WATCH YOUR NUTRITION: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 1ST OCTOBER 2018

MEMORISE:

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossian 2:8

READ: 2 Peter 2:1-3

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

MESSAGE:

As a Christian living in these end times, we have to be very careful of the source and nature of what we allow into our minds. In today’s bible reading, the Holy Spirit warns us to be wary of false prophets that will arise from among the people, secretly building up destructive heresies with the aim of taking people’s focus away from Christ. 

Many of the sermons preached in today’s church are focused on prosperity, faith, grace, deliverance and so on. I have no problem with these topics; they are essential parts of the Good News. 

However, many preachers discuss them to such extent that the resultant effect is a bunch of malnourished souls in the church today. 

These preachers are out to satisfy their own motives, and so they twist scriptures to fit their own message to look good in the sight of people and to get gifts from them. The Holy spirit spoke about such preachers in Romans 16:18, saying:

“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

As a Heaven bound child of God, your spiritual nutrition is of utmost importance. If you are not well nourished spiritually in your local assembly, or you notice that your spiritual growth is stunted, then it is time for you to leave that assembly and prayerfully look for another place where your spiritual needs will be met. 

You must avoid churches where the lifestyle of Christ is not preached. Steer clear of churches where the death and resurrection of Jesus are never preached. Shun sermons that encourage tribalism, and be careful of churches that glorify any individual or individuals other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. 

The early apostles preached nothing but Jesus Christ. Paul himself said in 1 Corinthians 2:2:

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

Run away from preachers whose sermons leave you comfortable in your sins. Holy living must be emphasized in whatever church you prayerfully decide to join, and the Bible must be upheld as the foundation of the church’s doctrine. 

The Holy Spirit must be the one who leads and that God is present there. If you are presently under the influence of a destructive preacher, I pray for you today that the Lord will redeem you and connect you with a Spirit-led preacher in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:

Take a look at your present church. If spiritual growth has not increased significantly since you joined them, prayerfully look for another church where your spiritual needs will be met.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 24-27, Mark 15:33-16:8

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!