VICTORY OVER DEATH- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Mic 4 -7
VICTORY OVER DEATH Friday, November 19, 2010
MEMORIZE: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:18) READ: Rev. 1:17-18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). If there is one phrase that you meet too often as you browse through the Holy Scriptures, it is ‘Fear Not’. Why? It is normal for you to be afraid when faced with a challenge beyond your ability or resources. Also, if you saw an angel in a vision, fear might grip you because they are huge, powerful and glory-radiating beings. One litmus test in determining if that angel is of God is that it will immediately calm you down by saying, ‘Fear Not’. But if it does not but rather takes pleasure in seeing you quake for him, you can be sure that he is one of the fallen angels - now demons. Both that angel and his message must be discarded! One reason why an angel of light will say ‘Fear Not’ is that he is sent on an errand to you.  And if you allow fear, you may be so disturbed to the point that the message is either lost or distorted. Yet, if God sees that you cannot handle it at all, He will use some other medium to communicate with you because as the Most Efficient Communicator, He knows there is no effective communication until the message is received and understood. “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:18).  One reason we should Fear Not is because Jesus tasted death but overcame it. He rose from the dead and His grave is still empty today.  You cannot say this of any other man.  He pulled down the gates of death and hell and took over their keys. With those keys, He opened the gate of death and brought several dead people including Lazarus back to life. If you are harassed by the fear of death, run to Jesus. He can shut the gate of death to you and you will not die. Also, if hell was pulling you so close through a life of sin, run to Jesus and He will shut the gate of hell to you and forgive you and you will be on your way to Heaven. Anyone who threatens a genuine believer in Christ with death is only wasting time. You should not fear death anymore because Jesus Has given you victory over death. Exercise that right and stand on His Word. ACTION POINT: Thank God for the victory He has given to you over death. Command every spirit on a death assignment to you or your family to pass over you. N.B Join the www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today and let's eradicate illiteracy together.