OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 20 MARCH 2016

THEME: BEWARE OF ENTICING MOCKERS
 
Memorise:

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1

Read: Genesis 19:30-38

30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:

32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

37 And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Message

There are many people who argue as to whether it is a sin to take alcohol or not. This is amazing; simply have to look at the fruit of an action before you know whether it is good or not. In our Bible reading, the acts of the children of Lot wouldn’t have been possible if their father had not been drunk. So in his senseless state of mind, both daughters laid with him and conceived from his seed. The children born through this means became the Moabites and the Ammonites who become sworn-enemies of the children of Israel.

Wine is a mocker that leads to uncontrollable behaviour. I have seen very quite people who will never, under normal circumstances, say anything that will put them into trouble. But the moment these people come under the influence of strong drink, they become someone else. There are many people who have lost precious things under the influence of alcohol. Many have lost their wives as a result of alcohol. With a ‘little shot’ many have been poisoned through alcohol. There are people who have experienced fatal accidents because they were not in control of themselves. Some were duped because they were under the influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, the devil is always waiting for such times when people are out of their senses to strike. He allows some of them to suffer damages which they may never recover from.

“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts”
Proverbs 31:6

Those who cannot stay away from alcohol will always be victims of wrong decisions. They will never be able to judge well. Men of integrity who value the life that God has given to them will control themselves and not allow the desire of the flesh to derail them.

Alcohol is an instrument of unrighteousness and you should not yield to it. If you love God, it will show in your attitude to such things. God wants you to abstain from the old wine of sin and embrace the new wine of life in the Spirit of God. This is the wine of the Holy Spirit which is totally devoid of the input of man. There is no addition of chemical that will do your harm. The new wine produces joy and happiness in the Holy Ghost, while the old wine of flesh produces death and shame. You will not be a victim of mockery in Jesus’ name.  

Key Point:

It is a sin to engage in what destroys you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 3:7-4:24 and Job 39:13-25

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE



HYMN 9: MY FAITH HAS FOUND A PLACE

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

Chorus:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.

Chorus:

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The living Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior's Name,
Salvation through His blood.

Chorus:

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.

Chorus.