GREEN PASTURES OR GOD’S PRESENCE?

MEMORY VERSE: And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. Genesis 19:30

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 115-117

BIBLE READING: Genesis 13:9-12

The story of how Lot separated from his uncle and adopted father, Abram, is a popular one. After series of quarrels between the herdsmen of Lot and those of Abram, Abram decided that it was best they both divide the land between themselves. He called Lot and said “Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left” (Genesis 13:9). Abram, being a senior brother to Lot’s deceased father, gave Lot the opportunity to pick first. One would have expected Lot to turn down the offer to choose first since Abram was like a father to him. Instead he lifted up his eyes to see which portion of the land was most "green". He saw that the plains of Jordan was “well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt” and moved in with his family. At the onset, his decision to move into Sodom and Gomorrah seemed like a masterstroke. In the land he prospered greatly and amassed great wealth. One day, God’s wrath came down on Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot lost all he had. Things were so bad, for him, that he could not afford a house so he began to live inside a cave with his two daughters. Genesis 19:30 says, “And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.”

There are several lessons to learn from this story. Firstly, not all green pastures are actually green. The colour ‘green’ is the colour of life, renewal, nature, and energy, and is associated with meanings of growth, harmony, freshness, safety, fertility, and environment. So when the Psalmist says “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2a), you have an idea of what he was trying to say. The land of Sodom and Gomorrah had green pastures but it was not 'so green' for Lot. Secondly, not all green pastures are green pastures; some are abattoirs in disguise. Lot went into Sodom and Gomorrah with a large family but left with only two of his children; even his wife did not make it out. Thirdly, not all green pastures are peaceful. Fourthly, the fact that a pasture is green does not mean God is there. The plain of Jordan looked like the garden of the Lord but it was not the garden of the Lord. Sixthly, the fact that a pasture is green today does not mean it will be green tomorrow, as such pray before making any decision. The pastures were green when Lot moved into Sodom, several years later it became a sulphur site. As we mentioned yesterday, in Lot’s scale of preference ‘greener pasture’ came before the presence of God. Friend, in your scale of preference which comes first? Is it money? Is it wealth? Is it influence? Is it the presence of God? Is it the will of God? Lot preferred a green pasture to the presence of God? Dear sister, do you prefer a well-to-do man to a God-fearing man? A man who is well-to-do but not God-fearing has no future because he is at the mercy of the enemy. That job may offer more money but is that God’s will for you? Marriage to that brother or sister may help you meet your financial needs or give you influence and connection, but is God in it? Your journey to that foreign country may offer you a lot in terms of financial returns but is God in it?

NOTE: A green pasture where the presence of God is missing is a death trap.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

ADVANTAGES OF HIS PRESENCE

MEMORY VERSE: and they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. Judges 15:12

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: First Corinthians 5-7

One of the things you benefit from spending time in God’s presence is fullness of joy. When you spend time with Him, He fills your heart with joy. Psalm 16:11 says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” A lot of us are full of ‘happiness’ not ‘joy’. Happiness comes when something good happens, maybe your wife delivers a set of twins, or you are promoted at work. Joy is that exceeding gladness in your heart regardless of your situation. In the face of serious challenges and problems, you will still be smiling. The only place to get such joy is in the presence of the Lord not in smoking cannabis or consuming alcohol. I remember when i had challenges at work and people were worried because of the ‘so-called’ evidences against me, i told them, “do not worry, i will be back because Christ in me the hope of glory.” I was able to say that because of the joy of the Lord in my heart.

Another thing one benefits from spending time in His presence is unshakable confidence that all will be well. After the Lord gave Samson victory over the philistines, he retired to the top of rock Etam, a natural stronghold, to spend time with His maker (Judges 15:8). When his brethren came to bind him and deliver him into the hands of the Philistines, he did not panic because he knew that all would be well. All he was concerned about was his brethren not attacking him, because if they tried it, he would be left with no other option than to defend himself and that could result in their death. Judges 15:12 says and they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. When you spend quality time in God’s presence, what others see and run, you will see it and smile. The men of Judah saw the Philistines as the alpha and omega; Samson saw them as lunch. The men of Israel saw Goliath as an indomitable giant, but David, a man who had spent quality time praising God, saw him as a little dog (First Samuel 17:43). Do you know, when you spend quality time in His presence, how you perceive your problem changes? What others see and panic, you will see it and smile. What others see and say, “it is over,” you will see it and say, “this is just the beginning”. When you spend quality time in the place of prayer, what others call a challenge; to you it will be an opportunity. What others call threats, you will call it opportunities. When other sees blood during pregnancy, they panic but when you, who have spent quality time with our Father in heaven, see blood, you smile because you know it is the blood of Jesus not that you have had a miscarriage. A sister who recently put to bed testified how, every time she saw blood, she would confess that it was the blood of Jesus. This happened several times during her pregnancy. At the end, she gave birth to a baby girl.

NOTE: For you to spend time in His presence, you need to bring down His presence first through praises and worship. Psalm 22:3 says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”  Bring down His presence into that hospital ward by praising Him.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.