Open Heavens 13 July 2017 by Pastor Adeboye: Pray in the Spirit

Topic: Pray in the Spirit [Thursday 13, July 2017]

Memorise: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. – Romans 8:26

Read: Romans 8:26-27 (KJV)

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 1-2, Ezekiel 7:5-22, Hymn: Sing hymn 15

MESSAGE:

Prayer is very important for every Christian. Most times, we pray in the language that we speak and understand, but sometimes, we get into a fix, not knowing exactly how best to pray on a particular subject matter. This may be caused by our limited knowledge of the situation or of the people involved in it. There are also times in which we are so weighed down by the pressure of life that our understanding cannot string together the right words with which we ought to pray. Our Heavenly Father knew ahead of time that we would find ourselves in such situations, and so He made provision for the Holy Spirit to help us out at such times. This ministry of the Holy Spirit is revealed to us in Romans 8:26, which says,

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

This passage of Scripture clearly tells us that we do not know how best to pray. In other words, no matter how good you are in crafting prayers, the Holy Spirit knows better what needs to be said in prayer at any given time, and He will help you if only you can pray about issues in the spirit. The Holy Spirit can cover grounds that we cannot cover. For example, I cannot be at the Redemption Camp in Nigeria and know what is going on in Australia, England and other parts of the world, but the Holy Spirit knows everything. Even when I am at the Redemption Camp, I may not know how many women are in the maternity centre, there calling on God to assist them in delivering safely, but the Holy Spirit knows this. So when I do not know how to pray anymore, I hand it over to the Holy Spirit. He knows who needs prayers the most in any part of the world, and He will pray through me for them according to their need, even though I do not realise exactly what I am praying about. This is why I find it quite disturbing to hear that even the Pentecostal circles; there are some churches where they hardly pray in tongues. The Bible says we do not know how to pray as we should. Since you don’t know how to pray, why don’t you let the Holy Spirit help you by praying through you? Pray regularly in tongues. Pray at least for one hour daily, speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives you utterance.

Prayer Point: Spirit of Truth, knowing my limitations, please pray regularly through me with Your perfect knowledge of my situation.

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.

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Open Heavens 12 July 2017 by Pastor Adeboye: The Restoring Shepherd

Topic: The Restoring Shepherd [Wednesday 12, July 2017]

Memorise: He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. – Psalm 23:3

Read: Psalm 23:1-3 (KJV)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 29-31, Ezekiel 6:8-7:4, Hymn: Sing hymn 6

MESSAGE:

For the sheep of the Great Shepherd, the infallible word of God in Psalm 23:3 guarantees restoration of that which is lost. Sometimes, God allows his chosen ones to experience a loss so that they can have the opportunity of experiencing Him as the Great restorer. Be assured in your heart therefore that if you experience a loss that you did not cause by an act of carelessness or disobedience, you can obtain restoration. However, if you fail to ask for restoration, you may not experience it. In Joel 2:23-26, God promise to restore all categories of losses. Every good thing that you have lost shall be restored to you as you hold the Lord to His word, in Jesus’ Name.

Moreover, not only does the Great Shepherd restore physical and material losses to His sheep, He also restores them spiritually. Speaking of spiritual restoration, virtually all believers need this in some measure. In His letter to the Church at Ephesus, the Lord Jesus Christ told the brethren that they had left their first love. In other word, they needed spiritual restoration so that they could embrace the good things they did before, which they had abandoned. Revelation 2:5 says,

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

For many of us, the zeal, love and fire with which we served God when we first became saved have since ebbed. Our commitment, dedication and consecration are no longer the same. In those days, we made some vows to God such as “No Bible, no breakfast”, but are we still true to those pledges? We promised to win the world to Christ, saying that no day would pass without us winning a soul into God’s Kingdom. How true is that today? Some of us are even so shy or afraid of speaking about Jesus at God-given opportunities. We prefer to read books, surf the internet, or visit social media site than to preach in the buses or cabs like we used to. We sure need spiritual restoration! To be restored, you need to recall how committed you were in times past, repent of your lukewarmness and pick up from where you stopped. Go back to consecration and holiness! Go back to reaching out to the lost on a daily basis! Do you know that no day should pass without you prospecting for sinners to be saved into God’s kingdom? Ask God to restore you today!

Key Point: words like consecration, sanctification and dedication which were common place in Christianity of old are now almost completely out of our vocabulary 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.

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Wednesday, July 12th - RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Your Potentials Are Limitless

Wednesday, July 12th .
Pastor Chris

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God (2 Corinthians 3:5).
 
The word “sufficiency” is the Greek “hikanotes,”which means competence; being qualified enough to be able. When the Scripture says, “Our sufficiency is of God,” it means our competence or ability is of God. No matter the challenges life poses before you, you’re more than able to face them and win. What a life! This has nothing to do with your human ability or connections; it’s about the Christ-life in you.

God has given you a life that makes you more than a man. There’s a divine energy working in you; it doesn’t burn out, neither does it require replenishing. Refuse therefore to be limited by your physical ability. The Holy Spirit—the source of all strength, and Spirit of might Himself—lives in you. That means your potentials are limitless! Christ’s glorious power works in you mightily to achieve results that are beyond human ability and comprehension (Colossians 1:29). Affirm this in your life always.

If you’d take advantage of this divine ability, it’ll make all the difference at school, in your work place and in whatever you do. You’ll go further, faster and do far more excellently than your physical ability can take you. Never feel incompetent, inadequate, or incapable for any task. Christ is your sufficiency; therefore, by His ability at work in you, you can do all things; you’re up to any task. Hallelujah!

Refuse to be intimidated. Fear nothing. Talk bold all the time. Declare who you are, what you have, and your ability in Christ Jesus! This is important, because if you don’t affirm it, you’ll not experience it. Keep declaring that Christ is your sufficiency; therefore, your potentials are limitless. You’re excellent, and have an excellent life. Blessed be God!

                     PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for your divine power that works in me mightily. Christ is my life, my sufficiency, wisdom, and righteousness. He’s made my life beautiful, fruitful, productive and sound! Blessed be your glorious Name forever. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY: || Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ||

|| 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. ||

|| Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. ||

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 21:17-36,
Job 29-31

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Luke 8:19-25,
Joshua 8

EXTRACT FROM: RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

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Tuesday, July 11th - RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL


*Transformation By The Word*

Tuesday, July 11th .
Pastor Chris

_*...And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] RENEWED and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] KNOWLEDGE after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it (Colossians 3:10 AMP).*_

I’ll like you to observe two words in the opening text. The first is “renewed” and the second is “knowledge.” The Greek word translated “renewed” is the verb “Anakainoo,” and it means a qualitative difference, not in how recent, but in terms of newness; a difference in quality. It’s a word that describes a keyword in 2 Corinthians 3:18: _*“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”*_

The Greek word translated “changed” above is “metamorphoo”; a change in state, form, kind, quality or glory; a continuous transformation. But how is it done? It’s through knowledge; full and exact knowledge (Greek: “Epignosis”). This isn’t just the knowledge of mere or distant acquaintance, but one that relates with that which is known.

You’re being renewed in this full knowledge of God which you gain through meditation and revelation. In “Epignosis,” you become what you know; the knowledge that’s granted you transforms your life. As you receive God’s Word into you, your spirit is renewed, refreshed, polished anew; you glow more and more! It’s the reason you must let the Word of God dwell in you richly, because the more you know Him, the more the glory, anointing, graces, wisdom, and effectiveness of the Spirit, are manifested and increased in your life.

The Lord Jesus said in John 6:63, _*“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”*_ It’s only God’s Word that can impact, transform, brighten and glorify the human spirit. The Word works in your mind by renewing your thinking.

         *PRAYER*

*Dear Father, I thank you for the knowledge of the Word and the transformation it brings to my spirit. As I meditate on the Word, my heart and mind are open for a full, deep and intimate relationship with the Word. Therefore, I grow in grace, and continually, your glory, power, beauty and perfections are manifested and seen in and through me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *Ephesians 1:15-18* Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, *||*

*||* *Acts 20:32* And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. *||*

*||* *Romans 12:2* And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. *||*

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Acts 21:1-16,
Job 25-28

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Luke 8:11-18,
Joshua 7

*EXTRACT FROM: RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY JULY 11TH 2017

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TUESDAY JULY 11TH 2017

THEME: LEAVE A MARK              

MEMORISE:
That the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:12

READ: Acts 19:8-10

8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Samuel 26-28, Ezekiel 5:13-6:7

MESSAGE:
If you will be used by God to perform signs and wonders in these last days, you must have the heart of a missionary or church planter. In the days of early church, although there was a church in Jerusalem, Philip left his base and went to plant another church in Samaria (Acts 8:5). If God sees you as an incurable church planter, he will gladly use you in the miraculous. Take for instance Paul the apostle: today you would find him in Corinth, tomorrow he would be in Galatia and the next time, you would hear of him being in Colossae. As he travelled round these countries and cities, he kept planting churches. He hardly visited a city without leaving a mark behind for God’s Kingdom. No wonder the Bible records that the kind of miracles God performed through Paul were quite outstanding. Acts 19:11-12 says,
“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”

There are some lessons we can learn from the experience of Paul in this regard. The first is that having the opportunity to travel around the globe is a great privilege. There are people who enjoy travelling from one country to another. There are some people who are required by their official assignment or business transactions to move across countries. Some go to other places for school or simply on vacation. Whatever the reason for your travels, it is a great privilege. Every Christian traveller is expected to leave a godly mark behind in the places he or she visits. How can you visit a country for a week or two and not share the gospel of Jesus Christ with at least one person? You as a true believer in Christ should be able to have converts in the different countries you visit, and if you are there for a minimum of three to six months, you should be able to start a house fellowship, or even a church. By doing this, you will be opening the door for God to use you for signs and wonders. Have you travelled away from home without winning souls for Christ or establishing a house fellowship or church for His Name? Are you ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Use the opportunity of your travels across different locations to glorify God. Travelling is meaningful if you can leave a mark of God’s Kingdom behind.

KEY POINT:
One way of becoming a father of many nations is to have converts in every country you visit.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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Monday, July 10th - RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

*The Essence Of Worship*

Monday, July 10th .
Pastor Chris

_*As they ministered to the Lord , and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them (Acts 13:2).*_
 
The underlined portion is a remarkable construction. Deuteronomy 10:8 shows us something along this line about the Levites: _*“At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.”*_ Today, we’re king-priests unto God, to minister to Him (Revelation 1:6).

Ministering to the Lord is the essence of worship; it’s something you do consciously, not passively. Many Christians wonder why they don’t seem to experience the power of God, as they should; the problem, for the most part, lies in this area. They haven’t learnt how to minister to the Lord in worship. Hebrews 13:15 shows us what, and how, to minister to the Lord: _*“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”*_

Thus, in ministering to the Lord, you offer tribute or speech that acknowledges and celebrates the Name of the Lord. You testify of His greatness, His love, power, righteousness, grace, wisdom, glory and blessedness! Ministering to Him involves consciously lifting your hands in worship, and adoration for who He is, speaking words from your spirit that extol His majesty.

It’s not enough to say, “Lord, I bless you. I praise you and I worship you!” Your worship must have content. You should rather say, “Lord, I praise you, because you’re wonderful, merciful, considerate, so loving and kind; gracious and glorious”; that’s different. You’ve added content. The book of Psalms is replete with spirit-filled and inspiring contents that extol His majesty, and speak of His greatness; you can use some of the examples to make your psalms of praise and worship to the Lord.

        *PRAYER*

*Dear Father, from the depth of my heart, I extol your majesty and revere your matchless Name, for you alone are worthy of all praise. You’re gracious and glorious, righteous, wonderful, kind, and merciful; your loving-kindness is beyond comprehension and your love, unfathomable. You’re great and greatly to be praised. I adore you now and forever. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *Revelation 19:1* And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: *||*

*||* *Revelation 7:11-12* And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. *||*

*||* *Hebrews 13:15 AMP* Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. *||*

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Acts 20:17-38,
Job 22-24

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Luke 8:1-10,
Joshua 6

*EXTRACT FROM: RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

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Open Heavens 10 July 2017 by Pastor Adeboye: The Lord Our Refuge

Topic: The Lord Our Refuge [Monday 10, July 2017]

Memorise: But he passing through the midst of them went his way, – Luke 4:30

Read: Luke 4:16-30 (KJV)

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 24-25, Ezekiel 5:1-12, Hymn: Sing hymn 9

MESSAGE:

God has several names and titles that will definitely benefit His children who have an understanding of the purpose and power in these names. It is one thing to know the names and titles of God and another thing to have the revelation behind them. When you receive the revelation of a particular name or title of God, you are brought into a covenant relationship with Him on the basis of that name, and as a result, you gain access to the benefits that such names or titles confer. May God reveal Himself to you by His Name today!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” - Psalm 46:1

One of God’s powerful titles is that He is our Refuge. A refuge is a kind of shelter or a place of protection from harm, danger, trouble or pursuit of the enemy. Why is God a refuge? It is because He knows that in this evil world, people will encounter lots of dangerous situations and circumstances at some point in their lives. Do you know that even our Lord Jesus Christ faced dangers many times? However, because God the Father was His refuge, He was protected from them all. One instance of this is recorded in today’s Bible reading. After hitting the people of his childhood town of Nazareth with the truth, they became very angry with Him and decided to kill Him. Luke 4:29 says,

“And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.”

This was just one of the several failed attempts made on the life of Jesus Christ until He voluntarily surrendered Himself to die at Calvary (John 10:17-18). From today, every attempt on your life shall fail in Jesus’ Name! You shall not die before your appointed time! Every plan of premature death against you and members of your family shall be disappointed! God is our refuge because of the dangerous and evil times we may have to live through. One fellow who knew God as his Refuge was David. Boy, did he face great storms! Although his eyes saw troubles and great dangers, he could still say that while passing through treacherous valleys, he would not be afraid (Psalm 23:4). He could say this because he knew God as his refuge. God is our Refuge because He knows that the enemy will definitely pursue His children, and so they will need a place to hide. From today, you will hide safely in the Lord! The Lord will be a sure Refuge for you in Jesus’ Name!

Prayer Point: Father, in these perilous times, hide me under the shadow of Your wings.

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.

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Sunday, July 9th - RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

He Propels You To Action

Sunday, July 9th .
Pastor Chris

_*For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).*_

How beautiful this is! The Lord causes us to be willing, and then propels us to do His will. The God that works in you is the Holy Spirit; He’s the One here with us and He lives in you. Part of His ministry in your life is to propel you to do the things that are pleasing to the Father; meaning that you don’t have to struggle anymore to know or walk in the Father’s perfect will.

Now, that doesn’t suggest what some people have erroneously believed. They’d say, “If God is going to make me do of His good pleasure, then I’ll do it; if He doesn’t make me do it, then it means it was never His will for me in the first place; so, I’ll just wait until He makes me do it.” That’s not what we read in Philippians 2:13. What the Spirit teaches through Paul the Apostle is our cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit carries out His ministry in our lives. He’s got a job to do, and that job is in you. The Holy Spirit is called to work in you, but you have to let Him do His job by fellowshipping with Him. The more you have fellowship with Him, the more He carries out His ministry in your life. Fellowshipping with Him makes you willing, so you’d never have any problem doing His will; you’ll always, and at all times, be ready to do His will, because in fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit, He can prompt you.

No wonder the prophet Ezekiel said, _*“And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me”*_ (Ezekiel 2:2). The Holy Spirit can cause you to get up and do or say something, and you’ll be aware. He doesn’t just move you like a robot, no; there’s a consciousness. You’re aware that He’s the one at work in you, propelling you to action. Hallelujah!

         *PRAYER*

*Dear Father, I thank you for the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit that you’ve given me. He’s the One who guides me in excellence. Your wisdom in me is the force that causes me to flourish, excel and be victorious in all things. Through fellowship with you, I’ve become sensitive to your voice, and yielding to your promptings within me. Your blessed works, plans and purposes are accomplished in, and through me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *Hebrews 10:7* Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. *||*

*||* *Colossians 1:29* Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. *||*

*||* *Acts 1:8* But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. *||*

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Acts 20:1-16,
Job 19-21

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Luke 7:36-50,
Joshua 5

*EXTRACT FROM: RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*


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Open Heavens 9 July 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – The Healing Touch

Topic: The Healing Touch [Sunday 9, July 2017]

Memorise: And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. – Matthew 8:3

Read: Matthew 8:1-3 (KJV)

1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 22-23, Ezekiel 4, Hymn: Sing hymn 5

MESSAGE:

There are many methods the God of all flesh uses in healing people. A leper once came to Jesus saying, “Lord, I know You can heal me, but I don’t know if it is Your will.” Jesus touched him and said, “It is My will to heal you; be clean”, and immediately, he received his healing. Through this encounter, we understand that the God of all flesh can heal you by His touch. Some people find it easy to believe that God can touch them spiritually, but they cannot believe that He can touch them physically. Yes, God still touches people physically today. Many year ago, we went to church on a Sunday morning, and after the service, we returned home to rest before going back to church for workers’ meeting in the afternoon. In those days, if you were late for the workers’ meeting, you would be in serious trouble with my father-in-the-Lord. On this particular day, after the morning service, we came back home to rest. We decided that nobody would lie down lest we slept. Afterwards, I went to pray in my room and fell asleep in the process. Then all of a sudden, I felt a strong hand pressing my leg down and I awoke. I glanced at my wristwatch and screamed because we were almost running late! I thought my wife woke me up, so I went to find her to thank her. However, when I got downstairs, expecting to meet her ready and waiting, I met her and the children fast asleep! I then realised I had received a divine touch. Today, the Lord will touch you physically and deliver your healing to you in Jesus’ Name.

On the other hand, the God of all flesh can just speak a word, and you will receive your healing. Hence, Psalm 107:20 says,

“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

When the Lord Jesus Christ was going to heal Bartimaeus, He did not touch him but only spoke a word, and the blind man received his sight (Mark 10:52). He still does this today. During a Holy Ghost Service we had, the Lord announced that a woman with cervical cancer was in the congregation, and that the cancer was gone, adding that she should go and confirm with her doctor. Indeed, such a woman was there, and she received the word. She went to her doctor for a check-up, and she discovered that the cancer was indeed gone. Are you sick? Receive your healing now in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point: Thank God for the success of pass Holy Ghost Conventions. Pray that this year’s Convention will be the greatest ever experienced.

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.

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Saturday, July 8th - RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Power Is In You

Saturday, July 8th .
Pastor Chris

 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).

Out of ignorance, many people think that what they need to fulfil the will of God and produce lasting results is more anointing. So they pray, “Lord, I need a double portion of the anointing.” But there’s nowhere in the Scriptures where God promised to give us more anointing. Many have misunderstood the anointing to mean something totally different from what the Bible actually teaches.

First, the anointing is the symbolic consecration. When someone is anointed with oil like it was in the Old Testament, that’s the symbolic consecration. But more importantly, the anointing is the effect of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, for the Christian who already has the Holy Spirit to ask for “more anointing” is a contradiction. Why ask for the effect when you have the real thing? The Holy Spirit is the real deal. He’s the power of God, the power giver, and He lives in you in His fullness.

You received the Holy Spirit, not as a fluid; water, smoke, cloud or gas, but as a person. When He took up His abode in you, it was with the totality of His being. Therefore, the anointing, which is the effect or result of His presence in you, should be oozing out of you. In John 7:38, when Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, He didn’t say, “Upon you shall flow rivers of living water”; rather, He said out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Don’t ask or pray for more anointing to fall on you; what you need is the flow of the Spirit. That is, how to let what’s inside you flow out! You can stir up that power to flow through you more by speaking in tongues and meditating on the Word.

                    *CONFESSION*

*Dear Father, thank you for your Spirit who has taken up His abode in the quarters of my heart. I’m imbued with supernatural powers, graces and glory, which overflow from within me to my world. Righteousness, peace, joy, and excellence exude from me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *John 7:38-39* He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) *||*

*||* *Ephesians 3:20-21* Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. *||*

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Acts 19:8-41,
Job 15-18

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Luke 7:18-35,
Joshua 3-4

*EXTRACT FROM: RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

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Open Heavens 8 July 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Permanent Peace is Possible

Topic: Permanent Peace is Possible [Saturday 8, July 2017]

Memorise: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. – Isaiah 26:3

Read: Matthew 14:22-33 (KJV)

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 20-21, Ezekiel 3:16-27, Hymn: Sing hymn 2

MESSAGE:

The Blood of Jesus Christ is a very potent weapon available to us today (Revelation 12:11). The moment you surrender your life to Jesus, victory comes, because the same blood that cleanses from all sins also conquers Satan. However, if the Blood does not first wash away your sins, you will remain a slave to the devil (Colossians 1:14). It is only after the Blood has worked on you through salvation that the same Blood gives you victory over Satan. For 13 years, I was running from witches and wizards, and then I met the Lord Jesus Christ. He saved me, and ever since then, no witch anywhere in the world can come close to me, because I am covered with the Blood of Jesus.

Moreover, apart from the Blood of Jesus that is made available to us after salvation, peace that surpasses human understanding is another benefit that comes in after the door of salvation is opened. In fact, while there is no peace to the wicked, peace like a river is made available to you if you are saved. Jesus, in John 14:27, says to you:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The One who comes into your heart the moment you are born again is the Prince of Peace; you therefore must experience peace in all areas of your life if you have received Him. I pray for you that as you receive Jesus into your life today or draw closer to Him, you will experience peace in every area of your life in Jesus’ Name. Have you been troubled? I speak peace from the Prince of Peace into your troubled situation now! Peace that passes all understanding shall locate you today! In addition, that peace that you receive from the Prince of Peace can be retained in your life. Yes, you can have permanent peace. How? Isaiah 26:3 says,

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

If you have Jesus, you have peace. Anytime you make Jesus your focus, your peace is sustained, and if Jesus remains your focus, you will have permanent peace irrespective of the raging storms of life. While Peter focused on Jesus, he could come out of the troubled boat and walk on water towards Jesus, but the moment he shifted his focus to the wind, he began to sink. What has been your focus? Through the peace that Jesus gives, you can now determine the quality of peace you experience and for how long it will last. Set your focus on the Prince of Peace today.

Action Point: Pray for every family that is experiencing storms to encounter the Prince of Peace and receive His peace that is beyond understanding.

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.

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Friday, 7th July- Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

Walk In The Light Of Your New
Life In Christ

Friday, 7th July
Pastor Chris

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the
glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life (Romans 6:4).

1Corinthians 6:11 reveals an extraordinary reality
about the new creation. Actually, Paul had to bring
the communication to a level that the Christians in Corinth,
who at the time were still spiritual babes, could easily
understand.

   To fully grasp the import of the message, let’s include
and read the preceding verses nine and ten: *_“Know ye not
that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be
not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were
some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye
are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of
our God.”

    Verse eleven says, “And such were some of you….”
However, in reality, the new creation couldn’t actually be
described as someone who used to be any of those
characters described in verses nine and ten above for the
simple reason that the new creation has no past. He’s a brand
new species. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, *_“Therefore if any man
be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.”_*

    It wasn’t just a mere change that took place in you when you were born again; it was an actual replacement
or supplanting of the life of which you were born of your
parents, with another life, the indestructible life of God. Real
Christianity isn’t the inclusion or impartation of another
nature, but an actual recreation of the human spirit by God.
You’ve come alive to God through the new birth. You might
then want to ask, “How come people still find themselves
doing certain things they shouldn’t do, even after they’re born
again?”

    The answer is simple: they’ve not fully yielded
themselves to the Word to live from their spirit. Really, those
wrong actions don’t come from their human spirits, but from
the “unrenewed” mind and the senses—which is why we’re
told to renew our minds with the Word (Romans 12:2). You
must develop your human spirit by learning, meditating and
acting on the Word. That way, you’ll train your spirit to rule
over your senses, and keep walking in the light of your
righteousness, justification, and new life in Christ Jesus.
 

  *CONFESSION*

*I’m a new creation, a brand new
species of being; old things are
passed away and all things have
become new! My mind is
renewed and reprogrammed for
the transcendent life of glory.
Blessed be God!*


|| *FURTHER STUDY:*

|| *Ephesians 4:22-24 KJV*
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.


|| *Romans 6:4 KJV*
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.


|| *DAILY SCRIPTURE READING PLAN*

*1 YEAR BIBLE
READING PLAN:*
Acts 18:24-19:1-7, Job 12-14

*2 YEAR BIBLE
READING PLAN:*
Luke 7:11-17, Joshua 1-2


EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

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