The Open Heaven 22 September 2025 devotional for today is HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED JESUS?
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 22 SEPTEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED JESUS?
MEMORISE:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
READ: Acts 9:1-6
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 22 SEPTEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
One can easily assume that everyone who attends church regularly or functions in a department within a church has encountered Jesus. However, in my experience, I have realised that many people are working hard in the Lord’s vineyard but haven’t had an encounter with Him. They know a lot about Him, but they don’t know Him.
Paul thought he knew God until the day he had an encounter with Jesus Christ. When you truly meet Jesus, you will become a completely new person. Before Paul met Jesus, he persecuted believers. However, when he met Him, his story changed.
In 1 Timothy 1:13-16, he spoke about his horrible past as a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an injurious person, and how he obtained mercy from God. In Christ, he became a Chief Apostle (2 Corinthians 11:5) and fulfilled his destiny (2 Timothy 4:6- 7).
Peter was just another fisherman from Galilee before he met Jesus. However, when he met Jesus, he was given a glorious destiny (Luke 5:10). Even when he failed and denied Jesus, his future was still secure because of his encounter with Jesus. When a man meets Jesus, his failures and weaknesses become part of his success story because God works all things together for his good (Romans 8:28).
Isaiah thought he knew God until he had an encounter in Isaiah 6 that changed his life.
When he saw the Lord in His glory, he fell on his face and cried, “… Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). After meeting the Lord, Isaiah was willing to go wherever the Lord sent Him. When you truly meet Jesus, all your excuses will be burnt away like chaff.
Beloved, if you genuinely want to meet Jesus, make it mandatory for yourself to study God’s word every day. Revelation 19:13 says that He is the Word of God. When you study the word of God, you are fellowshipping with Jesus Christ. The more of God’s word you study, the closer you will get to Him. It will be difficult at first because the devil will try to stop you, but as you keep at it, you will discover that you are being transformed because you are getting to know the Son of God for yourself.
PRAYER POINT
Lord Jesus, please reveal yourself to me in Your word. I want to know You more and follow You for the rest of my life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Micah 1-4
HYMN 2: AMAZING GRACE
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 22 SEPTEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: John 1:1 (KJV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
This profound verse establishes the eternal, divine nature of Jesus Christ. He is not a created being; He is God Himself. He is identified as “the Word” (Greek: Logos)—the ultimate expression, communication, and revelation of the Father’s heart, mind, and character to humanity.
BIBLE READING: Acts 9:1-6 (KJV)
This passage details the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. It is the quintessential example of a life radically transformed by a personal encounter with the risen Christ. Saul, a fervent persecutor of the church, was confronted by a blinding light and the audible voice of Jesus. This encounter instantly shattered his religious assumptions and set him on a new path to become Paul the Apostle.
The Crisis of the Unencountered Christian
Daddy Adeboye begins with a sobering and critical observation: many people are active in church activities but have never had a genuine, life-altering encounter with Jesus Christ. They know about Him through sermons, songs, and sermons, but they do not know Him personally. This is the difference between religion and relationship, between head knowledge and heart transformation.
The Transformative Power of a True Encounter
The devotional uses three powerful biblical examples to illustrate what a true encounter produces:
- Paul (Acts 9): His encounter led to a complete identity shift—from persecutor to apostle. It brought a deep awareness of sin and a profound experience of mercy (1 Timothy 1:13-16). His past became a testimony of grace rather than a source of shame.
- Peter (Luke 5:1-11): His encounter redefined his purpose—from fisherman to “fisher of men.” Even his subsequent failure (denying Christ) could not cancel his destiny because it was secured by the encounter. His weakness was woven into his success story (Romans 8:28).
- Isaiah (Isaiah 6): His encounter in the temple was one of overwhelming holiness. It didn’t make him proud; it shattered him, revealing his own sinfulness and unworthiness (“Woe is me! I am undone!”). This brokenness was the prerequisite for his commissioning (“Here am I; send me”).
The Common Thread: Heart Transformation
In each case, the encounter resulted in:
- Awareness of Sin: A deep, personal conviction of one’s own state before a holy God.
- Surrender of Will: A abandonment of personal plans and excuses, replaced by a willingness to go wherever God sends.
- A New Identity and Purpose: A fundamental reordering of life’s priorities around God’s calling.
The Pathway to Encounter: Fellowship with the Word
The devotional provides the clear, practical pathway to encountering Jesus: consistent, mandatory study of God’s Word. The logic is impeccable based on John 1:1 and Revelation 19:13:
- Jesus is the Word.
- Therefore, to engage with the Word is to engage with Jesus.
- Studying the Bible is not a religious duty; it is “fellowshipping with Jesus Christ.”
This is how intellectual knowledge about God becomes a heart knowledge of God. As we immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit makes the written word a living word, and we hear the voice of the Author speaking directly to our hearts.
The Battle and The Reward
The message is honest about the process: “It will be difficult at first because the devil will try to stop you.” The enemy fears nothing more than a believer who is moving from casual acquaintance to intimate encounter with Christ. However, the reward is promised: “as you keep at it, you will discover that you are being transformed.” Encounter leads to transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I confess that I want more than just knowledge about You; I crave a genuine, life-changing encounter with You, the Living Word. Reveal Yourself to me. Shatter my religious complacency and reveal Your holiness that I might see my own sin. Forgive me for my excuses and my neglect of Your Word. Holy Spirit, give me a hunger and a discipline to study the Bible daily. As I read, speak to me. Transform me from the inside out. Let my life be a testament to the power of truly knowing You. Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Honest Evaluation: Ask yourself honestly: “Have I truly encountered Jesus, or am I just functioning on religious activity and second-hand knowledge?”
- Commit to Daily Appointment: Schedule a non-negotiable time each day to read and meditate on the Bible. Start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) to see Jesus most clearly.
- Pray Before Reading: Before you open the Word, pray Psalm 119:18: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Ask the Holy Spirit to speak.
- Journal: Write down what you feel God is saying to you through His Word. This helps to solidify the encounter.
- Obey Promptings: As God reveals areas of your life that need to change through His Word, obey immediately. Obedience deepens intimacy.
Remember: Your Christianity is only as powerful as your personal encounter with Christ. Church activity without a heart encounter leads to burnout and emptiness. But one moment in the presence of Jesus can rewrite your entire story. Don’t be content with knowing about Him. Press in through His Word until you know Him, and in knowing Him, you are forever transformed.
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