THE FIGHT FOR YOUR SOUL: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 13TH OCTOBER 2018

MEMORISE:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

READ: 1 John 4:1-6

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.


2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

MESSAGE:
The greatest battle that has ever been fought and is still being fought is in the heart of man. This battle is being fought by God on one side and the devil on the opposing side. Whoever wins this battle ultimately wins control over the soul of the individual over whom the battle in being fought.

The devil has been interested in the souls of men ever since God created us, and his plan has always been to destroy as many of us as possible. Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed the devils plan to us and offers us God’s solution, saying in John 10:10:

“ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Through the ages, the devil has succeeded in taking over the lives of so many people, and for this reason, the Lord said in Matthew 7:13:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”

In spite of all the devil may try, my prayer for you is that I will see you in heaven in Jesus’ Name.

In the world today, there is so much wickedness and confusion everywhere. Sin has become so common place that it is very strange and rare to see someone who is pure and refuses to be a part of the evil of the day. These are some of the signs Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24:3-31.

In order to further achieve his aims, the devil has employed false prophets into his service. They go around disseminating false doctrines which are even more dangerous to Christians, because they can make a person think that he or she is saved and safe while they are actually on their way to hell.

One of the reasons why many of these false prophets are so successful is that they keep telling people what they want to hear and not what the Bible says (2 Timothy 4:3). The Bible is the written words of God, and so, anyone who deviates from it by as much as a dot is not of God and doesn’t have your best interest at heart (2 Peter 1:20-21).

God’s word is absolute, and it must be preached in its pure from. The best way to guard your heart in these perilous times is to fill it with the word of God and to constantly mediate on the word as much as possible.

Once you give your life to Christ and are sanctified by God, it is important to ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit so that Jesus Himself can fill you to overflow with His Spirit and mark you for Himself.

PRAYER POINT:


Father, let Your word have free course in my heart and fill me to overflow with Your Spirit.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 58-60, Luke 6:1-23

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 15: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE.

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 to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

There let me see the sight, an open Heaven;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

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 to Thee!