The Bright and Morning Star- Open Heavens Daily Devotionals by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rev 19 - 22
THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR Friday, December 31, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Dan 12:3) READ: Daniel 1:17-21 Apart from the Root of David, Revelation 22:16 also calls Jesus the Bright and Morning Star. This is one of the titles that links our Lord with light. He is not just a star but an outstanding one at that. Jesus is the original Star. Unlike regular stars that He created, He shines both day and night. As the Bright Star, He outshines any star or luminous object ever made. If you have a revelation of Him as the Bright Star, you will outshine your peers in every facet of life. You will be excellent. As a student, when others are getting 70% to 80% as Grade A, yours will be 98% - 100%. There will be a wide margin between you and the next person. That will be your portion from now on in Jesus’ Name. Daniel and his three friends had a revelation of Jesus as the Bright Star. In a context that they were selected to take part in, apart from being denied what their fellow contestants had access to, their performance was still very outstanding. They were incomparable! They were ten times better than their peers. They shone as stars because of the knowledge they had of the Bright Star. One benefit of knowing the Bright and Morning Star is that He makes you a star like Himself. Daniel 12:3 says, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever”. If you make Him happy by receiving Him into your heart and winning lots of souls to Him, He can make you an eternal star - that means, besides shinning on earth, you will shine in eternity. Moreover, it is common to see stars shining at night but not during the day. But Jesus as the Morning Star shines both during the day and night. This means, if you know Him, you will shine both in the morning and night of your earthly existence. When common people like Peter, James and John encountered Him, He turned them into eternal stars. Thousands of years later, they are still the talk of Heaven and earth! As the Morning Star, He can introduce morning at the evening of your life. He did it for Moses by calling him into ministry at the age of 80 when he should be retiring. As the Star, He will cause the arrangement of the stars to favor yourdestiny. He can also multiply your blessings as the stars of Heaven and eradicate barrenness from your life like He did to Abraham. ACTION POINT: Thank God for making you to see the beginning and the ending of 2010. Thank Him for everything He did for you and your family throughout the year.

DISQUALIFIED BY SIN- Open Heavens Daily Devotionals by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rev 16-18
DISQUALIFIED BY SIN Thursday, December 30, 2010
MEMORIZE: “But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs” (Matthew 15:26) READ: Luke 5:4-9 “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). Handing over two ship loads of fishes to a man who could not catch a single fish was an overwhelming experience. Peter was so stunned that he did not know when he made the above confession. Miraculous encounters and signs and wonders are designed for believers in the Kingdom of God. If you desire big blessings, you must part ways with sin. Expecting a miracle while holding on to your sins will only fetch you magic. Satan gives people magic without asking for holiness. It is so because such a purported blessing is ephemeral, and its recipient will pay dearly for it. When Jesus encountered the woman from Canaan who wanted deliverance for her demon-tormented daughter in Matthew 15:21-28, He plainly told her dogs (sinners) did not qualify for Kingdom blessings. If you are still living in sin yet you are asking for His blessings, you are asking for the impossible. Sin introduces impossibility into possibilities. The presence of that secret sin in your life voids your request and qualifies you for magic. For refusing to repent and live right, many self -professing Christians are receiving magic, not miracles. No wonder their so-called blessing comes with sorrow! Besides, Peter confessed his worthlessness before God. If he held onto his expert knowledge of his fishing business, he would never have received the instruction that produced the breakthrough. According to 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, God is a specialist at bringing out useful things from useless ones. Do you feel useless or good for nothing? Or, have people drawn conclusions that nothing good can ever come out of you? Congratulations! You are the right candidate for God’s show of power! God will be challenged to do something in your life that will make skeptics eat their words. However, whatever God does in your life, never allow pride set in or think you have arrived. Or else, such a fellow could go back to the miry clay! The more you humble yourself, the higher your ascent. ACTION POINT: Whenever sin enters into an organized system, it leaves it in disarray.

GOD FOCUSED?- Open Heavens Daily Devotionals by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rev 13-15
GOD FOCUSSED? Wednesday, December 29, 2010
MEMORIZE: “O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God” (Psalm 68:35) READ: Isaiah 40:28-29 “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God” (Psalm 62:11). Anyone who knows God will know that He is the custodian of spiritual power. It is His property. You may have a fraction of the power because He chooses to release it to you. He does not share His glory but He is willing to share His power with the worthy. According to today’s reading, God is ready to release power to the faint. Not everyone who comes into God’s presence leaves empowered. To provoke the release of spiritual strength while waiting on the Lord, you must be able to demonstrate your need. When some people come before God, you would wonder who is in need - whether they or God. The one whose battery must be recharged is one who goes before God as weak, limited, empty and helpless. If you justify yourself and talk of how strong you are, you can be sure that rather than add to you, God may take from you. If you know God, you will remain humble before Him inspite of the great things the Lord is doing through your life and ministry. The spiritually strong will do things that the weak cannot do. They will do exploits because they know the invisible and incomparable God. Some believers have not seen a single vision since they were saved, ordained or called to the altar because they are focusing on the wrong things. Gehazi only saw material things hence he pursued them to the detriment of the anointing. What is your focus? What you see is what you get. As long as you look to men, God cannot help you. What is taking your gaze from the Lord? God had to take a particular mighty man of God off the way for his followers not to idolize him. Your focus thief may be the undue attention you give yourself, job, business, career, academics, members of your family or leisure. Deal with everything standing in your way to knowing Him intimately. Making mundane things your focus robs you of what counts in time and eternity. It attracts unnecessary problems too. Many people are carrying the burdens God never gave them just because they focused on the wrong things. Make God your focus. Put Him as number One. Let Him be in your sleeping and waking thought. Let your eyes be fixed on Him, not on anything else and you will see His glory. ACTION POINT: Gehazi was surrounded by unlimited opportunities but all he could see was the ‘increase’ that permanently decreased him. With all that Heaven makes available to you, what can you see?

BRIDGE THAT GAP- Open Heavens Daily Devotionals by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rev 10-12
BRIDGE THAT GAP Tuesday, December 28, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye  should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21) READ: 1 Peter 2:21-23 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). One way to obtain knowledge about something or somebody is through personal observation. John the Beloved was part of the trio that accompanied Jesus to special ministry assignments. He was with Him at the mount of Transfiguration and he saw the Lord in glory. He observed Him carefully and diligently to the point that he became the closet disciple of the Lord. If you observe Jesus from scriptural accounts about Him, it will definitely show. If you pay attention to the life and times of Jesus, it will be easy to notice how He responded to temptations, trials, accusations, mob actions, pressing ministry demands, the poor and the rich, situations of lack and inadequacies, betrayal, friends and foes, His father, civic duties, etc. so that you can correctly imitate Him by following His steps. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leavingus an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Why is it that the lives of many believers, church leaders and workers still contradict the life style of Jesus which the above scripture says has been left for us to follow? It is simply because they are looking, reading and studying without observing. There is no way you will approach the Word of God as a researcher ready to observe phenomena, unravel and discover trends and events without coming out with something valuable. Another way of acquiring knowledge is by association. An example of this is through marriage. Genesis 4:1 says Adam knew his wife Eve. This was an intimate relationship that has been designed by God only within wedlock. Marriage provides a basis for intimate knowledge. John 15:15 also talks of intimate communication existing between Jesus and His disciples. The extent to which Jesus can share mysteries with you depends on the level of intimacy you share. Many Christians envy those who have privileged divine information whereas they are not prepared to work on their relationship with the Master. The Lord has already taken the step. It is for you to reciprocate by drawing near to Him and He will yet draw closer to you. Every gap between you and the Lord keeps vital information from you. Bridge the gap today! ACTION POINT: If your cry is ‘That I may know Him,’ like Apostle Paul, then you must be prepared to pay attention to minute details as you study the life of Jesus.

TELL JESUS- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rev 7-9
TELL JESUS Monday, December 27, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7) READ: 1 Peter 5:6-7 In one of our meetings some years ago, a lady with small breasts told the Lord she desired to have larger ones. The Lord heard and asked me to tell her He had heard her and was increasing the size of her breasts. And that as soon as she was satisfied with the size, she should shout ‘Halleluyah!’. Later, she came to testify of that wonderful supernatural experience. A particular minister of God was not happy with his incomplete set of teeth. He was probably embarrassed each time he had to interpret for the preacher. He was over 40 years then. When he had carried that burden for too long, the Lord intervened. He woke up to find fresh teeth growing at over 40! From these you would realize that God cares for your physical body. He cares for you, hence 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”. You can make Him your dump site. He is ready to take on all the challenges you put on Him. He continues to care for you. Whatever the challenge you are having with your body, tell Him sincerely from your heart and He will do something about it. But if you refuse to carry Him along or you expect Him to do something when you have not invited Him, don’t be surprised if He does nothing about it. Whenever God intervenes in a situation, it is the supernatural at work. The average human being craves for the supernatural irrespective of whether they are born again or not, or whether that intervention is from God or Satan. The truth is that without the supernatural, the Gospel of Christ will die a natural death. It will be unable to achieve the divine purpose of God. For about three and a half years after being commissioned to fish for men, Peter could not catch any until the Holy Ghost fell and in one sermon, he raked in 3000 souls! Thereafter, after healing a lame man, the sermon that followed brought in another 5000 souls. Are you in ministry but yet to contact God’s supernatural power? It will be a long trip of struggle. Ask to come into that supernatural encounter with the Holy Spirit today and let your life, ministry and destiny change for the best. Remember always to tell Jesus of your needs including the supernatural. ACTION POINT: If you fail to obey Matthew 7:7, do not be offended when your rights are violated.

YOUR APPOINTED TIME- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rev 4 -6
YOUR APPOINTED TIME Sunday, December 26, 2010
MEMORIZE: “ Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be” (Deut. 33:25) READ: Habakkuk 2:2-4 One reality which many have not come to accept is the fact that good or bad events do not affect every believer at the same time. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. Each of us has his or her time. There is a time for difficulties and problems. There is a time our expectations appear delayed. But 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, light afflictions cannot be a permanent feature in our lives. They will also pass. Praise God! Are some brethren receiving major breakthroughs now? Rejoice with them. It is their season. Don’t envy them. Yours will come in your season. Your season is God’s appointed time for divine remembrance. Do you know that in your season, your greatness could be far bigger than those you are tempted to envy? David was in the mountain, watching over sheep. It never dawned on him that he could become the next king. After all, there was no king in his family. He never even desired or prayed for it. But one day, when they were looking for the next king, they came to fetch him from the mountains and anointed him. His day had come. Saul went looking for his father’s missing asses one day - unknown to him, he was to be chosen as king on the same day (1 Sam. 9:1-2). Joseph was in prison for an offence he never committed. He was forgotten by Pharaoh’s servant, to whom he had ministered through his ability to interpret dreams. That servant was released. When his day came, without the assistance of anyone, God used the elements of time and chance to move him from prison to the throne. Your day will come. Your time to eat bread without scarceness will come. Your day of promotion will come. Soon you will carry your baby from your own womb. That day can meet you in church, just as it happened to Zacharias (Luke 1:5-20). If he had become discouraged that he was getting old and wondered about the delay, inspite of his faithful service to God, he would have left God’s service and missed his day. Do not allow anything to discourage you. The blessing may be delayed, yet wait for it, for when the day comes, nobody and nothing can stop that blessing. Stay in God’s will. Continue to serve God faithfully. Keep away from sin. Keep your faith alive. Your day will come sooner than you think. ACTION POINT: Thankfully receive the joy coming your way this season. And pray that your joy will not turn into sorrow. Have you supported the RCCG EDUCATION PROJECT? Join us today

UNSPEAKABLE JOY- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Rev 1-3
UNSPEAKABLE JOY Saturday, December 25, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1 Peter 1:8) READ: Luke 2:7-14 The shepherd who keeps watch when others are asleep is following the footsteps of Jesus Christ. In today’s reading, certain things took place worth mentioning. First, while the shepherds watched, they received angelic visitation. Hebrews 1:13-14 says angels are ministering spirits sent to minister to those in need of salvation. Angels are very powerful beings. They can stop the mouths of lions as in Daniel’s case. They can open prison doors as in Peter’s case (Acts 12:5-11). They can also give strength as it happened to Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:41-44). When Heaven visits the earth, angels are released to strengthen, encourage and open doors, etc. This season, Heaven will visit earth and you will benefit from angelic visitations. The second thing that happened was that the glory of God shone around the visited. God’s glory will shine on you and your family today. Jesus is the light of men who dispels every darkness (John 1:4 -5). 1 Timothy 6:16 says God dwells in unapproachable light. But that night, when Heaven visited earth, the unapproachable became approachable. As Heaven visits the earth this season, every hindrance to your breakthrough will be removed and you will possess your possessions. A third thing that happened here was that the angel began to speak to them and say, ‘Fear Not’. You have been battling with the decision to follow Christ but have been afraid of ability to sustain that decision without looking back. The Lord is saying to you, ‘Fear Not. I will sustain you. I will carry you in my strength. Go ahead and take that decision now’. When Heaven meets earth, good news that births inexplicable joy results. For a user of this Devotional, God is about to turn your sorrow around. Within the next one week, good news that will birth unspeakable joy will reach you. When this is done, testify to God’s glory in the congregation of God’s people. 1 Peter 1:8 says unspeakable joy is possible. Two secondary school students gave their lives to Christ many years ago. They became so full of joy that their mother became worried. Several years after I started going to organize regular Bible study at the University of Ibadan, a professor got born again. After three months, he called to ask me if there was no danger in remaining joyful. Heaven will visit the earth today and your sorrow will turn into joy. Your joy shall be over flowing in Jesus’ Name. Go ahead and praise Him and ask for Heaven’s visit to you.  ACTION POINT: A good gift you can give to the Lord this season is the gift of a soul. Lead a soul to Christ today as you remember His birth.

SURPLUS IS POSSIBLE- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

wwwBIBLE IN A YEAR: Jer 49-52
SURPLUS IS POSSIBLE Friday, December 24, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8) READ: 2 Kings 7-8-11 “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). You can be a beneficiary of a joy that lasts both now and in eternity. It is called unspeakable joy. That is your portion from now. It is when blessings are insufficient that you refuse to share it. If you have only one loaf of bread for the whole day, and as you are about to eat half of it, your friend comes knocking at the door. What will you do? Before most people will open the door, they will first tuck the bread under the bed or somewhere their visitor will not find it. But if your freezer and store are loaded with all good things, when somebody knocks, you will open without hesitation. The type of blessing that will overflow to those around you and in your town or village will locate you this year in Jesus’ Name. When the lepers entered their breakthrough in provisions, there was nothing they could do but allow the spill over effect to benefit the entire nation. In Luke 2:7-14, after a joyful news was released, suddenly, the shepherds saw a multitude of angelic host praising God. The King of glory does not walk alone. When the president of a nation is travelling, he goes with an entourage. He never travels all by himself. When Heaven meets the earth, the heavenly host that will scare your problems and enemies to death will be released. The angels were busy praising God. Psalm 22:3 says God inhabits the praise of His people. If you are not in His Kingdom, no matter how angelic your voice sounds, God cannot inhabit your praise. If you are born again and living for Him, no matter how hoarse or croaky your voice is, He does not hear the noise, He receives your praise and inhabits it. How much have you been singing His praise lately? Isaiah 9:6 says God is the Prince of Peace. Peace could mean any of these: It could be the absence of war. Proverbs 16:7 says pleasing God forces your enemies to settle with you. Peace can also be the absence of a storm. You can fight human enemies but a storm is difficult to fight. As advanced as America is in technology, they cannot easily calm a storm. But there is someone who will say ‘Peace’ and the storm and wind will obey. Today, Jesus is speaking peace to every storm in your life. Peace could also be the absence of danger. Isaiah 26:3 says if only you can fix your heart on Christ, nothing can threaten you. How safe are you? ACTION POINT: Thank God for His overflowing blessing on you. Ask for grace to enjoy it without the enemy’s harassment and to share with those He wants you to. N.B Have you supported the RCCG EDUCATION PROJECT? Join us today.