Open Heaven For Today 2024 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Comfort In Service
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TOPIC: Comfort In Service
MEMORISE: “Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth.” – Psalm 26:8 (KJV)
READ: Jeremiah 29:12-13 (KJV)
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 1-3
Open Heaven For Today 2024 MESSAGE
Nowadays, many churches are set up to make the congregants very comfortable; this is fine. However, we must not get carried away such that we prioritize comfort over why we come to services – to encounter God. Whether there is comfort or discomfort, forget your social status and rush there when you know that God is in a meeting! Don’t go for Christian programs to seek comfort; there are no big men in the house of God (James 2:1-9). If you go to church to flaunt your social status, there is something profoundly missing in your Christian life.
I first went to a Christian program outside Nigeria in Kenya around 1975. Our group could not afford a hotel or even travel tickets. We had to pray for God to provide the tickets, and He did. Fortunately, there was a boarding school with dormitories made available for free to anybody coming for the program. I was a university lecturer, and so many of us were in those dormitories, but I didn’t care; we weren’t there to show off; we went to seek the Lord. Thank God I went through that because I can never forget the experience; that was the first time I saw God’s throne room. I will gladly sleep on the floor to see God’s throne room.
One thing I know about God is that you must search for Him to realize Him honestly. This is why Isaiah 55:6 says you should seek Him while He may be found. You must seek God diligently if you want to get to know Him. When seeking His face concerning something, how comfortable you feel should not be a hindrance.
I remember one time when I had been praying concerning a matter for about two years. I was invited to preach at a meeting, where God answered me. I might have never heard from God if I had missed that meeting. God shows up when two or three are gathered in His name, so if you have been seeking Him concerning a matter. He hasn’t shown up; go to a fellowship where people are gathered in His name and remind Him of His promise in Matthew 18:20. After the fellowship, whatever discomfort you may have experienced in seeking Him will be gone. Still, your encounter with Him will remain forever. Sometimes, you may have to choose between getting your miracle and comfort – I hope you choose wisely.
KEY POINT
Don’t miss your miracle because you are looking for comfort.
HYMN 11 – I’ve Found A Friend In Jesus
1 I’ve found a friend in Jesus; he’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Apple-tree of trees, in Him alone I see
All I need to do is cleanse and make myself entirely whole.
In sorrow, He’s my comfort; in trouble, He’s my stay,
He tells me every care on Him to roll:
He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
2 He all my griefs has taken, and all my sorrows bore;
In temptation, He’s my strong and mighty tower;
I’ve all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus, I shall safely reach the goal:
He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
3 He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will,
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
With His manna He, my hungry soul shall fill.
Then, sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll:
He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
Open Heavens 2024 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 churches in the world, and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile, and PC. Open Heaven for Today 2024
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Fellowship Of His Suffering
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TOPIC: The Fellowship Of His Suffering
MEMORISE: “But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.” – Matthew 20:22 (KJV)
READ: Matthew 20:21-23 (KJV)
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ruth 1-4
Open Heaven For Today 2024 MESSAGE
Over the past two days, I have been discussing some lessons from Philippians 3:10, and today, I will be going even more profound. Apostle Paul said clearly that he wanted to know the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings; in other words, he wanted to partake in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Ordinary Christians don’t pray this kind of prayer; the prayer of the ordinary Christian usually sounds as follows, “God heal me, set me free, give me a car, prosper me, promote me, make me fruitful.” You won’t hear an ordinary Christian praying, “God, let me suffer for you.” I pray that you will leave the company of the ordinary today and enter into the company of the extraordinary, in Jesus’ name. Paul was a great example of an extraordinary Christian. He was eager to know God and to suffer for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:16-17 says:
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if we suffer with him, we may also be glorified together.
When we suffer with Jesus, we can be glorified with Him. Paul said, “Let no man trouble me; I bear in my body the marks of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:17). In other words, he was saying, “I have scars to show that I suffered with Him.”
God glorifies those who are partakers of the sufferings of Christ. It’s like a responsible man whose wife suffered with him during tough times. When things get better, there will be nothing money can afford that he will not buy for her. One of the reasons I value my wife greatly today is that when I resigned from lecturing and moved into the middle of nowhere, telling everyone that it is a city that God promised me, she moved in with me. It was tough, but she backed me all the way and partook in my suffering. Now that things are better, she is partaking in the glory.
Are you seeking opportunities to experience the fellowship of Jesus’ suffering? Have you suffered with Him in any way? Congratulations if you answered ‘Yes’ genuinely to these questions because when it is time to be glorified, you will be glorified with Jesus. If you, however, are among those denying Him, remember that He said that He would also deny such persons before His Father in Heaven (Matthew 10:33).
PRAYER POINT
Lord, I want to know the fellowship of Your suffering. Please let me partake in Your suffering.
HYMN 12 – Onward, Christian Soldiers!
1 Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before.
2 At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundation’s quiver
At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!
3 Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one Body we—
One in faith and Spirit,
One eternally.
4 Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never
‘ Gainst the Church prevail;
We have Christ’s promise,
Which can never fail.
5 Onward, then, ye people!
Join our happy throng;
Blend with your voices
In the Triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor
Unto Christ, the King;
This has happened through countless ages
Men and angels sing.
Open Heavens 2024 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 churches in the world, and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile, and PC. Open Heaven for Today 2024
Open Heaven For Today 2024 Tuesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Power Of His Resurrection
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TOPIC: The Power Of His Resurrection
MEMORISE: “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power” – Ephesians 1:19 (KJV)
READ: Romans 8:10-14 (KJV)
10 And if Christ be in you, the Body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the Body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 20-21
Open Heaven For Today 2024 MESSAGE
When Apostle Paul said that he wanted to know the power of His resurrection in Philippians 3:10, he wanted to see the power that raised Jesus from the dead. There is a power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. According to Romans 8:11, that power is the power of the Holy Spirit, the power that can quicken your mortal Body. That power is still available to the children of God even after Jesus Christ died, rose, and went to heaven.
It is a great thing to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. However, there is an experience and encounter that goes far beyond being baptized in the Holy Spirit. When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you speak in tongues, but speaking in tongues is not enough; you must be baptized by the fire, too. Speaking in tongues is lovely, and I encourage it, but you can’t go to some nations, get into their marketplaces, and start speaking in tongues and think you will win souls for Christ; you might lose your head or spend the rest of your life in prison! It would be best if you had the fire of the Holy Ghost.
Whether you believe it or not, every force in heaven, on earth, or underneath the earth is subject to that power that raised Jesus from the dead. This is why the world fears Pentecostalism. If there was one dead fellow that the devil did not want to rise, it was Jesus Christ because he knew that if Jesus rose from the dead, he was finished. However, that power that raised Jesus from the dead was so mighty that with all the things that the devil tried in Matthew 27:62-66, Jesus still rose from the dead. He is higher than all principalities and powers, and His rising from the dead also opened the door for you and me to be higher than them. Ephesians 2:6 says:
And hath raised us together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
The scripture above clearly shows that believers in Jesus Christ are now seated with Him in heavenly places. Once you know the power that raised Jesus from the dead, no witch, wizard, demon, or principality will be able to overcome you. You will begin to command demons, and they will obey speedily. If you want to know that power, pray today’s prayer point with all your heart.
PRAYER POINT
Lord, baptize me with the Holy Spirit and fire. Please let me know that power that raised You from the dead.
HYMN 1 – All Hail The Power OfJesus” Name
1 All hail the power of Jesus’’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall,
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him, crown Him,
crown Him, crown Him;
And crown Him Lord of all!
2 Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
3 Sinners, whose love canner forget
The wormwood and the gall,
The wormwood and the gall,
Go, spread your trophies at His feet,
4 Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
5 O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall,
We at His feet may fall!We’ll join the everlasting song,
Open Heavens 2024 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 churches in the world, and also the President of Christ theRedeemer’ss Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile, and PC. Open Heaven for Today 2024
