< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Loyalty

2 Chronicles 15, 16

God does not overlook sin. He is a God that forgives but the consequences of sin are bound to have its way. A sin is a sin; there is no bad or good sin. The best way to live is to stay from sin, and stay in the Way. God will help because determination will fail. Asa, King of Judah, did it right for many years. He was described as loyal to God. It was the sin of being disloyal that sank him. He was caught up at his best. He was best at waiting on God for help. In times of challenging wars, he went to God, and was getting glorious results. AsaÕs only failure not to wait on God was in the war against Baasha, King of Israel when he went and sought help from Ben-Hadad of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Syria. 2 Chronicles 16:7, ÒAnd at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: ÔBecause you have relied on the king of Syria and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.ÕÓ The worst thing that could happen to a believer is to let an enemy escape. Whenever an enemy escapes, a time bomb is activated. In great challenges, God is the one to rely on. Why now? Why have you switched for manÕs help now? God is a jealous God and He does not look over such move. Now that you know, you can call on Him for forgiveness. Do not allow ignorance to hold you hostage. God is a good God. Take your battles to Him and let Him fight on your behalf.  

Home defeat< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

1 Samuel 4:1-10

Consider your home ground as your camp. Now, this was what happened to the children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel in their camp: they lost a battle they should have won; the battle was lost in their camp (home ground). It is possible to have God in your camp and be camped out unto defeat. 1 Samuel 4:5, ÒAnd when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.Ó They were able to shake the earth, but not the heart, of the Philistines. The children of IsraelÕs noise were empty because they were empty before God. If you are empty before God, your enemy will empty you. How far are you from God? In vs. 6&7, ÒWhen the Philistines heard the noise they wondered why the noise and they understood and said ÔGod has come to the campÕÓ. Notwithstanding, they fought and Israel was defeated, and a great slaughter was recorded for Israel, and the ark of God was captured. One will wonder how that could be when they had God in the camp. With God in your camp, have you been facing defeat? If so, there is a need to check your distance from God.  It could be that you are consciously or unconsciously far from Him by virtue of carelessness. He has sent His word that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

A reality Check< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Can you sincerely check yourself if you know Him? It is not a question of asking knowing about Him. The reason for this question for you is to know that anything that is short of knowing God is a cut off from going to God at the appointed time. The book of 1John 2:3 declared that now by this we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. What is the commandment that the Lord is talking about? Jesus specifically declared the commandments, when He said in Matthews 22: 37-40, ÒYou shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Vs. 38 ÒThis is the first and great commandments. Vs.39 ÒAnd the second is like it: ÔYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.Õ Vs.40 ÒOn these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.Ó Is there any way to hear it better than hearing from the King of kings and the Lord of lords? One that loves as required by the commandments will no doubt live heaven on heart. Let it be known to you this day that, it is impossible to be right with God if you are not right with man. Ask God for the grace to be a believer that loves indeed and in truth, not in mouth and false humility. Get yourself a reality check and determine if you are on the right ground with God.

Playing God< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Genesis 34:1-31

Every time you play God, you place yourself out of GodÕs hand. Simeon and Levi (sons of Jacob) passed judgment and killed Hamor and Shechem. They did it in revenge for their sister who was defiled by Shechem. Shechem had violated Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and later requested to marry her. In response to Shechem, a condition was given by Simeon and Levi. They requested that Hamor, Shechem, and all the males should be circumcised. Having accepted the request, Shechem, Hammor, and the entire male population were circumcised. However, Simeon and Levi were only being deceitful. Genesis 34:25, ÒNow it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, DinahÕs brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males. And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from ShechemÕs house and went out.Ó This action caused trouble upon Jacob and there was no choice but to move. They did not let God move; they played God by passing judgment. Let God be the judge in every situation. God will always deliver the perfect judgment if you allow Him to. Jacob and his children had to relocate because they placed themselves out of GodÕs hand.

Different times< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Acts 12:1-25

As an ambassador for Christ, there will be different times coming your way. There will be times of difficult engagement and times of peaceful engagement. The time that comes your way is either to break or make you. As an ambassador, you should be conscious of this fact. It is your consciousness that will determine how you deal or approach any situation that time brings to you. John Zebedee lost his brother James to King Herod. James and Peter both followed Jesus as disciples and when a hard time came knocking at their door, it took away the life of James. Acts 12:1-2, ÒNow about that time Herod the King stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.Ó They walked, ate, drank, and prayed together with Jesus. The disciplesÕ walk with Jesus did not make them invisible to harassment. No one is invisible to harassment then, and no one is now; but all are covered by His blood. If time can bring forth harassment for James, time will also bring it to you as an ambassador or a disciple. Time of harassment is coming, you could be sure of it. Do you pray hard? If you have declared a stand for Jesus, stay on a ground of prayer. Get yourself involved in the fellowship of believers that are together in prayer, and not divided in their practices and prayer. Watch out! Time will bring harassment whether you like it or not; but God is able to carry you through.