Sunday 15 July 2012

Open Heavens Devotional: VICTORY: HOW PERMANENT? – Sunday, July 15, 2012 By Pastor E.A. Adeboye


Memorise: O SING unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory. Psalms 98:1
Bible in one year: Judges 13-15
Every victory God gives to you can be retained or lost depending on several factors. Many people know how to obtain victory but not how to keep them. It is better to continue in defeat than to have victory and return to defeat due to the inability to keep it. After the Israelites crossed the Red sea, Moses immediately composed a song of praise and thanksgiving that they sang repeatedly (Exodus 15:1-21). After that song of praise, every effort to cause them to return to Egypt failed; their victory was permanent. Anyone who does not know how to be grateful to God may never enjoy permanent victories. Are you grateful to God for what He has done for you?
In Joshua 7 & 8, God gave the Israelites under Joshua victory which they lost almost immediately but later recovered. Many people once walked in the victory that Christ has given over the flesh, Satan and other enemies but later lost the reality of this victory. Why did Joshua lose his victory? It was because somebody under him tampered with what he should not. This simply tells us that your victory could be eroded by the misdemeanour of a close associate. A family can lose their victory because of disobedient child. If you doubt this, ask Eli. This is why parents must train their children well. Train, not just teach. Parents should act as coaches, mentors and guides to their children in order to maintain family victories. Thank God Joshua’s loss was not permanent because he asked God the cause of the loss and what to do, and did as instructed. Have you lost a victory? Ask God what you can do to have it back and do so promptly. If you know who is stealing in church, expose the fellow. Doing this not only helps that individual but also the church. Achan’s theft not only affected him but the entire nation. Are you a pastor or minister yet secretly fornicating? You are negatively affecting your church and bringing an evil cloud over the congregation. As a member of the church, if you know of fornicating minister, or worker, report the fellow to your pastor as a way of helping all concerned.
KEY POINT:
Thanksgiiving is the glue that helps to firmly attach your blessings to you. Without it, your blessing may be lost.

No comments:

Post a Comment