Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: TUESDAY 12TH APRIL, 2022.

THEME: IDLENESS DESTROYS

MEMORISE:

“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”

(Proverbs 13:4)

READ: 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 (KJV)

11. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

12. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

MESSAGE:

We see clearly in Ezekiel 16:49 that one of the major problems that led to the destruction of Sodom is idleness. Idleness also caused David great sorrow.

At a time when kings went to war, he stayed at home and this led to him committing adultery and murder. These sins invoked God’s anger and a curse was placed upon him and his lineage (2 Samuel 11-12).

Solomon also fell into the trap of idleness, which caused his heart to be turned away from God.

After he had built the temple of God and a new palace, he had nothing else to do. There were no wars to fight, no territories to conquer, and so he relaxed.

He started marrying women he had no business with until he ended up with 700 wives and 300 concubines. In his relaxed state, his wives began to turn him away from the Most High God, and before he knew it, he was already building temples for and sacrificing to strange gods. Solomon started with so much respect and honour for God that he gave the largest sacrifice in the Bible to the Lord.

This was a man who God appeared to twice, but idleness brought him to the point where he began to serve other gods. He displeased God greatly, and this led to him losing part of his father’s heritage (1 Kings 11:1-11).

Jesus Christ said His father works and likewise Himself (John 5:17). Who then do you want to emulate by being idle? Imagine if, in your house, everyone - including the father of the house helps out with chores, yet one of the children never works but loafs around the house every day. That child would be very annoying to the parents and his or her siblings.

Beloved, there are many souls to be saved out there (Matthew 9:37); are you working to reach them quickly?

When you consider the story of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-20, you may think, “What did this man do wrong? Is it wrong to work so hard and gather a large harvests? Why did God kill him?” God took his life because he had decided that since he now had a large harvest, he was going to become idle. Idle people are very dangerous to the Kingdom of God and the society.

No matter how much you have achieved, still strive for more. There is a lot of work to be done in the Kingdom of God. Serve Him now that you have the privilege to do so (John 9:4).

KEY POINT:

A good child of God will be busy doing His work.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1 Kings 8-9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: - ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDER!

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!

Chorus

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.

Chorus

Onward, Christian soldiers,

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before.

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.

Chorus

Onward, Christian soldiers,

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on befor.

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,

But the church of Jesus constant will remain.

Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;

We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Chorus

Onward, Christian soldiers,

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before.

5. 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.

Chorus

Onward, Christian soldiers,

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before.