OPEN HEAVENS 2025 DEVOTIONAL
DATE: TUE, JUN 24, 2025
TOPIC: FEAR GOD ALONE 1
MEMORISE:
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.” – (Romans 13:3)
READ: Acts 12:1-11 (KJV)
MESSAGE:
The Bible says clearly in today’s memory verse that if you do the right things, you should not be afraid of the government or their agencies. For instance, when a driver becomes afraid on seeing a traffic official, it is most likely that he or she has done something critical or committed a traffic offence. If you fidget when you learn that tax officials are coming to meet you, it probably means that you have been robbing the government, and Jesus said in Matthew 22:21 that you should give to Ceasar (the government) what belongs to Ceasar. Rather than being afraid, why not just do the right thing? Stay in the right and do good so that you will never be afraid of government officials.
In certain regions, some people are afraid of government officials, not because they are guilty of any wrongdoing, but because of racism or oppression. If a government official decides to use his or her authority to terrorise you, don’t be afraid of such a person. Rather, take the matter to God, and He will fight for you. You must, however, have built a culture of depending on God before trouble comes.
Many years ago, I heard that the military government that was ruling my country at the time was planning to arrest me because the head of the government was told by his spiritualists that my prayers were hindering their self-centred agenda for the country. At first, I was afraid, but that night, I handed the matter over to God, and in less than one week, the government official who wanted to kill me was dead. If you fear God and always do the right things, He will fight for you.
In Daniel 3:16, the three Hebrew boys defied the evil order of the king, and God protected them from his wrath. God protected them because they chose to fear Him and not man. When Herod began to terrorise the church, killing James and imprisoning Peter, the Christians began to pray without ceasing. Their prayers worked great wonders; Peter was freed miraculously on the eve of the day he was to be executed, and Herod was later eaten by worms (Acts 12:1-23).
Beloved, please stay away from anything that will put you in a position of being afraid of the government. However, if you have not done anything wrong and a government official decides to terrorise you for whatever reason, simply hand him or her over to God, and He will surely protect you.
KEY POINT:
As long as you fear God and keep doing the right things, you don’t have to fear any other person, organisation, or government.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalms 107-111
HYMNAL:
Hymn 19 – Rock of Ages, cleft for me
