OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST 2020.
THEME: SPEAK UP!
MEMORISE:
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 24:24
READ: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
MESSAGE
Is it not amazing how some people can speak against the Christian doctrines that have always worked for us while we who have benefited from these just keep quiet and watch? By so doing, you are indirectly giving the devil the opportunity to sell lies to other people who don’t know the truth yet. When you speak out in opposition to the lies, you are not speaking for yourself alone, but so that the wrong beliefs will not be taken as the truth. Whatever a person hears regularly sinks into his subconscious as the truth, so we must ensure that when the world tells a lie once, we say the truth five times with valid proof from the word of God. While you should never argue with them, you do need to speak the truth so that the lie will not prevail in the minds of the people. The younger ones- both age-wise and spiritually, are listening and if all they have to listen to is lies, then they will adopt these as the truth, so we need to speak up.
Many times, Christian don’t speak up because many of us don’t know the Bible well enough. Thus, you need to study the Bible every day and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. The devil knows the Bible and he is an expert in misinterpreting it. Hence, if you are not well grounded in the word of God, you could begin to believe his own interpretation as the truth. Jesus said:
“…….if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
If you don’t want to be amongst those deceived, then you must study your Bible in depth and pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth in the word to you. When you know what the word of God says, anytime you hear a contrary message, you can speak up with the truth and back it up with Scripture. When you hear a contrary opinion on tithe, for instance you can tell them what the Bible says. After you have gotten the real message of what God’s word says about a particular topic, you can even organize a Bible Study group and discuss it with other Christians.
KEY POINT:
In these last days, the devil is raising false interpretation of the scriptures. Don’t be deceived by these, get your interpretations directly from God.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lamentations 3:37-5:22
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 20: NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.
1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.
3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.
4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.