OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL
BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK
MESSAGE BY: Pastor E. A. Adeboye
MEMORISE: “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” — Proverbs 1:5
I. THE BLIND SPOT PHENOMENON: THE LANTERN AND ITS BASE
Welcome to Wednesday, August 5, 2026. As we walk with God, one of the greatest dangers a believer can encounter on the spiritual pilgrimage is the illusion of complete self-sufficiency.
In Yorubaland, where I come from, the elders have a profound adage that says:
“The lantern cannot see its own bottom.”
[ THE LANTERN & BLIND SPOT PRINCIPLE ]
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[ INTERNAL ILLUMINATION ] [ HIDDEN BASE / BLIND SPOT ]
- Illuminates surrounding room - Shadow cast directly beneath itself
- Casts light for others to see - Completely invisible to lantern's eye
- Symbolizes personal knowledge & gifts - Requires external objective feedback
What do the elders mean by this wisdom? They mean that no matter how bright, powerful, or knowledgeable a lamp is, there is always a dark shadow cast directly beneath its own base—an area completely hidden from its own line of sight.
In the exact same way, no matter how anointed, educated, spiritually mature, or experienced you are, there are blind spots in your life, character, leadership, and ministry that are entirely hidden from your personal view!
This is precisely why you must maintain a humble spirit and remain open to receiving feedback, constructive criticism, and correction from others who can observe your walk more objectively than you can see yourself.
The moment you become convinced that you see everything, know everything, and have no need for external evaluation, you set yourself up for a devastating downfall.
II. THE LAODICEAN DELUSION VS. MULTITUDE OF COUNSELLORS
Look at the terrifying example of spiritual self-deception recorded in Revelation 3:15–17.
The believers in the church of Laodicea evaluated themselves using their own flawed, internal benchmarks. They looked at their bank accounts, their social standing, and their comfortable lives, proudly declaring: “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.”
[ THE DIVERGENT EVALUATION REALITY ]
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[ LAODICEAN SELF-ASSESSMENT ] [ DIVINE PROPHETIC FEEDBACK ]
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- "I am rich!" - "Wretched!"
- "Increased with goods!" - "Miserable!"
- "Have need of nothing!" - "Poor, blind, and naked!"
Yet, when the Lord Jesus Christ gave them His objective feedback, He revealed that by Heaven’s infallible standards, they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked!
What a catastrophic difference between how they saw themselves and how God saw them!
If a person is too proud, arrogant, or defensive to receive feedback, those around them will eventually stop offering help. People will see the arrogant fellow walking straight toward a dangerous spiritual ditch and simply step back, leaving them to fall right into it.
As Proverbs 24:6 explicitly warns:
“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” — Proverbs 24:6
Those who are open to correction escape countless spiritual, emotional, financial, and ministerial pitfalls, while those who think they “know it all” consistently stumble into completely avoidable ruin.
III. THE MASTER’S HUMILITY: JESUS AS THE TEACHABLE SAVIOR
If anyone had the right to reject human feedback or instruction, it was our Lord Jesus Christ. He is described in 1 Corinthians 1:24 as the absolute wisdom of God and the power of God!
Yet, when Jesus walked the earth in human form, look at the astonishing model of humility He displayed:
[ CHRIST'S MODEL OF TEACHABILITY ]
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[ SITTING AMONG TEACHERS ] [ SEEKING ACTIVE FEEDBACK ]
- Found in the Temple at age 12 - Asked disciples in Caesarea Philippi:
- Listening & asking probing questions "Whom do men say that I am?"
- Result: Grew in wisdom & favor (Luke 2:52) - Result: Peter received Father's revelation
1: He sat among teachers: In Luke 2:46–47, at just twelve years old, Jesus was found sitting in the Temple among the doctors of the Law—not arguing or displaying arrogance, but listening to them and asking them questions. As a result of His submission to learning, Scripture records that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
2: He actively sought feedback: In Matthew 16:13–16, when Jesus arrived in Caesarea Philippi, He deliberately solicited feedback from His disciples, asking: “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” And then, “But whom say ye that I am?”
If the sinless Son of God created room to ask questions, listen to others, and seek feedback, what gives any mortal believer the right to become unteachable?
IV. THE APOLLOS TRANSFORMATION: ACTS 18:24-28 EXAMINED
Our Bible reading today presents a masterclass in how a highly gifted minister ought to respond to corrective feedback.
In Acts 18:24–28, we are introduced to Apollos—an Alexandrian Jew who possessed extraordinary natural and spiritual credentials.
[ THE APOLLOS EVOLUTION MATRIX ]
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[ INITIAL CAPACITY ] ===> [ HUMBLE CORRECTION ] ===> [ EXPONENTIAL DOMINION ]
- Eloquent preacher - Heard by Aquila & - Sent to Achaia with letters
- Fervent in spirit Priscilla - Mightily convinced the Jews
- Mighty in Scriptures - Took him aside privately - Proved publicly that Jesus
- Knew only John's baptism - Expounded God's way was indeed the Christ
more perfectly
Look at Apollos’ profile:
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He was an eloquent speaker.
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He was mighty in the Scriptures.
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He was fervent in the spirit.
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He was instructed in the way of the Lord and taught diligently.
However, despite these incredible credentials, Apollos had a major limitation: he knew only the baptism of John! His understanding of the full gospel of Jesus Christ—His death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—was incomplete.
When tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos preach boldly in the synagogue, they did not publicly humiliate him or criticize him behind his back. Instead, they took him aside privately and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly (Acts 18:26).
Notice how Apollos reacted! He did not say, “How dare a pair of tentmakers try to correct an eloquent, highly educated Alexandrian scholar like me?”
He humbly received their feedback, submitted to their mentorship, and updated his understanding!
What was the immediate result of his teachability?
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The brethren enthusiastically recommended him to the churches in Achaia.
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He became a massive blessing to believers (Acts 18:27).
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He mightily convinced the Jews publicly, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 18:28)!
Your level of teachability determines your eventual limit of impact! If Apollos had rejected Aquila and Priscilla’s correction, he would have remained stuck in a limited, outdated message.
V. REFLECTION
Are you genuinely open to learning from others and receiving constructive feedback, or do you become defensive and angry when your flaws are highlighted?
VI. BIBLE TEXT SUMMARY: ACTS 18:24-28
Apollos, an eloquent Alexandrian Jew who was powerful in the Old Testament Scriptures and fervent in spirit, arrived in Ephesus and began teaching about Jesus accurately, though he only understood John’s baptism. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him speaking boldly in the synagogue, they invited him to their home and privately explained the way of God to him more completely. Accepting their correction and deeper instruction, Apollos was encouraged by the believers to travel to Achaia, where he proved to be a powerful asset to the Church, forcefully refuting Jewish opponents in public debates by demonstrating from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
VII. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR SUMMARY: JEREMIAH 6–8
Jeremiah 6: God warns the tribe of Benjamin to flee Jerusalem as an invading army approaches from the north. God describes Jerusalem as a beautiful, delicate city destined for destruction because her oppression, violence, and wickedness pour forth constantly. The prophet laments that the people’s ears are uncircumcised and they cannot listen to the Word of the Lord. From the least to the greatest, everyone is given to covetousness, and priests and prophets heal the hurt of God’s people falsely, declaring “Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” God commands them to stand in the ways and ask for the old paths, but they refuse to walk therein, leading to unavoidable calamity.
Jeremiah 7: The famous “Temple Gate Sermon.” God commands Jeremiah to stand at the entrance of the Lord’s house and declare judgment on those who commit murder, adultery, perjury, and idolatry, while hypocritically chanting, “The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD!” God reminds them of how He destroyed Shiloh because of Israel’s wickedness and warns that Jerusalem’s Temple will meet the same fate. He exposes their stubborn refusal to obey His voice despite sending His prophets persistently, declaring that the Valley of Hinnom will be renamed the Valley of Slaughter.
Jeremiah 8: A terrifying depiction of divine judgment where the bones of kings, priests, and prophets will be taken from their graves and spread before the sun and moon. God marvels at Judah’s unnatural backsliding: when people fall, they usually get back up, yet Judah refuses to return! Even the stork, turtle dove, crane, and swallow know their appointed seasons, but God’s people do not know the judgment of the Lord. The chapter ends with Jeremiah’s heartbreaking grief over his ruined nation: “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”
VIII. HYMN 24: I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS
1. I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek;
For no one mark’d an angry word,
That ever heard Him speak.
2. I want to be like Jesus,
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain top,
He met his Father there.
3. I want to be like Jesus,
I never, never find
That He, though persecuted was
To anyone unkind.
4. I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good;
So that of me it may be said
“He hath done what he could.”
5. I want to be like Jesus,
Who sweetly said to all,
Let little children come to Me;
I would obey the call.
6. But oh I’m not like Jesus,
As anyone may see;
O gentle Saviour, send Thy grace,
And make me like to Thee.
IX. PROPHETIC DECREE
I decree and declare that on this Wednesday, August 5, 2026, every spirit of pride, defensiveness, and arrogance is completely uprooted from your heart!
You receive a teachable, humble, and receptive spirit!
The Lord will surround you with godly counsellors, mentors, and friends who will speak truth into your life in love!
Like Apollos, as you receive constructive feedback and align with God’s Word, your capacity expands, your spiritual vision is refined, and your effectiveness in ministry, business, and family increases exponentially!
You will not stumble into avoidable ditches!
You will not fall victim to the Laodicean delusion of self-sufficiency!
The Lord will continuously increase you in wisdom, knowledge, and favor before both God and man, in the mighty and matchless Name of Jesus Christ! Amen! Hallelujah!
