OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY- 28/07/2014 - READY TO WORK? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

READY TO WORK?

MEMORISE
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Philippians 3:13

READ
Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

MESSAGE
Climbing new heights in your assignment will require a new level of diligence. When you ask God to enlarge your coast, you are inviting “trouble” because the bigger the church or assignment, the harder you work. When we were a smaller church, I could sit down with some of my children and we would eat, drink, gist and enjoy ourselves. But now, I may see them once in three years and our exchange of pleasantries normally goes thus: “Long time, no see” and the reply would be: “Is that how it is now, Daddy?” Similarly, years ago, I used to attend Sunday service at our Ebute Metta (Lagos) headquarters. I recall once that I was there for 16 Sundays while taking a series, but now, if they see me once a month, they will rejoice. If you truly desire the next level in ministry, you must be prepared to work. You must put aside past achievements and be ready to take on more volume of work and welcome fresh assignments like Paul. This is why he said:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”
Philippians 3:13

It is ironic that what is pegging the promotion of some people is what they have already accomplished. If you meet them, they will tell you to go and check their track record. Ask them, ‘Is there any present testimony?’ The answer is ‘No, but in the past, I achieved this or that’. It is good to give yourself a pat on the back, but also tell yourself that you have not started. While most people were envious of Paul and some were wishing they could do a fraction of what he did, he was saying he had no record of past achievements, as his major concern was what he could achieve now. On the other hand, some people who want to move on to higher levels of God in ministry, lack the capacity to cope with the assignment. If you really want to go up, you will prepare yourself in many ways. You will acquire more education; attend more seminars, workshops and trainings to equip you more. You will find out better, cheaper and faster ways of doing what you do. Are you truly ready for something higher?

ACTION POINT
Identify areas where you could improve your capacity to take on greater responsibilities and work on it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Matthew 9:27-12:8;

Job 12:1-12

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SATURDAY - 26/07/2014 - BLESSING AND LOCATION BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

MEMORISE
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mark 11:23

READ
Numbers 23:19-21

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

MESSAGE
In the course of this month, God has been speaking to us on building a new altar. You may want to ask: does God have details of what this altar should look like? The answer is yes. He expects you to build a very special altar to Him which must have this attribute: it must be an altar of faith. Stop doubting God! Hebrews 11:6 says,

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Four different times in the Bible, God said: “The just shall live by faith”. You cannot call yourself a Christian if you find it difficult to believe God. Whatever He promises, He must surely bring it to pass. No matter how impossible God’s promise may sound, just trust Him. He never fails. It is better to approach God with child-like faith.

While praying one day, the Lord said to me, “Son, one day, presidents will come to this camp to worship” and I said “Amen”. As at this time, there was no likelihood of this happening. Then I told my people what God said and the need to build a place for the presidents to stay when they would visit. So we built a presidential lodge which was the largest building at the Redemption Camp at that time. Thereafter, we waited for the first three years but no president came. Then one day, my senior pastors met and said they didn’t understand what I was saying. They said to themselves, ‘This man wants to live in a big house but does not want to tell us. Now he has completed the building, he does not know how to move in’. So they came to me and said, “You are our president. Move into the house”, but I said, “No, that is not my house: presidents are coming”. Today, God has fulfilled His word before our very eyes. God is not a liar. Stop doubting Him. When you go through a trial of faith, you may express faith but it may not yield any immediate result. Do not let this topple your faith in God. Every good word the Lord has spoken to you has a day of fulfilment. That day shall not pass you by! Hold on to every promise of God for you and your family. Hold on to God’s promise for your church or ministry. He will fulfil them.

KEY POINT
Inability to take God at His Word gives Him displeasure.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Matthew 1:1-4:22

Job 10:6-17
     

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 22/07/2014 - TOTAL COMPLIANCE REQUIRED BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

MEMORISE
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Malachi 3:10

READ
Malachi 3:8-10

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now
herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

MESSAGE
 When we teach about tithes and first fruits, some people think that it is the pastor’s way of making money but they are making a great mistake. When you put God first, He will make sure that your blessings are irreversible. But if you decide to give Him second place in your life, you may not be happy to see what follows. Sometime ago, one young man came to me and said, “Daddy, God has answered your prayer”. I replied “Amen. What exactly happened?” He said one prominent chief called him and asked him to sell his house. The property had thirteen flats: twelve regular flats and a penthouse on top. The chief told him how much he wanted to be paid from the proceeds of the sale, saying he did not care about how much the man would sell the property for. By the time the brother calculated the profit he would make from the transaction, he screamed in excitement. “Daddy, from this deal alone, I am settled for life”. “Really, congratulations! Did you say thirteen flats?” “Yes”, he replied. “Good. That means you will give one of the flats to the church as tithe since the tithe of thirteen is 1.3”. “But, Daddy”, he protested, “This is only the first breakthrough. Let God wait until I get more”. A week later, he got a buyer who was ready to pay an amount far more than the amount the owner wanted to sell the property. So the brother went back to the chief and said: “Sir, I am ready to pay now for the property. Where do I pay the money to?” “What are you talking about?”, the man asked in surprise. “Sir, I mean the house you asked me to sell for you. I have gotten a buyer; Just tell me where you want me to pay the money into” he replied. Looking surprised, the chief said, “Whatever charm you used on me has been destroyed. Who told you I want to sell my house?” That was how he lost out completely.

When we talk about tithe, some people think ten percent is too much for God. If you are one of such people, wait until you compare ninety percent of something with hundred percent of nothing. Decisions that are taken daily sometimes await your obedience or otherwise to know on which side to fall – in your favour or out of favour. Comply fully with God’s requirements in order to see the better side of life.

KEY POINT
Tithing is an obligation for every believer in Christ. It is not optional.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Deuteronomy 29:1-31:13

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 20/07/2014 - THOSE GOD CALLS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

MEMORISE
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1 Corinthians 1:26

READ
1 Corinthians 1:26-29

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

MESSAGE
Who are those God calls? They are usually not the “special” type. 1 Corinthians 1:26 says:

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:”

Those who are noble, wise, intelligent, mighty and wealthy already believe they have achieved, and so if God calls them, they may think it is because of what they possess or have achieved. If God makes use of such people, the tendency for them to arrogate God’s glory is high. This is why God specifically looks out for the foolish, weak, poor and base elements of this world. God calls the foolish to confound the wise, the weak to confound the strong and those who are nothing to confound those with reputation (1 Corinthians 1:27). How? When God picks a foolish fellow, He works on him and gives him a bit of His wisdom. Thereafter, when God brings him side by side with those the world acclaims as wise, he would be better by miles. The wisdom of such a fellow will be way out of this world. God is looking for those whose lives He would make a statement with. Can He do so with you?

In addition, God calls those who are very plain; those who understand the brevity of life. According to Ecclesiastes 12:1-7, we started a countdown to return to the dust from which we were formed the very day we were born. This is why Genesis 3:19 says,

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
However, there are some people who are foolish, poor, and weak, yet they are unusable because they are proud and very self-willed. That is double trouble. But if God wants to use a professor or a great academician, He would have to first reduce the fellow to nothing. This was Paul’s experience. He had achieved so much in the world before He accepted Jesus Christ, and so he had to lose everything in order to be used by Him. Can God call you, or are you too big to be used by Him?

PRAYER POINT
Father, in my generation, make a positive glorious statement with my life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Deuteronomy 25:5-27:2

Hillary Hasn't Asked Me If She Should Run For President, Claims Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton has insisted that Hillary has never once asked him whether she should seek the presidency in 2016.
The former president also said it was untrue that his wife felt "entitled" to the White House. Hillary is considered to be the front runner for the Democratic nomination, but she has yet to formally declare an intention to run.
However the former secretary of state jokingly dropped a hint on Tuesday when she told Jon Stewart on the Daily Show that she would like an office with "fewer corners".
Speaking to BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis on Thursday evening, Bill Clinton said he has told his wife "repeatedly" it was up to her to make the decision whether to run or not."If she wants my opinion, I'll give it to her," he said.
A disbelieving Maitlis cut in: "She hasn't asked? I don't believe that she hasn't asked you for you opinion as to wether she should run."
Clinton replied: "Absolutely not." He added: "It's her time. She gets to decide. And if I can help, I will. She can tell me what she wants me to do."
The former president said he had struck a deal with his wife when she was elected as a Senator for New York in 2001. "We were married a very long time, when she was always in effect deferring to my political career, even when she was involved in policy making.
"I told her when she got elected to the Senate from New York, she had given me 26 years, and so I intend to give her 26 years. Whatever she wanted to do was fine with me ... if she wanted to know my opinion I would tell her."
Clinton observed that for the last 14 years his wife has had more "hands on" political experience than he has. "We just passed the half way mark. I've got to live another 12 years or so, so I guess I'll have to live to be 80 to be free at last," he joked.
Clinton also insisted accusations that Hillary, how narrowly lost out to Obama in 2008, felt she was owed the presidency were false. "All these suggestions she feels entitled to it and all that, that's not true," he said. "We have been in too many races in almost 40 years now to believe in any such thing as a sure deal."

The Many Faces of Prince George

By Siobhan Adcock

Happy birthday, sweet prince! Since the day he was born, the world has been addicted to watching Prince George of Cambridge grow up, and it's easy to see why. He may be one of the most famous royal babies to have appeared on Planet Earth, but he's also just an adorable, funny, super-kissable little guy. (Those cheeks! Those irresistibly chubby arms!) And to the delight of royal-lovers and baby-lovers everywhere, as he approaches toddlerhood Prince George has begun to exhibit quite a personality.
In honor of the mini-royal's birthday on July 22, let's revisit some classic moments from Prince George's first year — along with some hilarious "I bet this is what he's thinking" captions.

"I was told there would be milk..."
Photo Credit: WENN.com

"Interesting. You call this a 'polo stick'? Because, see, to me, this is more like a 'Thing To Whack Stuff With.'"
Photo Credit: Max Mumby/Getty Images

"Mom. Hey. Hey. Look up from the flowers for a sec. You gotta check out this lady's hat. Could be a good look for you."
Photo Credit: FAMEFLYNET PICTURES

"It's blue. It's fuzzy. Enough said."
Photo Credit: WENN.com

"Nothing to see here, Dad, just keep looking the other way...I'm just gonna pick up this thingamabob and chew on it for a while, K?"
Photo Credit: WENN.com

Man. I don't want to be rude, because I know this is one of those big official ceremony dealies, but there is no way I'm making it through the rest of this thing without a snack. Bring on the solids!"
Photo Credit: Danny Martindale/Getty Images

"Aw, don't feel bad, lovie. I just got distracted for a sec. I'll always love you best, after Mom and Dad. Let's hug it out."
Photo Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Nelson Mandela’s Impact on Women

Nelson Mandela said, “Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.” As South Africa’s first democratically-elected president and a revolutionary activist, Mandela is famous for his fight for racial equality. He’s less known for his impact on women’s rights.
Mandela championed equal rights for women worldwide, saying, “As long as women are bound by poverty and as long as they are looked down upon, human rights will lack substance.” He made changes that improved women’s representation in government, bettered female healthcare, and upheld reproductive rights. Find out how he changed South Africa, setting a precedent for the rest of the world.

This is What God Has for You This Month

The seventh month has finally arrived. I can authoritatively reveal that it is full of God's blessings for you and I. Do you know my reason for saying this? The Almighty God the creator started the business of creation from the first day, He encountered no restriction until He rounded off with a rest on the seventh day. If you believe in same God, He will ensure you have rest this month in Jesus' name. Amen! He started a work and completed the project. In same vein, He will not allow the project of your life to be abandoned in Jesus' name. Amen!

I don't know the programme of your life that looks as if it will not end. I don't know that sickness that has remained stubborn. God's project was completed, yours will be completed too in Jesus' name. Amen!

This is the Seventh month:
God Himself commanded the people in Deuteronomy 15:

"If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. ¹³ And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. ¹⁴ Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress...."

The above scripture implies that a man can only be in servitude for six years after which he is entitled to his freedom. I don't also know the forces you been a servant to for the past six months of this good year. The word of God coming to you now is saying that in this month which is the seventh month, you are entitled to your freedom. As a matter of fact, your freedom is a command from the most high and it must be obeyed. For that reason, as an oracle of God, I command that whatever power holding you to servitude will release you now in Jesus' name. Amen!

Have a view of that scripture again.  God said you must not be left to go empty handed. For that reason, whatever benefit you have been denied of in the six months of this year, God will ensure you recover them in Jesus' name. Amen!

God bless you.