Open Heavens 17 July 2016: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Separated unto the Lord

Topic: Separated unto the Lord [Sunday 17, July 2016]
Memorise: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. – Matthew 5:48
Read: Genesis 17:1-7 (KJV)
 1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Bible in One Year: 2 Corinthians 1:1-5:11, Psalms 12
MESSAGE:
 God Almighty does not hide His feelings about how we must relate with Him; He wants us to be totally His. The Bible says: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3). There should be nothing standing between us and our God neither should there be anything taking His place in our lives. The only way we can convince Him of the fact that we are totally His is when we are completely separated unto Him; when nothing/no one else can lay claim on our lives.
 In our Bible reading for today, God asked Abraham to walk before Him and be perfect. In other words, God was telling His friend, Abraham that He needed more of his devotion, commitment and consecration. This is what God demands from all men, particularly His children. To be separated unto the Lord is to be separated from this world of sin. The Bible says:
“1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1-2
 This should be a very pleasant development for those who have suffered from the tyrant Lucifer. The entanglement with this world is enslaving and deadly but the unfortunate thing about this is that the victim may not realise it. Worldliness is a subtle taskmaster that must be avoided by all children of God. The “twin-sisters” whose names are godliness and contentment are the answers to the challenge of worldliness that brings serious entanglement upon children of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” - Matthew 6:24
 We must separate ourselves from material things of this world if we will please our God. The Bible says:
“9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” - 1 Timothy 6:9-10
 Therefore, it is not profitable for us to allow this to take our lives away from our Maker. Let us acknowledge the primacy of the original Royalty, the God of the Heavens and the Earth. May our services be acceptable to Him from today in Jesus’ name.
 Action Point: Determine to be separated unto your God afresh today.
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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