Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Tuesday February 16
TOPIC: GIVE CHEERFULLY
Memorise: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
I see some people’s reaction when it is offering time and I wonder if they know whom the offering is for at all.
God is not broke and He is not a beggar. He doesn’t need your money. We see in Haggai 2:8 that silver and gold are His. If you have the opportunity to give Him an offering, you should do so rejoicing. Imagine meeting one of the richest men in the world at a restaurant and he requests that you help pay for his meal because he did not have his wallet on him, with a promise to refund you.
Would you give him the money grudgingly? You know he is not asking for the money because he is poor; indeed, he would refund your money and most likely add some extra.
In fact, you may not even be interested in getting the money back, you might just see it as a privilege that you had an opportunity to give to him. Why then do you treat God like a beggar when asked to give an offering?
I will never forget a Church I attended outside Nigeria. It was the first time I was attending that Church and the entire place looked very beautiful. All the members were shining as they came to Church. With the way everyone was looking so radiant, I concluded “God must have really prospered these people”. Then I observed something: when the Pastor got up and said “lt is offering time”, everybody jumped up and began to rejoice. The Holy Spirit then said to me “That is their secret; they are cheerful givers”.
Many years ago, I was at a Church where they requested for several kinds of offerings. The offerings were so many that at a point I grumbled before reaching for my pocket and I heard God say in an angry tone “Keep your money”.I quickly apologised for grumbling and immediately became cheerful. I became even more cheerful when He later on permitted me to give my offering. If you decide to never give offerings or tithes again, the work of God will still go on. When Elijah went to the widow of Zarephath and asked her for a meal, it was not Elijah who was in need, it was the widow. In 1 Kings 19 an angel brought food and water to Elijah. There was nothing stopping the angel from giving him food and water every day; however, God sent Elijah to her because He wanted to meet her need. The cattle upon a thousand hills belong to God. If He asks you to give Him something, it is because He wants to bless you.
I hope your attitude towards giving to God will improve from now.
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 15: Must I Go An Empty Handed
Key Point: Every opportunity to give to God is an opportunity to be blessed by Him; rejoice in it
Bible in one year: Leviticus 26-27
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Wednesday February 17
TOPIC: BUILD FOR GOD
Memorise: Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Haggai 1:4
Read: Haggai 1:1-10
there are certain kinds of offences that the head of a corporate organisation would not bother to address personally. However, there are also some offences that would have to be addressed personally by the head of the organisation. This is similar to what happens in Heaven. All sins are evil, but there are some certain sins for which God may send an angel to punish the sinner, while there are some others that He addresses personally. One of such sins is leaving the house of God uncompleted.
God will fight anyone who leaves His house uncompleted by ensuring that any money Such a fellow makes goes into a pocket with holes (Haggai 1:4-7).
Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts: consider your ways Now
Haggai 1:4-7
Could it be that the reason you’ve been unable to do much with your income is that you don’t care to contribute to the completion of your local Church building? Today, God is saying “Consider your ways”. I don’t like it when I see God’s building project uncompleted, especially when have the resources that can help complete it. have discovered that in return, God has given me houses I did not build and cars that I did not buy, including those cannot afford.
One of my sons heard that we were building an Auditorium in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, and immediately sent me a huge Sum of money in Naira. Within days, he got the same am contributed, but in dollars. When you join in completing God’s building project, He will thank you wondrously, but when you ignore it, you attract His wrath as it is written in our bible reading today.
Never miss an opportunity to build for God.
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 6: Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Action Point: If you have resources that can help to complete a Church building project contribute to it today. God will certainly reward you handsomely for it.
Bible in one year: John 17-18
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Thursday February 18
TOPIC : RICHESS WITHOUT SORROW
Memorise: He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall Come upon him. Proverbs 28:22
Read: 1 Timothy 6:9-11
God wants His children to be rich, but according to Our Bible reading today, He warns them to flee the inordinate ambition to be rich at all costs. These days, many people engage in cybercrime and ritual killings just to get rich. There are some others who are good at falsifying frigures so as to get some gain.
l assure you that ill-gotten wealth will always have sorrow in it. I have seen all kinds of wealth in my little time as a Pastor and I tell you, many wealthy people are living in so much sorrow that they are willing to give up all they have in exchange for peace of mind. Many people have used ill- gotten money to buy cars without knowing that they have bought what would drive them to their early graves.
You see, if you follow the will of God, He will bless you without adding any sorrow. I believe this is the kind of wealth you want: wealth with no sorrow attached.
Matthew 6:33 says:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
1 Timothy 6:10-11 also says:
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
This clearly means that the only way to get wealth without Sorrow is to get it in righteousness. I assure you according to the word of God that riches will pursue and overtake you if you put the kingdom of God first in your life. I am speaking from experience. There were times when I was unable to go to Lagos from the Redemption Camp because I did not have N2 for tollgate fees. I would console my wife by saying “Maybe our not going is God’s way of making us avoid an accident on the way”. There was to be no accident, it was just That I did not have N2. I did not complain then because I knew that my tomorrow Would be glorious as long as I kept seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. I did not allow my lack to push me to steal Church funds.
When any opportunity to get rich through sin comes your way, you had better flee, because wrapped in that juicy fruit is sorrow and destruction.
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 25: Standing On The Promises Of Christ My King
Key Point: Only God can give you wealth without any kind of sorrow attached to it. Seek Him first.
Bible in one year: John 19-21
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Friday February 19
TOPIC: HOW DESPERATE ARE YOU?
Memorise: And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:26
Read: Genesis 32:24-30
There are many blessings that have been prepared for God’s children, but many do not receive because they are not just desperate enough. in our Bible reading for today, Jacob wrestled with God because he was desperate for a blessing Mark 2:4-5 records that the paralysed man was healed because he and his friends were desperate for his healing. if only you can be desperate, that issue you have been waiting on God for could have been history by now.
Unfortunately, some Christians take unpleasant situations as their fate. That shouldn’t be! there is nothing you cannot change it if you approach God desperately.
There was a festival of arts in one of the Northern states in Nigeria some years ago and some of the people who went from the South were involved in a fatal accident on their way back. There was a young man -a Christian who was also involved in the accident. He was among the few survivors but was in a coma for days. Once in a while, he would come out of the coma and shout just one word: “Jesus”, then go back into unconsciousness.
One day, he came up again and said “Jesus”, then opened his eyes and continued, “Death, you are not going to have me; I refuse to die.” l am sure he was at the verge of dying, but he fought and overcame. The forces of darkness and hell could not hold him down because he held desperately unto Jesus.
Are you going to let the devil hold you down in that Situation? Are you going to give up hope and let the devil have his way? You must be desperate in your prayers today. You must tell the devil “No way! am not going to let you have the last say over this matter Now, go ahead and pray to God concerning that stubborn matter. Tell Him that you will not rest until He has answered you. Keep calling the name concerning that situation. Today is Jesus today is your day of freedom you don’t have anything to pray about, you can pray for someone else or pray for me.
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 18: Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour
Action Point: Pray desperately today about that issue that has lingered for too long. i join my faith with yours and decree that your answers will Come speedily in the name of Jesus.
Bible in one year: Ephesians 1-3
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Saturday February 20
TOPIC: ALL POWER BELONGS TO GOD
Memorise: Once God has spoken; twice have heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Psalm 62:11
Read: Job 26:12-14
My God is very powerful. God’s power is everlasting; it never fails nor diminishes. Only an all-powerful God could have created the sun with mere words (Genesis 1:3). Only an all-powerful God could part the Red Sea with a blast from His nostrils so His children could cross safely and then close it back to drown their pursuers (Exodus 15:8). Usually, food grows from the ground, but it takes an all-powerful God to rain food down from Heaven for His children to eat (Exodus16:13-15,31).
In our Bible reading for today, Job described the omnipotent nature of God when he said: He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Lo, these are] parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
Job 26:12-14
How we describe God captures but a tiny fraction of the power He wields. Our minds cannot fully comprehend
His power and that is why a lot of times, we undermine His omnipotence. Often times, we are quick to forget that nothing is beyond God. Luke 1:37 says that with God nothing shall be impossible.
Jeremiah 32:17 says:
Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.
God is able to bring to pass anything He desires. Many believers are living with problems today because they have not come to the understanding that all power in Heaven and on earth belong to God. He is not a God that is limited by time or the acts of men. He is the Mighty Man in Battle, the Ancient of Days, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Undefeatable Champion, The Almighty God! If you know how powerful God is, you will never undermine His ability to turn your situation around and give you victory in all battles of life.
Go before Him today in faith that He is the Almighty God and He will surely prove His omnipotence in your life.
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn: All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name
Prayer Point: Lord, help me to acknowledge at all times that all power belongs to You alone.
Bible in one year: Ephesians 4-6
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Sunday February 21
TOPIC: THE ONLY WISE GOD
Memorise: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. Romans 16:27
Read: 1 Corinthians 1:19-31
Our focus in today’s study 1s on one of the many attributes of God wisdom. God’s wisdom is beyond human understanding. His wisdom as no end and no one compete with him. Indeed, there is no basis for comparison. The depth of God’s wisdom is unsearchable. God uses the foolist things of the world to confound the wise. 1 Corinthians 1:25 tells us that even the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man, and His weakness is stronger than man’s strength.
One of the numerous ways God showed His infinite wisdom is the way He paid the price for our sins. While the devil was rejoicing that Jesus would be disgraced publicly with a shameful death, God was rejoicing because that exactly what He needed to save the world (1 Corinthians 2:8). It was after the death of Jesus and the rise of the Apostles, sharing the gospel around the world that Satan realised that he had played by the script of the Omniscient God. While anyone would have seen God’s silence when Jesus was being crucified as foolish, it was actually wisdom.
This is why I know that though the devil may be laughing at you now, he does not know that God only allowed him win the battle so that he would lose the war over your life. You will laugh last in the mighty name of Jesus.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
Do you want God to give you wisdom? The first step is to fear Him (Proverbs 9: 10). When you fear God, you will refrain from all unrighteousness. Your colleagues may call you a fool for not falsifying figures for your gain but soon, when they begin to see you enjoying things that they cannot afford, they will know that you are actually wise. When you fear God and stay away from evil, you begin to walk wisdom.
Finally, ensure that you specifically ask God for wisdom He will give it to you.
if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
At the end of time, when those who are foolish are thrown into the lake of fire and we who have received will be cled then it will be clear of God are reigning with Him in eternity, then we made the right choice.
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 9: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
Prayer point: Father, put Your fear in my heart so that I may be wise.
Bible in one year: Exodus 1
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Monday February 22
TOPIC: THE POWER IN A NAME
Memorise: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Philippians 2:10
Read: Philippians 2:9-11
Many people wonder why names are important. Well, to start with, a name says a lot about the bearer
The Bible says that whatever Adam named the animals, that is what they were called (Genesis 2:19). What you are called has serious consequences on what you become.
When I was a lecturer at the University of Lagos, there was a Professor’s typist who everyone jokingly called Prof. Whenever they called him Prof, he would smile and reply, “Yes, yes Then one day, he made a life changing decision. “I am a typist, but everybody calls me Professor. Then a Professor I will become”. He then began to attend evening classes and little by little, he passed his exams and gained admission into the University. Before I left the University of Lagos, the typist was already studying for his Ph.D. All these came about because a typist was called a Professor.
God takes names very seriously. In Genesis 17:5 He changed Abram’s name to Abraham, then in Genesis 17:15 He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah.
God also changed Jacob’s name as well in Genesis 32:28:
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel…
God changed their names when He wanted to promote them. He gave them new names that reflected what He wanted to make out of them. This teaches us that if we want to go to a new level, we should begin to bear the name for that level.
Just as we see in our Bible reading for today, God exalted Jesus by giving Him a name that is above every other. What is the next level that you want to attain? Start bearing a name that reflects that new level from now. However, if you think that you might get into trouble by asking people to call you that name, stand in front of your mirror and begin to call yourself that name as often as you can.
Some believers answer to funny nicknames that are not a reflection of who they want to be; worse still, some even Call themselves such names in a bid to appear modest.
Don’t answer to such nicknames anymore. the name you answer to is what you will become.
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 1: All Hail The Pow’r Of Jesus Name
Reflection: What is the name that you are called? Is it a reflection of what want to you become? If not, change that name immediately.
Bible in one year: Exodus 2-4
OPEN HEAVENS Tuesday February 23
TOPIC: GUARD YOUR HEART
Memorise: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23
Read: Psalm 119:10-12
it is shocking how believers engage in all manner of conversations and associations carelessly. If you the value of your heart, you would guard it jealously In 2 Samuel 13 we see a classic case of person does not guard his or her heart. Amnon who was a prince and could have married any lady in the land Lusted after his half-sister who was a virgin. He then engaged in a seemingly harmless Conversation with a friend who watered the seed of evil already planted in his unguarded heart. The evil desire then blossomed and led to his untimely death in verses 28 and 29 of the same chapter. The man who advised him to rape his sister is the same one who announced his death to David, his father (2 Samuel 13:32)
Choose those you associate with wisely (Psalm 1:1).
Be careful of whom you listen to and be mindful of what you let into your heart. Jesus said in Matthew 5:8:
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. If you allow impurities to dwell in your heart, forget about ever seeing God.
In Matthew 12:34, Jesus said: .for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
In other words, your lifestyle and speech are an overilow of the meditation of your heart. Believers who listen to Worldly music and also allow their children to listen to them are courting trouble. The result may not be instant, out it will accumulate and surely begin to yield ungodly fruits. King David knew the secret to a clean heart and he shared this in Psalm 119:11: thy word have I hid in mine heart, that might not sin against thee. Meditating on the Scriptures, listening to recordings of sound teachers of the gospel and keeping company with fellow believers are some of the ways through which we can keep our hearts guarded. Express what you have in your heart. Thus, if you constantly expose your heart to Gods word you would guard your heart from all forms of ungodliness. Motivational words cannot cure sinful thoughts, only the word of God can.
Fill your heart with the word of God.
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 24: Take My Life, And Let It Be
Action point: Guard your heart diligently with the word of God.
Bible in one year: Exodus 5-7
OPEN HEAVENS Wednesday February 24
TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE
Memorise: Praying always with all Prayer supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:18
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:3-7
The word perseverance can be simply described as being persistent in doing something despite difficulties and delay in achieving success. No one can excel in the Christian journey without perseverance.
2 Timothy 4:2 encourages us to: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
The fruit of the Spirit – longsuffering (Galatians 5:22) is exhibited in the life of a believer who perseveres. In the Christian race, without perseverance it is very easy to fall away from the faith. No wonder Jesus said in the book of Matthew 24:13:
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Endurance and perseverance are integral to our Christian walk. A believer who cannot endure suffering will be unable to do the will of God. Suffering is one of the ways God purges us of every impurity. Without suffering, the flesh will grow strong and hinder your spiritual growth (Isaiah 48:10).
What kind of hardships should believers endure?
- Persecution: Jesus said believers will be persecuted for believing in Him. John 15:20 says “.. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you..”
- Affliction: Sometimes believers would be afflicted but the Bible says it is working for us “… a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
- Momentary Lack: Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:12 “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” So when lack comes along, we must learn to endure in faith knowing that the storm will be over soon. it Is however comforting to know that despite all the challenges we will face in our Christian race; the crown of life awaits us if we persevere (Revelation 2:10).
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 22: Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus
Reflection: Would you endure hardship for the sake of the gospel?
Bible in one year: Exodus 8-10
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Thursday February 25
TOPIC: DANGERS OF ALCOHOL I
Memorise: Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Proverbs 23:29-30
Read: Proverbs 23:29-35
Many people have argued about whether is it is right for a Christian to drink alcohol or not. some Come say it is okay to drink but not to drink too much
However, that is not what my Bible says. The Bible says you should not even look at alcohol no matter how alluring it might seem to you.
Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Proverbs 23:31-32
You see, the Bible says if you as much as look at alcohol. it will eventually bite you like a serpent. I think that should be enough to make you stay away from alcohol. No alcoholic can make it to heaven. How do I know? It is there in our Bible reading for today – Proverbs 23:33: Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Anyone who takes alcohol will behold strange women and their heart will utter perverse things. Can someone who lusts after strange women make it to heaven? Can a person whose heart is full of perverse things go to heaven? The answer is no, so someone who drinks alcohol cannot be serious about making heaven. Stop taking alcohol. You cannot control the influence of alcohol; it rules over whoever takes it. However, not only will it rule over the fellow, it will also bring evil to the person. A number of evil things amongst several others that could befall an alcoholic are listed in our Bible reading today. The alcoholic will have woes, that is, curses. An alcoholic will have sorrows, in other words, Such a person will be depressed. A person who takes alcohol will have contentions, that is, he or she will always be fighting one thing or the other. People who take alcohol will have babblings: Complaints upon complaints. they will have wounds without cause wounds to their lives and aspirations. They will have redness eyes, which reflects a violent heart. I could go on and on.
Certainly, no bottle of beer, wine or liquor is worth the evils mentioned above.
beloved, abstain from all appearance of evil.
(Thessalonians 5:22).
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 hymn 24: take My Life, And Let It Be
Action Point: Don’t drink any form of alcohol and if you know anyone who does, show them the message for today.
Bible in one year: Exodus 11-13
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Friday February 26
TOPIC: DANGERS OF ALCOHOL II
Memorise: Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Proverbs 31:6
Read: Proverbs 31:4-6
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
The Bible says it is only fools who take alcohol. Alcohol makes a fool of anyone who consumes it, so much that, the drunkard standing on solid ground can begin to think he is sleeping in the middle of the sea. He would think he is lying on a bed. Imagine such mockery.
“Oh, I just want to take a little; I can’t get drunk. I know how to control myself.” No one starts drinking with the intention of misbehaving and acting foolish. It starts with looking at the drink and desiring it. The moment you start desiring it, you are already treading close to the trap of the devil and you will soon fall if you don’t take your eyes and mind off it. If you know that you struggle with taking alcohol, why would you go for a meeting in a bar? You are only tempting yourself. If you want to stop drinking, then you have to overcome the fear of losing the friends who drink with you. When I met Christ and stopped drinking, I lost friends because whenever they visited me, I offered them soft drinks instead of the assorted alcoholic beverages we used to drink. I lost friends, but God replaced them with many brothers and sisters in Him.
Proverbs 31:4 says:
it is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
In other words, the one who drinks cannot make clear decisions. If a person cannot make good decisions, how then would such a person excel in life? How would he or she become great and fulfil destiny? If you want to achieve greatness in life and have all your dreams come true, you have to let go of alcohol.
How do you stop taking alcohol? Stop looking at it. Don’t look at the drink or it’s container at all. Don’t watch the adverts, don’t spend time around people who drink or talk about alcohol.
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Proverbs 23:31-32
Abstain from alcohol, it ruins destinies.
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 22: Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus
Key Point: Alcohol has nothing else to offer the drinker but evil. Flee from it.
Bible in one year: Exodus 14-16
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Saturday February 27
TOPIC: DANGERS OF ALCOHOL III
Memorise: Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Habakkuk 2:15
Read: Genesis 19:31-38
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink. that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Habakkuk 2:15
Not only is it sinful to drink alcohol, it is also sinful to ofter it to others. I used to think it was all right to give alcohol to other people to drink as long as I was not drinking it until my Father-in-the-Lord preached that it was wrong and he backed it up with the Bible passage above.
The day I heard that message, I got rid of all the alcoholic drinks I kept at home for entertaining visítors because didn’t want a curse on my head. In those days, I had friends who were sailors, and whenever they travelled, they brought me all kinds of alcoholic drinks. Some of my other friends knew this and always visited whenever they wanted a drink. Whenever they arrived, they would say “We can’t pass the house of the king without saying hello to him”. Little did I know that I was the “king’ of alcohol. I thank God that I am now well known for soulwinning and holiness.
Habakkuk 2:15 says if a person knows the dangers of alcohol and avoids it, but still gives it to others, then woe unto that person. AS Such, when you are organising a party and some people are suggesting that you serve alcohol even though you don’t drink, tell them that you don’t want any curse on yourself.
If you truly love your neighbours and relatives, you would be persuading them to stop taking alcohol, not offering it to them. The Bible says: Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Proverbs 31:6
Are your relatives and friends ready to perish? Do you want to be a tool in the hand of the devil to make anyone perish?
If your answer is ‘no’ then you shouldn’t offer anyone alcohol.
When Lot’s daughters offered their father alcohol, they thought they were doing him good, but their ill-conceived decision later on created enemies for Israel (Genesis 19:37-38).
OPEN HEAVENS FEBRUARY 2021 Hymn 16: O God Our Help In Ages Past
Key Point: Offering alcohol to people will bring a curse upon you and ultimately lead to their destruction.
Bible in one year: Philippians 1-4
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021
OPEN HEAVENS Sunday February 28
TOPIC: NOT FOR DOGS
Memorise: But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. Matthew 15:26
Read: Isaiah 59:1-2
Many people see God as a magician. They come to Him only when they need to see a ‘magic trick’;any. They come to though they say what they want is a miracle. Such people want to Iive anyhow they like, yet have God perform miracles for them whenever they need it. I laugh when I encounter such people. Jesus said that God is our Father and I know He prefers to be addressed as such. If you don’t believe me, read
Matthew 6:9. He taught His disciples to pray saying “Our Father”. God wants man to fellowship with Him for who He is and not just for the miracles they can get from Him. Think about it, if God created man with the sole purpose of seeking Him for miracles, then the Garden of Eden would not have had everything man needed to survive. If you don’t have a relationship with God and you don’t fellowship with Him regularly, then He is not your Father.
His miracles are for His children only, so don’t bother Coming to Him for miracles. The funny thing is that when sinners come to God just for miracles, they question His power when they don’t get it.
The problem however is with them and not God. The Bible says:
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Psalm 66:18
Years ago, a woman was told that I have a special anointing for making the barren fruitful, so she attended one of our Conventions. In those days, we were not so many so could lay hands on everybody with ease. When she came, I laid hands on her and she fell under the anointing. One year later, she returned complaining that in spite of my prayers, she was still barren. I was going to pray for her again when the Lord said, “Ask her how many boyfriends she has.” If I didn’t know the voice of God, it would have been difficult to ask because she was a rich and powerful Woman.I mustered some courage and said “Errm… how many boyfriends do you have, Ma?” “Six” she answered. I then said “You have a husband and you also have six Boyfriends. How then can you expect the Holy One of Israel to give you a child?”
My Father’s miracles are only for His children. Are you His child?
OPEN HEAVENS FEBURARY 2021 Hymn 7: Have You Been To Jesus
Key Point: To qualify for a miracle, you must live a holy life.
Bible in one year: Acts 1-3
Open Heavens Devotional for 16-28 February 2021