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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-MONDAY-10/10/2016-FAITH LIKE A CHILD’S?-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-MONDAY-10/10/2016-FAITH LIKE A CHILD’S?-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
FAITH LIKE A CHILD’S?
Memorise
And said,
Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3
Read
Matthew
18:1-6,
1At the same time came the
disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And
Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And
said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as
this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And
whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But
whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better
for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned
in the depth of the sea.
KJV
MESSAGE
The child-like faith is what everybody
requires, not only to make it to heaven but also to enjoy his or her days on
the earth. If we do not believe this because it sounds illogical, we must
believer it because Jesus said it. What is then required of us is to pray for
the kind of faith that is comparable with that of a little child. The first
thing about a little child is that he is very trusting. In my living room
several years ago, there used to be a portrait of a little child looking so
innocent with the inscription; “Non Problem”. The faith that will enable us not
to see problems but see only God who specializes in solving problems is the
best for us.
Another characteristic trait of little
children is that they forgive easily. Unlike adults who keep malice, children
forgive and forget the wrong done to them almost immediately after it’s done.
The Bible says in Ephesians 4:32:
“And be ye kind one to
another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake
hath forgiven you.”
Children fulfil his Biblical injunction
freely. Children could be very generous with their things except in some
unusual occasions. Without knowing the spiritual implication of their actions,
children are tender hearted with their peers. This is exactly what God wants
from us. In Colossians 3:12-13,
the Bible also says:
“Put on therefore, as
the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of
mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another and forgive one another,
if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do
ye.”
There are many blessings we will access from
the throne of God our Father if we can begin to take after children. For
example, if we freely forgive those who wrong us like a child will do, our
prayers will receive quick answers from God. In Mark 11:25, Jesus Christ said:
“And when ye stand
praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is
in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
This instruction that
comes from our Lord is simply saying that before we pray, we must first
forgive! We can see the reason many of our prayers are not answered; we refuse to
forgive. I pray that a user of this devotional will find grace to forgive and
be kind hearted in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Point
Father, please help my
faith and transform me to be able to forgive freely and be tender hearted in
Jesus’ name.
Bible in one year
Ezekiel 46:19-48:35,
Psalms 77:11-20
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-SUNDAY-09/10/2016-I MUST DECREASE-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-SUNDAY-09/10/2016-I MUST DECREASE-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
I MUST DECREASE
Memorise
He must
increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30
Read
John
3:25-30;
25 Then
there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about
purifying.
26 And
they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond
Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men
come to him.
27 John
answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from
heaven.
28 Ye
yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent
before him.
29 He
that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which
standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice:
this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He
must increase, but I must decrease.
KJV
MESSAGE
For Jesus
Christ to be fully formed in us, we must learn the secret of reducing our
carnal nature to the level of divine approval. In Colossians 3:5-6, Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ said:
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the
earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate, affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh
on the children of disobedience.”
When a person
is born, he is born loaded with traits that are in enmity with God and
consequently brings His wrath. Another apostle of Christ lists some things that
make a typical fallen man; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the
pride of life (1st John 2:15).
These are the sins into which the first man and woman fell and we inherited. We
must get rid of them if we want Christ to be fully formed in us. The pride of
life is a subtle and complex sin for many reasons. Firstly, the proud will
never accept that he is proud; this makes the sin very complex until the power
of regeneration comes upon the individual. He surrenders his life to Christ for
total deliverance. It takes the direct opposite of pride to go to Calvary and
confess one’s sins. Moreover, it takes an acceptance of his actions as sinful
before the fellow can confess them. Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke on this matter
when He told the story of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18:9-14:
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift
up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be
merciful to me a sinner…. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified
rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and
he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
In the Bible
reading for today, John the Baptist teaches us some lessons, in spite of his
position as a prophet, he knew his limitation; he knew his boundary. He pointed
his audience to the original Messiah. From his proclamation, we got the title
for today’s devotional reading: Jesus must increase while we must decrease. Our
carnal man must be mortified so that Jesus Christ can increase in us, and
gradually, we shall be transformed to conform to the image of the Son of the
living God. Beloved, I want to encourage you to make a decision to decrease,
that Jesus may increase. Let the fruits of the Spirits listed in Galatians 5:22 characterise your
lifestyle.
Prayer Point
Father, please help me to be transformed to the
image of Your Son, Jesus Christ my Saviour.
Bible in one year
Ezekiel 44:15-46:18, Psalms 77:1-10
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