OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 16TH JANUARY 2021.

THEME: MCY: LUST I.

MEMORISE:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. John 2:15

READ: 1 John 2:15-17

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

MESSAGE:

The fifth element in our equation for Resistance in the Mathematics of Christ in You" (MCY) series is 'L'
and it stands for Lust. For today however, we Will only focus on the lust of the eyes. Our Bible reading for today says the world and all that is in it will pass away. When you have a strong desire for material things, Christ cannot dwell and operate mightily in you. Many people will miss Heaven because of their love for this world. Some people cut corners just because they also want to buy a new car like their colleagues. Thank God for cars, but a car can be a moving coffin if gotten through sinful means.

I had been preaching to a friend since the 1980s. I got the opportunity to talk to him about Christ again in 2014. As soon as I started, he said " Hold on Pastor, you don't need to worry anymore. When you were talking to me some thirty years ago, I wasn't listening because of my ambitions, but now I have seen it all and I know it is vanity". He also added "Whenever I want to drink alcohol or do some things I enjoy, you will say it is not allowed. Now, even if someone gives me a hundred million dollars, it will have no value before me. I am ready to give my life to Christ so my life can have real value. I didn't have to preach anymore to win that soul for Christ.

If you keep lusting after the material things of this world, you will soon discover that they are not worth the stress. The only thing worth having is the Joy of knowing that you are serving the Lord. The fact that you are a Christian however, doesn't mean that you cannot enjoy life. Rather, it means you will enjoy life to the fullest, only that you have to prioritize spiritual things. 3 John 2 says:
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

God wants you to prosper, but it must be even as your soul prospers. Any prosperity that will cost you your soul will destroy you (Matthew 16:26). You must first seek the kingdom of God and live a righteous life, then you will never lack any good thing (Matthew 6:33). This has been my experience with Christ. I focus on pleasing Him every day, and He supplies all my needs. I remove every resistance to Him dwelling and operating in me, and He removes every hinderance to me accessing all-round prosperity.

KEY POINT:

Focus on the prosperity of your soul, leave the rest to Jesus to handle.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 31-33

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS.

  Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

o Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

  Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

  When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

  Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!