TOPIC: Touch Not, Taste Not
MEMORISE: And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. Genesis 39:12
Also Read: Open Heaven 25 January 2024 – What Is God’s Temple (2)
BIBLE READING: James 1:12-15
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
MESSAGE
In Yoruba land, the elders have a saying. “What you would not eat, do not sniff it.” When it comes to handling temptations, I say to you, “What you should not eat, do not sniff, touch or taste it at all,” because doing so might have grave consequences.
Many people’s destinies have been destroyed because they did what God commanded them not to do. The only way to resist temptations is not by speaking in tongues or making decrees; it is by running from them. When Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph’s garment to seduce him into sleeping with her after several attempts, the boy left his garment with her and ran away. Even though he suffered wrongly for some years, God rewarded him by making him a Prime Minister.
It is a big lie of the devil that you will not become successful if you turn down an offer from someone who is coercing you to sleep with him or her. Why not honor God like Joseph did by living a holy life today? God will definitely reward you for honoring Him. If anyone is pressuring you for sex, cut off all forms of communication with them and get counsel from a mature, spiritual Christian.
KEY POINT:
Run away from every appearance of sin.
HYMN 9 – Deeper, Deeper In The Love Of Jesus
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
CHORUS
O deeper yet I pray,
And higher ev’ry day,
And wiser, blessed, Lord,
In Thy precious, holy word.
2. Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus
And His perfect will.
3. Deeper, deeper! tho’ it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4. Deeper, higher ev’ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqueror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 50:1-26; Exodus 1:1-2:10
Authors: Pastor E.A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye