OPEN
HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL- 03/06/2014
Topic: FIGHTER’S QUALIFICATION [Tuesday June 3, 2014]
Memorise:
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree
therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire. Luke 3:9
Bible in a Year:
Exodus 25-26; Psalm 119:1-16
Read: John 15:1-6
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that
beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are
clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in
you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no
more can ye, except ye abide in me.5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He
that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for
without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a
branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and
they are burned.
Message:
Whenever someone is invited to join the army, he is told
the beautiful things that he will get when he signs up: cheap food, free
clothing and a lot of other fringe benefits. He is never told what he will go
through when he gets into the barracks. In the barracks, he is taken through
heavy rigours and at the end of the day, he becomes broken down enough to handle
a machine gun fearlessly. In the same manner, before the Almighty God would
hand over His weaponry to anyone, the fellow will go through some rigours. The
good news is that He promised in Isaiah 43:2 that He will be with you while you
pass through those challenges.
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through
the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Every fighter in the army of the Lord must be aware that
the Commander-in-Chief will not tolerate parasites. He is highly intolerant of
those who have nothing significant to contribute (John 15:2). He wants everyone
engaged in His vision to contribute their own quota. The question is: in the
service of God, would you be referred to as an asset or a liability? Also, in
the army of the Lord, there is no room for loafers and deserters. While all
loafers are summarily dealt with, deserters face eternal death (Luke 3:9).
There is no backing out in the army of God. This is why in Ephesians 6:13-17,
there is no armour for our backs. The day you turn your back to the enemy, you
become exposed to his attacks. With your hands still on the plough, you are not
even allowed to look back (Luke 9:62). Furthermore, in the army of the Lord,
there is no room for slothfulness. There is no room for lazy people. You are
supposed to be diligent. There is also no room for divided loyalties (Matthew
10:37). Your loyalty must be only to the Commander-in-Chief. You have to rely
on God because you cannot do these things on your own accord. If you rely on
Him and draw your strength from Him, you will be amazed when you start doing
certain things that you never thought were possible. You will discover
obedience becomes very easy. For you to succeed in the army of the Lord, the
Lord Himself must hold your hand and continue to lead you on. What must you do
so that He can hold your hand? The answer is found in 1 Peter 1:15-16:
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in
all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Key Point:
You have to plough looking straight ahead. God is not a
democrat. He rules by decrees.
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