Pages

Friday 4 August 2017

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - COME YE APART II

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
 
DATE: FRIDAY AUGUST 4TH 2017
 
THEME: COME YE APART II
 
 
Memorize:
 
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21
 
 
Read:  Act 13: 1-3
 
13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
 
 
Message:
 
As discussed yesterday, “Come ye apart” is a call to cease from daily work in order to come before God in a solemn assembly. Such calls by God to a solemn assembly are not mere religious exercises, but a time of settling important issue with Him. Hence, they are sometimes called during times of serious emergencies, as seen in Joel 1:14, where God said:
 
“Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord,”
 
While the general purpose of calling a solemn assembly is to gather the people of God together for a special time of worship in a state of purity, we also see God sometimes using such terms as “deny yourselves” or “afflict your souls” when He calls for a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:27). These terms refer to fasting and abstinence from food, drink, entertainment, sexual pleasure or other things that delight the flesh. By making a deliberate effort to subjugate our body to the dictates of the Spirit at such times, we are able to devote ourselves more fully to worshipping God during these special occasions. It's in light of such self-denial that the Bible in 2 Timothy 2:21 says,
 
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Individually, each of us is only one out of the billions of vessels available for God’s use. However, as vessels, we are each made of different kinds of resources, ranging from precious gems like gold and silver to cheaper materials like wood and clay. Obviously, some vessels are deployed for honorable use, while some others are to dishonor. What is of utmost importance is the fact that the Master will only use the best. The vessel that would be found suitable for the Master’s use must be purged of all errors and purified from all unrighteousness. In the Bible, purging refers to the confession and renunciation of sin, while purification refers to the process of removing impurities that interfere with a disciplined life. Are you interested in having a divine encounter with the Almighty God? Would you want to be a vessel of honor in the hands of the Master? Are you looking forward to being prepared for every good work? Then, come ye apart in a holy convocation, purge and purify yourself so that you can become a vessel of honour in the hands of the Almighty. As you make effort to separate yourself unto God this season, He will find you suitable as a vessel unto honour and fill you up with His anointing in the Name of Jesus.
 
 
Prayer Point:
 
Father, help me to purge myself, so that I may be found suitable for Your use.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
  
1 Kings 16-17
Ezekiel 20:14-26

 
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
 

No comments:

Post a Comment