Category: Open Heavens Devotional

The Open Heavens 8 June 2026 devotional for today is DON’T STOP DREAMING

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 7 June 2026 Devotional

---

OPEN HEAVENS 8 JUNE 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: DON’T STOP DREAMING

MEMORISE:

A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16

READ: Psalm 105:17-21

¹⁷ He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
¹⁸ Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
¹⁹ Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.
²⁰ The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.²¹ He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:

---

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 8 JUNE 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

Many people grow up dreaming of great things that they want to achieve. However, as they get older, if the circumstances of their lives do not seem to match what they had dreamed about, they tend to start giving up on their dreams.

If someone reminds them about the dreams they once had, some of them might say, “Reality set in.” Child of God, there is no reality apart from the one you make for yourself. If you stop dreaming or working towards achieving your dreams, they may just never come to pass. However, with your faith in God, continue to dream, work towards achieving them, and you will eventually see them come to pass.

In Genesis 41:41-44, Joseph’s opportunity to rule, as he had seen in his dream, eventually came.

Although his brothers tried to kill his dream (Genesis 37:18-20), and Potiphar’s wife also tried to destroy him (Genesis 39:1-20), God kept him and made him triumphant. When he was in prison, he could have said, “Reality has set in,” and given up on his dreams. Rather, he continued to prepare himself by improving his administrative skills and gift of interpreting dreams. From his story, we can see that preparation is crucial in positioning you to achieve your dreams.

If Joseph had been laid-back and had refused to prepare and develop himself, he would have missed a great opportunity to fulfil his dreams as he stood before Pharaoh. If all he had told Pharaoh was the interpretation of his dreams without the wise counsel on how to administer the resources of Egypt, perhaps he would have been returned to prison as a privileged prisoner.

Beloved, don’t just dream; develop the skills that are needed for your dreams to become a reality and also sharpen the skills you will need when they come to pass. You must also use your God-given gifts at every opportunity you get. Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”Your gifts will give you the chance for your dreams to become a reality, and your skills will make you qualified to live those dreams. When opportunity meets preparation, destiny is sure to be fulfilled.

Beloved, do not despise your days of preparation because they will develop your character and enable you to achieve your dreams and stay relevant for a very long time. I pray that when that great opportunity you desire is around the corner, you will be prepared for it, in Jesus name.

KEY POINT:

Your dreams will become a reality if you put your faith in God and keep working on them.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Psalms 18-21

Open Heavens HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 8 JUNE 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Proverbs 18:16

“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”

This verse reveals a divine principle: your gift is not just for personal satisfaction or entertainment—it is a key that unlocks doors and grants access to influence. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it connects two essential truths: first, that God has given every believer a gift (spiritual or natural), and second, that this gift, when developed and deployed, will create opportunities that neither you nor your enemies can manufacture. Your gift is your God-given ambassador; it will go before you and announce your arrival to greatness.

BIBLE READING: Psalm 105:17-21

“He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance.”

This passage summarizes Joseph’s journey from pit to palace. Daddy Adeboye draws from it to show that the gap between a dream and its fulfillment is not empty time—it is preparation time. Joseph was sold, enslaved, falsely accused, and imprisoned. But the Bible says, “Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.” The dream was given in Genesis 37. The fulfillment came in Genesis 41. The years in between were not punishment; they were the proving ground where Joseph’s character and skills were forged.

The Danger of Letting “Reality” Kill Your Dreams

1. The Gradual Death of Dreams

Daddy Adeboye identifies a common tragedy:

“Many people grow up dreaming of great things that they want to achieve. However, as they get older, if the circumstances of their lives do not seem to match what they had dreamed about, they tend to start giving up on their dreams.”

This is the silent funeral of purpose. No enemy attacks it. No one opposes it violently. The dream simply dies of neglect, buried under the weight of disappointment, cynicism, and the false wisdom that says, “Be realistic.”

Dreamer at 20	Same Person at 40
“I will change my generation”	“I just want to pay my bills”
“God has a great plan for my life”	“Maybe I was never meant for much”
“I will start that business/ministry”	“It’s too late now; reality set in”

“If someone reminds them about the dreams they once had, some of them might say, ‘Reality set in.’”

Daddy Adeboye rejects this excuse with a bold declaration:

“Child of God, there is no reality apart from the one you make for yourself.”

This is not positive thinking divorced from God. It is faith-based determination. The “reality” that tries to kill your dream is not final reality. God’s promise over your life is more real than any obstacle in your path.

2. Faith + Effort = Fulfillment

“If you stop dreaming or working towards achieving your dreams, they may just never come to pass. However, with your faith in God, continue to dream, work towards achieving them, and you will eventually see them come to pass.”

Notice the two components:

Component	Description	Scriptural Basis
Faith in God	Trusting that the dream came from God and He will fulfill it	“The vision is for an appointed time… though it tarry, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:3)
Continued work	Persistent effort, development, and preparation	“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26)

Dreams are not fulfilled by magic. They are fulfilled by divine empowerment and human diligence. Joseph heard from God, but he also worked in Potiphar’s house, studied administration in prison, and prepared his mind for the day Pharaoh would call.

Joseph: The Blueprint for Dream Fulfillment

1. Opposition to the Dream (Genesis 37-39)

Daddy Adeboye lists three major attacks against Joseph’s dream:

Attack	Source	Attempted Result
Conspiracy to kill	His own brothers (Genesis 37:18-20)	End the dream through murder
Selling into slavery	His brothers (Genesis 37:28)	End the dream through displacement
False accusation and imprisonment	Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:1-20)	End the dream through disgrace and captivity

Any one of these would have destroyed a lesser man. Joseph lost his family, his freedom, his reputation, and his comfort. Humanly speaking, every circumstance screamed, “Your dream is dead. Reality has set in.”

“When he was in prison, he could have said, ‘Reality has set in,’ and given up on his dreams. Rather, he continued to prepare himself…”

This is the critical difference between those who fulfill their dreams and those who bury them. Joseph did not waste his prison years in self-pity. He used them as a classroom.

2. Preparation: The Hidden Work Before the Public Breakthrough

Daddy Adeboye highlights Joseph’s diligent preparation:

Location	Position	What Joseph Learned/Developed
Jacob’s house	Favored son	Leadership, family dynamics, God’s covenant
Potiphar’s house	Slave, then overseer	Management, administration, integrity under temptation
Prison	Prisoner, then trustee	Organization, people skills, interpreting dreams

None of this seemed relevant to ruling Egypt. A lazy dreamer would have said, “I’m supposed to be a ruler, not a slave overseer or a prison trustee. This is beneath my dream.” But Joseph understood: every assignment was preparing him for the final assignment.

“From his story, we can see that preparation is crucial in positioning you to achieve your dreams.”

Daddy Adeboye makes a stunning point: even Joseph’s gift of dream interpretation was sharpened in prison. He interpreted the dreams of the butler and the baker (Genesis 40) before he ever stood before Pharaoh. That was a dress rehearsal. That was God saying, “I am developing your gift even here, in this dark place.”

3. The Danger of Being Unprepared for the Opportunity

Daddy Adeboye issues a sobering warning:

“If Joseph had been laid-back and had refused to prepare and develop himself, he would have missed a great opportunity to fulfil his dreams as he stood before Pharaoh.”

Consider what could have happened:

What Joseph Did	What Joseph Could Have Done
Interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams accurately	Given a vague, unconvincing interpretation
Provided a seven-year administrative plan	Stopped at the interpretation, offering no solution
Demonstrated wisdom and leadership	Appeared talented but impractical
Was made second in all of Egypt	Been rewarded and then forgotten

“If all he had told Pharaoh was the interpretation of his dreams without the wise counsel on how to administer the resources of Egypt, perhaps he would have been returned to prison as a privileged prisoner.”

This is a chilling thought: Joseph could have been released from prison, given a reward, and then sent back to obscurity because he had the gift but not the skill. Gift opens the door; skill keeps you in the room.

Your Gift Will Make Room for You (Proverbs 18:16)

1. What “Gift” Means in This Context

Daddy Adeboye uses “gift” in two senses:

Sense	Meaning	Example
Spiritual gift	Supernatural enablement from the Holy Spirit	Prophecy, healing, teaching, administration
Natural gift/talent	Innate ability or acquired skill	Music, writing, leadership, technical expertise

Both come from God. Both are meant to be developed and deployed. Joseph had the gift of dream interpretation (spiritual) and the gift of administration (natural/skill). He needed both.

2. How the Gift “Makes Room”

“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”

The gift does four things:

Action	Explanation
Creates visibility	Your gift distinguishes you from the crowd
Opens doors	People who need what you have will seek you out
Grants access	You stand before people you could never have approached on your own
Provides influence	Your gift makes you valuable to others

Joseph was a prisoner. Prisoners do not stand before Pharaoh. But his gift of interpretation was so exceptional that the butler remembered, Pharaoh summoned, and Joseph was elevated. The gift did what Joseph’s connections, wealth, or position could never do.

3. Gift Without Skill = Missed Opportunity

Daddy Adeboye is careful to balance:

“Your gifts will give you the chance for your dreams to become a reality, and your skills will make you qualified to live those dreams.”

If You Have…	Result
Gift but no skill	You get the opportunity but fail to sustain it
Skill but no gift	You work hard but lack the divine edge that opens doors
Gift + skill	Opportunity meets preparation; destiny is fulfilled

“When opportunity meets preparation, destiny is sure to be fulfilled.”

Don’t Despise the Days of Preparation

1. Preparation Develops Character

Daddy Adeboye emphasizes that the preparation season is not wasted time:

“Do not despise your days of preparation because they will develop your character and enable you to achieve your dreams and stay relevant for a very long time.”

Joseph’s character was shaped in slavery and prison:

• Humility – From favored son to slave, he learned dependence on God
• Integrity – He fled from Potiphar’s wife, refusing to sin against God
• Patience – He waited years for the promise, not taking shortcuts
• Wisdom – He learned administration by serving wherever he was placed

A person who is promoted without character becomes dangerous. God prepares you in secret before He promotes you in public.

2. What Preparation Looks Like Today

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s counsel, here is how to prepare for your dream:

Area of Preparation	Practical Action
Spiritual preparation	Deepen your prayer life, study Scripture, fast, develop spiritual gifts
Skill development	Take courses, read books, learn from mentors, practice your craft
Character preparation	work on patience, integrity, humility, and emotional maturity
Network preparation	Serve faithfully where you are; your current assignment is your training ground
Mindset preparation	Refuse to give up; keep dreaming; keep working; keep believing

How to Keep Your Dream Alive and Prepare for It

Here is a practical roadmap from Daddy Adeboye’s message:

1. Refuse to Say “Reality Set In” – That phrase is a dream-killer. Replace it with: “My dream is from God, and God is not a liar. It will come to pass.”
2. Continue to Work Toward Your Dream – Even in small ways, every day, do something that moves you closer to your goal.
3. Develop Your Skills While You Wait – Like Joseph in prison, use every season to get better. Take a class. Learn a language. Master a tool. Read a book.
4. Use Your Gift at Every Opportunity – Joseph interpreted the butler’s dream even though it was just a fellow prisoner. He did not despise small beginnings. Your next open door may come from a “small” assignment.
5. Stay Ready So You Don’t Have to Get Ready – The opportunity will come suddenly (Pharaoh called in the morning). If you are prepared, you will rise. If not, you will be passed by.

Warning: Do Not Let Delay Become Discouragement

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries an implicit warning: the time between the promise and the fulfillment is the most dangerous season. This is when:

• Your brothers betray you (like Joseph)
• False accusations come (like Joseph)
• You feel forgotten (like Joseph in prison)
• You are tempted to settle for less (like Joseph could have)

But Daddy Adeboye says: “The word of the LORD tried him” (Psalm 105:19). The delay was not denial. The delay was development. God was not punishing Joseph; He was preparing Joseph. The same is true for you.

Conclusion: Your Prayer for Preparedness and Fulfillment

Daddy Adeboye closes with a prayer that when your great opportunity comes, you will be prepared for it. Do not let the dream die. Do not waste the waiting.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for the dreams You have placed in my heart. Forgive me for the times I have allowed disappointment to make me say, ‘Reality has set in.’ Revive my dreams today. Give me the spirit of Joseph—the determination to prepare even in prison, to develop my gifts even in obscurity, and to serve faithfully even when the promise seems delayed. I declare that my gift will make room for me. I declare that when opportunity meets my preparation, my destiny will be fulfilled. Do not let me miss my moment because I was lazy or discouraged. Make me ready, and keep me ready, in Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The Dream Resurrection Exercise: Write down the dreams you had as a child, teenager, or young adult that you have abandoned. Next to each one, write: “God has not forgotten this. What is one step I can take this week to move toward it?”
2. The Skill Audit: List the skills required for your dream to become a reality. For each skill, rate yourself 1-10. Then commit to improving one skill by one point over the next 90 days.
3. The Joseph Principle: Identify your current “prison” (the place or season that feels like delay, obscurity, or limitation). Ask: “What can I learn here? What skill can I develop? How can I serve faithfully in this place?” Then do it.

“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” (Proverbs 18:16)
Keep dreaming. Keep preparing. Keep working. Your gift is making room for you even now, and when the opportunity comes, you will be ready.

• Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heavens 8 June 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heavens 7 June 2026 devotional for today is PRAY ALWAYS

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 6 June 2026 Devotional

---

OPEN HEAVENS 7 JUNE 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: PRAY ALWAYS

MEMORISE:

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Romans 12:12

READ: Luke 18:1-8

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
² Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
³ And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
⁴ And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

⁵ Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
⁶ And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
⁷ And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
⁸ I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

---

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 7 JUNE 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

In Matthew 21:13, Jesus stated that His house is to be called a house of prayer, not a den of thieves.

Although He was talking about the physical temple at Jerusalem in that passage, you should note that it also applies to you because you are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). This means that God expects you to pray always. Christians who do not pray or who only pray occasionally create avenues for the enemy to attack and defile them.

As a Christian, God wants you to be a house of prayer; He wants you to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). James 5:17-18 tells us that Elijah prayed fervently for rain not to fall in Israel, and God answered his prayer. After 42 months of drought, he prayed fervently again that the rain should fall, and there was a heavy downpour (1 Kings 18:42-45). During the drought, Elijah prayed for a widow’s dead son to be restored to life, and God heard him (1 Kings 17:22). He was a man of consistent prayer, and he always received answers to his prayers. Those who prioritise prayer enjoy consistent answers to their prayers.

In today’s Bible reading, Jesus told the parable of a widow who persistently disturbed an unrighteous judge until he responded to her. The reason Jesus told this parable was so that men would pray always and not faint (Luke 18:1). This tells us that when a fellow is not praying, he or she is already fainting. The widow’s persistence eventually paid off, as the judge responded to her and avenged her of her adversary. When you are consistent in praying, you are assured of answers to your prayers.

When a fellow prays consistently, he or she will not only receive answers to his or her prayers, but the person will be granted greater access to the secrets of God. Psalm 25:14 says, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” Nobody shows a random visitor who visits his or her home the key to a hidden vault, but such a secret is typically revealed to intimate friends.

Every Christian must recognise that intimacy is cultivated in the place of prayer, and they must strive to become intimate with their heavenly

Father. This is because the more you pray, the greater access you will have to God’s heart and secrets. Beloved, are you an intimate friend of God?

KEY POINT:

You are God’s temple, and you ought to pray without ceasing.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Psalms 9-17

Open Heavens HYMN 8: I Need Thee Every Hour

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 7 JUNE 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Romans 12:12

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.”

This verse is a threefold cord of Christian endurance. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on the final phrase: “continuing instant in prayer.” The word “instant” does not mean fast or quick; it means constant, persistent, unwavering. A Christian who is “instant in prayer” is not one who prays only when crisis strikes, but one who is perpetually in the attitude of prayer—watchful, expectant, and connected to heaven at all times. Without this, the other two—rejoicing in hope and patience in tribulation—become impossible.

BIBLE READING: Luke 18:1-8

This passage is the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Jesus told it with a specific purpose: “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). The parable contrasts an unjust judge (who feared neither God nor man) with a persistent widow who had no power, no influence, and no advocate. Her only weapon was her relentless pleading. Eventually, the judge granted her request—not out of compassion, but out of sheer exhaustion. Jesus’ argument is from the lesser to the greater: if an unjust judge will answer persistent pleas, how much more will your loving Heavenly Father answer His own children who cry to Him day and night?

The House of Prayer: Your Identity as a Believer

1. You Are God’s Temple (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Daddy Adeboye draws a critical connection between Matthew 21:13 and the believer’s identity:

“Jesus stated that His house is to be called a house of prayer… you should note that it also applies to you because you are God’s temple.”

When Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem, He was angry because the place designated for prayer had been turned into a marketplace. But Daddy Adeboye warns that the same tragedy can happen in your life:

Physical Temple (Jerusalem)	Your Body as God’s Temple
Became a den of thieves	Becomes a den of distractions, worries, and sin
Meant for prayer	Meant to be a house of prayer
Jesus cleansed it with zeal	The Holy Spirit desires to cleanse your prayer life

“Christians who do not pray or who only pray occasionally create avenues for the enemy to attack and defile them.”

A temple that is not filled with prayer is an empty temple. An empty temple is vulnerable to occupation by thieves. When you neglect prayer, you are not just missing a blessing—you are leaving the door open for the enemy to move into rooms that belong to God.

2. Pray Without Ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Daddy Adeboye emphasizes that occasional prayer is not enough. “God wants you to pray without ceasing.”

This does not mean you abandon your job, family, or responsibilities to kneel 24 hours a day. It means:

• Maintaining a spirit of prayer throughout daily activities
• Turning brief moments (driving, walking, waiting) into prayer
• Living in constant awareness of God’s presence
• Praying immediately when a need arises, not “when you have time”

A Christian who does not pray is like a fish that does not swim or a bird that does not fly. Prayer is not an activity on your to-do list; it is the atmosphere in which you live.

Elijah: The Man of Consistent Prayer

Daddy Adeboye uses Elijah as the supreme biblical example of a man who prioritized prayer and received consistent answers.

1. Three Prayers, Three Answers

Situation	Elijah’s Prayer	God’s Response
Drought on Israel (James 5:17-18)	Prayed fervently for no rain	No rain for 42 months
Widow’s dead son (1 Kings 17:22)	Prayed for the child’s life	The boy was restored to life
End of drought (1 Kings 18:42-45)	Prayed fervently for rain	Heavy downpour after 42 months of drought

Notice the pattern: Elijah prayed before the drought began. He prayed during the drought when death struck. He prayed at the end of the drought when it was time for rain. He was not a crisis-only pray-er. He was a man of consistent, persistent, all-season prayer.

“Those who prioritise prayer enjoy consistent answers to their prayers.”

This is not magic; it is divine principle. When prayer becomes your lifestyle rather than your emergency system, you develop intimacy with God, sensitivity to His voice, and confidence in His faithfulness.

2. Elijah’s Posture in Prayer (1 Kings 18:42-45)

Daddy Adeboye notes a detail worth imitating: after Elijah prayed for rain, he sent his servant to look toward the sea. Six times, the servant reported, “There is nothing.” A lesser man would have given up. But Elijah persisted:

Attempt	Result	Elijah’s Response
First	Nothing	“Go again”
Second	Nothing	“Go again”
Third	Nothing	“Go again”
Fourth	Nothing	“Go again”
Fifth	Nothing	“Go again”
Sixth	Nothing	“Go again”
Seventh	A cloud the size of a man’s hand	“Get ready, the rain is coming!”

Elijah did not faint at the sixth “nothing.” He kept praying, kept expecting, kept sending the servant. And on the seventh look, the answer arrived. The persistent widow in Jesus’ parable came seven times? Seven times? No—she kept coming until the judge relented. So must we.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)

1. The Purpose: Pray Always and Not Faint

Daddy Adeboye states plainly:

“The reason Jesus told this parable was so that men would pray always and not faint. This tells us that when a fellow is not praying, he or she is already fainting.”

Fainting is not merely falling asleep. Fainting is losing consciousness, losing strength, losing hope. When you stop praying, you are in the process of collapsing spiritually. You may still be walking, talking, and working—but internally, you are losing your grip on God.

Praying Christian	Non-Praying Christian
Strong in spirit	Weak and vulnerable
Patient in tribulation	Anxious and overwhelmed
Rejoicing in hope	Despairing and cynical
Receives answers	Suffers silently

2. The Characters in the Parable

Character	Description	Spiritual Application
The Widow	Powerless, vulnerable, no advocate	You, in your moments of helplessness
The Adversary	The one opposing her	Satan, sin, circumstances, or spiritual enemies
The Unjust Judge	Feared neither God nor man	Contrast to our just, loving Heavenly Father

Jesus’ point is devastating: if a corrupt, godless judge can be worn down by persistence, how much more will your good, loving, faithful Father answer you?

“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” (Luke 18:7)

The delay is not denial. God “bears long” not because He is unwilling, but because He is working within His perfect timing and for your ultimate good. The widow got her answer because she refused to stop asking. So must you.

Beyond Answers: Prayer as the Gateway to Intimacy

1. The Secret of the Lord (Psalm 25:14)

Daddy Adeboye elevates the purpose of prayer beyond mere request-answering:

“When a fellow prays consistently, he or she will not only receive answers to his or her prayers, but the person will be granted greater access to the secrets of God.”

Psalm 25:14 – “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”

The word “secret” (Hebrew sod) means an intimate council, a private conversation, a confidential disclosure. This is what God offers to those who pray consistently: not just blessings, but Himself. Not just answers, but access.

2. The Visitor vs. The Intimate Friend

Daddy Adeboye gives a powerful analogy:

“Nobody shows a random visitor who visits his or her home the key to a hidden vault, but such a secret is typically revealed to intimate friends.”

Visitor	Intimate Friend
Comes occasionally, stays briefly	Dwells in constant fellowship
Sees the living room, not the vault	Is trusted with the family secrets
Leaves and is easily forgotten	Is remembered and relied upon
Receives surface-level hospitality	Receives the keys to the kingdom

Many Christians treat God like a random visitor: they pray on Sundays, in emergencies, or when the devotional reminds them. They see the “living room” of God’s blessings but never the “vault” of His secrets. They receive answers occasionally but miss the intimacy that transforms the soul.

“The more you pray, the greater access you will have to God’s heart and secrets.”

The Warning: Do Not Be a Den of Thieves

Daddy Adeboye returns to the opening warning: your body is a temple that must be a house of prayer.

Consider what happens when prayer is absent:

Absence of Prayer Leads To	Scriptural Warning
Spiritual vulnerability	“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41)
Anxiety and fear	“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer… let your requests be made known” (Philippians 4:6)
Defilement by the enemy	“Your adversary the devil walks about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8)
Lack of divine direction	“Trust in the Lord… lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

A prayerless Christian is not a strong Christian struggling in secret. A prayerless Christian is a defeated Christian who has already begun to faint. The enemy does not need to launch a major attack; he simply needs to keep you from your knees.

How to Become a House of Prayer (Practical Steps)

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to cultivate a lifestyle of persistent, intimate prayer:

1. Set Fixed Prayer Times: Daniel prayed three times daily (Daniel 6:10). Even in a busy schedule, establish non-negotiable prayer appointments with God—morning, noon, or evening.
2. Pray Before Crisis: Elijah prayed before the drought and before the widow’s son died. Do not wait for emergency. Build the habit of prayer in peaceful times so that when storms come, your reflex is already prayer.
3. Practice Persistence: The widow kept coming. Elijah sent his servant seven times. When you pray and do not see an immediate answer, do not faint. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking (Matthew 7:7-8).
4. Pray the Word: Use Scripture as your prayer guide. The Psalms, the prayers of Paul (Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21), and the Lord’s Prayer are templates for powerful, God-centered prayer.
5. Cultivate Intimacy, Not Just Requests: Spend time in prayer just being with God—worshiping, thanking, sitting silently in His presence. The goal is not just to get things from God but to know God.

Conclusion: Your Prayer for a Persistent Prayer Life

Daddy Adeboye closes with a searching question: “Beloved, are you an intimate friend of God?” If not, the answer is not more Bible study alone or more church attendance alone—it is more prayer. Begin today.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I have treated Your temple as a den of distractions rather than a house of prayer. I have prayed occasionally and faintly, not persistently and fervently. Forgive me. Teach me to pray without ceasing. Give me the spirit of Elijah—a spirit of consistent, answered prayer. Give me the persistence of the widow—the refusal to faint until the answer comes. And above all, draw me into intimacy with You. I do not want only Your answers; I want Your heart. Reveal Your secrets to me as to an intimate friend. Make my life a house of prayer, in Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The 7-Day Persistence Challenge: Choose one specific prayer request that has not yet been answered. Pray about it every single day for the next 30 days. Do not stop. Each day, thank God in advance for the answer.
2. Prayer Time Audit: Track your prayer time for one week. How many minutes do you actually pray (not just read devotionals or listen to worship music)? Identify the gap between your desired prayer life and your actual one. Close the gap by 5 minutes this week.
3. The Elijah Posture: When you pray for something, do not just pray once and forget. Send your “servant” (your faith) repeatedly to look for the answer cloud. Even when six times you see nothing, go again. The seventh time may bring the rain.

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
Do not faint. Do not stop. Pray always. The Judge is listening, and the answer is closer than you think.

• Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heavens 7 June 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heavens 6 June 2026 devotional for today is REJOICE ALWAYS.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 5 June 2026 Devotional

---

OPEN HEAVENS 6 JUNE 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: REJOICE ALWAYS

MEMORISE:

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
Psalm 70:4

READ: Psalm 68:3-5

³ But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
⁴ Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.
⁵ A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

---

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 6 JUNE 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

Beloved, the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and this is one of the major reasons you should rejoice in Him always (Philippians 4:4).

No matter your current situation, if you think deeply about all that God has done for you, you will realise that you have more than enough to be joyful about. For example, if you currently have financial challenges but realise that you are enjoying divine health, you won’t be under any medical restrictions on what you can or can’t eat.

Many years ago, I had a friend who could only feed on milk because of a health condition. Yet, before he died, he had millions of dollars in his bank accounts.

As Christians, we have many blessings to rejoice over; however, we often take them for granted. You may not realise the value of breathing until you see someone struggling to breathe. Likewise, you may not see sleeping and waking up as a blessing until you hear stories of people who died in their sleep.

You may currently be facing numerous challenges and difficulties, but there is always a reason to rejoice.

Isaiah 54:1 encourages those who are yet to bear fruit to rejoice. This is because it is with joy that a fellow can draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). When God wanted to answer Hannah’s prayer, He first ensured that her countenance was no longer sad (1 Samuel 1:18).

Satan’s aim is to keep believers perpetually sorrowful, but when they choose to rejoice in the Lord always, they close the door to him.

In Habakkuk 3:18, the prophet said that he would rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of his salvation. The Almighty God is the God of your salvation, meaning that you are assured of His salvation no matter what you face. This is another reason for you to rejoice in Him always.

When you skip to the end of a movie and see that the main character is still alive, you will not be troubled if you go back to watch a scene where he or she is facing a near-death situation. Instead of getting worried, you will be at rest because you have seen the end of the movie.

Child of God, God has assured you in His word that your end is peace (Psalm 37:37). Never give in to fear or anxiety; rather, rejoice in the Lord always because with Christ in you, a glorious end awaits you (Colossians 1:27).

KEY POINT:

Be intentional about rejoicing in the lord at all times.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Psalms 1-8

Open Heavens HYMN 17: PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 6 JUNE 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Psalm 70:4

“Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.”

This verse reveals that rejoicing is not optional for the seeker of God—it is a defining characteristic. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it connects seeking God with sustained joy. Notice that the verse says “say continually”—rejoicing is not a one-time shout at the end of a testimony; it is a continuous declaration: “Let God be magnified.” Joy is the language of those who have learned that God Himself, not just His gifts, is their true reward.

BIBLE READING: Psalm 68:3-5

“But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.”

This passage gives three commands to the righteous: be glad, rejoice, sing praises. And then it gives the reason: God is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows. Daddy Adeboye draws from this to show that our joy is not based on perfect circumstances but on the character of God. Even when you feel fatherless (abandoned, unsupported) or widowed (alone, vulnerable), God is in His holy habitation acting on your behalf. That is grounds for exceeding joy.

The Joy of the Lord: Your Non-Negotiable Strength

1. Why Joy Is Not Optional (Nehemiah 8:10)

Daddy Adeboye begins with a foundational truth: “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). This means that without joy, you are weak. Joy is not a spiritual luxury for days when everything is going well; it is the very source of spiritual stamina.

Without Joy	With the Joy of the Lord
Easily discouraged by bad news	Remains stable because joy is rooted in God, not circumstances
Vulnerable to satanic attacks	The enemy cannot penetrate a joyful heart
Drains others with complaints	Strengthens others through testimony
Misses God’s presence (for in His presence is fullness of joy – Psalm 16:11)	Dwells in God’s presence continually

Daddy Adeboye then quotes Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Not sometimes. Not when the bank account is full or the marriage is peaceful or the children are obedient. Always. This is not toxic positivity or denial of pain. It is a deliberate choice to anchor your emotional state in God’s unchanging character rather than your fluctuating circumstances.

2. The Discipline of Counting Your Blessings

Daddy Adeboye gives a practical instruction:

“No matter your current situation, if you think deeply about all that God has done for you, you will realise that you have more than enough to be joyful about.”

He illustrates this with a striking contrast:

Situation	What You Have to Rejoice About
Financial challenges but divine health	You can eat anything without medical restrictions
Ailing health but financial abundance	You have resources for the best care
Breathing difficulties? No	But if you are breathing now, rejoice!

“Many years ago, I had a friend who could only feed on milk because of a health condition. Yet, before he died, he had millions of dollars in his bank accounts.”

The point is devastatingly simple: the man with millions could not enjoy a single meal. The man with financial struggles could eat freely. Each had something to envy in the other, and each had something to thank God for. The joyful Christian is the one who focuses on what they have, not on what they lack.

3. Taking Blessings for Granted: A Deadly Trap

Daddy Adeboye diagnoses a common spiritual disease: familiarity blindness.

“You may not realise the value of breathing until you see someone struggling to breathe. Likewise, you may not see sleeping and waking up as a blessing until you hear stories of people who died in their sleep.”

Consider these everyday miracles that we rarely celebrate:

Everyday Blessing	The Alternative Reality
Waking up this morning	Many went to bed and did not wake up
Ability to breathe freely	Millions gasp for air in hospital beds
Food to eat (even if not luxurious)	Over 800 million people go to bed hungry daily
A roof over your head	Millions sleep in the open, displaced by war or disaster
Sight, hearing, mobility	Many would trade millions for any of these

The devil’s strategy is to make you so focused on what you don’t have that you become blind to what you do have. A sorrowful Christian is an ineffective Christian. When you choose joy, you slam the door in Satan’s face.

Biblical Foundations for Rejoicing in Hard Times

1. Isaiah 54:1 – Rejoice Even When You Are Barren

Daddy Adeboye makes a remarkable connection: “Isaiah 54:1 encourages those who are yet to bear fruit to rejoice.”

Read the verse: “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”

This is counter-intuitive. The barren woman has no child to hold, no evidence of fruitfulness, yet God commands her to sing. Why? Because joy precedes the miracle. Daddy Adeboye explains:

“It is with joy that a fellow can draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3).”

You cannot draw water from a well with a heavy, bitter heart. The well of salvation is deep, but the rope of joy is what pulls the water up. If you want answers to prayer, you may need to change your countenance first.

2. Hannah’s Testimony: From Sorrow to Joy (1 Samuel 1:18)

Daddy Adeboye highlights a crucial detail in Hannah’s story:

“When God wanted to answer Hannah’s prayer, He first ensured that her countenance was no longer sad.”

Consider the sequence:

Step	Hannah’s State	Action
1	Barren, provoked, weeping bitterly	Poured out her soul to God
2	Still waiting for answer	Eli spoke a word of faith over her
3	She chose to change her countenance	Went away, ate, and her face was no longer sad
4	God remembered her	Samuel was conceived

The answer did not come before she changed her countenance. She changed her countenance by faith, and then God moved. Daddy Adebooye’s point is powerful: your persistent sadness may actually be blocking the very answer you are seeking. When you choose to rejoice in advance, you create an atmosphere where God can work.

3. Satan’s Target: Your Joy

“Satan’s aim is to keep believers perpetually sorrowful, but when they choose to rejoice in the Lord always, they close the door to him.”

Why does Satan target joy? Because:

• A sorrowful Christian does not pray with faith (prayer becomes whining)
• A sorrowful Christian does not witness effectively (who wants what you have if you are miserable?)
• A sorrowful Christian is easily offended (misery magnifies minor slights)
• A sorrowful Christian gives the enemy a foothold (Ephesians 4:27 – sadness can become bitterness, then sin)

Rejoicing is not just self-help; it is spiritual warfare. Every time you choose to sing, praise, or give thanks in a difficult situation, you are slamming a door in the devil’s face.

The Movie Theatre Principle: Seeing Your End From the Beginning

1. Habakkuk’s Declaration (Habakkuk 3:18)

Daddy Adeboye quotes the prophet: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

The context of Habakkuk 3 is terrifying: the fig tree does not blossom, there is no fruit on the vines, the olive crop fails, the fields yield no food, the sheep are cut off from the fold, and there are no cattle in the stalls. In other words: economic collapse, agricultural disaster, and total financial ruin.

Yet Habakkuk says, “I will rejoice.”

Not because of what he sees in the present, but because of Who he knows for eternity: the God of my salvation.

2. The Movie Illustration

Daddy Adeboye gives a memorable illustration:

“When you skip to the end of a movie and see that the main character is still alive, you will not be troubled if you go back to watch a scene where he or she is facing a near-death situation. Instead of getting worried, you will be at rest because you have seen the end of the movie.”

This is exactly what the Bible does for the believer. We have already read the last chapter:

Current Situation	The End (According to Scripture)
Financial struggle	“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory”(Philippians 4:19)
Sickness	“With his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5)
Loneliness	“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5)
Persecution	“Great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12)
Death itself	“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

“Child of God, God has assured you in His word that your end is peace (Psalm 37:37).”

Your end is not disaster. Your end is not abandonment. Your end is not defeat. Your end is peace. When you know the end, you can rejoice in the middle.

How to Rejoice Always (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional implies several practical strategies for maintaining joy:

1. Practice Gratitude as a Discipline: Every day, write down three things you are grateful for—starting with breath, sleep, and salvation. Do this even on bad days.
2. Preach to Yourself, Not Listen to Yourself: When you feel sorrow rising, speak truth to your soul like David did: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in God” (Psalm 42:5). Do not wait for feelings of joy; command them.
3. Change Your Countenance by Faith: Like Hannah, you may not have the answer yet, but you can choose to stop looking sad. Lift your head. Eat your meal. Smile at someone. Act as if you trust God even before you see the result.
4. Read the End of the Book: When fear or anxiety attacks, remind yourself: “My end is peace. I have read the last chapter. I win in Christ Jesus.”
5. Magnify God, Not Your Problems: The memory verse says, “Let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.” Magnifying God means making Him bigger in your vision than your problem. You cannot focus on both at once.

Warning: Do Not Let Satan Steal Your Joy

Daddy Adeboye warns that perpetual sorrow is not humility; it is a satanic trap. Some believers mistakenly think that being sad shows spiritual depth or sensitivity. They say, “How can I rejoice when my situation is so bad?”

But the Bible commands otherwise. Rejoicing is not pretending that problems don’t exist. It is choosing to trust that God is bigger than your problems. A sorrowful Christian is a defeated Christian. A joyful Christian is a dangerous Christian—dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.

Misconception	Biblical Truth
“I’ll rejoice when my problem is solved”	Joy is the weapon that helps solve the problem
“Sorrow shows I take my situation seriously”	Sorrow shows I have forgotten God’s faithfulness
“I can’t fake joy”	Joy is not faking; it is faith in action

Conclusion: Your Prayer for Unshakable Joy

Daddy Adeboye closes by anchoring your hope in Christ within you: “With Christ in you, a glorious end awaits you” (Colossians 1:27). That glorious end is not a maybe; it is a certainty. Rejoice therefore, even now.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, I thank You that the joy of the Lord is my strength. Forgive me for allowing circumstances to steal my joy and for taking Your daily blessings for granted. Today, I choose to rejoice—not because my situation has changed, but because You never change. I magnify You above my problems. I declare that my end is peace. I smash the door of sorrow that Satan has tried to keep open in my life. Holy Spirit, fill me with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I will rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice! In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The Gratitude Alarm: Set three alarms on your phone today. When each alarm rings, stop and name one thing you are grateful for that you usually take for granted (breathing, walking, seeing, hearing, sleeping, waking).
2. The Movie Theatre Declaration: Every morning this week, say aloud: “I have read the last chapter. My end is peace. Whatever I face today, the conclusion is already written: I win in Christ Jesus.”
3. Change Your Countenance Challenge: Identify one area where you have been persistently sad (a delayed answer, a financial struggle, a relationship issue). Today, by faith, change your countenance. Smile. Thank God for the answer before you see it. Watch what God does.

“Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.” (Psalm 70:4)
Do not let your situation silence your song. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice!

• Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heavens 6 June 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heaven 13 November 2025 devotional for today is DISCERNING OF SPIRITS I

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 12 November 2025 Devotional

---

OPEN HEAVEN 13 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: DISCERNING OF SPIRITS I

MEMORISE:
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14

READ: 1 John 4:1-3:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

---

RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 13 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

Many children of God have fallen into the devil’s trap because they lacked the gift of the discerning of spirits. Usually, the messengers that the devil sends to believers appear as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

They usually seem harmless and very likeable, such that believers let their guards down around them and put their trust in them. By the time such believers realise that they are dealing with the devil’s agents, major damage would have been done, and they would have lost ground to the devil where their destiny is concerned.

However, if such believers have the gift of the discerning of spirits, they will get an inward witness, warning them about the devil’s agents.

Some Christian ladies have married occultic men who disguised themselves as born-again Christians because they did not have the gift of the discerning of spirits. Likewise, some believers have engaged in businesses with the wrong people because they lacked the gift of the discerning of spirits.

Christian employers should not only look at the qualifications of the people they intend to employ; they should also be sensitive to discern the kind of spirits they carry so they do not impact their organisations negatively.

In 1980, I attended the wedding ceremony of one of my three close friends at the time. When I got to the venue, one of the other two friends welcomed me warmly and was doing everything to make me comfortable by offering me all kinds of drinks, food, and souvenirs.

Suddenly, I heard God say, “He is your enemy.” I was shocked because I was really close to him and thought I knew him so well. However, I started treading carefully around him from that day on. Sometime later, I confronted him with what God told me, but he denied being an enemy.

Some months later, we met again to discuss issues concerning the church after the death of my Father in the Lord. There, he showed his true colours and said, “From the day you came into this church, I hated you.”

Beloved, if you don’t have the gift of the discerning of spirits, you most likely will commit the error of making an enemy a friend and a friend an enemy. This is why you must ask God for the gift of the discerning of spirits so you can truly know the spirits controlling the people around you. I pray that every devil disguised as an angel of light around you will be exposed, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please give me the gift of the discerning of spirits.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Acts 6-7

HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 13 NOVEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: 2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
This verse unveils the core strategy of the enemy: deception through disguise. Satan does not always present himself as a grotesque monster; his most effective attacks come through attractive, reasonable, and even “spiritual” facades that are designed to bypass our spiritual defenses.

BIBLE READING: 1 John 4:1-3
This passage provides the biblical mandate and method for spiritual discernment:

• v. 1: A direct command: “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.”Discernment is not an option; it is a necessity for every believer.
• v. 2-3: The foundational test: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. The spirit of antichrist denies this truth. This tests the spirit’s allegiance to the core truth of the Gospel.

The Divine X-Ray: Discerning the Spirit Behind the Smile

Pastor E.A. Adeboye moves from the internal character issue of pride to a critical external spiritual skill: discernment. He teaches that in the spiritual regime of the Holy Spirit, believers must be equipped to see beyond natural appearances to perceive the true spiritual forces at work, especially when they are cloaked in light.

1. The Enemy’s Primary Strategy: Deceptive Packaging

Angels of Light, Not Darkness:
The greatest threats to a believer’s destiny rarely come from obvious sources of evil. The devil’s most effective agents are charming, likable, and often appear to be “harmless.” They gain access through trust, friendship, and the appearance of virtue, making their eventual betrayal or negative influence all the more devastating.

The High Stakes of Discernment:
Daddy Adeboye outlines the catastrophic consequences of lacking this gift:

• Marital Destruction: Christian women marrying men who are secretly occultic.
• Financial Ruin: Believers entering business partnerships with the wrong people.
• Organizational Sabotage: Employers hiring qualified but spiritually toxic employees.
  In each case, “major damage” is done before the true nature is revealed.

2. The Nature of the Gift of Discerning Spirits

Beyond Natural Suspicion:
This is not a hyper-critical spirit or paranoia. It is a supernatural revelation from the Holy Spirit that exposes the true spiritual identity or agenda behind a person, situation, or teaching. It is an “inward witness,” a divine alarm bell that rings when something is not of God.

A Necessary Component of the Spirit-Filled Life:
While all believers have a measure of discernment through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:15), the gift of discerning of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10) is a special manifestation granted for specific situations. It is not for judging motives, but for identifying the spirit at work—whether it is of God, of the flesh, or of the devil.

3. A Personal Testimony: The Friend Who Was an Enemy

The Shock of Divine Revelation:
Daddy Adeboye’s personal story is a powerful case study. His friend’s outward actions were warm, generous, and welcoming. By all natural appearances, he was a close ally. The divine revelation, “He is your enemy,” was therefore shocking and counter-intuitive.

The Confirmation of True Colors:
The initial denial was part of the deception. However, in a moment of truth, the friend’s hidden hatred was revealed, confirming the divine warning. This testimony underscores that the gift of discernment is not based on evidence but on revelation, and it often protects us long before the enemy’s plan is fully manifest.

How to Cultivate and Operate in Spiritual Discernment

1. Ask for the Gift Diligently:
This gift is crucial for protection. Follow the biblical pattern and ask God for it (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1). Be persistent in your request, understanding its importance for your destiny.

2. Stay Sensitized Through Holiness:
A heart cluttered with sin and worldly compromise muffles the Holy Spirit’s voice. A life of holiness, prayer, and intimacy with God keeps your spiritual senses sharp and able to detect even subtle deceptions (Hebrews 5:14).

3. Test Every Spirit by the Word:
The ultimate plumb line is Scripture. Does the person, teaching, or opportunity align with the truth of God’s Word? The first test, as in 1 John 4:2, is the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord come in the flesh. Any deviation from core biblical truth is a red flag.

Warning: The Cost of a Dull Spirit
Living without active discernment is like walking through a minefield blindfolded. You will commit the fatal error of “making an enemy a friend and a friend an enemy,” trusting the wrong people and distrusting the right ones. This leaves you vulnerable to catastrophic spiritual, emotional, and financial damage.

Conclusion: Your Prayer for Divine Exposure

Pray this:
“Holy Spirit, my Teacher and Guide, I ask You for the gift of discerning of spirits. Sharpen my spiritual senses to perceive the true nature of the spirits and people around me. Expose every agent of the devil disguised as an angel of light. Let no deceptive friendship, partnership, or opportunity derail my destiny. I rely on Your revelation to walk in safety and wisdom, in Jesus’ name.”

Action Steps:

• Pray for Key Relationships: Bring your close friends, potential spouse, and business partners before God and ask Him specifically to reveal any hidden deception.
• Study Deception in Scripture: Read about Judas Iscariot (John 12:4-6), the story of Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27), and the “false apostles” in 2 Corinthians 11. Note the patterns of deception.
• Practice in Prayer: When you feel uneasy about a situation or person, don’t dismiss it. Pray into it. Ask the Holy Spirit for clarity. Journal what you sense and watch for confirmation.

Remember: In the regime of the Holy Spirit, you are not called to be gullible. You are called to be as harmless as a dove but as wise as a serpent (Matthew 10:16). The gift of discerning of spirits is a key part of that serpentine wisdom.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1). This is your command and your protection.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 13 November 2025 Devotional PDF

The Open Heaven 6 October 2025 devotional for today is NEW LIFE.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 5 October 2025 Devotional

---

OPEN HEAVEN 6 OCTOBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: NEW LIFE

MEMORISE:
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 11:25

READ: John 11:1-44
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whosebrother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place wherehe was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.

36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone layupon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

---

RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 6 OCTOBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

Years ago, a pregnant woman was told by her doctors that her baby had died in her womb. The doctors told her that they needed to remove the dead baby from her womb because it was already decaying, and it posed a health risk to her.

However, because the RCCG Congress was near, she told them, “Let me go to the congress first; if God does not perform a miracle, then you can remove the baby.” They told her, “If we delay the procedure for one more week, you will likely die.” Still, she insisted on attending the programme.

On the first and second days of the programme, nothing happened. However, on the third day, God’s power came down so heavily that I could not stand; I had to ask for a chair while I was preaching.

As I was about to sit down, God spoke and said that there was a woman in the congregation whose baby had died in her womb for a long time, and He was bringing the baby back to life. Instantly, the baby came back to life, and she delivered the baby in due time.

Beloved, if your business, marriage, ministry, or any other part of your life has been pronounced dead, I decree that God will breathe new life into it, in Jesus’ name.

One of our members attended a programme where we anointed some handkerchiefs. Some days later, while driving to Lagos, he saw a crowd gathered on the road. Out of curiosity, he came out of his car and discovered that a motorcyclist had been knocked down by a vehicle, and he lay dead by the roadside. He was moved with compassion and then had a leading to bring out the anointed handkerchief and lay it on the corpse. He found his way through the crowd, laid the handkerchief on the dead man, and said, “Get up!” The onlookers thought he was mentally unstable until they saw the dead man come back to life.

God can restore dead things to life and make them as good as new. He can revive a dead business, breathe new life into it, and bring it to a place of global relevance. He can also revive a dead marriage and make it as good as new again. Nothing is ‘too dead’ where Jesus is concerned because He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). If He raised Lazarus after he had been dead for four days, no case is impossible with Him (Luke 1:37).

KEY POINT

Nothing stays dead when God comes on the scene.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Matthew 12-13

HYMN 25: THE GREAT PHYSICIANS NOW IS NEAR

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 6 OCTOBER 2025 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: John 11:25
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
This is the ultimate declaration of Christ’s authority over death. It is not merely a promise for the afterlife but a present-tense reality for any situation that has succumbed to spiritual, emotional, or physical death. He is the source of all life and restoration.

The God of Resurrection Power

Pastor E.A. Adeboye uses powerful testimonies to anchor our faith in a fundamental truth: no situation is beyond the life-giving power of Jesus Christ. What man declares dead and hopeless, God can declare alive and restored. Your “dead” situation is a platform for God’s greatest miracle.

The Nature of God’s Resurrection Power

• It Defies Medical and Natural Laws: The testimony of the pregnant woman confirms that God’s power supersedes every medical report and natural conclusion. Where doctors see decay and risk, God sees an opportunity for a creative miracle (Jeremiah 32:27).
• It Responds to Desperate Faith: The woman’s refusal to accept the doctor’s verdict, even at the risk of her own life, was a powerful act of faith. She positioned herself for a miracle by prioritizing God’s presence over human solution (Matthew 9:21-22).
• It Works Through Anointed Means: The testimony of the man with the handkerchief shows that God uses consecrated objects as points of contact for faith (Acts 19:11-12). The power is not in the object itself but in the God who honors it and the faith that activates it.
• It is Comprehensive: God’s resurrection power is not limited to physical death. It applies to every area of life:
  • Dead Businesses: God can revive a failing enterprise and bring it to global relevance.
  • Dead Marriages: God can breathe new life into a relationship that seems cold, loveless, and beyond repair.
  • Dead Ministries: God can revitalize a call that seems to have stagnated or failed.
  • Dead Dreams: God can resurrect visions and promises that have been buried by time and disappointment.

How to Engage God’s Resurrection Power

1. Refuse to Accept the Death Sentence:
Like the pregnant woman, you must choose to believe God’s report over man’s report (Isaiah 53:1). Do not sign the certificate of death for your situation. Your stubborn faith is the first step toward resurrection.

2. Position Yourself in God’s Presence:
The miracle happened at the congress. Bring your “dead” situation to the place of prayer, worship, and the preaching of God’s word. It is in His presence that life is found (Psalm 16:11).

3. Obey the Prophetic Word:
God spoke a specific word that triggered the miracle. Listen for God’s word concerning your situation through preaching, prayer, and the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. Act on it immediately.

4. Use Your Point of Contact:
The anointed handkerchief was a point of contact. Your point of contact could be a specific scripture you stand on, a prayer you pray, or an act of obedience God requires. Exercise your faith through a tangible action.

5. Speak to the Dead Situation:
Like the member who said, “Get up!” and like Ezekiel who prophesied to the bones, command life into your situation in the name of Jesus (Mark 11:23). Your words carry creative power when aligned with God’s will.

Warning: Do Not Bury It Prematurely
The story of Lazarus teaches us that God’s timing is perfect, even when it seems delayed (John 11:6). Do not give up and spiritually “bury” your situation before God’s appointed time. What seems like a delay is often God setting the stage for a greater glory.

Conclusion: Receive Life Now

Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, You are the Resurrection and the Life. I bring my dead [mention the situation: business, marriage, health, dream] before You today. I refuse every report of death and decay. I speak life into it now by Your authority! Breathe upon it, O breath of God. Restore it and make it whole, better than it was before, for Your glory. I believe that nothing is too dead for You. Amen.”

Action Steps:

1. Identify the “Dead” Area: Clearly define what situation in your life needs resurrection.
2. Find Your Scripture: Locate 2-3 Bible promises that contradict the “death report” and speak them over your situation daily.
3. Act in Faith: Perform a practical act of faith that demonstrates your belief in God’s resurrection power (e.g., planning for the business, showing love in the marriage).
4. Share Your Testimony: When the turnaround comes, testify of God’s power to others to strengthen their faith.

Remember: The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you (Romans 8:11). That power is actively available to quicken every mortal—or seemingly mortal—situation in your life.

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”(John 11:25). Believe this, and you will see the glory of God.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 6 October 2025 Devotional PDF