Open Heaven 6 December 2019 Devotional By Pastor E.A Adeboye – The Great Advocate
TOPIC: The Great Advocate
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MEMORISE:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” – (1 John 2:1)
READ: Romans 8:24-27 (KJV)
24. For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
MESSAGE:
Self-condemnation is one of the evil arrows in the devil’s quiver. It certainly is one of the enemy’s weapons of choice deployed in attacking many Christians today. The activity of the kingdom of darkness in this regard takes the form of laying out accusations against the saints of God whenever they err.
The enemy also tries to remind us of sins we committed in the past, which we have repented of, suggesting that perhaps God has not forgiven or forgotten them. No wonder the Bible refers to the devil as the accuser of the brethren, saying in Revelation 12:10:
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
However, our God is always several steps ahead of the enemy’s antics, and He Has made provision for Jesus Christ to stand as our advocate in heaven’s court, pleading our cause and interceding on our behalf whenever the devil presents his interceding on our behalf whenever the devil presents his accusations against us.
The Holy Spirit also intercedes on our behalf whenever we err and our soul is cast down. After convicting us of whatever sins we may have committed, He comforts and encourages us to rise up from the pit of sin and return to our rightful place in the bosom of our loving Father. We need to clarify the fact that remorse for sin is not the same as self-condemnation.
Self-condemnation is a very deadly weapon that is effective in taking away the confidence of believers. As a child of God, the lies of the enemy cannot condemn you before God. Even if you fall into sin, you must surely not leave the judgement of His children is Satan’s hands.
Any time we separate ourselves to focus on God in the place of prayer, the devil is not happy about it. He therefore tries to step in by bombarding our minds with his accusations in order to disrupt and terminate our fellowship with God. He will do anything to keep you from praying, and condemnation is his favourite tactic. Surprisingly, we are also pleased to trash ourselves. Carrying the weight of blame and condemning oneself does not help anyone. The right thing to do is to go to God is prayer, confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness.
Open Heaven 6 December 2019 – The Great Advocate
Be wise, Jesus Christ our Advocate is the only one to consult on issues of sin and forgiveness. As long as you are not a habitual sinner that doesn’t take repentance seriously, whenever you approach God in prayers, be confident that the Lord will answer your prayer in Jesus’ Name. Have you fallen from grace into sin? Stop condemning yourself today and start talking to your Advocate, Jesus Christ. He will treat your case with tender mercy and ensure that your joy of salvation returns to you.
ACTION POINT:
Thank the Lord for the forgiveness of your sins and for His work as your Advocate in heaven’s court.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 81-87, Habakkuk 1:1-2:1
HYMNAL:
Hymn 9 – In Christ alone
1. In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song,
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
2. In Christ alone! Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on the cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
3. There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
4. No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Open Heaven 6 December 2019 Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
