BEHOLD, I THOUGHT II

MEMORY VERSE: But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 2 Kings 5:11

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 28-31

Naaman had everything money can buy except for one thing, a good health (2 Kings 5:1). He traveled to see Elisha for healing from leprosy. On arrival, Elisha sent his servant to tell him to wash seven times in the River Jordan. 2 Kings 5:11 says: ‘But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.’ Naaman had an expectation of who should minister to him. He expected Elisha, not his servant, to physically minister to him. God can use any of His children to minister to you or your needs. Many, today, come to the church with an expectation of who the Lord should speak through. As a result, they only listen when the pastor preaches.

Secondly, Naaman came with an expectation how he should be healed. He expected Elisha to come out to him, call on the name of the Lord, and lay hands on him. Don’t come to God with an expectation of how He should solve your problems. The way you expect God to work can rob you of your miracle. Lastly, Naaman came with an expectation of where his healing should take place. He expected Elisha to pray for him in the front of his house and get healed; however, God wanted him to bathe in River Jordan. Not all difficult problems require a difficult solution. The solution to some difficult problems is very simple. Not all big problems require big solutions. Naaman struggled with the instruction he received from the prophet because it was too basic and too simple to be a solution.

NOTE: Big problems don't always require big solutions. The simplest thing to do when you face challenges is pray.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Samuel Oluwatoki

BEHOLD, I THOUGHT

MEMORY VERSE: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 24-27

Naaman went to see Elisha, the prophet, for healing from leprosy. When he arrived, Elisha sent a messenger to tell him to go to River Jordan and wash seven times and he will be healed. 2 Kings 5:11-13 says: ‘But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?’

Naaman came to Elisha with an expectation of how he should be healed; he expected Elisha to lay hands on him but God had a different plan. Many have missed their healings or miracles because they came to God with an expectation of how He should heal them. Isaiah 55:9 says: ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ A lot have missed God because they expected God to operate in a certain way or answer their prayers in a certain way. Jesus cured leprosy in different ways. In Luke 5:12-13, a leper approached Him for healing; He laid hands on him and his leprosy disappeared. In Luke 17:11-19, some lepers approached Him; He told them to go and show themselves to the priests. Luke 17:14b says: ‘And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.’

NOTE: Don’t approach God with an expectation of how you want Him to provide a help meet (wife) for you or how you want Him to provide a husband for you. Don’t approach Him with an expectation of how you expect Him to solve your problem(s). When it comes to hearing from God, don’t expect Him to speak you in a certain way. Don’t expect Him to speak to you the same way He spoke to others. He might decide to speak to others through dreams and you, an audible voice. Don't limit the Holy One of Isreal in your thoughts!

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

CHANGED ATTITUDE, CHANGED STORY

MEMORY VERSE: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 20-23

Naaman had everything except for one thing, good health. 2 Kings 5:1 says: ‘Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.’ One day, the young slave girl who waited on Naaman’s wife witnessed to her. ‘Would God my Lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy,’ she said. Mrs. Naaman related the message to her husband. On hearing, he travelled to Samaria to meet the prophet of God. When he arrived, Elisha sent his servant to tell him to dip seven times in River Jordan.

Naaman went ballistic. He was angry because the prophet did not personally attend to him. Also, he was angry because he was told to dip himself in River Jordan, a dirty river. Whilst he was ranting and raving, his servants counselled him to do what the man of God told him to do; he listened and was healed. A change in attitude can lead to a change in circumstances, to breakthrough, to a change of story, and so on. With his initial attitude, Naaman would have died a leper!

NOTE: Your attitude matters! Regardless of the promises of God for your life, a terrible attitude or character can frustrate the plans of God for your life. From time to time, we say ‘if God be for us, who can be against us.’ The answer is you and me.

QUESTION: What is your attitude towards divine instructions? Do you argue with it? What is your attitude towards the things of God? What is your attitude towards challenges? Do you easily give up or throw in the towel? Do you make negative confessions when things are not going as planned? What is your attitude towards the progress of others? Do you get angry? What is your attitude towards the undiluted word of God? What is your attitude towards the ministry God has put in your hands?

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

WHAT INFORMS YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS

MEMORY VERSE: And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment. 1 Kings 3:11

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 16-19

People in love give gifts to one another. John 3:16 says: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…’ God gave us His son out of love. Out of love, Solomon gave one of the biggest offerings a man ever gave to God: a thousand burnt offerings (2 Kings 3:4-14). The Lord reciprocated the love by paying him a visit. ‘What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!’ He asked. Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge God’s people. 1 Kings 3:10 says: ‘And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.’

Why did Solomon’s request please God? 1 Kings 3:11 says: ‘And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;’ God used the phrase ‘asked for thyself’ three times. He was referring to the fact that Solomon did not ask anything for himself. Rather, he asked for what will enable him to serve the people better. The prayer and requests of Solomon were not all about what he wanted for himself but what he wanted for others and God was extremely pleased. A request that you make to God that has in it, a focus on how you can be a blessing to others pleases Him more than those which is focused on what only you can get. Also, Solomon’s request was from a humble heart. Psalm 51:17 says: ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.’ Solomon, in his request, acknowledged that he didn’t have what it takes; viz., wisdom, an understanding heart, etc., to lead the people. When you accept that you are weak and you ask God for strength, He is pleased. Solomon’s request was motivated by nothing but love for the people of God. His request was not motivated by hatred, greed, anger, rebellion, or jealousy.

QUESTION: What informs your prayer requests? Do you ask for things from God out of envy or jealousy? Do you ask God for things of temporal value or eternal value?

NOTE: Ask for wisdom. Ask for understanding. Ask for power to create wealth rather than wealth. Ask for more of Him rather than more of things.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

A PRAYER THAT PLEASES THE LORD

MEMORY VERSE: And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. 1 Kings 3:13

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 12-15

Solomon did something no man had ever done and God responded in a way He had never responded. He offered a thousand burnt offerings to God; in return, God paid him a visit. I pray that God will inspire you and me to do something that will cause Him to pay us a visit. 1 Kings 3: 5 says: ‘In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, ask what I shall give thee.’ Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge God’s people. 1 Kings 3:10 says: ‘And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.’

There are two basic types of requests: those that please the Lord and those that don’t. An example of a request that didn’t please the Lord was Israelite’s request for a king. 1 Samuel 8:6-7 says: ‘But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.’ The Lord granted their request even though it didn’t please Him; besides, it was not in His perfect will for them to have a king. The fact that God grants a request does not necessarily mean that He is pleased with the request. I pray that you will not have what God does not want you to have in the mighty name of Jesus,amen. Israel had what God did not want them to have; and as a result, they suffered. 1 Kings 12:4 says: ‘Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.’ Adam and Eve had what God did not want them to have and they died spiritually. Whilst some requests do not please God, some bring Him joy. Solomon's request pleased the Lord because it was in line with God's will for him. Any request that is at variance with His will displeases Him. You can know God's will through revelation; and by studying the Bible,also.

NOTE: When you pray in tongues, you are praying according to His divine will; therefore, it pleases the Lord.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

YOUR PRAYER REQUEST REVEALS WHO YOU ARE

MEMORY VERSE: And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 1 Kings 3:10

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 8-11

In 1 Kings 3:4-14, King Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings to God. The Lord was very impressed and gave him a blank cheque. Verse 5 says: ‘In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, ask what I shall give thee.’ If you give God what no man has ever given to Him; He will give you what He has never given to any man in return. King Solomon was the first to offer a thousand burnt offering to God; and, he was the first to receive a blank cheque from God. I pray that God will inspire you and me to do something no man has ever done, so we can receive something no man has ever received.

1 Kings 3:9-10 says: ‘Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.’ Someone once said, ‘I never ask God for anything because He knows my needs.’ God knows your needs, but He wants you to ask. Matthew 7:7-8 says: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.’ King Solomon's request was specific. He didn’t ask for everything or anything. Be specific with your request. Don’t act like the man who said, ‘God, my name is Jimmy and I will take whatever you gimme.’ King Solomon’s request reflected his priority, personality, vision, values, goals, etc. Your request says a lot about you.

NOTE: We can tell from King Solomon’s prayer request that he was a humble man. We can also tell from his prayer request that he was not a selfish man. He was a man who put the needs of others first.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

AN IDOLATER?

MEMORY VERSE: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 4-7

Who is an idolater? An idolater is simply one who worships idols. What comes to mind when we hear the word 'idol' is a picture of a statue. An idol can be a statue; viz., the golden calf (Exodus 32:4). It can be a living thing or a non-living thing. An idol is simply anything we want more than God, rely on more than God, put before God, or look to for greater fulfilment than God. Exodus 20:3 says: ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.’

While we generally see them as disgraceful, evil passions, it is important to note that idols can also be ‘good’ things that we have made into ‘ultimate’ things. For instance, an idol could be one's spouse. Adam put his wife, Eve, before God. In chapter 3, his wife offered him the forbidden fruit and he ate it. He disobeyed God and obeyed his wife. An idol could be one's children. Eli's children were his idols because he put them before God. Even, when God complained about the conduct of his children, he did nothing because he didn't want to offend them. Your ambition can become your idol if care is not taken. A young man whose ambition became his idol was Absalom. He was willing to kill his father to fulfil his ambition of becoming the king. Material things can become one's idols. An example that comes to mind is Achan. He was willing to disobey God to get rich. Culture and tradition can become one's idols. For instance, the Pharisees and Sadducees put their culture and tradition before God's word. Your favourite team or sport can become an idol. Recently, I saw a brother watching a champions league match during the sermon. If you are busy checking football scores whilst the pastor is preaching, then football has become your idol.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please reveal the idols in my life to me and help get rid of them.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.