EVERY WORD OF GOD FOR DAILY LIVING BY: PASTOR PAUL RIKA:
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide
TITLE: SALVATION IS FREE BUT NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN
DATE: Wednesday, January 13, 2021
TEXT: Proverbs 1:22-33
KEY VERSE: Proverbs 1:32 “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.”
Salvation is free and the process of receiving it is very simple, yet not everybody desires to be saved. This is another mystery about mankind. Even among those in the church, not everybody is there for salvation. Otherwise, why do we still have witches and wizards there? In Zaria, a city in norther Nigeria, a man went to a preacher and said, “Pray for me; I want to be healed of my sickness.” The preacher said, “Okay, I want to also pray for you that you should be saved from your sins. Do you want to be saved from your sins?” Surprisingly, the man replied that he only wanted healing from Jesus and was not ready for Jesus to save him from sin. This is the condition of many today. They are not yet ready and that is why they are where they are despite their presence in the church, despite the number of preaching they have heard, they are just not ready. After Peter made the request to Jesus to invite him to walk on the water, he jumped into the sea. That is faith manifested by works. You want Jesus to save you, but what attempt are you making to be saved? You tell Jesus you don’t want to drink alcohol again, but early in the morning you are already on your way to the bar. What effort are you making to stop drinking alcohol after asking Jesus to help you stop the habit?
Faith without works is dead! The bird that flies first flaps its wings, then the air helps it to fly. When did you flap your wing? You are not making any effort and that is why you are not saved; that is why you are not born again. You have not made effort to confess your sins; you have not made effort to stop sinning. You promised you won’t go after men for immorality again but when one of your partners in immorality called you, you picked the call. I tell you that you are not yet ready. Where is the work of salvation to show that you have made up your mind? You never attempted. If you attempted, you would have seen that there is power in you to keep you from sinning.
Thought for the day: Being in the church is not an assurance that you desire to go to heaven
Song for the day: Heaven is holy, you must be holy for no sinner will enter there
Bible reading for the day: Genesis 31-32; Matthew 10:24-42