Category: Open Heaven Devotional

The Open Heaven 17 December 2025 devotional for today is DON’T BECOME AN EX-CHAMPION.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 16 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 17 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: DON’T BECOME AN EX-CHAMPION

MEMORISE:
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will l give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
Haggai 2:9

READ: 1 Samuel 13:13-14:
13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 17 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

There are people who used to be wealthy or influential but have little or nothing to show for it today. There is nothing as terrible as being a fellow who used to be wealthy or influential.

For example, when those who have never had a car struggle to enter a public bus and someone steps on them, they would see it as something normal. However, people who used to have their own cars might find it difficult to adapt when they find themselves in a similar situation. Also, if they complain about getting stepped on while struggling to enter a public bus, they might feel really insulted when people say, “If you don’t want to be stepped on, why not get your own car?” May you never be a has-been, in Jesus’ name.

There is nothing as terrible as being an ex-champion. Boxers will tell you that the moment you become a champion, other boxers in your category will want to challenge you to a fight.

If you want to remain a champion, it means that you need to work harder than you used to before you became a champion. If you relax after becoming successful, saying, “I am the best; everybody already sees how good I am,” you might soon lose your edge and become irrelevant. Instead, you must start working harder on becoming more excellent. The things you need to do to remain at the top are even more rigorous than what you must do to get there.

When God called me to become a pastor, I prayed that I would become so influential for the kingdom, and I can tell you with all confidence that the way I used to pray before l got to the level I am now is nothing compared to how I pray now. As God has continued to take me higher, I have been fasting more, studying my Bible more, preaching more sermons, and working harder generally. This is how I have been able to maintain an upward trajectory.

Beloved, if you want to be the best in your field, you must be ready to put in all the necessary efforts. Most importantly, to remain at the top, you must be ready to put in even more efforts by acquiring more and more knowledge, networking more with other experts in your field, and generally working harder. I pray that you will get to the top and remain there, in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT

It takes more effort to remain at the top than to get there.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Hebrews 1-4

HYMN 12: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 17 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Haggai 2:9
“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”
This prophetic word speaks of increasing glory, not diminishing returns. God’s desire for His people is a forward-moving trajectory where each season surpasses the last. It is a promise against becoming a “has-been,” ensuring that the best is always ahead for those who align with His rebuilding process. The promise culminates in peace—the wholeness and settled prosperity that comes from sustained divine favor.

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 13:13-14
This passage is the classic biblical narrative of a lost throne and a “has-been” king:
v.13: Samuel’s Rebuke – “Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God.” Saul’s disobedience (impatience and presumption) was the crack that began his decline.
v.14: The Divine Decree – “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart… because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” The mantle was removed because character did not match the calling. He transitioned from king-in-waiting to king-in-decline.

The Peril and Principle of Sustained Excellence

Pastor E.A. Adeboye delivers a powerful and sobering message on the fragility of success. Using vivid analogies and personal testimony, he teaches that reaching the top is only half the battle; the greater challenge—and work—is staying there. The devotional warns against the complacency that creates “has-beens” and prescribes the discipline of increasing effort as the only safeguard.

1. The Tragedy of the “Has-Been”

The Psychological Agony:
The example of the former car owner on a crowded bus illustrates that loss is felt most acutely by those who have known better. The “has-been” lives with the tormenting memory of past glory, making present humiliation unbearable. It is a state of regret and social displacement.

The Spiritual Analogy:
This is the condition of the backslider or the believer who loses their spiritual edge. They once walked in power, favor, and intimacy (“their own car”) but now struggle in the flesh, vulnerable to the “stepping” of the enemy and the world’s scorn.

The Prophetic Prayer:
“May you never be a has-been, in Jesus’ name.” This is a prayer for sustained relevance, continuous favor, and the grace to finish well.

2. The Champion’s Dilemma: The Fight to Stay on Top

Increased Target, Increased Effort:
Becoming a champion makes you the target for every contender. The defense of the title requires more discipline, more training, and more strategy than winning it initially. Complacency (“I am the best”) is the champion’s deadliest opponent.

The Law of Increasing Rigor:
“The things you need to do to remain at the top are even more rigorous than what you must do to get there.” This is a universal law in all spheres: spiritual, professional, and personal. Maintenance at a high level demands a higher output of energy and wisdom than the initial ascent.

3. The Personal Testimony: The Ministry of Increase

The Prayer of Ambition:
Pastor Adeboye reveals he prayed to “become so influential for the kingdom.” This was a God-honoring ambition for increased impact, not personal fame.

The Discipline of Sustenance:
His stunning admission: “the way I used to pray before I got to the level I am now is nothing compared to how I pray now.” As God promoted him, his spiritual disciplines intensified proportionally: more fasting, more Bible study, more preaching, more work. His upward trajectory was fueled by an upward curve in personal sacrifice and diligence.

4. The Blueprint for Sustained Relevance

Continuous Knowledge Acquisition:
In a changing world, resting on past knowledge guarantees obsolescence. The believer must be a perpetual student of God’s Word and their God-given field.

Strategic Networking (Fellowship):
“Networking more with other experts” speaks to the need for iron-sharpening-iron relationships (Proverbs 27:17). In the Spirit, this means deep fellowship with other committed believers and mentors who challenge you to grow.

General Increase in Effort:
There is no substitute for hard work. The grace for increased capacity is activated by increased labor. You must be “ready to put in even more efforts.”

How to Build a “Latter House” of Greater Glory

1. Guard Against Spiritual Complacency:
The moment you feel you’ve “arrived” is the moment you begin to decline. Cultivate holy dissatisfaction. Pray, “Lord, let the glory of my latter days be greater than the former.”

2. Intensify Your Discipleship Post-Promotion:
If God blesses you with influence, wealth, or platform, immediately increase your prayer time, giving, and service. Let your spiritual growth outpace your material or social growth.

3. Study the “Has-Beens” and the “Finished-Wells”:
Analyze Saul (the has-been king) versus David (who finished well despite flaws). Study Hezekiah’s lapse (2 Chronicles 32:25-26) versus Paul’s sustained fight (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Learn from their patterns.

4. Embrace the Burden of Leadership:
Understand that higher levels bring heavier burdens. Like Nehemiah, be prepared to combine vigilance (watchfulness) with work (Nehemiah 4:9). The top is a place of greater responsibility, not just greater comfort.

Warning: The Ease of the Downward Slope

It is easier to descend from a height than to climb it. The descent often begins with a single act of disobedience (like Saul), a season of neglected discipline, or the pride of accomplishment. The fall is not always immediate, but the trajectory, once set, is difficult to reverse without drastic repentance and recommitment.

Conclusion: Securing an Upward Trajectory

Pray this:
“Lord God of Haggai’s promise, I desire a life of increasing glory for Your name. Forgive me for any complacency. Save me from the tragedy of being a ‘has-been.’ Fill me with the discipline of a defending champion. As You lift me higher, give me the grace to pray more, study more, work harder, and humble myself deeper. Let my latter days truly be greater than my former, and in this place, give me Your perfect peace, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.”

Action Steps:

• Conduct a “Champion’s Audit”: In your primary calling (career, ministry, home), list three specific things you did to “win your title.” Now, list three new, more rigorous disciplines you need to adopt to defend it.
• Increase Your Spiritual Output: This month, consciously add 15 minutes to your daily prayer time or add one extra day of fasting. Match your spiritual input to your current level of responsibility.
• Find a “Contender”: Identify someone godly who is excellent in your field. Seek their counsel. Let their passion challenge your comfort and sharpen your edge.

Remember: Your past success is not a resting pillow; it is a launching pad. The anointing for the next level is found in the increased sacrifice of your current level.
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). The pressing never stops until we see Him. Keep pressing.

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Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 17 December 2025 Devotional PDF

The Open Heaven 16 December 2025 devotional for today is LEARN EVERYDAY.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 15 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 16 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: LEARN EVERYDAY

MEMORISE:
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psalms 25:9

READ: Acts 17:10-11:
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 16 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

Someone once said that the world is a school, and those who are wise go to school to take lessons every day because there is always something to learn there.

Proverbs 9:9 says that if you give instructions to a wise man, he will become wiser. You must be open to learning from others because everyone has something to teach you, even children. A teachable fellow is always willing and ready to learn.

Mark 4:25 says;
For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath

Anyone who is willing to learn every day will have more understanding and wisdom. A teachable fellow is open to knowledge and is always willing to add other people’s wisdom to his or her own. When you are teachable, you learn mainly through instructions, not by experience.

For example, if you keep telling a boy not to put his hand in a fire and you constantly keep him away from hot objects, if the boy is not teachable, he will always want to run towards what you are trying to save him from. One day, he might eventually put his hand in the fire and get hurt.

However, a teachable child will listen to instructions, obey them, and grow in wisdom. He or she will not have to experience the pain that comes from disobedience by nursing wounds that could have been avoided.

David was a very teachable fellow. Many times in the Bible, he prayed and asked God to teach him; He was always willing to learn. In Psalm 25:4, he asked God to teach him His paths.

When you are open to learning about God’s paths, you can never miss your way. In Psalm 119:26 and Psalm 119:33, he asked God to teach him His statutes so that he could keep them until his death. In Psalm 119:66, he wanted to learn good judgment and knowledge. Also, he asked God to teach him to do His will in Psalm 143:10. No wonder, up until today, David remains the most celebrated king that Israel ever had.

Today’s Bible reading talks about some believers from Berea who were ready to learn. They received the word of God with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily. The Bereans were hungry for God’s word and remained meek enough to search the Scriptures daily.

Beloved, be like the Berean Christians and be committed to learning every day.

PRAYER POINT

Dear Lord, I am willing to learn of You daily. Please teach me so that I can become more like You.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Philemon 1; Titus 1-3

HYMN 8: I Need Thee Every Hour

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 16 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Psalms 25:9
“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”
This verse establishes the fundamental link between attitude and instruction. God’s guidance and teaching are not reserved for the intellectually brilliant or spiritually elite, but for the meek—those who are humble, teachable, and free from the pride of self-sufficiency. Meekness is the fertile soil in which the seeds of divine wisdom grow.

BIBLE READING: Acts 17:10-11
This passage presents the biblical model of a teachable believer:
v.10-11a: The Bereans’ Posture – They “received the word with all readiness of mind.” Their hearts were open, eager, and predisposed to believe.
v.11b: The Bereans’ Practice – They “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”Their openness was balanced with discernment. They were teachable, not gullible. Their learning was active (“searched”), consistent (“daily”), and anchored in the ultimate authority (“the scriptures”).

The Heart of the Lifelong Learner

Pastor E.A. Adeboye elevates teachability from a simple virtue to the defining characteristic of true wisdom and spiritual safety. The devotional contrasts the painful tuition of personal experience with the blessed path of learning through instruction, using David and the Bereans as biblical archetypes of a mind perpetually open to God’s teaching.

1. The World as a School: The Principle of Continuous Learning

The Wise Man’s Perspective:
The opening statement frames life itself as a classroom (“the world is a school”). The wise person understands that every person, circumstance, and day holds a lesson. This mindset transforms mundane interactions and even trials into divine tutorials.

The Law of Increase (Mark 4:25):
In the context of knowledge, this verse means: “To him who has [a teachable heart and a willingness to learn], more [understanding, wisdom] will be given. But from him who has not [a teachable spirit], even what he [thinks he] has [his current knowledge or position] will be taken away.” Teachability attracts increase; pride guarantees loss.

2. The Profile of a Teachable Person

Open to All Sources (Proverbs 9:9):
A teachable person understands that God can instruct them through anyone—elders, peers, and even children. Their pride does not filter the messenger. They ask, “What can I learn here?” not “What does this person know?”

Learns Mainly by Instruction, Not Just Experience:
This is a crucial distinction. The unteachable child must touch the fire to learn it burns—a painful, slow, and dangerous education. The teachable child learns from the parent’s warning. Spiritually, this means learning from God’s Word and the counsel of the godly saves us from the self-inflicted wounds of sin and error.

Characterized by a Spirit of Inquiry:
Like David and the Bereans, the teachable heart is marked by active seeking. They don’t wait passively; they pray like David (“teach me”) and search like the Bereans. Their teachability is proactive.

3. The Biblical Model: David, the Student King

The Content of His Requests:
David’s prayers reveal what a wise person wants to learn:

1. God’s Paths (Psalm 25:4): Direction for life’s journey.
2. God’s Statutes (Psalm 119:26, 33): The specific rules and principles for holy living.
3. Good Judgment & Knowledge (Psalm 119:66): Practical wisdom for decision-making.
4. God’s Will (Psalm 143:10): The ultimate purpose and plan for his life.

The Result of His Teachability:
His humble pursuit of divine instruction directly contributed to him becoming “the most celebrated king Israel ever had.” Authority and anointing flowed to a man who knelt in humility before God as his Teacher.

4. The Danger of an Unteachable Spirit

The Path of Needless Pain:
The child running toward the fire is a picture of the believer who resists godly counsel, biblical warnings, and the Holy Spirit’s conviction. They insist on learning everything the hard way, nursing avoidable wounds that delay their destiny.

The Loss of What is Held:
The Mark 4:25 principle warns that a closed, prideful mind will eventually lose even the revelation, position, or gifting it currently possesses. Stagnation sets in, followed by regression.

How to Cultivate a Teachable Spirit

1. Pray the Psalms of David Daily:
Incorporate prayers like “Teach me your paths, O Lord” (Psalm 25:4) and “Teach me to do your will” (Psalm 143:10) into your daily devotions. Let these shape your heart’s desire.

2. Practice the Berean Method:
When you hear a sermon or receive counsel, don’t just accept or reject it. Take it to the Scriptures. Search them daily to see if what was said aligns with God’s Word. This is teachability with discernment.

3. Seek and Submit to Spiritual Authority:
Place yourself under the instruction of godly pastors and mentors. Value correction and receive it without defensiveness. See it as God teaching you through them.

4. Embrace Humility as Your Default Posture:
Consciously reject the thought, “I already know this.” Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal something new in familiar scriptures or situations. Assume there is always more to learn.

Warning: The High Cost of a Closed Mind

An unteachable Christian is a danger to themselves and a liability to the Body of Christ. They are prone to error, resistant to correction, and often become critical and divisive. They forfeit the gentle guidance promised to the meek and instead wander into confusion and failure, all while blaming others.

Conclusion: Enrolled in the School of the Spirit

Pray this:
“Heavenly Father, my Eternal Teacher, crush every seed of pride and self-sufficiency in my heart. Make me meek and truly teachable. Give me the eager readiness of the Bereans and the humble hunger of David. Guide me away from the painful lessons of experience and teach me swiftly through Your Word and Your Spirit. Let my life be a testament to the blessing of a student who never graduates from Your school, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Action Steps:

• Conduct a Teachability Audit: Reflect on the last time you were corrected. Did you get defensive, make excuses, or receive it with thanks and self-examination? Ask a trusted friend for an honest assessment of your teachability.
• Study a “Fire” Story: Read about a biblical character who learned the hard way through experience due to being unteachable (e.g., Samson, Saul). Contrast them with a teachable one (e.g., Timothy under Paul).
• Commit to a New Learning Habit: Choose one area where you feel weak (e.g., prayer, understanding prophecy, personal finance). Find a biblically sound book or teaching series on it and commit to studying it this month.

Remember: Your spiritual growth is directly proportional to your teachability. The most powerful person in the room is not the one talking, but the one listening—to God and to others.
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Proverbs 9:9). Choose today to be a perpetual student in the school of Christ, and watch your wisdom and impact increase.

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Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 16 December 2025 Devotional PDF

The Open Heaven 15 December 2025 devotional for today is YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 14 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 15 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW

MEMORISE:
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:8

READ: Proverbs 6:6-11
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 15 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

Whatever people put into their lives will determine what they will get out of it. If all they put in are worldly pleasures, then there will be no greatness; however, if they are diligent, they will be prosperous (Proverbs 12:24).

My Father in the Lord told a story of two young men who went to consult an oracle to find out what the future held for them. The oracle told one of them that he would become a king and the other that he would be a servant. The one the oracle predicted to become a king immediately began to act pompously, while the second one said to himself, “What have I done to deserve this fate? Why must I be a servant?” He kept thinking about what the oracle said, and he became angry.

When he got home, he took his cutlass and hoes, went far into the jungle, and began to cultivate a portion of the jungle. He would wake up every morning to clear bushes and plant seeds until late at night.

Whenever he felt pain, he would tell his body, “You cannot be tired because l refuse to be a slave.” Years passed, and he kept on expanding the farm.

After a while, there was a famine in his town. The townspeople spent all their money and didn’t have any food to eat. One day, a hunter went far into the jungle to look for meat and he stumbled on this young man’s store of food. He went back to his townspeople to tell them what he had found and they all came there too.

They did not have money to buy the food so they begged the young man to please give them food and they will serve him. He agreed and they crowned him as their king. One day, as he sat on his throne, the other man who the oracle said would become a king came begging and said, “Please don’t let me die of hunger; give me food and I will be your servant.”

Beloved, whatever you sow into your life is what you will reap. If you put in diligence, you will reap abundance because the soul of the diligent shall be made fat (Proverbs 13:4). If you sow to your flesh, you will reap corruption, as we see in today’s memory verse.

If you want the best in life, you must put in the best, and having Jesus in control of your life is the best you can ever have. Follow Him diligently and obey His instructions so you can get the best out of life.

REFLECTION

What are you sowing into your life?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Timothy 1-4

HYMN 32: TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 15 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Galatians 6:8
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
This verse presents the ultimate spiritual law of harvest, framing every choice as a seed sown into one of two fields: the flesh or the Spirit. The harvest is inescapable and matches the nature of the seed. “Corruption” speaks of decay, loss, and ruin, while “life everlasting” speaks of vibrancy, permanence, and divine quality of life both now and eternally.

BIBLE READING: Proverbs 6:6-11
This passage uses nature to rebuke human laziness and prescribe diligence:
v.6-8: The Ant’s Example – “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” Diligence is self-motivated, proactive, and timely.
v.9-11: The Sluggard’s End – “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?… So shall thy poverty come…”Poverty is personified as an armed robber that arrives as the direct consequence of inactivity and sleep.

The Law of Sowing and Reaping in Destiny

Pastor E.A. Adeboye uses a powerful parable to illustrate that destiny is not a fixed prophecy but a harvest field. Your future is not merely foretold; it is farmed. The devotional reveals that your daily choices—your “sowing”—are the decisive factor in whether a prediction of greatness becomes a reality of servitude, or a prediction of servitude becomes a throne of abundance.

1. Two Responses to Prophecy: Presumption vs. Protest Fueled by Action

The Presumptuous Heir:
The first young man heard “king” and immediately “began to act pompously.” He assumed the title without doing the work. He sowed seeds of pride, idleness, and entitlement into the field of his flesh. His harvest was destitution and servitude.

The Protesting Planter:
The second young man heard “servant” and reacted with righteous indignation (“Why must I be a slave?”). However, his anger did not become bitterness; it became fuel. His protest catalyzed proactive, relentless labor. He sowed seeds of diligence, pain, and perseverance into the field of his future.

2. The Anatomy of Diligent Sowing

It is Isolated and Unsupervised:
Like the ant with “no guide, overseer, or ruler,” the young man went alone “far into the jungle.” True diligence is intrinsic motivation; it doesn’t need an audience or a boss to compel it. It is work done in the secret place that God rewards openly.

It is Painful and Relentless:
He worked “from morning till night,” feeling pain but commanding his body to submit to his spirit’s resolve: “I refuse to be a slave.” Diligence conquers the flesh’s desire for comfort. It is the daily crucifixion of laziness.

It is Expansive and Forward-Thinking:
“He kept on expanding the farm.” Diligence is not static; it increases capacity. He was not just farming for today, but creating a vast storehouse for an unknown future famine. This is the wisdom of the ant gathering in summer.

3. The Inevitable Harvest: Famine Reveals the Sower

The Famine as the Great Revealer:
The famine exposed the true state of each man’s “field.” For the idle town, it revealed poverty. For the diligent farmer, it revealed abundant provision. Crisis doesn’t create character; it reveals the harvest of what was sown in seasons of obscurity.

The Harvest of Authority and Honor:
The townspeople didn’t just buy food; they pledged service and offered kingship. Diligence, when it meets a universal need, produces not just wealth, but legitimate authority, honor, and leadership (Proverbs 12:24, 22:29). The one who refused to be a slave became a king by serving others with his provision.

The Full Circle of the Law:
The prophetic “king” became the beggar, and the prophetic “servant” became the king. The oracle was not wrong; it was a revelation of potential based on the law of harvest. Each man’s sowing determined which potential was realized.

4. The Ultimate “Best” to Sow: A Life in Christ

The Supreme Investment:
“Having Jesus in control of your life is the best you can ever have.” This is the ultimate sowing to the Spirit. To give Christ your allegiance is to plant the seed of eternal life and divine purpose into the soil of your soul.

The Diligence of Discipleship:
“Follow Him diligently and obey His instructions.” This is the practical sowing: daily obedience, steadfast faith, and persistent pursuit of His will. This is how we “sow to the Spirit” and guarantee the harvest of “the best out of life”—a life of meaning, peace, and everlasting fruit.

How to Cultivate Your Destiny Harvest

1. Identify Your “Jungle”:
What is the neglected, difficult area of your life that requires cultivation? (Your skill, your spiritual life, your finances, your education). Go there today and start clearing the bushes of excuse.

2. Embrace the Pain of Growth:
When your flesh complains during diligent effort, speak to it like the young man did. Declare your God-given destiny over your temporary discomfort: “You cannot be tired, because I refuse to be a slave to [laziness, debt, ignorance, sin].”

3. Work for the Future Famine:
Don’t just live for today. Ask: What “famine” (economic shift, family need, old age) might come? What storehouse (skills, savings, spiritual depth) can I build now through diligent sowing?

4. Audit Your Current Sowing:
Are you predominantly sowing to the flesh (pleasure, procrastination, anger) or to the Spirit (prayer, the Word, service, holiness)? Remember, you will reap a multiplied harvest of whatever you are planting.

Warning: The Corruption of Fleshly Sowing

To sow to the flesh is to invest in things that are inherently temporary and decaying—worldly pleasures, sinful habits, selfish ambition. The harvest is not just lack, but corruption: ruined health, broken relationships, spiritual emptiness, and eternal loss. The presumptuous heir reaped this.

Conclusion: From Prophecy to Harvest Throne

Pray this:
“Almighty God, Lawgiver of the Harvest, forgive me for times I have been presumptuous or idle with my destiny. I reject every spirit of sloth. Fill me with the diligence of the ant and the resolve of the faithful farmer. I submit every area of my life to the lordship of Jesus Christ—the best seed I can sow. Help me to labor diligently in Your Spirit, that I may reap a harvest of life, authority, and abundance for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Action Steps:

• Define Your “Farm”: Write down one long-term goal (spiritual, professional, personal). Break it into the smallest possible “daily hoeing” action. Commit to doing that action every day this week.
• Study the Sowers: Meditate on the diligence of Joseph in Potiphar’s house and in prison (Genesis 39). Note how his faithful sowing in obscurity led to a harvest of leadership.
• Fast from Flesh-Sowing: For one week, consciously replace one activity that “sows to the flesh” (e.g., mindless scrolling, gossip) with one that “sows to the Spirit” (e.g., Scripture memorization, edifying conversation).

Remember: Your future is a farm, not a fixed fortune. The prophecy over your life reveals the potential harvest, but your diligence with the seed determines the yield. Sow relentlessly to the Spirit in the hidden place, and the day will come when others will come to your well-stored house and crown you with honor.
“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute” (Proverbs 12:24). Choose this day to be a sower, not a sleeper. Your harvest awaits.

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The Open Heaven 14 December 2025 devotional for today is YOU MUST GROW.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 13 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 14 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: YOU MUST GROW

MEMORISE:
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

READ: 2 Peter 1:5-7:
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 14 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

In Acts 12:25, Paul and Barnabas took John Mark along with them on a missionary journey, but when things got difficult, he abandoned them. Paul was so disappointed that in Acts 15:36-41, he insisted that he and Barnabas should not take John Mark with them when they wanted to go on another missionary journey.

However, in 2 Timothy 4:9-11, the same Paul who didn’t want John Mark to accompany him on another missionary journey said, “Bring him to me for he is profitable.” It is that same John Mark who ended up writing the gospel of Mark in the New Testament.

When a fellow keeps growing and developing himself or herself, those who rejected such a fellow before will turn to embrace him or her.

Paul said that when he was a child, he spoke, understood, and thought as a child, but when he became a man, he put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11). Everyone starts as a child, but it is not okay to remain as one. Anyone who is not growing is dying.

As a child of God, one important aspect you must grow in is your character. If you were an impatient person before you gave your life to Christ, you must not remain that way. A Christian should not deal with anger issues for the rest of his or her life. If you dealt with anger issues in your twenties, you should have overcome them with the help of the Holy Spirit in your forties.

You must also grow in faith. Jesus talked about people with no faith in Mark 4:40 and people with faith like a mustard seed in Luke 17:6. This means that faith can grow. If you started with a mustard seed faith, as powerful as it is, you should not remain on that level; instead, you should move on to having great faith (Matthew 15:28). You should not still be afraid of sicknesses and demons if you are truly growing in Christ.

Beloved, you were not saved to live in fear and weakness. You are not meant to be just a spectator of the wonderful things that God does through His children. You must grow in faith to the point where you can heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. Immerse yourself in the word of God regularly (Romans 10:17), pray in the Holy Ghost continually (Jude 1:20), and covet the best gifts from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:31). This way, you will never stop growing.

REFLECTION

Are you growing in faith and in your character?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Timothy 1-6

HYMN 59: I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 14 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: 2 Peter 3:18
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
This apostolic command presents spiritual growth not as an optional spiritual luxury, but as the mandatory trajectory of every believer. Growth is bi-focal: in grace (the practical outworking of Christ’s character and favor in our conduct) and in the knowledge of Christ (deepening relational and doctrinal understanding of Him). The ultimate purpose is glory—to Him, both now and eternally.

BIBLE READING: 2 Peter 1:5-7
This passage provides the staircase of spiritual maturation, the virtues we must diligently add to our faith:
v.5: “Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;” The foundation is faith, but it must be expressed in moral excellence and godly understanding.
v.6: “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;” Self-control, endurance, and reverent devotion mark increasing maturity.
v.7: “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” Growth culminates in practical love for the brethren and selfless, agape love for all.

The Imperative of Lifelong Spiritual Growth

Pastor E.A. Adeboye uses the transformational story of John Mark to illustrate a powerful kingdom principle: Your past failures or current rejections do not define your future if you commit to growth. The devotional moves from this encouragement to a sobering charge that stagnation is spiritual death, and growth must be evident in both character and spiritual authority.

1. The Testimony of Transformation: John Mark

From Rejection to “Profitable”:
John Mark began as a liability—he abandoned the mission when things got tough (Acts 13:13). This failure led to his rejection by Paul (Acts 15:38). However, through years of faithful service and growth (likely under Barnabas), he was so transformed that Paul later called him “profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).

The Lesson:
Growth changes your spiritual resume. The people who once wrote you off will one day seek you out if you diligently develop yourself in God. Your value in the Kingdom is not static; it is determined by your commitment to progressive improvement.

2. The Stagnation Dilemma: The Danger of Remaining a Child

The Natural Progression (1 Corinthians 13:11):
It is natural to start as a spiritual infant, but it is unnatural and unacceptable to remain one. Spiritual infancy is characterized by selfishness, instability, and a lack of understanding (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). Maturity requires putting away “childish things.”

The Law of the Spirit: Grow or Die:
“Anyone who is not growing is dying.” In the spiritual realm, there is no neutral plateau. Without intentional growth, you backslide. Your faith atrophies, your love grows cold, and your spiritual senses become dull.

3. The Dual Dimensions of Essential Growth

Growth in Character:
This is the internal transformation. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) must progressively replace the works of the flesh. Daddy Adeboye is direct: a Christian should not be dealing with the same anger, impatience, or fear issues for decades. The Holy Spirit’s help is given for victory, not just management. Your character in your forties should be markedly more Christlike than in your twenties.

Growth in Faith and Power:
This is the external expression. Faith is meant to increase from “no faith” (Mark 4:40) to “mustard seed faith” (powerful but small) to “great faith” (Matthew 15:28). This growth in faith directly correlates to growth in spiritual authority: “you can heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead.” Believers are saved from spectatorship to participation in the miraculous.

4. The Engine of Continuous Growth: The Means of Grace

The Word of God (Romans 10:17):
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Immersion in Scripture is non-negotiable. It renews the mind, builds faith, and reveals Christ. It is the primary nutrient for growth.

Prayer in the Holy Ghost (Jude 1:20):
Praying in tongues builds up your spiritual man (1 Corinthians 14:4). It is a divine tool for edification, intercession beyond your understanding, and maintaining your connection to the Spirit’s power.

Coveting the Best Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31):
This is a holy ambition to be used powerfully by God for the edification of the Church. It involves desiring, pursuing, and faithfully exercising the spiritual gifts, moving from passivity to active, empowered service.

How to Pursue Relentless Spiritual Growth

1. Conduct Regular Spiritual Audits:
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas of childishness or stagnation. Compare your current character and faith-level with where you were 5 years ago. Be brutally honest.

2. Set Specific Growth Goals:
Don’t just say “I want to grow.” Say, “This year, with God’s help, I will overcome my quick temper by practicing patience in three specific situations” or “I will step out in faith to pray for the sick this month.”

3. Embrace Disciplines, Not Just Delight:
Growth requires the discipline of daily Bible study, consistent prayer, and faithful service even when you don’t feel like it. These disciplines create the structure for grace to work.

4. Seek Mentorship and Accountability:
Just as John Mark had Barnabas, find spiritual fathers and mothers who can guide, correct, and encourage you. Submit to a local church where you can be taught and challenged.

Warning: The Tragedy of the Perpetual Infant

A believer who refuses to grow remains carnal, easily offended, spiritually powerless, and a burden to the Body of Christ. They are like the Israelites who could have entered Promised Land maturity but chose to wander and die in the wilderness of stagnation. Their story is one of unfulfilled potential and divine disappointment.

Conclusion: From Liability to Legacy

Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, my Savior and Standard, I reject spiritual stagnation. Forgive me for any area where I have remained a child. Holy Spirit, empower me to grow relentlessly in grace, knowledge, character, and faith. Make me a profitable vessel in Your kingdom, transforming my past failures into a testimony of Your grace. I covet Your best gifts and dedicate myself to the disciplines that fuel eternal growth, for Your glory. Amen.”

Action Steps:

• Study a Growth Chart: Meditate on 2 Peter 1:5-7. For each virtue (faith, virtue, knowledge, etc.), rate yourself on a scale of 1-5. Pray over the lowest scores.
• Initiate a Faith Project: Step out of your comfort zone. Commit to praying for one person in need each week, believing God for a specific result. Record what happens.
• Find Your “Barnabas”: Identify a mature believer this month and ask them for counsel or mentoring in one area of desired growth.

Remember: Your spiritual life is either expanding or contracting. God’s call is to ever-increasing stature in Christ (Ephesians 4:15). You are not meant to be a permanent project, but a progressing masterpiece.
“Till we all come… unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”(Ephesians 4:13). This is your destiny. Keep growing.

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The Open Heaven 13 December 2025 devotional for today is GOD HATES LAZINESS.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 12 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 13 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: GOD HATES LAZINESS

MEMORISE:
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Ecclesiastes 9:10

READ: Colossians 3:23-24:
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 13 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

Many people have misunderstood Genesis 2:2. They feel that God has been resting since it was recorded that He rested on the seventh day after His work of creation. However, in John 5:17, Jesus said, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work,” meaning that God is not idle; He is busy. God is a diligent God, and He never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:4).

When you read through the Bible, you will notice that God always chose diligent people whenever He needed to use men for His agenda on the earth.

When you read the account of how Jesus chose His disciples, you will see that they were all busy at work when He called them. Peter was fishing in his boat, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Mark 1:16-20). Matthew was sitting at a tax collector’s booth when Jesus asked him to follow Him (Matthew 9:9). God never calls or anoints lazy people; He calls diligent and prudent people because He hates laziness.

Lazy people cannot get the best from God. This is because they will waste whatever resources He gives to them, and He doesn’t like wastage. Whatever is in the hands of a lazy person will not be maintained or nurtured properly.

In Proverbs 24:30-31, Solomon said:
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

If a fellow’s room is always rough and dirty, that is a sign that he or she is lazy. If a person does not always meet up with his or her deliverables at work, school, or in ministry, it is also a sign of laziness.

Another symptom of laziness is recorded in Proverbs 26:13:
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

If a person always talks about doing something important, but he or she is always giving one excuse or the other for not doing it yet, it means that he or she is lazy.

Beloved, God will not give you His resources or take you to great heights if you are lazy.

Evaluate your life in all humility, and if you find any of the symptoms of laziness that I discussed above, make genuine efforts to effect the necessary changes today and make diligence your watchword from henceforth.

KEY POINT

Make diligence your watchword.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Thessalonians 1-3

HYMN 32: TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 13 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Ecclesiastes 9:10
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
This is a divine mandate for energetic, wholehearted engagement in life. It emphasizes the urgency and totality of our effort—”with thy might.” Our earthly life is the only arena for productive labor; eternity is for reward and rest. Therefore, diligence is not optional; it is the stewardship of our divinely allotted time and opportunity.

BIBLE READING: Colossians 3:23-24
This passage provides the Christian’s motive and motivation for diligence:
v.23: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” This elevates all labor to sacred service. The quality of our work becomes an offering to Christ, done “heartily” (from the soul, with passion).
v.24: “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Our ultimate employer and rewarder is Christ Himself. Earthly recognition is secondary; the “inheritance” is the primary reward.

The Divine Ethic of Diligence

Pastor E.A. Adeboye confronts the myth of a dormant God to establish a core kingdom principle: God is a worker, and He partners with workers. The devotional systematically defines God’s nature, exposes the fallacy of laziness, and provides a clear diagnostic for self-evaluation, urging a life of purposeful energy as our spiritual duty and pathway to blessing.

1. The Nature of God: The Archetype of Diligence

The Misconception of a Resting God:
Genesis 2:2 describes God ceasing from His creative work, not from all activity. Jesus corrects this misunderstanding in John 5:17: “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” God is perpetually active in sustaining creation, executing justice, orchestrating redemption, and answering prayer.

The Ever-Watchful God:
Psalm 121:4 declares, “He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” God’s diligent watchfulness over His people is the model for our own stewardship. He is the ultimate diligent guardian; we are called to be diligent stewards.

2. God’s Recruitment Policy: He Chooses Workers

The Calling of the Busy:
Jesus did not call His disciples from the marketplace idlers or the synagogue’s passive attendees. He called them from their work: Peter, James, and John from their nets; Matthew from his tax booth. God’s call is not an escape from labor but a redirection of labor into His service. Proven diligence in natural affairs often precedes a spiritual assignment.

The Rejection of Sloth:
“God never calls or anoints lazy people.” This is a non-negotiable divine principle. Anointing is oil for motion; it is given to those already moving in faithful stewardship. Laziness is a character flaw that disqualifies one from greater trust (Proverbs 12:24).

3. The Anatomy and Symptoms of Laziness

The Fruit of Sloth: Waste and Decay (Proverbs 24:30-31):
Laziness is not mere inactivity; it is active neglect leading to ruin. The overgrown field and broken wall symbolize unfulfilled potential, lost opportunities, and vulnerability to attack. Whatever God entrusts to a lazy person will depreciate.

Diagnostic Symptoms:
Pastor Adeboye provides a practical checklist for self-evaluation:

1. Domestic Disorder: A perpetually rough and dirty personal space.
2. Unreliability: Consistently failing to meet deadlines or deliverables in work, school, or ministry.
3. The Procrastinator’s Excuse (Proverbs 26:13): Inventing imaginary, exaggerated obstacles (“a lion in the streets”) to avoid starting or completing important tasks. Constant excuse-making is the language of sloth.

4. The Consequences and Cure for Laziness

The Consequence: Disqualification from Greater Trust:
“God will not give you His resources or take you to great heights if you are lazy.” This is a law of the kingdom. The “talents” in Matthew 25 are taken from the unproductive servant and given to the one who has been most diligent. Divine promotion follows demonstrated faithfulness.

The Cure: Honest Evaluation and Immediate Change:
The remedy begins with humility. One must “Evaluate your life in all humility,” using the biblical symptoms as a mirror. This is followed by “genuine efforts to effect the necessary changes today.”Diligence must become a conscious, chosen “watchword”—a governing principle for all of life.

How to Cultivate a Life of Godly Diligence

1. Redefine Your Work as Worship:
Internalize Colossians 3:23-24. Approach every task—from menial to majestic—as an act of service directly to Christ. This sanctifies your labor and fuels “heartily” effort.

2. Break Tasks into Actionable Steps:
Overcome the “lion in the street” excuse by deconstructing large, daunting projects into small, manageable actions. Start with the first step, no matter how small.

3. Implement Immediate Discipline:
Begin with your physical environment. Commit to order and cleanliness in your personal space. This trains the muscle of discipline that translates to spiritual and professional realms.

4. Seek Accountability:
Share your goals and deadlines with a trustworthy, diligent friend or mentor who will ask you about your progress. This provides an external check against procrastination.

Warning: The High Cost of Spiritual Sloth

Laziness in spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible study, evangelism) is even more perilous than natural laziness. It leads to a life of spiritual poverty, weakness against temptation, and squandered divine purpose. The “broken down wall” leaves you exposed to enemy attacks. You cannot be lazy with your soul and expect to thrive in God.

Conclusion: Embracing Your Mandate as a Co-Laborer

Pray this:
“Almighty God, my ever-working Father, forgive me for every trace of slothfulness in my life. Expose every ‘lion’ of excuse I have created. Fill me with Your energetic Spirit. Help me to do everything I find to do with all my might, as an offering to You. Make me a diligent, trustworthy steward, worthy of greater responsibility in Your kingdom, for the glory of Christ my Lord. Amen.”

Action Steps:

• Conduct a Diligence Audit: This week, use the three symptoms from the devotional (disorder, unreliability, excuse-making) to evaluate one area of your life (home, work, ministry). Write down one corrective action for each symptom you find.
• Study a Diligent Hero: Read about the diligence of Nehemiah, who rebuilt the wall amidst opposition, or the Proverbs 31 woman. Note their planning, effort, and God-honoring energy.
• Practice the ‘Do It Now’ Principle: For the next three days, immediately complete one small task you have been putting off (e.g., a phone call, organizing a drawer, replying to an email). Let it build momentum.

Remember: Your life is a field given to you by God. Diligence is the tool that cultivates it into a harvest. Laziness allows the thorns of regret and wasted potential to take over.
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat”(Proverbs 13:4). Choose this day to be a partner in God’s ongoing work, and you will partake in His abundant reward.

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The Open Heaven 12 December 2025 devotional for today is THE LAW OF HARVEST.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 11 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 12 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: THE LAW OF HARVEST

MEMORISE:
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6

READ: Genesis 8:22, Galatians 6:9:
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 12 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

In 1979, I travelled for a Kenneth Hagin camp meeting in Oklahoma, USA. During the meeting, a minister announced the collection of an offering for their Bible College.

At that point, a man asked for permission to speak to the congregation. He said, “I want to announce that the sum of what you all give is what my wife and I will give.” There were about 17,000 people in the congregation, and when the offering was summed up, it amounted to 3.5 million dollars. When everyone in the congregation heard this, we all thought that the man was in big trouble. However, he took the microphone and said, “Brethren, is this all you can do?”

Where I sat, I said to myself, “This man knows something that I don’t, and I’m going to find out what he knows.”

As soon as the service ended, I walked up to him and said, “Sir, can I know your secret?” He said, “It is very simple. Five years ago, I started a business with 500 dollars, and I reached an agreement with God that I would not insult him by giving him 10% of the profits. I started giving God 90% while I kept 10% of the profits. Now, I am worth over 50 million dollars, so l know what I am doing.”

The law of harvest says that if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. Someone who sows a thousand burnt offerings should automatically know that the result will not be small. A thousand burnt offerings in hundredfold returns will be extremely large.

Solomon gave God a thousand burnt offerings in 2 Chronicles 1:6. In 2 Chronicles 7:5, the next time he was going to give an offering, he gave 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, which means that God must have greatly multiplied his initial seed. That was the law of harvest playing out. In Solomon’s case, he didn’t just get more animals, he got many other things that money cannot buy – wisdom, understanding, peace, and long life.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 says that when you give, God is able to make all grace abound towards you. When you check Solomon’s history, throughout his reign, there was not a single war fought against him even though he lived in an era where kings went to war frequently.

Beloved, honour God by giving to Him, and He will fill your storehouses until they overflow (Proverbs 3:9-10). This is the law of harvest, and it is a promise from God that will never fail 

KEY POINT

If you want to reap bountifully, you must sow bountifully; this is the law of harvest.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Thessalonians 1-5

HYMN 26: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 12 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: 2 Corinthians 9:6
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”
This verse establishes a spiritual law as immutable as the law of gravity. It is not about mere giving; it’s about the principle of proportionate harvest. Your harvest—in every area of life—is directly tied to the measure and heart behind your sowing. It is a divine economic system where faith, expressed through generosity, triggers supernatural multiplication.

BIBLE READING: Genesis 8:22, Galatians 6:9
These two verses frame the eternal reliability of the harvest principle:
Genesis 8:22: “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest… shall not cease.” This is God’s covenant with nature, and He applies the same principle to the spiritual and material realms. It is as perpetual as the earth itself.
Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” This promises the certainty of the harvest (“shall reap“) but also defines its timing (“in due season“) and the required posture: persistent faithfulness.

The Radical Economics of the Kingdom Harvest

Pastor E.A. Adeboye shares a staggering testimony to illustrate that God’s principles of giving are not about charity alone, but about strategic spiritual investment. The devotional reveals that what the world sees as foolish extravagance, God sees as faith-filled sowing that activates the law of a supernatural harvest.

1. The Law of Harvest: A Divine Guarantee

It is a Law, Not a Suggestion:
Like the law of seedtime and harvest in nature, this spiritual law operates with predictable certainty. You cannot sow corn and expect to reap mangoes. Similarly, you cannot sow sparingly, fearfully, or grudgingly and expect a bountiful, joyful harvest.

Proportionate Returns:
The principle is one of multiplication, not just addition. The man in the testimony sowed 90% of his profits—a radical, disproportionate seed. His harvest was not just a return of his money, but a multiplication of his entire enterprise ($500 to over $50 million). Solomon’s thousand burnt offerings yielded a harvest of 142,000 animals and immeasurable wisdom.

2. The Heart of the Sower: Honour Over Obligation

Giving as an Act of Honour:
The businessman stated he did not want to “insult God” with 10%. This reframes giving from a duty (the tithe as a minimum) to a privilege of honouring a covenant Partner. Proverbs 3:9-10 commands, “Honour the LORD with thy substance… So shall thy barns be filled with plenty.”Honour triggers overflow.

Cheerful, Not Compulsory (2 Corinthians 9:7):
The God who loves a “cheerful giver” is responding to the faith and love behind the gift, not just the amount. The man’s bold challenge to the congregation flowed from a heart so confident in God’s faithfulness that he saw the offering as a collective opportunity for harvest.

3. The Scope of the Harvest: Beyond Money

Financial Multiplication:
The testimony and Solomon’s example clearly show material and financial increase. God is the ultimate economist and can orchestrate favor, ideas, and opportunities that translate into material blessing.

The Greater Harvest: Grace for Every Need:
2 Corinthians 9:8 reveals the true bounty: “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” The harvest includes the grace (divine enablement) to have enough and to excel in good works. For Solomon, this meant wisdom, understanding, peace, and unprecedented national security—“not a single war.” These are blessings money cannot buy.

4. The Faith That Activates the Law

The “Knowing” Confidence:
The businessman declared, “I know what I am doing.” This was not arrogance but the confidence that comes from years of seeing the law work. His faith was in the Law-Giver, not in the money itself.

The Principle of Firstfruits and Sacrifice:
His 90% giving was a firstfruits offering of his profit. Solomon’s thousand burnt offerings were costly sacrifices, given whole and completely consumed. God honors the seed that represents faith, sacrifice, and priority—the kind that says, “God, I trust You more than this resource.”

How to Position Yourself for a Bountiful Harvest

1. Audit Your Sowing Posture:
Are you sowing sparingly or bountifully? Is your giving an act of joyful honour or a reluctant obligation? Ask God to adjust your heart to see giving as your greatest investment strategy.

2. Sow in Faith, Not Fear:
Calculate your giving based on God’s promise, not your current balance. Start where you are, but be willing to sow sacrificially as God directs, trusting the harvest to His timing (“due season”).

3. Sow Expectantly, But Patiently:
Do not grow weary (Galatians 6:9). The harvest has a season. Solomon’s massive offering in 2 Chronicles 7 came after the temple was built and God’s glory had filled it. There is a process between sowing and reaping.

4. Broaden Your View of the Harvest:
When you give, pray for and expect a harvest that includes peace, wisdom, divine health, favor, and opportunities for kingdom impact, not just financial increase.

Warning: The Poverty of a Closed Hand

To sow sparingly out of fear, greed, or unbelief is to actively choose a sparing harvest. It is to opt into spiritual and often material scarcity. You insult God not by giving little, but by distrusting His promise of provision and thereby limiting His channel of blessing back into your life.

Conclusion: Becoming a Conduit of Blessing

Pray this:
“Heavenly Father, Owner of all, teach me the radical faith of the harvest. Break every spirit of fear and scarcity in my life. Help me to honour You with a cheerful and bountiful heart, sowing seeds of faith that reflect my absolute trust in Your covenant. Make me a conduit of Your blessing, and let my life reap a hundredfold harvest of grace, sufficiency, and kingdom impact, in Jesus’ name.”

Action Steps:

• Conduct a Sowing Review: Look at your giving over the last 6 months. Ask God if He would have you increase your sowing in a specific area (tithes, offerings, alms, missions).
• Make a Faith Promise: This week, commit to a sacrificial gift beyond your regular tithe. Do it joyfully as an act of honour, and record it as a seed sown. Pray over it and watch for the harvest.
• Study the Great Sowers: Meditate on the giving of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17), the Macedonian churches (2 Corinthians 8), and the poor widow (Mark 12:41-44). Note the sacrifice and the supernatural results.

Remember: You are not giving away your seed; you are planting it in the only soil guaranteed to yield an eternal, multiplied return—the kingdom of God. Your harvest is as certain as God’s word.
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…” (Luke 6:38). The harvest is not just more; it is more than you have room to receive. Sow in faith, and get ready for the overflow.

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The Open Heaven 11 December 2025 devotional for today is WHEN GOD IS WITH YOU.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 10 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 11 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: WHEN GOD IS WITH YOU

MEMORISE:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalms 23:4

READ: Isaiah 41:10-13:
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 11 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

Years ago, one of my children decided to buy a ticket for me to go on a cruise. For the first six days of the cruise, it was like heaven on earth; the sea was calm, the winds blew softly, and the skies were very clear.

However, on the seventh day, a storm came! Believe me, you don’t want to be on the ocean when there is a storm. The ship was several stories high, but the waves kept tossing it up and down like paper. Everything on board was shaking, and objects were flying around. It was very terrible.

Things got so bad that the captain called everyone on board together and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, don’t be worried. There are 12 categories of storms at sea. Category 1 is the mildest, while category 12 is the most turbulent – we are only caught in a category 10 storm.”

When I heard that, I became afraid. I turned to God and said, “God, what am I doing here in a category 10 storm? In my village, the biggest river is so small that an amateur swimmer can swim across it.” The captain continued, “Don’t worry, just go back to your cabins.”

When I got to my cabin, I asked God, “Lord, what am I going to do now?” He replied, “Son, when I was on earth, and I was in a boat that was caught in a storm, what was I doing?” I responded, “Lord, You were sleeping.” I knew exactly what to do. I immediately jumped on the bed, and in minutes, I was fast asleep.

By the time I woke up, we were already at the port, and everything was calm and peaceful. Anytime I tell this story, people ask me, “How could you sleep in such a situation?” I usually think to myself, “What else could I have done, jump into the ocean?” I didn’t even know how to swim; however, I had the kind of peace that only God gives. Also, if I had not learnt to hear God’s voice before the storm, I might have developed high blood pressure due to anxiety for nothing.

Beloved, if you are truly a child of God, then He is always with you. You can live a life free of anxiety if you spend quality time with Him daily because you will know His voice, and He will give you His peace – the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

KEY POINT

If you are a child of God, He will always be with you, and you will enjoy His peace when you spend quality time with Him.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Colossians 1-4

HYMN 19: ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 11 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Psalms 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
This is the shepherd’s psalm of absolute security. It does not promise the absence of dark valleys, but the presence of the Shepherd within them. The “shadow of death” implies the most terrifying of circumstances, yet the believer’s confidence is rooted not in the circumstance, but in the companionship of God—His rod (authority) and staff (guidance) are active comforts.

BIBLE READING: Isaiah 41:10-13
This passage is God’s direct promise of presence and power in the storm:
v.10: The Triple Command – “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Presence, identity, strength, help, and upholding are all guaranteed.
v.11-12: The Promise of Vindication – All who oppose you will fail and perish. The storm will not have the final say.
v.13: The Personal Reassurance – “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” This is the intimate, hand-holding assurance of God in the turbulence.

The Anatomy of God-Given Peace in the Storm

Pastor E.A. Adeboye uses a powerful personal testimony to teach that divine peace is not the absence of storms, but the presence of a proven God within them. The ability to “sleep” in the storm is the highest expression of faith—a total reliance on God’s presence and voice, cultivated long before the crisis hits.

1. The Inevitability of Life’s Storms

The “Seventh Day” Principle:
The storm arose after six days of heaven-like tranquility. This pattern is common in the believer’s life: seasons of great peace can be followed by sudden, violent turbulence. Storms are not evidence of God’s absence but are often part of the journey (John 16:33).

The “Category 10” Reality:
Some challenges are not mild disturbances; they are Category 10 life-storms that threaten to capsize our stability, health, or future. The captain’s announcement magnified the fear, illustrating how understanding the magnitude of a problem can paralyze us if we focus on it instead of on God.

2. The Source of Supernatural Peace: God’s Voice

The Prerequisite of a Trained Ear:
Daddy Adeboye highlights the critical point: “if I had not learnt to hear God’s voice before the storm, I might have developed… anxiety for nothing.” Peace in crisis is not spontaneously generated; it is accessed through a familiar relationship with God’s voice, built in the quiet days through daily fellowship.

The Pattern from Christ:
When Jesus’ disciples panicked in the storm, He was asleep (Mark 4:38). His peace came from His perfect union with the Father. God’s question to Pastor Adeboye, “what was I doing?” directed him to emulate Christ’s posture of restful trust in the Father’s sovereign care. True peace mimics the Savior’s.

3. The Posture of Perfect Trust: Spiritual Sleep

“Sleep” as an Act of Faith:
In the storm, sleep is not negligence; it is the definitive act of surrender. It is declaring, “I am not in control, and the One who is, is trustworthy.” It is the physical manifestation of Psalm 4:8: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”

The Futility of Alternative Responses:
The rhetorical question—“What else could I have done, jump into the ocean?”—exposes the insanity of fear. Panic offers no solution; it only exhausts us. Trust is not a passive resignation but the active choice to rest in God’s active care.

4. The Outcome of Trust: Divine Deliverance

The Calm After the Storm:
The testimony concludes with arrival at the port in calm. God did not necessarily still the storm the moment Pastor Adeboye slept (though He can); He carried him and the ship through it. The peace of God within him was greater than the storm around him, leading to safe passage.

The Peace That Guards (Philippians 4:7):
This is the “peace that passes all understanding.” It is a divine garrison that guards the heart (the seat of emotions) and mind (the seat of thoughts) from being captured by anxiety, even while the storm rages externally.

How to Cultivate the Ability to “Sleep” in Your Storms

1. Build Your “Before the Storm” Routine:
Your daily “quality time” in prayer, worship, and Scripture is training your spiritual ear. When the crisis hits, you won’t be scrambling to find God’s frequency; you will know His voice immediately.

2. Internalize the Promise of Presence:
Memorize and personalize Psalms 23:4 and Isaiah 41:10. Make them your mental default settings. When fear arises, declare aloud: “You are with me. You strengthen me. You uphold me.”

3. Practice Surrender in Small Things:
Train your trust muscle by consciously releasing minor anxieties to God daily (a delayed commute, a minor inconvenience). This builds the reflex to surrender major crises.

4. Ask the Right Question in Crisis:
Instead of “God, why is this happening to me?” ask Pastor Adeboye’s question: “Lord, what am I going to do now?” This invites His directive wisdom and shifts you from a victim mindset to a follower’s posture.

Warning: The Peril of an Untrained Spirit

A believer who neglects daily communion with God is like a sailor who never learns to navigate. When the Category 10 storm hits, they will be ruled by panic, fear, and human reasoning, which only amplifies the storm’s terror within their soul. They may survive, but they will do so with “high blood pressure”—spiritual and emotional damage that was unnecessary.

Conclusion: Anchored in the Unshakable Presence

Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank You that You are with me in every valley and on every turbulent sea. Train my ear to know Your voice so intimately that in the sudden storm, my first response is to find rest in You. I renounce the spirit of fear and anxiety. Fill me with Your peace that defies all circumstances, and let my life be a testimony that with You, I can sleep through any storm, in Your mighty name. Amen.”

Action Steps:

• Identify Your “Category 10”: Name one overwhelming situation you are facing. Write “PSALM 23:4” on a card and place it where you will see it daily. Speak it over that situation.
• Establish a Daily Anchor: Commit to 15 minutes of quiet, listening prayer each morning this week. Ask God to speak through His Word and His Spirit.
• Study the Sleepers: Read and meditate on Jesus sleeping in the storm (Mark 4:35-41) and Peter sleeping in prison (Acts 12:5-6). Note the divine peace that preceded divine deliverance.

Remember: The storm is not your address; it is your passage. You are walking through the valley, sailing through the sea. Your cabin is the secret place of the Most High, and your Captain is the Lord of the waves. His presence is your peace.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee”(Isaiah 26:3). Stay your mind on Him, not on the waves.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 11 December 2025 Devotional PDF

The Open Heaven 10 December 2025 devotional for today is HOPE OF GLORY.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 9 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 10 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: HOPE OF GLORY

MEMORISE:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Colossians 1:27

READ: Psalms 126:1-6:
1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
3 The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 10 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

Many people who are yet to surrender their lives to Christ think that they are enjoying life as they live in sin. For example, they think sleeping around is fun until they contract an incurable disease. A lot of them also think that it is okay to make money through any means, whether good or bad, until the wealth or possession they amass leads to their utter destruction.

Being in Christ and living according to His word helps believers to live a lifestyle that protects them from many troubles. Those who are in Christ have access to information that will always give them hope and keep them safe.

Many unbelievers look like they are doing well judging by their lifestyle and appearance; however, in reality, they are suffering. Some of them cannot even sleep soundly because of the evil things they have done. Being in Christ gives you peace and removes fears about the future from your heart. A life without Christ is a life with no hope.

Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:12:
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

It is because of Christ that believers are assured that no matter what challenges come their way, they will emerge victorious. Jesus said in John 16:33 that in this world, we will have tribulations, but we must be of good cheer because He has already overcome the world for us.

Our hope is grounded in God’s promises and not just wishful thinking. When you read God’s promises in the Scriptures, they will stir up hope in you.

For example, in Hebrews 13:5, He promised to never leave you nor forsake you. This means that no matter what you are going through, God is right there beside you. In Romans 8:28, He said that all things will work together for your good if you love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Therefore, if you are a lover of Christ and are walking in His purpose for your life, no matter the challenges you might be facing, you will laugh last.

Beloved, I want you to rest assured that God is thinking about you, and His thoughts towards you are of peace, and not of evil, to bring you to an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11). I pray that you will always hold on to the hope of glory you have in Christ, in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT

Outside Jesus, there is no true hope.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Philippians 1-4

HYMN 10: IN CHRIST ALONE

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 10 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Colossians 1:27
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
This verse defines the core of the Christian faith. The “mystery” hidden for ages is not a religious system, but a Person dwelling within the believer. “Christ in you” is the living, guaranteed source of all present peace and future glory. This indwelling presence is the substance of our hope, not a speculative wish.

BIBLE READING: Psalms 126:1-6
This psalm captures the journey of God’s people from despair to joy, anchored in hope:
v.1-3: “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion… Then was our mouth filled with laughter…” This recounts a past deliverance, establishing God’s faithfulness as the basis for future hope.
v.4: “Turn again our captivity, O LORD…” A present prayer, showing hope is active, not passive.
v.5-6: The Principle of Sowing – “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Hope understands divine timing and the law of spiritual harvest. Present trials are seeds for future rejoicing.

The Substance of Our Hope: Christ In You

Pastor E.A. Adeboye masterfully contrasts the hollow, fragile existence of life outside of Christ with the anchored, hopeful reality of life in Him. The devotional moves beyond mere moral comparison to reveal that the believer’s hope is a present-tense possession (Christ in you) that guarantees future glory and provides present peace and protection.

1. The Illusion of the Godless Life

Deceptive “Enjoyment”:
The world’s “fun” (promiscuity, dishonest gain) is often a prelude to destruction—incurable disease, ruin, and a tormented conscience. What is marketed as freedom is actually a slow-acting bondage.

The Suffering Behind the Facade:
Many unbelievers “look like they are doing well” but are inwardly suffering from guilt, fear, and emptiness. Their lifestyle is a mask for a life described in Ephesians 2:12 as being “without Christ… having no hope, and without God in the world.” This is the ultimate state of spiritual poverty.

The Absence of True Peace:
A life without Christ is a life without the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). It is plagued by anxieties about the future, because there is no sovereign, good God to trust. Sleep is stolen by fear and regret.

2. The Realities of the Indwelling Christ

Access to Divine Information:
Believers have access to the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) through the Word and the Holy Spirit. This provides supernatural insight, warning, guidance, and the “information that will always give them hope and keep them safe.”

The Guarantee of Victory:
Our hope is not that we will avoid battles, but that we are guaranteed to win the war. Jesus declared, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). His victory is our victory. Challenges become venues for the manifestation of His overcoming power.

The Promise of Divine Presence:
Hebrews 13:5 is not a sentimental idea but a covenant promise. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” In every trial, the believer’s hope is fortified by the unshakeable reality that God is “right there beside you,” actively involved.

3. The Mechanics of a Hope-Filled Life

Hope Grounded in Promise, Not Wishfulness:
Biblical hope (elpis) is a confident expectation based on God’s immutable character and recorded promises. It is as solid as the Word of God itself. Reading Scripture “will stir up hope in you” by reminding you of His covenant pledges.

The Romans 8:28 Filter:
This is the believer’s interpretive framework for all circumstances: “all things work together for good to them that love God.” For the one in Christ, no event—good or bad—is meaningless. God is weaving a tapestry for our good and His glory. This truth turns despair into anticipation.

The Expected End (Jeremiah 29:11):
God’s thoughts toward us are “of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Our hope has a destination—a glorious, God-ordained outcome. We are not hoping in a void, but moving toward a specific, positive conclusion designed by a loving Father.

How to Cultivate and Hold Fast to This Hope

1. Consciously Reckon on Christ’s Indwelling:
Begin each day acknowledging, “Christ is in me. His peace is my peace. His victory is my victory. His hope is my hope.” Your identity is your anchor.

2. Saturate Yourself in God’s Promises:
Systematically read and meditate on the promises of God (e.g., Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:19). Write them down. Speak them aloud. They are the legal tender of your hope.

3. Practice the Psalm 126 Principle:
When in a season of “sowing in tears,” actively hope. Remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness (your own “turned captivity”) and sow seeds of faith, prayer, and obedience, knowing a harvest of joy is divinely guaranteed.

4. Live Within the Romans 8:28 Boundary:
Continually ask: “Do I love God? Am I seeking to fulfill His purpose?” If yes, then consciously apply the “all things working together for good” promise to your current challenge. This is the mental discipline of hope.

Warning: The Danger of Forfeiting Your Distinction

To revert to a lifestyle that mimics the hopeless world is to live as if “Christ in you” is not your reality. It is to trade the substance of hope for the shadow of worldly “enjoyment,” and in doing so, invite the fears and sorrows you were redeemed from.

Conclusion: Anchored in Glory

Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, my Hope of Glory, thank You for making Your home in me. Forgive me for any moment I have lived as if You were not there, seeking hope in empty places. Anchor my soul deep in the reality of Your indwelling presence. Let Your promises be the solid ground beneath my feet, and fill my mouth with the laughter of Psalm 126, knowing my future in You is glorious and secure. In Your mighty name, Amen.”

Action Steps:

• Conduct a Hope Audit: List three current challenges. Beside each, write the specific promise of God (chapter and verse) that fuels your hope for that situation.
• Memorize Your Anchor Verses: Commit Colossians 1:27 and Romans 8:28 to memory this week. Let them be your first mental response to anxiety.
• Share the Substance: This week, consciously move beyond telling someone “I’ll pray for you.” Share the specific promise of God that gives you hope for their situation, pointing them to Christ, the source.

Remember: Your hope is not a fragile feeling; it is a person, Jesus Christ, residing within you. The world offers glittering illusions that end in despair. Christ offers a cross that leads to everlasting joy. You possess the “hope of glory.” Therefore, you will indeed “laugh last.”
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast…” (Hebrews 6:19). You are anchored in glory itself. No storm can drag you under.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 10 December 2025 Devotional PDF

The Open Heaven 9 December 2025 devotional for today is OBEDIENCE AND GOD’S SUPPORT.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 8 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 9 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: OBEDIENCE AND GOD’S SUPPORT

MEMORISE:
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Isaiah 46:10

READ: Psalms 35:27-28
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 9 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

Years ago, a vice-principal in a girls’ college in Benin, Southern Nigeria, decreed that anybody who mentioned the name of Jesus in the school would be dealt with.

During that period, some of the girls in the college became born again after a university graduate undergoing the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps programme in the city preached to them. Because their vice-principal had said that nobody must mention the name of Jesus in the school, the girls always met secretly to pray and study the Bible.

One day, while having a Bible study session at night on the school field, the vice-principal walked in on them. He promised to expel them during the school assembly the next day because they had disobeyed his decree, and when he got home, he told his wife everything that had happened.

Meanwhile, the girls ran to the Youth Corp member and told him what had happened. He turned to God and said, “Lord, if anyone is going to be punished, let it be me. Please, don’t let them be expelled.”

The following morning, the students and teachers of the school gathered for the school assembly session as usual. The girls were trembling as they waited for the vice-principal to come to the assembly ground and announce their expulsion from the college. The vice-principal’s wife was also expecting that he would soon march to the assembly ground to expel the girls. When she looked at the time and saw that he was running late, she decided to knock on the door of his bedroom to wake him up so he could go for the assembly session before it ended. She knocked repeatedly, but he didn’t answer – God had taken his life overnight.

When a fellow decides to oppose God’s agenda, he or she might be crushed because God always goes out of His way to support His righteous cause. It is a dangerous thing to stand against what God supports because He is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). He will consume anything and anyone who opposes His counsel.

Ephesians 1:11 says:
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Beloved, the easiest way to get God’s support and to continue enjoying it is to walk in obedience to His will at all times. Ensure that you align yourself with His agenda so that you will not find yourself face-to-face with His wrath.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to obey You and align with Your will at all times, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Ephesians 4-6

HYMN 27: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 9 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Isaiah 46:10
“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”
This verse is a declaration of God’s sovereign, unstoppable will. He is the Alpha and Omega who not only foreknows but foreordains. His counsel—His agenda, purpose, and plan—is immutable. To align with it is to find ultimate security; to oppose it is to invite ultimate futility and danger.

BIBLE READING: Psalms 35:27-28
This passage captures the heart cry of the righteous under opposition and God’s supportive response:
v.27: “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” God takes pleasure in vindicating and prospering those on His side.
v.28: “And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.” The proper response to God’s vindication is unceasing praise and testimony.

The Sovereignty of God’s Support

Pastor E.A. Adeboye shares a powerful historical testimony to illustrate a foundational spiritual law: God jealously and decisively supports His righteous cause and consumes all who stand in its way. The devotional moves from a gripping narrative to the eternal principle that our safety and success are found only in wholehearted alignment with God’s agenda.

1. The Irresistible Nature of God’s Agenda

God’s Counsel Shall Stand (Isaiah 46:10):
Human decrees, no matter how authoritative, are null and void when they contradict divine decree. The vice-principal’s edict against Jesus’ name was a direct assault on God’s commanded worship (Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:10-11). God’s agenda to save and gather those girls into His name was an unstoppable force.

The Consuming Fire (Hebrews 12:29):
The sudden death of the vice-principal is a sobering manifestation of God as a consuming fire. This is not merely a metaphor for purification but a reality of His holy justice against deliberate, high-handed opposition to His known will. He consumes the opposition to protect His righteous cause.

2. The Profile of God’s Righteous Cause

The Cause of Salvation and Worship:
The girls meeting to pray and study the Bible represented the very core of God’s heart—people seeking Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23). Opposing this is opposing the Great Commission and the First Commandment.

The Cause of the Vulnerable and Obedient:
The girls were vulnerable students; the Corps member was an intercessor standing in the gap. God arose as their defender (Psalm 68:5). His support is powerfully mobilized for the faithful who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (Matthew 5:10-12).

The Power of Selfless Intercession:
The Corps member’s prayer—“let it be me”—echoed Christ’s substitutionary heart. This kind of prayer, which prioritizes the protection of God’s work over personal safety, triggers swift divine intervention. It aligns the intercessor perfectly with God’s protective agenda.

3. The Peril of Opposing Divine Counsel

The Futility of Human Opposition:
The vice-principal represents any system, authority, or individual that sets itself against the knowledge and worship of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). Such opposition may seem powerful temporarily but is fundamentally fragile before the “counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11).

The Unawareness of the Opponent:
The man went to bed with a plan, unaware he was on a divine collision course. This mirrors Pharaoh, Herod, and the opponents of the early church. Those who oppose God often do so with arrogant confidence, blind to their impending confrontation with sovereignty.

The Certainty of Divine Intervention:
God “goes out of His way” to support His cause. This means He will intervene in unexpected, sudden, and sometimes severe ways to remove obstacles. His methods are His prerogative, but His commitment to His purpose is unwavering.

4. The Pathway to Secured Divine Support

Alignment Through Obedience:
“The easiest way to get God’s support… is to walk in obedience to His will at all times.” This is the central application. Support is not earned by negotiation but secured by synchronization. Your life must be in agreement with His Word and His revealed purpose.

Active Advocacy for His Cause:
Divine support is not passive. It involves actively “favouring [God’s] righteous cause” (Psalm 35:27). This means boldly identifying with the gospel, standing for biblical truth, and protecting the vulnerable believers, even at personal cost.

Constant Posture of Praise:
The supported life is a thankful life. As Psalm 35:28 concludes, the mouth of the vindicated is filled with praise “all the day long.” Testimony and worship are the natural outputs of a life undergirded by God’s mighty hand.

How to Ensure You Are Aligned, Not Opposed

1. Audit Your Loyalties:
Ask: Are any of my beliefs, habits, or alliances in conflict with a clear command or principle of Scripture? Do I, in any way, silence the name of Jesus in my sphere to avoid trouble?

2. Champion God’s Righteous Cause:
Identify where the gospel, biblical ethics, or the fellowship of believers is under pressure in your environment. Pray fervently and take a courageous, wise stand in support.

3. Cultivate a Heart of Intercession:
Like the Corps member, pray substitutionary prayers for God’s people and work. Be willing to bear the cost for the advancement of His kingdom.

4. Walk in the Fear of the Lord:
This is not a cowering fear, but a profound reverence for His holiness and sovereignty that makes you tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of His will (Isaiah 66:2).

Warning: The Fatal Error of Presuming Against God

The vice-principal’s story is a stark warning against using human authority to fight God. It echoes the words of Gamaliel: “if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God” (Acts 5:39). To oppose a genuine move of God is to sign your own spiritual and potentially physical death warrant.

Conclusion: Sheltered in His Sovereign Will

Pray this:
“Sovereign Lord, God of all counsel, I align myself completely with Your will and Your righteous cause. Forgive me for any way I have passively or actively opposed Your agenda. Let my life be a source of support for Your kingdom, and shelter me under the banner of Your purpose. May I never be found fighting against You, but always standing with You, in Jesus’ name.”

Action Steps:

• Study Divine Vindication: Read Acts 12:20-24 (Herod’s death) and Daniel 6. Note the pattern of God’s defense of His faithful and His judgment on arrogant opposers.
• Identify a Righteous Cause: Choose one specific area in your community or church where the gospel is marginalized. Commit to supporting it through prayer and tangible action this month.
• Pray for Authorities: Regularly pray for those in authority over you (1 Timothy 2:1-2), that God would turn their hearts or restrain their hands from opposing His will.

Remember: You are either for Him or against Him (Matthew 12:30). There is no neutral ground. To be under the consuming fire of His wrath is a terror; to be under the consuming fire of His presence and support is the greatest security imaginable.
“If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). This promise is only true for those who are unequivocally with Him.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 9 December 2025 Devotional PDF

The Open Heaven 8 December 2025 devotional for today is SIN AND GOD’S SUPPORT.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 7 December 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 8 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: SIN AND GOD’S SUPPORT

MEMORISE:
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
Psalms 5:4

READ: Isaiah 59:1-2:
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 8 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

When Joshua became the leader of the Israelites, God promised to support him all the way and also told him that wherever the sole of his foot touched, he would have it (Joshua 1:1-5). All through the period Joshua led the children of Israel through the wilderness, he found this to be true until the day the Israelites were defeated by a small nation called Ai.

After this defeat, Joshua went to God and asked for the reason they lost, and God told him that there was sin in the camp of the Israelites (Joshua 7:2-11).

This shows us that even when you are doing the will of God, and He has promised to support you all the way, He will withdraw His support the moment you start engaging in sin. Sin will turn a child of God into an enemy of God, and because God’s eyes are too pure to behold iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13), He will withdraw from such a fellow.

God made several wonderful promises to Moses. For instance, He told Moses that His presence would go with him and He would give him rest (Exodus 33:14). In Exodus 33:1, He also told Moses to go up with the children of Israel and take them to the Promised Land which He had sworn to give to their fathers – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

However, when Moses disobeyed God, the Lord withdrew His support, and Moses died in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 34:4-5). Disobedience to God’s instructions will make a person lose His support.

Saul was Israel’s first king, and God had planned to establish his kingdom forever (1 Samuel 13:13). However, after he sat on the throne as king, he became proud and disobedient to God (1 Samuel 15:1-30). This made God to change His mind, withdraw His support, and give the kingdom to David.

Samson was also destined for greatness. However, he started living in sin, and he thought God would never leave him. On the day God’s support was withdrawn from him, he didn’t even know until the enemies had captured him (Judges 16:20).

Beloved, are you engaging in anything that will take God’s support away from you? If you are engaging in secret sins, desist from them immediately. Don’t think that there will not be consequences because things are still going on as usual. God is surely taking records.

Repent today before He decides to turn His back on you. May the Lord not withdraw His support from you, in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT

Are you doing anything that will cause God to withdraw His support from you?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Ephesians 1-3

HYMN 34: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 8 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Joshua 1:5
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
This promise is the bedrock of divine partnership. It is not a blanket guarantee of success regardless of conduct, but a covenant promise of God’s faithful presence conditioned on covenant obedience. The subsequent failure at Ai reveals that the promise is activated within the context of holiness.

BIBLE READING: Joshua 7:2-11
This passage is the definitive case study on how sin breaches covenant protection:
v.2-5: The Shocking Defeat – The small city of Ai routs Israel, causing hearts to melt. This follows a great victory (Jericho), proving that yesterday’s anointing does not cover today’s disobedience.
v.6-9: Joshua’s Distress – His prayer focuses on God’s reputation and their danger, but not on the possibility of internal sin.
v.10-11: God’s Diagnosis – The Lord interrupts his prayer with a stark revelation: “Israel hath sinned… they have also transgressed my covenant… taken the accursed thing.” Sin in the camp breached the divine defense.

The Fatal Breach: How Sin Revokes Divine Support

Pastor E.A. Adeboye delivers a sobering and urgent message: God’s promised support is not an unconditional guarantee but a holy alliance. Through stark biblical examples, he demonstrates that sin—whether corporate, secret, or presumptuous—systematically severs the lifeline of divine backing, leaving the believer exposed and defeated.

1. The Conditional Nature of Divine Support

The Joshua Principle: Promise and Penalty:
Joshua 1:1-5 contains God’s ironclad promise of victory and presence. Yet, in Joshua 7, God Himself declares that this support has been withdrawn due to “the accursed thing” (Achan’s sin). This establishes a core biblical principle: God’s promises are fulfilled through our partnership in holiness. Sin suspends the operational power of the promise.

The Purity of God’s Eyes (Habakkuk 1:13):
God’s nature is fundamentally incompatible with iniquity. “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil.” His supporting presence is not passive approval; it is active partnership. When we embrace what His eyes cannot behold, He must, by His very nature, withdraw. We become, in effect, “an enemy of God” (James 4:4) in that area of disobedience.

2. Case Studies in the Withdrawal of Support

Moses: The Tragedy of Disobedience (Exodus 33:14, Deuteronomy 34:4-5):
God promised His presence and rest. Yet, at Meribah, Moses disobeyed God’s specific instruction and acted in pride (Numbers 20:10-12). The consequence was the withdrawal of support for his personal destiny—he saw the Promised Land but died before entering. The mission succeeded (Israel entered), but the disobedient leader did not.

Saul: The Loss of Destiny Through Pride (1 Samuel 13:13, 15:1-30):
Saul was given a kingdom “forever.” His presumptuous sacrifice (impatience) and spared spoils (direct disobedience) were acts of pride that rejected God’s word. God’s response: “The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day” (1 Samuel 15:28). His support shifted to David, a man after God’s own heart.

Samson: The Deception of Presumption (Judges 16:20):
Samson presumed upon his gift, thinking his strength was his own. He toyed with sin until “he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.” This is the most dangerous state: to continue in ministry or life unaware that the empowering support of God has already left due to secret sin. The result was capture, blindness, and bondage.

3. The Mechanics and Danger of “Secret Sin”

The Deceptive “Grace Period”:
Achan sinned at Jericho, yet Israel still won that battle. There was a lapse between the sin and its consequence. This breeds the false belief that “things are still going on as usual.” This period is not God’s approval but His mercy, allowing time for conviction and repentance. “God is surely taking records.”

The Corporate Liability of Individual Sin:
Achan sinned alone, but the entire nation was defeated at Ai. In the Body of Christ, hidden sin in one member can bring weakness, defeat, and a lack of power upon the whole community. It creates a breach in the collective wall of defense.

4. The Urgent Call to Self-Audit and Repentance

The Penetrating Question:
“Are you engaging in anything that will take God’s support away from you?” This requires ruthless honesty before God regarding hidden thoughts, relationships, financial dealings, and indulged habits.

The Immediate Action:
“Desist from them immediately… Repent today before He decides to turn His back on you.” The call is not to mere remorse, but to radical, immediate abandonment of the sin. Delay is extremely perilous.

How to Guard Against the Withdrawal of Support

1. Maintain Daily Covenant Checks:
Implement a daily prayer of Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me… see if there be any wicked way in me.” Invite the Holy Spirit to expose any Achan-like hidden things.

2. Prize God’s Presence Above All:
Like Moses in Exodus 33:15, pray, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” Make His supporting presence the non-negotiable priority of your life and ministry.

3. Fear the “Samson Syndrome”:
Never presume upon past anointing or spiritual gifts. They are contingent on present holiness. Regularly ask, “Lord, have I begun to operate in my own strength? Am I still utterly dependent on You?”

4. Embrace Accountable Fellowship:
Live transparently with mature spiritual brethren who have permission to ask you hard questions. Sin flourishes in secrecy but withers in the light of loving accountability (James 5:16).

Warning: The Unaware Departure

The story of Samson is the ultimate warning. It is possible to continue the motions of ministry, to still “shake oneself” in familiar activity, while being utterly powerless because God’s support has departed. The enemies (the world, the flesh, the devil) will sense this power vacuum long before you do, leading to spiritual capture.

Conclusion: Securing the Lifeline of His Presence

Pray this:
“Almighty God, my Fortress and Support, I tremble at the thought of operating without Your presence. Search my heart and reveal every accursed thing, every Achan’s wedge, every presumptuous sin. I repent and renounce them now. By the blood of Jesus, cleanse me and restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Uphold me with Your generous Spirit, and never withdraw Your support from my life, in Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

• Conduct a ‘Camp Inspection’: This week, fast and ask God to specifically reveal any hidden sin in your “camp” (personal life, family, ministry). Write down what He shows you, repent, and make restitution if needed.
• Memorize Key Warnings: Commit Joshua 7:11 and Judges 16:20 to memory. Let them serve as permanent guardrails in your spirit.
• Study the Mercy of Restoration: While the warning is severe, also study God’s restoring grace with David after his sin (Psalm 51). Understand that genuine repentance always finds a merciful reception.

Remember: God’s promise is “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5) to the repentant, obedient believer. But to the stubborn and unrepentant, He says, “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2). Your holiness is the conduit for His support. Guard it with your life.
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). A clean heart is the only platform for sustained victory.

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