DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 9 DECEMBER 2021 — Loving Haters of the Lord
DCLM Higher Everyday 9 DECEMBER 2021 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi —Living or Dead Faith
LOVING HATERS OF THE LORD?
BIBLE TEXT: 2 CHRONICLES 19:1-7
1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,
6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
MEMORY VERSE: “And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD” (2 CHRONICLES 19:2).
MESSAGE
Jehoshaphat’s indiscreet affinity with the idolatrous king of Israel was a total violation of God’s instruction against unequal yoke. He substituted his spiritual position as the king of Judah with his socio-economic and political status, and equated himself with Ahab, the hater of the truth. He joined the wicked to fight a battle which almost claimed his life if not for God’s intervention. God expressed His displeasure through His servant, Jehu, the seer, to warn Jehoshaphat on returning from his ungodly trip. Youths should be mindful of the people they fellowship with to avoid falling into the hands of the devil.
Read Living or dead
Unequal yoke with unbelievers and backsliders attracts God’s frown and judgment. Friendship with the world is enmity against God. Samson, Dinah, Demas and Judas Iscariot are culprits. To be unequally yoked in business, marriage, fellowship, etc., has grave consequences such as premature death, failure, divorce, frustration, setbacks, stagnation, etc. Loving haters of the Lord is betrayal. Believers are warned to come out of ungodly association with unbelievers and be separated unto the Lord.
QUOTE: Be separated unto the Lord.
CHALLENGE: Unequal yoke is a yoke equal to bondage.
PRAYER: Oh Lord, deliver me from presumptuous sin and compromise.
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)
