OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY 03/06/2013 - SIN STARTS SMALL BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SIN STARTS SMALL

MEMORY VERSE

Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned?

Proverbs 6:27

READ

Proverbs 6:27-29

Pro 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

Pro 6:28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

Pro 6:29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

MESSAGE

Beside signs and wonders, we need wisdom because Proverbs 4:7 says it is the principal thing. Ecclesiastes 9:16 says wisdom is better than strength. If you doubt this, ask Samson. He performed signs and wonders but lacked wisdom and he could not finish strong. That you have strength does not guarantee you a good finishing. Many people who have strength have become victims of their strength for lack of wisdom. Psalm 111:10 says the fear of God is the starting point of wisdom. Proverbs 16:6 says,

“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”

It is wisdom to fear God; it is wisdom to flee from sin. It is wisdom to avoid what can easily make you to compromise your faith. It is wisdom to visit your betroth in company of someone else. It is wisdom not to sleep in the same apartment or worse still on the same bed before marriage. There are some brethren who were seen to be strong spiritually. They too believed they were strong so they ignored wisdom tips and at the end, they compromised their testimony.

It is not always that we are tempted at an area of weakness. Sometimes, the devil wants to satisfy himself that he is still as cunning as ever, so he comes to some believers and tempts them from a point of strength – where the object of temptation is quite unattractive. He tells the fellow, 'Never mind this temptation: after all, you are not weak in this area so allow it'. Initially, the tempted feels no attraction but gradually, his or her defences begin to give way, as the temptation begins to grow stronger and stronger until it gets to a point it becomes irresistible. A little peck or caressing may mean nothing to the tempted initially. But that was enough to quit the scene of the temptation. Yes, you may even see some nakedness and it appears nothing moves you into action. That is just enough for you to run for your life! The devil will tell you it does not matter. After all, did you feel anything? But as you allow more, before long, you will be the one panting for more. Everything matters! If you fail to run when you should, you would end up a victim of sin.

ACTION POINT

The best time to run away from temptation is when it is just unfolding. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Matthew 8 - 11