Open Heaven 6 February 2023 TOPIC: True Protection
MEMORISE: “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?” – Isaiah 8:19 (KJV)
READ: Psalm 91:1-16 (KJV)
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 26-27
MESSAGE:
The world has become such an unsafe place that everyone needs to move around with some form of protection. Those who are rich enough often employ armed bodyguards but this can never be sufficient. Some other people choose to go to the devil for protection but this would always land them into much more trouble. I recall the story of a boy in my village who was always getting bitten by snakes. We later found out that his father had taken him to an oracle for protection against snake bites; that was the beginning of the incessant snake bites. John 10:10 says that the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. The devil is your enemy; don’t be fooled when he says he wants to protect you. His ultimate goal is to steal from you, kill you and destroy you.
A woman once brought her four daughters to us for prayers. The youngest was 28 years old and no man had approached any of them to ask for their hand in marriage. After a little investigation, the woman confessed that, to protect her children from dying, she had consecrated them to the ifa oracle. What she did not know is that, by so doing, she had simply given the ifa oracle new wives. We prayed and God broke the link between the girls and the oracle. The four of them got married within a year. The devil is your enemy; don’t go to him for protection.
There is only one real source of protection that cannot fail and that is the protection from God Himself. Being the Almighty means that He is mightier than the mightiest. Matthew 28:18 says Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth. Philippians 2:10 says that just at the mention of His name, every knee in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth should bow. That includes physical and spiritual enemies. This same God said in Hebrews 13:5 “… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” When He is protecting you, you can sleep with both eyes closed; no evil can befall you, because you dwell in His secret place (Psalm 91:1).
Those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High spend quality time with Him daily. They are the ones who abide under His shadow.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please put me under Your shadow from today in Jesus’ name.
HYMN 19: Rock Of Ages, Cleft For Me
1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.
2 Not the labors of my hands,
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone,
Thou must save and Thou alone.
3 Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace,
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
