OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE:    SATURDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2017

THEME: BACKSLIDING NOT AN OPTION.     


MEMORISE:
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12


READ:  Matthew 27:3-5

27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.


Message:

One unfortunate thing about backsliding is that backsliders often fall so slowly that they hardly notice their deteriorating state. By the time some of them realise how far they have gone, it is rather too late. Are you a backslider? May the Lord restore you fully to Himself today! According to James 1:14-15, backsliding is a process that progresses from lust to sin, and ultimately ends with death. In Luke 22:3-6, Judas accepted to be paid 30 pieces of silver to betray his Master. He must have thought he was going to make some quick, free money. He probably believed that nobody would be able to capture Jesus. After all, how could anyone apprehend the man who calmed the storms by His word? However, after the plot blew up in his face, he felt so disappointed in himself that he returned the money and committed suicide by hanging himself. The question is, why steal or accumulate what you are not going to spend? Do you know that some people, who are stealing, particularly from God, will not be able to spend their evil loot? Those who steal God’s money to buy a car are only driving a moving coffin which can claim their lives at any time.

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12


On the straight and narrow way to Heaven, overconfidence has killed a lot of people, preventing them from making it to the very end. A case in point is Samson. His fall from grace, which led eventually to his tragic death, was a gradual process. From violating little instructions not to eat anything from a dead animal as a Nazarite, to unwholesome jesting and riddles that made light of the commandment of God he had broken, to visiting a harlot, and eventually ending his ministry on Delilah’s laps (Judges 14-16, Numbers 6:1-21). Overconfidence has brought many people to the pitiable place where they are now. Always remember that nobody can stand by his or her own power alone, except God helps the fellow. In fact, we are so weak that we need to always rely on God’s strength to live the Christian life. Have you ever thought or even boasted that you cannot fall? You are just like Peter who boasted that he would never deny Christ, but at the end of the day he denied Him thrice (Matthew 26:31-36). Recognize your weakness and engage in regular Bible study, prayers and fasting to draw strength from God. Furthermore, deliberately avoid any appearance of evil that can tempt you, and break any tie that can lure you back into sin. The Lord will keep you from falling, and He will restore you if you are already down.


ACTION POINT:
Pray that God will keep genuine Christian leaders across the globe from falling.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 89-92
Nahum 2:1-3:4


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11:   I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1.       I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2.       The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3.       Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4.       My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5.       Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens: (Saturday, December 2nd, 2017) - BACKSLIDING: NOT AN OPTION

1.Thank you, Father, for your grace, that has kept me standing in faith, till now.

2.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus' name.

3.Father, heal every inch of backsliding in my life, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, give me the grace, to endure and walk this straight and narrow path, till the end, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, take me away from every path leading to destruction and restore me back to the path of life, by your mercy, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, empower me to be spiritually alert and vigilant; to recognise the traps of the devil, and to walk away, quickly from them, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, arise, and frustrate, every mission of the devil, "to steal, to kill and to destroy", in my life and family, in Jesus' name.

8.Father. I confess that I have no power to stand on my own, please, empower me by your grace and power, to stand, till the end, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, help me to recognise my weakness and to engage in regular bible study, prayers and fasting, that, I may draw strength from you, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, empower me to avoid and flee from every appearance of evil; and help me to break any tie, that, could lure me back into sin, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, keep Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the author of the open heavens daily devotional and general overseer of RCCG, and all other genuine Christian leaders, across the globe, from falling, in Jesus' name.

12.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus' name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
#GodBlessOurNation