You are the angel- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Judg 5-8
YOU ARE THE ANGEL Wednesday, April 28, 2010
MEMORIZE: “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor” (Prov. 14:31) READ: Proverbs 3:9-10 If wealth is not a license for evil and all forms of wickedness, then what is its purpose? When you have riches, it is not meant for multiplying wives, or husbands, or in buying what could destroy you. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase”. If you have substance, honor God with it. If you have nothing at all, still honor God in your nothingness or poverty and that emptiness will give birth to something. If you honor God with your wealth, it will produce an incredible increase. Wealth from dubious or questionable means can never honor God. This is why holiness must be your watchword while striving for riches. Proverbs 22:2 says God is the maker of both rich and poor. The righteous rich man who understands this scripture would most likely use this God-given wealth wisely. He would know that according to Proverbs 14:31, God gave him wealth so that he can have mercy on the poor. You honor God with your wealth by showing mercy to the poor and needy ones. God will not come from Heaven to give your local currency to the poor or needy around you because He has you there. If I go on my knees and ask God for money, He is not going to send an angel with a bag of Naira notes. Rather, He would speak to somebody - a man like you and me who can hear His voice, and ask the fellow to go and give so and so such and such. I travelled to Korea some years ago. There, I met a man for the first time and he cared for me and drove me around. As he drove us to the airport, while I was on my way home he said the Holy Spirit had told him “Take good care of my servant from Nigeria”. If God wants to give rice to the poor,  He will not have to send an angel from Heaven with a bowl of rice. All He has to do is speak to any of His children to meet that need. Unfortunately, many believers have not been hearing God’s voice.  Or when they receive an SOS call from the Spirit concerning a needy one, they will pretend they never heard it. God cannot entrust such selfish Christians with His wealth. This is one of the factors responsible for persistent poverty of Christians. If God will entrust you with His treasures, you must prove to Him beyond mouth assurance and promises that everyone He intends you to minister to will receive their blessings. Have you convinced Him of this? Are you prepared to be the angel God will send? ACTION POINT: Are you hoarding somebody’s blessing?  Release it to the owner now!