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.
No comments:
Post a Comment