BURNING THE BRIDGES

1 Kings 19:21 – so Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

BIBLE STUDY: 1 Kings 19:19-21

Immediately Elisha received the call to serve, he killed his livestock, gave away the farming implements, and followed Elijah the man of God. He burned the bridge between his past and future. Many today who have giving their lives to Christ are yet to burn the bridge between their past and future. After giving our lives to Christ, the first thing we need to do is to destroy anything that ties us to our former life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says therefore is any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed way; behold, all things are become new. As new birth bachelors and spinsters we no longer need to keep birth control pills and contraception. These things are for fornicators not for singles who are born again. We no longer need to keep clothes that expose parts of the body that is meant to be covered so we need to dispose off those clothing. We no longer need the contacts of our old lovers because we now have a new lover which is Christ.

Why did Elisha kill the livestock and give away his farming implements? He that to avoid backsliding. He knew if kept the animals and farming implements, he could be tempted to backslide. Elisha knew that his attention will be divided between his oxen (past) and Elijah (future). Because of this he decided to forego his past for a glorious future ahead. We need to do away with our sinful past so as to avoid destroying our glorious future. The chances of back-sliding are very high when after giving our lives to Christ, we are still in close contact with our ex-lovers; still keep birth control pills and contraception ; still keep friends we used to commit sin with. If they have giving their life to Christ no problem but if they have not we have nothing in common again. After giving my life to Christ, the first thing I did was to dispose off every material that does not glory Christ in my life. I confiscated CDs, novels, DVDs, cards, e.t.c . After that I went to preach to all my lovers both new and old. I politely told of all of them that I am a new creation and I am no longer who I used to be. I preached to my friends but I was still hanging out with them. I noticed that this was affecting my spiritual life so I gave everyone up and stopped calling them. I noticed that immediately I did this, I began to grow spiritually. It is true I lost very close friends but I gained the most valuable friend any man can have which Is Jesus. Why did Jesus ask the rich man to give all he had away and follow Him, Matthew 19:21? So that once he starts following Him, his riches and wealth will not draw him back from serving Jesus. When Jesus called Peter, he did not destroy his boats . Immediately Jesus was crucified, Peter went back to fishing, John 21:1-6.

ACTION POINT: Make a list of what is affecting your walk with Christ and begin to take measures to deal with them.

GOD’S ATTITUDE TO THE UNIMPORTANT

Proverbs 19:17 says he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.

God did not create anyone to be poor or unimportant. He definitely did not create anyone to be invisible or be a ‘nobody’ (a person of no importance or authority). There are several reasons why people end up as nobody. It could be by virtue of circumstances at birth. The crippled man in Acts 3:1-8 became a beggar because he was born with weak ankle and limbs and his parents were poor. The only way to get money to feed was to beg. Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-16, was a highly respected and celebrated general but because he was a leper he was confined to leper’s colony. A high ranking general became unimportant because of leprosy. No one reckoned with him because he was not fit to leave in the community. Because of life challenges a very wealthy woman became poor and lonely, Mark 5:25-34. The physicians knew medical science could not solve her problem so they resulted to use her as a cash cow, and before you know it, she exhausted all her resources; poverty crept in. At times barrenness can make the favorite wife consider suicide, 1 Samuel 1:1-8. Despite the fact that Elkanah loved Hannah, Peninah her rival made it a point of duty to reduce her to tears daily because she had no child. Also the enemy through their evil schemes can cause the favorite child to become a slave in a foreign land. If you disagree with me, please read the story of Joseph, Genesis 37:1-36.

How does God treat these people- unimportant/poor/ disadvantaged? He treats them with love. Proverbs 19:17 says he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again. Actually He sent Jesus just because of them. Mark 2:17 says on hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. When the poor, disadvantaged, sinners came to Jesus, He treated them with love. When a man comes to Jesus with his heads bowed, he leaves the presence of Jesus with his shoulders held high. When they come to Him feeling invisible, they left with a feeling of importance. The question is when people come to us with their heads bowed, how do they leave – confident or worse? How do we treat the beggar that asks us for a dime? How do we treat the gateman, school janitor, and the homeless on the streets - like humans or leave them feeling suicidal? How do you refer to people that are below you? Jesus who was the savior of the world referred to the woman with the issue of blood (an unimportant woman) as daughter, Mark 5:34. How do we treat those that are not as intelligent, confidence, rich, opportuned or as comfortable as us?

ACTION POINT: During this seasons remember the needy in your prayers. Also let the love of God radiate from you to them.

GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT

Ephesians 4:30 -And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit is a personality. He is not a ‘power’ or a ‘force’ like electricity. The Holy Spirit speaks and hears; thinks and reasons; feel and has emotions; and decides, has a will, and self-determination. The Holy Spirit is God. Since He has emotions, He can be grieved or vexed. Ephesians 4:30 says and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. This brings us to the question of how does one grieve the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit can grieved in the following ways: Making Him sad by behavior contrary to the fruit of the Spirit –anger, hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc ; Quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) – putting out of the fire of the Spirit by refusal to pray and be on fire for the gifts and anointing of the Spirit to work through you; insulting the Spirit (Hebrews 10:29)-Living a life of continual deliberate sinning after receiving the knowledge of truth; Resisting the Spirit (Acts 7:51)-Going in the opposite direction to the definite guidance of the Spirit; Vexing the Spirit-(Isaiah 63:10)-Living in deliberate rebellion against the leadership of the Spirit; Lying to the Spirit (Acts 5:3)-Telling intentional untruths and half-truths to anointed men/women of God with the intention of deceiving God’s people; Tempting/Testing the Spirit (Acts 5:9)-Teaming up to provoke God’s Spirit to do things he would not normally want to do; Blaspheming the Spirit (Matthew 12:31, 32)-Attributing the works and words of God’s Spirit to Satan and demons when you have a clear witness within yourself; Striving with the Spirit (Genesis 6:3)-Walking in the flesh continually against the promptings of the Spirit; Rebelling against the Spirit (Psalm 106:33)-Refusal to do what God’s Spirit expressly commands.We can also grieve the Holy Spirit by entertaining vain and sinful thoughts .

The fact that the Holy Spirit can grieved or vexed suggests the possibility of the Holy Spirit to be pleased too. Acts 15:28 says for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. How does one please the Holy Spirit? By avoiding the sins against the Spirit and majoring in the character traits that reflect the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Another way to please Him is by avoiding grieving Him through our thoughts - vain and sinful thoughts. Philippians 4:8 says whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are good report; if there be any virtue , and if there by any praise, think on these things.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please sanctify me today and help to bring to bear the fruit of the Spirit.

HOLY SPIRIT & PURITY

1 Peter 1:16 - be ye holy for I am holy.

The Holy Spirit gives power. Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit performed mighty signs and wonders, Acts 10:38. The Holy Spirit gives strength. In Judges 14:5-6, a lion roared against Samson and the Spirit of God came mightily upon him. He grabbed the lion and tore it apart as if he was tearing an ordinary piece of paper. Also in the strength of the Holy Spirit, Samson was able to catch three hundred foxes, Judges 15:4. Anyone who knows foxes will tell you they are extremely smart and quick moving. To catch a fox alive is a miracle talk-less of catching three hundred foxes .The Holy Spirit gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Daniel full of the Holy Spirit was found to be ten times better than all the geniuses around, Daniel 1:20. The Holy Spirit is able to protect. Isaiah 59:19 says when the enemy shall come in like a flood; the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Also the Holy Spirit impacts unshakeable confidence. The early disciples found it difficult to witness about Jesus because they lacked boldness but immediately they were filled with the Holy Spirit they began to evangelize with boldness, Acts 4:24-31.

One aspect of the Holy Spirit we do not often discuss is the purity aspect. There is no way we will discuss about the Holy Spirit and not talk of purity. One of the symbols of the Holy Spirit is the dove. The dove is an emblem of purity and innocence. The Holy Spirit will only dwell in a clean vessel. He will only dwell in a body that has been kept pure. The Holy Spirit can do a lot in the life of a man but He expects such man to keep himself pure. By purity we mean without spot or sin. We do not need to be pure to receive the Holy Spirit but purity is essential to keep Him or else He will take His leave. When we study the lives of men who attained their potentials in God, they kept themselves pure. Daniel, Shadrach, Mishael and Abed-Nego kept themselves pure by not defiling themselves with the portion of the king delicacies, Daniel 1:8. Jesus kept himself pure by not bowing down to Satan. Jesus was tested in every way and yet did not sin, Hebrew 4:15. The mother of Samson was advised to keep herself pure by not consuming wine or unclean food while pregnant with Samson, Judges 13:3-4. To keep ourselves pure we need to appreciate a life of holiness. We need to do away with sins like masturbation, fornication, lying, backbiting, adultery, gossiping and so on, so that the Holy Spirit dwell in us. We need to keep our hearts pure; no malice, no hatred; no unforgiveness, no dirty thoughts. We need to do away with things that pollute our minds and body.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, please purify my heart, lip, life and conversation.

THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH

Psalm 91:1 – he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The safest place in the world is the secret place of the most High. It is safer than the White House or any presidential villa you may think of. It is safer than all the royal palaces put together. When a man abides in the secret place of the most High, he becomes untouchable. In 2 kings 6:13- 21, the king of Syria sent a host of army to arrest Elisha. The king was aware of the level of anointing on Elisha so instead of sending just an army or two, he sent several to arrest him. When the host of Syrians got to the residence of Elisha, they could not do anything because Elisha was surrounded by battalions of horses and chariots of fire from heaven. Not only that, the mountain around the house was full of horses and chariots of fire. They were present to protect the man of God. In 2 Kings 1:9-15, the king of Samaria sent a captain of fifty with fifty men to go and arrest Elijah the man of God. When they got to where Elijah was unfortunately for them he was in the secret place of the most High. Immediately the captain tendered the arrest warrant, fire came from heaven and consumed the captain and his army. The king sent another batch and the same thing happened. When the third batch got there, the captain looked around and saw ashes everywhere, instead of tendering the arrest warrant; he knelt down and begged for mercy.

From studying Psalm 91:1, you will come to the conclusion that the Lord has a secret place. The location of this place is a secret that is kept from everyone. To get there one needs an invitation from the most High God. The question is how do I qualify for an invitation? What is the criterion for getting an invite to the safest place the world has ever known? The criterion is to fear God. Psalms 25:14 says the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him. It is only those that fear God that are privy of His secrets. What does it mean to fear God? Proverbs 8:13 says the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. When you fear God, you will hate what He hates and like what He likes. If you fear God, obeying God will be a must for you. Getting an invite is enough, you can decide to honor the invitation or not. Besides an invite only gives the location, it does not tell us how to dwell there. To dwell in the secret place of the most High we must be ready to spend quality time in the presence of God. Quality time is not the ten minutes we spend with Him daily. When you talk of quality, the least is an hour. If you cannot afford an hour daily, make it at least twice a week. The secret place of the most High is found in the presence of God. Start your day with praise and worship. I can guarantee you that as you begin to spend this time with God; He will begin to release the plans and the agenda of the enemy to you. Not only that you will begin to dwell in His secret place.

ACTION POINT: Create time to fellowship with God in praise and worship, bible studies and praying.

THE LACK OF CHARACTER OF MICHAL

2 Samuel 6:23 – and Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

A Greek philosopher called Heraclitus once said ‘Character is destiny’. The character of a man can deny him the fulfillment of God’s plan for his life. It is good to have dreams and aspirations but without a good character one will end up disappointed. To enjoy a walk with God, good character is essential. Michal the daughter of Saul had everything money could buy. She had servants, connections, status, and fame but despite all these she lived a life of misery. She was the only woman in the bible who died without a child.

A careful study into the life of Michal shows us that she was a dishonest person. She lied to her father, her father’s messengers and virtually anyone she could find, 1 Samuel 19:13 -14. Not only was she dishonest, she was full of deception. She told lies on people to get herself out of trouble, 1 Samuel 19:17. She was the one that let David through a window .When she was asked she told Saul that David threatened to kill her. Telling a lie only cover up things, it does not take it away. It is better to say the truth and suffer the consequence or face the embarrassment and be free than lie to save face and be in bondage. There is no point telling a lie because the truth will always emerge. Luke 8:17 says for nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known or come to light. Besides that anyone who tells a lie belongs to the devil, John 8:44. Also she was vain; she attached too much importance to material things. She was only interested in people for what they are not who they are. At the surface level, one will think her attraction to David was out of love but on a deeper level it was because of what they was and his achievements. She loved David because he was handsome (1 Samuel 16:12); Popular (1 Samuel 16:18, 21, 23); Hero (1 Samuel 18:6-7); successful (1 Samuel 18:14-16, 30) and famous (1 Samuel 18:30). Immediately David went into exile she married Palti (1 Samuel 25:44). Once all the fame and looks was gone, she moved on to another man. To crown it all up she was disrespectful to everyone. Out of disrespect she deceived and disobeyed her father; she disobeyed God by worshipping an idol, 1 Samuel 19:13; she disrespected the king and her husband (2 Samuel 6:16). In the end she received judgment (2 Samuel 6:21-22). Abigail on the other hand was very respectful. She was full of wisdom. When her husband died, people thought it was the end for her but her good character earned her place in the palace as a queen. Do you know abusing people in authority depicts lack of character? James 4:11 warns us not to slander anyone, besides God expects us to respect and submit to all authority (1 Peter 2:13-14). We will never change anyone by condemning them, they will only become worse.

ACTION POINT: Let us commit those in power into the hand of God that He will touch their heart and use them for His glory.

JEHOVAH JIREH – THE LORD WHO PROVIDES

Genesis 22:8 - Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Bible study: Genesis 22:1-9

The type of resources at your disposal will determine the type of needs you can meet. Money can buy a lot, it can buy the best medical service in the world but it cannot buy good health; it
can buy a nice comfortable bed but it cannot buy sleep; it can afford the services of the best chef in the world but it cannot buy appetite. God is unlimited in resources. He possesses heaven and earth, Genesis 14:19; all power belongs to Him, Psalm 62:11. Because He is unlimited in resources, there are no needs He cannot meet. Hence with Him, nothing is impossible, Luke 1:37.

God is able to meet all needs and wants. It is a thing to be able to meet needs; it is another thing to want to meet needs. The Most High God is not only able to provide for all your needs, He derives pleasure in providing for your needs. He is generous and enjoys giving His children a taste of His generosity. After Solomon’s thousand burnt offerings, God visited him and told him to ask for whatever for he wanted. The Lord did not only give Solomon all he asked for, he gave him what he did not ask for too. This is what I call generosity! My prayer for you is that God will give you a taste of His generosity, in Jesus name, Amen. Few years ago, the Lord laid it on my mind to bless a particular church with refreshments for their Palm Sunday service. Although I attended a different church, I obeyed and arranged for these refreshments. On Sunday i went to the church very early to hand the gifts to the pastor. When he saw the gifts, the man was speechless. Anyway the pastor prayed and I left. Out of curiosity I asked the Lord why he sent me to the church. Later I got to know that the Lord was just reminding me that He does not take the issue of providing for His children lightly. He makes provision before the need for that provision arises. He provides solution before the problem arises. Before Palm Sunday, the Lord had already prepared refreshments. Can I inform you that long before that challenge, the Lord had prepared a solution. Another lesson I learnt was that, when it comes to the subject of help, God can send help through anyone. He can use a complete stranger, someone you have neither spoken to nor met before to meet your needs. The last thing on the mind of the pastor that day was a total stranger turning up with refreshments for the members. Please stop worrying about how God will deal with that challenge? As the heavens are higher than the earth so are His ways higher than our ways, Isaiah 55:9. God has enough resources to meet your needs. He has enough children; He can send anyone of them to you to help you. The church members expected the same usual Sunday service but on this particular Sunday the Lord visited them with His generosity. This is why it is not advisable to miss church services. You never know when the Lord will visit.

ACTION POINT: during this festive period whilst we are enjoying ourselves let’s remember the needy, poor, homeless and orphans around us. This is the time to excel in good works towards these people.