Open Heaven 23 December 2022 – Don’t Cause Others To Stumble II
Open Heaven 23 December 2022 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Don’t Cause Others To Stumble II
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Open Heaven 23 December 2022 TOPIC: Don’t Cause Others To Stumble II
MEMORISE: “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” – John 17:19 (KJV)
READ: 1 Peter 5:1-4 (KJV)
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: James 4 – 1 Peter 2
Open Heaven 23 December 2022 MESSAGE:
Those who serve in the house of God have a serious responsibility to the people they minister to. As God’s representative to the flock, you are supposed to care for them and live an exemplary life that removes all stumbling blocks from their way. God values each soul in the congregation. In Acts 20:28, the Bible says:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Also Read: Open Heaven 22 December 2022 – Don’t Cause Others To Stumble I
God did not buy the Church back with the blood of goats or the sacrifice of an angel. It cost God His Son to save the world. If we understood this as ministers, we would see the importance of living a life that does not insult the gospel of Christ. Beloved minister, be very careful about becoming a rock of offence to God’s people. Luke 17:1-2 says:
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
These are the words of Jesus Himself. If you are a minister of God, check your life to be sure you are not leading the flock astray. If you do not place much importance on the word of God, the people who follow you will find it easy to disregard God’s word. If you never preach about the eternal damnation that will come to a soul who continues in sin because you don’t want the flock to be uncomfortable, you are building people who would be indifferent about where they would spend their eternity, and their blood would be on your head. James 3:1 says:
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Ministers of God will receive a stricter judgement. What example are you setting for your flock? I pray that, when the Master returns, you will not be ashamed.
Open Heaven 23 December 2022 PRAYER POINT:
Heavenly Father, help me not to fail in my assignment over Your people, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Open Heaven 23 December 2022 HYMN 14: Nearer, My God To Thee
1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
2 Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
3 There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
4 Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
5 Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee
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. Open Heaven for Today 2022
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)
