OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 16/07/2014 - THE SPECIAL GROUP BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE SPECIAL GROUP

MEMORISE

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

READ

Galatians 2:17-21

17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

MESSAGE

While we were in sin, the Lord sent His word to gather us in and then He cleansed us. By these we became saved children of God. Now we have the right or privilege to become the sons of God (John 1:12). After the gathering and the cleansing comes the third stage of selection. At this stage, God selects some people who would be special to Him. Matthew 22:14 says,

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Not everyone who is born-again becomes God’s favourite. His favourites are the chosen few. In African tradition and in some other cultures in times past, the king may have as many wives as he wants. King Solomon had 300 wives and 700 concubines, yet he would have had one who was most special to him out of them all. During the days of King Ahasuerus, Esther was most preferred above all the fair virgins that were paraded before him (Esther 2:17). This select group love God better, praise and worship Him more and serve Him with a higher level of commitment. They are so devoted to God that they like Esther may say, ‘If I perish, I perish’. They are ready to undertake any assignment for God no matter how hazardous. They have gone beyond following Jesus for butter and bread.

In Philippians 1:21, Paul articulated the character of this group when he said:

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

This group of people are referred to as the sanctified ones. They fear nothing but sin. If you will be set apart for God, you must have a heart transplant. You must be completely dead to the world. They are so Christ-centred that they cannot be distracted by the world. No wonder Paul says he is crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). In those days, when we were taught sanctification, we learnt that one of the ways to know the sanctified is that if you slapped the fellow on the right cheek, he would meekly turn the left. It is pretty difficult to annoy the sanctified ones because they are preoccupied with their love for Jesus Christ. They are prepared to suffer wrongfully and take it calmly. There is no space in their hearts for immoral thoughts. Are you sanctified? Are you set apart for the Lord? If you were hurt and you did not have the opportunity to retaliate, would you not be angry? Ask to be part of this special group!

PRAYER POINT

Father, let me experience your genuine sanctification.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Deuteronomy 14:1-16:17

Job 5:1-16