“The One Thing” Devotional by Joseph Prince, Days 22 to 23

[Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

DAY 22: A Sleeping Partner Who Benefits

¹² Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram ... Genesis 15:12

 In business, sleeping or silent partners don't work but still take-home huge profits. They are like the wife of the boxing champion. He gets badly beaten up to win the prize money. But when he gets home, his wife takes it from him and says, "Thank you very much, darling!" Do you know that in your covenant with God, you are like the boxer's wife or the sleeping partner?

When Abraham asked God how he would know for sure that he would inherit the land that God had promised him, God made a covenant with him (Genesis 15:8-21). But instead of cutting the covenant with Abraham by walking in between the animal pieces with him, God put Abraham into a deep sleep and cut the covenant with Jesus instead.

Jesus, the light of the world, appeared as the pillar of fire and cut the covenant with God the Father who appeared as the pillar of cloud. In other words, Jesus took Abraham's place. He was perfect Man representing Abraham when He cut the covenant with His Father.

By substituting Abraham with Jesus, God was being gracious because if Abraham had done it, he would also have been responsible for keeping the covenant. And Abraham, being a mere man, would fail. But God the Son can never fail! Abraham's blessings were therefore guaranteed because they did not depend on his performance but Jesus' performance. Abraham was literally a sleeping partner, a beneficiary of the covenant.

Today, God has also made a covenant with you, called the new covenant. And like Abraham, you are a sleeping partner because the new covenant was also cut between God the Father and God the Son at Calvary. You are simply a beneficiary of the new covenant. You enjoy all its benefits without having to work at keeping it. Jesus, your representative, has already fulfilled all the conditions on your behalf. And because His obedience is perfect and His work is perfectly finished, the covenant blessings for you are guaranteed!

My friend, there is nothing left for you to do, but everything for you to believe. Don't try to work for your covenant blessings. Rest in the Son's finished work and receive them by faith!

DAY 23: Rejoice, O Barren!

^27... "Rejoice, 0 barren, you who do not bear!

Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor ... Galatians 4:27

Barrenness. What a painful and frustrating condition. Yet, in Isaiah 54, God's Word to those who are experiencing barrenness is to rejoice -"Sing 0 barren!” Why? Because in the previous chapter, it tells us that the chastisement for our peace fell upon Jesus (Isaiah 53:5). The word "peace" here in Hebrew means completeness, soundness, health, safety and provision. In other words, all these benefits are yours today because Jesus has already been punished at the cross for your peace. That is why you can start rejoicing.

So, God wants you right now, in whatever area you are barren, to start rejoicing as if the fruit or yield you want to see has already come.  He wants you to start thinking, speaking and acting as if the barrenness is no more. If you are financially barren, start planning for what you would do when your finances increase. I am not saying that you go out and spend recklessly but start making plans for increase. The time to do this is when you are still in what your natural eyes see as a barren stage.

You may say, "Pastor Prince, you don't understand, the banks are chasing me!" God says, "Rejoice because you are well provided for in Christ." In Christ, you are already blessed with every spiritual blessing, including financial provision (Ephesians 1:3). "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

If you are sick, start planning to do what you have not been able to do. Don't rejoice only when the healing manifests and the pain is no more. Rejoice now in your healing because Jesus has already borne your diseases and carried your pains, and by His stripes you have already been healed (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Whatever barren situation you are in, rejoice and tell God, "Father, because of the sacrifice of Your Son, I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. You have already given me everything. So, I am going to act like it is so and rejoice!"

Click here for PDF version of "The One Thing" Days 22-23

Click here for PDF version of "The One Thing" Days 20-21

Click here for PDF version of "The One Thing" Days 18-19

Click here for PDF version of "The One Thing" Days 16-17

Click here for PDF version of "The One Thing" Days 14-15

Click here for PDF version of "The One Thing" Days 1-13

Hi Everyone, I pray all is well with you all and your families! I have posted the new days (22 to 23) of Pastor Joseph Prince's 31 day devotional, "The One Thing!" I will post the other days, as I read them; posting two days at a time. Therefore, the next days you all will receive are "Day 24 & Day 25." I also will be posting the previous days, on each of the new days post, that way you all won't have to search for the previous days.

God's Blessings to you all and your families!!

Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks