Sunday June 3, 2012
Loyal?
Being loyal means to be faithful, trustworthy, reliable, dependable, devoted, steadfast and dedicated. Are you loyal?
Zimri, whose name means ‘my song’, ‘music’, ‘my praise’, ‘praise-worthy’, ‘fierce tiger’, Yahweh has defended or Yahweh has protected, conspired against his master and killed Elah. He ruled for only 7 days. We were not told the name of his father, or the tribe he came from, showing accounts of glory will always be missing from the scroll of honor of conspirators. Furthermore their reign will be short - 7 days. Zimri supported idol worship and committed treason. He subsequently committed suicide after ascending the pinnacle to become a king, a modern day president or prime minister. (1 Kings 16:8-20)
“Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy..
- 1 Corinthians 4:2
Loyal to what and to who?
And in this way we shall come to know that we are loyal to the truth, and shall satisfy our consciences in His presence.
- 1 John 3:19
We must be loyal to the truth. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6)
Examples of loyalty:
• German soldiers and civil servants in their loyalty to their commander, even though it was an evil purpose.
• Two young boys, who were burnt to death at the stake for refusing to recant their faith in Jesus Christ.
• Cassie Bernall ? During the Columbine shootings, one of the students, in the face of death, was loyal to the master.
Impacts
Loyalty impacts your delivery and relationships. Loyalty produces kindness, grants you mercy, grace and intelligence in the presence of both man and God and delivers favor and success into your hands (Proverbs 3:3-4).
You need wisdom and unwavering trust in God to operate in undivided loyalty. Sometimes, those you are loyal to will repay you evil for your painful loyalty. Some will take your loyalty for granted, and some will try to undermine your loyalty. Do not waver, continue of the path of loyalty ( James 1:6).
Loyalty pays!
God is your rewarder and He will reward you. God does not owe anyone and what you have sowed in loyalty, God will bring bountifully back to you. According to Isaiah 54:5, God is watching out for you. For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Wherever there is a grain of loyalty there is a glimpse of freedom.
- ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE, Ode to Mazzini
“Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved.”
― Martin Luther
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- Matthew 6:24
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
- Galatians 5:17
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.
- Galatians 5:16
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. - Galatians 5:24
Stay on the high road of loyalty. Your reward will surely come, it will be sustained and glorious!
Prayer:
• Give thanks
• Give thanks for His faithfulness to you
• Pray that God will make you loyal in every situation you encounter in life.
• Your decisions decide your future - The Pareto principle declares that only a small portion of seed generates a large proportion of the harvest. Lord help me to make right decisions and plant loyalty as a seed.
• Personal prayer points.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. - Romans 16:20
Sunday June 10, 2012
Greater Heights!
No matter what you are facing, God has destined you for greater heights. Jesus was not limited by circumstances or situations. He refused to be discouraged despite the opposition from the Pharisees, Sadducees, lawyers and proponents of the religious laws of His day.
Come what may you will ascend to the place of destiny God has planned for you! Refuse to be discouraged, refuse to give in or give up! May you walk upon your high places.
God used Omri to execute judgment on someone who betrayed loyalty.
God has an assignment for you, your life has a purpose; may you walk in it and fulfill it; in Jesus mighty name! Amen.
Hope is knowing that God changes things and that God will use you as an agent of change.
For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54:5
Song: From glory to glory He’s changing me. [2 COR.3:18]
FROM GLORY TO GLORY
From glory to glory He's changing me,
He’s changing me, He’s changing me.
His likeness and image to perfect in me;
the love of God shown to the world.--
For He's changing, He’s changing me,
from earthly things to the heavenly,
His likeness and image to perfect in me.
The love of God shown to the world.
What does the Bible Say about King Omri and Greater Heights?
21 ¶ Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
It does not matter those who are not for you when you need them, when God is for you no one can be against you. They shall surely gather, but as many as are gathering against you shall fall for your sake. Those who are supposed to agree with you have no choice than to agree with you. When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be with him.
22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
You will prevail against every opposition against you, against your destiny, in Jesus mighty name! Those who have written you off, will come and bow down before you, just like they did to Joseph, when he became Prime Minister of Egypt. Albert Einstein at age was told by his teacher that he can never amount to much. Some told Obama that he can never be the president of the United States of America. Obama is still the President! Your rising, your accomplishment will surprise your enemies in Jesus mighty name! Amen.
23 ¶ In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
12 is a perfect number signifying perfection of government or governmental perfection. 12 patriarchs, the 12 sons of Jacob, 12 apostles, 12 gates of Jerusalem, 12 foundations, 12 pearls, Jesus was 12 when he first appeared in public. I see you making an appearance in the limelight, where you have been rejected you will be accepted, where you have been turned back, you will be welcomed, where governance has not favored you, you will be favored; it will be well with you.
24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
God allowed him to build Samaria. Samaria means a watch-tower, a watch mountain, a place guarded by God. Where you dwell will be guarded by God. In the day and night, no evil will befall you, because God's eyes will be over you and your loved ones. Psalm 91:1-4, 9. 1 Kings 16
Prayer
• Give thanks
• You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but you brought us out into a wealthy place. Psalm 66:12. Lord bring me out into a wealthy place, in Jesus name! Amen.
• Father, take me to my high places, cause me to fulfill your purpose for my life, gloriously in you; in Jesus mighty name! Amen.
• The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk on my high places. Habakkuk 3:19
• Lord help me to walk in your perfect will.
The God who made Ruth to laugh again, recover what was lost, attain prominence and recognition will stand with you. The God who made Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth to laugh again and sing a song of joy and victory, will prevail on your behalf; in Jesus mighty name! Amen and Amen!!
You are destined for greater heights.
From glory to glory He is taking you.
Sunday June 17, 24 & July 1, 2012
King Ahab - Faulty Alliances!
Alliances make or mar an individual. Where you are employed, school, worship is a result of who you are allied with and results in who you are allied to. Whether you become president, prime minister or prisoner is also determined by alliances.
When a faulty alliance is in place, an urgent correction is required.
Correcting Faulty Alliances
May alliances work in your favor. God will engage you, bring to fore for you opportunities for positive and faithful alliances. I pray you will see them, walk into them, profit by them in Jesus name.
Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits. (Psalm 68:19).
Aholiab and Bezaleel built the temple for Moses; , Hiram built ‘Solomon's temple’. King Hiram of Tyre sent people to build a house for David. The blessing you need is in the hand of someone, our Lord Jesus can bring you into that alliance, can guide and direct you (Psalm 32:8). God brought money from the mouth of a fish, instead of printing currencies or asking different nations for bailout funds as is being done for Greece, Spain, Italy etc.
Ahab went into marriage with Jezebel. Jezebel was from an idolatrous family where witchcraft was openly practised. Ahab became very wicked as a result of his alliance in marriage to Jezebel. People who entered into alliances with Ahab became a partaker of his evil (1 Kings 16:30-33).
Correcting Faulty Alliances
F – Faithful is required- 1 Corinthians 4:2; David in 2 Samuel 5:17-25
A – Authority of God, operate under God's authority. Like Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 and James 5:17
U - Understanding has been granted to you, walk in it - Job 32:8
L – Loyalty – You need to be loyal. Revelations 12:11
T – Transformation, through submission to the Holy Spirit - 2 Corinthians 3:18
Y - Yearn – What do you yearn for? To have? To be? What or who you become is more important than what you have. Psalm 42:1-2
Correcting Faulty Alliances
Employer – Don’t fight, abuse, disrespect or ignore your employer. Yielding pacifies great wrath. A soft answer pacifies great offences. A christian employee demanding for his "rights" with the employer, while refusing to follow Biblical guidelines of service, following instructions and being loyal, but resorting to gossip and backbiting was fired.
Wife/Husband – An unbelieving husband can be won by the conversation (behavior, attitudes of the wife – A drunkard husband was won to the Lord and subsequently became a pastor due to the attitude of his wife.
Children – pray for them, teach them and guide them, as a trusted partner; the God kind of love. Children walk with your parents in love and obedience. A mother recently extended a arm of love to her daughter who got pregnant in "weird" circumstances.
Community – pray for the community, guide by the word, preach in season and out of season. (A well known preacher, one of God's generals was preaching consistently in a city and healing the people, to the extent that the doctors came together to protest that people were no longer coming to them!
God – Prepare to meet your God - Amos 4:12 so that you may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at His coming.
Prayer
• Give thanks
• Father, let my life please you.
• Lord, direct me in all my ways.
• Pray for fathers, for God’s wisdom, help, strength, preservation and guidance.
• Pray for pastors and their families, their marriages.
• Personal prayer points.
The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
