OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE : SATURDAY 4th JULY 2015 THEME : THE ANOINTING SPEAKS

     

THEME : THE ANOINTING SPEAKS

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. 1st John 2:27

Read: 1st Samuel 10:1-9

1 THEN Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

Message

The anointing creates the opportunity for you to be entrusted with God’s heritage. This great responsibility requires that you have divine information and guidance to carry out the assignment.
As stated in our memory verse, the anointing speaks to or teaches the anointed, providing him with divine information. If you have the anointing, it will speak to you; it will tell you the truth.
If you say you are anointed but you cannot hear from God, your anointing is very much in doubt. Based on 1st John 2:20, one way you can know that you are anointed is by the divine information released to you. The more the anointing on your life, the more you should have access to divine information (Number 12:6-. To what extent does then anointing speak to you?

What does the anointing teach? If you closely look at Saul’s experience. You will learn that the anointing reveals future events to the anointed. After Saul was anointed by Samuel, the latter told him of a series of events that he was going to experience sequentially, and they happened accordingly.
Do you know that God loves speaking to you? God is looking for those He can share certain vital information with before they occur. No wonder Amos 3:7 says,
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

Any information that is only accessible by God is God’s secret. The anointing makes God share His secrets with His anointed. Do you hear God’s voice? How often does He speak to you? Does He confide in you concerning future events that will affect you or members of your family?
As we speak, there are some people who are acquainted with divine information of events that will occur in some 2,3,5 or 10 years’ time. May the Lord anoint you afresh and open to you the door of communication, granting you access to knowledge of events long before they happen.

When you know what will happen in the future, you will be guided on how to handle your today and tomorrow.

Prayer point:
Father, make me sensitive to Your voice. Help me never to mistake Your voice for that of any other person.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 CHRONICLES 15:16 and LUKE 17:1-19
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL DATE : FRIDAY 3rd JULY 2015. PRAYER CAN SUBDUE PEOPLE

THEME : PRAYER CAN SUBDUE PEOPLE

Memorise:
He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. Psalm 47:3

Read: Genesis 32:6-12 & 33:4,

6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
33:4
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

Message

When Jacob was told that his brother, Esau, who had sworn to kill him, was coming to meet him with four hundred men, he was justifiably afraid and distressed. However, he prayed to God for deliverance, reminding Him of His covenant with his father.
Several things happened to Jacob as a result of this prayer. After he prayed, God changed his name from Jacob to Israel (Genesis 32:28).

Prayer can rename a situation or an individual, and it can also terminate the regime of an evil era induced by a bad name. When prayer ends a bad name, there will no longer be any reason to call the fellow by the former name.
God told Jacob “From today, nobody will call you that name again.” As soon as He said it, every reproach the name had attached to him was completely erased. Royalty took over from there.

From today, you shall no longer be called barren! You shall no longer move around in circles. You shall no longer labour without receiving a commensurate harvest. From today, sorrow, tears and disappointment have ended in your life!
Beside this, prayer gave Jacob power with God and helped him prevail over the anger of his brother.

To subdue impossible human beings, you need power with God. The extent to which you can control men will be determined by the power you have with God, because it’s God who subdues men under you (Psalm 47:3).
Whenever you pray intensely from your heart, power is produced. The power that prayer generates can be channelled towards achieving any goal.

When you pray effectively concerning your business, the power to succeed in it is released to you. If you are struggling in your studies, you need to pray intensely, and the power to enable you all that you should do to succeed in your academics will be released.
Acts 1:8 declares that when the Holy Spirit comes, power comes with Him. When you pray in the Holy Ghost with your heart, power comes. This power may come in the form of understanding difficult subjects you are studying, wisdom to relate with subordinates in such a manner that garners their support to enable you succeed in your assignment or ministry, and so on.

Prayer also helps you to be victorious over men. Are people rising up against you? Pray! As you pray, they will be subdued. Is anyone threatening your life like Esau did to Jacob? Pray, and the Lord will subdue them.

Action Point: One weapon every leader requires to keep the loyalty of their subjects and subordinates is prayer. Pray that God will keep those under you faithful to your righteous cause.

Check out the Ranking Of Nigerian States By Poverty Rates

United Nations’ Multi Dimensional Poverty Index

The United Nations’ Global Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index has three dimensions and 10 indicators in estimating Overall Poverty. Each dimension is equally weighted, each indicator within a dimension is also equally weighted, and added. It uses 10 indicators to measure poverty in three dimensions: Education, Health and Living standards. This report was Published in June 2015, and is based on data collected on years between 2004 and 2014.
According to the MPI Report, as at 2010, 46% of Nigerians lived below the national poverty line (Only 28% in Urban areas, and near 70% in The rural). Although a Report by the World bank, released in 2014, showed that only 33% of Nigerians could be considered Poor.

Now, to the Report……..
States by Incidence of Poverty

STATES<–>POVERTY RATE
1. Lagos ——— 8.5%
2. Osun ——— 10.9%
3. Anambra ——— 11.2%
4. Ekiti ——— 12.9%
5. Edo ——— 19.2%
6. Imo ——— 19.8%
7. Abia ——— 21.0%
8. Rivers ——— 21.1%
*. FCT (Abj) ——— 23.5%
9. Kwara ——— 23.7%
10. Akwa Ibom ——— 23.8%
11. Delta ——— 25.1%
12. Ogun ——— 26.1%
13. Kogi ——— 26.4%
14. Ondo ——— 27.9%
15. Enugu ——— 28.8%
16. Bayelsa ——— 29.0%
17. Oyo ——— 29.4%
18. Cross River ——— 33.1%
——————————————————-
** National Avg ——— 46.0%
——————————————————-
19. Plateau ——— 51.6%
20. Nassarawa ——— 52.4%
21. Ebonyi ——— 56.0%
22. Kaduna ——— 56.5%
23. Adamawa ——— 59.0%
24. Benue ——— 59.2%
25. Niger ——— 61.2%
26. Borno ——— 70.1%
27. Kano ——— 76.4%
28. Gombe ——— 76.9%
29. Taraba ——— 77.7%
30. Katsina ——— 82.2%
31. Sokoto ——— 85.3%
32. Kebbi ——— 86.0%
33. Bauchi ——— 86.6%
34. Jigawa ——— 88.4%
35. Yobe ——— 90.2%
36. Zamfara ——— 91.9%

REGIONAL AVERAGES
1 = South West – 19.3% Poverty (+ Average)
2 = South South – 25.2% Poverty (+ Average)
3 = South East – 27.36% Poverty (+ Average)

———————————————————————-
** National Avg 46.0%% Poverty
———————————————————————-

4 = North Central – 45.7% Poverty (+Average)
5 = North East – 76.8% Poverty (- Average)
6 = North West- 80.9% Poverty (- Average) Damn!!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE : THURSDAY 2nd JULY 2015 THEME : HE IS WONDERFUL

THEME : HE IS WONDERFUL

Memorise:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Read: Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Message

One of the names or titles of our Lord Jesus Christ is wonderful (Isaiah 9:6). The word ‘wonderful’ is a combination of these two words: ‘wonder’ and ‘fully’, which jointly mean full of wonders. Acts 2:22 says,

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”

The terms miracles, wonders and signs in this scripture are placed according to their order of awesomeness. It means that wonders are superior to miracles in awesomeness and of a higher grade.

When you look at Jesus, you will discover that everything about Him is full to wonders. His Name is Wonderful because it is far highly exalted above every other Name (Philippians 2:9-11).
His Name commands the compulsory obedience of every force or power that exists.

Not only is His Name full of wonders, but His love is also wonderful. No one else can love you like Jesus does. He loves you even much more than you love yourself.

What about His peace? It is very unique; it is unlike anything the world can offer you (John 14:27). No wonder Philippians 4:7 says His peace passes all human understanding.
If God gives you peace? It is equally wonderful. Matthew 28:18 says:
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

All authority comes under His divine majesty, what about His grace? It is also full of wonders. The richness of His grace goes beyond what we are currently enjoying in this world (Ephesians 2:7).

His grace is inexhaustible to the fellow who knows how to relate with Him, which is why He has a throne of grace that we can boldly approach to receive mercy (Hebrews 4:16). Grace made God’s provision available to us at the expenses of Christ sacrificing His life on the cross of Cavalry.

In addition, His joy is wonderful, and so is His strength. If you have Jesus Christ in you and you give Him the freedom to do whatever He likes in your life (i.e. you regard Him as Lord and not as a guest), His wonders will be replete in every area of your life. Do you allow Him to do His wonderful works in your life?

Prayer Point: Father, come and perform Your wonders in every area of my life.

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Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye: 01 July 2015 - Return Reduced Wages

Topic: RETURN REDUCED WAGES! – Wednesday July 1, 2015

Memorize:
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. -Romans 13:8

Read: Genesis 31:36-42
 
36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

NO NEED FOR BIAFRA

I have been seriously struggling hard to curtail myself over the recent agitation for Biafra state by our brothers from the Eastern part of the country.

Lately, some people floated a radio station called “Biafra radio” located in Aba & London where various lies and hate messages are being broadcasted to the innocent people. Some even went to the point of producing Biafra I.D, Int. Passport, Number plate to mention but a few.

My question is; why the sudden re-echoing of Biafra state after Jonathan’s administration? I could remember vividly that some top Igbo leaders (Political & cultural) come out to strongly condemn Henry Okah for his agitation for Biafra state during Jonathan’s administration saying “Nigeria is one & we are part of it”. Biafra campaign has taken a new dimension but I have not seen an Igbo leader coming out to condemn it in the recent time. Should I just assume that “the call for Biafra state only get pronounced when the Igbos are no longer popular in the game”.

Open Heavens 30 June 2015: Tuesday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Is It As To The Lord?

Topic: Is It As To The Lord? [Tuesday June 30, 2015]

Memorise: Not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; Ephesians 6:6

Read: Ephesians 6:5-8 (KJV)

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Bible in One Year: 1 Chronicles 5:23-7:13; Luke 14:12-35

MESSAGE:

The story was told of a preacher who went to church one Sunday morning, fully prepared to deliver his sermon, only to find out that the bad weather had prevented members from coming to church except one little boy. This preacher, as the story goes, preached as if the whole auditorium was full of members. After the sermon, the preacher made an altar call and the boy gave his life to Christ that glorious Sunday morning. it was one morning, one preacher, one-member congregation and one convert. That little boy became a world-renowned evangelist.

Today’s Bible reading encourages us to render our service, either in church or outside of church, as to the Lord, not with eyeservice or as men-pleasers. Unfortunately, there are menpleasers today in Church, who would rather offend God instead of offending the feelings of people, even when this is unscriptural. Such an attitude affects our service to God negatively. It taints our holy service to God. Paul in Romans 12:1 says thus about Christian service:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

The work ethics in our church organisation should require little or no supervision. This is one of the first things we were taught when we applied as volunteer workers in church. There is danger in working with eyeservice, because when the one you intend to impress is not around, you will do something else.

Some civil servants shortchanged themselves when they think that Government work is not to be done wholeheartedly as if one’s life depends on it. If you work in an organisation, particularly a government establishment, and you think you can loaf around and still get paid at the end of the month without repercussion, you must have been deceived. The law of natural justice and equity established the fact that if your work is worth 50,000 of your country’s currency but you receive 1,000,000 by the time you have spent the last unit of the money, you will realise that the value of what the 1,000,000 obtained is not more than what is obtainable with 50,000.

Prayer Point: Father, deliver me from eyeservice, and please help me to serve You acceptably from now onwards in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens 29 June 2015: Monday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – It’s Not Over Yet

Topic: It’s Not Over Yet [Monday June 29, 2015]

Memorise: 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. - Philippians 3:12

Read: Philippians 3:10-14 (KJV)

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

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.

Bible in One Year: 1 Chronicles 3:1-5:22; Luke 13:31-14:11

MESSAGE:

The Christian journey is more often than not a long distance race. This is particularly true because of the long life that our Heavenly Father has promised us (Psalm 91:16). We therefore need a lot of patience to run the race. Apostle Paul in today’s Bible reading gives insight in the nature of the race we are engaged in. it is a non-stop marathon. Once you start, you cannot go on sabbatical leave. Because you are already grafted into Jesus Christ once you start the race, you must ensure that you don’t pull yourself away from Him who first ran this race and finished well (Hebrew 12:2). How do we sustain the tempo and determination to finish well? Paul answers this question in Philippians 3:13-14:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this once thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Many Christians live in the glory of their past achievements, and this has resulted in their undoing. The various indictments Jesus levelled against the seven Churches in Asia in Revelation 2-3, should be food for thought for all end-time Christians. In the past, when a Christian mistakenly said something that was not untrue but also not 100% true, he quickly corrected himself with an apology. For example, in the days when my father-in-the-Lord was still alive, I remember travelling to Ilesa, a city in south-west Nigeria, and forgetting to buy some oranges along the way as I used to. I remembered after I got to Lagos and quickly bought some in Lagos. I gave them to my father-in-the-Lord and he asked if I bought the oranges on my way. I said “yes sir”. Immediately, the Holy Spirit rebuked me that I was not telling the whole truth. I bought them on the way, yes, but not on the way from Ilesa as the old man meant to ask. I quickly corrected myself and he exclaimed “Holy Spirit” in adoration of the Holy Spirit’s rebuke of love. Today, many children of God tell lies with impunity and they do not feel the pain of lying even against the Holy Spirit. Their first love is all gone. Be warned that the race is not over yet.Ezekiel 18:24 says:

“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.”

Prayer Point: Father, please uphold me to the very end of my Christian race