OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 03/06/2014 - FIGHTER’S QUALIFICATION FAIL BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FIGHTER’S QUALIFICATION

MEMORISE

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Luke 3:9

READ

John 15:1-6

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

MESSAGE

Whenever someone is invited to join the army, he is told the beautiful things that he will get when he signs up: cheap food, free clothing and a lot of other fringe benefits. He is never told what he will go through when he gets into the barracks. In the barracks, he is taken through heavy rigours and at the end of the day, he becomes broken down enough to handle a machine gun fearlessly. In the same manner, before the Almighty God would hand over His weaponry to anyone, the fellow will go through some rigours. The good news is that He promised in Isaiah 43:2 that He will be with you while you pass through those challenges.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Every fighter in the army of the Lord must be aware that the Commander-in-Chief will not tolerate parasites. He is highly intolerant of those who have nothing significant to contribute (John 15:2). He wants everyone engaged in His vision to contribute their own quota. The question is: in the service of God, would you be referred to as an asset or a liability? Also, in the army of the Lord, there is no room for loafers and deserters. While all loafers are summarily dealt with, deserters face eternal death (Luke 3:9). There is no backing out in the army of God. This is why in Ephesians 6:13-17, there is no armour for our backs. The day you turn your back to the enemy, you become exposed to his attacks. With your hands still on the plough, you are not even allowed to look back (Luke 9:62). Furthermore, in the army of the Lord, there is no room for slothfulness. There is no room for lazy people. You are supposed to be diligent. There is also no room for divided loyalties (Matthew 10:37). Your loyalty must be only to the Commander-in-Chief. You have to rely on God because you cannot do these things on your own accord. If you rely on Him and draw your strength from Him, you will be amazed when you start doing certain things that you never thought were possible. You will discover obedience becomes very easy. For you to succeed in the army of the Lord, the Lord Himself must hold your hand and continue to lead you on. What must you do so that He can hold your hand? The answer is found in 1 Peter 1:15-16:

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

KEY POINT

You have to plough looking straight ahead. God is not a democrat. He rules by decrees.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 25-26; Psalm 119:1-16