Tuesday, May 19, 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (TUESDAY 19 MAY 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye  
Tuesday May 19

THE TURNING POINT III

Memorise:
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
Genesis 25:32

Read: Genesis 25:29-34
29  And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:   
30  And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.   
31  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.    
32  And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?   
33  And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.    
34  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.


Message
While the decisions made at crossroads resulted in a great future for Moses, Elisha, Daniel, Peter, Paul and Ruth, the decision of Esau at such a moment blighted his future. Esau found himself at a crossroads when his brother, Jacob, offered him food (a present need) in exchange for his birthright (a future asset). He experienced a negative turning point when he chose to sell his birthright. He filled his stomach with bread and pottage of lentils, gulped some drinks, rose up and went his way, but he forever lived to regret it. The Bible in Hebrews 12:16-17 says:
 "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."

Another figure who took a decision that led to a negative turning point was Reuben, the first son of Jacob. He defiled the bed of his father by sleeping with his father's concubine. When Reuben was taking this decision to humiliate his father, little did he know that he was destroying his own future. Our Father in heaven deserves our honour and not humiliation. We humiliate our Heavenly Father when we offer Him worship that is polluted with sinful habits (Malachi 1:6-7). As priests of God (Revelation 1:6), when we lift up unholy hands in worship to God, we are offering polluted "bread" on His altar. This is the reason why the Bible in Romans 12:1 says:
 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

The most fearful thing in the story of Reuben is that after he did the abominable act, he did not realise that his father knew about it, because his father never even mentioned it (Genesis 35:22). However, on the day of reckoning, his father placed a curse on him (Genesis 49:3-4). I will therefore encourage you to pray that the Lord will, through the blood of Jesus Christ, undo whatever you have done wrong in the past that is troubling you now even as a Christian. 

Prayer Point:
Father, please undo whatever I have done in the time of ignorance that has placed a curse on me.

Bible in a year: 2 Samuel 3-4 & Mark 11:1-19... Read after the cut:

2 Samuel 3-4; 

2Sa 3:1  Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. 
2Sa 3:2  And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 
2Sa 3:3  And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 
2Sa 3:4  And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 
2Sa 3:5  And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 
2Sa 3:6  And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. 
2Sa 3:7  And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? 
2Sa 3:8  Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 
2Sa 3:9  So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; 
2Sa 3:10  To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. 
2Sa 3:11  And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. 
2Sa 3:12  And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. 
2Sa 3:13  And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face. 
2Sa 3:14  And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 
2Sa 3:15  And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 
2Sa 3:16  And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 
2Sa 3:17  And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: 
2Sa 3:18  Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. 
2Sa 3:19  And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. 
2Sa 3:20  So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast. 
2Sa 3:21  And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. 
2Sa 3:22  And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 
2Sa 3:23  When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 
2Sa 3:24  Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? 
2Sa 3:25  Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. 
2Sa 3:26  And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. 
2Sa 3:27  And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 
2Sa 3:28  And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: 
2Sa 3:29  Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. 
2Sa 3:30  So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 
2Sa 3:31  And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. 
2Sa 3:32  And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 
2Sa 3:33  And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 
2Sa 3:34  Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. 
2Sa 3:35  And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. 
2Sa 3:36  And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 
2Sa 3:37  For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 
2Sa 3:38  And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 
2Sa 3:39  And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. 


2 Samuel 4;

2Sa 4:1  And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. 
2Sa 4:2  And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: 
2Sa 4:3  And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) 
2Sa 4:4  And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 
2Sa 4:5  And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. 
2Sa 4:6  And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 
2Sa 4:7  For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night. 
2Sa 4:8  And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. 
2Sa 4:9  And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 
2Sa 4:10  When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: 
2Sa 4:11  How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? 
2Sa 4:12  And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron. 



Mark 11:1-19

Mar 11:1  And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, 
Mar 11:2  And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. 
Mar 11:3  And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. 
Mar 11:4  And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. 
Mar 11:5  And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? 
Mar 11:6  And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. 
Mar 11:7  And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 
Mar 11:8  And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. 
Mar 11:9  And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 
Mar 11:10  Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. 
Mar 11:11  And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. 
Mar 11:12  And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 
Mar 11:13  And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 
Mar 11:14  And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. 
Mar 11:15  And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 
Mar 11:16  And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 
Mar 11:17  And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. 
Mar 11:18  And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. 
Mar 11:19  And when even was come, he went out of the city. 

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