Open Heaven 1 May 2021 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

TOPIC: Secrets Of Fruitfulness

MEMORISE: 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. – 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

READ: Genesis 26:12-14 (KJV)

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 17-19

MESSAGE:
God may grant you financial favour, but it is your responsibility to work towards getting to the pinnacle of all-round abundance. You must be diligent physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Hebrews 11:6 says God “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Diligence in hard work is always rewarded. We can learn something from farmers here. As they nurture the good seeds they have planted, they also work hard to get rid of the weeds that grow alongside them. Beloved, beyond hard work, you need to plan carefully and pray hard. Genesis 26:12-13 says:

“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:”

Anyone who desires an encounter with God, which will result in abundant blessings, must be ready to work hard and pray hard. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6:

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”

He recognised that while he may have done his part, God had a huge role to play. Beloved, lazy people cannot experience all-round blessings. If you are not prepared to work hard and pray hard, then you are not ready for any form of super-abundance.

You must involve God in your planning then watch Him give you abundant fruitfulness and an overflowing harvest (Proverbs 16:3). As Malachi 3:10 prescribes, you must also be sure to honour God with your substance: your tithes, offering, and the very first of every increase you receive (first-fruits). Until you begin to do this, you may not be able to enjoy the full benefits of your hard-earned harvest.

Some harvests are wasting away because of disobedience. Many people are fruitless simply because they refuse to obey God’s command, thus their harvests go into bags with holes.

Put God first from today and you will experience unprecedented abundance.

ACTION POINT:
Think of the ways in which you have been deficient in your responsibility to God – in tithe, offering, first-fruit and giving to the poor. Repent and make restitution.

HYMN 15: Must I Go And Empty Handed

  1. “Must I go, and empty-handed,”
    Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
    Not one day of service give Him,
    Lay no trophy at His feet?

Refrain:
“Must I go, and empty-handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty-handed go?

  1. Not at death I shrink or falter,
    For my Savior saves me now;
    But to meet Him empty-handed,
    Thought of that now clouds my brow.
  2. Oh, the years in sinning wasted,
    Could I but recall them now,
    I would give them to my Savior,
    To His will I’d gladly bow.
  3. Oh, ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
    Up and work while yet ’tis day;
    Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,
    Strive for souls while still you may.