TO HATE IS TO LOVE

MEMORY VERSE: Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Psalm 45:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 21-24

What is the ‘oil of gladness’? To be glad is to be joyful, cheerful, delightful, or content. Oil is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit. The ‘oil of gladness’ or better put the ‘oil that gladdens’ is the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 says: ‘For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.’ Another synonym for the ‘oil of gladness’ is the ‘oil of joy ( Isaiah 61:13).’

There are one or two things you need to know about the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Firstly, it comes in a measure. We know it comes in a measure because Jesus had it without measure. John 3:34 says: ‘For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.’ Elijah, on the other hand, had it in a measure. We know Elijah had it in a measure because Elisha, his servant, asked for the double portion of his anointing (2 Kings 2:9) and received it. One of the many advantages of the anointing of the Holy Spirit is that it turns a man into a problem solver. In the conventional world, you are paid according to the problems you are able to solve. For instance, a medical doctor earns times four of what a cleaning operative earns (and no disrespect to any cleaner as I used to be one before God helped me) because of the level of problems the medical doctor is able to solve which the cleaning operatives simply cannot solve. Jesus, the Man that had the Spirit without measure, solved the problem of the world; also, He received the biggest pay. Philippians 2:9 says: ‘Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.’ Every child of God has been anointed with the Holy Spirit- some more than the others. The key to increasing the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon your life is to love what God loves and hate what He hates. Psalm 45:7 says: ‘Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.’

NOTE: Good and bad are two opposite things; also, righteousness and wickedness. To love righteousness simply means to hate wickedness and vice versa.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

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DISADVANTAGES OF FAVORITISM

MEMORY VERSE: and when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him, Genesis 37:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Sam 14, 2 Cor 7, Ezek 21, Ps 1-2

Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children for obvious reasons. He loved him because he was the first born of Rachel (his favorite wife). Not only that, he loved him because he was the son of his old age. Because of all these, he showered this young man with gifts. As parents it is quite understandable to like a child above the others but it is unwise to show it or favor one above the other. Jacob did not only love Joseph more all his children, he favored him more than his children. Out of his twelve sons, he made a coat of many colors for Joseph alone. The other sons noticed and began to hate Joseph. Genesis 37:4 says and when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 

The problem of Joseph started when his father began to favor him above all the other children. Friends became foes when Jacob began to pay extra attention to Joseph at the expense of other children. Jacob broke the bond of unity amongst his children because he favored one above the rest. This old man unknowingly divided his family into two – Joseph and other children as a result of favoritism. Favoritism births enmity between children or a team. Favoritism amongst any team breaks the bond of unity within that team. Favoritism causes problems and breaks up a team.

There are a lot of parents who have caused enmity between their children as a result of favoritism. There are many who look after the male children and neglect the female children. All children should be treated the same and no one should be neglected. When a parent begins to favor a child above the other, such parent is dividing the family and giving the enemy an opportunity to come in between the children. Treat all children the same, give them the same opportunity. The fact that you love a child above others is not a criterion to favor him. The fact that you love a member of staff above others is not a criterion to favor him or her above others. When you favor an individual above others, you are only creating problem for the individual. Not only that, the favored individual will begin to face unnecessary challenges. Favoritism can turn brothers to murderers. It was favoritism that landed Joseph in the pit. Although Joseph was favored above his brothers, he paid dearly for it and it almost cost him his life .Favoritism should be frowned upon in our churches, homes, community, national assemblies and parliaments. It only gives the enemy an opportunity to divide us.

ACTION POINT: Voice against favoritism.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.