Consistent Partnership with Unbelivers

Consistent Partnership With Unbelivers 

II Kings 3:4-5, 7 NKJV

[4] Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheepbreeder, and he regularly paid the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams. [5] But it happened, when Ahab died, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel....[7] Then he went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he said, “I will go up; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 

God is very consistent in His dislike of alliances and partnerships between a believer and a non believer. From an old testament concept of two unequal animals tied together for ploughing, God insists that there must be "separation", between a Christian believer and a non believer. Here's how passionate Derby Gibson is on this matter. " The New Testament concept of an unequal yoke (2 Cor 6.14-18) found its origins in the Mosaic ban on ploughing "with an ox [clean animal] and an ass [unclean beast] together" (Deut 22.10). Because believers and unbelievers are also of completely different natures it is vitally important for Christians to avoid close associations with the ungodly. In practical terms, this principle applies to three main areas: business, marriage, and religion". 

    Jehoshaphat had alliances with Ahab, even though he was a godly king. William Higgins explains the different accomplishments of Jehoshaphat. " Jehoshaphat the faithful. He walked in God’s ways – “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. . . . (He) sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments. . . His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord” – 2 Chronicles 17:3-6.

   Not only was he faithful – he was a reformer. He led the people to be faithful as well (like his father Asa).

v. 6 – he took away the high places and Asherim, vs. 7-9 – he began a program that taught the people the Law of God. Next we see portrayed . . .

2) Jehoshaphat the blessed.

17:5 – He had great wealth". 

   The tragedy were all in his association with Ahab's family. He made a marriage alliance with Ahab He gave his son in marriage to Ahab’s daughter. Then he went to fight at Ramoth-gilead with Ahab, and nearly lost his life. In today's read, the son has invited him to come and help fight the king of Moab. 

   We don't have all the space in this vignette. Be sure that God does not support close alliance with unbelivers. Note how Jehoshaphat always wants to consult God? Yet he may not do the will of God. What about you? How often do you respond to God's directions? Good morning.

The Kingdom Standard

The Kingdom Standard 

II Kings 3:1-3 NKJV

[1] Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. [2] And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made. [3] Nevertheless he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.

When we were very young, we went to watch a cinema. At that time , television had not come into our country. We enjoyed the screening of emulsion films. The gate fee was set for three pence. I had two pence. Two of my friends had a penny each. We begged the gate men to allow us go in to watch the movie with the entire four pence, and they refused. They said our money was not up to standard of what they could collect. We sat by the sand outside and missed the entire movie. Even a movie had standards.

   God has standards of behaviour and acceptance of people into the Kingdom. Here's one from Mat.5:20. " For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". Jehoram, the son of Ahab tried to be different from the father. He even put away the worship of Baal, but he still did evil which made the nation to sin.

   God isnt looking for people to patronize Him on Sundays. God is interested in disciples and stewards. Someone in a blog post writes that, " Good stewards tend to be grateful people. We lead well from a position of eagerness and desire, not duty or compulsion. We want to return to Him what which He deserves, not pursue our own selfish interests. See 1 Peter 5:2-3." Jehoram failed in God's standards. 

    Someone makes an attempt to summarize what may be required in God's standards. " God wants our MOUTH and our HEART to both be dedicated to worshiping and loving Him. When your MOUTH honors God but your HEART dishonors God, this is hypocrisy. Jesus knows those that are HIS, and Jesus knows them that are HYPOCRITES." Would your God's Standard beat the ones who go to church every week without Christ? You have to think well before you answer. Good morning.

You Don't Mock Elders

You Don't Mock Elders

II Kings 2:23-25 NKJV

[23] Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” [24] So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. [25] Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Some days ago, Dr Eneche of Dunamis International Center raised a media storm when a socialite decided to comment on a trending issue in Nigerian church development. Dr Enemche was visibly angry on several grounds but more on the fact that African culture has no room for disrespect to a senior. 

   In March,6,2014, Atane Ofiaja comment about ignorant elders who display ignorance or cruelty.  He says, "...we shouldn’t feel obligated to respect, revere or defer to them simply for being old".  Fidelia Okosodo thinks differently. " Every society is built on certain values. In Africa, respect for elders is among the core cultural values. This respect is expected to flow from the younger person to the elderly, whether they have family ties or not. In many instances, it does not attract reciprocity". The debate could go on. 

   The Bible recommends our respecting elders, beginning with our parents. Ex.20:12, Prov. 23:22. Prov. 20:20 and 30:17 recommends that disrespectful children are worthy of death. So when those children mocked  Elisha, they contravened that law.

   The New Testament recommends for children to honour elders beginning with their parents. 1Tim.5:8. Those children crossed the line, and they experienced God's anger. We may have our opinions, but God wants us to have a deep respect for our elders. Good morning.

Reverse the Curse

Reversing The Curse

II Kings 2:19, 21-22 NKJV

[19] Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”

...[21] Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” [22] So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

This is the beginnings of Elisha's ministry. Albert Barnes says that the translation should have read  “...and the land apt to miscarry.” Then he explains  that " The stream was thought to be the cause of untimely births, abortions, and the like, among the cattle, perhaps also among the people, that drank of it". In one of our vignettes, we observed that the land of Jericho had remained under a curse as well. Joshua 6:26. Jericho was the first city to fall inro conquest, so , Israel dedicated the city to the Lord. In 1 Kings 16:34, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. " He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord ". 

    Today we hear that the city is not only occupied, but everything about it is barren. Joshua never said that the city will never be rebuilt. His curse just came through in the life of Hiel. 

   It took one man to pronounce the curse, it takes another to reverse it. So Elisha went to the source of water and spoke a reversal. He poured in the salt and made the water sweet. Your family curse can not be forever. Someone spoke it into being. May you speak life back in its place. And you're authorized to do so as a New Creation. Reverse the curse.

   Today I speak a reversal of whatever the enemy had intended against you. I speak the divine ability of God to show up for you beyond the curse. No power can stand against the blood of Jesus. I speak a sprinkling of the blood over your condition. I declare you free. Thank you Jesus. Jericho became a prosperous city after that. I feel a lifting. Good morning.

The Test For Divine Direction

The Test For Divine Direction 

II Kings 2:16-18 NKJV

[16] Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send anyone.” [17] But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. [18] And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?” 

This encounter was the first test of leadership for Elisha. He had just graduated magna cum laude from Elijah. The sons of the prophet observed that the spirit of Elijah now dwells on Elisha. But they needed to be sure he will have the keen insight to lead them and the nation. They confronted him to go and search for Elijah. If they found Elijah's corpse, then the masquerade would have been undressed in the public. Their feelings would have moved from awe to suspicion, and perhaps indignation. They are wondering: did this guy hear directly from God like Elijah? 

   Here is Adam Clarke. " Though they saw him taken up towards heaven, yet they thought it possible that the Spirit of the Lord might have descended with him, and left him on some remote mountain or valley". It was a futile mission. By the time they returned, their respect of Elisha deepened. 

    A similar thing happens in leadership when people are interested in knowing who or what is leading you the  leader. Here is a contemporary answer to this problem by Leadership Dynamics." The authority of a leader is diluted if the followers work out that the leader they are following is not being led. Nobody has all the wisdom and all the answers and a secure leader will always ask for guidance.  It is not what you say, but what you do as a leader that truly counts. It’s what the team observes and the quality of your leadership will be determined by your ability to allow yourself to be led". That's not a Bible study commentary. Its a leadership postulation of the 21st century. People want to know: is God leading you? Elisha waited in Jericho unti he passed the exams. Now his leadership grace is established. 

  It may take a little time for people to trust you. Keep waiting. They will. They finally believed fully on the ministry of Elisha. They will believe in yours. Good morning.

The Spirit Of Elijah On Elisha

The Spirit Of Elijah On Elisha 

II Kings 2:14-15 NKJV

[14] Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. [15] Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. 

When there's a transference of mantle(s) to someone, there's an automatic recognition by others apart from the carrier of the mantle. The reason is simple. The new carrier is noticed to begin to act and respond in the same manner as the previous carrier without a conscious training. Receving a mantle means " being wrapped in God's authority, or even being graced with the presence of the Holy Spirit" as a previous person in the same calling.

  So Elisha returned to Jordan at the departure of Elijah. What was Elijah's last encounter became Elisha's first problem. " Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" The sea fled. The sons of the prophet recognized that it was not just Elisha who returned. They bowed to the ground. The mantle had returned.

   This transference is replete all over scripture. Here's an observation from a scholar. " We see examples of mantles in the Bible. Jesus had a mantle and took the seat of authority when He sat down after speaking to the people in the synagogue after reading from Luke 4. Elisha received Elijah's mantle (2 Kings 2:8–14). Paul had a mantle that accompanied his assignment (Acts 26:12-20)". We could go on. Every mantle carries a spirit of service from one generation to the next. Now, the ministry of Elisha begins. You too can get this mantle and impact your generation. Serve well. Good morning.

And Elisha Saw It.

And Elisha Saw it

II Kings 2:11-13 NKJV

[11] Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. [12] And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. [13] He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 

What you see is important in the spirit realm. It is a cognitive process that gives you a direction of where to go or what to do. Perception is what separates people of impact from others. When others cant see well ,they hold onto what they already know, even if things have changed. God cornered Jeremiah  on this. Jer.1:11-12. Jeremiah saw the rod of an almond tree. An almond is awake in early January, when other trees are still locked in their winter sleep. Adam Clarke says, "... it bears fruit in March, just at the commencement of spring, when other trees only begin to bud. It was here the symbol of that promptitude with which God was about to fulfill his promises and threatening". Thats what Jeremiah saw. Seeing differs. So Elijah told Elisha, " if you see me". 

   Let me warn you that keeping concentration for what youre expecting is not a very easy thing. The devi will want to distract you in every way. Just imagine it. Its beyond the Jordan. Its quiet and surreal. The insects chirping in the undergrowth are the only creatures disturbing the serenity of the moment. Then, there's a whirlwind. Some people probably would have been startled enough to call for their momma. Today the distraction is deeper with the outburst of the internet and the development of artificial intelligence. Elisha held on and saw Elijah taken up by the chariots and the horses. He screamed what he perhaps had rehearsed for a long time, " My father, my father, the Chariots of Israel and its horseman". He passed the test.He had the mantle.

   You too will see. You'll perceive what God is going to do today. You will be ready. And you'll enter today with your mantle. Even Jordan will obey you. I can't wait to hear your testimonies. Good morning.

   

The Request For A Double Portion

The Request For A Double Portion 

II Kings 2:9-10 NKJV

[9] And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” [10] So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 

The concept of a Double Portion of blessing in the old testament is derived from the inheritance of the first born. In Deut. 21:17, it says, “He shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.” The request was to do better in his time than Elijah did. " That request was to be considered the successor of Elijah and to be “doubly blessed” with power in the prophetic office and acceptance. 

   Someone says, " The request by Elisha for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit in 2 Kings 2 referred likewise to being doubly blessed in his life and ministry. Interestingly, Scripture records exactly twice as many miracles through Elisha (28 miracles) as took place through Elijah (14 miracles)." That's why Elijah said he asked for a hard thing.

  The focus is not just in the asking. It is in the concentration for the timing of departure. Elisha watched. Every mantle is generational. It comes to those who watch for it. Every mantle produces better in a subsequent generation. It manifested the same way in the life of Elisha. Mantles go to those who serve well, they are not inherited by birth. There's a mantle for a double portion where you're serving now. Are you watching for your timing?  Theres a double portion around you.

   Pastor Benny Hin in his classic message on this spotlights the keys to double-portion anointing:

You must be called,

You must be a warrior,

You must come under the mantle of another ministry or man of God.

You will be tested.

You must be a worker.

You're already on the path to a double portion. Keep at it. Good morning.

According to the Word Of the Lord

According To The Word Of The Lord 

II Kings 1:16-17 NKJV

[16] Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” [17] So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. Because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.

It may take a few days, but God's Word always accomplishes its purpose. A prophetic word from God will stand the test of time. Here is Isaiah on the sustainability of God's Word, " …so is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.( Isaiah 55:11). God had reached an end with Ahaziah .

    Don't be so stubborn with God that you reach an end like this. God who knows the end from the beginning did not allow this dynasty to continue. God is concerned who you go to when you're in trouble

   Sometimes we look at the outward signs sorroinding an unbeliever, and we assumme that if we do what they do, we vould look as good or better than they look. That assumption has killed many Christians in life. You can't do what every other nation is doing. You're God's heritage. God will act according to His word. When it's tough, hang onto Jesus. You'll come through with an answer of peace. Good morning.

Your Respect Can Save You.

Your Respect Can Save You

II Kings 1:13-15 NKJV

[13] Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. [14] Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight.” [15] And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king. 

  Respect is described as " due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others". It is a consideration of someone worrhy of high regard. The first two captains and their fifty soldiers perished because of their casual attitude to the prophet. They had no due regard. All they carried were the King's command. And they died for it.

   The third captain was a wise man. This is how Guzik describes the mans approach. " The third captain approached his mission in a completely different manner. He came to Elijah humbly, recognizing that he really was a Man of God. Perhaps the third captain looked at the two blackened spots of scorched earth nearby before he spoke to Elijah". Joseph Benson says " Expressing both reverence for his person, and a dread of God’s judgments, being struck with the fate of the two other captains and their fifties. There is nothing to be got by contending with God: if we would prevail with him, it must be by supplication. And those are wise that learn submission from the fatal consequences of obstinacy in others". 

    Contemporary society has lost one of the corner stones of of our forebears. Its respect. Someone explains that respect, "... is the cornerstone of human interactions that transcends cultural, religious, and philosophical boundaries. It’s a universal principle that fosters empathy, cooperation, and understanding. In a world often divided by differences and different beliefs, respect serves as a unifying force, allowing us to recognise the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. It’s not merely a courtesy or politeness but a genuine acknowledgement of human nature and the humanity in each of us". That is not from a Sunday School Manual. 1 Peter 2:17 “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King.”. Very importantly, respect your ministers. It can hurt you if you disrespect them. Those two dead captains are the examples. Good morning.

 

If I Be A Man Of God

If I Be A Man Of God...

II Kings 1:9-10 NKJV

[9] Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ” [10] So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 

I first heard the phrase, " If I be a Man of God", from Archbishop Idahosa before I read it in the word. Some seven armed robbers had gone to the Idahosa's house to accost some missionaries from England. That is when  the Bishop told them: " If I be a Man of God...". The robbers ran away. This is where the Archbishop read the original.

   There are moments when a man's calling faces resistance snd challenges. It is as if all hell is asking: "Who called you?" The devil tried it first with Jesus: “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down...."( Mat. 4:6 ). 

   Angie Ward was faced with this kind of problems. Hear her discovery: " The Bible never promises that following God will be easy. In fact, Jesus says that believers should expect to experience trouble in this world (John 16:33). While this verse also promises that Christ will have ultimate victory, the Bible gives plenty of examples of men and women who experienced challenges as they sought to obey God’s calling". 

   Its the attitude that makes meaning to me. The fire prophet called down fire on the fifty. Elijah still had the anointing. Its like saying, " I maybe old but I still got it". Respect returned. Join me tomorrow to see what God will do. Good morning.

When The Season Changes

When The Season Changes 

II Kings 1:7-8 NKJV

[7] Then he said to them, “What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?” [8] So they answered him, “A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

Seasons had changed. Elijah was no more tge center of attention in the land. We all grow up and the attention we enjoyed passes unto the younger generation. We haven't heard much about Elisha so far, but very soon. Elijah's story appears occasionally now. Time has past. Even the kings emissaries did not appear to recognize Elijah. They could only describe his looks. 

   You will not always be young. Times will change. All you need to do is to maximize your season. Here is Andrew Linder talking about growth with our children. " Recognize your season.

Getting your season right starts by recognizing the different seasons and which one you’re currently in. There are four primary seasons of life for most people: childhood/growth years, family/parenting years, mid-life/empty-nester years, and the senior golden years.

Identifying your season ought to help shape your current goals and aspirations. There are things you can only do in certain seasons (like raising your kids), while there are many things you can always do, regardless of the season (like investing in hobbies or working late nights at the office). Recognizing your season should give clarity to prioritizing what you and others in your life need from you right now".

  There was a time Elijah could challenge the King and four hundred prophets of Baal on the same grounds. Today he can only wait for the King's messengers who do not even know him. Its their description that reminded the King that Elijah was still alive. Do me a favour, maximize your seasons. Even if you called fire from heaven, it will be forgotten. Elijah can tell that story better. 

  The only thing that didn't change with the man was his prophetic insight. Don't loose your anointing. Study James Rebanks’ book: The Shepherd. It will help you stabilize your life seasons. People use different climatic seasons to describe life seasons.  So it may vary from four in the temperate regions to two in the tropics if we accept the classifications. Whichever model you may want to use, remember, there will be a passage of season. Are you preparing for it? Good morning.

Ahaziah Enquires Of Baal-zeebub

Ahaziah Enqures Of Baal-zeebub

II Kings 1:2-4 NKJV

[2] Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.” [3] But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ [4] Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed.

Sometimes God may allow certain things to happen to us with the believe that we will run to Him as a father. In the midst of that crisis, God will not bend our will to Himself. He will still allow us freedom of choice. If you wonder why God would allow us such freedom, someone gives an answer. " God gives all of us freedom for ONE purpose, and ONE purpose only. And that is to choose to love Him. Because we cannot genuinely love without freedom. This does NOT mean that we are free to do evil, this means that we may MISuse our freedom and choose evil, but we are not supposed to". So Ahaziah made a choice for Baal-zebub.

   When things happen in your life how do you make your choices? Do we make choices that honour or dishonour God? Another scholar says, "... for love to be real, it must not be coerced. If we did not have the ability to reject God, then neither would we have the ability to truly love Him. Some theologians even go so far as to say that human freedom is the highest good and that even God will not violate it". 

   The only thing God did was to pull out the oldest prophet in the land to go and confront Ahaziah's messengers. Guzik says, " Ahaziah showed that he was a true worshipper of the pagan god Baal-Zebub because he turned to this god in his time of trouble". Who do turn to in trouble? Today turn to Jesus, the author and the finisher of faith. Turn to Him who can give you the answers to your pains. Turn to God. He has the answers. Good morning.

Ahaziah Had A choice

Ahaziah Had A Choice To Be Different 

I Kings 22:51-52 NKJV

[51] Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. [52] He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; 

Ahaziah had a choice to be different. Theres no law that you have to be like your parents. I am familiar with ancestral and parental influence on our upbringing. By such training, we are supposed to follow certain life patterns, but we can break those patterns. That is what the New Creation does for us. It translates us out of old paradigms to a new one and a new starting block.

   Ahaziah, like so many did not know this, so he continued in the fathers footsteps ( v.52 ). Hear me, you can remove the shackle. You can resist the devil. You can refuse the bet to continue in family patterns. The choice is yours to make when you're born again. 

   Simple by Emmy is not a preacher or a theologian, but her observations make a good reading. She's talking to mothers. " Our lives are the summation of the choices we make, and as much as I’d like to say that I am always intentional and mindful about mine, that is definitely not the case. I sometimes parent out of anger. I eat out of frustration. I stare at a screen out of boredom. Many times these choices are a result of a negative choice I made just prior: a choice to yell rather than listen, a choice to inhale food rather than exhale a deep breath, a choice to numb my discomfort rather than to acknowledge and work through it". Does that sound like what we do? Thats how life is lived.

   Greg McKeown in his book Essentialism deals with this matter of choice. " We often think of choice as a thing. But a choice is not a thing. Our options may be things, but a choice—a choice is an action. It is not just something we have but something we do. This experience brought me to the liberating realization that while we may not always have control over our options, we always have control over how we choose among them.”  I know we may say its the fulfillment of the word that was spoken to the father Ahab. Well here is another scholar: " In 853 BC, King Ahaziah of the northern Kingdom of Israel also relied on his faith for recovery. Yet, his faith actually became the cause of his death. He had a sincere faith, but there was just one problem—he was sincerely wrong. After suffering a major injury, he called upon the false god Baal-zebub, rather than Yahweh. And it cost him his life". Choice. What are your choices for today? Will they serve God or the devil? Good morning.

The Narrative Swings To Jehoshaphat

The Narrative Swings To Jehosaphat 

I Kings 22:42-44 NKJV

[42] Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. [43] And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. [44] Also Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

The narrative now swings to Judah, to tell the story of Jehoshaphat. He did right and even attempted to route the community of counter worship but he took major life decisions to entrench evil. Britannica explains some of those decisions , " Jehoshaphat aided Ahab in his unsuccessful attempt to recapture the city of Ramoth-gilead, joined Ahaziah in extending maritime trade, helped Jehoram in his battle with Moab, and married his son and successor, Jehoram, to Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab". Jehoshaphat is a picture of some Christians who wants to have both ways: serving the Lord and associating with the world at the same time. " Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world".( 1 John 2:15-16 ). It can't be clearer than that.

    Lusts are cravings to do evil. The lust of the flesh takes your desires and swing it out of control .The lust of the eyes wants to sacrifice everything else for what you see. The pride of life seeks to exclude God in your life accomplishments. Jehoshaphat fell for the things of the world.

   Add that to the fact that he had no motivation to remove the contrary worship centers like his father Asa did.  He revival lacked the zeal of a committed child of God. We can't serve two masters no matter how much we try. God has consistently said that He will spue such people out of His mouth( Rev.3:16 ). Our commitment to Christ must be tangible in every sphere. How do people see you? How do you see yourself? How does God see you? How is your commitment to God? Good morning.

.Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned 

I Kings 22:48-50 NKJV

[48] Jehoshaphat made merchant ships to go to Ophir for gold; but they never sailed, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber. [49] Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not. [50] And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place. 

Some people don't learn very fast. So they tend to suffer the consequences of foolishness. The details of this story is told better in 2Ch 20:35-37. Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Ahaziah and it ended in disaster. The LORD told Jehoshaphat that he allied himself with Ahaziah. So the LORD destroyed his works (2Ch 20:37). It was after this word that Jehoshaphat turned down the offer of a continued alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel. Some people don't learn from their own mistakes or even from others.

   When we do not learn from divine guidance, we will learn from trial and error. That was Jehoshaphat's problem. In an article by Pub Med Central Website( Oct-Dec.2006,Vol.48,4), Shamassunder explains what happens in professional progress as we learn from life and mistakes. " Trial-and-error learning involves learning from consequences of one's behaviour. Some of the consequences will be mistakes. It is also logically possible to learn from others' mistakes, provided one knows the constituent inputs that led to a given mistake". When we learn from mistakes, we can "correct our responses and do things differently the next time we are in the same situation". That's what happened to Jehoshaphat. When we dont learn, we remain fools for life. It makes the enemy celebrate. 

  Someone says that to make no mistakes may not be in the power of a man, but the wise and the good learn from it wisdom for the future. The time to correct a mistake is before it is made. That is where the help of the Holy Spirit comes in. Refuse associations that will compromise your faith. Jehoshaphat learnt his lessons. We hope you do too. Good morning.

The Prophecy Fulfilled

The Prophecy Fulfilled.

I Kings 22:37-38, 40 NKJV

[37] So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. [38] Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken.

[40] So Ahab rested with his fathers. Then Ahaziah his son reigned in his place. 

We are familiar with the arguments of Ahab's death and whether Elijah's Elijah's prophecies were fulfilled. Benjamin Fireman has done a beautiful work in the Journal of Evangelical Theological Society( June 2015). Well, Micaiah's prophecy was fulfilled. Read the conclusions again. The dogs licked his blood while harlots bathed in the water. 

   Here is how one scholar reports that end, " There seems to have been a little fear in Ahab's heart that Micaiah's word would come to pass, for Ahab disguised himself before he went to battle. But a disguise can never prevent the word of the Lord from being fulfilled.". The word says, " The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). It follows up in Galatians " Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (6:7). Ahab reaped what he sowed, and wasted a whole generation.

    Imagine God's gestures of love to bring him to senses. Imagine all the warnings and prophecies. The irony is tbat the struggle for our salvation continues today. We can only learn from Ahab and Jehoshaphat. Has the word of God gone forth, be careful, because it will come to pass. Jehoshaphat must have learnt that evil association will wound you. Be careful Gods prophecies are still being fulfilled. Good morning.

Exposing The Lying Spirit

Exposing The Lying Spirit 

I Kings 22:20-22 NKJV

[20] And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. [21] Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ [22] The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 

It was difficult for Ahab and the rest of the court to believe one prophet when four hundred spoke a different thing. That's when it was needful for Miciah to reveal their source of inspiration. Without drawing us into complex arguments, it's is a recorded fact that Satan and its minions have access to heaven.(Job 1:6, Rev 12:10). Here's David Guzik: "  There is a well-intentioned but mistaken teaching that God can allow no evil in His presence, meaning that Satan and other fallen angels could not be in His presence.

    These passages show that God can allow evil in His presence, though He can have no fellowship with evil and one day all evil will be removed from His presence (Rev 20:14-15)". Another scholar submits, " And, just as in Job’s case, Satan and his minions can do only what God allows them to do (Job 1:12; 2:6). They never act independently of God’s sovereign and perfect will and purpose". Depite this exposure, the two Kings belied the lies of the four hundred false prophets.

    This is how the story ended at the battle field. "So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria( v.37 ). May every lying prophetic spirit be exposed in our communes in Jesus Name. May their confusion end like that of these prophets, in consternation. They claim to speak for God, but they actually subscribe to the god of the belly. It is a fearful thing to claim to speak what God has not spoken. It may look like spiritually, but its an easy way to death. Good morning.

The Character Of A True Prophet

The Character Of A True Prophet 

I Kings 22:17-18 NKJV

[17] Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ” [18] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

In 2010, Ed Grub told this story to demonstrate the difference between the fake and the real. " A certain jewelry store sold man-made stones as though they were priceless, natural gems. This was happening for years and scores of men & women bought what they thought were precious stones. No one questioned the authenticity until someone with trained eyes pointed out they were man-made. How were people deceived? The counterfeit looked remarkably like the real. The difference was not noticeable unless you had a trained eye. First you have to establish the criteria for the authentic: look at a real stone under a magnifying glass. Then will you be trained concerning what to look for in the counterfeit." No matter how much the fake tries to imitate the real, someone will find out one day.

     There are things to watch out in the life of a true prophet that sets them apart unto God. J. Cunningham Geikie addressed this matter in Bible Hub. He points out the following characteristics of a true prophet:

      *They may have a stern message   

       to deliver as Jeremiah had too. 

        Jer.26:4-7

      * They do not  diminish from the w

         ord no matter how unpopular or

         unpleasant 

     * A true prophet will speak 

           fearlessly 

     * A true prophet is promised the 

         backing of God

     * A true prophet will speak peace 

           as well as wrath as God 

            demands

It is as if he sat down to draw a portrait of Prophet Micaiah. The king of Israel concluded that the Prophet doesn't like him. 

    When the King of Israel said he should be returned to jail, Micaiah added the concluding part of the prophecy. “...If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” Boldness. And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”( I Kings 22:28 ). The rest was left for God to defend. And God did it. A true prophet delivers God's inspiration. It doesn't have to favour anyone. Its God's position on earth. Good morning.

Prophesying To Please

Prophesying To Please 

I Kings 22:16-18 NKJV

[16] So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” [17] Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ” [18] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

The preponderance of false prophets and prophecies in these last days have made it look like its a playground for fakes. Prophecy is a special ministry gift with divinely inspired revelation or interpretation.  Christinity.com says that it: " encapsulates the divine communication of God's will, often foretelling future events or conveying messages of moral and spiritual significance. Prophets, as designated messengers of God, play a pivotal role in this dynamic relationship between the Creator and His creation. The voices of prophets such as Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah echo through the pages of the Old and New Testaments, each prophet uniquely contributing to the unfolding story of salvation, redemption, and the fulfillment of God's promises." When Prophets or people with prophecies begin to use the guft for merchandising or control, it is not different from witchcraft.

   In our reading today, there appear two class of prophets. One set prophesy to please the King, and Micaiah prophesied for his conscience and Jehovah. There are so many lives that have been ruined, marriges scattered, and homes and businesses destroyed because of false prophets and their prophecies. Prophecies must be judged by the word of God. 

  Micaiaih's prophecy was not pleasing to Ahab or Jehosaphat. So they set out together. Even in the Old Testament, there were guidelines and warnings on how to receive prophets and prophecies. Deut.18:20-22,  Jer.23:16-18,22. Prophetic words aren't to please the hearers. They are to communicate insights from the council of heaven. God knows how to defend His words when people disparage the prophecies and the prophets. On no account should a prophet prophesy to please. Whose words do you listen to? Good morning.

The Word For Today

The Word Of the Lord For Today 

I Kings 22:5-7 NKJV

[5] Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.” [6] Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” [7] And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?”

These were two leaders. One had a tradition of asking God for divine directions, the other acts by what and how he feels. Where do you belong? Greg Hauser of Independent Baptist Church explains why the word of God is important in our daily decisions in life . " It guides us through our daily lives.  It informs us on the decisions we make.  It directs us in how we should conduct our lives as Christians.  It even shows us how to speak to and care for others.  It is an integral and important part of who we are". Im sure Jehoshaphat didn't read that. It was part of the serious Jewish lifestyle to include divine directions in their daily grind so that Jehovah will make their day victorious. What about you?

    David Guzik makes a very poignant suggestion about this matter.  "Considering the generally adversarial relationship between Ahab and the prophets of Yahweh, this was a bold request for Jehoshaphat to ask of Ahab. It wasn’t surprising that Ahab picked prophets who would tell them what they wanted to hear". The stage is set for whose word you prefer to hear everyday.

    There's a word for you everyday. Its real excitement for me to hear God's word on a daily basis. Jesus said we couldn't survive without Gods word: Mat.4:4. The Palmist says he could meditate on the word of God all day long( Psa.119:97). That's why he could speak the Psalms. What do you meditate on? When the word finally came, over four hundred false prophets spoke lies. It took one bold prophet to tell them the truth despite manipulations. God, give us men. Go for the word today. There's a divine direction for you there. Good morning.

You're Different

You're Different 

I Kings 22:4-5 NKJV

[4] So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” [5] Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”

You may be related to some people, but the moment you have an encounter with Christ, and surrender to follow Him, there's a difference between you and them. The difference between you as a New Creation and the Natural creation is huge. There was a difference between Ahab and Jehoshaphat. They represented different creations. Ahab had consistently rejected the overtures of Jehovah, and was King of Israel. Jehoshaphat loved God, was King of Judah, but had weaknesses in his associations. This is a report in Britannica, " Jehoshaphat aided Ahab in his unsuccessful attempt to recapture the city of Ramoth-gilead, joined Ahaziah in extending maritime trade, helped Jehoram in his battle with Moab, and married his son and successor, Jehoram, to Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab". A wise man explains," Jehoshaphat was a man of great diplomatic skill, and his biggest weakness was his habit of forming alliances with evil men — first with Israel's King Ahab, then later with Ahab's son King Ahaziah, and finally with Ahab's son King Jehoram. The LORD soundly reprimanded him for supporting sin in that way". Your excitement in relationships are not more important than Gods demands.

   God has still not changed His mind in our relationships with unbelivers in the New Testament. Here's  how a member of NLWC answers it." The Gospel already establishes the fact that we cannot have unbelievers as our best friends because there is no basis of fellowship between righteousness and unrighteousness". (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).  Selah!

   Paul taught us to walk in wisdom with unbelivers. While we love unbelivers, the Biblical wisdom to relate  "  with unbelievers would create a platform to share Christ with them, when the opportunity presents itself". You can not have great expectations of virtue from an unbeliver. No matter your opinions, that the New Testament condition. You may bless and unbeliver, but you do not share fellowships. You may lead them to Christ before  you establish roots of deeper relationships. This is because our beliefs affect our relationships. The Bible  calls one light, and the other darkness. Choose light. Good morning.

Ahab Murdered And Took Possession

Ahab Mudered And Took Possession 

I Kings 21:17, 19-20 NKJV

[17] Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,...[19] You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” ” [20] So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord.

In this matter, Ahab was King, husband and the beneficiary of the crimes committed by Jezebel. He couldn't feign ignorance especially, not to the old Elijah. The attempts by some scholars to make Ahab a near kinsman of Naboth has no proofs. Guzik says, "Elijah did what few other men had the courage to do – confront this wicked, brutal, and amoral king and queen of Israel. He pointedly charged them with the two crimes of both murder and theft of Naboth’s land". The Expositor's Commentary is very scathing in its report of this confrontation, " The advantage of his crime was snatched from him at the instant of fruition. Half in anger, half in anguish, he cried, "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?"

   Its a terrible feeling when your sins find you out( Num.32:23 ). The Lord saw through the intrigues and brought out the old prophet. Ahab must have felt like a masquerade undressed in the market place. That language must be very unique to Africa. Its like being caught as a thief in broad daylight. 

  Don't try ro cover your sins (Prov.28:13). If covering sin was sufficient, Christ would not have come to die. What Ahab needed was repentance. The words spoken by the prophet that day fulfilled in his son. It wasn't worth the garden or the murder. Most people do not think of the consequences when they feel the rush of adrenaline. Remember, your sins will find you out. Good morning.

Jezebel's Plot

Jezebel's Plot

I Kings 21:8-10 NKJV

[8] And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. [9] She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; [10] and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die.

I was so tempted to title this vignette: High Honour, Accusations and Death. That is the summary of Jezebel's plot to take Naboth's Vineyard. Brittannicca summarises her actions  as tampering "... with the exclusive worship of the Hebrew God, Yahweh, by disregarding the rights of the common people, and by defying the great prophets Elijah and Elisha, she provoked the internecine strife that enfeebled Israel for decades. She has come to be known as an archetype of the wicked woman". Her greatest wickedness was the killing of Naboth. She demonstrated she was willing to do anything just to have her way. 

   She impersonated the husband, stole the nation's seal and planted men to lie against an innocent man. If anyone deserved punishment, it should have been Jezebel. Its not tgat the husband was not aware. He was, but as we said in our earlier post, he was a Man Child. Momma had come to fight for him. So he kept quiet. Guzik says that Alexander  McLaren observed three types of character in the rising action. "...: (1) Ahab, who was wicked and weak. (2) Jezebel, who was wicked and strong. (3) The Elders of Jezreel, who were wicked and subservient". Wherever these set of factors intersect in a nation, the " Man Dies ". Naboth died. What do you do when evil is taking over your town and cities. We dont just aquiese, we pray, intense prayers before we act. No one prayed for Naboth. Jezebel's influence had become a religion. May God raise you as a part of the generational intercessors that will pray for the survival of people like Naboth. It's the reason Christ came to set men free, and free indeed. Good morning.

Toying With People's Inheritance

Toying with People's inheritance 

I Kings 21:1-3 NKJV

[1] And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. [2] So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.” [3] But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”

An inheritance is " the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations". It is what parents leave for their children. It is a reminder of vestiges of relationships. It tells of the struggles, achievements and victories of a family. Bakers Evangelical Dictionary adds that " Legal inheritance refers to actual property or goods received after a family member's death. While Jewish inheritance customs were linked to family blood lines, Greek and Roman laws also provided for the disposition of family possessions through the adoption of an heir. The Scriptures transform the concept of inheritance to include the acquisition of spiritual blessings and promises from God". Understood this way, it explains why Naboth could not easily exchange his inheritance for another place.

   Read the details. The king wanted the place for a vegetable garden. Imagine that. What about the associated history of the family? For it Naboth was killed. 

  The devil is willing to kill today, just to access your inheritance under God. "The focus of the inheritance concept in the Old Testament is God's promise to Abraham. The land of Canaan was bequeathed to him and his descendants as an eternal possession ( Gen 12:7 )". Today there's still a battle of inheritance going on in the middle east between Israel and the Palestinians. Nicholas Batzig tells the story of the mother's explanation of inheritance. " ...there are different kinds of inheritances that parents can leave their children. Most limit their understanding of an inheritance to the financial realm, while the Scriptures predominantly emphasize the importance of leaving your descendants a spiritual inheritance. The latter is far more important than the former.” Eph.1:11, Col3:24. Heb.9:15 all point out that inheritance we have in Christ while on earth. The enemy wants to steal that inheritance. We must fight for it. 1 Peter 1:4 says that the inheritance we have received can never perish,spoil or fade. Dont let the enemy toy with your inheritance. Good morning.

Your Obedience Must Be Complete

Your Obedience Must be Complete 

I Kings 20:31-32, 42 NKJV

[31] Then his servants said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please, let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.” [32] So they wore sackcloth around their waists and put ropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”...

[42] Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ”

The MkJV renders 2Cor.10:6 this way, " ...and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled". Paul had admonished the Corinthians that its easy to deal with the enemy when they are properly submitted under  God. This was Ahab's greatest weakness. Ahab could choose what he wants, not always what God wants. You'd be very surprised at how many find the covenant walk restrictive. So, many are prepared to shift base if they can get something beneficial to their disobedience.

   This is David Guzik, " God intended that Ben-Hadad should be utterly destroyed, but He also intended that this happen by the hand of the army of Israel. God was interested in more than the mere death of Ben-Hadad, but also in the way that death came about". Ahab contradicted God's expectations because he wanted  trade opportinities with Syria.   

   Guzik adds, " Perhaps Ahab wanted Ben-Hadad and Syria’s friendship as protection against the powerful and threatening Assyrian Empire. If so, he looked for friends in the wrong places". Then he quotes Trapp, " This was not courtesy, but foolery. Brother Ben-Hadad will ere long fight against Ahab with that life which he had given him (chapt. 22:31).” When we don't obey God in full, we make fools of ourselves and suffer the consequences. Obedience is an act of worship. It is described by Kuwali as " hearing the word of God and acting on it. It implies aligning our will to God's will; doing what God has asked us to do. It is when we completely surrender to His authority and base our decisions and our actions on His Word". Our obedience to God must always be complete. Jesus demostrated complete obedience, even to the death on the cross. Is your obedience complete? Good morning.

God Of The Mountain

God Of The Mountain 

I Kings 20:28-29 NKJV

[28] Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ” [29] And they encamped opposite each other for seven days. So it was that on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand foot soldiers of the Syrians in one day. 

 

A couple, Tracy and Sharon Dartt had a life shattering experience as pool builders in 1974. They were broke. Their pool building company was in heavy debt, and faced foreclosure. In the course of cries for help from God, Tracy wrote the song. God answered the prayers. The song later became a number one hit song on the charts. This is Tracy, "God On The Mountain" has been recorded hundreds of times, by artists such as Lynda Randle, Jake Hess, Jessy Dixon, John Starnes, the list goes on and on. It has been translated into several languages as well. This simple little song, comprised of 72 words and 4 chords, has been an encouragement to thousands of people.".

   David Vryhoff did a podcast review of the song with these words: " The song acknowledges that life has its ups and downs, its mountains and valleys, and that it’s easy to talk of faith “when life’s at its best.” But when we’re “down in the valley of trials and temptations, that’s where [our] faith is really put to the test”. The song was drawn from the metaphor of the verses we are reading today. 

  Sometimes, the enemy thinks it has you conerned. It thinks that where you're, God is unable to reach you and help you. The devil is a wild dreamer, because, I can tell you stories of God's deliverance from the depths of the earth to the top of Mount Everest. Read the story again. God heard them. 

  The story is similar to what the devil tried with Jesus. It thought it has dealt with Jesus. It thought the case was closed. Three days kater, Jesus was back to life. Your situation is going to change. You will not always be under. God can fight for you whether it be on the mountain or in the valley. You may be experiencing a night season now, but the day will break again. 

  Enjoy some part of that lyrics here: " Life is easy, when you're up on the mountain

And you've got peace of mind, like you've never known

But things change when you're down in the valley

Don't lose faith, for you're never alone

For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley

When things go wrong, He'll make them right

And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times

The God of the day is still God in the night". (Tracy Dartt). Good morning.

Prophetic Enforcement

Prophetic Enforcement 

I Kings 20:23-25 NKJV

[23] Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they. [24] So do this thing: Dismiss the kings, each from his position, and put captains in their places; [25] and you shall muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain; surely we will be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.

The enemy may change tatics but it will be defeated. Prophecies have to be enforced by wisdom and proper planning. A young woman I know waited to be married. A word was given to her by several people, but she remained adamant in being prayerless and didn't care about changing her appearance. She still dressed as if she was already a retired mother of three. Days passed, and no one spoke to her. Later, she left the church for a new place. She never used the word she was given to war. It wasn't a matter of location. Her problem was enforcing the prophecy. 

   Here is a response to that situation from a seasoned minister of the gospel. " Prophecy is not the ultimate, but it is a means to an end. Prophecy is a tool, a weapon of war. Prophecy is one of the weapons of our warfare (2 Cor. 10). Timothy was instructed/CHARGED by the apostle Paul, to take the prophecy of God on his life and war/fight with it, USING IT AS A SPIRITUAL WEAPON OF WAR." 

   Most people, unfortunately, want to just know what God thinks sbout them or their situations. They are not interested in doing anything about their conditions. God wants us to be co-creator's with Him( 1Cor.3:9 ). We are familiar with Hefner's position on this. That doesn't mean youre equal with God, it means you have a share in creation. Paul told Timothy that he should war with the prophecies ( 1Tim.1:18 ) when Daniel understood by the books the time of his people, he began to pray about it ( Daniel 9:2-3 ). Brit Eaton says this matter better, " You are a created being who creates. You are not a deified Creator. You’re like God. But you are not God. Got it? ". So in v.28 of our reading, the man of God returned to enforce the word he had given before.

   We have to contend for every prophetic word we have received. We have to remind God that we are waiting for the manifestation, and we are holding unto Him. By the end of that day, the battle was in favour of the people of God. You are empowered for a prophetic reinforcement. That's why we pray the word of God. God is well able to defend His word. Please pray the word. Good morning.

Be Alert: The Enemy will Return

Be Alert: The Enemy Will Return 

I Kings 20:22 NKJV

[22] And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself; take note, and see what you should do, for in the spring of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.” 

In Mat.12:43-45, there's a story about the attitude of demons cast out of someone. Jesus explains that these spirits will walk about ,and finding no rest. So they decide to go back to the old house. They always want to return to check out where they were driven away, with the intention to return with more wicked demons. 

   Currently, there's an international situation between Israel and Hamas on a piece of ground between Egypt and Gaza. Its called the Philadelphi Corridor. The Israeli President doesn't have faith that the enemy will not use the border to import weapons to attack Israel. He is seeking a ratification of the 2005 agreement. Its a little piece of land of a hundred meters by fourteen kilometers. That piece of ground, the President says, will make the enemy to return. The issue is not winning the war. The issue is to be on the alert that the enemy will return.

   So the prophet gave the warning that the enemy will return. Be alert, the enemy's greatest weakness is that it will return for that same house. How ready are you? Most people tend to relax after the initial victory. Please be informed, the enemy will return. Do what the Prophet says: strengthen yourself. Study, fast, pray, discuss strategies. Don't let the devil take you unawares.

   Most people loose spiritual warfare because they loose sight of the enemy's return. In the military, the strategy that works is Clear and Hold. That is a " strategy in which military personnel clear an area of guerrillas or other insurgents, and then keep the area clear of insurgents while winning the support of the populace for the government and its policies". Hold your ground. Good morning.

Exploits Of Emerging leaders

Exploits Of The Emerging Leaders

I Kings 20:15, 17-18 NKJV

[15] Then he mustered the young leaders of the provinces, and there were two hundred and thirty-two; and after them he mustered all the people, all the children of Israel—seven thousand....

[17] The young leaders of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent out a patrol, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out of Samaria!” [18] So he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

For once Ahab was obedient to a Prophet. He even wanted to know the details of how the battle will be fought. That was a good sign. The Prophet told him that the emerging leaders from the provinces will lead the battle. 

   What was about to happen here was going to be beyond human experience. God was not interested in the people who had abandoned a sense of order and were just wasting military funds. God was interested in the next generation. You're a part of this generation.

   An online article from Coventry University describes an emerging leader as being different from assigned leader. " Assigned leaders are people who become leaders by being given a formal leadership role in their organisation. In contrast, an emergent leader is someone who becomes a leader due to the way other group members respond to them". John Dijulius and colleague add that emerging leaders "...are team members who not only perform their jobs well but also demonstrate potential for growth and leadership beyond their current roles, primarily by demonstrating emotional intelligence in addition to strong critical thinking skills. They are willing to take on challenges and are very proactive in seeking solutions. They also demonstrate their leadership potential with a natural ability to inspire their colleagues". Those words are not from a Bible commentary. They are just critical writings from experts in leadership. So emerging leaders are innovative, collaborative and adaptable people who own the vision of the nation.They were few. In a whole nation, only two hundred and thirty two were found. Perhaps they remind you of Gideons three hundred who stoop up to lap water to show tgeir readiness for battle. These were the kind of people God picked. Would you have been picked if this happened today? Exploits was made because of these men. Is your team full of emergent leaders? Think about it. Good morning.

The Intervening Variable

The Intervening Variable 

I Kings 20:12-14 NKJV

[12] And it happened when Ben-Hadad heard this message, as he and the kings were drinking at the command post, that he said to his servants, “Get ready.” And they got ready to attack the city. [13] Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ” [14] So Ahab said, “By whom?” And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘By the young leaders of the provinces.’ ” Then he said, “Who will set the battle in order?” And he answered, “You.”

In a story, an obstacle is described as an intervening variable. It is what was not intended by the character in action, but whose activities precipitate a consequence.  Ben-Hadad's action moved heaven to respond. V13 says, " suddenly"..Praise God for a change of actions. The devil wont continue forever. Suddenly, God interrupted. Whenever God interupts the flow of the story, it turns in a new direction. The battle is not just yours. There are spiritual players as well. Read v.13 again.

   In a story, the intervening variable could be a person, a spirit or a thing that stops the enemy from accomplshing its purpose. That's what the cross did on Calvary. Someone says that , " Intervening variables intervene between the independent and dependent variables to navigate their relationship". For the more professional readers, " The intervening variable is a control variable that will follow an independent variable, preceding the dependent variable in a causal succession". Now don't ask me to start explaining all that. The main thing is that the intervening variable is a control variable. Without the cross, we could have been meat for the enemy. The cross intervened in your story. Hallelujah!

   That intervening variable leaves us with a Name and power above other names. That is what that Prophet's entrance into the war signified. He began, " Thus says the Lord..". If God intervened for Ahab, He is going to intervene for you. If anyone deserved disgrace, it should have been Ahab, but Israel is God's inheritance. So are you. Today in the Name of Jesus Christ, we activate the intervening variable on your behalf. Let the enemy fall. Let them suffer the disgrace that was meant for you. There's an intervention on your behalf. Phew! Thank you Jesus. 

   For once, even Ahab listened to advice. Who wouldn't? The variable changed the story. That's how yours will change. Good morning.

The Battle Is Not Always To The Strong

The Battle Is Not Always To The Strong

I Kings 20:1-3 NKJV

[1] Now Ben-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together; thirty-two kings were with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, and made war against it. [2] Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-Hadad: [3] ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your loveliest wives and children are mine.’ ”

When Solomon addressed the implications of cause and effects in life, he mentions that there could be  intervening variables. He was saying that there are somethings that can stop the flow of that principle. The variables are time and chance or events as TheBibilesays commentary puts it. " We are not in control of circumstances. Things happen, events transpire. These are events we had nothing to do with and cannot control. And those events can have huge impacts on us. The longer we live, the more likely such events are to impact us. Humans often pretend it is not so. Humans often are oblivious to this reality. But it is reality. No matter what we do, we cannot prevent time and chance, events, from overriding the consequences of our own actions". This was the guiding principle which Ahab sent in the reply to Ben-Hadad's son. If you read down to v. 11, it fits with the proverb.

   Sometimes you need to look the enemy in the eyes and say: enough is enough. Until you do that, the enemy will take an advantage of you. There's so much depth in the utterance of Ahab in v11. He was simply saying: bring it on!

    The commentsry continues, " Normally men of ability gain the most favor. That favor might come in the form of awards or recognition. It might manifest itself in the form of success. But sometimes events, time and chance, overtake ability. We cannot control outcomes in this life". Ben-Had appeared not have understood that. Neither does the devil. 1Cor.2:8 "...which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory". By the end of the battle, the confidence payed off. Hang unto your confidence because it has a great recompense of rewards. The enemy won't win. Ive seen the records. Itys to your favour. You xan take that to the bank. Good morning.

Elijah's First Disciple

Elijah's First Disciple: Elisha.

I Kings 19:19-20 NKJV

[19] So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. [20] And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

Every person called of God has to have another to steward their calling. Making great impact without the directions of another may not be impossible, but rare in operations. So, after receiving instructions from Giyd, Elijah went on his first mission to recruit his replacement. You may call him an assistant, , a replacement, a disciple. It doesn't really matter. This is how Kyle Echols explains  the process . "...when the garments of Elijah was being tossed onto Elisha, he was leaving Elisha with a choice. Grab my garments or hold onto the plow. This choice sheds light on how God chooses to activate His calling in our own lives. Elisha was living his life, plowing fields with oxen, and what does Elijah do to invite him into his calling? He throws his garments onto him". Isnt it exciting that God  had to call someone who was already plowing a field? God could have picked one of the sons of the prophets. He didn't. God called Elisha. That is sovereign will.

   Tim Knight( July, 2022 ) adds a lesson: " This is a reminder that spiritual leadership does not always come from the religious establishment. The best leaders are not always found in the seminaries or universities or church hierarchies". Im a witness. I cant help but wonder at all the sons of the prophets. Gid didn't pick them

   In a blog post, John Smith observes another important point. " Elisha was trained by one of the most important figures in the history of Israel, Elijah. For a while after he begins to follow Elijah nothing is mentioned of him. He must have been merely observing and watching, learning by spending time with Elijah. Later, when Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha’s ministry was anointed by the power of God and he performed more miracles than any other individual in the Bible except for Jesus". Stewardship produces better results. Imagine that this man be came double of his master. It takes humility, focus, steadfastness and sacrifice to become the better man. Gid expects you to be better than the primary. Serve until you cross the Jordan. Good morning.

   

The Silent Majority

The Silent Majority 

I Kings 19:18 NKJV

[18] Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 

Mirriam Webster describes the silent majority as " the largest part of a country's population that consists of people who are not actively involved in politics and do not express their political opinions publicly". While Elijah was dying alone, there was a group of seven thousand men who were on his side, but they did not speak out. These are called a silent majority. This group represents a powerful demographic in political voting process. They can turn election results if they can be mobilized to participate. The problem of this group is that they are silent.

   The popularity of this concept has been attribued to President Nixon who in 1969 turned the tide of feelings towards the Vietnam war. This group represents strength that is unused. This large, politically passive group holds majority opinions without voicing them. If Elijah had the support of at least a thousand of them, the story would have been different.

   Virgil Walker wrote in April 2021 edition of Table Talk Magazine that " Christians are never to be silent about what we believe. We have been commanded in Scripture to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13–16). The previous verse (v. 12) is clear: we are to rejoice and be glad even in the face of persecution. This truth presupposes that we will be attacked by others as we declare truth. As salt, we are a preservative for goodness. Salt was a protectant against putrefaction. What is clear from this example is that as members of the kingdom, we are responsible to stand against the impurity of culture". These silent majority were the  very reason Elijah was depressed. 

   When you feel like Elijah did, remember there is an unspoken majority who support what you are doing. Walker continues, " Jesus also declares that we are light. We are to be “a city set on a hill” that cannot be hidden. In the Old Testament, we find that Israel was to be the “light of the nations” (Isa. 42:6). Jesus would declare that He indeed is the “light of the world” (John 8:12). However, this same verse points to the fact that as followers of Christ, “we will no longer walk in darkness, but we will have the light of life” (v. 12)". Enough of our being a silent majority. Its about time we rise as the light of the world. 

   The problem has always been fear. It generates pragmatism. Walker mourns, "...pragmatism has invaded church culture to such a degree that we have abandoned the notion of an offense in the gospel we preach". Today we call an end to pragmatism and speak for the release of faith to conquer oppositions. Just imagine having seven thousand on your side saying a real " Praise the Lord!". Just imagine it. Good morning.

Change Of Guards.

Change Of Guards

I Kings 19:15-17 NKJV

[15] Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. [16] Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. [17] It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 

The devil may play games, or cause confusions, but God still rules in the affairs of men. God knew that Elijah's ministry had come to an end, so He assigns Elijah to anoint the new set of players for the stage. Three new leaders were going to be anointed for the next season of events. There's  concern that Elijah actually did only one of the assignments by throwing his cloak on Elisha. He did however tell Elisha what to do with the one he could not do( 2 Kings :19-10 ). 

   In a blog post of JesusStrong Ministeries,  the writer observes the change from Moses to Joshua.  " God needed a man of battle, God needed a man of war, He needed someone who will say I see the giants, I see my limitations but I see our God!! Our God is much bigger than any giant!! He is unstoppable!! He is unmovable!! God needed someone who is crazy enough to fight from sun up to sun down and then tell the sun to “stand still” cause he is not going to give up or stop fighting until the job is done!! God needed a Joshua so He changed the guard!". God does change guards. Change of guards only happen when theres a new shift. A new shift was about to be born. Elijah s season was over. God assured him however, that He still had seven thousand others in service.

   Changing guards is a  " traditional and formal ceremony that takes place in London, when one set of soldiers guarding a royal building replaces another on duty. It takes place almost every day in summer, and every two days in winter outside Buckingham Palace, and is very popular with tourists". So a fresh set of guards take over duties from the tired ones who retire. This was the road to Elijah's  retirement. Who will be there in your establishment for a change of guard? Think about it. When Christ left, he had the disciples. When the disciples left, they had the church. Who will you have? Good morning.

God's Reply In A Gentle Whisper

Gods Reply In A Gentle Whisper 

I Kings 19:11-12 NKJV

[11] Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; [12] and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

In this same spot, God had appeared earlier to Moses in Exodus 33:22. Meyer says that: " Perhaps no spot on earth is more associated with the manifested presence of God than that sacred mount.” It is here that God demanded Elijah to explain himself. In our earlier post, we had submitted that Elijah had believed a lie about the state of things in Israel and God's participation in it. He had become discouraged and depressed. God was about to teach him a lesson by revealing how He operates.

    Here is David Guzik's submissions on the subject." God brought His presence before Elijah, but first, to show where He was not. The LORD was not in the wind; He was not in the earthquake; He was not in the fire. Like many others, Elijah probably only looked for God in dramatic manifestations. Certainly, God sometimes appears in such ways, but He often appears in less dramatic surroundings". Have you had the experience of wondering where God was in relation to your predicament? Then, finally God will answer: I never left you nor fosaken you ( Heb.13:5; Deut31:6 ). He never left you, nor did He leave Elijah.

    Zerubabel understood that first hand( zech.4:6 ) that God may not only be in crowds, public display and demonstration of power. God is also in the gentle quiet places. Adam Clarke makes a strong point here. " God intended to display himself to mankind not in judgment, but in mercy; and that as the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, were only the forerunners of the still small voice, which proclaimed the benignity of the Father of spirits; so the law, and all its terrors, were only intended to introduce that mild spirit of the Gospel of Jesus". Thank you Lord for the gentle whisper. Your case may appear as a gentle Whisper .What a whisper does is to pull you closer into a deeper intimacy.  Thats how Mark Batterson sees in his book: "Whisper". Be careful, God is sending you a whisper. Don't miss it. Good morning.

Elijah Believed A Lie

Elijah Believed A Lie

I Kings 19:9-10 NKJV

[9] And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” [10] So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 

Just yesterday, I saw on two related Facebook page the story of the demise of a major minister of the gospel. I was so broken that I didn't take out time that night to confirm from other possible sources. I reposted the information. Some friends scrambled to tell me the story was fake. I saw it later in the afternoon. I quickly went to delete all of it. You may not know, but I'm a retired Mass Communication lecturer. I know the need of confirmations.What happened to me? It must be the same thing that happened to Elijah. It is called Illusory truth Effect. It " is the tendency to believe false information to be correct after repeated exposure".

 Most belivers know that lieing is a sin, but not many know that believing a lie is also a sin. David Trounce examined this in 2021, "...this was the first sin of Man. Adam and Eve didn’t lie. Their first and most devastating sin was that they believed a lie". So did Elijah, and so did I yesterday. Elijah believed that he was the only one left who believed in Jehovah. 

 It's that belief that sent him on a forty day journey to Mt. Horeb. The last time someone was in a similar cave was Moses in Exodus 33. Keil and Delitzsch say, " This question did not involve a reproof, as though Elijah had nothing to do there, but was simply intended to lead him to give utterance to the thoughts and feelings of his heart". I agree with them. By the end of the encounter, Elijah must have taken down the post. Tomorrow we share God's reply to the fake post Elijah carried. In a study that was done at Temple University, they found out that, " Repetition makes statements easier to process relative to new, unrepeated statements, leading people to believe that the repeated conclusion is more truthful". The more Elijah repeated that he was the only one around, the more he belived it, even though God told him there were several thousands more. My prayers for you is that you do not believe a repeated lie, in Jesus Name. Good morning.

The Fear Of Jezebel

The Fear Of Jezebel 

I Kings 19:1-2 NKJV

[1] And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 

One of the most exciting reports on Jezebel is actually from a study center. Here's how they describe her, "Jezebel is one of the most infamous figures in the entire Bible.....( She )  was a Phoenician princess who married Ahab, the seventh king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and ruled as his queen around the mid-ninth century BCE. Her father was King Ethbaal of Sidon, according to the Hebrew Bible. Jezebel worshiped the Canaanite storm god Ba'al and converted her husband to Ba'alism as well. Most of the story of Jezebel is focused on her treachery and worship of Ba'al in opposition to the Israelite god Yahweh and his prophets". The name is associated with a spirit to describe her character. Hope Bolinger puts it bluntly, " The Jezebel Spirit term is often used to describe someone who uses cunning, deception, and seduction to tear apart entire marriages, churches, and other entities. Unlike many evil spirits, the Jezebel Spirit operates more subtly and sinisterly".  This description is in view of Jezebel's nature in relationships. She killed Naboth, took his vineyard, ruled Ahab, the husband, threatened Prophet Elijah, and promised to kill him. The woman was the real king of Samaria. One scholar describes what constitute the Jezebel Spirit in these words, "...everything from sexual looseness in a woman to the teaching of false doctrine—by a man or a woman". That should give you an idea why Elijah ran after a heavy display of anointing. Fear is the strongest weapon the devil has. The Man of God ran. Her obsessive passion to control Ahab is described as witchcraft. In Rev.2:18-25, theres a reference to a woman in the Church of Thyatira who is compared to Jezebel. Jesus hated her influence and gave instructions that she should not be tolerated. Here's someone's conclusion of this character. " Perhaps the best way to define the Jezebel spirit is to say it characterizes anyone who acts in the same manner as Jezebel did, engaging in immorality, idolatry, false teaching, and unrepentant sin". Most Jezebels today are called Narcissists. Have you had any experience with this spirit? Its  a very draining spirit. We are stronger because the victory of the blood of Jesus Christ. Good morning.

There Was A Heavy Rain

There Was A Heavy Rain 

I Kings 18:45-46 NKJV

[45] Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. [46] Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

By now Ahab has learnt by experience to associate what was happening with the God of Elijah. Who wouldn't? The man prayed, and fire came down. Now he went up to pray, and tells you its about to rain. Even if you have no faith, you will be forced to believe the man. Jer.14:22 asks a rhetorical question. None of the wordly vanities can do what God does best. Prayers will call God into your situation and give you a similar boldness as Elijah had.

  Elijah told the king it was time for him to go and have his meals. No one remembered to eat for the entire day. Now it was time to celebrate. It will not be drought for ever. Lack will turn to abundance, slumber will turn to zeal. God will taker over if there's just one person like Elijah to pray. 

 Scholars are not exactly on agreement as to why Elijah ran ahead of Ahab for sixteen miles. Most agree it  was a mark of respect. He stopped at the entrance into Jezreel. What is important is that at his age, he was divinely upheld to run ahead of Ahab into Jezreel. Ahab had a house there, but the capital was still at Samaria. We think he needed to carry a personal message to Ahab's wife, Jezebel. Its like saying : Im still here. He ran some days before, but he was back with a vengeance to all sinful conditions. What is primary is that it rained, and God caused it to rain. When it rains on your situation, you will know it. Speed is a result of God's deluge of His mercies. You probably marked time like the northern kingdom did, but God is raining a change for you. John 14:14. God is taking over. His specialty is change. The drought is ended. Change has come. Good morning.

A Cloud As Small As A Hand

A Cloud As Small As A Hand

I Kings 18:43-44 NKJV

[43] and (he) said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” [44] Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

This is a rendering of Zech. 4:10 in NLT 

" Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand." The context was different from today's reading, but the sense of smallness is relevant to our intention. God is interested in small beginnings. The cloud might have been like a mans hands, but a thunderstorm was coming. It is credited to Plato to have said that "The beginning is the most important part of the work.” What that means is the willingness to believe that the future is embedded in that little start.

That servant went seven times before he could announce that he has seen a cloud as small as a man's hands.  Albert Barnes reports that, " Sailors know full well that such a cloud on the far horizon is often the forerunner of a violent storm".

  People may laugh at the fact you sent a lookout for seven times. Thank God he didn't give up. They may wonder when you are giving up. Hold on. God will show up at the  horizon. It may be a little business, a small congregation, a little pay, but it takes you away from home on a daily basis. Hold on. James Feeny says, " Our minds can wrongly put limits on what God can do through us. But God is not restricted by our limitations or the circumstances of our lives. Look beyond your situation to the amazing things Almighty God can do with submitted, willing people".  

  Abraham had cried in Gen.15 that God had given him no children. God  took him out and showed him the stars. Israel is the result. Then Christ. Imagine what God can do with your little. Your situation is about to change. That project will attract international support. Whats important is your preparation to believe. " Prepare your chariots..". Wasn't that audacious? Faith speaks of those things that be not as if they were. You're about to be flooded by requests. Put your house in order. Its your turn now. in Mat.13:31-32, we are told that this is the pattern for the kingdom. It may be as little as a mustard, but birds will sit there tomorrow.

   Three things are essential.1. Persistence. What would have happened if Elijah gave up at the fourth trial? 2. Faith, that what he said will come to pass 3. Refusal to be discouraged by others who cant see what you saw. It may be as small as a mans hand. That is enough. Start. Good morning.

The Sound Of Abundance

The Sound Of Abundance 

I Kings 18:41-42 NKJV

[41] Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” [42] So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 

It is very audacious to declare rain in drought and ask the King and others to celebrate it. There are two things he had access to. One, he had access to information not available to others, that is called spiritual intelligence. Secondly he believed that the spirit realm controls physical realities. Its that belief that made Elijah go up to the top of Mt Carmel. He wasn't looking for rain. He was going to do something that will open the spirit realm for the rain to reach the physical. Here is Ajimuda Boluwarin Temitope, " There is no doubt that the physical realm is subservient to the spiritual realm.Many of the things that happen to us physically are spiritual realities first". Someone says in a blog post that, " Until you overcome in the spirit realm you will never move unto a glorious life".  Someone reviewed a performance by Mt Zion Faith Ministries, titled " Lesson From Legion ". This is the submission: " This movie did a great job in demonstrating that the Spiritual controls the Physical. Everything that was happening to Fred in the spiritual realm was happening physically as well".  1 Cor.2:14. Heb.11:3. Here is Bishop Mike Okonkwo, a Nigerian Clergy. " Beloved, there is another world outside this material world where we find ourselves. What happens in this world is determined by what had taken place in that world. So, the Spirit world rules, controls and governs this material realm and you need to have an understanding of your place in it so that you will be able to withstand the challenges of the day". So when Elijah climbed up, he needed to tinker the spiritual to change the physical. He did that by utterance and prayers. What you say must align with what youre praying. Thats why Elijah put his face between his knees. You can change things by changing them in the spirit realm. By the way there's an abundance heading your way. Good morning.

why The Fire Fell

Why The Fire Fell

I Kings 18:38 NKJV

[38] Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 

One of our avid readers called my attention. " You jumped the reason for the fire, God's faithfulness to His covenant!" Indeed the word is deep. Let's attempt to unbundle this observation of love. Thank you Pastor Babs. Bianca Juárez in 2016 tried to bring us to awareness of what Elijah was up against: 

* The king and queen who despised Elijah and wanted him dead

* 850 prophets of Baal

*Slim chances of survival if God didn’t show up in fire

*And all of this without proof that God had ever acted as Elijah was asking."

Add to this the audacious call to pour twelve buckets of water into the sacrifice. Pause, in my last science class in Wikipedia, they said  that " burning, is a high-temperature exothermic redox chemical reaction between a fuel (the reductant) and an oxidant". What that means is that it is not water that makes fire burn. It would have been if he poured in petrol or kerosene To pour in twelve buckets of water into the sacrifice was to put the nails on the coffin against  himself. For Elijah, it was either going to be God, or nothing.

 Yet, God answered by fire. Why did God do that? God did it for His Name Sake.  Elijah called upon Him. He did it for the protection of the Covenant, which they had departed from. He did it to point out that Baal is a dead god. He did it to change the heart of the people back to Him. Just imagine if God didn't answer him. It would have been a tragedy of greatest proportions for the Prophet Elijah.Tim Ogundele suggests a few other reasons why the fire fell:

* 1. Elijah knew God intimately. Daniel said, “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits, [Daniel 11:32b].

* 2. Elijah was an holy man of God who always hears from God and do obeyed Him.

* 3. God wanted to honour Elijah to become a man of fire by answering his prayer.

* 4. He was on God’s side and fighting the battle of God. See 1 Kings 18:17-19. We can only take few.

  Thank God the fire fell. You have no idea of what is released when you pray. Note that the fire did not just lick the wster, it licked the stones. Thank you Jesus for answered prayers. Now its your turn. Make the fire fall. That doesn't sound like it was just a simple meditative prayer. It sounds like it was war. Lets get on our knees and nake this happen. Good morning.