SEEING THE INVISIBLE: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 18TH MAY 2018

MEMORISE:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:18

READ: 2 Corinthians 12:1-4

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

MESSAGE

The Bible tells us about the reality of both the physical world, which is the natural habitat of human beings, and a spirit world that is ruled and controlled by the Almighty God. Although God created mankiind and granted us access to the spiritual realm for the purpose of fellowshipping with Him, we lost that access when Adam and Eve sinned (John 4:24, Genesis 3:8).

However, the moment a person becomes born again, that access to the realm of the spirit is immediately restored. Unconverted souls remain permanently disconnected from the heavenly realm. That is why 1 Corinthians 2:14 says,

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

The spiritual world is very much as real as the physical world, but only those who have access to it can see the sights, hear the sound and even participate in the activities of heaven. I pray that God will sanctify you and grant you express access to the realm of the spirit in Jesus' Name.

Living in the spirit requires faith. Just as the eye produces conviction about the reality of objects in the physical world, so does the faith produce the same conviction about things in the realm of the spirit, which are invisible to the natural eye. Faith manifests itself by producing the assurance that what we hope for will happen. It also provides insight into the reality of things in the unseen world.

The unseen realities from God offers an effective power for daily living to every man and woman of faith. Speaking about the faith of Moses, Hebrews 11:27 says:

“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and reeives the impossible. This is the testimony of every great child of God who has walked on the face of the earth, such as Abraham, Moses, the prophets and the apostles. They all saw things that others could not see and they believed them until they were manifested physically.

This is also the testimony of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. My father in the Lord saw some things through the eyes of faith that were practically impossible to believe at that time, but they have become history today. When I became the General Overseer of the Church, we could only afford a one-bedroom apartment; I therefore started praying to God for a suitable home to accommodate my family.

God then spoke to me one d!ay that I should stop praying for a house because He had decided to build me a city. I received it by faith and today, this city has become a reality, and God is not done with us yet. I pray that you will begin to see the invisible from today in Jesus' Name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please sanctify me and open my eyes of faith in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 12-13, 2 Peter 1.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!