Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
MEMORIZE: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” (Jude 20).
READ: Hebrews 12:12-13
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. However, our strengths are not meant to elicit pride in us, just as we should not celebrate our weaknesses. When you chat with some believers, you may hear them say, ‘You know when I blow off my roof, nobody can stop me’. Or ‘For fear of encountering me in a rage, people tread very softly with me’. If people refuse to bare their mind concerning you because they are afraid of facing your anger storm, it simply shows that your flesh is yet to die. Some senior pastors cannot stand criticism. Any comment that runs contrary to their views is seen as an attack on their person, and that will elicit their worst reaction. Such people are simply spiritual babes who have refused to die to their flesh. Are you celebrating your weakness instead of weeping over them?
Before the Lord talked of the weaknesses of the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7, He first listed their strengths. Beloved, believe it or not, you have your strengths. Have you identified them? One salient truth here is that any strength not sustained diminishes into a weakness. “LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled” (Ps. 30:7). A young student came first in a particular subject to the surprise of his teacher and fellow students. He was highly commended, however, he allowed the commendation get into his head. Whenever he was to study, he will set aside that subject and give more time to other subjects. When the big examinations came, his performance was far below expectation. If you are good at praying and refused to constantly build up on it, over a period of time, you will retrogress until you may find it a struggle to pray for even 15minutes. Hence, 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”. In the same vein, Jude 20 and 2 Tim 1:6 admonish that after identifying your strength, build on it. It is very sad that the strengths of many have been eroded due to neglect. To secure your strength, identify it. Avoid anything that can diminish it. Set goals for yourself in your areas of strength and draw up a plan on how to attain them. Give adequate time to nourish and develop it. The Lord will turn your weaknesses into strengths.
KEY POINT:
If worldly experts, professionals, and achievers had failed to build on their strengths, they would have been unsung.
Bible in One year: Deut 10-12
MEMORIZE: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” (Jude 20).
READ: Hebrews 12:12-13
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. However, our strengths are not meant to elicit pride in us, just as we should not celebrate our weaknesses. When you chat with some believers, you may hear them say, ‘You know when I blow off my roof, nobody can stop me’. Or ‘For fear of encountering me in a rage, people tread very softly with me’. If people refuse to bare their mind concerning you because they are afraid of facing your anger storm, it simply shows that your flesh is yet to die. Some senior pastors cannot stand criticism. Any comment that runs contrary to their views is seen as an attack on their person, and that will elicit their worst reaction. Such people are simply spiritual babes who have refused to die to their flesh. Are you celebrating your weakness instead of weeping over them?
Before the Lord talked of the weaknesses of the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7, He first listed their strengths. Beloved, believe it or not, you have your strengths. Have you identified them? One salient truth here is that any strength not sustained diminishes into a weakness. “LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled” (Ps. 30:7). A young student came first in a particular subject to the surprise of his teacher and fellow students. He was highly commended, however, he allowed the commendation get into his head. Whenever he was to study, he will set aside that subject and give more time to other subjects. When the big examinations came, his performance was far below expectation. If you are good at praying and refused to constantly build up on it, over a period of time, you will retrogress until you may find it a struggle to pray for even 15minutes. Hence, 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”. In the same vein, Jude 20 and 2 Tim 1:6 admonish that after identifying your strength, build on it. It is very sad that the strengths of many have been eroded due to neglect. To secure your strength, identify it. Avoid anything that can diminish it. Set goals for yourself in your areas of strength and draw up a plan on how to attain them. Give adequate time to nourish and develop it. The Lord will turn your weaknesses into strengths.
KEY POINT:
If worldly experts, professionals, and achievers had failed to build on their strengths, they would have been unsung.
Bible in One year: Deut 10-12
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