped the storm or delivered the Gadarene demoniac.  Have a replenishing time table which you would follow closely from today. ACTION POINT: Any minister that would be outstanding in his generation must have a clear cut policy and timetable on replenishing whatever he gives out.

LIES AND DEATH- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Josh 22-24
LIES AND DEATH Monday, April 19, 2010
MEMORIZE: “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death” (Prov. 21:6) READ: Proverbs 21:6-8  Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. When a prostitute is getting paid for providing ‘sexual services’ to her client, what she is getting is not money but death. Even though she cannot see death in the money, it is there and will eventually manifest. This is why you must not adopt any unwholesome means to succeed or prosper.  You can only get death in return!  Proverbs 21:6 says, “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death”. Students who get involved in examination malpractices in order to succeed appear to be succeeding but the real thing received is death. This establishes a link between lies and death. A liar is joking with his or her life. Every increase that comes your way coated in the color of lies delivers death to you. Some people who claim to be born again Christians deliberately reduce their age to qualify for certain opportunities that they are not supposed to have. That is fraud! It only attracts death. Today, such people talk of official age and unofficial age.  Declaring a wrong age for whatever reason attracts death. The lie of the liar can destroy him. What are the lies you have told that could be working against you today? God hates all liars without exception. Anything you think you gain from lying actually delivers death to you. There is this aspect of lie common to motorists. You would see civilians adorning their private vehicles with military stickers and whips as if they are military officers so as to enjoy some benefits they do not qualify  for.  It is a lie. Also, in many homes today, it appears there is a connivance to exploit the government. For instance, when a house or apartment is being connected to government power supply, some people will deliberately connect their air-conditioners, washing machines, and other appliances capable of consuming bulk power directly to the electricity source, connecting the milder ones to the meter.  As a result of this, they are under-billed. They think it is smartness: No, it is nothing but lies, and lies attract death. If you have done this, immediately repent and correct the fraud. If you say you are on your way to Heaven, remember, no liar can enter that blessed land. Some houses have been set ablaze by such illegal connections. Do not be caught up in this common crime! ACTION POINT: What will keep some people from Heaven is not the giants on the way but their romance with little lies.Stop the lies, spread the truth.(spreading deception about civil justice will make political climate favorable for legislation that would deprive citizens ... Page): An article from: Trial

AMONG THE BLESSED?- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Josh 19 - 21
AMONG THE BLESSED? Sunday, April 18, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:14) READ: Revelation 22:12-14 “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepth the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:7). Everyone who takes part in the first resurrection is blessed; so also are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, and those who faithfully serve God till death. You will not truncate your journey to Heaven here on earth!  You will make it to the glorious planet in Jesus’ Name.   Another category of the blessed are those who keep or observe the prophecies contained in the Book of Revelation. It is not enough to read it. Acquiring knowledge and understanding the content are very crucial but applying what you have known or read is even more important. For instance, in Revelation chapter two and three, the Lord wrote letters to seven churches. The contents of these letters are very relevant to us today.  From what was written, what the Lord expects of His church is clear.  When we fail to do His bidding, He reacts negatively to the church He shed His blood for.  Applying such lessons will definitely guide us in the way we relate with the Lord. Do you let your knowledge of the Book of Revelation guide your daily actions? “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:14). Whenever you obey God’s commands, you attract blessings to yourself. Obedience always adds to you. Each time God tells you to do something, you are being given an opportunity to increase. On the other hand, disobedience takes away from you. Each time you violate God’s Word, you decrease in some measure. According to the above verse, the obedient have another opportunity to be blessed - a right to the tree of life. The most significant tree in the Garden of Eden was the tree of life. Adam and Eve were expected to eat of its fruits and never die again. Nothing pushed them to eat what could keep them alive; yet, something pushed them into what could kill them and they yielded. As a result, they were never allowed to taste of what should have given them life. The good news is that we will be able to eat of the fruit of the tree of life when we get to Heaven. Is a particular blessing being withheld from you as a result of disobedience? Make your ways right with God, humble yourself and repent. Are you a beneficiary of the Beatitudes of the Book of Revelation?The Beatitudes for Today ACTION POINT: Disobedience is a more formidable robber than armed robbers. Ask God to help you remain obedient to Him.