Open Heavens 13 August 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Captives Of The Mighty

Topic: Captives Of The Mighty — Sunday 13, August 2017.

Memorise: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. – John 8:36

Read: John 5:1-9 (KJV)

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 10-11; Ezekiel 23:35-49, Hymn: Sing hymn 4: Through The Love Of God Our Saviour

Open Heavens 13th Sunday, August 2017 Message:

The reason why many people are so helpless in life today is because they are in captivity. Many are in the bondage of sin, sickness, poverty, addition, demonic possession and other evil conditions. The resultant effects of captivity include loss of freedom, psychological imbalance, and emotional trauma, loss of contact with loved ones, hopelessness and dejection. A captive is a person with a lost identity. Such a person may have been royalty before being captured by the enemy, but he or she has become a slave and must now live at the mercy of his or her new owner. A captive loses dignity and suffers from low self-esteem and emotional trauma from thinking about the situation that led to his or her captivity. A captive is in a worse situation than an ordinary prisoner because a prisoner’s jail term is fixed, but a captive has no hope of being set free. Above all, the situation of a captive is hopelessly filled with regret. The big question is, can a captive find true freedom? The Holy Spirit answers this question in Isaiah 49:24-25

“24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? 25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”
Hallelujah! A captive can indeed be set free. Jesus in Luke 4:18 declared that He came to set the captive free:

“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,”

I bring you good news today: no matter how difficult your experience in captivity has been, and no matter how heavy the chain of your affliction is, JESUS is here to set you free!  Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, Redeemer and Deliverer, sent to set everyone who will accept Him as the Lord and Saviour of their lives from the bondage of Satan, the world and the flesh. What is your problem? Are you operating under the powerful grip of a secret sin, sexual immorality, a secret society, a blood covenant or any form of addition? Jesus, in John 8:36, has those words for you:

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Jesus came to set the captives free; call on His Name for your deliverance now!

Prayer Point: Lord Jesus, Please manifest your power to set me free from every form of captivity I am experiencing 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.

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Open Heavens 12 August 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Tricks of the Devil II

Topic: Tricks of the Devil II — Saturday 12, August 2017.

Memorise: Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. – Proverbs 23:3

Read: Luke 4:5-8 (KJV)

5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 9; Ezekiel 23:22-34, Hymn: Sing hymn 7: O Jesus, I Have Promised

Open Heavens 12th August 2017 Message:

Today, we are considering another trick of the devil, which is trapping a person through inordinate desires. This tactic often takes the form of a sweet and generous offer used in sugar-coating a poisonous pill. Such offers can come as a gift, an appointment or a promise of greatness. The packaging of such offers is always tasteful, attractive and elegant, but inside lies destruction. The devil tried to play this trick on the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in today’s Bible reading. In many cases, no matter how much you try, you may not see anything wrong with the whole arrangement at the initial stage, but at the end of the day, you will find yourself entrapped to do the bidding of your “benefactor” against your wish. The rich and powerful of this world deploy this trick in getting what they want. They use the luxuries they can provide to entrap the less wealthy and vulnerable, who may feel obligated to do their bidding. Many victims of this scam have been disappointed, enslaved and some have even lost their lives. I enjoin Christian youths to be warned that those who are addicted to pleasure, who always have their eyes roving and seeking for a luxurious lifestyle, will easily be sucked in and entrapped by these wicked predators. The language of Satan and his agents is “All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them” (Luke 4:6). I pray that you will not be deceived or fall victim of such mean and wicked deceivers in the mighty Name of Jesus.

For diverse reasons, this particular trick of the devil is especially potent and effective in this generation more than any other time in the history of mankind. We are in a world where instant riches, riotous living, exhibition of immorality and the pursuit of extreme pleasure have become attractive to people. Now, wealth and fame derived from participation in vices (such as corruption, gambling and drug-trafficking) are being celebrated, even among some so-called Christians. Some attributes that used to be highly valued in society, such as integrity, diligence, moral principle and godliness, have become things of the past and are now looked down on. The younger generation seems to have a warped idea of what success really means. Consequently, predators are using the weapon of deception to entice vulnerable individuals into evil deeds, such as sexual gratification in exchange for favours, drug-related businesses, human trafficking, organised crime, internet fraud, and many others, promising quick money, political appointments, business opportunities, rapid job promotions etc. Is anyone promising you something in exchange for “nothing”? Ensure that you do not fall for any deceptive proposal of the devil. The rich and powerful do not give away their favours for free. They always ask for something in return, and their demand is usually much greater than their initial investment. If care is not taken, you may lose your own soul in the process. Don’t be carried away by any “delicious” offer, because it is really nothing but deceitful food laden with poison. You’ve been warned!

Prayer Point: Father, please keep me from ever falling for the tricks of the devil or becoming a victim of fraudsters.

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.

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Saturday, August 12th - RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

*BORN INTO LIBERTY*

Saturday, August 12th .
Pastor Chris

_*Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).*_

Some Christians, due to their ignorance of the Word, still maintain a “deliverance mentality”: the mentality of always wanting to be set free from one bondage or the other. Even the kind of songs they sing most times show that they lack the understanding of who the Christian really is. In reality, the Christian doesn’t require “deliverance.”

It’s important that we understand the generic terminology in the Epistles used in referring to all of us as having been saved and delivered. The whole world has been saved and delivered by Jesus Christ through His vicarious death. When He died, He died for everybody. When God raised Him from the dead, He was raised for everybody.

Thus, everybody was raised together with Christ, but that’s the legality of salvation. It only becomes a vital experience for the one who, in accordance to Romans 10:9, proclaims the lordship of Jesus. At that moment, you’re born again, and are translated into the Kingdom of light. You become a child of God. That’s who the Christian is. Jesus didn’t “set you free.” You were born anew. You’re a new creation without a past, born into the presence of God and into righteousness!

James 1:18 says, _*“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth….”*_ God literally gave birth to us, through the Word. If this is true (and it’s indeed true), how could He give birth to people who’ll still be in servitude or bondage to Satan? It just doesn’t add up. Get to know who you are. You were born into liberty; the liberty to serve God, the liberty to enjoy your life in Him and be all that He’s called you to be. You’re superior to Satan and therefore could never be in bondage to him. Accept this truth and it’ll put an end to the struggles.

All through the ministry of Jesus, He never needed to be set free or delivered from the devil or any trouble; the Bible says as He is, so are we in this world. Acts 17:28 says, _*“…in him we live, and move, and have our being….”*_ You’re completely shielded from Satan and his devices and therefore, not in need of any kind of deliverance. That’s the greater truth, and that’s the revelation by which you ought to live.

        *PRAYER*

*I’m a new creation in Christ Jesus, born anew into the liberty of the sons of God! I enjoy my life in Christ, having been blessed richly in all things. I walk in favour, divine health and prosperity every day of my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *Romans 8:1-2* [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. *||*

*||* *Colossians 1:12-13* Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: *||*

*||* *Galatians 5:1* Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. *||*

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Romans 14-15:1-4,
Psalms 90-93

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Luke 15:11-19,
Judges 20

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Open Heavens 11 August 2017: Friday Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Tricks of the Devil I

Topic: Tricks of the Devil I — Friday 11, August 2017.

Memorise: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. – Proverbs 16:18

Read: Isaiah 14:12-16 (KJV)

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 7-8; Ezekiel 23:1-21, Hymn: Sing hymn 7: O Jesus, I Have Promised

Open Heavens 11th August 2017 Message:

A trick is a cunning act or scheme intended to deceive or outwit a person. One of the greatest tricks by which the devil deceives men today is to cause their hearts to be lifted up in pride. Through pride, the hearts of mankind have rebelled against the knowledge and authority of God. Pride comes with arrogance, pomp, presumption, conceit, self-satisfaction, boasting, high-mindedness and haughtiness. It is especially dangerous because of its silence and the stealth by which it operates. When pride is well seated in the heart and has taken full charge of a person, it becomes extremely difficult to pin down. However, we thank God because the light of God’s word is bright enough to expose it in all its forms. To understand pride, we need to consider the first entity in whom pride was found: Satan. Isaiah 14:13-14 reveals the thoughts of his heart that made God depose him from his exalted position in Heaven:

“13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

A careful consideration of the above scripture shows that pride is basically a sin that has its roots in the attitude of the heart. Hence, Proverbs 21:4 speaks of “a haughty look” and “a proud heart” as sin. The first thing to watch out for in a man or woman with pride in their heart is the emphasis on their person in their speech. The speech of such people is normally laden with the personal pronoun ‘I’. In a single short statement, Satan made reference to himself five times: “I will ascend, I will exalt my throne, I will sit, I will ascend above, and I will be like the most High.” Secondly, the proud displays an unwarranted attitude of confidence and inordinate ambition, such as displayed by Satan. He was not satisfied with where God placed him, and he actually wanted to supplant God Himself. He was so confident of himself that he thought he could ascend into Heaven and exercise dominion over all the angels of God, all by himself.

However, pride cannot remain internalised and hidden. It often finds expressions: through speech (such as boasting), through looks and through behaviour, such as acts of impatience and contemptible treatment of others. The Bible highlights the inevitable downfall of a proud person, and we should learn from what happened to Satan (Proverbs 16:18, Ezekiel 28:16-19). The proud will not escape God’s terrible judgement; therefore, be warned!

Prayer Point: Father, please expose every hidden tendency of pride and related attitudes in my life and completely destroy them, in Jesus’ Name.

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.

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Thursday, August 10th - RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

*Don’t Beg With His Name*

Thursday, August 10th .
Pastor Chris

_*Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).*_

The Word of God describes us as “Christ’s ambassadors.” This means we’re officially appointed and designated as His legal representatives in the earth. We’ve been given the power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus. We act in His Name. When we affirm anything or make a decree in the Name of Jesus, it’s as though Jesus Himself decreed it. We speak for Him, or speak in His place, when we use the Name of Jesus.

Some people resort to begging with that Name, and that’s wrong. How can you beg using the greatest and most powerful name there is? The Name of Jesus is the biggest Name in all the universe, because it belongs to the One who has all power and authority. And He gave you His Name to live by.

Read Paul’s submission in Philippians 2:9-10, as he describes that Name: _*“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”*_ Don’t beg with that name or in that name; rather, make decrees.

Recall what Peter did with that name in Acts 3. He used it as an instrument against lameness and paralysis. He eyeballed a man who had been lame from birth and said, _*“…Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk”*_ (Acts 3:6). This wasn’t prayer; Peter didn’t beg God to heal the man. What he did was to use the Name of Jesus as an instrument.

When you make demands on the basis of the instrumentality of the Name of Jesus, He sees to it that it happens (John 14:14). Use His Name to put the devil and his cohorts under your feet—where they belong. Use it to establish yourself in the triumphant life, in all-around success, health, prosperity, and joy. Use it to make your life glorious!

      *CONFESSION*

*Dear Father, thank you for granting me the power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus. I take advantage of this wonderful instrument to put the devil and his demons, sin, sickness and death in their place—defeated! The circumstances of life are compelled to work for my good, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *John 14:13* And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. *||*

*||* *Philippians 2:9* Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: *||*

*||* *Acts 3:16* And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. *||*

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Romans 12:1-16,
Psalms 85-88

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Luke 14:25-35,
Judges 18

*EXTRACT FROM: RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

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Open Heavens 10 August 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Spiritual Armour

Topic: Spiritual Armour — Thursday 10, August 2017.

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

Read: Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 5-6; Ezekiel 22:17-31, Hymn: Sing hymn 18: Onward Christian Soldier

Open Heavens 10th August 2017 Message:

Weapons of war usually fall under two major categories: offensive and defensive. Body armour can be classified as defensive weapons of war against missiles, projectiles and handheld combat weapons; they work as protective covering, designed to safeguard vital parts of the body. Today’s Bible reading talks about spiritual warfare, revealing how the different parts of physical body armour mirror the spiritual armour available to us as believers in Christ. We have at our disposal invisible weapons of spiritual warfare that are potent against the wicked assault of the enemy. In Ephesians 6:11, our spiritual armour is referred to as the armour of God, which implies that it possesses divine attributes, making it indestructible by the power of the devil. We are invited to “put on the whole armour of God”. However, this armour is inaccessible to those who have not accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their lives.

Putting on the armour of God is equivalent to putting on Jesus, and He is more than enough to protect us against all evil and temptations we may encounter. Romans 13:14 says,

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Putting on Jesus involves accepting Him as Lord and Saviour, meditating on His word day and night, living a life of holiness, and spreading His gospel. I pray that in the heat of the battles of life, the armour of God will be your strong defence in Jesus’ Name.

The Bible used the imagery of physical warfare to communicate a powerful spiritual message to us in Ephesians 6:10-18. Firstly, we are asked to gird our waist with the sturdy belt of truth. It’s with this same belt that our sword is fastened to our body. In the days of old, a soldier girded in this manner was recognised as being on active duty. We are expected to gird ourselves with truth as the foundation of all our spiritual activities. Next, we are to find our protection in righteousness by putting on the breastplate of righteousness. Also, our feet should be ever ready to move with the gospel of peace. We should then arm ourselves with the shield of faith to quench all the fiery arrows of the enemy. To protect our head, the most important part of our body, we must put on the helmet of salvation. The helmet of salvation is required to protect our spiritual destiny. Finally, as soldiers of Christ, we are to wield the “Sword of the Spirit”, which is the spoken word of God. As the only offensive weapon mentioned, this is the soldier’s most important weapon, and it is supplied by the Holy Spirit. I decree that God will fortify you and make you untouchable to the devil in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please prepare and equip me for battle as a good soldier of Christ in Jesus’ Name.

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.

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Wednesday, August 9th - RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

*Open Your Spirit To The Word*

Wednesday, August 9th.
Pastor Chris

_*And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Luke 4:4).*_

God gave us His Word to live by. His Word isn’t just an account of history and prophecy, but the revelation of His will, nature, character and His eternal purpose for man. His Word is full of power and the inherent ability to produce the message it carries.

The knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, therefore, is imperative in your relationship with Him. When you study and understand the Word of God, you’ll not entertain any doubt as to its efficacy. You won’t wonder if it’s His will for you to be prosperous, healthy and successful in life; you’ll simply expect the Word to produce results in your life.

When you meditate on the Word, it gets into your system to correct every anomaly in your life and in your physical body; be it a growth or a deformed heart.

God said, _*“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”*_ (Isaiah 55:11). Learn to receive and respond to God’s Word from your spirit and demonstrate an unequivocal faith in its potency and ability to transform you. Your response to the Word is the vocalization of your faith.

It makes no difference what the issue is: whether it’s sickness, bankruptcy, economic recession, marital problems etc.; God’s Word is the solution. Once you locate the Word in that area, you have the answer. Key-in to a life of beauty, glory, rest, success, health, and prosperity by living in the Word. Open your spirit to the Word as the regulator of your life and keep making progress from glory to glory.

        *CONFESSION*

*I live by the Word; therefore, I’m flourishing like the palm tree, planted by the rivers of water, and everything I do prospers. I’m making progress from glory to glory because I live in the Word. Blessed be God!*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *Hebrews 4:12* For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. *||*

*||* *Matthew 24:35* Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. *||*

*||* *Luke 21:32-33* Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. *||*

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Romans 11:25-36,
Psalms 82-84

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Luke 14:15-24,
Judges 17

*EXTRACT FROM: RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

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Open Heavens 9 August 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Jehovah Nissi

Topic: Jehovah Nissi — Wednesday 9, August 2017.

Memorise: Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. – Psalm 35:1

Read: Exodus 17:8-16 (KJV)

8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 3-4; Ezekiel 22:1-16,Hymn: Sing hymn 4: Through the Love of God Our Saviour

Open Heavens 9th August 2017 Message:

Jehovah Nissi is the third revealed compound Name of God, meaning “The Lord is my Banner”. It was the Name Moses gave the altar he built following Israel’s victory over Amalek inExodus 17:15. The word “nissi” means banner, standard or flag. A banner is the rallying point for warriors in the time of battle. Moses named the altar “the Lord is my banner” to acknowledge God’s active role in fighting for the nation of Israel, and at the same time, to testify to God’s continued war against the people of Amalek from generation to generation (Exodus 17:16). This altar stood as a witness to the whole world that the God of Israel was behind the victory over the Amalekites. You may recall that this battle with Amalek took place under the upraised hands of Moses, holding the rod of God. Moses therefore named the alter Jehovah Nissi with the consciousness of the role that God played in the battle. Starting from today, the hand of God will be so evident against all your enemies and detractors that you will begin to sing “The Lord is my Banner” in Jesus’ Name.

It is amazing to note that the ordinary rod that Moses used in his years as a shepherd had become the rod of God in today’s Bible reading. This shows that anything we surrender to God or commit into His hands in support of His kingdom is made to pass through an unseen divine transformation over time. I therefore pray that as you submit yourself under the mighty hand of God today, He will transform you and your natural gifts into supernatural objects and vessels of honour to achieve great and mighty things for His Name in Jesus’ Name. It is important to note that Amalek came out of the blues and decided to wage war against Israel without any provocation. This provoked the anger of God against them, so much so that He promised to completely wipe out the memory of Amalek from the face of the earth (Exodus 17:14). Therefore, I decree by the word of the Lord that Jehovah Nissi will raise His standard against anyone who is angry with you and plotting evil against you without cause, or fighting against you without any provocation, and they will be completely destroyed in the mighty Name of Jesus. The story in our Bible reading is more like a blueprint of how God’s children should deal with anyone or anything that is identified as an enemy of God’s kingdom. The strategic tools deployed here include fervent prayers, knowledge of God’s word, the advocacy of Jesus, the rod of divine judgement, and believers’ unity. We should learn to deploy these tools to spur Jehovah Nissi into action against the enemy on our behalf.

Prayer Point: Jehovah Nissi, please fight every enemy that is stirred up against the advancement of Your Kingdom in every corner of the world.

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.

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Tuesday, August 8th - RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

His Glorious Presence In Us

Tuesday, August 8th .
Pastor Chris

_*I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20).*_

Moses made a request of the Lord. He said, _*“…If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence”*_ (Exodus 33:15). Many today, because of these words, also pray, “Lord, if your presence doesn’t go with me, I won’t move.” You need to understand that the Old Testament was a different dispensation from the New Testament. At that time, Jesus hadn’t come; so they couldn’t enjoy what we’re privileged to enjoy today: that is, His glorious presence “in” us.

When Jesus came, the Jews enjoyed the revelation of “Emmanuel,” which means, “God with us.” What a blessing it was for them back in the day when Jesus walked the streets of Galilee, Nazareth and Capernaum! God almighty, tabernacled in Jesus, was with them! O, what a day! Jesus was the Word incarnate.

However, today, revelation has transcended “Emmanuel.” God is no longer just with us, or amongst us, but lives in us through the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that this was a mystery that was hidden in ages and generations past, but now has been revealed to God’s saints: _*“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”*_ (Colossians 1:27).

Christ in you is greater than “Emmanuel!” Jesus has come, and He has died; He was buried, has arisen, and has ascended. Now, He’s seated in the heavenly realms, but through the Holy Spirit, He lives in our hearts. We thus have access to the divine presence twenty-four hours a day!

In Matthew 28:20, He said, _*“I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”*_ He lives in you now; He lives in every fibre of your being and every bone of your body. Talking about the Holy Spirit in John 14:17, Jesus said, _*“…for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”*_ He was with them as He walked the streets and showed great and mighty miracles, but now, He lives in you. Therefore, you can enjoy the glory of God’s presence, lounge in His love, and be suffused in His wisdom and grace, as you revel in the eternal victories He’s wrought for you.

            *PRAYER*

*Dear Father, I thank you, for your divine presence in me has made me more than a man. I’m in union with the Holy Spirit, and live above all the limitations of the human realm. Thank you for your love, abundant grace, mercies and goodness that I enjoy today, and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *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. *||*

*||* *Romans 8:11* But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. *||*

*||* *2 Corinthians 6:16* And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. *||*

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Romans 11:1-24,
Psalms 79-81

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Luke 14:1-14,
Judges 15-16

*EXTRACT FROM: RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

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Open Heavens 8 August 2017: Tuesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – The Almighty

Topic: The Almighty — Tuesday 8, August 2017.

Memorise: For with God nothing shall be impossible. – Luke 1:37

Read: Genesis 17:1-2 (KJV)

1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 1-2; Ezekiel 21:18-32, Hymn: Sing hymn 3: How Great Thou Art.

Open Heavens 8th August 2017 Message:

In Genesis 17:1, for the very first time, God revealed Himself as El-shaddai: the Almighty God. Here, He was reiterating His wonderful promises to Abraham at the age of ninety-nine, particularly that he would bear a son, despite him and Sarah being very advanced in age. Prior to this revelation, God had been identified as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and He had also made Himself known as the God who knows all things. However, this time, He wanted to introduce Himself as the God who has the power to do all things. The eternal power of the Almighty is evident in the work of creation, and at a more personal level, the exceeding greatness of his power is expressed in all believers by the regeneration of our spirit man, through the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Romans 1:20, Ephesians 1:19-20).

Several accounts in the Bible teach us that the unlimited power of the Almighty is always at work in any given situation to make all things go according to His original plan and purpose. For example, in the book Ruth, Naomi was the only survivor of a tragic family decision to sojourn in the land of Moab. After a ten year absence, the Lord brought her back to Bethlehem in His character as Jehovah, the covenant-keeping God. Later on, in His capacity as the Almighty, He exercised His power to implement His purpose in the life of Ruth and Naomi, so much so that the same circumstances that Naomi found to be bitter in Ruth 1:20 went on to bring about great joy and celebration at the end of the day. What a mighty God we serve! I therefore decree into your life, no matter what you are passing through at the moment, the original purpose of God for your life shall be established in the mighty Name of Jesus.

The almightiness of God can be translated to mean that with God, nothing shall be impossible. The Almighty God has proved Himself beyond any reasonable doubt in this regard. The book of Genesis reveals the power of God to bring everything we see in creation today into reality from virtually nothing. Exodus showcases among other things the execution of the ten plagues and the final deliverance of Israel from the hand of Pharaoh in such a miraculous way. Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy highlight the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness with great miracles and wonders attending to them daily. Joshua records how a feeble, worn-out and ill-equipped nation of Israel was assisted by the Almighty God to destroy and inherit the lands of nations consisting of giants. The list is inexhaustible! I therefore decree, that the power of the Almighty God will work in your life today to do the impossible, in the mighty Name of Jesus.

Prayer Point: Father, You are the Almighty, please do a mighty thing in my life today in Jesus’ Name.

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.

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