OPEN HEAVENS FOR 18TH MAY 2026
TOPIC: BANISH UNBELIEF
MEMORISE:
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. — Matthew 21:21
READ: Matthew 17:19-20 (KJV)
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
MESSAGE:
Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. Also, John 1:1-3 tells us that all things were created by the word of God. As powerful as God’s word is, however, when it is spoken in unbelief, it cannot be expected to produce results.
In 1 John 4:4, it is written that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. God lives within you, and He is greater than every problem or challenge that the world can throw your way. This is the absolute truth about you; you are above poverty and destruction because God’s power resides in you, and you can leverage it to subdue negative situations. Despite this, unbelief can hinder the power of God from flowing through His word in your mouth.
It is possible to be a Christian and be tormented by the spirit of doubt and unbelief. What this spirit does is that it undermines the power of God’s word in your heart and makes you feel that the word of God is ordinary. It also makes you begin to think that God’s word is not true, thereby filling your heart with uncertainty. If the spirit of doubt and unbelief is tormenting you, I pray that it will leave you right now, in Jesus’ name.
Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5:35-43 with His word. When He got to his house, He drove out those who were weeping and commanded the dead girl to arise. Peter followed the same pattern when God used him to raise Dorcas in Acts 9:36-42; he sent the mourners out of the house and commanded the dead woman to arise.
Beloved, there is no limit to what you can achieve when you proclaim God’s word in faith. As Jesus said in today’s Bible reading, nothing shall be impossible to you if you speak the word of God in faith without any doubt or unbelief.
God wants you to believe His word and act upon it. He wants you to go to places where there are hopeless cases so He can show the world that there is still hope through you. He wants to use you mightily and shine His light through you so that He will be glorified (Matthew 5:16).
However, you must learn to trust in His word completely and proclaim it boldly over every situation you encounter. May you be a conduit of God’s mighty power everywhere you go henceforth, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT:
Doubt and unbelief undermine the power of God’s word, making it ineffective in a Christian’s mouth.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, remove every trace of doubt and unbelief from my heart. Help me to speak Your word with unwavering faith.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezra 1-4
HYMN 3: ANCIENT WORDS
Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world,
They resound with God’s own heart,
O let the ancient words impart.
Chorus:
Ancient words, ever true,
Changing me and changing you,
We have come with open hearts,
O let the ancient words impart.
Words of life, words of hope
Give us strength, help us cope,
In this world, where e’er we roam,
Ancient words will guide us home.Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age,
Came to us through sacrifice,
O heed the faithful words of Christ.
About RCCG and Open Heavens
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a global Pentecostal denomination founded in 1952 by Reverend Josiah Akindayomi and now led by Pastor E. A. Adeboye as General Overseer. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, RCCG has spread to over 200 countries with millions of worshippers worldwide.
Open Heavens is the daily devotional of RCCG, written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye. First published in 2003, it has become one of the most widely read daily devotionals in the world. Each edition includes a memory verse, Bible reading, message, prayer point, and hymn. The devotional is known for its practical, Bible-based teachings that address everyday Christian living, spiritual warfare, and faith.
The devotional for 18th May 2026 addresses the barrier of unbelief and calls believers to speak God’s word with unwavering faith.
BRIEF COMMENTARY
Based on Open Heavens 18th May 2026 – “Banish Unbelief”
The Power of God’s Word
The word of God is living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). All things were created by God’s word (John 1:1-3). When spoken in faith, it carries creative, transforming power. But when spoken in unbelief, it produces no results.
This is not a weakness in the word. It is a condition in the speaker. Faith activates the word; unbelief neutralizes it.
The Spirit of Doubt and Unbelief
The devotional identifies a spiritual enemy that many believers do not recognize: the spirit of doubt and unbelief. This spirit does not just cause intellectual uncertainty; it actively undermines the power of God’s word in your heart.
What this spirit does:
It makes you feel that the word of God is ordinary – just another book, just another collection of ancient sayings.
It makes you begin to think that God’s word is not true – that the promises are exaggerated, that the miracles were for Bible times only.
It fills your heart with uncertainty – you are not sure if God will really do what He said.
It undermines the power of God’s word in your mouth – so that even when you speak scripture, it comes out weak and ineffective.
The devotional prays: “If the spirit of doubt and unbelief is tormenting you, I pray that it will leave you right now, in Jesus’ name.”
The Power That Resides in You
1 John 4:4 declares that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. God lives within you. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in your mortal body.
As a believer:
You are above poverty.
You are above destruction.
You are above every problem the world can throw at you.
Not because you are strong, but because God’s power resides in you. You can leverage that power to subdue negative situations. You can speak to mountains, and they will move. You can command demons, and they will flee. You can declare healing, and sickness will leave.
But unbelief blocks the flow. Your faith is the switch that turns on the power. Unbelief is the switch that turns it off.
The Pattern of Faith-Filled Command
The devotional points to two examples of faith-filled words producing miraculous results:
Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:35-43): He drove out the mourners (voices of unbelief), then commanded the dead girl to arise. She rose immediately.
Peter raising Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42): He followed the same pattern – removed the mourners, prayed, then commanded the dead woman to arise. She opened her eyes and sat up.
Notice the pattern: Both removed the influence of unbelief before speaking the word of faith. Then they spoke directly to the situation – not to God about the situation, but to the dead body itself. They commanded, not requested. They spoke with authority.
The Mustard Seed Faith
Jesus said that faith as small as a mustard seed is enough to move mountains. This is encouraging because it means you do not need “great faith.” You just need genuine faith.
A mustard seed is tiny, but it is alive. It contains life. It grows. It produces results. The issue is not the size of your faith – it is the presence of unbelief. Even a little faith, if it is pure and undoubted, can accomplish the impossible.
How to Overcome Unbelief
Recognize unbelief as a spirit – it can be cast out. Pray: “Spirit of doubt and unbelief, I command you to leave me in Jesus’ name.”
Fill your heart with God’s word – faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). You cannot be full of God’s word and full of doubt at the same time.
Speak the word aloud – Jesus spoke to the mountain. He did not just think about it. When you speak God’s word aloud, you declare truth over your situation and silence the lies of the enemy.
Remove the mourners – identify the voices of unbelief in your life: people who constantly doubt, mock your faith, or fill your ears with fear. Limit your exposure to them when you are in a battle of faith.
Act on the word – faith without works is dead (James 2:26). If you say you believe God’s word, act like it. Your actions reveal your true faith.
The Limitless Potential of Faith-Filled Words
The devotional declares: “There is no limit to what you can achieve when you proclaim God’s word in faith.”
Sickness? Speak healing.
Poverty? Speak provision.
Broken marriage? Speak restoration.
Wayward children? Speak deliverance.
Dead dreams? Speak resurrection.
Jesus promised: “Nothing shall be impossible to you if you speak the word of God in faith without any doubt or unbelief.”
God Wants to Use You
God wants you to believe His word and act upon it. He wants you to go to places where there are hopeless cases so He can show the world that there is still hope – through you. He wants to use you mightily and shine His light through you so that He will be glorified (Matthew 5:16).
But you must learn to trust in His word completely and proclaim it boldly over every situation you encounter.
Conclusion: Speak and See Mountains Move
The spirit of doubt and unbelief is a liar. It tells you that God’s word is not true, that your situation is hopeless, that you are too weak to make a difference.
Do not believe it. God’s word is living and powerful. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Nothing shall be impossible to you.
Speak the word. Believe the word. Act on the word. And watch the mountains move.
Prayer Point from the Devotional:
Father, remove every trace of doubt and unbelief from my heart. Help me to speak Your word with unwavering faith.
Action Steps:
Identify a “mountain” in your life – a situation that seems immovable. Write it down.
Find a scripture that addresses that mountain – search the Bible for a promise that directly applies to your situation.
Speak that scripture aloud daily – declare it: “In the name of Jesus, I speak to this mountain: be removed and cast into the sea.”
Remove the mourners – identify voices of unbelief in your life. Limit your exposure to them during this season of faith.
Act on your faith – do one thing today that demonstrates you believe God’s word, even if it feels uncomfortable. Your action will strengthen your faith.
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