BEFORE THE GATE SHUTS: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 27TH NOVEMBER 2018

MEMORISE:
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Romans 9:15

READ: Ecclesiastes 8:11-13

11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

MESSAGE

One observable fact about human beings is that anytime they engage in wrong deeds that deserve to be punished and the punishment does not occur, they will assume that they can press forward with their evil deeds without any consequences. In other words, impunity reigns where justice does not take its full course.

For example, if you commit a sin in secret, and you hear the pastor say, "There is nothing hidden that will not come into the open", you will get worried with thoughts like "Oh! I have done this thing and my secret will soon be out!" However, after you wait for a while anf your secret is not exposed, you will then say to yourself, "Oh!

So they lied; I can continue enjoying myself in sin and no one will know!" Don't be deceived; you are only enjoying God's mercy for a while. You need to understand that the gate of mercy is a very wide gate. Speaking of its dimension, Psalm 108:4 says:

“For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.”

Anybody can run through the gate of mercy, no matter how big his or her sins are, but this gate has a peculiar manner of closing. It closes very rapidly in a way no one can explain. As big as it is, this gaye of mercy can snap shit within a split second. For this reason, Proverbs 29:1 says:

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Once the gate of mercy snaps shut for an individual, it can never be opened again, irrespective of how much anyone pleads. Someone very close to me was brought to us for prayers one day. She was very sick and close to death. As I laid my hand on her, I felt the anointing flowed through my hand, but as it got to her head, it returned immediately. 

I asked God why, and He said, "I have had mercy and warned her several times, but she wouldn't listen. It is now My turn to refuse to heal her." I ran to the altar and cried to God, saying "Please Lord, You said You don't want the destruction of a sinner and Your mercy endures forever; please have mercy!" I ran back to her and placed my hand on head again. 

The anointing flowed through my hand, got to her head and returned again. I ran back to the altar, pleading for God to have mercy on her, but before long, she died. Although the gate of mercy is very large, please don't take it for granted; it can suddenly close at any time! For every sinner, there is always a last chance. If you are in secret sin, you don't know what time God has fixed as your own last chance. 

It might be the last time you got away with that sin. Why don't you confess and forsake your sins today. Surely, no sin is worth the price of your eternity.

KEY POINT:
Change now before it is too late.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 31-32, John 4:7-30

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SINS

1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Chorus:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my cleansing this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my pardon this my plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

3. Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, 'tis all of grace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

4. This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!