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: For there is no respect of persons with God. Romans 2:11
READ: Isaiah 3:10-11 10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 23 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
If Christ is in you, your hope is glory (Colossians 11:27). No matter who you are, as long as you have Christ in you, you can hope for God’s glory. Today’s Bible reading says that while it will be well with the righteous, it shall be ill with the wicked. No matter your past, as long as you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and you’re living according to His will, you have been made righteous, and it will be well with you. Those who aren’t born again cannot be righteous; God sees them as wicked (John 3:18-21), and He has said that it shall not be well with them (Isaiah 3:11).
I always tell my children at the beginning of each year, “It’s going to be well with me this year.” I know this because the One who said that it shall be well with the righteous never discriminates. What He says to one, He says to all (Mark 13:37).
God is not a man that He should lie; when He says something, He will do it (Numbers 23:19). When He makes a promise, and you meet the conditions of that promise, you will receive it at the appointed time. The promise of a glorious tomorrow for you, according to Colossians 1:27, is conditional, and the condition is that Christ must be in you. Those who refuse to be connected to Jesus cannot see His promises fulfilled.
A man once asked me to tell him about his future, and I replied, “That is easy. Are you born again?” He answered, “No.” I then told him that his future would be terrible. He said, “How do you know? You don’t even know me, neither do you know my name. You’ve not even prayed.” I then said, “That is unnecessary. Isaiah 3:11 says, “Woe to the wicked, for it shall be ill with him.” Then, he said, “What if I said I am born again?” I replied, “I would have told you that your tomorrow will be alright.” He then said, “What if I am willing to be a child of God now?” | replied, “Your tomorrow will be alright.”
God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11); no matter your background, His word is true for everybody.
KEY POINT
Irrespective of your background, you can be assured of a glorious future if you surrender your life completely to Christ.
MEMORISE: I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him. Hosea 14:4
READ: Jeremiah 3:22-23 22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God. 23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 22 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
After Jesus was crucified, Peter thought that it was the end of His ministry on the earth. Therefore, in John 21:3, he told his colleagues, “You know what, if I can’t go forward, at least I can return to where I am coming from. Brethren, I am going back to fishing,” and they decided to follow him. However, while he was fishing, the Lord met him and restored him. The same Peter, who thought that the end had come in his walk with Christ, began to heal the sick with his shadow, as we see in Acts 5:15:
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
If you have failed God at one time or the other, or you feel that God cannot use you again because of the sins you have committed, let me tell you, if you repent and forsake your old ways, God can still use you mightily. He specialises in using the most unlikely people in powerful measures.
Beloved, don’t be like Samson, who disappointed God. He deviated from the path that God laid out for him and started engaging in sin. Eventually, the enemy captured him, and he lost the connection he had with God.
However, when he prayed to the One whose mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), that connection was restored. Not only was the connection restored, Samson also received the power he had lost. In one day, he killed more Philistines than he had killed in his entire life. God had apparently forgiven and restored Samson, but he never forgave himself, and so, he asked to die along with his enemies (Judges 16:17-30). If you are backslidden, the Lord can still restore you if you will allow Him to. Go back to Him in prayers, start studying your Bible, and begin to walk with Him in obedience in fellowship with other Christians. You will see that as you take one step towards Him, He will take 99 steps towards you.
I have seen many backsliders completely restored by God. In fact, you will never know that they were once backslidden. When they genuinely repented, God took charge of their lives and used them powerfully. Beloved, if you have strayed from God’s path, He can do the same for you if you repent genuinely and come back to Him.
KEY POINT
God is able to completely restore a backslidden believer if he or she repents.
MEMORISE: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalm 26:7
READ: Psalm 145:1-12 I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. 7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10 All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 21 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing God’s word. Revelation 12:11 also tells us that testimonies are powerful weapons that can defeat the devil. This is why I keep sharing testimonies. I have discovered that many people don’t often remember the Bible passages I quote during my sermons, but they remember the testimonies. When you look back at the things the Lord has done, you become confident that you can overcome any obstruction that may come your way.
In 1 Samuel 17:1-51, when David confronted Goliath, his testimonies gave him the assurance that he would win. He said, “The God who delivered me from the lion and the bear will deal with Goliath.” God has kept you alive until now, and He will keep you unto the end, in Jesus’ name.
Bartimaeus, in Mark 10:46-52, was a blind man who was begging by the roadside. He heard that Jesus was passing by and began to cry for help. How did he know that Jesus can open blind eyes? I’m sure it was because he had heard testimonies of miracles that Jesus had performed. So, when he heard that the same Jesus was passing by, he knew that his miracle had come.
Several years ago, I shared a testimony about how my wife delivered a baby naturally after she had delivered three of our children through Caesarean Sections. The doctor had told us, “No more babies,” and we agreed. Thereafter, we became born again, and one day, I read the Bible passage that says, “…with God nothing shall be impossible,” and I believed it. My wife and I agreed that we would have another child, and this time, we would not involve any doctor. The baby was born safely by God’s grace. I shared the testimony for the first time in Kaduna, a state in Northern Nigeria, as I preached a message titled, ’10 steps to your miracle’ (The original sermon note l used can be accessed in the Open Heavens International Centre). A woman who attended the programme wrote all the steps in her notebook. She had undergone two Caesarean Sections and was pregnant with her third baby.
When she was about to give birth, she took the notebook and began to follow the steps. While she was still acting on the steps, the baby came.
Beloved, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). If you have heard someone share a testimony concerning whatever situation you are going through, have faith that your miracle will also come.
ACTION POINT
List at least five things God has done for you and share your testimonies with those around you.
MEMORISE: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20
READ: Mark 1:40-45 40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 20 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
As discussed yesterday, God is the source of all help, and He is able to help you in any situation. He said in Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” He told Sarah in Genesis 18:9-14 that she was going to have a son, and she laughed. He responded, “Is anything too hard for the Lord to do?” Your case is not too hard for God; He can do ALL things.
One of my daughters had been believing God for the fruit of the womb, but the doctors told her that she could never have a child. One day, a relative called her husband and said, “Stop wasting your money because your wife cannot have a child.” When he asked why, the relative said it was because witches had removed her womb. Soon after that, she came to a Holy Ghost Service, and the word of God came thus, “There is someone here, you have no womb, but God says He will give you a set of twins.” That month, she became pregnant.
When she was set to deliver, her husband asked the doctors to perform a Caesarean Section on her. The surgeon took out the twins and said, “I have been practising medicine for 34 years; this is the first time I have brought out a set of twins without a womb.” We rejoiced over that testimony, and several years later, I got a phone call from her saying that she wanted to visit me with her twins. I was expecting her to bring the twins that we all rejoiced over, but she came with a new set of twins! There is a God who can do the incredible and surprise you beyond your wildest imagination. I pray that as He lives, He will give you a miracle today, in Jesus’ name.
Not only is God able to help you, He is also willing. In today’s Bible reading, a leper came to Jesus and said that he knew Jesus could make him clean, but he wasn’t sure if He was willing. Beloved, you may be thinking, “I know God is a miracle worker: I have seen Him working, and I have heard countless testimonies, but I am not sure if He is willing to help me.” I decree, in the name of the One who called me, your day has come. Go ahead and ask Him for help, and you will receive that help. in Jesus name
PRAYER POINT
Lord, I know You are willing and able; please help me!
MEMORISE: Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Psalm 60:11
READ: Psalm 54:1-7 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. 2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah. 4 Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. 5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. 6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good. 7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 19 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
In Psalm 121:1-2, David said: I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
This passage implies that help is always avallable with the One who made heaven and earth. The question is, will you seek your help from Him? In Psalm 46:1, David said, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” God’s help is ever-present, especially in times when you are in trouble. God is the helper of the helpless.
A lady was barren for several years, and her pastor had prayed for her continually, but nothing happened. One day, the pastor called her and said, “Woman, everybody I prayed for has given birth. What’s the issue?” The woman told him that when she was in secondary school, she got pregnant and tried to abort the pregnancy. In the process, she began to bleed badly and had to be taken to the hospital. In a bid to save her life, the doctor had to remove her womb. When the pastor heard this, he said, “You mean you have no womb? Why are you asking me to pray for you to be fruitful?” She then replied, “Sir, you are the one who taught us that with God, all things are possible.”
From that day onward, the pastor began to avoid her. She noticed it and decided to lift up her eyes to the hills, not to the pastor or the General Overseer, but to the Lord who made heaven and earth and who is always present to help. One night, she dreamt that huge man approached her, holding the skin of an animal. She was so terrified by the size of the man that she couldn’t move. As she was completely naked in the dream, the man came and wrapped the skin of the animal around her waist. When she woke up. she discovered that she was menstruating. By the time she was giving her testimony, she had given birth to five children.
Beloved, don’t look up to any pastor. evangelist, or General Overseer for help; rather, look up to the source of all help. Nobody can help you without God’s permission anyway. Rather than looking up to people, why not just go straight to the One whom they also rely on for help? Your Father
PRAYER POINT
Father, I lift my eyes unto You. Please, send help to me today
MEMORISE: Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient towards all men. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
READ: Philemon 1:10-18 10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? 17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 18 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
In the context of today’s topic, a son is someone who I looks like you and has some of your traits. In 1 Samuel 22, David accommodated people who were vagabonds, and he later raised them to become valiant men like himself. Jesus Christ spent only three-and-a-half years with His disciples, but by the time He left, they had been so transformed that they were just like people who had gotten formal education (Acts 4:13). When someone has spent some time with you, can other people notice a positive difference in him or her?
The Bible says that if you delicately bring up a servant from childhood, that servant will later become a son to you (Proverbs 29:21). Childhood here refers to a time when a person doesn’t understand much about life. If you have people working with you, raise them like they are your children. Correct them when the need arises, teach them the things they need to learn and don’t give up on them while they are still working on their weaknesses. After a while, they will become just like sons and daughters to you.
Many people say that they cannot tolerate nonsense when, in reality, they are just impatient with people. Such people forget that patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). Many of the people who support me today were initially rough around the edges, to put it mildly. However, the Lord helped me to train them. I didn’t give up on them, and after a while, they became like sons to me, handling sensitive assignments. If you want to be successful as a leader, you have to learn to invest in people.
In Yorubaland, an adage says that the one whose children will be many cannot be short-tempered. Sometimes, the reason people are lonely is that they have driven the children God sent to them out of their lives by their intolerance. There are many people with great potential out there that can become great if someone trains them. However, this is not to say that you should continue to tolerate people who persistently do terrible things or engage in criminal acts. After many warnings and efforts to change such people, if they refuse to change, you can handle the case as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 5:5. However, if people are generally of good behaviour but have some negative traits and are willing to become better, don’t use your impatience to throw them out into the world.
KEY POINT
Seek to produce sons out of the people God has sent into your life.
MEMORISE: While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. as in the provocation. Hebrews 3:15
READ: Proverbs 15:10-12 10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. 11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? 12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 17 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
For every action or inaction, there are consequences. This is why you should consider it a great privilege when you have people around you who can correct you whenever you do something wrong so that you do not have to suffer terrible consequences. Unfortunately, some people do not listen to corrections. The Bible refers to such people as servants.
A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer. Proverbs 29:19
You can choose between being corrected by words or by consequences. If you are wise, you will choose to be corrected by words so that you can avoid the consequences that come with doing the wrong things. Those who are wise do not wait for people to correct them. Rather, they regularly ask the people around them for feedback to know if they are on the right track or not. In Matthew 10:15, Jesus Christ asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I am?” In other words, He was asking, “Based on my character and words, what is the impression that I give people about myself?”
Beloved, it is important that you regularly give people the opportunity to tell you what they think of you, especially when you are a leader. You can make it anonymous so that they can give you honest feedback.
It is quite possible for someone to grow to a level where people begin to say he or she is infallible, even in situations where the fellow knows that he or she has erred. It is important to avoid this pitfall and ensure that you still have people around you who will always tell you the truth. You should never outgrow corrections. Even when people criticise you with evil intentions, you can ignore their motives and listen to see if there is really something that you need to correct or improve on.
Beloved, you will avoid so many troubles in life if you are the kind of person who listens to corrections. If people correct you once or twice and they see that you got angry, they will leave you alone. This will be dangerous because, even though they can see you heading towards a ditch, they will let you fall into it. Even God will leave you alone after He has corrected you over something for a while and you refuse to listen (Romans 1:28). May God not leave you to destroy yourself, in Jesus’ name.
REFLECTION
When was the last time you effected a positive change in your life after receiving a correction?
MEMORISE: A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.” – Proverbs 19:24 (KJV)
READ: Proverbs 6:4-11 4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 16 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
As I conclude my discussion on the forces that can obstruct a person’s progress, I want you to know that the real wall of Jericho hindering people’s progress may actually be they themselves and not necessarily a spiritual force or a relationship. No matter how much support such people get in order to progress in life, if they have certain bad habits or traits, they will still not make progress. Romans 8:31 says:
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
The answer to the above question is ‘we ourselves’. Even if the Almighty God is for you, you must ensure that you are not against yourself. Certain negative traits can make a fellow work against himself or herself in the journey of life. These traits are hindrances to progress. For example, laziness is a great hindrance to progress. King Solomon, considered by many to be one of the wisest people who ever lived, said in Proverbs 6:10-11:
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
When we were building what has now become Redemption City, I knew some people who worked with us who were lazy. If only they were hardworking, considering all the work that was done then, they would have been very wealthy by now. Nobody wants to give opportunities to a lazy fellow. This is because lazy people will eventually waste the opportunities that are given to them.
Another trait that can be a wall of Jericho to a person is talkativeness. Proverbs 29:20 says that a fool has more hope for tomorrow than the one who is always quick to talk.
Dishonesty is yet another trait that can be a wall of Jericho to a fellow and hinder his or her success. This is because nobody will trust people who lack integrity to handle sensitive responsibilities. Jesus Christ said in Luke 16:10 that whoever is faithful in a little will have more committed into his or her hands. If you say one thing and turn around to do something completely opposite, it will be difficult for you to have access to the things that you have been asking and trusting God for.
Beloved, be wise. Don’t be the wall of Jericho in the path of your progress.
ACTION POINT
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you let go of any habit or trait that can hinder your progress.
MEMORISE: Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33
READ: 2 Samuel 13:1-14 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. 4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. 5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. 6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat. 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. 9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. 10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. 12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. 13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. 14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 15 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Today, I will continue the discussion I started yesterday on the factors that can hinder a person’s progress. Sometimes, the wall hindering your progress could be someone you have a relationship with. Many people don’t know it, but sometimes, even the people you love may be a hindrance to your progress.
In Genesis 12:1-5, Abraham took Lot with him when God called him to leave his family behind and go to a place that He would show him. However, it wasn’t until Lot separated from him in Genesis 13:14-17 that God spoke and showed him the land He had promised.
The spiritual authority a person submits to can also hinder the fellow’s progress (1 Kings 13:1-24). This is why you must carefully choose your spiritual father or mentor with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. John 15:20 says that the servant cannot be greater than the master. Whomever you choose to be your master will determine how far you can go. Prayerfully choose someone who is constantly growing so that there won’t be a limit to your progress.
Another kind of person that can be a wall of Jericho that is hindering your progress is your friend. To a great extent, those you call your friends will determine how far you will go in life. This was why Solomon warned his son in Proverbs 1:10-15 not to keep company with certain kinds of friends.
When I became born again, one of the first things I did was to change my friends. It was painful, but if I had remained in their company, I would never have come this far in life. Amnon would have lived a long and good life as a son of David, but he ended up badly because he had the wrong friend. In 2 Samuel 13:3, the Bible says, “But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab…”
There are some people who pose as friends but are actually like the wall of Jericho. If you have such friends, stay away from them because they are enemies of progress. If you have a friend who you only gossip with, but you never pray or discuss the Bible, that friend will become a hindrance to your progress. If you have friends whose pieces of advice are always contrary to what the Bible says and are always encouraging you to reduce your dedication to God, such friends are a wall of Jericho between you and God’s perfect plan for your life. Beloved, please run away from such friends.
PRAYER POINT
Father, please help me to stay away from friends that will hinder my progress in life, in Jesus’ name.
MEMORISE: Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; which turneth the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. Psalm 114:7-8
READ: Joshua 6:1-20 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. 3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord. 7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord. 8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 11 So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. 12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. 17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord. 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 14 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
In today’s Bible reading, the children of Israel were close to the promised land, but a mighty wall stood in their way. Joshua knew that their progress would be affected by the wall, and God gave him the strategy to bring the wall down and lead His people into what He had prepared for them. When it feels like something is obstructing your access to God’s promises, you first need to identify exactly what it is so you can ask God for the strategy to overcome what is hindering your progress. If you have not identified what is stopping your progress, you may be fighting the wrong battles while the actual enemy remains unchallenged
In many cases, the forces of darkness are the wall of Jericho that hinders the progress of people since the devil’s only job is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). If you notice that something bigger than you is blocking your way when you are about to succeed in an endeavour, you need to pray against that force. The good news is, Isaiah 54:17 says:
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Beloved, if you are a child of God and you’re serving Him diligently, you have the legal right to condemn whatever forces that may arise against you. Some of these evil forces are stubborn and will not stop if you tell them to go just once. Hence, you need to pray and fast persistently before they go. Jesus said in Mark 9:29 that some demons cannot be overcome except by prayer and fasting. If you have done all these and you still cannot see any change, you probably need to find someone who can join you in prayers so you can engage the prayer of agreement.
Deuteronomy 32:30 says: How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
You can also ask a minister of God with higher authority to pray for you. After taking these steps, there is no force that can stand in your way.
PRAYER POINT
I speak to every force standing in my way of progress; disappear now, in Jesus’ name.
