OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2021.
THEME: LESSONS FROM THE BETRAYAL OF CHRIST.
MEMORISE:
But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
Luke 22:21
READ: Luke 22:19-23
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
MESSAGE:
A kiss is a very intimate show of affection and it is usually not cheap to give or receive, one would then wonder why Judas Iscariot decide to use a kiss as the code to betray Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:48-50).
For one, Psalm 41:9 had to be fulfilled.
“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”
We must learn that the word of God will forever be fulfilled. Another lesson from what necessitated Judas’ betrayal code was the leadership style of Jesus Christ. He was obviously very close to His disciples. There was no distinction between Him and His subordinates- no class boundaries, no differentiation. As a matter of fact, He washed their feet. Whoever saw Jesus washing His disciples’ feet could have mistaken Him for a ‘servant of servants’. Whatever He did, He empowered His disciples to do also. What a lesson for Christian leaders!
Leaders must also be extremely careful of close associates without being necessarily suspicious. This is because out of twelve disciples, there usually would be one ‘Judas Iscariot’. The truth is, more often than not, there is always a need for a Judas for the fulfilment of God’s purpose for a leader’s life. This is a bitter truth, but it must be told.
There is however, a kiss that betrays, not someone else, but your very self! For example, when you intimately kiss a person who is not your spouse, you have betrayed your spirit man and empowered the flesh. Apostle Paul says that we should abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22) he says further, “ll things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” (1 Corinthians 10:23). In Romans 14:21, he also says:
“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
May you neither be sold or sell yourself by a kiss of betrayal, in the name of Jesus.
Check the motives behind your actions; it may betray you. Pray that you will not end up like Judas Iscariot, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 6-10.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 2: AMAZIN GRACE! HOW SWEET THE SOUND.
1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
6. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
7. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
Amen and Amen
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