DON’T BE AN ACCOMPLICE!: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 23RD OCTOBER 2018

MEMORISE:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John 1:11

READ: Ephesians 5:1-8
1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

MESSAGE
It is unfortunate that sin abounds in the Church of today because we do not collectively abhor evil deeds anymore. Instead of thing what is evil, we actually celebrate sinners, and by so doing, we ignorantly become accomplice of their evil deeds. 

We no longer follow the instruction of the Holy spirit in 1Timothy 5:20, which says:
“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”

Our modern approach is contrary to this scripture because we want to do church in a “civilized” manner. 

Adam and Eve also desired to be civilized, and they ended up becoming corrupted. Proverbs 24:23-25 says:

“These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.”

This scripture reveals the danger of being the accomplice of an evil doer and also the blessing attached to detesting and rebuking evil. Romans 12:9b also says:

“Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
This is what is missing in the Church today. My prayer is that the almighty God will revive the Church, and evil deeds shall become alien to the Body of Christ in Jesus’ Name.

The task of rebuking evil is divine, and whoever will perform this task must live above reproach (Romans 2:20-23). He or she must also be ready for persecution and blackmail. 

However, we should not be deterred by these because evildoers also did the same to the prophets of old. In Matthew 5:10-12, our Lord Jesus Christ said:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Jeremiah is a classic example of someone who was maligned for rebuking evil in high places. He was indeed a sad prophet. He lamented the evil of his time so much that a whole book out of the 66 books of the Bible was dedicated to his lamentation.

Similarly, even though John the Baptist was the greatest of all men that lived before Christ, his head ended up on a plate because he spoke out against evildoers (Matthew 11:11, Mark 6:25-28). Nevertheless beloved, these sufferings are more tolerable than the judgment reserved for being the accomplice of evildoers. May the Lord help you in this regard in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, let righteousness become the resonating song in the Body of Christ all over the world.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 16-17, Luke 9:51-10:16

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS.
1. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey:
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

3. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone,
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own;
Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.

4. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.