OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: MONDAY AUGUST 8TH, 2022.
THEME: LETTER TO THE EPHESUS CHURCH I
MEMORISE:
And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:
2 Chronicles 6:14
READ: Revelation 2:1 -3
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
MESSAGE
The first thing Jesus said to the Ephesus Church, after introducing Himself to them is:
*I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which were evil: and thou hast try them which says they are apostles, and are not, and has found them liars:*
Revelation 2:2
God is watching us closely. He can see it all! He said that members of the Ephesus church did not tolerate sinners. They were separate (2 Corinthians 6:17). Are you comfortable amongst sinners? The Bible asks “what has light gotten to do with darkness”? if you choose a business partner who is not born again, he could be brandishing charm under the table where no one can see him. You would then be wondering why God is not answering your prayers, without knowing that evil spirits have been invited into your business.
Jesus also commended the church for trying the people who came to them claiming to be apostles and finding the fake ones to be liars. When Paul was about to leave the Ephesians, he said:
*“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter among you, not sparing the flocks.* Also of your own self shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” Acts 20: 29-30.
Paul warned them of false prophets, and they immediately started trying whoever claim to be sent by God to them. This tell us that the member of this church were not just hearers of the word but doers also. If these people have not acted on Paul's admonition to them, only God knows the kind of doctrine that could have enter the church. It is because of this admonition that Jesus said they hated the Nicolaitans. The Nicolaitans are those who preach that once you are saved, you are forever saved- the false grace preachers. The Ephesus church never believed their lies because they tested spirit before even listening to any preacher. You will only fall for false doctrines if you don’t test all spirits.
PRAYER POINT
Father, give me the gift of the discerning of spirits so that I don't fall prey to wrong doctrines.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 1-5
AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 3: DEEPER DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS
1 Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher ev'ry day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy word.
2 Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
drsTill my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.]
3 Deeper, deeper! tho' it cost hard trials,
S let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4 Deeper, higher, ev'ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Amen and Amen🙏🙌
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