30/10/2024
*OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL*
*DATE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH 2024*
*TOPIC: THE LOT OF THE BOASTFUL*
*MEMORISE*:
āThus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches.ā - (Jeremiah 9:23)
*READ: MARK 14:22-31, 65-72 (KJV)*
22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the c**k crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the c**k crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 And the second time the c**k crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the c**k crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
*MESSAGE*:
In Matthew 26:31-35, Peter showed himself as a boaster. Jesus Christ turned to the disciples and said that they would desert Him that night, and Peter responded boastfully:
..Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. - *(Matthew 26:33)*
In other words, he was saying, āMe? Do you know whom you are talking to? If all these weaklings desert you, you can count on me, Lord.ā The Lord said, āBefore the c**k crows twice, you will deny me thrice.ā He said, āIt seems as if you donāt know whom you are talking to. Even if I have to die with you, I will die; I can never deny you.ā However, in Matthew 26:69-75, who did we find swearing that he did not know Jesus? The same Peter!
Whatever a fellow boasts about has power over him or her. This is why the Bible says rejoicing in boasting is evil.
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. - (James 4:16)
Once you find yourself boasting about something, watch out, that thing is about to become a tool for the devil to use in bringing you down. This is why you must not boast. The only boasting allowed is boasting in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31). That is what David did in (1 Samuel 17:41-47) which led to him defeating Goliath. Even if you feel no one is better than you at something, keep your mouth shut. A man considered to be wiser than all men (1 Kings 4:31) said:
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. - (Proverbs 27:2)
Boasting is like being on the battlefield and telling the enemy how to strike and defeat you. You may think you are talking about your strength, but every wise fellow knows that the moment you boast about something, it becomes your weakness. Goliath was boasting before he got struck down by a mere teenager with a catapult. Nebuchadnezzar was boasting about his achievements in one moment, and the next moment, he was eating grass in the field like an animal (Daniel 4:28-33).
Beloved, if you have been a boaster, repent now. You may only boast in God, but avoid all other kinds of boasting. There is no good in boasting outside Christ; it will only lead to shame and defeat.
*KEY POINT*:
Never ever boast in your status, abilities, or possessions.
*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: LUKE 23-24*
AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE
HYMNAL: 10 - IN CHRIST ALONE
1 In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my Light, my Strength, my Song
This Cornerstone, this Solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
2 In Christ alone, Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This Gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
āTil on that cross as Jesus diedl
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
3 There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sinās curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
4 No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From lifeās first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
āTil He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ Iāll stand.
