OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Wednesday February 17th 2016
TOPIC: TIME TO FIGHT II
Memorize: Mortify therefore your members which are upon
the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection,
evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5
Read: 1st Timothy 6:6-12,
6 But godliness with contentment is great
gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be
therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of
all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and
pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these
things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay
hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good
profession before many witnesses.
Bible in one year: Luke 6:17-7:50, Job 23:1-13
MESSAGE
Anyone that has been in the in the Christian race for
some years would have discovered the militant nature of the average Christian.
Every true Christian is fully aware of the on-going conflicts around us,
physical, mental, and spiritual. We are confronted with contrary doctrines in
our daily lives, we face diverse kinds of temptations, we are bombarded with
many ungodly ideas and propositions; sometimes it could be vicious attacks from
unknown people or aggression from neighbours. In addition to all these, we are
constantly faced with attractive and seemingly profitable offers from the pit
of hell to lure us into all kinds of sins. The devil is prowling around the
world looking for Christians to destroy according to 1stPeter 5:8
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
The survival of a child of God therefore depends on his
or her preparedness for battle and the ability to fight. We must be ever-ready
so that nothing will catch us unawares. We cannot afford to slumber or sleep,
we are meant to be spiritual watchmen and scouts, constantly looking out for
bands of approaching enemies that may try to take us by surprise. This is why
the above passage counsels us to be serious minded and vigilant, carefully
monitoring every move of the enemy around us, and to be fully prepared to
counter and completely neutralise his evil attacks.
However, one of the most
dangerous places to be in a conflict situation is at the back. Whenever you see
somebody dropping back in a war situation, be sure that the fellow will soon be
hit very hard. King David learnt this lesson in a hard way. I pray that you
will never backslide into error and be caught in the snare of the devil in
Jesus’ name.
In Matthew 16:18, the Lord Jesus declared that the gates
of hell shall not prevail against the Church. These gates are the access points
that the enemy may use to penetrate our lives. To permanently keep these gates
shut, Colossians 3:5 counsels us to subdue the flesh and its worldly desires
through discipline, and put it under control. If we fail to discipline
ourselves, then it becomes easy for pride, sexual immorality, inordinate
ambition, covetousness, and other forms of indiscipline to creep into our lives
and give opportunity to the devil to butcher us. May the Lord deliver you from
every evil plan against your life in Jesus’ name. Finally, 1st John
3:8b says;
“…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he
might destroy the works of devil.”
This instruction to fight becomes easy to carry out when
we realise that Jesus Christ the Son of God came to this world for the sole
purpose of destroying the works of the devil. I decree that every work of the
devil in your life be destroyed now in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point
Father, please help me to stand. Don’t let me ever fall
for the devil in Jesus’ name.
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