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

NO PARTIALITY – Saturday May 21st 2016
BEING UNMOVEABLE – Friday May 20th 2016
THE SERVANT LEADER – Thursday May 19th 2016
A GIANT KILLER? – Wednesday May 18th 2016

NO PARTIALITY – Saturday May 21st 2016

Posted: 17 May 2016 03:02 PM PDT

NO PARTIALITY – Saturday May 21^st 2016

Memorise: Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1^st Timothy

5:20

Read: 1^st Timothy 5:17-21, ¹⁷Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

¹⁸For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

¹⁹Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

²⁰Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

²¹I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Bible in one year: 1^st Chronicles 10:12, Proverbs 27:15-28:1

MESSAGE

Partiality is defined as a favourable bias or prejudice. It could also mean a special fondness, or preferential treatment. The Bible speaks against partiality as an abomination in the sight of God. Partiality is especially evil because it leads to divisions, intrigue, envy, hatred, and unhealthy competition among the people of God. It is also terrible, in that it places the poor and the weak at a disadvantage. In any organization or community where partiality is practiced, peace and unity will be a rare community. The book of James reveals that the poor have a very important place in the Church because of the levelling effect of the Christian gospel. Also the nature and make-up of the Church has no place for the social classifications and distinctions of the world. In fact, if a Christian body should give any consideration to these distinctions, it becomes, by fact, evil, and sides with the wealthy who persecute Christians.

From the account of Genesis, it was favouritism that fuelled the fire of contention between Joseph and his brothers. The Bible has much to say about the pitfalls of partiality. In the Old Testament, favouritism is usually associated with injustice and bribery. But it was James who condemned partiality most harshly. As a leader in the early church, James witnessed Christians showing preference for wealthy members over poor ones. In his letter, James asks his audience a rhetorical question: "My brothers and sisters,
do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?" He said those who played favourites were like evil judges, and he condemned them for it: "But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and thus are convicted by the law as transgressions." His solution to the problem of partiality was simple. He issued the command: "Carry out the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself."

It's clear, in both Testaments, that any expression of favouritism is wrong and likely to produce disastrous consequences. Jacob's disproportionate love for Joseph alienated Joseph from his brothers and eventually led to his enslavement. Jacob's partiality also led to his greatness heartache – the loss of his son.

Because respect of persons or partiality is used biblically in a negative sense, the Bible declares several times that God is never guilty or partiality. Paul clearly states in a universal context that God does not show partiality or respect of persons in His judgement of the works of individuals. God's impartiality is made the basis for Paul's command to Christian masters to treat their slaves fairly since there is no favouritism with God, their own great Master in heaven (Ephesians 6:9). Paul uses this attitude of God to encourage the Christian slave to serve his master wholeheartedly, since he will be repaid by his impartial God in heaven.

Prayer point

Father, please purge my heart and Your Church of all acts of partiality and favouritism in Jesus' name.

BEING UNMOVEABLE – Friday May 20th 2016

Posted: 17 May 2016 02:59 PM PDT

BEING UNMOVEABLE

Memorise: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the

wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

Read: 1^st Corinthians 15:58, ⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Bible in one year: 1^st Chronicles 7-9, Proverbs 27:1-14

MESSAGE

As Christians, it is necessary that we are settled in our convictions, steadfast in faith and established in the Word of God. We should also be unmovable wherever external forces are concerned. We should be like a ship in a storm, solidly anchored. The winds may toss it to and fro, but it will only move around without being seriously troubled. A ship that is properly anchored will not be affected by the waves and the wind on the surface. 1^st Corinthians 15:58 says;

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always, abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

While this passage may have a general usage, it has a more specific meaning than what is usually assigned to it. Unmoveable or immovable means incapable of being moved, it means no matter what the devil does, the solid foundation of faith, which is built on the Word of God will hold things together. We must not allow ourselves to be moved away from what is right. Paul said, "Be not carried about with the divers and strange doctrines" (Hebrews 13:9). Furthermore, Colossians 2:6-7 says,

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith,
as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

There are constantly new forces, new invasions, new innovations which seek to push us off course. We must be un-moveable in the face of such attacks. The Christian's anchor is his faith and hope in the power of God. We are secure in the face of such attacks, always abounding in the work of the Lord. We must be constant, dedicated, unswerving in our dedication. The "work of the Lord" is what God has assigned to us. It includes not only our personal growth, but the growth of the church. Our love for God can be measured to some extent by how much we are willing to do. If one does "just enough to get by" his love is at best questionable.

'Abounding' means surpassing that which is required, or necessary for us, it militates against stagnation, separates the convicted from the nearly so, promotes spiritual health an d well-being, and amplifies the hope we have in Christ. That person who seeks to abound will seek opportunities to serve. He will not ask, "Do I have to?" but "what can I do?" Our labour is not in vain; both our labour and our hope are secure in Jesus. If we are steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in His work, we will reap in due season, if we faint not.

Prayer Point'

Father, please let my anchor hold firmly on You, don't let me ever fail in Jesus Name.

THE SERVANT LEADER – Thursday May 19th 2016

Posted: 17 May 2016 02:57 PM PDT

THE SERVANT LEADER

Memorise: If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to

wash one another's feet. John 13:14

Read: John 13:13-17, ¹³Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

¹⁵For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

¹⁶Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

¹⁷If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Bible in one year: 1^st Chronicles 4:24-6:81, Proverbs 26:15-28

MESSAGE

One great difference between servant leaders and self-serving leaders is that servant leaders always look at leadership as an act of service, while self-serving leaders view leadership as a high status and spend most of their time trying to protect their status. Servant leaders would embrace and welcome feedback, viewing it as a source of useful information on how they can provide better service, but self-serving leaders usually respond negatively, taking a harmless feedback as a sign of rejection. In Matthew 20:26b-28 Jesus said;

"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Servant leadership is service to others. It is not about lobbying for a position, nor politicking for power. Instead, it is looking for the opportunity to serve. This is not attractive to the insecure soul in need of abundant attention. Servant leaders avoid the limelight and serve in ways that often go unnoticed. The little things are what make a servant leader. It may be taking out the trash at home or making the coffee at work.

No task is too menial for the servant leader; there is something bigger than behaviour which distinguishes a servant leader. It is an attitude which wants to make others succeed. He knows that if those around him are successful, then there is a good chance that he too will experience success. He is wise to want what's best for others.
Jesus served for the glory of God. His ultimate service was laying down His life in love. In Matthew 10:39, our Lord Jesus who is an example of a perfect leader says;

"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

Any leader that is preoccupied with personal interests, protection of status, and preservation of positions, may not be a good ambassador of Christ. Another thing that helps you to identify a serving leader is integrity. They usually men and women of integrity. Proverbs 11:3 says the integrity of the righteous provides him with direction. Being someone who wants to please God, there are certain things he cannot do. Anything God will not be pleased with is a no-go area for him. Being a man of integrity, he states the exact time of his arrival in the office. In fact, everyone will strive to arrive before him knowing that he cannot alter his arrival time. He cannot also compromise the truth. He will not buy something for =N=100 and say he bought it for =N=500. He keeps his promises. His word is his bond. His relationship with the opposite sex is clean. He cannot take what does not belong to him. He has clean hands and a pure heart. Are you a man or woman of integrity?

Prayer Point

Father, please make me a servant leader, ever focused on your relationship principles in Jesus' name.

A GIANT KILLER? – Wednesday May 18th 2016

Posted: 17 May 2016 02:54 PM PDT

A GIANT KILLER?

Memorise: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do

mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:13

Read: Colossians 3:1-6, 3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

⁵Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

⁶For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Bible in one year: 1^st Colossians 1:1-4:23, Proverbs 26:1-14

MESSAGE

David is the biblical man for all seasons, the most complex and many-sided human character in the Scripture. David was variously shepherd, fugitive, politician, king, poet, musician, prophet, warrior, friend (of Jonathan), lover, father, sinner (adulterer and murderer), penitent and "type" of Christ. David is unique among bible characters by virtue of being fully known to us, both from the outside (as subject of narrative writing) and from the inside (as writer of Lyric poems). While many post biblical exegetical and literary traditions take extravagant liberties with biblical data, the traditions stemming from David can all find biblical basis. This includes the Puritan image of David the reformer, the true child of God resisting the assaults of a tyrannical king (Saul), beset by slanderers and enemies; the champion who fought against God's enemies, the king who reformed the nation and established worship on a holy foundation.

The role in which David is best known to the Western imagination is that of 'boy hero and giant killer'. When David killed Goliath, he became an instant public hero, a civic liberator providing possible inspiration for fictional heroes, following in his wake from Beowulf to Jack (of the beanstalk). To this day we read in the newspapers about someone pulling of a "little David" act in sports or politics, or about a "David and Goliath" contest. David's success in expanding the territory of Israel was unequalled in the annals of Israeli history.

David's career as a national hero was preceded by his career as an underdog. The youngest son, belittled by his older siblings (1^st Samuel 17:28-29), David was considered so unlikely a candidate among Jesse's sons to be anointed as the future king that he had to be summoned from tending the sheep after the other brothers had been passed over (1^st Samuel 16:6-11).
Subsequently, he had a career as a fugitive, fleeing from the wrathful Saul, living continuously on the edge. There is even a touch of David as a rebel and a desperado. Jesus cited David as a precedent for disobeying the Levitical laws on the basis of the time when David took consecrated bread to feed his hungry men, and also ate from it too (Matthew 12:3-4). Then there is David the political strategist. Even after he was anointed king of Judah, David had to undertake a long process of consolidating his power until he eventually became king of the entire nation (2^nd Samuel 2-5).

Anyone who has ever been to Sunday school probably knows the story of David and Goliath. In fact, the concept of a boy giant-killer excites even the imaginations of unbelievers. And well it should. Not only is this an actual historical event and a wonderful Bible story to tell our children, it is also a powerful demonstration of victorious spiritual warfare. It's a story we need to revisit often as we mature in the Lord. The imagery in this story is rich with profound spiritual truths and insights that can help strengthen our own understanding of how to engage effectively in spiritual battle. With your study group, read through this passage, ask the Holy Spirit to open your mind and heart to new truths, and then together begin to 'mine' the rich treasure contained in this passage.

Prayer Point

Father, please give me the grace to achieve greater feats than David.