DIVINE DICTATORSHIP

READ: ACTS10:9-16

God is impartial. Peter was on the rooftop and in a trance. He saw God lowering some animals: snakes, lizards, crabs and all kinds of terrible animals. God told him to kill and eat but Peter refused, even though he knew that it was God talking. God assured Peter that He had cleansed the animals and that Peter should kill and eat them. Peter remained adamant. Thrice, Peter argued. Although he later went to where God sent him, he lost a great opportunity. He was supposed to be the apostle to the Gentiles but he lost this position to Paul because he argued with the Master. Never argue with God. You can only reason with Him. That is what He says in Isaiah 1:18. But this was an invitation to sinners and not to His soldiers. Again, in Isaiah 43:26, He says we can plead together. My advice is that you do not accept this invitation. Although you can plead with God, you cannot coerce the Almighty. Job accepted the invitation and did not like the result (Job 38:40). Job 40:1-2 says: “Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said: Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.” Job 40:3-5 “Then Job answered the LORD and said: Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” Whenever something happens to you that you do not understand, please never query God. If you query Him, He will answer but you will not like the response. In the army of the Lord, nothing like democratic principles operates. God is not a democrat. God rules by decrees, He requires faithfulness from everyone in the army. God leaves you with no room for your own opinion. He knows what is best for you. Whenever He gives you an order, it is for your utmost good. Obedience brings blessings. God expects you to bear in mind the fact that His decisions are final.

MEMORIZE: JEREMIAH6:16 –Thus says the LORD: Stand in the way and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.

THE DIVINE YARDSTICK

READ: LUKE 12:35-48

The divine yardstick has remained largely unknown to many people. As human beings, we view things differently. What appears good to us may be trash in the sight of the Almighty. The Bible says: “For the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.” Our text teaches us an important scriptural truth. To whom much is give, much is expected. “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” If God gives you a big assignment to do, He will require a big result. Someone who faithfully fulfils his basic and secondary assignments in a remote village where he is posted to serve the Lord can expect the same honour as he who was given a whole nation to pastor. On the Day of Judgment the pastor of hundred people will be judged on the life of every member of the church, after his own life has been judged. If he is cleared on the hundred people and nobody went to hell because of him, he can be sure of making heaven. But if one out of the hundred should stumble because of him, according to the word of God, he is not likely to make heaven. The Bible teaches us that if one fellow stumbles because of you, it is better that a millstone be tied round your neck and you get thrown into the sea (Matthew 18:6-7). If, as a minister of God, you get somebody into hell because of fornication or, as a result of your violent temper, you scatter the church of God, you cannot go to heaven. You must examine yourself today. Are you aware of the divine yardstick? If God were to placeyou on His divine scale today, what would you weight?

MEMORIZE: JOB 40:2 –Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.

THE EYE GATE

READ: JOSHUA 7:7-26

Satan uses the eyes of many people to lure them into hell. Proverbs 1:17 says: “Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.” If you set trap in the presence of the intended victim it will not succeed in trapping him. The devil does not show his intended victims his snare when he wants to trap them, just as it makes no sense for someone to be killed to be told before-hand. Baits are used with traps and Satan has his own baits with which he lures people into his traps. One of these is money. At the sight of money many do what they should not do. Many people commit sin because of the love of money. We have many examples in the Bible of those who fell into the trap of Satan because of money. One example is that of Achan. Achan had been told that no spoil f war should be taken out of Jericho. However, when he saw money and garments he coveted them and stole them. He fell into the devil’s trap. He, together with members of his family, perished. Our second example is Gehazi. Satan knew that Elisha got the double portion of the anointing of Elijah. To stop Gehazi from getting the double portion of the anointing of Elisha, Satan had to do something about him. Satan already knew that Elisha would not take money from Naaman. Nonetheless, he made Naaman bring many goods. This was just to ensnare Gehazi. Look at 2 Kings 5:5 “So the king of Syria said, Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.”Elisha refused to take anygratification. However, Gehazi was coveting these things. The Bible says, in 2 Kings 5:20, that, “But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” When Gehazi got to Naaman, he lied that it was Elisha who asked him to come for the goods. Naaman gave him more than he asked for. Unknown to Gehazi, however, God had told Elisha all the transactions between Gehazi and Naaman. The Satan’s strap finally closed in on Gehazi when Elisha cursed him and he became a leper. Covetousness and love of money are silent killers.

MEMORIZE: 2 TIMOTHY 4:5 –But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.