Memorise: [Charity] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 1st Corinthians 13:6
Read: Proverbs 17:13-15 (KJV)
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.
Read: Revelations 2:18-29 (KJV)
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Bible in one year:
2nd Samuel 21-21,
Ezekiel 43:13-27,
Hymn:
Sing hymn 10
Messages:-
One doctrine of the world that is gradually creeping into the body of Christ is that which says “If you cannot beat them, join them.”
This doctrine is inconsistent with the values of the kingdom of belong to on multiple fronts. Our lifestyle is characterised by love – God’s kind of love – as our memory verse states, this kind of love does not rejoice in iniquity. Because the world is full of iniquity and scoffs at righteous living, we cannot walk in God’s love when we raise our hands in surrender to join the world in their way of life. Not rejoicing in iniquity simply means standing against evil – as defined by standard of God’s word. This is one of the problems facing the Church today. Those who refuse to condemn evil and wicked acts are indirectly rejecting and standing against those who are just. One cannot sit on the fence on issues; we either speak out against evil and uphold righteousness or justify evil in our silence. As seen in today’s Bible reading, justifying the wicked is an abomination before the Lord. In His letter to the Church at Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29, our Lord Jesus Christ commended their charitable service, faith and patience, and then warned them against tolerating sexual immorality typified by a certain Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess. She was seducing innocent souls in the Church into sexual immorality and taught a doctrine that encouraged this lifestyle. There are such false prophets and prophetesses in the Church today, teaching doctrines that encourage immoral dressing, promiscuity, abortion, masturbation and sexual perversion in the Body of Christ. When you go to such places and see the way their followers are blessed, you will instantly know that the doctrine of Jezebel is being taught there. Thank God our Lord already spoke to us in Matthew 7:20, saying:
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
God is call on us to stand against evil today. However, we must first reject evil within the Church before taking the battle to the gates of hell out there. As Christians, it must not be mentioned amongst us that we rejoice in iniquity (1st Corinthians 13:6), by applauding instead of condemning acts that are against God’s word and His kingdom’s cause, due to a fear of backlash and condemnation from the children of this world.
This is why believers fear to preach against homosexuality in certain countries; if you do, you may be jailed, and your fellow brethren might condemn you as being foolish or even wrong! Some pastors can’t preach against corruption in high places and gain gotten through illicit means because they fear losing income and members. The truth has indeed been mortgaged in some quarters of Christendom. Beloved, arise and let us in one mind stand up against evil.
Action Point
Pray for the revival of standing for the truth of God’s word in the Body of Christ, and ask the Lord to grant your pastors the boldness to declare His Name without fear.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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