OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20 2016. THEME : BEWARE OF DECEIVERS II

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20 2016.
THEME : BEWARE OF DECEIVERS II
MEMORISE :
But watch thou in all things, endure affitions, do the
work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy
ministry. 2 TIMOTHY 4 : 5.
READ : ROMANS 16 : 17 – 20 :
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which
cause divisions and offences contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men.
I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would
have you wise unto that which is good, and simple
concerning evil.
20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under
your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you. Amen.
Message
The Bible repeatedly warns children of God to
beware of deceivers in the form of false teachers
and prophets, because their operations are usually
so smooth that their activities could be very difficult
to pin down as errors. They present their messages
as divine revelations received after much
perseverance in prayers and rigorous Bible study.
Deceivers present their deadly errors as newly
discovered secret information that was specially
revealed by God, as the preferred way of relating
with Him in this generation. 2 Timothy 4 : 5 says :
“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do
the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy
ministry.”
It is an established fact that keeping the faith
protected from the corruption of deceivers, requires
the presence of the Holy Spirit, a knowledge of the
Scripture, holiness, perseverance, Christian
fellowship and spiritual maturity. This attributes
must be present in a person’s life before the
instruction in 2 Timothy 4 : 5 can be effectively
carried out. The first essential step is to watch in all
things. To watch, in this sense, is to pay close
attention to the beliefs and practices of the Church,
to ensure that they are ever in strict compliance
with the Word of God. By so doing, even the
slightest variation would be quickly noticed and
corrected. Also, young believers will be protected
from error. The second essential step is to do the
work of an evangelist by demonstrating the full
evidence of the ministry. If indeed the present
generation of Christians would preach the gospel of
Jesus Christ with power, such that miracle, signs,
and wonders, are evident in our fellowships
meetings, then the door shall be permanently shut
against false prophets. Furthermore, 2 Timothy 3 :
16 says :
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:”
This passage boldly declares that everything
documented in the Bible is given by God as a
revelation of Himself, His commandments and
teachings. This confirms the Bible as the only divine
manual containing everything we need to know
about the Almighty God and His created universe.
The passage also emphasizes the art of teaching,
reproof, and correction as means of keeping the
Church clear of false teachers and their messages.
Teaching is the primary task of Christians as
indicated in Mathew 28 : 19. We are called to teach
the whole counsel of God, shedding the light of the
gospel over every aspect of life, for the purpose of
remodelling our lives to be in compliance with the
word of God. In addition to teaching, we must
reprove by speaking against false teachers and
their heretic messages. At the same time, we must
make serious effort to bring false teachers and
those influenced by their messages back to the
knowledge of the truth. Finally, there must be
training in righteousness to learn how to do what is
right, what is just and in accordance with godliness.
Once again, beware of deceivers!
PRAYER POINT :
Father, please let anything You have not planted in
Your Church be uprooted today in the Name of
Jesus.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : LUKE 11 : 1 – 12: 34 AND JOB
24: 21 – 25 : 6.
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE