Open Heaven 14 February 2019 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Topic: United in Rebellion?
Memorise: “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.”- Proverbs 11:21
Read: Genesis 11:1-6 (KJV)
1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Bible in One Year: John 11, Isaiah 39:1-40:8
MESSAGE:
While it is good to walk in unity with others through any venture in life, any form of unity that runs contrary to the perfect will of God is counterproductive. Because of this truth, whenever there is a call to unite over anything, you must first find out what type of cause it is and what kind of unity is being called for. Uniting with people blindly can cause you untold agony. This is what happened to King Jehoshaphat who formed an unholy alliance with the idolatrous King Ahab (1 Kings 22). It was only the mercy of God that spared Jehoshaphat from becoming a victim of the untimely death that was reserved for another man. When people unite to actualize anything that is contrary to the will of God, it is a rebellious alliance. The unfortunate thing about rebellious alliances of the ungodly is that they will always end in frustration and shame, just as it happened at the Tower of Babel. God’s mandate to mankind was to replenish the whole earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28, Isaiah 45:18), but they chose at that point to build a city and a tower with a motive that was contrary to God’s mandate for them. Hear what they said to themselves in Genesis 11:4:
“And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”
They united to rebel against the divine purpose and God had to intervene so that His original plan could be achieve. This is why their unitary language had to be confounded.
The example of the Tower of Babel teaches us a good number of lessons, first of which is that whenever people gather to rebel against God and godliness, God always knows about it. I pray that the Almighty God will always reveal the evil plans of your enemies to you in Jesus’ Name. Secondly, God does not only expose evil conspiracies, He also acts against them. I decree that those who are united against the purpose of God for your life shall be confounded and their purpose shall be defeated in Jesus’ Name. One example of evil conspiracy is the alliance of Ahithophel and Absalom against David (2 Samuel 15:12). David prayed that God should overturn Ahithophel’s evil counsel, and He did (2 Samuel 15:31; 2 Samuel 17:23). A third lesson for us is that when God arises to foil the plans of those who diabolically unite against Him and His people, the enemies are left confused and in disarray. Beloved, are you uniting in rebellion with others? Please stop it. Never align yourself with rebels. Let these words of Proverb 1:10 guide you in this regard:
“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
Action Point: Examine the company you keep. If their activities are rebellious, part ways with them and keep company with the people of God.
Hymn 3: Trust and Obey
1. 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.
2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey.
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