RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 24 February 2013 WHEN HAPPINESS INTOXICATES By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

RCCG Open Heavens Devotional Sunday 24 February 2013 

WHEN HAPPINESS INTOXICATES 

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Memorise: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34

Read: Matthew 14:6-11

Bible in one year:  1Kings 1-4

Action point: If while celebrating an event, those you invite are allowed to drink what could kill them and to engage in works of the flesh, you are destroying their lives.

Some people make silly mistakes when they are experiencing their happiest moments. At such times, some youths grow wild, uncontrollable and fearlessly daring. Never be controlled by happiness but be controlled by joy. Those who are controlled by the momentary pleasure that happiness offers end up pleasing the flesh, while those controlled by their inner joy end up pleasing the Lord. In Esther 1:10-15, Ahasuerus was so merry that he ordered his wife to come and virtually exhibit herself before everyone.  This means that it is possible to be so happy that you will not realise it when you are doing something that will cause you shame and disgrace. Similarly, ¡n Matthew 14:6-1 1 , King Herod was so happy with the way his stolen wife’s daughter danced that he swore with an oath to give her anything, which led to the untimely death of John the Baptist, who was then a check on his conscience even in prison. This also tells us that happiness can so grip an individual that the fellow would not know when he sets a trap for himself. By the time King Herod heard the request, verse 9 says he felt so sorry but he had no choice other than to kill an innocent man. Do not ensnare yourself because of one moment of happiness - you may never recover from it! Watch your words, promises and utterances when you are very happy! Many times when you are happy, you would want to flaunt it. The flesh likes to flaunt itself. King Herod was marking his birthday, and it led to the death of a prominent man of God! When you mark your landmark birthday, what transpires? Do you use the occasion to feed the flesh, or to show off some wealth? Do you organise a party where some wel1 wishers will indulge in smoking and drinking of liquor, or where you may even have a night party that will create room for immorality? Birthday is good but i It displeases God or makes others to displease God while marking it you have made a good thing bad. What is wrong if you mark your birthday by organizing a crusade in your town or village, leading to salvation of souls? Or you visit the orphanage or motherless babies’ homes to positively touch their lives? You can take that day off with your family just to praise and thank God for His faithfulness. How do you handle your moments of happiness?