11-22-2018, 10:35 AM
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2018
THEME: DANGERS OF IGNORANCE
MEMORISE:
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Ephesians 4:18
READ: Hosea 4:6
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
MESSAGE
Ignorance means a lack of knowledge. It is a state of being uninformed, and this is a very dangerous thing. People sometimes say that ignorance is bliss, but this is very wrong. Knowledge is power, while ignorance on the other hand is death. It is what you don't know that can kill you. A person who doesn't know how dangerous a snake is can decide to stroke its beautiful body to his or her own peril. A worker who fails to learn about the requirements peculiar to his or her job will in no time lose that job. Those who don't learn about what to eat and what not to eat will one day poison themselves. Ignorance is indeed very dangerous. As a business person, never invest your money in what you know nothing about. Don't be in a haste to invest in anything or anyone. Rather, take your time to carry out due diligence so as to avoid losing the resources God had deposited in your care.
To be ignorant about God and spiritual life is also very dangerous. The worst end result of other forms of ignorance is physical death. However, to be ignorant about the things of God can lead to eternal damnation. Apart from the things they hear from pastors' sermons, many Christians have never really sat down with the Bible with a desire to learn one new thing about God. Thus, ignorance has kept many people at the back side of their breakthroughs. You cannot demand for something you do not know exists. Instead of being ignorant, we are expected to be like the Jews in Berea, of who Acts 17:11 says:
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Laziness is one of the major reasons why people are ignorant. Some people are just too lazy to explore the the word of God in order to know God by themselves. 2 Timothy 2:15 says:
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
There is no knowledge as impactful as that which you research by yourself. Silly arguments and fallacies stem from lazy and ignorant Christians who have not taken time to properly study God's word. Every Christian who wants to be armed with the right knowledge of God has to be diligent and consciously make out time to study the Bible so as to know God more.
KEY POINT:
The extent of your knowledge depends on how much studying you are ready to do.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 21-22, John 1:1-28
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 15: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE
1. Nearer, my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be.
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
2. Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down.
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
3. There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou send'st to me
In mercy given:
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
4. Then, with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
DATE: THURSDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2018
THEME: DANGERS OF IGNORANCE
MEMORISE:
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Ephesians 4:18
READ: Hosea 4:6
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
MESSAGE
Ignorance means a lack of knowledge. It is a state of being uninformed, and this is a very dangerous thing. People sometimes say that ignorance is bliss, but this is very wrong. Knowledge is power, while ignorance on the other hand is death. It is what you don't know that can kill you. A person who doesn't know how dangerous a snake is can decide to stroke its beautiful body to his or her own peril. A worker who fails to learn about the requirements peculiar to his or her job will in no time lose that job. Those who don't learn about what to eat and what not to eat will one day poison themselves. Ignorance is indeed very dangerous. As a business person, never invest your money in what you know nothing about. Don't be in a haste to invest in anything or anyone. Rather, take your time to carry out due diligence so as to avoid losing the resources God had deposited in your care.
To be ignorant about God and spiritual life is also very dangerous. The worst end result of other forms of ignorance is physical death. However, to be ignorant about the things of God can lead to eternal damnation. Apart from the things they hear from pastors' sermons, many Christians have never really sat down with the Bible with a desire to learn one new thing about God. Thus, ignorance has kept many people at the back side of their breakthroughs. You cannot demand for something you do not know exists. Instead of being ignorant, we are expected to be like the Jews in Berea, of who Acts 17:11 says:
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Laziness is one of the major reasons why people are ignorant. Some people are just too lazy to explore the the word of God in order to know God by themselves. 2 Timothy 2:15 says:
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
There is no knowledge as impactful as that which you research by yourself. Silly arguments and fallacies stem from lazy and ignorant Christians who have not taken time to properly study God's word. Every Christian who wants to be armed with the right knowledge of God has to be diligent and consciously make out time to study the Bible so as to know God more.
KEY POINT:
The extent of your knowledge depends on how much studying you are ready to do.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 21-22, John 1:1-28
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 15: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE
1. Nearer, my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be.
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
2. Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down.
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
3. There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou send'st to me
In mercy given:
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
4. Then, with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!