ENEMY WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD: Open Heavens Devotion, 2nd April 2018

THEME: ENEMY WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD

MEMORISE:
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. Matthew 10:36

READ: Judges 15:9-15

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 31-32, & Philippians 4:2-23.

MESSAGE:
The story of Samson in our Bible reading shows the reality of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in today’s memory verse. Samson had dealt a devastating physical and economic blow against the Philistines, and so seeking revenge, they laid siege on the town he was in. The Israelites asked why the siege and the Philistines told them how Samson had killed so many of them. 

To save their own necks, they struck an agreement that would see the Israelites bind and hand Samson over to the Philistines! One lesson here is that the damage which external enemies cannot inflict would be an easy task for the enemies within. The men of Judah decided to hand Samson, their kinsman, over to his enemies. 

Another lesson here is that while all the planning and bargaining to nine Samson was going on, God said nothing. However, as soon as these plans were carried out, God arose for Samson. When God arose, Samson’s enemies were divinely defeated with the jaw bone of an ass. You can see here that the feeble nature of a weapon does not matter when God is at war. I prophesy to you today: the Almighty God will arise and scatter all enemies of His plan and purpose for your life that are within your household in Jesus’ Name.

The enemy within your household may not always be human but could come in other forms, such as generational sickness that has claimed precious lives in your lineage. Today is the end of that sickness in Jesus’ Name. It might be a successive chain of poverty that has been transferred from one generation to another; that chain is broken today in Jesus’ Name. It could also be barrenness or failed marriages, but because you are representing God in your family, that enemy within your household is destroyed today in Jesus’ Name. 

However, my advice is that after these household enemies have been destroyed, keep worshipping God so that they do not resurface. Most of the time, these enemies are spiritual entities that relocate from dangerous zones where God’s children are. Here is what the Lord says about this in Matthew 12:43-45:

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first…”

Beloved, ensure you are a child of God who is given to the intense worship of God alone. You will live to see the end of all enemies within your household who have connived to hand you over to external enemies. You will triumph over them all in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:
Bind the operations and powers of all enemies within your household in Jesus’ Name.

HYMN 14:
1. Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!

Chorus:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before.

2. At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!

3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one Body we—
One in faith and Spirit,
One eternally.

4. Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never
'Gainst the Church prevail;
We have Christ's own promise,
Which can never fail.

5. Onward, then, ye people!
Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honour
Unto Christ, the King;
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.


Open Heavens 2nd April 2018, Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries