THURSDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2019 THEME: BE UNMOVABLE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE:  THURSDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2019

THEME: BE UNMOVABLE

MEMORISE:
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

READ: Romans 8:35-39

8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

MESSAGE

In today's Bible reading, Paul lists some realities of life that can shake the faith of a believer. These include tribulation and distress, which manifest themselves today in the form of financial crisis and health issues. Others include covert and open persecution of believers, even in so-called secular nations professing freedom of religion and association. Nations of the world are also plagued with homelessness, famine and poverty, and we are faced with the peril of firearms and weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists. It takes being emboldened by the Holy Spirit and having the mind of Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, to hold the fort and lift up the banner of God's kingdom. We should not be dismayed by the prevalence of these evil things because our Lord Jesus Christ already told us they would happen. Speaking in John 16:20&33, He said:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy... These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Undergoing trials and tribulations is a part of our faith as Christ's disciples. The Bible makes this clear to us in 2 Timothy 3:12, which says:

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

Those who have gone ahead of us also passed through these same things, and some even had to pay the supreme price of their lives while upholding the faith. To finish strong like they did, we must believe and live by what the Holy Spirit says about us in Romans 8:37, which says:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Are you passing through tough times? Does it seems the promises of God are not working out for you? I encourage to cheer up and be strong. Don't deny your Master and Lord because of tough times which will soon fade away. The Lord is speaking to you today through 1 Corinthians 15:58, saying:

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

Hold on to this word and remain unmovable from the straight and narrow way that leads to life. I pray that God will continue to strengthen and uphold you in Jesus' Name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please uphold Your Church in these trying period of the end-times, and let me not be numbered among those who will fall away from the truth in Jesus' Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Chronicles 29-30, Revelation 18:14-19:5

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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.