Open Heavens devotional January 2nd 2022

 DATE:  SUNDAY 2ND JANUARY 2022.

 

THEME:  THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS II.

MEMORISE:

 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

Exodus 12:20

BIBLE READING: EXODUS 12:18-28.

18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.

22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

MESSAGE:

The Bible says “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Galatians 5:9). In this context, leaven symbolizes sin (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The leaven of sin is not necessarily a big substance like some may imagine; more often, it appears little and negligible but has a deadly impact on a person’s life and where he or she would spend eternity.

What then is the leaven that all children of God must not eat even in this dispensation of grace? The simple answer is, “The leaven of sin” and this includes everything that can cause spiritual pollution. This is further explained in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 where we warned to abstain from all appearances of evil. For us to truly live as God’s people this year, we must not keep the company of sinners (Psalm 1:1). Some of us claim to be born again but delight in the activities of sinners and even encourage them to continue in sin- forgetting that the Bible says in Romans 1:32:

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

The story of a sparrow that kept the company of devouring raven is a case in point. When he was eventually caught, he tried to convince the farmer who caught him with them that he was not a raven but the father said, “You are judged by the company you keep”. Many innocent sisters became victims of rape because they had been keeping the company of ladies of easy virtue. More often than not, they are lured by their so-called friends to attend parties where they fall into the hands of human ravens. This is the reason the Bible says that we should not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. The Bible further admonishes in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 thus:

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Beloved, as you journey through 2022, beware of the leaven of the 21st century world. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

 

ACTION POINT:

Watch the company you keep this year, even in Church!

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

GENESIS 4-7.

 

AUTHOR:

PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 28:  WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD.

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

 Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.