Open Heavens 21 July 2026 Daily Devotional Topic: THE KEYS TO FREEDOM II

RCCG Open Heavens 21 July 2026 Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye – THE KEYS TO FREEDOM II

Topic: THE KEYS TO FREEDOM II

Memorise:

See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
— Deuteronomy 30:15 (KJV)

Read: Exodus 21:1-6 (KJV)

1 Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.
5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

RCCG Open Heavens 21 July 2026 Today Message by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Yesterday, I mentioned that admitting there is a burden and recognising the need for God’s help to remove it is the first step that people who are under the yoke of satan must take to become free from his bondage. Today, I will discuss the next step that such people must take to gain their freedom.

While admitting the need for help is the first step to gaining freedom from satan’s bondage, the second step is to be willing to be helped. In John 5:2-9, Jesus asked a man who had been sick for 38 years, “Do you want to be made whole?” Ordinarily, one would think that there is no need to ask a man who had suffered for so long if he wanted to be made whole. However, Jesus asked him the question because He knew that not everyone wants to be helped; some people love their burdens and do not want to be set free from them. Today’s Bible reading tells us that when slaves love their chains, their owners should pierce their ears and brand them as slaves for life.

No matter how long a slave has been in slavery, the day such a fellow decides that he or she wants to be free marks the beginning of his or her journey to freedom. For example, the day the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22 sought Jesus for her deliverance was the day her bondage of 12 years disappeared. The Almighty God can deliver anyone who is under the devil’s yoke, even a lawful captive (Isaiah 49:24-26); however, he or she must be willing to be delivered.

Beloved, any Christian who is still indulging in the pleasures of sin is under the devil’s bondage and is clearly not willing to be free. Anyone who claims to be a believer but keeps company with people who lure him or her to sin is under satan’s yoke and cannot be free until he or she decides to cut off such relationships. It is not enough for a person to just declare that he or she wants to be free; the person’s actions must show a willingness to be free. Such a person must live a holy life and must be committed to praying, studying the Bible regularly, and fellowshipping with other believers. God will fight for such a person and give him or her total freedom.

Reflection:
Are you submitting to the devil in any area of your life?

Bible in One Year:
Isaiah 25-28

Hymn 26: All to Jesus I Surrender

Verse 1:
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Chorus:
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

Verse 2:
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

(Chorus)

Verse 3:
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

(Chorus)

Verse 4:
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

(Chorus)

Verse 5:
All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!

(Chorus)

Open Heavens Devotional 21 July 2026 Commentary

Theme: The Burden Bearer requires willingness as the second key to freedom. Admission of need must be followed by a genuine desire to be free, demonstrated by cutting off sinful relationships and committing to holiness.

Major Keywords: Keys to freedom, willingness to be helped, loving your chains, the slave who chose bondage, the man at Bethesda, the woman with the issue of blood, lawful captive, holiness.

Commentary Summary:

• The Second Key: Willingness: Admission is not enough. You must want to be free. Jesus asked the man at Bethesda, “Do you want to be made whole?” because some people love their burdens—they receive attention, sympathy, or comfort from their bondage.

• The Slave Who Loved His Chains: Exodus 21:5-6 describes a slave who chose to remain with his master forever, having his ear pierced. Some people prefer the familiar chains of sin over the uncertain responsibilities of freedom.

• Evidence of Willingness: The woman with the issue of blood sought Jesus—she demonstrated her willingness through action. Today, willingness is shown by cutting off relationships that lure you to sin, living a holy life, praying, studying Scripture, and fellowshipping with believers.

• Key Truth: God can deliver even a lawful captive (Isaiah 49:24-26), but He will not override your will. If you choose bondage, He will allow it. If you choose freedom, He will fight for you.

Reference to Theme: This message, THE KEYS TO FREEDOM II, establishes that deliverance requires not just admitting your burden but actively choosing to let it go. You cannot be free if you are unwilling to cut off the chains—sinful relationships, habits, and excuses. God is ready to set you free, but you must be willing to walk out of the door.

Action Steps:

1. The Willingness Audit: Ask yourself honestly: Is there any area where I am not willing to be free? Any sin I am protecting? Any relationship I refuse to cut off? Any excuse I am hiding behind? Write it down. Then choose to be willing.

2. The Ear-Piercing Test: Imagine you are the slave at the doorpost. Freedom is offered. Will you walk out or stay? If you would choose to stay, ask God to change your heart until you are willing to leave.

3. The Action Plan: Write down three specific actions you will take this week to demonstrate your willingness: (1) Cut off a specific sinful relationship or habit, (2) Commit to daily prayer and Bible reading, (3) Join or strengthen fellowship with believers.