OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 14/2/2014 - BE STRONG BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BE STRONG

MEMORISE

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

 Ephesians 6 : 10.

READ

Ephesians 6 : 10 – 13.

Ephesians 6 : 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Ephesians 6 : 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6 : 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6 : 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

MESSAGE

You don’t charge someone to be strong if there is no task to be performed or if pressure is not required, either for motion or putting up resistance against an opposing force. In the physical realm, mere movement requires strength. This explains why a sick person or a person just recovering from an ailment finds it difficult to walk. Spiritually you need to be strong. In today’s Bible reading, the Lord commands us to be strong, and He gives two reasons why we should be :

1. That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

2. That ye may be able to withstand in the evil day.

There are evil forces that want to short – change a child of God’s life regarding the good things that God has in store for him or her. These spiritual forces are listed in Ephesians 6 : 12 as : principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. These spiritual entities attack either directly or through their human agents namely: witches, wizards, and people with familiar spirits etc. They cause harm, sorrow and calamities, including abortion of pregnancies and barrenness. They give spirit husbands, spirit wives and abort prospective contract deals; they are responsible for a myriads of misfortunes. As you know, the Bible says that the thief’s (Satan) mission is to steal — stealing joy, peace etc; to kill —- through sickness, diseases, calamities, tragedies, business failures etc, and to destroy —- i .e the complete and ultimate devastation of a man’s destiny in Hell. In the Name of Jesus, you will not become a victim of Satan’s mission in any of these areas. What Jesus has for those that belong to Him is life in great abundance.

Some years ago, a young lady who for the second time had failed her Ordinary Level exams refused to eat for days, grieving over her failure. Within this period, a fight ensued between her and another young girl. Though this grieving lady ordinarily should have dealt decisively with her adversary, the reverse turned out to be the case. Why? Because the strength she needed was not there, having not eaten for days. Spiritually, the food for our spirit man is the word of God. One of the basic things necessary for a child of God to be strong is the word of God. It serves as spiritual food for the supply of the needed spiritual calories ( 1 Peter 2 : 2, Colossians 3 : 16 ). The word sanctifies and purifies us. We are to study it, meditate on it, memorize it and of course, obey it.

ACTION POINT

Take a definite steps to improve your level of interaction with the word – study, meditate on and memorize striking passages. Also appoint an accountability partner to help you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Isaiah 40 : 9 – 42 : 25;

Psalm 37 : 33 – 40.