BELIEVERS DIGEST SERIES 5

BELIEVERS DIGEST (SERIES 5)
A PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL
“FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS AND THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.”
Believers’ Digest contains series of messages that can be copied
and use freely for edification of the body of Christ.
Email: info@cping.org; christianpubint@yahoo.com,
Tel: (+234)-8036121781; (+234)-08051109976).


5:1 UNDERSTANDING THE TIME

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nd of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…" -1Chr.12: 32.
God looks for people that understand his plan and purpose for any age. The present time is the last age we might expect before the advent of Christ. This age should be the time of the greatest revival and awakening to anticipate and get prepared for the coming of the Lord. But as it were in those days of the Israelites, only few people were always found within the realm of God’s move. When David was made King over Israel at Hebron, the tribe of Issachar "understood the times and knew what Israel should do". They were "weather – wise". They understood public affairs, the temper of nation and the present events. The princes of Issachar were recorded in the book of Judges (5:15) that they knew how to rule because in them is great searching of heart.
In the time of Gideon, only three hundred men that understood the time by not fearing to partake in the battle were used by God to gain victory for Israel. It was only Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron that understood the time when Israel sinned against God by committing adultery with thee Midianite women (Num. 25). The understanding of the period of time made him zealous for the Lord to destroy the man of Israel who could not understand God’s mind or rather the time. It was lack of knowledge of time that made Gehazi leave Elisha as a leper when actually he could have received double portion of Elisha’s anointing also.
If only we can realize that this is the time of greatest awakening, towards world evangelization and preparation for the advent of Christ, we would arise to prayerfully work towards the vision of awakening the body of Christ (the church) from spiritual lethargy. It is sad even for church leaders of this age not to understand the time or rather the move of the Spirit of God towards church awakening. Understanding this present time should awake your mind to be zealous for the Lord and to be a useful vessel for Him.
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5:2 LESSON FROM JONAH

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onah was called to go and show God’s dissatisfaction to the city of Nineveh for their wickedness was much in the sight of God. The disobedience of Jonah or rather his rejection of God’s call upon his life led to disaster for him and to others around him. The wind was contrary and there was no rest of mind for everyone in thee ship. They went to the extent of casting their goods into the sea.
What has God called you to do in the church? Your rejection or not ready to answer God’s call will cause the wind around you to be contrary. You may travel and come safely but what of the situations around you? What of the stagnant position you are in the area of finance? Your situation refuses to improve. You run into debt that gives you no rest of mind. Your financial obligation towards God or God’s work has become faulty due to financial hardship you threw yourself into by your refusal to let God do what he planed to do through you. People around you, to whom you should be of help, find no solace in you. You caused disaster to your people. The particular location or work that God intends you to occupy in the church becomes lagging, thereby preventing God’s purpose from coming to pass in the church set up.
The situation of Jonah led him to call upon God in distress. He preferred to die rather than obey the call of God. But God’s desire must come to pass. Instead of his getting drowned in the Sea. God sent a great fish to swallow him. Inside the fish, Jonah had a repentant mind. He cried unto God, God allowed him to get into a situation where he would think of Him. God preserved his life despite his disobedience. Jonah cried unto God from the whale’s belly. Is your hard situation not enough to lead you into a state of repentance? God’s mercy is still abundant on you as long as you are still living. God wants you to change towards His desire that you have neglected. The Spirit will keep reminding you of the father, and would be ready to take you through only if you comply.
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5:3 IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH

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e that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty"- Psalm 91:1NKJV
"… Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty" – NIV
"…. Shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty (whose power no foe can withstand)" – AMP
The Church came into existence by the coming together of Christ’s disciples. Christ spoke of the Church before his death. He said that he would build it upon the rock and that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Mt. 16:18). Christ instructed further that if dispute exists (which cannot be settled between the two or more individuals), then the Church is to settle it. If anyone refuses to accept the Church’s verdict, let such a person be treated like an heathen or a pagan (Mtt.18: 17). Christ is the head of the Church and he gave himself for it (Eph. 5:25). The Church can be said to be the "secret place of the Most High". He that abides there in shall be under the shadow of the Almighty.
Which one is your Church? Is your Church really a Church where Christ is your only head? Is Christ preached and Salvation through him emphasized? What of Holiness through the blood of Christ? All teachings must revolve around Christ and nobody else. Then that is a Church. If that is the situation in your church you are under the shadow of the Almighty. Stay there in and be secured: "You shall remain stable and fixed". Any straying away might expose you to the devil that roams about, seeking whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8). If a sheep strays away from the flock, it is exposed to dangers of predators, accidents, thieves e.t.c. It may forever be lost from the flock. Your straying away from your Church and your Shepherd (your pastor) to another flock, for whatever reason, at the time you are supposed to be there can expose you to hazards.
If Christ is the head of all Churches, why drifting to another flock? Can Christ that owns your fold not solve your problem there? Are you invited to accompany another person for a special thanksgiving programme always? You need to watch your straying away from your fold. The Lord knows where you are and identifies you with the fold where you are registered. If you fellowship elsewhere once in a while on special programme for spiritual upliftment, that might be understood. But if the motive of your going out is to satisfy certain personal longings which you feel are not achievable in the fold to which you are identified, and you keep absenting yourself indiscriminately, then it becomes a straying away. It is dangerous. If your straying out is towards getting spiritual assistance that is not connected with Christ, yea, you have exposed all areas of your life to dangers. The devil rather than being protected by God will attract you. The thousand and ten thousand that are falling on the side and right hand shall surely be joined by you since you no longer trust His truth to be your shield and buckler.
Do you keep your Christian membership and you don’t follow God’s principles as written in His word? May be you don’t pay your tithe as you are supposed to. That makes your life vulnerable to devourers, which are also the "pestilence that walks in darkness" and "the destruction that lays waste at noonday". If you stray out of your matrimonial enclosure and become unfaithful to your spouse, you have opened your house to attack. You no longer abide under the shadow of the Almighty: "the arrow that flies by day" can catch you up unexpectedly. It is only if you make the Lord your refuge that evil or plague will not come near your dwelling. It is then that Angels will carry you up in their hands "lest you dash your foot against a stone". When you faithfully abide in the church with which the heavens identifies you (for some are not abiding in the church where God chooses for them), then you are setting your love on Him and He also will deliver you and set you on high because you have not only known His name but doing the will of His father in heaven. You will call upon Him and He will answer you and be with you in trouble. He will deliver and honour you; yea with long life shall He satisfy you and show you His salvation.
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5:4 WHY?

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he harvest Is past, the summer has ended and we are not saved" - Jerem.8: 20. Are there no salvation messages that we can preach from the scriptures? Is there no preacher of righteousness? Why then is there no revival in the church; and why is it that there is no salvation of members? Why are the people in lukewarm ness and tending towards destruction by the fire of hell? Why is it that people in the church are only religious and are not converted? Why have you not changed and be revived?
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5.5 WHEN YOUR BROOK RUNS DRY

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hen the word of the Lord came to Elijah "saying, Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. So he went and did according to the words of the Lord, ... The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land". 1 king 17:2- 7.
Nobody has all he needs. Circumstances may change, but God’s aim concerning us will never change i.e. to bring us to an expected end (Jer. 29: 11). No one has all the resources needed to meet the need of a particular time. You might have been getting suspense from business. Salary, parents, friends. e.t.c. That has being your "flowing brook or stream". But it may run dry one day: not able to meet your needs and for situations to go the opposite direction. The brook has run dry! Why should the brook run dry since God specifically gave it to Elijah and to you? God wants you to depend on him and not on those resources he has given.
It is easier for man to depend on the flowing brook and forget God who gave it. God wants you to depend on him and not on those resources he has given. The brook can make you forget that you are a stranger in this world. The world is not your home no matter how much you are enjoying your flowing brook. The brook can run dry unexpectedly: there can be retrenchment, collapse of business or debt accumulation to the detriment of the business, death of parents, wife, husband or a friend who has been the source of the flowing brook, collapse of the company that you work with or the end of your tenure in office. You need not cry over the dryness of the brook. Look unto God who gave the brook allowed it to dry. Through you may miss your brook, you will not miss God. There is something better to come your way. A brook and birds don’t show you as much of God as a mother and child can do. It is the ongoing of the world that makes it sad. If the world stood still at a happy moment, there will be no sadness in it. The sun and moon that stood still at Aijalon was not a disaster for Israel, but a type of paradise. Yet even a stationary heaven and earth would become dull at last.
Has your brook run dry? You need to pray through to God and receive further instruction. Elijah received further instructions from God before he stepped out of the brook area. "Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Arise, go to Zerephath, which belongs to Sidon and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you"- I Kings 17:8-9. Do not leave that brook area (Town) until God so orders it. Stay in that place and seek for further instruction from the God who at first gave the brook (if so be that it was God who gave it). Pray for your Zerephath: a place of sustenance even in the time of famine; A place where supplies extends beyond you to your extended family members; A place of obedience to God’s word that would lead to "the barrel of meal wasted not neither did the cruse of oil fail".
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5.6 TO SAVE LIVES

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ecause it was to safe lives that that God sent me to go ahead of you" - Gen. 45:5.
Joseph was sold into Egypt by his brethren but God was with him to bring to pass a divine purpose for his life: to save lives of the Israelites in time of famine. God had earlier told Abraham that his "descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and be mistreated four hundred years … and after wards they will come out with great possessions"- Gen. 15:13:14.
Joseph did not do any form of preaching; he only lived a righteous life and God’s favor was upon him. Even when he ought to have enjoyed the pleasure of sin for a moment (when no one could see him), he declined the offer that led him into prison where the favor of God brought him across somebody that matters, who led him at last to stand before pharaoh. Joseph did not preach to pharaoh, but God used him to give insight to the king on what was about to happen. He was recognized as the most wisest and most discerning man of that time. Yet he did not preach a message.
Do not think of your becoming a preacher before you can be used to save lives. Your righteous living in the sight of God will make you be in position to save lives of men from different form of danger: praying for them to avert dangers, giving godly pieces of advice to direct men, standing between opposing groups to settle quarrels, giving your money to sponsor gospel work or you allow yourself to be a channel (not a hindrance) to extend the gospel, e.t.c. You may not be in a position to preach from the pulpit but you can use your position in whatever state you are to assist the spread of the gospel to peoples’ heart or prevent lives from imminent dangers.
You might have been brought to such a position for the purpose of saving lives just like Esther: "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" – Esther 4:14. Time when lives where threatened with death. Esther never preach a message, but her stand before God in prayer and fasting, and her action of faith to stand before the king brought deliverance to lives from death warrant. She was used to save lives without preaching by using her queen ship position appropriately. Can you say, like Joseph of your position in life, that, it was to save lives that God sent you ahead of other men into that place / post / success / prosperity? Even if that position is intended to harm or abase you, God can still intend it for good: to save lives (Gen. 50:20).
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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
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5.7 PRODIGAL SONS AND DAUGHTERS

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esus gave the parable of a man that had two sons in the gospel of Luke. The younger son collected his portion of inheritance from his father "and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spend all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want". Luke. 11: 13-14.
We are the younger sons and daughters of God. Our elderly brethren are those that had lived before us, yea those that we read about in the scriptures: Joseph, Daniel, Peter, etc. They are now with our father in heaven; but we are here on earth in a far country: we are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth". We pray daily to get portions of our inheritance (promotion, good job, money, good health, houses etc.) from God our father. How do you spend God’s resources at your disposal (even your time)? In riotous living on festivities, in accumulation of worldly perishable luxuries or to care for your physical body? How much do you invest towards the gospel and how much do you spend unaccountable? "But make me thereof a little cake first" is usually God’s order.
First take care of the gospel and then care for your family. Not doing that makes most gospel projects suffer lack of funds. How much of your God given resources do you spend on clothes, hair / body make up thou prodigal son or daughter of God? God’s resources in your control are to be used for God’s purpose: the spread of the gospel and caring for those that gave their lives to the course of it. Spending that would bring heavenly dividends: "a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys." – Luke 12:33.
A mighty famine shall follow all forms of prodigal spending because the resources were spent unproductively in regards to spiritual matters. It is then you’ll join yourself with the citizens of this world, the unsaved, and you’ll begin to try it out by all means as to make things work again. The worldly people have nothing good to offer. They are taskmasters that deprive people of their rightful possessions.
The biblical prodigal son repented and went back to his father. There is the need for you to repent of your riotous spending: your spending towards pleasure and worldly affair rather than towards the gospel. Your investing in the gospel should include regular Tithing and Offering towards specific Ministry task and caring for servants of God that are over and around you. Your heavenly father is expecting your repentance from wanton spending of His resources in your care. It is your wise spending into the gospel work that gives you a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted and that will answer for you in times of famine.
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5.8 LOSING AND GAINING

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e who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" - John 12:25.
All the different writers of the four gospels wrote on this particular topic of losing and gaining of a man’s life: to lose your life for the sake of gospel. To lose mean "to waste or to suffer loss" This is however one of the teachings of Jesus himself. Before you can gain, you must first lose: you must throw away your resources. This is a principle of blessing: before you harvest, you must first plant. Planting is throwing away what one has to uncertainties. You can’t know what will happen to what you have planted: weather hazards, thieves, animals and birds, insect pest, viruses and bacteria, flood or fire outbreak etc. Planting is losing while harvesting is gaining. No one thinks negatively while planting. We always look forward to the time of harvest not minding what may happen to the crops planted. But Jesus then spoke of losing and gaining of our lives. How can you lose your life so as to gain it? There is only one purpose acceptable to God for which a man can lose his life and to regain it. That is, for the sake of following and doing the work of Christ. Before you can do this accurately, you must first of all lose, hate or rather throw away your own life. What does that mean?
Abraham was called out of his father’s house where he lacked nothing, to go to a land unknown. To put his life in jeopardy. Assuming a friend asked him: "where are you going?" He would simply reply: "I am going to a land I do not know… a land of uncertainties". Yea he was risking his life as he left his people. The disciples of Christ left all they had -their businesses, family and parents-to follow Jesus who said he had no place to lay his head (Mt. 8:20). Was that not a risk? To leave your precious household and follow Christ to a place of unknown destination. To the human mind that is madness. And such a person that could not accept and follow Christ remained unsaved. They love their wives, children, property and they want to live long and enjoy the world. These are the ones that Jesus said would lose at last. They are first gaining the things of the world, which they will lose later. They will lose everything to the world including their dear lives! To lose one’s life results from to be ready to take a risk of life.
"Anyone who loves his father or mother than me is not worthy of me: anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me: and anyone who does not take his Cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it"- Matt. 10:37-39.
You have to first lose your life for Christ, through salvation, before you can hate your father and mother, wife and children for the sake of the gospel. That is, those close relations or possessions would not be allowed to take the first place. That of God is number one "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you"- Matt. 6:33. Not even business, work or career must be allowed to come first. All these are to be considered secondary. The call by Christ (the gospel) must be given priority above every other aspect of life. "…whoever loses his life for my sake will find it". Matt. 10:39. There is no loss of anything by losing your life for Christ and the gospel.
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5.9 ENTERTAINING ANGELS
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o not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it" –Heb. 13:2.
Abraham (Gen. 16), Gideon (Jdg. 6) and Manoah (Jdg. 13) entertained angels without knowing it. They welcomed those heavenly visitors and treated them as friends. They never met those men before, and there was no previous formal notice of their coming. The aforementioned people entertained freely as they saw necessary and as they used to do. They knew not the day when it would be the turn of Angels to visit them. They were used to opening their doors to strangers.
Angels are heavenly messengers, or rather messengers of good tidings. Unknown guests (strangers) can be sent to you by God to deliver your desired blessing. When such happens, you conclude that God has used such a man or woman. Even if he happens to be known person for the fact that your needs were met through him, he has been sent to you by God. Is he then an angel? Angels cannot be bitter against man and they are kind. What is man that angels would be jealous of him? Anyone who is jealous of you is not likely to be kind to you or willing to do you any good. When you entertain a jealous man/woman, your hospitality may be misunderstood and it may not be accepted with a clear conscience. Such a person would not be an instrument of blessing.
Entertain strangers even though you don’t know where they come from; for they may be your angels. People that would come across your way and be of help in one way or the other, and pass on, are like angels to you. Somebody used by God in your favour or without your knowledge becomes an angel to you. You may never come across such a person again in life.
It should be realised that angels are not always heavenly beings. God can use human beings as angels to you: according to your prayers to God. The blessings may be physical (goods) or monetary. It may be in form of counsel (an idea) given, which if you faithfully apply, will result into blessings. The request for a child by the Shunamite woman was met by her entertaining Prophet Elisha (II King 4:8-17). The coming around of such a person would be to you an answered prayer. Does not that look like an angel of God sent specifically to you? How would you not miss such a target? It is by entertaining known and unknown (strangers) people.
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5.10 CLOUD OF WITNESS

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herefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, Let us throw off everything that hinder and sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" – Heb. 12:1.
The Cloud of witnesses spoken of in the scripture includes the Christian martyrs that were commended for their faith and of which none of them receive what had been promised (Heb. 11:39). Our present day cloud of witnesses includes events of the last days that take lives of men suddenly. Preventing those involved from receiving what God had promised.
Remember the destruction of the commercial center in the U.S in the year 2001. How many souls of believers can you imagine could be involved? Were all those causalities non-believers? Even if they were, then souls are perishing. What of motor accidents on our roads? Sicknesses like Aids, Cancer, High blood pressure, Asthma e.t.c that claim lives? What of attack by armed robbers, plane crash, political attacks etc? Can you conclude that those involved were the unrepentant? "Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?", Jesus concluded (Luke 13:4). Those aforementioned events happened to take lives of men on the day none of them expected Jesus told us to "watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming" –Matt. 25:13.
These happenings are our present day cloud of witnesses that surrounds us. Let us therefore throw off everything that hinders us from doing God’s will: everything that hinders us from faithfully serving the Master – businesses or jobs, politics or education, family, society affairs, worldly pleasure and influences (all these may not be sinful but they may hinder us from serving Christ) and the "sin that so easily entangles.". Let us run the heavenly Christian race that is set before us before death comes unannounced. We may not be able to completely receive all that God had promised.
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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.
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5.11 MORE THAN ENOUGH
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nd so the people were restrained from bringing more because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work" - Ex. 36:6-7.
When God’s work was to be done at the time of Moses, he said to the people to bring offerings for the work ahead for the Lord had commanded it. So the people brought offerings of different kinds. Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him/her. They brought their possessions as offerings for the work of God. Behold it became so much that Moses had to restrained the people from bringing more donations! Do we have enough for the work of God these days? All we normally have is less than what we requires. The reason is that we so called people of God of today are not willing to offer unto God our possessions. Our priority is our worldly accumulations and self-gratification. No self-denial towards accomplishing the work of God. Many God’s projects are being done slothfully under the umbrella of "no fund" whereas we are building personal houses and purchasing cars at will. We are always after the desires of our hearts and not after the things of God. That is why we always have less than enough for the work of God. What kind of a heart have you? A willing and moving heart? "For God is at work within you, helping you to want to obey him, and then helping you to do what he wants" – Phil. 2:13 LB.
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5.12 AVERT JUDGEMENT

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ing Solomon’s idolatry through marriages with strange women led to God’s anger towards him. God decided to tear away the kingdom from Solomon and gave it to his servant. But for David’s sake, not all the kingdom was taken from Solomon’s lineage.
"Not withstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom: but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen" – I King 11:12-13.
Rehoboam, one of the sons of Solomon came up to reign after the death of his father. He was consulted with by the town’s men on how to alleviate the task of the people. Instead of Rehoboam to yield to the words of the elderly people that reigned along with his father, he gathered up young men that grew up with him. He neglected the pieces of advice given him by the elders of the land and acted upon the words of the young people: "so the king did not listen to the people; for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken…" – I King 12:15.
There are two types of people: - the negligent and thoughtless. Let –it-happen-the way –it will-happen. People like as Eli. God said to Eli in judgment: "… the time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your family line…all your descendants will die in the prime of life; your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you: they will both die on the same day…" I Sam. 2:30-34. The respond of Eli was "He is the Lord: let him do what is good in his eyes" – I Sam. 3:18. Since Eli was in the group of the unrepentant people, it happened exactly as God had spoken. Eli and his descendants were wiped out of history! Such people couldn’t pray to avert judgment. God is a forgiven God. He can change judgment at the repentance of the offender.
Esau was another example of the thoughtless people. God said: "I hated Esau, and laid his mountain and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness" –Mal. 1:3. Esau lived a careless life: he sold his birthright and that led to his non-inheritance of blessing from his father Isaac. He became a servant to his brother.
The second group of people is the repentant, the thoughtful and the careful ones. Yea, they are godly people. Example of this group is king Hezekiah. God said to him on the sick bed: "set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live." The king turned his face to the wall and reminded God of all that he did. He said to God in prayer with tear: "Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before the in truth and done that which is good in thy sight". The compassionate and forgiven God then replied him: "I have heard thy prayer I have seen they tears: behold I will add unto thy days fifteen years"- (Isaiah 38:1-5)
Abraham prayed to avert judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah: at least he was able to save Lot and his daughters. He did not say let God do as he please. He pleaded with God. Moses on several occasions prayed to God on behalf of the Israelites. He prayed to avert judgment on the people at the time of the Golden Calf for example.
Despite king David’s prayer to avert judgment on the adulterous child born to him by Bathsheba, God did not spare the life of the child but averted his immediate judgment of death on David: " The LORD also hath put away thy sin, thou shall not die" – II Sam. 12:13. Jabez called on the Lord in prayers to avert the sorrow placed on him at birth. He was thoughtful and so became "more honorable than his brethren" (I Chr. 4:9). You can pray to avert God’s judgment on your family line: pray to avert generation curses and sicknesses, avert poverty that refuses to quit your lineage, pray to avert bareness, untimely death, etc that manifests in your family line. The Lord is looking for somebody in your lineage that will pray to him on behalf of your whole family members.
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5.13 PRESSURE AND GRACE

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ot that Abraham despised or considered the promises of God ineffective but the pressure of needs on him as a man, made him sleep with his Slave girl instead of patiently expecting Isaac from his legitimate wife.
Elijah, the prophet that commanded fire and rain could not withstand a woman (Jezebel) when she confronted him with death. He fled the city for the wilderness. Could that mean that Elijah could not trust God for safety? The pressure on him as a man made him flee. But God sent him back to the city to continue his ministerial assignment.
In the absence of the GRACE of God, men of God lived contrarily to the call of God upon their lives. The taking up of Uriah’s wife lustfully, made king David yielded to the pressure of human nature despite his heart that was after God. So also was Solomon his son. In spite of all his wisdom, he failed God by marrying strange women.
Who could be so careful not to go against the law of God if not those that one would say "spoke with God as a man speak with his friend"? Moses missed it at the time of trial by the pressure of his human nature through anger.
Samson failed woefully on the laps of Delilah despite the anointing upon him that made him slew thousands of the enemies of Israel without a weapon of war.
Peter could not withstand at first the trial of denying Jesus due to the demand of the pressure of his human nature.
It is in the time of Grace through Christ that we begin to have positive records. A spectacular example was Apostle Paul who took pleasure in trials and hardship (against human nature) just for the sake of Christ: "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that shows my weakness". NIV. The Amplified Bible puts it thus: "I will boast… of the things by which I am made weak and contemptible (in the eyes of my opponents). Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecution, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak then am I strong" (II Cor. 11:30,12:10).
Other apostles endured under the grace even when faced by persecution and death through bonds and imprisonment, afflictions and torments, death by saw and sword, etc. The grace of Christ enabled them to endure pressures of their human nature. That grace is also available now to make us endure all contradictions of men and of the world against our working for God and live a holy life. That grace is teaching "us to say "NO" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ" – Titus 2:12-13.
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5.14 ACCORDING TO THE HEAVENLY PATTERN.

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ee that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain"
– Exodus 25:40.
God instructed Moses to fashion out the Tabernacle and its furnishings just exactly as he was shown on Mount Sinai. That shows that whatever role a child of God is given to execute, there is always a God-given pattern to follow. The work is of God and not an arrangement of men. There is usually God’s pattern of doing whatever He enables his children to accomplish. We only need to ask for the divine pattern on whatever we are appointed to do. These involve not only ministerial assignments but also secular, marriage and business. There is always an heavenly pattern to be followed.
Refusal to ask for and heed specific instruction will lead to failure. This same Moses that was able to complete the tabernacle set up according to the heavenly pattern failed at the water of Meribah Kadesh in the desert of Zion because he did not follow God’s pattern. At one time in the same desert, God told Moses to "strike the rock, and water will come out for the people to drink"- Ex.17: 6. That was the heavenly pattern at the time. At another time in the same wilderness, God said to Moses "take the staff…Speak to the rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water"- Numb. 20:8.
But Moses raised his arm and struck the rock with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron "because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" – Numb. 20: 11-12.
The miracle took place indeed, but the man of God failed, and he was rejected. Miracles of blessing can be manifesting in your Ministry, office or business but are you carrying on according to God’s pattern? With your humanly devised strategies you can still count your blessing; but it is the doing of things according to the heavenly pattern that can bring eternal and lasting dividends.
Adam could not follow the heavenly pattern of not eating out of the Fruit of the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden. That led to his failure and curses upon mankind. But thank God for Jesus who died according to the heavenly pattern to remove those curses.
Samson failed when he changed from following the heavenly pattern given to him. He was loaded with anointing and mission to "deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines". He was to be a Nazarite unto God from birth: Not shaving his head, and not to defile himself in any way. Samson followed not the heavenly pattern: he kept joining himself with different women out of which one (Delilah) was able to know the secret of his anointing and she succeeded in shaving off his Nazarite hairs. Samson paid with his life just because he lived not according to the heavenly pattern.
King Saul was told to "Go and smite Amalech, and utterly destroy all that they have, spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass" - 1Sam. 15: 3. That was the heavenly pattern at that time. "But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was wile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly" –1Sam 15:9.
King Saul and the host jubilated that day over their victory on their enemies. They may even slaughter some of the forbidden animals to make merriment. But all their victorious jubilating was done outside God’s pattern. He was rejected as king at last, and he ended his life badly because he did not follow the heavenly pattern given to him.
As great as king Solomon was in wisdom, wealth and honor, he also failed to follow God’s pattern for his living and ruling the people. God’s pattern for any king of Israel is that: "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away" – Duet. 17:17. But Solomon multiplied wives and concubines, each with her own god in Solomon’s palace. "The Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Lord… Which appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing: that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded… I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and give it to thy servant" – 1King 11:9-11. King Solomon did not follow the heavenly pattern and so he failed.
Disobedience to the heavenly pattern leads to failure. Many homes have broken up because God’s pattern for the man and the woman to live together was not followed. Many Gospel assignments are lacking Funds and so are retarded simply because the vision of old had been lost or put aside. The heavenly pattern must strictly be adhere to in whatever we do. How was it at the beginning and how is it now? Are you following the heavenly pattern? Apostle Paul affirmed to a king before whom he was making his defence: "I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision" –Acts 26:19.
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5.15 BECOME AS A LITTLE CHILD

E
xcept ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" – Matt.18:3 KJV.
"Unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children (trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving) you can never enter the kingdom of heaven at all" – Amp.
On two occasions, Jesus gave us the clue for how we can enter into the kingdom of God. Firstly, by being born again: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" – John 3:3. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave another injunction: "Except ye…become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven"
Becoming as a little child involves a change of life completely. Not only to be born again, but also to have a change of heart: a heart that is teachable and malleable; heart that keeps no malice and easily forgiving; an obedient heart to God and to man; a heart of love; a tender heart: a heart that harbors no sin: a believing and trusting heart; a fearless heart; surrendering and yielding heart; a gentle and humble heart. This kind of heart would be like the fertile land for the word of God to grow healthily and abundantly, as he prepares for the kingdom of God.
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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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5.16 OFFENDING A CHILD OF GOD.

“B
ut who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" – Matt.18: 6.
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to me to stumble and sin -– that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought – it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea" – Amp.
Apostle Paul preferred not to eat meat, if the eating would wound the weak conscience of another person and make such a person to sin against Christ: "Therefore, if (my eating a) kind of food can hinder or cause my brother to fall, hindering his spiritual advancement, I will not eat (such) flesh forever, lest I cause my brother to be tripped up and fall and to offend" – 1 Cor. 8:13. Amp
Any believer in Christ becomes "one of the little ones who believe in me". We are to live together in harmony and be careful of what we say or do as not to wound the conscience, the mind, the heart, and the love of anyone towards doing God’s work. Jesus went further to say " woe unto the world because of offences" – Matt.18: 7. Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and influences to do wrong. That is, even among "these little ones which believe in me", there are lot and lots of offences causing another to say "this is done to me in the household of God?" Even as a Minister of the Gospel, he has said this to me? He / she called me so and so name in the Church? Wounding the conscience of another person in the Church? Beware! Jesus puts a woe on such a one: woe to that man or woman by whom the offence comes!
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5.17 DISPISING A CHILD OF GOD.

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eware that you do not despise or feel scornful toward or think little of one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always are in the presence of and look upon the face of my father who is in heaven"
– Matt.18:10.
To despise: to look down upon; to hold in contempt; to disdain, to scorn. Such a person is not of God, but of the devil. Jesus warns us not to despise anyone. For the angel of that person you despise looks upon the face of God in heaven to report your act of disregarding a child of God? Instead of despising another child of God, why not develop interest in praising, commending, regarding, admiring and approving him / her? So that his / her angel would speak well of you to God?
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5.18 THE LEAST OF BRETHREN.

“I
n as much as ye have done it unto one of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" – Matt.25:40
A little cares for a child of God goes for Christ. We cannot see Christ again on earth to be ministered unto by us. But he has representatives: the brethren. The Least of "these my brethren" represents Christ completely.
Refusal to attend to the need of the brethren especially when it is in the power of your hand to do so would result in "so far as you failed to do it for the least of these (in the estimation of men) you failed to do it for me" - Matt.25: 45 Amp.
"He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him" - Proverbs. 19:17
"Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the house hold of faith – those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers" – Gal. 6:10 Amp.
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5.19 SPIRITUAL LEVITES

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ake the Levites from among the other Israelites and make them ceremonially clean" – Numb.8:6.
The Levites are one of the twelve tribes of Israel chosen by God for various services in His house. God took them in replacement of every first born to an Israelites family. They were to stand before the whole congregation of Israel and to make atonement for them.
Whoever has a call of God upon his life become spiritual Levite to stand before the whole congregation of people of God for intercession. However it is required by the Levites to be ceremonially clean. The cleansing described in the book of numbers was outward but the heart was not also left out. The condition of one’s heart represented by one’s appearance. Inner purity is required for any worker in God’s Vineyard. Not only the outward manifestation of God’s anointing but inward adoration and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible, gentle and peaceful spirit. This form of cleansing is more precious in the sight of God than the external ceremony of a minister’s performance.

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5.20 FOLLOWING CHRIST.

F
ollow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. … And immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him" – Matt. 4:9 & 22.
The calling of God upon our lives comes moment by moment. It takes the grace of God for an individual to discern the call upon his / her life. God allows us to choose without enforcing that call on man. The first call is however the call unto salvation. If man answers that, then other call can follow: call into the ministry.
Jesus called peter, Andrew, James and john from their fishing engagement to follow him for they shall be fishers of men: "and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him". They left all to answer the call of Christ into the ministry of becoming "fishers of men". They became Evangelists, they became Apostles. At first they yielded to the call of Christ: they followed him.
What is that, that is keeping you back from answering the call of Christ into salvation? Or what is it that you cannot give up to answer the call of Christ upon your life into the ministry?
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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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