OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD 2017- RESISTING GOD?

Memorise: Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 1st Corinthians 10:22
Read: 1st Corinthians 10:21-23
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Bible in one year: Nehemiah 7-8, Ezekiel 45:10-25

1. Colossians 1:16 tells us that all visible and invisible things were created by God and for God.
2. You were created to make God happy by following His will, plan and purpose for your life. However, when you take the path of self-government and go contrary to the purpose for which you were created, that is rebellion.
3. Lucifer and several angels decided to walk out of God’s original plan, and they became who we now refer to as Satan and demons (Isaiah 14:12-16, Revelation 12:7-9).
4. Anyone who follows self-government today will also end up where the devil and his demons are.
5. The truth is, if you fail God, you fail yourself. Therefore, pleasing God is the real path to true self-fulfilment, lasting peace and joy.
6. I tell you the truth, living on earth without conforming to God’s original blueprint for your life makes you waste that life.
7. Without God, life is not worth living. “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2nd Timothy 2:4
8. We are not here on earth by our power or design.
9. We were created and placed here to satisfy God’s eternal plan and purpose for our lives.
10. Even when Jesus was here, in all that He did, He did not try to please Himself but His father (John 8:29, John 5:30). Now that He has chosen us to be His soldiers, we cannot afford to please ourselves.
11. When He gives us an assignment, we must do it exactly as He wants it done, or risk going against Him.
12. In 1st Samuel 15, King Saul was given an assignment by God to go and utterly wipe out the Amalekites. He went out to fulfil it but made slight changes to the instructions. In the end, he failed God and failed himself. He lost his kingdom because he could not totally comply with God’s will. Today, for this same reason, many people are close to completely losing their place in God’s divine plan.
13. A king who resisted God had to go on a seven-year trip into insanity, and he lost his throne for that period (Daniel 4). Similarly, another king who said that God’s word should not be heard was eaten alive by worms (Acts 12:1-24). If these great kings could not resist or withstand God, do you think you can? If you are wise, you will totally submit to His will today.
14. God has a problem with the so-called obedience of a good number of His children. Although He is speaking to them, they are not listening to Him; rather they are more interested in hearing themselves. Hence, He has almost grounded them in all areas. Thinking it’s the devil at fault, such people are wrongly praying against agents of darkness. It is time to do nothing short of God’s total will in all your ways!

Resisting God could be in different forms, not necessarily speaking against Him directly. Some will say ” I don’t see God, how do I resist Him? The truth is that most times through our disobedience to God’s instruction greatly affects fellowship with Him. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4:8‬. This bible verse simply explains one of the conditions to enjoying the presence of God. The consequence of disobedience to God’s will is death. Many atimes this death does not come in the physical at first but it later become evident in the life of the person that disobey. It is amazing yet appalling that believers goes against the instructions of God our Maker. God is the extra ordinary strategist. He knows the end from beginning. It is therefore very wise for us to follow His instructions to the last letter. Have you at one time left His presence or even resistance to the instructions of the Holyspirit? Repent and draw closer to Him, He will bless and restore your soul. The grace to obey God is granted us in Jesus name. Pastor E.A Adeboye is a great blessing to this generation through the open Heavens devotional. We pray that the Lord will fill with power and might for greater impact in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Those who resist God are fighting a battle they can never win.
HYMN Key Point
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
 

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