OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 25TH 2017
THEME: DESCENT IS OFTEN UNNOTICED
MEMORISE:
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11
READ: Luke 22:1-6
22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread
drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
22:2 And the chief priests and scribes
sought how they might kill him; for they
feared the people.
22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas
surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of
the twelve.
22:4 And he went his way, and communed
with the chief priests and captains, how he
might betray him unto them.
22:5 And they were glad, and covenanted to
give him money.
22:6 And he promised, and sought
opportunity to betray him unto them in the
absence of the multitude.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 50-55
Micah 2
MESSAGE:
To successfully run the Christian race, certain
assignments cannot be delegated or carried
out without your involvement. In Joshua
chapter 7, Joshua delegated the assignment
of fighting Ai to some of his men, and at the
end of the day, they suffered defeat. Nothing
kills like overconfidence! Have you ever
wondered if Judas Iscariot was originally a
thief? In Luke 6:12-13, the Lord prayed all
night before selecting 12 apostles. It is
therefore most likely that he did not start
out as a thief. However, even if he was
originally a thief, nobody gets to the zenith
of an evil deed suddenly. It is usually a
gradual process. Backsliding is a process
and not a sudden event. If you see a brother
backslidden to the point of shamelessly
going about with wolves, on closer
examination, you will discover that he must
have been secretly frolicking with sin for a
while. He must have tried a sinful act the
first time and “gotten away with it”. This
would have encouraged him to try a second,
third and fourth time. Since he was not
caught, he would gradually continue to
practice such acts of sin more frequently,
until his final descent becomes glaring for all
to see.
“Because sentence against an evil work is
not executed speedily, therefore the heart of
the sons of men is fully set in them to do
evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11
The devil does not usually come with a
frontal attack against a child of God. He uses
subtle, little issues that one will consider as
nothing. Those things the devil says do not
matter really matter a lot. When you do not
see anything wrong in intimately hugging
the opposite sex or touching their bodies at
will, know that you have started backsliding.
If you take a little money from the church
purse in your care unnoticed, you have also
started backsliding. If you do not cry to the
Lord and ask for His help there and then,
and you allow your descent to linger, before
long, you will be openly fornicating or even
selling Jesus for peanuts without feeling
remorse. Examine yourself; how is it with
your faith today? Have you backslidden in
any way? If you have, run to the cross of
Calvary for God to restore you before you
get to a point of no return! God still loves
you. Respond to His love now!
KEY POINT:
The reason why you don’t often get caught
immediately you engage in an evil act is not
because you are smart, but because God
wants you to speedily retrace your steps
and repent.
HYMN 9: ON THE HILL FAR AWAY
1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged
cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest
and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by
the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory
above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:
3. In that old rugged cross, stained with
blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered
and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:
4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far
away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:
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