Table of Contents
OPEN HEAVENS FOR 3RD JUNE 2026
TOPIC: A BRAND-NEW HEART III
MEMORISE:
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. — 2 Peter 3:18
READ: Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21 (KJV)
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Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
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And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
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But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
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Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
MESSAGE:
The second kind of soil Jesus described in His parable about the sower is ‘Stony places’. This soil type can be compared to people who receive the word of God with joy but turn their backs on it when they begin to encounter tough situations in their lives as a result of persecution.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you… — John 15:20
In the Scripture above, Jesus said that His followers will be persecuted as He was also persecuted. Furthermore, Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12 that every true follower of Christ will experience persecution in one form or another. Being persecuted is a painful experience, and believers are not immune to it. In fact, going through the fires of persecution helps Christians to grow in faith (1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-3).
Despite this, however, the devil manages to convince some believers that the pain they are experiencing as a result of persecution is proof that God is unfaithful and that He does not love them. The devil succeeds in doing this because such Christians have not grown in the knowledge of God through His word and are largely ignorant of His ways, character, and power. Thus, their foundation in faith is very weak, and they are easily swayed by the devil.
It is good to hear the word of God and even be excited by it. Beyond that, however, every believer has the responsibility to build themselves up spiritually (1 Corinthians 3:9-10), and one of the ways to do this is by increasing their knowledge of God through His word.
There is a popular saying that ignorance is bliss, but this is not true for a believer. Being in a state of ignorance about the word of God and making no efforts to build yourself up spiritually is very dangerous because it can lead to destruction (Hosea 4:6).
Beloved, do not allow yourself to fall victim to the wiles of the devil and be destroyed by him. Don’t just listen to the word of God from various ministers and get excited by it, or be a believer who only opens the Bible on Sundays. Rather, be like the Bereans who took responsibility for knowing God by themselves (Acts 17:10-11).
I pray that as you sow the seeds of the word of God daily into your heart, you will reap bountiful fruits of His goodness and mercy, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT:
Growing in the knowledge of God through His word is important for every believer.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 31-34
HYMN 32: TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD
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To the work! to the work! we are servants of God,
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew,
Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.
Chorus:
Toiling on, toiling on,
Toiling on, toiling on,
Let us hope, and trust, let us watch and pray,
And labor till the Master comes.
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To the work! to the work! let the hungry be fed;
To the fountain of life let the weary be led;
In the cross and its banner our glory shall be,
While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!” -
To the work! to the work! there is labor for all;
For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall;
And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be,
In the loud swelling chorus, “Salvation is free!”
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 3rd June 2026 continues the series “A Brand-New Heart,” focusing on the stony ground heart and the need for deep roots in God’s word to withstand persecution.
BRIEF COMMENTARY
Based on Open Heavens 3rd June 2026 – “A Brand-New Heart III”
The Stony Ground Believer: Shallow Joy, Sudden Collapse
In today’s devotional, Pastor Adeboye examines the second soil type in the Parable of the Sower: the stony ground. This soil type refers to people who receive the word of God with joy but turn their backs on it when tough situations arise as a result of persecution.
Unlike the wayside where the seed never enters, the stony ground receives the word with joy. There is excitement, emotion, and apparent conversion. But beneath the surface lies a hidden layer of rock—unbroken pride, un-surrendered will, or unaddressed sin—that prevents the roots from going deep. When the sun of affliction rises, the plant withers because it has no root.
The Deceptive Profile of Stony Ground Christians
Stony ground believers look successful initially but fail catastrophically under pressure. They receive the word with joy. They are emotional and enthusiastic. They are quick to testify and celebrate. They attend crusades and conferences. But they have no root in themselves. When tribulation or persecution comes, they are quickly offended and abandon their faith.
The key phrase is “with joy.” This is not a miserable, reluctant hearer. This is someone who sings loudly, shouts “Amen,” weeps at the altar, and tells everyone about their new faith. But when the sun comes up—when friends mock them, family rejects them, or job opportunities vanish because of their faith—they disappear just as quickly as they appeared.
The Two Inevitable Realities Jesus and Paul Declared
Pastor Adeboye grounds his warning in unchangeable Scripture. Jesus said in John 15:20, “The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” Persecution is not a possibility; for the true follower of Christ, it is a certainty in some form. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Not some. Not the especially bold. All who choose to live godly lives.
The stony ground believer has never been told this—or has heard it and refused to accept it. They signed up for blessings, breakthroughs, and joy. They did not sign up for mockery, marginalization, or suffering. When persecution comes, they feel betrayed by God.
The Devil’s Great Deception During Persecution
Pastor Adeboye exposes a cunning satanic strategy. The devil manages to convince some believers that the pain they are experiencing as a result of persecution is proof that God is unfaithful and that He does not love them.
This lie works only on stony ground hearts because they lack knowledge of God’s ways. They do not know that suffering produces character (Romans 5:3-5). They are ignorant of God’s character, not knowing that God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). They are unaware of God’s power, not knowing that the same God who allowed persecution also supplies sustaining grace (2 Corinthians 12:9).
The devil does not need to make stony ground believers commit gross sin. He simply needs to convince them that God has abandoned them. Once they believe that, they walk away on their own.
Why Excitement Without Roots Is Fatal
The same sun that scorched the stony ground plant is the same sun that helps the deep-rooted plant grow and bear fruit. The issue is not the intensity of persecution; the issue is the depth of the root. Persecution causes offense for the shallow root, but persecution produces perseverance for the deep root. Shallow roots abandon faith under pressure; deep roots strengthen faith under pressure (James 1:2-4). Shallow roots see suffering as God’s unfaithfulness; deep roots see suffering as God’s refining fire (1 Peter 1:6-7).
The Responsibility to Build Yourself Up
Pastor Adeboye cites 1 Corinthians 3:9-10: “We are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building… Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” The stony ground believer waits for others (pastors, conferences, podcasts) to feed them. But every believer has the responsibility to build themselves up spiritually. This means personal Bible study, not just listening to sermons. Personal prayer, not just group prayer meetings. Personal meditation, not just devotional reading.
A believer who only opens their Bible on Sunday is like a plant that only gets water once a week in a desert. It will not survive the sun.
Ignorance Is Not Bliss—It Is Destruction
Pastor Adeboye directly refutes the popular saying that ignorance is bliss. Being in a state of ignorance about the word of God and making no efforts to build yourself up spiritually is very dangerous because it can lead to destruction (Hosea 4:6). Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Not the world. Not the unbelievers. God’s own people are destroyed because they refuse to know Him.
The stony ground believer is not destroyed by persecution; they are destroyed by their own ignorance. Persecution merely reveals what was already missing: roots.
The Berean Alternative
Pastor Adeboye points to the Bereans in Acts 17:10-11 as the opposite of stony ground believers. The stony ground believer receives the word with joy only and does not check Scripture. The Berean believer receives the word with readiness and searches the Scriptures daily to confirm whether teachings are true. The stony ground believer depends entirely on preachers. The Berean believer takes personal responsibility for truth.
The Bereans listened to Paul—one of the greatest apostles—yet they still verified everything against Scripture. If they did not take Paul’s word without checking, no believer today should take any preacher’s word without personal Bible study.
How to Develop Deep Roots
To escape the stony ground, embrace persecution as normal. Stop being surprised when suffering comes. Remind yourself daily: “The servant is not greater than his master.”
Study to show yourself approved (2 Timothy 2:15). Personal Bible study is non-negotiable. Set a daily time, even 15 minutes, to read Scripture for yourself, not just through devotionals.
Memorize key perseverance verses. Arm yourself against the devil’s lie that persecution means God has abandoned you. Memorize Romans 8:35-39, James 1:2-4, and 1 Peter 1:6-7.
Build spiritual roots before the storm. You cannot grow roots in the middle of a drought. Build your prayer life, fasting, and study habits now, so that when the scorching heat comes, you will not wither.
Join a discipleship group. Stony ground believers isolate themselves. Deep-rooted believers grow in community where they can ask hard questions, confess doubts, and receive encouragement (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Warning: The Danger of Being “All Joy, No Root”
Excitement is not evidence of conversion. Many people who weep at crusades, raise hands in worship, and speak in Christian slang will fall away when the cost of following Christ becomes real. The question is not how joyful were you when you received the word, but how rooted are you now that the sun is up.
If you cannot name the last time you opened your Bible outside of a church service or this devotional, you may be stony ground. If the thought of losing friends, family approval, or career advancement because of your faith terrifies you more than losing God’s presence, you may be stony ground.
Conclusion: Your Prayer for Deep Roots
Pastor Adeboye prays that as you sow the word daily, you will reap bountiful fruits. But sowing daily is the key. A shallow Christian sows on Sunday. A rooted Christian sows every day.
Key Point from the Devotional:
Growing in the knowledge of God through His word is important for every believer.
Prayer Point (implied from the message):
Father, help me to grow deep roots in Your word so that I can withstand every storm of persecution.
Action Steps:
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The root audit – look back at the last three times you faced difficulty, criticism, or potential loss because of your faith. How did you respond? Did you draw closer to God or drift away? Your answer reveals your root depth.
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20 minutes daily Bible study commitment – for the next 30 days, commit to 20 minutes of personal Bible study before you read any other book or check your phone. Write one observation and one application.
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Memorize 2 Peter 3:18 – write it on an index card. Say it every morning: “I must grow in grace and in the knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ.” Make growth your daily goal, not just excitement.
