OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - THURSDAY - 22/08/2013 - BEYOND THE BARGAIN BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BEYOND THE BARGAIN

MEMORY VERSE

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James 1:15

READ

John 12:1-6

John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

John 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

John 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

MESSAGE

Gehazi was being prepared to be a highly anointed man of God but he was busy chasing after wealth and riches. He got what he wanted and even beyond it. If you are pursuing wealth, you will get more than you bargained for. It is one thing to acquire wealth but another thing to live to spend it. The only blessing that will make you rich without adding sorrow is the blessing that comes from God. If you are stealing or doing illegal business, even before you die, it will take its toll on you. Gehazi got the money but he also got the disease that Naaman was prepared to pay any amount to get rid of. He could not enjoy his reward of iniquity and he brought leprosy to his generation.

You cannot tell where that seemingly little sin could lead you. All that David wanted to do that day as he saw Uriah's naked wife, was just to have sex, but he got more than he bargained for. That sin was just the beginning of several more sins and it brought a lasting curse upon David's family. You can tell the beginning of a sin but you may not be able to tell its end. When Judas Iscariot was pursuing money, little did he know that it could make him to sell his Master, lead to his suicide and cause him to be abhorred eternally. Be mindful of your steps. Are you thinking of stealing from the offerings of the church? You will be biting more than you can chew! Are you secretly planning to commit fornication or adultery? Did you say it will only be once and you will never try it again? The truth is, that single act of sin will surely attract others in quick succession and each will come with their repercussions. When you avoid committing a sin, you keep yourself from several unpleasant consequences. If you do not want an evil harvest, steer clear of sin – no matter how small, seemingly hurt free or secretive it appears. You cannot effectively hide sin no matter how smart you are.

KEY POINT

Behind sin are terrible consequences. Every sin you avoid, you save yourself, family and generations multitudes of evils.