Open Heaven of Saturday 20th July 2013: When The Spirit Departs

Memorise: Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Psalms 51:11

Read: Psalms 51:1-12
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Psalms 51:1

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Psalms 51:2

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Psalms 51:3

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Psalms 51:4

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalms 51:5

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Psalms 51:6

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Psalms 51:8

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Psalms 51:9

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalms 51:10

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Psalms 51:11

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalms 51:12

Bible in one year: Numbers 34-36


Message
Every believer in Christ needs the Holy Spirit. As long as He is with you, all is well, but the moment He leaves you, trouble sets in and weakness follows. When He was with Samson, everyone saw him as a real life Superman or Spiderman; but when He left him, Samson became an ordinary man and his enemies dealt with him (Judges 16:18-20). While the forces of darkness find it easy to deal with those without the Holy Spirit, it is an uphill task for them to deal with someone who is full of the Holy Spirit. If you truly desire to be untouchable, make sure the Holy Spirit is very much with you. Demons are afraid of believers in Christ, not for their sake but because of the Spirit of God upon them. Many years ago, while we were starting a church in Ife, a particular young and proficient female singer mounted the stage and began to sing: ‘My city is heavenly Jerusalem. Witches, wizards and other evil doers cannot go there’. In that place, there were over 200 deities and demons. Suddenly, we observed that her mouth opened to sing but no sound came out. Obviously, the witches and wizards felt she was confronting them while she lacked the power of Holy Spirit, and so they seized her voice. She had to undergo some prayer afterwards in order to regain it. It is foolishness to dare the enemy when your Ally is not with you.

Moreover, when the Holy Spirit departs, the joy of salvation goes with Him. If you doubt this, ask David. When David sinned, the Holy Spirit left and so went his joy. This was why he began to ask for the restoration of the joy of salvation in today’s reading. When was the last time you woke up singing? When the Spirit leaves, the relationship between you and the Lord Jesus Christ becomes like noise without substance. Romans 8:9 says if you do not have the Holy Spirit, you have nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Why? You are connected to Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. Beloved, do all it takes for the Holy Spirit not to leave you! But if He has already left, then do everything possible to bring Him back.

PRAYER POINT
Father, whatever happens, please let Your spirit never depart from me.

AVOID TEMPTATION:MUST READ

Are you any good at resisting temptation? All of us succumb to a little temptation now and then, but some people are blessed with more self-control than others. Temptation is about wanting something that you really want, often something that isn't right or good for you.

GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS

(Acts 10:34) "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:"
He was quite correct. God is not a respecter of persons…He does not show partiality or favoritism, and neither should we!

Open Heaven of Friday 19th July 2013: Exceeding Greatness By Sacrifice

Memorise: Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.  

Psalms 50:5

Read: Genesis 22:7-14
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? Genesis 22:7

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Genesis 22:8

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Genesis 22:9

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. Genesis 22:10

And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. Genesis 22:11

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Genesis 22:12

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
Genesis 22:13

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Genesis 22:14

Bible in one year: Numbers 31-33


Message
Our God is a covenant keeper. This is why He hates the acts of truce breakers with a passion. If you want your future to be exceedingly great, make sure you are connected through a covenant to God. God is taking us to the level of exceeding greatness. Don’t let anybody deceive by telling you that you have reached a height nobody has achieved for God. Simply tell them that whatever they consider as your height is truly the beginning of your achievement for God. Tell them they have not seen anything yet.

However, how do you get to your next level – the level of exceeding greatness? Sacrifice is required. In Genesis 22:1-18, Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac and Isaac was willing to be the sacrificial lamb. You cannot get to the height of exceeding greatness without a sacrifice. When The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was just starting, there was sacrifice. People walked selflessly and with all their hearts. Bricklayers worked for free, so also did carpenter, etc. At the present location of the RCCG Headquarters, the lagoon water was so close and so we had to push the water backwards by pouring in saw dust. At this time, I was already a lecturer in the university, but I was glad I had the opportunity to salvage the church and contribute my quota. I got a big basket to carry saw dust. One day, there was a serious traffic jam in Lagos and motorists decided to look for short cuts. In the process, one of my former students saw a particular car going off the congested road and he followed, believing the driver was taking a known alternative route. That was how they came through our church compound and he saw me carrying a big basket of saw dust. He shouted in disbelieve. To get to the next level, you must be prepared to sacrifice. In fact, the quality of your next level will be determined by the quality of your sacrifice. I never knew that I would become a pastor in the RCCG then but I rejoiced at the opportunity to serve God sacrificially. Are you humble enough to serve God at any level of sacrifice He requires of you?

PRAYER POINT
Father, the grace to make ultimate sacrifice that will take me to my greatest height, give to me today. Take me to the very top.

DAILY PRAYER POINTS

LORD, THIS MONTH, DO WHAT WILL MAKE ME FORGET MY PAST YEARS OF PAINS, REGRET OR SHAME IN NAME OF JESUS

SEE RESULTS OF LYING

What are the results of lying? There are many practical reasons God tells us not to bear false witness, and many of these can be seen in the results that happen when we lie. First of all, lying harms others. Proverbs 25:18 says, “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.”

THE POWER OF SEXUAL SEDUCTION

The destructive power of seduction can lead a spiritual leader down a wrong path and cause him to lose every good thing for which he was created.

WONDERS AND FAITH

Faith works wonders, but wonders stir up faith. With faith we can do the works of Jesus and greater ones than these. With greater works people are led to faith in Jesus.

Open Heaven of Thursday 18th July 2013: Laying Demands On Your Calling

Memorise: And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 2 Kings 1:10

Read: 2 Kings 1:9-12
Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. 2 Kings 1:9

And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 2 Kings 1:10

Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. 2 Kings 1:11

And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
2 Kings 1:12

Bible in one year: Numbers 28-30


Message
Every potential champion faces the risk of never becoming a champion. Becoming a champion is a process which involves a lot of effort on the part of would-be champion; while it takes nothing – no effort on your part to die a potential champion. This is exemplified by Judas Iscariot. He was one of the very few portfolio holders in the ministry of Jesus. He was indeed a potential champion but because he never realised it, Satan deceived him, he lost his ministry and somebody else replaced him (Acts 1:15-20). This is one dangerous side of doing nothing about your potential: it will not only affect your destiny but it can also result in you being replaced. May you never be replaced in God’s end time plan. Revelation 3:11 says
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown”.
The potential you do nothing about may be lost.


In 2 Kings 5:20-27, Elijah was called a man of God. Bearing such a title suggests that one has been with God for a long time. Consequently, people will have certain expectations of such a fellow. If you are a man or woman of God, or a divine champion, people will naturally expect to see the miraculous in your life and ministry because they believe you have the power that goes with the title or office. But do you? In 2 Kings 1:9-12, Elijah said if he is a man of God, then fire should come from Heaven to roast the soldiers and it happened immediately. Such a request lays a demand on the anointing and on the call of God upon a servant of God. The truth is, not many servants of God can lay such a demand on their calling and receive expedited answer because they have lost the essence of their calling to compromise, sin or disobedience. When such a call is made, it is only God that can answer it depending on the individual’s present (not past) standing with God. God recognized and openly confirmed Elijah as His servant, can He do the same with you? When some people make such demands, they are put to shame. That shall not be your portion. It is possible to be a man of God and walk with God to the end. That was the case with Enoch (Hebrew 11:5). That will be said of you as well.


PRAYER POINT
If you are faithful to God, He will honour you when you lay a demand on your calling. But if you are not, be sensible enough not to make such demands.

Open Heaven of Wednesday 17th July 2013: Watch Enemy’s Weaknesses

Memorise: I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  
1 Corinthians 9:26

Read: 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 1 Corinthians 9:25

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 1 Corinthians 9:26

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27

Bible in one year: Numbers 25-27


Message
“And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.”
Judges 16:6
If you want to bring down your enemy and your focus is on an area where he is strong, it may take you quite a while to get him. Usually, the enemy focuses on the weaknesses of those he wants to get. In the game of boxing, the same is true. If you are planning to take on an opponent, you will immediately commence detailed enquiry on the fellow. You would want to have video recordings of previous fights he has had. You will want to also know if he has ever been wounded in a fight before and the exact location on his body. Once you get this scar, your focus will be how to reopen the wound through concentrated heavy blows. If you can do this, you will secure cheap victory. No wonder Paul was successful in his battles against the kingdom of darkness. In 1 Corinthians 9:26, Paul says “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air”.

Just as the devil studies you in order to identify your weaknesses before drawing out his game plan, so also must you study the devil and his cohorts to identify their weaknesses and limitations so as to know how to contain them. Know that your enemies have weak points too! They have scars from battles they fought and lost to believers of every age. If you know these weaknesses, they will hardly take you unawares. To discover these, search the scriptures regularly. Carefully study the different times the enemy tempted people but failed. Also find out how they succeeded in tempting others who fell into temptation. One weakness of your enemy is that even though he can mobilise his forces to besiege his target for a period of time, God does not allow him to sustain that situation of siege forever. Satan may be patient but he does not have the ability to sustain that patience for too long. This is why you must not just resist him, but continue to resist him until he tires. You can wear out your enemy! In a temptation or a trial situation, never give up until the tempter gives up. Every time he tempts you on that situation, repeatedly say No to him. If you continue to say No, God will give you more strength, and before long, you will be triumphant.

KEY POINT
If you can study your enemies very well, you will know how to defeat them repeatedly.

HOLINESS IS THE MASTER KEY: PST. E.A ADEBOYE

"Holiness produces unlimited anointing, Unlimited anointing produces unlimited miracles, unlimited miracles produces unlimited converts, , Transparent life of Holiness produces unlimited disciples, unlimited disciples produces unlimited co-labourers and this leads to unlimited church growth".

SEE PROFESSIONALS INVOILVE IN DIVORCE

Don't Throw Away Your Marriage In A Moment Of Anger

Articles like this guarantee that I'll receive e-mails from angry feminist women, but the truth needs to be said. Women need to learn to DO NOTHING when they're angry at their husbands. When your decision maker is broken... don't make decisions! The judges, lawyers, and other so-called "professional" people involved in your divorce don't care if you throw your marriage away, they just want the money. It's everyday business as usual to them. Many of them are divorced themselves and out of spite want all the company they can get, so they readily advice others to divorce, divorce, divorce. Well, divorce is a horrible wicked sin!

TALENT IS GOD-GIVEN: SWALLOW YOUR PRIDEE

 Pride is described as:
- self sufficiency
- independence
- self righteous
- boastfulness
- superiority
- does not listen well
- stubborn
- not eager to learn
- not quick to admit wrong
- competitive
- easily threatened
- insecure

Open Heaven of Tuesday 16th July 2013: New Song Coming

Memorise: …..Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. John 9:25b

Read: John 9:24-25
Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. John 9:24

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. John 9:25

Bible in one year: Numbers 21-24


Message
It is good to have a single contact with God but much better to enjoy a continuous flow of God’s blessing by abiding in Him. At an advanced age, Sarah had contact with God and suddenly laughter erupted. Every hearer of her conception story and subsequent childbirth were also infected with laughter: no wonder she name Isaac laughter (Genesis 22:1-6). Have you been going through sorrow for a while? Is your name synonymous with sorrow like Jabez? Are you sorrowful because for a long time nothing new has come to you? Is there a long standing problem that has defied all prayer efforts? Fear not! Your laughter season is just round the corner. Very short, like it happened to Sarah, many people will come and laugh and rejoice with you.

A single contact with God can put a new song in your mouth. This was the experience of the man who was born blind recorded in John 9:24-25. After the Lord opened his eyes, people began to argue so much on his issue. But when he was called to clarify his story he told them:
“…..Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25b
That will be your new song from today! You will be singing: Once I was sick but now I am healed; once I was bound but now I am free; once I was begging to feed but now I am a lender to nations; once I was barren but now I am praying to God to stop adding more children to me; once I was last but now I am first; once I was completely ignored over important matters but now without consulting me, nothing can be done; once I was crawling spiritually, but now I am flying; once no suitor came for my hand in marriage but now I have several serious suitors that I don’t even know which one to choose from; once I was homeless but now I have a comfortable place; once I was a tenant harassed by my landlord but now I am a landlord with understanding tenants in Jesus name. a new song is coming your way this season. Believe it, receive it, action it and expect it to manifest.

PRAYER POINT
Thank God for giving you a new song. Thank God for the success of past conventions of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. Ask that this year’s convention will be pleasantly different.

WAYS TO INCREASE ANOINTING

Anointing, as described in the Bible, can be defined as "God on flesh doing those things that flesh cannot do." It is God doing those things only He can do, and doing them through a flesh-and-blood, earthly vessel (see II Corinthians 4:7).

GET CONNECTED TO THE SUPERNATURAL

John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Warfare is a military term in military parlance that connotes and denotes a fight where there is victory and defeat, life or death on either side of the spectrum (Matt. 11:12)
The whole of life is a battlefield, especially for the Christian pilgrim. We live in a sinful world that is completely under the authority of the devil. We are in a warfare where our senses are continually under assault and attack from the hounds of hell (2 Cor. 10:3-5) the primary battle field is the mind. The mind is the place for revelation and situations, the word and the world. Both God and the devil can speak to us through our mind.

POSITION YOURSELF FOR BLESSING

God always remain constant regardless of our response to Him. He cannot be moved by any mountain or problems of incredible magnitude that we cry and yell about in our lives. He is the God of suddenly who can change the tide of events stacked against His elect at a moment’s notice. As Christians, the proof of the validity of our relationship with Him is how far we are willing to trust and obey Him even in the face of life-threatening challenges and issues. God is always glorified when we trust Him completely, in spite of the situation, and while we are still in the situation. This is why He was pleased with Daniel and his Hebrew brothers that were miraculously delivered from Nebuchadnezzar’s raging inferno at the moment when their faith was tested. Trust and obey the Lord in all things- there is no other way to please Him (proverb.3:5-6).

GOD WILL DO IT AGAIN

God is a covenant keeping God, who always, by His mercy, even in our moments of weakness, remembers us for good in all circumstances. I don’t know how difficult your situation is but I have a word for you: with God all things and everything are possible for you today (Luke.1:37). Wait for Him in praise, holiness, obedience and great expectation because you will rise again, and all things will work together for your good (Rom.8:28).

Open Heaven of Monday 15th July 2013: Fulfilling His Purpose

Memorise:
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Ephesians 1:11

Read: Ephesians 1:9-12
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: Ephesians 1:9

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: Ephesians 1:10

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Ephesians 1:11

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:12

Bible in one year: Jeremiah 17-20


Message
Isaiah 60:1 commands us to arise and shine. To shine is to fulfil purpose. In Mark 10:46-52, when Bartimaeus was led to Jesus and He commanded his eyes to be opened, He was simply asking his eyes to fulfil the purpose for which they were created. No part of your body is there just for fun: every part has a purpose. Also in Acts 3:1-8, when Peter commanded the lame man to walk, he was only asking the legs to fulfil their purpose. Whenever Jesus heals or delivers an individual, it is in connection with creating fresh avenues for the fellow to fulfil divine purpose. In Mark 8:14-16, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law so that she could serve – fulfil her purpose. Are you sick? The healing power of God will touch and heal you so that you can fulfil God’s purpose. God’s purpose for the man of Gadara was to be an evangelist, so when He came to him and met him occupied with insanity – which is the devil’s purpose, He delivered him and he fulfilled his purpose as an evangelist. Anything hindering you from fulfilling God’s purpose for your life shall be removed by the power of the Holy Ghost.

In Esther 4:13-16, when the nation of Israel was facing organized extermination plans, Mordecai met Queen Esther and told her to fulfil her purpose. May you fulfil your purpose as president, governor, senator, minister, pastor, leader, etc. You are not occupying that vantage position for your own purpose but for His divine purpose. You are not there to serve yourself, but to both serve and please Him. To allow you get into that office or position, He has displaced several other people who want to occupy it. Are you justifying His decision to choose you to serve His purpose? Have you been ordained? If yes, do you know that you were not just ordained just to bear a title or so that people will begin to address you by your title, but to fulfil His purpose? God did not call you into the office of a pastor or evangelist so that you can go about shaking your head and announcing that a great man of God is coming, but to preach His Word, win souls, disciple converts, lay hands on the sick, etc. Are you fulfilling His purpose? You cannot shine until you do this.

KEY POINT
The position a believer occupies, the resources and achievements he gets and every opportunity that comes his or her way are all to help the fellow fulfil a divine purpose.