Open Heaven For Today 2023 – Open Heavens 8 May

Open heavens 

Open Heaven For Today 2023 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Why God Promotes

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

Open heavens

TOPIC: Why God Promotes

MEMORISE: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45 (KJV)

READ: Matthew 20:20-28 (KJV)

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 1-4

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE:

God never does anything without a purpose. He promotes people primarily to fulfill His purpose. God promotes men so that they can use their promotion to serve and bless others. A tree does not consume its own fruit; it produces fruit for others to benefit from. You don’t become fruitful just for your own self, but rather, so that you can be of service to others.

According to Exodus 2:11-15, Moses was a fugitive. He was running away from Pharaoh because he had just committed murder, but by the time we get to Exodus 7:1, God said, “See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh…”. God promoted Moses so that he could deliver the nation of Israel. This is why, in Exodus 14:21-28, God could use Moses to clear a way through the Red Sea for the whole nation. 1 Samuel 16:11-13 tells us that when God wanted to appoint a king in his family, He chose the only one that nobody considered relevant – David. By the time He had promoted David, one of the reasons for his promotion came up in the next chapter – God used him to deliver a nation from a terrorist (1 Samuel 17:1-51).

When God promotes a man, it is so that he can help others fulfil their destiny. You can help others become who God wants them to be. This is why I don’t say a word when people criticize us for planting so many Churches, because a lot of people would never have discovered their purpose if they were not sent out. The purpose of God promoting you is to help others become what He planned for them. I pray that you will remember to help others fulfil their destinies when God promotes you.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 22:30 that God sought just one man who would stand between Him and the people so that He would not destroy their nation, but found none. Maybe God is waiting to promote you. If you are willing to help others, God will find you worthy of promotion.

KEY POINT:

A heart of service will attract divine promotion.

HYMN 30: When We Walk With The Lord

1 When we walk with the Lord,

In the light of His word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey!

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.

2 But we never can prove

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay,

For the favour He shows,

And the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

3 Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way,

What He says we will do,

Where He sends we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Open Heavens 2023 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven for Today 

Open Heaven For Today 2023 Sunday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Showing Off In Church?

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

TOPIC: Showing Off In Church?

MEMORISE: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.” – Acts 4:32 (KJV)

READ: 1 Corinthians 11:18-22 (KJV)

18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 27-29

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE:

One habit that seems to have crept into the Church recently, is that of showing off to other Church members. There are people who go to Church majorly to show off their new clothes or some other material possession. This is completely outside God’s plan for the Body of Christ. God’s original plan for the Church is for everyone to be united and have everything in common. The Bible says in Acts 2:46-47:

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The reason the Church is not growing as fast as it should is that there is no singleness of heart. When people prefer to outshine one another in showing off their material possessions than actually caring about each other and the gospel, the Church cannot grow. The reason we have not won the whole world to Christ is that the Church is not united.

The Holy Spirit does not move in the midst of divided people. When the Holy Spirit descended in the Upper Room, the people were in one accord (Acts 2:1). Until Christians love each other and are in one accord, the Church cannot experience the move of the Holy Spirit as it should.

Many Church leaders wonder why the Holy Spirit is not moving as much as they expect, not knowing that the problem is in the divisions within the Church. Some pastors give special attention to the rich in the Church. Apostle James said in James 2:1-5 that you should not give the rich preferential treatment against those that are not so rich, or else you would become a judge with evil thoughts. It doesn’t matter how rich they are, they should not be praised for showing off in the Church, but rather, rebuked.

Believers should dress well and can own luxurious items. However, it is wrong to flaunt material possessions with the intent to oppress others. The Church must unite and cease to be a place where people compete to outshine one another over material possessions.

REFLECTION:

When you go to Church, do you show off your material possessions? If yes, stop it henceforth.

HYMN 20: Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus

1 Stand up! stand up for Jesus,

Ye soldiers of the Cross!

Lift high His royal banner;

It must not suffer loss.

From vict’ry unto vict’ry

His army shall He lead,

Till ev’ry foe is vanquished,

And Christ is Lord indeed.

2 Stand up! stand up for Jesus,

The trumpet call obey;

Forth to the mighty conflict,

In this His glorious day;

Ye that are men now serve Him

Against unnumbered foes;

Let courage rise with danger,

And strength to strength oppose.

3 Stand up! stand up for Jesus!

Stand in His strength alone;

The arm of flesh will fail you,

Ye dare not trust your own:

Put on the gospel armor,

Each piece put on with prayer;

Where duty calls or danger,

Be never wanting there.

4 Stand up! stand up for Jesus!

The strife will not be long;

This day the noise of battle,

The next the victor’s song;

To him that overcometh,

A crown of life shall be;

He with the King of glory

Shall reign eternally.

Open Heavens 2023 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven for Today 2023

Open Heaven For Today 2023 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – When You Have Questions

Click HERE for Previous Open Heaven Devotional

TOPIC: When You Have Questions

MEMORISE: “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” – Psalm 73:17 (KJV)

READ: Psalm 73:1-17 (KJV)

1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 24-26

Open Heaven For Today 2023 MESSAGE:

As a younger Christian, I had many difficult questions for my pastors. For example, since Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”, I asked where He was before He created Heaven, but none of them could answer. Since I could not get answers from my pastors, I turned to God and He answered me.

The reason we don’t understand certain things in the word of God is in Isaiah 55:8-9:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Some of the things that you are trying to explain with logic are far higher and deeper than what the ordinary human mind can process. In the Sciences, we say, “Prove it and I will believe you”. God however says, “Believe me and I will prove it”. If you are not ready to believe God’s word because you don’t understand it, you may never experience the power in it and you would be the one on the losing end.

There was one particular question that I had from the story of Elisha and the Syrian army who had come to arrest him in 2 Kings 6:8-23. Elisha told them that they were in the wrong place then led them to Samaria where they were captured and then later released.

I wondered for a long time how God could have supported how Elisha deceived the soldiers, until the day He explained by asking, “My son, if death were to come knocking on your door asking for you, would you welcome it in? If sickness comes asking for you, will you hug it? If poverty comes looking for your address, will you say it is in the right place?”

When you have questions, turn to God for answers. He alone can open your eyes to behold the wonders in His word (Psalm 119:18).

KEY POINT:

When you have questions, turn to God for answers.

HYMN 5: Blessed Assurance

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Saviour all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Saviour all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight,

Angels descending, bring from above;

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Saviour am happy and blessed,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Open Heavens 2023 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven for Today 2023