Title: Smooth Stone?
Memorize: if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Matthew 3:5-12 (Nkjv)
[5] Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
[6] and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
[7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
[8] Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
[9] and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
[10] And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
[11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
[12] His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Message:
I had a friend at the university who continued in sin while I chose to give my life to Christ.
One of his worst habits was smoking; he used to smoke about ten cigarette sticks every day, not minding the health risks.
One day, while having a conversation with him, he asked me to show him where God said, “Thou shall not smoke” in the Bible.
Instead of getting into an argument with him, I asked the Holy Spirit to give me the right Scripture, and I was led to the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.
I explained that the type of stone that was capable of bringing down the enemy was a smooth stone and not any other kind.
Therefore, as long as he remained in his bad habits, he would remain rough, and he would be unfit for God’s use to achieve great things for the kingdom.
To the glory of God, within that same week, my friend stopped smoking, womanising, and doing other bad things.
He remained on the path of righteousness for over 40 years before he passed on to glory.
My dear child, if you’re still toying with sin, God wants you to turn a new leaf so that you can become an arrow in His hand.
In this way, when He launches you against the enemy, you will hit the target and bring victory to His name.
Reflection:
Are you a smooth stone or a rough stone
HYMN 40: CHRIST IS OUR CORNER-STONE
1. Christ Is Our Corner-Stone;
On Him Alone We Build;
With His True Saints Alone
The Courts Of Heaven Are Filled;
On His Great Love
Our Hopes We Place
Of Present Grace,
And Joys Above.
2. Oh, Then, With Hymns Of Praise
These Hallow’d Courts Shall Ring:
Our Voices We Will Raise,
The Three In One To Sin;
And Thus Proclaim
In Joyful Song,
Both Loud And Long,
That Glorious Name.
3. Here, Gracious God, Do Thou
For Evermore Draw Nigh;
Accept Each Faithful Vow,
And Mark Each Suppliant Sigh;
In Copious Shower
On All Who Pray,
Each Holy Day,
Thy Blessings Pour.
4. Here May We Gain From Heaven
The Grace Which We Implore,
And May That Grace, Once Given
Be With Us Evermore;
Until That Day,
When All The Blest,
To Endless Rest
Are Called Away.
Bible In One Year: Jeremiah 30:1-31:26 1 Timothy 2:1-15
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE AND PASTOR FOLU ADEBOYE