Open Heavens Devotional 14th March, 2019
Theme For Open Heavens Devotional 14th March – WALKING IN THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED?
MEMORY VERSE:
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1
BIBLE READING: Psalm 1:1-6
1.Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2. But his delight is in the law of THE LORD; and in His Law doth he meditate day and night.
3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall Prosper.
4. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of The Righteous.
6. For The LORD knoweth the way of The Righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
MESSAGE:
A. One of the ways of attracting Divine Blessings is to stay away from the counsel of the wicked.
1. According to Psalm 1:4&6, doing this also saves one from partaking in the judgment that God delivers on the wicked.
2. Who is a wicked person?
3. When you look through the lens of God’s Word, you will discover that there are wicked people hiding in plain sight amongst us.
4. For example, a wicked fellow is someone who takes advantage of the trust given to him to hurt another person.
5. Joseph was put in A Position of Trust, but he did not take advantage of it because he did not want to be wicked.
6. When his master’s wife wanted to lure him into sexual immorality, he said in Genesis 39:9:
7. “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife:
8. How then can I do this great wickedness, and SIN AGAINST GOD?”
9. Even before the Law of Moses was given in Exodus 20:14, Joseph refrained himself from committing this grave sin because he had The Law of God written in his heart, which says:
10. “THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.”
11. Joseph regarded sleeping with his master’s wife as wickedness, so he did not do it.
12. For this reason, I strongly believe that Joseph will stand in judgment against those who break the written law of God on marriage fidelity with impurity, claiming that The Word of God is Ambiguous on it.
B. Another category of the wicked includes those who despise the good works of others and render them insignificant.
1. When you posted to A New Office and you refuse to see the good work your predecessor did, or worse still, you try as much as possible to erase the history of his or her stewardship, you are WICKED.
2. In spite of what king Saul did to him, David did not act this way. When King Saul died, David said in 2 Samuel 1:24:
3. “Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.”
4. Walking in the counsel of the wicked can have grave and everlasting consequences.
5. An example of the impact of ungodly counsel is found in the story of Amnon and his lust for his half-sister, Tamar.
6. Amnon was caught in Jonadad’s wicked counsel, and he died for it (2 Samuel 13:1-29).
7. 2 Samuel 13:1-14 “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
8. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
9. So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand. Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat.
10. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
11. Beloved, irrespective of who the source is run for your dear life when given ungodly counsel.
12. May you never fall prey to the counsel of the ungodly in Jesus’ Name. Amen!
ACTION POINT:
Examine the company you keep, even in church. If you find any form of ungodliness prevalent anywhere, separate yourself from it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Corinthians 4-6, Isaiah 63:1-14.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS.
1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though- none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.
Credit – Pastor E. Adeboye