Open Heavens 24 August 2025 Sunday – Don’t Be Empty – Open Heaven For Today, RCCG Devotional
Open Heavens 24 August 2025 Sunday – Don’t Be Empty
MEMORISE: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” – Ephesians 5:18
READ: Acts 19:12-16 Open Heaven 24 August 2025
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Open Heavens 24 August 2025
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 1-4
MESSAGE: – Open Heavens 24 August 2025 Sunday Daily Devotional
A few weeks ago, I mentioned in this devotional that if it is possible to be filled with the Holy Spirit, it is also possible to be empty. The Lord, however, does not want His children to be empty. In 1 Samuel 16:1, God told Samuel, “Arise, fill thy horn with oil,” meaning that the horn was empty and needed to be filled.
In 1 Samuel 16:14, after David had been anointed as king, the Spirit of God departed from Saul, and because nature abhors a vacuum, an evil spirit took over. Being empty of the Holy Spirit is a dangerous state; therefore, you must avoid anything that can lead to that. I pray that you will never be empty of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
Years ago, something happened at ljebu-Ode, a town in Ogun State, Nigeria. There was a little misunderstanding between our parish members over there and some occultic people, and the latter decided to put shigidi (a crude figurine used by the occult to invoke an evil spirit to cause havoc on their targets) in front of the parish. When it was discovered, one of my spiritual sons destroyed it with a cutlass. If he had been empty spiritually, he might have died immediately. The occultic people then decided to come to the church for a physical confrontation. When one of them entered the church, he took a step forward and staggered. On taking another step, he fell.
Beloved, the devil is roaming about, looking for whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8). So as not to be his victim, you must always be full of the Holy Spirit. No matter how hard he tries, you will always win against him if you’re always filled with the Holy Spirit.
The seven sons of Sceva in today’s Bible reading were empty fellows. They wanted to cast out a demon and thought they would succeed just by commanding it to leave in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preached. They went before the demon possessed man empty and were disgraced. People who think they can replicate good results without paying the necessary price always get themselves into trouble. Being empty of God’s power and presence is a dangerous state to be in because evil spirits are always looking for empty places to dwell (Matthew 12:43-45).
Don’t give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27); don’t allow evil spirits to take over your vessel. Ensure you always remain filled with the Holy Spirit so you can always walk in victory.
KEY POINT – Open Heavens 24 August 2025
You must always be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is dangerous to be empty.
Open Heavens 24 August 2025 Commentary
Praise the Lord.
Our topic for today once more says, “Don’t be empty.” And today’s study is one that reveals to us the risk and the danger of being spiritually empty. Many believers today think it doesn’t matter. And for the fact that your spiritual level is not even written on the face, many think that all is well. But made to understand from today’s study that to be empty spiritually is a dangerous state as it exposes a man to oppression, to defeat, and shame. A man who is spiritually empty is like a city without walls. The enemy can come in and conquer at any time. We are made to understand from today’s study that in the actual sense of it, no man is left empty. What this means is that if you are not filled with the Holy Spirit, then something else would occupy that space. And you can be sure that whatever occupies your space that is not of God can only lead to more spiritual servitude and bondage if we would be honest with ourselves.
You would agree with me that this life is not a bed of roses. The enemy is not your friend. There are battles to fight. So, it is terrible and even very risky to exist without having supernatural support. If you play, you become a prey. From the story which our father in the lord tells us in today’s study about the occultic people who confronted a branch of the church. We can see the importance of being spiritually filled with the holy spirit. There is no doubt that being spiritually empty in the face of battle can cost a man his life in some cases. Don’t be that Christian that believer who is carefree who does not mind being spiritually empty. You are like a soldier without bulletproof. You are like a soldier in the battle front without any weapon of war. All you have is a fine face and the declaration of I am a Christian on your lips. And dear brothers and sisters, that is not enough to w off the enemy. He is more brutal than you think. And when power would jam power, the lesser one would bow. And if you are empty, you already know who would bow out.
Imagine the sons of which we learn about from today’s study coming to face a demon-possessed man and all that they know is the Jesus whom Paul preacheth. They had no personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. They were trying to cast the demon out by proxy just like maybe the son of a pastor saying in the name of Jesus Christ whom my father preacheth. You can be the son of a pastor and yet be spiritually empty. You have to know God for yourself. Your name has to be registered in the realm of the spirit because from the story of the sons Sceva of it sounds to me like there’s a spiritual register. They found the name of our Lord Jesus Christ there. They also saw the name of Paul the Apostle there, but the names of the sons Sceva were nowhere to be found.
Now the big question to us today is, is your own name on that register? Can you boldly face life’s challenges or opposition from the enemy and your voice would shake them because they can recognize it? One of the reasons why many believers are fearful, they are so afraid to deal with demons or anything that has to do with them is because their own spiritual lives also have question marks. So, they are afraid, and they are being careful not to be disgraced and embarrassed. Don’t be that kind of a believer. In today’s world, if you must be victorious as a Christian, you cannot help but be filled with the Holy Spirit. Being spiritually empty is too expensive. You cannot afford to be empty. Carry God. Carry the Holy Spirit. Carry his power.
We are made to understand from today’s study that people who think they can replicate good results without paying the necessary price always get themselves into trouble. Being filled with the Holy Spirit and getting tangible spiritual results is not magic. You must be ready and willing to pay the price. If you want to walk in this power and dominion, you must communicate with God daily. Make prayer and worship, fellowship with God a lifestyle. Let his word keep you aligned with the spirit. Do not live a prayerless life as it is an empty life. Learn also to obey the spirit. Walk in obedience with God. The Holy Spirit only fills obedient vessels. When we grieve him through sin or disobedience, we quench his fire within us. We must also embrace corporate fellowship. Stay connected with other believers. Strengthen your spiritual burns and fan your spiritual fire to flames. Isolation often leads to emptiness. Do not stay isolated. Constantly surrender yourself to God. Let your vessel always be empty of whatever is not of God. Empty yourself of pride. Empty yourself of secret sins. Empty yourself of carnality so that the Holy Spirit can fill you with his presence.
Dear brothers and sisters, the spirit filled life is not optional. It is essential. To be empty is dangerous, but to be full is victorious. Hallelujah. I would like us at this point to bow our heads and tell the Lord today. Say, “Father, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit in my life.” Why not appreciate the Lord and say, “Father, thank you for giving to me the gift of the Holy Spirit. I am grateful. Receive my thanks in the name of Jesus.” Now, tell the Lord today. Say, “Lord, please keep me from spiritual emptiness.” Ask the Lord today. Say, “Father, fill me afresh daily with your spirit in the name of Jesus.” Let there be a continual renewal of your feeling upon my life in the name of Jesus.
Ask the Lord today also say father if there may be any door that I have unknowingly opened to the enemy in my life. Say Lord today close it by your mercy in the name of Jesus. Ask the Lord today say father if there may be any door any access any legal entrance that I may have opened to the enemy that he has received access into my life. Father by your mercy today let your mercy prevail. have mercy upon me and let that access be shut in the name of Jesus. Also ask the Lord today say father let your spirit saturate my life. Let it saturate my family. Let it saturate my church. Let it saturate everyone and everything that concerns me in the name of Jesus. Say Lord everywhere I go let your presence follow me in Jesus name. Also ask the Lord today say father let me always walk in victory over the devil. Let me never suffer defeat in the name of Jesus. As I hold on to you, as my life continues to be filled with the Holy Spirit, let me continually know victory. Let me move from victory to victory in the name of Jesus. Let the last spiritual defeat I suffered be the very last forever in the name of Jesus. Begin to declare say in the name of Jesus, I walk in spiritual victory. I walk in dominion in the name of Jesus. begin to bless the name of the Lord and thank him for answers to prayers. Just worship him, give him thanks, adore his holy name. Our faithful father, we thank you because we know you hear and answer us. In Jesus’ name we have prayed. Amen.
Open Heavens 24 August 2025 Sunday Hymn
HYMN 8 – I Need Thee Every Hour
1 I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus:
I need Thee, O I need Thee,
Ev’ry hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Saviour
I come to Thee!
2 1 need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
3 I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide
Or life is vain.
4 l need Thee every hour
Teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.
5 1 need Thee every hour
Most Holy One;
Oh, make me thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son!
