Open Heavens Devotion April 27th 2016

Open Heavens 27 April 2016: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Topic: Know your Enemy II

Memorise: O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? – Romans 7:24

Read: Romans 7:18-25 (KJV)

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 7:1-8:21, Proverbs 16:6-19

MESSAGE:

The flesh is another deadly enemy of man. The flesh attacks the soul through its poisonous activities. These are listed in Galatians 5:19-21:

“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

The above listed activities of the flesh are deadly, primarily because they prevent a man from inheriting the kingdom of God. An enemy is not a serious one of it can only kill you, but cannot prevent you from making it to heaven. Jesus Christ said:

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” - Mathew 10:28

Consequently, the flesh and its activities are very dangerous, but Christians have become so complacent that they sit back and allow these activities drag them off the track to heaven. The Bible says:

“28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent...32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.” - Proverbs 6:28,32

The works of the flesh can be destroyed through only one means and that means is Jesus Christ. Beloved, I encourage you to give your life totally today, and do away with all works of the flesh.

Action Point: Read Colossians 3:5 [“5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”] and pray with it.