Table of Contents
OPEN HEAVENS FOR 29TH MAY 2026
TOPIC: DON’T REMAIN IN BONDAGE
MEMORISE:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. — Galatians 5:1
READ: Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
-
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
-
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
-
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
MESSAGE:
Years ago, a young man heard me preach on the importance of surrendering all to God, then came to me saying, “Daddy, I have surrendered all to God now.” I smiled and responded, “Praise God! This means that we would be able to borrow your car because we want to go somewhere tomorrow for an assignment, and we had been wondering how we would transport ourselves.” He replied, “Ha! Tomorrow is Monday and I must go to work.” I said, “I know. We just want to borrow your car for one day.” He then said, “Ha!” I smiled and said, “My son, we don’t need your car. I just wanted you to know that you have not surrendered everything to God as you claimed.”
Sometimes, what keeps people in bondage is their attachment to material things. If Jesus sets a fellow free from satan and the bondage of sin, and the fellow still clings to the things of the world, he or she will remain in bondage even though Jesus has unlocked his or her cell.
Galatians 5:1 urges you to stand fast in the freedom Jesus has given you so that you will not become entangled again with the yoke of bondage. To receive freedom, all you have to do is come to Jesus, but remaining free is a huge responsibility that requires you to stand fast in your liberty.
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus encouraged everyone who is experiencing bondage to bring their burdens to Him so He can give them rest. It is important to understand that God doesn’t force liberty on people. This means that you must be willing to receive His freedom and stay in it.
Anyone who loves the things of this world has chosen to remain in the devil’s captivity because the love of the Father will not be in the fellow. Such a person cannot walk in liberty and cannot abide with God forever (1 John 2:15-17).
Beloved, there is no benefit at all from associating with the devil. The riches that the devil promises those who serve him keeps them in bondage and actually robs them of their soul, which is far more valuable than all the wealth in the world (Mark 8:36-37). You must be willing to let go of anything that keeps you in chains and cry out to God for deliverance.
If you are currently experiencing bondage in any part of your life, I pray that the Lord will deliver you by His mighty power, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT:
Those who love the things of the world cannot walk in God’s liberty.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 9-12
HYMN 18: PRAISE TO THE LORD THE ALMIGHTY
-
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Join ye in glad adoration! -
Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth? -
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee. -
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
About RCCG and Open Heavens
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a global Pentecostal denomination founded in 1952 by Reverend Josiah Akindayomi and now led by Pastor E. A. Adeboye as General Overseer. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, RCCG has spread to over 200 countries with millions of worshippers worldwide.
Open Heavens is the daily devotional of RCCG, written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye. First published in 2003, it has become one of the most widely read daily devotionals in the world. Each edition includes a memory verse, Bible reading, message, prayer point, and hymn. The devotional is known for its practical, Bible-based teachings that address everyday Christian living, spiritual warfare, and faith.
The devotional for 29th May 2026 addresses the danger of loving the world and remaining in bondage even after Christ has set us free.
BRIEF COMMENTARY
Based on Open Heavens 29th May 2026 – “Don’t Remain in Bondage”
The Open Cell Door
In today’s devotional, Pastor Adeboye addresses a critical issue: partial surrender. Many people claim to have given their lives to Christ, but they are still attached to the things of the world. They want the freedom Jesus offers, but they are not willing to let go of the chains they have grown comfortable with. The result is a strange bondage: the cell door is open, but they refuse to walk out.
The memory verse, Galatians 5:1, contains both a declaration and a command. The declaration is that Christ has already made us free—liberty is a finished gift. The command is to “stand fast” in that freedom and refuse to be entangled again. Freedom is not automatic; it requires vigilance.
The Young Man and His Car
The devotional opens with a revealing testimony. A young man heard Daddy Adeboye preach on surrendering all to God. After the message, he approached with enthusiasm: “Daddy, I have surrendered all to God now.”
Daddy Adeboye tested his surrender: “This means we would be able to borrow your car tomorrow for an assignment.” The young man immediately hesitated: “Tomorrow is Monday and I must go to work.” When pressed, he hesitated again. Daddy Adeboye then revealed the purpose: “My son, we don’t need your car. I just wanted you to know that you have not surrendered everything to God as you claimed.”
The young man thought he had surrendered all, but when his car was involved, his surrender stopped. His attachment to material things kept him from true freedom.
The Open Cell Door
The devotional makes a powerful analogy: “If Jesus sets a fellow free from satan and the bondage of sin, and the fellow still clings to the things of the world, he or she will remain in bondage even though Jesus has unlocked his or her cell.”
Imagine a prisoner whose cell door is wide open. The lock is broken. The guard is gone. There is nothing keeping him inside except his own refusal to leave. He has grown accustomed to the cell. The chains feel familiar. The outside world is unknown and frightening.
This is the state of many believers. Jesus has already broken their chains. The enemy has no legal right to hold them. But they cling to the things of the world—money, possessions, relationships, status—and those attachments become invisible chains. The cell is open, but they will not walk out.
The Two Kinds of Yokes
The Bible reading presents two kinds of yokes. The devil’s yoke is heavy and painful, brings labor without rest, leads to destruction, and is forced upon you. Jesus’ yoke is easy and light, brings rest to your soul, leads to life, and is offered, not forced.
Jesus says, “Take My yoke upon you.” This is an invitation, not a command. He does not force His liberty on anyone. You must be willing to receive His freedom and stay in it.
What Keeps People in Bondage
The devotional identifies the primary chain that keeps believers in bondage: attachment to the things of the world.
1 John 2:15-17 warns: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
The world offers riches, but those riches keep you in bondage. The world offers status, but that status demands your soul. The world offers pleasure, but that pleasure is temporary and costly.
The devotional states plainly: “Anyone who loves the things of this world has chosen to remain in the devil’s captivity.” Not because the devil is stronger, but because they prefer his chains to God’s freedom.
The Cost of Remaining in Bondage
The devotional quotes Mark 8:36-37: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
-
The devil’s riches come with a hidden price tag: your soul.
-
His promotions come with hidden chains: your freedom.
-
His pleasures come with hidden consequences: your destiny.
There is no benefit at all from associating with the devil. Whatever he gives you is not worth what he takes from you.
How to Walk in True Freedom
-
Come to Jesus. The first step is coming to Him. He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden.” You cannot set yourself free. You must come to the One who has the keys.
-
Be willing to receive His freedom. God does not force liberty on anyone. You must be willing. You must want to be free more than you want to keep your chains.
-
Let go of worldly attachments. Identify the things you are clinging to. Are you willing to release them if God asks? Surrender is not surrender until it costs you something.
-
Stand fast in your liberty. Galatians 5:1 commands you to stand fast. Freedom requires vigilance. The enemy will try to entangle you again. You must refuse.
-
Test your surrender. Ask yourself: If God asked for my car, my house, my job, my reputation, my relationship—would I give it? Your answer reveals the depth of your surrender.
The Prayer for Deliverance
The devotional ends with a prayer: “If you are currently experiencing bondage in any part of your life, I pray that the Lord will deliver you by His mighty power.”
This prayer is for those bound by addiction, fear, unforgiveness, lust, greed, or attachment to the world. Jesus has already unlocked your cell. Will you walk out?
Conclusion: Trade Your Heavy Yoke for His Light One
The young man thought he had surrendered all, but his car revealed the truth. What would reveal your true level of surrender? Is it your bank account? Your career? Your relationship? Your reputation? Your comfort?
Jesus is not asking you to give up good things—He is asking you to give up chains. The things you are clinging to are not blessings—they are bonds. They are not protecting you—they are imprisoning you.
Come to Him. Receive His freedom. Let go of your attachments. Take His easy yoke and light burden. And walk out of the open cell.
Key Point from the Devotional:
Those who love the things of the world cannot walk in God’s liberty.
Prayer Point (implied from the message):
Father, deliver me by Your mighty power from every form of bondage in my life, in Jesus’ name.
Action Steps:
-
Identify your “car” – what is the one thing you would struggle to give up if God asked for it? Be honest. Write it down.
-
Test your surrender – this week, take a practical step of surrender in that area. If it is your time, give extra time to God. If it is your money, give a sacrificial offering.
-
Walk out of the cell – stop making excuses for why you cannot be free. The door is open. Take one step today toward freedom in an area where you have been bound.
-
Refuse re-entanglement – when the enemy offers you the same chains in a new form, say no. Stand fast in your liberty.
-
Thank God for open doors – every morning, thank God that your cell door is open. You are not trapped. You are free. Live like it.
