OPEN HEAVENS FOR 5TH MAY 2026

TOPIC: SECRETS TO LONGEVITY II

MEMORISE:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7

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READ: Ephesians 6:10-17 (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.

MESSAGE:

Yesterday, I started sharing some secrets to longevity and how believers can stay the course on the path that God has set before them. Today, I will share another secret to longevity: knowing when to fight.

When you are confronted by the devil, you shouldn’t run or hide; rather, you must stand and fight. The devil is not a gentle spirit; he tries to cheat his victims out of their rights, steal from them, kill them, and destroy them (John 10:10).

Therefore, every time he raises his ugly head, you must resist him immediately and put him in his place with the sword of the Spirit (the word of God).

Many people think that they can cohabit with the devil and enter into agreements with him. For instance, they might have a family tradition of making certain sacrifices to deities for protection, and they think that by keeping the traditions alive, the devil will leave them alone.

However, this never works because the devil is a great deceiver; he is a big liar, and he is the father of lies (John 8:44). He is not someone to make deals with, which is why today’s memory verse says that you should resist him so that he will flee from you. You should not partner with him or shake hands with him.

Today’s Bible reading says that believers wrestle against principalities, powers, the rulers of darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. It also says that believers must put on the whole armour of God, but you will notice that there is no piece of armour to protect our backs. This means that the moment a believer turns his or her back on the devil, he will attack the believer. Therefore, you should never turn your back to run away from him.

For instance, if you perceive that the devil is trying to attack your marriage, simply calling a family meeting will not suffice because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 that the weapons we have been given for warfare are not physical. Rather, you must send the devil packing out of your home by going against him with the sword of the Spirit (the word of God).

Likewise, if you observe that some strange things are happening in the ministry that God has placed in your hands or that the devil is trying to attack your job or business, get up and fight! Never turn your back on the devil; he does not play fair.

KEY POINT:
Your response to the devil should never be to run and hide; rather, you must stand and fight.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Chronicles 20-23

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 banner go!

Chorus:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

2. At the sign of triumph
   Satan’s host doth flee;
   On, then, Christian soldiers,
   On to victory!
   Hell’s foundations 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 hope and doctrine,
   One in charity.

4. Crowns and thrones may perish,
   Kingdoms rise and wane,
   But the church of Jesus
   Constant will remain;
   Gates of hell can never
   ‘Gainst that church prevail;
   We have Christ’s own promise,
   And that cannot fail.

5. Onward, then, ye people,
   Join our happy throng,
   Blend with ours your voices
   In the triumph song;
   Glory, laud, and honor,
   Unto Christ the King;
   This through countless ages
   Men and angels sing.

FRESH DEVOTIONAL COMMENTARY

Based on Open Heavens 5th May 2026 – “Secrets to Longevity II”

Introduction: Two Different Kinds of Battles

Yesterday, Pastor Adeboye taught us that wisdom sometimes requires hiding – when facing pressure to speak prematurely or when fellow believers try to fight us. But today, he gives the second secret to longevity: knowing when to fight.

Not every situation calls for the same response. You hide from pressure and from conflict with brethren. But you never hide from the devil. Against him, you must stand, face him, and fight.

The Devil Is Not Your Neighbor

Many Christians have a dangerously soft view of the enemy. They think of the devil as a mischievous tempter or a minor inconvenience. The devotional reminds us of Jesus’ own words in John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

The devil is:

• A thief – he comes to steal your peace, joy, blessings, and destiny

• A killer – he wants to destroy your dreams, relationships, and influence

• A destroyer – his ultimate goal is to ruin your testimony, family, and future

He is not a gentle spirit. He does not play fair. He does not keep agreements. He is a deceiver, a liar, and the father of lies (John 8:44).

Therefore, when he raises his head, you cannot negotiate. You cannot cohabit. You cannot appease. You must resist him immediately.

The Futility of Making Deals with the Devil

The devotional addresses a dangerous misconception. Some people believe they can keep the devil at bay by maintaining family traditions, making certain sacrifices, or keeping “protective” rituals alive. They think, “If I just keep this tradition, the devil will leave me alone.”

This never works.

The devil is not a landlord you pay rent to for protection. He is a predator. Every “deal” you make with him only gives him more ground in your life. He will take everything you have and still destroy you in the end.

James 4:7 gives the only valid strategy: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Not negotiate. Not appease. Not cohabit. Resist. And the promise is not that he might flee – he will flee.

The Armor That Has No Back

This is one of the most powerful observations in today’s devotional. Ephesians 6 describes the full armor of God:

• Helmet of salvation (protects the head)

• Breastplate of righteousness (protects the chest)

• Belt of truth (secures the waist)

• Shoes of the gospel of peace (protects the feet)

• Shield of faith (covers the front)

• Sword of the Spirit (offensive weapon)

But there is no piece of armor to protect your back.

Why? Because God never designed you to turn your back on the enemy. When you face him, you are fully protected. When you turn to run, you are exposed. The moment you flee, you give him a target.

This means you cannot run from the devil and expect to be safe. You cannot hide from him and hope he goes away. You must stand your ground, face him, and fight.

Practical Examples of Fighting

The devotional gives three specific examples of what this looks like:

1. When the devil attacks your marriage

Simply calling a family meeting or trying to reason with your spouse in your own strength will not suffice. The battle is spiritual. Your weapons are not physical (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). You must:

• Get on your knees

• Pick up the sword of the Spirit

• Speak God’s word over your home

• Command the enemy to leave

• Send him packing in Jesus’ name

2. When the devil attacks your ministry

If strange things are happening in the work God has given you – opposition, confusion, division, stagnation – don’t just reorganize or consult experts. Fight. Use the word of God to tear down strongholds. Bind the spirits that are opposing God’s work.

3. When the devil attacks your job or business

If you are experiencing unexplained losses, constant conflicts with colleagues, closed doors, or unusual setbacks, don’t just complain or change jobs. Fight. Stand on God’s promises for provision, favor, and success. Resist the devil’s schemes against your livelihood.

Hiding vs. Fighting: A Critical Distinction

Yesterday and today together give us a complete picture of wisdom:

You do not fight your brother or sister in Christ. You love them, forgive them, and if necessary, hide from them to preserve peace. But you do not hide from the devil. You do not run from him. You face him and resist him.

What Happens When You Fight

When you resist the devil in submission to God, several things happen:

1. He flees – James 4:7 promises that he will flee. Not walk away slowly. Not negotiate terms. Flee – in terror, in panic, in retreat. Your resistance, backed by God’s authority, sends him running.

2. You regain what was stolen – When you fight, you don’t just defend; you recover. The devil is a thief, and resistance backed by God’s word forces him to release what he has taken.

3. Your faith strengthens – Every battle you win builds your confidence for the next one. You learn that the same God who delivered you yesterday will deliver you today.

4. You finish your race – The secret to longevity is not avoiding all conflict; it is fighting the right battles. When you resist the devil consistently, you stay on course and finish well.

The Example of Jesus

Jesus faced the devil directly in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He did not negotiate. He did not hide. He did not run. He responded to every temptation with the word of God: “It is written.”

The devil fled. Angels came and ministered to Him.

This is your model. When the enemy comes with temptation, accusation, or intimidation, do not argue with him. Do not reason with him. Do not fear him. Simply take up the sword of the Spirit and say, “It is written.”

The Weapons Are Not Physical

The devotional quotes 2 Corinthians 10:3-4: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”

This means:

• Yelling at your spouse is not spiritual warfare

• Quitting your job is not spiritual warfare

• Fighting with your colleagues is not spiritual warfare

• Changing churches is not spiritual warfare

Spiritual warfare happens in the realm of prayer, the word of God, and faith. Your weapons are:

• The sword of the Spirit – the spoken word of God

• The shield of faith – trusting God’s promises against the enemy’s lies

• Prayer – direct communication with the Commander of heaven’s armies

Conclusion: Stand and Fight

You cannot finish your race if you run from every battle. The devil will pursue you relentlessly. He will attack your marriage, your children, your finances, your ministry, your health. If you turn your back, he will strike.

But if you face him – armed with the word of God, clothed in the armor of God, submitted to the authority of God – he will flee. Not because you are strong, but because the One in you is stronger than the one in the world (1 John 4:4).

Do not turn your back. Do not run. Do not negotiate. Stand. Fight. Resist. And watch the enemy flee.

Prayer for Today:

Father, I submit myself completely to You. I take my stand against the devil. I resist him in the name of Jesus. I put on the whole armor of God – truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. I will not turn my back on the enemy. I will not negotiate with him. I will fight every battle according to Your word. Thank You that he must flee when I resist him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Action Points for the Week:

1. Identify the attack – What area of your life is the devil currently attacking? Your marriage? Health? Finances? Ministry? Mind? Name it specifically.

2. Stop negotiating – Have you been trying to make deals with the enemy through compromise, fear, or tradition? Renounce it today.

3. Put on the armor daily – Every morning, pray through the armor of God from Ephesians 6. Consciously clothe yourself for battle.

4. Use your sword – Find a scripture that directly addresses your current battle. Memorize it. Speak it aloud every time the enemy attacks.

5. Fight, don’t flee – This week, when the enemy brings fear or temptation, refuse to run. Stand your ground. Resist him with the word of God. Watch what happens.