September 26, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional :- STAY IN COURSE (I)
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Topic – STAY IN COURSE (I)
Read: Isaiah 8:11-20
Isaiah 8:11-20 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
MEMORISE:
He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
EXPOSITION
The Church is presently swimming in a shrouded mysterious mess. This is because we are in the end time and the sagas, perils of the end time are here with us. Many secret cults out there are not adorning the identity of cults but that of the church. That is, they disguise as one of us, but are aliens. Likewise, many claim to be ministers of God or disciples of Jesus but on the contrary, are followers of the antichrist.
To be safe and not to fall over in our Christian life journey is to stay on course! The following definitions of “course,” among others, will help our understanding of how to stay on course.
One, it is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject. Quickly that would remind us of what Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27. The implication is, to stay on course demands complete obedience to God’s Word. But, how do you obey the Word you seldom study or have an understanding of?
It is also a direction or route followed by a ship or an aircraft. Your life as a Christian (a follower of Christ) demands you stay on God’s own way, not yours, or the world’s. Check that against what Jesus said in Mark 8:34-38; cf. 1 Timothy 6:1,6-10. There are no two ways about following Christ than to deny oneself. Not all that glitters is gold.
Thirdly, it is the general direction in which somebody’s ideas or actions are moving. To stay on course, you must be mindful of your ways, doctrines and associations (Matt. 16:22,23; cf. Lk. 22:31-34). Remember, Jesus did not only preach and give prosperity, but also came with the cross (i.e. death to sin, self and the world).
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, keep me ever growing and going in You without looking back or sideways.
2. Lord Jesus, help me as You helped Peter from sinking in the sea, and to keep my eyes on You, always.
3. Lord Jesus, help me to always yield to Your timely and loving warnings and instructions, when I am about to be deceived or caused stray from the truth.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Proverbs 28 – 30