SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 11TH MAY 2018

MEMORISE:
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2

READ: 1 Corinthians 2:9-16

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 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.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ.

MESSAGE:
In the physical realm, sentivity can be viewed from the perspective of a deep feeling of love and compassion for a person, which usually translates to a commesurate level of understanding for the person's needs, leading to appropriate actions being taken in that person's insterest.

In the spiritual realm however, sensitivity is a quality of life generated by the Spirit of God. It is the ability to perceive and respond to the call of God or the spiritual demands of the moment. A lack of spiritual sensitivity affects the physical and spiritual wellbeing of God's children and must be avoided at all costs. 

Beginning from today, your spiritual antennae will begin to receive heavenly signals in the Name of Jesus. Concerning spiritual sensitivity, 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.”

From this verse, we understand that spiritual sensitivity is a grace that comes from living under the control of the Holy Spirit. Are you spiritually sensitive?

In Isaiah 11:3b, the Holy Spirit painted a picture of our spiritual nature, which is fashioned after Christ, saying:

“…and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:”

Our Lord Jesus Christ manifested this nature in John 4:17-19 and in several other passages of the gospels. Because we are fashioned after Him, we ought to walk as He walked. Spiritual sensitivity was Jesus' lifestyle, and so, any Christian that is not spiritually sensitive will not walk in the reality of the abundant life that he or she possesses. Without spiritual sensitivity, a person is bound to depend on suspicion, natural intelligence, educational awareness and natural senses. 

These are all deficient in receiving the things of God. Without spiritual sensitivity, Abraham would have missed his blessing and the opportunity to save Lot and his family from destruction (Genesis 18:1-33), Samson's parents would have missed a wonderful chance of a lifetime (Judges 13:3-25), and the great Prophet Samuel would have anointed the wrong person as king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:4-13). 

When decisions are made based on physical evidence alone, no matter how incontrovertible the evidence may seem, there is still always the possibility of miscarriage of justice. This has wrongly sent people to prison and even death. I pray that your spiritual sensitivity will become sharpened today in Jesus Name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I want to be vibrant for You; please set me on fire for You today in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 26-28, James 3:13-4:17.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 15: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE

1. Nearer, my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be.
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down.
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

3. There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou send'st to me
In mercy given:
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

4. Then, with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!