OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SUNDAY 28TH AUGUST 2016

UNUSUAL MESSENGERS

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
17:1 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.
17:2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
17:3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
17:4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
17:5 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.

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 out 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 judgement 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,
"And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there... 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;
"...and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 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 and 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 Romas 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.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 1:1-3:5
Psalms 44:1-8

HYMN 11: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST OUR KING

Standing on the promises of Christ MY King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus:

3. Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus:

4. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s string cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus:

5. Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus.