Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: SATURDAY MARCH 4th, 2023.

THEME: STANDING BEFORE KINGS

MEMORISE: 

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. 

Proverbs 22:29

READ: Proverbs 6:4 -11

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

MESSAGE

Not everyone gets the opportunity to stand before kings. Standing before kings represents being at the very top of your career or profession. It means that you have become so successful, you are also a king in your own field of operation. The Bible says that if you want to stand before kings, you must be diligent (Proverbs 22:29). Laziness must disappear from your diary. Slothfulness must not be part of your lifestyle at all.

You cannot rise to the top of your profession if you are lazy. The Bible says:

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Proverbs 12: 24

Proverbs 23:21 also says, "For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags". 

In 1970s, there was a positive confession revolution. Many people confessed that they had Mercedes Benz cars, but you'll find them still lazing around their homes by 10 a.m. on most days. Many years later, they were still making positive confessions but the Mercedes Benz cars did not appear. It is not enough for you to confess that you will be great, you need to back it up with hard work. Greatness is not for lazy people. Proverbs 24:33-34 says, "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy wants as an armed man."

It is the word of God that says those who would not work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). He has given you the power to make wealth as promised that in Deuteronomy 8:18, but if you are not diligent at what you do for a living, the wealth will not come

God can open a door for you, but you would have to get up and walk through it. My God does not bless laziness.

KEY POINT

God does not bless laziness.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 33-34

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 20: STAND UP,STAND UP FOR JESUS

1 Stand up, stand up for Jesus

ye soldiers of the cross;

lift high his royal banner,

it must not suffer loss.

From vict'ry unto vict'ry

his army he shall lead

till ev'ry foe is vanquished

and Christ is Lord indeed.

2 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

the trumpet call obey;

forth to the mighty conflict

in this his glorious day.

Ye that are men now serve him

against unnumbered foes;

let courage rise with danger

and strength to strength oppose.

3 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

stand in his strength alone;

the arm of flesh will fail you,

ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the gospel armor,

each piece put on with prayer;

where duty calls or danger,

be never wanting there.

4 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

the strife will not be long;

this day the noise of battle,

the next, the victor's song.

To him that overcometh

a crown of life shall be;

he with the King of glory

shall reign eternally.