WHO IS BACKING YOU MATTERS

MEMORY VERSE: David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. 1 Samuel 17:37

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: James 4-5

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 17:1- End

In 1 Samuel 17:8- 11, Goliath stood and challenged the armies of Israel. Verse 10 says, “And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” Why is he able to do this? It is simple. He had his four brothers – also giants – behind him (2 Samuel 21:15-22). Not only that, he had the whole nation behind him cheering him and backing him up. David, on other hand, had no one behind him except God. His brothers didn’t believe in him; King Saul politely advised him that he was not good enough. 1 Samuel 17:37 says, “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” David fought Goliath and killed him. There are several lessons we can learn from this story. Firstly, the fact that men are backing you does not guarantee victory. The reason is those that backed you today can decide to turn against you tomorrow. Those who shouted “Hosanna! Hosanna!’ to Jesus were the same bunch who shouted crucify Him! Crucify Him! Also, the fact that you don't have a backing does not translate into failure. After all, no one backed David yet he defeated Goliath. 

Secondly, who is backing you matters. Why? The amount of help or support you can expect  will be determined by who is backing you. Also, the fellow backing you  will only take you as far as he has gone. He can only take you to a height he has reached. He can only give what he has; what he doesn't have he can't give. Imagine getting marriage counselling from someone who is single or someone who is divorced. If i were you, i will look for someone whose marriage has worked by God's grace and is still working. You will only stand as long as the fellow backing you is standing. If he falls, God have mercy. The one backing you will determine how high or how far you will go in life. He will determine how high you will be promoted. The chairman of an organization can decide to make you his deputy -that's how high he can take you - but a team leader can only help you to become, at most, a supervisor under him. 

 Thirdly, the fact that something has never been done before does not mean it can’t be done. No one had ever defeated Goliath before and as such, no one knew his weakness. Because he had never been beaten before, no one knew how to beat him. The fact that no one you know has ever passed that particular exam does not mean you can’t be the first. God’s presence in your life cancels out all other factors that could work against you. David didn’t know how to use a sword and a shield yet he conquered Goliath. He never received any form of military training yet he prevailed over Goliath. The presence of the Lord makes all the difference. A lot blame their short stature or round stature or other things for the reason why they are still single. Only if I was slimmer… Only if I was taller…etc. All you need is God’s presence and His favor.  

NOTE: God will only back His children. If you have not given your life to Christ you better do so now. Also, He won't back a thief. If you have been stealing from Him through tithes and offering you better restitute your ways. 

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“AND FOUND HIM SITTING UNDER AN OAK”

MEMORY VERSE: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Zephaniah

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 11:1-5

Imagine the Lord came to you in a dream or in a vision, and instructed you to go to a church nearby and cry against the altar because of the evil that was taken place there. He warned you not to eat or drink there. Immediately, alarm bells will begin to ring in your head. Why on earth would the good Lord warn me against eating there? "Hmm! There must be some kind of danger attached to the food they may want to serve me", you would have thought. " There is poison in the food", you would conclude. As such, whilst you are there you will stay away from food or drink. Not only that, you will keep your mouth shut about the Lord’s instruction not to eat or drink because they may grab you and force feed you.

He also warned you not to return by the way you came. Again you say to yourself, "if the Lord wants me to return by a different route then there must danger along the route". "Someone must be out there to harm me either on my way to the church or on my way back from the church". For this reason, you will keep that information to yourself and not waste time at all. The moment you leave the church, you will run back home. No matter how tired you are, even if you are pressed and you needed to use the toilet, you will not stop until you get home. This was what one would have expected from the young prophet who the Lord sent to Bethel to cry against it (1 Kings 13). On his way back the king invited him to a meal. He turned down the offer, and then went on to divulge the instruction the Lord gave to him. On his way back, he decided to rest under a tree and the enemy caught up with him and tricked him. 1 Kings 13:14 says, “And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.” The enemy fed him and he ended up as lunch for a lion. Had it been the young prophet did not wait by the tree, the enemy would not have catch up with him and he would have reached home safely. There is danger in resting before the finish line. There is danger in sitting, by a tree, when one should be walking or if possible running.

When David was meant to be at war fighting the Lord's battle, he stayed back at home and slept. 2 Samuel 11:1 says, “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.” Before he woke up, the enemy had strategically positioned a naked woman around him. He saw her and fell into adultery. This is why it is not good to stay at home when you should be in church. The moment Jesus told Peter “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18), one would have expected Peter to become very careful and watch his words because God has a plan for his life. Actually, it would have been wise for Peter to start praying that the Lord would keep him and the enemy would not succeed over his life. However, Peter continued as usual and before he knew it the devil started speaking through him. Jesus had to rebuke him at a point (Matthew 16:23).

COUNSEL: Friend is the Lord beginning to use you in one capacity or the other? It is not the time to go around boasting. It is a time to start serious prayer. It is one thing to start; it is another thing to finish. Are you beginning to enjoy unusual favour, it is not a time to show off at all. It is a time to start praying for wisdom to manage your relationships. Are your spiritual or physical children beginning to prosper, it is not a time to boast at all. It is a time change your prayer gear into the next level.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

BE DISCREET

MEMORY VERSE: Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.1 Kings 13:11

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 3-4

BIBLE READING: Genesis 37:1 -11

The Lord sent a young prophet to Bethel (a town taken over by idol worship) to cry against an altar. He warned him not to eat or drink there. He also warned him not to return by the way he came. The prophet went to the altar in Bethel and cried against it. As God will have it, king Jeroboam was at the altar, burning incense, when the young prophet cried against it. When he heard the words of this prophet, he thrust out his hand and ordered his men to arrest the prophet. The bible says “And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him” (1 Kings 13:4). I pray every hand thrust out against you and your family shall dry up in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen. However, don’t thrust your hand against anyone especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. Also, be careful how you treat God’s ministers. 1 Chronicles 16:22 says, “Saying, touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm”. You can’t attempt to do His prophets harm and succeed. Today, many do His prophets harm by speaking against them or working against them. Please desist from such because the consequences are dire. Anyway, the king apologized and begged the prophet to entreat the Lord on his behalf. The prophet did and the Lord restored his hand.

To show his gratitude, the king decided to host this prophet but he refused. Without being asked, he began to tell the king how the Lord had warned him not eat or drink or return by the way He came. Did the king ask why he didn’t want to eat? I don't know. Was there any need to tell the king that the Lord had warned him neither to eat nor drink in Bethel? NO! A simple “thank you, your honour but I am not eating” would have sufficed. To make matters worse, he related all the Lord told him to the king in the presence of the whole world – in the presence of everyone present at the altar. Friend, you need to be discreet especially when it pertains to spiritual instructions. Not everything the Lord shares with you is for public consumption. You need to watch who you share things with and where you share things the Lord has told you. Proverbs 13:3 says, “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.” Joseph almost lost his life because he could not keep his mouth shut. He had a dream where he saw his brothers’ sheaves bowing to his sheaf and he told his brothers the dream (Genesis 37). From that day, the brothers began to seek how to terminate his dream.

The prophet learnt to be discreet in a hard way. The sons of an old prophet were present at the altar when he cried against it. When these boys returned home, they related all that happened at the altar to their father. 1 Kings 13:11 says, “Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.” When the old prophet heard the story, he saddled on a donkey and went after the prophet. Unfortunately, he found him sitting under a tree and invited him back for a meal. At first, he refused but this wicked prophet lied to him that the angel of the Lord had instructed him to invite him for a meal. Without praying or asking God if He wanted him to return to Bethel, he followed the old prophet back home, ate and drank. While he was on his way, after eating at the prophet’s house, a lion met him by the way and killed him.

NOTE: If you are going to have a successful Christian walk you must watch your words.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

“BECAUSE HE GAVE NOT GOD THE GLORY”

MEMORY VERSE: And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. Acts 12:23

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 125-127 

There are certain things God dislikes and one of them is ungratefulness. Ten lepers, in Luke 17:11-19, saw Jesus and began to shout from far, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”. Jesus heard and told them to go and present themselves to the ‘priests’. The bible records that as they went they were healed. NOTE: the 'priests' in the olden days are the equivalent of the health department today. If you are suffering from any disease that needs to be controlled with medication such as epilepsy, diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, etc, don’t discontinue such medication until you have gone to show yourself to the priests i.e. doctors, and your cure verified. After they were healed, one of them ( a Samaritan man) returned to give thanks to God. Luke 17:17 says, “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” Jesus was disappointed and unhappy because the other nine were ungrateful. Many of us behave exactly like the nine lepers. Even those of us who think we are grateful don’t thank Him enough for the things He has done. “Thank you Jesus” have you said that today? The nine lepers got healed but the grateful Samaritan was made whole.  

To be ungrateful to both God and man is bad; to share His glory with Him is worse. Isaiah 42:8 says, “I, the LORD, am the one, and I won't give my name and glory to another, nor my praise to idols.” When you share your testimony, do you emphasize on how much you prayed and fasted before God answered? Do you testify about your praying and fasting life or His goodness? Remember, despite all your praying and fasting, He could have decided not to answer and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Worse still is to take His glory and give it another. Jesus healed a man  by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Pharisees attributed the healing to Satan (Matthew 12:22-37). In what ways have you been attributing God’s glory to man? Have you attributed the miraculous provision of your tuition fees whilst you were in high school (God’s kindness) to your uncle? Don’t forget that it is God who gave him the money and also touched his heart, without that he wouldn’t have been able to render the help. Even worse still is to personally take His glory. God prospered Nebuchadnezzar and instead of returning the glory to God, he took it. Daniel 4:30 says, “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” He attributed all he had achieved to his might and power; God turned him into an animal for seven years to teach him a lesson. Don’t give His glory to another man. Don’t take His glory. Also, don’t accept His glory when it is being given to you. If you don’t want problems return His glory to Him immediately it is being given to you. The people, in Acts 12:21-23, gave Herod honour that belonged to God and he accepted it. Acts 12:23 says, “And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.” How do you respond when people talk about how powerful you preach? When they talk about how good you can sing, how do you respond? When they talk about your success and achievement, whether in ministry or secular world, what response do you usually give? Don’t accept praises that belong to God. You couldn’t have done that thing without His help. 

NOTE: As God begins to use you to solve problems, meet needs in the church and in your society, bring souls to Christ, people will bring His glory to you. If you want Him to continue to use you, return His glory to Him. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, I promise to always return all glory to you. Please use me to solve the problems in my family and society.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

THE STRIFE MUST CEASE

MEMORY VERSE: And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward. Genesis 13:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 4:1-25

In Genesis 12:1-3, God gave Abram three instructions: “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee”. The instructions were simple and basic. Obedience to these three instructions will bring about seven blessings: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Abram left his country, his relatives but did not leave his father’s house because he took Lot with him. He partially obeyed the Lord's instruction. Partial obedience is disobedience. God actually prefers disobedience to partial obedience. Revelations 3:15 -16 says: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” You are either a believer or an unbeliever. Don't try to be in the middle because God hates that. If you want to fornicate, go ahead and fornicate. If you want to abstain from sex, go ahead and abstain from sex. Don't kiss and touch the opposite sex in a way you shouldn't and say, " I am keeping the marriage bed undefiled." No ! The marriage bed is already defiled. If you want to be a polygamist, go ahead and be a polygamist. If you want to be a monogamist, go ahead and be one. Don't commit adultery.

Later Abram began to reap the reward of his partial obedience. Genesis 13:7 says: “And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.” Lot became a thorn in Abram’s side. What did you do when you were told to fast and pray before you embark on that journey?  You prayed for two minutes and hopped on the bus; that's partial obedience. Maybe that's why you misplaced your wallet on your way back. Before the strife got out of hands, Abram called a meeting. Friend, you need to do something about that misunderstanding that keeps occurring between your wife and the neighbor's wife. Problems don't just go. Someone has to take responsibility and resolve the misunderstanding once and for all. Genesis 13:14 says: “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward.” God stopped speaking to Abram when Lot's herdsmen and Abram's began to quarrel.  Anyone who regularly hears from God knows what it is to stop hearing from God; It is very frustrating. Not until the strife was resolved, God did not speak a word. Sir, God will not speak to you as long as you keep malice with your wife. Actually, there is no point praying because God will not answer. Make peace first and He will turn to you. Our God is a God of unity not a God of conflict. He takes His leave the moment strife begins. Once He leaves, the devil takes over and torment the people involved. He is a gentle Spirit. Sister, there is no point going to minister in songs when you have not resolved that conflict with your husband. Bro Prayer warrior, there is no point going to prayer warrior meetings when you have just beaten  your wife. Make peace. Ask God to forgive and she must forgive you too. If you and the brother/sister you are courting are always striving and quarreling, you better end the courtship and pray again.

NOTE: Strife will destroy your spiritual life. It will leave you deeply hurt and at times, it may leave you with an emotional scar. As such, it is better to avoid strife. You may even need to separate yourself from certain people. It could be your blood brother or sister. It could even be your big uncle or big aunt. If the strife is with your husband or wife, you know you can't divorce but you can seek counseling.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

BEFORE HE CONQUERED GOLIATH

MEMORY VERSE: And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 1 Samuel 17:28

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: II Chronicles 29-32

In our post of Friday 16th October 2015, we mentioned that Goliath represents different things to different people. To the armies of Israel, he represented the angel of death. All they heard was Goliath's voice and they began to shake (1 Samuel 17:11). The moment they saw him, they fled (1 Samuel 17:24). To Saul, Goliath represented his end of reign as the king of Israel because Goliath had demanded for a combat between himself and an army of Israel; if the fellow loses, which was inevitable, he would be dethroned and the Philistine king will take over. Since there was no man who could fight Goliath, he considered his tenure ,as king, officially over. However to young David, Goliath was an opportunity – an opportunity to become the king’s in-law and his family exempted from the payment of tax since that was the price for killing Goliath. To David, Goliath also represented a big mountain on his way to becoming king. The Lord had rejected Saul as king, and had commanded Prophet Samuel to anoint  David as king (1 Samuel 16). Whilst waiting for Saul to die and take over as king, Goliath appeared on scene threatening to take over Israel.

Before David killed -his - Goliath, several things happened. On Friday, we discussed about one of the things that happened to him – the armies of Israel tried to put fear in him. They said a lot of things to weaken his faith in God but thank God he was not moved by what they said. Another thing that happened to him was Eliab (his senior brother) told him he didn’t belong to the group of people who could defeat Goliath. When he saw David he asked him “what are you doing here”? 1 Samuel 17:28 says, “And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.” At a point, he called him a proud boy for dreaming to conquer Goliath. Friend, people may attribute your vision of greatness for pride. Just as David’s own brothers were against him, your own brothers may turn against you. At times, they may even get angry at you for attempting to do something they couldn’t do. Thank God David did not allow his brothers to bully him off fighting with Goliath. 

Also on that day, Saul (the king and one of the most trusted figures in Israel) told him he will not make it. 1 Samuel 17:33 says, “And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” Saul literally told him he stood no chance of conquering Goliath. He told him he was too young, inexperienced, not strong enough, etc. People who have failed will always tell you, “you can’t”. Everyone he encountered on that day tried to break his spirit. I don’t know what people have said to you regarding that project that God has laid on your mind or concerning that professional exam you want to sit for, just hold on to God’s word. Those who said David couldn’t do it watched him do it because God was with him. Those who said David wasn’t good enough or too weak or too inexperienced watched him cut off Goliath’s head because God was with him. David could have believed what everyone was saying but he didn’t. He believed in God and acted in line with the leading of the Holy Spirit and at the end, he became a wonder. 

COUNSEL: Stop listening to those who say you can’t. You can because the God who helped David is with you. You can take on that project and finish it. You can sit for that exam and pass it. You can start that business and succeed in it. You can make a difference. You can be a change agent. You can be a liberator. 

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

ON ROUTE TO CONQUER GOLIATH

ON ROUTE TO CONQUER GOLIATH

MEMORY VERSE: And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 1 Samuel 17:33

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 7-12

Goliath represents different things to different people. For example to the armies of Israel, Goliath represents a roaring lion. All they heard was his voice and everyone began to shake. 1 Samuel 17:11 says, “When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” When they saw him, all hell broke loose. Everyone including the king ran for cover. 1 Samuel 17:24 says, “And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.” To king Saul, Goliath represents an unbeatable champion. When David sought his consent to take on Goliath, he told him “he a man of war from his youth.” In other words, he is an unbeatable and undefeated champion. However, to David, Goliath represents an opportunity. This was why he asked that question – “What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel (1 Samuel 17:25)?” He saw Goliath as an opportunity to move closer to God’s plan for his life. He also saw him as an opportunity to become the king’s in-law and his father’s house exempted from payment of tax for life (1 Samuel 17:25). Actually, it was the coming of Goliath to Israel that suddenly propelled David to limelight. Prior to this, no one knew David! If not for Goliath, David would have remained a shepherd boy despite the anointing of God upon his life. That challenge you are currently facing could be God’s own way of bringing you to limelight. 

Today, we will look at Goliath as a big mountain standing on David’s path to the fulfillment of God’s plan for his life. In 1 Samuel 16, David was anointed as the king of Israel. Out of nowhere in 1 Samuel 17, Goliath turned up and demanded a man to fight him. If he kills the man, the kingdom of Israel (David’s throne) will go to the Philistines, but if the man kills him - which is impossible - the Philistines will become slaves to Israel. On route to conquering Goliath, David encountered a lot of things. On your route to conquering Goliath (the big mountain standing on your path to fulfilling destiny), you can expect some of what David encountered. The armies of Israel tried to weaken David’s faith. They knew David was a civilian because he was dressed as a civilian, yet they deliberately began to speak about how difficult it was to conquer Goliath. Even before David could think of taking on Goliath, they had already given him enough reasons why he wouldn’t be able to conquer Goliath. On your route to fulfilling destiny, you can expect people to tell you about how difficult it will be to become who God created you to be. You can expect them to tell you about how impossible it is to do something that no one has ever done before and succeed. Whilst planning to sit for a professional exam, the enemy will bring people who will speak about how difficult it is to pass that particular professional exam you want to sit for. They will remind you of people who have tried and failed. They will talk about the high failure rate and low pass rate. They will say all sorts of things. They will speak about those who passed the exam but couldn't get a job. The enemy will throw everything at you just to weaken your faith, just to make you turn back. He will throw everything at you to ensure that you don’t even think of going forward.

NOTE: David did not listen to what people had to say about Goliath. He only listened to what God had to say about Goliath. He sensed in his spirit that God was leading him to take on Goliath and he obeyed. Is God leading you on a project? Don’t look back. Don’t look at the failure rate. Don’t look at the number of people who had done it and failed. You are different. If He is leading you to take on Goliath, it means He has already conquered Goliath. 

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world