ORDERLINESS AND GODLINESS: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, 22 SEPTEMBER 2018

Memorise:

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: Titus 1:5

Read: 
Exodus 40:1-10 (KJV)
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.

5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.
6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.
9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.

10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.


Read: Matthew 3:13-15 (KJV)


13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Bible in one year:

Song of Solomon 1-4, Mark 11:20-12:12, Hymnal: Sing hymn 4

Message:-
Our God is a God of order. To walk in godliness, orderliness is very important. As a matter of fact, you cannot be holy if you are not orderly, because it takes obedience to be orderly. Contrary to the opinion of some Pentecostal zealots, God cherishes orderliness.

But for the grace and mercy of God, disorderliness would have killed many so-called children of God and ministers of the gospel. Orderliness was so important to God that He instructed Moses on how to conduct His sanctuary in the wilderness, as seen in today’s Bible reading. When two of Aaron’s sons, who were priests in their own right, introduced disorderliness in the sanctuary, they both died at the altar of God. Numbers 3:4 say:

“And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.”

Similarly, when King Saul usurped Samuel’s role by offering sacrifice unto the Lord, he was damned for it because he broke divine protocol. According to 1st Samuel 13:10 & 13:

“And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering he burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.”

King Saul lost his throne because of his lack of respect for heaven’s order. Beloved, when it comes to spiritual matters, be wary of breaking protocol; it may cost you more than you can ever imagine. I love the spirit in Aaron and Ur, associates of Moses who assisted his intercession during the battle with the Amalekites. Narrating their service, Exodus 17:12 says:

“But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

Aaron and Hur understand divine protocol. They knew that the only hands recognised by heaven in this project were Moses’ hands. Instead of raising their own hands when Moses’ hands became tired, they helped to stay the hands they needed to be raised, and the victory was won. Commit today to respecting and observing orderliness in every area of life.

Prayer Point:
Father, please instil in me today the spirit of orderliness, and grant me grace to continue to do things according to your specifications.

Sing hymn 4

TRUST AND OBEY
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.

Not a shadow can rise, not a
cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it
away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh
or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and
obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a
sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly
repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown
or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and
obey.

But we never can prove the
delights of His love
Until all on the alter we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the
Joy He bestows,
Are from them who will trust and
obey.

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.

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