Open Heaven 11 August 2022: [Thursday] Devotional By Pastor E.A. Adeboye – Letter to the Smyrna Church II
Click HERE for Previous Open Heavens Devotional 2022
Open Heaven 11 August 2022 TOPIC: Letter to the Smyrnan Church II
Memorise: And fear not them which kill
the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able
to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew
10:28
Bible Reading: Revelation 2:8-11 (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.
11. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
BIBLE IN YEAR: Isaiah 14:1-32, Isaiah
15:1-9, Isaiah 16:1-14, Isaiah 17:1-14, Isaiah 18:1-7, Isaiah 19:1-25
Open Heaven 11 August 2022 Message
Jesus assured the Smyrna Church that even though they could experience
painful physical death, because they were serving Him, they would have no part
in the second death. If Jesus could use this as a consolation, it is then very
clear to us that the second death is more hurtful than the physical one.
ALSO READ: Open Heavens 10 August 2022 – Letter to the Smyrna Church I
This is why I pity those who would rather sin than experience some pain for
the sake of the gospel. The physical death is not what you should fear but
rather, the spiritual one (Matthew 10:28). The physical death will last a short
time, but the spiritual one is for eternity.
Some people want to do greater things than Jesus did, but are not willing
to suffer like Him. Paul said: “That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto
his death;” Philippians 3:10 you cannot fully know Jesus without also partaking
in the fellowship of His sufferings.
If you are only with Jesus for the goodies but will run away to the devil
once the going gets rough, then you are not worthy of His crown. If you don’t
love Him enough to surrender your life to Him, then you are not worthy to
receive His eternal life.
He said: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever
will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:25 the real life you
should hold firmly to with all your might is eternal life.
Don’t let anything be too big for you to sacrifice here on earth so as to
avoid that second death. Jesus, in the letter to the Church in Smyrna says that
He expects us to be faithful until death.
Many have not even been confronted with death and they are already
unfaithful. Are you one of those? Are you truly faithful to God even in the
midst of trials and temptations around you? Today is a good day for you to
repent from your unfaithfulness.
If you refuse to repent, don’t expect to enter heaven at all because Jesus
said if you deny Him here on earth, He will also deny you in Heaven (Matthew
10:33).
Open Heaven 11 August
2022 KEY POINT:
Father, please help me never to deny You again. No matter what temptations
I pass through, Lord help me to remain faithful to You.
Open Heaven 11 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.
2 Comments
Hallelujah!!! as a child of God I have learnt through this teaching that I am to set my mind on things that are eternal and not on things that perish. Also to be able to keep my faith in Jesus despite the challenges I pass through in life because challenges should serve as a fellowship in the sufferings of Christ. This devotion is life transforming.
ReplyDeleteHallelujah Hallelujah for the Lord God I am very happy to receive this message, May the Almighty God continue to bless you abundantly in Jesus mighty name Amen Thanks
ReplyDeletePlease drop a comment. God bless you!