VICTORY OVER DEATH- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Mic 4 -7
VICTORY OVER DEATH Friday, November 19, 2010
MEMORIZE: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:18) READ: Rev. 1:17-18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). If there is one phrase that you meet too often as you browse through the Holy Scriptures, it is ‘Fear Not’. Why? It is normal for you to be afraid when faced with a challenge beyond your ability or resources. Also, if you saw an angel in a vision, fear might grip you because they are huge, powerful and glory-radiating beings. One litmus test in determining if that angel is of God is that it will immediately calm you down by saying, ‘Fear Not’. But if it does not but rather takes pleasure in seeing you quake for him, you can be sure that he is one of the fallen angels - now demons. Both that angel and his message must be discarded! One reason why an angel of light will say ‘Fear Not’ is that he is sent on an errand to you.  And if you allow fear, you may be so disturbed to the point that the message is either lost or distorted. Yet, if God sees that you cannot handle it at all, He will use some other medium to communicate with you because as the Most Efficient Communicator, He knows there is no effective communication until the message is received and understood. “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:18).  One reason we should Fear Not is because Jesus tasted death but overcame it. He rose from the dead and His grave is still empty today.  You cannot say this of any other man.  He pulled down the gates of death and hell and took over their keys. With those keys, He opened the gate of death and brought several dead people including Lazarus back to life. If you are harassed by the fear of death, run to Jesus. He can shut the gate of death to you and you will not die. Also, if hell was pulling you so close through a life of sin, run to Jesus and He will shut the gate of hell to you and forgive you and you will be on your way to Heaven. Anyone who threatens a genuine believer in Christ with death is only wasting time. You should not fear death anymore because Jesus Has given you victory over death. Exercise that right and stand on His Word. ACTION POINT: Thank God for the victory He has given to you over death. Command every spirit on a death assignment to you or your family to pass over you. N.B Join the www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today and let's eradicate illiteracy together.

RIGHT FROM THE HEART- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Mic 1 -3
RIGHT FROM THE HEART! Thursday, November 18, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” ( Col. 3:23) READ: Colossians 3:22-25 One thing that is apparent in the story of Jacob recorded in Genesis 29:15-35 is that the presence of love in anything you do can redefine what you do and the extent you can go. Love can insulate you against the pains, discouragement, and difficulties associated with any given task. Love can reduce the length of an assignment from years to days by filling each day with excitement, hope and fun. “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her” (Gen. 29:20). No price is too much to pay for the one you love. Jacob served a total of 14 years waiting for Rachel but did not realize he had waited that long. If a man truly loves a woman, he will be prepared to wait for her to be ready before marriage. The one who loves you will not compel you to sleep with him before you are married. To the world, one faulty yardstick for measuring love is one’s readiness to go into pre-marital sex. Anyone who claims to love you but cannot wait for you, probably to complete your education before you go into marriage does not truly love you. Love is not hasty but patient. Anyone who is not ready to pay a price for you does not really love. Do you truly love the one you claim to love? What price have you paid as proof of that love? If you love what you are doing, it will be easy to do it with all your heart. Love is missing in our fellowship with God today. All you get from some is lip love. This is professing love without backing it up with physical evidence. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”. Your service to God must be out of your heart, borne out of love. The service that pleases God is one from the heart rendered in love. God is love. If you have been born again, you have capacity to manifest the agape love. To what extent does this love manifest in your life and service? Do you know that faith requires the oil of love to operate effectively? (Gal. 5:6). Add love to your faith and you will see it perform better! ACTION POINT: The love of the world is selfish, sensual and destructive but God’s love is selfless, Spirit-led, and life- giving. Choose one.  N.B Be a blessing to somebody support www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today.

BE A TEAM PLAYER- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 146-150
BE A TEAM PLAYER Wednesday, November 17, 2010
MEMORIZE: “...In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:” (Eph. 2:21) READ: Ephesians 4:11-16 The new wine is a must for everyone who intends to succeed in life. Old wine has a way of running out when you need it the most. To have the new wine, be prepared to obey without questions. Also, your obedience must be absolute. Another requirement for the new wine is total commitment. At the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, Mary told the servants, “...Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5B). After that instruction, she returned to her seat. The servants had a choice to wait to hear from Jesus or not. If they were not committed, there would have been no miracle. To receive the new wine, you must be prepared to show commitment to God and do His will irrespective of whether you are noticed by somebody or not. The degree of your commitment determines the extent God will empower you. An outstanding example in commitment is Paul. He was so committed to Christ that he was prepared to suffer and even die for his Christian convictions. How committed are you? In addition, there is need for cooperation with others for the new wine to be released. In the wedding account recorded in John 2:1-11, there was cooperation among all the major actors - Mary, the servants, Jesus Christ and the Almighty God. God is not seeking for one person who knows and does it all. He is looking for good team players. That is why the body has many parts and every part has its function. God has so designed things in such a way that everyone can be useful in His plan. No matter how endowed and strong the legs are, they would have to depend on the eyes to see. No matter how anointed the pastor is, he would still have to depend on some ushers, choir members or ministers for him to make a success of his ministry. That brother may be a young convert or may be impoverished but he has what you need. Despising him may be hampering your blessing. This is why you should never look down on anybody particularly the less privileged. Unfortunately, even some pastors belittle fellow pastors just because they are not as comfortable as they are. If only they know the harm they are causing themselves! If you cannot be a team player, God may have no use of you or your talents. May the Lord not reject you! ACTION POINT: Take a look around you: Most of those people you and your colleagues look down upon because they lack what you have - money, position, power, connection, etc, may be highly regarded in Heaven.  N.B Join our team today and together let us eradicate illiteracy, visit www.10millionexercisebooks.com project.

WHAT'S YOUR FOCUS?- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 143 -145
WHAT’S YOUR FOCUS? Tuesday, November 16, 2010
MEMORIZE: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal ” (2 Cor. 4:18) READ: Colossians 3:1-3 It is important to have a goal and set an eye on the reward while pursuing that goal. However, if you want such reward to be an effective and sustained motivation for achievement of the goal, ensure it is not earthly in nature. For instance, beauty was a major consideration for Jacob in deciding to wait for his heart-throb. However, Proverbs 31:30 warns that favor could deceive while beauty is vanity. That means, there is nothing in it. According to Isaiah 55:8-9, God’s definition of success and man’s are two different things altogether. Never let your goal be on glamorous things of the earth - car, house or fame: they will all fade into oblivion! All those who are hailing you today may be the same people to say, Crucify him. Do not aim at titles and positions. There is nothing in them. Those who are struggling for positions and doing all they can to get the leader’s favor just to be able to occupy such positions are focused on things that will surely disappoint them. If you focus on material things, they will hinder you from attaining the real things worth your trouble. Church politics is one reason some senior pastors will miss Heaven. You will not be caught up in that evil web in Jesus’ Name. You may never become a senior pastor but you can become a minister no man can ignore. You can become so full of the anointing that mere entering a church, the sick will get healed. Some years ago, a woman who was so anointed with the Holy Ghost entered a hotel and all the sinners who were fornicating in their various chalets came under the convicting power of the Spirit. They began to weep and repent without anyone preaching to them! They can take position from you but no one can take the anointing from you as long as you keep away from sin. They may never post you to head a big church. In fact, your senior pastor may hate you like Jacob hated Leah and transfer you every three months yet, if you have the right goal, every desert you are sent to will become a ‘standing water’ before you leave. What was meant to punish you will turn to testimonies of successes. Get your focus right! Focus on things of eternal value! ACTION POINT: Father, help me to set my affections on Heavenly things. N.B Support eradication of illiteracy today, visit www.10millionexercisebooks.com for more

Unstoppable and Untouchable- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 138-142
UNSTOPPABLE AND UNTOUCHABLE Monday, November 15, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20) READ: Acts 12:20-23 When the disciples prayed in one accord in the upper room, Peter’s life changed dramatically and all pending promises of God were fulfilled in one day. Two things were immediately noticed in the life of Peter. First, he became unstoppable. When he was thrown into the prison, an angel of the Lord came to his rescue and brought him out. The next time they laid hands on him, they made sure he was properly chained. That was not enough, he was sandwiched in-between two hefty soldiers. It was as if hell was saying, Dare another escape! Yet, an angel came and set him free. He became one of the few, prison walls could no more retain. As I studied my Bible I observed that from that day, anyone who tried to interfere with Peter’s destiny either had a dirge to sing or did not live to tell the story. The first to be dealt with were members of Peter’s church - Ananias and Sapphira. A church of 120 had suddenly grown into one of 3120 due to God’s power and prosperity on Pastor Peter. The following Sunday, the crowd rose to 8,120. And the couple decided to do something about it. They planned to introduced the devil’s wiles into the church but died instantly. In Acts 12 when he was arrested the second time, those who were paid to keep him in prison lost their lives and the king died a most tragic and shameful death. When there is unity and prayer is done in one accord, you would become unstoppable and untouchable. Anyone who toys with you will be playing with fire. A brother had things going well for him at his work place when he was suddenly handed a sack letter without a cause. He came to the Holy Ghost Service while we were still using the former auditorium and the word of knowledge came saying, ‘There is someone here: someone close to you is interfering with your progress. By next week that fellow would be gone and your journey will continue’. Unknown to the brother, his father was afraid that at the rate he was getting on, he would end up becoming greater than him, so he decided to tamper with his destiny. The following week he died and his son who was sacked was recalled and promoted. Is there love, unity and accord where you fellowship? If it is lacking, pray for it. Are you unstoppable? ACTION POINT: Ask God to cause love, unity and peace to reign in your local assembly. Ask that everything contrary would be uprooted. Support www.10millionexercisebooks.com project towards eradication of illiteracy today. God bless you.

When God asks for you- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 133 -137
WHEN GOD ASKS FOR YOU Sunday, November 14, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee” (Mark 10:49) READ: 1 Samuel 16:11-13 When the time of your favor comes, God will order the steps of your helpers to locate you wherever you are and cause them to listen to you. Similarly, when the time of God’s favor has come, you will have an opportunity to sow.  God deals with men according to His divine principles. He does not need anything from you so whenever He asks you to give, it is to enable Him give you something more precious and bigger. For instance, the widow of Zarephath recorded in 1 Kings 17:8-16. When the Lord sent Elijah to her, He said she was the one He had commanded to sustain him. How could a widow with just a meal, who could not sustain herself and her son, sustain Elijah? Where could this widow acquire food supplies for three people for about three and a half years? This simply shows that God picked on her out of several widows during a period of famine for divine favor, so that as she parts with her last, she can tap into God’s first. If God gives you an opportunity to sow when same opportunity could have been given to someone else, do realize it is a mark of God’s favor on you.  If you can be wise enough to put God ahead of your need, He will make your matter of priority to Him. Never misuse any opportunity to sow into God’s house, and servants this year. In addition, another indicator that your time of favor has come is that God will ask specifically for you. You will be on God’s top request list.  Those who were favored of God in Bible times were personally sought for by God. When it was time to visit Sarah, God asked of her from her husband. When David’s time of favor had come, even when he was not considered at all by his father, God asked personally for him among the sons of Jesse. The good news about this is that when God asks for you, nobody can cover you anymore under their veils or covers. You can be hid no more. God will ask for you this season. He will call you by your name. Wherever the enemy had kept you, you will surface in Jesus’ Name.  While asking for David, because time had been wasted in fielding the wrong candidates, God was urgent. The prophet refused to sit until David was brought. In the Name of Jesus, the Lord will be urgent upon your case.  He will put everything on hold until you enter your desired open door. ACTION POINT: Father, in Your mercy, release upon me Your uncommon favor. Support the illiterates, let's together eradicate it, visit www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today

AATTRIBUTES OF LOVE- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 127-132
ATTRIBUTES OF LOVE Saturday, November 13, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ” (1 Cor. 13:4) READ: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 Before embarking on a long journey, the wise traveler would make adequate preparations. As part of your preparations before embarking on a journey into marriage you must have love. Marriage without love at best is nothing but a joke. According to 2 Corinthians 5:14, divine love constrains us. It helps you to be faithful to your marriage vows. It is very strong. It is practically impossible to separate a couple with love for each other.  This is why Satan or the hazards of the Christian race such as persecution, tribulation, hunger, distress cannot separate us from Christ’s love (Romans 8:35-39). Has love run out in your home? The Lord will restore the wine of love in Jesus’ Name. “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Love could be practiced in truth by allowing it to unfold all its attributes or be limited to just lip service. According to 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, love has certain attributes by which it may be identified. If the love you profess does not tally with these, then it is not divine love. Love is long suffering.  If you are so short tempered and hasty, you are deficient in love.  Love is kind not wicked. It does not envy.  It is impossible to envy the one you love. Envying someone actually means that you hate that fellow.  Do you know that some husbands envy their wives and live with them as with competitors? This is evil! It is not in the character of divine love to be proud or boastful. If you feel too big compared with your spouse, it is as a result of absence of divine love. True love condescends to the humble level  of the one being loved. Love does not behave strangely and is unselfish. If you love your husband, you will not be thinking of how to get him to take care of all the needs of the home when he cannot cope, while you spend your income on yourself. Where there is love, your attention would be on satisfying your family with all your resources irrespective of being the husband or wife. The one in love continues to give. If you are always on the receiving end of love, then you have stopped loving. It is difficult for you to be angry with the one you love. If you easily get angry with your spouse, you do not love the fellow.  If you love, you will not sin against your spouse. The one in love is incapable of hurting his or her spouse. Do these attributes of love manifest in your ‘love’? ACTION POINT: Is your love the same as the love described in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8? If not begin to work towards it.  Show love towards the illiterates, eradicate illiteracy today, support www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today