YET HONOUR ME NOW, I PRAY THEE, BEFORE THE ELDERS OF MY PEOPLE

Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, i pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 1 Samuel 15:30

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 44-46

God’s plans are always better than our plans. According to Isaiah 46:10, He declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done. Therefore, it is better for us to leave Him with the planning. The Lord had a good plan for the children of Israel; no human king would rule over them, He would be their king. The children of Israel rejected His plan and requested for a human king like the neighbouring nations.1 Samuel 8:5 says and said unto him, behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. Since they requested for a human king, God gave them a human king. The first king (Saul) tore a prophet’s garment ( 1 Samuel 15:27) ; the second king (David) killed Uriah and took his wife although, he later repented ( 2 Samuel 11:5-27) ; the third one (Solomon) married so many strange women ( 1 Kings 11:1-2) , in other to cater for them , he increased the taxes and the people groaned ; the fourth one ( Rehoboam) swore from the first day that he would increase taxes even more (1 Kings 12:11-13). If only they had allowed God to be their king, they would have enjoyed peace.

Saul had one big problem; he was a people pleaser. God told him to destroy everything in Amalek, when he got Amalek, he left the fat cows, and Agag because the people persuaded him to do that. Because he did not want to offend man, he ended up offending God and that cost him his throne. When he got back home, he invited Samuel to a sacrifice and that one refused to go with him. Samuel’s presence at the sacrifice would have validated him before the people. Because Samuel refused, he began to beg. 1 Samuel 15:30 says Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, i pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. Instead of begging God for forgiveness, he was begging Samuel to honour him.

Saul was only concerned about receiving honour before men not before God. He cared about people’s opinion of him not God’s opinion of him. In what ways are we acting like Saul? We know what is right; because we want to please people, we do what is not right. As a Christian, you know you should not go to nightclubs, because you do not want to offend your friends, you went to the birthday they threw in a nightclub. Is one not honouring his friends and dishonouring God? As a Christian, you know it is wrong to dress provocatively, because of your fans; you dress provocatively to entertain them. Because you want to sell albums or want to be accepted by the media, you lower your standard. May God have mercy! Humans may accept us but they cannot take us to heaven. We cannot disobey God because we want to be accepted. We cannot lower God’s standard just because we want to be recognized
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PONDER: In what ways are you and i lowering God’s standard just to be accepted in our places of work, family, and church?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

AND THOU SHALT ANOINT ME HIM WHOM I NAME UNTO THEE

And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom i name unto thee. 1 Samuel 16:3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 41-43

The Amalekites were a wicked set of people. For no just reason, they attacked the Israelites and killed some of them (Exodus 17:8). God was not happy with this, when Saul became king, He instructed him through Samuel to wipe out the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1-35). When Saul got there, he and his men destroyed the worthless things and kept the valuable things for themselves. The next morning when Saul met Samuel, he told him that he had destroyed everything as God commanded. Oh really, what is the noise of sheep and goats am hearing, the old man asked. They are the animals we brought to offer sacrifice to God, he responded. The Lord saw that Saul was unserious so He told Samuel to go and anoint his replacement. 1 Samuel 16:3 says And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom i name unto thee.

On reading 1 Samuel 16:3, one may wonder why God did not tell Samuel who he was going to anoint before he left home. Why wait until Samuel got to Jesse’s house before telling him who to anoint? God withheld that information from Samuel to teach him some life lessons. Firstly, God does not see as man sees. Men always look at the outward qualities, the stature, the suit, the degree, but God looks at the heart. Samuel was looking at Eliab’s stature but God was looking at his heart. Secondly, a man’s heart is far more important than his outward appearance. Eliab and Co’s outward appearance was great but their heart was not right with God. The Lord rejected them all and selected a young boy whose heart was right with Him. Thirdly, not all that glitter is gold. Eliab and Co were shining; they looked every part like the perfect candidate but they were rotten inside. This is one lesson all singles must learn. The fact that a sister can sing does not make her an angel and the fact that a brother wears a nice suit does not make him a gentleman.

Fourthly, failure to wait on God results in mistakes. God categorically told Samuel, anoint who i will show you in other words do not anoint until i show you. If Samuel had waited on God to speak before making a move, he would not have made the mistake of trying to anoint Eliab. Fifthly, mistakes are inevitable when you and i choose by the flesh. Samuel chose by the flesh at least twice and got it wrong. Just as Samuel experienced God’s silence, we are going to experience His silence too. He does that, not because He hates us but to teach us life lessons. Mistakes are opportunities to learn, Samuel learnt from his mistakes, have you and i learnt from ours? Mistake is inevitable for anyone who tries to walk ahead of God.

PONDER: In what ways are we moving ahead of God? Let us repent now and wait.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

TEST OF TRUST

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee. Genesis 12:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 37-40

BIBLE STUDY: Genesis 12:1-3

In Genesis 12:1-3, God told Abram to pack his bag and baggages and leave town for a place He will show him. A lot of us have read this story but not really grasped what God was asking Abram to do. Imagine for a second, whilst busy at work reading your emails, God told you to go home, pack your bags , pick a bus going out of town and drop at a station He will show you. Ordinarily , people don’t like changing their enviroment. One thing I dread most is moving house, it takes a week to pack everything , 2 – 3 days to move , another week or two to unpack and rearrange stuffs and forever to settle into the new enviroment. Asides the fact that God is asking you to move from a familiar enviroment – friends and family, He is asking you to go to an unknown place. At least if you know the place , you will be able to prepare for the new town. If it is a warm area, you will buy some T-shirts . If it is a cold area, you will buy some sweaters and jumpers. More over you will be able to arrange for an accomodation in advance, but in this case , God is saying leave all - your work, family and friends, support network ,everything familiar to you to a place He will tell you. You agree it is a hard one. This was what God was asking Abram to do. His case was harder because he had to go with his family. In every way we look at it, emotionally , mentally, financially, it wasn’t an easy one for Abram.

The question is why did’t God tell him the location before leaving .God did this to check if Abram would trust Him with his life and family. He did that to see if Abram would obey His instruction without arguing. God wanted to see if Abram would depend on His word not his knowledge. Because Abram trusted God with his life and family , God gave him seven blessings. Firstly, He made him a great nation. Secondly, He blessed him. Thirdly, He made his name great. Fourthly, He made him a blessing. This is why today we say Abraham’s blessing are ours. Fiftly, He blessed all those that blessed Him. Sixtly , He cursed all those that cursed him and Seventhly, He ensured that through Abram all the nations of the world are blessed.

TO PONDER: In our walk with Christ, we will be faced with situations and circumstances that will demand that we trust God’s word with all.Can you trust God’s word with your life and family?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN THY NAME.

Not everyone 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 7:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 34-36

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 7:21-23

The bible is full of kingdom truths! One of them is, if we do not sow, we will not reap. Galatians 6:7 says be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. We can pray and fast for 100 days, if we do not put something in the soil, nothing will germinate. If you and i do not sow, we will harvest nothing. This is why you and I must abhor such things as pool betting and lottery. People that get involved in these are those trying to get money without the sowing the seeds of labour and hard work. They are doing something wrong because they are flouting the divine principle of sowing and reap.

In the book of Matthew, Chapter 7 verse 21 is another kingdom truth. Jesus says, “Not everyone 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.” I want you to know that those Jesus was referring to here are not the people in the occult or hired assassins. They are not Atheists or Agnostics. Jesus was referring to those who say they are Christians but not doing the will of God. He was speaking of churchgoers or workers in the vineyard of God; choir masters who are fornicating with choir members; ushers who are stealing from the church; deacons who forge invoice to get extra cash. Jesus said not all those who call Me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. There are those calling Lord, Lord, who are married and still committing adultery; there are singles especially brothers who call Lord, Lord, who visit brothels and watch pornography; there are pastor’s children who call Lord, Lord, who smoke Indian hemp and crack cocaine, some even commit abortion. If we are calling Lord, Lord, we must do the will of God!

Jesus then went further to say, many would say to Him in that day, Lord, Lord, I prophesied in Your name and it came to pass; i prayed for the sick in Your name and they became healed; i conducted revivals in Your name and many souls were won. Jesus said in that day , He would look them in the eyes , eyeball to eyeball and say i don’t know you, depart from Me, you that work iniquity ( Matthew 7:22-23). I pray that will not be your portion in Jesus name, amen. A lot of us use our spiritual gifts to measure our relationship with God. God still used to me heal the sick so i am all right; God still used me to minister in the church and everyone began to cry, after that, they became sober, really? After fornicating, Samson was still able to take hold of the doors of the city gate, together with two posts, put them on his shoulders and carry them to the top of a hill (Judges 16:1-3).

TO PONDER: Am i truly, doing the will of God?

Bro Samuel- Reaching the world for Jesus.

RUN FROM FIRE

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 31-33

For any man or woman to think that the devil is a fool is a big mistake. He is very cunning. He has been around for over 6000 years and has acquired a lot of worldly wisdom. To think that you and i can take him on with our ‘own’ strength is also a big mistake. Even the angels had to use the blood of Jesus to overcome him. Revelations 12:11 says and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. In Acts 19:13 – 17, seven sons Sceva tried taking on a demon with their physical strength, the man in whom the demon resided grabbed them, beat them up, and seized their clothes. At last, they managed to escape naked with wounds. Anyone who will be victorious over the devil must first accept that he or she is weak and solely depend on the name of Jesus. The bible says, at the mention of the name of Jesus, all knees should bow including the devil and his hosts (Philippians 2:9-10). The fellow must also avail himself of the provision provided, which is the armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Lastly the fellow should abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

That 'thing’ does not have to be evil before you run from it, even if you are not sure whether it is evil or not, if i were you i will run because it is better to be safe than sorry. Putting on the armour of God and not abstaining from all appearance of evil is being foolhardy. (Foolhardy means to be recklessly or unwisely bold). As believer, one must not lie to anyone, but someone we all lie to is ourselves. To think that you are strong and cannot fall into temptation is a big lie. To think that the opposite sex cannot lure you into fornication or adultery is a lie from pit of the hell. Brethren, let us be very careful especially when dealing with the opposite sex. If you have the grace of God upon on your life like Paul, then be like Paul and do not frustrate the grace of God upon your life (Galatians 2:21). By being careless around the opposite sex, you are frustrating the grace of God on your life. Sisters, the moment you begin to feel somehow around a man you are not married to, please keep distance from that man. Brothers, the moment you notice that you always get excited when you are around a particular sister, please for Christ sake keep a distance. Even if the fellow is your fiancé or fiancée, avoid two of you standing or sitting alone in a secluded area especially at night. You maybe 100 per cent sure of yourself (which is being foolhardy), are you 100 percent sure of the other person? If you are in a secluded area with the opposite sex for a long time, the conversation will start drifting into wrong territories, you will begin to discuss what you should not discuss and hear what your ears should not hear. In addition, we must flee from nudity of any form. You may look at those nude pictures and feel nothing, after a while when you must have forgotten that you saw a picture, your brain will bring back the pictures to your mind ,before you know it you are imagining things. At times, while you are praying, the enemy will bring back the pictures, to continue praying or concentrate becomes difficult. Avoid nude pictures or sexual joke.

NOTE: It is better to be safe than sorry.

Bro Samuel- Reaching the world for Jesus.

BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Matthew 16:6

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 26-30

The Pharisees and the Sadducees asked Jesus for a sign to show that He was the coming Messiah (Matthew 16:1). Meanwhile the people requesting for a sign were doctors of law. They knew the scriptures like the back of their hands. Isaiah 7: 14 says therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. They knew a virgin conceived Jesus, they saw Him perform miracles, yet they wanted another sign just to tempt Him. When Jesus got to another part of town, He warned His disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees. Matthew 16:6 says then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. The disciples must have thought that, Jesus was warning them not to buy bread from a bakery owned by a Pharisees or Sadducees since they had no bread on them but Jesus meant something else.

When baking bread, one will mix flour, and water to form dough. After that, one will add yeast to the dough and the dough begins to rise. That yeast is what is called leaven. What yeast does is, it literally adds air to the dough. Leaven bread is usually big but empty inside. When Jesus was talking about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, he was comparing them to leavened bread, very big outside, but utterly empty inside. The Pharisees and Sadducees were full of public good works; they prayed aloud outside; they paid tithes even tithes of their vegetables (mint, anise, cumin, etc) and so on. Their public life was fantastic but their secret life was nothing to write home about. Outside in the presence of the whole world, they were full of activities – they prayed a lot, sang and danced in church , loved reading the bible during service, loved teaching , but inside their closet they don’t pray, they don’t sing praises to God, they rarely read their bible. There are some of us like the Pharisees, in the church, we are full of activities, we are so respectful and humble , so lovely and sweet, but at home and our places of work, we are terror. Let us look at some super cars e.g. Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari, McLaren, etc. What makes Bugatti Veyron a Bugatti Veyron is not the upholstery. What makes a Bugatti Veyron, a Bugatti Veyron is the engine that is locked out of sight. Although the upholstery, wing mirror, steering wheel, etc, are visible, the power (engine) behind the Bugatti is invisible. What makes one a genuine Christian is not public activities, but activities in the secret where no one is watching. Our spiritual lives are far more important than our physical lives. Romans 8:8 says so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please purge me of every old leaven.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

SWIFT TO HEAR BUT SLOW TO SPEAK

Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear; slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 20-25

In the head, we have the eyes, the ears, and the mouth. There is a reason why God put the ears at the sides and the eyes in the front. There is a reason why the eyes are above the mouth. He arranged them that way for a reason. Imagine if one had eyes at the sides, although one will be able to see opportunities lying around him, side distractions will also be inevitable. Let us imagine for a second that we have our eyes at the back, although we will be able to see the mistakes of our past and become wiser, we will never forget our past. To make progress in life, we need to forget our past and move ahead. To help man, God put his eyes in the front so he can focus more on his future not his past. He also put a neck under his head so he can take a quick glance at his past occasionally. If one spends too much time looking back, the neck begins to hurt signifying it is high time one looked forward again. We are to learn from nature and focus more on our future not our past mistakes. To see, we only need one eye but God has given us two for a reason. With one eye, one has many blind spots but with two eyes, the blind spots become less.

Let us imagine for a moment that we have our ears at the back. Although we will able to hear what people are saying behind our back, we will also live an unhappy life. People who speak behind one’s back always have negative things to say and if one listens to too much of negative things, it might affect one’s heart. Negative reports leads to sickness. Proverbs 15:30 says the light of the eyes rejoiceth the hearth and a god report maketh the bones fat. Someone once said, God envisaged that some brothers and sisters would wear glasses so He gave us ears at the side so the glasses can sit on the ear. I do not know how true this is but it makes logical sense. God gave us two ears so we can detect the direction of sound. Our ears transmit sound waves to the brain, and having an ear on each side of the head makes it easier for us to determine where the sound is coming from. Having two ears allows you to understand where someone is if he is talking to you in a social setting, where construction is, or who is honking his horn. God gave us one mouth and a tongue because of the potential in the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. With the tongue, one can start a war and with the tongue, one can put an end to war. James 1:19 says therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear; slow to speak, and slow to anger. The reason why God gave us two ears and one mouth is so that we can do more hearing than speaking. For us to be able to speak on a matter once, we must have heard from at least two sides. One of the ways to identify a mature Christian is that they listen more and talk less. The more one talks, the higher the chances of one offending God. Proverbs 10:19 saysin the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me to tame my mouth

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.