MOVE UP- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron.. 10-13
MOVE UP Saturday, July 17, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Wherefore he saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men” (Eph. 4:8) READ: Ephesians 4:7-10 It is good to work hard but even better to work right. In John 21:1-6, Peter fished all night on his left side but caught nothing. It took the Lord to guide him to fish on his right side within the same location, and he got his breakthrough. Quite a number of people are led by God into the right business. But they are focusing on the wrong side. The Lord will redirect your focus aright in Jesus’ Name. While still lecturing in the university, there was this typist in our office who  was working with the professor. People would tease him by calling him ‘prof’ and he would smile.  One day, it dawned on him that he could turn his nickname ‘prof’ into reality.  He enrolled for evening lessons and not long after, he got his G.C.E Ordinary level papers. After a while, he gained admission into the university.  Before I left the University of Lagos, our typist had already bagged his PhD Do not allow your present job or business to limit you. Where you are is not the ultimate, but a stepping stone for greater heights. Why turn that bus stop into your final destination? Some years ago in our camp ground, one of my children used to work as a casual laborer in the electrical department. When he heard the above testimony, he picked up the challenge: He said, “If a typist could become a professor, then I can become somebody too”. He began to study quietly.  I only observed that I was no longer seeing him around. Then one day, I went to the University of Ibadan for Bible study and met him as a student there. Today, he has not only graduated but has also become a senior officer in our electrical department.  Who says it’s too late for you to go back to school? It is not! You may have your present  job through human connection but if you are suddenly thrown into the job market, how marketable are your skills? Your present undesirable place is immaterial. You don’t have to die there.  To sit with kings, you must first make up your mind and work towards it. Are you a worker, minister or pastor without a reasonable educational qualification? Go back to school! If you refuse to go higher, you will be the one hindering your rise.  But if you take steps to move forward, the Lord will back you up. You will meet me at the top.  It is when you ascend that you will take your captors into captivity.  Jesus ascended so must you. ACTION POINT: Draw up a plan for yourself and family, spanning over the next 5 - 20 years, with definite academic, financial and spiritual goals. Work towards them.

LIFE OR DEATH?- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 7-9
LIFE OR DEATH? Friday, July 16, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged” (1 Cor. 11:31) READ: 1 Cor. 11:28-31 There is a difference between eaters and non-eaters of the Holy Communion.  A line of demarcation is drawn the moment you partake of it. When you read Exodus 12:11-12, you will observe this difference on the night the Israelites partook of this meal. When God’s glory descended, the Egyptians experienced a ‘passing through’ while the Israelites experienced a ‘pass over’. When God’s glory descends, it will pass through the enemy.  When the wind is blowing and something stands on its way, it will be uprooted. What is that token of the liar that has been standing in God’s way in your life? It is uprooted now.  It was Passover for the Israelites. To pass over is to pick from one place and move to another location. A meal that can kill or heal should be feared and handled with extreme caution. When the Israelites and the Egyptians went to bed that night, both experienced different things.  While the former experienced unlimited joy, the latter experienced unlimited sorrow.  While the former were given what was denied them for over 400 years, the latter lost the most important member of their families - the first born - both of animals and human beings. As you partake of this meal this season, all your enemies will encounter great losses. The Holy Communion triggers a loss or a gain. It is either taking something you have or giving you what you don’t have.  It is either opening doors to you or shutting doors already opened. It can kill or give life. Never joke with it. Eat it according to the prescription. Many years ago, while my father in the Lord was still alive, we had a Holy Communion Service at Ebute Metta. Papa warned that anyone who was not yet a child of God should not take it. But there was a particular woman at that service who said to herself: “Is it not ordinary bread and wine?” She ate it and by the following morning, she developed a growth on the neck. Every enemy of God that eats it is in trouble. Every believer toying with sin that eats it may become sick or even die, but if a sick believer eats it, the fellow becomes healthy.  What is your attitude to the Holy Communion? Examine yourself, your deeds, conduct etc. before you partake of every meal. You can have life instead of death. ACTION POINT: Father, as I partake of the next Communion, I receive life, not death.

WHEN TREES FIGHT- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 4-6
WHEN TREES FIGHT Thursday, July 15, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured” (2 Sam. 18:8)  READ: 2 Samuel 18:6-17 In Revelation 22:16, the link of the Lord Jesus with plants, vegetation and trees was established by His title Root of David. Another benefit of having Jesus as your root is that He can mobilize trees to fight for you. David was a beneficiary of this. In 2 Samuel 18:5-15, when Absalom revolted against his father and sought hard after his life, he thought he had everything. He really had all the details. He knew his father’s strengths and weaknesses. He turned one of his father’s greatest strengths -Ahithophel against him. The only missing aspect in his battle strategy was that he forgot that his Father had roots. That day, the Root of David simply mobilized all the trees in the bush and told them it is time to display their war talents as His army. Boy! You wouldn’t believe how valiantly the trees fought human soldiers! 2 Samuel 18:8 puts it this way: “For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured”. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Root of David! Can you imagine trees tearing soldiers into pieces? Can you imagine branches becoming sharper and more dangerous than swords? One of the trees took Absalom and hung him by his hair. Since his father had asked for his life to be spared, the oak tree refused to kill him until some young men killed him there. Are you connected to the Root of David? Is He your root? Then He will mobilize His tree army to fight for you. Any of your oppressors that require the services of a tree will have a dirge to sing. In addition, when connected to the Root of David, no charm made from leaves, the bark of trees, etc will work against you. He will simply withdraw their power! In the same vein, He will frustrate every meeting of witches and wizards held on trees meant against you. Their plans against you will fail. The Root of David will arise on your behalf and mobilize the trees to fight witches and wizards meeting on trees concerning your matter. It is well with you. ACTION POINT: Trees can be more devastating and dangerous than modern weapons when under the mobilization of the Root of David.

THE LIFE GIVER- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 1-3
THE LIFE GIVER Wednesday, July 14, 2010
MEMORIZE: “I am the good shepherd: the good  shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11) READ: John 10:9-11 The Prince of Peace can give you victory over the battles of life. He can perform wonders materially and maritally. Never say you are too old to conceive. Sarah said so but got a shocker. Recently, in one of my visits to America, I heard this testimony: There was this lady who had been barren for years. I went to minister in their parish. From the hotel I lodged, I went for church service but forgot my offering envelope. So I sent for an usher who incidentally was the husband of the lady in question, to go to my hotel room to bring my offering envelope. On his way, his wife asked where he was going and he told her. She screamed that her opportunity had come at last. She pleaded that she should have access to the envelope for a few minutes before he drops it into the offering basket. She rubbed the envelope on her stomach before it was dropped and that month she became pregnant. The Prince of Peace who gave her victory over barrenness will give you victory this season over barrenness of any kind that is operating in your life. Moreover, besides physical, material and marital wonders, the Prince of Peace also performs wonders spiritually. In Mark 5:1-20, He turned a mad man into an evangelist. This means He moved this man from the most shameful level of insanity into the most honorable profession recognized by Heaven. The Lord will move you from that unpleasant level to a highly desired one in Jesus’ Name. One of my sons who is a pastor in the United States came to share this testimony recently: He said that during a particular Congress where I was led to declare that everyone’s dress had been anointed, he was around: He believed it and on getting home, he laid the ‘anointed dress’ on the altar and told members of his congregation who wanted to tap into the anointing that was released at the Congress to touch it with their handkerchief. Coincidentally, another pastor was there on that day. When he heard this, he removed his jacket and laid it on my son’s ‘Congress dress’ before returning to his church. While ministering the following Sunday in his church, an old lady fell down and passed on. The doctors examined and certified her dead. So the pastor took off his jacket he had laid on his friend’s anointed ‘Congress dress’ and laid it on the woman and within minutes, she came back to life. Are you dying? Is your business dying? Is your spiritual life ebbing? The Lord of Peace is restoring life to you now. That spirit of death sent against you has lost the battle against your life. ACTION POINT: Command every mission of the spirit of death against your life, family and business to be destroyed in Jesus’ Name.

BEFORE YOU SAY: I DO: Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rom 12-16

BEFORE YOU SAY: I DO
Tuesday, July 13, 2010


MEMORIZE: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15)

READ: Genesis 2:15-23

There are marital challenges in every home. But where divine love exists, such challenges will turn into testimonies. Once married, you are forever married until one of the partners dies. If you think you are getting older, then hurry up. Men of marriageable age who are still feeling out ladies should prayerfully decide before time passes them bye. Before jumping into marriage however, make sure you have a good job. “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Gen. 2:15).

Before Adam was given a wife, he was a bachelor. He was an adult who had a job to do. He enjoyed his bachelorhood while it lasted and utilized his energy profitably. It was while performing his role as a bachelor that his need for a companion became inevitable. As a youth, before you embark on marriage, have a working relationship with God, be engaged in a profitable, legitimate means of livelihood and have a place of your own with basic household utensils.

Spend your bachelorhood in glorifying God. There are some needs in your life that may not be apparent until you are actively engaged in pleasing God. Some believers are carried away with their quest for marriage that they forsake God and His work, while some are so carried away with the things of God that they forget about marriage until God reminds them. Where do you stand? Are you rightly utilizing your youthful days?

There are some men who intend to marry the woman that would feed them. This is a taboo. It reverses the order of marriage. Marriage is responsibility. If you cannot feed yourself, why engage another man’s daughter? Is it to starve her? If you have no major source of livelihood, forget marriage until you get one. Ladies become agitated when not married at a certain age: yet, it is better to remain single than to be married to an agent of darkness or an unbeliever.

Do not become so desperate to answer ‘Mrs’ that you go and marry the wrong person. Some have done it but today, they are in trouble. A number of such desperate sisters are no longer in the faith, while some are struggling with their Christian lives. Their husbands who promised to become born again Christians while courting them, have become more hardened as unbelievers and taking them through hell. Prayerfully consider that fellow before saying ‘I do’.

ACTION POINT:
Thank God for adding another year to Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye. Ask God to release His superabundant grace on her to enable her bear His light among the women folk all over the world.

BEFORE YOU SAY: I DO: Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rom 12-16

BEFORE YOU SAY: I DO
Tuesday, July 13, 2010


MEMORIZE: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15)

READ: Genesis 2:15-23

There are marital challenges in every home. But where divine love exists, such challenges will turn into testimonies. Once married, you are forever married until one of the partners dies. If you think you are getting older, then hurry up. Men of marriageable age who are still feeling out ladies should prayerfully decide before time passes them bye. Before jumping into marriage however, make sure you have a good job. “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Gen. 2:15).

Before Adam was given a wife, he was a bachelor. He was an adult who had a job to do. He enjoyed his bachelorhood while it lasted and utilized his energy profitably. It was while performing his role as a bachelor that his need for a companion became inevitable. As a youth, before you embark on marriage, have a working relationship with God, be engaged in a profitable, legitimate means of livelihood and have a place of your own with basic household utensils.

Spend your bachelorhood in glorifying God. There are some needs in your life that may not be apparent until you are actively engaged in pleasing God. Some believers are carried away with their quest for marriage that they forsake God and His work, while some are so carried away with the things of God that they forget about marriage until God reminds them. Where do you stand? Are you rightly utilizing your youthful days?

There are some men who intend to marry the woman that would feed them. This is a taboo. It reverses the order of marriage. Marriage is responsibility. If you cannot feed yourself, why engage another man’s daughter? Is it to starve her? If you have no major source of livelihood, forget marriage until you get one. Ladies become agitated when not married at a certain age: yet, it is better to remain single than to be married to an agent of darkness or an unbeliever.

Do not become so desperate to answer ‘Mrs’ that you go and marry the wrong person. Some have done it but today, they are in trouble. A number of such desperate sisters are no longer in the faith, while some are struggling with their Christian lives. Their husbands who promised to become born again Christians while courting them, have become more hardened as unbelievers and taking them through hell. Prayerfully consider that fellow before saying ‘I do’.

ACTION POINT:
Thank God for adding another year to Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye. Ask God to release His superabundant grace on her to enable her bear His light among the women folk all over the world.

HONOUR AND DESTINY - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rom 9-11
HONOUR AND DESTINY Monday, July 12, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith,  I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now  the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that  honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Sam. 2:30) READ: 1 Samuel 2:29-30 When you are privileged to see the end from the beginning, it empowers you to achieve in a significant way.  As I searched the Scriptures, I discovered that those whom God showed something concerning their goal or future victory but still failed to reach it were very few.  That you have this negligible few shows that it is possible to see the goal and not reach it. It is possible to be shown the goal in a match and never be able to score. The Lord will count you out of those with frustrated destinies in Jesus’ Name. Among those who saw the goal but could not reach it was Eli. 1 Samuel 2:30 says, “Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed”. God had planned to raise priests from Eli’s immediate and extended family.  God showed him a future of priestly succession that would have immortalized his name forever but at some point he began to misbehave. God warned him several times but he had grown deaf to God. Eventually, God changed the plan. Honor and destiny are linked. One thing we learn from this is that how you relate with God after He shows you His plan for your life will determine whether that plan will materialize or not. If you want God to fulfill His beautiful plan for your life, you must not dishonor God, despise Him or violate His Word.  It will rock your boat! If you fail to honor God with your substance or to give Him all the glory for every good thing you achieve in life, it will affect you. If you fail to take His Word and warnings seriously, you can never get to His planned destiny for your life. If you honor God, He will honor you. Another victim of this was Moses. At the mountain of God’s presence, he saw the promised land. He saw the end of his laborious journey.  He saw the fullness of His joy yet because he failed to honor God, He missed it. There is a spirit of seeing but not possessing. Every mission of such spirit in your life is terminated now in Jesus’ Name.  You will see and possess your possessions.  How many of the glorious future goals have you wasted? Stop this today!  Recover your future from God and pursue it with your life. ACTION POINT: Anyone who cannot honor the Almighty God cannot enter into His rest.  Do you honor Him?

Effective agreement prayers - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rom 5-8
EFFECTIVE AGREEMENT PRAYERS Sunday, July 11, 2010
MEMORIZE: “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?” (Deut. 32:30) READ: Deut. 32:29-30 “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?” (Deut. 32:30). There is power in agreement prayer. When you have made singular prayer efforts that have failed to yield the expected result, team up with somebody -your spouse, pastor or prayer partner to agree with you and it shall be done. Agreement prayers can take care of 70% of prayer needs of the average family.Some couples hardly pray together. Infact, some tell their spouse, ‘I don’t agree with you’ on very crucial issues. As long as there is no meeting of the minds on an issue, such a couple could suffer for long and be at the receiving end of demonic manipulations. For agreement prayer to work, you must be born again and in right relationship with God. Also, there must be cordial relationship between the parties to the agreement. Your request concerning that issue must be one and the same. You must not be asking for a male child while the other is asking for a female. Eradicate all areas of conflict and disagreement. Create time to discuss and agree on what would benefit your family the most. Openly confess your agreement with your mouth to each other, saying for instance; ‘We both agree that stagnancy has come to an end in our family’. Convey your point of agreement to God in prayer. Back up your agreement with the seal of God’s promises on agreement prayers. Thank God for answers. Never accept anything contrary to your agreement. Expect it to be established. Wait on it even when time flies. It shall be so. A young man once came to request that I agree with him to be one of the three people who will be sponsoring the Convention. I agreed because that would reduce my financial burden. A week later, he ran back to say he had been sacked from his work place. He was concerned. He most probably expected a salary increase but got a sack instead. I laughed and asked how much he was earning monthly and he told me. So I asked how he could have sponsored the Convention from such a meager salary. And that God had to shut that door in order to open another. Not long after, the Lord opened a bigger financial door to him and he was able to substantially support the Convention. Through prayer of agreement, you can lock and open doors. Ensure however that there is no sin in your heart and hands. Also that you are agreeing with someone whose heart is with you. ACTION POINT: For the next two weeks, agree on definite issues with your spouse or prayer partner and lift them before God.