Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
MEMORIZE: “The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” (1 Sam. 2:6).
READ: Daniel 5:1-6
“He riseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them” (1 Sam. 2:8). God is the real controller of things, events and situations, not the presidents, governors, or chieftains of industries. He decides who is promoted and when such a promotion should come. He also decides who the one to be demoted. He decides when kings die. In addition, He decides when the cup of an individual is full. For instance, in Daniel 5:1-13, King Belshazzar overstepped his boundaries by drinking from the dedicated cups that were taken from God’s temple in Jerusalem. Not blasphemous enough, he praised the dead gods of his nation for such opportunity. Immediately, God wrote on the wall that his time was up; his cup was full. The king did not last that night! If you say because you are a king, president or governor, so you can touch God’s anointed or desecrate consecrated vessels, you are playing with fire. A wise king will know his limits and operate within that sphere or get into trouble with the One who appoints and deposes kings.
“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote” (Daniel 5:5). People are often too proud or haughty to listen to God. When you fail to heed the early warning signs, the handwriting of judgement will become inevitable. King Belshazzar knew what his father, King Nebuchadnezzar, went through. He knew how he was deposed, turned into a wild, strange beast, and how he was deposed, turned into a wild, strange beast, and how after seven years, God restored him to his former form and position, and added glory to him. Yet, he did not learn from all these events. If you fail to learn from the failures, disappointments and judgements of others, prepare to go through yours. For many, the warning signs come through dreams, their relationships with others, their dwindling health, or dwindling spiritual stamina. Yet, these fellows brazenly braved it, ignoring these signs until they get to a point of no return. Have you seen the warning signs? Are you ignoring them? Arise, and do something about them. If Belshazzar had learnt from his father, his kingdom would not have been taken away.
PRAYER POINT:
God’s judgement mostly does not fall without early warnings. Ask for grace to see the early warnings in order to make necessary adjustments.
Bible in One year: Psa. 4-6
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