The Open Heavens 5 May 2026 devotional for today is SECRETS TO LONGEVITY II.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 5 MAY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: SECRETS TO LONGEVITY II
MEMORISE
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
READ: Ephesians 6:10-17
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 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.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 5 MAY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Yesterday, I started sharing some secrets to longevity and how believers can stay the course on the path that God has set before them. Today, I will share another secret to longevity: knowing when to fight.
When you are confronted by the devil, you shouldn’t run or hide; rather, you must stand and fight. The devil is not a gentle spirit; he tries to cheat his victims out of their rights, steal from them, kill them, and destroy them (John 10:10).
Therefore, every time he raises his ugly head, you must resist him immediately and put him in his place with the sword of the Spirit (the word of God).
Many people think that they can cohabit with the devil and enter into agreements with him. For instance, they might have a family tradition of making certain sacrifices to deities for protection, and they think that by keeping the traditions alive, the devil will leave them alone.
However, this never works because the devil is a great deceiver; he is a big liar, and he is the father of lies (John 8:44). He is not someone to make deals with, which is why today’s memory verse says that you should resist him so that he will flee from you. You should not partner with him or shake hands with him.
Today’s Bible reading says that believers wrestle against principalities, powers, the rulers of darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. It also says that believers must put on the whole armour of God, but you will notice that there is no piece of armour to protect our backs. This means that the moment a believer turns his or her back on the devil, he will attack the believer. Therefore, you should never turn your back to run away from him.
For instance, if you perceive that the devil is trying to attack your marriage, simply calling a family meeting will not suffice because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 that the weapons we have been given for warfare are not physical. Rather, you must send the devil packing out of your home by going against him with the sword of the Spirit (the word of God).
Likewise, if you observe that some strange things are happening in the ministry that God has placed in your hands or that the devil is trying to attack your job or business, get up and fight! Never turn your back on the devil; he does not play fair.
KEY POINT
Your response to the devil should never be to run and hide; rather, you must stand and fight.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 Chronicles 20-23
Open Heavens HYMN 12: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 5 MAY 2026 COMMENTARY
Here is the detailed commentary and interpretation for today’s devotional.
MEMORISE: James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
This verse presents a two-part strategy for spiritual victory. The first part—submitting to God—is the foundation. Without submission to God, resistance to the devil is futile. But with submission to God, resistance becomes effective. The promise is not that the devil might flee or could flee—he will flee. Your resistance backed by divine authority guarantees his retreat.
BIBLE READING: Ephesians 6:10-17
This passage is Paul’s famous description of the armor of God. He commands believers to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, not in their own strength. The enemy is not flesh and blood but principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places. The armor includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the word of God). Notably, there is no piece of armor to protect the back. This detail is significant: God’s design for spiritual warfare assumes you are facing the enemy, not running from him. When you turn your back, you are vulnerable.
When to Fight: Facing the Devil Without Fear
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye (Daddy Adeboye) continues his series on longevity and finishing well. Yesterday he taught about knowing when to hide. Today he gives the second secret: knowing when to fight. While hiding is appropriate when facing pressure to speak prematurely or conflicts with brethren, fighting is required when confronting the devil. You cannot hide from him. You cannot negotiate with him. You must stand and fight.
The Devil Is Not a Gentle Spirit
The devotional begins with a sobering reminder of who the devil is. Jesus described him clearly in John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”
- He steals your peace, your joy, your blessings, your destiny.
- He kills your dreams, your relationships, your influence.
- He destroys your testimony, your family, your future.
This is not a spirit you can coexist with. This is not an adversary you can negotiate with. He does not play fair. He does not keep agreements. He is a deceiver, a liar, and the father of lies (John 8:44).
Therefore, when he raises his ugly head, you must resist him immediately.
The Futility of Making Deals with the Devil
The devotional addresses a dangerous misconception. Some people think they can cohabit with the devil by maintaining family traditions of sacrifices or keeping certain rituals alive. They believe that if they appease him, he will leave them alone.
This never works.
The devil is not a business partner. He is not a landlord you pay rent to for protection. He is a predator. Every “deal” you make with him only gives him more ground in your life. He will take everything you have and still destroy you in the end.
James 4:7 is the only valid strategy: submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee. Not negotiate. Not appease. Not cohabit. Resist.
The Armor That Has No Back
The devotional draws a powerful observation from Ephesians 6. The armor of God covers every part of the believer—except the back.
- The helmet protects the head.
- The breastplate protects the chest.
- The belt secures the waist.
- The shoes protect the feet.
- The shield covers the front.
- The sword is in your hand.
But there is no piece of armor for your back.
Why? Because God never designed you to turn your back on the enemy. When you face him, you are protected. When you run from him, you are exposed. The moment you turn to flee, you give him a target.
This means: You cannot run from the devil and expect to be safe. You cannot hide from him and hope he goes away. You must stand your ground, face him, and fight.
How to Fight Spiritual Battles
The devotional gives practical examples of what this looks like:
In Your Marriage:
If you perceive the devil attacking your marriage, calling a family meeting or trying to reason with your spouse in the flesh will not suffice. The battle is spiritual. You must use spiritual weapons. Get on your knees. Pick up the sword of the Spirit. Speak God’s word over your home. Command the enemy to leave. Send him packing in Jesus’ name.
In Your Ministry:
If strange things are happening in the work God has given you, don’t just reorganize or consult experts. Fight. Resist the devil. Use the word of God to tear down strongholds. Bind the spirits that are opposing you.
In Your Job or Business:
If the enemy is attacking your livelihood—causing unexplained losses, conflicts with colleagues, or closed doors—don’t just complain or change jobs. Fight. Stand on God’s promises for provision and favor. Resist the devil’s schemes.
The Weapons Are Not Physical
The devotional quotes 2 Corinthians 10:3-4: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”
This means:
- Yelling at your spouse is not spiritual warfare.
- Quitting your job is not spiritual warfare.
- Fighting with your colleagues is not spiritual warfare.
- Changing churches is not spiritual warfare.
Spiritual warfare happens in the realm of prayer, the word of God, and faith. Your weapons are:
- The sword of the Spirit—the spoken word of God
- The shield of faith—trusting God’s promises against the enemy’s lies
- Prayer—direct communication with the Commander of heaven’s armies
When to Hide vs. When to Fight
The devotional makes a critical distinction that many believers miss:
| Situation | Response |
|---|---|
| Pressure to speak without God’s direction | Hide |
| Conflict with brethren | Hide (don’t engage) |
| Attack from the devil | Fight |
| Enemy trying to steal, kill, destroy | Fight |
You do not fight your brother or sister in Christ. You love them, forgive them, and if necessary, hide from them to preserve peace. But you do not hide from the devil. You do not run from him. You face him and resist him.
What Happens When You Fight
When you resist the devil in submission to God, several things happen:
1. He Flees
James 4:7 promises that he will flee. Not walk away slowly. Not negotiate terms. Flee—in terror, in panic, in retreat. Your resistance backed by God’s authority sends him running.
2. You Regain What Was Stolen
When you fight, you don’t just defend—you recover. The devil is a thief, and resistance backed by God’s word forces him to release what he has taken.
3. Your Faith Strengthens
Every battle you win builds your confidence for the next one. You learn that the same God who delivered you yesterday will deliver you today.
4. You Finish Your Race
The secret to longevity is not avoiding all conflict—it is fighting the right battles. When you resist the devil consistently, you stay on course and finish well.
The Example of Jesus
Jesus faced the devil directly in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He did not negotiate. He did not hide. He did not run. He responded to every temptation with the word of God: “It is written.”
The devil fled. Angels came and ministered to Him.
This is your model. When the enemy comes with temptation, accusation, or intimidation, do not argue with him. Do not reason with him. Do not fear him. Simply take up the sword of the Spirit and say, “It is written.”
Conclusion: Stand and Fight
Daddy Adeboye’s message is clear: you cannot finish your race if you run from every battle. The devil will pursue you relentlessly. He will attack your marriage, your children, your finances, your ministry, your health. If you turn your back, he will strike.
But if you face him—armed with the word of God, clothed in the armor of God, submitted to the authority of God—he will flee. Not because you are strong, but because the One in you is stronger than the one in the world (1 John 4:4).
Do not turn your back. Do not run. Do not negotiate. Stand. Fight. Resist. And watch the enemy flee.
Pray this:
“Father, I submit myself completely to You. I take my stand against the devil. I resist him in the name of Jesus. I put on the whole armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. I will not turn my back on the enemy. I will not negotiate with him. I will fight every battle according to Your word. Thank You that he must flee when I resist him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Identify the attack: What area of your life is the devil currently attacking—your marriage, health, finances, ministry, or mind? Name it specifically.
- Stop negotiating: Have you been trying to make deals with the enemy through compromise, fear, or tradition? Renounce it today.
- Put on the armor daily: Every morning, pray through the armor of God from Ephesians 6. Consciously clothe yourself for battle.
- Use your sword: Find a scripture that directly addresses your current battle. Memorize it. Speak it aloud every time the enemy attacks.
- Fight, don’t flee: This week, when the enemy brings fear or temptation, refuse to run. Stand your ground. Resist him with the word of God. Watch what happens.
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