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.
MEMORISE: And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. Revelation 21:5
READ: Isaiah 43:18-19 18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 3 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Jesus is a specialist at making all things new. For example, when the wine finished at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, He didn’t only change water to wine; the new wine was better than what they had before. When Jesus stepped onto the scene, He gave them an entirely new experience, and the governor of the ceremony confirmed it (John 2:1-10). Jesus will do the same for you in this new year, in Jesus’ name.
Jesus can give you a brand-new beginning. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, and all things have become new. All that God requires for everything in your life to become new is for you to surrender to Him. This is because, for the new to come, you must do away with the old.
When Jacob was faced with the fear of meeting his twin brother, Esau, after so many years, he had a divine encounter that changed his old name into a new one – Israel. That change of name ushered in the miracle of reconciliation that he wanted because as long as he still bore his old name, he couldn’t experience fresh miracles. God also had to change the names of Abraham and Sarah so that His promises concerning their lives would come to pass (Genesis 17:5-15).
God doesn’t put His new wine into old wineskins of sin (Luke 5:37-38). For Him to make all things new in your life, you must be ready to let go of the old man. You must surrender your old ways of thinking to be able to receive and follow His directions for your life. You must surrender your old traditions for His new culture to take over. When it was time for God to draw the Gentiles unto Him, God gave Simon Peter a trance to shift his old way of thinking. He showed him a sheet filled with the birds and animals he termed unclean and asked him to kill and eat. God wanted to change his old mindset so that he could accept the Gentiles into the church (Acts 10:9-16).
God is limitless. He can make all things new, but sometimes, our old wineskins stop Him from pouring out His newness into our lives. Beloved, as we still bask in the newness of this year, ask the Lord to reveal every old and faulty mindset that can hinder His new plans from manifesting in your life.
PRAYER POINT:
Father please me to do away with the old things in my life that are preventing me from experiencing your newness, in Jesus’ name.
MEMORISE: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing Genesis 12:2
READ: Isaiah 35:1-10 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 2 JANUARY 2025 TODAY PRAYERS
1. Thank you, Lord for the blessings, lessons, and experiences of 2024. Thank You for being faithful to me throughout last year.
2. Father, in this new year, I need your guidance and wisdom like never before. Please help me make the right decisions all through this year.
3. Father, I want to be closer to You this year. Please birth a hunger and thirst for You in my heart like never before, in Jesus’ name.
4. Father, please make me a vessel unto honour, and help me to work for You this year more than ever before to win souls into Your kingdom.
5. Father, I don’t want to engage in fruitless efforts this year. Please bless the works of my hands, in Jesus’ name.
6. Father, please help me to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially, and in all areas of my life in this new year, in Jesus’ name.
7. Father, please protect me, my family, and my loved ones throughout this year. Don’t let any harm come to us, in Jesus’ name.
8. Father, please nullify every plan of the enemy against me and my family this year. Every weapon that is fashioned against us shall not prosper, in Jesus’ name.
9. Father, please rebuke the devourer for my sake this year. Don’t let the devil steal from me and my loved ones, in Jesus’ name.
10. Father, please help me and my neighbours to live in peace and prosperity throughout this year, in Jesus’ name.
11. Father, please let this year be a year of answered prayers for me. Let all my requests become testimonies, in Jesus name.
MEMORISE: There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. Deuteronomy 33:26
READ: Psalm 124:1-8 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: 4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: 5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 6 Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 1 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
It is a new year, and you have every reason to thank God. I You may think that last year did not go as you planned, but believe me, if not for God’s mercy, you wouldn’t have survived the year (Lamentations 3:22). This is why you shouldn’t make the mistake of complaining to God and grumbling about things that didn’t go as you wanted. Rather, you should thank Him for bringing you this far. If you go into the year with thanksgiving, you are assured of access to the One who can make you have a great year (Psalm 100:4). However, if you go into the year with complaints, especially complaints against the only One who can help you, you are treading dangerously. Numbers 11:1 says:
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
In 1 Samuel 7:12, Prophet Samuel said,
“Hitherto you have helped us.” In other words, this means, “In the journeys thus far, we have received help from you.” This is a statement of survivors – those who say, “Thank God I have made it thus far.” Today’s Bible reading says that if the Lord had not been on our side, we would not be where we are now.
You can never tell how many battles God has fought for you. You may not even know how many victories He has given you. As for me, thus far in my journey of life, God has helped me. Despite everything the devil has tried, l am still here. If you are a survivor, you should really spend some time thanking God for all He has done for you.
If you passed through tough situations last year and you are alive now and reading this, then you have indeed been helped by God. If last year went smoothly for you, despite all the troubles in the world, then you have also been helped by God, for without Him, you could not have achieved anything (John 15:5). Whichever your case was, you should be very grateful to Him for all the help He rendered to you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Beloved, go ahead now and sing praises to the Lord. Spend the day thinking about His goodness to you, and ensure you enter into this new year with thanksgiving. It is the foundation for receiving more from Him.
KEY POINT:
Give thanks to God for all He has done for you, and be prepared to receive more from Him this year.
MEMORISE: Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to thier teeth. Psalm 124:6
READ: Psalm 124:1-8: 1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: 4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: 5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6 Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 31 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
If you are reading today’s devotional, God has been really good to you! He has taken you through 364 days in 2025, and you will see the end of today as well in joy, in Jesus’ name.
Storms arose during the year, and fierce winds blew, but God kept you safe. He preserved your life despite the enemy’s attempts to destroy you. I want you to take some minutes to truly praise the Lord.
If 2025 has been a really good year for you, l want to tell you that there are better days ahead. God is about to give you a new book with 365 blank pages! His thoughts towards you are always good (Jeremiah 29:11), and He has gone ahead of you to make 2026 a blessed year for you.
Did you experience some unpleasant events this year? Cheer up; God is making all things new. My Daddy will restore anything that you might have lost (Joel 2:25), and He will give you a fresh start in 2026, in Jesus’ name.
Beloved, as you transition into 2026, I want you to do the following:
Reflect Deeply On All God Has Done For You, And Thank Him Abundantly. It Is Because Of Him That You Are Still Standing.
Forget Everything That Has Happened To You In The Past. You Cannot Move Forward If Your Gaze Is Fixed On What Is Behind You. If You Had Numerous Achievements In 2025, You Need To Keep Pressing Forward Like Paul Because There Is So Much More To Achieve (Philippians 3:13-14). On The Other Hand, If You Experienced Many Failures, Stop Counting Your Losses. Look Unto Jesus; He Will Surely Give You Good Success In 2026 (Psalm 121:1-2).
Abstain From Every Appearance Of Evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). You Cannot Triumph Over The Roadblocks And Traps The Enemy Has Set For You If You Allow Sin Into Your Life. Sin Will Keep You From Progressing Into God’s Great Plans For You In 2026. Do Not Allow The Devil To Cheat You Of God’s Best For You In The Coming Year.
Fix Your Gaze On Jesus; You Need Him Now More Than Ever. Allow Him To Hold Your Hands, Obey His Instructions Completely, And It Will Be Well With You. Only Those Who Are Willing To Follow Him Wholeheartedly And Are Obedient To All His Instructions Shall Eat The Good Of 2026 (Isaiah 1:19).God has wonderful things in store for you in the next 365 days.
In the name that is above all other names, I pray that you will not miss God’s best for you in 2026. Your life will not be cut short, and your eyes will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, in Jesus’ name.
ACTION POINT
Spend some time reflecting on God’s goodness in 2025, and thank Him wholeheartedly throughout today.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Revelation 20-22
HYMN 17: PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 31 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalm 124:6 “Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.” This is a psalm of corporate thanksgiving after a narrow escape. It acknowledges that without God’s direct intervention, Israel would have been utterly consumed by their enemies. It is a declaration that our survival, our “still standing,” is not due to our own strength or cleverness, but is a direct gift from God—a deliberate withholding of us from the jaws of destruction.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 124:1-8 This entire psalm is a template for year-end reflection and praise: v.1-5: The Collective Memory of Peril – “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side…”Repeatedly, they envision the catastrophic alternative. v.6-7: The Thanksgiving for Deliverance – “Blessed be the LORD… Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers.” The imagery shifts from a beast’s prey to a freed bird—a picture of liberation and relief. v.8: The Acknowledgment of the Source – “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Final confidence is placed not in circumstance but in the eternal, creative power of God.
Standing at the Threshold: A Divine Transition
Pastor E.A. Adeboye delivers a powerful, pastoral charge for the turn of the year. He frames the completion of a year not as a simple calendar event, but as a testimony of divine preservation and a launch into a new season of God’s purposeful grace. The devotional provides both a call to worship for God’s faithfulness and clear, biblical instructions for stepping into the future with hope and holiness.
1. The Foundation: Acknowledging Divine Preservation
The Miracle of “Still Standing”: The ability to read the devotional on the last day of the year is itself a testimony. “Storms arose… fierce winds blew, but God kept you safe.” The year contained unseen spiritual battles, near misses, and pressures that could have “snapped” you. Your presence here is proof you were not given “as a prey to their teeth.”
The Mandate to Praise: Before planning, we must praise. “Take some minutes to truly praise the Lord.” This is not a casual thank you, but a deep, reflective worship that recounts specific deliverances, turning the memory of 2025 into an altar of gratitude.
2. The Prophetic Perspective: The New Book of 2026
365 Blank Pages: The coming year is framed as a gift from God—a new book of blank pages. This signifies fresh mercy (Lamentations 3:22-23), new opportunities, and the active authorship of God who has “good thoughts” toward us (Jeremiah 29:11). We are not entering a void, but a prepared story.
A Year of Restoration and Fresh Starts: For those who experienced loss or failure, the promise is not just comfort, but active restoration (“He will restore… give you a fresh start”). This echoes the Jubilee principle (Leviticus 25) and God’s heart to redeem lost time and opportunity (Joel 2:25).
3. The Threefold Action Plan for a Blessed Transition
1. Reflect and Thank (The Backward Look of Faith): Purposeful gratitude sanctifies our memory. It shifts our focus from what we endured to Whobrought us through. It establishes God’s faithfulness as the pattern for the future.
2. Forget and Press (The Forward Gaze of Faith):
For Achievers: Past success can breed complacency. The command is to “press forward” like Paul, who treated his impressive resume as rubbish to attain the higher calling in Christ (Philippians 3:13-14). Last year’s anointing is not enough for this year’s assignment.
For Those Who Fell:“Stop counting your losses.” Obsession with past failure is a form of bondage. The gaze must shift from the failure to the Fixer, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2).
3. Abstain and Fix (The Upward Focus of Holiness):
The Non-Negotiable of Purity: Sin is not just a moral failure; it is a progress blocker. It creates spiritual roadblocks and exposes us to the enemy’s traps. “You cannot triumph… if you allow sin.” Holiness is the condition for unhindered advancement.
The Centrality of Christ: The final and most critical instruction is to “Fix your gaze on Jesus.” He is the guide, the protector, and the source of all good success. Wholehearted following and complete obedience are presented as the keys to “eating the good” of the land (Isaiah 1:19).
4. The Prophetic Prayer and Benediction
Covering Against Missing God’s Best: The prayer against missing God’s best is a plea for spiritual sensitivity, discernment, and obedience to not wander from the path of blessing.
The Promise of Long Life and Manifest Goodness: The closing decree is for life and the tangible experience of God’s goodness “in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). This affirms that God’s promises are for our earthly journey, not just heaven.
How to Step Into Your 2026 with Purpose
1. Conduct a Psalm 124 Reflection Session: Today, write down your personal “if the Lord had not been on my side” moments from 2025. Spend time in thanksgiving for each.
2. Write a Letter of Release: Write down the one major success and the one major failure or loss from the past year. Thank God for the lesson in each, then symbolically destroy the paper as an act of committing it to the past and pressing forward.
3. Set Holiness Guardrails: Identify one “appearance of evil” or sinful habit you will consciously abstain from as you enter the new year. Establish a practical plan and an accountability step.
4. Choose a “Word for the Year” from Scripture: Select a guiding verse or promise for 2026 (e.g., “I will guide you with my eye,” Psalm 32:8). Write it where you will see it daily to fix your gaze on His promise.
Warning: The Trio of Transition Traps
The Trap of Ungrateful Entitlement: Forgetting that your survival and any success were by God’s grace alone.
The Trap of the Rearview Mirror: Letting either pride over past victories or shame over past failures dictate your speed and direction for the future.
The Trap of Compromise: Believing you can navigate the new challenges of a new year while clinging to old, sinful patterns. This guarantees you will “miss God’s best.”
Conclusion: Blessed, Not Prey
Pray this: “Blessed be the Lord, my Preserver! Thank You for the covering of 2025. I release the past—its triumphs and its trials—into Your hands. I accept the new book of 2026 with faith and expectation. I fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. I choose holiness and obedience. Lead me, Father, to eat the good of the land this year. Let my life be a testament to Your goodness, and let me see its fullness with my own eyes. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”
Action Steps for January 1st:
First Prayer: Before any activity, dedicate the new book of 2026 to God. Pray over the “blank pages.”
First Reading: Begin a through-the-Bible reading plan. Let His Word be the first author on your new pages.
First Act of Obedience: Perform a deliberate, quick act of obedience to a prompting you’ve perhaps put off.
Remember: You are not entering 2026 as prey, but as a blessed, preserved, and called child of God. Your help is in the name of the Lord. Walk boldly into your new days. “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands” (Psalm 138:8). He who preserved you will perfect you. Happy New Year
MEMORISE: God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Psalm 67:1
READ: Psalm 67:1-7: 1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 30 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY PRAYERS
Father, I thank You for preserving me throughout 2025. I bless Your holy name because I know I will experience more of Your grace and mercy in 2026.
Father, please go before me into 2026 and make every crooked path straight. No evil will come near me and my loved ones in the new year, in Jesus’ name.
Father, please guide me and direct my path in 2026. Let all my steps be ordered by You, in Jesus’ name.
Father, please draw me closer to You in 2026. Help me and my household to abide continually in You, in Jesus’ name.
Father, please strengthen the bond within my family in 2026. Draw us closer together, and let us be truly united in You, in Jesus’ name.
Father, please open doors of favour and advancement to me and my family in 2026. I decree that we will prosper in the land, in Jesus’ name.
Father, please give me and my family good health throughout 2026. May we not spend our days in sickness, in Jesus’ name.
Father, You are my source. Please provide for me and my family in 2026. We shall not lack anything good, in Jesus’ name.
Father, let Your peace that passes all understanding surround me and my family in 2026. Fear and anxiety shall be far from us, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, please anoint me for greater exploits in Your kingdom in 2026. Give me the courage and the grace to draw many souls into Your kingdom.
Father, please bring destiny helpers my way in 2026. I will not struggle to fulfil the glorious destiny You have given me, in Jesus’ name.
MEMORISE: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 2 Corinthians 1:3
READ: Psalm 25:1-6 1 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 29 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Today’s memory verse tells us that God is the Father of mercies. This means that He is not only merciful but the source of mercy. God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), and His mercy is renewed every day (Lamentations 3:22-23), implying that His mercy is unlimited. God’s mercy can transform every aspect of a believer’s life that needs transformation.
For instance, if a believer has health challenges or financial problems, God’s mercy can conveniently turn the believer’s situation around. His mercy is not one-sided; it is multidimensional and perfect. When the Father of mercies shows up in a fellow’s life, He can restore any opportunities that he or she might have lost and make everything new for such a fellow.
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:15-16
You can see that even though God’s mercies are unlimited, they are not accessible to everyone because God Himself decides the people He shows His mercy.
Before God can dispense His unlimited mercies on a fellow, the fellow needs to acknowledge Him as his or her Father. As the Father of mercies, He only releases His unlimited mercies to His children.
While it is true that He causes the sun to shine on everyone, both good and bad (Matthew 5:45), there are certain levels of His mercies that He has reserved only for His children. If you are truly God’s child, your relationship with Him will give you access to His everlasting mercies.
Only God’s children have access to the full complement of His mercies; those who are not His children can only enjoy crumbs. God’s mercy is rich and multi-dimensional; however, a fellow must become His child to enjoy them. To unbelievers, He is a consuming fire, but to His children, He is compassionate and slow to anger (Psalm 145:8).
Beloved, if you are not yet born again, do not waste another minute outside the tender arms of the Father of mercies. He alone can give you a rich and fulfilling life on earth and guarantee your place in His kingdom for all eternity. If you are already His child, live in obedience to His will, and He will shower you with His abundant mercies
PRAYER POINT
Father, please help me to experience Your tender and manifold mercies in every area of my life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Revelation 15-17
HYMN 5: BLESSED ASSURANCE
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 29 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” This doxology reveals God’s identity in relational terms. He is not merely a dispenser of occasional mercy; He is its very source and progenitor—the “Father of mercies.” All compassion and comfort flow from His nature as a Father. This title is inextricably linked to Jesus Christ; it is through the Son that we know the Father’s merciful heart.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 25:1-6 This psalm models the posture of a child receiving the Father’s mercies: v.1-2: The Posture of Trust – “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul… O my God, I trust in thee.”The soul is elevated toward God in confident reliance. v.3: The Prayer for Vindication – A plea that trust in God would not result in shame. v.4-5: The Desire for Guidance – “Shew me thy ways… Lead me in thy truth.” Mercy is sought as direction for life’s path. v.6: The Appeal to Covenant Love – “Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.” The plea is based on God’s unchanging, historic character of covenantal mercy (chesed).
The Privileged Access to the Father’s Mercies
Pastor E.A. Adeboye builds a powerful theological case: God’s mercy, while infinite in supply, is accessed through a specific relationship. The devotional moves from describing the nature of God’s mercy to defining the exclusive channel through which its “full complement” is received: sonship through Jesus Christ.
1. The Nature of Divine Mercy: Unlimited and Transformative
The Source, Not Just a Stream: As the “Father of mercies,” God doesn’t just have mercy; He begets it. Mercy is an essential, generative part of His character. It is the womb from which all compassion is born.
Renewed and Multidimensional: His mercies are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23), ensuring they never expire or run out. They are “not one-sided” but address every human need: health, finance, lost opportunities, emotional wounds. His mercy is the divine agency that “can make everything new.”
2. The Sovereignty and Scope of Mercy
Mercy is Sovereignly Dispensed (Romans 9:15-16): God quotes His own declaration to Moses (Exodus 33:19) to establish that mercy is His divine prerogative. It is “not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth”—not earned by human desire or effort. This protects mercy from becoming a transaction and preserves God’s absolute freedom as the Giver.
Common Grace vs. Covenant Mercy: God’s general goodness (sun, rain) is extended to all (Matthew 5:45). This is common grace. However, the “full complement of His mercies”—the deep, personal, redemptive, and sustaining mercies—are part of the family inheritance, reserved for His children. Unbelievers may enjoy “crumbs” of general benevolence, but not the feast at the Father’s table.
3. The Exclusive Channel: Acknowledging Him as Father
The Necessity of Sonship: “Before God can dispense His unlimited mercies on a fellow, the fellow needs to acknowledge Him as his or her Father.” This is the critical turn. Mercy in its fullest sense is a family dynamic. You cannot claim a Father’s inheritance if you are not a child. The plea of Psalm 25:6 is effective because it is based on “lovingkindnesses” (chesed)—the loyal love of covenant.
Two Faces of God: To the world in rebellion, God is “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29), a holy judge. To His children, He is “compassionate and slow to anger” (Psalm 145:8). The difference is not in God’s nature, which is always both just and loving, but in the relationship through which He is approached.
4. The Call and the Condition
The Urgent Invitation to the Unbeliever: “Do not waste another minute outside the tender arms of the Father of mercies.” This is an appeal to enter the only relationship that guarantees a “rich and fulfilling life” now and eternally. It is a call to be adopted, moving from the category of “creature” to “child.”
The Obedient Life of the Child: For the believer, access is granted, but enjoyment is conditioned on fellowship. “Live in obedience to His will, and He will shower you with His abundant mercies.” Obedience is not the price for mercy but the posture that keeps the channel of relationship clear and open. Disobedience, like the prodigal son’s departure, places one outside the experiential flow of the Father’s provision, though not outside His love.
How to Live in the Fullness of the Father’s Mercy
1. Establish Your Sonship: If uncertain, settle it today. Acknowledge Jesus as Lord, receiving the right to become a child of God (John 1:12). This is the legal adoption that grants you access to the mercy treasury.
2. Pray with Childlike Confidence: When in need, approach God as your “Father of mercies.” Base your requests not on your merit but on His nature and your relationship. Say, “Father, because You are merciful, and I am Your child, I ask for Your mercy in this situation.”
3. Seek Covenant Mercy, Not Just General Blessings: Differentiate your prayers. Move beyond praying for general good luck (“bless me”) to asking for specific covenantal mercies: guidance (Psalm 25:4-5), restoration of what was lost, healing that testifies to His name.
4. Let Mercy Motivate Worship and Obedience: Your primary response to received mercy should be worship (2 Corinthians 1:3 begins with “Blessed be God…”). Let gratitude for His mercy be the engine for a life that pleases Him.
Warning: The Danger of Presuming on Mercy Without Relationship
To expect the protective, providing, intimate mercies of God while rejecting the Fatherhood of Christ is a fatal error. It is like a stranger demanding the rights of the firstborn son. One remains under the general, impersonal governance of God—which includes eventual judgment—while forfeiting the specific, saving mercies of the Savior.
Conclusion: Coming Home to the Father’s Heart
Pray this: “Father of mercies, I acknowledge You today. I come to You through Jesus Christ, Your Son. I receive Your adoption and thank You for making me Your child. I no longer wish to live on the crumbs of common grace. I ask to experience the full measure of Your covenantal mercy in my life—healing my body, restoring my soul, and directing my path. Let my life be a testament to the richness of Your mercy, and keep me in obedient fellowship with You forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Conduct a Mercy Audit: List three areas of your life where you need a transformative touch (e.g., a broken relationship, a persistent fear, a financial hole). Label them: “Areas for my Father’s covenant mercy.”
Memorize the Key Distinction: Write out and memorize Matthew 5:45 and Romans 9:15-16. Use them to understand God’s general goodness and His specific, sovereign mercy.
Study a Receiver of Mercy: Read the story of the prodigal son’s return (Luke 15:20-24). Note the father’s initiative, emotion, and the full restoration granted—not because the son earned it, but because he was a son who returned.
Remember: The sun shines on all, but only His children get to call Him “Dad.” That intimate access unlocks the storehouse. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). These are the mercies of a Father to His child. Wake up each morning and receive them.
MEMORISE: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
READ: Psalm 103:8-13: 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 28 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Years ago, a devout Muslim heard the gospel during one of our programmes and became born again. He was overwhelmed with joy, and we rejoiced with him.
Three days later, he came to me and asked, “Are you sure Jesus can forgive all sins?” I said, “Yes”. He said, “You have not heard all that I have done. The evil l have done is so much, and I don’t think He can forgive everything.” I asked him, “Have you given your life to Him?” He said, “Yes” I responded, “Please, go home rejoicing; Jesus has forgiven all.”
After another three days, he returned and said, “You have not heard everything I did.” Then, he proceeded to recount various sins that he had committed. I told him that once people give their lives to Christ, God gives them brand-new beginnings.
He kept coming back to me with doubts about specific sins that he thought were too big for Jesus to forgive until one day, he said, “If Jesus can forgive this sin that I’m about to tell you, then I won’t worry anymore. I needed a man’s heart to make a charm. A young relative died, and I went to his grave at night, exhumed his body, and cut out his heart for the charm. Do you think Jesus can forgive that?” I opened my Bible and showed him 1 John 1:7, which reads, …and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I then asked him,
“What is the meaning of all?” After a while, he replied, “I think all means all.” I said, “That is correct. It doesn’t matter how many sins you have committed up until now. The moment you give your life to Jesus, God forgives you of them all. No sin is too big for God to forgive.”
David knew the limitless extent of God’s forgiveness, and he wrote in Psalm 103:12 that God removes our transgressions from us as far as the East is from the West. Whenever David asked God to forgive him and cleanse him of his sins, God always did so. All God wants from you whenever you fall into sin is your sincere repentance.
Beloved, when you truly repent of your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you (1 John 1:2).
True repentance is when a fellow stops engaging in sinful acts after God forgives him or her. God’s mercy is truly without limits; however, His forgiving nature should birth a changed heart in you.
KEY POINT
The blood of Jesus cleanses from all sins.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Revelation 12-14
HYMN 28: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY STAIN
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 28 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is the believer’s foundational promise for restoration. It presents a divine contract based on God’s unchanging character. His faithfulness to His covenant promises and His justice, satisfied by Christ’s blood, guarantee our forgiveness and cleansing. The scope is total: “all unrighteousness.” Our part is confession; God’s part is complete absolution and purification.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 103:8-13 This psalm magnificently details the heart of God toward repentant sinners: v.8-10: The Merciful Nature of God – He is “slow to anger” and “hath not dealt with us after our sins.” He withholds the punishment we deserve. v.11-12: The Vastness of His Mercy – “For as the heaven is high above the earth… As far as the east is from the west…” These are immeasurable distances, symbolizing the complete and irrevocable removal of our guilt. v.13: The Fatherly Heart – “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” His mercy is not cold legality but the compassionate love of a perfect Father for a wayward child.
The Limitless Cleansing of the Blood
Pastor E.A. Adeboye shares a staggering testimony to confront one of the enemy’s greatest lies: that some sins are beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness. The devotional systematically dismantles this lie by presenting the infinite power of Christ’s blood, the complete removal of guilt, and the proper human response of true, fruit-bearing repentance.
1. The Battle of the Condemned Conscience
The Accuser’s Strategy: The new convert, fresh from Islam where forgiveness is often earned, was haunted by the sheer volume and gravity of his past. Satan specializes in replaying our “greatest hits” of sin to convince us that God’s grace has a limit. The recurring question—“Are you sure?”—is the sound of a conscience under assault.
The Progression of Doubt: His confessions escalated from general evil to the specific, grotesque sin of grave-robbing and mutilation. This illustrates how the enemy moves from vague guilt to highlighting the “unforgivable” act, aiming to convince the believer they are a unique, hopeless case.
2. The Divine Answer: The Meaning of “All”
The Supreme Scripture (1 John 1:7): The blood of Jesus Christ “cleanseth us from all sin.” Pastor Adeboye’s pivotal question—“What is the meaning of all?”—forces a logical and spiritual conclusion. The convert’s own answer, “I think all means all,” is the moment faith breaks through. The Greek word pas (“all”) admits no exception.
The Irrelevance of Sin’s Size or Number: Human justice has degrees: misdemeanors vs. felonies. God’s economy of grace does not. The blood of Christ is equally potent against a white lie or a heinous murder. Its value is infinite; therefore, its cleansing power covers an infinite amount of sin. “No sin is too big for God to forgive”because no sin is bigger than the sacrifice that paid for it.
3. The Mechanics of Removal: As Far as East from West
The Physics of Forgiveness (Psalm 103:12): East and West are directions that never meet. If you travel north, you will eventually head south. But if you travel east, you never reach west. This is God’s poetic guarantee: our removed transgressions are in a place of no return. They will not be retrieved to accuse us. This is judicial forgiveness—a change in our legal standing before God.
The Contrast with Human Forgiveness: We often “forgive but don’t forget.” God, in His omniscience, chooses “not to remember” our sins against us (Hebrews 8:12, Jeremiah 31:34). He treats us as if the sin never occurred in our relationship with Him.
4. The Human Response: True Repentance
God’s Desire: Sincere Repentance: “All God wants from you… is your sincere repentance.” This is not a begrudging apology but a heartfelt turning (metanoia)—a change of mind that leads to a change of direction.
The Proof of Repentance: A Changed Life: “True repentance is when a fellow stops engaging in sinful acts after God forgives him or her.”Forgiveness is free, but it is not cheap; it was bought with blood. That purchase price obligates the forgiven one to a new life. God’s mercy is “without limits,” but it is designed to “birth a changed heart in you.” The proof of having been cleansed is cleanliness.
How to Receive and Live in Full Assurance of Forgiveness
1. Confess Specifically and Completely: Don’t hide behind generalities. In prayer, name your sins before God. Agreement with Him about your sin (confession) unlocks the experience of His faithfulness and justice in forgiving it.
2. Accept the Logic of “All”: When guilt arises, do not debate your feelings. Declare the truth: “The blood of Jesus cleanses me from all sin. ‘All’ includes this. Therefore, I am forgiven.”
3. Break the Cycle of Re-Confession: Once a sin is confessed under 1 John 1:9, it is forgiven. Do not keep re-confessing the same sin; that insults the finality of Christ’s work. Thank God for His forgiveness instead.
4. Let Mercy Motivate Holiness: Let the overwhelming gratitude for limitless forgiveness be your primary motivation to live purely. You are not running from punishment; you are running in love toward the One who set you free.
Warning: Presuming on Mercy Without Repentance
To ask for forgiveness while planning to return to the sin is to mock the cross. It treats God’s mercy as a divine “get-out-of-jail-free” card rather than a transformative power. This is not true repentance and risks hardening the heart (Hebrews 3:13).
Conclusion: Washed, Cleansed, and Made New
Pray this: “Lord Jesus, I stand in awe of Your blood that cleanses from ALL sin. I confess my specific sins to You now. I believe Your promise: You are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I receive that cleansing now. Thank You for removing my sins as far as the east is from the west. Let this assurance silence the accuser, and let Your mercy birth in me a lasting hatred for sin and a burning love for holiness. In Your mighty name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Write and Destroy: Write down every sin the enemy uses to accuse you. Read 1 John 1:7 and 1:9 over the list. Then, safely burn or destroy the paper as an act of faith, declaring those sins forgiven and forgotten by God.
Memorize the Key Verses: Commit 1 John 1:9 and Psalm 103:12 to memory. Make them your first response to feelings of guilt.
Study a Forgiven Life: Read the story of the woman who washed Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36-50). Note Jesus’ words: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven… Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
Remember: The only sin God cannot forgive is the final rejection of His Son, which refuses the very source of forgiveness. For the one who comes to Christ, the door of mercy is not just ajar; it is blown off its hinges by the explosive power of the cross. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). The riches of His grace are deeper than the depths of your sin. Dive in, and be clean.
MEMORISE: And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
READ: Isaiah 51:1-2: 1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. 2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 27 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Yesterday, I discussed the story of the prodigal son and how he returned home to his father when he realised he could not make himself.
Today, I will examine the lives of Jesus’ disciples and how He made all of them, except Judas Iscariot.
When Jesus called His disciples in today’s memory verse, He said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” For example, by the time He was done with Peter, Peter became so famous and influential that today, over 2,000 years later, we are still talking about him. Those who allowed God to make them in the Scriptures have remained relevant up until now.
When God makes a fellow, He adorns the fellow with beauty and glory and gives him or her a purpose for living. Jesus told His disciples that by following Him, they would become fishers of men. He fulfilled this promise, and they all became great fishers of men (Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4), and He kept them all until the end, except the son of perdition (John 17:12). All these happened because they followed Jesus.
God cannot make you when you are not following Him consistently. Just because you followed Him yesterday doesn’t mean that you can live life by yourself today. Following Him is a daily decision. A famous songwriter once wrote, “l have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.”
When you truly follow Jesus, it will be evident in your words, actions, and lifestyle. After the disciples had followed Jesus for some time, the religious leaders observed them and noted that they had truly been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). If you truly follow Jesus, it will be evident for people to see.
When you leave raw meat on fire to cook, for example, no matter how tough it is, it will eventually become soft. Sadly, many believers attend church services and other Christian programmes frequently; however, there is no tangible change in their behaviour and attitude.
Beloved, it is time to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and allow Him to make you if you haven’t done so yet. It is time to let go of all forms of worldliness in your life; lay them aside, and follow Jesus.
Jesus makes only those who follow Him. He purifies and prunes only the branches that abide in Him (John 15:2). Don’t waste your life chasing meaningless things; follow Jesus and let Him make you who He has destined you to become.
PRAYER POINT
Lord Jesus, help me to follow You wholeheartedly without looking back, and please make me who You are
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Revelation 8-11
HYMN 23: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 27 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Matthew 4:19 “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This call is both an invitation and a contract. “Follow me” is the continuous action of discipleship—a daily choice of submission, observation, and obedience. “I will make you” is the promise of transformative process by the Master Craftsman. The goal is not personal enrichment but purposeful redirection: from catchers of fish to gatherers of souls for the kingdom.
BIBLE READING: Isaiah 51:1-2 This passage roots the call in the faithfulness of God to His covenant process: v.1:“Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn…” The call is to remember your origin in God’s faithful work. v.2:“Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.” Abraham is the prototype of one who followed God’s call (Genesis 12:1) and was made into a father of nations and faith. God’s making always leads to increase and blessing for His purpose.
The Continuous Choice That Activates the Making
Building on yesterday’s theme of God’s making, Pastor E.A. Adeboye now focuses on the human responsibility that activates the divine process: consistent, wholehearted following. The devotional contrasts the enduring legacy of the true disciples with the tragic end of the one who stopped following, and challenges believers to evidence a transformed life.
1. The Prototype of the “Made” Man: Peter
From Fisherman to Foundation: Peter, a rough, impulsive fisherman, was utterly transformed by the process of following Jesus. He became the pillar of the early church, a powerful preacher at Pentecost (Acts 2), and his influence echoes “over 2,000 years later.” His story proves that God’s making results in eternal relevance.
The Promise Fulfilled (Acts 2:41, 4:4): The proof that Jesus kept His promise (“I will make you fishers of men“) is seen in the harvest of souls at Pentecost (3,000) and afterwards (5,000 men). Their lives became nets for God’s kingdom.
2. The Non-Negotiable Condition: Follow Me
Following is a Daily Decision: “Just because you followed Him yesterday doesn’t mean that you can live life by yourself today.”Discipleship is not a one-time altar call but a daily, moment-by-moment choice to renounce self-direction and walk in His steps. The hymn’s resolve—“no turning back”—captures the required permanence of this decision.
Following is Evident: True discipleship is observable. The Pharisees “took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Their speech, courage, and power bore the unmistakable mark of Christ’s influence. A life consistently following Jesus will inevitably show in purifying speech, loving actions, and a distinct, holy lifestyle.
3. The Cooking Pot Analogy: Evidence of Transformation
The Guarantee of the Fire: Raw meat in a fire will become tender. The constant heat guarantees change. Similarly, a life consistently exposed to the fire of God’s Word, His presence, and His Spirit must soften—becoming more loving, patient, and Christlike.
The Tragedy of the Unchanged: Many are in the fire (attending church, programmes) but remain tough, unchanged in “behaviour and attitude.” This indicates a fatal disconnect: they are near the heat but not in the pot. They are hearers, not followers. Attendance without transformation is spiritual waste.
4. The Exception That Proves the Rule: Judas Iscariot
The Son of Perdition: Judas is the stark warning. He followed physically for a time but never surrendered his heart. He held onto worldliness (the love of money, John 12:6) and a secret agenda. Jesus kept all whom the Father gave Him “but the son of perdition” (John 17:12). Judas stopped truly following in his heart long before he left with the betrayer’s kiss. His life proves that proximity to Jesus without personal submission leads to destruction.
5. The Process of the Maker: Purity Through Abiding
The Vinedresser’s Work (John 15:2): God the Father, as the gardener, “purges” (cleanses) and “prunes” the branches that are connected to the Vine (Christ). This painful but purposeful cutting away is only done to those who “abide in Him.” If you are not following/abiding, you are not in a position to be made. You are outside the process.
How to Move From Attendance to Authentic Following
1. Audit Your “Following”: Ask: Is my life today consciously submitted to Christ’s lordship? Are my decisions, finances, and relationships guided by “Follow me”? Or am I just occasionally checking in?
2. Pursue Evident Change: Invite trusted believers to speak into your life. Ask, “Can you see tangible growth in Christlikeness in me over the past year?” Be willing to confront areas of persistent worldliness.
3. Embrace the Pruning: When God convicts you of sin or calls you to surrender something, recognize it as the Vinedresser’s loving cut. Do not resist; this is part of the “making.”
4. Define Your “Fishing”: Ask God to make you a fisher of men in your specific context. Look for daily opportunities to cast the net of kindness, testimony, or prayer to draw others toward Christ.
Warning: The Peril of Cultural Christianity
A life of church activity without heart transformation is the path of Judas. It leads to being labeled “son of perdition”—a child of destruction. You can be in the band, teach Sunday school, and still be lost if you are not personally, daily following Jesus with a surrendered heart.
Conclusion: The Invitation to a Made Life
Pray this: “Lord Jesus, I hear Your call anew: ‘Follow Me.’ I choose today to follow You wholeheartedly, with no turning back. I lay aside every weight and sin that hinders. I surrender to Your making process. Purge me, prune me, and transform me until my life bears undeniable evidence that I have been with You. Make me a true fisher of men, for the glory of Your name. Amen.”
Action Steps:
The Daily Pledge: Each morning this week, begin your prayer with: “Lord Jesus, I choose to follow You today. Guide my steps, my words, and my decisions.”
Study a Disciple’s Journey: Trace the transformation of one disciple (e.g., John from “Son of Thunder” to “Apostle of Love”). Note the key moments where following Jesus changed him.
Identify One “Worldly” Thing to Lay Aside: Be specific (e.g., a toxic entertainment habit, a grudge, a dishonest practice). This week, in obedience, lay it aside as an act of following.
Remember: God is not making museum pieces; He is making active, world-changing fishers of men. Your relevance for eternity is secured not by what you know, but by who you follow and who you become in His hands. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). You are His project. Follow closely, and let the Master finish His work.
MEMORISE: And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Mark 1:17
READ: Luke 15:11-24: 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 26 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Today’s Bible reading tells us about a young man who was very comfortable in his father’s house and had nothing to worry about until he probably started listening to the wrong voices.
He became discontent and demanded his share of the inheritance from his father. When people begin to listen to the wrong voices, they often start making wrong decisions. You must always ensure that you listen to the right voice – God’s voice. To know how God speaks and the things He says, you must read and understand His word. Only those who constantly read and meditate on God’s word will escape the deception of these end times.
When the prodigal son was leaving his father’s house, he said, “Father, give me…” His request landed him far away from his father, and even though he seemed to enjoy himself for a while after that, his happiness did not last. He soon became poor, and since he was in a strange land, he suffered greatly.
Thankfully, the prodigal son came to his senses and realised that he could not make himself, meaning that he needed his father to succeed in life. He was in a haste to be made, but he needed to let his father take him through the right process. God is a God of process, and He always wants to make His children whom He desires them to be.
Whenever a chef is making a meal, the process is not usually as attractive as the end product. For instance, the heating process is usually unpleasant. However, the ingredients that endure the heat will become fit to grace a king’s table. Those that don’t go in the fire usually end up as trash or food for pests.
When God was making Moses, He made him stay in the desert for forty years, tending to his father-in-law’s flock (Exodus 3:1). It couldn’t have been a pleasant experience for a man who had lived in the palace all his life, but the process helped to shape him into a tough leader who could confront Pharaoh, a man considered as the most powerful king on earth at the time.
Jesus called His disciples to make them (Mark 1:17). When He was done making them, the Pharisees and religious leaders marvelled because even though they were unlearned, they had become a wonder (Acts 4:13).
Beloved, surrender yourself completely to God and let Him make you. When He is done, you will become a wonder to your family, friends, and the world at large.
REFLECTION
Are you fully surrendered to God’s process?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Revelation 4-7
HYMN 8: I Need Thee Every Hour
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 26 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Mark 1:17 “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” This is the call to discipleship, framed as a transformative process. Jesus does not say, “Come, and you already are,” but “I will make you to become.” It is a promise of a journey from raw material to finished product, from a current identity to a destined purpose. The initiative (“Come”) and the power (“I will make”) are His; our role is to follow and submit to the making.
BIBLE READING: Luke 15:11-24 This is the quintessential parable of redemption and restoration through process: v.11-13: The Rebellion – Driven by discontent and impatience, the son demands his inheritance (seeking the result without the relationship) and leaves. v.14-16: The Ruin – The “enjoyment” is short-lived. He exhausts his resources and descends into abject poverty and humiliation. v.17-19: The Repentance – “He came to himself.” True repentance begins with clarity of thought: recognizing his need, his father’s provision, and his unworthiness. v.20-24: The Restoration – The father’s unconditional love receives him, but note: the restoration to sonship is immediate; the restoration to mature stewardship is a process implied by the robe, ring, and sandals—symbols of a new identity to grow into.
The Divine Process of Being Made
Pastor E.A. Adeboye delves into the often-difficult but purposeful journey God takes each believer through. Using the prodigal son and Moses as primary examples, he teaches that God is less interested in giving us quick, inherited blessings and more committed to making us into vessels fit for His purpose and glory. The shortcut leads to ruin; the process leads to wonder.
1. The Folly of the Shortcut: Demanding the Inheritance
Listening to the Wrong Voice: The prodigal son’s downfall began with listening to voices (likely internal lusts and external temptations) that bred discontent with his father’s house. This highlights the critical need to filter every influence through God’s Word to avoid deception.
The “Give Me” Mentality: His demand, “Father, give me…” represents a faith that wants the benefits of sonship without the submission, relationship, and process that mature a son. It is a consumer approach to God. This mentality always leads “far away” from the father’s presence, even if it initially feels like freedom.
The Illusion of Independence: He wanted to “make himself.” His journey proved the lie of human self-sufficiency. His destination—feeding pigs, a picture of utter defilement and despair for a Jew—reveals the end of every path of independence from God.
2. The Necessity and Nature of God’s Process
The Chef’s Analogy: The Unpleasant Heat: The cooking process, especially the fire, is not enjoyable for the ingredients, but it is essential to transform them from raw to refined, from ordinary to “fit to grace a king’s table.” The fire of trials, waiting, and humbling circumstances is not meant to destroy us, but to develop flavor, resilience, and usefulness in us. What refuses the fire remains trash.
The Moses Model: The Desert of Preparation: Moses’ 40 years in the desert, shepherding another man’s flock, was the polar opposite of his first 40 years in Pharaoh’s palace. This was the “fire” that burned away his self-reliance, anger, and Egyptian identity, shaping him into a “tough leader” humble enough to be used by God. The desert was not a detour; it was the essential curriculum.
The Disciple’s Journey: From “Come” to “Become”: Jesus called ordinary, unlearned men and spent years teaching, correcting, and modeling life for them. The process transformed them so utterly that the religious elite “marvelled” and recognized they “had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). The making produced wonders.
3. The Turning Point: Coming to Yourself
The Realization of Need: The prodigal’s breakthrough came when he “realised that he could not make himself.” True spiritual progress begins with the death of the “self-made” delusion. It is the admission: “I need my Father to succeed in life.”
The Return to Process: His decision to return was a decision to re-enter the father’s process—even if it meant starting as a servant. He surrendered his timeline and agenda. This is the posture God requires: complete surrender.
How to Submit to God’s Making
1. Identify and Reject the “Give Me” Spirit: Audit your prayers. Are they dominated by demands for blessings, or by surrender to His shaping? Repent of impatience and a consumerist faith.
2. Embrace Your Current “Desert” or “Fire”: Ask God to reveal the purpose in your current difficult season. Is it teaching you dependence? Burning away pride? Developing patience? Cooperate with Him in it. Don’t pray merely for escape, but for transformation.
3. Trust the Chef: Believe that God, as the masterful Chef, knows the exact temperature and duration needed to make you a kingly dish. Your job is to stay in the pot.
4. Value the Making Over the Inheritance: Desire the character, authority, and Christlikeness that come from the process more than the material or ministerial rewards. The “making” is the real inheritance.
Warning: The Trash Heap of the Unprocessed
The ingredients that jump out of the pot to avoid the heat end up as “trash or food for pests.” This is the fate of believers who abandon God’s process due to pain, boredom, or pride. They retain a raw, unrefined character, vulnerable to the enemy and unfit for the high calling of God.
Conclusion: Yielding to the Master’s Hands
Pray this: “Father in heaven, forgive me for the times I have demanded my inheritance like a hireling instead of submitting as a son. I surrender completely to Your making process. I accept the desert and the fire as necessary for my transformation. Shape me, break me, and rebuild me into the vessel of wonder You have destined me to be. I trust Your timing and Your methods. Make me a fisher of men, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Journal the Process: Write down your current “desert” or “fire” circumstance. Beside it, write: “What is God wanting to ‘make’ in me through this?” Pray over it daily.
Study a “Made” Life: Study Joseph’s process (Genesis 37-50). Note the pits, prisons, and delays, and how each equipped him for leadership.
Express Surrender: Perform a tangible act of surrender this week (e.g., fast from something you cling to, serve in a hidden capacity). Accompany it with the prayer: “Lord, I yield to Your making.”
Remember: God is not just giving you things; He is making you into someone. The son who was welcomed back still had to learn how to wear the ring, walk in the sandals, and honor the robe. Your story is one of becoming. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). He will finish what He started. Let Him make you.
MEMORISE: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:16
READ: Matthew 2:1-12: 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 25 DECEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
There are about one hundred billion stars in the galaxy, and God calls them all by their names (Psalm 147:4). The Bible even mentions Orion, a constellation of stars (Amos 5:8), and Wormwood (Revelation 8:11). Among all the stars, God gave a special assignment to one of them. We don’t know the star’s name, but God surely knows it, and He must have called that star by its name and commissioned it to lead the wise men to Jesus.
In today’s Bible reading, the wise men, who were probably astrologers, talked about a star that they saw in the sky and how they knew that it belonged to a king. They followed the star all the way from their country to Israel, and as long as they followed it, it led them on the right track. If they had stopped following the star, they would have surely lost their way and begun to wander in darkness and confusion.
People who celebrate Christmas without having Jesus can be said to be wandering in the dark. They can eat, drink, and be merry, but they will remain in darkness. You do not have to continue dwelling in darkness if you are like this. Jesus has come as the light of the world (John 8:12) to illuminate every place where there is darkness in your life.
As the world celebrates his birth today, this is the perfect time to give your life to Him.
As soon as the wise men left Jerusalem and resumed their search for the King, the star led them to where Jesus was (Matthew 2:9). That star fulfilled its mission of leading the wise men to the Bright and Morning Star, Jesus.
Every believer is like that star, called and commissioned to lead others to Jesus. As a believer, even as you celebrate the birth of Jesus today, do not forget that you are on a mission to lead others to Him.
That star is still being spoken of today because it fulfilled its mission to lead the wise men to Jesus. As long as you keep leading and influencing others to follow Jesus, you will remain relevant in God’s agenda. Our Lord Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star, and your life should lead others to Him.
Beloved, if you are yet to give your life to Jesus, do so today. He is waiting for you to come to Him because He wants to set you free from the tyranny of darkness and confusion. Merry Christmas!
ACTION POINT
Go into the streets, use your social media platforms and other avenues that you have, and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ today.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Revelation 1-3
HYMN 17: PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 25 DECEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Revelation 22:16 “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” This climactic self-revelation of Christ connects His divine sovereignty (“root of David”) with His human lineage (“offspring of David”) and proclaims His identity as the ultimate guiding light. The “morning star” heralds the end of night and the dawn of a new day. Jesus is the first, sure light that guides humanity out of spiritual darkness into the kingdom of God.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 2:1-12 This is the narrative of divine guidance and prophetic fulfillment: v.1-2: The Seeking Gentiles – Wise men from the East arrive, guided by a star, seeking the “king of the Jews.” Their journey represents the human heart’s quest for truth. v.3-8: The Troubled Establishment – Herod and Jerusalem are disturbed, representing the world’s hostile or manipulative response to Christ’s kingship. v.9-10: The Faithful Guide – “The star… went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” The guidance was precise and culminated in joyous discovery. v.11-12: The Worshipful Response – They offer gifts and worship, then depart in obedient wisdom, avoiding Herod.
The Believer’s Mandate: To Be a Guiding Star to Christ
On this Christmas Day, Pastor E.A. Adeboye presents a profound and mission-oriented perspective. He moves beyond the celebration of Christ’s birth to the purpose of our rebirth: we, like the Bethlehem star, are individually called and commissioned by name to lead seeking souls out of darkness to the “Bright and Morning Star,” Jesus Christ.
1. The Bethlehem Star: A Commissioned Creation
Chosen From Among Billions: Among innumerable stars, one was selected for a sacred, temporary mission. This illustrates God’s purposeful sovereignty. He knows and calls each of His creations by name for specific assignments (Isaiah 43:1). The star’s glory was not in its intrinsic brightness, but in its obedience to point to a greater Light.
The Nature of Its Mission:
To Appear as a Sign: It signaled a divine event to those who were watching and wise.
To Guide Persistently: It led over a long, uncertain journey.
To Lead to Jesus: Its entire purpose was to bring seekers into the presence of the King and then fade from the narrative. Its success was measured by the worship it facilitated, not the attention it garnered.
2. The Wise Men: The Profile of a Seeker
They Were Watchful: They studied the heavens, indicating a heart dissatisfied with earthly knowledge and hungry for transcendent truth. Spiritual guidance is given to those who are looking for it.
They Were Willing to Journey: They left their comfort zone and embarked on a long, costly trip. Guidance requires movement. God guides moving feet, not stationary skeptics.
They Followed Despite Interruptions: They lost sight of the star in Jerusalem (relying on human reasoning via Herod) but resumed following once they left. True seekers course-correct back to divine guidance, even after detours.
3. The Contrast: Christmas in Darkness vs. in The Light
The Darkness of a Christ-less Celebration: Many celebrate with food, drinks, and merriment (“eat, drink, and be merry”) but remain in spiritual night—a state of confusion, purposelessness, and separation from God. This is the ultimate tragedy: to be at the party but miss the Guest of Honor.
The Invitation to The Light: Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 8:12). His birth is the dawning of salvation’s day. The call is urgent: “this is the perfect time to give your life to Him.” Christmas is not just a memorial; it is an altar call.
4. The Believer’s Identity: You Are That Star
Called and Commissioned: “Every believer is like that star.” Your salvation is your commissioning. You are called by name, placed in your specific “galaxy” (sphere of influence), and given the mission to reflect Christ’s light to guide others to Him (Matthew 5:14, Philippians 2:15).
The Measure of Relevance: “As long as you keep leading and influencing others to follow Jesus, you will remain relevant in God’s agenda.” Your eternal significance is tied to your faithfulness in this mission. The Bethlehem star is remembered millennia later for one reason: it led men to Christ. Our legacy will be the same.
The Ultimate Goal: Lead to the Morning Star: We are not the destination. Like John the Baptist, we must decrease so He may increase (John 3:30). Our lives, words, and love should consistently point people to Jesus, the “Bright and Morning Star.”
How to Fulfill Your Role as a Guiding Star
1. Be Consistently Visible: Live a life of integrity and love that stands out in the cultural darkness, prompting questions about your hope (1 Peter 3:15).
2. Provide Persistent Guidance: Be patient with spiritual seekers. Walk with them, answer questions, and consistently point the way through your testimony and God’s Word, just as the star led over a long journey.
3. Lead to Worship, Not to Yourself: Ensure your influence culminates in people encountering Jesus for themselves, not becoming dependent on you. The wise men worshipped the Child, not the star.
4. Shine with Purpose: Understand your specific mission field (your family, workplace, community). Ask God for divine appointments to guide seeking hearts.
Warning: The Irrelevance of a Hidden or Self-Glorifying Light
A believer who hides their light (through fear or compromise) or who draws attention to themselves instead of to Christ fails in their core mission. They become like a star that burned for itself, forgotten by history because it illuminated nothing but its own existence.
Conclusion: From Celebration to Commission
Pray this: “Lord Jesus, Bright and Morning Star, thank You for coming to save me from darkness. Today, I reaffirm my commitment to You. I accept my commissioning as Your guiding star. Use my life to persistently, clearly, and joyfully lead seeking hearts to Your glorious light. Let my greatest legacy be the souls who find You because I showed the way. Merry Christmas, my King! In Your name, I pray. Amen.”
Action Steps:
Identify Your “Wise Men”: Pray for one person in your life who is spiritually seeking. Commit to being a consistent, gracious “guide” for them in the coming year.
Share the Christmas Story Anew: Today, share the true meaning of Christmas from Matthew 2 with someone, emphasizing the quest, the guidance, and the worship.
Write Your Commission: On a card, write: “I am a commissioned star. My mission is to lead ______ to Jesus.” Fill in a name or a group (e.g., “my colleagues,” “my neighbors”).
Remember: The star didn’t preach a sermon; it shone. Your most powerful guidance is a life radiant with Christ’s love and truth. You are called by name to this. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Shine on, and lead them home. Merry Christmas!
