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_*.

Open Heavens 17 November 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Service and Friendship

Topic: Service and Friendship — Friday 17, November 2017.

Memorise: Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? – 2 Chronicles 20:7

Read: Genesis 18:17-22 (KJV)

17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 1-8, Amos 7, Hymn: Sing Hymn 14 – Take My Life

MESSAGE:

When you read through 2 Kings 2:1-7, you will notice that Elijah, Elisha and the sons of the prophets in Bethel, Jericho and Jordan were all very much aware of Elijah’s transition to glory and the day it was scheduled to take place. In fact, they even treated the knowledge of this event like an open secret. One lesson from this is that if you walk in the Spirit, significant events will be common knowledge to you. God has secrets (Proverb 25:2). There are certain things known only to Him, which He may want to share with men once in a while.Daniel 2:22 says,

“He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 18 November 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Only An Honour

In as much as God wants to share His secrets with men, if He looks around and finds no one qualified by His grace for such secrets, He will simply keep it to Himself.

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." - Amos 3:7

When you have a closely guarded secret, do you tell everyone on the street about it? I very much doubt you would do that. Rather, you will want to keep it to yourself, and even if you would tell anyone at all, it will be someone who is not only close to you but who is also trustworthy enough in keeping secrets. Who are those God will share His secrets with? It is His servants! If you are not getting divine information regarding crucial future events, it is most likely that you need to correct certain aspects of your service. When you serve the Lord, He will share some of His secrets with you. The more you serve Him, the more you have future information ahead of time. Also, you must be his friend. Abraham was God’s friend, and so, when God was about to destroy Sodom and He realised that Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family were there, the Lord told Abraham about it. This gave Abraham the privilege and opportunity to intercede for them. Are you a friend of Jesus Christ? What is the level of closeness you share with Him? Friends communicate a lot. Do you often hear God’s voice? How often does He speak to you using various means of communication? You become His closest friend by serving Him like never before, and He will not leave you in the dark concerning your tomorrow and that of your family.

Key Point: When your relationship with God moves up to the friendship level, access to divine secrets will become a regular benefit to you.

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.

Nigeria Inflation update

The continuous effort of the Federal Government to rein in on consumer prices has started yielding results.

The Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation rate rose 15.91 percent year-on-year in October, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report released on Wednesday. This was lower than the 15.98 percent recorded in September and represents the ninth consecutive decline in the headline inflation.

Also, while average yearly inflation number for the first five months of the year stood at 17.45 percent, average headline inflation from June to October 2017 improved to 16.01 percent. Indicating that pace of price increase is gradually slowing down in relation to the fairly stable foreign exchange market.

On a monthly basis, inflation surged 0.76 percent in October, also 0.02 percent better than the 0.78 percent recorded in September. Making it the fifth consecutive month-on-month inflation headline is contracting.

However, despite the noticeable improvement in the headline inflation, the Food Index surged by 20.31 percent year-on-year in October, down slightly by 0.01 percent when compared to the 20.32 percent recorded in September.

Still, this is high and has continued to erode consumers’ buying power, especially when the average price of the first five months (18.67%) of the year is compared with the June-October average of 20.22 percent. Meaning, headline inflation is merely aided by the surged in forex liquidity due to rising global oil prices.

In April, the Federal Government had introduced series of forex policy to rein in on high foreign exchange and better stimulate the economy. While the Investors and Exporters forex window has been helpful in easing economic gridlock it has failed to curb rising food prices.

The Federal Government released its 2018 proposed budget of N8.6 trillion in November, saying the budget would consolidate on previous accomplishments.

The Naira remained fairly stable against the US dollar, trading around N363 per dollar.

http://investorsking.com/nigerias-inflation-declines-nine-consecutive-months/ 

Open Heavens 15 November 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Time For Consultation

Topic: Time For Consultation — Wednesday 15, November 2017.

Memorise: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. – Genesis 1:26

Read: Genesis 1:26-27(KJV)

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Bible in One Year: Job 36-38, Amos 5:1-17, Hymn: Sing Hymn 9 – On The Hill Far Away

MESSAGE:

From the creation story, the fact that man was the last of God’s creation, though he is the most significant, indicates that God can give you the very best at the end. From this we understand that the end of believers is glorious. No wonder Ecclesiastes 7:8 says,

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 16 November 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Fulfilling Destiny

You might have started on a shaky note, but I want to assure you that you will end up being well established. Your faith may be very weak now, but it will become great faith at the end. Never judge your future by the limitation of your present! God will help you overcome those obstacles and limitations, and He will safely take you to your glorious end. Indeed, Job 8:7 says you might have started small but you will end with great increase, provided you sustain a blossoming relationship with God.

In addition, we observe from the account of creation in Genesis chapter 1 that when God was making all other things, He did not call a council meeting, but when it came to the creation of man, a council meeting of the Godhead was called. They all had to be in agreement for man to be created. The implication of this is that to get the best from God, man must be in total unity and alignment with Him. Also, we will be wise to follow the pattern demonstrated by the Godhead in all our decisions. Some issues are more sensitive and volatile than others. There is a time to take a unilateral decision on issues, and there is also a time to consult widely and take a joint decision. Lastly, when it comes to the issue of human management, you would need to go to God for help. Why? Human beings are the most difficult resources to handle. They are very diverse in thought, knowledge and understanding, and so their responses to issues are so divergent and vast. Human beings are also unreliable; it’s no wonder, Jesus did not commit Himself to any man.John 2:24-25 says,

“24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

If you will succeed in leading men and women, you must involve God to a large extent. How well are you managing fellow men?

Key Point: To effectively lead men, you must be connected to the One who made man.

Hymn 9: On The Hill Far Away

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
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. 

Open Heaven 14 November 2017

Open Heavens 14 November 2017: Tuesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Vessels: How Prepared?

Topic: Vessels: How Prepared? — Tuesday 14, November 2017.

Memorise: If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. – 2 Timothy 2:21

Read: 2 Timothy 2:19-21 (KJV)

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20 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.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Bible in One Year: Job 33-35, Amos 4:4-13, Hymn: Sing Hymn 6 – Deeper, Deeper

MESSAGE:

In Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah saw the Lord and this opened his eyes to see himself the way he truly was before God. As the brightness of God’s presence illuminated every aspect of his life, he had no choice but to seek divine assistance, and as he cried for help, God sent an angel to purify his unclean lips with a coal of fire. When you see Jesus, you will become a candidate for purification. Purification is essential because without being purged by God, your fruitfulness will be hampered (John 15:2). In other words, the more God refines you, the more likely He will use you for greater works. Many of us quote John 14:12 and claim that because we believe in Jesus, we automatically qualify for greater works. However, the truth is, there can be no greater works without divine refinement. God does not use unclean vessels for His work. If He has chosen you for an assignment and you come to the realization of how unfit you are for the work, it is because He wants you to be challenged, and He also wants you to ask for His purging and cleansing.

“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

Coming up next: Open Heavens 15 November 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Time For Consultation

It is not enough to be a vessel unto God. You should ensure that you are a vessel for honourable purposes. Beyond this, 2 Timothy 2:21 tells us that being purified is crucial to being used of God, and that although God may have His ways of purifying us, we also have a personal responsibility to purge ourselves. You have to put considerable effort to purge yourself. Those carnal habits you have must go! Little lies must go! Get rid of hypocrisy! Fruitlessness in soul-winning must go! The more you purge yourself, the more you will be a candidate for more and greater works. Don’t ever think that there is no more work to be done in the Kingdom. There is so much work yet to be done, and although the labourers are increasing in number, those purified and set apart for God’s use are few. Are you prepared to make yourself ready for God’s use? There are a few believers who have purged themselves and are prepared for any assignment God has for them; God will use such vessels to do just about anything, even as He bypasses many other vessels that are not pure enough for His use. Do all you can to be a pure and prepared vessel for God!

Key Point: Purity makes a vessel usable for any assignment.

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.

MTV Awards feed back

MTV EMAs which opened with Best Hip Hop winner Eminem doing a thrilling orchestra-backed performance, along with guest artist Skylar Grey, of his newly dropped track “Walk on Water,” taking the mic in a London pub before joining the EMA stage at The SSE Arena, Wembley.

Not long after, the audience saw global pop star and hometown hostess Rita Ora run through London’s streets to get to the show, with UK radio crew Kurupt FM of British sitcom “People Just Do Nothing” and a cameo from the Mayor of London himself.

Best Pop winner Camila Cabello’s captivating and elaborate musical production featured a hugely choreographed routine that moved through three scenes and incorporated soaring overhead shots, ending in a Havana-style swimming pool.

Liam Payne got hearts racing with a steamy performance of “Strip That Down” featuring dancers in streetwear moving across an LED disco floor, while perched on hydraulics set to a spectacular LED light  show.

Shawn Mendes was crowned Best Artist and rocked his Best Song-winning track “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” in an ever-evolving light box.

Host Rita Ora’s performance featured more than 50 dancers in an over-the-top medley of songs from her new album, “Your Song” and “Anywhere.”

David Guetta closed the show with an electrifying performance of his new single “Dirty, Sexy, Money” with guests French Montana, and Charli XCX.

Later, Rita Ora was presented with the first-ever “MTV EMA Power of Music Award” honoring the charitable efforts on behalf of all the artists who responded to Grenfell. At the close of show, Ora announced that the 2018 MTV EMAs would be held in Bilbao, Spain.

See complete list of winners and performances below.

BEST SONG

Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back

BEST ARTIST

Shawn Mendes

BEST LOOK

ZAYN

BEST NEW

Dua Lipa

BEST POP

Camila Cabello

BEST VIDEO

Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.

BEST LIVE

Ed Sheeran

BEST ELECTRONIC

David Guetta

BEST ROCK

Coldplay

BEST HIP HOP

Eminem

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Thirty Seconds To Mars

BIGGEST FANS

Shawn Mendes

BEST PUSH

Hailee Steinfeld

BEST WORLD STAGE

The Chainsmokers – Live from Isle of MTV Malta 2017

WORLDWIDE ACT WINNERS

Lil’ Kleine – The Netherlands

Tangana – Spain

BabyMetal – Japan

ALMA – Finland

Davido – Nigeria

Stormzy – UK & Ireland

Lali – Argentina

REGIONAL LOCAL ACT WINNERS:

Best UK & Ireland Act – Louis Tomlinson

Best Spanish Act – Miguel Bosé

Best Swiss Act – Mimiks

Best Swedish Act – Zara Larsson

Best MTV Russia Act – Ivan Dorn

Best Portuguese Act – Overule

Best Norwegian Act – Alan Walker

Best New Zealand Act – TAPZ

Best Polish Act – Dawid Kwiatkowski

Best LatAm Central Act – J Balvin

Best LatAm South Act – Lali

Best LatAm North Act – Mon Laferte

Best Dutch Act – Lil’ Kleine

Best Japan Act – BABYMETAL

Best Italian Act – Ermal Meta

Best Israeli Act – Noa Kirel

Best German Act – Wincent Weiss

Best Greater China Act – Huo Zun

Best India Act – Hard Kaur

Best Brasilian Act – Anitta

Best Danish Act – Christopher

Best French Act – Amir

Best Australian Act – Jessica Mauboy

Best Adria Act – Nicim Izazvan

Best African Act – DaVido

Best Hungarian Act – Magdolna Rúzsa

Best US Act – Fifth Harmony

Best Finnish Act – ALMA

Best Belgian Act – Loic Noittet

Best Canadian Act – Shawn Mendes

Best Korea Act – GFRIEND

Best SE Asia Act – James Reid

LIB

Open Heavens 11 November 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Wounds Leave Their Scars

Topic: Wounds Leave Their Scars — Saturday 11, November 2017.

Memorise: If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. – 1 Corinthians 3:17

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (KJV)

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Bible in One Year: Job 21-24, Amos 1:1-2:3, Hymn: Sing Hymn 11 – I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

MESSAGE:

God is both the God of love and a consuming fire (1 John 4:8, Hebrews 12:29). He is extreme in His love for mankind, and He can also be extreme in His judgment. This is why you must never take Him for granted. All over the world, there is a resurgence in the doctrine of eternal security. This doctrine says that once you are saved, no matter what you do, your salvation is forever intact. This is one of the deceptive pills that the devil uses to drown souls forever in Hell in these last days. You shall not fall victim to this in Jesus’ Name! Today, many people are not taking the totality of God’s word into consideration while interpreting scriptures that talk about God’s grace. Such people believe that grace is devoid of responsibility.Ephesians 2:8 says we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and I am in total agreement with this. Also 1 Corinthians 15:10 says that whatever we are and whatever we become is by the grace of God, and I also totally agree with this. But beyond these, some people further believe that works are not necessary any more or else it won’t be grace. This is a lie!Philippians 2:12 says after being saved by grace, you must work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Did 2 Timothy 2:22 not command us to flee from youthful lust? In fact, 1 Corinthians 3:17 says,

“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 12 November 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Does Our Worship Benefit God?

In other words, after being saved, you become a holy temple for God to dwell in. If you then go back to sin, God will bring His judgment on you. This too was written by the apostle of grace.

Beloved, never play with sin! Don’t joke with backsliding! Wounds can heal but the scars would remain as a reminder. The scarred flesh is never like the original. A scar is a dent on the body. It disfigures and distorts the fine form and beauty of the body. If you have a scar somewhere on your body and somebody looks at you there, the scar will be the very first thing they will see. When the prodigal son returned home, he was well received, and a feast was held in his honour, but he had lost his inheritance! He returned as a disenchanted son. After David sinned with Bathsheba and killed her husband, he later realized his evil, confessed it and was forgiven and restored to full fellowship with God; yet, the sword never departed from his house ever since! You can avoid scars! Live right before God and obey Him in all you do, and He will guide you to avoid the pits the devil has dug to orchestrate your fall.

Key Point: Foolish people bring avoidable and unnecessary sufferings on themselves. Father, please give me a wise heart to avoid pitfalls.

Sing Hymn 11: I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow
No turning back, no turning back.

3. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
4. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

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.