STEALING AND LYING –Monday March 6th 2017
Memorise:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us. Hebrews 12:1
20 But
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master
hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which
he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
21 So
Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after
him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all
well?
22 And
he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now
there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the
prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of
garments.
23 And
Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound
two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and
laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
24 And
when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed
them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
25 But
he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him,
Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
26 And
he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned
again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and
to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen,
and menservants, and maidservants?
27 The
leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed
for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Bible in one year: Genesis 36-37, Isaiah 51:17-52:12
MESSAGE:
Holiness
is so integral to the person of the Holy Spirit that the word “holy” is
attached to His Name. You cannot live the Christian life without having
a relationship with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9);
but to have a good relationship with the Holy Spirit, you need to
understand that He detests sin. 6 March 2017 open heaven. Part of His
assignment in this world is to liberate you from the power of sin and to
help you live above it (John 16:8, Romans 8:2, Galatians 5:16).
Two sins entangling a lot of Christians today and fast eroding their
character are stealing and lying. Stealing has its origin in
covetousness and it leads to betrayal. The life of Judas Iscariot, a man
who walked with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, is a case study of this (John 12:6).
Today, due to covetousness, even ministers of God are stealing from the
Church purse, thereby betraying the huge trust reposed in them by God.
Have you been stealing from God or from men? Repent, restitute and turn a
new leaf today (Ephesians 4:28)!
In
today’s Bible reading, Gehazi lied to Naaman and received the gifts his
master had rejected. Thereafter, his master sent for him and asked him
where he had been. He lied again saying he went nowhere. He however did
not get away with that lie. There are lies you tell and it may appear
you got away with them, but there are also lies you will tell that will
leave their sting on you perpetually. Gehazi lied to his master and his
master and his life changed negatively and irreversibly from that day.
Open Heavens 6 March 2017:- Stealing and lying. Similarly, Ananias and
Sapphira may have told lies in the past and escaped the consequences.
However, on the day they lied to Peter, they never lived to tell
another lie (Acts 5:1-10).
If you consider the punishment that followed the supposedly “little” lie
of this couple, many people would be of the opinion that it far
exceeded their offence. Why? It is because they see lying as a regular,
common sin that is inconsequential if weighed on a scale with “heavier”
sins like murder. This is why many people engaged in it, even those who
profess faith in Jesus Christ. Some people have even categorised lies by
colour and size! If God could bring leprosy on Gehazi and kill Ananians
and Sapphira because of lies, it means that He does not take lies
lightly as we do. God even says He will exclude all categories of liars
from the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27). Run away from lies and embrace Jesus Christ, the Truth!
Action Point
That seemingly harmless lie has grave repercussions that you may not see today. Ask God for grace to flee from every lie.
Open Heaven Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye,
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