OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY- 10/09/2014 -WHEN GOD IS NEUTRAL BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WHEN GOD IS NEUTRAL

Memorise

For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrew 12:29

Read

Romans 12:19-21

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Message

When you hand over someone to God and you ask Him to judge the matter, you have handed the person over to the One the Bible refers to as the Righteous Judge. From 2 Timothy 4:8, we understand that when God judges, He does so righteously. He does not only judge actions, He judges motives also. When God judges, He takes into consideration all the facts that you do not know about. Proverbs 20:22 advises that when someone offends you, do not seek to revenge. Rather, wait on the Lord and let Him handle the situation. When God decides to fight against somebody, the battle is over quickly and disaster is assured against them. In Numbers 23:17-25, we read the episode of Balak against the children of Israel. When God decided to fight against Israel, twenty-four thousand of them died in one day (Numbers 25:1-9). If you go into sin, you may suddenly find God fighting against you.

God can also be neutral. He can watch you as you fight your enemy on your own. If God takes this position, you can be sure that the fight will not last long, and the outcome will be defeat. In Joshua 6:20-27, when God was fighting for Israel, Jericho was taken with just a shout. However, when they later fought against a small city called Ai, they were defeated because God was not with them then as a result of their disobedience (Joshua 7:3-5). Another set of people that God can take a neutral outlook on are the proud. God is interested in seeing how far their pride can take them. James 4:6 says:

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

The proud usually lose in the battles of life. Pride leads to the demotion of the individual involved.

I do not want God to fight against me, neither do I want Him to be neutral concerning my case. Rather, I desire Him to always be on my side. Exodus 15:9-10 says:

”The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.”

Just make sure you trust God. Hand over all your challenges to Him. You will be amazed at how He will bring to pass all you have asked of Him. Turn to the side of God, for there is no other place to turn to where victory is assured. Hold onto God, and eventually, you will be triumphant.

Prayer point

Father, do not be neutral in any aspect of my life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Joshua 10:29-13:7;

Job 36:5-16