The Open Heaven 1 September 2025 devotional for today is ALLOW NO BARRIERS TO THE GOSPEL.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 1 SEPTEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: ALLOW NO BARRIERS TO THE GOSPEL
MEMORISE:
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isaiah 61:1
READ: 1 Corinthians 9:16-17:
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 1 SEPTEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
People keep asking why The Redeemed Christian Church of God is so successful all over the world. As a matter of fact, we are in some nations where Christianity is not allowed.
In some of these nations, we baptise people secretly, and whenever we want to talk about the blood of Jesus, we say BOJ. We have had considerable impact in some of these nations because we did not allow anything deter us from spreading the gospel. We hold Bible Study meetings in open fields and miracles happen. Sometimes, the political leaders in such places come quietly at night, acknowledging that our God is the Almighty.
There was once a lady evangelist and missionary who was working in a village in Africa. In that village, she got everybody to become born again. The people realised what God had done for them, and they were on fire for Him. The lady then decided to convert those in the neighbouring village too. She informed the people around her about her plans, but they were not in favour of it. “You can go to another village, ma’am, not there,” they advised. She asked, “Why not?” They replied, “Because there are lions on the way.
We have been hearing them roaring, and when they roar like that, it means they are hungry.
Please, don’t go near that village.” “But I must go,” she insisted.
So, a very elderly and feeble man said to her, “Okay, if you must go, I will go with you.” The evangelist looked at him and said, “If a lion attacks, even I can defend myself better than you can.” The man said, “You don’t understand; lions don’t attack when they are full. They only kill when they are hungry. So, the idea is this: I will walk ahead of you, the lions will kill and eat me, and then your way will be clear.” Those villagers were ready to lay down their lives for the gospel to reach the unreached.
Beloved, God will not be asking you for too much by telling you to preach to your boss, for instance. However, if you are afraid you might lose your job and refuse to do it, you will be hindering an unsaved soul from hearing the gospel and becoming saved. Do not let any barrier keep you from preaching the gospel;
God is counting on you to prevent many people from heading towards eternal damnation.
ACTION POINT
Always use every opportunity you have to tell people about Jesus.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Ezekiel 25-27
HYMN 23: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 1 SEPTEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Isaiah 61:1 (KJV)
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
This verse is the Messiah’s mandate, directly quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18 to define His earthly ministry. It establishes that the core calling of every believer anointed by the same Spirit is to preach the gospel—a message of good news, healing, freedom, and liberation to those trapped in spiritual, physical, and emotional bondage.
BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 9:16-17 (KJV)
“16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me.”
The Apostle Paul presents the gospel not as a voluntary hobby but as a divine compulsion—a sacred trust and stewardship (“dispensation”) given to him by God. To neglect this duty is to invite spiritual “woe,” meaning a deep, convicting grief from the Holy Spirit. Preaching is not optional for the true believer; it is an inescapable responsibility.
The Unstoppable Mandate of the Gospel
Pastor E.A. Adeboye uses this devotional to move beyond theory and present the practical, often costly, reality of the Great Commission. He contrasts the global success of RCCG not with marketing strategies, but with a raw, uncompromising obedience to this “necessity” laid upon us by God.
Biblical Foundation of Compelled Evangelism
The devotional’s core message is a living example of the Memorise and Reading verses. Isaiah 61:1 is the “what”—the message of freedom. 1 Corinthians 9:16-17 is the “why”—the compelling force behind delivering that message. Daddy Adeboye illustrates that when these two scriptures become the bedrock of a believer’s life, barriers become irrelevant. The examples given—using code words like “BOJ,” holding secret baptisms, and meeting in open fields—demonstrate a practical understanding of Paul’s “dispensation.” They were entrusted with the gospel and found innovative, courageous ways to be faithful to that trust, regardless of the political or social climate.
The Ultimate Sacrifice: A Modern-Day Parable
The story of the elderly man volunteering to be a sacrifice for the lion is a powerful typology. It serves multiple interpretive layers:
- Christological Symbolism: The man is a clear symbol of Christ, who laid down His life to clear the way for the Gospel to reach a dying world (John 12:24). He was “feeble” in the world’s eyes, much like Christ’s crucifixion was a sign of weakness to some, but it was the ultimate act of strength that defeated the “roaring lion” of Satan (1 Peter 5:8).
- The Cost of Discipleship: It reframes the cost of evangelism. The villagers weren’t just giving money or time; they were willing to give their lives. This echoes the attitude of the early church and martyrs throughout history who considered their lives worth nothing if only they could finish the race and complete the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:24).
- Community Mission: It highlights that evangelism is not a solo sport. The “elderly and feeble” man represents that every member of the body of Christ has a role to play in advancing the gospel, even those who may seem ill-equipped or weak by worldly standards (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Confronting Our Modern-Day “Lions”
Daddy Adeboye masterfully brings the application home. For most readers, the “lion” on the path is not a literal beast but the fear of man: the fear of losing a job, facing ridicule, damaging a reputation, or creating awkwardness with a boss or colleague. By contrasting the ultimate sacrifice of the villager with our common reluctance to even have a difficult conversation, he exposes the weakness of our faith and the gravity of our disobedience. To refuse to preach out of fear is to prioritize temporary, earthly security over the eternal destiny of a soul. It is to stand in the way of the gospel, hindering a soul from hearing the very message that could save them from hell.
The Urgency of the Hour
The concluding warning is stark and necessary: our silence has eternal consequences. When we allow barriers of fear to silence us, we become complicit in preventing people from hearing the gospel, thus leaving them on the path to “eternal damnation.” This is not meant to condemn but to ignite a holy urgency. God is not asking for our life, as He did of the elderly man; He is often simply asking for our obedience and courage in the face of much smaller fears.
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I have allowed the fear of man to silence my witness. Ignite in me the same compulsion that drove Paul and the early church. Holy Spirit, anoint me with power and give me divine strategies to preach good news to the meek, liberty to the captives, and to proclaim Your glory in my sphere of influence. Make me a fearless ambassador for Christ, in Jesus’ name.”
Action Steps:
- Identify Your ‘Lion’: Honestly identify one relationship or situation where fear has prevented you from sharing your faith. Pray specifically for boldness in that area.
- Pray for the Unreached: Commit to praying daily for nations where Christianity is persecuted, asking God to empower secret believers and give them creative ways to spread the gospel, just as RCCG does.
- Prepare Your Testimony: Write down a 3-minute version of your testimony. Be ready to share what Christ has done in your life when the Holy Spirit provides an opportunity (1 Peter 3:15).
- Step Out in Faith: This week, initiate a spiritual conversation with one person. It could be as simple as offering to pray for a need they have or sharing a verse that encouraged you.
Remember: The power of the gospel does not lie in our eloquence but in our obedience to proclaim it. God is not counting on your ability; He is counting on your availability. When you step out in faith, you are not alone; the same Spirit upon Jesus is upon you to preach good tidings.
Follow on:
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