Thursday 13 February 2014

BE STRONG - 14/02/2014

BE STRONG - 14/02/2014


Yesterday’s message was titled GOD SEES YOU”. Today’s message is titled “BE STRONG” as given by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise  
Ephesians 6:10
 Finally; my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10” and read 
Ephesians 6:10-13.
 The Bible in one year reading for today has been taken from 
Isaiah 40:9 to Isaiah 42:25 and 

Psalm 37:33-40
 (Adeboye, 2014).

The message is quoted below for our usual discussion:

"You don't charge someone to be strong if there is no task to be performed or if pressure is not required, either for motion or putting up resistance against an opposing force. In the physical realm, mere movement requires strength. This explains why a sick person or a person just recovering from an ailment finds it difficult to walk. Spiritually you need to be strong. In today‘s Bible reading, the Lord commands us to be strong, and He gives two reasons why we should be:
1. That ye may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil.
2. That ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day.
There are evil forces that want to short-change a child of God's life regarding the good things that God has in store for him or her. These spiritual forces are listed in Ephesians 6:12 as: principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world  and spiritual wickedness in high places. These spiritual entities attack either directly or through their human agents namely: witches, wizards, and people with familiar spirits etc. They cause harm, sorrow and calamities, including abortion of pregnancies and barrenness. They give spirit husbands, spirit wives and abort prospective contract deals; they are responsible for a myriad of misfortunes. As you know, the Bible says that the thief's (Satan) mission is to steal - stealing joy, peace etc; to kill -through sickness, diseases, calamities, tragedies, business failures etc, and to destroy -  i.e. the complete and ultimate devastation of a man's destiny in Hell. In the Name of Jesus, you will not become a victim of Satan's mission in any of these areas. What Jesus has for those that belong to Him is life in great abundance. 

Some years ago, a young lady who for the second time had failed her Ordinary Level exams refused to eat for days, grieving over her failure. Within this period, a fight ensued between her and another young girl. Though this grieving lady ordinarily should have dealt decisively with her adversary, the reverse turned out to be the case. Why? Because the strength she needed was not there, having not eaten for days. Spiritually, the food for our spirit man is the word of God. One of the basic things necessary for a child of God to be strong is the word of God. It serves as spiritual food for the supply of the needed spiritual calories (1 Peter 2:2, Colossians 3:1 6). The word sanctifies and purifies us. We are to study it, meditate on it, memorise it and of course, obey it."

The action point is: "Take definite steps to improve your level of interaction with the word - study, meditate on and memorise striking passages. Also appoint an accountability partner to help you." (Adeboye, 2014)


God bless you for contributing into today’s discussion

Reference:
Adeboye, E. A. (2014) Open Heavens: A Guide to Close Fellowship with God, Volume 14, 2014. Nigeria: Open Heavens Media Limited.


11 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Bro you can make this your action point: "The word sanctifies and purifies us. We are to study it, meditate on it, memorise it and of course, obey it.".

      Delete
    2. Sorry bro, I just noticed that and have updated accordingly: "Take definite steps to improve your level of interaction with the word - study, meditate on and memorise striking passages. Also appoint an accountability partner to help you."
      Thanks @bro Femi Sunday. It is well....

      Delete
  2. Here again we see the importance of studying God's word. I have heared it so many times and i know its worth all the emphasis. It determines the content of our hearts and thus what comes out of it. May God help us (including me ofcourse) acknowledge this importance. Amen

    ReplyDelete
  3. God made us to knw also dat grass withereth, flower fadeth,bt His word shall stand forever. Here we see d reason to study to study His word.

    ReplyDelete
  4. May the Lord give me the grace in Jesus name amen

    ReplyDelete
  5. The words of God gives us life, the more we feed on them the more we become spiritually strong. May the Lord give us the grace to continuously study His words. Amen.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The word of God is our spiritual calories , thank you Jesus.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The word of God Power meant for the weak, it unveiled deceptions and fears and finally reassuring for victorious daily life style (because of the confidence it comes with).

    ReplyDelete
  8. May the words of the Lord not depart from our hearts.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This cannot be any truer. The vicissitudes and hulabaloo of life sometimes takes us away from regularly spending quality time in the word-may God's grace help us here. Michael W Smith's ancient words says it all

    ReplyDelete