The Open Heaven 29 April 2025 devotional for today is GUARD YOUR FREEDOM TO WORSHIP. The author of this daily devotion is Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 29 APRIL 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: GUARD YOUR FREEDOM TO WORSHIP
MEMORISE
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
Psalm 124:7
READ: Psalm 100:1-5
1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 29 APRIL 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
When people are not free to worship God the way they should, it means that their souls are in captivity. For example, when God sent Moses to Pharaoh to release the Israelites, He said, “Let my people go, so they can worship me” (Exodus 5:1).
I thank God for freedom of worship in some nations. To a large extent, in such countries, people can go to church anytime they want and worship God however they want to. In some other nations, however, the government dictates what the church should do and not do.
For example, they try to force pastors to join people of the same gender in marriage. One of the RCCG pastors in a particular country was arrested because he addressed some people as ‘Ladies and gentlemen’. They said it was an insult because not all of them were ladies or gentlemen. The aim of all this is to change the way Christians worship God and force them to worship Him the way unbelievers want them to.
Beloved, God’s standard remains sure. You must not adapt to ungodly practices, especially within the church, just because the people at the top say so. When you adapt, that’s slavery. Slavery, in its simplest terms, is anything that hinders you from living life abundantly and serving God wholeheartedly.
Whenever you see such things around you, guard your heart and your territory. Many Christians are already adhering to the ways of the world because of ungodly policies, and you must pray that those chains of bondage be broken speedily. When the chain of bondage was broken in Egypt, the principal thing that Pharaoh said was, “Go and worship God the way you want.”
Often, policies that endanger people’s souls don’t appear to be evil at first. This is why we must be sober and vigilant as believers.
We must be sensitive and careful about the things we permit within and around us. Many believers keep saying, “It doesn’t matter” until their consciences become seared with the hot iron of immorality and darkness (1 Timothy 4:2). If it doesn’t conform to God’s will, it matters to God, and it should matter to you too.
Beloved, if you have been chained such that you can no longer serve God wholeheartedly, I pray that God will deliver you today. Your soul escapes like a bird from those shackles (Psalm 124:7), and may you enjoy the freedom to worship God in spirit and in truth, in Jesus’ name.
ACTION POINT:
Thank God if you are able to worship Him freely and pray for deliverance for those who do not enjoy the same freedom
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 Chronicles 3-4
HYMN 34: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 29 APRIL 2025 COMMENTARY
1. The Essence of True Worship
Today’s devotional begins by defining spiritual captivity as any force (governmental, cultural, or ideological) that restricts believers from worshipping God according to His Word. Just as Pharaoh held Israel in bondage (Exodus 5:1), modern-day “Pharaohs” seek to:
- Dictate worship practices (e.g., mandating unbiblical ceremonies like same-sex unions).
- Suppress biblical truth (e.g., punishing pastors for using terms like “Ladies and Gentlemen”).
- Normalize compromise by pressuring Christians to conform to worldly standards (Romans 12:2).
Lesson: Freedom to worship is not merely about physical gatherings but about obedience to God’s commands without compromise.
2. The Battle for Authentic Christianity
The Open Heaven devotional for todaa highlights two fronts of attack:
- External Persecution (e.g., governments criminalizing biblical speech).
- Internal Compromise (e.g., believers excusing sin as “irrelevant” or “progressive”).
Biblical Parallel:
- Daniel’s friends refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol (Daniel 3:16-18).
- Peter and John defied religious authorities to preach Christ (Acts 4:19-20).
Warning: A “seared conscience” (1 Timothy 4:2) develops when we repeatedly justify disobedience.
Application:
- Are there areas where societal pressure is silencing your witness?
- Do you dismiss unbiblical trends as “no big deal”?
3. The Call to Vigilance and Resistance
Pastor Adeboye urges believers to:
- Guard their hearts (Proverbs 4:23) against subtle deceptions.
- Defend their “territory”—homes, churches, and spheres of influence—from ungodly influences.
- Pray for deliverance from spiritual bondage (Psalm 124:7).
Key Insight:
Bondage often begins subtly. Policies that seem “neutral” (e.g., redefining marriage, censoring sermons) are designed to reshape worship.
Example:
- The arrest of an RCCG pastor for saying “Ladies and Gentlemen” mirrors Acts 5:28 (“Do not teach in this name!”).
4. The Promise of Divine Liberation
The devotional closes with a prayer for deliverance, echoing Psalm 124:7. God breaks chains so His people can worship Him “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).
Encouragement:
- God’s standard is unchanging (Malachi 3:6).
- He fights for His people (Exodus 14:14).
- True freedom is found in obedience to Christ (John 8:36).
Action Steps for Believers
- Audit Your Worship: Are there areas where you’ve compromised to avoid conflict?
- Stand Firm: Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to bow to cultural idols (Daniel 3).
- Pray Boldly: Intercede for persecuted believers and nations where worship is restricted.
- Preach Truth: Speak grace and holiness (Titus 2:11-12).
Prayer:
“Father, shatter every chain hindering Your people from wholehearted worship. Give us courage to uphold Your truth, sensitivity to discern deception, and faith to trust Your deliverance. May our souls escape every snare, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Final Thought
The world’s standards shift, but God’s Word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). True worship requires freedom from sin’s bondage and fidelity to Christ’s Lordship. As the psalmist declared, “It was the Lord who broke the snare” (Psalm 124:7). Trust Him to break yours today.
Scripture for Meditation:
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32, NKJV)
May we never exchange divine freedom for cultural captivity!
Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow
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