OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY 02/07/2013 - YOU WILL MAKE IT! BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

YOU WILL MAKE IT!

MEMORY VERSE

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 

2 Corinthians 11:29

READ

2 Corinthians 11:23-30

2 Co 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

2 Co 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

2 Co 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

2 Co 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

2 Co 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2 Co 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

2 Co 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

2 Co 11:30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

MESSAGE

The midwives of Exodus 1 did not fail God over the purpose for which He planted them at the general hospital. If they did not fail God in spite of their trying circumstances, you too will not fail God over His purpose for your life. If there was somebody who should not make it, it was Paul. When he was on the side of the devil, he was Satan's egg and the arrow head of Satan's rebellion. But from the time he encountered the Lord Jesus, all hell broke lose: he faced all kinds of challenges. What are you going through? Paul has gone through worse situations. He has been exposed to the worst kinds of danger – from the weather, men, beast and even so-called fellow believers (false brethren), yet he stood for Christ to the end.

A lesson from the life of Paul simply tells us that in spite of the level of hindrances, diversions, distractions and disturbances that come your way, if you truly want to finish strong, you will. Paul finished his course. By the grace of God, I will finish my course. Satan can use just about anybody including the leader that you so love and trust. If he wants to introduce a major hindrance on your way to finishing your assignment or making Heaven, he will stir up someone you never expected to hurt you to do something to you that will become a permanent hindrance to your progress. It happened to Paul. Certain believers he thought were together with him set him up; but for the Lord who had been his trust, he would never have recovered. God helped him out and he pushed the incident aside and moved on. Are you a victim of the plans of so-called brethren? Are you still grieving over your losses and brooding over the pains? Receive grace and forgive them and move forward; if not, you have just terminated your progress and Satan and with his demons will celebrate your defeat. Has your leader or leader's wife offended you? Please forgive, release the fellow and move on. See the fellow and tell him or her how hurt you were by what he or she did, but that God has given you grace and you have forgiven him or her. Nothing must take Heaven from you. You will finish strong. You will make it.

ACTION POINT

Grace is the antidote to your problems and challenges. Ask God for more grace daily.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Psalm 28 - 30