Open Heaven 14 April 2023
MEMORISE: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Proverbs 23:2
BIBLE READING: ECCLESIASTES 10:16-17
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
It may surprise you that food can also be a destiny destroyer. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. (Philippians 3:19)
Some people have turned food to their god. Such persons are so mindful of food that it is the most important thing to them. There are many Christians who cannot go one day without food. If food controls you, then it is your god and it can destroy you.
Esau was one man who food controlled. He was so controlled by food that he sold his birthright for a plate of porridge. Jacob on the other hand was willing to stay without the porridge he had cooked in order to get something valuable for the fulfilment of his destiny (Genesis 25:29-34). If you check that Scripture closely, you will see that Jacob even added bread to the porridge he gave to Esau.
He knew that the moment was a destiny-defining one, so he declared a fast for himself. Because of that seemingly simple transaction, Esau lost the blessing of his father and missed the chance to have the Israelites as his children. You may not know it, but sometimes when God asks you to fast, it is because He wants to give you a destiny-fulfilling encounter.
The primary purpose of food is just to give you strength. You are to eat to live, not live to eat. The Bible says that there is a due season to eat (Psalm 145:15). In other words, there are seasons when you should not be eating at all – when you should be fasting.
Do you have such seasons planned into your year? Apostle Paul said he fasted often (2 Corinthians 11:27). Your fasting must be often. I have heard some preachers say that Jesus had already fasted for us when He was on earth so we don’t need to fast again.
That is a big lie; read the Bible for yourself. Jesus said in Mark 2:19 that after His ascension, His disciples would fast. He has ascended, so we must fast. Don’t let food rob you of your God-ordained destiny.
KEY POINT: Father, please help me to control my appetite. Give me the grace to fast often.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 KINGS 13-15
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – Food I – written by Pastor Enoch Adeboye
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Open Heaven 14 April 2023
