OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (SATURDAY 11 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Saturday April 11

WHEN THE FIRE FALLS I

Memorise:

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Hebrews 2:4

Read: 1 Kings 18:36-39

36  And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.   

37  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.   

38  Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.   

39  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

Message

Embarking on the Christian race with the energy of the flesh is a suicidal journey. You need the fire of the Holy Spirit to be quickened spiritually. When you are quickened, the glory of God will be seen in your life, and you will become a terror to every enemy of your divine destiny. When you are made to pass through the fire on the altar of God, the beauty of Heaven will be seen upon your life and a sweet aroma will distinguish you as the beloved of the Lord. We face so many challenges in life, encounter lots of situations and hold lots of responsibilities that require the manifestation of God's fire in many forms. If you want to move forward and experience remarkable progress in life and in ministry, you need to seek the fire of God.

Most of the things we tolerate today were not tolerated in the early Church. There were so many manifestations of God's fire that the fear of God was uppermost in the hearts of early Christians. A church that allows the Holy Spirit's fire to keep burning will remain healthy, vibrant and spiritually active. Elijah prayed and the fire fell from Heaven. If the fire had not fallen, the people would not have been moved to confess the supremacy of the Almighty. Our world is always seeking for signs and wonders. If there are no signs, the world would be slow to acknowledge the power of God. We need to go back to the Bible and recover our lost fire. Once the fire is recovered and retained, we will enter into a new realm, and the world will witness amazing signs and wonders that will make nations to declare public holidays whenever Christian programmes are held. 

The world actually is blind. It will take the physical manifestation of God's fire to jolt people out of their complacency and make them aware of what God has provided through the Holy Spirit. Religion without the demonstration of the power of the Holy Ghost is empty. We cannot go far in our daily walk with the Lord without the help of the Spirit's fire. We cannot bear witness to the power of God convincingly without portraying the divine fire for the world to see. When the fire is brought back into the Church, there will be revival. When the fire falls, healings will take place with ease, and deliverance will happen without people praying for unending hours. I therefore decree that from now on, the fire of God will descend globally upon the Church in Jesus' Name.

Prayer Point:

Father, release the fire of the Holy Spirit on your Church worldwide, that we may demonstrate the Lordship of Jesus to the world.

Bible in a year: Joshua 7:1-8:29 & Matthew 18:21-19:12... Read after the cut:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Friday April 10

RAPTURABLE?

Memorise:

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:52

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.    

14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  

15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.   

16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:   

17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Message

To make Heaven at last will take something extra from you. The ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 were expecting the return of the Kings of kings. As virgins, they were pure, sanctified, holy, chosen and expectant. It can be assumed that upon having all these qualifications, they would have automatic access to Heaven. Yet, somewhere along the line, they all slumbered and slept. This is frightening and calls for introspection. When the ten virgins were leaving their houses, they all had oil; otherwise their lamps would not have been burning. The five that made it did so because they had extra oil. It is important we all realise that if we are going to make it to Heaven, it is going to take connecting with the Holy Spirit and tapping into everything He has to offer. 

The Almighty God is absolutely interested in the purity of His children. In Exodus 30:1-3, God insisted that His altar must be overlaid with pure gold. The words of the Lord are pure (Psalm 12:6). His commandments also are pure (Psalm 19:8). Everything about God reflects purity. In 2 Samuel 22:27, David said this about God:

 "With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury."

If you are pure, God will arise for you in all your battles. Even if your beginning is small, because you have chosen to pursue purity, your ending shall be greatly increased. 

If you pastor a church that is very small and you are pure, you will greatly increase. However, I have seen people who started pure but did not remain pure. This is the greatest undoing of this present age. Those who give room for defilement cannot make it to Heaven unless they amend their ways before the appearance of the Bridegroom. When a girl desires more than what her parents can provide, she will end up defiling herself. When a minister of God wants to be what God does not yet say he should be, he will defile himself. When you insist on acquiring the status which God has not yet ordained for you, you will defile yourself. When a pastor's wife wants to compete with the "big women" in the church, she will bring defilement to the ministry that God has entrusted to her husband. Those who defile the temple of God shall diminish. It does not take long for anyone who has been defiled to begin to diminish. It is the same God who increases the pure that diminishes the defiled. Do not give the devil an inch (1 Peter 5:8). 

Be highly disciplined. Do not open the door to temptation. Keep your distance from danger zones. Somebody who the enemy desires to roast should not sit near the fire.

Prayer Point:

Father, cleanse me and equip me with all that it will take for me to make it to Heaven at las

Bible in a year: Joshua 4-6 & Matthew 18:1-20... Read after the cut:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (THURSDAY 9 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Thursday April 9

THE WISE & THE FOOLISH

Memorise:

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22

Read: Judges 16:15-21

15  And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.  

16  And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;   

17  That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.   

18  And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.    

19  And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.    

20  And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.  

21  But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Message

Imagine you are driving on an unfamiliar road, and you see a sign that reads "narrow bridge ahead". As soon as you see this sign, you have gained the knowledge that there is a narrow bridge in front of you. What you choose to do with this knowledge will determine whether you are wise or foolish. If you are wise, you will slow down immediately. If you ignore the sign and increase your speed, you are foolish. This illustrates the state of many lives. Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge. When you begin to apply knowledge correctly, you will reach your goal. 

Fools always end badly even if they start well. The wise builds, while the foolish pulls down (Proverbs 14:1). All the things that happened to the generation of Israelites that did not make it to the Promised Land were written for us as examples and for our admonition, so that we will know what to do and what not to do at every given time. We are to learn from these examples and be prepared.

There are many kinds of false prophets today, even among those who call themselves Pentecostals. Despite their shallowness and heretical teachings, their churches are prospering numerically and financially. If you are not careful, the tendency is there to think "Since they are prospering so much; God must be behind them!" Such a mindset can lead to weariness and ultimately spiritual slumber. A sleeping man is at the mercy of his enemies, as was the case with Saul (1 Samuel 26:7-8). A sleeping man can also lose things that are very precious. Samson lost his hair while he was asleep, and by the time he woke up, all his power had left him (Judges 16:19-20). Samson dozed off many times before he slept. 

He did not act against the appearance of evil. He did not act when Delilah kept pestering him. She asked him for his weak point and Samson was so careless not to realise that her request wasn't a joke. He kept on dozing until he finally slept off on her laps. There the enemy overcame him and plucked out his eyes. It is true that his hair grew again, but his eyes were never restored. The foolish person is careless, while the wise one is careful. The fool will want to sin and ask for forgiveness, but he who is wise will abstain from sin and everything that has the appearance of evil. You never know where your next test will come from. Once you lay your hand on the plough, you cannot afford to look back (Luke 9:62). Do not relax when you have not finished the race. Make up your mind to pray, study the word of God and fast more than others. Meditate day and night on the word of God. Be extra careful. With total surrender to God, He will carry you and make sure that against all odds, you reach your goal.

Prayer point:

Father, have mercy upon me and help me to act with wisdom at all times.

Bible in a year: Joshua 1-3 & Matthew 17... Read after the cut:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Wednesday April 8

BREAKING GENERATIONAL CURSES

Memorise:

And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Numbers 20:12

Read: 2 Kings 5:25-27

25  But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.  

26  And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?   

27  The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

Message

The sin of one man can sometimes lead to national disasters and tragedy (Joshua 7:1-5). One person's sin can also bring trouble to generations unborn. The story of how Gehazi became leprous in our Bible reading buttresses this fact. With the recent innovations in science, scientists believe that problems in the genes of a great grandfather can be seen in the genes of his offspring. The good news is that once you give your life to Christ, you automatically become a member of God's family. A curse is like a river that flows downstream. It begins from its source and is passed down to other people. I decree in the Name of Jesus and through the authority vested in me as the minister of the gospel, that every generational curse still operating in your life be broken now. 

The idolatry of Ahab and his family brought untold hardship and agony to a lot of people for three and half years (1 Kings 18:17-18). This is why you must learn to accept your faults anytime you are rebuked for your sins, because the eyes of the Lord are too holy to behold iniquity. A foolish person thinks that he or she is always right. One of the first things a mathematician learns is that it is possible for you to be wrong. I know that I can be wrong. When anything goes wrong, I quickly check myself. Because a fool thinks that he is always right, he hates correction and instruction. A refusal to readily accept and admit your faults might lead to untold anguish and agony at the end.

At a point in time, King David sinned against the Lord because he conducted a census without God's permission (1 Chronicles 21). God was unhappy with this, and when the punishment came, thousands of people died. What a national tragedy! This is why we must always pray for the people in power, because whatever decisions they take have far-reaching effects on the entire citizenry. The consequence of a generational curse is terrible. A curse normally begins to destroy from the root, and a lot of damage is done before it is noticeable. Barrenness in business can be as a result of a curse. Joblessness and lack of progress could be due to a curse. When someone is always almost succeeding but never succeeds, it is the sign of a curse. Some people repeatedly gather money to build a house or start a project, but as soon as they begin executing their plans, a problem comes up that takes all the gathered money away. This also is indicative of a curse. As a mouthpiece of the Most High God, I decree blessings to replace every curse in your life in Jesus' Name.

Key Point:

Obedience brings the blessings of the Lord.

Bible in a year: Malachi 1-4 & Matthew 16:13-28... Read after the cut:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (TUESDAY 7 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Tuesday April 7

SET-UP FOR IRREVERSIBLE BLESSING

Memorise:

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

John 2:5

Read: 1 Kings 17:10-16

10  So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.   

11  And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.   

12  And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.   

13  And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.   

14  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.  

15  And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.   

16  And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. 

Message

My life is living proof of the goodness of God. The testimonies of God's blessings in my life are uncountable. My journey to becoming what God has made me today has not been as easy as you may think. Each time I remember where I started from and how I started, I'm usually overwhelmed with gratitude, and it beats my imagination. I remember with nostalgic feelings how God dealt with me in the past and how He is still using me as an instrument in His hands. In 1985, when I started living at the Redemption Camp with my family, there were times that I would not have N1 in my pocket. Do you know that there were times my wife and I would not be able to go to Lagos because we had no N2 to pay toll fees? I would comfort my wife on such days by telling her that God might have restricted us from going to Lagos because an accident would occur on the road. However, the fact was that I could not afford to pay the toll fee of only N2 both ways. 

I thank God because that condition has gone forever. Poverty is no longer a threat to whatever I want to do in life because God has placed me and all my children, both biological and spiritual, on the pedestal of irreversible blessings. The womb of lack has been completely shut forever and my cup of blessings is running over day by day. I pray that as you get committed to the work of God entrusted to your care, you will never know lack again in Jesus' Name.

Do you know that God can choose to divert wealth to your side? If you have given your life to Christ, this is one of your benefits for being in the commonwealth of Israel by faith. Without any iota of doubt, believers can be blessed by the Lord greatly. God could decide to arrange the transfer of wealth that unbelievers have laid up for years to you without much problem. In fact, if you understand the glorious agenda of wealth transfer, unbelievers could even be struggling to bless you. Sometime ago, I told all my children at the auditorium of the Redemption Camp that I did not want anyone to give me cars anymore because I had more than enough, and cars were no longer an issue for me. Before I got home on that very day, four cars were already waiting for me and two of these cars were from Muslims. When God decides to set you up for irreversible blessings, poverty will become a total stranger to you. However, you must live a life that will glorify God. 

You must maintain a constant, unbroken fellowship with Him. Live a life that will be a blessing to the Lord if you don't want His prosperity to be withdrawn from you. Are you in the doldrums of debt and poverty? Believe God for a divine set-up. It will be an encounter that will position you for the blessings that will cause your cup to run over.

Prayer point:

Father, please give me an explosive miracle today that will make my cup run over.

Bible in a year: Zechariah 12-14 & Matthew 15:32-16:12... Read after the cut:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (MONDAY 6 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Monday April 6

WEAPONS OF THE MIGHTY

Memorise:

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Colossians 2:14

Read: John 3:1-5

1  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:    

2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.    

3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.   

4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?   

5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Message

God is a specialist in using people who the world has rejected. He picks up those who have been written off, polishes them and turns them into great warriors of His kingdom. This is to let you know that it is not over with you yet. As long as you know whose report to believe, those who have written you off have made their greatest mistake. The name of Rahab, the harlot whose prostitution business was located where all eyes could see, was included in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5-6).  Uriah's wife, an adulteress, was also mentioned. This is to let you know that God has a purpose for each and every one of us. His purpose can only come to pass when we accept the Lordship of Jesus. The moment Jesus comes into your life, He blots out the handwriting of the past. Your past becomes past and the former sinner becomes a saint.

David as a weapon of the Almighty God went and picked five smooth stones when he was to confront Goliath. Not five regular stones but smooth ones. Anyone who will become a weapon of the Almighty cannot afford to be ordinary. God will not use ordinary Christians but smooth ones. It is interesting to note that when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, the fire refused to burn them because they were special children (Daniel 3:16-25). They were smooth weapons of the Almighty God. Joseph refused the lures of the wife of Potiphar because he was a smooth stone. He said he could not compromise and sin against God (Genesis 39:9). This statement landed him in prison, yet God was waiting for him there. Colossians 3:5-6 says this:

 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

As a weapon of the Mighty, you should be able to control your body. Anyone who wants to operate under the anointing of the Most High God must not only love righteousness, but must hate iniquity. To deal with the Goliaths of this world, you need to become a smooth stone. If you discipline yourself enough to be a weapon of the Almighty, the enemy will always fail against you. Allow the Almighty to help you pass through fire. God is interested in you and wants to bless you. He wants to use you for His glory. If you permit Him, He will do it. He can use the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn away any dross from your life so that what remains is pure and smooth.

Prayer point:

Father, I submit myself for purification by the fire of your Spirit; use me for Your glory.

Bible in a year: Zechariah 9-11 & Matthew 15:1-31... Read after the cut:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Sunday April 5

DIVINE PROMOTION

Memorise:

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Psalm 75:6-7

Read: Psalm 105:16-22

16  Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.    

17  He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:   

18  Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:    

19  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.    

20  The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.   

21  He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:    

22  To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom. 

Message

Many people work hard and have nothing to show for it, while some others work very little and succeed. When God is on your side, you will succeed. In Genesis 39:1-5, the Bible tells us about the experience of Joseph in Potiphar's house: whatever he touched prospered because God was with him. If God is with you, no matter where you are operating or what you are doing, you will always succeed. Our God is good and gracious. He does many things to prove His divine power, and no one can question His decisions. This is why He is the Sovereign God. It doesn't matter how deep the valley you are in is, if God says He is going to do a new thing in your life, He can pick you up from that valley and set you on top. He can take you from absolute darkness to light (John 9:1-7).

Never write yourself off in life. There is a silver lining in the cloud of your destiny. The good things of life can still come to you no matter what your present situation is. Lean on the everlasting arms of God and you will never be disappointed. No matter the opposition of the enemies, the plan and purpose of God will come to pass. Nobody can abase the one whom God has decided to promote. God can make you grow daily in knowledge, understanding and in wisdom. Daniel's promotion took the form of a meteoric rise to stardom. He was able to make progress in a strange land and the Lord blessed the labour of his hands. Throughout Daniel's life, he moved from one level of promotion to the other. He was so relevant in the scheme of things that he served under several different governments, and under every dispensation, he was always a point of reference.

One key lesson that stands out clearly in the life of Daniel is seen in the decision he made unto the Lord (Daniel 1:8). His action shows us that men who have strong convictions, unalloyed loyalty and real dedication to the Almighty are able to achieve exploits. The will of God stands out clearly in the lives of those who desire exploits. Your heart must be fixed upon the Lord and on doing His will at all times, wherever you find yourself. Divine promotion will not come to those who want to use it for self-aggrandizement. You must be willing to use every promotion God brings your way for His glory. Once your motives align with God's purpose, you will always be blessed and promoted by Him. The righteous stand of Daniel moved God to promote him divinely. You can also become great if you stay close to the Almighty, who is the source of all true greatness.

Action Point:

Align your motives with God's will today, and you will experience divine promotion.

Bible in a year: Zechariah 5:5-8:23 & Matthew 14:13-36... Read after the cut:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (SATURDAY 4 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Saturday April 4

THE NEW ANOINTING DEMONSTRATED

Memorise:

And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

Isaiah 10:27

Read: Luke 5:1-11

1  And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,  

2  And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.  

3  And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.    

4  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.  

5  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 

6  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.   

7  And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.  

8  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.   

9  For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:    

10  And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11  And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.  

Message

Just one encounter with the Holy Spirit can change your life. When Jesus Christ stepped into the life of Peter, his life never remained the same again. On that particular day, several yokes were broken in Peter's life. The first one was the yoke of failure. A fisherman who catches no fish is a failure. You may have failed before now, but the moment the new anointing comes upon your life, you will become an all-round success. The second yoke broken in Peter's life was the yoke of poverty. The moment the Anointed One got into his boat, his boat began to sink with blessings. For a reader of this devotional, God will embarrass you with His blessings. God in His own wisdom picks the person He chooses to anoint (Hebrews 2:4). After Saul fell out of the divine plan and purpose, the grace of God picked David. It is my prayer that you will not be among the rejected in Jesus' Name. When the oil from God lands upon your head, every burden becomes lifted and the new anointing begins to destroy yokes you never knew existed around you.

Another yoke that was broken in the life of Peter was the yoke of frustration. He was a frustrated man. He threw his nets into the sea several times and he caught no fish. However, upon the appearance of Jesus Christ, he began to experience open doors that erased the setbacks of the past. The new anointing will put an end to your many years of labour and you will begin to operate in the favour of God (Psalm 102:13). Peter had been called by Jesus to be a fisher of men, but he did not fully enter into the divine destiny for his life until the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14&41). What Peter could not achieve prior to this time came to pass at the set time of the new anointing.

Take time to pray for the new anointing so that you will not live as a shadow of your true self. Everything you touch begins to prosper when God is the one who has anointed you. He will stand behind you and ensure you never lose a battle. Those who thought you will end up begging are in for a shocker because what is not enough now is going to be more than enough tomorrow. It does not matter what anybody thinks, just ensure you are at peace with God and you will see how God prospers a person right in the midst of detractors.

Prayer point:

Father, anoint me afresh with the new anointing. Let me not live as a shadow of my true self in Jesus' Name.

Bible in a year: Zechariah 1:1-5:4 & Matthew 13:45-14:12... Read after the cut:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (FRIDAY 3 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Friday April 3

BENEFITS OF THE NEW ANOINTING

Memorise:

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

1 John 2:27

Read: Exodus 40:9-15

9  And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. 

10  And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.  

11  And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.   

12  And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.    

13  And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.   

14  And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:   

15  And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

Message

The anointing should occupy a prominent place in the life of every child of God. When God grants you the anointing, several benefits are attached to it. He gives His anointing in order to add value, not just to your life, but also to the lives of everyone you come in contact with. The benefits of the new anointing are so many that they cannot be for those who are lazy. You must have worked, prayed and studied hard before you can receive such anointing. The new anointing is an uncommon anointing; it is not what you find on the surface; you must dig for it.

When Elisha was desperate for the new anointing, the other sons of the prophets were busy laughing him to scorn (2 Kings 2:3-5). They tried to discourage him from reaching his goal by deriding him, but he never got discouraged. He continued to serve and follow his master devotedly. Those who had earlier discouraged him were the first set of people to congratulate him later on (2 Kings 2:15). Hard work and persistence pays. When you are a hardworking person, you will get to a point where those who are lazy will have only one choice, which is bowing before you. Nobody may know of your secret prayers now, but the moment your prayers are answered, you will begin to tell the secrets of your success. If you really want to experience the new anointing, don't ever allow anybody to discourage you. Keep seeking God's face and serving Him diligently. God is always ready to baptize you with the fire required to make the world focus on you.

The presence of the new anointing guarantees that there will continue to be proof of answered prayers in your life. When the new anointing becomes visible, there will be a sudden demonstration of great happenings in your life. The new anointing in the life of a child of God shows that the enemy has been made to face shame and total extermination. In 1 Kings 18:37-40, there was an encounter between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The anointing was the sole instrument that God used in putting the enemies to shame in this encounter. The fire of God brought shame completely to the prophets of Baal. To a user of this devotional, I decree: by the new anointing that God will give to you, you will become an instrument of fiery judgment against the enemies of God, and all your enemies will bow in Jesus' Name.

Prayer Point:

Father, let all my enemies submit themselves and bow to You in the Name of Jesus.

Bible in a year: Haggai 1-2 & Matthew 13:24-44... Read after the cut:

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (THURSDAY 2 APRIL 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Thursday April 2

THE NEW ANOINTING

Memorise:

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Hebrews 1:9

Read: Psalm 23:5-6

5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  

6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

Message

The anointing launches a person into the realm of the miraculous (Acts 10:38). Maintaining the kind of anointing described in our memory verse requires the putting away of hindrances to its flow in our lives. Holiness is a prerequisite for the new anointing. When the new anointing came into the life of Peter, he began to experience tremendous changes. The anointing put an instant end to a monotonous routine of waking up, eating, going to fish, coming back home, eating and sleeping. With the presence of the new anointing, everything changed in his life. His life became full of excitement from the moment the new anointing directed him to launch out into the deep (Luke 5:2-8). God will add new excitement to your life today in Jesus' Name.

 "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

Psalm 23:5

With the new anointing, God becomes your Supplier, Provider and Defender. He keeps death, sorrow, failure, defeat and shame far away from you. Not only does He ensure it is well with you as a person, He also ensures it is well with everything that concerns you. The new anointing makes all to be well in your life because God is reigning in you. This is why I know that from the four corners of the world, God will begin to send help to you this year in Jesus' Name. The new anointing also ushers in the beginning of joy, success, progress and divine assistance. With it, you are enabled to achieve everything God wants you to achieve in life. The one who has been written off and marked as causing shame will suddenly begin to bring glory to his family. 

With the presence of the new anointing, God goes beyond the ordinary to give you a miracle (2 Kings 5:10-14). This anointing guarantees your protection from the evil of this world. God anointed David and promoted him at the same time; hence, David was able to rule in the midst of his enemies. This year, all your enemies will leave you alone, and right in their presence, you will reach your goal. Before their very eyes, you will eat and have abundance, because God will give you a crown that no one can take away. However, note that every sin in your life reduces your chance of overflowing in the new anointing. Therefore, avoid anything that will hinder you from experiencing the supernatural.

Prayer point:

Father, drench me with new anointing, and remove every hindrance to its flow in my life.

Bible in a year: Zephaniah 1-3 & Matthew 13:1-23... Read after the cut: