Open Heavens 5 March 2018 Monday by Pastor Adeboye

Memorise: “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.” – Psalm 102:13

Read: Psalm 68:1-3 (KJV)

1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 10-11, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

MESSAGE

Every call on God to arise in the Bible takes its cue from Numbers 10:35:

“And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.”

At this point in time, the children of Israel had spent 13 months at Mount Sinai after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, and it was time to take their very first steps on their journey to the Promised Land. It was like a journey into the unknown and they were sore afraid of the militant nations that they had to pass through on their way to their destination. Therefore, as they set out on this phase of their victory march to the Promised Land, they had to call upon God for divine support. “Let God Arise” is therefore a call for divine assistance. It is a call for divine intervention, and a call to secure victory over perceived enemies without a fight. Today, the Lord will arise for your sake as a mighty warrior and scatter all your enemies in Jesus’ Name.

We as children of God today should take a cue from the Israelites of old. They cried “Arise O Lord” in times of trial. Since we must also confront similar trials on our journey through the wilderness of life, we must learn to look unto God alone for help as we call on Him to arise for our sake and deal with everything that stands as an obstacle to our progress in life. In our daily supplications to God, we must cry “Arise O Lord” so that our enemies will be scattered. The Israelites cried “Arise O Lord” in confident expectation of victories over all their enemies through God’s intervention. Therefore, no matter how perilous the circumstances may be, and no matter how powerful your enemies are, the Lord will arise for your sake if you call Him with the expectation of victory. As you call upon God today, your expectation shall not be disappointed in Jesus’ Name. Note that the Israelites called unto God to arise and scatter their enemies as the only safeguard to their continued existence. Moses never deemed himself and the children of Israel to be secure without the divine protection of the almighty God. For this reason, he pleaded thus with God in Exodus 33:15b:

“If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”

Even when you are at peace, you must remember that the devil, who goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour, is never at rest. He is ever ready to take advantage of anyone who is careless, carefree or without protection. The devil will not devour you in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please arise and favour me in the battle that my enemies are waging against my life and destiny in Jesus’ Name.

Hymn 11: O God, Our Help In Ages Past

1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

2. Under the shadow of Thy throne,
Still may we dwell secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure

3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same

4. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away:
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

6. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.