Open Heaven 16 December 2019 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Topic: Keep Firing on all Cylinders
Memorise: “And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:” – Hebrews 6:11
Read: Revelation 21:1-9 (KJV)
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Bible in One Year: Psalm 139-143, Zechariah 3
MESSAGE:
It is a thing of joy that the truth about our Christian race and the rewards awaiting us at the finish line are not hidden from us. Speaking in today’s memory verse, the Holy Ghost admonishes us to diligently endure till the end of our Christian race, hearing at the back of our minds the assurance of an eternal life of abundance. Our Lord Jesus Christ also shed light on the honours reserved for us, saying in Revelation 2:25-26:
“25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:”
It is not an overstatement to say that the Christian race is a difficult task to undertake. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not hide this from us; rather, He said in John 15:20:
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
The early Church endured the persecution of both the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman government. At that time, being a follower of Jesus Christ was enough of crime to earn a person the death penalty. In spite of this, like the Hebrew boys of old (Daniel 3:14-18), they did not deny their faith in the Master. Unfortunately, what we have in some Christians these days is a shadow of the deep commitment demonstrated by our forerunners. Today, the threat of being penalized for preaching the gospel to a work colleague sends fear down the spine of Christians in organizations, and they retreat into the shell of passive Christianity, to the delight of the antichrist spirit who orchestrates such attacks in contrast, when the Jewish leaders warned the apostles of old against preaching the gospel of Christ, they responded in Acts 4:19b-20, saying:
“Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
After they were released from detention and interrogation the apostles returned to their company and kept firing on all cylinders. Raising their voices to God in prayer, they received even greater boldness (Acts 4:31). Are you facing hardship and persecution because of your faith? I encourage you to remain steadfast, because our Master will soon return to take all our pain away. Be encouraged by God’s word in Revelation 21:4, saying to you:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
May you not miss heaven in Jesus’ Name.
PRAYER POINT: Father, please strengthen me as I journey through this life to the heavenly Jerusalem.
HYMN 17: HOLD THE FORTH
1 Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.
Chorus:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to Heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”
2 See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on;
Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone!
3 See the glorious banner waving! Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s Name we triumph over every foe.
4 Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near;
Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer!
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