WITH GOD, SILENCE IS NOT APPROVAL

MEMORY VERSE: And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bares him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. 2 Samuel 11:27

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 19 -20

READ: 2 Samuel 11

The way cases are judged in heaven is similar to the way cases are judged on earth. The principles adopted by the Chief Judge, the Judge of judges, in heaven, are similar to the principles adopted by human judges on earth. Human judges (when presiding over any case) look at the intent. This is why we have voluntary homicide and involuntary homicide. The Most High God (when presiding over any case) looks at the heart i.e. the intent.  1 Samuel 16:7 says: “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” Ignorance is not an excuse in the human court. Ignorance is not an excuse in the heavenly court too. Jesus said, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more (Luke 12:48).” There is a big penalty for animal cruelty in the court of law.  No man guilty of animal cruelty will go unpunished in the court of heaven. Proverbs 12:10 says: “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Just as the law holds animal owners accountable for the actions of their animals or animals under their care; for instance, it is a criminal offence to walk in the public with your dog unleashed, God also hold animal owners accountable for the actions of their animals or animals under their care.  Exodus 22:5 says: “If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.”

The heavenly court and earthly court differ in one or two ways. For instance, you are permitted to divorce your husband or wife in the earthly court. Once the other party is happy with the divorce, the earthly court will grant you a divorce. It is not so in the heavenly court. God is against divorce! Silence implies consent in the earthly court. Before God, silence does not imply consent. God’s silence does not imply consent. David committed adultery with a woman, killed her husband and God did not say a word for nine (9) months (2 Samuel 11)! 2 Samuel 11:27 says: “And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD”. You will be deluding yourself to think God’s silence implies consent. God’s silence is actually dangerous because He chastises those He loves (Hebrews 12). I will be worried if I do something bad deliberately and God keeps quiet.  

NOTE: If something is wrong, it is wrong regardless of how you put it, explain it or how many people are doing it.

ACTION: Repent today and make restitutions where necessary.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

SUFFERING IN SILENCE?

MEMORY VERSE: And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:41

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 16-20

There is a time for ‘everything’ under the heavens (Ecclesiastes 3:1). According to Ecclesiastes 3:2-8, there is a time to be born and there is a time die. There is a time to keep silent, and a time to speak and so on. This brings us to this question, ‘who controls time?’ God. Daniel 2:21 says, “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:” The Most High God decides when one faces his or her trial of faith. Matthew 4:1 says, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” Trails of faith have so many advantages. For instance, they are opportunity for spiritual maturity (James 1:3). Not only that, you will never know the great things that God has deposited inside you until you face some challenges. David never knew he had the potential to kill a lion and bear with his bare hands until a bear and lion tried to steal his sheep (1 Samuel 17:34). The Lord determines how long the trial of faith will last for. Genesis 15:13 says, “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years.” He determines when one's waiting period comes to an end. In Genesis 18, during God’s visit to Abraham, He told Sarah that her waiting period was over. Verse 14 says, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

One may ask, ‘how about when something evil happens, does God decide that?’ God does not do evil. Job 34:12 says, “Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.” Although God does not do evil, nothing happens except He allows it and He will not allow something He cannot use. In His infinite wisdom, He allows some things so as to bring a testimony out of it. Although God cannot be stopped, when He wants to work in our lives He expects our cooperation. God’s initial plan was that the children of Israel will spend 400 years in Egypt but they spent 430 years. Exodus 12:41 says, “And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.” Why? When the children of Israel were supposed to cry to God for deliverance, they kept quiet. Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be given you: for every one that asketh recieveth: and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Even when Pharaoh was killing all their male children, they just kept quiet. It is baffling that people can be suffering to the point of losing their children and still keep quiet. Not until they cried to God, their situation did not change. Are you suffering in silence? There is nothing spiritual in people taking advantage of you and you keep quiet. No! It is time to cry to God to fight your cause! It is time to cry to God to defend you! It is time to cry to God to fight your battle for you! As far as one keeps quiet, things will not change.

NOTE: Stop asking God if He can’t see what you are going through. Report the matter to Him!

PRAYER POINT: Father, fight for me today.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.