OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2026
TOPIC: THE GAINS OF GOD'S COVENANT I

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE

MEMORISE: "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do." Deuteronomy 29:9

BIBLE READING: DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

MESSAGE:
In Proverbs 31:1-9, one of the things King Lemuel's mother taught him was that there were certain things that kings should not do. She told him that kings should not give their strength to women, nor should they follow the ways that destroy kings, nor should they drink wine or strong drink. If a fellow does the things that kings shouldn't do, it is expected that such a person would either never become a king or would be dethroned if he or she is already a king.

To fully enjoy the gains of any covenant with God, you must be ready to fulfil its terms and conditions by surrendering totally to Him and obeying all His instructions. Once you decide to serve God with all your life and do whatever He says, sooner or later, people will come to you and say, "Tell us your secret; how are you flourishing in every area of your life?!"

Many people attribute the remarkable progress of RCCG to my academic background; however, they are unaware that we are reaping the benefits of the founder's covenant with God. God called the founder of the church, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, a man who never attended school, and told him that if he could meet certain conditions, He would establish a church through him that would spread around the world. God helped Pa Akindayomi, and before his death, he fulfilled all the conditions that God gave him. Today, the RCCG is present in over 195 nations worldwide.

The church is where it is today because of God's covenant with my Father in the Lord. God cannot be mocked. Anyone who obeys the terms of His covenant will reap its gains. In today's memory verse, Moses told the Israelites that if they kept God's commandments, they would prosper in all that they did.

Prosperity is a major gain that those who keep God's covenant will enjoy. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all enjoyed abundant prosperity as a result of God's covenant with Abraham. Father Abraham was described as a man who was blessed in all things (Genesis 24:1), Isaac was described as being very great (Genesis 26:13), and Jacob was described as a prosperous man (Genesis 30:43).

Beloved, God has given His children all things to enjoy richly (1 Timothy 6:17). However, you must fulfil the terms and conditions of God's covenant with His children to truly enjoy prosperity in all areas of your life. May your life reflect the gains of God's covenant abundantly, in Jesus' name.

KEY POINT:
Anyone who obeys the terms of God's covenant wil reap its gains.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 40-43

HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of His word,
what a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smiles quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3 Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly Repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and Obey.

4 But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows,
For the joy He bestows,
Are for them,
Who will trust and obey.

5 Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side
In the way;
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey..

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2026
TOPIC: THE GAINS OF GOD'S COVENANT I

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE

MEMORISE: "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do." Deuteronomy 29:9

BIBLE READING: DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

MESSAGE:
In Proverbs 31:1-9, one of the things King Lemuel's mother taught him was that there were certain things that kings should not do. She told him that kings should not give their strength to women, nor should they follow the ways that destroy kings, nor should they drink wine or strong drink. If a fellow does the things that kings shouldn't do, it is expected that such a person would either never become a king or would be dethroned if he or she is already a king.

To fully enjoy the gains of any covenant with God, you must be ready to fulfil its terms and conditions by surrendering totally to Him and obeying all His instructions. Once you decide to serve God with all your life and do whatever He says, sooner or later, people will come to you and say, "Tell us your secret; how are you flourishing in every area of your life?!"

Many people attribute the remarkable progress of RCCG to my academic background; however, they are unaware that we are reaping the benefits of the founder's covenant with God. God called the founder of the church, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, a man who never attended school, and told him that if he could meet certain conditions, He would establish a church through him that would spread around the world. God helped Pa Akindayomi, and before his death, he fulfilled all the conditions that God gave him. Today, the RCCG is present in over 195 nations worldwide.

The church is where it is today because of God's covenant with my Father in the Lord. God cannot be mocked. Anyone who obeys the terms of His covenant will reap its gains. In today's memory verse, Moses told the Israelites that if they kept God's commandments, they would prosper in all that they did.

Prosperity is a major gain that those who keep God's covenant will enjoy. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all enjoyed abundant prosperity as a result of God's covenant with Abraham. Father Abraham was described as a man who was blessed in all things (Genesis 24:1), Isaac was described as being very great (Genesis 26:13), and Jacob was described as a prosperous man (Genesis 30:43).

Beloved, God has given His children all things to enjoy richly (1 Timothy 6:17). However, you must fulfil the terms and conditions of God's covenant with His children to truly enjoy prosperity in all areas of your life. May your life reflect the gains of God's covenant abundantly, in Jesus' name.

KEY POINT:
Anyone who obeys the terms of God's covenant wil reap its gains.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 40-43

HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of His word,
what a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smiles quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3 Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly Repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and Obey.

4 But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows,
For the joy He bestows,
Are for them,
Who will trust and obey.

5 Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side
In the way;
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey..

Daily devotion for August 17th
The Way Of Health
They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.

Nehemiah 8:14
The way of health is dramatically demonstrated for us in the closing verses of this chapter. God had anticipated the needs of these people. Centuries before, He had provided a most remarkable visual aid to remind them of the truth that would keep them from further destruction. This is the Feast of Tabernacles, a reminder that they were called as a people out of Egypt. Their departure was sudden and precipitous. They were not even to sit down when they ate the Passover meal. They had to eat it standing, with their staffs in their hands, dressed in traveling clothes, ready to leave. They went out at a word of command and left Egypt in one night. When they got into the desert, one day's journey out, and night fell, where were they to find shelter? Moses had been told by God that they were to collect boughs and tree limbs and build booths for shelter. Then God ordained that they were to do this once every year. Even though later they had homes to dwell in, they were to build these booths and live in them for seven days. This was to teach them that they were always pilgrims and strangers on the earth. This world was not their home. All the great blessings of life would not necessarily be found in this present time but were waiting for them in glory. Therefore, they did not need to be distressed if they did not have everything that those around them were trying to get in this life.

That is the truth that will deliver us from the pressures of the times. We must hold things lightly. We must not think that houses, cars, money, and material gain are all that important. Even if we lack these things, the great treasures of our life remain untouched. To strive constantly to gain what everyone else has is a mistake. God teaches us to hold these things lightly. We must never forget that we are in the world but not of it. We are never to settle down here for good. I love the way C. S. Lewis has put it: Our kind heavenly Father has provided many wonderful inns for us along our journey, but he takes special care to see that we never mistake any of them for home. We are pilgrims and strangers, passing through this world. We are involved in it, deeply sometimes, but we are never to see ourselves as a part of it.

What will enable us to remember that? Verse 18 gives us the answer. Every day they read the Scripture. Every day they saturated themselves in the thinking of God. That is what makes for realism: When you think like God thinks, you are thinking realistically. You are beginning to see yourself the way you really are. You are seeing your children, your home, and your nation the way they really are. For the first time you are able to divest yourself of the illusions and delusions of a mistaken, confused world. You are beginning to work toward wholeness, healing, and strengthening of the things that abide.

What a wonderful picture this is, Lord, of the fact that I am a stranger on this earth. Far too often I have lived as if this were my home. Renew my mind with Your truth that there is so much more to live for than what this world offers.

#Numbers #BookOfNumbers #BibleStudy #KJVBible #OldTestament #BibleHistory #BibleTimeline #BibleTeaching #Moses #Aaron #Joshua #Caleb #Miriam #Phinehas #Balaam #Israel #WildernessJourney #MountSinai #KadeshBarnea #PlainsOfMoab #PromisedLand #GodsFaithfulness #GodsPromises #FaithOverFear #TrustGod #Obedience #SpiritualGrowth #BiblicalLeadership #BiblicalLessons #GodsPresence #Holiness #Worship #Covenant #ChristianFaith #ChristInTheOldTestament #JesusChrist #BibleStudyGuide #StudyTheBible #WordOfGod #Scripture #ChristianLiving #FaithJourney #JourneyWithGod #GodsGrace #GodsMercy #HopeInChrist #SoliDeoGloria

August 16, 2026 (day 228/365)
SUNDAY

GOD'S WORD FOR THE DAY

“The Strength of Humility”

Numbers 12:3

“Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any person who was on the face of the earth.”

This is the Word of God. Numbers 12 shows how jealousy and pride led Miriam and Aaron to speak against Moses. Yet Moses did not defend himself with anger; he remained humble and left the matter in God's hands.

Humility does not mean weakness. It means trusting God enough not to fight for our own position or recognition. When others are honored, we can rejoice rather than become jealous.

May God give us humble hearts that rejoice in others, avoid jealousy, and trust Him with our place and purpose. Amen.

Have a blessed day with the Lord.

-- Pastor Emmanuel Serto

WHEN FAITH STANDS STILL!
Trusting God When You Cannot See the Way

Key Scripture:
“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.” — Exodus 14:13 (KJV)

Thought Of The Day...
There are moments in life when faith means moving forward, but there are also moments when faith means standing still and trusting God to move.
Israel experienced one of those moments at the Red Sea.
They had finally been delivered from Egypt, but suddenly they found themselves trapped. The Red Sea was in front of them. Pharaoh's army was behind them. Mountains and wilderness surrounded them. From a human perspective, there was nowhere to go.
But what looked like a dead end to Israel was actually the place where God was preparing to demonstrate His power.
Moses declared:
“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.” — Exodus 14:13

Sometimes God allows us to reach places where our resources, connections, intelligence, money, strength, and plans cannot rescue us. Not because God has abandoned us, but because He is teaching us:
“This battle will not be won by your strength. You are going to have to trust Me.”

FAITH DOES NOT DENY THE PROBLEM!
The Red Sea was real.
Pharaoh's army was real.
The danger was real.
But God was greater than everything Israel was facing.
Faith doesn't mean pretending everything is fine. Faith means looking directly at the situation and declaring:
“I know what I see, but I also know WHO I trust!”
Your situation may involve your family, finances, health, marriage, children, employment, ministry, or an uncertain future.
You may not know how God is going to work it out.
You may not know when He is going to work it out.
But faith says:
“Even when I cannot trace God's hand, I will continue trusting His heart.”
Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us:
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

DON'T LET FEAR MAKE YOU FORGET WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE!
When Pharaoh approached, Israel became afraid.
Their fear became so powerful that they temporarily forgot the miracles God had already performed in Egypt.
Isn't that sometimes like us?
God has brought us through things before.
God has opened doors before.
God has healed broken situations before.
God has provided before.
God has protected us before.
But when the next Red Sea appears, fear whispers:
“What are you going to do now?”
Faith responds:
“The same God who brought me through THEN is still God RIGHT NOW!”
David understood this principle. Before facing Goliath, he remembered how God had already delivered him from the lion and the bear.
Yesterday's testimony can become today's ammunition for faith.

YOUR RED SEA MAY BECOME YOUR TESTIMONY!
God told Moses:
“Lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it.” — Exodus 14:16
Then the impossible happened.
God made a highway through something that had previously been an obstacle.
The Israelites walked across on dry ground.
Think about that.
God didn't simply remove the problem.
He made a pathway through it.
Sometimes we pray:
“Lord, take this away.”
But God may answer:
“I'm going to take you THROUGH it, because when you come out, you will know that nobody brought you through but Me.”
Isaiah 43:2 declares:
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.”
Notice God said “when,” not “if.”
There will be waters.
There will be fires.
There will be difficult seasons.
But there will also be God's presence.

WHAT IS BEHIND YOU CANNOT STOP WHAT GOD HAS AHEAD OF YOU!
The enemy thought Israel was trapped.
Pharaoh probably believed he had them exactly where he wanted them.
But Pharaoh didn't realize:
God had positioned Israel exactly where HE wanted them.
The place that looked like Israel's destruction became the place of their deliverance.
That's a word for somebody today:
Don't judge your future by what your situation looks like right now.
God can turn your Red Sea into a roadway.
God can turn your battle into a testimony.
God can turn your delay into preparation.
God can turn your pain into purpose.
God can turn what looked like your ending into your new beginning.

KEEP WALKING BY FAITH!
Once the sea opened, Israel still had to walk through it.
Faith isn't simply believing that God can open the door.
Faith is having enough confidence in God to walk through when He opens it.
There comes a moment when prayer must be accompanied by obedience.
Exodus 14:15 records God saying:
“Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.”
In other words:
You've prayed.
You've cried.
You've trusted.
Now MOVE!
There are seasons to stand still and see God's salvation, and there are seasons when God says:
“GO FORWARD!”
Don't allow fear to keep you standing in a place God has already given you permission to leave.

TODAY'S FAITH DECLARATION
I will not allow what I see to cancel what God has spoken.
I believe that the God who opened the Red Sea is still able to make a way where there appears to be no way.
I will not surrender to fear.
I will not allow yesterday to imprison tomorrow.
I will trust God when I understand Him, and I will trust Him when I don't.
My Red Sea will not drown me—it will become part of my testimony!
The Lord is with me.
The Lord is fighting for me.
The Lord is making a way for me.
And when God says move—
I'M GOING FORWARD BY FAITH!

PRAYER...
Heavenly Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, thank You for being the God who makes ways where there seem to be no ways.
Lord, some of us are standing before situations that look impossible. We see the Red Sea in front of us and trouble behind us, and we don't know which direction to turn.
But today, we choose faith over fear.
Remind us of every mountain You have already brought us over, every valley You carried us through, every door You opened, and every battle You fought on our behalf.
When fear tells us that it's over, remind us that You have the final word.
When we cannot see the road ahead, teach us to trust the One who already knows the destination.
Give us faith to stand still when You say wait and courage to go forward when You say move.
Father, part every Red Sea standing between us and Your purpose. Strengthen every discouraged heart. Restore hope to everyone who feels surrounded. Give peace to those waiting for answers.
And when You bring us through, we will not take the credit.
We will testify:
“The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” — Psalm 126:3
We believe You are still working.
We believe You are still making ways.
We believe the same God who delivered Israel is still our God today.
In Jesus' mighty name,
AMEN!

Final Thought...
When you cannot see a way forward, don't assume there isn't one. The God who created the sea can also create a road through it.
STAND IN FAITH. TRUST GOD. AND WHEN HE SAYS GO—GO FORWARD!

Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!

As they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”

Luke 24:36 ɴᴋᴊᴠ

The disciples were gathered together in Jerusalem on that day talking of His resurrection. He greeted them with that blessed salutation, “Peace to you.” For theirs was to be a mission of peace, and if they were to prosecute it rightly they must be filled with and kept in peace.

With a quiet and matchless dignity, He convinces them as to the reality of His resurrection, assures them that it is Himself and none other who stands before them, and opens their understanding as to the teaching of all Scripture concerning Himself. It was this teaching as to Himself that was to prepare them for the mission and to maintain them in peace in it. Out of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, He showed them God’s plan and His glory (Lk. 24:44–45). Their fears, then, that all they had hoped for was lost, were altogether groundless, for in Him, their risen Lord, everything that God had purposed was secured.

And further, though it was not then declared to them, they afterwards learned that in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and that they were complete in Him (Col. 2:9–10). All the resources of God were in Him for them, and there was not a power in the universe that could intercept those resources.

Brethren in Christ, are we conscious that our Lord is such a glorious Lord, Center, Leader, and Head for His servants? Those who are in the knowledge of this will fear no foe, for all the foes are defeated, as His resurrection is witness; they will dread no lack, for all the mighty fullness of God is at their disposal in Him. His presence in the midst of those disciples made them one: one in heart, object, and purpose. For what place could divergent views and selfish aspirations find in the presence of their glorious risen Lord?

J. T. Mawson


https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-08-16

Hello, I would like to share with you the message from 16 août 2026 from “The Good Seed” daily calendar.


When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (Matthew 17:8)

Seeing only Christ
The Lord Jesus went up on a high mountain with Peter, James and John. There, He showed them His glory as a preview of the future kingdom. Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Christ (Matthew 17:1-8). The disciples were impressed when they recognised these devoted men of faith. Immediately, Peter had an idea: “If You wish, let us make here three tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Hardly had he finished speaking when a voice came from the bright cloud that overshadowed them: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
 With these words, God the Father redirected the disciples’ focus to the Lord Jesus. They were to recognise that He is the beloved Son of the Father, the One in whom the Father always delights. When the disciples heard the voice, they fell on their faces and were afraid. Later, they opened their eyes again. They saw only Jesus – Him alone!
 This is precisely what God the Father also wants to achieve today with all believers. For example, when we are gathered for the breaking of bread, He directs our thoughts to His beloved Son. He shows us what this One means to Him. Everything else should fade into the background so that we only see and admire the Lord Jesus. Then we will praise and worship the Father and the Son from the bottom of our hearts.
 “We shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2)

Today’s reading: Joshua 15:20-16:10 – 1 Corinthians 13:1-13