Open Heaven 13 November 2023 – Becoming Intimate With God 2

 

Open Heaven 13 November 2023 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Becoming Intimate With God 2

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Open Heaven 13 November 2023 TOPIC: Becoming Intimate With God 2

MEMORISE: "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not." – 1 Corinthians 10:23 (KJV)

READ: Psalm 26:1-8 (KJV)

1 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have also trusted the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and heart.

3 For thy lovingkindness is before my eyes: I have walked in thy truth.

4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

5 I have hated the congregation of evildoers and will not sit with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord:

7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honor dwelleth.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 6-7

Open Heaven 13 November 2023 MESSAGE

Those who want to be intimate with God must love and hate what He hates. If you're going to get close to God, you must know what He hates and stay far away from them (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Anywhere you see something that looks like sin, flee! Whenever I hear people trying to justify something sinful, I get irritated because this is something to stay away from. Apostle Paul said:

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. – 1 Corinthians 6:12

Also Read: Open Heaven 12 November 2023 – Becoming Intimate With God 1

If you really want to be intimate with God, you will stay away from even things that, though lawful, would hurt your relationship with Him. In Daniel 1:3-8, Daniel decided not to eat the king's meat. It was legal, but he knew it would defile him, so he refused. Being intimate with your legally married spouse or eating thrice daily is permitted. There is no sin in that, but those who want to be intimate with God know they must fast often. They know there is a time to embrace and refrain from embracing so that they can give themselves wholly to God (Ecclesiastes 3:5, 1 Corinthians 7:4-5)). Apostle Paul – a man who desperately wanted to be intimate with God, refused to marry so that there would be absolutely nothing to distract him in his journey of intimacy with God.

The question to you now is: do you really want to be intimate with God? If you do, there are some things you must stamp from because they impede the flow of the Spirit of God in a person's life. You know them yourself; they make you feel filthy and draw you far from the Lord. Stay away from them. In turn, spend your time basking in the presence of God and just fellowshipping with faithful brethren. As you do this and get closer to God, you will realize that you are becoming more and more like Him, and you will even start to carry His power to work miracles.

Open Heaven 13 November 2023 KEY POINT:

Some lawful things may have to be avoided to get closer to God.

Open Heaven 13 November 2023 HYMN 4 – Be Glad In The Lord And Rejoice

1 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made Him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice!

2 Be joyful, for He is the Lord,
On earth and in heaven supreme;
He fashions and rules by His word;
The Mighty and strong to redeem.

3 What though in the conflict for right,
Your enemies almost prevail,
God's armies just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.

4 Though darkness surrounds you by day,
Your sky by the night be overcast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.

5 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
With harp and organ and voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong!

Open Heavens 2023 Enjoy Daily fellowship with the Open Heaven 2023 Devotional. Open heaven is the Daily Devotional for our time. With the daily events we witness on earth, every Christian needs to stand their ground less they fall. The daily guide is written by Pastor E. Adeboye. It is indeed a guide in resolving everyday Christian issues and lifestyles. Open Heavens is also available on the Play Store; download it Here. 

Ambydennis Notice Board: We trust you have been blessed by the devotional. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal savior is one of the best decisions one can take, especially you; imagine having Christ in your life; what a fantastic experience it will be. It starts here as you proclaim: Dear Father, I humbly come to you in sincere repentance, claiming you as my Lord and personal Saviour. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness, be the center of my life, and let my life revolve around you as I partake in the eternal life you gave us in Jesus' Name. Congratulations, you are now Born again. God bless you.