Open Heaven 12 July 2019 – Fighting God?

Topic: Fighting God?
(Open Heaven 12 July 2019)

Memorise: “Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” – Jeremiah 2:5

Read: Isaiah 45:5-9 (KJV)

5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

The title of today‘s devotional is a question we all need to answer. Is it possible for a mere mortal to fight God? The word of God makes it clear that even though it’s an exercise in futility, in reality, it is something people do. Psalm 2:1-3 says:

“1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”

This scripture describes what is happening in our world today. The governments of several nations have taken counsel against God and against Jesus Christ, His anointed. Teachings about God have been thrown out of public schools, praying publicly in the Name of Jesus is forbidden, and preaching in public space in the Name of Jesus Christ is illegal in many societies. As prophesied in this scripture, some societies have cast away the Biblical cords of restraint that hitherto defined morality. In the name of freedom of though and self, they have broken off the bands of God’s commandments and created room for individuals to indulge in and advocate for all manner of profane lifestyles. People should remember that all those who towed this path in times past ended up being destroyed. You cannot fight against God without grave consequences.

Are you guilty of fighting God? Do you even believe in Him? Those who don’t believe God exist are indirectly saying that they are not answerable to His authority. This sets them in direct confrontation with God, and He can choose to prove His existence to them, pharaoh provoked God to prove Himself by this utterance in Exodus 5:2, saying:

“…Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.”

Those who provoke God to prove His existence and capabilities are fighting Him. Those who move God to jealousy by breaking the covenant they made with Him are also fighting Him (Isaiah 45:9; Jeremiah 2:5). The children of Israel broke the covenant they had with God by disobeying His ordinances. This made God jealous, causing Him to fight against them. I pray that you will not provoke God’s anger in Jesus Name. What is the state of the covenant between you and the Lord Jesus Christ, which you entered into at the altar of repentance? Have you crucified Him afresh and put Him to shame by falling away from the truth (Hebrews 6:4-6)? Are you abiding by the covenant to tithe, or have you joined scoffers to trample God’s commandment under foot? Beloved, in whatever area you are fighting God, repent today before it is too late.

Open Heaven 12 July 2019 Friday Action Point:
Examine whether you have broken any part of your covenant with God and repent.

Open Heaven 12 July 2019 Friday Hymn 17: Hold The Fort
1 Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

Chorus:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to Heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

2 See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on;
Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone!

3 See the glorious banner waving! Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s Name we triumph over every foe.

4 Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near;
Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer!