Topic: The Secrets Of The Lord [Sunday 12, February 2017]
Memorise: The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. – Psalm 25:14
Read: Genesis 18:17-19 (KJV)
17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Bible in One Year: John 9-10, Isaiah 36:21-37:13
MESSAGE:
What a great honour it is for God to positively testify of you while you are still alive! This is worth more than gold! Job and Abraham were two men who received this honour because they feared God (Job 1:8, Genesis 18:19). Those who walk in the fear of God have nothing to fear in life, because the fear of God grants them access to His secrets. To fear God is not only to obey Him, but to ensure that everything in our sphere of influence obeys God. There are some fathers who are pleased to serve God but are not bothered about their children’s lack of interest in God. Abraham did not only fear God, he also ensured that his entire household walked in God’s ways. No wonder God blessed him mightily. Abraham and his household were not only blessed, they became a channel of blessings to others. Today, we still make reference to the Abrahamic blessings. You are truly blessed when you receive blessings that no curse can negate. When you walk in the fear of the Lord, not only will your efforts be crowned with great blessings, lost opportunities will also become recovered, and your life becomes the headquarters of blessings through which millions of lives are positively impacted. Those who make up their mind to fear God, no matter the circumstances, can never be forsaken, even when it seems all hope is lost; God will always show up for them to reassure them of His faithfulness. The fear of the Lord gives God’s children access to divine direction and divine security.
God is the only One to be feared, for He alone is eternal (Matthew 10:28). There are those I see who fear their bosses but don’t fear God. If you say you don’t fear your boss, why do you still allow him make inappropriate advances towards you? Is it not because you fear losing your job? Can’t you see that it is foolishness not to remember that both your boss and your job are in the hands of God? Some people fear what will happen to them, and hence, they continue to live their life with a man who is legally married to another woman. Can’t you see that you are just postponing the evil day? You better make amends so that the peace of God can return to your life. Anyone threatening you has limited powers, but God, who is to be feared, has unlimited power. When you keep a distance from all that God hates, His secrets will be made available to you. If you fear God, it will reflect in where you take counsel from, those you partner with, and even how you appear in public. If you fear Him, you will always do those things that make Him happy. Joseph feared the Lord and he made up his mind not to “do a great wickedness, and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9). Although that decision landed him in prison, the prison was the secret of his access to the throne.
Key Point: Everything you give up for God is a give-away for the ultimate.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.