Open Heaven 29 January 2023
MEMORISE: Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is saith the my fellow, LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. Zechariah 13:7
BIBLE READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:11-14 (KJV)
11 While you also cooperate by your prayers for us [helping and laboring together with us]. Thus [the lips of] many persons [turned toward God will eventually] give thanks on our behalf for the grace (the blessing of deliverance) granted us at the request of the many who have prayed.
12 It is a reason for pride and exultation to which our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [generally] and especially toward you, with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God (the unmerited favor and merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, and keeps, strengthens, and increases them in Christian virtues).
13 For we write you nothing else but simply what you can read and understand [there is no double meaning to what we say], and I hope that you will become thoroughly acquainted [with divine things] and know and understand [them] accurately and well to the end,
14 [Just] as you have [already] partially known and understood and acknowledged us and recognized that you can [honestly] be proud of us, even as we [can be proud] of you on the day of our Lord Jesus.
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
Pastors are considered popular when they have many people following them as they follow Jesus Christ. These followers can be called the pastors’ sheep. The devil understands the principle in our memory verse for today, so these popular pastors are usually major targets for him.
He knows that if he can get them to fall and even spoil their reputation, their sheep would scatter and he can begin to feast on them.
This is why, instead of joining people to criticise popular Pastors, you should be praying for them. If you don’t support what they are doing and you do not have direct access to them, talk to their employer (God) about it, rather than joining the devil to pull them down.
In 2 Samuel 11:3-4, when David sent for Bathsheba to have an illicit affair with her, she consented because he was the king. There was a huge gap between the king and her husband who was an ordinary soldier.
It may surprise you to know that there are some women who consider it a privilege to have illicit affairs with Bishops, General Overseers, Apostles, Senior Pastors and so on. Yes, it is a sin, but the devil has blinded their hearts so much that they now see it as prestigious.
That is why you need to pray for them. Don’t assume that they don’t need your prayers. fact, the more their influence, the more prayers they In need. You also need to pray for popular Pastors because every now and then, they step into dangerous territories to preach the gospel.
Some of them travel through dangerous roads and go to volatile regions to share the gospel of Christ. Some of them also have to relate with the high and mighty in society, so they need boldness, to tell the truth without compromise.
With the boldness and wisdom needed to draw the high and mighty closer to God, imagine the impact it would have on their leadership and spheres of influence. Believe me honestly, when you pray for them, you are praying for the Body of Christ at large and God will bless you for it.
KEY POINT: Commit to praying daily and diligently for pastors from today.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: LEVITICUS 5-7
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – Pray For Popular Pastors – written by Pastor Enoch Adeboye
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Open Heaven 29 January 2023
