This is RCCG Open Heaven daily devotional for adults and teens. By Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
But ye shall receive power, atter that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
READ: Acts 5:25-33
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 29 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
In today’s memory verse, Jesus told His disciples that they would receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon them, and it happened exactly as He had said (Acts 2:1-43). The moment the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will suddenly become strong.
You will become bold and empowered to achieve great things because Zechariah 4:6 says,….Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Many people have failed in various endeavours because they have been trying to function solely by their own power. As long as a person keeps trying to do things solely by his or her own strength, there is a high probability that such a person will fail. However, when the Holy Spirit empowers a person, he or she is assured of a positive outcome.
The power of the Holy Spirit turns cowards into mighty men and weaklings into great terrors to the kingdom of darkness. When this power came upon the apostles, the men who had been hiding from the religious leaders of their time began to confront them boldly. Today’s Bible reading reveals how Peter, who denied knowing Jesus when a maidservant pointed out that he was one of His disciples, boldly spoke about Jesus before those who threatened his life.
I recall vividly that after I got born again at the University of Lagos in 1973, I had a Head of Department whose name was Professor Chike Obi.
He was the greatest mathematician Africa had ever produced. Humanly speaking, he was a very good man, but I wondered how someone could be that good and not know the love of Christ. One Sunday evening in church, we prayed and were told to go and win souls, and I said, “When I get to the office tomorrow, ‘ll preach to my Head of Department.” When I got to the office, I went to him to say, “Good morning, sir,” and he thanked me in such a way that I froze and ran away. When I was baptised in the Holy Spirit, however, I became bold to preach to him. I received the power to succeed, win souls, and plant churches, and the power to win in life was also given to me.
Beloved, I pray for you today that you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit just as I did and be empowered to reign in life and be a fruitful witness for Christ, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT
Dear Lord, please baptise me with the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.
Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: Ezekiel 37:5
READ: Ezra 5:1-5, Ezra 6:14-15
Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. 2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. 3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? 4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
In John 20:19-22, the Bible tells us that when Jesus visited His disciples, He breathed on them. When God visits a person, He breathes on him or her.
Adam was a lifeless lump of clay until God breathed on him in Genesis 2:7. When the breath of God went into him, he became a living being. The once lifeless creature came alive and began to
walk around, talk, and even name animals. A person will remain ordinary until God breathes life into him or her. Likewise, the breath of God on a lifeless project will bring it to life, and it will eventually become successful. I pray in the name that is above every other name that God will breathe upon you and all that concerns you.
In Ezekiel 37:1-10, the Bible tells us that Prophet Ezekiel found himself in the middle of a valley that was full of bones. The bones were not just many,
they were also very dry and lifeless. They would have continued experiencing dryness and death if God had not intervened. He sent His word through the prophet and breathed upon them. As soon as the breath of the Almighty God came upon them, they came together, flesh and sinews came upon them, and they arose as a great army. The bones that had previously looked dry and powerless now became a mighty and formidable force because of the breath of God. I decree that every dry or dead situation in your life will begin to live again henceforth, in Jesus’ name.
Many people have visions of something great they want to achieve, and even though they have tried to pursue those visions, things have not gone as they expected. As a result, many of those visions have been abandoned and forgotten. Today’s Bible reading tells us that when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to build the temple in Zerubabbel’s time, they faced opposition from their neighbours, and at one point they even had to put the construction on hold (Ezra 4:24). The situation remained the same until God sent His prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to prophesy to the people. Their prophecy released the breath of God upon them, and the work that had been halted resumed and was completed successfully.
Beloved, I decree that God will breathe into your life, family, career, visions, and all that concerns you, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT
God’s breath releases a new lease of life into everything it enters.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15
READ: Mark 4:35-41
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Storms can come in various forms and with varying degrees of intensity. I recall an incident some years ago, when I was travelling from Lagos to London on a plane. When we were about to land at Heathrow Airport, the captain informed us that there was a problem with the door at the belly of the aircraft, and we all understood it to mean that the landing gear wouldn’t be able to function, and in essence, the pilot was going to have to crash-land the plane. There was a storm on the plane at that moment because confusion and pandemonium broke out all around me. That day, ! discovered that rich people do not want to die. I recall seeing a very wealthy man in the first-class cabin who carried a walking stick that was encrusted with diamonds at the top. Since we departed Lagos, he had been getting up, pretending to go to the toilet every now and then to show everyone his expensive walking stick.
However, when he heard the captain’s announcement, he really needed to use the toilet.
I tell you with confidence that even if you are anointed, you will become frightened if you are told that your plane cannot land. Therefore, I turned to God and said, “Daddy, I embarked on this journey to do Your work. You didn’t tell me when I was leaving to say goodbye to my family that it would be the last time I would see them.” Then He replied, saying, “Don’t worry, son. I’m only delaying the plane’s landing because as soon as you land, people will not let you rest, and I need to talk to you first.” God’s word brought peace to my heart, and the plane continued to circle around the airport while God was speaking to me. When He finished talking to me, the faulty door opened, and the plane was able to make a normal landing.
Despite how tough the situation was, I was at peace because God had spoken to me.
Beloved, when you have an intimate relationship with the Prince of Peace, you will not be troubled by the things that trouble others. You will not run helter-skelter at the hint of trouble because His word will bring peace to your heart. No matter how terrible a situation may be, there is always peace to be found in God’s word. Turn to His word in such instances, and it will keep your heart at peace while turning things around for the better.
REFLECTION
Do you have an intimate relationship with the Prince of Peace?
I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to tolly. Psalm 85:8
READ: Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 26 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
After Jesus resurrected from the dead, He entered the room where His disciples had gathered
because they were afraid and immediately told them, “Peace be unto you” (John 20.19). In John 14:21. Jesus also said:
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus gives His followers peace because He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) In Mark 4:35-41, the Bible tells us that Jesus and His disciples were in a ship, and a massive storm arose. While they were scared for their lives and were trying so hard to manage the situation, Jesus was sleeping peacefully. The moment they woke Him up, He issued only one decree, “Peace, be still,” and everything became calm. In the name above every other name, I decree that the peace of God that passes all understanding will rest upon you at all times, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s memory verse tells us that God speaks peace to His people. It is important to understand that God is never the author of confusion or chaos
(1 Corinthians 14:33). Whenever you sense confusion or chaos around you, know that the devil is at work because James 3:14-16 says that where envying and strife are present (which are earthly, sensual, and devilish), there is confusion and every evil work. When the earth was in a state of chaos and darkness covered the face of the deep in Genesis 1:2, God’s word brought order to the situation.
Beloved, whenever you are in a state of confusion and chaos, cry out to God for help and listen to what He has to say to you. His Word will always bring peace and show you the way out of the situation. To receive the peace that the Prince of Peace gives, however, you must surrender your life to Him. People who insist on living on their own terms will not enjoy the peace of the Lord because His peace thrives only where His way is followed, and His will is done.
God wants to speak peace into any troubled water that might exist in your life. To enjoy His peace, however, you must never insist on calming any storm you may be facing your own way. Surrender to God totally, and His peace shall rule every facet of your life.
KEY POINT
God’s peace rules where His way is followed and His will is done.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13
READ: John 21:1-14
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
After Jesus died, His disciples became afraid and lost hope. John 21:3 tells us that Peter said to the other disciples, “I go a fishing.” He wasn’t going to fish for souls; instead, he was returning to his old job because he had lost hope. He must have thought to himself, “We thought Jesus Christ was going to rescue us from all those who are oppressing us. We thought that the age of miracles had come to stay, but now He has been crucified on a cross.” When Peter told the other disciples that he was going fishing, they joined him because they had also lost hope. They felt that the best thing they could do was to return to fishing. However, Jesus appeared to them that morning as they fished and restored their hope. As they struggled to catch fish, Jesus called out to them and showed them where to cast their net. He turned their hopelessness into joy. I declare that God will show up for you and turn every hopeless situation you may be experiencing around, in Jesus’ name.
Child of God, when all hope is lost and people have given up on you, do not give up on yourself. If, peradventure, you have given up on yourself, do not give up on God because He will always show up for the hopeless when they turn to Him. Today’s memory verse calls Him ‘the God of hope’.
Some years ago, a young man was travelling from Kaduna, a state in Northern Nigeria, to Lagos with some other people in a vehicle. While they were on their way, they had an accident and everyone in the vehicle died except the young man. He was taken to a hospital because he was still breathing, even though he was unconscious. He was in a coma for several days, and every once in a while, he would wake up and shout, “Jesus,” before returning to the coma. After a while, the doctors concluded that his case was hopeless, but they couldn’t bury him because he was still breathing.
Then one day, he awoke, cried out “Jesus!, opened his eyes, and never slipped back into the coma.
That young man is still alive today.
Beloved, I pray that if there is any situation in your life that people around you have concluded to be hopeless, you will receive a new lease of life from the Almighty that will transform it into a testimony, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT
The Almighty God is a God of hope; therefore, you must never lose hope.
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; Psalm 30:11
READ: Luke 7:11-16
11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 24 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Sometime ago, I was praying during a programme and God said, “Open your eyes.” I was almost going to say, “Lord, but I’m praying”; however, I obeyed. As I opened my eyes, I saw a woman in the congregation, her face soaked in tears, weeping as she prayed. Then, God said, “Go and tell her, ‘Weep not.” I moved towards the congregation, approached her, and tapped her as I said, “God said, ‘Weep not.” Her eyes brightened, and I returned to the altar to continue praying. A year later, that same woman stood before me, along with some other people who wanted me to pray for them. When it was her turn for me to pray for her, I greeted her and said, “Sister, how can I help you?” She opened her mouth and could only mutter, “Jesus”. I asked her a second time how l could help her, and she only said, “Jesus” again. I asked her a third time, and she said the same thing.
I began to get impatient because there were other people in the queue. Eventually, she got herself together, and she told me that she was the woman whom God sent me to tell not to weep the previous year. She then told me that she was crying that day because she had been married for over ten years without any children, and her husband’s relatives were urging him to send her packing it she didn’t give birth to any children soon. As she shared her story, I immediately understood why she found it difficult to speak at first; she was holding a baby in her right hand and another in her left. God turned her seemingly hopeless situation into an occasion for rejoicing. I pray that God will turn any seemingly hopeless situation that might exist in your life around and fill your mouth with laughter, in Jesus’ name.
Beloved, if you have surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, my Daddy is saying to you today, “Weep not,” just like Jesus said to the widow of Nain in today’s Bible reading. Every time Jesus says, “Weep not,” it is because He wants to perform a miracle. No matter how long you may have been weeping, your time of rejoicing has come. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will surely come in the morning (Psalm 30:5) I decree that your days of rejoicing are here, in Jesus name.
PRAYER POINT
Father, thank You for putting an end to my weeping and for bringing me into my days of rejoicing.
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14
READ: Romans 8:28-37
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Life is full of battles. From the moment you were born until you leave this world, you will experience different battles. Unfortunately, many people go through life fighting battles without any hope of victory. However, when a person comes to Christ, the fellow becomes a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17), and everything changes. Where such a person has been fighting and struggling to win before and didn’t know his or her fate when it
comes to the battles of life, in Christ, the fellow ceases to struggle and is assured of being victorious. In fact, such a person becomes more than victorious; he or she becomes more than a conqueror.
Romans 8:37 says that, as believers, we are more than conquerors. A conqueror is someone who fights and defeats his or her enemies. While a conqueror has to fight to achieve victory, someone who is more than a conqueror enjoys victory without fighting any battles. Such a person sits comfortably to enjoy the victory achieved by a conqueror. God sees you as more than a conqueror because you are a recipient of Jesus’ victory. Jesus went to the cross, defeated the devil, claimed victory, and handed it over to you. In Matthew 28:18, He declared that all power in heaven and on earth had been given to Him. Then, He handed the power over to His disciples and every other believer through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
When the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they began to reign in life. They cast out demons and healed the sick effortlessly in the name of Jesus.
Even when they faced challenges and persecution, the Bible says that those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:1-4). For instance, Philip went to Samaria, and the whole city was won for Christ (Acts 8:5-8).
Beloved, being more than a conqueror doesn’t mean that you won’t face challenges; it simply means that whenever challenges arise, you should be prepared for promotions, because God will use all the enemy’s plans to elevate you. The devil thought he had destroyed Jesus by arranging His crucifixion, but he didn’t know that he was destroying himself. 1 Corinthians 2.8 tells us that had the princes of this world known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. I decree that the devil’s plots against you will blow up in his face. You will triumph against all odds, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT
Being more than a conqueror means that you will always triumph over the enemy’s plans.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for 1 am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
READ:
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 22 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Some theologians say that if you search the Scriptures carefully, you will find out that the phrase ‘fear not’ was mentioned in one form or another 365 times. Thus, if you are afraid of anything at all, God has a word for you for each day of the year: fear not. Romans 8:37 says that you are more than a conqueror through Christ, who loved you. The primary reason you should not be afraid is that God loves you. Child of God, do you know and believe that God loves you? Are you assured of His love? If you are, fear not!
After Jesus Christ rose from the dead and visited His disciples, He told them not to be afraid. When He visited them, they were sorely afraid because He had been crucified. Today’s Bible reading tells us that they shut the doors where they were gathered because they were afraid. One of the beautiful things about God’s visit is that when He’s ready to visit you, no door can keep Him away, because He Himself is the door of the sheep (John 10:7). Whenever you are afraid, He will visit you to say, “Fear not.” In John 14:1, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” When you believe in the Almighty God, you will not have any cause to be afraid. Even when fear knocks on the door of your heart, God will visit you to reassure you of His love.
I decree in the name above every other name that you are free from any torment of fear you may be under.
1 John 4:18 says that fear has torment. Wherever fear exists, oppression, suppression, and limitation will also prevail. God does not want you to live under the torment of fear. Instead, He wants you to live by faith because where there is faith, fear disappears. When you are confident that God is your helper, you will not be afraid of what any man can do to you (Hebrews 13:6). When you are assured of God’s love and care, you will not be afraid when you face a storm because you know that God will never leave you to perish.
Beloved, fear not. God loves you, and He will never leave nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He cares about you, so cast your cares and fears upon Him and put your mind at rest.
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 2 Corinthians 2:15
READ: 2 Kings 5:20-27
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? 22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. 23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. 25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. 26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Years ago, when I was a younger Christian, many people would come to me and say, “Young man, we see the way you are on fire for the Lord. Make sure you don’t backslide.” Whenever I heard that, I would smile because I had made up my mind that ! would not be a fool and return to the fear, sickness, and bondage Jesus took away from my life when I became born again. I thank God for His grace, which has kept me all these years. Remembering where God brought me from has been one of the ways I have stayed on course. When you constantly remember what Jesus saved you from, no one will need to preach to you to remain in Christ. I pray that you will not yield to satan’s temptations to depart from the cover of the shadow of God’s wings, in Jesus’ name.
Anyone who departs from the cover that the shadow of God’s wings provides is open to all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. Today’s Bible reading tells us the story of Gehazi, who decided to leave the shelter of God’s wings. Within a day, the fellow who could have ended up as the next prophet, because he was Elisha’s servant, ended up becoming a leper. Sometimes, it only takes a brief moment for people who decide to leave God’s covering to forfeit all the blessings they have enjoyed under His cover. I pray that your story will not move from glory to shame, in Jesus’ name.
People who wander from the shadow of God’s wings expose themselves to death. Proverbs 21:16 says, “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” When people are in the congregation of the dead, their lives stink.
People who decide to backslide have accepted an open invitation to a stinking life. They have decided to invite rottenness and disfavour into their lives.
No matter how beautiful a house may be, guests will avoid it once a rat has died inside and begun to decay. They might not want to wine or dine with the owner of the house until the pungent smell has been taken care of. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, however, Apostle Paul describes the believer as a sweet savour of Christ.
Beloved, when you abide under the shadow of the Almighty, you will continue to increase in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man (Luke 2:52).
KEY POINT
Wandering from God’s covering is extending an invitation to shame, sickness, and death.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Genesis 3:7
READ: Psalm 91:1-16
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 20 SEPTEMBER 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Today’s Bible reading is a chapter that can be referred to as a ‘divine insurance policy. It shows that if a person is under the protection of the Almighty God, then he or she is truly covered.
When you consider all the beautiful things that a believer gets by staying under the shadow of God’s wings, it becomes clear that it is foolishness not to surrender all to God. When the wings of the Almighty God cover a Christian, he or she will enjoy physical, spiritual, and material blessings.
Furthermore, his or her past, present, and future will be covered by God. A Christian who backslides, however, has departed from the shadow of the Almighty and has more or less decided that he or she does not want to enjoy the benefits drawn from being under God’s covering.
The moment people come out from under a covering, they become exposed. Likewise, the moment a believer departs from the covering of the Almighty, he or she has chosen to be naked.
Genesis 3:1-24 tells us the story of Adam and Eve, who left the covering of the Almighty because they sinned. The first thing that happened to them was that they discovered they were naked. They lost the glory that had previously covered them and became ashamed. Secondly, they could no longer fellowship with God as they used to.
Beloved, if you are living under the covering of the Almighty God, your future is secure because Christ in you is the hope of glory (Colossians 127). The opposite of glory is shame; hence, people who backslide or people who refuse to surrender to God are bound to experience shame. They become devoid of power and strength, and their secret becomes easily accessible to the enemy. For example, the enemies had been watching Samson, and they knew that he was not an ordinary man.
They knew that he possessed superhuman strength and wanted to discover the secret behind it. They also knew that he had a weakness for women, so they connived with Delilah to find out the secret of his strength so they could remove it, turn him into an ordinary man, and capture him.
Eventually, they succeeded because Samson had left the covering of the Lord due to his immoral lifestyle (Judges 16:4-21).
Child of God, learn from Samson’s mistakes; seek to be under the covering of the Almighty God at all times by leading a holy life.
KEY POINT
Backsliders step out from the shadow of the Almighty, their place of true safety and rest.
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 20 SEPTEMBER 2026 COMMENTARY
This devotional message brings us face-to-face with our absolute need for spiritual security.
Daddy Adeboye compares Psalm 91 to a “divine insurance policy”. He explains that when we stay under the shadow of the Almighty, we enjoy total physical, spiritual, and material protection. But the moment we walk away through compromise, we leave ourselves completely naked and vulnerable to the enemy.
Understanding the Message: The Cost of Exposure
1. The Tragedy of Lost GloryPastor Adeboye points us to the very beginning in Genesis 3. Before they sinned, Adam and Eve were clothed in God’s spectacular glory. But the moment they disobeyed God, they stepped out from under His covering.
The immediate result: They discovered they were naked, felt intense shame, and sewed fig leaves together to hide.
The deeper loss: They lost their sweet, daily fellowship with God. Daddy warns us that the opposite of God’s glory is shame; when we walk out of His covering, shame is inevitable.
2. The Samson Example: Becoming OrdinaryPastor also warns us using the life of Samson. Samson had supernatural, superhuman strength, but he had a secret weakness for compromised relationships. The enemy watched him, found his weak spot, and used Delilah to uncover the secret of his strength. Because of his immoral lifestyle, Samson stepped out of God’s covering. The moment his covenant was broken, his strength departed, and the enemy captured, blinded, and mocked him. Daddy pleads with us to learn from Samson’s tragic mistakes and choose holiness instead.
Relating This to Your Everyday Life
Think of God’s covering as a massive spiritual umbrella. In the middle of a heavy storm, as long as you stay directly under the umbrella, you remain dry and safe. But if you decide to step out because you see a shiny object in the rain, you will get completely soaked.
In our everyday lives, stepping out of God’s covering doesn’t always happen overnight. It starts with small compromises:
Telling “small” lies to close a business deal.
Allowing secret, unholy habits in your private life.
Neglecting your quiet time with God because you are “too busy.”
To deepen our understanding of staying secure, let us look at two scriptures not mentioned in the devotional:
Proverbs 18:10:“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Safety is not found in your bank account or human connections; it is found in your spiritual location.
Ephesians 6:13: We are commanded to take up the whole armour of God so that we can withstand the evil day. Staying covered requires active, daily spiritual vigilance.
Practical Action Steps
Ditch the “Fig Leaves”: Stop trying to hide your mistakes or live a double life. Go to God in sincere repentance and let Him cover you with His mercy.
Identify Your “Delilah”: Honestly look at your life. Is there a habit, a relationship, or an association that is slowly pulling you away from God’s presence? Cut it off before it cuts off your strength.
Dwell, Don’t Visit: Psalm 91 speaks of him who dwells (lives) in the secret place, not someone who just visits on Sundays. Make daily prayer and Scripture study your permanent home.
7 Prayer Points for Divine Covering
Father, I thank You because You are my refuge, my fortress, and my ultimate shield of protection in this dark world, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, forgive me for any area of my life where I have stepped out from under Your covering through sin, compromise, or disobedience, in Jesus’ name.
Father, let Your mercy cleanse me from every secret sin, and clothe me afresh with Your robe of righteousness and glory, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, deliver me from the spirit of Samson; let my weaknesses never be used by the enemy to destroy my destiny and strip my spiritual strength, in Jesus’ name.
Father, let Your presence be a permanent wall of fire around my health, my marriage, and my career; let no arrow of the enemy find access to my life, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, give me the grace to lead a holy life daily, so that I will always abide securely under the shadow of Your wings, in Jesus’ name.
Father, let the hope of glory be fully established in me; deliver my household from every form of shame, disgrace, and defeat, in Jesus’ name