Port Harcourt Chronicles!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: MONDAY 30th NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: KNOWING HIM IS LIFE Memorise: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 9:24 Read: Jeremiah 9:23-24 23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD Message Life is not what many people think it is. It is not about financial or material abundance; neither is it about physical endowments. Life is definitely not about power, achievements or worldly wisdom. What then is life? Jesus answers this questio...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SUNDAY 29th NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: PERMANENT CONNECTION Memorise: And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. Hebrews 1:7 Read: Philippians 1:20-21 20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Message For God to use you as a minister for manifesting His signs and wonders to the world, you must be totally consecrated and committed. In addition, you must be permanently connected to Jesus. In Philippians 1:21, Paul declared that if he would be alive at all, the essence of his living must be Christ. Many of us are still living for ourselves, our families and for others. Until you get to that point of deciding to live for Christ like Paul did, you may not be chosen by God for ...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL... DATE : SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2015 THEME : SEEK REVELATION Memorise: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Ephesians 1:17 Read: Acts 16:25-34 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: THURSDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: THE GOOD SHEPHERD Memorise: I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:14 Read: John 10:11-14 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Message One of the earliest jobs that man engaged in after the Fall was that of shepherding animals. Abel was described as a shepherd in Genesis 4:2. The job of a shepherd is a difficult one, and it involves a lot of discomfort and sacrifice. Jacob's testimony in Genesis 31:40 should give you an idea of what it takes to be a shepherd. He said: "Thus I was;...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: WEDNESDAY 25TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: REJECTING EVIL WRITINGS Memorise: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossians 2:14 Read: Colossians 2:14-15 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Message The prophecy that worked against Esau as firstborn was already in place before his birth (Genesis 25:23). If you ever find yourself in a situation where there has been a negative declaration concerning you, rise up and fight! Do not leave your destiny to fate like some people would do. God can change any negative decree pronounced on your life and destiny. This is why Isaiah 54:17 says: "No weapon that is formed against th...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: TUESDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: FRAUD IN BUSINESS DEALINGS Memorise: Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. Leviticus 19:11 Read Nehemiah 5:1-13 1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. 3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands...

DATE: MONDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: WHAT LIFE IS NOT Memorise: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15 Read: Luke 12:15-20 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be...

Open Heavens 19 November 2015: Thursday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Look Upwards! Topic: Look Upwards! [Thursday 19 November, 2015] Memorise: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. - Psalm 121:1 Read: Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV) 1 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Bible in One Year: Job 36:1-40:2; 1 Timothy 6:3-21 MESSAGE: In the course of our walk with God, we encounter challenges of life that test the level and quality of our faith; but praise God that we have the assurance of the Lord that there is no mountain our faith cannot surmount (Matthew 17:20). For those who are in Christ, problems arise in order to generate testimonies. The size of the problem you encounter will determine the size of your testimony. If you ask God for a big testimony, then you must be ready to face a big challenge. What made the testimony of...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: WEDNESDAY 18th NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: ARE YOU IN ERROR? Memorise: Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. Matthew 22:29 Read: James 5:19-20 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. Message After your heart is illuminated by the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, you need to carefully guard this light, to prevent it from getting dimmed or extinguished by the introduction of "another gospel" into your heart. Guarding against falling into the error of another gospel involves being grounded in the knowledge of God's truth as revealed in the Scriptures and yielding your heart to the Holy Spirit to teach you the truth of God's word. We are not to take a part of God's word in isolatio...

DATE: TUESDAY 17th NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: FRAUD IN RELATIONSHIPS Memorise: Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Proverbs 6:2 Read: Exodus 22:16-17 16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. Message In different areas of human relationships, offences arise in the course of interacting with one another. These offences can sometimes bring physical and emotional injury to people, especially in relationships between the opposite sex. One offence that is pronounced in relationships today, which was foretold by the apostles of old, is covenant breaking. Apostle Paul lists this among the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men in Romans 1:31: "Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:" It is a...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: MONDAY 16th NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: ETERNAL LIFE STARTS HERE Memorise: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3 Read: John 17:1-3 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Message In order to enjoy the things that God has provided for us through Jesus Christ, we need to have an in-depth understanding of what these things are; one of which is everlasting life. Out of God's love for us, we have the privilege of partaking in this everlasting life (John 3:16); but what is everlasting life? This is life that never ends. It is the t...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SUNDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: AM I FOREVER SAVED? Memorise: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4 Read: 1 Timothy 1:18-20 18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Message When Paul embarked on his Christian race, he focused on it wholeheartedly, so that nothing would derail him from the race. This is why in Acts 20:24, he said: "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gos...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE Memorise: And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. Ecclesiastes 3:16 Read: Genesis 25:19-23 19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serv...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: FAITH RECOVERS LOSSES Memorise: As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. Mark 5:36 Read: Mark 5:23-24 & 35-43 23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them...

Open Heavens 12 November 2015: Thursday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Prayer Queries Roots Topic: Prayer Queries Roots [Thursday 12 November, 2015] Memorise: Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. -  Isaiah 40:24 Read: Isaiah 40:22-24 (KJV) 22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: 23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. 24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. Bible in One Year: Job 8-11; 1 Thessaloni...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: MONDAY 9TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: WHY HE WAS GIVEN Memorise: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3 Read: John 14:1-3 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Message What is life? In simplistic terms, we can define life as the opposite of death. When you travel to a far country, say for a period of three months, you will experience a temporary separation between you and the people, things and locations you are familiar with. But when death occurs, it permanently separates you from the things you love, from your loved ones and from the places you are familiar w...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: BEFORE THE MANIFESTATION OF SIGNS Memorise: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2:4 Read: Psalm 34:1-3 1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Message There are certain criteria God looks out for before choosing a fellow through whom His signs and wonders will be manifested to the world. He saw meekness and humility in Moses. If the Lord will use you to do the greater works He promised (John 14:12), you must be meek and gentle. You must also be humble to the end. Some people start off being humble, and God begins to lift them up; but at some point, they become so full of themselves that they commi...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: TREADING ON SERPENTS Memorise: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19 Read: Luke 10:17-20 17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Message Holiness makes you a weapon that God can use. As long as sin dwells in you, it makes you loathsome to God and unsuitable for His use. Hence, 2 Timothy 2:21 says: "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be ...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: FRIDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: FINISHING THE RACE Memorise: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 2 Timothy 4:7 Read: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Message The moment you became born-again, a race was set before you (Hebrews 12:1). This implies that until a person becomes born-again, he or she has no destination to go with God. It is the new birth in Christ Jesus that gives you a destination in God. Are you saved? If you are, there is a divine destination you have been called unto. Religion and being religious can never give you a destination in Christ. If you a...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL... DATE : THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2015 THEME : HELP FROM UNWILLING HELPERS Memorise: Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 1 Kings 17:9 Read: Genesis 32:24-32 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my n...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.. DATE : WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2015 THEME : FREED BY THE TRUTH? Memorise: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 Read: John 8:32-36 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Message Jesus is the only Way to salvation, and the Truth that sets free. He declared that if He sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36). He also said that one is set free by knowing the truth in Him (John 8:32). I am living proof of the freedom that Jesus gives, and a living witness of what it means to be set fr...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: TUESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: STEALING BY LIES: NOT ALLOWED Memorise: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8 Read: Revelation 21:7-8 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Message In a particular church, some children and teenagers were asked to contribute some money for a specific purpose to their coordinator. After a while, the money contributed disappeared into thin air, and what was promised was never delivered. That is stealing! Such frau...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: MONDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2015 THEME: IS YOUR LOVE FOR GOD PROVEN? Memorise: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8 Read: 2 Timothy 4:7-8 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Message If you can prove to God that you truly love Him, you will provoke greater love and great blessings in return. After Paul showed God how much he loved Him, not only did God perform special miracles through him while he was still alive (Acts 19:11), God also showed him the glorious crown awaiting him in Heaven. How great and awesome it is to see the reward reserved for you in Heaven. Some of us desire to have this experience. While this is a good desire, the question is: have you demonstrated your love fo...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL... DATE : SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2015 THEME : CONNECTED TO THE SPIRIT? Memorise: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 Read: John 15:4-7 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Message After Moses experienced the wonders of God in multiple dimensions at the Red Sea, he wrote a song to express his awe of the God of wonders. Here is an excerpt o...