DOUBT DESTROYS
1 Kings 12

Jeroboam, before becoming the king of all Israel, had received the Word of God that he would become king. “…For the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” (1 Kings 12:15) The Word of God is true and God is true to His Word. The Word of God never goes back to Him void; it always performs that which it is sent to do. God said He was going to make Jeroboam a king, but it was left for Jeroboam to receive the word as sent by God and meditate on it to manifest it for the glory of God. Have you heard from Him lately? Can you confirm that He was speaking to you through the pages of the Bible or a minister of His Word? If it can be confirmed that the word is for you, hold on to His Word and rest in Him until He brings it to pass. Just as he gave His word for making Jeroboam king, Jeroboam became the king. He, however, failed to remind himself that the word that sounded in his direction for him to become a king would back him up. Anytime a spring forgets its source, that spring is set to be dried up and never to flow again. This was the situation of Jeroboam when he began to doubt if the Kingdom would return the house of David after God had given it to him. 1 Kings 12:25-27, “Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, ‘Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.’” Doubt is not of God neither is it for God but is rather for the devil. Doubt is an agent of fear and it does not have any good to offer but to steal, kill and destroy. Jeroboam doubted the Word of God despite the fact that he saw the beginning of manifestation in him becoming the king. The price for the race is not just for the starters, but also for those who finish it. It is not enough to trust God in the beginning and not trust Him through the end. God who has spoken to you will bring it to perfection if you only will rest in His promises. Jeroboam doubted and could not rest in God and as a result, he began building idols and led the people unto other gods. God is not a failure and never can be. Remember the works of His hand and will rely on His Word to carry you through.

What Is That But?
2 Kings 5:1-15

Whatever is representing “but” in a man’s life has become a box that has closed up on the one with the “but”. It is a box of no way out and it also represents a negative mark clouding whoever is having “but”. With a life enclosed in a box, no matter how successful that one is, the box continues to be a stigma that needs to be busted open. 2 Kings 5:1, “Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.” As documented, it is clear that Naaman was not any ordinary commander. He is described as a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master. Naaman was also a man who had fought successive wars for Syria. Evidently, all his achievements were not outside of God that he did not know and yet he was a leper. Naaman was a notable leper who could not be expected with such a mark despite what the Lord was using him for. All is well with you and there is no doubt that God is the one using you. However, have you identified any “but” in your life? Is it possible that you are in a box of a notable mark that does not settle well with you? Have you accepted to accommodate any condition that does not settle well with your life? Until there is a settlement in your heart like Naaman to resolve the “but” in your life, you will not know the positive results that will come forth from the negative mark of “but” in your life. The mark of “but” in Naaman’s life brought him to the point of deliverance from empty pride. When he approached the point of miracle, the empty pride in him was bust open and humbleness took its reign.2 Kings 5:10-11, “And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.’ 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, ‘Indeed, I said to myself, He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’” Naaman eventually got the message. After the role-play of pride, he became submissive enough to obey the command of the prophet of God for him to go and wash in the Jordan River. After washing, he came to where God wanted him to be: the place of knowing God. “And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, ‘Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.’” (2 Kings 5:15) God will reveal Himself unto you through your “but” in Jesus Name.

FOOLISH RESPONSE
1 Kings 12:1-16

Pray that foolish response shall not be your portion on every ground that you have been elevated. Rehoboam, having become a king after his father king Solomon, was approached by the whole assembly of Israel saying, “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” (1 Kings 12:4) Rehoboam responded with a better answer when he said to them to come back in three days. When we are short of answer or response it is better to delay response by going on to inquire than to responding with a grave or negative response that could affect our position. Rehoboam consulted the elders and he got a response, “And they spoke to him, saying, ‘If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.’”(1 Kings 12:7) Have you been promoted to a higher position where you are to be served for a better result? It is better to learn to serve from the word of God on how to be a server first before being served as one who is leading. Rehoboam did not receive the advice of the elders well when he went to consult the young men. The young men that had grew with him gave him advice that set him up against the people he was to be serving, “…Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! 11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’” Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders and delivered the rough advice of the young ones. Rehoboam’s response was a fall in the beginning of his reign that lasted through to the end of his reign. It is important to know that every position of power or leadership is not to oppress or to stress out the people but is to lead by serving them first. Jesus, the author and finisher of our fait made it clear by example and in His word, “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27-28) Have you been elevated to a leadership position or you are about to be? If you will lead by Jesus’ example and not take the route of Rehoboam, you will arrive at the final destination safe and sound. The Lord will have mercy.

REMOVE AND BUILD
2 Chronicles 14:1-8

“Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.”(2 Chronicles 14:2) What could Asa have done that was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God? Knowing God as the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, Asa must have placed himself in an untouchable position by any force of evil, by doing what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. Asa did all by removing and building for the glory of God and that settled him for good in the eyes of God. In removing, he removed all that did not represent God. Asa, “… removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images.” (2 Chronicles 14:3) What is it that does not represent God in your life? Where have you been placing your hope? Is there anything that takes you away from serving or worshiping Him in truth and indeed? Anything that you are doing and you know it is not in line with the word of God than you know it needs to be removed from your life. Worshiping another god is not only when you begin to bow for any object, but it also goes down to looking outside of God for help. Asa removed and God was moved on his behalf. Having removed, he began to build on the empty and clear lot by giving a command of how and what to be built. 2 Chronicles 14: 4, “He commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment.” As the king in charge who wanted to see a sincere change, he did not ask neither did he persuade; he rather gave a command. He went further and commanded the people he was ruling as king to begin to seek the God of their fathers. He did not stop at half request but went further delivering a full request that will make the difference, commanding his people to observe the law and the commandment of God. Asa was in a God given position to influence the people for God to be glorified. What have you been doing in the place of authority that could be used to influence the people and lead them into doing what is right and good in the eyes of God? God has put you in your position now, for a purpose and for His name to be glorified. Whatever is being built and is not in relationship with God is like building on the sand. With the power and authority that is in your possession by the grace of God, go and build with command and not just by suggestions. Let there be no iota of hidden agenda that is outside of God. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. Pray today: Lord, cause me to begin to do what is right and good in your eyes that your name be glorified in Jesus’ name.

BEING A SHEEP
Psalm 23

The relationship between sheep and their shepherd is not enough to communicate the love and care of God for us, but it does go a distant to let us know that God’s care for us is deeper than we have taken to Him. Psalm 23:1-3, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” For those who have accepted the great Shepherd as their Lord and Savior, they become His sheep. In Him, there is no lack and every need is available except when we make the wrong choice, such as entering into fear and not looking up to the Shepherd for all our needs according to His riches in glory. The Psalmist stated in verses 1-3 of Psalm 23 all that the Shepherd made him to do and the Psalmist concluded in verse three the reason why the shepherd made him to do was “For His name’s sake.” The Name of God is all that is needed for those that have accepted Him as Lord and Savior and those who understand whom they are in the hand of God. Once in the wilderness journey of the children of Israel, God responded to the disobedience of the children of Israel. “I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” (Numbers 14:12) Moses responded to God’s plan against the children of Israel by speaking to God. “Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, 16 ‘Because the LORD was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’” (Numbers 14:15-16) Moses’ response is like telling God that, “Your name is at stake here Lord.” With Moses’ response, God declared in Numbers 14:20, “Then the Lord said: ‘I have pardoned, according to your word.’” The point here is that because of His name, He will deliver those who He has decided to carry through as sheep. It was because of His Name that, “…He made His own people go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53 And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.” Time and space will not permit writing all He has done because of His name for those who know Him and know how to remind Him concerning the work of His hand. The Great Shepherd has laid His life down for His sheep. Until His sheep give their life to Him, the sheep will not know how to take the life He has come to give more abundantly.
Being His sheep is becoming a winner.