OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 16/2/2014 - DIVINE CHAMPION I BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

DIVINE CHAMPION I

MEMORISE

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.

1 Samuel 2:8

READ

Jeremiah 51:20-23

Jeremiah 51:20 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;

Jeremiah 51:21 And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;

Jeremiah 51:22 With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;

Jeremiah 51:23 I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.

MESSAGE

A champion is the victor, the one winning, the overcomer. A champion is also the representative of the people, the best the people can offer. The greatest champion in human history is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence the popular song in Nigerian Pidgin English says:

“Winner o o o, Winner! 2x

Jesus you don win o, Winner!

Patapata you go win forever, Winner!”

You may wonder: Why is Jesus the greatest champion? Jesus engaged the greatest enemy of mankind – Satan, and defeated him. This was prophesied in Genesis 3:15. The outcome of the contest is in Hebrews 2:14-15. In addition to Satan, Jesus also overcame sin (Hebrews 4:15) and the world (John 16:33). Jesus is the number one Winner, He is the all-time Winner. The battles He won, He however won for you. I have good news for you today: that battle you are facing right now is a fall-out of that old battle which Jesus already won for you. The Bible says that Jesus destroyed Satan so that you might be delivered. You are delivered right now from that evil bondage and yoke of sickness, be it physical, financial, mental or emotional in Jesus’ Name. Furthermore, Jesus defeated the archenemy for you, in order to make you a champion. You are a divine champion because you are raised up and supported by God (1 Samuel 2:8, Romans 8:31).

Irrespective of the current situation and status of the individual being made into a champion by God, by the time God finishes with him or her, he or she will become an amazement and a wonder. Our memory verse for today says that God raises the prospective divine champion out of the dust and lifts the beggarly from the dunghill to make him keep company with princes. This means that the beggar becomes like a prince, and by every standard, his level changes. He no longer belongs in the dunghill. This is what our God is capable of doing. What low estate can be worse than dwelling in a dunghill i.e. having no prospect of becoming somebody in life, becoming dependent on picking and scavenging in the refuse dump? Your case might not be that bad, but even if it is, congratulations, your condition is about to change drastically. Only let the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart.

PRAYER POINT

Father, make me a divine champion; fill me with the Holy Ghost and fire.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Isaiah 45:14-48:22;

 Psalm 39