Open Heaven Daily Devotion 18 January 2022
TOPIC: Let There Be Light II
Memorise:
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – (1 Peter 2:24)
READ: Matthew 9:1-7 (KJV)
9 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
Open Heaven 18 January 2022 | MESSAGE:
One of the consequences of sin is sickness. When the darkness of sin disappears, sickness flees with it. The words “Let there be light could mean “Let there be healing” because sickness is a form of darkness. Jesus Christ is the Light, the Remover of sin, as well as the Healer. Our memory verse today says that we are dead to sin and healed by the stripes of Jesus.
The story in our Bible text confirms that sin, more often than not, causes sickness in mankind. Thus, once the problem of sin is dealt with, sickness is invariably healed as well. When Jesus saw the man that was sick of the palsy, He knew straight away that his problem was as a result of sin.
Instead of engaging in an exercise in futility like many ministers of God do today, Jesus went straight to the root cause of the man’s sickness – sin. “Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee” Jesus declared. The result is found in the next verse in our text for today after Jesus had declared him forgiven. Jesus said: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. – (Matthew 9:6-7).
Beloved, there are a lot of lessons to learn from today’s reading: One, for ministers of the gospel, we must not waste our time on praying for the sick who are not ready to let go of their sins. Two, for the sick, they must be humble enough to admit their sinful living, confess, forsake and totally repent of the sins. Three, Jesus Christ the Healer is the Forgiver of sins; every man must come to Him for salvation from all calamities, including the darkness of sickness.
The assurance is that no matter how hopeless the situation may be, humanly speaking, by His stripes you will be healed. Just ensure that you have zero tolerance to any spiritual impurity in your body which is the temple of the Almighty God, according to (1 Corinthians 6:19).
ACTION POINT: Purge yourself of all sinful habits so that the light of healing may shine upon you as from today.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 2-4
HYMN 5 – HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER?
1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
CHORUS:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
2. Are you walking daily by the Saviour’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Pure and white in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
