CAC LIVING WATER -WRONG EXAMPLES TO AVOID (2)

LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Wrong examples to avoid (2)

1ST , AUGUST 2022 

 

- World Lung Cancer Day

 

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:  Isaiah 37-40

READ:  Matthew 12:22-37

 

22 Then a blind and dumb man under the power of a demon was brought to Jesus, and He cured him, so that the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw.

23 And all the [crowds of] people were stunned with bewildered wonder and said, This cannot be the Son of David, can it?

24 But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, This Man drives out demons only by and with the help of Beelzebub, the prince of demons.

25 And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand.

26 And if Satan drives out Satan, he has become divided against himself and disunified; how then will his kingdom last or continue to stand?

27 And if I drive out the demons by [help of] Beelzebub, by whose [help] do your sons drive them out? For this reason they shall be your judges.

28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [before you expected it].

29 Or how can a person go into a strong man’s house and carry off his goods (the entire equipment of his house) without first binding the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

30 He who is not with Me [definitely on My side] is against Me, and he who does not [definitely] gather with Me and for My side scatters.

31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy (every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things) can be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit shall not and cannot be forgiven.

32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Spirit, the Holy One, will not be forgiven, either in this world and age or in the world and age to come.

33 Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.

34 You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.

35 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.

36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.

37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.

 

 

 

MEMORISE: “Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may be disciplined [by punishment and learn] not to blaspheme.” - John 12:6

 

 

 

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 12v22-37. 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.24v10-16,23).

   

 

      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 lead to the expulsion 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 form (2 Pet.2v1,2,10ff; 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.28v16ff; Rev.13v5,6). And it is associated with both the antichrist and a fallen or apostate Church (Rev.17v3).

 

 

       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 words! (Matt.5v22; Eph.5v3,4). Be filled with the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen.

 

 

 

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.

 

DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY

 

©2022  LIVING WATERS IS a daily devotional by THE CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH