Open Heavens 8 February 2018: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Now that you are saved II

NOW THAT YOU ARE SAVED II – Thursday February 8^th 2018

Memorise: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Colossians 3:10

Read: Colossians 1:7-10 (KJV)

⁷ As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

⁸ Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

⁹ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

¹⁰ That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Bible in one year: Exodus 33-34, Romans 11:25-12:8, Hymnal: Sing hymn 15

Message:

Yesterday we started reflecting on what we need to do after we are saved (2^nd Peter 1:5-8). We looked at adding virtue to our faith because faith without virtue is incomplete. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enoch_Adeboye, We saw virtue as the practical demonstration of our faith. Today we want to look at knowledge as an accomplishment of virtue. Do you know that knowledge is the companion of virtue, and that without knowledge virtue can become misguided? This is the reason why Romans 14:16 says.

“Let not then your good be evil spoken of:”

How can your virtuous act become evil in the sight of God and men? When you fail to add knowledge to your virtue, you will not be guiltless in the presence of your observers. Open Heaven for today. For example, although it is virtuous to be of help to your neighbour, particularly those of the household of faith, stealing to help a brother or sister who is in need is “assistance” without knowledge. In like manner, “helping” a woman become pregnant because her husband has a low sperm count is misplaced “help” that will lead to hell fire.

Open heaven for today - 8 February 2018

In addition, we must make temperance a necessary companion of our faith and knowledge. Temperance is simply defined as restraint or self-control. Open heavens 26 January 2018. Why should temperance be added to knowledge before it can be profitable? The number one reason is that the exercise of knowledge without restraint may lead to an abuse of the faith and be a cause for others to stumble, speaking about this in 1^st Corinthians 8:10-12, the Holy Spirit says,

“For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.”

When we exercise knowledge in such a way that the weak in spirit are discouraged and backslide, such knowledge is destructive. It was the application of temperance that prevented the Lord Jesus Christ from calling down fire upon those who resisted His entering their village, after two of His disciples suggested it and even though He knew could do so (Luke 9:51-56). May the Lord add to your faith, the necessary virtue, knowledge and temperance in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, please cause me to grow in grace, knowledge and self-restraint for profitable Christian living in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons 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.

Sing hymn 15

15.      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 a wanderer

            The sun gone down,

            Darkness comes 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 me see the sight,

            An open heaven;

            All that thou sendest me,

            In mercy given;

            Angles to beckon me

            Nearer, my God, to Thee

            Nearer, my God, to Thee

            Nearer to Thee

“
4.         Then, with my walking 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