OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL­-THURSDAY-29/09/2016-THE SURE REFUGE-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL­-THURSDAY-29/09/2016-THE SURE REFUGE-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE SURE REFUGE

Memorise

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10

Read

Philippians 2:9-11,

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

KJV

MESSAGE

   Refuge is used in the Bible as a reference to a secure shelter or a place of protection from danger or distress. A refuge is a stronghold that is commonly used for retreat, healing and renewal. Ultimately, refuge is a common metaphor for God in the Bible. 2^nd Samuel 22:3 says:

“The God of my rock; in him will I trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.”

   In effect, God is our fortress, a strong tower, a rock of defence, our shield, a shade of protection, and a shelter in the time of storm. He is Mighty to deliver, Mighty to save, the Mighty man in battle and the Lord of hosts. What a father does goes a long way in affecting the life of a child. Our Heavenly Father does not only neutralize weapons designed against His children, He also protects them from harm. Here is a story I have shared severally: In the 50’s while I was still very young, we had mining activities going on in my village and the roads were very narrow.

   Nigeria was still under colonial rule then. Normally, white men came in a jeep to collect the gold that the miners got. They were so powerful in those days that the villagers believed that if they killed your child, you have to tell them “thank you” so that you will not be sent to prison; they were dreaded. One day, my sister and I were returning from the farm when we suddenly heard the sound of a jeep coming at top speed. My sister immediately grabbed my hand and we both jumped out of its way, landing in an empty mine pit. We barely escaped the jeep but before we could heave a sigh of relief, we found ourselves before a snake. Because our Father can preserve lives, I lived to tell the story. In Luke 10:19, God empowered all believers in Christ over snakes, scorpions, power of the enemy, and over demonic agents and all their activities. I prophecy in the Name that is above all other names, God will protect you and defend everything that is yours this season in Jesus’ name. Psalms 20:7-8 says;

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: But we are risen, and stand upright.”

   The Word of God is trustworthy, reliable and dependable. Whatever you may be passing through, trust in God and call upon His name today, He will give you peace all round.

Prayer Point

Father, thank you for being my hiding place and my refuge, please keep me secure for the rest of my life in Jesus’ name.

Bible in one year

Ezekiel 21-22, Psalms 70

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL­-WEDNESDAY-28/09/2016-NO STOPPING,NO WAITING-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL­-WEDNESDAY-28/09/2016-NO STOPPING,NO WAITING-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

 

NO STOPPING, NO WAITING

Memorise

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

Read

Philippians 3:13-17,

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.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

KJV

MESSAGE

   Patience and long-suffering are indispensable virtues for all believers in Christ. In the first place, the race we are called into can only be run through patience because it is a marathon. Also, there is hardly any promise of God that can be fulfilled in the life of believers without the combination of faith and patience (Hebrews 6:12). As indispensable as faith is to a Christian, so also is patience. No wonder it is listed as part of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. Do you know that when your faith is being tried, God uses that trial to generate patience in you? This implies that the longer the period of trial, the greater your level of patience. But, when you fail to handle a particular trial of faith the way you should, it will not generate the level of patience that it should. For this reason, many who have gone through trials complaining saw God as an opposition, and therefore grumbled against Him. In the process, some even abandon the faith. This attitude is contrary to the Word of God as recorded in Hebrews 6:12:

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

   Children of God must learn not to be weary in well doing because God has promised us a bountiful harvest if we faint not. We must completely trust in His superior wisdom to decide the timing of our blessings. For instance, He knows the end of every line of action even at the beginning of that action. This is why you must trust His sense of judgement at all times, because His decisions are not limited to what your eyes can see today but also what may happen tomorrow. Many years ago, while we lived in a part of Lagos that harboured several drug addicts and reckless drivers, my children asked me to buy them a bicycle. When I declined, they failed to understand. But after we relocated from that part of Lagos some years later, without a repeat of that request, I bought them the bicycle. If I had obliged their request the first time, they might not be alive today. God still deals with us based on what He knows about us today and tomorrow. Be sure that the Lord will not give you the blessing you are not prepared for, lest it destroys you.

   Whenever an expected blessing is delayed or when faced with difficulties, long-suffering is required to remain composed. Even when the situation appears hopeless, just take time to read and study the Bible, asking God to give you a word for that situation. Grab whatever God says, obey and follow-up with action, then wait for the result, and you will never be disappointed.

Prayer Point

Father, please help me to patiently wait for your perfect timing in all things in Jesus’ name.

Bible in one year

Ezekiel 19-20, Psalms 69:22-36

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL­-TUESDAY-27/09/2016-THE GREAT PROVIDER-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL­-TUESDAY-27/09/2016-THE GREAT PROVIDER-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE GREAT PROVIDER

Memorise

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Read

Mark 6:35-42,

35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, this is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

38 He saith unto them, how many loaves have ye? Go and see. And when they knew, they say, five, and two fishes.

39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

42 And they did all eat, and were filled.

KJV

MESSAGE

   The Almighty God is well known as ‘The Lord who provides.’ God is the provider and supplier of the needs of all creation, but He gives special attention to His own people. Psalms 145:16 says:

“Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. He provides for all people.”

   Our God is a gracious Father, He does not only provide the needs of His children, He also protects their interest. He crowns His children with glory, and as a Consuming Fire, burns anyone that messes around with their royalty and honour. Three of God’s children, crowned by God with glory, found themselves in such a situation one day. A king, who virtually ruled the world of their day, thought too highly of himself and wanted to rubbish their glory. He dispatched some hefty men to tie them and hurl them into a burning fiery furnace. At the end, the men he sent were roasted by the fire he set up, while the Consuming Fire was with His children inside the furnace to protect them and His glory upon them. They eventually walked majestically out of the furnace into promotion and increased glory (Daniel 3:1-30). This season, any plan to touch God’s glory on your life shall be destroyed. Every fire the enemy kindles against you and your family shall devour that enemy in Jesus’ name.

   You need to know the worth of your Heavenly Father so that you can tap into His resources. The lifestyle of a child is determined by the status of the father and the resources controlled by the father. Philippians 4:19 says:

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

   If your father has a bicycle and you need to get to school, he will let your ride on it. If he has no means of transportation, you will trek. If he has a rickety car, you will ride in it, with passers-by looking with pity at its occupants. But if your father has an exotic car, you will ride in it and be admired by onlookers. Psalms 24:1 says the earth and everything in it belongs to our Father. Haggai 2:8 says He owns all the gold and slivers. Psalms 50:10 says He owns all the cattle upon a thousand hills. John 14:3 says in His Heavenly estate there are many mansions. No wonder Philippians 4:19 say my Daddy will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory. Needs are met by available resources. Since He has all things, then all your needs shall be met. Call upon the Great Provider and start tapping into the unlimited resources of your Heavenly Father by faith today.

Prayer Point

Father, you are the Great Provider, please meet all my needs in Jesus’ name.

Bible in one year

Ezekiel 17:18, Psalms 69:1-21