Open Heavens 18 January 2018: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Without Natural Affection

Topic: Without Natural Affection [Open Heavens Thursday 18th January 2018]

Memorise: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. – 2 Timothy 3:1

Read: Romans 1:18-27 (KJV)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 38-39, Revelation 17

MESSAGE

It is a statement of fact that the world is changing and people are being changed by its evil whims and caprices. Irrespective of this fact, one truth that people, particularly children of God, must not allow to slip out of their mind is that although the world is changing, God does not change along with it (Malachi 3:6). His nature and standards are forever the same. Beware that He will not judge by what is acceptable in your world but by the standard He has set in His word (2 Timothy 2:19). The Lord knew that the world would come to its present evil state and so He forewarned us of the signs that will herald His coming judgement on this world. One of the signs that He gave to us is that in the last days, men and women will lack natural affection (2 Timothy 3:2-3). In other words, natural feelings, relationships and expression of love would no longer appeal to them. The lack of natural affection is a state of mind caused by the expunging of God from their so-called knowledge (Romans 1:28). Anyone who knows God as a consuming fire will dare not challenge Him to ideological arguments on morals. God dictates what He regards as moral or not. However, what do we see today? The philosophy of relativism argues that it is how you feel about yourself that matters; if as a man you feel you are a woman or if as a woman you feel you are a man, so be it! This is the reason why a man and a man would want to do what naturally a man should only do in a relationship with a woman. Some women also prefer to engage in sexual perversions with other women. Such people choose to ignore the divine order set by God in the beginning. Genesis 1:27 tells us what this divine order is:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

This Bible verse is in variance with the idea of homosexuality or being transgender. There is a distinction between male and female in the divine order. It is therefore rebellious when a person, due to lust, is dragged out of his or her natural affection into abnormal instincts that pervert the original plan of God for his or her life. This was exactly what doomed Sodom and Gomorrah, and it must be avoided today. Beloved, do you have a feeling that there is a mix-up in your being, such that you want to change your natural or original makeup into another form? You need Jesus Christ urgently for restoration. You need the prayer of deliverance to restore you to God-given personality. Do not be deceived: the world and everything in it are not the result of an arbitrary “big bang”. Everything was perfectly and methodically put in place by God. You are not a mistake; to think otherwise is the age-old deceit of the devil. Come to Jesus Christ today and be free.

Prayer Point: Father, destroy any unnatural instincts in me and silence every satanic voice in my mind in Jesus’ Name.

Hymn 9: The Old Rugged Cross

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Open Heavens 18th January 2018, Daily Devotional guide was 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.

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