Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

DATE: SATURDAY MAY 27TH, 2023.

THEME: CHILDREN AS DIVINE WEAPONS 

MEMORISE: 

Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. 

Isaiah 8:18

READ: Psalms 127:3 -5

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

MESSAGE

Divine weapons may appear so ordinary that enemies often belittle them, however, to their detriment. Example of such weapons in the Bible include the rod of Moses in Exodus 14:13-16, the shout of Halelluyah that brought down the walls of Jericho in Joshua 6:20, prayer and praise that caused the chains of Paul, Silas, and all the other prisoners to be broken (Acts 16:25-26), and many more. These examples show how divine weapons that seems unimportant to the enemy were deployed to accomplish great victories for the people of God.

We also have clear examples of what happens when children are used to symbolize divine weapons. Psalm 127:3-5 says:

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: And the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; So are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be ashamed, But they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

The above passage confirms that though children have biological parents, they are of divine origin. Children are compared with arrows which require much skill, craftsmanship, and training before they can be used effectively. So also, children need the knowledge of the word of God, good education, discipline and godly upbringing, to assume the leadership positions that God has in store for them in life.

The passage further tells us that they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. In Bible days, the city gate was like a public square, the gathering place where elders sat to settle disputes, render judgment, and make important decisions. Boaz settled the issue of his marriage to Ruth at the city gate in Ruth 4:1-6. Parents of godly children have nothing to be ashamed of, they can move about with their heads held high at any public gatherings. Godly children are indeed weapons in the hand of God.

PRAYER POINT 

Father, please let my children, born and unborn become powerful divine weapons, in Jesus name. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW

1 Jesus loves me, this I know, 

for the Bible tells me so. 

Little ones to him belong; 

they are weak, but he is strong. 

Refrain: 

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! 

Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. 

2 Jesus loves me he who died 

heaven's gate to open wide. 

He will wash away my sin, 

let his little child come in. 

3 Jesus loves me, this I know, 

as he loved so long ago, 

taking children on his knee, 

saying, "Let them come to me."