Dogs are outside- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Judg 19 -21

DOGS ARE OUTSIDE
Sunday, May 02, 2010

MEMORIZE: “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Rev. 22:15)

READ: Revelation 22:14-15



All houses appear to have great foundations and promise of strength until they go through the test of storms. In Matthew 7:24-27, the Lord talked of two houses - one built on the rock and the other on the sand. Both appeared quite strong and promising until the floods came, one collapsed while the other stood firm. In the day of storm, you and whatever you have built on the Lord Jesus Christ will stand the test of time. Many have lost marriage, career or business to the storms of life because they refused to pay the initial attention required of them during foundation laying. You shall not be a victim of faulty foundation in Jesus’ Name!



In the same vein, all children look alike until they commit an offence. While the bonafide ones are immediately corrected and disciplined, the bastards are left on their own. A child left to himself is doomed. If God does not correct you for wrong speech, reaction and conduct, He needs not say more: He is not your Father! When last did God cane you for wrong-doing and you wept like a baby? May you never be above correction!



That God calls you His child does not mean He cannot call you something else. As our Creator, He has the right to call any of us His creature (John 1:1-3). However, He calls some people dogs. Dogs are wonderful creatures - at least my dogs are; they accompany me to any place I want them to, and do whatever I ask them to. Yet, Matthew 15:21-28 says the children’s bread shall not be given to dogs.



Spiritually, dogs symbolize something negative. Revelation 22:15 says dogs have a place -outside. They are outside God’s blessings - power, grace and Kingdom. This means, no matter how much a dog is loved, sooner or later, it will end up outside. Who are dogs? The above passage classifies dogs as whore mongers - everyone who indulges in sexual immorality - adultery, fornication, sodomy, bestiality; murder, idolatry, lying, etc.



As long as you indulge in any of these sins, you will remain outside of God’s blessings and presence. The gates of Heaven will be shut against that fellow. Are the gates of Heaven shut against you? Look a little closer and find out of if Heaven sees you as a dog. If you are shut out of God’s blessings, it could mean you are seen as a dog. Why not repent?



ACTION POINT:
Father, in any way I am shut outside Your mercy and blessing, have mercy and bring me in.

Undefiled?- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Judg 16-18
UNDEFILED? Saturday, May 01, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD” (Psalm 119:1) READ: Psalm 119:1-3 One very touchy and remarkable parable the Lord spoke is the parable of the Ten Virgins.  This parable is so profound that no Heaven-bound saint can afford to ignore it. Generally speaking, a virgin is someone who has never engaged in sexual relations with the opposite sex. Even when some people would like to make a claim on virginity, the token of virginity is there to prove them right or wrong. In spiritual parlance, there are certain characteristics found in virgins.  The first is purity.  God is so much in love with holiness that He ordered that every item to be used in the temple must be made from pure materials (Lev. 24:2-7).  To this end, His altar must be overlaid with gold of the purest form. Pure olive oil must light the temple lamps (Exo. 27:20). And His servants must be pure. “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Ps. 19:8). God’s commandments are pure and so are His Words (Ps. 12:6).  When oil is pure, it makes the lamp burn brightly and sharply.  When a candle light is burning and it comes across something impure, it will suddenly dim the brightness of its light and sometimes it will go off. If you do not want to dim or quench the Spirit of God in you, keep off from every form of defilement. Evil thoughts will hinder the free move of God in your life. Acts of disobedience, self-will and insubordination to authority are capable of putting out the fire of the Spirit in you. Another characteristic of a virgin is undefilement.  Psalm 119:1 says, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD”.  The undefiled is someone who had ample opportunities to compromise or defile himself or herself but like Joseph, refused. The undefiled is one who resists temptation like Jesus did and was without sin (Heb. 4:15). If you want to remain undefiled, you must watch against the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). To be undefiled, you must remain in God’s way, keeping God’s commandments. God’s Word and instructions must be the laws governing your life.  Are you undefiled? How pure are you? No matter how pure or undefiled you may be, there is room to press forward for greater, higher and closer walk with God.  Are you ready to pant after more of God in your life? ACTION POINT: Ask God to open new doors for the Gospel to penetrate the Middle East and Arab nations. Ask God to turn the Sauls in their midst into Pauls.

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.

Eroding quality harvests?- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Judg 13 - 15
ERODING QUALITY HARVESTS? Friday, April 30, 2010
MEMORIZE: “I have planted, Apollos watered;  but God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6) READ: 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 Entering your financial breakthrough requires sowing at difficult times and sowing on good soil. Besides, it requires work - hard work. Some people believe that because they are born again, they will no longer work hard. That is a lie! They think grace has institutionalized laziness. The only harvest a lazy fellow can have is that of emptiness, sorrow and hunger.  When God gives you open doors to financial favor, you would be required to work hard towards financial abundance.  God opens the door but you would walk in with your two legs, and take advantage of the opportunities or else you will have nothing to show for the door the Lord has opened to you. Some believers have made God to regret the doors of opportunity He has opened to them because they never maximized such opportunities. When God opens a door of financial abundance to you where you could make millions of Naira, He would be displeased to see you make only a few tens of thousands due to laziness. “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6).  For your seed to deliver a quality harvest, you must work hard. After a farmer has sown some seeds, they will start to grow.  But weeds will grow beside them even when they are not invited. So as you nurture the good seed, you must also get rid of the weeds. That requires hard work! If you stop at sowing a seed, don’t be surprised if your harvest is below expectation. What have you done to protect your seed or to prevent it from being overtaken by weeds? After sowing like Paul, you must water like Apollos before Heaven will release the increase.  Water your seeds with prayers and thanksgiving. Quality seeds must be backed by quality prayers. Lack of quality prayers and thanksgiving have eroded the juicy parts of some people’s harvest. Stop this waste today! On the other hand, God may sometimes specifically tell you what to sow in order to get your desired harvest. In such a case, nothing but complete obedience is expected of you. And thereafter, tend your seeds by ensuring you live right before God. The period of sowing is not a period you should be engaging in sin as this can invite the birds of the air to uproot your seeds. Also, water the seed with prayer, and thanksgiving.  Where possible, you could combine these with fasting. You will have your ultimate yield from seeds sown.

Vessels for destruction- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Judg 9-12
VESSELS FOR DESTRUCTION Thursday, April 29, 2010
MEMORIZE: “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” ( Rom. 9:22)  READ: Romans 9:17-18 “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” (Romans 9:22). Just as God chooses some people as vessels of honor so also some people are chosen as vessels of wrath meant for destruction. May you not be a vessel chosen for destruction in Jesus’ Name. It is not possible to fully understand God. Before Moses left for Egypt to rescue the Israelites, the Lord told him that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart to turn down his request in order to deal with him and drown him (Exodus 4:21). The day that Pharaoh was born, people rejoiced that a prince had been added to the family. He grew up under the best of care and eventually became the king. His fame spread virtually all over the world. He had high hopes just as many expected the best for him. Unfortunately, he had another destiny to fulfill - that of sudden destruction! In one night, he and his army were drowned in the Red sea. There are yet many people including those who occupy important positions today who are vessels fitted for destruction. The hopes and expectations of people concerning them would be disappointed. “Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness” (Psalm 95:8). In Psalm 95:7-11, God warns that when we hear His voice, we should not harden our hearts. Why? God knows how to help the hardened to become further hardened unto destruction. Pharaoh thought he could play games with God. He was called to release God’s people from slavery of over 400 years but he paid deaf ears. As he continued to sow deafness to divine instruction, God gave him a befitting harvest. A time came when it was glaring to even a fool that it was foolish to take God for granted; He knew he needed to heed to God’s call so as to prevent further divine torture yet, he saw himself unable to do so. Even after their release, he suddenly asked himself how he could have done such a foolish thing. So he chased them and got drowned. Are you paying deaf ears to any of God’s instructions or commands? It could boomerang! Repent and immediately obey His voice. Do not turn yourself into a vessel fit for destruction! ACTION POINT: Pray that God will make you and your family members vessels of honor.

You are the angel- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Judg 5-8
YOU ARE THE ANGEL Wednesday, April 28, 2010
MEMORIZE: “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor” (Prov. 14:31) READ: Proverbs 3:9-10 If wealth is not a license for evil and all forms of wickedness, then what is its purpose? When you have riches, it is not meant for multiplying wives, or husbands, or in buying what could destroy you. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase”. If you have substance, honor God with it. If you have nothing at all, still honor God in your nothingness or poverty and that emptiness will give birth to something. If you honor God with your wealth, it will produce an incredible increase. Wealth from dubious or questionable means can never honor God. This is why holiness must be your watchword while striving for riches. Proverbs 22:2 says God is the maker of both rich and poor. The righteous rich man who understands this scripture would most likely use this God-given wealth wisely. He would know that according to Proverbs 14:31, God gave him wealth so that he can have mercy on the poor. You honor God with your wealth by showing mercy to the poor and needy ones. God will not come from Heaven to give your local currency to the poor or needy around you because He has you there. If I go on my knees and ask God for money, He is not going to send an angel with a bag of Naira notes. Rather, He would speak to somebody - a man like you and me who can hear His voice, and ask the fellow to go and give so and so such and such. I travelled to Korea some years ago. There, I met a man for the first time and he cared for me and drove me around. As he drove us to the airport, while I was on my way home he said the Holy Spirit had told him “Take good care of my servant from Nigeria”. If God wants to give rice to the poor,  He will not have to send an angel from Heaven with a bowl of rice. All He has to do is speak to any of His children to meet that need. Unfortunately, many believers have not been hearing God’s voice.  Or when they receive an SOS call from the Spirit concerning a needy one, they will pretend they never heard it. God cannot entrust such selfish Christians with His wealth. This is one of the factors responsible for persistent poverty of Christians. If God will entrust you with His treasures, you must prove to Him beyond mouth assurance and promises that everyone He intends you to minister to will receive their blessings. Have you convinced Him of this? Are you prepared to be the angel God will send? ACTION POINT: Are you hoarding somebody’s blessing?  Release it to the owner now!

Have Reserves- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Judg 1- 4
HAVE RESERVES Tuesday, April 27, 2010
MEMORIZE: “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” ( Prov. 24:10) READ: Acts 27:21-24 When God provides for you, make sure you do not spend everything. In Genesis 17:1, the Almighty God introduced Himself to Abraham as the Jehovah El-Shaddai. When you are connected with this inexhaustible Source, all your needs would be met. Yet, ensure you have some reserves against the rainy day.  In the parable of the ten virgins recorded in Matthew 25:1-4, some of them were called wise because they had reserves while those whose oil was spent were tagged foolish. Proverbs 24:10 says, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small”.  The day of trouble is bound to come as Christ has already warned us to expect tribulations as long as we are in this world (John 16:33). However, it is wisdom to prepare for war in time of peace. Prepare for famine in time of plenty.  Prepare for the time of weakness when you are strong. There is always a time for preparation. If you fail to effectively utilize your preparation time, the day of trouble is bound to embarrass you. But if well utilized, you will be laughing and celebrating when the evil day comes. Are you prepared for the evil day? Apostle Paul faced his evil days. Once, he was in a storm for over two weeks. He must have prayed and sang God’s praise, yet no earthquake came to his rescue this time. But in the midst of his evil day, when it appeared no hope was in sight, he was able to draw on his Heavenly reserves. An angel of the Lord paid him a visit and reassured him. This happened because he had reserves. Do you have reserves in Heaven? The account of many in Heaven is in red. Do you have any credit in the bank of Heaven? Some people demand for all their rewards here on earth. If you get them here, you will have nothing to draw upon in that evil day or even when you get to Heaven. Some people were involved in a particular ministerial assignment that could also fetch them a lot of money. When the expected money was not forthcoming, they were very disappointed. But the Lord spoke through His servant to one of them to take off their focus from money on the project. Not all your reward would be given to you on this side of eternity, or else, you will go bare in Heaven.  In the work for the Lord, is everything tied to how much you can get now? ACTION POINT: Put God above reward in your Kingdom service.