Adam, where are you? God had asked after Adam and his wife disobeyed him. I heard you in the garden, Adam replied, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid. It was no game of peek-a-boo! The penalty was death. God cursed Adam and his wife because they had eaten of the forbidden fruit in the garden (Genesis 3).
The world today is like another garden of Eden. We know the forbiden fruits... Adultery, fornication, envy, murder, lies .. And the list goes on.
God is asking you the same question today, where are you? Are you busy enjoying the fruits the world has to offer? Are you hiding from God? Are you blaming someone else for the position you are in today? Are you afraid? Are you naked? Do you hear God in the garden? Do you hear Jesus knocking on the door of your heart? It is no peek-a-boo! What God has to offer is eternal life.
Stop hiding, run to him, naked as you are, fall at his feet, and receive gladly the gift of eternal life. His covering for you this time around is not made of animal skin, it is the blood of Jesus. A ticket to eternity!
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Monday 14 May 2012
Majesty!
I was at the live recording of the song 'Eternally' by Sister Tayo Adigun yesterday. One of the songs she sang was talking about the supremacy of God and she asked the question 'have you not known? Have you not heard?..'
Today, I will be taking us to the book of Isaiah, chapter 40. It talks about the majesty of the Lord.
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing.
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing.
18 With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?
To what image will you liken him?
21 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
23 He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
24 No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
25 “To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Thursday 10 May 2012
At crossroads?
Lot was moving about with Abram, and it got to a point where the land could not support them both, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between their herders.
So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
This was a ‘cross road’ for Lot but this is what he did, he looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. He pitched his tent near Sodom!
Lot’s decision brought him a lot of trouble, and twice he had to be saved by Abram. The first time was when he was taken captive by the kings of Elam, Goyim, Shinar and Ellasar (Genesis 14 verse 16).
I’m sure we remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, how God destroyed the cities with a rain of fire and how, through Abraham’s intervention, God sent an Angel to take Lot, together with his family to a safe place, even though he lost his wife along the way.
We all get to crossroads in life, where we have to make decisions regarding our life partner, home, work place, church, a trip we want to make, a school for the children … anything at all. Remember, this one decision could be life defining.
Instead of taking a decision based on the physical things you see, some decisions are better taken with your eyes closed as you pray to God. Psalm 32 verse 8 says: “I will lead you along the best pathway for your life”
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take”
David formed the habit of constantly asking... Lord, shall I go?
Tuesday 8 May 2012
Delilah's bosom
Samson met and fell in love with Delilah, a woman in the valley of Sorek. He found comfort in her bosom, it was a place to lay his head, find warmth, bare his heart, tell his secrets, share his source of strength, a time to trust completely..
The rulers of the Philistine came unto Delilah and said, 'Entice him, and see where-in his strength lies, and by that means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him, and we will give thee everyone of us eleven pieces of silver..
Note that they completely spelt out what evil plans they had for Samson, it did not matter to her anyway because she was more interested in the last phrase, her reward!
In order to entice him, she must have made him his favorite meals, shown interest in his wellbeing, given him a massage when he needed one, made her funds available to him if he needed it, made herself readily available... She made every effort to accomplish her mission and with such nagging she prodded him day after day, until he told her everything she wanted to know (Judges 16 verse 16).
She put him to sleep on her lap and called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his head, and so began to subdue him, until his strength left him... and not only did his strength leave him, God also left him! (Judges 16, verse 20).
It is very important we watch where we find comfort. Not everyone we love deserves our love, not everyone we trust deserves our trust. Sometimes, the ones who are plotting our downfall for their gains are the ones who 'appear' to be most interested in our affairs. They are the ones who are most persistent in getting information from us. When they see that they have tried and failed, they will change strategy and try again.
The truth is this, whether we like it or not, we all have a Delilah around us, and what's more, we find comfort in her. I pray today that we lose every form of comfort we find around Delilah so that when next we put our heads in her bosom, we are quick to pick ourselves up and head for the nearest exit.
Remember that they would not have been able to cut Samson's hair if they had not been able to get close, really close!
The rulers of the Philistine came unto Delilah and said, 'Entice him, and see where-in his strength lies, and by that means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him, and we will give thee everyone of us eleven pieces of silver..
Note that they completely spelt out what evil plans they had for Samson, it did not matter to her anyway because she was more interested in the last phrase, her reward!
In order to entice him, she must have made him his favorite meals, shown interest in his wellbeing, given him a massage when he needed one, made her funds available to him if he needed it, made herself readily available... She made every effort to accomplish her mission and with such nagging she prodded him day after day, until he told her everything she wanted to know (Judges 16 verse 16).
She put him to sleep on her lap and called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his head, and so began to subdue him, until his strength left him... and not only did his strength leave him, God also left him! (Judges 16, verse 20).
It is very important we watch where we find comfort. Not everyone we love deserves our love, not everyone we trust deserves our trust. Sometimes, the ones who are plotting our downfall for their gains are the ones who 'appear' to be most interested in our affairs. They are the ones who are most persistent in getting information from us. When they see that they have tried and failed, they will change strategy and try again.
The truth is this, whether we like it or not, we all have a Delilah around us, and what's more, we find comfort in her. I pray today that we lose every form of comfort we find around Delilah so that when next we put our heads in her bosom, we are quick to pick ourselves up and head for the nearest exit.
Remember that they would not have been able to cut Samson's hair if they had not been able to get close, really close!
Perfect? Next!
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
Jesus said unto the people “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18 verse 10 - 14).
If Christ comes knocking on your door today and you think you don’t need him because you are ‘perfect’ as you are, he will simply move on to the next person.
Also, if you look at yourself, maybe even your past, and you think you don’t deserve Christ’s mercy. Maybe you believe you are too far gone into the world and cannot be redeemed. The fact that you acknowledge that you are imperfect, is a good way to let you know that you need Christ.
Or maybe it’s the other side of the coin; the Holy Spirit has been drawing your mind to a neighbour, a friend, or maybe family member, but No! you say, this person has gone too deep into the world. He can never be redeemed; I can’t even imagine him giving his life to Christ!
The truth is this, if the world was full of ‘perfect’ people, then the world won’t need Christ. Jesus will not have to die for our sins, he will not have to pray for us, and what we know as salvation today would not even exist!
You know how we look at a lady and say.. Oh! She is a wife material. There is nothing like ‘heaven material’. That thing you see about yourself or that other person today that makes you say no way! Is the same thing God looks at and says Yes! There is a way.
Heaven is not for perfect people, it's for people who have been made perfect in Christ. Imperfect? Yes!
Psalm 125
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
4 Lord, do good to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways
the Lord will banish with the evildoers.
to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways
the Lord will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.
Monday 7 May 2012
I'm still grateful
The last few weeks have been super hectic, with my husband away from home for a few weeks and having to take care of the baby and the home all alone. I suddenly realize how ‘smooth’ my life had been before now.
Pressure has come from all sides… the baby was down sometime last week but I thank God she is ok now, my car has made several trips to the mechanic’s and is still there even now, electricity all of a sudden is now so poor with the rumor that the transformer is faulty, ready water has almost become a dream, my finances have gone in the most unexpected direction. It’s so bad that even when I manage to prepare a message to share on the blog, posting it is ‘war’ because my internet connection has never been this unreliable; in fact, I can go on and on.
I almost feel drained of all my energy. Every new day has come with new and unpleasant challenges. Last night, as I lay on my bed, I felt like the whole world was sitting on my shoulder, I was thinking of everything I’ve been through especially in the past week, and for some reason, even with tears in my eyes, all I could say was “Lord, I’m still grateful!”
I was reading recent posts on www.ayobolu-ayodele.blogspot.com and every line I read lifted my spirit. It almost felt like the posts were especially for me. My mind raced to 2 Corinthians 4 verse 8, it says “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair”
The burden is lifted, and all I have in my heart is praises to my maker. Yes it is rough now, but it will only be for a while. I want to reach out to every single person out there going through a rough period. Just hold on, stay grateful, and I can tell you help is surely on the way. The bible says ‘God is our constant help in time of need’. You are not alone.
Psalm 112
1 Praise the Lord
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Friday 4 May 2012
A special name for a special God
Psalm 91 verse 4 says "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name".
I believe there is so much in a name. If you want to name your child for example, what you do is you express yourself, usually out of your experience with planning, expecting, and carrying the baby. And because the experience is different each time, you have different names for the different children.
In the same way, I have discovered that there is a special name, also based on my experience that helps me connect to God the most. I have been through a lot and only God has seen me through.
He is a constant friend and companion. He sees me in my darkest hour, feels me in my lowest moment, he hears me when all I can do is whisper. He is a constant help in time of need, he is always near, always willing.
He loves me endlessly, protects me, defends me and covers me. He is my God, my maker, my father, my king, my saviour, my deliverer, my strength and the lover of my soul.
He is my rock and my fortress, the one who fights my battles.
I cannot express all that he represents in one word, not even in many words, but every time I call him my shelter, my heart leaps because for some reason, that has been the deepest for me. My heart is full of gratitude for all that he has done for me and for all that he means to me and even though I know that I can never thank him enough, I want to say that my heart is filled with awe for him.
I don't know what name you want to call him today, but please go ahead and call him that name as you worship him, it is true he deserves more than we could ever give or offer.
I believe there is so much in a name. If you want to name your child for example, what you do is you express yourself, usually out of your experience with planning, expecting, and carrying the baby. And because the experience is different each time, you have different names for the different children.
In the same way, I have discovered that there is a special name, also based on my experience that helps me connect to God the most. I have been through a lot and only God has seen me through.
He is a constant friend and companion. He sees me in my darkest hour, feels me in my lowest moment, he hears me when all I can do is whisper. He is a constant help in time of need, he is always near, always willing.
He loves me endlessly, protects me, defends me and covers me. He is my God, my maker, my father, my king, my saviour, my deliverer, my strength and the lover of my soul.
He is my rock and my fortress, the one who fights my battles.
I cannot express all that he represents in one word, not even in many words, but every time I call him my shelter, my heart leaps because for some reason, that has been the deepest for me. My heart is full of gratitude for all that he has done for me and for all that he means to me and even though I know that I can never thank him enough, I want to say that my heart is filled with awe for him.
I don't know what name you want to call him today, but please go ahead and call him that name as you worship him, it is true he deserves more than we could ever give or offer.
Lord, open my eyes!
Abraham sent Hagar and her child away, and after she had wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba for so long, she ran out of water and was scared her child will die. As she sat down and wept, God heard her child's voice and so he opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, so she filled a bottle and gave the child water to drink (Genesis 21 verse 19)
Elisha's servant was scared when he saw that they had been surrounded by the Syrians but Elisha prayed and God opened the young man's eyes, so he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha ( 2 Kings 6 verse 17)
Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac when God opened his eyes, and right there in the thicket, he saw a ram caught by its horns and he sacrificed that in place of his son (Genesis 22 verse 13)
There are some provisions around you that you would never see, use or enjoy, unless God opens your eyes. Help might just be standing next to you and you wouldn't recognize it. Opportunities might be passing you by and you wouldn't even notice. Doors may be open right in front of you and you wouldn't see them.
I believe it's important for us all to say this simple prayer "Lord, open my eyes". Your ability to see is your ability to possess that which is yours. As simple as this request sounds, the results will be amazing!
Elisha's servant was scared when he saw that they had been surrounded by the Syrians but Elisha prayed and God opened the young man's eyes, so he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha ( 2 Kings 6 verse 17)
Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac when God opened his eyes, and right there in the thicket, he saw a ram caught by its horns and he sacrificed that in place of his son (Genesis 22 verse 13)
There are some provisions around you that you would never see, use or enjoy, unless God opens your eyes. Help might just be standing next to you and you wouldn't recognize it. Opportunities might be passing you by and you wouldn't even notice. Doors may be open right in front of you and you wouldn't see them.
I believe it's important for us all to say this simple prayer "Lord, open my eyes". Your ability to see is your ability to possess that which is yours. As simple as this request sounds, the results will be amazing!
The axe head floats!
2 Kings 6
The men with Elisha were cutting down wood when one of them lost his axe head. He looked to Elisha for help, especially because the axe was borrowed. And when he had shown Elisha where it fell, Elisha cut down a stick and cast it into the place and the axe head did float so the man picked it up again.
It would be nice if you can actually imagine what happened here, a metal floating? How do you think a metal can 'travel' up from underneath the water and then stay at rest on top of the water? That is breaking every rule we know about gravity. If you drop a metal in water today, you would naturally expect it to stay under the water.
Also think about this, of what good is an axe without the axe head? Today we find ourselves holding on to remnants of what used to be whole, it could be a home, a relationship, a marriage, a business, health.. or anything at all. Maybe you have invested a lot of time or a huge part of your life in something, and all of a sudden you discover you have almost lost it all.
The God we serve is one that restores! I want to encourage you to throw a stick into that water today, and expect that God will restore unto you, all you have lost. That stick may be a sincere prayer, your faith or even a seed.
Jeremiah 30 verse 3 says "The days are coming, declares the Lord, where I will restore the fortunes of my people.."
Isaiah 61 verse 1 says "Instead of your shame, there shall be a double portion, instead of dishonour they shall rejoice in their lot, therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion, they shall have everlasting joy".
Jeremiah 30 verse 17 says "I will restore health to you, and your wound I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast".
Joel 2 verse 25 says "I will restore to you, the years that the locust has eaten ..."
David said in Psalm 71 verse 20 " Though you have made me see trouble, many and bitter, you will restore my life again, from the depths of the earth, you will again bring me up".
My prayer for you today, is in Ruth chapter 4 and verse 15, it says "He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age". If the axe head can float, then you can be sure you will get yours back.
The men with Elisha were cutting down wood when one of them lost his axe head. He looked to Elisha for help, especially because the axe was borrowed. And when he had shown Elisha where it fell, Elisha cut down a stick and cast it into the place and the axe head did float so the man picked it up again.
It would be nice if you can actually imagine what happened here, a metal floating? How do you think a metal can 'travel' up from underneath the water and then stay at rest on top of the water? That is breaking every rule we know about gravity. If you drop a metal in water today, you would naturally expect it to stay under the water.
Also think about this, of what good is an axe without the axe head? Today we find ourselves holding on to remnants of what used to be whole, it could be a home, a relationship, a marriage, a business, health.. or anything at all. Maybe you have invested a lot of time or a huge part of your life in something, and all of a sudden you discover you have almost lost it all.
The God we serve is one that restores! I want to encourage you to throw a stick into that water today, and expect that God will restore unto you, all you have lost. That stick may be a sincere prayer, your faith or even a seed.
Jeremiah 30 verse 3 says "The days are coming, declares the Lord, where I will restore the fortunes of my people.."
Isaiah 61 verse 1 says "Instead of your shame, there shall be a double portion, instead of dishonour they shall rejoice in their lot, therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion, they shall have everlasting joy".
Jeremiah 30 verse 17 says "I will restore health to you, and your wound I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast".
Joel 2 verse 25 says "I will restore to you, the years that the locust has eaten ..."
David said in Psalm 71 verse 20 " Though you have made me see trouble, many and bitter, you will restore my life again, from the depths of the earth, you will again bring me up".
My prayer for you today, is in Ruth chapter 4 and verse 15, it says "He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age". If the axe head can float, then you can be sure you will get yours back.
What is enough?
We all have dreams, hopes and aspirations. Sometimes however, they seem so farfetched or almost impossible. Because we operate in the present, we tend to be confined by present situations. We focus more on the situation at hand which of course is not always encouraging.
We say our strength is not enough, our supplies are not enough, our qualification is not enough, our supporters are not enough and our level of exposure is not enough..... Doubt sets in, and we wonder if we could ever achieve success.
I found classic examples in the bible and I've learnt from these people that once God is involved, even a grain of rice will feed Nations!
Let's take a quick look at Samson (Judges 15). The Philistines had burnt his wife and father in-law alive. He swore he will be avenged of them and even though all he had was a fresh jaw bone of a donkey, he slew 1,000 men, because the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him.
In the same book of Judges, Chapter 7, Gideon had about 32,000 men in his army when they wanted to go against the Midianites but God told him they were too many, lest they think they achieved victory by themselves. So with God's help, he was able to screen the army down to 300 men. So he divided the 300 men into 3 companies and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. Look what happens! When the time came, 135,000 Midianites came against them and Gideon and his men blew the trumpet, broke the pitchers and held the lamps in their left hands and together with one voice they shouted, the sword of the Lord, and of Gideon! And the bible records that the Lord set the enemies sword against each other, and gave Gideon and his men victory. Isn't it amazing!
I'm sure you are familiar with the story of Elisha and his servant (2 Kings 6 verse 17). The king of Syria was sore troubled because Elisha revealed even the things he spoke in his bed chamber to the King of Israel. So he sent horses, chariots and a great host to arrest Elisha. Elisha's servant saw that the host, together with their horses and chariots had compassed the city so he said to Elisha, Alas! what shall we do? When the host came close, Elisha prayed that God should smite the men with blindness and God answered his prayer so they were not able to capture Elisha.
What made the difference was not the donkeys jaw, the 300 men, or the fact that Elisha's servant saw the host and their horses and chariots; rather, what made the difference was the presence of God. No wonder Moses said in Exodus 33 verse 15, "If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here".
Ask for his presence today, no matter what situation you are faced with.
We say our strength is not enough, our supplies are not enough, our qualification is not enough, our supporters are not enough and our level of exposure is not enough..... Doubt sets in, and we wonder if we could ever achieve success.
I found classic examples in the bible and I've learnt from these people that once God is involved, even a grain of rice will feed Nations!
Let's take a quick look at Samson (Judges 15). The Philistines had burnt his wife and father in-law alive. He swore he will be avenged of them and even though all he had was a fresh jaw bone of a donkey, he slew 1,000 men, because the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him.
In the same book of Judges, Chapter 7, Gideon had about 32,000 men in his army when they wanted to go against the Midianites but God told him they were too many, lest they think they achieved victory by themselves. So with God's help, he was able to screen the army down to 300 men. So he divided the 300 men into 3 companies and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. Look what happens! When the time came, 135,000 Midianites came against them and Gideon and his men blew the trumpet, broke the pitchers and held the lamps in their left hands and together with one voice they shouted, the sword of the Lord, and of Gideon! And the bible records that the Lord set the enemies sword against each other, and gave Gideon and his men victory. Isn't it amazing!
I'm sure you are familiar with the story of Elisha and his servant (2 Kings 6 verse 17). The king of Syria was sore troubled because Elisha revealed even the things he spoke in his bed chamber to the King of Israel. So he sent horses, chariots and a great host to arrest Elisha. Elisha's servant saw that the host, together with their horses and chariots had compassed the city so he said to Elisha, Alas! what shall we do? When the host came close, Elisha prayed that God should smite the men with blindness and God answered his prayer so they were not able to capture Elisha.
What made the difference was not the donkeys jaw, the 300 men, or the fact that Elisha's servant saw the host and their horses and chariots; rather, what made the difference was the presence of God. No wonder Moses said in Exodus 33 verse 15, "If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here".
Ask for his presence today, no matter what situation you are faced with.
Thursday 3 May 2012
Listen to your donkey
Numbers 22
Balaam was on his way to Moab because he had been summoned by Balak, the king of Moab. Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites, because he had seen what the Israelites had done to the Amorites and was scared that Moab will share the same fate.
Now, the Angel of the Lord stood in Balaam’s way to oppose him. Balaam was prepared to go on the journey, but his donkey saw the danger ahead and refused to move.
Angry Balaam struck the donkey three times until the donkey spoke and God opened Balaam’s eyes, so that he could see the Angel, who had a drawn sword in his hand. Only then did he realize that his life had been saved by a donkey.
In Exodus 23, God sent his Angel to lead Israel. Verse 20 says “Behold, I send an Angel before thee to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Sometimes, we get little warnings over certain issues but we are quick to disregard them. It has happened to me so many times and when I eventually get an unpleasant result, I remember the subtle warning I got, and I say “Oh! If only the warning was more persistent”. Sometimes, it’s even over matters you won’t describe as ‘serious’.
Warnings do not necessarily mean you are on the wrong track, it could mean that the timing is not right and so you need to hold on. It won’t be out of place to pause when next you get that little warning. You can take out time to pray over the matter again until you have peace about going ahead. Balaam was prepared to turn back in verse 34 but the Angel of the Lord gave him the go ahead, on the condition that he will speak only words God has put in his mouth.
Your donkey could be your mind, a preacher on TV or radio, a road-side sign, a passer-by talking to someone else on the road, a little child, a story you just read from a book, a little picture in your kitchen, a song… anything at all, even your dream.
Titus 3 verse 10 says “warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that have nothing to do with him
Revelations 3 verse 19 says “for as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore and repent".
Heed that warning today. Be sure you are on track.
Mercy from the belly of a fish
I met a man a few months ago, who complained bitterly about how God was dealing with him. He talked about how everything had gone terribly wrong and how simple things had become so difficult. He said he even started a church at some point but it failed. He then made a statement which I found shocking! He said he would stop praying or having any form of communication with God because God had been unfair to him.
I was reading the story of Jonah and that young man came back to my mind.
Jonah Chapter 1 & 2
God had sent Jonah to Nineveh, to cry against it; for their wickedness had come up before him but Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, so he went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. This angered the Lord so he sent a great storm and Jonah was thrown into the sea, where he was swallowed by a fish. God was dealing with Jonah because of his rebellion or disobedience but Jonah did not see the situation as a hopeless one, he never gave up on God, he prayed unto the Lord out of the fish's belly, and said…
3For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
4Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
5The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
7When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
9But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
10And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
I would lay emphasis on verse 4 and 9. Verse 4 says “Yet, I will look again toward thy holy temple” and verse 9 says “Salvation is of the Lord’s”. The truth is, when God is dealing with you, the only one that can save you is God himself. Don’t go running around where there is no help, and giving up should not be an option.
Say to yourself, just like Jonah did… I will yet look again, towards God’s holy temple, and if indeed, you believe that salvation is of the Lord’s, you can ask him for mercy. The bible says that God is merciful.
He will deliver you, safely ashore.
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