Waiting for God week 8, 2013

Having been in the presence of God forty days and nights he did not eat or drink water, indeed he didn’t need them in the period and felt no hunger. It was at the end that hunger came. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he finally became hungry Mat 4:2(ISV). Hunger makes many a man irritable and rash. It was now time to eat physical food, but where was it? He was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him Mk 1:13(ISV) but none had brought him food just yet. Didn’t the father know he needed food now? Hadn’t the appointed time for the fast been forty days? Surely the father would send bread. Saul had fallen in a similar scenario years ago. Samuel had given the time before he would come. Saul was hungry for action, hungry and impatient. He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him 1Sa 13:8(ESV). After all he was the anointed king of Israel, and anointing is anointing not so? Saul forced himself upon the sacrifice1Sa 13:12 (an indication his conscience warned him not to do it). As soon as he finished Samuel arrived, saw what happened and lamented. You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you… now your kingdom shall not continue 1Sam 13:13-14(ESV). So many years later Satan said to Jesus "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread Mat 4:3(ISV). The time is up, aren’t you God’s son, haven’t you been anointed? What are you waiting for? You are a man you know; you need it to live. Command bread! Noah had been shut into the ark by God and rain fell. Now the earth was dry and Noah knew this. Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry Gen 8:13 (ESV). Yet the One who shut him in had not said come out. So he waited until a full month and 27 days when God said: Go out from the ark…Gen8:14-16(ESV). Similarly Elijah had been fed by ravens and drank from the brook by the word of God. When it dried up he waited for God to speak 1Ki 17:4-8. You know what I believe? The angel that was to bring food to Jesus (Mt4:11) must have been delayed at Satan’s instance, just as the angel to bring Daniel’s answer was delayed Dan 10:12-13. Jesus responded, “I am a man alright, but what I live by is God’s word, and until I get it I am not going to presume and take the initiative.” The Son is not able to do anything from Himself, except what He may see the Father doing Jn 5:19(LITV). “I will wait to see what the father has for me.” When you are in need and God has not arrived with the solution do you take your own initiative or wait for God?

Abiathar's curse Week 7, 2013

His family had been cursed and he was running for his life. Abiathar’s great grandfather Phinehas and his brother had committed abominations before God whilst serving as priests: they were even sleeping with the women who worked at the entrance to the Tent of the LORD's presence 1Sam 2:22 (GNB). They also despised God’s offerings and treated it with contempt, forcing themselves prematurely repeatedly on the choice portion of the sacrifices. Ultimately God would have it no more and cursed their line. Behold, the days are coming when … in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men 1Sam2: 31-33(ESV) . Forever! In fulfilment of this curse the 3rd generation priest Ahimelech was murdered by Saul’s henchman, Doeg the Edomite 1Sam2:18-19. He wickedly wiped out the entire priestly village and Abiathar of the 4th generation now fled to David (who is the type of Jesus Christ the King). He said to Abiathar “Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.”1Sam 22:23(ESV). Would to God that all fleeing from curses and mortal enemies run to Jesus Christ. In Him shall you find safety! Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-- so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come… Gal 3:13-14(ESV) For a long time nothing more is heard about the curse. Abiathar came to David and for as long as he remained with him, doing that which is good nothing came upon him. He served as priest and advanced in age. The curse to die by the sword and never reach old age was broken by staying close to David who is a type of Christ the king! But much later in life Adonijah invited him to rebel against David’s wish to make Solomon king, and Abiathar consented! 1Kg1:24-27. By this iniquity the curse activated: So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, thus fulfilling the word of the LORD that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh 1Kg 2:27(ESV). In so far you remain close to Jesus and never turn against Him you need never fear the power of curses, he ends that cycle. Abiathar’s son served as priest both in David’s and Solomon’s reign 1Chron8:16.

From curse to blessing Week6, 2013

Without doubt sin brings with it terrible consequences. Some sins can be seen to affect family lines for generations. One such example is the family of Levi. I refer to the patriarch Levi, son of Jacob, not the New Testament Levi son of Alphaeus. Do you recall what wrong he did? I’ll show you. Three days later, when the men were still sore from their circumcision, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, the brothers of Dinah, took their swords, went into the city without arousing suspicion, and killed all the men Gen 34:25(GNB). They did this to avenge their sister’s rape. Jacob lamented their actions and nothing more was heard of this until his dying day when he pronounced blessings on his sons. Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel Gen 49:5, 7(ESV). This consequence as a result of their father’s pronouncement definitely would seem a great disadvantage. Just like many of us believe we have inherited disadvantages from our ancestors; curses we can do nothing but succumb to. If you think that way consider what happened to the tribe of Levi at the foot of the Mount Sinai when the Israelites worshiped the golden calf. Upon Moses’ return he stood at the gate of the camp and shouted, "Everyone who is on the LORD's side come over here!" So all the Levites gathered around him Ex 32:26(GNB). They obeyed his instructions and by that consecrated themselves to the Lord. God had chosen them as priests and temple workers. Tithes were to be paid to them and their scattering in Israel now was to enable them teach their brothers the laws of God. At the time of death Moses blessed them. And of Levi he said, "Give to Levi your Thummim, and your Urim to your godly one… For they observed your word and kept your covenant. They shall teach Jacob your rules and Israel your law; they shall put incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. Bless, O LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; crush the loins of his adversaries, of those who hate him, that they rise not again Dt 33:8-11(ESV). What was a curse now became a blessing and tool for service. The point is this: what stronger curse than that of a patriarch, a father at the point of death do you know? Yet consecration and obedience to the Lord saw that curse turn into a blessing years after the object of cursing and the pronouncer of the curse had passed on. Do you feel your family is cursed? Consecrate yourself to the Lord, for even that will be turned to blessings in Jesus’ name.

What would Jesus do Week 5, 2013

Each got a copy of the suspension letter dated 10/08/2004. Their professional association organised an industrial action in the hospital lasting 4 days in July 2004. Two of the three had served in the leadership of the association that suspended them, one at a national level. All had participated in such industrial actions before; indeed one had been a national leader during a particularly celebrated and prolonged industrial action. This time around they chose not to participate, convinced that Jesus would not have downed tools were he working in their shoes, and made clear their faith was the basis of the deed. Indeed the former national leader when praying during the national strike kept receiving from God to go back and submit to the government authority. So for the 4 days they quietly went about their duties, not calling media attention to their position. What was the strike all about? What had been the response or lack of it from the management? That was not what mattered to them; just “what would Jesus do?” This is, in fact, what you were called to do, because Christ also suffered for you and left an example for you to follow in his steps 1Pt 2:21(ISV). The suspension letter barred them from the association’s programmes (academic inclusive), institution-bequeathed lounge, and any service by the secretariat. They were to be expelled from the association if an apology letter did not come within 6months. The decisions had been ratified by the congress and the letter signed by the relevant officials. Copies were sent to parent and associate organisations. Their records of service were to be expunged from the association records. Prayers went up nationally and otherwise for them, part of the prayers being to love the persecutors and have their persecutors repent. We sometimes believe persecution is limited to places where people are not church- goers or claim to be Christians; not so. This happened in igboland. According to Joshua project website there are over 24 million Igbos, 98% of who are adherents of the Christian religion. This makes igbos the most evangelised of the major Nigerian ethnicities. Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted2Ti 3:12(ISV). What has happened since? No apology letter was written. At the time of the letter 2 of them had been facing child bearing challenges. Within a year one had started having children, now has twins (and I suspect has had to tell God it’s enough). The other has male and female children and currently heads a tertiary health facility and is employing and fighting for the welfare of the cadre of those who brought persecution. Bless those who persecute you. Keep on blessing them, and never curse them Rom 12:14(ISV). The third also is settled. Of the executive that did this, 2 could not complete the training programme; happily at least 2 know the Lord. Don’t look for persecution; just love and cling to Jesus. It’ll find you someday.