Category Archives: Open Heaven

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OPEN HEAVEN 25 JULY 2019 THURSDAY – DON’T BE AN ACCOMPLICE

OPEN HEAVEN 25 JULY 2019 MEMORISE: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.Romans 1:32

OPEN HEAVEN 25 JULY 2019 READ: Acts 5:1-11 (KJV)

1. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2. And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost; and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost; and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

OPEN HEAVEN 25 JULY 2019 MESSAGE WITH HYMN, PRAYER POINTS, DAILY DECLARATIONS AND BIBLE READING

Today, we will be reflecting on an area of compromise in the Body of Christ which the Lord wants us to repent of.

This has to do with partaking in other man’s sin, whether by supporting, celebrating or turning blind eyes to their misdeeds.

The reason why the Redeemed Christians Church of God perceived by some to be rigid on certain matters is because we are conscious of the possibility of being accomplice to heresies.

We prefer to give God the benefit of the doubt rather than take things for granted – after all, it is safer to be overly obedience than to fall prey to sin.

Today’s memory verse is strong food for thought for the body of Christ. Through it, we understand that God’s wrath is revealed from heaven not only against those who commit acts that He hates, but also against those who have pleasure in those that do them. Some pastors would say,

What is my business if a man divorces his wife and marries another woman? It’s their problem, not mine.

However, such pastors are not just witnesses but accomplices to the joining of two spiritually incompatible partners through remarriage, thereby approving those who have gone against the Lord’s instructions in (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).

May you not be a partaker of sins you did not directly commit in Jesus’ Name (1 Timothy 5:22). Read – Open Heavens 24 July 2019 Wednesday

In times past, we were taught that it was not enough to abstain from alcohol; we were also expected not to serve it to others to drink. Habakkuk 2:15 says:

Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!”

This was how my old friends knew that a change had occurred in me after I gave my life to Christ. When I started serving them soft drinks instead of whiskey and champagne, they thought I had gone crazy.

Another area of compromise that makes believers accomplices to sin is when they allow fraud to be perpetrated under their noses and do nothing about it. There is a Yoruba adage which says,

“The one who collects the stolen cruse of oil is as guilty as the one who actually stole it from the kitchen rack.”

This same principle applies to those who allow their homes to be used for immoral acts. Although some young Christians would not fornicate, they allow their unbelieving friends bring their girlfriends to commit sexual immorality in their houses.

In the sight of God, they are as guilty as those committing act. The giver of a bribe is as guilty as the taker of it. Don’t be an accomplice to corrupt practices. The Lord is watching you, and He is coming back soon.

Thank you for your effort in sharing today’s open heavens across your social media networks, we truly appreciate and pray for more of God’s grace to continue strongly in Christ Jesus. See you here tomorrow!

OPEN HEAVEN 25 JULY 2019 PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give me boldness to resist being an accomplice of evil doers, in Jesus’ Name.

OPEN HEAVEN 25 JULY 2019 HYMNAL:
HYMN 5 – LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU

1. While passing thro’ this world of sin,
And others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

CHORUS:
Let others see Jesus in you.
Let others see Jesus in you;
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true,
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skies,
Do others see Jesus in you?

CHORUS:
Let others see Jesus in you.
Let others see Jesus in you;
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true,
Let others see Jesus in you.

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
And lead the lost to life and light;
Let others see Jesus in you.

CHORUS:
Let others see Jesus in you.
Let others see Jesus in you;
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true,
Let others see Jesus in you.

OPEN HEAVEN 25 JULY 2019 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JUDGES 1-2, EZEKIEL 22:6-22

Judges 1-2 King James Version (KJV)

1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

2 And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

4 And Judah went up; and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.

5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

7 And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

8 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.

9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.

10 And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

11 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:

12 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

14 And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?

15 And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.

16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.

17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.

18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.

19 And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.

21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.

22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the Lord was with them.

23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)

24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.

25 And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.

26 And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.

27 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.

29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.

31 Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:

32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.

33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.

34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:

35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.

36 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

2 And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the Lord.

6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.

7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel.

8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old.

9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.

10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:

12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.

13 And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

16 Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so.

18 And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

20 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:

22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

23 Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

EZEKIEL 22:6-22 KING JAMES VERSION

6 Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.

7 In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.

8 Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.

9 In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.

10 In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.

11 And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.

12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God.

13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.

14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it.

15 And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.

16 And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.

17 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.

19 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.

20 As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.

21 Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst therof.

22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the Lordhave poured out my fury upon you.

OPEN HEAVEN 24 JULY 2019 WEDNESDAY – MIND YOUR BUSINESS

OPEN HEAVEN 24 JULY 2019 MEMORISE: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.Proverbs 22:29

OPEN HEAVEN 24 JULY 2019 READ: 2 THESSALONIANS 3:6-12 (KJV)

6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

7. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

8. Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you;

9. Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

10. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

11. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

12. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

OPEN HEAVEN 24 JULY 2019 MESSAGE WITH HYMN, PRAYER POINTS, DAILY DECLARATIONS AND BIBLE READING

We need a deeper insight into a today’s memory verse in order to understand what God is teaching us today.

To put it quite simple, God is asking us to be diligent, specifically in our own business. Anyone who is in diligent in someone else’s personal affairs is a busybody, and such a person will reap no reward for this.

When I was young, my mother was so hard on me whenever I played too much. She will order me immediately to go into the house to read my books.

If I protested that I was been singled out for harsh treatment were other children were also playing, she would remind me that she was not called to mind other people’s business.

I thank God that my mother diligently minded the business which the Lord committed into her hands. She would say to me, “Enoch, you are my business; I will mind you and not other people’s business.”

When a person is not mindful of what to do with his or her life, he or she wastes it. Please understand that time wasted is life wasted. The easiest way to waste a life is to not do something meaningful with that life. Read – Daily Declarations Tuesday 23rd July 2019

Paul could boldly say to the Church at Thessalonica that he and his team purposely did not live on other people’s provision. He gave his reason for this in (2 Thessalonians 3:8-9), saying:

…that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us.

Paul went as far as telling the Church that any so-called brother or sister who would not work should not be allowed to eat of the shared provisions of the brethren! Beloved, the needy in our midst should be fed, but they should also be taught how to work with their hands. Read – Prayer Points For Open Heavens 24 July 2019

This has been the tradition of the Church from the very beginning (2 Thessalonians 3:6,10). Some people are so selective that they claim there are no job opportunities, whereas there are jobs they can do to earn a living.

Their problem is that they are looking for certain ”white collar jobs” which may not be available. The truth is, if you are not going to find work in your profession or chosen trade, you can try your hand at other things.

Learn from Paul the lawyer who laboured as a tent maker to earn a living when the Churches he had planted were not strong enough to bear the cost of his missionary work (Acts 22:3, Acts 18:3). Read – Open Heaven 23 July 2019 Tuesday

One of my sons told the story of a young lady who was feeding from the Church. When he tried to get her a cleaning job at the Redemption Camp, she rejected it, saying the job was not dignifying enough.

Ironically, cleaners are among those contributing to the purse where her needs were being met. May you never underrated the door of opportunity God open to you in Jesus’ Name.

OPEN HEAVEN 24 JULY 2019 PRAYER POINT:
Father, give me the wisdom, contentment and sincerity of heart needed to mind my business, in Jesus’ Name.

Author: Pastor E. A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVEN 24 JULY 2019 HYMNAL:
HYMN 1 – THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING

1. There shall be showers of blessing;
This is the promise of love;
There shall be season refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above.

CHORUS:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing;
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

CHORUS:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, Oh Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come and now honour Thy Word.

CHORUS:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

4. There shall be showers of blessing;
O that today they might fall,
Now, as to God, we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

CHORUS:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

5. There shall be showers of blessing;
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

CHORUS:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

OPEN HEAVEN 24 JULY 2019 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOSHUA 23-24 & EZEKIEL 21:24-22:5

Joshua 23-24 King James Version (KJV)

23 And it came to pass a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

3 And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you.

4 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

5 And the Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you.

6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

7 That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

8 But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.

9 For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.

12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

13 Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lordyour God hath given you.

14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lordyour God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the Lord your God promised you; so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.

16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

24 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

4 And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.

6 And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.

7 And when they cried unto the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.

8 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.

9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:

10 But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

11 And you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.

12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.

13 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;

17 For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:

18 And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord; for he is our God.

19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

20 If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord.

22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

23 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.

24 And the people said unto Joshua, The Lordour God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.

27 And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lordwhich he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.

28 So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.

29 And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old.

30 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.

31 And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel.

32 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

EZEKIEL 21:24-22:5 KING JAMES VERSION

24 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.

25 And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,

26 Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.

27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.

28 And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:

29 Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.

30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.

31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.

32 Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the Lord have spoken it.

5 Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.

6 Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.

7 In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.

8 Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.

9 In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.

10 In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.

11 And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.

12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God.

13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.

14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it.

15 And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.

16 And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.

17 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.

19 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.

20 As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.

21 Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst therof.

22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the Lordhave poured out my fury upon you.

23 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.

25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.

26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken.

29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS 23 JULY 2019

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
FOR TEENS 23 JULY 2019

THEME: CONTENTMENT

MEMORISE: But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

MESSAGE:

Contentment is a virtue that every child of God should have. You teenagers especially need to have this virtue instilled in you early in life.

Read – Open Heaven 23 July 2019

Contentment is when you may not have as much as others, but you are happy with what you have.

Do you look at your colleagues’ possession in envy? You need contentment. Whatever you have, use with pride, knowing that your tomorrow will be greater.

Read – Prayer Points On Open Heaven 23 July 2019

The phone that everyone was pursuing three years ago is now an old model phone, so those who are never content are running an ending race. Give yourself rest and use what you have confidently.

Pay attention to being the best in the things that really matter like your academics, then very soon, you will be able to easily afford all the things that your mates are running after now.

Read – Daily Declarations 23rd July 2019

KEY POINT:

There is great gain in contentment and great loss in discontentment.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 38-40, Acts 23:12-35

Hymn 6
1. Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:

2. Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone,
And our defense is sure

3. Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received its frame,
From everlasting you are God,
To endless years the same.

4. A thousand ages in your sight
Are like an evening gone
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream
Does at the opening day.

6. Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Still be our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home!

AUTHORS: Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye.

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S OPEN HEAVENS 23RD JULY 2019

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S OPEN HEAVENS 23RD JULY 2019

1.I worship You, my Father; You’re my shield, my buckler, my rock, my fortress, my strength and my deliverer.

2.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus’ name.

3.Father, no matter the severity of the storms around me, let me always experience Your peace, that passes all human understanding, in Jesus’ name.

4.Father, arise, and still every raging storm in my life, ministry, career, business, home and marriage, in Jesus’ name.

5.Father, please make me a wise and faithful builder in Your vineyard, in Jesus’ Name.

Read – Today’s Daily Declarations 23rd July 2019

6.Father, please, strengthen my faith in You; do not allow my faith to fail, in the day of adversity, in Jesus’ name.

7.Father, deliver me today, from the hands of the wicked powers of this world, and let all the expectations of my enemies be cut short, in Jesus’ name.

8.Father, let my life preach Christ and my works towards Your kingdom be more fruitful, in Jesus’ name.

9.Father, put an end to weeping and sorrow, in my life, and let my joy come, now, in Jesus’ name.

Read – Open Heavens 23rd July 2019 Tuesday

10.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, and let him continually, experience, the fullness of Your joy, for the remaining years of his life, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, bless every user of this platform, and continue to strengthen those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus’ name.

12.Father, let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus’ name.

13.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)

14.In Jesus’ name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

15.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Read – Open Heaven 22 July 2019

# GodBlessMyNation

TODAY’S MORNING DECLARATIONS 23RD JULY 2019

TODAY’S MORNING DECLARATIONS 23RD JULY 2019

This Tuesday morning the presence of God will go with you and your household in Jesus Name!

May His New Mercy speak for you today, in Jesus Name

It’s a new week of rest on every side, may you return with testimonies, in Jesus Name

May Almighty God give your ark a resting destination from the turbulent of this world, in Jesus Name

This same week, may Almighty God deliver all your enemies into your hands in Jesus Name

Read – Open Heaven 23 July 2019

Because you have seek God first this morning, no one will be allowed to stand against you again in Jesus Name!

I decree peace like a river to be your portion right now in Jesus Name

Let that case which seem impossible begin to turn testimonies right now, in Jesus Name

Every interview scheduled for this week shall be testimonies in return, in Jesus Name.

Wherever you have been rejected before, this week you are going back to take over in Jesus Name

Is there anyone occupying your space in high places, go and take over now in Jesus Name!

Read – Prayer Points On Today’s Open Heavens 22 July 2019

May you never be ex-champion in Jesus Name!

God is saying to someone, WELCOME TO YOUR SEASON of ALL ROUND REST!

Halleluyah

I speak to that home, God will restore peace today in Jesus Name

I decree divine health over anyone having health issues today in Jesus Name!

For all givers to the work of God, may you not miss your reward in Jesus Name

For all the needy ones among us, receive anointing of more than enough now in Jesus Name

I cover all homes with the blood of JESUS!

I will not have cause to mourn over anyone of You in Jesus Name!

At the end we shall not be cast away in Jesus Name!

Any forces that wants to stand against this morning declarations wrath of God locate their camps in Jesus Name!

And All shall be well with You in Jesus name!

Go ahead and Celebrate God for this Declarations.

What A FAITHFUL FATHER!

We return all Glory to you Alone.

Hallelujah!

#Amen

#Shalom

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS MONDAY 22 JULY 2019

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
FOR TEENS MONDAY 22 JULY 2019

THEME: LIVING FAITH

MEMORISE: Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Ephesians 5:14

Read: James 2:17-26

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

MESSAGE:

Many people are expecting a miracle from God, but they are not making any move in the direction of the miracle they want. Our memory verse today says that you must first wake up, rise up, then God will give the light.

God has already made everything you need available, but if you want it, you must make a move. For instance, if you want healing; Christ has already taken strokes of the cane meant for your healing. Read – Open Heaven 22 July 2019

So don’t remain on the bed, get up and claim your healing. Some years ago, I fell I’ll and couldn’t go for a midweek service. I thought since I couldn’t go to church, I should listen to a sermon on the radio.

The preacher seemed to be talking to me, he said if you have faith that God will heal you, what are you still doing on the bed? “Get up and walk!”

I got up and went to church still in pains. Before long, I needed to ease myself and went to the toilet. By the time I got out, I was completely healed.

KEY POINT:
Move, and your miracle will meet you on your way.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 36-37, Acts 23:1-11

Hymn 1
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then, in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul.

AUTHORS: Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye.

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S OPEN HEAVENS 22 JULY 2019 MONDAY

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S OPEN HEAVENS 22 JULY 2019 MONDAY

1.I worship and adore You, my Father; You’re my shield and my buckler, in You will I trust, forever.

2.Thank You, Father, for the redemption of my soul, from eternal destruction, through the precious blood of Your son, Jesus, that was shed at Calvary.

3.Thank You, Father, for Your faithfulness and unfailing promises in my life. Read – Daily Morning Declarations Tuesday 22 July 2019

4.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus’ name.

5.Father, arise, and deliver me from the hands of my household enemies and from all the wicked powers of this world, in Jesus’ name.

6.Father, I receive my morning of joy today, in Jesus’ Name. Read – Open Heaven 22 July 2019

7.Father, cover me with Your feathers, and deliver me from the snares of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence, in Jesus’ name.

8.Father, protect and shield me from every satanic and wicked arrow of the enemies; let every evil arrow targeted at me, go back to sender, in Jesus’ name.

9.I decree that my morning of Joy is here, and the expectation of my enemies shall be cut short in Jesus’ Name.

10.Father, let all the battles You have fought and won on my behalf, never rise again, in Jesus’ name.

11.Father, fill me with Your fear, and let Your fear in my life keep me from falling into the temptation to sin against You, in Jesus’ name. Read – Open Heaven 23 July 2019

12.I decree that the Almighty God will rescue me from the hands of all my captors this very day in Jesus’ Name.

13.Father, give me the power and the grace, to carry and retain Your presence throughout my life’s journey, in Jesus’ name.

14.Father, bless your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, protect and shield him from evil arrows; let him finish well and strong, in Jesus’ name.

15.Father, bless every user of this platform and grant us all the peace of mind that exceeds human understanding, in Jesus’ name.

16.Father, let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus’ name.

17.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)

18.In Jesus’ name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

19.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

#GodBlessMyNation

TODAY’S MORNING DECLARATIONS MONDAY 22 JULY 2019

TODAY’S MORNING DECLARATIONS MONDAY 22 JULY 2019

This Monday morning the presence of God will go with You and your household in Jesus Name!

May His face shine upon you in Jesus Name

Let this day be another day for You to rejoice in His presence in Jesus Name

May your enemies not rejoice over your life in Jesus Name!

As you approach His presence today, may your life experience positive turn around in Jesus Name. Also Read – Open Heavens 22 July 2019 Monday

May you not be crushed again by adversaries in Jesus Name

That affliction shall not rise again in Jesus Name

May your liberty be permanent in Jesus Name

Let all your Requests for this day receive speedy divine responses in Jesus Name

Henceforth you shall no longer experience temporary victory, receive permanent victory, in Jesus Name

Your season of loneliness are over in Jesus Name

That secret tears are turning to dancing song In Jesus Name

For all givers to the work of God, may your not missed your reward in Jesus Name. Read – Open Heavens 23 July 2019 Tuesday

For all the needy ones among us- receive anointing of more than enough now in Jesus Name

God is saying to someone- IT IS WELL with Your Soul!

All homes are covered with the blood of JESUS!

I will not have cause to mourn over anyone of You in Jesus Name!

At the end we shall not be cast away in Jesus Name!

Remember to pray for all team members on this platform

Any force that wants to stand against this morning declarations may wrath of God locate their camps in Jesus Name!

And All shall be well with You in Jesus name!

Go ahead and Celebrate God for this Declarations.

What A FAITHFUL FATHER!

We return all Glory to you Alone.

Hallelujah!

#Amen
#Shalom

OPEN HEAVEN 22 JULY 2019 MONDAY – YOUR MORNING OF JOY IS HERE!

OPEN HEAVEN 22 JULY 2019 MEMORISE:
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.Proverbs 30:5

OPEN HEAVEN 22 JULY 2019 READ: ACTS 12:5-11 (KJV)

5. Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

6. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

7. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

8. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

9. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

10. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord; and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

11. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

OPEN HEAVEN 22 JULY 2019 MESSAGE WITH HYMN, PRAYER POINTS, DAILY DECLARATIONS AND BIBLE READING

Quick Links Below:

READ – OPEN HEAVEN 23 JULY 2018 TUESDAY

Any time I am confronted with a challenge in life, I take consolation in the fact that every challenge has an expiry date. In fact, for those who believe, every challenge expires the very day it emerges.

Once, the sun sets and I go to bed, the lifespan of any challenge before me is ended. It is so because the Spirit of the Lord says in Psalm 30:5:

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Since every word of God is pure and He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him, I have confidence in what this scripture says Proverbs 30:5

One fellow who experienced joy coming in the morning is Peter. One night, he was in prison awaiting execution, and the next morning he woke up a free man. Our God is marvelous! Read – Open Heavens 21st July 2019 Sunday

Peter’s experience becomes even more amazing when you consider that the night before his planned execution he slept with two soldiers, bound with chains. There were also keepers of the prisons watching over the prison gate to ensure that he did not escape, but it was all to no avail.

I decree that the Almighty God will rescue you from the hands of your captors this very day in Jesus’ Name.

One lesson we can learn from this story is that Peter had faith in the Lord. This was why he could sleep in the face of imminent death. Peter seemed to be saying,

Let me sleep tonight because by the time day breaks, my joy will be full”.

As he slept, the Lord sent His angel to rescue him in the middle of the night, ushering him into his joyful morning. Acts 12:11 says;

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hands of Herod, and from all the expectation of the Jews.Read – Prayer Points On Open Heavens 21st July 2019

Although the brethren of the early Church entered into that fateful night with agony for Peter, they rejoiced at daybreak with peter standing at the door of the place where they met to pray. God’s word in Psalm 126:1 literarily came to pass in their lives, and it says:

When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream”.

I decree that your morning of Joy is here, and the expectation of your enemies shall be cut short in Jesus’ Name.

Thank you for your effort in sharing today’s open heavens across your social media networks, we truly appreciate and pray for more of God’s grace to continue strongly in Christ Jesus. See you here tomorrowtomorrow!

OPEN HEAVEN 22 JULY 2019 PRAYER POINT:
Father, I receive my morning of joy today, in Jesus’ Name.

HYMNAL:
Hymn 8 – My faith looks up to Thee

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire;
As Thou hast died for me,
O may my love to Thee
Pure, warm and changeless be
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And grief around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul.

OPEN HEAVEN 22 JULY 2019 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOSHUA 20-21 & EZEKIEL 20:40-21:5

Joshua 20-21 King James Version (KJV)

20 The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying,

2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.

8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.

21 Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;

2 And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The Lordcommanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.

3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their suburbs.

4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

5 And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.

9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name.

10 Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.

11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.

12 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

13 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,

14 And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,

15 And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,

16 And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.

17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,

18 Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.

19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.

21 For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,

22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.

23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,

24 Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.

25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.

26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.

27 And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.

28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,

29 Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.

30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,

31 Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.

32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.

33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

34 And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,

35 Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.

36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,

37 Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.

38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

39 Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.

40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.

41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.

42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.

43 And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

44 And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand.

45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

EZEKIEL 20:40-21:5 KING JAMES VERSION

40 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

48 And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

5 That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.

6 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.

7 And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.

8 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:

10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.

11 And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

12 Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.

13 Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord God.

14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together. and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.

15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.

16 Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.

17 I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it.

18 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,

19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.

20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.

22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.

23 And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.

24 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.

25 And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,

26 Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.

27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.

28 And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:

29 Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.

30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.

31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.

32 Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the Lord have spoken it.

OPEN HEAVEN 23 JULY 2019 TUESDAY – WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING?

OPEN HEAVEN 23 JULY 2019 MEMORISE: But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. – Galatians 6:4

OPEN HEAVEN 23 JULY 2019 READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:9-15 (KJV)

9. For we are labourers together with God; ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13. Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

14. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

OPEN HEAVEN 23 JULY 2019 MESSAGE WITH HYMN, PRAYER POINTS, DAILY DECLARATIONS AND BIBLE READING

While it’s one thing to build, it’s another thing to build something that benefit mankind and glorifies God Almighty.

God is therefore asking you today, “What are you building?” When you consider the construction of the tower of Babel, you will understand the relevance of this question (Genesis 11:1-9).

Although those people are indeed building, they were erecting an edifice that symbolised rebellion against God. Their example shows us that anyone building anything worthwhile must build in the pattern that God has established, and whatever is being built must not go against His purpose. Read – Open Heaven 22 July 2019 Monday

Without a doubt, parents are builders of future generations, but the question is, what type of generation are they building? In Genesis 18:19, God said of Abraham as a parent:

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.

Can God say the same of you? Apart from parents, teachers are also builders. As a teacher what are you building in your students? A good teacher should be able to say like Paul in Philippians 3:17:

Brethren, be followers together on me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.

It is unfortunate that in some places, students dictate to teachers what the standard should be. Wherever this is happening, something is fundamentally wrong. A bad teacher will definitely build a faulty generation.

Eventually, a bad teacher will definitely reap the reward of their work. The story was told of a bad teacher who produces a half-baked medical doctor. Years later, this doctor was complicit in the death of the teacher’s child. Minister of the gospel are also builders.

In fact, they are the greatest builder of all because they build the Body of Christ. Paul wrote in today’s Bible reading that by God’s grace, he was a wise master builder who had laid the foundation of faith in people’s lives, warning others to be careful for how they built on that foundation. Why? The answer is found in (1 Corinthians 3:11), which says:

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

From this, we understand that it is possible to build junk upon a golden foundation. Such a building will not stand the test of time.

Beloved, what are you building with your life? Remember that every man’s work shall be tested by fire, and if it is burnt, it is counted as loss to its owner. This will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.

Thank you for your effort in sharing today’s open heavens across your social media networks, we truly appreciate and pray for more of God’s grace to continue strongly in Christ Jesus. See you here tomorrow!

OPEN HEAVEN 23 JULY 2019 PRAYER POINT:
Father, please make me a wise and faithful builder in Your vineyard, in Jesus’ Name.

Author: Pastor E. A. Adeboye

HYMNAL:
Hymn 5 – Let others see Jesus in you

1. While passing thro’ this world of sin,
And others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

CHORUS:
Let others see Jesus in you.
Let others see Jesus in you;
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true,
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skies,
Do others see Jesus in you?

CHORUS:
Let others see Jesus in you.
Let others see Jesus in you;
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true,
Let others see Jesus in you.

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
And lead the lost to life and light;
Let others see Jesus in you.

CHORUS:
Let others see Jesus in you.
Let others see Jesus in you;
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true,
Let others see Jesus in you.

OPEN HEAVEN 23 JULY 2019 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOSHUA 22 & EZEKIEL 21:6-23

Joshua 22 King James Version (KJV)

22 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

2 And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:

3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord your God.

4 And now the Lord your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side Jordan.

5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.

7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,

8 And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.

9 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

10 And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.

11 And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.

12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.

13 And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,

14 And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.

15 And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,

16 Thus saith the whole congregation of the Lord, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord?

17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord,

18 But that ye must turn away this day from following the Lord? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the Lord, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.

19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the Lord, wherein the Lord’s tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the Lord, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God.

20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,

22 The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord, (save us not this day,)

23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the Lord himself require it;

24 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel?

25 For the Lord hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the Lord: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the Lord.

26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:

27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the Lord before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the Lord.

28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.

29 God forbid that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn this day from following the Lord, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the Lord our God that is before his tabernacle.

30 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.

31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the Lord is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord.

32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.

33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.

34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the Lord is God.

EZEKIEL 21:6-23 KING JAMES VERSION

6 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.

7 And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.

8 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:

10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.

11 And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

12 Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.

13 Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord God.

14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together. and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.

15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.

16 Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.

17 I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it.

18 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,

19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.

20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.

22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.

23 And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.