The Open Heaven 15 September 2026 devotional for today is THE CONSUMING FIRE.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: THE CONSUMING FIRE
MEMORISE:
Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
Deuteronomy 9:3
READ: Numbers 11:1-3
And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.
3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
I have been privileged to see God at work on numerous occasions, and I honestly love Him deeply. Besides this, however, I must also tell you that I fear Him. I know that some theologians say that we are not supposed to fear God; rather, we are to reverence Him. However, one of the attributes of the Almighty God is that He is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29).
African elders say that even a mad dog recognises fire. This is why anyone in their right senses will not joke with God, because if a fellow toys with fire, he or she will most likely get burnt.
One of the amazing things about having the Consuming Fire as a Father is that His fire is like a wall that protects His children and destroys their enemies at the same time. Zechariah 2:5 says that God is a wall of fire round about His people and the glory in their midst. In Exodus 13:18-22, when God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. While that pillar of fire gave His children light, warmth, and direction, Exodus 14:24-25 says that the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the same pillar and troubled their host. The pillar of fire did not relent until it led the children of Israel safely to the other side of the Red Sea, while their enemies all lost their lives in the sea. In today’s memory verse, Moses told the Israelites to understand that the Lord had gone before them as a consuming fire to destroy their enemies. I pray for you today that in the name above all other names, the Consuming Fire will destroy every obstacle in your path, in Jesus’ name.
I must sound this note of warning that even though
God’s fire of destruction is not meant for His children, they can experience it if they allow sin in their lives. In today’s Bible reading, when the children of Israel, who should have been praising and thanking God in the wilderness, complained, the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of them. Beloved, avoid sin in any form, including murmuring or complaining. Instead, dedicate yourself to living a life of holiness (1 Peter 1:16) and, in all things, give thanks to God for this is His will concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
KEY POINT
Dear Father, please help me to live a life that is free from sin and full of thanksgiving, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Hosea 5-9
Open Heavens HYMN 48: PASS ME NOT, O GENTLE SAVIOUR
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 COMMENTARY
This deeply powerful message brings us face-to-face with a balanced, awe-inspiring truth about the nature of God.
While we often focus solely on God’s love and grace, Daddy Adeboye tenderly but firmly reminds us of another vital attribute: our God is a consuming fire.
This teaching is a spiritual wake-up call. It shows us that having the Consuming Fire as our Heavenly Father is the greatest security we could ever have, but it also requires us to walk with a healthy, holy fear of Him.
Understanding the Message: The Double-Edged Pillar of Fire
1. The Fire that Protects and Clears the Way
Daddy beautifully explains that when you are a true child of God, His fire acts as a double-edged sword. It is both a wall of protection around you and a force of destruction against your spiritual enemies.
- The Wilderness Reality: Think of the Israelites journeying through the dark, cold wilderness. God went before them as a pillar of fire. To His children, that fire brought light, warmth, and clear direction. But to their Egyptian pursuers, that very same pillar of fire brought confusion, trouble, and ultimate defeat.
- The Promise for You: As Deuteronomy 9:3 promises, God goes before you as a consuming fire to destroy and bring down every mountain of obstacle before your face. Pastor Adeboye prays that this same fire will clear every barrier on your path today.
2. The Danger of Toying with the Fire
However, Pastor sounds a loving but urgent note of warning: do not toy with the fire. Daddy shares a wise proverb from African elders: “even a mad dog recognises fire”. You cannot play with sin and expect not to get burnt.
- The Taberah Mistake: In Numbers 11:1-3, instead of praising God for His deliverance, the Israelites began to murmur and complain. This displeased the Lord, and His anger kindled. The consuming fire, which was meant only to destroy their enemies, actually broke out and consumed those at the edges of the camp. It was only when Moses cried out in prayer that the fire was quenched.
Relating This to Your Everyday Life
It is incredibly easy to fall into the “Taberah trap” in our modern lives. When bills pile up, career doors seem closed, or health challenges arise, our default human response is to grumble, complain, and gossip. But Daddy warns us that murmuring is not a harmless habit—it is a sin that can pull down our spiritual firewall and expose us to destruction.
To deepen our understanding of this, let us look at two scriptures not mentioned in the devotional:
- Philippians 2:14-15: “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault…” When we stop complaining, we shine as lights and stay safely under His wing.
- Hebrews 12:28-29: We are told to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, because “our God is a consuming fire”. Holy fear keeps us from taking His mercy for granted.
Life Example: Consider the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. King Nebuchadnezzar threw them into a literal fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. But because they refused to compromise their holiness, the physical fire had no power over them. In fact, the “Fourth Man in the fire”—the Consuming Fire Himself—was in their midst, keeping them perfectly safe while the flames destroyed the soldiers who threw them in.
In your life today, when you face “fiery trials” at work or in your family, do not compromise, and do not complain. Keep your heart pure. The very trials meant to consume you will only burn off your chains, leaving you to walk in freedom with Christ.
Action Steps
- Set a “No-Complaining” Guard: For the next 24 hours, consciously catch yourself before you complain. Replace every murmur about your situation with a statement of thanksgiving.
- Repent of Hidden Murmuring: Quietly ask the Holy Spirit to forgive you for times you have grumbled against God’s timing or provisions, and ask Him to cleanse your heart.
- Honour God with Holy Fear: Before making decisions this week, ask yourself: “Does this choice show that I reverence God, or am I playing with fire?”
7 Prayer Points for Divine Protection and Holiness
- Father, I thank You because You are my Consuming Fire, my ultimate shield, and my defender, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord, forgive me for every trace of murmuring, complaining, and ungratefulness that I have allowed in my life, in Jesus’ name.
- Father, let Your consuming fire go before me today to destroy every obstacle, setback, and demonic barrier on my path to progress, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord, be a wall of fire round about me and my household; let Your glory in our midst keep every weapon of the enemy far away from us, in Jesus’ name.
- Father, deliver me from the trap of compromise; grant me the grace to live a life of absolute holiness that pleases You daily, in Jesus’ name.
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