OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 02/10/2013 - WAYS OF RISING BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WAYS OF RISING

MEMORY VERSE

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Psalms 40:1

READ

Judges 6:11-16

Judges 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

Judges 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Judges 6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

Judges 6:14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

Judges 6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

Judges 6:16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

MESSAGE

If you are prepared to start small, God is prepared to turn that small thing into something beyond your wildest imagination. This season, hope will arise for you in Jesus name. there are different ways to arise, one way is by being pushed up. One person that was pushed up was Moses. In Exodus 4:10-17, God told him he was going to be used to deliver His people, but he refused. God showed him some miracles to convince him but he still did not yield, so God had to push him up. Another person God pushed up was Joshua. In Joshua 1:1-8, God had to tell him thrice to be strong and to be of good courage because he was afraid of stepping into the shoe of his master. What of Gideon? God chose him but he refused to yield so God had to push him up (Judges 6:11-16). In any way you are refusing to key into God’s plan for your life, the Lord will push you up in Jesus name.

Another way to experience a rise is to be pulled up. Psalm 40:1-3 describes how God brought up the Psalmist from the miry clay, set him on the rock and established him. Also, in 1 Samuel 16:11-13, David who was only a shepherd boy saw himself being anointed king in the midst of his able-bodied brothers. God pulled him up. In the name that is above every other name, wherever you are, in the depth of sin, sickness, lack, ignominy, shame, disgrace, bondage or defeat, the Lord will pull you up this season. Yet, a third way to rise is to be carried up. Isaiah 40:31 talks of people mounting up on eagles’ wings. In 2 Kings 2:11, Elijah was carried up into Heaven by chariots of fire. In 1 Kings 1:11-40, Solomon did not know what was going on and suddenly he was declared king. This season, the Lord will carry you on wings like the eagle. Your effort will not solely be the determinant factor but also His favour and grace. You will see yourself rising from now on. It is your set time of favour (Psalm 102:13). You shall begin to rise and no one and nothing will be able to stop you.

PRAYER POINT

Father, beyond my expectations, lift me up.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 33-36