OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021
TOPIC: THE VESSEL GOD USES Monday March 1
Memorise: But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 2 Timothy 2:20
Read: 2 Timothy 2:19-21
There was this young lady at the University of Lagos who had been praying “God use me for Your glory”. Lord use me, I want to be able to heal the sick, to cast out demons. I want to be used by You, Lord”. She kept praying this prayer for so long but God kept quiet. One day, she needed to use the toilet and at that time, for reason or the other there was water shortage on the campus, so all the toilets were dirty. She peeped into the first toilet and quickly shut the door as soon as she opened it. The second one was worse. Finally, she realised that she couldn’t use any of the toilets so she left the place and then God spoke to her. “My daughter” Yes Lord she replied. “I thought you wanted to use the toilet He said. “Yes Lord, but it is too dirty”. Then God said, “I also want to use you, but you are too dirty”
God does not use dirty vessels. If you want God to use you, then you must first purge yourself clean. He said in Isaiah 59:2:
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. He cannot stand sin at all. Sin irritates Him, so how do you expect Him to use you if you are still committing sin?
Another reason He cannot use a dirty vessel is that whoever He uses becomes His representative and a model for other people to follow. Naturally, the moment people see Someone working miracles in the name of Jesus, they tend to follow him or her and even copy his or her lifestyle. If God uses a sinner, what message is He passing to the world? Isn’t He then saying that it is okay to sin? God forbid.
For this reason, when God is looking for someone to use, He will first take the fellow through a series of tests and training just to ensure that the person is strong and equipped enough to withstand temptations and sin when He eventually starts using him or her.
Those who are really serious about God using them have to always subdue the flesh. They learn to walk in the spirit because if they live by the flesh, they will sin. They fast often, they stay away from bad company and media content that could pollute their minds. They study the word regularly because they want to know God more. Daniel 11:32 says it is those who know their God that will be strong and do exploits.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Hymn 24: Take My Life, And Let It Be
Action point: Are you really serious about wanting to be used by God? Show Him by your lifestyle.
Bible in one year: Acts 4-6
RCCG TOPIC THIS WEEK
- Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
- RCCG ONLINE DIGGING DEEP SERVICE TEACHING TOPIC: BREAKING THE BOUNDARY
- RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL (AGE 4-5) TEACHER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 28TH OF FEBRUARY 2021 LESSON TWENTY-SIX (26)
- RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL (AGE 6-8) TEACHER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 28TH OF FEBRUARY, 2021 LESSON TWENTY-SIX (26)
- RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL (AGE 9-12) TEACHER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 28TH OF FEBRUARY, 2021 LESSON TWENTY-SIX (26)
- RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEEN’S MANUAL SUNDAY 28TH OF FEBRUARY, 2021 LESSON TWENTY-SIX (26)
- RCCG DIGGING DEEP TOPIC: GOD IS SURELY DEPENDABLE
- RCCG HOUSE FELLOWSHIP LEADERS’ MANUAL 28TH FEBRUARY 2021 LESSON: 26
- RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 28TH OF FEBRUARY 2021 LESSON 26 TEACHER’S MANUAL
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Tuesday March 2
TOPIC: STATE OF THE VESSEL
Memorise: Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 2 Samuel 7:5
Read: 2 Samuel 7:1-17
Many times, listen to people preach and I notice certain things they say that are not correct. This makes it pertinent for me to share with you that thee vessel bringing the message is very important. This is not necessarily because the fellow preaching Is a sinner, but rather that sometimes, preachers say things based on their emotions. Pastors are human too, you know. For example, in Our Bible reading for today, David told Nathan that he wanted to build a house for God and Nathan said God was with him.
And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee. 2 Samuel 7:3
Nathan was excited at the thought of a temple for his God. He also assumed that God would be excited about the idea too, so to him, God was definitely in support of David. Later on, God told him, “Nathan, I am not in support of David’s idea to build a house for Me as you told him”. Thank God that Nathan was humble enough to go back to tell David that he was wrong, and then he relayed the real message from God to him.
Dear child of God, please always ensure that you are relaying the correct message from God to the people, and not just what you feel is correct. Also, because you are human, if it so happens that you say something that is not correct and God corrects you later, please don’t hesitate to tell the people the correct thing.
Some other times, the message is coming from God but may be polluted by the human nature or spirit. No matter how pure the water may be, the vessel has something to do with the final product. This is why we children of God must ensure that we are led by the Holy spirit at all times. No passing of a message in the flesh is allowed at all. No matter your opinion on an issue, if God gives you a related message, deliver it exactly as relayed by God. Don’t let your culture influence a message from God. Don’t let your emotions, whether anger or excitement influence how you pass on a message from God. Being used by God is a privilege that should never be taken with levity.
If you are not yet being used by God however, ask yourself if you have yielded completely to Him. Purify yourself with the blood of Jesus and you will become fit for the Masters use.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 hymn 14: Jesus my Lord My God, My All
Action point: Please pray for me as mark another birthday anniversary today, that the lord will do greater things than ever before through me, for His glory, in the Mighty name of jesus
Bible in one year: Acts 7-8
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Wednesday March 3
TOPIC: GOD’S PARTNER
Memorise: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:9
Read: Ezekiel 37:1-10
God loves to partner with people for His work here on earth. When He wanted to deliver ther people of Israel from the bondage of the Egyptians, He partnered with Moses. when He wanted to raise dry bones to become an army, He partnered with Prophet Ezekiel as we see in today’s Bible reading, The major thing that qualifies you for partnership with God is holiness cause He is a holy God and Amos 3:3 says two cannot walk together except they agree.
Beyond holiness however, one thing has to be clear from the beginning: He is the Senior Partner while you are the junior partner. Being the Junior partner means that you have to forget whatever it is that you have achieved and place yourself wholly under His leadership.
Peter was a professional fisherman. He had been fishing Since he was a youth. Jesus on the other hand was a carpenter. When Jesus wanted to perform the miracle of a boat-sinking catch and needed Peter to partner with Him, He told him to fish at a time when, from experience, Peter knew there would be little or no catch. Peter however put all his experience and qualifications aside to obey the Senior Partner and the result was a catch so great that it filled two boats.
One day, just after I became the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Lord said to me, My son, you are almost forty years old and forty as you know is considered the age of wisdom”. I said “Yes, Lord”. He went on to show me two graphs. One looked like d valley, the other a mountain. He then told me to choose which of the two I wanted. I understood straightaway by the help of the Holy Spirit, so I chose the valley. He said very well, son, I am ready to become your partner so that From now, you will be climbing. But for that to happen everything about you has to reduce to zero. Before that time, my name plate read ‘Rev. Dr. E.A Adeboye, Bsc, M.SC., Ph.D. and at the bottom was General overseer, God said to me “From now, you will be known Simply as pastor Adeboye. All the big titles have to go- the B.sc, M.SC., Ph.D. I am not interested in them.
if you want God to partner with you, humbly take the position of a junior partner. All your knowledge and achievements have to be put aside. Your obedience to your Senior Partner has to be absolute.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Hymn 12 In Christ Alone
Key Point: God is the Senior Partner, you are the junior partner. He instructs, you obey. He leads, you follow.
Bible in one year: Acts 9-10
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Thursday March 4
TOPIC: VICTORY BY THE BLOOD
Memorise: For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17:11
Read: Exodus 12:12-14
According to our Bible reading for today, when God afflicted the land of Egypt with the death of all firstborn males, the Israelites were saved by the sprinkling of blood. This was a glimpse of what was to come later when Jesus shed His blood for us. The blood of Jesus is not just any ordinary blood, it is blood in its purest form that never loses its potency from generation top generation. The Bible tells us that the blood of Jesus cleanses every sin. if you will experience forgiveness of your sins, it must be by the blood of Jesus. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Hebrews 10:3-4
The blood of animals which used to be shed before Jesus death on the cross only covered sins temporarily, but the blood of Jesus removes sins completely and restores fellowship between God and man. No wonder John prophetically lifted his voice when he saw Jesus in John 1:29: and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Hebrews 10:10 says: By the which will we are sanctified through thee offering of the body of }Jesus Christ once for all.
Once Jesus did it, it was done because His blood is pure and powerful. The first blood of the innocent shed on earth is that of Abel. The Bible says his blood went up to God and got His attention for vengeance. The blood of Jesus is not only innocent but pure and speaks mercy.
Hebrews 12:24 says: And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Finally, we will win and be raptured by the blood.
Revelation 12:11 says: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb..
Don’t fight the battles of life by your power; engage the power in the blood of Jesus.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Hymn 29: What Can Wash Away My Stain
Key point: The devil had been defeated when Jesus shed his blood for our sins. Enter into victory today by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Bible in one year: Acts 11-13
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Friday March5
TOPIC: THE PRAYER OF AGREEMENT
Memorise: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19
Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
There is something very powerful about praying in agreement with someone else. It is something that beats all my mathematical reasoning.
For example, Leviticus 26:8 says:
And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to fight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
If I am to analyse this passage mathematically, when five chase a hundred, it means that they are chasing them at a ratio of 1 to 20. In other words, one chases 20. thus, you would expect that a hundred would chase two thousand (one hundred people multiplied by twenty). However, they chase ten thousand! That is five times each fellow’s initial capacity. There is yet another stronger dimension to prayers of agreement. Jesus talked about it thus:
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am in the midst of them. Matthew18:19-20
From what Jesus said in the passage above, if you have been asking Him for something just by yourself and He has been ignoring you, when you find someone to join you in a prayer of agreement, He will certainly answer. When believers come together in one accord to pray the heavens are opened. A very good example is what happened at the Upper room in Acts 2:1-2. Another example is when the believers came together to pray for the release of Peter from prison. When believers are really in agreement, not that two of them are quarrelling but that they are in real agreement, God moves.
Probably the best way to put the prayer of agreement into action is when you come together to pray with your spouse. Since the covenant between you two is stronger than that which you have with anybody else, then your prayers oft agreement would carry tremendous power
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Hymn 16: O God Our Help In Ages Past
Action point: Find a fellow believer to pray with preferably your spouse if you are married and ask something only he can do.
Bible in one year: Acts 14-16
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Saturday March6
TOPIC: BE CONTENT I
Memorise: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5
Read: Timothy 6:61
Contentment is one major trait that you need in order to live a good life and finish the heavenly race successfully. the treasures of this world are a major tools in the hands of the devil to make Christians fall, Even though the devil knew that Jesus Christ was well aware of the mansions waiting for Him in heaven he still tried to tempt Him with the glories of this world (luke 4:5-7). that is the same way he tempt Christians even today. He will show you your neighbours new car and tell you that if you just steal a little money or cheat a client, then you can also buy that car. Your response should be that of Jesus in Luke 4:8:
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.
The only people who will fall into this trap of the devil are those who are not content with what they have. It is fine to want more, but be grateful to God for the little that you have now as you ask Him for more. Don’t put your attention on what you don’t have, rather, put it on what you do have.
Don’t put your attention on what God has not given you, put it on what He has given you. have come to discover that when a person puts his attention so much on riches, they may eventually come, but at the expense of the fellow’s stand with God. David said in Psalm 37:4 that your delight should not be in the things of this world but in the Lord. Only then will He give you all that you desire
Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4
What is it that delights you? Is it having more money, buying new cars, travelling on vacation or is it the Lord? lf your delight is in worldly things, the devil will present them to you in return for some compromises of your faith. Dont compromise to get rich, it is not worth it. Matthew 16:26 if you gain the entire world and lose your soul, you are at a loss. Proverbs 16:8 says: Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. God wants You to prosper (3 John 2), so you don’t have to compromise your faith to be rich. It is better to be poor and you are on your way to heaven than to be rich but on your way to hell.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Hymn 26: To God Be The Glory Great Things He Hath Done
Key Point: When you are content with what God has given you and are grateful to Him, Hewill Give you more
Bible in one year: Exodus 17-19
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Sunday March 7
TOPIC: BE CONTENT II
Memorise: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15
Read: Psalm 37:1-9
When you complain about what God has not given you, you are being ungratetul to Him for what He has done. Think about it: if He has given you money to rent a one-room apartment, thank Him for that one room and He will give you more. The more you complain and grumble, the further God draws away from you because He detests the company of complainers. When the Israelites complained about a lack of meat despite God’s provision of manna,
Numbers 11:1 says:
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Imagine giving your child a phone and instead of appreciating your gift, he or she complains about it not being internet-enabled then smashes it into pieces. You would certainly be angry. Now, imagine if the child appreciated the phone, then came after a few weeks to say “Daddy/Mummy, I like this phone, but if you don’t mind, I would prefer one that can use the internet”. You would most likely assure the child that you will buy it for him or her soon and then strive to fulfill your promise.
Many Christians are short-changing themselves by always complaining. If you appreciate what God has given to you, He will give you more, but if you grumble, then you will get Him angry. Trust God, He wants the best for you and He will give it to you when the time is right. Things may not be the way you want now, but trust God and appreciate what He has given to you.
1 Timothy 6:6 says: But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Ambition is good but even as you strive for greater heights, learn to be content with where you are and what you have. He is bringing you to that desired place very soon in Jesus’ name. God bless you.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Hymn 6: Great Is Thy Faithfulness
prayer point: Father, help me to trust I Your love and to appreciate all that You have done for me.
Bible in one year: Exodus 20-22
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Monday March 8
TOPIC: LEARN FROM NABAL
Memorise: Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:21
Read: 1 Samuel 25:4-20
the meaning of the name Nabal is fool and he did many foolish things, as recorded in the Bible. We will however only focus on those foolish acts pertaining to his marriage.
Nabal always did things without carrying his wife along. A good husband will always be open with his wife. She should know what he is up to all the time. A man should never leave his wife in the dark.
In our Bible reading for today, Nabal got a request from David for food supplies and did not tell his wife who ordinarily should have been in charge of that. Even after he had responded, it was his servant who went to tell his wife Abigail. He clearly didn’t involve her in his affairs. Husband, ask your wife for advice every now and then. When she gives you advice, at least consider it. Indeed, if you always consider her advice, you will definitely adopt it from time to time. Even Nabal’s servant attested to the fact that Nabal never listened to advice.
Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. 1 Samuel 25:17
Put your wife in charge of things or tasks she is particularly skilled or gifted in and don’t interfere except with her permission, after all, she is better at that thing than you are. if Nabal had put food affairs in the hands of his wife, when David sends him a message, he would have just referred the messenger to his wife and she would have handled it well. At the end of the day, Nabal would have gotten the praise.
When people are saying “Thank you” to me for the hospitality they receive at our programmes, many of them don’t know that I had no hand in it at all, it was all my wife. Even up to the feeding of the entire crowd at the Convention, it is her area of strength; why should I bother myself with it when I should be focusing on my own areas of strength Husbands, don’t be like Nabal. Listen to your wife’s advice, put her in charge of certain things for which she is better skilled than you. Wife, support your husband; pray for him, give him godly counsel, encourage him. A husband and his wife are a team; neither should ever work alone.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 hymn 5: God Give Us Christian Homes
Action point: Husband, apologise to your wife if you have not been listening to her advice and promise her you will change henceforth, wife ensure you give your husbands godly counsel.
Bible in one year: Exodus 23-25
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Tuesday March 9
TOPIC: BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS I
Memorise: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15
Read: Matthew 7:15-23
Our memory verse for today says “Beware of false prophets” so it is not a new thing that we have false prophets today. They have always existed. As a matter of fact, as we get closer to the second coming of Christ, they will increase in number. So-called prophets who are actually nothing but magicians will multiply as the years go by. However, the Lord said clearly that by their fruits you shall know them- not by their so-called miracles, not by their signs and wonders, but by their fruits. In Matthew 7:16-18, Jesus Christ goes further to say that you cannot gather grapes from thorns. He said a good tree will only bring forth good fruits. In other words, if they are His prophets, then they will only bear good fruits. If you see them bear any bad fruit, then they are not from Him.
What are some of the bad fruits to look out for in a false prophet? Greed is one bad fruit that you can easily spot in a false prophet. Any prophet who tells you to bring money so he can prophesy for you is not from God. If he tells you to give him money because of a prophecy he has already spoken about you, he is not from God. Our God is not greedy, so if the prophet is bearing the fruit of greed, he is not from God.
Some so-called prophets will even tell you to give them your car so as to get some spiritual benefits. Tell them that you are a child of God too and God has not spoken to you. In 2 Peter 2:3, Apostle Peter says: And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Another fruit they bear is that of fear. They always attempt to put fear into your heart. They use fear to control their victims. They know that once they tell you that doom is coming you will be ready to do anything to avert it. If you see a prophet who always prophesies doom, run from the fellow. A true prophet, even if he sees doom coming will pray for it to be averted. If he tells you the prophecy at all it is so that you can pray also. He will not seek to put fear in your heart but to inspire you to pray against the impending doom. He would even prefer that the doom is averted and he is called a false prophet than for the doom to come and then be boasting about the accuracy of his prophecy. 2 Timothy 1:7 says that God has not given us the spirit of fear. Fear is a spirit and it is from the devil; anyone who is ministering the spirit of fear to you is from the devil.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 hymn 4: Conquerors And Overcomers Now Are We
Bible in one year: Exodus 26-28
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Wednesday March 10
TOPIC: BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS II
Memorise: And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 2 Peter 2:2
False prophets don’t talk about holiness. They don’t encourage you to grow spiritually. They make no reference to your lifestyle at all, they couldn’t care less whether you are even born again or not. They just start ‘prophesying about earthly things. That is not the way of the Lord.
God’s priority is your soul. He said in Matthew 6:33 that you must seek first His righteousness and then all the earthly riches will follow. He says there is no profit in it at all if you gain the whole world and lose your soul (Matthew 16:26). He says He wishes above all things that you prosper, but that the prosperity must come even as your soul prospers (3 John 2). If you know yourself that you have not been Iiving holy and someone comes to you prophesying, Without mentioning the need for you to live a consecrated life, that is a false prophet. The first message God will send a real prophet to deliver is that of holiness because that is His priority. Some false prophets even discourage their victims from growing spiritually by telling them that they don’t need to fast and pray; all they need to do is just give them some money and they will do the praying on their behalf. You should know that such a fellow cannot be from God. God who says you should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16) cannot now tell you to hand over the responsibility of praying to a contractor.
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
Jeremiah 23:14: Check the prophet’s lifestyle. Does he live a life of holiness? Does he tell lies or encourage you to do so Some prophets say they want to wash away some evils from the body of a woman. Imagine that- they want to rub their hands on the naked body of a woman!
Lastly, pride is another major fruit of false prophets. They ascribe so much glory to themselves as though they were God. A true prophet will always ascribe glory to God Because he knows that God is his only source.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Hymn 14: Jesus My Lord, My God, My All
Key Point: if the prophet is not living holy he is a false prophet.
Bible in one year: Exodus 29-31
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Thursday March 11
TOPIC: PRAYERS FOR LEADERS
Memorise: When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Proverbs 29:2
Read: 1 Timothy 2:1-4
PRAYERS
- Father, thank You for all leaders in every sphere whether it is education, health, technology, manufacturing politics or anywhere whatsoever, please give them wisdom and good counsellors so that they can lead aright in Jesus’ name.
- Father, anything that may have been destroyed in any sphere of life, please give the leaders in that sector the grace to rebuild in Jesus’ name.
- Father, please help our leaders to battle whatever challenges are hindering their good success in Jesus’ name.
- Lord, I pray for all those who are leading me directly – in Church, in my office, in my neighborhood, in my family, everyone who is in a leadership position Over me, let them not lead me astray, in the name of Jesus.
- Lord, put Your fear in the hearts of all our leaders. Teach them to honour You and let them follow alter peace diligently in Jesus’ name.
- Lord, let righteousness be exalted at every leadership level in my nation, industry, Church and all over the world in Jesus’ name.
- Father, take away selfishness from the heart of all our leaders. Give them compassion for the people they lead.
- Father, please expose all the wolves amongst our leaders. Father, for the sake of Your people, expose evil doers amongst our leaders and remove them all in Jesus’ name.
- Father, give our leaders the grace to lead us into abundance in Jesus’ name.
- Father, arise and uproot every leader who has purposed in his heart to hurt Your people. Father; don’t spare them in Jesus’ name.
- Father, please unite all our leaders; take away the division and confusion in Jesus’ name.
- Your personal prayer point for Your leaders.
OPEN HEAVENS MARCH 2021 Hymn 11: I Need Thee EVry Hour
Thanksgiving: Father, thank You for Your protection over all our leaders, and Your grace that allows them to lead.
bible in one year: Acts 17-19