OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR APRIL 14, 2023 (DESTINY DESTROYERS: FOOD I)
TOPIC : DESTINY DESTROYERS: FOOD I
MEMORISE: Proverbs 23:2
And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
READ: Ecclesiastes 10:16-17
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
MESSAGE
It may surprise you that food can also be a destiny destroyer. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, whomind earthly things. Philippians 3:19 Some people have turned food to their god. Such persons are so mindful of food that it is the most important thing to them. There are many Christians who cannot go one day without food. If food controls you, then it is your god and it can destroy you. Esau was one man who food controlled.
He was so controlled by food that he sold his birthright for a plate of porridge. Jacob on the other hand was willing to stay without the porridge he had cooked in order to get something valuable for the fulfilment of his destiny (Genesis 25:29-34). If you check that Scripture closely, you will see that Jacob even added bread to the porridge he gave to Esau. He knew that the moment was a destiny-defining one, so he declared a fast for himself. Because of that seemingly simple transaction, Esau lost the blessing of his father and missed the chance to have the Israelites as his children.
You may not know it, but sometimes when God asks you to fast, it is because He wants to give you a destiny-fulfilling encounter. The primary purpose of food is just to give you strength. You are to eat to live, not live to eat. The Bible says that there is a due season to eat (Psalm 145:15). In other words, there are seasons when you should not be eating at all – when you should be fasting. Do you have such seasons planned into your year? Apostle Paul said he fasted often (2 Corinthians 11:27).
Your fasting must be often. I have heard some preachers say that Jesus had already fasted for us when He was on earth so we don’t need to fast again. That is a big lie; read the Bible for yourself. Jesus said in Mark 2:19 that after His ascension, His disciples would fast. He has ascended, so we must fast. Don’t let food rob you of your God-ordained destiny.
Philippians 3: 18-19 says: (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) When you see some people cutting corners and you ask them, “Why are you doing this?”, they say, “I must eat”. Today’s Bible reading says we must not be brought under the power of anything in this world then went further to show that food is temporary.
Don’t let something temporary send you to permanent destruction in hell. How often do you fast? Jesus Christ Himself said in Matthew 17:21, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting”.There are problems and demons around you that will not leave except by fasting and prayer. One day in my village, just as I was about to have my favourite dish of pounded yam with combination okro soup, God said to me, “Don’t eat, you are to fast today”.
I argued with Him and ate the food. Just as I finished eating, someone came to call me to pray for my sister who had gotten small pox. You don’t face small pox with a belly full of pounded yam. I had to go stick my finger down my throat to throw up the food. Only then was I able to pray for my sister and she was healed.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to control my appetite. Give me the grace to fast often.
Bible in one year: 1 Kings 13-15
Hymn 7 I Am Thine O Lord Prayer
About The Devotional.
The Open Heavens is One of The Most Wildly Read Devotionals in The World. It is written by Pastor E. A Adeboye, the General Oversear of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCGD). The Open Heavens Devotional is designed to fill you daily with God’s word, and keep you inspired, encouraged, and uplifted. It includes Open Heavens devotionals, Teens Open Heavens devotionals, and many more
