Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE:   THURSDAY 25TH MARCH 2021.

THEME:  SIGNS OF BACKSLIDING IV.

MEMORISE:

 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.            

Proverbs 11:30

READ:  John 15:4-5   

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

MESSAGE:

“Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”   Psalm51:13

We are focusing on Psalm 51 today because it is the prayer of David after he backslid. It is the sincere prayer of a backslide asking for restoration. In the Bible passage quoted above, David said that if God should restore him, he would teach sinners His way. This shows that he had not been witnessing during the period in which he had fallen. When you find out that you are reluctant to win souls, you are already backsliding.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.      Psalm 51:14-15

Another sign of backsliding is when praising God becomes a casual thing to a believer. David said in the passage above that if God restored him, he would praise Him. This is somebody who the Bible says used to dance with all his might for God, but because he had fallen into sin, even singing became a problem.

You can't deceive God. When was the last time you worshipped God from the depth of your heart? Check your salvation, is it still intact? Is your fire still burning bright? Are you as hot as you used to be or are you becoming lukewarm? Are you sleeping when you are supposed to be at the war front for the Lord Jesus Christ?  Answer these questions honesty within yourself.

I cried to God when I read about how David was relaxing at the time when kings go to war (2 Samuel 11:1-4). This is the man that said, "If nobody will fight Goliath, I will go". Each time I read of how he slept when he should have been at war, I   cry " Father, don't let my case be like this". Ask yourself, when as the last time you won a soul for God? When was the last time you were willing to go out into territories no one would want to go to, preaching the gospel and not caring for your life? Are you sure that you are not sleeping when a war is going on?

The devil is waging a war to snatch your soul from the Lord (1 Peter 5:8); wake up from your slumber and return to your first love.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, help me to be vigilant at all times and to be passionate about winning souls for Your kingdom in the mighty name of Jesus.    

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 1-2

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 21:  ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

 

Not the labor of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

 

Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress;

Helpless, look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly;

Wash me, Savior, or I die.

 

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When my eyes shall close in death,

When I rise to worlds unknown,

And behold Thee on Thy throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.