The Open Heavens 21 July 2026 devotional for today is THE KEYS TO FREEDOM II.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 21 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: THE KEYS TO FREEDOM II
MEMORISE:
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
Deuteronomy 30:15
READ: Exodus 21:1-6
Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.
5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 21 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Yesterday, I mentioned that admitting there is a burden and recognising the need for God’s help to remove it is the first step that people who are under the yoke of satan must take to become free from his bondage. Today, I will discuss the next step that such people must take to gain their freedom.
While admitting the need for help is the first step to gaining freedom from satan’s bondage, the second step is to be willing to be helped. In John 5:2-2, Jesus asked a man who had been sick for 38 years, “Do you want to be made whole?” Ordinarily, one would think that there is no need to ask a man who had suffered for so long if he wanted to be made whole.
However, Jesus asked him the question because He knew that not everyone wants to be helped; some people love their burdens and do not want to be set free from them. Today’s Bible reading tells us that when slaves love their chains, their owners should pierce their ears and brand them as slaves for life.
No matter how long a slave has been in slavery, the day such a fellow decides that he or she wants to be free marks the beginning of his or her journey to freedom. For example, the day the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22 sought Jesus for her deliverance was the day her bondage of 12 years disappeared. The Almighty God can deliver anyone who is under the devil’s yoke, even a lawful captive (Isaiah 49:24-26); however, he or she must be willing to be delivered.
Beloved, any Christian who is still indulging in the pleasures of sin is under the devil’s bondage and is clearly not willing to be free. Anyone who claims to be a believer but keeps company with people who lure him or her to sin is under satan’s yoke and cannot be free until he or she decides to cut off such relationships. It is not enough for a person to just declare that he or she wants to be free; the person’s actions must show a willingness to be free.
Such a person must live a holy life and must be committed to praying, studying the Bible regularly, and fellowshipping with other believers. God will fight for such a person and give him or her total freedom.
REFLECTION
Are you submitting to the devil in any area of your life?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Isaiah 25-28
HYMN 26: All to Jesus I Surrender
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 21 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Deuteronomy 30:15
“See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.”
This verse presents the fundamental choice that every person must make.
BIBLE READING: Exodus 21:1-6
This passage describes the laws concerning Hebrew slaves. A Hebrew slave was to serve for six years and be freed in the seventh year. If the slave came alone, he would leave alone. If he came with a wife, she would leave with him. However, if his master gave him a wife who bore him children, the wife and children belonged to the master, and the slave would leave alone. But if the slave declared, “I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,” then his master was to bring him to the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl, and he would serve his master forever. Daddy Adeboye uses this to show that some people choose bondage. They love their chains. They prefer slavery over freedom. And God allows them to make that choice.
The Second Step to Freedom: Willingness to Be Helped
“While admitting the need for help is the first step to gaining freedom from satan’s bondage, the second step is to be willing to be helped.”
| Step One | Step Two |
|---|---|
| Admit you have a burden | Be willing to let it go |
| Recognize you need deliverance | Cooperate with the deliverer |
| Cry out for help | Accept the help when it comes |
Yesterday’s devotional focused on admission. Today’s focuses on willingness. Many people admit they have a problem but are not willing to do what it takes to be free.
The Man at Bethesda: “Do You Want to Be Made Whole?”
“In John 5:2-9, Jesus asked a man who had been sick for 38 years, ‘Do you want to be made whole?’ Ordinarily, one would think that there is no need to ask a man who had suffered for so long if he wanted to made whole.”
John 5:6 – “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?”
| The Man’s Condition | Jesus’ Question |
|---|---|
| Sick for 38 years | “Do you want to be made whole?” |
| Lying by the pool, waiting | Asking seems unnecessary—but it was essential |
| Everyone assumed he wanted healing | Jesus knew that not everyone wants to be free |
“However, Jesus asked him the question because He knew that not everyone wants to be helped; some people love their burdens and do not want to be set free from them.”
| Why Someone Might Not Want to Be Free | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Secondary gain | Their sickness or burden gets them attention, sympathy, or support |
| Fear of responsibility | Freedom requires accountability and effort |
| Familiarity with bondage | They have learned to live with the chains |
| Love of sin | They enjoy the pleasures of their bondage |
Jesus asked the question because He knew that healing cannot be forced. The man had to choose. He had to want it.
The Slave Who Loved His Chains (Exodus 21:1-6)
“Today’s Bible reading tells us that when slaves love their chains, their owners should pierce their ears and brand them as slaves for life.”
| The Law | The Choice |
|---|---|
| After six years, the slave could go free | Freedom was offered, not forced |
| But if the slave said, “I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free” | He chose to remain a slave |
| His ear was pierced with an awl at the doorpost | He became a slave forever |
“No matter how long a slave has been in slavery, the day such a fellow decides that he or she wants to be free marks the beginning of his or her journey to freedom.”
| The Slave Who Chooses Freedom | The Slave Who Chooses Bondage |
|---|---|
| Leaves the master’s house | Remains forever |
| Walks in liberty | Stays in chains |
| Begins a new life | Continues in the old |
The door is open. But the slave must choose to walk through it. God will not drag you out of Egypt. You must decide to leave.
The Woman with the Issue of Blood: Her Willingness Brought Healing
“For example, the day the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22 sought Jesus for her deliverance was the day her bondage of 12 years disappeared.”
| Her Condition | Her Action |
|---|---|
| Issue of blood for 12 years | She sought Jesus |
| Had spent all her money on physicians | She pressed through the crowd |
| No one could heal her | She touched the hem of His garment |
“She sought Jesus.” That is willingness in action. She did not wait for healing to come to her. She went after it. She pressed through obstacles. She risked being rejected. Her willingness was demonstrated by her pursuit.
| The Result | The Lesson |
|---|---|
| Immediately her issue stopped | Willingness + action = deliverance |
| Jesus said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” | Faith is the expression of willingness |
The Lawful Captive: God Can Deliver Anyone Who Is Willing
“The Almighty God can deliver anyone who is under the devil’s yoke, even a lawful captive (Isaiah 49:24-26); however, he or she must be willing to be delivered.”
Isaiah 49:24-25 – “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered.”
| God’s Power | The Condition |
|---|---|
| He can take prey from the mighty | The captive must be willing |
| He can deliver even lawful captives | The captive must want freedom |
| Nothing is too hard for Him | But He will not override your will |
Even if the devil has a legal claim—even if you sold yourself into bondage through sin—God can still deliver you. But you must be willing to leave your chains behind.
Signs That You Are Not Willing to Be Free
Daddy Adeboye gives clear indicators of unwillingness:
1. Indulging in the Pleasures of Sin
“Beloved, any Christian who is still indulging in the pleasures of sin is under the devil’s bondage and is clearly not willing to be free.”
| Indulgence in Sin | What It Reveals |
|---|---|
| Willfully continuing in known sin | You love your chains more than freedom |
| Making excuses for sin | You are not serious about deliverance |
| Defending sinful behavior | You have chosen bondage |
Hebrews 10:26 – “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
2. Keeping Company with Those Who Lure You to Sin
“Anyone who claims to be a believer but keeps company with people who lure him or her to sin is under satan’s yoke and cannot be free until he or she decides to cut off such relationships.”
| Keeping Bad Company | The Result |
|---|---|
| Friends who lure you to sin | You remain under satan’s yoke |
| Relationships that pull you away from God | You cannot be free while holding onto them |
| Companionship with ungodliness | Your chains are strengthened, not broken |
1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
If you are not willing to cut off the relationships that lead you into sin, you are not willing to be free. You cannot hold onto the chains and walk in liberty.
What Willingness Looks Like in Action
“It is not enough for a person to just declare that he or she wants to be free; the person’s actions must show a willingness to be free.”
| Declaration Alone | Declaration with Action |
|---|---|
| “I want to be free” | Cutting off sinful relationships |
| “I hate this addiction” | Destroying the means of the addiction |
| “Lord deliver me” | Living a holy life, praying, studying Scripture |
“Such a person must live a holy life and must be committed to praying, studying the Bible regularly, and fellowshipping with other believers. God will fight for such a person and give him or her total freedom.”
| Evidence of Willingness | What It Produces |
|---|---|
| Living a holy life | God fights for you |
| Committed to prayer | Heaven is activated on your behalf |
| Studying the Bible regularly | Your mind is renewed, and lies are exposed |
| Fellowshipping with believers | You are strengthened and accountable |
How to Move from Admission to Willingness (Practical Steps)
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to demonstrate that you truly want to be free:
1. Answer Jesus’ Question Honestly
He is asking you today: “Do you want to be made whole?” Not “Do you want to complain about your burden?” Not “Do you want sympathy for your condition?” Do you truly want to be made whole? Answer honestly.
2. Cut Off What Is Keeping You Bound
Identify the specific chains you have been unwilling to release:
- A sinful relationship
- A secret habit
- An addiction you have protected
- A friendship that leads you into sin
Cut it off. Not tomorrow. Today.
3. Replace Bondage with Freedom Practices
Do not just remove the bad; add the good. Commit to:
- Daily prayer (not occasional)
- Daily Bible reading (not when convenient)
- Regular fellowship with believers (not isolation)
4. Stop Making Excuses
| Excuse | The Truth |
|---|---|
| “I can’t help myself” | You can’t, but God can—if you are willing |
| “I’ve tried before” | Try again with full willingness |
| “It’s too hard” | Freedom is worth the fight |
Warning: God Will Honor Your Choice
Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries a sobering warning: if you choose bondage, God will allow it. The slave who loved his master had his ear pierced and served forever. God did not force him out.
| If You Choose | God’s Response |
|---|---|
| Bondage, sin, chains | He allows you to stay |
| Freedom, holiness, deliverance | He fights for you and sets you free |
The choice is yours. Today, life and good are set before you—but so are death and evil. Choose life. Choose freedom. Choose to be willing.
Conclusion: Your Prayer for Willingness
Daddy Adeboye closes with the call to live a holy life, pray, study Scripture, and fellowship with believers. God will fight for you if you are willing.
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, I have admitted that I need deliverance. But today, I go further. I declare that I am willing to be free. I do not love my chains. I do not want to remain in bondage. I will not be like the slave who chose to stay. I answer Your question: Yes, Lord, I want to be made whole. I am willing to cut off every relationship that leads me into sin. I am willing to live a holy life. I am willing to pray, to study Your word, and to fellowship with believers. I am willing to do whatever it takes to be free. Now, Lord, fight for me. Break every yoke. Remove every chain. I receive my total freedom. In Jesus’ mighty name.”
Action Steps:
- The Willingness Audit: Ask yourself honestly: Is there any area where I am not willing to be free? Any sin I am protecting? Any relationship I refuse to cut off? Any excuse I am hiding behind?Write it down. Then choose to be willing.
- The Ear-Piercing Test: Imagine you are the slave at the doorpost. Freedom is offered. Will you walk out or stay? If you would choose to stay, ask God to change your heart until you are willing to leave.
- The Action Plan: Write down three specific actions you will take this week to demonstrate your willingness: (1) Cut off a specific sinful relationship or habit, (2) Commit to daily prayer and Bible reading, (3) Join or strengthen fellowship with believers.
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