CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL FOR AUGUST 1, 2022 : TOPIC – WRONG EXAMPLES TO AVOID (II)
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Monday, August 1, 2022.
(World Lung Cancer Day)
TOPIC: WRONG EXAMPLES TO AVOID (II)
READ: Matthew 12:22-37
[22] Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
[23] And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
[24] But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
[25] And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
[26] And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
[27] And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
[28] But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
[29] Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
[30] He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
[31] Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
[32] And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
[33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
[34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
[35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
[36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
[37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
MEMORISE:
Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:20).
EXPOSITION
To blaspheme is to speak and act in disrespect against God and what is holy. It is to be depriving someone or thing of its sacred character. It is basically “rough mouthing”. Today’s devotional text and the memory verse tell us how blasphemy could be dangerous. The Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that “literal speaking against” is blasphemy, as it is read in Matthew 12:22-37. This was as a result of the good work done by the Holy Spirit through Him and which some notable people who should have known better attributed to Beelzebub, a co-fallen guardian angel with Satan. The Word of God aptly condemns such act (Lev. 24:10-16, 23)
Apostle Paul also spoke of two notable people in the then Church of God who had abandoned good conscience concerning the faith of Jesus Christ. All what this duo subsequently taught and lived for then were contrary to the Gospel of God. This led to the expulsion of several others who were found culpable of the same offence in those days. Those who toe such a path in the church of God are like cancer in the body of Christ, even as today marks World Lung Cancer Day.
Nearly all early Church fathers contended with, condemned and warned against this act of irreverence, in all its known forms (2 Pet. 2:1,2,10ff; 3 Jn. 9-11; Jude 8-10. The books of Ezekiel and Revelation make it clear that blasphemy is a trademark gift from the spirit of Satan, especially in this end-time (Ezk. 28:16ff; Rev. 13:5,6). And it is associated with both the antichrist and a fallen or apostate Church (Rev. 17:3).
We must resist all jesting and the leaven of invited jesters who joke with everything that has to do with GOD both in our homes and on the pulpit. This is one of the reasons angel Lucifer was expelled from heaven. Keep your tongue from sinning both against God and your fellow. Watch your words! (Matt. 5:22; Eph. 5:3,4). Be filled with the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Happy New Month
PRAYER POINT:
1. Thank God again, for with Him, all things are possible.
2. Rebuke the spirit of unnecessary jesting or speaking blasphemous words in your life.
3. Pray for CAC Sunday School Department, the Director of Sunday School and all the staff as the spirit leads.
HYMN FOR THE DAY:
CAC GHB 524
1. I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek,
For no one marked an angry word
That ever heard Him speak.
2. I want to be like Jesus,
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain-top,
He met His Father there.
3. I want to be like Jesus,
I never, never find
That He, though persecuted, was
To any one unkind.
4. I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good,
So that of me it may be said,
“She hath done what she could.”
5. I want to be like Jesus,
Who sweetly said to all,
“Let little children come to Me.”
I would obey the call.
6. But oh, I’m not like Jesus,
As any one may see;
Then, gentle Saviour, send Thy Grace,
And make me like to Thee.
Amen.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 37 – 40
AUTHOR
C. A. C. Worldwide
Remain blessed