Living at people's mercies? - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Cor 13-16
LIVING AT PEOPLE’S MERCY? Friday, August 27, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles” (Matt. 12:18) READ: Genesis 13:14-18 It is a great thing to be among the chosen. Everyone of God’s chosen people must stand in the gap for others. It is rather unfortunate however that although the chosen stands for others in the place of prayer, there may be none to stand for him in time of need. This was the case with Moses. May the Lord raise helpers and intercessors for you in time of need. Some ministers and workers hardly remember to pray for their pastors. Some even think they are doing him a favor by praying for him. Others feel that he should be able to pray for himself. Yet, as prayerful as Paul was, he still requested the church to pray for him. If you do not pray for your head, father, husband, boss or leaders and they take wrong decisions or make costly mistakes, you will suffer for it.  When David sinned, God’s judgment that had been withheld from Israel came upon the land. Several thousands died as a result, meanwhile nothing happened to the real culprit - David. Pray for your head! Every second, minute or hour you invest in praying for your head is never wasted. It is an investment in your future joy. However, it is either you are chosen or you are not.  Although Lot was declared a righteous man, yet, was he not chosen like Abraham (Gen. 19:1-3; 18:1-5).  It was after Lot separated from Abraham before God lifted His communication embargo He had earlier placed. The presence of a non-chosen believer can work against God’s counsel for your life.  Ensure you keep company with only the chosen. You do not need to be chosen in order to prosper financially or materially. So material prosperity is not a sign of being chosen. Lot prospered according to Genesis 13:5-6. He also became very famous (Gen. 19:1). But in one day, he lost all his wealth to an inferno at Sodom. He also lost his wife (Gen. 19:26). He lost his entire generation to the devil and they became enemies of generations of God’s chosen ones.  He only survived because Abraham - God’s chosen stood in the gap for him.  The non-chosen has no special security from God. The fellow will always depend on the intercession of the chosen. If you do not want to live at the mercy of the chosen, work your way into being the chosen of God today. ACTION POINT: Father, let me be among Your chosen few and abide by all Your laws.