OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SUNDAY 12 JUNE 2016
SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS 2
Memorise :
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 2 Timothy 4:7
Read : 2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Message
Once Paul found out what his destiny was, he was never deterred from it. He never allowed the mandate and ministry given to him by our Lord Jesus to be frustrated. He was determined to fulfill his God-given vision amidst all odds. He fought the good fight of faith and finished his mission. The Christian life is a life of continuous warfare that won't end until we get to heaven. This is why you must see yourself as a soldier of the cross who is under constant attack from the devil. The mission of the devil is to kill, to steal and to destroy. None of these tragedies should happen to a child of God. You are to be defended against the wiles of the devil. There are many people who have lost their lives cheaply to the devil. The dreams and aspirations of some people has been stolen by enemy of their souls. There are many people who come to church but are being destroyed through deceit and lies of the devil.
Our Lord is the Commander-in-Chief of the Hosts of Heaven. After Jesus Christ finished His assignment on earth, He formed the nucleus of an army here on earth, and by extension, you are in that army too. The mission of these soldiers is to resist the devil and his works. For anyone to be a soldier of the cross and not become a casualty, there are conditions to be met. The soldiers of the cross have just one enemy; the devil. To beat the devil and defeat all his strategies, there is the need for one to be trained to fight; a spiritual civilian cannot win a battle against the devil.
Paul kept the faith of sound doctrine despite the false teachers and instructors of his days. He preached the absolute Word of God without minding who was affected. He did not allow the culture of his time to override the Word of God. He was obedient to the heavenly vision that God gave him. When God sends His soldiers on an errand, He does not tolerate a report that the mission is impossible. This is why I never fret anytime He asks me to do something, because I know He will provide the strength to accomplish the mission. A soldier of the Cross must be ready at all times to preach the Word and defend it against post-modern attacks and philosophies of men. There is the need to watch carefully to ensure that there is no lapse on our part. Till the final moment of Apostle Paul, he did the work of an evangelist and made full proof of his ministry. We need to seek the power of God and be committed to seeing the effect of that power in our lives. This is why we need to get serious with God. No one joins the army and does whatever he likes.
Prayer Point :
I refuse to be disqualified from my spiritual rank in Jesus' Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Ezra 4:1-6:12 and Ecclesiastes 6:1-9
HYMN 2: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED.
O Jesus, I have promised,
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.
Oh, let me feel Thee near me;
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.
Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten, or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.
O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.
Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then to rest receive me,
My Savior and my Friend.