OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: MONDAY 23RD APRIL 2018

THEME:  DELIVER US FROM TEMPTATION.

MEMORISE:

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:13

READ: Matthew 26:37-41

37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

MESSAGE:

The name of Jesus is infused with so much power that it can deliver from every form of satanic bondage. The devil’s weapon of choice to lead men into bondage is temptation, but the use of the Name Jesus in the place of prayer is able to deliver from this weapon of the enemy.

Since the Lord has given us the go-ahead to pray in His Name for anything we need, deliverance from temptation falls under the category of things we can ask for, and we will surely be delivered if we do (John 14:14). Confirming this truth, our Lord Jesus Christ taught the disciples to pray against temptation (Matthew 6:9-13).

Furthermore, at the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord instructed His three closest disciples to put into practice what He had taught them on prayer in order to overcome temptation. In Matthew 26:41, He said to them,

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

There are many lessons we can learn from today’s Bible reading, one of which is a reality of life. The tempter has been at work right from the Garden of Eden and has not retired. Another lesson is that the tempter and his temptations are no respecter of any person; they did not even spare Jesus Christ. The Bible in Luke 4:1-2a says,

“ And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,Being forty days tempted of the devil.”

It is noteworthy that although Jesus Christ was full of the Holy Ghost, the devil still tempted Him. Thank God He defeated the tempter! I pray that you will not be overcome by the tempter in Jesus’ Name. Every believer in Christ should therefore take the Lord’s injunction to watch and pray against temptation very seriously.

We can overcome temptation if we would pray against it in the Name of Jesus. We must be prepared to shield ourselves against the wiles of the tempter. Ordinary church members, workers, ministers and pastors are all the targets of the tempter. Learn from the experience of the disciples, shortly after Jesus Christ instructed them to watch and pray; temptation indeed came.

Unfortunately, they were all asleep and they could not resist the urge to run away after their Master was arrested. One of the only two disciples who managed to follow closely behind even denied the master (John 18:15-17). I pray that the Lord will give you victory over any temptation that comes your way in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please shield me from the arrows of temptation and deliver me from all forms of evil.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Judges 17-18; Philemon

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: 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.