Open Heavens 30 June 2016: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – God’s Watchman

Topic: God’s Watchman [Thursday 30, June 2016]
Memorise: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. – 2 Timothy 4:2
Read: Ezekiel 33:7-9 (KJV)
 7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Bible in One Year: Acts 14:1-16:15, Song of Solomon 4:1-8
MESSAGE:
 As a watchman over the souls of men, it is our responsibility to preach the Word. What word? The Word of life; the Truth that sets a person free from the bondage of sin. Today, there is a scarcity of the Word of God in some quarters. We have been given the mandate to proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to unbelievers. But it is unfortunate that many are not carrying out this instruction. There are ministers of the gospel who are preaching other things outside the Word of God. Because all men will stand before the judgment seat of the Almighty God, it is imperative that we proclaim the life-saving gospel to them. We are to preach the Word and the Word alone. We are not to preach the theologies and philosophies of men. We are not to preach the ideals of the western world, but the living Word of God. There are people living in sin today because the watchmen are no longer at their duty posts to reprove them. The Word of God is not what you preach when it is convenient for you alone. Necessity is laid on us all to continue to reprove and rebuke sinners and encourage them to embrace the path that leads to life and godliness.
 We live in a world where people are no longer content with the Word of God, they have abandoned the Word of life and they are searching for fables. They are like sheep in search of a meal that will not profit them. God’s Word is the wisdom of God for humanity. The problem with the present day Church is a lack of balanced spiritual diet for the growth of the flock. Potentially sound believers are not sound after all because they lack the wherewithal to grow to maturity despite the fact that they are genuine seekers of the truth.
 We should take time to examine the level of pollution in the Church today by the modern and post-modern philosophers who have turned themselves to Bible scholars, thus, misleading the people of faith with their power of logic, oratory and academic tenacity. We need God’s watchmen to put an end to the scarcity of truth in all our assemblies. We need to constantly remind ourselves that the thoughts of western civilisation should not be superior to the Word of God. As watchmen, we need to keep people informed about the correct knowledge of the Word of God. We need to constantly remind ourselves of the beauty of Christian living as the best way of life. We must cast down imaginations and every high knowledge that exalts against the knowledge of God and not allow heresies to thrive in the body of Christ. Your role in the church should put an end to the famine of the Word of God. Don’t join those who only make noise and appeal to the emotions of people with the mind of leading them to hell. To be a watchman unto the souls of men is a divine mandate that must be carried out with urgency. The voice of the watchman must be clear and distinct so that the people that God wants to reach through His voice can hear the warning for the hour. If you want to serve God, serve Him with all of your heart. Let your path be straight. Always be ready to change when there is a need for it. You must be a good example to your hearers. You must be a fire brand for the Lord.
Prayer Point: Father, help me do the work of an Evangelist with diligence.
Open Heavens Daily 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.
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