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

ALWAYS ON TIME – Monday May 30th 2016
THE TRIAL OF FAITH – Sunday May 29th 2016
LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE – Saturday May 28th 2016
VENGEANCE IS THE LORD’S – Friday May 27th 2016

ALWAYS ON TIME – Monday May 30th 2016

Posted: 26 May 2016 02:57 PM PDT

ALWAYS ON TIME

Memorise: Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother

had not died. John 11:21

Read: John 11:21-26, ²¹Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

²²But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

²³Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

²⁴Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

²⁵Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

²⁶And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
King James Version (KJV)

Bible in one year: 2^nd Chronicles 7:4-9:31, Proverbs 31:16-31

MESSAGE

Situations in life sometimes portray God as being insensitive to human suffering, sorrow and pain. On this account People tend to blame God by asking questions such as, where was God when the bad act was taking place. Why did God not intervene on time? Our memory verse says,

"Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."

John 11:21

By this statement, she was implying that the damage had been done, if the Lord had really wanted to help the situation, He would have arrived much earlier. But I have good news for you, God is never late, He is always on time. He is omnipresent; He is not bound by human timing. He knows the end from the beginning, He does not sleep or slumber, He can do all things, and forgetfulness is not part of His nature. David was obviously in the spirit when he penned Psalms 102:13 which says:

"Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time of favour her, yea, the set time, is come."

When talking about favour, generally, there is a time requirement involved. Some are born into favour from their first day on earth. Some enter into favour in their childhood or teen years. Others encounter favour as adults while some experience it at old age. In the same vein, some experience favour in one or two areas of their lives, while for some, when favour comes, it covers every department of their lives. Whether if comes early or later, or covers one or all areas of life, the coming of favour is characterized by a chain of goodies: bountiful joy, breakthroughs, miracles and blessings. In the scriptures, the time of favour has been termed a time of divine remembrance.

In Genesis 30:22-24, we see the case of Rachel. For many years, her womb was closed. There could be several factors responsible for this ranging from biological to divine. Although, her husband loved her very much, his love could not terminate her childlessness. Meanwhile, her sister Leah had become a baby making factory. The anguish of the barren in the midst of fruitful people can best be imagined. Genesis 30:1 says it got to a point Rachel preferred death to the unending embarrassment she was going through. Have you been in a similar situation where your high school pals are gainfully employed, own cars, and live in their personal houses while you are still combing the streets looking for a job? How do you feel when you all have to attend a meeting and everyone cruises in with their brand new cars except you? You may be compelled to keep away from them in order to avoid embarrassment. Don't despair! Thank God Rachel's time of favour came and God remembered her. At last, apart from having two children, Joseph, her firstborn, became an Egyptian Prince – ruling over the world. Do you know your time of favour is coming? It is around the corner. God will remember you and could even make you overtake those who started much earlier than you. It may appear as if God forgot you all these years, but your time of divine remembrance have come. Celebrate Jesus as you step into your time of divine favour in Jesus' name.

Prayer Point

Father, let my time of favour come now in Jesus' name.

THE TRIAL OF FAITH – Sunday May 29th 2016

Posted: 26 May 2016 02:53 PM PDT

THE TRIAL OF FAITH

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though

some strange thing happened unto you. 1^st Peter 4:12

Read: 1^st Peter 1:1-7, 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

²Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

⁴To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

⁵Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

⁷That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: King James Version (KJV)

Bible in one year: 2^nd Chronicles 5:2-7:3, Proverbs 31:1-15

MESSAGE

Faith, by its very nature, must be tried, and the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character has to be cleared in our own minds. Faith in its actual working out has to go through spells of isolation. Never confuse the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life. Much that we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive. Faith in the Bible is faith in God against everything that contradicts Him – 'I will remain true to God's character whatever He may do'. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" – this is the most sublime utterance of faith.

Trials of faith are difficult to bear; for they cause heaviness or depression of the mind, (Hebrews 10:32). "Why art thou cast down, O my soul! And why art thou disquieted within me?" is often the language of the child of God. But ought he ever to be cast down? Ought he not to be superior to the trials of life, and to soar above them as on eagles' wings? No; Christianity is not Stoicism, and, if a believer does not feel his troubles, there would cease to be such, and it would not affect their purpose and design. While, he does not yield to a spirit of dejection, or allow it to overcome him, he must feel when in the furnace or trial even as did our Lord Himself. In the presence of others, however, he should endeavour to be cheerful, and the more so if he occupies a public position in the Church, so that he doesn't discourage those around him. When Joseph's brethren appeared before him, he felt deep emotions, and could scarcely restrain himself. He left them, therefore, that he might weep in secret before God, and then he returned, relieved of the oppressive load (Genesis 43:30-31).

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as through some strange thing happened unto you:"

1^st Peter 4:12

Trials of faith should be endured because they are temporary. Trials are not supposed to be permanent fixtures in life, they are for a season.

A day of adversity comes, when darkness intercepts the skies, when the storm sets in on every side, when not a gleam of light shines upon the path you tread; and then, perhaps, you hastily concluded that it will always be so. But no; sorrow endures for the night, but joy comes in the morning. It is only for a while that the trials lasts, and before long there is an opening in the clouds, the sun's bright beams burst through them again, and you are filled with hope and joy. There are some trials, which are life-long in their effects, and can never be forgotten, like a deep wound in the flesh which, though healed, leaves a scar which must be carried to the grave. But the longest trials, and those which leave the deepest wounds, are only for a season – the season of our earthly life, and in a brighter sphere we shall forget them all, or remember them only as the wounded soldier remembers what he has passed through when he returns victorious from the field of battle. May you receive strength to bear your trials and to overcome all in Jesus' name.

Prayer Point

Father, please don't let me fail in the trials of life in Jesus' name.

LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE – Saturday May 28th 2016

Posted: 26 May 2016 02:47 PM PDT

LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE

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

wash one another's feet. John 13:14

Read: John 13:12-17, ¹²So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

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. King James Version (KJV)

Bible in one year: 2^nd Chronicles 1:1-5:1, Proverbs 30:18-33

MESSAGE

There is nothing more fulfilling than a life of service. Jesus Christ washed the feet of His disciples to set an example of what leadership is. Jesus Christ being our Lord and Saviour, our master and instructor has proven to us that leadership is not title but service. It is service that shows relevance, one may have a title and not be relevant in the scheme of things. That should not be heard of among the children of God. Even though He was the master, yet, He condescended so low in humility to serve His disciples. This means a leader irrespective of the position he occupies, must never forget that the essence of that position is to serve the people that God he entrusted in his care. Every leader must emulate people like Gideon and Abimelech who led by service. Judges 9:48 says:

"And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bought from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, what ye have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done"

As ministers of the gospel, we are to show grace, humility and love at every given time. We must serve the interest of those the Lord has put in our trust at every given time. You as a leader should not lord it over people. People should not obey you simply because of the office you occupy. They should respect you for the value you are adding to their lives.

Our knowledge of Jesus as the creator of all things who still stooped low to clean the feet of those people He created should make us think twice. We must be able to go the extra mile for the physical and spiritual needs of the people we are leading. The Bible demands that whoever will be great should be a servant (Matthew 20:27).

The essence of the anointing of God in your life is not for show but for service. Service is a fundamental aspect of leadership. The moment you remove service from your life, there is no room for good leadership. People should see the good example you are showing and praise God for your life. There are people occupying one office or the other and they have become principalities and powers to those they are supposed to serve. They use the instrument of office to oppress others. This is not the example that Jesus set. Invest in people, and they will give you their commitment and loyalty. Value people genuinely, and they will respect you. A true leader is identified by the value he places on those under him. You must labour more than those under you. Apostle Paul was a latecomer but he laboured more than others, and he admonished us to follow in his footstep as he followed Jesus Christ. Leadership is awesome, but you need the wisdom of God to be able to lead well. The Lord will assist you in Jesus' name.

Prayer point

Father, let my life be a good example for others to follow.

VENGEANCE IS THE LORD’S – Friday May 27th 2016

Posted: 26 May 2016 02:32 PM PDT

VENGEANCE IS THE LORD'S

Memorise: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give please unto wrath:

for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19

Read: Ezekiel 25:12-14, ¹²Thus saith the Lord God; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;

¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.

¹⁴And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord God.

Bible in one year: 1^st Chronicles 28-29, Proverbs 30:7-17

MESSAGE

Many passages of the Bible reiterate the fact that vengeance belongs to God alone. Because vengeance belongs to the Lord, it is His right to execute it. He said in Romans 12:19, "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord." Deuteronomy 32:35 also says, "To me belongs vengeance". Even Psalms 94:1 says, "O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs, show thyself." God's people are not to avenge themselves; especially when He makes use of them as His instruments. God must be seen as the one in action, personalities involved should assume the position of an ordinary instrument in the hand of the Almighty. Romans 12:19 says:

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

We as children of God must never make any move to avenge ourselves under any circumstance. You can be sure that God will surely fight on your behalf according to His word. God will avenge His people upon their adversaries; He will not allow any unrepentant sinner to go unpunished. You must know that God does not want the death of any sinner; therefore, He will make ways for repentance by making a reasonably long period of grace available to sinners and adversaries alike. But you can be sure that at the right time, He will make good His promises to His people, and they will be avenged of their enemies. But, because His mercy endures forever, He will even spend several warnings to the enemies to prompt them towards repentance as recorded in Isaiah 47:3:

"Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man."

But let enemies not be encouraged by this to continue in wickedness, because God will surely avenge His elect, because they are so near and dear to Him. God has always been a witness to the rage and oppression of the enemies; He is a quiet listener to the threatening and arrogant boastings of these enemies. It does not please any father to watch his dear children being tormented, beaten, enslaved, burned alive, and killed, before his eyes. We are His beloved; He suffered and died by carrying out the ultimate sacrifice of our sakes.

The compassionates and tender heart of a husband toward his betrothed wife cannot be over emphasized. Our heavenly Father is always sharing in our affliction, and bitterness of soul, every time any of His children is being brutalized. God will avenge His own elect to convince the world of how grievous it has been for Him to behold all the violence and cruelty wicked men have done unto His own people.

God will avenge His people because the days of the wicked must end, and the days of the saints must begin. Also, because the harvest of the prayers and cries of God's elect is now ripe. Your deliverance is here, you can begin to celebrate Jesus. Praise God!

Prayer Point

Father, from today, I will stay quiet and watch You avenge me.