.OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
Topic: IT PAYS TO LIVE HOLY I.
MEMORISE : But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ROMANS 6 : 22.
READ : PROVERBS 11 : 17 - 18.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : ACTS 24 : 22 - 26 : 32 AND SONG OF SOLOMON 7 : 11 - 8 : 7.
MESSAGE
There is a sure reward for all those who are living holy. Men will go the extra mile to get a great reward from an endeavour, no matter the sacrifices it may require of them. Holiness requires from us certain sacrifices; we have to forgo certain things. I can assure you that there are several rewards for living holy. God is not merely asking us to live holy; He also promises “sure rewards” for living holy. For example, long life is a sure reward of holy living according to Proverbs 11 : 19. Sin leads to death while holiness leads to life. You will die young if you are indulging in sin. But if you are living holy, Satan will not be able to get you into a snare that can lead you to death. Another reward is found in Hosea 10 : 12 :
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
If you plant holiness, you will harvest the mercy of God. It is glaring that but for the mercy of God, we will not be alive today. It was God who said that the soul that sins shall perish. Probably no one would be alive today if God had been rewarding us for the sins we have been committing. He will keep on showing us more mercy if we go on living holy. Peace is another reward of holy living. In Daniel 4 : 27 the Bible says :
“Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”
In this scripture, Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that if he began to live holy, God will be merciful unto him and then give him increased peace. Philosophers spend a lot of time trying to find answers to questions such as, what is truth, what is life and what is peace; they always end up with inconclusive answers. The search continues for them. The reason they cannot get an answer is because they have been asking the wrong questions. The question is not what peace is but who Peace is. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The call to holiness is actually a call to peace. Why has God called us to peace? The reason is that He is a God of Peace ( 1 Corinthians 14 : 33 ). A father will give to his child whatever he has. The devil will give what he has to his children – sickness, sorrow, confusion, etc. God will give you what He has if you belong to Him. He is the Author of Peace and He will give you peace today in Jesus’ Name.
ACTION POINT :
Find out those habits that are a direct opposite of a life of holiness in your life; do away with them as the price of holiness and you will be adequately rewarded.
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Monday, December 29, 2014
"indomie-like Christian"
Title: indomie-like christian (a piece)
Someone may wanna ask; what about it? i.e. Indomie-like Christian! When a fellowship-life of a believer starts and ends with a devotional guide that's been written by a proclaimed author and 'pastor'. When the worship life of a believer is guided by paper principled nuggets, when prayer life is fashioned in patterns set by men (of God) in black and white prints; etc.
You see an indomie is a food that can be cooked within 5minutes and today it's not suprising we've got an 'indomie generation'. Like when I used to buying indomie from one Mallam across my street at Ketu Lagos Nigeria, he would pour it in a cup, add very hot water and cover it up. Before you finish typing a two 'sms' phone text, it's done. I have my indomie ready, mixed with sliced pepper and fried egg...all these stuffs lasted for 5-7minutes. There you go, I begin to eat!!!
Our worship life, fellowship, prayer, and wording life (i.e. Studying God's word) must span beyond 5-7minutes affairs. They must be moments of encountering God afresh. God told Moses "... I AM THAT I AM ..." (Exodus 3:14) and you know Moses could have relent on the fore-knowledge of God as "...THE ALMIGHTY GOD..." (Genesis 17:1). We do ourselves a world of good deeds if we discover God ourselves as Holy Spirit helps us when we spend time alone with Him in His presence. 'Devotionals' would do but little in grooming our spirit-man but self 'Devotions' would be great (and of course then devotional manuals would be the tip on the icebergs).
The word says: ...study to show thyself approved unto God...." No other man will work on your approval unto God, no other devotionals but God's word. God said the days are coming that I will write my words into their hearts and no man will teach others to know The Lord for all would know Him (of course, that's if they search Him).
I've not campaign against devotional manuals (I also use them) but I'm canvassing for self studying of God's word, worship-life, prayer-life and devotions. God bless you richly...Amen!!!
Someone may wanna ask; what about it? i.e. Indomie-like Christian! When a fellowship-life of a believer starts and ends with a devotional guide that's been written by a proclaimed author and 'pastor'. When the worship life of a believer is guided by paper principled nuggets, when prayer life is fashioned in patterns set by men (of God) in black and white prints; etc.
You see an indomie is a food that can be cooked within 5minutes and today it's not suprising we've got an 'indomie generation'. Like when I used to buying indomie from one Mallam across my street at Ketu Lagos Nigeria, he would pour it in a cup, add very hot water and cover it up. Before you finish typing a two 'sms' phone text, it's done. I have my indomie ready, mixed with sliced pepper and fried egg...all these stuffs lasted for 5-7minutes. There you go, I begin to eat!!!
Our worship life, fellowship, prayer, and wording life (i.e. Studying God's word) must span beyond 5-7minutes affairs. They must be moments of encountering God afresh. God told Moses "... I AM THAT I AM ..." (Exodus 3:14) and you know Moses could have relent on the fore-knowledge of God as "...THE ALMIGHTY GOD..." (Genesis 17:1). We do ourselves a world of good deeds if we discover God ourselves as Holy Spirit helps us when we spend time alone with Him in His presence. 'Devotionals' would do but little in grooming our spirit-man but self 'Devotions' would be great (and of course then devotional manuals would be the tip on the icebergs).
The word says: ...study to show thyself approved unto God...." No other man will work on your approval unto God, no other devotionals but God's word. God said the days are coming that I will write my words into their hearts and no man will teach others to know The Lord for all would know Him (of course, that's if they search Him).
I've not campaign against devotional manuals (I also use them) but I'm canvassing for self studying of God's word, worship-life, prayer-life and devotions. God bless you richly...Amen!!!
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