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Friday 31 May Open Heaven: HE FEELS LIKE YOU DO

Friday 31 May
HE FEELS LIKE YOU DO
Memory Verse For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Read: Acts 9:1-6
Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.


Message
If you are the apple of God's eyes, you will be required to channel God's love to those who are hurting. According to 1 John 4:7-8, this includes fellow believers; else you cannot claim to even know God. That is part of your responsibility, it is an obligation. Being the apple of God's eyes does not start and end with obligations, there are benefits, rights and privileges that accrue from this relationship with God. If somebody is playing with you, the fellow can hit almost any part of your body, but not your eyes. Anyone who touches your eyes is out to provoke you. If you are the apple of God's eyes, whoever touches you, touches God, and is playing with the Consuming Fire.

“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”
Isaiah 63:9
This verse tells us that the Lord suffers whenever the apple of His eyes is suffering. He does not just show sympathy but He empathises! A man and his eyes are one. If you hurt the eye of an individual, he will feel it throughout his whole body. If you feel that something is getting towards your eyes, what will you do? Even without thinking, you will not wait for it to get there before you dodge or block it. In Acts 9:1-6, when Saul was heading for Damascus to touch the apples of God's eyes, the Lord met him on the way and arrested him. God preempted Saul on that journey and asked why he was persecuting Him. Anyone touching you is touching the Lord. Whatever you are going through, He is going through it with you. Hebrews 4:15 says He feels your infirmities and trials; hence He wants you to communicate with Him over any disturbing situation so that He can take it away. God stands by the apple of His eyes to any extent. Beloved, God is with you. He feels exactly what you feel. He has a stake in what concerns you. Being the apple of His eyes, He knows most of what you are suffering is because of His name you bear. He will uphold you. He will stop your enemies before they hatch their evil plans against you. Remember, He loves you.
Prayer point
Father, grant me the full benefits of being the apple of Your eyes.

Boko Haram claims victory over the Nigerian Army

Contrary to several press release by the Nigerian Army, the Boko Haram sect have claimed that they are actually in control, see video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjQzfXlDP1I

Photos from Bukola & Toyin's wedding

Enjoy!

RCCG Ondo Province 1 Sunday School Department Held Village Outreach

The members of the Sunday school department of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ondo Province 1 held a one day village outreach in Ayede-Ogbese, Ondo State Nigeria on the 29th of May, 2013. The paramount ruler of the community was there to declare the outreach open. Part of activities were health talk, distribution of household items and clothing, provision of free eye test and recommended pairs of glass as well as free medical examinations. See the pictures of the event below:

                                           

Thursday 30 May Open Heaven: WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?

Thursday 30 May
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?
Memory Verse But ye put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14
Read: Genesis 3:20-21
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.


Message
If you are God's representative or champion, He is very much interested in your dressing. You must be clean and you must not ridicule the Name of Jesus whom you represent. No dress that exposes your nakedness is allowed. If you are fuelling lust in the hearts of the opposite sex by virtue of your dressing, then you are representing something else other than the Lord. Before you put on any dress, you must ask yourself: Will this dress please the Lord? Does it cover my nakedness? Would Jesus put on this same dress while He was on earth? Will people who see me wearing this dress glorify God or Satan? Do I have inner peace wearing what I am wearing?

For want of means to afford something better, some people are dressed in rags. If you cannot afford good clothes, the Lord will open doors for you to have them in Jesus name.
“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
Genesis 3:21
God's concern about the clothes of His champions did not just start; it started from the beginning. When God created Adam and Eve, He dressed them up in Heaven's designer wears – His own glory. God covers Himself with glory and because He created His champions in His own image, He covered them with the same covering. That is, Adam and Eve wore the same dress that God wore. No wonder they had tremendous power and control. You are addressed by the dress you put on. If you dress in royal robes with a crown, even without introducing yourself, people who meet you will treat you as a king. They will show you uncommon regards and treat you with honour. Because Adam wore God's clothes, the animals regarded him as they regarded God their Creator. But the day they sinned and lost God's clothes, God gave them animal hide for clothes; no wonder the animals rebelled against them. In Christ Jesus, you can be back in control by not only wearing clothes that reflect God's glory but also by wearing God the Son in the person of Jesus Christ. Are you wearing what will give you authority or undermine your authority?
Key point
You cannot wear Jesus Christ and not be treated like Him. This is the only true way to stay in dominion.

Monday 27 May Open Heaven SIGNS ARE LIMITED

Monday 27 May
SIGNS ARE LIMITED
Memory Verse:For we walk by faith, not by sight: 2 Corinthians 5:7
Read:Matthew 7:21-23
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Message
Signs and wonders are important tools for church growth. Yet, as great as they are, they have their limitations. A Christian is called to a life of faith not a life controlled by sight. Signs and wonders are primarily meant for unbelievers while believers are expected to believe even without seeing. To unbelievers, seeing is believing but to his followers, Jesus says: if you believe then you will see (John 11:40). That is pure faith! In other words, for a believer, it is your faith that will bring your expectation into reality. So, if you lack faith in God in a particular area of life, you may not see anything.

Signs and wonders have their limitations hence you need to reorder your priorities in line with the reality of God's word. For instance, it is possible to perform miracles and be unable to make it to Heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). Some bona fide servants of God who walked in the miraculous are in hell, and many more will join them because of pride. What brought Lucifer down if not pride? If you cannot ask God to clothe you with humility and meekness while He is performing signs and wonders through you, then it is safer to let the power go. Some anointed of God who are operating in signs and wonders but are secretly sinning, unfortunately believe all is well because some miracles still attend their ministry. All is not well! In his backslidden state, Eli still made a prophetic declaration concerning Hannah at Shiloh and it came to pass. But how did he end his life? If you are living in secret sin but still see miracles being performed through you, you ought to be really scared. Such miracles can never take you to Heaven. It is holiness and purity of heart that will. Moreover, the devil can perform magic. Not every prophet is of God even when they claim to heal the sick and perform miracles. Some believers, in their desperate search for miracles have ended up with magic. Everyone who receives magic from Satan comes under his control and manifestation, whether they know it or not and whether they like it or not. Have you received something from Satan? Return it today!
key point
Believers who often run after miracles from place to place end up as preys of Satan. Pursue Jesus and you will find Him.

Wednesday 22 May Open Heaven: DANCING FOR YOUR OWNER

Wednesday 22 May
DANCING FOR YOUR OWNER
Memory Verse:And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 2 Samuel 6:14
Read:2 Samuel 6:12-16
2Sa 6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

2Sa 6:13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

2Sa 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and Davidwas girded with a linen ephod.

2Sa 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

2Sa 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

Message
Beside standing and lifting up holy hands and going on your knees, you can also dance in worship of the Most High God. When the African dog is wagging its tail at its owner, it is acknowledging its owner. So when you dance before God with all your heart, you are acknowledging God as your owner. This does not include sexually provocative dancing. Some ladies dance to attract men and vice versa while some others dance to please God. Let your dance glorify God. If you truly dance to please the Lord, acknowledging Him as your owner and thanking Him with all your heart, you will not leave His presence empty. You will leave with a load of His presence and power.
Also, the way you react when you receive news of a Kingdom victory is an indicator of whether the direction of flow of your heart mirrors that God. How do you feel when you hear that a soul has just been saved? If you ask how the Lord feels, you can be sure that Heaven will declare a party and they will be dancing to God's glory including Jesus Christ Himself. For just one soul! Then what do you think will happen when 10, 100, 500, 1000 or 10,000 souls are won to Him in a day? How do you feel? Has such Kingdom news ever made you dance?
“And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”
2 Samuel 6:14
When the captured Ark of the Covenant was brought back to Israel, King David danced with all his might. He laid aside his position as king and danced as a subject of the King of kings. He did not know when he put aside his robe that was hindering him from dancing, and he began to leap and dance as a 'commoner' before Israel. It is even possible he did some acrobatic display. David truly was a man after God's heart! He did not care about the opinions of men but of God. The truth is, when a king is before the King of kings, he must forget his position and pay due homage to Him who enthroned him. Are you too refined, too cultured, or too honourable to dance for your Owner?
Key point
If you cannot dance for God, who else would you dance for?

Monday 13 May Open Heaven: SIGNS URGENTLY NEEDED

Monday 13 May
SIGNS URGENTLY NEEDED
Memory Verse:Then said Jesus unto him, Except you see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.John 4:48
Read:Acts 5:12-16
Act 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

Act 5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

Act 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Act 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laidthem on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

Act 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Message
To soar above the heights as a divine eagle, you need to fly with both wings by combining wisdom with miracles. Matthew 28:18 says Jesus has received all power while Colossians 1:27 says Christ in us is the hope of glory. Armed with this knowledge, we should manifest the power that Jesus has received, since He is inside of us. Why do we need signs and wonders in our churches today?
“Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”
John 4:48
Signs and wonders facilitate the conversion of sinners. In Isaiah 7:14, the Lord gave His people the sign of a virgin conceiving the Saviour. This means God is not against signs. God uses signs to bring convictions and to fortify faith. When I newly became the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1981, several people believed that I was not chosen by God, but that my appointment was all a manipulation. Then the Lord began to give them signs. In those days, we used to hold a monthly seminar. Then it happened that every first day of every seminar, we must have a baby which would always be a boy.
Isaiah 8:18 says we are for signs and wonders wherever we find ourselves as children of God. Signs and wonders were common place in the ministry of the apostles, particularly Peter. After the Holy Spirit's decent in Acts 2:1-41, they were so filled with power that with one simple message from Peter, 3000 souls were won. In Acts 3:1-11, another sign – the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate took place. Then another sermon from Peter converted 5000 souls all from one remarkable miracle (Acts 4:4). By the time a lying couple died prematurely, great multitude joined the Early church (Acts 5:12-16). If your church is not growing the way it should, it may be a pointer to your need for signs and wonders. Ask that God will perform the signs and wonders that will bring great crowds to Jesus in your local assembly.
Action point
Ask God for spectacular miracles in your local assembly. Pray that uncommon signs and wonder will be done by the hands of God's children worldwide.

Saturday 11 May Open Heaven: HIS DECREES STAND

Saturday 11 May
HIS DECREES STAND
Memory Verse:For he spake, and it was done; he commanded and it stood fast.Psalm 33:9
Read:Psalm 33:8-9
Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Psa 33:9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Message
Acts 15:18 says God already knows everyone He has created ever before the foundation of the world. Sometime ago, a lady was told by the doctors that she could never have a child because her womb was too small. Whenever she conceives, at the fifth month of her pregnancy, she experiences a miscarriage. So she wrote us and we prayed for her and the Lord said we should tell her that she will have children. We knew God cannot lie so we expected that God would fulfil His word by giving her children one at a time. But when she became pregnant, at delivery time, she delivered four children – two boys and two girls. While we were seeing one baby, God had already seen four. Are you poor today? God is seeing you in great wealth. Are you marginalised or treated as someone very insignificant today? God is seeing you as a very important personality – one that cannot be ignored. Pray that the good future that only God can see concerning you should come to reality in your life.
Moreover, when the Lord Jesus would heal the man at the pool of Bethesda recorded in John 5:2-9, He said, Rise! This tells us that God rules by decrees. Thank God that He is not a democrat. If God were to consult your friends before saving, healing, or blessing you, their feedback might have stopped Him. How many people want their friends to join the club of billionaires while they are still living in penury? Not many! And because God rules by decrees, He does not ask if the unpleasant situation is ready to let you go. He simply commands it to go. According to today's reading, when God commands, it is done. When He says rise, nothing and nobody can keep you down. When He says let there be light, no darkness can prevent the light from coming to be. Today, the Lord is saying this to you: Arise, Get up from that wheel chair! The Lord is saying, Arise from obscurity! Get up from sorrow and shame! Rise up from your down trodden position! It is your season of joy!
Action point
Pray that every negative decree against you and everything yours would be cancelled and that God's good decrees over your life will come to pass.

Friday 10 May Open Heaven: SALT OF THE EARTH

Friday 10 May
SALT OF THE EARTH
Memory Verse:Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.Matthew 5:13
Read:Acts 27:20-25
Act 27:20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

Act 27:21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

Act 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

Act 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

Act 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Act 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Message
When God looked upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, He said if He could just count 10 tiny lights, He would spare them (Genesis 18:20-32). Although every country has her peculiar problems, one of the greatest challenge is the inability of the lights in those countries to shine as lights. As light, your duty is to shine. Are you shinning in your little corner of the world? Can God see you as a light when He looks at where you are amidst the darkness? May you not fail God in Jesus name.
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls you the salt of the earth. As salt, you are the sweetener He needs to sweeten the earth. This means that your presence alone can make a world of difference in an unpleasant, bitter situation. As sweetener, you can turn curses into blessings. A long standing curse that affected so many lives in Jericho suddenly terminated when a salt of the earth - Elisha stepped into the scene (2 Kings 2:19-22). Today, some geographical areas still have a particular curse operating against people from that location. It is the duty of the salt of the earth in those locations to break the curses. What is that persistent ailment or condition that has become a tradition in your family or lineage? Being the salt of the earth, you should research into its origin, make restitution where necessary, take authority in the name of Jesus Christ and break the curse. On Paul's way to Rome, there was a storm that could have claimed the life of everyone onboard the ship, yet his presence preserved lives (Acts 27:20-25). Your presence in a bus, vehicle, aircraft, train or ship can prevent a fatal accident or preserve lives even when an accident occurs. Those who live near you should be benefiting from your angelic body guards. Your presence in a family or organization can also bring prosperity as was the case with Joseph (Genesis 39:1-6). As the salt of the earth, your life should subtract the evils and add the blessings. Are you truly living as the salt of the earth?
Prayer point
Father, help me to live as salt of the earth. Make my life impactful.

Wednesday 8 May Open Heaven: IS PEACE DWINDLING?

Wednesday 8 May
IS PEACE DWINDLING?
Memory Verse:O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:Isaiah 48:18
Read:Isaiah 48:17-19
Isa 48:17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I amthe LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

Isa 48:18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

Isa 48:19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

Message
If you are able to take care of the problem of sin, it means you have succeeded in shutting the door against poverty, sickness, defeat, etc. In Joshua 7:10-12, Israel suffered defeat from a weak enemy and Joshua went to the Lord to find out the cause. The Lord told him Israel had sinned and that if they got rid of the sin, victory would be regained. Are you a victim of defeat? Have you fallen face down before your enemies? Have you been unable to pass a particular test or examination? Examine yourself carefully and be sure that sin is not the cause. If it is, repent, and restitute where necessary and go for a return match. The Lord will give you victory in every battle in Jesus name.
When sin is gone, peace will come. Hence, Isaiah 48:18 says,
“O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.”
This tells us that disobedience is what is robbing many of God's children of their peace and joy. Isaiah 48:22 says,
“There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.”
This scripture is not restricted to only unbelievers; it also covers believers who venture into acts of wickedness against others. Every time you engage in an act of wickedness, you erode your peace. If you oppress your subordinates, you diminish your peace. And if you persist, your peace will continue to decrease until it gets to a point where there is no more peace in your reserves. At such a point, it will be very difficult to distinguish such a believer from the wicked who does not know God. This means that even though the Lord Jesus has given you peace when you accepted Him according to John 16:33, whether that peace will remain, increase or decrease is dependent on you. Lack of peace can affect one in any area of life. Cheating your fellow brother in a business transaction is at the expense of your peace. Breaking covenants, denying people their rights or entitlements are at the expense of your peace. If you steal what belongs to your neighbour, it is at the expense of your peace. Why lose peace when it can be multiplied by doing good to others and increasing their joy?
Action point
If your peace is giving way to trouble, there might be some wicked spot in your life. Look diligently at your life and make amends.