Open Heaven 10 August 2022: [Wednesday] Devotional By Pastor E.A. Adeboye – Letter to the Smyrna Church I
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Open Heaven 10 August 2022 TOPIC: Letter to the Smyrna Church I
Memorise: For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
Bible Reading: Revelation 2:8-10 (KJV)
8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the
first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and
I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the
synagogue of Satan.
10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
BIBLE IN YEAR: Isaiah 10:1-34, Isaiah
11:1-16, Isaiah 12:1-6, Isaiah 13:1-22
Open Heaven 10 August 2022 Message
You may wonder if the Smyrna Church offended God, because He kept talking
about them going through tribulations and being cast into prison without saying
He would rescue them at any point. This letter in its wholeness, gives us a
little insight into how God thinks.
ALSO READ: Open Heavens 9 August 2022 – Letter to the Ephesus Church II
Firstly, while it may seem like God cannot see when His children are being
persecuted, He knows it all and He has a crown waiting for you if you endure to
the end.
Secondly, because Jesus knew that some of them would die as a result of
persecution, He introduced Himself to them as the One who was dead and is
alive. Jesus always relates with us based on what we are going through.
He approaches us by letting us know that He has been through that situation
before and overcame it. Hebrews 4:15 says: “For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Whatever it is that you are going through now, Jesus has been through it
before and He overcame. You will also overcome in Jesus name. Sometimes
persecution can come from so-called Christians too.
Jesus says you should remain faithful nonetheless. No matter what these
people do, you are to look up to Him who is the author and finisher of your
faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Finally, we see Gods perspective of riches. Though these people seemed to
be living in poverty, Jesus said but thou art rich (Revelation 2:9). To man,
the rich ones are those with big cars and houses, but to God, the rich are
those with great faith.
2 Corinthians 6:10 says that these are people who, though they may be poor,
are rich because they are making others rich. These are the people storing up
treasure in heaven by using all they have to spread the gospel of Gods Kingdom
(Matthew 6:19-20).
This is not to say that it is a sin to be rich materially, after all, God
said He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:6), and these were all
wealthy men.
Understand that, no matter how much money you have, you must never see
financial wealth as your riches. You are only rich when you are rich in faith.
Open Heaven 10 August
2022 KEY POINT:
I challenge you to build your faith up so much that even Jesus Christ
Himself would testify that you are rich in faith.
Open Heaven 10 August 2022
HYMN: CONQUERORS AND OVERCOMERS
NOW ARE WE
1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory
If the Lord be for us, we can never fail,
Nothing ‘gainst His mighty pow’r can e’er prevail.
CHORUS:
Conquerors are we, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood,
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood
Thro’ the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.
2. In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us, but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood-bought victory.
3. Unto him that overcometh shall be giv’n,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from heav’n,
Over yonder he the victor’s palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.
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 Churches kleinanzeigen in the world and
also the President of Christ the
Redeemer's Ministries.
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