OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH 3RD 2018- JOY TO THE WISE

Memorise: The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. Proverbs 15:24
Read: Proverbs 10:8-14
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
Bible in one year: Numbers 3, 1st Corinthians 14:6-25

1. There is a relationship between wisdom and Joy. We see this truth in Ecclesiastes 8:1b: “A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.”
2. The reason why the wise possess joy is that they work to bring joy to the people around them and not to themselves alone (2nd Corinthians 2:3). Who then are the wise? Proverbs 10:8a answers this question: “The wise in heart will receive commandments;”
3. It takes wisdom and humility of heart for a man to abide by the commandments of God. Alas, these two are in short supply in today’s world. No wonder joy is fast becoming a scarce commodity.
4. For a lot of people in the world today, God’s commandments are no longer an issue to be considered.
5. Liberal theologians are busy convincing the gullible that the commandments of God are obsolete, moribund and out of fashion. They argue that the only way to sustain the Christian faith is to abandon the commandments of God as reinforced by Jesus Christ in the gospels.
6. The message of the Bible is being over-contextualized to the point that we have many varieties of beliefs and practices in the Body of Christ today. It’s presented as if when God was giving His commandments, He did not have the whole world in mind.
7. We must admit the truth that when Jesus Christ was teaching His disciples, He was preparing them to evangelise the world. He could therefore not have sent them out to different parts of the world to teach a spiritual curriculum that is different from what He had already taught them as recorded in the gospels. This is the testimony of one of His disciples about their message to the whole world in 1st John 1:3: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
8. A hymn writer’s advice would suffice as the crux of the message for today’s devotional: “Trust and obey; for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus; but to trust, and obey.” Only the fear of God, which produces adherence to His commandments, can give you joy unspeakable and make you full of His glory. Be wise today.

Let’s meditate on Psalms 119:130‭-‬133 “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” May God continually uphold and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please give me the spirit of wisdom that will produce my desired joy in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
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.
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.
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.

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