Open Heavens Devotion 11th April 2016

Open Heavens 11 April 2016: Monday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Topic: The New Man II

Memorise: And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.– Ephesians 4:24

Read: Ephesians 4:22-25 (KJV)

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 26-28, Proverbs 8:22-36

MESSAGE:

The Bible says:

“… they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” - Romans 8:5

This is why there is a need to put on the new man. As our memory verse states, we must put on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness. This is made possible through our reliance on the grace made available by Jesus Christ the Son of the living God.

“47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.” - 1 Corinthians 15:47-48

To put on a new man, we must accept the Lord from heaven. The reason is that He is the One that can quicken our mortal bodies and transform them to the original image of God in us which has been altered by sin. When one encounters Jesus Christ, his or her testimony will be like that of the apostles when he wrote:

“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

There is danger in living a life void of faith in the Son of God, because without faith no man can please the Lord. It is by faith that we know that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). It is by faith that we can run away from all appearances of evil. It was lack of faith in God that made Adam and Eve doubt the warning that God gave them concerning the forbidding fruit. Ever since then, this act of disobedience has remained a contagion within the human race. Are you among those who think the law of God has become outdated and so you break it with impunity? Repent today because tomorrow may be too late. Paul, an apostle, further wrote that we should walk in the Spirit so that we may not fulfil the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Beloved, let us consider today’s memory verse as an express command from God, and let us put on, Jesus Christ, the perfect image of the Almighty Father.

Prayer Point: Father, let my life reflect the image of Your Son Jesus.