Topic: Counterfeit Or Genuine? [Sunday March 08, 2015]
Memorise: Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. - 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Read: (1 Corinthians 3:10-14 KJV)
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 38:1-39:24, Revelation 17
MESSAGE:
It is rather unfortunate that many who started their Christian journey on the foundation of apostolic faith and teachings have abandoned the faith and are now living in error. There are many who have even become heretical in the name of “Pentecostalism”. It is not everything you hear from the pulpit of the 21st century preacher that is healthy for a Christian who is heaven-bound. There are many good Christians who had taken to a life Christian modesty, but suddenly backslid on getting to a foreign country, all in the name of modernism. Today, several genuine blessings of God have been replaced with counterfeit. Many today have replaced a lifestyle of thanksgiving, fervent prayers, intense worship and deep, regular Bible study with that of occasional indulgence in a social gospel. No wonder many of our worship centres have become so comfortable for unbelievers. They come and they remain the same because there is no genuine fire on the altar. The Church has become entertainment-focused rather than salvation-driven.
“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig trees together and made themselves aprons” - Genesis 3:7
Before this experience, Adam and Eve had the glory of God as their genuine covering, but after they disobeyed God, they were exposed to a counterfeit covering. There is nothing you can get elsewhere that can be better than what God has to give. Go for His gold and not for bronze. Adam and Eve lost their heavenly garment and continued to struggle in sin, rather than cover themselves in the ashes of humility and sober repentance. The glory of Godn that had been covering them disappeared and they became exposed to man-made coverings. May the covering of God over your life not be removed in Jesus’ Name. No matter how wealthy a man is, without the genuine protection of the Almighty, one will realise that his life is not safe. There are many believers today who have lost the genuine power of the Holy Spirit and are resigned to faking it. It takes the enlightenment of the Almighty for the very elect not to be deceived or carried away by the counterfeit gospel which is popular but not real. The love of many has waxed cold as prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:12). The quality of some people’s service in the vineyard has dropped, and the commitment level of many needs to be reappraised. Like the prodigal son, you can repent today after comparing the peace of genuine salvation to the struggle of pretence. Satan is all out to deny people of genuine salvation. He is introducing counterfeits dressed as salvation to people. It is my prayer that you will never suffer loss in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, help me not to be a victim of any form of end –time deceit.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.