Open Heavens Daily Devotional Messages, By Pastor E.A Adeboye.

Open Heaven 16 December 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – WHAT OF YOUR VOWS?
Open Heavens 15 December 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – GOOD FROM EVIL
Open Heaven 14 December 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – PAUL WAS TRULY YOKED

Open Heaven 16 December 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – WHAT OF YOUR VOWS?

Posted: 12 Dec 2017 12:58 PM PST

WHAT OF YOUR VOWS? - Saturday, December 16^th 2017

Memorise: "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay." Ecclesiastes 5:5

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:1-6 (KJV)

5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

^5:2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

^5:3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

^5:4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

^5:5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

^5:6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

Bible in one year: Revelation 14-16, Zachariah 3, Sing Hymn 16

MESSAGE:

The institution of marriage is largely misunderstood and consequently abused by a lot of people in today's word. Marriage was designed by God for the good of the partners involved. He designed it as an institution where they can complement each other, enjoy life on earth, and reproduce their kind to replenish the earth. In contrast to what is sadly the norm in the world today, marriage is a covenant relationship that is of a permanent nature. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself stated this in Matthew 19:6 when he said:

"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God Hath joined together, let no man put asunder."

Contrary to God's expectations, the marital vow that is supposed to be very scared is fast becoming a recitation that is violated at will. How many married people ever reflect on the vows they exchange at the altar to see if the current state of their lives has not deviated from it? Marriage is a very serious covenant relationship. God expects the partners involved in it to keep the pledge they made to each other in the presence of many witnesses. Are you married? How faithful have you been in keeping your marital vows?

As children of God, we should not be surprise by the current sorry state of the institution of marriage in the world today. The Holy Spirit told us ahead of time that unfaithfulness to vows will form part of the unrighteousness of men in such times as this, When in Romans 1:31 He describe the characteristics of people in the last days as follow:

"Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, Implacable, unmerciful:"

In 2^nd Timothy 3:3-4, He also indicates to us that a sign by which we will know we are in the last days is when we see men increasingly becoming traitors and trucebreakers (i.e. implacable). Are you breaking any of the promises you made in your marriage vows? Are you the type that cannot be appeased? Do you find it difficult to forgive your spouse whenever there is a form of misunderstanding in your relationship? If you have any of those traits, it shows that you are not walking in the love of God. Are you are unmerciful to your spouse? How can you receive mercy from God when you cannot even show it to your own spouse? At the altar, you promise to take care of your spouse; are you doing so today? You promise to use all your worldly goods to make life easier for your spouse, but is that what you are doing today? You promise to leave everyone else and belong to your spouse forever; is that so? Are you secretly dating someone else? If you have fallen out of line, repent and keep your vows from today!

Action point:

Every vow made shall be accounted for someday. Never break your vows!

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons 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.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Hymn 16

GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

Verse 1:

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master's will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty

Thy love hath wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

Verse 2:

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyful with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

Verse 3:

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Thy way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

Verse 4:

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

Open Heavens 15 December 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – GOOD FROM EVIL

Posted: 12 Dec 2017 12:51 PM PST

GOOD FROM EVIL - Friday December 15^th 2017

Memorise: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" 2^nd Corinthians 4:17

Read: John 16:4-7 (KJV)

^16:4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

^16:5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

^16:6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

^16:7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Bible in one year: Revelation 11-13, Zachariah 1:18-2:13, Sing Hymn 4

MESSAGE:

Everybody has a choice to make on the issue of focus in life. Your focus has a way of directing your activities and dictating how well or badly your resources are utilized. It is therefore great wisdom to make Jesus Christ your focus. May the Lord grant you grace to do so in Jesus's Name. When you walk with God for a while, you will come to realize that He specializes in bringing something good out of something seemingly bad. This is why it is well said that opportunities are wrapped up in unpleasant packages. This truth was demonstrated in the life of Elisha (2^nd Kings 2:1-15). To Elisha, losing his mentor and master was seemingly a bad thing, but this had to happen for him to get promoted to the office of the national prophet and become a mentor to others. Similarly, it was seemly a bad thing when Jesus had to be beaten and His body was torn in shred. However, this was the price He had to fully pay for us to access for all kinds of diseases (1 Peter 2:24). This tells us that not every bad event is truly bad, particularly as it relates to children of the Most High God (Romans 8:28).

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you"

John 16:7

After spending just three and half years with His disciples, the time came for the Lord to leave them. This was an unthinkable scenario for them, and it was most undesirable! The disciple were not ready to let the Master go, not even when they knew that He needed to go the cross in obedience to God. In fact, Peter was prepared to involve himself in physical combat in his attempt to prevent Jesus from leaving them. However, Jesus needed to depart for the Holy Spirit to come. Some people may have to leave the scene so that you can move from obscurity into limelight. Have you been left out in the cold? Something will happen that will cause a sudden divine remembrance of you this season in Jesus' Name! King Uzziah had to die for Prophet Isaiah to see more clearly (Isaiah 6:1). The Lord will do something about your matter today! Whether good or bad, things will happen that will favour you in Jesus' Name. Both good and bad will work in your favour this period! As bad as afflictions appear to be, 2^nd Corinthians 4:17 says they are actually working great rewards for us. May every seemingly bad event work for your good in Jesus' Name!

Prayer Point:

Father, in seemingly bad situations I have been through or that I am going through now, please open my eyes to see the good inherent in them.

Hymn 4

THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR

Verse 1

Through the love of God our Savior,

All will be well;

Free and changeless is His favor;

All, all is well.

Precious is the blood that healed us;

Perfect is the grace that sealed us;

Strong the hand stretched out to shield us;

All must be well.

Verse 2

Though we pass through tribulation,

All will be well;

Ours is such a full salvation;

All, all is well.

Happy still in God confiding,

Fruitful, if in Christ abiding,

Holy through the Spirit's guiding,

All must be well.

Verse 3

We expect a bright tomorrow;

All will be well;

Faith can sing through days of sorrow,

All, all is well.

On our Father's love relying,

Jesus every need supplying,

Or in living, or in dying,

All must be well.

Open Heaven 14 December 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – PAUL WAS TRULY YOKED

Posted: 12 Dec 2017 12:45 PM PST

PAUL WAS TRULY YOKED - Thursday December 14^th 2017

Memorise: "Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 21:13

Read: Acts 21:7-14 (KJV)

^21:7And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

^21:8And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

^21:9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

^21:10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

^21:11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

^21:12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

^21:13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

^21:14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

Bible in one year: Revelation 7-10, Zachariah 1:1-17, Sing Hymn 14

MESSAGE:

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest upon your souls" Matthew 11:29

In the above scripture, Jesus mentions two profound things that will give rest to our souls, one of which is that we should take on His easy yoke. What is His yoke? It is that cross of self-denial we are required to carry as we follow Him. This refers to works such as these, which are integral to the Christian life: making sacrifices, giving, service, investment of time to pray and study God's word, and soul-winning. One person who carried the yoke of Jesus was Paul. He understood what it means to be 'made by Him and for Him' (Colossians 1:16). When he met Christ on his way to Damascus and he surrendered of Him, from then onwards, he never turned back. He joyfully sacrificed all his earthly achievements and recognition so as to pursue on goal in life: to know Jesus (Philippians 3:8)! He worked like no one else did. He travelled extensively across the globe just to serve his Saviour, risking his life over and again in the process. When it was revealed that he would be bound and afflicted if he went to Jerusalem, with the brethren passionately pleading that he should not go, he responded with these words in Acts 21:13:

"…what mean ye to weep and break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus"

Have you taken on the yoke of Christ to the extent that you can go anywhere, do anything and give up anything for Him?

In addition, Jesus said we must be ready to learn of Him. Jesus Christ can be likened to a well of knowledge that we cannot exhaust in our lifetime. Beloved, there is so much to know about Him. Have you ever wondered how the Holy Spirit gives you insight into a particular scripture, and by the following day, week or month, when you take up the same verse, you still receive a deeper revelation from it? Do you know that the Holy Spirit can give you deep insight in a verse of scripture from which you can produce 10 or more solid books from? Although Paul knew so much about Jesus, when he compared what he knew with what he was yet to know, he realized that he still knew very little. For this reason, he made it his life's goal to know Him. Do you think you know so much about Jesus and boast over this? Repent now and commit to learning more of Him everyday till you meet Him in glory.

Key Point:

Those who went before us have left a great legacy for us; what legacy are we leaving behind for our children regarding the Christian faith?

Hymn 14

HYMN 14 – TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

Verse 1:

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;

Let them flow in endless praise.

Verse 2:

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for thee.

Verse 3:

Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Verse 4:

Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Verse 5:

Take my will and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Verse 6:

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.