OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: TUESDAY, AUGUST 28TH 2018- ARE YOU STILL IN THE FAITH?

Memorise: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5
Read: Psalm 139:21-24
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;  test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Bible in one year: Psalm 78-80, Matthew 26:47-68

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. It is possible for a person who once walked with God to drift out of the faith. This is the reason why 2 Corinthians 13:5 says: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
2. From this scripture, we see that it is also possible for a person to know that he or she is no longer in the faith, especially if such a fellow has become a reprobate.
3. To become reprobate can be likened to spiritual insanity.
4. When a person is psychologically insane, he or she can no longer differentiate between good and evil. For example, a mad person wandering around naked will regard someone who is properly dressed as abnormal for putting on clothes. In the same way, when a child of God who has been taught to be properly dressed now begins to dress half nude in the name of fashion, something fundamental has gone wrong in his or her life. The fellow must conduct a critical, biblical examination of his or her faith.
5. The Psalmist made a wise request from the Lord in Psalm 139:23-24. He asked the Lord to carry out a thorough search of his inner man to see if there was anything contrary to His nature of it. This suggests that we can pray to the Lord, as the Revealer of all secrets, to reveal the true state of our hearts to us.
6. When a reprobate person prays this prayer sincerely, God will come to his or her aid to remove the scales covering the eyes of the heart from seeing its true state.
7. The Psalmist prayed that God should graciously find out for him any iota of wickedness that might exist in him and lead him out of it onto the way of righteousness.
8. The easiest way the Lord does this for His genuine children is through His written word.
9. In Psalm 119:9, the Holy Spirit reveals the secret of righteous living, saying: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
10. The word of God enables us to examine whether we are still in faith. It acts as a mirror that shows our true state (James 1:22-25).
11. When God’s word illuminates your ways, you will see where you might have erred (Psalm 119:105).
12. The word does not stop at revealing sin in our lives, it also cleanses us from sin, but only if we allow it impact and change our lives (Ephesians 5:26-27).
13. Beloved, if you sincerely want to examine whether you are still in the faith, study the word.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“The word of God enables us to examine whether we are still in faith. It acts as a mirror that shows our true state (James 1:22-25).” Beloved this is a deep truth that we should embrace in making our ways right with the Lord. We should also diligently follow the action point for today. May we not miss our way in Christ and faith in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point: Pray the Psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-24
Hymn
I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.
I need thee every hour
Most Holy one;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

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