Dream and Vision

Open Heavens Daily Devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Sunday September 21

DREAMS AND VISIONS

Memorise:
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14

Read: Habakkuk 2:1-3

1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Message

There are the two paramount things that will keep you on course in achieving your destined greatness. First, you need to have a specific dream of what you want your future to look like, and then keep the dream alive by having a focus or vision. It is rightly said in the Bible that where there is no vision, the people perish. Set specific and workable goals for yourself and endeavour to work towards actualising them. Refresh yourself daily on your dream and vision through consistent and devoted quiet time. Be an ardent worshipper of God and give your best to the Master’s service. As you do these, you will see the Almighty elevating you in all areas. The Spirit of God can brighten your dream and refocus your vision. Maybe you even have small dreams and vision, the Almighty can boost them beyond your imagination. Prior to becoming the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, I was the Head of Department of Mathematics at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. I was living in a mansion with a two-bedroom guest quarters. I also had a servant’s quarters with four bedrooms. All these were not part of the main house. But when I became the General Overseer, I had to live in a one-room apartment at Mushin (a poor neighbourhood in Lagos). I left my wife and children at Ilorin as a result of my mission in the church. Due to my deplorable living condition at that time, I had to tidy up things before my family could join me. Before bringing them over, I went to God in prayers and explained the challenges I was facing to Him. I told God to build a house for me. Left to me, I did not mind using the one room apartment, but the thought of housing my entire family in one room posed a challenge to me. God’s response to me was: “Son, don’t ask for a house, because I have decided to build you a city”. That response was beyond what I could comprehend. After this encounter, I began to dream of a city where everybody would be a Christian. A city where there would be no form of molestation. A city where there would be no power failure or water shortage. God began to stretch my mind to see a city where His praises would fill every mouth.

In like manner, God can give you great dreams of greatness and visions of uncommon glory. Can you see yourself completely whole? Can you see yourself not struggling to catch a bus but sitting comfortably at the back of your chauffeur driven car? If you can, then you will have it. Do you have a dream of making a phone call to a bank manager to come and collect the money you have? Why not have a dream of driving to the airport to board your own private jet? The vision of greatness should be so much in your mind that your spiritual growth will be beyond limitation.

Action Point
Father, give me visions of uncommon glory and dreams of greatness.

Children of God

CHILDREN OF GOD

Rom 8:15-17
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.* Now we call him, "Abba, Father."* 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.
NLT

Maureen couldn’t believe that Mr. Willhorf was now her father. Mr. and Mrs. Willhorf saw her in the orphanage home and adopted her; they changed her last name to Willhorf and gave her a bedroom in their home. She had all the privileges of a true child. She was now to relate with Mr. and Mrs. Willhorf as her parents and no longer as the proprietors of the orphanage she grew up in.

In the Old Testament, the best relationship a human being could have with God was that of a slave and a master; that in itself was a great privilege and this would require that you walk in certain physical laws that are to produce righteousness in the followers. In the New Testament, God has chosen us and adopted us into His family. We are now members of the household of God. We are now to approach God with love and boldness just like a child would his father who loves him.

Go into today with the renewed mind that God is indeed your father, that because of this your relationship you have great privileges. Even if you sin God forgives you and does not remember your sins anymore. He is more interested in you than you can ever know.

Prayer: thank you heavenly father for making me your own. I pray you help walk worthy of this, in Jesus name I pray. Amen

-SD Abraham

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 1-2
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High Favour Is Yours

Sunday, September 21
High Favour Is Yours
Psalm 5:12; Psalm 102:13

Luke 1:30 " And the angel said unto her, fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God."" Mary, the Virgin was to carry Jesus in her womb for nine months. The angel of the Lord came to her with news from heaven that she had found favour with God. "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God"" (Luke 1:30). She came under heaven's spot light. Favour singled her out of the multitude of virgins in Israel. What a generous selection! That was God's favour! She only carried Jesus in her womb for nine months to have warranted that much favour. How much more those in whom Jesus Christ lives forever! The Believer is the temple of God (1 Cor.6:16-20). Christ lives in us (Col.1:27); Christ in us, is our hope of glory. We are highly favoured of God. Every man in Christ has come into favour with God (Ps. 5:12). You need to be aware of this truth. None in Christ is disadvantaged in any way. We have favour where it matters. Glory to God! The Word declares in Psalm 102:13: "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come."" Beloved, the dispensation of grace is that of favour. In Christ Jesus, every man has unqualified access into God's vast provisions of grace without paying any price. Why? Jesus paid the price for us to enjoy God's favour. Beloved, shout it on the roof top that you are highly favoured of God. I am highly favoured!

Other Scriptures for Meditation: Deuteronomy 33:23; Acts 2:46-47

My Solid Front (Confession)
In the Name of Jesus, I declare that I am highly favoured, I have a goodly heritage, I have found favour before God, and therefore men favour me everywhere I go. Amen.

Not A Victim

Open Heavens Daily Devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Saturday September 20

NOT A VICTIM

Memorise:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Peter 5:8

Read: 1 Peter 5:8-10

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Message

One lesson every believer must learn is that the devil can never repent. Hence we are not to joke with the devil. If you don’t want to be devoured by the devil, you must resist him and all that he represents steadfastly. As soon as the devil knew that David had been anointed as king, he decided to eliminate him. The devil knows that God wants to do wondrous things in your life. He knows that your tomorrow will be alright, and he is unhappy about all these great promises for your life.

“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
Psalm 121:3-4
Do not underestimate the devil. He is no doubt a liar, and he is very stubborn. However, the good news is that we have a God who can deal with him effectively. If God is on your side, and you are on His side, there is nothing the enemy can do. Every effort the devil makes to put you to shame will always turn out for your good as long as He is on your side. The devil cannot mess around with you and get away with it except the hedge has been broken. This is why every child of God must protect his or her relationship with God. The devil will always want to make you a victim, but God will always ensure you remain a victor because you are operating on a higher covenant.

Sometime ago, a lady received the shock of her life in London. A man proposed to marry her, and all necessary arrangements were made for their wedding. However, on the day of the wedding, gaily dressed, the lady went to the registry to wait for her fiancé who never showed up. What shame, shock and sorrow she got! She passed through deep emotional distress because of the disgrace she faced. After a while, this lady got through the period of pain and later married a man who became a military governor of a state in Nigeria. The man who dumped her became an aide-de-camp (ADC) to her husband. So, anytime she wanted to travel, the man who jilted her was always at her back to open the door for her to come in and go out. If God can do this in the life of someone, you can be sure He is no respecter of persons. Everyone the devil has caused to suffer one form of disappointment or the other will receive divine visitation in Jesus’ Name. Whatever injury, crises or turbulence you might have gone through, the arm of the Almighty God will be revealed in your life to cause a change in your situation and turn it to a great testimony.

Prayer Point
Father, by your power, let everything working against me begin to work for my good.

Walk In Grace

WALK IN GRACE

Rom 8:12-14
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, * you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its
dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, * you will live. 14 For all
who are led by the Spirit of God are children * of God.
NLT
One of the most pristine privileges we have as human beings is the power of choice. Even the fall didn’t succeed in stealing this. God
has given us the power to choose our destinies.
Since we have received the grace of God we have a choice whether to walk in the spirit which is walking by grace or to walk in the
flesh. Our text today clearly states that if we walk in the flesh; following the dictates of the sinful nature, we shall die but if we
through the power of the spirit walk in grace; with which we put to death the deeds of the sinful nature, we shall live.When you are
led by the spirit of God you cannot be led by the flesh at the same time.
Go into today walking in God’s grace; choosing to walk in this new nature you now have and constantly resisting the old nature of
sin. You have a choice, choose wisely.
Prayer: thank you heavenly father for choosing me. I pray dear lord that you help me walk in the spirit and put to death the deeds of
the flesh. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
-SD Abraham

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 43-48
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Let Your Faith Speak

The Leverage daily devotional by Pastor Segun Obadje
Friday, September 19
Let Your Faith Speak
Mark 11:23; Romans 4:17

Matthew 12:36 "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."" The Master warned against speaking idle (empty, inactive, purposeless) words. Jesus said everyone will be held responsible on the last day for whatever they say. This is a clear fact that God always wants us to speak on purpose. Our Words are meant to reveal our faith or conviction. Our words are meant to precipitate our absolute thoughts and innermost intents. Our Words are meant to reveal us, not obscure us. A man of conviction is a person of great influence. You will never be able to influence people until you learn to communicate your convictions in absolute terms through your words and actions. You are not to allow your words betray your faith. You were designed by God to let your faith loose through your words. This is one of the most vital lessons you will learn in life. God communicates His faith to us through His Word (Rom.10:17). As we meditate on His Word, we receive His faith. His faith becomes our faith via meditation in the Word. Beloved, when you talk your faith, the power of God is released to make good what you have said. Let this be a consistent thing with you, not just a one-off affair or an on-and-off thing. Speak what you believe in line with God's Word, not what the circumstance is dictating for you to say. Speak your faith always!

Other Scriptures for Meditation: Genesis 1:1-31; Hebrew 11:3

My Solid Front (Confession)
In the Name of Jesus, I declare that I am a speaking spirit like God, therefore I speak to my world today God's word and I see it change. Amen.

Rooted In Christ

Open Heavens Daily Devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Tuesday September 16

ROOTED IN CHRIST

Memorise:
Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 92:13

Read: Psalm 92:12-15

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Message

The root is the most important part of a tree. The very life of every tree is in its roots. Also, the strength of every house is in its foundation. If something goes wrong with the foundation, the house will fall. The moment something happens to the root of any tree, it will show on the tree. This is a profound truth. Most of the time, it is the tree that we see and not its roots. That which is unseen is what supports what is seen. The part of a man that keeps him alive cannot be seen with the physical eyes. We cannot see God. However, if God leaves your life, there will be nothing left of you. The Bible in Romans 11:16 says,
“For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”
This clearly shows that if the one who is your foundation is holy, then you will turn out holy. If the God you serve is a holy God, you will discover that your tendency will be towards holiness. When the root is bitter, the tree is going to be bitter. When somebody offends you and you do not forgive, your actions will show your bitterness; your words also will show your bitterness and it will be difficult for you to live a life of peace and holiness in accordance with Hebrews 12:14-15.

How can you have the grace and power of God? The secret is that your root should be love. This is enunciated in Ephesians 3:17-19:
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
When you embrace love, you will see the attributes of God in every area of your life. Many of us want the power of God. We want to be able to perform miracles. The question that God is asking is: are you willing to love? If you have power without love, you will destroy many people. If you have the abilities of God without the love of God, anybody who offends you is a dead person. For the power of Christ to manifest in you, you need to be rooted in Christ. Examine yourself and think of everything in you that was planted by the devil – bitterness, lack of forgiveness, hatred, sickness, disease, disappointments and fear. Ask God to uproot them all. The plan of God is that we being rooted in Him will prosper materially. He wants you to be in good health and He also wants your soul to prosper (3 John 2).

Action Point
Don’t seek for the power of God until you have the love of God.