OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: WEDNESDAY 30TH DECEMBER 2020.
THEME: OVERCOME YOUR BODY.
MEMORISE:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27
READ: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
MESSAGE:
Anyone that is going to excel according to our Bible reading for today, must be self-disciplined. Such a person must keep his/her body under. Do not be deceived - greatness is readily available. There is plenty of room at the top; the question is: are you willing to do the work that will qualify you to get there?
Anyone who wants to be prominent, to mount with wings like an eagle cannot be lazy. Isaiah 40:31 says it is they that wait upon the Lord whose strength will be renewed; they are the ones who will mount with wings as eagles. Many people are too lazy to pray and they want miracles. When I pray at night, I don’t stay in one place because I know that after a busy day, I would sleep off. If I am in a place where I cannot go out in the night, I walk up and down the stairs so that I won’t sleep while praying. Many people can’t even fast for three days, yet to cast out demons. Jesus said:
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21
When I got born again, we resumed in church on Sunday morning before the break of day and were there until the evening. These days, if the service goes on beyond 11am, people would already be dreaming of meals they want to eat after the service. How can the Church take its rightful place if everyone is this lazy?
It takes discipline to excel; even the devil knows it, that is why he keeps bringing several distractions our way and sadly, many of us allow him. If you cannot stay for one hour without peering into your phone, you need to check to be sure that you are not already a victim of the devil. If a provocatively dressed lady cannot walk past without you turning to get another angle, that is the devil getting you there. If you cannot do without having sex with your spouse in a week, then how can you take out time to consecrate yourself to God? You need self-discipline, if not, you could become an easy target for the enemy.
REFLECTION:
Comparing how often you eat and sleep with how often you pray, how disciplined would you say you are?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelation 19-20
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 23: ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIER!
1. Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See his banners go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
2. At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory.
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise.
3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the Saints have trod.
We are not divided;
All one body we:
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
4. Onward, then, ye people;
Join our happy throng.
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song:
Glory, laud, and honor
Unto Christ, the King.
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.
Amen and Amen
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