OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - SUNDAY - 10/11/2013 - SETTLING FOR LESS? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SETTLING FOR LESS?

MEMORY VERSE

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

READ

2 Kings 4:8-17

And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.

And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.

And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.

And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

MESSAGE

According to Ephesians 6:11, one major reason you must be fully kitted with God's armour is to enable you overcome Satan's tricks. He will be okay if he can get your child or money to replace God in your life. He will attack your defence system to try and make you lose control in at least one area of life. The devil may suggest to you to take it easy, that going to Heaven is not that hard, that you do not need to be so fervent all the time, when he knows Revelation 3:15-16 speaks to the contrary. He can suggest to you to pay your tithe but not all, and to give offering but not cheerfully with the excuse that God understands.

Moreover, the worst lie Satan can tell you is that you are okay just as you are. That is a big lie! You are not okay as you are! If you believe Satan's lie, he will succeed in stagnating you for life. Such people cannot improve on themselves or go beyond where they are. They cannot come closer to God because there would be no drive in that direction. Some people have surrendered to fate. They tell God that He has done enough for them already and that He should just leave them alone. They limit God by so doing because God may not do a new thing in the life of an individual unless the fellow allows Him to. God has a goal for your life but He will not forcibly implement it against your will.

In 2 Kings 4:8-17, we read of the Shunammite woman who was very wealthy and was well connected. When asked what she needed, she said she was okay as she was. But thank God for her seed which spoke for her even when she gave a wrong reply. In Genesis 39:1-10, Satan also tried to talk Joseph into turning his prosperity in Portiphar's house into his final destination. He told him since he was doing well as a slave operating as a Managing Director, he should settle down there and enjoy everything including the wife of his master, but he refused. In what way are you settling down for Satan's lie? Repent, arise and return back to God's original plan for your life. Don't settle for less!

KEY POINT

The best offer Satan can ever give you is incomparable with what God has already prepared for you