THURSDAY 14TH MARCH 2019 THEME: WALKING IN THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED?

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE:  THURSDAY 14TH MARCH 2019

THEME:  WALKING IN THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED?


MEMORISE:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1

READ: Psalm 1:1-6

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

MESSAGE

One of the ways of attracting divine blessings is to stay away from the counsel of the wicked. According to Psalm 1:4&6, doing this also saves one from partaking in the judgment that God delivers on the wicked. Who is a wicked person? When you look through the lens of God’s word, you will discover that there are wicked people hiding in plain sight amongst us. For example, a wicked fellow is someone who takes advantage of the trust given to him to hurt another person, Joseph was put in a position of trust, but he did not take advantage of it because he did not want to be wicked. When his master’s wanted to lure him into sexual immorality, he said in Genesis 39:9:

“There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Even before the Law of Moses was given in Exodus 20:14, Joseph refrained himself from committing this grave sin because he had the law of God written in his heart, which says:

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Joseph regarded sleeping with his master’s wife as wickedness, so he did not do it. For this reason, I strongly believe that Joseph will stand in judgment against those who break the written law of God on marriage fidelity with impurity, claiming that the word of God is ambiguous on it.

Another category of the wicked includes those who despise the good works of others and render them insignificant. When you posted to a new office and you refuse to see the good work your predecessor did, or worse still, you try as much as possible to erase the history of his or her stewardship, you are wicked. In spite of what king Saul did to him, David did not act this way. When King Saul died, David said in 2 Samuel 1:24:

“Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.”

Walking in the counsel of the wicked can have grave and everlasting consequences. An example of the impact of ungodly counsel is found in the story of Amnon and his lust for his half-sister, Tamar. Amnon was caught in Jonadad’s wicked counsel, and he died for it (2 Samuel 13:1-29). Beloved, irrespective of who the source is run for your dear life when given ungodly counsel. May you never fall prey to the counsel of the ungodly in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:

Examine the company you keep, even in church. If you find any form of ungodliness prevalent anywhere, separate yourself from it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  1 Corinthians 4-6

Isaiah 63:1-14

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though- none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.