MEMORISE
I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you (Luke 15: 18).
READ:
Luke 15: 21-24
[21]. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
[22]. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
[23]. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
[24]. for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
EXPOSITION
In continuation of yesterday's dose of the Living Water, let us see what happens to any life that genuinely experiences a turning point. Once again, turning point is a time or point of integration into the system that one had once lost. It is a point of returning to what one has left, or where one is supposed to initially be. The prodigal son had been dissociated from his loving father. Any Christian who backslides, losses all the rights and privileges of God's true son/daughter. But if such retraces his/her steps back to God, He won't cast them away (Jn. 6:37). Like the prodigal son, He reabsorbs him fully into the Father's inheritance, as joint heir with Him, once again (Rom 8:16,17; Eph. 1:6). Those who gave their lives to Jesus at Pentecost immediately became parts of the first-century disciples (Acts 2:37 41). God's Word had found and located them in Christ's body (cf. Jn. 6:63).
Turning point is a time of decoration and celebration. Heaven rejoices each time a sinner repents and returns home, at which point all ungodly regalia are replaced with heavenly, holy and eternal ones. He also assumes a new look, including change of position and name: no more Ben-oni (sorrowful child) but Benjamin (the son of my right hand) (Gen. 35:18). However, sinners and backsliders are lame and leprous, unfit for holy gathering. No wonder the Bible says no unclean thing will enter the kingdom of heaven; not fornicators, adulterous, immoral, backbiters, etc. (Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:15). You need a turnaround today! As you take step to come back to the Saviour today, may the power of Holy Spirit restore you in Jesus' name.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 237
1. Weary of wand'ring from my God
And now made willing to return,
I hear, and bow me to the rod
For Thee, not without hope, I mourn'
I have an Advocate above,
A Friend before the throne of love
2. O Jesus, full of truth and grace
More full of grace than I of sin
Yet once regain I seek Thy face
Open Thine arms, and take me in,
And freely my backslidings heal,
And love the faithless sinner still.
3. Thou know'st the way to bring me back
My fallen spirit to restore
O! for Thy truth and mercy's sake
Forgive, and bid me sin no more,
The ruins of my soul repair
And make my heart a house of pray'r
4. Ah' give me, Lord, the tender heart
That trembles at the approach of sin
A godly fear of sin impart,
Implant, and root it deep within
That I may dread Thy gracious power
And never dare offend Thee more.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, help me to make the right decision to return into Your will, today.
2. Lord, deliver me from the spirit of backsliding and apostasy.
3. Pray for the Authority of Christ Apostolic Church, Our Father in the Lord, the President and his lieutenants, and the staff of CAC Secretariat as led by the Spirit of God.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Ezekiel 22:13-24:27
AUTHOR
CAC Worldwide
Remain blessed
 DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE DATE: Thursday, September 14, 2023 TOPIC: THE TURNING POINT (II)){kind=link}