OPEN HEAVEN MONDAY APRIL 18TH 2022 THEME WATCH WHAT YOU WATCH*
*MEMORISE:*
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 1 Corinthians 10:6
*READ:*
1 John 2:15 -17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
*MESSAGE*
“Watch what you watch” means, be mindful of what you feed your eyes on. Be careful of the lust of the flesh which is usually fuelled by what our eyes feast on. Be careful of what you permit to attract your attention. There are many people who have dipped their hands in sin so they can acquire material wealth simply because they have seen others in the world do the same. What do you permit your eyes to see?
One major goal of every Christian must be to bring his flesh under the control of his spirit, as Paul described in 1 Corinthians 9:27:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
There is a tussle for supremacy between the flesh and your spirit (Galatians 5:17). This battle will however, be won by the stronger party. What you focus on will determine if you are feeding your spirit to be stronger that your flesh or vice versa.
If your focus is on things beneath, if all you are after are things that will gratify your flesh, then it will be stronger and will be in control of your spirit. Your mind and focus must be set on the things of God only (Colossians 3:12).
There are two ways by which you can tell if your focus is on the things of God or the flesh. One is about how you spend your money. When you get any amount of money, is your priority on spending for God or spending to gratify yourself? If you hear that there is a need in the house of God, do you take it upon yourself to use the resources in your hands to meet it or do you act as if the need is not your business?
Another way to know what your heart is set on is to check your ambitions. When you talk about your ambitions, are they in line with glorifying God or yourself? Why do you want a promotion in your place of work? Why do you want more money? Is it all to satisfy yourself or to advance the Kingdom of God here on earth? Check your ambitions and ensure that they are glorifying God and not yourself.
*REFLECTION*
Do a thorough and honest assessment of yourself: are you focused on the things of God or on yourself?
*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* 2Kings 1-4
*AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE*
*HYMN 14: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE*
1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
2 Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
3 There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
4 Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
5 Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
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