Topic: Under Authority? [Tuesday 27, June 2017]

Memorise: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. – Romans 13:1

Read: Acts 8:12-17 (KJV)

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Bible in One Year: Ruth 2-4, Lamentation 1:1-12, Hymn: Sing hymn 14

MESSAGE:

It is one thing to serve the Lord, and another thing to submit to authority. Some people can render service to God but they cannot submit themselves to the authority of someone the Lord has placed over them. In today’s Bible reading, after the apostles heard that a deacon was making waves in Samaria, they decided to go and see what was going on. Peter was asked to lead the delegation there. On arrival, Philip received them warmly, introduced them to the Samaritan converts as his leaders and submitted himself to their authority. There was no conflict whatsoever! If it were some people today, there would have been a rift. They would have confronted these leaders with rash words such as ”Pastor Peter, where do you think you have come to? When there was no revival here, you never came to Samaria. Now that God has used me to bring revival to Samaria, you have come to take over the work and the glory. I will never allow you to do this. You may be an apostle, but I am the one God used to save these souls and perform these signs and wonders, so please return to your Jerusalem.”

Do you know that there are some pastors that God used in building up a church, who down the line defy all moves to transfer them elsewhere? They believe that since they did all the hard work of building from scratch, they should be left to enjoy the ‘dividends’ of their labour. This only shows a lack of understanding. In the first place, whatever work we do in the Kingdom of God is done for God and not for any man. Also, the means used for the work, whether physical, financial or material, come from God. Furthermore, no human being can adequately reward you for work you do for God. Similarly, God does not owe any one who serves Him: He always rewards them here on earth and later in eternity, as promised by the Lord in Matthew 19:29:

”And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”

There should be no conflict at all on such matters. When a person is told by their authority to relocate, it should be clear to him or her that God is most likely through with using him or her in that current location. If you find it difficult to submit to your earthly superiors, it means that you are not ready for the ministry of signs and wonders. Are you under authority, or do you resist and struggle with your superiors? Repent and make amends today!

Key Point: Refusing to submit to the powers above you makes you a rebel, and this attracts divine condemnation (Romans 13:2).

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide 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.

Today’s Scripture: “When darkness overtakes him, light will come bursting in…” – (Psalm 112:4, TLB)

Topic: Light in the Darkness [Monday June 26, 2017]

Everyone goes through seasons of difficulty or times when things just seem dark. During these challenging times, know that you are not alone. God has a plan to drive out the darkness—He will flood you with His light! Notice that in today’s verse it doesn’t say, “The light will come trickling in.” No, it says that the light will come bursting in! That means suddenly, you will see God’s goodness. Suddenly, you’ll be promoted. Suddenly, the answer will come!

If you’ve been going through a difficult time, get ready for the goodness of God in a new way. Know that His light is about to come bursting in! Get ready for breakthroughs. Get ready for promotion. Get ready for restoration. You may have had that problem for a long, long time, but today could be the day that it turns around. Suddenly, things can change! God wants His glory to be seen on you. He wants you to stand out in the crowd. He wants you to be so blessed that everyone around you can see His goodness on you! So keep standing, keep believing, keep hoping and keep declaring His Word because His light is going to come bursting in!

A Prayer for Today: “Heavenly Father, thank You for Your light that drives out every trace of darkness! I choose to expect Your goodness. I choose to focus on Your faithfulness. I trust that You are working behind the scenes, and I expect that You will turn things around for my good in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Topic: In Christ [Monday, 26th June 2017]

For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Acts 17:28

It’s amazing to know that we are in Christ. Being in Christ is the best thing ever. God did not only give us His life, He also put us in Him. Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:3 that we are hid in Christ with God. Christ, to us, is not just a place of dwelling but a place we function from. Christ is the place where we exist, where the whole essence of our life find meaning. And because we are in Christ, our existence is worthwhile and we fulfill purpose.

Most people are still grappling with the meaning of life and what it is worth. But not us, for those in Christ knows why He has giving us His life and why we exist, and that is to fulfill His divine purpose (Romans 8:28, John 9:4). We also know that, because we function – move – in Him, we have all been blessed with all that we need to function maximally, without any inhibition (Ephesians 1:3).

Being in Christ is being in the Anointed One and being clothed with the anointing. Scriptures say in Galatians 3:27 AMP that “for as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ.” This makes the anointing of God to be available to EVERYONE in Christ. Very importantly, we must know that the functionality of the anointing we have been clothed with is limitless. It is profitable to all things, and as long as you are in Christ, you are capable of putting the anointing to use to the glory of God.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Thank You Lord for placing me in Christ. I live, move and exist in Christ. I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. I am clothed with the anointing in Christ. And in Christ I live a victorious life daily, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Topic: Don’t Rely On Experience! [Monday June 26, 2017]

In Genesis chapter 12, the Bible records that there was a grievous famine in the land of Canaan and Abraham went down to Egypt to sojourn there. In chapter 26, in the days of Isaac it says, “…there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham…” (Gen 26:1). Now, experience teaches that Isaac should do as Abraham his father did, and also go down to Egypt.

But the Lord said to Isaac, “…Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee…” (Gen 26:2-3). That is experience versus divine direction. Isaac sojourned and sowed in that land and despite the famine, he reaped a hundred fold in the same year. The Lord blessed him and he became very great until the Philistines envied him. Just for responding to divine direction. You know why divine direction is superior to experience? God knows the future; He sees the end from the beginning.

In Exodus chapter 14, the children of Israel took their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land and they came to the Red Sea. When they saw the Egyptians chasing after them, they began to murmur and complain but Moses cried unto God. And in verse 16, the Lord said to him, “…Lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it…” Moses did as he was directed and the children of Israel went on dry ground through the Red Sea. In chapter 15, after three days journey in the desert, they came to Marah but they could not drink the water there because it was bitter and again the people murmured. Moses cried to the Lord and the Lord showed him a tree, which he cast into the water and it was made sweet.

Topic: Nothing But Christ [Monday June 26, 2017]

For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you. And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power.  — 1 Corinthians 2:2-4

I’ve tried to imagine what it would have been like to go to Corinth or other Greek cities at the time of Paul and try to speak to those wise, brilliant thinkers. After studying every parchment given to me, and gaining knowledge of all their arguments, I would have prayed for God to help me overcome their objections.

We don’t know what Paul did, but his answer is astounding. Instead of going after them with great reasoning and sharp logic, he went in exactly the opposite direction. He stayed in Corinth a year and a half, and many came to Christ because of him. Later, when he wrote 1 Corinthians, he said, “For I resolved to know nothing . . . among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified” (2:2). That’s amazing. If any man had the ability to reason with those Greeks and could show them the fallacies of their logic, surely that man was Paul. But, being led by the Holy Spirit, he chose a defenseless presentation—to let God speak through him and touch the hearts of the people.

Now, centuries later, I appreciate his approach—although I didn’t always feel this way. For a long time I wanted to explain and reason out everything, but when that didn’t work, I ended up feeling miserable.

I’ve always been curious, always wanted to know, and always wanted to figure out the answer. Then God began to work in my life. He showed me that my constant drive to figure it out caused me confusion and prevented me from receiving many of the things He wanted me to have. He said, You must lay aside carnal reasoning if you expect to have discernment.

I didn’t like loose ends, so I felt more secure when I figured things out. I wanted to be in control of every detail of every situation. When I didn’t understand or was unable to figure things out, I felt out of control. And that was frightening to me. Something was wrong—I was troubled and had no peace of mind. Sometimes, frustrated and exhausted, I would just give up.

It was a long battle for me because I finally admitted something to myself (God knew it all along): I was addicted to reasoning. It was more than a tendency or desire to figure out things. It was a compulsion. I had to have answers—and had to have them right now. When God was finally able to convince me of my addiction, I was able to give it up.

It wasn’t easy. Like people who withdraw from drugs or alcohol, I had withdrawal symptoms. I felt lost. Frightened. Alone. I had always depended on my ability to figure things out. Now, like Paul, I had to depend on God.

Too many people assume that relying only on God is something we do easily and naturally. It didn’t work that way with me. But God was gracious and patient with me. It was as if He’d whisper, You’re not there yet, Joyce, but you’re making progress. It’s uncomfortable because you’re learning a new way to live.

God wants us to be victorious—and I knew that all along. Now I walk in greater victory than ever before—and I no longer try to reason out everything before I act.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being so patient with me and people like me who feel we must have all the answers before we can act or trust. In the name of Jesus, help me to simply trust in You, knowing that You will give me what is best for my life. Amen.

Topic: Born Into Captivity? [Monday 26, June 2017]

Memorise: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. – 1 John 3:8

Read: Exodus 1:8-12 (KJV)

8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

Bible in One Year: Judges 21, Ruth 1, Jeremiah 52:24-34, Hymn: Sing hymn 4

MESSAGE:

While some people fall into captivity through traps set by the tempter, some others, like Joseph, are sold into slavery (Genesis 37:23-28). In some parts of Africa, when a child is born, both parents of that child or either one of them enter into a covenant involving that child and some deity or spirit-wife or husband. Such a child later grows up to find that he or she has been sold into slavery. There are many childless couples who go to some deities for help, because they can no longer wait on God to give them good children. This opens the door to satanic offspring in their lives. Later in life, such demonic children will become devourers of their resources and peace. May you never be so frustrated as to go to the devil for help! Satan’s ”help” is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).

Moreover, in today’s Bible reading, we understand that some people enter into slavery right from birth. When a pharaoh that did not know Joseph arose in Egypt and enacted new laws that made the Israelites slaves, every child that was born to them from that moment was born into slavery. In whatever way you have found yourself in captivity, whether by choice, design or by birth, there is deliverance for you today. The Great Deliverer is able and willing to deliver you. 1 John 3:8 says Jesus Christ was manifested in order to destroy the works of the devil. Captivity is the work of the devil, and he seeks to control and ruin lives by it. The predator runs the lives of his captives. When he wants, he whips them, pushes them into difficulties and mocks them while they struggle. He dictates what they become and where they will end. The fellow in captivity has virtually lost control over his or her life. You cannot be a captive and at the same time be free to serve God the way you want. One of the reasons why Jesus Christ came into this world was to make us free to serve God. Contained in the prophecy of Zacharias about the Lord Jesus Christ is this statement about His mission, in Luke 1:74-75:

”74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”

This is why you have to arise in anger today and rebel against any form of captivity you have found yourself in, and ask Jesus Christ to deliver you now. You shall be free today!

Prayer Point: In any way I and members of my family have found ourselves in captivity, we rebel and break away from it today!

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide 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.

Topic: Mother of Nations! (4)

Dear Reader,

You have been exposed to what makes you a mother of nation via God’s Word. First, your inheritance in God forbids unfruitfulness.  Also, you must stand against the wiles of the devil by taking a step of faith.

Your attitude which is very important in getting your desired miracle must change from sad to being joyful. I believe by now, your expectation is very high, and your desires shall not be cut off in Jesus’ name.

In this concluding part this week, I shall be considering this topic: Keeping my blessing. .  The Word of God says: Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate (Psalm 127:3-5).  Right from the period of your pregnancy, to the time of childhood upbringing, you must know that you are just a custodian of God’s heritage. I want you to have this understanding about your children:

Children are blessings from God: They are blessings to the family, and are unique blends of their parents.  It is important as a family, to understand this fact that children are given to us as part of our heritage; they are part of our inheritance in Christ Jesus.  It is important for parents to see them as part of their heritage from the Almighty God. In case you don’t have them yet, begin to imagine them as part of your blessings in Christ.  They are on their way, because God created you to be fruitful and He has pronounced you fruitful.

Children are gifts from God: We are made to understand from God’s Word that we are created in the image of God, then, those children as well are perfect picture of God. You are privileged to have them as gifts from Him. The Bible says: it can never by your making, children come as gift. These gifts are to be treasured.  You cannot buy them, you can only receive them with thanksgiving.

Children are not burdens: Quite a number of parents see their children as burdens.  When the children do something wrong, instead of standing up to their own responsibilities, they look at them as burdensome and troublesome.  Your perspective in life is very important. It determines what you eventually get. The Bible also says: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).

When you see a child as a burden in your life, that child will truly be a burden to you. Children are blessings from God.  I want you to change your perspective about your children.  See them, and look at them with your spiritual eyes as blessings of the Lord. The Word of the Lord says: The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). Your children shall not add sorrow to you.  Maybe, you have children that are problematic or they are like “thorns” in your flesh, today, I pray that God’s power will reach them.  No matter how troublesome they are, God will turn their lives around for good in Jesus’ mighty name.

Children are assets: From the Scripture we started with, verse 4 says: As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of thy youth.  An arrow for the mighty man is an asset, a weapon of warfare to him. So, also are the children. In other words, children are assets, and blessings.  Verse 5 also says: Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.  God wants you to enjoy your children; they shall make you happy and not sorrowful in Jesus name.

Being born again is the gateway to fruitfulness. If you are yet to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, you can do so now. If you would want to give your life to Christ, you can say this prayer of faith: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

If you prayed this simple prayer, congratulations, you are now a child of God! He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name!! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through [email protected]; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home, Success in Marriage (Co-Authored) and You Shall not be Barren – David Oyedepo

Topic: Jesus Found Him [Monday June 26, 2017]

John 9:35 “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”

John 9:35

It is one thing to seek God; it is quite another thing to have God seek you. Jesus sought this man out when others had forsaken him. The acceptance of Jesus is worth more than everything this world has to offer This is what enables the believer to endure and even leap for joy amidst persecution.

When our sufferings in Christ abound, then the consolation of Christ abounds much more. Notice that this man’s parents, who knew the truth, but refused to share it for fear of persecution, did not have Jesus seeking them out (Jn. 9:22). They chose the company of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, which is exactly what they got.

Even though the believer is redeemed and delivered from many afflictions that were a result of sin and its power, we are still called to partake in what the scriptures call the “sufferings or afflictions of Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5; Col. 1:24). However, these afflictions are not sickness and poverty as some religious teachings suggest. These afflictions are described as the “fellowship of sufferings” that the believer will encounter for doing the will of God, or the sufferings brought on by one’s allegiance to Christ.

Persecution for righteousness’ sake is not something that we can rebuke (2 Tim. 3:12). We must remember that as we live godly lives, suffering will follow. The Apostle Peter reminds us that these trials of our faith will result in praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:7). Jesus’ comfort, strength, help, and love are ready to “overflow” into every “trial” that we face if we will only look to Him (Heb. 12:2).

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net)