*DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL* *TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17 2019* *REFUGE OF LIES* TEXT: ISAIAH 28:9-21.

*DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL*

*TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17 2019*

*REFUGE OF LIES*

TEXT: ISAIAH 28:9-21.

_🔑KEY VERSE: "Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we bid ourselves" (ISAIAH 28:15)._

A Russian leader, Joseph Stalin, gathered members of his ruling party and demonstrated before them how human beings could be reduced to bare body and thereafter ruled without resistance using a live chicken. Addressing his audience, he plucked the chicken's feathers and the poor bird, in pain, cried each time its feathers were removed until the creature was featherless. He dropped the bird and fed it with crumbs of chicken feed while he headed to his seat. The poor chicken followed him to his seat where more feeds were dropped for it. Stalin turned and told his men, "This is how to deal with men if you want them to obey you."

It is unimaginable the way the human mind thinks outside divine control. Our text reveals a group of forgers of lies, deceitful men who would rather face judgement than repent, return and secure reconciliation and peace with their Maker.

Some folks are like these scorners who made lies their refuge and falsehood their hiding place. They have become deceived by the many lies that modern-day philosophers and false teachers and prophets teach; who try to deny the reality of eternal punishment in hell. Others have their hearts hardened by the pleasures, fake peace and security their present wealth and position provide them. But whether they choose to believe in the truth or not, the truth of God's word on eternal judgement remains unchanging.

The believer, therefore, must be conscious of this. Don't allow the false sense of security of the ungodly move you to leave your eternal place of safety.

*✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:* Only in the truth is genuine security.

COVER TO COVER: ZEPHANIAH 1-3.

*MEDITATION:*

A dangerous trend

1. When you think you have graduated from learning
a. God, through His prophet, wanted to teach them precept by precept v10.
b. They were questioning the prophets that they know enough and no need for further learning of the word v10.
c. The result was that they unconsciously scorn and deride the God sent preacher and His message v14.
d. They were ensnared with self deceit, self satisfaction and complacency towards the word of God v15.
*Lord*, open my eyes and deliver me from any dangerous trend in my spiritual journey 🙏
*Lord*, remove every trace of hardness in the heart, pride and unteacheableness 🙏

2. Refuge of lies
a. Over familiarity with the word of God and His messengers is a refuge of lies that must be destroyed in order to get the best from God v15b.
*Lord*, expose and destroy all refuges of lies hindering sinners from getting saved at the retreat🙏
b. Complacence to the word of God and self security that no evil or punishment will come from a loving God inspite of disobedience is a refuge of lies.
*Lord*, let all the refuge of lies causing limitations in the life of your children be exposed and destroyed at the retreat🙏
c. Whatever keeps a sinner from repenting or a saint from being consecrated or make someone not to take the word of God with all seriousness is a refuge of lies.
*God*, let all messages at the retreat come with devouring fire, destroying all refuge of lies in the participants🙏

3. Danger of living under refuge of lies
a. God will give up that person to be enjoying fake, false and foolish strange sermons v11.
b. There will be lack of true rest, satisfaction and peace which only comes from the undiluted word of God vv12,20.
c. Defeat, destruction and damnable vv13b,17,18.
*Lord*, give us all the love of the truth as we attend the retreat🙏

HYMN: When I saw the cleansing fountain

1. When I saw the cleansing fountain,
Open wide for all my sin,
I obeyed the Spirit’s wooing
When He said, “Wilt thou be clean?”
Refrain:
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.
2 Tho' the way seems straight and narrow,
All I claimed was swept away;
My ambitions, plans and wishes,
At my feet in ashes lay. [Refrain]
3 Blessed be the name of Jesus!
I’m so glad He took me in;
He’s forgiven my transgressions,
He has cleansed my heart from sin. [Refrain]
4 Glory, glory to the Father!
Glory, glory to the Son!
Glory, glory to the Spirit!
Glory to the Three in One! [Refrain]