OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL Monday 25th April 2022

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

_DATE: MONDAY 25TH OF  APRIL 2022_

 *THEME: FOLLOW JESUS CLOSELY II* 

*MEMORISE:*

 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

Psalms 26:5

*BIBLE READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-18*

14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

*MESSAGE:*

In continuation of our enquiry form yesterday into why Peter denied Jesus, let us look at Mark 14:54 again 

 *And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.* 

When Peter followed Jesus from afar into the palace of the high priest, he chose to sit with the servants. Who were these servants? Mark 14:65 gives us an insight into the kind of people they were: 

 *And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their* *hands.* 

These servants were the same ones striking Jesus with the plams of their hands and Peter was sitting with them. In Proverbs 21:16, the Bible talks about the congregation of the dead. This is a congregation of people that do things against the will of God. Shadrach, Mesharch and Abednego were able to stand strong, refusing to deny their God because they were in the company of fellow believers and not unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says: 

 *Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.* 

If you spend a lot of time with people who are always talking about the latest clothes and television shows, gossiping about others, planning on how to commit sin right there in front of you, 1Corinthians 15:33 says they would corrupt you. The more of such sinful and worldly conversation you expose yourself to, the weaker your commitment to Christ would be. Eventually, you would find yourself doing things that you have earlier vowed never to do. Leave the congregation of the dead. 2 Corinthians 6:14 instructs you thus: 

 *Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath* *righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath* *light with darkness?* 

*REFLECTION:*

Are you current friends and associate bringing you closer to Jesus or compelling you to deny Him every now and then? 

*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:*

2 Kings 24 - 1 Chronicles 1

*AUTHOR:*

PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

*HYMN 6: HO, MY COMRADES! SEE THE SIGNAL*

1. Ho, my comrades! see the signal Waving in the sky! Reinforcements now appearing, Victory is nigh! 

    *CHORUS:*

"Hold the fort, for I am coming," Jesus signals still, Wave the answer back to heaven, "By Thy grace we will, " 

2. See the mighty host advancing Satan leading on: Mighty men around us falling, Courage almost gone! 

[CHORUS]

3. See the glorious banner waving! Hear the trumpet blow! In our Leader's name we'll triumph Over ev'ry foe! 

[ CHORUS]

4.Fierce and long the battle rages, But our help is near: Onward comes our great commander, Cheer, my comrades, cheer! 

 [CHORUS]