The danger in God’s silence

Proverbs 3 vs 12 -for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son In whom he delights .
Our God works in extremes, He does not like people He loves them ! For example John 3 vs 16 says for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He does not dislike He hates, Proverbs 6 vs 16-19 says these six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among brethren. There is no sitting on the fence with God. It is either cold or warm no lukewarm . Revelations 3 vs 15 says I know your works, that you are neither cold not hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
God is love ,1 John 4 vs 8 says He who does not love does not know God , for God is love. Because God is love , He corrects , Proverbs 3 vs 12 says whom the Lord loves He corrects. Correction is out of love not hatred. Proverbs 13 vs 24 says he who spares his rod hates his son , but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
God deals with disobedience in two ways ,chastisement or rejection. God does not take disobedience likely. 1 Samuel 15 vs 22 says to obey is better than sacrifice .There is lot to gain from been obedient to God. Exodus 23 vs 22 says if you obey God your enemies will be His enemies. Exodus 19 vs 5 says if you obey God you will be His special treasure. John 15 vs 14 says we become God’s friends if we obey Him. Matthew 7 vs 24 compares an individual who obeys God to a man who built his house on the rock. Jeremiah 7 vs 23 says but this is what I command them, saying , ‘obey My voice, and I will be your God , and you shall be My people. And walk in the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. According to Isaiah 48 vs 18 , when obey God our peace will be like a river.
Disobedience , stubbornness and rebellion are synonyms . In 1 Samuel 15 vs 23 , God likens disobedience to the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness to iniquity and idolatry. When people disobey God , He either chastises them or rejects them. There is no man alive who has never disobeyed God. Psalm 130 vs 3 says If You, Lord, should mark iniquities , O Lord who could stand ? Although the Lord said there is none like Job on earth, a blameless and upright man , who fears God and shuns evil – Job 1 vs 8, Job himself knew He was far from God’s description . That was why He said “truly I know it so , but how can a man be righteous before God – Job 9 vs 2.
God’s chastening is not easy .Hebrews 12 vs 11 says now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present ,but painful. Although the chastening maybe painful but Hebrew 12 vs 5 admonishes us not to be discouraged when He rebukes us. There is no son that the father does not chasten – Hebrew 12 vs 7 . Chastening is only disapproval, it is not the end . When a child does something the parent disapproves of , they chastise such child but it is not the end . After correcting the child ,they still show him or her love. When we disobey God and He chastises us , it is not the end of the relationship between Him and us.
If God loves you or He regards you in anyway expect Him to chasten you when you disobey Him. The Lord loved Solomon to the extent that He gave him a name – Jedidiah meaning beloved of the almighty , 2 Samuel 12 vs 25.Prior to his birth in 2 Samuel 7 vs 14 , the Most High said He will be his father, if he commits iniquities , He will chasten him with the rod of men and the blows of the sons of men. The same thing happened to David. Although David was a man after God’s heart , when He misbehaved the Lord chastened Him- 2 Samuel 12 vs 7-12 . The Lord did this out of love.
The other way He deals with disobedience or sin Is through rejection. The Lord’s rejection is worse than His chastisement . Once the Lord rejects a man or a woman , the next thing that follows is shame, disgrace and death a times .If you do not believe me ask Miriam . She was one of the first prophetess in Israel. According to Exodus 15 vs 20 , she was not only a prophetess , she was the equivalent of the first lady in Israel because all the women looked up to her . Because she despised the man of God -Moses , although she was older than him the Lord rejected her immediately and she became a leper-Numbers 12 vs 10. Moses pleaded on her behalf and the Lord cured her after seven days but do you know that the bible never mentioned her name , she never prophesied until her death- Numbers 20 vs 1.A woman a country had always looked up to because of the power of God in her life suddenly became a nobody.
The same thing happened to Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26 vs 1-23.The Lord orchestrated it in away that instead of his father he was made king of Judah at sixteen years . Because of his humility and conduct especially to God and God’s prophet the Lord made him prosper. This young king was so rich he stopped building towers in the city and began building towers in deserts just because he could afford it. The bible records that he had an army of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred (307,500) excluding around two thousand and six hundred (2600) chief official of the armies. United Kingdom has 197,780 active army personnel in 2012 ,Uzziah had 307,500 active military personnel back in 750 BC . This king was really blessed and pride got into him . He entered the temple to burn incense even when the Lord had warned that the task is for Aaron and his sons. Because the priest questioned him , he got angry and the Lord said enough. You know the end of the story ,immediately he became a leper. He was taken away from the palace and kept in a isolated house.
One thing we discover from Proverbs 3 vs 12 is that the Lord does not correct everybody. When He decides to correct you or rebuke you in any way then you should be happy because He loves you. When we disobey him and He keeps quiet then something has gone wrong. That is why we need to be worried if our conscience has stopped condemning us when we do something wrong or sin. In Mark 8 vs 31 -34 , Jesus told His disciples what was going to befall him and how this had to be done to fulfill the will of His father. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him for planning to die. Jesus got angry and scolded Peter. He even described Peter’s action as that of Satan , not because He hated Peter but because He was disappointed in Peter. The same Peter He built His ministry on . Do you know Judas stole from the purse and the Jesus never rebuked him for once ! -John 12 vs 6 . Why did He keep quiet , because  He had already rejected Judas. The love of money that drove Judas to steal from the purse also drove him to betray Jesus. By the time he discovered his mistake it was too late. He could not face the world so he committed suicide.
The fact that you are still speaking in tongues or dreaming or seeing vision does not mean you are living right. You can live in sin and still speak in tongue or dream or perform miracles. Although Judas was rejected by Jesus, he was still part of the disciples until the last supper. He moved with Jesus and ate with him . Why did Jesus permit this because He was giving him chance to repent but Judas did not repent. You might be in sin and gifts of the Holy Spirits are still manifesting in your life , the Lord left them for you to repent. The gifts of the Holy Spirits are not proof that you living a life of righteousness. Beware of the vices of the devil.
Do you also know that if He continues to chasten you over an issue and you do not repent , it might lead to rejection ? Proverbs 3 vs 11 says My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction. Proverbs 10 vs 17 says he who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray . Most times the Lord rebukes us through our parents in the Lord or boss at work or earthly parents. We should heed correction . After several warning from God to Eli , he did not change. He did not rebuke his children .Because he refused correction the Lord sworn that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever – 1 Samuel 3 vs 14 .Now tell me if the same God who said in Leviticus 4 vs 1-5 that if a man sins unintentionally , he should bring a young bull without blemish as a sin offering now decides that a sin offering can atone for a man’s sin then you should know that it is serious.
This is why if you are yet to give your life Christ I will beg you to do so now. We can not continue to ignore Him when He calls us to be His child . If He continues to call you and you reject Him , He will simply go . I pray that He will not leave you .
The bible said in Romans 3 vs 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 vs 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be save ? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth , Jesus is Lord , and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 vs 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.
Pray this prayer from your heart today!
Dear Jesus , I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart . Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.
Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.
Samuel Oluwatoki
Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague . Remember Matthew 10 vs 32 which says whoever confesses me before me , him I will confess before my father who is heaven.

WHOLESOME CONTROL

Thursday 5 July                                                                                                            Bible in one year: Leviticus 14-16
Read: Luke 19 vs29-35
Memorise: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,Lord,shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7 vs 21
In Luke 5vs 1-7 , Peter allowed the Lord to enter his boat and immediately , failure jumped out of that boat.It is wisdom to allow the Lord free space  in your heart and life. He does not usually impose Himself on anyone,but expects us to invite Him. It is only the areas you allow Him to reign over that will be no go areas for the devil. If you allow Him  to reign in every area  of  your life, you will never know sorrow, defeat or poverty again. Some time ago, I visited a country not too far away from Nigeria to see some of our missionaries. At the airport, while waiting the plane  that will bring back t Nigeria, I emptied my pocket to the missionaries since i knew my driver will be waiting to receive me at the airport in Nigeria. While waiting , the airline announced that the place that was to take us to Nigeria will first stop over in a far way  country before coming for us. Then i became hungry. I was not fasting and i had no money left on me. Suddenly it occurred to me that i could decree since my God was in charge. I simply decreed that the officers of the airline would have no rest until I left their country. Within five minutes, they rushed to meet us upstairs and asked for those traveling to Nigeria. They asked if we have been given anything to eat. We replied in the negative and they brought us cakes and coke. I finished mine before others so the leader of the team gave me the last slice with another bottle of coke. Not long after that, we heard announcement that the plane that should take us will first get to Nigeria before going to that far country. Then i prayed that their peace should be restored. When you allow the Lord to have His way in your life, not only will He reign in our life and circumstances, He will also cause you to reign over situations and circumstances . As you allow Him into every department of your life, the Lord will cause you to reign over every opposition and manipulation of the enemy. From today you shall reign over failure, sickness and bareness. It is well with you.
KEY POINT: Calling Jesus Christ you lord is no enough; it is only the areas of your life that you give to Him that He will be Lord over. Is Jesus truly your Lord?

THE YOUNG GIVER

Wednesday 4 July                                                                                                                 Bible in one year: Acts 21-24

Memorize:There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth;and there is that witholdeth more than is meet ,but it tendeth to poverty. Proverbs 11vs 24

Read : John 6vs 5-13

Our God can go to extremes in areas such as giving. When He really wants to give, He gives massively. Imagine using 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes to feed 5,000 men, excluding children and women. Going by the fact that women were usually more among the followers of Jesus, that could have been 12,000 people or more. Yet , there were leftovers.As awesome as this miracle was , it must not be forgotten that a young boy created the platform for God to perform this miracle of super abundance by giving up his lunch.I once asked my children what happened to the 12 baskets of extras that came out of the miraculous provision and they replied that each of the apostles must have gone home with one basket. But they were wrong.All 12 baskets would have been giving to that little boy because where the water comes from , is where it will return. Just imagine that boy getting home with 12 baskets of bread and fishes. His parents must have asked how he got them and he would have told them the story. I believe that family would learnt a big lesson concerning giving.

Learn from this story. Do you think the boy was the only one with food in the midst of that crowd? No ! What happened to others who had some food?Their food was hoarded and so remained that way. If that boy had kept back his meal just like others, the crowd could have starved because God needs a man to give something for Him to multiply. If you bring empty hands He will multiply your emptiness and at the end of the day, you will be the greater looser. Some of those who hid their food would have been asked to help the boy carry his booty home. The would have been saying :” this provision could have been mine”! They would have regretted their action. Furthermore, there might have been some of them who would have wanted to offer theirs but either they were too slow or they were still thinking or praying about it when the boy beat them to it. Be quick to give to God. Always lead others in giving because there is a reward for it. Like that boy, children and teens should learn to give to God. They are not too young to give to God.Parents must give their children offering to give in church and teach them how to pay their tithes on the gifts they receive from others. The earlier , the better.

PRAYER POINT : Father , help me to lead others when it comes to giving.

Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye

become blameless and pure

CHANGE YOUR GARMENT

Tuesday 3 July Bible in one year : Leviticus 8-10
Memorise: and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colossians 3:10
Read : Colossians 3 vs 8-10
After Elisha saw Elijah being taken away , he cried out . The next thing he did was to tear his clothes (2 Kings 2 vs 12-14) . Why did he do that? According to Colossians 3:8-10 , you have to put off the old man before you can put on the new man. What constitutes the old man?
But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath,malice,blasphemy,filthy communication out of you mouth.Colossians 3 vs 8
Sin is a type of clothing; righteousness is another type of clothing . Anyone who wears the garment of sin will be clothed in shame but the one who wears righteousness will be clothed in God’s glory. When Adam sinned, he lost his robe of righteousness and God’s glory was lifted from him. When Jesus came ,He came to take away our rags and being full of God’s glory, anyone who wears Him will be covered in His glory. The truth is that as long as you put on a cloak of sin, you will not be attractive for God’s use. Elisha realised the enormity of a new walk with God he was embarking on and he immediately tore his rags so that he could put on the new man. He was very wise.
There are some people who are being proposed for a higher spiritual assignment yet they will make no serious preparation. That is foolishness. A minister of God was being nominated by his pastor for ordination some years ago. When the time the list was released, his name was on it so he went to tell his pastor he saw his name on the list. The pastor told him that although he sent his name, he will not advise him to be ordained that year , going by certain shady things involving the brother, but he insisted on being ordained. He was therefore told to go into a period of fasting and prayer. Later the Pastor learnt that this brother was busy watching home video during the time he should be fasting. Ordination came and he was ordained as a deacon. He took the next Sunday message and all hell broke loose. His creditors started looking for him in order to arrest him. This was how he ran away from church. Anytime God is about to take you higher, it is time to examine your garment and destroy it if it is stained with sin.
KEY POINT:
Are you yearning for promotion? What are the practical evidences of your preparation? ordination adds value only to the prepared.
Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye

KEYS OF PRAYER AND HOLINESS

Monday 2 July                                        Bible in one year : Leviticus 5-7
Memorise: One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion gathers it for him who will pity the poor. Proverbs 28 vs 8
Read: Proverbs 13 vs 11-12
A very important key of the kingdom is prayer. John 14 vs 14 says if ye shall ask any thing in my name , i will do it.
This is an open cheque. Speaking of prayer , we should also note that if it includes thanksgiving and praises. If you can give thanks and praise God while praying effectively , closed doors will be forced open. However for your prayers to work, you must maintain a right standing with God. James 5 vs 16 says confess your faults one to another,and pray one for another , that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
To open doors, your prayer should be persistent, hot and fiery. It should be laced with God’s word stating the basis of your prayer and arguing your case. How do you pray? Strive also to pray in the Holy Ghost to increase the effectiveness of this key.
Another key is the master key of holiness( Deuteronomy 28 vs 1-13). If you live holy, all doors will look in your direction and open to you. Many people think they can get rich through fraudulent means. Yes, they can but that leaves God out of the equation. Any blessings that God is not in is cursed. Some people do not want to hear about holiness when business is being discussed because they think it will hinder increase or prosperity. How wrong! Holiness will only prevent you from receiving cursed money and any increase that may erode your blessings. But on the other hand ,holiness will deliver true riches and lasting prosperity to you. It is the money, increase or promotion you make through the fear of God that shall endure . Deuteronomy 23 vs 18 says God forbids any prostitute from bringing an offering or tithe into His house from the proceeds of her illicit trade. It is an abomination ! Proverbs 20 vs 23 says it is wrong to cunningly reduce the cup or vessel for measuring seeds or food items in a bid to cheat the buyer. In doing your business, you must not tell lies, or make false declarations. You don’t have to lie about your age or fill forms that you have several dependants when you don’t, because you want to reduce your taxes.God wants you holy so that the key of holiness can work for you.
KEY POINT: If you try the key of giving, faith , praise or prayer while living in sin, they will now work. For these keys to work, they must be combined with the key of holiness.

JUDGEMENT IS COMING

Sunday 1 July Bible in one year : Leviticus 1-4

Memorize: Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3 vs 13

Read : 1 Corinthians 3 vs 11-15

Death seals the fate of an individual. The Holy Ghost , writing through Paul in 2 Corinthians 5 vs 6-8 makes clear the fate of faithful believers: finding themselves immediately with Jesus once they are absent from the body; while Jesus in Luke 16 vs 22-23 makes clear the fate of those that live outside in God’s precepts:being welcome to hell as they close their eyes in death.There is no middle place. There is Heaven or hell. Wherever you land at death is where you will live forever. It is either death or Jesus comes to take you home at the rapture. These are the only two exit points from this world into eternity. Where will you spend eternity?

People quake whenever they hear of death because after death , judgment follows: Hebrews 9 vs 27 says : and as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgement:

The creator of man has an appointment with man. He does not seek their inputs concerning this appointments, although those who are very close to Him could negotiate and shift the date of the appointment. Whether you like or not,you must keep that appointment someday, either through death or through the rapture. A sinner who dies will go to hell. Revelation 20 vs 11-15 says after they are judged at the Great White judgment, the inhabitants of hell will be thrown into the lake of fire. That is like from frying pan to fire. The lake of fire is a far worse place than hell fire.Just one sin is enough to take you there. On the other hand, those who believe in Jesus Christ,not just church goers,but those who have received Christ into their lives and have the evidence of a change of life will face their judgement too. 1 Corinthians 3 vs 11-15 says every work we have done will be passed through God’s fire. Any work that did not meet up with God’s standard will be burnt. The issued is not just working for God but working to meet God’s standard or expectation. Any work done with wrong motives will be burnt. Any work done not at the time God requested but at the convenience of the doer may be burnt. Some people have nothing left after the fire. You have time to make amends. You not lose your reward!

KEY POINT: To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Unfortunately ,concerning matters of eternity, many who are forewarned never believed the truth until they died and found it so. But alas they were unprepared.