Open Heavens 28 August 2016: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Unusual Messengers

Topic: Unusual Messengers [Sunday 28, August 2016]
Memorise: And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. – 1 Kings 17:4
Read: 1 Kings 17:1-5 (KJV)
 1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
 2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
 5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 1:1-3:5, Psalms 44:1-8
MESSAGE:
 Messengers are stewards often sent to speak, act, or deliver a message on behalf of their master. In addition to the angelic beings that God normally sends as messengers to speak, deliver messages, or carry our specific assignments, He also uses humans and other living or non-living beings as messengers. The purpose of God’s legitimate messengers is always to inform, enable, protect, empower, and guide the people of God. But they are sent occasionally to punish. I pray that you will never do anything to provoke divine judgment in Jesus’ name. The most prominent among God’s messengers are Prophets, humans and angelic beings. However, unusual messengers are sometimes deployed by God to carry out special assignments. 1 Kings 17:4-6 says,
“4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.”
In the above passage, the most unusual messengers - ravens were the stewards sent to provide food for Elijah in the wilderness. Ravens are large heavily built carnivorous birds of the corvine family. God used a great fish, gourd plant, worm and a vehement east wind as unusual messengers to teach Jonah the lesson of his life in Jonah 4:6-8. He used another unusual messenger to play an important role in the story of Balaam in Numbers 22:19-35. Numbers 22:27-28 says;
“27…. and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?”
The use of supernatural beings are natural elements as God’s messengers therefore underscores God as the Lord of Hosts, with the special ability to make all things work in favour of His beloved children. Therefore, give your life to Jesus today, and become one of God’s beloved. Then you can be sure that all things will begin to work together for your good according to the Word of God in Romans 8:28.
Prayer Point: Father, please command all things to work together for my good and the fulfilment of my destiny in the name of Jesus.
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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