The Open Heaven 23 November 2025 devotional for today is USING THE POWER OF GOD.
This daily devotion is written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 23 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: USING THE POWER OF GOD
MEMORISE:
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
2 Corinthians 13:10
READ: Luke 9:52-56:
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 23 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Some people who have received a measure of God’s power use it wrongly. For example, simply because people fall under the anointing during their ministrations, some ministers of God want to touch people just to show that they are anointed.
Some even perform different acrobatics during deliverance sessions. Some of them give demon-possessed people microphones so that people can hear what the demons are saying. All of these are unnecessary and wrong.
Ministers of God should simply cast demons out of people to set them free; they shouldn’t embarrass the people they are trying to deliver because they want to show that they are anointed.
The power of God isn’t a tool for punishment but for bringing joy to the hearts of people.
When God gives you a measure of His power, it is for you to give life to dead things and bring glory to Him, not for you to show off or seek personal gain or vengeance. It is possible to destroy and kill with the power God has given to you; however, that is not what it is meant for.
This is why most mature believers are usually slow to speak and try not to get angry no matter what people do to them. They don’t want to ever use the power of God for evil.
When God gives you a measure of His power, you are not to go around destroying people you consider to be enemies. Ephesians 6:12 says:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
A vessel in satan’s hands today can become a great vessel in God’s hands tomorrow. If God could use Mary Magdalene, who had seven demons in her, He can use anyone who is considered evil.
If Stephen had called death upon Saul as he was being executed under Saul’s supervision, there would never have been an Apostle Paul. Paul said in today’s memory verse that the power of God is for edification, not destruction.
In today’s Bible reading, James and John wanted to call down fire on the Samaritans because they didn’t receive Jesus. However, Jesus told them that He came to save, not to destroy lives.
Beloved, God’s will is for everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4); He doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). If He has given you a measure of His power, only use it to fulfil His will, not to destroy.
KEY POINT
God’s power is for saving people and blessing them, not for showing off or destroying lives.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Romans 1-3
HYMN 34: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 23 NOVEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: 2 Corinthians 13:10 (KJV)
“Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.”
The Apostle Paul clearly defines the divine purpose for apostolic (and by extension, all spiritual) authority: it is given for edification—to build up, strengthen, and restore—and explicitly not for destruction. Any use of God’s power that tears down, humiliates, or destroys people is a misuse of that sacred trust.
BIBLE READING: Luke 9:52-56
This passage is a definitive lesson from Jesus on the misuse of spiritual power:
- v. 52-53: The Samaritans reject Jesus because His destination was Jerusalem, revealing a cultural and religious prejudice.
- v. 54: James and John, the “Sons of Thunder,” react in fleshly zeal: “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?” They saw a slight against Jesus as a justification for lethal judgment.
- v. 55-56: Jesus “turned, and rebuked them,” saying, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” He redirects their focus from vengeance to the core mission of salvation.
Sacred Power, Sacred Purpose: Using God’s Anointing for Edification
Pastor E.A. Adeboye delivers a critical and corrective message to the body of Christ, addressing the alarming trend of using spiritual gifts and authority for self-promotion, theatrical display, and personal vengeance. He establishes that the nature of God’s power is redemptive, and its use must always align with the character and mission of Christ.
1. The Misuse of Power: Theatrics and Self-Promotion
Power as Performance:
Daddy Adeboye calls out specific abuses: ministers who focus on making people “fall under the anointing” to prove their anointing, or who engage in “acrobatics” and public displays during deliverance. This turns a sacred ministry into a circus, shifting the focus from the recipient’s freedom to the minister’s demonstration of power.
The Embarrassment of the Bound:
A particularly grievous misuse is giving a microphone to a demon-possessed person. This publicly humiliates the individual who is in bondage and gives a platform to the enemy, all for the sake of sensationalism. True deliverance ministers with compassion and a focus on the person’s dignity and restoration.
2. The Mature Mindset: Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger
The Self-Restraint of the Powerful:
Mature believers understand the weight of the power they carry. Therefore, they are “slow to speak and try not to get angry no matter what.” This is not weakness; it is disciplined strength. It is the conscious choice to never allow their flesh to hijack God’s power for a destructive purpose.
The Correct Target: Spiritual Forces, Not People:
Ephesians 6:12 is the guiding principle. Our battle is not against flesh and blood. The person opposing you is not the enemy; they are a captive of the enemy. To use God’s power against them is to fight the wrong battle and destroy a potential vessel for God’s use.
3. The Redemptive Perspective: Seeing Future Possibilities
The Potential in Every “Enemy”:
Daddy Adeboye provides two powerful examples:
- Mary Magdalene: Delivered from seven demons, she became a devoted follower and the first witness of the resurrection.
- Saul of Tarsus: A persecutor of the church who, if Stephen had cursed him, would never have become the Apostle Paul.
This perspective breeds mercy and patience. We must never use power in a way that could destroy a person’s future in God.
How to Wield Spiritual Power Righteously
1. Let Edification Be Your Filter:
Before any spiritual action, ask: “Is this going to build this person up? Will it restore, heal, and bring them closer to Christ?” If the answer is no, refrain.
2. Embrace the Mission of Jesus:
Constantly return to Christ’s statement in Luke 9:56: “The Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Let this be the mission statement for your use of any spiritual gift, office, or authority.
3. Protect the Dignity of Those You Serve:
Whether in prayer, deliverance, or correction, always seek to minimize embarrassment and protect the individual’s dignity. The goal is their freedom and edification, not a public demonstration of your own spiritual prowess.
Warning: The Corruption of Power
Spiritual power, when divorced from the fruit of the Spirit (especially love, kindness, and self-control), becomes a destructive force. It can lead to a ministry that wounds the very people it is meant to heal and brings reproach to the name of Christ. Using God’s power for personal gain or vengeance is a serious sin that invites divine judgment.
Conclusion: A Prayer for Righteous Stewardship
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, You who wielded all power in heaven and on earth with perfect humility and redemptive love, teach me to do the same. Forgive me for any time I have used Your gifts for self-promotion or with a wrong spirit. Fill me with Your compassion. Help me to see people not as enemies or subjects for a display, but as precious souls You died to save. May I only ever use the power You have given me to build up and never to tear down, for Your glory alone, in Jesus’ name.”
Action Steps:
- Examine Your Motives: The next time you pray for someone or operate in a spiritual gift, honestly assess your heart. Is it for their good and God’s glory, or for your own validation?
- Study Christ’s Model: Read through the Gospels, noting how Jesus used His power—always to heal, restore, and save, even when provoked.
- Commit to Dignity: Make a personal covenant to never humiliate or embarrass someone during ministry, regardless of the manifestation or situation.
Remember: The ultimate test of your spirituality is not the power you display, but the Christlike character you demonstrate in wielding it. True power serves; it never seeks to dominate.
“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11). This is the standard in the kingdom of God.
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