Open Heavens 12 May 2017:
Friday daily devotional by Pastor
E. A. Adeboye – Lessons on Vow
Topic: Lessons on Vow [Friday 12, May 2017]
Memorise: That which is gone out of thy lips
thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill
offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the
LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy
mouth. – Deuteronomy 23:23
Read: Judges 11:29-36 (KJV)
29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon
Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and
Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead,
and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto
the children of Ammon.
30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD,
and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the
children of Ammon into mine hands,
31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh
forth of the doors of my house to meet me,
when I return in peace from the children of
Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will
offer it up for a burnt offering.
32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of
Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD
delivered them into his hands.
33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou
come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto
the plain of the vineyards, with a very great
slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were
subdued before the children of Israel.
34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his
house, and, behold, his daughter came out to
meet him with timbrels and with dances: and
she was his only child; beside her he had
neither son nor daughter.
35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that
he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter!
thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one
of them that trouble me: for I have opened my
mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.
36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou
hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me
according to that which hath proceeded out of
thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken
vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of
the children of Ammon.
Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 16-17,
Jeremiah 29:24-30:9 , Hymn: Sing hymn 14
MESSAGE:
Sometimes, some people promise God one
thing, but when the time comes to redeem the
pledge, they bring something else. Do you think
that God does not have records in Heaven?
Once you make a pledge to God, don’t try to
change it. Ecclesiastes 5:6 says,
“Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin;
neither say thou before the angel, that it was an
error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice,
and destroy the work of thine hands?”
After you have committed yourself to a
particular thing as a vow, if you later return to
say, “It was a slip of the tongue, God will
understand”, you are only deceiving yourself.
Such an excuse is not acceptable to God. God
expects you to stand by your word. Hence, as
part of the requirements to stand in God’s holy
place, Psalm 15:4 says if you make a vow, you
are expected to do everything possible to
redeem it, no matter the cost, sacrifice or
inconveniencies involved. Do you have this
quality? It is part of the integrity we must have
as believers.
Another lesson on vows is that you must be
extremely careful before making a vow. Think
very well before pledging a commitment to do a
particular thing, because once it has gone out
of your mouth, you may not be able to beat a
retreat. Some people get carried away with zeal
and make a mouth-watering vow but later find it
difficult to redeem it. Be careful! Only vow to
give up what is within the limit of your
capability and not what you know you cannot
cope with! The story of Jephthah is a very
touching one. He needed victory so badly that
he vowed to sacrifice to God whatever first
came out of his house to meet him on his
return. After the battle was over, as he returned
home with great joy, it was his only child – his
virgin daughter – that came out first to
welcome him. He felt so bad. He realised the
rashness of his vow, but he could not turn back
from his promise. Finally, one more lesson on
vows is that God does not like to hear the voice
of vow-defaulters, and He would ultimately
destroy their efforts (Ecclesiastes 5:6) . Is God
fighting you over a vow you have defaulted on?
Repent now and restitute. If need be, seek the
guidance of a Spirit-filled Christian counsellor or
pastor.
Action Point: Unpaid vows are debts that can
hinder you from making heaven. Prayerfully recall
your unpaid debts and redeem them fast.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written
by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of
the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the
largest evangelical church in the world and also
the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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