Wednesday, May 20, 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL (WEDNESDAY 20 MAY 2015)

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye  
Wednesday May 20

THE TURNING POINT IV

Memorise:
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Ecclesiastes 5:10

Read: 2 Kings 5:15-20
15  And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.   
16  But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.  
17  And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.    
18  In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.   
19  And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.    
20  But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.



Message
Gehazi was the servant of Prophet Elisha. He was privileged to be the apprentice of a great prophet and had the potential of inheriting at least the double portion of Elijah's power that was upon Elisha. However, his covetousness ruined his destiny as a would-be great prophet. He decided to go after the material things of this world at the expense of his prophetic calling. He was so determined to go after worldly things that he even swore by God that he must "possess his possessions". Like present-day worldly preachers, he seemed to be saying: "...after all, he that labours by the altar must feed by the altar". Consider his words in 2 Kings 5:20:
 "But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him."
Once his sin of covetousness was found out by his master, the leprosy of Naaman was transferred to him and all his generations after him (2 Kings 5:27). 

Judas Iscariot is another individual we should learn from. He had almost the same moral and spiritual problem as Gehazi: covetousness and greed. The Bible says he was a thief, and being the treasurer of Jesus' ministry, he often stole from the purse (John 12:4-6). His greed got to the level where he took a decision that condemned him to eternal perdition: he decided to sell his Master, the King of glory (Matthew 26:14-16). Before Judas Iscariot realised his folly, he had already ruined the opportunity of having himself numbered among the twelve apostles. He ended up committing suicide.
 "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,...And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."
Matthew 27:3&5

Children of God in the 21st century must be wary of materialism. It is deadly, though it may not look that way. This is why John the Beloved warned us against worldliness, as if he knew what would become of the Church in the end-times (1 John 2:15-17).

Prayer Point:
Father, guide me never to take a wrong decision that will blight my future in Jesus' Name.

Bible in a year: 2 Samuel 5:1-7:17 & Mark 11:20-12:12... Read after the cut:

2 Samuel 5:1-7:17; 

2Sa 5:1  Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 
2Sa 5:2  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. 
2Sa 5:3  So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. 
2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 
2Sa 5:5  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. 
2Sa 5:6  And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. 
2Sa 5:7  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. 
2Sa 5:8  And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. 
2Sa 5:9  So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. 
2Sa 5:10  And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. 
2Sa 5:11  And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. 
2Sa 5:12  And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 
2Sa 5:13  And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 
2Sa 5:14  And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 
2Sa 5:15  Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 
2Sa 5:16  And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet. 
2Sa 5:17  But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. 
2Sa 5:18  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 
2Sa 5:19  And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 
2Sa 5:20  And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. 
2Sa 5:21  And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. 
2Sa 5:22  And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 
2Sa 5:23  And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 
2Sa 5:24  And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. 
2Sa 5:25  And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer. 


2 Samuel 6

2Sa 6:1  Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 
2Sa 6:2  And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. 
2Sa 6:3  And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. 
2Sa 6:4  And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 
2Sa 6:5  And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. 
2Sa 6:6  And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 
2Sa 6:7  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 
2Sa 6:8  And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. 
2Sa 6:9  And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 
2Sa 6:10  So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. 
2Sa 6:11  And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household. 
2Sa 6:12  And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. 
2Sa 6:13  And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 
2Sa 6:14  And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 
2Sa 6:15  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 
2Sa 6:16  And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 
2Sa 6:17  And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 
2Sa 6:18  And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 
2Sa 6:19  And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. 
2Sa 6:20  Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! 
2Sa 6:21  And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 
2Sa 6:22  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. 
2Sa 6:23  Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. 



2 Samuel 7:17;

2Sa 7:1  And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 
2Sa 7:2  That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 
2Sa 7:3  And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee. 
2Sa 7:4  And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, 
2Sa 7:5  Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 
2Sa 7:6  Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 
2Sa 7:7  In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? 
2Sa 7:8  Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 
2Sa 7:9  And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. 
2Sa 7:10  Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, 
2Sa 7:11  And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. 
2Sa 7:12  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 
2Sa 7:13  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 
2Sa 7:14  I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 
2Sa 7:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 
2Sa 7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. 
2Sa 7:17  According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. 



Mark 11:20-12:12

Mar 11:20  And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 
Mar 11:21  And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 
Mar 11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 
Mar 11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 
Mar 11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 
Mar 11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 
Mar 11:26  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 
Mar 11:27  And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, 
Mar 11:28  And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? 
Mar 11:29  And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 
Mar 11:30  The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. 
Mar 11:31  And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 
Mar 11:32  But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 
Mar 11:33  And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. 


Mark 12:12

Mar 12:1  And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 
Mar 12:2  And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 
Mar 12:3  And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 
Mar 12:4  And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 
Mar 12:5  And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 
Mar 12:6  Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 
Mar 12:7  But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 
Mar 12:8  And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 
Mar 12:9  What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. 
Mar 12:10  And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: 
Mar 12:11  This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 
Mar 12:12  And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way. 

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