Open Heaven 4 April 2022 – Why You Should Never Backslide I
Open Heaven 4 April 2022 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Why You Should Never Backslide I
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Open Heaven 4 April 2022 TOPIC: Why You Should Never Backslide I
MEMORISE: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. – Luke 9:62
READ: 2 Peter 2:20 -22 (KJV)
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 11-13
Open Heaven 4 April 2022 MESSAGE:
There are several reasons every Christian should pray and work earnestly never to backslide. One of these is that anyone who strays from the path of righteousness will dwell in the congregation of the dead (Proverbs 21:16). When we got born again, we were translated from the kingdom of darkness into light – we passed from death to life. To go back to the congregation of the dead is a terrible thing that all Christians must do everything possible to avoid. Hebrews 10:38-39 states clearly that:
“Now the just shall life by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul”
Also Read: Open Heaven 3 April 2022 – Don’t Write Yourself Off
God has absolutely no pleasure in backslider. The moment a child of God backslides, he or she immediately becomes unfit to enter the Kingdom of God as we read in our memory verse today.
The moment you backslide, God says “You have lost the qualification required to enter into His kingdom”. The interesting thing about this is that once the devil sees that a person is displeasing God, he comes in and pushes the fellow to the point where he can make a mockery of him or her.
I know many people who backslid and first thought that they were free from all the ‘restrictions’ of the gospel but soon realized that they had become objects of mockery. Their end was indeed terrible.
The prodigal son for example backslid and thought he was free from his father’s rules and regulations, but he did not know that the devil was pushing him to the point where he would beg to eat food served to pigs. As for me, I am determined never to backslide.
If you are currently considering the pleasure of this world, remember that it is just a bait for the devil to get you. Hold fast that which you have in the Lord, so that someone else does not take your place in Christ (Revelation 3:11).
Open Heaven 4 April 2022 KEY POINT
Backsliders may think they are having fun at first, but soon they will end up as objects of mockery for the devil.
Open Heaven 4 April 2022 HYMN 20: Onward Christian Soldiers
1. Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
Looking unto Jesus,
Who is gone before!
Christ, the Royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banner go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
Looking unto Jesus
Who is gone before!
2. At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise!
3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
All one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
4. Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus,
Constant will remain,
Gates of hell can never,
‘Gainst the Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise,
And that cannot fail.
5. Onward, then, ye people,
Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song;
“Glory, praise and honour,
Unto Christ the King”,
This, thro’ countless ages,
Men and angels sing.
Open Heavens 2022 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. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
