Open Heaven 14 January 2022
MEMORISE: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” – (1 Timothy 6:6)
BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 6:1-6 (KJV)
6 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
Today, we shall look at some more lessons we can draw from the life and times of Elisha. The first one is based on today’s verse, which says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). Elisha was a contented man of God. He understood true prosperity according to Proverbs 23:5 which says that worldly riches are temporary and fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Elisha had total consecration and was not given to materialism. This was attested to by his refusal to exchange his double anointing for the gift brought by Naaman after the latter was healed of leprosy (2 King 5:16,26). One striking virtue of Elisha that we must imbibe is his heart of sincere service. This was so obvious that it was well known in Israel. Little wonder that when King Jehoshaphat was looking for a genuine prophet to consult, one of his servants testified of Elisha thus:
But Jehoshaphat said, is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. – (2 Kings 3:11)
Elisha was forward-looking. He didn’t allow the present to blur the view of his future. He left a lucrative farming business to become a famous national prophet. Many are so short-sighted, like Esau who sold his birthright for a plate of pottage (Genesis 25:29-35). The cumulative virtues of Elisha made him become a man of a double-portion anointing. He performed miracles – double of what his master Elijah performed. For example, he raised two dead people whereas his master raised one. May the Lord make us disciples of a double-portion anointing, so that we may do greater works than Christ did, in Jesus’ name (John 14:12).
PRAYER POINT: Father, please give me a heart of genuine service and fill me with the Holy Spirit so I can do exploits for You, in the mighty name of Jesus.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 41-42
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – Lessons from Elisha III – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Open Heaven 14 January 2022
