God Will Speak Again

God Will Speak Again !

I Kings 17:7-9 NKJV

[7] And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.  [8] Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, [9] “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 

It's very difficult to sit by a drying brook. When God told Elijah to go to Brook Cherith, we feel a sense of excitement that God's about to proof Himself. When the brook began to dry, because it had not rained for a while, what was your expectation? Meyer says its very hard to sit by a drying brook. David Guzik describes the three kinds of drying brooks:

 " The drying brook of popularity, ebbing away as from John the Baptist.

• The drying brook of health, sinking under a creeping paralysis, or a slow consumption.

• The drying brook of money, slowly dwindling before the demands of sickness, bad debts, or other people’s extravagance.

• The drying brook of friendship, which for long has been diminishing, and threatens soon to cease". We may add to that list. The issue is that things are dying around us. Has anyone been there? Why does God allow it when youre speaking for him? Meyer answers the question, " He wants to teach us not to trust in His gifts but in Himself. He wants to drain us of self, as He drained the apostles by ten days of waiting before Pentecost. He wants to loosen our roots ere He removes us to some other sphere of service and education. He wants to put in stronger contrast the river of throne-water that never dries.” God is not punishing you. He will speak again. Be patient. He's removing you from a drying brook. He has a better plan. Trust Him. Good morning.

Locking the Heavens

Locking The Heavens For Three And A Half Year

I Kings 17:1-3 NKJV

[1] And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” [2] Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, [3] “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 

It is possible to read this and pass it on as one of the fables in the old testament. It may not be until you read the report of James that you'll get the antecedent actions of the story. This is David Guzik: " Elijah was not merely the prophet of this drought – in the sense of prayer – he was the cause of the drought. He prayed and it happened. Jas 5:17-18 makes this clear: Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit". Guzik continues that this was  " a dramatic demonstration against the pagan god Baal, who was thought to be the sky god, the god of the weather. Elijah showed that through his prayers to the God of Israel, Yahweh was mightier than Baal". Don't forget that by now the worship of Baal was a state religion, and the King publicy acknowledged it. The focus is that he prayed and it happened. We can cause change in our time by prayers. Here's the baseline. God instructed ravens to go and feed the orophet while the drought lasted. God give us men. That waa not for two weeks, but three and a half year. Ravens are very selfish birds. They can eat and let , their chicks die. Yet these birds brought food to Elijah. No matter what curves of life throws at us, God  is too powerful to fail. Your case is not different. It takes us to call on Him. Good morning 

Ahab's Reign And The Curse Of Jericho

Ahab's Reign And The Curse Of Jericho 

I Kings 16:33-34 NKJV

[33] And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. [34] In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun.

We have flipped over Nadab and Baasha, Elah, Zimri and  Omri. All were failed Kings in Israel. There's an unwritten record of your service. May God not flipp over your season. May your accomplishments be worthy of being noted in heaven's record. The verse above happened in the reign of Ahab. Ahab was not different. It is what happened to a man called Hiel during Ahab's reign that caught our attention. Remember that Joshua had cursed Jericho many years earlier as the people of Israel tried to navigate their journey to the promise land. Joshua 6:26. God had demanded that the city be left for Him as tithe. Only Rahab and her household escaped the city. In today's read, during the reign of Ahab, someone called Hiel built Jericho and inherited the curse of Joshua. It is either the people were totally stupid or they were very ignorant of a standing curse. To me, its a miniature picture of the leadership and the state of Israel at that time. Israel  wallowed in dark ignorance without  God. Are you doing more to provoke or promote the work of God around you? Are you conscious of what Christ expects of you in a place of this kind? Well someone did eventually, long after Hiel lost two sons working in the flesh. It took Elisha in 2Kings 2:19-22 to reverse the curse and make the place habitable. Every curse is caused or spoken by a man. They can be reversed by another. Don't buy it from the devil that you're done, because you were cursed. Beyond that, the blood of Jesus Christ provides the provision to break every curse This is Gary Linton, " There is power inherent in His blood to break every curse and bondage (addiction) from off our life. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11a). There is power in the blood of Jesus to save us and break every curse and bondage from off our lives. Claim His blood over every curse and bondage and watch them be broken!". A word is enough. Good morning.

Ben-Hadad's Foreign Relations

Ben-Hadad's Foreign Relations 

I Kings 15:20-22 NKJV

[20] So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. [21] Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building Ramah, and remained in Tirzah. [22] Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted. And they took away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

Here we are confronted with high level politics of international relations in the building of Ramah. The struggle for dominance between Judah and Israel continued. David Guzik reports that, " Baasha gained the upper hand in the days of Asa because he effectively blocked a main route into Judah at the city of Ramah. He hoped this military and economic pressure on Judah would force Asa into significant concessions". That is when Asa broke all regards for the things of God. He took all the treasures of silver and gold that was in the temple and the kings house and gave them to Ben-Hadad, King of Syria, reminding him of a pending relationship he had with Judah. This is how games are sometimes played in international relations. Everything being equal, international relationships should be on the basis of peaceful coexistence. It spells out that there should be, " mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non- interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence". They didn't read that from the United Nations charter since there was non in their time. Ben-Hadad changed sides and saved Judah from the trade blockade. It is in 2Ch 16:7-10 that we read God's reactions to this diplomatic blunder. Prophet Hanani brought God's perspective on the matter, concluding, " For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars” (2Ch 16:7 b-9)". Who do you run to when you're under pressure? It shows where your loyalty lies. Don't complicate matters by putting God out of your decisions like Asa did. Good morning.

 

The Tragic End Of A Great Leader

The Tragic End Of A Great Leader 

I Kings 15:17-19 NKJV

[17] And Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. [18] Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and the treasuries of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-Hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, [19] “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

Everything looked promising for King Asa. He should have ended well, but he failed. When a tragic end comes to a great leader, you feel like weeping for them. Seen afterwards, you will wish he made a different choice.  It is accedited to  Abba Eban  to have said, " Tragedy is the difference between what is and what could have been.”   Asa could have been it. He had every opportunity to have ended well, but, he missed it with a casual attitude to the things of God. He was more concerned with winning that he could give out sacred temple items to a heathen king. Daniel Groenewald describes a tragic hero as " A promising hero( who )sets out on a journey but is undermined by an unchecked personal flaw which leads to their unnecessary and untimely death". He was not thinking of King Asa when that was written. An Indeed carrer guide outlines several reasons for the failures of leaders like King Asa, but they failed to include in  the list, a spiritual direction. When you read the details of this story in 2nd Chronicles 16, you hear that God was not happy with him. Be a great leader, but seek to please God. He died, diseased on his foot. How would you rate your current walk with God. You started well. Are you going to end well? Good morning 

Reforms Under The Leadership Of Asa

Reforms Under The Leadership Of Asa

I Kings 15:13-14 NKJV

[13] Also he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron. [14] But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa’s heart was loyal to the Lord all his days. 

Mirriam Webster describes reforms as the attempt " to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action". Yesterday we examined the revival that Asa started. Revivals however do not last except there are profound changes in the psyche of the people involved. Kenneth Berding in 2018 reported on two revivals in wales. One was in 1859, and the other was in 1904. This is the submission: "  The positive effects of the first revival both for the church and for society persisted for many years. The second revival, lacking an emphasis on the Bible, was “gone as quickly as it came.” Hansen and Woodbridge remarked about the second awakening: “After several years, Wales returned to its previous state of religious indifference.” The second revival was like a sparkler that spouted brilliant colors for a moment, sputtered, then grew suddenly dark". Colin Hansen and Woodridge had compared the two  revivals. They said, " Evan Roberts, the best-known preacher of the second: “Roberts, a gifted exhorter who led meetings filled with prayers, singing, and testimonies, did not prioritize Bible teaching. Compared to the 1859 revival, fewer Welsh preachers taught biblical doctrine. Instead, many new converts sought mystical experiences.” That revival died.  Asa perhaps  thought about such when he removed the grandmother from being queenmother and destroyed her shrine. Two can't work together except they're in agreement. He might not have dealt with all the high places, but no one in leadership was going to go against Jehovah. That must have sent news to the rest in the nation that reforms are underway. Don't just look for a revival. Look for deep spiritual change in lives. That will last. Good morning.

Revival Under Asa

Revival Under Asa

I Kings 15:9-11 NKJV

[9] In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah. [10] And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom. [11] Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did his father David. 

I paused as I read these words, and whispered a silent thanksgiving. The events happened about 916 BC., but I felt the reality today. There's a battle going on to get the soul of the land, and the enemy is struggling to put its men in the lead. The irony is that most Christians are not aware. Before King Asa came to the throne, he was preceded by three kings who grew increasingly wicked. They lead the Kingdom of Judah further and further away from God. Then Asa came. Beautiful Feet reports that, " The spiritual condition of the nation when Asa came to the throne left him with many challenges.

► Idolatry was rampant.

► Perversity had filled the land, with idolatrous practices involving male and female prostitutes.". Then Asa went from town to town removing the high places that were dedicated to foreign gods( v.12 ). Thi was a great spiritual awakening after years of dormancy.  Its called revival. Every revival begins with deep repentance and a return to God. To get this kind of revival started, we must think like Paul," So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” — Heb.12:12–13. We can get out of the rut. We can get our own revival started. We can serve God better. Yes you can. Get a revival started. King Asa did it, so can you. Good morning.