OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 14/03/2014 - GOD, MY FORTRESS BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

GOD, MY FORTRESS

MEMORISE

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 71:3

READ

2 Samuel 22:1-4

1 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

MESSAGE

The Most High God is our fortress. What is a fortress? A fortress is a stronghold where you can fight from. After you have been in a refuge for some time and you are now prepared for battle, the place of refuge can become your fortress. A fortress is where you are to put on your armour, consolidate all your strengths and then go out to battle. The Almighty God is not only my refuge but He is also my fortress. This speaks of His Almightiness. Jehovah-Nissi is not just a defensive God; He can equally be on the offensive! He is the Divine Garrison for genuine children of God. The God who told Elijah to go and hide was also the One who told him to go forth and fight after some time. In 1 Kings 18:40, we see a different Elijah:

“And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.”

The time of hiding was over and it was time to go to battle. We also have another example in 1 Samuel 17:43-45. Here we see how God can be a fortress. Goliath cursed David by the name of his gods and David handed Goliath into the hands of the Lord of Hosts. Goliath came to David with sword, spear and with a shield; but David confronted Goliath with the Name of the Lord of Hosts and of the God of the armies of Israel. While Goliath was disappointed by his gods, sword, spear and shield, David was protected by the everlasting arms of the Almighty.

If you pay close attention to the memory verse of today, you will discover something intriguing about our God who has never lost a battle. David discovered this truth and he asked God to be his strong habitation where he can continually resort to. No wonder the Bible says because you have made the Lord your habitation, there shall no evil befall you (Psalm 91:9-10). To make the Almighty God your habitation, you must live holy because He is holy. Some people may not accept an invitation to spend their vacation in the house of an important personality who is noted for cleanliness because of their dirty habits. Don’t continue to short-change yourself of the privilege of living with the King of kings and the Lord of lords. When you make God your fortress, He will deliver you from the unrighteous and cruel men of your generation. My prayer for you is that your changed life will qualify you to have God as your habitation in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT

Take an inventory of your life and see what may disqualify you from having your abode with the Lord of Hosts. Take positive steps to change immediately.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Jeremiah 51; 

Psalm 61