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Topic: Flee All Appearances of Evil
(Open Heaven 19 February 2019)
Memorise: “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”- Romans 12:9
Read: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (KJV)
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Bible in One Year: John 20-21, Isaiah 42:18-43:13
Open Heaven 19 February 2019 Tuesday MESSAGE:
In 1 Thessalonians 5:22, the Holy Spirit is very clear in warning all those who profess to belong to the family of God to stay away from everything that appears to be evil. This instruction is not ambiguous, neither is it complicated nor difficult to understand. However, we need to understand what constitutes the appearance of evil, and what the Christian standard for evaluating godliness is.
A genuine Christian should not have any problem accepting the only standard for living that the Almighty God Himself has set before us, which is the Holy Bible. In several of its passages, this Book of books clearly states those things that constitute the appearance of evil. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 gives this account of the origin and purpose of the Bible saying:
“16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Unfortunately, some misguided Christians believe that the Bible is no longer suitable for making moral judgments in this modern age. Those with such views cannot stand the test of time, and their faith will surely suffer shipwreck. Once the authority of the Bible is established as the infallible, inerrant, inspired word of God that contains everything necessary to direct the life of a child of God unto perfection, the rest is easy. Those who accept the authority of the Bible will recognize it as the standard to prove all things, evaluate godliness and determine the morality of any action.
In addition to obeying the explicit commandments of God, the Holy Spirit also admonishes us to avoid anything that looks like evil and to keep away from questionable activities. To this effect, Philippians 4:8 says:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
In your daily walk with God, this verse should serve as a benchmark for you to determine what constitutes the appearance of evil. We are to set our minds on things that are honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report. If you are wise, you will recognize that the Holy Spirit knows better than you do, and so when He says flee, you will flee instead of trying to cope with any appearance of evil!
Open Heaven 19 February 2019 Tuesday Action Point:
Make up your mind to accept the standard of the Bible as your ultimate guide in life.
Open Heaven 19 February 2019 Tuesday Hymn 12: Deeper, Deeper In The Love Of Jesus
1.Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Chorus:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2.Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
3.Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4.Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
5.Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
