Consequences of Disobedience (Part 2)

 CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE .- 

PART 2.

In continuation of consequences of disobedience more characters will be  .

Moses-Num20:8-13. Deu34:1-5.

God granted Moses the grace to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. And God promised them a destination that is “The promised land” The LORD said to Moses “Leave  this place , you and the people you brought up out of Egypt,  and go up to the Land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants. I  will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites , Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey .”Exo 33:1-3a. Moses made a tent outside the camp where the people were and he  called it “tent of meeting “ there he used to go and the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance of the tent while the LORD spoke to him face to face , as one speaks to a friend and Joshua his young aide usually follow him to the tent. The LORD assured Moses that as he leads the people his presence will go with him and he will give him rest.Exo 3314-15. And Moses was leading the people until they got to Kadesh where there was no water and they quarrelled with him that he  brought them to a terrible place where there was no grain, figs , grapevines and no water to drink. That he should not have brought them out of Egypt. Moses was so overwhelmed and he with his brother Aaron went to seek the face of the LORD .”The LORD said to Moses “Take the staff,  and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together.  Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” Num20:8. Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence just as he was commanded,  and he and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then he raised his arm and  struck the rock twice  with his staff and water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.”Num20:9-11. This was contrary to what God asked him to do. God said speak to the rock, but he struck the rock twice. A great disobedience to God’s command. Immediately the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”Num20:13. Verdict  was given and that was the consequence of their disobedience.  On their way from Kadesh to Mount Hor, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron  that Aaron will be gathered to his people, he will not enter the land I  give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. And Aaron died on top of the mountain and the Israelites mourned for him thirty days.Num 20:24,28b-29. Moses continued leading  until he got to Mount Nebo which he climbed. There the LORD showed him the whole land and told him”This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes , but you will not cross over into it.” Deut 34:4. And Moses died  there in Moab and was buried there. The Israelites grieved for him for thirty days and Joshua his aide  continued to lead the people.

Brethren despite the fact that Moses did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land,

he did not get to the promised land. His disobedience prevented him from getting there and he could not even lead the Israelites in to the land.

Beloved, consequences of disobedience are unpalatable and could be disastrous.

Finally, the disobedience of Adam and Eve which I call the mother of them all.

Adam and Eve- Gen 1:26-3.

God created mankind in his own image after all he needed to create and Adam was the first man. He pronounced blessings upon mankind and gave them dominion over all other things created. Then God said, “I give you every seed- bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” Gen 1:29.  The  LORD formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. The LORD  made all kinds of trees he planted to grow out of the ground- trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil .And the LORD put Adam in the  garden to work it and take care of it and he commanded him” “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Gen 2:16-17. God gave Adam this command. And the LORD thought it was not good for Adam to be alone. So the he created a woman from the rib he had taken from Adam when he caused him to fall into a deep sleep and brought her to  him at the garden of Eden. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Gen2:25.  

The serpent came and said to the woman, “Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” The woman replied “ We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it or you will die.” The serpent said to her”You will not certainly die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen3:1-4. The serpent actually came to lie and deceive her. The woman

succumbed, ate the fruit and also gave some to her husband and he ate it. 

What a great disobedience.! Immediately the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. When they heard the sound of the LORD as he was walking in the garden, they hid from him among the trees of the garden.. But the LORD called to the man, “Where are you.?” He said he was afraid because he was naked and so hid. Definitely God knew the forbidden fruit had been eaten by both of them. Then the consequences followed. The serpent got his own, to the woman, God said “ I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labour you will give birth to children and your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam, God said” Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, You must not eat from,” Cursed is the ground because of you;  through soil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken ; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” And God also said since he has known good and evil, he must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat , and live forever.”The LORD banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground and drove him out of the garden. Finally Adam and his wife whom he named Eve lost the privilege of living in the Garden of Eden and intimacy with God. 

Brethren, God has good intention for giving man commands that will guide us throughout life, but any violation to the commands has consequences.

You are thereby strongly admonished to avoid any form of disobedience as it can lead to loss of privileges and intimacy with God, incurring God’s wrath, and can also lead to untimely death, spiritual death and separation from God.

Prayer.

Father, 

I reject every spirit of disobedience in my life, and  ask that you fill me with the spirit of obedience. Grant me grace to be totally obedient to all your commandments. 

In Jesus’name .

Amen.

CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE

CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE.

                                          PART 1

“Consequences “ are results or effects of action or actions of some previous occurrences. They are outcomes or repercussions which are typically unpleasant.

“Disobedience “is failure or refusal to obey rules or someone in authority.

It is lack of regard for authority or rulership. It is yielding to self- will.

Biblically, it is going against what God has commanded in his word and disobeying how he wants us to live. It is a rebellion against God or simply not trusting that he knows best and then yielding to self- will instead of surrendering to him. It is just the opposite of obedience and spiritually  it is not doing what God commands. Disobedience can equate to rebellion, iniquity or idolatry. As obedience is synonymous with holiness so also disobedience is to unholiness.

 Disobedience is in categories. Disobedience to parents, to authority, to leaders and rulers, to the law of the land and to the word of God. And each has its own consequences.

But this sermon will concentrate on disobedience to the word of God with reference to the  Holy book.

Cases of disobedience are found in the Bible with accompanying consequences to learn from. A whole nation can be disobedient to God’s command, a family can and an individual can as well.

Let us consider a few examples in the Bible.

Jonah the son of Amittai. Jonah 1:1-17

The word of God came to Jonah  son of Amittai :”Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”The  instruction was to clear but Jonah decided to go his own way. Instead of going to Nineveh to deliver God’s message he ran away from the LORD and headed to Tarshish. He boarded a ship and the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, so violent that the ship was about to break up. Efforts were made by the sailors to lighten the weight by throwing some items into the sea so that the ship will not       

sink  but Jonah suggested they throw him into the sea. For he said  “I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”Jonah1:12. Having said that, he was thrown  over-board and instantly the raging sea grew calm. This made the men in the ship to greatly fear God and offered a sacrifice and made vows to God. That was not all for Jonah, the LORD provided a great fish to swallow and he was inside the fish for good three days and nights. God knows how hot and dark the place is and how uncomfortable Jonah would be. That was the consequence of his disobedience to God’s instruction. But inside the fish, and in distress he prayed and worshipped the LORD and the merciful God commanded the fish to vomit him unto dry land. God gave him a second chance by sending the word to him again and this time around he obeyed and went to Nineveh to deliver God’s  message.

Brethren, you can not afford to run away from God, and every disobedience to God’s command has its own repercussions. Imagine what Jonah went through; some people even suffered by it, the consequences of his disobedience almost caused those he boarded with their dear lives but for the timely actions they took and God’s intervention. 

Lot’s wife.-Gen 19:1-26.

When the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was so great and their sin so grievous the LORD sent two angels to Sodom and there lived Lot, his wife and two daughters. The angels arrived  Sodom at evening and Lot went to meet them  while sitting  in the gateway of the city. He persuaded them to lodge  in his house till morning. He prepared meal for them and they ate but before they they went to bed the men of Sodom, old and young, came to Lot to bring the men out so they could have sex with them. Lot strongly appealed to them but they refused until the angels struck them with blindness. This action made the two men to reveal their purpose of coming to Sodom to Lot. That the LORD has sent them to destroy Sodom. That Lot and his family had to move out of Sodom on time. When Lot hesitated, they had to grasp his hand, and the hands of his wife and two daughters and led them out safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. But as soon as the men had brought them out , one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee  to the mountains or you will be swept away!”  It was meant to make them focus and steadfast and not be distracted by the possessions they were leaving behind.  Lot and his family eventually reached  Zoar  at sunrise and then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah. All those living in the cities and the vegetation were destroyed. Unfortunately Lot’s wife disobeyed the command given them by looking back perhaps towards Sodom and she became a pillar of salt. The two men were sent by God and it was his command they gave to Lot’s family. Her looking back was disobedient to God’s command and the consequence was becoming a pillar of salt. Her sudden and unexpected disappearance was a great calamity and sorrow for her family.

Brethren, we may think the command is very simple, “Don’t look back.”  But she looked back. No matter the command given by God, it is better to obey.

King Saul - 1Sam 15:1-35.

The LORD sent the message through Samuel to king  Saul “I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not  spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” This was the mission God wanted Saul to accomplish. To attack the Amalekites and totally destroy them all and all that belongs to them without sparing anyone or anything. Saul gathered men to attack the Amalekites and he even advised the Kenites to move away from the Amalekites so that he won’t destroy them too. All the  Amalekites were destroyed but Saul and the army spared Agag king of the Amalekites and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs - the everything that was good. They were unwilling to destroy completely and this was great disobedience God’s message to Saul. Then the word of  the LORD came to Samuel “ 1Sam15:10” I regret that I have made Saul the king, because he has turned away from me and he has not carried out my instructions,”  Samuel being angry challenged Saul of his act of disobedience, but he lied that the  soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD. Samuel  made him realise that God does not delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices but he delights in obedience. And that to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams. “Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king over Israel.” 1Sam15:23b. “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you  today and has given it to one of your neighbours- to one better than you.”1Sam15:27. Saul’s disobedience made God to reject him as king and it also  made God to regret making him king over Israel. Saul did not fulfill the mission he was sent on, he disappointed Samuel ,he lost his honour and incurred God’s wrath.

TO CONTINUE IN PART 2.

GUARDING AND PRESERVING YOUR ANOINTING

Guarding and Preserving your Anointing 

‘Guarding’ is to be watchful, vigilant, cautious and to be circumspect.

It is to protect from loss and to secure  against attack.

Preserving is to maintain possession throughout and to keep intact from harm.

Anointing is to be filled with the fullness of God so as to faithfully do his work.It symbolizes the Lord’s presence when God fills a person with his spirit for the purpose of using him or her in a mighty way. It empowers to do great works and function at supernatural level. Spiritual anointing sets God’s seal of ownership on the anointed, and put his spirit in him or her heart as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. It is a form of consecrating and dedicating the anointed to God.

Anointing can also be a physical act involving the smearing, rubbing or pouring of sacred oil on someone’s head or an object as an outward symbol that God has chosen and set such apart for a specific purpose. It attracts the spirit of God on the anointed.

Spiritual anointing sets God’s seal of ownership on the anointed, and put his spirit in their hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor 1:21.

Therefore, guarding and preserving your anointing is to retain and maintain it with caution. Permit me to say “ guard and preserve your anointing with fear and trembling” so that you won’t lose it. 

Brethren do you know that Anointing can be lost if care is not taken? Therefore it should be treasured.

Let us consider some characters in the Bible who lost their anointing.

The Man of God from Judah - 1 Kings 13.

His name was not specifically mentioned in the Bible. God sent him to Bethel from Judah to  prophesy against  King Jeroboam of Israel. The LORD commanded him as follows “You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.”1Kings 13: 9. He left Judah for Bethel and as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering, by the word of the LORD the man of God cried out against the altar: Altar, altar! This is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the  house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.” I kings 13:2. And that same day he gave a sign that the LORD has declared:  “The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.”  When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out towards the man of God  shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. Also the altar was split apart and its ashes  poured out according to the sign given by the man of God according to the word of God. The King realized he is a true man of God and appealed to him to intercede for him and pray that his hand be restored.. He did as the King requested and his hand was restored. The King wanted to appreciate  him and requested he come home with him for a meal and promised him a gift. But the man of God told the King what the LORD commanded him as written above I kings 13 :9. And he answered the King “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I  eat bread or drink water here. So he left the King and took another road different from the way he came to Bethel. That was good enough. But a certain old prophet living in Bethel  who heard of how God had used the man of God mightily and what happened to the altar and to the King sought after him  and caught him up. The old prophet  introduced himself,  I too am a prophet, as you are . And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD  to bring you back to my house  so that you may eat bread and drink water. The man of God repeated what God commanded him exactly what he told King Jeroboam but the old  prophet insisted he was sent to him through an angel by the word of God. And it was a lie, but unfortunately the man of God returned with him and ate and drank as against the LORD’s command. Right while at the table, the word came through the old prophet to the man of God. “ You have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not buried in the tomb of your ancestors.” God sanctioned him for disobedience. The fact that God did not speak to him directly was an evidence that he has lost his anointing and the spirit of God has left him. So he left the old prophet’s house on his donkey and as he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him.  The lion and the donkey stood beside his body lying on the road for the lion did not devour him. If the spirit of God had not departed from him, and lost his anointing the lion would not have succeeded in killing him. Again since the lion did not devour his body, it meant that the word of God to him through the old prophet that he will not be buried in the tomb of his ancestors came to pass. It was the old prophet that came to carry his body and buried him in Bethel.

Samson- Judges 13-16.

Samson was  born by Mr and Mrs Manoah. He was filled with the spirit of God from birth for his birth was prophesied by a angel who also said “his head is never to be touched by a razor blade because he is to be a  Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” When he was born, the angel instructed his parents to advise him to refrain from foreign women, to avoid drinking and blade was not to shave his head. Special gift was impacted unto him by the spirit of God and he grew and became very strong. He was so  strong that he tore a lion apart with his bare hands, could kill thousand men with just a jawbone of a donkey. He led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines for the Holy Spirit was stirring up his anointing. The Lord made a covenant with him that as long he obeyed, he would be physically strong. His long hair was a sign of his covenant Judges13:5. God sent him to go set the Israelites free from the aggression of the Philistines in those days. Unfortunately Samson violated divine instructions and broke the covenant. He slept with an harlot, chased after foreign women, and Delilah became a bait for him and he eventually leaked the secret behind his strength to her while he was on her lap.The spirit of the Lord departed from him and he lost his anointing and became powerless immediately his hair was shaved with razor blade by someone while he was put to sleep on Delilah’s lap. He was seized and his eyes were gouged out and he became a slave to the Philistines.Though his hair began to grow again after being shaved, the LORD had left him, and power and anointing had disappeared. The Philistines celebrated that they have captured Samson. He said “Let me die with the Philistines.”

Eventually he died with the Philistines and his brothers and father’s family came to pick him and buried him in the tomb of his father between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Brethren, Samson lost his eyes, physical power, anointing and died an early death due to disobedience. He did not guard and preserve his anointing with diligence and he lost out completely.

King Saul-I Sam 10-16.

Saul a Benjamite, son of Kish became king of Israel at age thirty and reigned 

for forty years. The LORD  instructed Samuel to “Anoint him leader over my  people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. He will govern my people.” 1 Sam 9:16b, 17b. The anointing of Saul was for a specific purpose. Immediately Saul was anointed the spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him and he began to prophesy, changed into a different person for God is with him.  When all those who had known him saw him prophesying with the prophets they were so amazed that it became a saying “Is Saul also among the prophets? Anointing makes a difference .

Brethren, anointing makes a difference in one’s life, it transforms one and empowers one to do supernatural. God with him, with the empowerment and anointing upon him he was able to help the men of Jabesh  Gilead to conquer the Ammonites who had been threatening them.1 Sam 11:11. After this victory, Saul was confirmed as king and all the Israelites held a great celebration as he was greatly accepted. Under his kingship  he fought valiantly  against their enemies on every side and defeated them thereby delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them including the Philistines. After this victory, God sent Samuel to him “I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them, put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”1Sam 15: 2-3. King Saul did the contrary  and disobeyed God. He had spared Agag,  king of Amalekites, the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs - everything that was good. Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.  Since  Samuel has been God’s spokesman  he said “Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king over Israel.” The  word of the LORD also came through Samuel “I am grieved that I have made Saul king because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” 1 Sam 15:11.  The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors-  to one better than you. The Spirit of the LORD   departed from him and an evil spirit  from God came upon him tormenting. 

He only had a relief from the evil spirit when harp is played for him by David whom he engaged to  join his service purposely for that.  Saul lost his anointing, lost the kingdom and the Spirit of the LORD departed from him due to disobedience. 

What a great fall and loss for someone who was anointed, given specific assignment by God to do and made king over Israel - God’s people. Someone Israel accepted as their acclaimed leaded. One, who received mighty power from above and one who prophesied, and given power to  conquer the Ammorites until he disobeyed God’s command and lost all.

Brethren, from the three examples illustrated above, we could conclude that people have to  go extra mile to guard and preserve their anointing.

They all lost it due to disobedience and insensitivity to spiritual things.

Brethren, disobedience is a broad term, but what ever command God gives, we have to adhere strictly to it. You are admonished to be obedient to God’s commands, honour God  more than man and self and guard and preserve your anointing to the end with fear and trembling. May the LORD help you.

Prayer. 

Father, thank you for your word. It says obedience is better than  sacrifice.

Grant me the grace to be obedient to your commands and to honour you more than man and self.

Also grant me the grace to guard and preserve your anointing upon me and all you have endowed me with to the end of age.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

WHAT THE LORD REQUIRES OF YOU

WHAT THE LORD REQUIRES OF YOU

Micah 6:8, Proverbs21:3.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

The key words  are “The LORD” and “requires”. Characteristics of the LORD can not be exhausted but let me just describe him as the most high and holy God, pure and holy , upright and just, loving and kind, righteous, faithful, merciful, unlimited, and forgiving. The one who does no wrong. Heaven is his 

throne and the earth is his footstool. And ‘Requires’ simply means demands or expects. So what the LORD  requires of you is what he demands from you or what he expects of you.

As God spoke through prophet Micah to people of Judah when the rich were oppressing the poor and there were moral and spiritual decline and sinfulness of the rulers was high then, God is still speaking through the word to all the mortals. May our spiritual ears open to hear the word and obey in Jesus name.

Let us take the instructions one by one.

1. To act justly.- To act justly is to do right, to do what is correct , proper and morally right. Is doing things  as you do unto the Lord, as you would want others do unto you. It is being fair to others, being impartial, and doing things rightfully. It could also mean working or acting to correct the wrong and wanting to put things in the right perspective.

Brethren, do you know that it is by what you do that you will be considered as being righteous, acting justly or otherwise and not by faith alone. James 2:24.

As you pay your tithe, give offerings and support the work of God and spend your time for the work, you are  admonished to not neglect justice, mercy and faithfulness. Matt 23:23b. “To do what is right is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice .”Prov 21:3. Brethren act justly.

1. To love mercy.-  Mercy is compassion , kindness, forgiveness shown towards someone who does not deserve it. When you show love and 

kindness to someone that is within your power to punish, or harm and you forgive and let go. These are evidences that you love mercy. Having compassion for the less privileged, treating people leniently, caring for those in need, being kind to others, being tender hearted, readiness to minister to the poor in spirit, to the broken hearted and to the lost are evidences. To show that you love mercy, you have to act it through  kindness, compassion and forgiveness. The Bible says “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt 5:7. As you  show mercy to others, you too will be obtaining mercy. It is out of love and mercy that God sent Jesus the messiah to mankind. John 3:16. Therefore “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”Lk6:36. Brethren, love mercy and act it.

1. Walk humbly with your God.- Our walk is our way of life and to walk humbly  with God  is to walk in all  his ways with humility and without pride. It is to build your personal  relationship with God and to please him in all your ways. The Bible says can two walk together unless they have agreed to do so. Amos 3:3. To walk with  God calls for holiness, a life of purity, total submission to him and obedience to his commands. Having clean hands and a pure heart and living to please him always  and having no other god except Him alone.

The three, act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God complement each other and offer a path  to a meaningful and blessed life.

 Brethren, live in such a way that your behaviour,  responses and attitude will showcase a vibrant, honest faith that is deeply rooted in Christ.

You are admonished to “ Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” Zech 7:9. And be fair and sincere to all in all your dealings. You are also encouraged to self examine yourself by asking yourself  questions like “Am I fair and kind to others? Do I readily let go and forgive? Am I faithful in dealing with others? Am I living holy and righteous ? Your response to these questions will help you to assess yourself. May the Lord help you.

Prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

thank you so much for showing we mortals what is good.

Grant us the grace and all we need to be able to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with you till the end of age.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

If God is for us, who can be against us.

 Romans 8:31

God is so evidently for us that nothing or no one can successfully be against us for he has chosen us  as his children and heirs.

If God is for one, it means one has become the apple of his eyes, he will always protect and defend one, protect one’s interest, will always fight battles for one,

won’t  want one to be hurt. He will put his mark and seal on one that one will become untouchable and will always reveal himself to one through his word and other means.

Those who can be against one are the wicked ones who will never wish one well, will never see anything good in whatever one does, never want one to succeed or have a breakthrough. They will always look for one’s downfall and expect calamity to befall one. They are those that rejoice when there is any mishap.

But because God is more powerful than the most powerful, no one can successfully overcome us. For we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Rom8:37. No matter the plan of the wicked ones, as long as God is for us, their plans and efforts will be futile. Not only that, the one that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.

Brethren, as long as you are mortal, there will always be people contending with or against you. Therefore one should not be ignorant. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6:12. But glory be to God for divine armory that we can always take on so that we may be able to withstand the evil day and the wicked ones and still stand. 

Brethren, if any one  is against us , be of good hope because we are assured of God’s presence and support and we can confidently say”The Lord  is with me, I will not be afraid. what can mere mortals do to me. The Lord is with me, he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.”Ps118:6-7.  No weapon that is formed against thee (me) shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee(me) in judgement thou shall condemn “Isa54:17a. And they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee, for I am with thee, said the Lord, to deliver thee.”Jer 1:19. Where ever you sense  the manifestation of darkness or danger around you, do not be passive, though God is with you, you will still have an input.

Let us consider two characters in the Bible and see how God showed himself strong on their behalf and  was for them.

Daniel- Daniel 6:1-28.

Daniel was one of the three administrators King Darius appointed over one hundred and twenty satraps to rule throughout the Kingdom.

 Because Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators by his exceptional qualities,the King planned to set him over the whole kingdom. For this reason the administrators and the satraps ganged up against Daniel. They looked for ways of implicating him but they couldn’t find any charge against him. They knew Daniel was fervent in prayer,  so they went to the King and influenced him to issue  an edict and enforce the decree that anybody who prays to any god or man except King Darius within thirty days be thrown into the lions’ den. And this was put into law. Daniel learnt of it all but kept praying thrice daily kneeling , praying and giving thanks to his God, the God of Israel just as he always did  before. The evil plotters went to report him to the King that he violated the law  by not praying to the king but to his God and they insisted that Daniel must be thrown into the lions’ den. Though King Darius was greatly distressed, he determined to rescue Daniel by all means ,  the evil plotters wouldn’t allow. So Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den. But the King bid him farewell and said to him”May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you.!” Dan 6:16b. The King was troubled overnight and he couldn’t sleep. As soon as the day broke , the King hurried to the lions’ den and called in an anguished  voice, “ Daniel servant of the living God, has  your God whom you continually serve been able to rescue you from the lions ?”And Daniel answered, “O King live forever!  My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.

They have not hurt me because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O King.” The King was overjoyed and let Daniel out of the den and no wound was found on him. 

At the King’s  command, men who had falsely  accused Daniel were brought in and thrown in to the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. Then the King issued a decree that people in his kingdom must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and Cyrus the Persian.

Despite all the false accusations against Daniel, God was for and with him. The lions he was with throughout the night that the angel shut their  mouths, devoured his accusers and their families within a twinkle of an eye.

The second character is Mordecai. Est 2-10.

Mordecai was a Jew who lived in Susa. Hadessah also known as  Esther who later became the queen was his cousin.  He took care of Esther and brought her up as his own daughter having lost  both parents. 

Providence brought Esther to the King’s  palace to become the queen when Queen Vashti was to be replaced. The love Mordecai has for Esther brought him to the King’s gate where he was always sitting just to monitor what went on with Esther. It was at the gate he heard about the plan of two of the King’s guards to assassinate King Xerxes. Mordecai informed Queen Esther and she reported to the King. When  the report was found to be true,  credit was given to Mordecai,  the two guards were hanged on gallows. All the events were  recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the King and after the events the King  honoured Haman,  elevated him and gave him a seat of honour higher than all the nobles. All the royal  officials at the King’s gate  paid him homage by kneeling down but Mordecai did not.  Because of this Haman was enraged and angered. He then planned to kill Mordecai and all his people, the Jews in Susa. For Haman to achieve his aim and to gain the support of the  King he had 

to lie against Mordecai that  he and his people in Susa did not obey the King. He manipulated the King to key into his idea and the King gave him a free hand to deal with Mordecai and his people as he pleased. Haman went ahead to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews and a day was chosen to  to kill and destroy them. Mordecai heard of  Haman’s plan and he became dejected and sorrowful. However Mordecai eventually informed Queen Esther  and she rose up to the challenge and took action immediately not minding if she perished for the sake of her people. Among the strategies Queen Esther adopted was to organise a banquet and requested only Haman to join the King.

Haman was so elated that he went round boasting that he was the only one the Queen invited.. A day to the banquet Haman built the gallows he planned Mordecai will be hanged and also a day to the banquet the King could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, which contains the record of his reign. It was read to him and it was discovered that Mordecai  had not been rewarded in form of honour and  recognition for exposing the planned assassination meant for the King. Coincidentally Haman  just entered  the King’s court to speak about the arrangement he had made towards hanging Mordecai a day after. But before Haman could speak the King asked him  to recommend what should be done for the man the King delights to honour.

Haman thought to himself “Who is there that the King would  rather honour  than me?” Est6:6b. So he recommended that the person be robed in the King’s regalia, ride on the King’s horse with a royal crest placed on his head and let one of the nobles take him round the streets. The King asked Haman himself to dress Mordecai up as recommended and take him round the streets of Susa and he did. After the honour, Mordecai returned to the gate as usual, and Haman rushed  home with his head covered in grief sensing his ruin has come. On the second day, at the banquet and in the presence of Haman , Queen Esther told the King how Haman had  planned and billed her people for destruction and slaughter.

Immediately, the King asked Haman to be hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. The King gave his estate to Queen Esther and she appointed Mordecai over Haman’s estate. The Queen made known  to the King her relationship with Mordecai . Haman’s reclaimed signet was given to Mordecai  by the King and he was decorated in royal garments. He became second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, held in high esteem among his fellow Jews and worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. Eventually the ten sons of Haman were hanged on the gallows at the King’s command to exterminate his family.

Brethren, considering the above, if God is for one, no one or group of people can successfully be against one. But we need to take note of the outstanding qualities in Daniel and Mordecai and God might have  considered them as righteousness unto them and stood by them.

For example Daniel distinguished himself among others by his exceptional qualities by being trustworthy, not negligent, not corrupt, very innocent and very fervent in prayer.

Mordecai took care of on orphan ( Esther) and brought her up as her own daughter. He was accredited with a good deed in exposing the assassination plan of King Xerxes; he further showed kindness  by working for the good of his people and also spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

Brethren, for God to be with you, defend , protect and not allow those who may be against you to prevail over you, delight in him and never plan evil against any one or join in planning evil. Stand out  for Christ and be very fervent in prayer.

Prayer.

Heavenly Father,

I pray for godly character, outstanding qualities, and grace to delight in you, shun evil, imbibe righteousness, be fervent in prayer and give my all to you.I pray that you will always be for me . 

In Jesus name.

Diligence

 

DILIGENCE

Pro 22:29, John 9:4.

Diligence means hardwork. It is done with painstaking effort to accomplish or to perform a task. It is being conscientious  and consistent in all duties. It involves thoroughness, perseverance and determination. It is an ingredient to success in all walks of life; whether in secular and non secular endeavours. It is a virtue and it should be applied in all areas of one's life. It drives one to be successful in a career, in business, in profession and in ministry. For one to be fulfilled in ministry,one needs to be diligent. For God puts a diligent person above his competitors. God expects us to be diligent and he said what ever is given to us to do, we should do it diligently according to the grace given to us.Rom12:8.

If it is singing, ushering, teaching, do it diligently. Jesus said" My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working" John 5:17. Also he said "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work."John 9:4.

Brethren,God is busy working 24/7, busy creating and watching all over his creation.His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth and listening to you anytime you call upon him. He says  "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things  you do not know."  That is call any day any time he is ever ready to answer. And Jesus too is at his  right hand pleading your case 24/7 , preparing your place ahead of time.

The one who does not sleep nor slumber, the one whose eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth expects us to be diligent. Our Lord is diligent personified.He wants you to seek him diligently.

Diligence is the pathway to greatness and an antidote to poverty, and a crucial ingredient to success. Therefore, whatever your hand finds to do ,do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecc 9:10. In other words, do whatever  your hand finds to do ,do it with diligence.Apostle Paul admonishes us to be diligent, to take pains  and to strive to look for ways to be more efficient, more effective and to better fulfill your duties, constantly drive yourself towards perfection. 

Diligence in your walk of faith will lead to spiritual growth, success in ministry and it will help you develop a closer relationship with God. In other words, if you are diligent in studying the Bible, praising, worshipping, praying and seeking God you will develop a closer relationship with God. You are admonished to keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. Pro 4:23. Imbibe diligence as a virtue.

Let us consider The Apostle Paul and Elisha as examples of  people who are diligent.

The Apostle Paul.

He was so diligent. So determined, committed and  focused; very efficient, effective and dedicated to the gospel work. He was diligent in preaching, church planting and follow up of new converts. A good encourager and counsellor, writing to believers, encouraging and counseling them. He made  missionary journeys spreading the good news of Jesus Christ  among the Jews and Gentiles. A prolific writer: He authored thirteen of the sixty six books of the Bible and four of them were written while he was in prison, namely  Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. He laboured  more abundantly than all the apostles by the grace of God which was with him. 1Cor15:10. He was so committed to preaching that he had to say" Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot  boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe hto me, if I do not preach the gospel.1Cor 9:16. He was so diligent and strategic about  preaching that he said" I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews, I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law, so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law, I became like one not having the law so as to win those not having the law. To the weak, I became weak to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means, I might save some. I do all these for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessing.1Cor 9:19b-23. He admonished that people should be diligent and he said " We want each of you to show the diligence to the very end, that what you hope may be fully realized. We don't want you to become lazy but through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Heb 6:11-12. He made remarkable  exploits.  Even Lydia  the first convert in Europe was through him when he was in  Macedonia at Philippi. He was a great missionary. Despite all that happened to him in Antioch,  Iconium, Lystra, Jerusalem, Asia minor to mention a few, he was undeterred, he was diligent, and more and more committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. He based his success on the number of souls he was able to win and disciple, convert and follow up and number of churches planted. In addition to all these he was also a tent maker and using the money  to support the ministry. Apostle Paul's  life was an inspiration to people.  (

Elisha.

Elisha would have missed the double portion of Elijah's  spirit  but for diligence through determination, persistence and focus. When  both of them were on their way from Gilgal, Elijah knew he would soon be taken away, he told Elisha to stay where they got to and said the LORD has sent him to Bethel. But Elisha said"As surely as the LORD  lives and as you live  I will not leave you."So they both went to Bethel. Elijah asked him to stay  at  Bethel that the LORD sent him to Jericho. The same reply Elisha gave in 2kings 2:2b he still gave Elijah. They both continued till they got to Jericho. At  Jericho Elijah told Elisha again to stay behind the third time that the LORD sent him to Jordan but Elisha persisted in following and he repeated  the third time" As surely as the LORD lives and as you live I will not leave you." So Elijah used his cloak to partition  River Jordan and they both crossed to Jordan on dry land. When Elijah realized that Elisha was persistent and determined to keep following him he then asked Elisha "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?2 Kings 2:9b. Elisha replied "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit." Elijah told him he had asked for a difficult thing but that if he is able to see him when he is being taken from him, the request will be his, if not, it will not. Elisha focused on him till he was taken away. He picked the cloak that fell from Elijah and received the double  portion of Elijah's  spirit. Immediately he started to perform wonders and he became more honourable. The company of the prophets who were watching realized  the spirit of Elijah was resting on him and went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Brethren this could not have been possible for Elisha but for diligence through determination, persistence and focus.

Benefits of Diligence.

It will enable one to attain true honour and stand before kings and not mean men. Pro 22:29.

It brings an increase of substance as it moves one from poverty to prosperity and also one's plans lead to profit. Pro21:5.

Desires of the diligence are fully satisfied. Pro13:4b.

Diligent hands will rule. Pro12:24b.

It trains one to have focus, to be painstaking, dogged,and to be target oriented.

It is a pathway to greatness .

It leads to spiritual growth in the walk of faith. 

Admonition.

You are admonished to add prudence and discipline to diligence.

Be diligent in non secular assignment given to you and be faithful in it.

Imbibe holiness.

Know your ministry and don't " cut corners."

Be spiritually awake and pray for God's grace always.

Prayer.

Father, grant me the grace and all it takes to be diligent.

In Jesus' name.