MEMORISE: For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake. 2 Corinthians 4:5
BIBLE READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-7 (KJV)
1. Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
The Bible says it expressly that in the last days, many will be deceived by false prophets (Matthew 24:11). Deception is when you present something that is fake with some attributes of the original, or you omit or remodel some truth into something completely different while ensuring that it still looks like the original.
There are many Preachers today who doctor the truth to fit the message that they personally want passed without thinking about the consequences. What they don’t know is that they have been recruited by the devil to spread wrong doctrines.
1 Timothy 4:1 says: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
If people depart from the true faith of the Lord because of your message, then you are one of those spreading the doctrine of the devil. Always tell the whole truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Don’t tell your congregation that because Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, once they answer the altar call to surrender their lives to Jesus, they can continue committing sins and still be on their way to heaven.
Add the rest of that verse to your message. The complete verse says: who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 1 John 3:6 says: “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”
Thus the first part of Romans 8:1 means that those who will not be condemned are those who are in Him. According to 1 John 3:6, those who are in Him don’t sin and whoever sins has not even known Him at all. Don’t lead people to hell with your fake doctrines.
Don’t tell them to disregard the Old testament and only pay attention to the New Testament when Jesus Christ clearly said that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it (Matthew 5:17). Speak the whole truth to everyone you have the opportunity to preach the gospel to.
PRAYER POINT: Preach the message of Christ, not that of the devil.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALMS 83:1-18, PSALMS 84:1-12, PSALMS 85:1-13, PSALMS 86:1-17
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – If Our Gospel Be Hid – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Open Heaven 2 July 2022
