OPEN HEAVENS BY PST. ENOCH .A. ADEBOYE

SATURDAY JUNE 13

POWER OVER SIN

MEMORISE:

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28

READ: 

Galatians 3:20-26

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

2 Chronicles 6-7

Psalm 136

MESSAGE:

Many Christians think the law (the Old Testament) is no longer of any effect and thus behave carelessly, claiming that, because they are born again, grace covers all their sins. Paul clarifies this in the following Scripture:

*“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”* Galatians 3:23-26

The old covenant protected the people against temporal death, poverty, all forms of suffering and bondage but the new delivers eternally (Matthew 1:21; 26:28). Your ability to overcome sin is proof that you are a child of God, John the Beloved corroborated this when he said in 1 John 3:9 that *“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”*

Are we really children of God? If we still wallow in sin, we remain in the old dispensation and the letter of the law will punish us here and in the afterlife.

The superiority of the new covenant over the old however is that, while the latter puts constraints to prevent sin, the new gives power over it. Romans 6:14 says: *“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”*  We therefore have the assurance that grace will work for us. Romans 6:1 however cautions that we cannot remain in sin, expecting grace to abound. Rather, grace empowers us to conquer sin. You do not have any excuse to abide in sin.

ACTION POINT:

Tap into the power of the new covenant to overcome sin.

HYMN 30:

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus:

Trust and obey, 

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, 

But to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY 12TH JULY 2020

THEME: UNDERSTANDING GOD

MEMORISE:

 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

READ: 1 Corinthians 2:11-16

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

MESSAGE:

 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Luke 8:10

Many people of the world think they understand spiritual things. They look at the things that we do and start judging. They tell us that we are not doing it right; they even go to the extent of trying to teach us how God wants us to do things. How do they know the mind of God when they themselves are living outside His will? Just as stated in Luke 8:10 above, the things of God are parables to them. They can hear, but cannot understand. They can read the Bible but cannot comprehend it because the letter killeth, but it is the Spirit that gives understanding (Isaiah 11:2). 1 Corinthians 2:11 says:

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

No one can understand the mind of God except through the Holy Ghost, so anyone who does not have the Spirit cannot know His mind.

Being a mathematician, when I heard about the principle of tithing, it made no sense to me. 100% of my salary was not enough to cover my expenses for the month, talk less of the remaining 90% after the tithe was paid. I however decide to try it and amazingly. I had more than enough to see me through the month. 

When next you hear unbelievers condemning the principles of God, don’t bother arguing with them; just say the truth you know and move on. Pray that they should encounter Christ and also have the Spirit of God within them so they can understand the ways of God too.

KEY POINT:

Someone who is not a member of your clan cannot understand your family culture. Don’t argue with them, just keep doing what the Bible says.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 27

Isaiah 9-12.

 

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 13: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS.

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;

The world behind me, the cross before me;

The world behind me, the cross before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;

Though none go with me, still I will follow;

Though none go with me, still I will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

No turning back, no turning back.