SUDDEN EXIT - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 33-36
SUDDEN EXIT Saturday, July 24, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35) READ: Matthew 24:36-42 One message that the living should always have at the back of their heart is to ever be ready. One morning, our beloved Arch bishop Benson Idahosa woke up healthy. He made a call to his wife who was abroad. After their chat, he successfully conducted a powerful service and retired for lunch. Thereafter, he was talking with some of his guests when he slumped. Before they could reach him, he was gone. Our elders say that the death that killed your peer is sending a proverb to you. When someone who is physically fit, strong and energetic suddenly slumps, if you are wise, you will take it to heart and examine your own life and how prepared you are to face eternity. It is only God who can tell which of us will survive today. It is true from scripture that God may want to inform you of your home coming before hand. It is only God who can tell which of us will survive. Yes, He could even give a hint a few minutes to your departure. Whenever your time is up, may you be ready! Some years ago, God revealed how a professor in the University of Ibadan died. He and another professor were at a particular South African airport heading for different directions. While they chatted, the airbus that would convey the professor to Nigeria arrived, so they bade each other bye and he joined the queue. While waiting to board the plane, the Lord told him that if he took that flight, he would miss Heaven, but if he did not, he would go to Heaven. If given such options, which would you choose? The professor accepted going with the Lord and he immediately slumped and his spirit went to the land of eternal bliss. Such sudden departure can be the greatest news to the ever-ready believer but the saddest news to the careless, carefree believer. Matthew 24:42 warns us to watch and be on guard. It is not enough to pray. You must watch also. 1 Corinthians 15:52 says the rapture would come unannounced. It will be most sudden. If you are expecting to go with the rapture, you must always be ready. All pending restitutions must be made. Those you are grudging must be forgiven and released. Your life must be void of besetting sins. No sinful weight must tie you down. Any defect in character that the mirror of life shows you must not be swept under the carpet. It must be dealt with immediately. How prepared are you for death or the rapture? ACTION POINT: Days of grace and preparation periods have their expiry dates. Nobody knows whose period is about to expire. Be prepared!

Faultlessness is by Faith - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 30-32
FAULTLESSNESS IS BY FAITH Friday, July 23, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24) READ: Daniel 6:1-5 God’s call comes to millions and billions of people but only a few respond and so only such people are chosen. There are several expectations from the chosen. According to Ephesians 1:4-7, the chosen must be holy and blameless. The Bible has a list of blameless people - those who operated beyond the level of faults here on earth. Daniel could not be faulted even by his enemies (Dan. 6:1-5). This was a feat of faith! If you want to know the weaknesses of someone, pay a visit to his opponent. If you want to know the shortcomings of a political party, approach the opposing party and they will reel out all you need to know. One major assignment an opposing individual or party is naturally saddled with, is to discover your weaknesses in order to discredit you. Your enemies should have your errors and weaknesses at their finger tips. So if your enemy says you are faultless, then you are. The virtue of being faultless is a product of faith. Matthew 5:48 says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”. Your faith is a very powerful thing. 1 John 5:4 says faith is a formidable weapon in the hands of believers: it conquers. Any area faith is appropriately applied to becomes victorious. Every born again Christian applied faith for forgiveness of sins before becoming saved. Some apply the same faith over sickness and healing was delivered. Some others applied faith to overcome poverty and wealth was delivered. Some academically challenged students applied faith for improved academic performances and they began to top their classes. Faith is a strong weapon in the hands of those who know how to use it. In the same way, Daniel exercised his faith towards becoming perfect and his enemies gave a verdict of ‘faultless’ concerning him. If your secular or ministerial work is still replete with errors and mistakes, you are in unbelief. It is because you have not channeled your faith towards that direction. But if you take up the challenge today and apply your faith towards being faultless, combining prayer, fasting, with zero tolerance for shoddy jobs, procrastination and anything below excellence, your name will be listed in Heaven as one of those who were faultless. ACTION POINT: The same faith that delivered salvation to you can make you be above board in everything.

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

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 26-29
PECULIAR? Thursday, July 22, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a  peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5) READ: 1 Samuel 8:19-22 “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us” (1 Sam. 8:19). Self-government is a most destructive path. It robbed our first parents - Adam and Eve of everything they had yet, more human beings across the globe continue as its victims. When the Israelites were told the consequences of having a king instead of God, they insisted on having their way.  How they paid dearly for it! When God shows some people the consequences of insisting on their personal choice say in marriage, they remain adamant. Are you still in charge of your life?  Whenever you tow the path of self-government, you show that you have rejected God (1 Sam. 8:7). The Israelites wanted to be like other nations. That was a big mistake. They had forgotten that they were special to God.  Are you comparing yourself with others? Are you doing what you are doing just because others are doing so? Romans 12:2 says you must not conform to this world or its ungodly system. You are different. You may not have money, cars or houses, yet, you are special to God if you have been born again. I am glad I am a peculiar treasure to God. Exodus 19:5 says, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine”. There are things that come upon common people. Exodus 15:26 says because you are special to God, you will not be affected by the afflictions that commonly come on people. If you are peculiar to God, sicknesses, diseases or demons cannot come on you. Their paths will not cross yours. Are you peculiar? Peculiar people do not eat what others eat. Their drink is different.  They fast when others feast, and stay awake while others are asleep. They are smiling while others are weeping and in prosperity when others are in famine. Total submission to God’s will is a mark of being peculiar.  How submissive are you to His divine Majesty? Or are you still comparing yourself with others or using those in the world as your yardstick? Repent and make right your ways today. ACTION POINT: You are not like anyone else: you are of a special mould.  Only God can give you your true picture so go to Him for it.

PROPHET, PRIEST AND PRINCE - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 23-25
PROPHET, PRIEST AND PRINCE Wednesday, July 21, 2010
MEMORIZE: “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building” (Heb. 9:11) READ: Hebrew 9:8-12 “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle” (Rev. 1:13). After John the Beloved was banished to the island of Patmos, he heard a voice one day and he turned and beheld Jesus. The way the Lord dressed was given accurate mention because of its importance to God. In Daniel 10:5 after fasting for 21 days, God sent a messenger dressed in a similar way to Daniel. This therefore tells us that the peculiar clothing the Lord wore on this day was the dress of a messenger, and God’s prophet.  According to Exodus 28:4, this same dress was worn by priests. And princes too (1 Samuel 18:4). The way the Lord dressed therefore says three salient things about Him: That He is a Prophet, Priest and Prince. “But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4). Here, while being rejected by His folks, the Lord testified that He was God’s Prophet.  In Matthew 21:1-11, as the Lord made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem with lots of fanfare, He was publicly acknowledged as Jesus the Prophet from Nazareth. And He never denied it. But He was more than just a prophet. A true prophet starts by saying, “Thus says the Lord...” but when He speaks, He says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you”.  He is the Prophet. He is the One you should hear hence, God openly commanded the world to hear Him (Matt. 17:5). Are your ears tuned to hear Him? Similarly, He is not just a priest but our High Priest (Heb. 9:11).  A priest is one who has access to God and therefore goes into God’s presence for himself and for others.  John 14:16 says He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the only access to God the Father.  Lastly, He is a Prince. He is the Prince of Peace, Lord of lords and King of kings (Rev. 19:16).  If you are His follower or disciple, you must be a prophet, priest and king. What He is will be reproduced in your life. To what extent do these offices manifest in your life? As a believer, how are you utilizing your access into God’s presence for the benefit of others? Are you hearing His voice? ACTION POINT: If you fail to hear the One who must be heard, how can you be heard?

ALL WE LIKE SHEEP - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 20-22
LIKE SHEEP Tuesday, July 20, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Ps. 100:3) READ: Psalm 100:1-3 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). An example of a good shepherd is David. A shepherd is someone who caters for the sheep.  He identifies and satisfies the needs of the sheep. By virtue of their make-up, every sheep has these basic needs: To sustain its life, it needs food, good food.  It needs guidance. The average sheep looks foolish and so would require the shepherd to lead the way by being in front. That means sheep follow more by example - looking on to the shepherd to guide on how to do things. It also needs lots of water. Occasionally when it strays, it may not be able to retrace its way.  If the shepherd fails to go after it, that could be the end of that sheep; it will be lost. The sheep is defenseless. It was not created with abilities of self defense hence, it easily panics when confronted with a fight unlike a dog, goat or ram. Hence, the shepherd must always be present especially when they are threatened or facing danger. Being unwise, the sheep is susceptible to error hence, it needs to be corrected even by beating sometimes. But being a weak and docile animal, a sheep cannot withstand being beaten too often as it could die. “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3). Man is the crown of all of God’s creation.  As strong as we are, God did not compare us with the king of animals - the lion, but with the weakest of animals - the sheep. He, being our creator, knows what He put inside of us. And He says we are the sheep of His pasture. As a leader, you need to adopt shepherding principles in leading God’s flock in your care. Never leave them to themselves. Do not say, ‘They are of age: they can sort themselves out’: They cannot! When they do wrong, correct in love but do not kill them. Do not use a sledge hammer on an ant. Feed them regularly with good food. Lead your children by example. It is so easy to learn from a leader’s example.  What example are you showing to your congregation, subordinates or children? Are you leadable? ACTION POINT: To be a sheep, you must submit to the authority of a shepherd. To whom are you yielded?

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

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 17-19
ROOTED? Monday, July 19, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Psalm 92:13) READ: Psalm 92:13-14 After a net-breaking harvest of fishes, Peter fell at the feet of Jesus and asked Him to leave him alone because he was a sinner.  This means that although God’s mercy may bring down certain blessings to just anyone, special blessings are reserved for the righteous. In Matthew 15:21-28, when the Syrophenician woman asked healing for her demon-tormented daughter, the Lord told her: ‘It is not right to give the children’s bread to dogs’. In other words, He was establishing this fact that certain blessings are reserved for those in the Kingdom of God. This goes to show that if you want to flourish, you must be holy.  Sin and prosperity do not go together. Sin erodes your foundation for prosperity, leaving you empty.  Hence, Psalm 92:12 says only the righteous will have the capacity to flourish like the palm tree. Unbelievers can prosper like anything else but the palm tree. A man who was well known to me once approached  me to ask God to prosper him like never before. So I asked him, “What for? Is it so that you can go and marry your fifth wife?” God will not waste His resources on those who are not prepared to live a simple life. Proverbs 13:22 says greed will not let the greedy to flourish. It is no secret: the wealth of sinners are reserved for the righteous (Prov. 13:22). All the sinners you see acquiring this and that, pursuing wealth at the expense of knowing God are only laboring for you. Sooner or later, what they have acquired will be transferred to you. Are you seeking God first as He commanded in Matthew 6:32-33? In addition, to flourish, requires total commitment to God. After taking his harvest to the seashore, Peter abandoned all to follow Jesus. That is unparalleled commitment! Those who will flourish cannot afford to serve God for a moment but thereafter abandon Him. They must be wholly and eternally committed to serve Him. Our reading talks of those who are planted or rooted in God’s house: they are the ones who will flourish. God is not interested in visitors - those who come to His house only when in need and after the need is met, they disappear.  He is interested in those who are rooted in His house. It is not easy to uproot a tree because it is deeply rooted. Are you rooted in His house? ACTION POINT: Father, help me to be deeply rooted in Your Word.  Also restore all those Satan had uprooted from the faith.

Keep sowing, soon your turn - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chron 14-16
SOON YOUR TURN Sunday, July 18, 2010
MEMORIZE: “While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Gen. 8:22) READ: 2 Kings 4:8-17 “While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Gen. 8:22). Every human being is a type of seed (Gen. 4:25). And according to Genesis 1:11, every seed will produce after its kind. Some people will agree with this but conclude that they probably married the wrong fellow.  If you have already married, then there is no coming out. Marriage is not meant for you to rush in and out. If you are already married, you are stuck! Divorce is not the answer: it only provides you temporary relief and packages the fellow for hell. Many people are in hell today because their marriage failed. This is why the unmarried must prayerfully look before leaping. Are you already going through a mini-hell in your home? Turn that marriage into a special project. Give it all it takes. Keep sowing love, prayers, everything. Study God’s Word and apply  its principles on marriage. Buy and read marriage books. Seek advice from mature Christian couples, especially your pastor or marriage counselors with a good testimony.  You must make that marriage work.  The Lord will help you. He will arise on your behalf this season. “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall” (Mal. 4:2). When you sow, God arises on your behalf.  When we were still in the old auditorium, I discovered one day that I could not hear.  When people were talking to me, I kept saying, “Speak louder”. One of my daughters - a medical doctor, examined my ears and said I had growth in them and needed an urgent operation even though she knew I would not go to a hospital. I asked her to return in seven days while I cried to God: “How can I do your work when I am deaf? I don’t want them repaired through an operation, but replaced with spare parts from Heaven’. Seven days later, when the doctor returned and examined them, there was no more growth. When I shared the testimony, a young man with low sperm count heard it and equally cried to God for new sperm. That night, he sat in his living room and dreamt. In his dream, he saw me walk into his room, smile at him and walk away.  He woke up and believed God has answered. By the time he was sharing his testimony, he was with the product of that encounter - a baby.  Keep on sowing. Whosoever continues to sow will surely reap one day.  You are inches away from your harvest.  Keep on sowing. After sowing repeatedly, finally, it was the turn of the Shunammite woman.  Soon it will be your turn. ACTION POINT: If you sow right and sustain it, your harvest is guaranteed.