Open Heaven 24 November 2017

Open Heavens 24 November 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Obedience Must Be Total

Topic: Obedience Must Be Total — Friday 24, November 2017.

Memorise: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. – 1 Samuel 15:23

Read: 1 Samuel 15:16-24 (KJV)

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 44-49, Micah 1, Hymn: Sing Hymn 14 – Take My Life

MESSAGE:

In our walk with God, total obedience is the key to success. If you will walk with God, then you must be prepared to obey Him completely. If you decide to obey some instructions, delay your obedience to some or even flout some others, you will definitely have problems with God. If you doubt this, ask King Saul. From his experience, we can see that partial obedience is the same thing as full disobedience before God. Saul was sent on a mission by God with specific instructions which were clearly spelt out to him with these words in 1 Samuel 15:3:

“Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”

You are reading Open Heavens 24th November 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Obedience Must Be Total

But when he got to the point of executing the instructions of God, he obeyed some, ignored some and outright disobeyed some.1 Samuel 15:9 says,

“But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”

He ignored and disobeyed some of God’s instructions because he wanted to remain in the good books of his soldier. What was the end result of this act? He was rejected and abandoned on the throne, while God chose a replacement for him. May God never reject you!

A further lesson here is that it’s not everyone rejected by God that He dethrones immediately. After Saul’s rejection, he was still on the throne for years, while God was already relating with David as king. During this period, how did Saul rule over the kingdom? As a lunatic of course! Today, like Saul, many leaders and pastors have been abandoned by God in the position they occupy. Although such people still maintain the status quo, the power to help them succeed is no longer available to them. Never be carried away by anyone occupying any position. It is only God who knows those who are standing and those He has rejected on their thrones! Are you in obedience? Do you obey God completely? Beloved, obey every instruction you are given by God completely, and you can be certain that all will be well with you.

Key Point: Disobedience robs you of the spiritual standing you require to succeed in your walk with God to a place of higher glory.

Hymn 14: Take My Life

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Open Heavens 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 church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

I take responsibility for PDP defeats says Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has taken responsibility for the Peoples Democratic Party’s defeat in the 2015 presidential election.

He, therefore, said his priority now “is how to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party regains the Presidency in 2019.”

Jonathan said this when Chief Olabode George and his campaign team paid him a courtesy visit in his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State on Tuesday.



A statement by Bode George Media Office after the meeting quoted the ex-President as saying it was his responsibility to ensure that the PDP rose again as a strong political platform to win the next elections.

Jonathan said, “Whether I like it or not, I must take responsibility for the defeat because I led the party to the election. The only thing that will make me sleep well is to ensure that the PDP comes back to power.”

The former President said he was working with other stakeholders to ensure that the party was well organised to achieve this purpose though he preferred to work from the back seat.

He said the party must begin to take the right steps in the right direction to regain the confidence of the electorate, adding that the mistakes of the past would not be repeated.

Speaking earlier, George, a former deputy national chairman of PDP who is currently on a nationwide campaign for the chairmanship election in December 9, had congratulated the former President on his 60th birthday.

George urged the ex-President, as the leader of the party, to ensure that the PDP emerge stronger from the forthcoming national convention.

George, however, told the former President that the failure to apply the micro-zoning principle to the PDP chairmanship position had caused ripples capable of dividing the party.

He lamented that the party appeared to be drifting as there was no reasonable justification offered by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee for jettisoning the principle, which was applied to all previous elections to the position.

George also paid a courtesy call on Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State at the governor’s office.

He commended the governor for sustaining the confidence, goodwill and support of the people in his administration and the party.

The governor described the December 9 national convention as a window of opportunity to put the PDP’s house in order, urging all aspirants to elective positions as well as the leaders of the party to show tolerance and patriotism and work together to make the party proud.

He said it was important to ensure a free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

George was given a rousing reception at the state party secretariat in Yenagoa where he met with party stakeholders and delegates to the convention led by the State Chairman, Chief Cleopas Moses.

Others at the meeting included members of the state House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Friday Benson and local government chairmen.

http://punchng.com/i-take-responsibility-for-pdps-defeat-in-2015-jonathan/

Open Heaven 22 November 2017

Open Heavens 22 November 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Seeking Pre-Eminence?

Topic: Seeking Pre-Eminence? — Wednesday 22, November 2017.

Memorise: But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. – Matthew 23:11

Read: 3 John 1:9-11 (KJV)

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 34-37, Jonah 2-3, Hymn: Sing Hymn 6 – Deeper, Deeper

MESSAGE:

All those who have accepted God’s call to salvation should be aware that they have equally been called to a life of brokenness. The Christian life is a life that walks in the Spirit, having crucified the flesh with its affection and lusts (Galatians 5:24, Galatians 5:16). The place of brokenness is the place of true service and reflection of Christ. While the fellow who is broken is dead to the flesh, the fellow who is carnal is still very much alive to it. There are certain traits that characterize the life of an unbroken fellow. These traits will be visible in such a life, irrespective of the ecclesiastical position occupied. One of such traits is the desire to be preeminent in all things. Those who always want to outshine others must be extremely careful. It is good to excel, and God wants this for His children, but struggling for pre-eminence within the fold, just to gratify the flesh or feed your ego is a mark of not being broken.

You are reading Open Heavens 22 November 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Seeking Pre-Eminence?

In the early Church, there were people who liked to show that they were in charge, even where there were superiors set over them. Apostle John encountered Diotrephes and he had problems with him because of this trait(3 John 1:9). Those who like to have pre-eminence usually find it difficult to recognise or submit to higher authority. They want to be the ones calling the shots. They may have a superior over them, and yet they will still want to be the ones that people take orders from. They run a parallel government to that of their superiors, and because their power base is illegal, they use lots of manipulation, coercion, intimidation and forming of unhealthy cliques to maintain their power. Such people are involved in every divisive and rebellious scheme being witnessed in the Church and in society today. Those who seek pre-eminence operate through charismatic witchcraft, and they are involved in very subtle mind-control. They want to be recognised and honoured first and above others. Their suggestion must always be taken or else you must be prepared for a fight. If you have these traits in you, you are very carnal and close to Hell’s gates. If you struggle and manipulate your way to gain pre-eminence over others, in Heaven’s records you will be the last or even have no placement there. If you are involved in this manifestation of carnality, beat a retreat today!

Action Point: Examine your life to see if you have any of the traits of life that seeks pre-eminence. If you do, repent and take corrective actions.

Hymn 6: Deeper Deeper

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Refrain:

3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Refrain:

4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Refrain:

5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
Refrain:

Open Heavens 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 church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Birthday Message to Goodluck Jonathan by Reno Omokrii

“Dear President Jonathan, I don’t care what anyone says, but I will support you under the rain and under the sun. “You are the best thing that ever happened to democracy in Nigeria. You are the best thing that ever happened to almajiris in Nigeria though they never knew it. You were the best thing to happen to infrastructure in Nigeria. “The unfortunate truth is the fastest way to go down life is by putting others down. The fortunate truth is that the fastest way to get up in life is by looking up to God in prayer then looking down to do your work or business. “You exemplified this in your private and public life. Happy 60th birthday to the Face of Democracy in Africa, my friend and mentor, President Goodluck Jonathan. “Love, Bemigho”


Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/jonathan-60-youre-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-almajiris-reno/

Be Grateful

_The qualifications that gave you a job is the same qualifications  someone has, but doesn't have a job.......
       *Be grateful.*

_The man who officiated your wedding, blessed your marriage and today you have children, is the same man who officiated and blessed others' marriages but they are still crying for children and some eventually ended up with a divorce......_
       *Be grateful.*

_The prayer God answered for you, is the same prayer others have been saying without success yet......._
       *Be grateful.*

_The road you use safely on a daily basis is the same road  many others died on......._
       *Be grateful.*

_The place which you worship and God blessed you, is the same place other people worship in but their lives are still in discord & shambles......._
      *Be grateful.*

_The bed you used in the hospital, got healed and discharged, is the same bed many other people died on...._
       *Be grateful.*

_The same rain that made your field produce good crops, is the same rain that destroyed someone's field...._
       *Be grateful.*

   _Be grateful because whatever you have is not by your power, your might, or your qualifications, but rather by the *Grace & Will of Almighty God*

 Remember! He is the *Giver of everything* you have.

*_BE GRATEFUL_*.