Because He Lives

On today's spirituality post, I have chosen to share the lyrics of a  wonderful hymn we sang in church today. This song was composed by Bill and Gloria Gaither in the sixties while passing through some situations while expecting their third child.It was a very traumatic time in their lives but amidst it all Goria felt God's peace in the dark room and the song was conceived.

Because He Lives

(1) God sent His Son,

they called Him Jesus,

He came to love,

heal, and forgive;

He lived and died

to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove

my Savior lives.

 

(2) Because He lives I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives All fear is gone;

because I know

He holds the future.

And life is worth the living just

because He lives.

 

(3) How sweet to hold

a newborn baby,

And feel the pride,

and joy He gives;

but greater still

the calm assurance,

This child can face uncertain days

because He lives.

 

(4) And then one day

I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and

I'll know he lives.

Get on the Right Road

Get on the Right Road

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

– Deuteronomy 30:19

God’s going to get you for that! Most of us have said that kind of thing jokingly for years. We’ve somehow believed that God slaps us down with pain and punishment every time we sin. But that’s just not true. There are deadly wages for sin, but God is not the one who’s doling them out.

You see, the Bible tells us there’s been a curse in effect for thousands of years. And the devil is the cause of it, not the Lord God. God gave warning of it in Deuteronomy 30:19. After describing in detail the blessings that fall upon those who followed God and the terrible suffering that would befall those who separated themselves from Him, He said, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”

Think of it this way. Curseville is out there. God warned us about it and urged us not to travel the road that leads there. But He has promised to give us freedom, and He’ll allow us to choose our own way. If we get on the road to Curseville and don’t get off of it, we’re going to wind up there. Is that because God sent us there? No! He urged us not to go.

The vital thing to realize is this: At any point of the journey—whether you’re on the road to Curseville or living right in the middle of it—God will save you from it. He’ll take you out of there and deliver you. He’ll deliver you from diseases, addictions, or anything else that’s been holding you captive.

Today if you find yourself on the wrong road and see destruction ahead, just repent and get on the right road. Just commit your way to Jesus and He’ll deliver you from whatever may be holding you captive. You can begin by praying, “Lord Jesus, I’ve chosen the wrong road and right now I ask You to forgive me. Today I choose life by choosing Your way. Please deliver me from this bondage and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord!”

Remember this: No matter what you’ve done, God doesn’t want to get you for it, He wants to forgive you of it. He doesn’t want to slap you down, He wants to save you and lift you up. Trust Him and let Him put you on the road of life today!

Kenneth Copeland

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 30

© 1991 Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc. aka: Kenneth Copeland Publications All rights reserved.

Set-Up for Irreversible Blessing

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
BY Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Date: - Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Topic: - Set-Up for Irreversible Blessing

Memorise: His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. - John 2:5

Read: 1 Kings 17:10-16 (KJV)
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

Bible in One Year: Zechariah 12-14, Matthew 15:32-16:12

MESSAGE:
My life is living proof of goodness of God. The testimonies of God's blessings in my life are uncountable. My journey to becoming what God has made me today has not been as easy as you may think. Each time I remember where I started from and how I started, I'm usually overwhelmed with gratitude, and it bears my imagination. I remember with nostalgic feelings how God dealt with me in the past and how He is still using me as an instrument in His hands. In 1985, when I started living at Redemption Camp with my family, there were times that I would not have N1 in my pocket. Do you know that there were times my wife and I would not be able to go to Lagos because we had no N2 to pay for toll fees' I would comfort my wife on such days by telling her that God might have restricted us from going to Lagos because and accident will occur on the road.
However, the fact was that I could not afford to pay the toll fee of only N2 both ways. I thank God because that condition has gone forever. Poverty is no longer a threat to whatever I want to do in life because God has placed me and all my children, both biological and spiritual, on the pedestal of irreversible blessings. The womb of lack has been completely shut forever and my cup of blessings is running over day by day. I pray that as you get committed to the work of God entrusted to your care, you will never know lack again in Jesus ‘Name.
Do you know that God can choose to divert wealth to your side? If you have given your life to Christ, this is one of your benefits for being in the commonwealth of Isreal by faith. Without any iota of doubt, believers can be blessed by the Lord greatly. God could decide to arrange the transfer of wealth that unbelievers have laid upon for years to you without much problem. Infact, if you understand the glorious agenda of wealth transfer, unbelievers could even be struggling to bless you. Sometime ago, I told all my children at the auditorium of the Redemption Camp that I did not want anyone to give me cars anymore because I had more than enough, and cars were no longer an issue for me. Before I got home on that very day, four cars were already waiting for me and two of these cars were from Muslims. When God decides to set you up for irreversible blessings, poverty will become a total stranger to you. However, you must live a life that will glory God. You must maintain a constant, unbroken fellowship with Him. Live a life that will be a blessing to the Lord if you don't want His prosperity to be withdrawn from you. Are you in the doldrums of debt and poverty? Believe God for a divine set-up. It will be an encounter that will position you for blessings that will cause your cup to run over.

Prayer Point: Father, please give me an explosive miracle today that will make my cup run over.'

OPEN HEAVENS: Benefits of the New Anointing

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
BY Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Date: - Friday, 3 April 2015
Topic: - Benefits of the New Anointing

Memorise: But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. - 1 John 2:27

Read: Exodus 40:9-15 (KJV)
9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.
10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.
11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.
12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:
15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
Bible in one year: Haggai 1-2; Matthew 13:24-44

MESSAGE:
The anointing should occupy a prominent place in the life of every child of God. When God grants you the anointing, several benefits are attached to it. He gives His anointing in order to add value, not just to your life, but also to the lives of everyone you come in contact with. The benefits of the new anointing are so many that they cannot be for those who are lazy. You must have worked, prayed and studied hard before you can receive such anointing. The new anointing is an uncommon anointing; it is not what you find on the surface; you must dig for it.
When Elisha was desperate for the new anointing, the other sons of the prophets were busy laughing him to scorn (2 Kings 2:3-5). They tried to discourage him from reaching his goal by deriding him, but he never got discouraged. He continued to serve and follow his master devotedly. Those who had earlier discouraged him were the first set of people to congratulate him later on (2 Kings 2:15). Hard work and persistence pays. When you are a hardworking person, you will get to a point where those who are lazy will have only one choice, which is bowing before you. Nobody may know of your secret prayers now, but the moment your prayers are answered, you will begin to tell the secrets of your success. If you really want to experience the new anointing, don't ever allow anybody to discourage you. Keep seeking God's face and serving Him diligently. God is always ready to baptize you with the fire required to make the world focus on you.
The presence of the new anointing guarantees that there will continue to be proof of answered prayers in your life. When the new anointing becomes visible, there will be a sudden demonstration of great happenings in your life. The new anointing in the life of a child of God shows that the enemy has been made to face shame and total extermination. In 1 Kings 18:37-40, there was an encounter between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The anointing was the sole instrument that God used in putting the enemies to shame in this encounter. The fire of God brought shame completely to the prophets of Baal. To a user of this devotional, I decree: by the new anointing that God will give to you, you will become an instrument of fiery judgment against the enemies of God, and all your enemies will bow in Jesus' Name.

Prayer Point: Father, let all my enemies submit themselves and bow to you in the Name of Jesus.

Open Heavens Devotional: Great Expectations

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
BY Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Date: - Monday, 30 March 2015
Topic: - Great Expectations

Memorise: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. - 1 Corinthians 2:9
Read: John 4:24-34 (KJV)
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Bible in One Year: Micah 5-7, Matthew 11:20-12:8

MESSAGE:
The Scripture reading of today shows us a marked difference between the priorities of our Lord Jesus Christ and that of His disciples at a point in time. Many of us, like the disciples, are often engrossed with how to meet our physical, psychological and emotional needs. We are immersed in things which are ephemeral in nature. These include what to eat, what to drink, where to live, how to be clothed, how to take care of our immediate and distant families, how to stay healthy, how to be wealthy and how to be famous. Jesus assured His disciples that the Father knew their needs and would provide for them (Matthew 6:31-32). Moreover, He stressed what should be the topmost priority of all heaven-bound Christians. Matthew 6:33 says,
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Passion for the things of God should be your topmost priority! It is often said that passionate people make the greatest contributions to society. Be passionate about the things of God. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the necessities of daily life will be provided. Stop chasing shadows. Stop putting the cart before the horse. It is time to correctly prioritise your life and passions.
God is called the God of glory in Acts 7:2. There are therefore great expectations for those who serve the God of glory in holiness and truth. There is a blessing of divine favour for all who consecrate themselves to serving God in spirit and truth. It should be noted that a day of divine favour is better than many years of labour. The blessing of divine favour is superior to what people ordinarily enjoy. I pray that you will enjoy the blessing of divine favour with effect from today in Jesus' Name. Those who consecrate themselves to serving God in spirit and truth also receive divine prosperity (Psalm 1:1-3). God is the only one who blesses without adding sorrows to it. Are you experiencing sorrow in any area of your life? I pray that God will turn that sorrow to joy in Jesus' Name.
There is fruitfulness for all who consecrate themselves to serving God in spirit and truth (Psalm 92:12-14). They also have an assurance of victory over all known and unknown enemies (Psalm 132:18). God will reveal the secrets of all your enemies to you. He will stand by you and fight all your battles for you. He will render your enemies irrelevant and grant you victory over them. Finally, there is the assurance of making heaven at last for all who consecrate themselves to serving God in spirit and truth. What is the state of your consecration and love for God?

Prayer Point: Father, grant me the grace to consecrate myself to serving you in spirit and truth.

OPEN HEAVENS Sunday, 29 March 2015 : EMMANUEL

It's a great day! Please find below today's open heaven's devotional.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
BY Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Date: - Sunday, 29 March 2015
Topic: - Emmanuel

Memorise: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. - Zechariah 8:23

Read: (Matthew 1:18-25 KJV)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
5 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Bible in One Year: Micah 1-4, Matthew 10:40-11:19

MESSAGE:
One reason why the Holy Spirit caused the Gospel of Matthew to be written is to show that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies concerning the Messiah. One of such prophesies is found in Isaiah 7:14 which says,
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
This prophecy was shown to be fulfilled by Jesus in our Bible reading today. One of the key points of this prophecy is that Jesus will be referred to as Emmanuel. The name Emmanuel means "God with us". There is nothing as good as when God is with a person. God is the eternal, independent, self-existing Being. He is the Being whose purpose and actions spring from Himself without any external influence. God is absolute in dominion and infinitely benevolent. He alone is the cause of all existence and the upholder of all things. Numerous benefits accrue from the presence of God. One advantage of having God with you is that no force, known or unknown can successfully detract you from fulfilling destiny (Romans 8:31-32).
For you to fully key into the revelation of "God with us", you need to understand who God is. God revealed who He is in discrete parts through His redemptive Names to the saints of old. He said to Moses in Exodus 6:3:
"And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them."
An understanding of His redemptive Names gives us insight into His personality and allows us to profit from the consciousness that this personality is with us.
God is the Elshaddai: He is the All-Sufficient One. This means that He has enough resources to meet all your needs - be it spiritual, physical, emotional or psychological. Also, God is Jehovah Jireh: the Great Provider. He has the ability to turn your austerity to prosperity and poverty to wealth (Philippians 4:19). Another Name for God is Jehovah Rapha: the Healer. Are you sick? He has the ability to cure you of all ailments - be it pathological, soul sickness or spiritual sickness. God is also Jehovah Nissi: He is the Man of War. Are you facing any battle? The Almighty God has the ability to fight all of your battles for you and to grant you total victory. Are the enemies of your life mammoth? Turn to Jehovah Nissi today. Let Him be your Emmanuel. I prophesy that you will experience victory in all the battles of your life in Jesus' Name.

Action Point: Consciously carry the presence of God along with you wherever you go.

Impulsive Praise

Saturday, 28 March 2015
Open Heavens 28 March 2015: Saturday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye - Impulsive Praise

Topic: Impulsive Praise [Saturday March 28, 2015]

Memorise: And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. - Luke 1:46-47

Read: (Acts 3:6-9 KJV)

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Bible in One Year: Obadiah 1-Jonah 4, Matthew 10:16-39

MESSAGE:

Praise can be described as a spontaneous outburst of thanksgiving by a grateful child of God in God's presence. When a person knows God and experiences Him intimately, he or she sings to the Lord with deepest praise! Our God is praiseworthy. He dwells in the praises of His children. Christ came so that men would be able to praise God in holiness and truth. The woks of Jesus caused men to rejoice and praise God. Luke 19:37 reports that:
"And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;"
God created us to praise Him. This will be our activity when we are gathered around His throne in Heaven. No true child of God should have difficulty thinking of reasons why God deserves his or her praise. We should enjoy the times we have to praise our Lord, both privately and publicly. If your life is not filled with praise, it may be that you have lost your appreciation of God's mercy upon you. Please, don't forget what God has saved you from. Never take for granted what it means to have the assurance of eternity with God. Your lifestyle should praise God in holiness and good works. Jesus in Matthew 5:16 said:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Moreover, don't disregard the spiritual kinship you enjoy with other believers. Take time often to recount the blessings God has poured out upon you and your family in the midst of God's people. Jesus in Hebrews 2:12 declared thus:
"Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."
As you contemplate the boundless love and mercy God has shown you, you will want to sing praises to His holy Name. Impulsive praise is spontaneous. It is involuntary and not pre-meditated. Here you can sing praises to God or mention His redemptive Names. Here you praise God because you are overwhelmed by His greatness, loving-kindness and goodness to you. Impulsive praise is credible praise. It does not have to be manipulated or orchestrated. It is a real and personal expression of a grateful heart and wonder-filled life that has encountered the Holy God. This is what God expects from you.

Key Point: Sincere praise is the spontaneous response of one who meditates on the greatness and goodness of the Lord.