OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026

TOPIC: TOPIC: DELIVERANCE FROM SPIRITUAL BURDENS

MEMORISE

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. - (John 8:36)

READ: Mark 1:23-27 (KJV)

23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

MESSAGE

While my mother was still alive, I went to visit her on one occasion, and a man was brought to me so I could pray for him. The man told me he needed help, but when I looked at him, I could not see anything visibly wrong with him. When he saw the puzzled look on my face, he told me, "Watch." He dug into his hair and brought out a cockroach. He said, "I'm not a magician. I'm only showing you the kind of spiritual affliction I have." He dug his fingers into his hair again and brought out another kind of insect. Then he asked me to listen closely as he brought his arm near my ears. When he did that, I began to hear the sound of motorcycles revving. After all these, I asked him to surrender his life to Jesus, and he did. Then, I cried to the Great Deliverer to intervene in his situation, and he left. Two weeks later, I returned to see my mother, and the man came back to see me. This time, he was rejoicing because he had been completely delivered. His skin glowed, and he looked radiant. I decree that if you are carrying any form of spiritual burden, you are set free henceforth, in Jesus' name.

Spiritual burdens come in different forms, some of which include oppressions, addictions, suppressions, and demonic possessions. Today's Bible reading tells us the story of a man who was possessed by a demon. When he saw Jesus in the temple, the unclean spirit in him cried out, "Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God." Immediately, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and cast it out of the man. We do not know how long the man had been in that situation; however, when he encountered Jesus, the spiritual burden he was carrying was instantly lifted.

Beloved, are you carrying a spiritual burden? Are you battling addictions or demonic oppression? I want you to know that Jesus, the Burden Bearer, can lift that burden off your shoulders. All you need to do is honour His invitation in Matthew 11:28. I pray that the Burden Bearer will remove any form of spiritual burden that is in your life or the lives of your loved ones today, in the mighty name of Jesus. 

PRAYER POINT

Father, please destroy any plan of the devil to place a spiritual burden on me and my family, in Jesus' name. 

AUTHOR: Pastor E. A. Adeboye 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Isaiah 12 - 14

HYMN 8 - I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

1. I need thee every hour most gracious Lord; no tender voice like thine can peace afford.

CHORUS 

I need thee, oh, I need thee; every hour I need thee! Oh, bless me now my saviour; I come to thee!

2. I need thee every hour, stay thou near by; 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. I need Thee every hour 

Teach me Thy will; And Thy rich promises In me fulfill. 

5. I need Thee every hour, 

Most Holy one; Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son!