Open Heaven 6 April 2022 – Why You Should Never Backslide III
Open Heaven 6 April 2022 Wednesday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Why You Should Never Backslide III
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Open Heaven 6 April 2022 TOPIC: Why You Should Never Backslide III
MEMORISE: What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? – Luke 15:4
READ: Luke 15:3-7 (KJV)
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 17-19
Open Heaven 6 April 2022 MESSAGE:
One other major reason I am determined never to backslide is that I don’t want to cause God any heartache. In the Bible reading for today, the Lord asked if there was anyone who would not go after one lost sheep even if they still had a flock of ninety-nine in their care. If we review this scenario described by our Lord Jesus a little more closely, we would realise that a shepherd would only know that one of the sheep is missing in the evening because a flock of a hundred sheep and that of ninety-nine sheep would look alike at a glance. The shepherd would only get to know of the missing sheep when he counts them at night, just before he rests from the day’s work. However, upon discovering that one sheep is missing, he would immediately resume work and begin to search for it. I don’t want to cause my Lord Jesus Christ any heartache: if anything at all, I want to bring Him joy.
Also Read: Open Heaven 5 April 2022 – Why You Should Never Backslide II
The story in our text tells us that, until He finds that missing sheep, the Shepherd would not rest. Also, the fact that when He found the sheep, He came back rejoicing shows that when He was looking for the sheep, He was in sorrow. I don’t want my life to cause sorrow to the Almighty. I don’t know about you, but I, Adeboye, will only bring joy to the Lord and not sorrow.
The story is even deeper than that. Luke 15:7 tells us that there is rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents. You see, there are two opposite sides in the Spirit realm – Light and darkness. Each time somebody gets born again, there is sorrow in hell because the devil has lost somebody, so the devil pursues that fellow with the intention of bringing him back into his company. Each time a Christian backslides, there is rejoicing in the camp of the devil. Let me give you an illustration: If you used to be an unbeliever, constantly at the bar drinking with many friends, then got born again, your former drinking partners would begin to avoid you because your life would now become a challenge to them. Just seeing you alone would make them feel condemned. Can you then imagine what would happen if one day they suddenly saw you back at the bar? They would shout for joy and drink more than they normally do that day. Each time a Christian backslides, he or she would make the devil celebrate and bring displeasure to God. I pray you will never cause God any form of displeasure, in Jesus’ name.
Open Heaven 6 April 2022 REFLECTION:
In what ways have you been causing Jesus heartache? Repent today and commit to only bring Him joy henceforth.
Open Heaven 6 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. 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)
