CHOOSE RIGHT - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Neh 10-13
CHOOSE RIGHT Saturday, September 04, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;” (Joshua 24:16) READ: Joshua 24:14-20 A major challenge people have always had which still remains a challenge for those living in today’s world is choosing right in crucial matters. Some issues are a matter of life and death. Certain decisions that you are expected to make will automatically shape your destiny: They will determine what you can take out of life and where you will end in the world beyond. Unfortunately, human beings are so limited and mostly focus on immediate challenges to the extent that they become casualties in the game of life. This limitation of man therefore necessitates our linking up with the unlimited God. One of the most fundamental choices you will ever make is who will be your God. Who will be your number one, your most important being whom you will serve. Today, you would be amazed at the choices of many in this regard; Some people choose to serve cows, trees, iron, water, sun, moon, stars or snakes. Some have chosen to serve money, popularity, fashion, jewelry, sex, or fellow man. Others clearly choose to serve Satan while the wise ones have chosen to serve God. In today’s reading, shortly before his death, Joshua confronted the Israelites with this issue: Choose whom you will serve. May you be wise enough to make the right choice! “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). From the above scripture, choice is the access way into life or death, or blessings or curses. That means, every choice you make will either kill or give you life; it will either bless or curse you. This is why you need to be very careful how you choose and what you choose. Another lesson about our choices is that whoever or whatever you choose to serve will determine your eternal abode (John 12:26). You will always end up with the one you choose to serve. If you serve the Lord Jesus Christ, you cannot end up with Satan in the lake of fire: it is impossible, because where Jesus is, there His servants will be. Can that thing, individual or spirit you are serving take you to Heaven when you die? If it cannot guarantee you Heaven, dump it fast, give your life to Christ and serve Him with everything you have. ACTION POINT: Divine guidance is available for meek believers at no monetary cost. Access God’s presence for it.

IS JESUS INVITED? - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Neh 7 - 9
IS HE INVITED? Friday, September 3, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage” (John 2:2) READ: Luke 5:1-11 In Matthew 6:10, the Lord taught His disciples to pray: ‘Thy Kingdom come’. This phrase could be a cry for assistance - an SOS. It could also be an invitation from somebody under God’s government. A wedding is an appropriate example of this because the couple are free to do what they want and to invite who they want. John 2:1-11 tells of a marriage in Cana of Galilee. That was not the only wedding during the days of Jesus Christ but why was He not at the other weddings? It could just be because He was not invited. He does not invite Himself into lives, businesses or affairs of men so that He is not seen as an intruder. Just because the bride and groom at this wedding decided to send the Lord an invitation, not only did He meet their need at a most crucial time, their marriage has become celebrated and published around the world for thousands of years! The challenge of wine running out at the wedding in Cana of Galilee is a normal stormy event that can take place anywhere. Even after the best of plans have been made, unexpected storms could come to rubbish them. But if you have already invited Jesus Christ and asked Him to take total control, He will turn water into wine, bitter tears into tears of joy, failure to success and the worst of situations into the best. Have you invited Jesus into your plans, programs and activities? Or are you leaving Him behind? Moreover, ‘Thy Kingdom come’ could also indicate the acceptance of an invitation. Sometimes, it appears Jesus loves some people more than others because in some cases, it was He who went to ask that His Kingdom should come into their lives. For example, in John 5:6, the Lord singled out the man who has been sick for 38 years, and asked for permission to heal him. As soon as the man granted that request, he was healed. Similarly, when the Lord got to the sea shore in Luke 5:1-11, there were two boats. He met Peter and asked if he wanted His Kingdom to come into his life and business. Peter gave the go ahead and He changed everything. As long as you are in self-government, you will continue to meet with fruitlessness, poverty, and disappointment. In John 15:5, the Lord said we can do nothing without Him. Haggai 1:5-6 says under self-government, the money you make could disappear through invisible holes in your storage sack. Let the Lord take absolute control of your life and situation! ACTION POINT: The only Guest you cannot afford to leave out of anything you are doing is Jesus. He is far more than a trillion people put together!

CHASTISED? - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Neh 4 - 6
CHASTISED? Thursday, September 2, 2010
MEMORIZE: “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons” (Heb. 12:8) READ: Hebrews 12:5-8 The work of a shepherd is quite enormous. In fact, there are certain unpleasant assignments that are associated with the work of the ministry. Every minister would like to dedicate babies, houses, cars and preach from the altar, but not many would want to endanger their lives for the flock. Psalm 23:4 says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”. One time the sheep needs the company of the shepherd more than anything is in time of trouble. Some pastors are usually absent or keep giving excuses that they are too busy when they hear that their members are facing trouble or danger; yet, these same pastors find time to come to their members’ houses during moments of celebration. Such are traits of a hireling, not a true shepherd. In times of crisis, you must be there for them. Comfort them. Read an appropriate Bible passage to them and encourage them on what to do. Take time to pray with them and for them. Ministering to crisis-ridden members could be quite challenging but that is real ministry. To what extent do you identify with members who are imprisoned, hospitalized, divorced, or bereaved? You must not leave them when they need you. Ministry is not when you preach from the altar but when you comfort the broken hearted, nurse members’ wounds and identify with them in times of danger. Another duty of a shepherd is the efficient use of the rod. If you truly love your sheep, when they err, you will correct them. You do not need to flog them physically but use the Word of God to do so. When you whip with God’s Word, the effect can be so dramatic and far-reaching than a physical whip on the back.If you can study God’s Word carefully, you will find that there is always a passage that is suitable for every situation in life. When correcting, the underlying factor must be love. If this ingredient is missing, the correction may fail to achieve its purpose. But when correction is bringing about destruction, know that something is amiss somewhere. The staff is meant for defense. As a shepherd, God has given you something with which to defend your sheep. To what extent is this effectively utilized? If your spiritual cover over your congregation is missing, they are in trouble. Do not expose your members to Satan’s attacks. Live a life of holiness daily. ACTION POINT: Pray for erring members and ministers undergoing discipline that through it, they will be restored to full fellowship with Jesus Christ.

A CALL OF FAITH- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: NEH 1-3
A CALL OF FAITH Wednesday, September 1, 2010
MEMORIZE: “As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were” ( Rom. 4:17)   READ: Romans 4:16-17   God has a time for every event under the sun. But sometimes, He may have to hasten certain things before the appointed time or extend certain divine deadlines usually due to an act of faith. Faith is so powerful that if you know how to operate it, you can almost always have your way. When Hezekiah’s time to die came, God informed him because of their relationship. But as a result of his faith in solemnly protesting God’s due date, he got an additional 15 years! What have you obtained with your faith that you can share with the Body of Christ?   An understanding of God and timing shows that He calls non-existent things into manifestation by addressing them as though they already existed. You were created in God’s image. You too can begin to call yourself the mother of specific children with specific names if you have been trusting God for the fruit of the womb. Some of my children have done this and it worked for them. Faith action always yield results.   A Christian couple wedded and thereafter were told of several complications that would prevent conception. The report remained negative for some years but while meeting the specialists, they also agreed on the number of children they would have and named their desired children by faith. Today, they have two boys and one girl, bearing the original names they both agreed upon during their barren years! The Lord who did it for them will do yours too. Just believe and step out in faith.   “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Rom. 4:17). If you are ready to call up your desired future, God is ready to give life to it. When Jesus called up Lazarus’ corpse, God gave life to it. When God called up Sarah’s dead womb, it received life. What is that dead, dying or impossible situation confronting you? Call it to life by faith, and experience the power of transformation. God will not quicken anything you have left for dead but those things you sincerely desire to have life. ACTION POINT: List every good thing in your life, family, business or church that is dead or about to die. Begin to call them to life one after the other.

A CALL OF FAITH- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: NEH 1-3
A CALL OF FAITH Wednesday, September 1, 2010
MEMORIZE: “As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were” ( Rom. 4:17)   READ: Romans 4:16-17   God has a time for every event under the sun. But sometimes, He may have to hasten certain things before the appointed time or extend certain divine deadlines usually due to an act of faith. Faith is so powerful that if you know how to operate it, you can almost always have your way. When Hezekiah’s time to die came, God informed him because of their relationship. But as a result of his faith in solemnly protesting God’s due date, he got an additional 15 years! What have you obtained with your faith that you can share with the Body of Christ?   An understanding of God and timing shows that He calls non-existent things into manifestation by addressing them as though they already existed. You were created in God’s image. You too can begin to call yourself the mother of specific children with specific names if you have been trusting God for the fruit of the womb. Some of my children have done this and it worked for them. Faith action always yield results.   A Christian couple wedded and thereafter were told of several complications that would prevent conception. The report remained negative for some years but while meeting the specialists, they also agreed on the number of children they would have and named their desired children by faith. Today, they have two boys and one girl, bearing the original names they both agreed upon during their barren years! The Lord who did it for them will do yours too. Just believe and step out in faith.   “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Rom. 4:17). If you are ready to call up your desired future, God is ready to give life to it. When Jesus called up Lazarus’ corpse, God gave life to it. When God called up Sarah’s dead womb, it received life. What is that dead, dying or impossible situation confronting you? Call it to life by faith, and experience the power of transformation. God will not quicken anything you have left for dead but those things you sincerely desire to have life. ACTION POINT: List every good thing in your life, family, business or church that is dead or about to die. Begin to call them to life one after the other.

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS? - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Cor 10-13
WHAT TO DO WITH JESUS Tuesday, August 31, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live” (Amos 5:4) READ: Matthew 2:1-11 Everyone who comes into this world must make a decision on what to do with Jesus. The result of that decision has far-reaching effects on that individual hence, care must be taken in arriving at the decision. All through the ages, this question keeps reoccurring: ‘What do you do with Jesus?’ In Matthew 27:22-23, when Pilate asked the enraged Israelites what he should do with Jesus, they answered: ‘Crucify him’. And He was led to the Cross and crucified. That brought innocent blood on their hands. What will you do with Jesus? Will you ignore Him?  Will you avoid Him? Or will you take Him to the stake and crucify Him? God is awaiting your answer to this pertinent question capable of determining your today and tomorrow. In today’s reading, when some wise men were confronted with a similar question, they responded in positive ways which we can learn from today.  The first thing they did was to abandon whatever they were doing and commence a search for Him. You too can seek Jesus until you find Him. Amos 5:4 says seeking God is a key to living. Jacob sought God while going through the valley of the shadow of death and he lived. Do you see or smell death hanging over you or your family? If you seek Jesus, you will live. Another benefit of seeking Him is divine guidance. If you truly seek Jesus, you can never miss your way.  He will guide you like the wise men were divinely guided in their dream. Another way to treat Jesus as we can see from these wise men is to accept Him as your King. These men were noble men who were feared and highly respected. They were of priestly caste and were the spiritual counselors to kings. Yet, on hearing that a child was born king, they accepted Him as King. To benefit maximally from this earth, you must accept Jesus Christ as your King. How you receive Him will determine what He will be to you. If you accept Him as a beggar, you cannot get anything from Him. If you accept Him as a slave or servant, you will see Him as a tool for achieving your goals. But if you receive Him as King, He will cause everything He has created to treat you as they treat their Creator. Have you received Him into your heart? ACTION POINT: List five positive ways you will treat Jesus. Go ahead and do so.

WHICH PROMOTION? - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Cor 7-9
WHICH PROMOTION?  Monday, August 30, 2010
MEMORIZE: “But God is the judge: he putteth  down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:7) READ: Psalm 75:4 -7 After the birth of Jacob, the negative traits in his mother began to rear up their ugly heads in him. He deceived his brother Esau, stole his birthright and blessing of the firstborn and bolted. Esau thought his only respite was to revenge by killing his brother. After years of living in exile, Jacob decided to return home with his family only to realize that the evil he left several years before, which he thought time would heal, was as fresh as ever.  It was pay time for sowing his wild oats. On his way, he divided his family into groups out of fear so that at least one group could possibly escape the sword of Esau. Then all alone, he resorted to seek divine intervention. That night, Jacob had a profound dream (Gen. 32:24-31). The first thing he saw was a ladder. A ladder is a means of progressive ascent.  This means that in his present situation, ascent was possible. Are you a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? No matter how hopeless your situation may be, ascent is possible. Never accept your position as the ultimate. You shall rise from the doldrums of dejection, want, hopelessness and stagnancy and move up to higher ground.Subject to certain conditions, you can go higher than your present height. Job 22:29 says it is possible to experience progressive ascent while all others are experiencing a descent. That will be your portion this season. The ladder speaks of promotion. You can be promoted by God or man.  It talks of being promoted to become god to the Pharaohs of this world. For effective world evangelization for instance, you would need the power to kill and bring back to life. I prefer to be an ordinary worker who can raise the dead than be a provincial pastor that cannot cure headache. Unfortunately, many are chasing after the promotion of man at the expense of divine promotion. It is not worth it! In many churches today, it is some workers or ministers that are holding the spiritual base while the pastors like Pharaoh play only a ceremonial role. You can choose to be incharge like the men of old or simply occupy a position lacking the true power of God. When last did the sick get healed through your prayers? When last did God answer your prayers? As you seek to climb the ladder of promotion this year, let divine promotion be uppermost in your heart and request. ACTION POINT: Some opportunities offering you progress may really be out to deliver regression. Pray that God will expose the true nature of opportunities and deliver you.

WHAT KIND OF CHANGE? - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Cor 4-6
WHAT KIND OF CHANGE? Sunday, August 29, 2010
MEMORIZE: “When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the  humble person” (Job 22:29) READ: Job 22:28-30 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). The above scripture tells us of the possibility of moving from glory to glory.  This refers to change. Speaking generally, change can be for better or for worse.  It could also be an upward change or a downward change. Also, it could contain elements of expansion or decrease. In 2 Kings 5, Naaman experienced a change for the better when his leprosy suddenly disappeared, whereas Gehazi experienced a change for the worse when he inherited Naaman’s leprosy.  That negative change put an end to his ministerial career.  One frightening lesson from this story is that it is possible to pick up what somebody else dropped. There is no room for vacuum. Each time somebody is dying, somebody else is being born. As Naaman was getting healed, Gehazi was getting sick. As some people are getting rich, others are getting poorer. “When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person” (Job 22:29). When demotion is coming to some, promotion is coming to others. At every point in time, negative and positive changes take place. At the last supper, all the 12 disciples were gathered together with Jesus.  As they partook of that supper, life was impacted to some while death - in the form of satanic bravado was released on Judas Iscariot in order to bring to birth what he had conceived in his heart - to sell his Lord! Watch out what you allow to hibernate in your heart! It may receive the anointing to manifest. You have a part to play to provoke your change. Negative thoughts and deeds have a way of attracting a change for the worse. The covetousness of Gehazi attracted leprosy - while he thought he was waiting to be crowned the next national prophet - successor of Elisha. If you are expecting a change for the best, ensure your heart is filled with the right thoughts godly thoughts, clean and pure motives and deeds of righteousness. Without these, you may be attracting a negative change while expecting a positive one. ACTION POINT: Ask that God will help you to provoke only positive changes.