OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2015

Sunday December 13, 2015

BEARING FALSE WITNESS I

Memorise: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Exodus 20:16

Read: Deuteronomy 19:15-21

15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;

17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;

19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.

21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.


MESSAGE :

"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"
Isaiah 58:6

This Scripture summarises the fundamental nature of restitution. Restitution is the undoing of an evil deed. Bearing false witness against a person, family, community, institution, state or nation is an evil deed that can have devastating effects.

If you have been involved in this, you need to restitute your ways.

Some time ago, a man died under some mysterious circumstances in a polygamous setting. Driven by hatred for the deceased's first son, the deceased's younger brother compelled the deceased's daughter to falsely accuse her step-brother (the first son) of killing their father, before a magistrate court. She yielded to this evil uncle because he had threatened her, saying that if she did not tell the lie, the whole family would desert her. In spite of this evil frame-up, the accused was discharged. However, his uncle did not let the matter rest; he had his nephew arrested again. Following this, the matter was escalated to the high court. Again, the step-sister of the accused was among the witnesses called against him. In fact, she was the prime witness of the prosecution.

Shortly before the commencement of proceedings in the case, those connected to the case were asked to step outside. The lady went out, and her uncle met her to rehearse the lies she should say before the judge. Thereafter, her step-brother, who was her age mate and a born-again Christian, also came outside the courtroom, and they got talking. He used this opportunity to lead her to Christ. After she had accepted to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour, and as he was about to lead her through the sinner's prayer, the judge sent for her to return to the courtroom and give her sworn testimony. However, contrary to the plans made with her uncle, she told the truth that the accused was innocent of the death of his father, because she was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. That is restitution. Although she faced a lot of persecution from those who wanted her to sustain the lie, she stood firm and straightened her crooked path. Do you know that a lot of innocent people are languishing in prison because a false witness testified against them? If you have testified falsely against anybody in the past, you need to undo that wrong. If it is a sensitive matter, seek God's face by praying and fasting, and see your pastor for counselling and guidance on the best way to go about it.

ACTION POINT :
Pray that God will cause confusion in the camp of those planning evil against God's people.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Psalm 119:1- 112;
James 2:14-3:12