OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL
HE FIGHTS YOUR BATTLES
MESSAGE BY: Pastor E. A. Adeboye
MEMORISE: “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.” — Exodus 15:3
I. THE UNSEEN ARENA: WHY YOUR PRAISE IS A CONTINUOUS OBLIGATION
When observing a believer who lives in a constant state of exuberant praise, onlookers might assume that everything in their life has always been easy. But those who praise God the loudest are often those who possess the deepest understanding of the unseen danger they were saved from!
The Scriptures reveal Jehovah by many intimate names—our Provider (Jehovah Jireh), our Peace (Jehovah Shalom), and our Shepherd (Jehovah Raah). Yet, in Exodus 15:3, right after the Red Sea swallowed Pharaoh’s chariots and horses, Moses and the children of Israel unveiled a fierce, military dimension of God’s redemptive character:
The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.” — Exodus 15:3
[ THE UNSEEN BATTLE REALM ]
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[ HUMAN AWARENESS ] [ DEMONIC AMBUSHES ]
- Sees physical routines - Spiritual arrows in the dark
- Assumes survival is by luck - Attacks during vulnerable sleep
- Dangerously self-reliant - Defeated silently by the Lord
Many Christians naively live under the illusion that they are alive, healthy, and prosperous simply because they are careful, smart, or eat good food. They assume that their physical security systems, medical checkups, and defensive precautions are what keep them safe.
What a tragic misconception!
If God were to pull back the veil covering the spiritual realm for just five seconds, every human being would realize that physical life is a continuous warfare zone. Satanic principalities, ancestral spirits, and demonic forces launch targeted arrows daily to destroy destinies (Psalm 91:5-6).
You are alive today not because you were cautious enough to preserve your own life, but because the Mighty Man of War stands as a wall of fire around you, neutralizing lethal spiritual attacks before you even know they exist!
II. LESSONS FROM THE LIVING ROOM: AN UNFORGETTABLE ENCOUNTER
To illustrate this sober reality, consider a deeply personal encounter from my days as a senior lecturer at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, Nigeria.
During that period of my life, I balanced my academic duties at the university with pastoring a growing parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. My schedule was intensely demanding. On a typical day, I would return home from the university campus in the afternoon to have lunch and rest briefly before heading back for evening lectures.
Because my living room was constantly filled with church members, workers, and visitors coming and going, getting uninterrupted sleep was almost impossible. I developed a simple strategy: after eating lunch, I would lie down on the couch, close my eyes, fold my hands, and place them underneath my head as a pillow. If visitors entered and saw my eyes closed, they would assume I was fast asleep and refrain from disturbing me.
On one particular afternoon, as I lay on the couch in that exact position, a mysterious spiritual entity suddenly entered the room.
Before I could react, this being pinned my hands together with one hand, grabbed both of my legs with its other hand, and leaned down attempting to kiss me!
[ ATTACK IN THE NATURAL ] [ GOD'S SOVEREIGN INTERVENTION ]
Lie on couch with eyes closed ===> Demonic spirit attacks ===> Spirit vanishes when eyes open
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[ TEMPORARY PHYSICAL FRAILTY ]
Proves God neutralizes 99% of unseen attacks!
My immediate human thought was that my wife was playing a prank on me. But logic quickly intervened: what kind of human being is tall and powerful enough to hold both your hands and both your feet simultaneously with just two hands?
I opened my eyes instantly! The moment my eyes opened, the entity vanished into thin air.
Immediately, an icy, unnatural cold sensation flooded my entire body. I pulled myself off the couch, got into my car, and forced myself to drive back to the campus for my evening lectures. But not long after arriving, my body broke down completely. I began vomiting and passing stools simultaneously.
The physical weakness was so severe that when I finally managed to drive back home, I could not even walk out of the vehicle—I had to crawl on my hands and knees from the car into the restroom!
In deep distress and physical agony, I lifted my heart to Heaven and cried out: “Daddy, what is this? I am Your son! Why are You allowing this to happen to me?”
The Almighty God responded softly to my spirit, saying: “Son, I just want you to see a tiny fraction of the battles I fight for you every single day.”
III. THE GUARDIAN OF ISRAEL: HE NEITHER SLUMBERS NOR SLEEPS
That singular experience reshaped my spiritual perspective forever. God allowed a tiny fraction of that spiritual warfare to touch my physical body just to teach me an eternal lesson: if God were to step aside for a single second, the enemy would consume us completely.
Think about how vulnerable you are when you fall asleep at night.
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You cannot monitor who enters your room.
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You cannot detect spiritual projections, nightmares, or demonic orchestrations.
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You cannot defend your soul against arrows that fly by night.
Yet, you wake up every morning in peace, sound mind, and vigor! Why? Because Psalm 121:4 declares a profound law of Heaven:
“Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” — Psalm 121:4
[ THE ARCHITECTURE OF DIVINE PROTECTION ]
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[ DEUTERONOMY 20:4 ] [ EXODUS 15:3 ] [ PSALM 121:4 ]
"The LORD goeth with you "The LORD is a man "He that keepeth Israel
to fight for you against of war: the LORD shall neither slumber
your enemies, to save you." is his name." nor sleep."
Our God does not take lunch breaks. He does not sleep when night falls. While you are resting, the Mighty Man of War is actively patrolling your spiritual perimeter, dismantling demonic ambushes, shattering witchcraft covens, and decreeing safety over your household!
Look at God’s instruction to Israel in today’s Bible reading (Deuteronomy 20:1-4):
“When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee…” — Deuteronomy 20:1
When you face challenges, sicknesses, financial bottlenecks, or spiritual oppositions that seem overwhelmingly larger than your natural capacity, refuse to tremble! You are not walking into the battle alone. The Creator of the universe goes ahead of you to fight for you and execute salvation on your behalf!
IV. YOUR APPROPRIATE RESPONSE: AGGRESSIVE PRAISE
When you understand that God is silently fighting ninety-nine percent of your battles without even informing you of the details, your attitude towards praise must change dramatically!
You stop complaining about minor inconveniences, delayed expectations, or temporary discomforts. Instead, you develop a heart that overflows with uninhibited, aggressive thanksgiving!
Every breath you draw, every morning you wake up, and every danger you unknowingly escape is a testimony of His unseen warfare. Join your voice with the psalmist today:
“Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to His feet your tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore His praises sing!”
Refuse to let a day pass without thanking the Mighty Man of War for fighting your battles, shielding your family, and securing your destiny. As you maintain an altar of passionate praise, the Lord will continue to scatter your enemies, subdue your adversaries, and guarantee your unbroken victory, in Jesus’ Name!
V. PRAYER POINT
Father, I thank You from the very depth of my spirit for being the Mighty Man of War in my life. Thank You for fighting the invisible battles I know nothing about, breaking the traps of darkness, and shielding my soul from spiritual destruction. I surrender my life to You afresh, declaring that my lips will praise You continuously all the days of my life, in the mighty Name of Jesus.
VI. BIBLE TEXT SUMMARY: DEUTERONOMY 20:1-4
God instructs the children of Israel on the spiritual protocol for warfare. When going out to battle against enemies who possess superior military hardware—including horses, chariots, and a population far outnumbering them—Israel is commanded not to fear. As they draw near to the battlefield, the priest must step forward and address the army, encouraging their hearts not to faint, tremble, or be terrified. The priest reassures the soldiers that Jehovah their God goes with them into the thick of battle to fight against their adversaries and to guarantee their salvation and victory.
VII. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR SUMMARY: ISAIAH 41–43
Isaiah 41: God summons the nations to keep silence and present their arguments, pointing to His sovereign raising up of a righteous ruler from the east. While idolatrous nations panic and strengthen their idols, God comforts Israel, calling them His servant and the seed of Abraham His friend. God delivers one of the most comforting promises in Scripture: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” He promises to turn mountains into dust, supply water in barren heights, and expose idols as worthless wind and confusion.
Isaiah 42: A dramatic messianic chapter introducing the Lord’s anointed Servant, endowed with the Holy Spirit to bring justice to the Gentiles without raising His voice in the streets or breaking a bruised reed. God promises to hold His Servant’s hand and make Him a covenant for the people, opening blind eyes and freeing prisoners from darkness. God declares He will not share His glory with carved images, calling the ends of the earth to sing a new song as Jehovah marches forth like a mighty man of war. The chapter ends with a rebuke of Israel’s historical deafness and blindness, which led to their plundering and exile.
Isaiah 43: A magnificent declaration of divine redemption. God addresses His people: “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” He promises to be with them when they pass through deep waters and burning fires, giving Egypt and Ethiopia as their ransom because they are precious and honored in His sight. God calls Israel His witnesses, affirming that beside Him there is no Savior. He promises to do a brand-new thing—making a highway through the wilderness and rivers in the desert—while promising to blot out their transgressions for His own sake and remember their sins no more.
VIII. HYMN 17: PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN
1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To His feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!
2. Praise Him for His grace and favor,
To His people in distress.
Praise Him, still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness!
3. Fatherlike He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He knows.
In His hand He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet His mercy flows!
4. Angels, help us to adore Him;
You behold Him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace!
IX. PROPHETIC DECREE
I decree and declare that on this Sunday, July 26, 2026, the Mighty Man of War arises on your behalf, scattering every demonic gathering targeted against your destiny!
Every arrow of sickness, sudden death, physical weakness, or spiritual paralysis projected into your life during sleep is caught by the fire of the Holy Ghost and returned to its source!
I decree that you will not fear the horses, chariots, or intimidation of spiritual enemies, for Jehovah your God goes before you to execute total victory!
The Lord who neither slumbers nor sleeps surrounds your home, your family, your career, and your health with a wall of protective fire!
Every battle fought against you in secret is exposed and destroyed by divine judgment. You will walk in liberty, overflowing joy, continuous health, and unstoppable advancement all the days of your life, in the all-conquering Name of Jesus Christ! Amen! Hallelujah!
