Check these little foxes- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Lam 1 -2
CHECK THESE LITTLE FOXES Monday, November 1, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes” (Songs of Solomon 2:15) READ: Songs of Solomon 2:14-15 Until you terminate all your internal enemies, they will send an invitation to external enemies to team up with them to see your end. What you fail to terminate concentrates on terminating you. The internal enemy you cannot stop will end up stopping you. There are many whose imprisonment is not defined by physical walls but are prisoners of anger.  Ecclesiates 7:9 says, “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools”. Some leaders have simultaneously put into play what it takes to gather and to scatter a crowd, and as a result they cannot ever show the fruit of their labor. There is one of my children who is wonderful and highly anointed. He could by the anointing of the Spirit put together a crowd within one month, but through the spirit of anger he could scatter the church and tell off the congregation. In one Sunday service, he could undo the labor of two years! That is imprisonment! If you are scattering what others are building, you are in a satanic prison. Anger has limited the progress of many Christians and perpetually pegged them as baby Christians. The prison of some is laziness. They are so lazy that making an effort in an endeavor is like confronting a giant. Their laziness turns mole hills into mountains. Giants are not necessarily by size, height or age but by the extent they can resist opposition. That an effort meets with  a formidable resistance does not necessarily imply that the resisting party is stronger.  Sometimes, what you consider a giant, which has strongly resisted your full strength may suddenly collapse at the slightest and faintest push the second time around. This is why you must continue to make effort until you reach your goal. The prison of some believers is the lust of the flesh. One of my sons came to me complaining of a problem. He said he gets excited and looks forward to Monday mornings because he would see his secretary again. So I asked him to fire her.  The elders say ‘Stay away from a snake whose head is still intact’.  The death agent capable of snuffing your spiritual life must be avoided like a plague.  What is your prison? Is it over eating, over sleeping, talkativeness? Destroy them today! ACTION POINT: Today, make a vicious move against any prison your flesh has held you in. N.B One way to be free from the prison of greed is to be generous. Visit and support www.10millionexercisebooks.com today.

LYING AGAINST GOD- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 91 -93
LYING AGAINST GOD? Sunday, October 31, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,  but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom. 12:19) READ: Acts 5:1-5 The prodigal son returned to his father and said, “... Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son” (Luke 15:21). The first lesson here is that every sin committed by believers and unbelievers is primarily against God, and secondarily against fellow men because it violates the law of God (Isaiah 33:22). Each time you tell a lie, you violate God’s law. In Psalm 105:15, God commanded: “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm”. Inspite of king Saul’s backsliding, he was still God’s anointed; hence, David’s heart did not allow him to rest after cutting off a part of Saul’s robe. This is why I am amazed to hear ministers freely discussing and debasing men of God. That is not part of your ministerial duties. Be very careful when dealing with genuine men of God. Leave God to judge the erring ones. According to Acts 5:1-5, when a couple lied to their pastor, Peter said they lied to God. Falsifying church records is a lie to God. Setting up parishes on paper with no physical presence is a lie to God. Pledging but failing to redeem the pledge is a lie to God. When intending couples cook up stories of how they saw a vision about their spouses when that only existed in their imagination, is a lie to God. When ministers or workers hide under the guise of heavy traffic to absent themselves from weekly meetings in church, it would be recorded by Heaven as a lie to God. In what ways are you lying to God thinking you are deceiving your pastor? Repent before it is too late! As a bonafide child of God, you do not need to fight for yourself. Exodus 14:14 says, “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace”. If you read that scripture from the rear, it reads: ‘If you hold your peace, the Lord will fight for you’. Quiet, gentle and unassuming people can be the most dangerous people to offend. The gentleness that fellow is exhibiting may be as a result of his understanding of Romans 12:19. Do not always take gentleness for weakness. When you sin against God, He would want somebody else to whip you, as doing it Himself could be very devastating. This is why you must welcome discipline from your leader. ACTION POINT: Restitute on your lies to avoid receiving God’s cane.  N.B Here is your opportunity to be a blessing to somebody visit www.10millionexercisebooks.com today.

Power of Communion- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 88-90
POWER OF COMMUNION Saturday, October 30, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and he vanished out of their sight” (Luke 24:31) READ: Luke 24:28-32 In Luke 24:13-16, two disciples of Jesus encountered the Lord on their journey to Emmaus village. Because they were overtaken with sorrow and grief over the Lord’s death and burial, they had lost hope of having someone to redeem them from the oppression of the Roman empire. The Lord joined their company, expounded the Scriptures to them, and finally broke bread with them. At that point three things happened: First, their eyes opened. Their eyes of understanding were opened and they moved from blindness to spiritual sight. The Holy Communion has the ability to open the eyes of communicants to unseen opportunities. The prophet’s widow was surrounded by opportunities and destiny helpers all along but she could not see them. Everyday, she looked at them but never realized the potentials of what she was seeing and how they could be the solution to her problems. The day her eyes of understanding were opened, she saw how everything around her fitted like a jigsaw puzzle in lifting her from the doldrums of debt. That was the end of debt and lack in her life! As you partake of the next Holy Communion, ask God to open the eyes of your understanding. After their eyes opened, they knew Him. They got a revelation of Jesus Christ. The veil over their eyes was removed for them to see the Lord as He was. When they realized that Jesus is alive, their dimmed hope suddenly revived. Have you lost hope of a better life? Have you lost hope of fulfilling your destiny? Partaking in the Holy Communion can restore such hope. That hope of healing or success which was lost shall be restored this season in Jesus’ Name. You shall have an intimate relationship with the Lord Himself. In addition, these disciples moved from sorrow to extreme joy.  They moved from grumbling and complaining over their losses to testifying about their gains. Fresh life surged into them. These same people who were crying, ‘He is dead’, started to shout, ‘He is risen’. That shall be your portion this season. Your song will change for the best. ACTION POINT: Before approaching the Lord’s table, prepare ahead of time so that your desires can be met.

OVERWHELMING GLORY- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 85 -87
OVERWHELMING GLORY Friday, October 29, 2010
MEMORIZE: “So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD” (1 Kings 8:11) READ: 1 Kings 8:10-11 In Revelation 1:16, John said that Christ’s countenance shone as the sun at its peak. No wonder Malachi 4:2 calls Him The Sun of Righteousness! Judges 5:31 says, “So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years”. Jesus Christ is righteousness personified. His righteousness is not dormant and quiet, but very radiant and active. It is possible for you to shine like Him. To do this, you must love Him without reservation. And you must be actively involved in soul winning. You must love His Word too. In addition, you would allow Him to have His way in your life and carry out His activities as it pleases Him. When these are done, His brightness will shine through you. By the time John the Beloved saw Jesus in His glorified form, he thought he was probably seeing somebody else. He could barely recognize Him. He could hardly believe it was the same Jesus he was so close to, in whose bosom he used to recline. He was so overcome with the power and brightness of His glory that he fainted. The glory of God is so powerful that whenever it comes, flesh must bow. This was the same glory Paul of Tarsus encountered on his way to Damascus that he did not only fall, he became blind until a divine intervention. No man can resist the glory of God. Do you know God wants to bring down His glory whenever He visits an individual, family or church but it is either the leader is not prepared or the people are not. Even today, in some meetings, the glory of God comes down so strong that almost everyone appears fixed to their seats. They will be weeping, worshipping or just having a great moment in His presence. Even the pastors will be unable to minister. God Himself will be ministering to His people. This was the experience at the dedication of Solomon’s temple. God’s house should be filled with the glory cloud. If Solomon experienced it, you can experience it today. When God’s glory comes down, every token of the liar in the lives of God’s people must bow out. Do you hunger and thirst after His glory? Are your heart and hands clean? Ask for it today! ACTION POINT: If you succeed in bringing down God’s glory, He takes over the ministry. N.B Visit www.10millionexercisebooks.com today and support eradication of illiteracy.

Ineligible for Marriage- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 82-84
INELIGIBLE FOR MARRIAGE Thursday, October 28, 2010
MEMORIZE: “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself” (Prov. 14:14) READ: Matthew 19:3-9 In making choice of your marriage partner, never choose an unbeliever or a backslider. Proverbs 14:14 says, “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself”. Beside these, never choose to marry a divorcee. There is a growing number of divorce cases all over the world, yet, because the New Testament does not allow it under any circumstance, we must not marry a divorcee irrespective of circumstance or human logic. Quite a number of young people rushed into marriage and realized they had made a mistake; so they rushed out. Unfortunately, realizing one’s mistake in marriage after it has been contracted cannot be resolved by calling it quits but by asking for grace to endure it. This is why you must look before you leap. According to today’s reading, anyone who marries a divorcee is living in adultery because the fellow is technically living with another person’s spouse. And anyone in adultery has no eternal life. Are you in adultery by virtue of marriage to a divorcee? Immediately restitute - return that spouse back to the owner or you will face eternal hell. In addition, it is wrong to choose someone who is already engaged to another person. That is, do not choose a lady on whom a man has already paid a bride price. Marriage has been contracted by the giving and acceptance of a bride price, the sum not withstanding. What constitutes a bride price differs from one culture to another so it is immaterial if the dowry taken from the man is insignificant. Are you making a trip into marriage? Have you clearly sought God’s face for direction on the partner to choose? Do not be limited to your own understanding. Depend on God, open your eyes, be sensitive in the spirit and the Lord will guide you. If you avoid these classes of suitors, it is for your good. You can prevent living in hell right from earth by ensuring you choose the right partner. Do not be too much in a hurry so that you do not make a wrong choice. ACTION POINT: Being single is not a crime. Many who erroneously married divorcees will have to restitute and stay single. It is better to be single than to allow marriage to be the reason to go to hell fire. N.B Join other Christian singles on www.oliverccgsingles.blogspot.com for more on Relationships. Shallom.

Give up that River- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 79 -81
GIVE UP THAT RIVER Wednesday, October 27, 2010
MEMORIZE:   “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24) READ: John 6:5-13 One of my children once shared an observation with me. He talked of some people whose businesses are not known even beyond the shores of their country yet, they behave as if they have achieved the ultimate; Whereas God’s plan is for all nations of the earth to be blessed through you. One reason some have lost more valuable things is for failing to turn over to God the little they have in return for something bigger and better.  If God is asking for your five loaves of bread and two fishes, it is because He wants to feed thousands of people with it and give you a harvest thereafter. Unfortunately, because many limit their gaze to the success of today, they  become blind to the greater success of tomorrow.  Imagine what the boy who gave the loaves and fishes would have lost if he had failed to surrender them? Many professing Christians have lost and many will yet lose great opportunities for holding firmly to what they should have released to God. The boy released just 5 loaves and 2 fishes but went home with 12 baskets full. What are you holding unto that could trigger a greater harvest for you? Release it today before you begin to count losses. (NB: Support www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today, eradicating illiteracy in Nigeria.) Recently, the Lord reminded me of an experience I had during my first visit to Zambia. I went there to start a parish of the RCCG in the house of a brother I met sometime in Germany.  He had a pastor in his house who had a church of about 300 people, with branches in four other nations. They invited me to preach and I accepted. On the eve of my departure, the Lord asked me to tell the pastor to surrender his church to the RCCG so that they could become a part of us. I pleaded with God that I could not deliver such a message considering how he would view it or even work against my return to that country.  Eventually, I asked the Lord to tell the man he has a message through me. So if he comes to ask of his message, then I would deliver it. Happy that he did not come, I was just about to go to bed at about 12 midnight when he knocked on my door. He told me he couldn’t sleep because God had said he had a message, so I told him what God said. He said ‘No way’. We prayed and  he left. The Lord asked me to learn from it. That He wanted the pastor to release a river so as to get an ocean, he refused and lost an ocean. Today, the RCCG is flourishing in Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, etc.  What is that river you ought to release for your ocean? ACTION POINT: Give up your river in exchange for God’s ocean today!

MOVING GOD- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 76 - 78
MOVING GOD Tuesday, October 26, 2010
MEMORIZE: “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Ps. 22:3) READ: Rev. 4:9-11 Although faith conquers all situations and challenges, the way it is applied will determine the type of effect and the speed it will have. If there is anything that is indispensable to the believer, it is faith. In Daniel 3, faith brought out the three Hebrew faithfuls from a burning fiery furnace unhurt. Do you know that if you can apply your faith appropriately, standing on God’s Word, the fire of trouble your detractors have kindled in your office will not have any negative effect on you? Whether you will fall into the trap of the ungodly or not is dependent on whether you applied your faith or not, and on how it was applied. Without knowing it, you already have the way out of troubles and difficulties. According to Daniel 6, Daniel’s faith shut the mouths of hungry lions. Your faith can shut the mouths of bloodsucking demons and agents of darkness. Are you exercising it on a daily basis? Many believers pocket their faith and confront daily challenges by powerless self effort. This accounts for regular defeat by enemies. How often do you put your faith to work? Until you release your faith, nothing happens. Faith is so powerful that it can change a ‘No’ answer from God to ‘Yes’. This was the experience of the Syrophenician woman in Matthew 15:21-28. Another foundational truth a winner must know is how to move God into action. A man of faith does not focus on the problem but on the solution. A winner knows that God resides in the praises of His people (Ps. 22:3). For this reason, Heaven is a place of continuous praise to God (Is. 6:1-3). Periodically, there are waves of praise. In Heaven, angels, saints and elders are actively involved in the waves of praise and new songs that come up (Rev. 4:9-11, 5:9-10).  If you are wise, you will know how to move God into your situation through active praise worship and thanksgiving like Paul and Silas. If we take a cue from worldly musicians, we know how they can extract the last kobo from somebody when they begin to praise him and call him big names and titles. Even if that individual came in borrowed clothes, his head would swell: he would not know when he will begin to ‘spray’ whatever money he finds, even if it was borrowed. Winners have learnt this secret in dealing with God. Have you been able to praise or worship God to the point of obtaining your desired change? If no, then that is your new assignment this season. ACTION POINT: Use all your spare moments to praise God today. N. B Please visit www.10millionexercisebooks.com today.