The Open Heavens 3 June 2026 devotional for today is A BRAND-NEW HEART III.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 3 JUNE 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: A BRAND-NEW HEART III
MEMORISE:
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18
READ: Matthew 13:5-6, Matthew 13:20-21
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 3 JUNE 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
The second kind of soil Jesus described in His parable about the sower is ‘Stony places’. This soil type can be compared to people who receive the word of God with joy but turn their backs on it when they begin to encounter tough situations in their lives as a result of persecution.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…
John 15:20
In the Scripture above, Jesus said that His tollowers will be persecuted as He was also persecuted.
Furthermore, Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12 that every true follower of Christ will experience persecution in one form or another. Being persecuted is a painful experience, and believers are not immune to it. In fact, going through the fires of persecution helps Christians to grow in faith (1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-3).
Despite this, however, the devil manages to convince some believers that the pain they are experiencing as a result of persecution is proof that God is unfaithful and that He does not love them. The devil succeeds in doing this because such Christians have not grown in the knowledge of God through His word and are largely ignorant of His ways, character, and power.
Thus, their foundation in faith is very weak, and they are easily swayed by the devil.
It is good to hear the word of God and even be excited by it. Beyond that, however, every believer has the responsibility to build themselves up spiritually (1 Corinthians 3:9-10), and one of the ways to do this is by increasing their knowledge of God through His word.
There is a popular saying that ignorance is bliss, but this is not true for a believer. Being in a state of ignorance about the word of God and making no efforts to build yourself up spiritually is very dangerous because it can lead to destruction (Hosea 4:6).
Beloved, do not allow yourself to fall victim to the wiles of the devil and be destroyed by him. Don’t just listen to the word of God from various ministers and get excited by it, or be a believer who only opens the Bible on Sundays. Rather, be like the Bereans who took responsibility for knowing God by themselves (Acts 17:10-11).
I pray that as you sow the seeds of the word of God daily into your heart, you will reap bountiful fruits of His goodness and mercy, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT
Growing in the knowledge of God through his word is important for every believer.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Job 31-34
Open Heavens HYMN 32: TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 3 JUNE 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: 2 Peter 3:18
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
This verse is not a suggestion but a command. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this imperative because the stony heart problem is fundamentally a growth problem. A believer who does not grow in the knowledge of Christ remains spiritually shallow. Growth requires roots. Roots require time, depth, and resistance to surface-level excitement. Without growth, the same sun that strengthens the deep-rooted tree withers the shallow-rooted plant.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 13:5-6, Matthew 13:20-21
Matthew 13:5-6 – “Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.”
Matthew 13:20-21 – “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
This second soil type is deceptively promising. Unlike the wayside where the seed never enters, the stony ground receives the word with joy. There is excitement, emotion, and apparent conversion. But beneath the surface lies a hidden layer of rock—unbroken pride, un-surrendered will, or unaddressed sin—that prevents the roots from going deep. When the sun of affliction rises, the plant withers because it has no root.
The Stony Ground Believer: Shallow Joy, Sudden Collapse
1. The Deceptive Profile of Stony Ground Christians
Daddy Adeboye draws a stark contrast between appearance and reality. Stony ground believers look successful initially but fail catastrophically under pressure.
| Appearance (Initial) | Reality (Under Pressure) |
|---|---|
| Receives word with joy | No root in themselves |
| Emotional, enthusiastic response | Ditches faith when persecution comes |
| Quick to testify and celebrate | Quick to be offended and abandon |
| Attends crusades and conferences | Missing when the cost rises |
| Speaks in spiritual clichés | Cannot articulate why they believe |
“They receive the word of God with joy but turn their backs on it when they begin to encounter tough situations… as a result of persecution.” – Pastor E.A. Adeboye (Daddy Adeboye)
The key phrase is “with joy.” This is not a miserable, reluctant hearer. This is someone who sings loudly, shouts “Amen,” weeps at the altar, and tells everyone about their new faith. But when the sun comes up—when friends mock them, family rejects them, or job opportunities vanish because of their faith—they disappear just as quickly as they appeared.
2. The Two Inevitable Realities Jesus and Paul Declared
Daddy Adeboye grounds his warning in unchangeable Scripture:
- John 15:20 – “The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” Persecution is not a possibility; for the true follower of Christ, it is a certainty in some form.
- 2 Timothy 3:12 – “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Not some. Not the especially bold. All who choose to live godly lives.
The stony ground believer has never been told this—or has heard it and refused to accept it. They signed up for blessings, breakthroughs, and joy. They did not sign up for mockery, marginalization, or suffering. When persecution comes, they feel betrayed by God.
3. The Devil’s Great Deception During Persecution
Daddy Adeboye exposes a cunning satanic strategy:
“The devil manages to convince some believers that the pain they are experiencing as a result of persecution is proof that God is unfaithful and that He does not love them.”
This lie works only on stony ground hearts because:
- They lack knowledge of God’s ways – They do not know that suffering produces character (Romans 5:3-5).
- They are ignorant of God’s character – They do not know that God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6).
- They are unaware of God’s power – They do not know that the same God who allowed persecution also supplies sustaining grace (2 Corinthians 12:9).
The devil does not need to make stony ground believers commit gross sin. He simply needs to convince them that God has abandoned them. Once they believe that, they walk away on their own.
Why Excitement Without Roots Is Fatal
1. The Sun Is Not the Enemy
Daddy Adeboye makes a profound observation: the same sun that scorched the stony ground plant is the same sun that helps the deep-rooted plant grow and bear fruit. The issue is not the intensity of persecution; the issue is the depth of the root.
| Shallow Root (Stony Ground) | Deep Root (Good Ground) |
|---|---|
| Persecution causes offense | Persecution produces perseverance |
| Abandons faith under pressure | Strengthens faith under pressure (James 1:2-4) |
| Sees suffering as God’s unfaithfulness | Sees suffering as God’s refining fire (1 Peter 1:6-7) |
| Blames God for the storm | Trusts God in the storm |
2. The Responsibility to Build Yourself Up
Daddy Adeboye cites 1 Corinthians 3:9-10 – “We are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building… Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”
The stony ground believer waits for others (pastors, conferences, podcasts) to feed them. But Daddy Adeboye insists: “Every believer has the responsibility to build themselves up spiritually.”This means:
- Personal Bible study (not just listening to sermons)
- Personal prayer (not just group prayer meetings)
- Personal meditation (not just devotional reading)
A believer who only opens their Bible on Sunday is like a plant that only gets water once a week in a desert. It will not survive the sun.
3. Ignorance Is Not Bliss—It Is Destruction
Daddy Adeboye directly refutes the popular saying:
“There is a popular saying that ignorance is bliss, but this is not true for a believer. Being in a state of ignorance about the word of God… is very dangerous because it can lead to destruction (Hosea 4:6).”
Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Not the world. Not the unbelievers. God’s own people are destroyed because they refuse to know Him. The stony ground believer is not destroyed by persecution; they are destroyed by their own ignorance. Persecution merely reveals what was already missing: roots.
The Berean Alternative (Acts 17:10-11)
Daddy Adeboye points to the Bereans as the opposite of stony ground believers:
| Stony Ground Believer | Berean Believer |
|---|---|
| Receives word with joy only | Receives word with readiness |
| Does not check Scripture | Searched the Scriptures daily |
| Falls away under persecution | Confirmed whether teachings were true |
| Depends entirely on preachers | Took personal responsibility for truth |
The Bereans listened to Paul—one of the greatest apostles—but they still verified everything against Scripture. If they did not take Paul’s word without checking, no believer today should take any preacher’s word without personal Bible study.
How to Develop Deep Roots (Escape the Stony Ground)
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to transform stony ground into deep, fruitful soil:
- Embrace Persecution as Normal: Stop being surprised when suffering comes. Remind yourself daily: “The servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Jesus, they will persecute me.”
- Study to Show Yourself Approved (2 Timothy 2:15): Daddy Adeboye emphasizes that personal Bible study is non-negotiable. Set a daily time, even 15 minutes, to read Scripture for yourself, not just through devotionals.
- Memorize Key Perseverance Verses: Arm yourself against the devil’s lie that persecution means God has abandoned you. Memorize Romans 8:35-39, James 1:2-4, and 1 Peter 1:6-7.
- Build Spiritual Roots Before the Storm: You cannot grow roots in the middle of a drought. Build your prayer life, fasting, and study habits now, while the sun is mild, so that when the scorching heat comes, you will not wither.
- Join a Discipleship Group: Stony ground believers isolate themselves. Deep-rooted believers grow in community where they can ask hard questions, confess doubts, and receive encouragement (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Warning: The Danger of Being “All Joy, No Root”
Daddy Adeboye sounds an urgent alarm: excitement is not evidence of conversion. Many people who weep at crusades, raise hands in worship, and speak in Christian slang will fall away when the cost of following Christ becomes real. The question is not how joyful were you when you received the word? but how rooted are you now that the sun is up?
If you cannot name the last time you opened your Bible outside of a church service or this devotional, you may be stony ground. If the thought of losing friends, family approval, or career advancement because of your faith terrifies you more than losing God’s presence, you may be stony ground.
Conclusion: Your Prayer for Deep Roots
Daddy Adeboye prays that as you sow the word daily, you will reap bountiful fruits. But sowing daily is the key. A shallow Christian sows on Sunday. A rooted Christian sows every day.
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, I do not want to be stony ground. Forgive me for the times I have received Your word with excitement but refused to pay the price of deep roots. I repent of depending on pastors and conferences while neglecting my own Bible study. Help me to grow in the knowledge of You, not just in emotional experiences. When persecution comes—because it will come—let me not be offended or abandoned. Let me stand. Let me be like a tree planted by the rivers of water (Psalm 1:3), whose leaf does not wither. Root me deep in Your word, in Jesus’ name.”
Action Steps:
- The Root Audit: Look back at the last three times you faced difficulty, criticism, or potential loss because of your faith. How did you respond? Did you draw closer to God or drift away? Your answer reveals your root depth.
- 20 Minutes Daily Bible Study Commitment: For the next 30 days, commit to 20 minutes of personal Bible study before you read any other book, watch any video, or check your phone. Use a notebook. Write one observation and one application.
- Memorize 2 Peter 3:18: Write it on an index card. Say it every morning: “I must grow in grace and in the knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ.” Make growth your daily goal, not just excitement.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)
Do not settle for shallow joy that withers in the sun. Grow deep roots that withstand any storm.
Read RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for Tomorrow
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