AND NABOTH SAID TO AHAB, “THE LORD FORBID IT ME THAT I SHOULD GIVE THE INHERITANCE OF MY FATHERS TO THEE”
1 KINGS 21:8
King AHAB was the ruler of Israel and He desired Naboth’s vineyard seeing that it was close to the palace. Naboth however refused to give it up even at the cost of his own life.
What’s at stake? If it was just a piece of land there would be no reason to say NO! But Naboth realized and I pray the Holy Spirit helps us realize too that what we have received can not be exchanged for gold or silver. It is invaluable. We live in a generation where grace is used as a cloak to cover filth. It must be of us the apostle said, “For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men who change the grace of our God as a license to immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” (Jude 1:4) The church simply does not understand the gravity of sin. Any time we sin we immediately block God’s purpose over our lives. That’s why Joshua’s army was defeated by a smaller and way inferior nation of Ai because of the sin of Achan. Sin also releases open the latches to the doors that were keeping the Devil out of our lives. As soon as we fall into sin we once again hand the devil the opportunity to invade our lives. We willingly abandon our city of refuge. It also gives the enemy power to blaspheme God. He mocks God’s power not just to save from the penalty of sin but also from the its power. The Devil gains a license to blaspheme against heaven when we willingly dip ourselves in garbage. Therefore what’s at stake here is not just your shame and guilt; it has far more spiritual repercussions that we will only find out when we get to heaven. “ Little Children I am writing to you these things so that you may not sin…”(1st John 2:1)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
AND NABOTH SAID TO AHAB, “THE LORD FORBID IT ME THAT I SHOULD GIVE THE INHERITANCE OF MY FATHERS TO THEE”
1 KINGS 21:8
King AHAB was the ruler of Israel and He desired Naboth’s vineyard seeing that it was close to the palace. Naboth however refused to give it up even at the cost of his own life.
Whose vineyard is it? The vineyard is a right for every Christian. It is not a privilege of the chosen few. It is not a luxury for the good mannered; it is for all those who believe. The Bible says “But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in Him.” Clearly that includes the brightest of Gods stars and the dimmest of lights. The greatest warriors like Elijah who breathe fire and the humblest of servants like Apostle John the beloved whose greatest sermon was :- Love one another for God is love. It is a tragedy that so many a Christian linger in prayer daily asking for the wrong thing. Many Christians seek more faith. Yet when Jesus was asked of this by the disciples He gently rebuked them and told them that it is not the size of the faith that matters it is the might of the Lord. Our faith no matter how big can accomplish nothing unless it is connected to the throne of God. Therefore Jesus said to them that even though your faith were as small as a mustard seed it could move mountains. Today, seek some mountains to move. Not only in your life, but also in other people’s lives. Yes, with power comes responsibility. Get moving!!!
1 KINGS 21:8
King AHAB was the ruler of Israel and He desired Naboth’s vineyard seeing that it was close to the palace. Naboth however refused to give it up even at the cost of his own life.
Whose vineyard is it? The vineyard is a right for every Christian. It is not a privilege of the chosen few. It is not a luxury for the good mannered; it is for all those who believe. The Bible says “But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in Him.” Clearly that includes the brightest of Gods stars and the dimmest of lights. The greatest warriors like Elijah who breathe fire and the humblest of servants like Apostle John the beloved whose greatest sermon was :- Love one another for God is love. It is a tragedy that so many a Christian linger in prayer daily asking for the wrong thing. Many Christians seek more faith. Yet when Jesus was asked of this by the disciples He gently rebuked them and told them that it is not the size of the faith that matters it is the might of the Lord. Our faith no matter how big can accomplish nothing unless it is connected to the throne of God. Therefore Jesus said to them that even though your faith were as small as a mustard seed it could move mountains. Today, seek some mountains to move. Not only in your life, but also in other people’s lives. Yes, with power comes responsibility. Get moving!!!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
AND NABOTH SAID TO AHAB, “THE LORD FORBID IT ME THAT I SHOULD GIVE THE INHERITANCE OF MY FATHERS TO THEE”
1 KINGS 21:8
King AHAB was the ruler of Israel and He desired Naboth’s vineyard seeing that it was close to the palace. Naboth however refused to give it up even at the cost of his own life.
What’s the vineyard? Salvation is also referred to as being born again. We willingly abandon our original family of the fallen man and join the family of God. The vineyard represents therefore our rightful inheritance in Jesus Christ that we gain as a result of our new birth. We do not achieve the vineyard, we do not work to gain the vineyard rather we receive it freely as a right from God. Religion does not help us gain inheritance, being good is not an enough price for this inheritance, it must be given and therefore all that is asked is that we receive. It is the promises of God to us, it is eternal life, it is healing of our bodies, it is the prosperity of our souls, it is divine providence, it is peace; the perfect peace for those whose hearts are stayed on the LORD.(Isaiah 26:3) Have you unwrapped your inheritance? Are you enjoying your rights?
1 KINGS 21:8
King AHAB was the ruler of Israel and He desired Naboth’s vineyard seeing that it was close to the palace. Naboth however refused to give it up even at the cost of his own life.
What’s the vineyard? Salvation is also referred to as being born again. We willingly abandon our original family of the fallen man and join the family of God. The vineyard represents therefore our rightful inheritance in Jesus Christ that we gain as a result of our new birth. We do not achieve the vineyard, we do not work to gain the vineyard rather we receive it freely as a right from God. Religion does not help us gain inheritance, being good is not an enough price for this inheritance, it must be given and therefore all that is asked is that we receive. It is the promises of God to us, it is eternal life, it is healing of our bodies, it is the prosperity of our souls, it is divine providence, it is peace; the perfect peace for those whose hearts are stayed on the LORD.(Isaiah 26:3) Have you unwrapped your inheritance? Are you enjoying your rights?
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
AND NABOTH SAID TO AHAB, “THE LORD FORBID IT ME THAT I SHOULD GIVE THE INHERITANCE OF MY FATHERS TO THEE”
1 KINGS 21:8
King AHAB was the ruler of Israel and He desired Naboth’s vineyard seeing that it was close to the palace. Naboth however refused to give it up even at the cost of his own life.
Who’s Naboth?
Naboth represents a child of God who understands that salvation is a gift of God and not a wage for any good works. He represents men and women who walk around leading seemingly normal lives but in them they have received a heritage like no other which they would not exchange for anything in the world. When we get saved, God does not take us from the world. He allows us to live and even thrive in the world sometimes near the palaces of absolute evil. He uses the way we live as a weapon to bring conviction to an evil world. Is your life a letter that can be read. Does your quiet life embody a fierce determination to live right in a world full of evil. Are you God’s Naboth?
1 KINGS 21:8
King AHAB was the ruler of Israel and He desired Naboth’s vineyard seeing that it was close to the palace. Naboth however refused to give it up even at the cost of his own life.
Who’s Naboth?
Naboth represents a child of God who understands that salvation is a gift of God and not a wage for any good works. He represents men and women who walk around leading seemingly normal lives but in them they have received a heritage like no other which they would not exchange for anything in the world. When we get saved, God does not take us from the world. He allows us to live and even thrive in the world sometimes near the palaces of absolute evil. He uses the way we live as a weapon to bring conviction to an evil world. Is your life a letter that can be read. Does your quiet life embody a fierce determination to live right in a world full of evil. Are you God’s Naboth?
Monday, March 21, 2011
AND NABOTH SAID TO AHAB, “THE LORD FORBID IT ME THAT I SHOULD GIVE THE INHERITANCE OF MY FATHERS TO THEE”
1 KINGS 21:8
King AHAB was the ruler of Israel and He desired Naboth’s vineyard seeing that it was close to the palace. Naboth however refused to give it up even at the cost of his own life.
Who’s Ahab?
Ahab was an evil king who God had setup to restore righteousness in Israel but he ended up being the cause of ungodliness to the nation. The bible records that he was evil than all the kings before him both in Judah and in Israel. Ahab therefore is a representative of evil. He represents the three sources of evil in the way of a Christian. The greatest is flesh, then the world and finally the devil. The flesh traps us through our own desires, tempting us to rebel against God through lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life. The world tempts us mainly through keeping us busy with its schedules and forgetting that we are passersby and foreigners in this world. It pre-occupies our lives with the worries, the cares and the pleasures found in it. It lures us into operating by its mediocre rules and therefore abandoning our supernatural heritage. It makes us ashamed of being different and traps us into conforming to it. The devil's main battleground is the mind. He basically throws thoughts to us that are contrary to the nature of God and always rebellious to Him. WE ARE SORROUNDED BY AHAB!!!
1 KINGS 21:8
King AHAB was the ruler of Israel and He desired Naboth’s vineyard seeing that it was close to the palace. Naboth however refused to give it up even at the cost of his own life.
Who’s Ahab?
Ahab was an evil king who God had setup to restore righteousness in Israel but he ended up being the cause of ungodliness to the nation. The bible records that he was evil than all the kings before him both in Judah and in Israel. Ahab therefore is a representative of evil. He represents the three sources of evil in the way of a Christian. The greatest is flesh, then the world and finally the devil. The flesh traps us through our own desires, tempting us to rebel against God through lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life. The world tempts us mainly through keeping us busy with its schedules and forgetting that we are passersby and foreigners in this world. It pre-occupies our lives with the worries, the cares and the pleasures found in it. It lures us into operating by its mediocre rules and therefore abandoning our supernatural heritage. It makes us ashamed of being different and traps us into conforming to it. The devil's main battleground is the mind. He basically throws thoughts to us that are contrary to the nature of God and always rebellious to Him. WE ARE SORROUNDED BY AHAB!!!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
JONAH'S PRAYER
Jonah 2:4 - I said, “I have been banished from your sight yet I will look again toward your holy temple
This is the essence of prayer, any prayer- persistence. Jonah counts on the compassion of God that even though he has been banished from the presence of the Lord, he will yet look to Him. What persistence? What confidence in the unchanging mercies of God? There is hope in no other, there is help in no other except in the Lord’s temple.
A lot of times we have felt the need to give up, many a times we have been at the edge of despair, but the word of God tells us that those who persist receive. In fact persistence is a sign of strong faith. It is the belief that God will make good on His promises.
Jonah 2:4 - I said, “I have been banished from your sight yet I will look again toward your holy temple
This is the essence of prayer, any prayer- persistence. Jonah counts on the compassion of God that even though he has been banished from the presence of the Lord, he will yet look to Him. What persistence? What confidence in the unchanging mercies of God? There is hope in no other, there is help in no other except in the Lord’s temple.
A lot of times we have felt the need to give up, many a times we have been at the edge of despair, but the word of God tells us that those who persist receive. In fact persistence is a sign of strong faith. It is the belief that God will make good on His promises.
JONAH'S PRAYER
Jonah 2:3 - For you had cast me into the deep. Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All your breakers and billows passed over me.
Aha! Jonah’ s predicament was no accident, as a matter of fact nothing in this world ever is. He does not try to justify himself. He does not blame fate. Every thing that we face has been through the hands of the father and He does not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to withstand. Jonah knows that his current situation has not happened but by the and of God.
Jonah 2:3 - For you had cast me into the deep. Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All your breakers and billows passed over me.
Aha! Jonah’ s predicament was no accident, as a matter of fact nothing in this world ever is. He does not try to justify himself. He does not blame fate. Every thing that we face has been through the hands of the father and He does not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to withstand. Jonah knows that his current situation has not happened but by the and of God.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
JONAH'S PRAYER
This is a prayer made in desperation and in the belly of a fish. After refusing to go to his assignment, Jonah was thrown into the sea where God had prepared a whale that swallowed and in there ensues this cry to God.
Jonah 2:2 - I called out of distress to the Lord, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depths of Sheol, You heard my voice.
Jonah acknowledges his present condition, but it only serves to highlight the strength of God. He is sure that even in the grave (Sheol), the Lord would hear his voice. Faith is not denying reality, it is accepting that all reality is subject to the word of God. It is the knowledge that there is the report of sight and the report of faith and allowing faith to conquer sight. Faith knows no boundaries, no height or distance. Faith hopes against hope. May your faith rise above waht your eyes can see and the reports of men.
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