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

Open Heavens 18 September 2016:- Know Your Limit

Posted: 15 Sep 2016 02:42 PM PDT

KNOW YOUR LIMIT – Sunday September 18^th 2016

Memorise: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Read: Romans 12:3-10, (KJV)

³For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

⁴For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

⁵So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

⁶Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

⁷Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

⁸Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

⁹Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

¹⁰Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Bible in one year: Jeremiah 52, Psalms 62

MESSAGE

The common saying that no man is an Island comes to play in a very strong way here. The meaning of the title 'Know Your Limit' as explained in the memory verse for today can only be properly understood in the light of Biblical doctrine. Theology is a big word that simply means the study of God; it is an indispensable part of spiritual learning. Divine truths are closely related to each other, and cannot be viewed in their right proportions or taught rightly except in their mutual connection. God inspired several individuals in the writing of the Bible, there is no book of the Bible that is complete in itself, each one depends on others to give complete knowledge of any aspect of Biblical Doctrine. Some tell the beginning, while others tell the middle or tail end of the story. For example, the doctrine of salvation, baptism, communion, divine healing, sin and the second coming of Jesus, cannot be fully understood by reading any one book of the Bible. This is the reason why 1^st Corinthians 2:13 says: 18 September 2016 open heavens

"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

Therefore, in order for us to remain in tune with the Holy Ghost, we as Christians must be conscious of our limitations as human beings. First, we only know in part, our knowledge of anything is at best partial or subjective and dependent on available information. We must therefore acknowledge the general human limitations and our individual limitations in accordance with the mighty knowledge of God. This is the only way to remain humble and teachable, the only way to focus on the Spirit of the Word always, rather than the letter which kills (2^nd Corinthians 3:6) Open Heavens 18 September 2016:- Know Your Limit

This is the only way to be "approved unto God" and to "rightly divide the word of truth." Note that the study of any particular Bible truth in isolation, without considering its relations to other Bible truths, is a common cause of narrowness which frequently produces heresy.

Prayer Point

Father, please help me to know my limits and be focused on the spirit in Jesus' name.

Open Heavens 17 September 2016:- Spiritually Motivated?

Posted: 15 Sep 2016 02:28 PM PDT

SPIRITUALLY MOTIVATED? – Saturday September 17^th 2016

Memorise: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

Read: Romans 8:33-39, (KJV)

³³Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

³⁴Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Bible in one year: Jeremiah 51, Psalms 61

MESSAGE

Motivation is the act of providing someone with a reason to act in a certain way. Christians can motivate or encourage one another to have greater confidence in God and to be very bold in living out their faith. Spiritual motivation drives away the spirit of fear and helps to develop the boldness required for the correct application of God's Word to life situations. No leader can achieve anything without boldness. It takes courage to follow God. It takes courage to obey God. Anyone who lacks courage will be full of fear. If you are afraid, you cannot take any progressive stride. 17 September 2016 open heavens

A hireling fears and hides when the sheep is confronted by wolves because he thinks of his safety before anything else. A shepherd on the other hand is bold and resists any wolf even at the risk of his own life. In John 10:11, Jesus says,

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

A true shepherd is not afraid of danger. Some pastors or leaders are not available when their members are in distress; but that is when you should be there to stand with them in faith and prayer, and guide them properly. You cannot allow a strange beast to take advantage of your flock. You must fight all intruders and send them packing. This takes boldness; your ability to be bold in the face of danger enhances your power base. Some leaders are very chickenhearted. Every little situation gets them into a panic. Meanwhile, 2^nd Timothy 1:7 says,

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Therefore, be spiritually motivated because the Spirit that God has deposited within you is of power and sound mind. Open Heavens 17 September 2016:- Spiritually Motivated?

Do you know that even great leaders suffer from fear? One outstanding leader with a great congregation in Bible times who lacked boldness was Joshua. As near perfect as he was, Joshua was afraid. He was afraid to stand in Moses' shoes. He was afraid when he realised that he was asked to finish the assignment that his predecessor – Moses, with all the anointing to open and shut Heaven could not finish. He got scared whenever he thought of the sudden promotion he got from being a servant to a national leader with millions of followers. He was afraid when he remembered that he was called to lead an unruly congregation who were capable of revolting and stoning their leaders to death. Why are you afraid? Do not look at the nature of the assignment. Do not look at the size; do not look at the fierce looking faces. Do not focus on the situation of lack of resources. Focus on the One who has called you, He will see you through. Ask for the Spirit of boldness to manifest in every area of your life from today. The battle is already won and you are more than conqueror.

Prayer Point

Father, please give me the boldness to face all my fears in Jesus' name.