OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 17TH 2026.

TOPIC: THE GAINS OF GOD'S COVENANT II

MEMORISE
Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: - (Deuteronomy 7:12)

BIBLE READING: GENESIS 20:1-18 (KJV)

1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

MESSAGE

Years ago, a highly influential man in an Islamic nation, where church planting was prohibited, invited one of our missionaries to establish a church within his compound. When the church started, his wife said to him, "With your position in government and your influence in this nation, you allowed a church be established in your compound?" He looked at his wife and said, "Don't you dare say a word against these people!" I believe that it was easy for the RCCG to plant a church in that nation, and indeed many nations in the world today, because of God's covenant with its founder, Pa Josiah Akindayomi.

One of the gains of being in a covenant with God is that you will keep getting greater results than your peers as long as you keep fulfilling your part of the covenant. God will keep giving you results that are beyond your efforts. What other people struggle to get will come to you easily because of His covenant with you.

In Exodus 19:5, God said, "If you will keep my covenant, I will make you a peculiar treasure." This means that people will take a look at you and wonder why God loves you so much. Several times, when I wake up at night and reflect on all the good things God is doing in RCCG, I usually say, "Lord, how can you love us this much?" Some people might claim that it is because we fast and pray, but believe me, some people fast more than we do. I recall vividly that when I became the General Overseer, I had some of my friends join me in a 36-hour non-stop prayer session. We thought this was a remarkable feat until we heard of a man who prayed non-stop for so much longer! I may not have spent as many hours in prayer at a stretch as that person, yet what God has done for RCCG is unprecedented and truly remarkable. Indeed, there are immense gains in being in a covenant with the Almighty God.

Another gain of being in a covenant with God is protection. When a king took Abraham's wife, God intervened by appearing in the king's dream. He went the extra mile to protect her and instructed the king to ask Abraham to pray for him, as we see in today's Bible reading. Beloved, there are immeasurable blessings that flow from being in covenant with God.

KEY POINT
Being in a covenant with God gives you access to tremendous benefits and makes difficult things easy.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR JEREMIAH 44 - 46

HYMN 19 - ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee! Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure; Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

2. Not the labours of my hands, can fulfill thy law's demands could zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone, thou must save and thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling naked, come to thee for dress, helpless, look to thee fir grace foul to the fountain fly wash me saviour or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyelids close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne, rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.



PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS

DATE: MONDAY AUGUST 17TH 2026

*THE GAINS OF GOD'S COVENANT II

‎PRAYER POINTS

1.Father, thank You for Your covenant to build Your church and never to allow the gate of hell to prevail over it.

2.Father, thank You for the spread of the gospel across the nations of the earth. Thank You for raising men and women to bare the light of the gospel even to the inter lands.

3.Father, thank You for divinely positioning men and women to favour the advancement of Your gospel across the world.

4.Father, please help me never to go out Your covenant for my life. Help me to keep fulfilling my part of the covenant so I can keep enjoying greater results than my peers, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please keep me in Your covenant, and grant me results that are beyond my efforts. Make easy for me what other people struggle to get, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please help me to keep Your covenant, and make me a wonder to nations, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please show me Your mercy and let it continue to speak for me such that I will constantly enjoy unprecedented and truly remarkable blessings of Your covenant, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please keep me in Your covenant and let me and my household enjoy divine protection everywhere we go, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please help me to hearken to Your judgements, to keep and to do them, so I can abide in Your covenant and enjoy Your mercies, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, please establish me and my household in Your covenant so we can have access to Your immeasurable blessings and benefits, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
‎
Help him to continue to enjoy the gains of Your covenant with him, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name
‎
‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name.
‎
‎14.Your personal petitions.
‎(Philippians 4:6)
‎
‎15.In Jesus name I pray.
‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
‎#GodBlessOThese

prayers have no expiry dates! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you.

LOST IN THE CHURCH:

[BEING LOST IN CHURCH]

Part Five

Measuring Holiness

There has been a great deception among many people who assume that holiness is measured by comparing a person’s good deeds with their bad deeds. When the scale of good deeds appears to outweigh the bad, they conclude that the person is holy.

In this way, many have continued to measure Christianity by looking at what they have done and what they have not done. This kind of holiness focuses heavily on measuring sin according to the “Don’ts” found in Scripture.

And this has become the interpretation of religion throughout history. It has continued to damage the Church and has contributed to leading many people to hell.

Holiness or sin is not merely an action—not simply what a person does or does not do—but a condition of the heart. God is deeply concerned with the condition of our hearts. Actions are only the results of what is already inside the heart. Many have measured holiness by good deeds, yet the Lord does not look at things in that way. He looks at the spirit or intention behind every action, examining the manner and motive with which it was done.

Therefore, the Lord is not simply looking for people who perform good deeds on earth, but for people who do what is right!

There is a great difference between doing a good thing and doing the right thing. Sometimes the right thing may appear to be evil in the eyes of people. When the Lord commanded Israel to destroy the nations of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, as stated in Deuteronomy 20:17, could the world have called Him good? Yet we know without doubt that the Lord was doing what was right, because He does not make mistakes, and His works are always without error.

Understand that sin is a condition of the heart, and there is One who examines the deepest intentions of the heart. A person can perform good deeds with an evil motive, while another can perform something that appears bad with a good intention. Therefore, it is very easy for a person to be deceived if they place their confidence in goodness or in their works.

Indeed, evil kills; however, goodness can be responsible for deceiving and destroying even more people in the world than evil itself. One of Satan’s most powerful weapons for bringing destruction into the world comes through what appears to be good. There is hardly a greater deception Satan can use than coming to us dressed as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14

Because sin is a condition of the heart, a person can be a murderer even if they have never physically killed anyone. Likewise, someone can be an adulterer before God even if they have never slept with a woman.

For example, even if a lemon tree refuses to produce fruit, perhaps in an attempt to hide its nature, it cannot change and become a mango tree.

We cannot remove sin from within ourselves by keeping the Law or by trying to be good. We must be transformed in our hearts as we hold firmly to the Cross. Otherwise, even if a person never commits an outward act of sin, that does not necessarily mean they are without guilt.

Remember: even if a lemon tree does not produce fruit, that does not mean it will be counted as an orange tree.

Circumcision of the Heart

Essentially, there is no action a person can perform that can change their inner nature. Things such as religion and the Law can change the outward appearance, but they cannot transform the inner person. Christianity does not begin from the outside and move inward; rather, it begins from within and moves outward.

Therefore, through religion, the Law, happiness, habits, the desire for praise, and so forth, it is entirely possible for a person to do good outwardly while not actually being good in their heart.

That is why the Lord used circumcision as an illustration of removing the outward covering of hypocrisy, so that what is inside would correspond with what is outside. This was the foundation of the circumcision commanded by the Lord in the house of Israel, when He instructed them to circumcise the foreskin of their bodies.

And was this not a prophecy concerning the circumcision of the heart in our present age, when we look to Christ, as it is written in Philippians 3:3:

> “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.”



If you are in church and have not been born again, understand that your nature has not been transformed.

Therefore, even if you pretend to do good, fast extensively, keep all the Laws, observe all the ancient festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths, understand that hell awaits you!

And these are words of truth.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Amen!

#ToBeContinued...

Mwl. Ernest Nyalula

#LostInTheChurch
#CircumcisionOfTheHeart
#TrueHoliness
#BornAgain
#HeartTransformation
#ChristAlone
#GraceAndTruth
#Christianity
#FaithInChrist
#TheGospel
#JesusChrist
#KingdomOfGod
#LordBook
#SpiritualGrowth
#TruthOfTheGospel

THE PILGRIMS GUIDE

MONDAY AUGUST 17, 2026

THE MIRACULOUS FILLINGS FROM GOD

A WORD FROM THE WORD:

"And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts." 2 Kings 3:16-17 KJV.

From the context of our foundational Scripture we saw that Jehoshaphat the King of Judah, in alliance with King Jehoram of Israel, were stranded in the wilderness with their troops, who could not find any water as they prepared for war against Edom. They were afraid that severe thirst would kill them and their men even before the fight with Edom. They consulted Elisha the prophet of God who got a word from God for them.

What was needed was water, it did not matter whether it will come without rain or without a river providing it. There are miraculous things that will happen for those who know how to seek God and follow His direction. God wants to instruct and direct His children. He says 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.' (Psalm 32:8 ESV).

As you listen to Him, He will guide you into outstanding results, even if it requires breaking protocols.

PRAYER BULLETS:

ABBA Father, thank You for Your promises. Guide me, O Shepherd of my soul into the miraculous, even to the breaking of protocols.

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 48:17; Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 3:20.
_________________________________________

Amaobi Nwachukwu 2026.

If you're blessed by this, please, do share with others.

And if you'll like to partner with us, kindly check page 3 of our hard copy edition or better still send us a WhatsApp message or call on +234 8098421967.

#ThePilgrimsGuide.

God Is Faithful, Even While You Wait (Lamentations 3:22–23)

Waiting is not easy.

We live in a world where we want everything immediately.

Instant messages.

Instant information.

Instant results.

But God doesn't always work according to our timetable.

Sometimes you pray, and the answer doesn't come when you expect it.

You ask God for an opportunity, but the door remains closed.

You pray for healing, direction, provision, or a breakthrough, yet you continue waiting.

And eventually you may begin asking:

“God, have You forgotten me?”

No.

He hasn't.

The Bible reminds us:

“Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

God's faithfulness doesn't depend on how quickly He answers.

He is faithful while you wait.

Think about the people in Scripture who had to wait.

Abraham waited for God's promise.

Joseph endured years of hardship before seeing God's plan unfold.

David was anointed king but still had to wait for the right time.

The Israelites waited for deliverance.

Even Jesus' disciples had seasons where they didn't understand what God was doing.

Waiting doesn't always mean God is doing nothing.

Sometimes God is preparing you.

Sometimes He is preparing the situation.

Sometimes He is protecting you from something you cannot see.

Sometimes He is teaching you to trust Him rather than the outcome.

And sometimes, we simply have to accept that God's wisdom is greater than ours.

That can be difficult.

We want answers.

God may give us peace before He gives us explanations.

We want the destination.

God may teach us something important on the journey.

We want the door to open.

God may be asking us to trust Him while it remains closed.

Don't allow waiting to make you forget God's past faithfulness.

Look back.

Remember the prayers He has answered.

Remember the doors He opened.

Remember the times He protected you.

Remember the moments when you thought you couldn't make it, yet somehow God carried you through.

Those memories can strengthen your faith for today's waiting season.

And while you wait, keep doing what God has already called you to do.

Keep praying.

Keep serving.

Keep learning.

Keep working with integrity.

Keep loving people.

Keep reading His Word.

Keep trusting Him.

Don't put your entire life on hold while waiting for one prayer to be answered.

God can work in your life right now.

There is purpose in today's season too.

Maybe your waiting season is developing patience.

Maybe it is deepening your faith.

Maybe it is preparing you for an opportunity you aren't ready for yet.

Maybe God is teaching you that your identity is found in Him—not in what you receive from Him.

Whatever the reason, don't give up.

Your situation may change tomorrow.

It may take months.

It may take years.

But God's character doesn't change.

He remains faithful.

And the greatest evidence of His faithfulness is Jesus Christ.

God did not leave humanity without hope.

He sent His Son to make a way for us to be reconciled to Him.

If God was faithful enough to provide salvation through Christ, you can trust Him with the rest of your journey.

So if you're waiting today, take a deep breath.

Pray again.

Trust again.

And remember:

God has not forgotten you.

Your waiting season is not wasted when you place it in God's hands.

What are you waiting for God to do, and how can you choose to trust Him while you wait?

#GodIsFaithful #Lamentations3 #TrustGod #WaitingOnGod #FaithOverFear #GodsTiming #ChristianYouth #JesusSaves #ShareJesus #DailyFaith #Lordsbook #JMSM #KNKA

DAY 228 – AUGUST 16, 2026

God's Word produces fruit in every receptive heart.

Declare This: God's Word produces results in my life.

A simple screen upgrade can make a BIG difference!
From damaged screens to like-new results—we’ve got you covered.

Call Today: (904) 587-9095

Schedule a Free Estimate: www.allaboutscreens-florida.com

#AllAboutScreensFlorida #ScreenMakeover #HomeUpgrade #FloridaScreens #BeforeAndAfter

*YOU ARE NOT THE LIGHT*

One of the reasons David fell was because he was not where he was supposed to be.

The Bible says it was the season when kings went out to war. (2 Samuel 11:1)

David stayed home. He had begun believing his own importance. The reasoning sounded noble.

"Let the light of Israel not be extinguished." (2 Samuel 21:17)

But David was never the light. He was only a lamp. There is a difference.

A lamp carries light. A lamp is useful because of the light that burns in it. But the lamp is not the source.

Jesus is the Light. (John 8:12)

No matter how greatly God uses you, you never become the source. The moment you begin to think you are indispensable, you have stepped into dangerous ground.

God may use you mightily. People may be blessed through your ministry. You may preach, teach, lead, or serve faithfully.

None of that changes who you are. You are still a vessel. You are still carrying what belongs to another.

The greatest danger is not success. It is forgetting where the success came from.

Pride quietly builds an exaggerated image of yourself. Outwardly, you may appear humble. Inwardly, you are sitting on a throne.

You begin comparing yourself with others. You think you are above them because you know more, perform better, or achieve more.

A person may have achievements and still be bound by lust, bitterness, fear, or pride. Meanwhile, another person may never have your achievements while obeying God, yet they walk in peace, contentment, and freedom.

So, who is truly successful?

True success is not measured by results alone. It is measured by submission to God.

Never mistake the lamp for the Light. Never allow your usefulness to become your identity.

Everything you have came from God. Remain a faithful lamp. Keep pointing people to the Light.

Good evening!

INSTRUCTIONS!

Instructions are a guide on how to live, behave, carry out a duty or task, or a well prescribed training communicated through formal, approved channels

in the scripture, instructions are set of guiding principles given to mankind as a guide for proper relationship with God. When God instructed Moses to build Him a tabernacle, He gave a complete description of the pattern He wanted, and emphasized that the pattern shown to Moses is what must be built. To further emphasize how important the pattern is, He empowered Bazaliel and Aholiab with the requisite wisdom to do what He wanted.

In the new Testament, Jesus uses the sentence "if you continue in My word"(John8:31). The apostle Paul uses the word Training or chastening to describe instructions (Hebrews 12:11). In Acts 15:-24-29, the Jerusalem church wrote a set of instructions to the gentile churches which if they obey, they would do well.

Apistle Peter, in 2Pet 1:5-8, points out the instructions for the church of God that would make them fruitful in the work of the kingdom of God. James the apostle gave vivid instructions in his book, notably James 1:1-end, and the attendant profits.

ADVANTAGES OF FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS

When instructions are thoroughly followed, they produce results that can be summed up as follows, amo:

1. It produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness in them that have been trained by it ( Hebrew 12:11)
2. They help us to partake in the nature of God (Hebrews 12:10)
3. Following instructions grants us access to the blessings of God (Deut. 28:2-15)
4. Following instructions keeps us in safety regardless of the chaotic situation prevalent in the time.
5. Following instructions turns us from natural man to carriers of God's power.
6. Ultimately, gaining. entrance into the eternal life beyond here, is aas a function of thorough obedience to all the instructions summarized in two, namely:
A. Love the LORD thy God with All your strength.....
B. Love your neighbour as yourself.

Disaster of the highest magnitude is what follows when Simple Instructions are Neglected (SIN).. SIN IS SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS NEGLECTED.

INSTRUCTIONS!

Instructions are a guide on how to live, behave, carry out a duty or task, or a well prescribed training communicated through formal, approved channels

in the scripture, instructions are set of guiding principles given to mankind as a guide for proper relationship with God. When God instructed Moses to build Him a tabernacle, He gave a complete description of the pattern He wanted, and emphasized that the pattern shown to Moses is what must be built. To further emphasize how important the pattern is, He empowered Bazaliel and Aholiab with the requisite wisdom to do what He wanted.

In the new Testament, Jesus uses the sentence "if you continue in My word"(John8:31). The apostle Paul uses the word Training or chastening to describe instructions (Hebrews 12:11). In Acts 15:-24-29, the Jerusalem church wrote a set of instructions to the gentile churches which if they obey, they would do well.

Apistle Peter, in 2Pet 1:5-8, points out the instructions for the church of God that would make them fruitful in the work of the kingdom of God. James the apostle gave vivid instructions in his book, notably James 1:1-end, and the attendant profits.

ADVANTAGES OF FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS

When instructions are thoroughly followed, they produce results that can be summed up as follows, amo:

1. It produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness in them that have been trained by it ( Hebrew 12:11)
2. They help us to partake in the nature of God (Hebrews 12:10)
3. Following instructions grants us access to the blessings of God (Deut. 28:2-15)
4. Following instructions keeps us in safety regardless of the chaotic situation prevalent in the time.
5. Following instructions turns us from natural man to carriers of God's power.
6. Ultimately, gaining. entrance into the eternal life beyond here, is aas a function of thorough obedience to all the instructions summarized in two, namely:
A. Love the LORD thy God with All your strength.....
B. Love your neighbour as yourself.

Disaster of the highest magnitude is what follows when Simple Instructions are Neglected (SIN).. SIN IS SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS NEGLECTED.