“What are you suggesting; that I be discipled by him into a corrupted image? Never!” Ah, be careful in this arrogance of yours. God sent David into Saul’s court not to learn Saul’s evil ways but to teach him. “I say I have nothing to learn from him. Saul hunted David to kill him while in his court.” Yes; and running away from the palace did not stop the hunt. Let me finish. Despite Saul’s wickedness he eventually bowed to spiritual pressure and gave David the blessing as the next king of Israel. David thus persevered and became the greatest king in Israel. “It was Jonathan who blessed David as future king: And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this."1Sa 23:17(ESV).” Yes, but Saul did so too: And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand 1Sam 24:20(ESV).
Was it not the same with Eli who recognised Samuel as having accurate message from God? So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him."1Sam 3:18(ESV). Was there not an implied hand over by Eli to Samuel here? Scripture afterward recorded Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground 1Sam 3:19(ESV). Which of them, David or Samuel, treated the erring older minister with this scorn, disrespect and disdain you now show?
“Well, I can stay but he is still an old prophet.” I pity you. The old prophet forced himself unto the man of God from Judah; did your supervisor force himself on you? “Well, no. I applied to join this ministry.” As led by the spirit not so? Well in the case of the old prophet the Spirit of God strictly charged the man of God from Judah not to stay in that land, but return through another way: for so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.'" 1Ki 13:9(ESV). Their meeting was because the man of God delayed in returning. “Delayed?” Yes. When the sons of the old prophet told their father which way he was going, by the time the old prophet saddled the donkey and came the man of God was sitting down. And he went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak 1Ki 13:14(ESV). There may be something of Saul in you God wishes to deal with. I fear lest you be worse. If you call him old prophet because he errs, how come you are under him? Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand.
Sunday 30 October 2011
Wednesday 26 October 2011
He’s an old prophet Week 43, 2011
How dare you classify your supervisor as an old prophet? “Is he not one? Look at his antecedents, saying the Lord said but he lies. Then the old prophet from Bethel said to him, "I, too, am a prophet just like you, and at the LORD's command an angel told me to take you home with me and offer you my hospitality." But the old prophet was lying 1Ki 13:18(GNB). He is an old prophet and I can’t listen to him; he has nothing to offer me.” This arrogance of yours is deadly. Is it not God who sent you to be under him? “God? Why would God do that?” Yes, why would God send Samuel to Eli’s house? “He was not sent to Eli’s house but to the Lord. Get your facts right. ” My facts are right, your sight is not. “Watch it o.”
I am, I am. Tell me who put Samuel through on the right response to the voice of God. “God called Samuel three times before he realised it was God...” No. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the young man 1Sa 3:8(ESV). It was Eli who realised it was God and this “old prophet” taught him ministerial ethics. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place 1Sa 3:9(ESV). God would have had to call many more times for Samuel if not for Eli’s intervention. “It’s like you side with old prophets; I trust you are not becoming one.” I see. By the way how did Hannah know her prayer was heard? Was it not the pronouncement of this same old prophet? And the extra children she had, you know there was no talk of that in her agreement with God, was it not the prayer and blessing of this same Eli? Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD." So then they would return to their home. Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters 1Sa 2:20, 21 (ESV). “She sowed into God a child and reaped.” Have you forgotten the power of priestly pronouncement? "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them." Num 6:23, 24, 27 (ESV). God has a divine purpose for placing you under him. Submit to him and let it be done.
I am, I am. Tell me who put Samuel through on the right response to the voice of God. “God called Samuel three times before he realised it was God...” No. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the young man 1Sa 3:8(ESV). It was Eli who realised it was God and this “old prophet” taught him ministerial ethics. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place 1Sa 3:9(ESV). God would have had to call many more times for Samuel if not for Eli’s intervention. “It’s like you side with old prophets; I trust you are not becoming one.” I see. By the way how did Hannah know her prayer was heard? Was it not the pronouncement of this same old prophet? And the extra children she had, you know there was no talk of that in her agreement with God, was it not the prayer and blessing of this same Eli? Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD." So then they would return to their home. Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters 1Sa 2:20, 21 (ESV). “She sowed into God a child and reaped.” Have you forgotten the power of priestly pronouncement? "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them." Num 6:23, 24, 27 (ESV). God has a divine purpose for placing you under him. Submit to him and let it be done.
Thursday 20 October 2011
Don't drive me me out Week 42, 2011
In Jesus’ name, in JESUS’S name you spirit of darkness leave. I say leave me in Jesus’ name! Why are you struggling and trying to drive me out? You invited me here. Invite you? You have no place in me. OUT I say. Ohh, but I am at home here. At home? There is no fellowship between you and I: For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? 2Co 6:14-16 (ESV) you cannot be at home. You do what I like, you use my methods, practice my craft, send men to where I desire; I am at home. What a laugh. I send men to God’s kingdom and don’t practice your craft. You are a liar and father of lies. There is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie he speaks in character, for he is a liar and the father of lies Jn 8:44(ISV).
You command death on all who offend you. There is no forgiveness in your heart for any enemy. “Pursue them, destroy my enemies! Do not cover up their iniquity, let their light be turned into darkness and blot them from your book.” That is your well established rote. It has led to so many coming over to our side and we rejoice with you. I am at home here I say. How can I be having this discussion with you, I said GET OUT! Why send us away?
Us? There is no us. Unforgiveness has been living here for a long time and whenever and wherever he is established I go also. You can’t separate us. I said you are a liar. I simply pronounce God’s judgement upon sinners. Certainly it is right for God to pay back those who afflict you with affliction 2Th 1:6(ISV). I have no such unforgiving spirit. You talk as if you do not know what you do. Did not Isaiah say of the Holy One of God : yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors Isa 53:12(ESV)? But you do what I want, what we want. You intercede against them and send them to us. I have nothing to do with it. It’s God’s judgements. Did you not know what we said to the Holy One of God when He came against us? " Have you come here to torment us before the time?" Mt 8: 29(ESV). Hah! 2Thess1:7, 10 give the time. Is it time? God! Help me, JESUS! I repent. And the LORD said, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" Zec 3:2(ESV) Alright, alright I gooo.
Will the oppressive spirit attack you too?
You command death on all who offend you. There is no forgiveness in your heart for any enemy. “Pursue them, destroy my enemies! Do not cover up their iniquity, let their light be turned into darkness and blot them from your book.” That is your well established rote. It has led to so many coming over to our side and we rejoice with you. I am at home here I say. How can I be having this discussion with you, I said GET OUT! Why send us away?
Us? There is no us. Unforgiveness has been living here for a long time and whenever and wherever he is established I go also. You can’t separate us. I said you are a liar. I simply pronounce God’s judgement upon sinners. Certainly it is right for God to pay back those who afflict you with affliction 2Th 1:6(ISV). I have no such unforgiving spirit. You talk as if you do not know what you do. Did not Isaiah say of the Holy One of God : yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors Isa 53:12(ESV)? But you do what I want, what we want. You intercede against them and send them to us. I have nothing to do with it. It’s God’s judgements. Did you not know what we said to the Holy One of God when He came against us? " Have you come here to torment us before the time?" Mt 8: 29(ESV). Hah! 2Thess1:7, 10 give the time. Is it time? God! Help me, JESUS! I repent. And the LORD said, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" Zec 3:2(ESV) Alright, alright I gooo.
Will the oppressive spirit attack you too?
Have you been paying tithe? Week 41, 2011
That is what my wife asked me. Things had not been getting along well with us for no reason, as I could see. It got so bad that once about four months ago when my wife was about entering the car I had repaired twice that month, the latch came off on her hands. She wondered aloud what was going on and pointedly asked me if I had been faithfully tithing. I had not.
I became a Christian over 20 years ago and started tithing as soon as I began receiving a salary. I have been quite irregular with the tithe, and it would appear to me things were not going on as expected for a Christian. I had several devourers up my purse. Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you Mal 3:8, 9 (ESV). People would just get sick in the house, and my car just kept breaking down. I would repair it and it would again break down about twice in the month. I had sold land four years ago and received N2.7M from it. My wife asked me to tithe the money but I felt that I should not. I invested N1M of it in bank shares that same year in oceanic, first bank and bank PHB, but now the net worth of those shares is about N200, 000. But I did tell them this, 'Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Live the way I told you to live so that things will go well for you.' Jer 7:23(GW)
I now remembered an incident after my wedding seven years ago which should have taught me the lesson. I had been saving up money for the wedding but when the right bride did not come I used up the money. In short I took loans to wed. After my wedding was owing a friend about a N100,000; when I got my next salary I told myself if I pay my tithe it may not be enough to settle my debt but I conferred with my wife and I decided to pay the tithe . I took the tithe out of the salary and left the remaining money in the house and went to church. I paid my tithe and on coming back to the house discovered thieves have entered my house.
They removed the burglary proof from the wall, broke all the locked wardrobes about four in number ,my heart took a leap as I remembered that I left a big sum at home. My neighbour lamented that the thieves broke his wardrobe and took his money. Lo and behold I checked the my wardrobe and discovered that my money was intact then I knew that as He said in Malachi that when we pay our tithe he will rebuke the devourer for our sake is very true: I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Mal 3:11, (ESV). My car went to repairs recently, and has remained ok, and my children have stopped being sickly. Coincidence? No. It pays to tithe.
Ifeanyi lives at Trans Ekulu and works at the Orthopaedic Hospital
I became a Christian over 20 years ago and started tithing as soon as I began receiving a salary. I have been quite irregular with the tithe, and it would appear to me things were not going on as expected for a Christian. I had several devourers up my purse. Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you Mal 3:8, 9 (ESV). People would just get sick in the house, and my car just kept breaking down. I would repair it and it would again break down about twice in the month. I had sold land four years ago and received N2.7M from it. My wife asked me to tithe the money but I felt that I should not. I invested N1M of it in bank shares that same year in oceanic, first bank and bank PHB, but now the net worth of those shares is about N200, 000. But I did tell them this, 'Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Live the way I told you to live so that things will go well for you.' Jer 7:23(GW)
I now remembered an incident after my wedding seven years ago which should have taught me the lesson. I had been saving up money for the wedding but when the right bride did not come I used up the money. In short I took loans to wed. After my wedding was owing a friend about a N100,000; when I got my next salary I told myself if I pay my tithe it may not be enough to settle my debt but I conferred with my wife and I decided to pay the tithe . I took the tithe out of the salary and left the remaining money in the house and went to church. I paid my tithe and on coming back to the house discovered thieves have entered my house.
They removed the burglary proof from the wall, broke all the locked wardrobes about four in number ,my heart took a leap as I remembered that I left a big sum at home. My neighbour lamented that the thieves broke his wardrobe and took his money. Lo and behold I checked the my wardrobe and discovered that my money was intact then I knew that as He said in Malachi that when we pay our tithe he will rebuke the devourer for our sake is very true: I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Mal 3:11, (ESV). My car went to repairs recently, and has remained ok, and my children have stopped being sickly. Coincidence? No. It pays to tithe.
Ifeanyi lives at Trans Ekulu and works at the Orthopaedic Hospital
Abraham's reward Week 40, 2011
“Abraham’s blessings are mine, Abraham’s blessings are mine! I am blessed in the morning, blessed in the evening ...” So what is this blessing you claim so forcefully? “His reward; the LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys Gen 24:35(ESV).”
Was that THE reward? Hummer jeeps, fat accounts, houses... “Wait now, read the next verse: And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has Gen 24:36(ESV). God really rewarded Abraham. What greater blessing than to have children after you who receive the heritage from you?”
That was not the reward God promised. Let’s not see the reward of obedience from the standpoint of things; things gotten from God, and perhaps always in comparison with others. When God promised a reward it was far greater than any thing: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward Gen 15:1(RV). “I don’t mean to sound disrespectful but this sounds nebulous. What does that translate to in tangible things?” Abraham also wanted tangible things, in fact he said "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Gen 15:2(ESV). Here God offers you Himself, saying “I am your reward”, and you say “What will you give me?” I feel years later God now asked “Is it Me or the child?” and was relieved when Abraham emphatically said “It’s you Lord”. So God now knew Abraham fears God Gen 22:1-12. Unbelievers and sinners can and do have flocks, money, and children after them Mt5:45, but only the righteous have the LORD as their portion. The LORD is my inheritance and my cup. Ps 16:5(GW). Don’t reduce God’s reward to mere things.
“Can one really blame Abraham? We live in a tangible world...” My dear if you have a husband all he has is yours too. Because God was Abraham’s portion his tangible inheritance is the world. “The world?” Yes God promised Abraham and his descendants that he would give them the world Rom 4:13(CEV). So when you claim Abraham’s reward know what you are claiming. “Yes: the whole world!” How slow you are to learn: God Himself. He has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world.2Pe 1:4(CEV).
Was that THE reward? Hummer jeeps, fat accounts, houses... “Wait now, read the next verse: And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has Gen 24:36(ESV). God really rewarded Abraham. What greater blessing than to have children after you who receive the heritage from you?”
That was not the reward God promised. Let’s not see the reward of obedience from the standpoint of things; things gotten from God, and perhaps always in comparison with others. When God promised a reward it was far greater than any thing: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward Gen 15:1(RV). “I don’t mean to sound disrespectful but this sounds nebulous. What does that translate to in tangible things?” Abraham also wanted tangible things, in fact he said "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Gen 15:2(ESV). Here God offers you Himself, saying “I am your reward”, and you say “What will you give me?” I feel years later God now asked “Is it Me or the child?” and was relieved when Abraham emphatically said “It’s you Lord”. So God now knew Abraham fears God Gen 22:1-12. Unbelievers and sinners can and do have flocks, money, and children after them Mt5:45, but only the righteous have the LORD as their portion. The LORD is my inheritance and my cup. Ps 16:5(GW). Don’t reduce God’s reward to mere things.
“Can one really blame Abraham? We live in a tangible world...” My dear if you have a husband all he has is yours too. Because God was Abraham’s portion his tangible inheritance is the world. “The world?” Yes God promised Abraham and his descendants that he would give them the world Rom 4:13(CEV). So when you claim Abraham’s reward know what you are claiming. “Yes: the whole world!” How slow you are to learn: God Himself. He has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world.2Pe 1:4(CEV).
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