WHEN GOD IS INVOLVED 2.

1 SAMUEL 17:33-37
And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”
34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

IN THIS PART 2, WE ARE GOING TO GO FURTHER ON THE PRATICAL STEPS THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE IF YOU REALLY NEED GOD TO BE INVOLVED IN YOUR SITUATION AND LIFE AT ALL TIME:

– OBEDIENCE: ISAIAH 1:19 SAYS “IF YE BE WILLING AND OBEDIENT, YE SHALL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND”. DEUTRONOMY 28:1 – 14, “ “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.
4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7 “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
8 “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
9 “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. 14 So you shall not turn aside from any of the words
which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
OBEDIENT IS THE MASTER KEY THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE INORDER TO EAT THE GOOD OF ANY LAND THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF AS A CHILD OF GOD.
– HOLINESS: HEBREW 12:14B SAYS “FOLLOW PEACE WITH ALL MEN, AND HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD.” IF YOU WANT GOD TO BE INVOLVED IN YOUR SITUATION, YOU MUST NOT NEGOTIATE OR COMPROMISE HOLINESS IN WHAT YOU DO. GOD IS HOLY AND HE CAN ONLY BE INVOLVE IN THINGS THAT ARE HOLY.
– SACRIFICE ONE’S DESIRE: 2 Samuel 23: 13 – 17 says 13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. 17 “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. THE THREE MIGHTY MEN SACRIFICE THEIR OWN DESIRE INOTHER TO SATISFY DAVID. THEY WENT THROUGH THE THICK WAR AND BROUGHT THE REQUIRED WATER. DESPTITE THE THREE MIGHTY MEN SACRIFICE, DAVID THIRST IN SUCH A DIFFICULT AND CENTRE OF WAR DID NOT STOP HIM FROM SACRIFICING HIS DESIRE FOR GOD BY POURING THE WATER OUT BEFORE THE LORD. HE IS STILL FOUND IT VERY NECESSARY TO SACRIFICE HIS OWN DESIRE.
– LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART: JOHN 14:23, “ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” LOVING GOD IS NOT A WORD OF THE MOUTH BUT A WORD THAT COMES FROM THE HEART AND BACK UP WITH ACTION AND TOTAL RELIANCE ON GOD AT ALL TIME
AS YOU TAKE THE BOLD STEPS IN PUTTING IN PLACES THE 4 PRACTICAL STEPS MENTIONED ABOVE DESPITE ANY SITUATION OR CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GOD ALMIGHTY SHALL GET INVOLVE IN YOUR LIFE AND YOUR TESTIMONIES OF VICTORIES SHALL HAS NO END.
GOD BLESSED YOU.

Pastor Adebayo Gbadebo

Pastor In Charge

WHEN GOD IS INVOLVED – PART 1

TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 17:33-37

And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”
34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON WHO YOUR SUPPORTER IS.
POLITICIANS KNOW THIS PRINCIPLE VERY WELL THAT IS WHY THEY SEEK THE SUPPORT OF THOSE THAT MATTER IN THE SOCIETY.
THE MOMENT THEY HAVE THE GOOD SUPPORT, THEY ARE CONFIDENT TO FACE THEIR OPPOSITION.
EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTION TAKES PLACE, SOME CAN ALMOST OR ALREADY PREDICT THE RESULT.
AN ASPIRANT SPENDS THE MONEY DONATED BY HIS SUPPORTERS TO CAMPAIGN IN AN ELECTION.
FOR ANYONE WHO MAKES GOD HIS SUPPORTER, ENOUGH RESOURCES OF THE LORD ARE AT THE DISPOSAL OF SUCH PERSON.
YOU MAY BE CONSIDERED YOUNG IN AGE, SMALL IN STATURE AND INEXPERIENCE IN A FIELD, YET YOUR SUCCESS IS GUARANTEED IF GOD IS YOUR SUPPORTER.

1 SAM.17:34 – 35 (READ) 34  And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35  And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

WHEN GOD IS INVOLVED, THE LITTLE EFFORT YOU MAKE, SUPPORTED BY GOD ACHIEVES SUCCESS GREATER THAN THE RANGE OF YOUR AGE OR YOUR EXPERIENCE.

IN ISAHIAH 40:28-29 (READ) 28  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

THE UNBEATABLE STRENGHT OF GOD FLOWED THROUGH THE HANDS OF DAVID TO KILL THE TWO DANGEROUS ANIMALS.
PHYSICALLY, WHAT COULD BE SEEN WERE THE WEAK HANDS OF A YOUTH WHO TOOK THE RISK OF FACING THE LION AND A BEAR, BUT BEHIND THOSE WEAK AND FEEBLE HANDS WERE THE ARMS OF THE EVERLASTING GOD.

IN THE SAME MANNER, DAVID KILL GOLIATH WITH A STONE IN 1 SAM. 17: 49 – 51.

NO WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE OF THE ENEMY CAN DELIVER HIM IN BATTLE WHEN GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE. GOLIATH SAW THE STONE BUT HE COULD NOT DODGE BECAUSE GOD WAS FIGHTING HIM THROUGH DAVID.

IN EXODUS 14:21-28, “ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24 Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. 25 And He took off[a] their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.”
26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” 27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.”
ALL MOSES HAD TO DO WAS TO LIFT HIS HAND AGAINST THE RED SEA AND HIS SUPPORTER SEND AN EAST WIND TO PART THE SEA.

BELOVED IT WAS NOT SENSIBLE TO LIFT A ROD AGAINST A BARRIER LIKE THE RED SEA AS MOSES DID, BUT WITH GOD ON HIS SIDE, WHAT WOULD TAKE THE ENGINEERS A LONG TIME TO DO TOOK HIM A FEW SECONDS.

START TO THINK AND ACT OUT OF THE BOX THAT THE WORLD HAS CAGED YOU BY MAKING GOD INVOLVE IN ALL YOUR SITUATION THEN YOUR VICTORIES SHALL HAS NO END.

Seeing beyond every Limitation.

TEXT: 2 Kings 6:15 – 17

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

 

First, we give thanks to the almighty GOD who was with us and saw us through last month and I welcome every one of us to the new month – Our Month of a new beginning. It is my prayer that you will have a special encounter with the GOD of a new beginning in this new month and when others are seeing crisis, you shall be seeing opportunities in JESUS name.

It is a sweet thing to be taken beyond one’s limitation. It was so sweet that the children of Israel sang with Moses so many songs of praises to the LORD in Exodus 15:1-3, Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:“I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! 2 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name.

It was so sweet and they sang praises to GOD relentlessly because the LORD has destroyed the mighty Pharaoh’s army pursuing them at the Red Sea while they crossed the Red Sea safely.

Back to our text, there is a popular saying, “seeing is believing”. What the Servant of Elisha saw was right. The enemies are really all over the place physically.

Beloved, due to our human nature, many at times we see so many things that are problems, strongholds and limitation because of things we see, we easily give up in obeying GOD’s word.

When the children of GOD are seeing with physical eyes, attention will be placed on problems. But for us to be taken beyond our limitation, we need to see with our spiritual eyes just like Elisha was seeing.

Once again, every child of GOD that wants to move beyond limitation must start to see with spiritual eyes.

The question is; how can I see into the spirit? Or how can I see with spiritual eyes?

1. Be faithful to GOD. You need to make up your mind to be faithful to GOD. Do not allow distractions, no gossip, no backbiting and resist negative influences from anywhere. A very good example is Daniel in Daniel 1:8, But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. GOD saw Daniel’s faithfulness and gave him a gift to see into the spirit and through this gift Daniel was lifted above his limitation.
2. Fear GOD and not man. Ps. 25:14, The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. Beloved, fear of GOD is more than just acting Holy or Title or just saying it. When you fear GOD, HE will show you mysteries and hidden wealth of any nation he put you.
3. Lastly, you need to love JESUS and make a decision to follow HIM regardless of any situation. In 1 Corinthians 2:9 – 10, But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c] 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

Start to think and act out of the box that the world has confide you. From today, start seeing beyond your limitation as you take the needed steps following JESUS and seeing through GOD’s spiritual eyes.

Remain blessed.

Pastor Adebayo Gbadebo

Pastor In Charge,

START TO ACTUALIZE GOD’s PROMISE FOR YOU.

TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 1:1-20

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu,[a] the son of Tohu,[b] the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle[c] of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”
15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman,[d] for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel,[e] saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

From the above text, we can see that Elkanah loves his wife so much despite of the wife helpless situation. He did everything to comfort her and pitied her so much so that she will not feel bad about her situation.
So, every year they came to the temple at Shiloh but no change in the situation of the wife. The thought of going to the Temple at Shiloh always cause her a lot of shame and it is the time that her enemy especially the husband second wife Peninnah make mockery of her and provoke her.
But on this particular year that the family visited the temple at Shiloh, there was a reawaking that come upon Hannah. Hannah arose and said there was a need for GOD’s promise of fruitfulness to be actualized in her life by thinking out of the box and take the following 5 steps;

Hannah stop being comfortable with unfulfilment and failure. Despite that Hannah knew that her case that she is a failure, she refuse to be comfortable and make excuses instead Hannah stood up and presents her case unto GOD who is able to reverse the irreversible. 1 Samuel 1:9-10, So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle[c] of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.
Hannah stops being pitied by her relatives and particularly by her husband. She stopped crying in silence. Hannah overlooked her husband words of pity and arises to pray to GOD. 1 Samuel 1:8-9.
Hannah prayed her way through even when others do not see a need to pray or seek GOD for solution to her problem. 1 Samuel 1:12-15,Hannah prayed until Prophet Eli mistaken her to be drunk.
Hannah knew who she was despite of her serious situation. Hannah explained to Prophet Eli who she really she was in verse 16 of the above text.1 Samuel 1:16,” Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman,[d] for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.
Finally, Hannah makes a vow to GOD regarding her request. Hannah vow was centre on meeting the need of GOD at that time. Even in Hannah difficult situation she knew GOD has a need so she offered her womb in other to meet GOD’s need.

Beloved Brothers and Sisters start thinking out of the box like Hannah who was our case study today. She was reawaken with a new thought despite of her state of bareness’ and she took steps that change her story to a fruitful woman bearing more 3 sons and 2 daughters after fulfilling her vow of dedicating her first son Samuel to the LORD.

Remain blessed in JESUS name.

Pastor Adebayo Gbadebo
Pastor In Charge,
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Thailand

 

CLOSENESS THAT LEADS TO INCREASE.2

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

ONCE AGAIN, I WELCOME YOU TO THE PART 2 OF THE TOPIC, CLOSENESS THAT LEADS TO INCREASE.
IN THE PART 1 OF THE SAME TOPIC WE HAVE CAREFULLY LOOK AT THE CHARACTERS THAT MAKE A DECISION TO BE CLOSE TO GOD ESPECIALLY IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND HOW GOD MOVE THE SAME CHARACTERS TO GREATNESS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR DECISION TO BE CLOSE TO GOD AND WALK ONLY IN GOD’S STATUES.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED IN OUR PART 1 THAT I WILL LIKE TO ANSWER AS WE READ;
ARE THERE ARE PRICES TO PAY WHEN WE CHOOSE TO WALK WITH GOD?
BELOVED BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ONCE YOU CHOOSE TO WALK WITH GOD YOU MUST BE VERY READY TO PAY THE PRICE OF LONELINESS. AS LONG AS YOU CHOOSE TO WALK IN TOTAL OBEDIENT TO THE WORD OF GOD. JOSEPH DECIDES TO WALK WITH GOD IN FULFILMENT OF GOD’S GIVEN VISION, SO MANY ATTIMES HE IS ALWAYS LEFT ALONE.EVEN LEFT ALONE IN JAIL.
THE SECOND PRICE TO PAY WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO WALK WITH GOD IS THAT THE WORLDLY PEOPLE WILL HATE YOU. ASK DANIELIN DANIEL CHAPTER 6:3 – 5, “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” THEY BECAME SO JEALOUS OF HIS EXCELLENCE WHICH WAS GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD SIMPLY BECAUSE OF DANIEL CHOICE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD AND THEY HATED HIM.
THE THIRD AND THE LAST PRICE THAT ONE CAN PAY WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO FOLLOW GOD IS THAT PEOPLE WILL LABEL YOU FOOLISH MAN OR WOMAN.WHEN ELISHA MAKE UP HIS MIND TO FOLLOW GOD’S INSTRUCTION OF SERVING HIS MASTER ELIJAH EVEN TILL THE END AND HE FOLLOWED ELIJAH EVERY PLACES THAT HIS MASTER ELIJAH WAS DIRECTED TO GO BUT THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS CONSIDERED ELISHA ACT OF FOLLOWING GOD’S INSTRUCTION OF SERVING HIS MASTER ELIJAH EVEN ON THE LAST DAY THINKING THEY ARE WISER.

ARE THERE BENEFITS OR GAIN TO THE PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD?
THE FIRST BENEFIT YOU WILL GET IF YOU CHOOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD IS PROTECTION FROM DEATH. YOU’RE CHOICE IN ALL SITUATIONS, GOOD OR BAD SITUATIONS WILL ALWAYS LEAD YOU TO LIFE AND NOT DEATH. REMEMBER JOSHUA AND CALEB, THEY ARE THE ONLY 2 FROM THE 12 SPIES THAT WENT AS SPIES TO CHECK THE PROMISED LAND TO THE ISREALITES. JOSHUA AND CALEB CHOSE TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD’S PROMISE AND WALK CLOSELY TO GOD’S INSTRUCTION AND ONLY 2 OF THEM AMONG THE 12 SPIES WERE PROTECTED FROM DEATH THAT TOOK AWAY OTHER 10 SPIES IN THE WILDERNESS.
THE SECOND BENEFIT YOU WILL GET WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD IS THAT IN THE PERIOD OF LACK THERE WILL BE PROVISION FOR YOU. MARK 6:34 – 42, JESUS FED A GREAT MULTITUDE THAT WAS CLOSE TO HIM MIRACULOUSLY WITH JUST 5 LOAVES AND 2 FISH.
THE THIRD BENEFIT YOU WILL GET WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD IS THAT IN THE TIME OF STORM, GOD WILL BRING PEACE AND STILL THE STORM. IN MARK 4:35 – 41, JESUS WAS WITH HIS DISCIPLE IN A SHIP AND THERE WAS A STORM BUT JESUSES REBUKE IT AND EVERYTHING BECAME PEACEFUL.
THE FOURTH BENEFIT YOU WILL GET WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD IS THAT YOU WILL HAVE EVERLASTING JOY. ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD IN ISAIAH 29:19, “The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel.” THE ONE THAT CHOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD SHALL HAVE NO DEPRESSION AS HE OR SHE IS BEING LIFTED IN SPIRIT AND IN FAITH AS HE OR SHE DAILY READ AND LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD.
THE FIFTH BENEFIT YOU WILL GET WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD IS RESTORATION. IN MARK 10:28 -31, “Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
PETER WAS ASKING JESUS AFTER THEY ALL THE DISCIPLES HAVE FORSAKEN EVERYTHING TO BE CLOSE TO HIM, WHAT WILL THEY BENEFIT? AND JESUS REPLIED TO THEM THAT THEY SHALL RECEIVE RESTORATION ON ANYTHING THEY MUST HAVE LOST. JOSEPH LOST HIS POSITION IN PORTHIPHAR’S HOUSE SIMPLY HE DECIDED TO CHOOSE GOD’S WAY AND HE LATER LOST HIS POSITION IN PORTHIPHAR HOUSE AND WAS SENT TO JAIL BUT GOD GAVE HIM A RESTORATION OF A HIGHER POST EVEN GREATER THAN HIS FORMER BOSS BY MAKING HIM THE PRIME MINISTER OF EGYPT.
THE SIXTH BENEFIT YOU WILL GET WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD IS FAVOUR. PROVERBS 16:7, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” DANIEL AND HIS 3 FRIENDS CHOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD AND GOD GAVE THEM FAVOUR IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUT IN CHARGE OF THEM. DANIEL 1:9
THE SEVENTH BENEFIT YOU WILL GET WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD IS PROMOTION. PSALM 75:6 – 7, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
DANIEL CLOSENESS TO GOD GAVE THEM WISDOM THAT NO ONE ELSE HAVE AND IT BROUGHT THEM PROMOTION FROM THE KING. GOD IS REQUESTING US TO COME AND ASK HIM IF WE LACK WISDOM IN JAMES 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

CAN THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE PRICES YOU HAVE TO PAY?
IN CONCLUSION, LOOKING AT THE ABOVE PRICES YOU HAVE TO PAY IN CHOOSING BEING CLOSE TO GOD AND THE BENEFITS THAT ONE GET IN BEING CLOSE TO GOD WE CAN SEE THAT THE BENEFITS INDEED OUTWEIGH THE PRICES YOU HAVE TO PAY.
MAKE A DECISION TODAY AND START THINKING OUT OF THE BOX THAT THE WORLD HAS LIMITED YOU. WALK IN A NEWNESS OF LIFE AND START TO EXPERIENCE UNCOMMON INCREASE OF GOD’S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS AND GRACE AS YOU CHOOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD FROM TODAY.
REMAIN BLESSED.

PASTOR ADEBAYO GBADEBO
PASTOR IN CHARGE,
THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD, THAILAND

CLOSENESS THAT LEAD TO INCREASE PART 1

DANIEL 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CLOSENESS THAT PEOPLE ASPIRES TO GET.
IF YOU ARE A BUSINESSMAN OR BUSINESSWOMAN, YOUR ASPIRATION IS TO GET CLOSE TO SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN AND BUSINESSWOMAN.
IF YOU ARE INTO POLITICS, YOU WANT TO GET CLOSE TO ELECTED PARTY IN GOVERNMENT SIMPLY BECAUSE AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THEM.
ALL THE CLOSENESS ARE VERY GOOD AND HIGHLY PROFITABLE BUT ALL THE BENEFITS FROM SUCH CLOSENESS CAN BE TERMINATED DUE TO ONE REASON OR THE OTHER. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO THE ELECTED PARTY IN GOVERNMENT, THE BENEFITS AND THE PROFITS DERIVED ARE ONLY FOR DURATION THAT THE PARTY IS IN POWER OR IN CONTROL.
SO, IT IS A WASTE OF TIME TO TRUST IN SUCH CLOSENESS.
JAMES 4:4 SAYS, “Adulterers and[b] adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
IF YOU ARE A FRIEND TO THE WORLD, EVERY PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS IN THE WORLD WIL OVERPOWERS SUCH PEOPLE.
BUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD FROM TODAY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU BECAUSE IT IS A CLOSENESS THAT BRING INCREASE REGARDLESS OF STORM AS IT IS WRITTEN IN PSALM 1 : 1 – 3, “Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE MAKE UP THEIR MIND TO BE CLOSE TO GOD INSTEAD OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND GOD TRANSFORM THEIR LIFE FROM NOBODY TO SOMEBODY IN THE SOCIETY EVEN FOR SOME IN THE FOREIGN LAND WHILE THEY ARE LIVING AS SLAVES.
DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABED – NEGO CHOSE TO BE SO CLOSE TO GOD. IN THE TIME THAT THE KING IS IN GREAT NEED OF SOMEONE TO NARRATE AND INTERPRETE HIS DREAM, NO ONE WAS FOUND IN THE WHOLE LAND EXCEPT DANIEL. AFTER DANIEL MET THE NEED OF THE KING, DANIEL WAS PROMOTED ALONG WITH HIS FRIENDS. DANIEL 2:48 – 49, “ Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
JOSEPH CHOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD AND HE REFUSED THE EVIL PROPOSAL BY HIS BOSS’S WIFE WHILE THE BOSS WAS AWAY. BUT THE WIFE LIED TO THE HUSBAND WHEN HE CAME BACK FROM THE JOURNEY AND WITHOUT INTERROGATION OR CAREFUL INVESTIGATION JOSEPH WAS SENT TO JAIL. AND IT WAS STILL IN THE JAIL THAT HE MET THE CHIEF BUTLER WHO LATER INTRODUCES HIM TO THE KING. GENESIS 39 : 11 – 20, “ But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. 13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my
voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”
16 So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. 17 Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; 18 so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”
19 So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. 20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
JOSHUA AND CALEB CHOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD BY FOLLOWING GOD INSTRUCTION FOR THEM TO GO AND TAKE OVER CANAAN DESPITE THE NEGATIVE REPORT BROUGHT TO THE ISREALITES BY THE OTHER 10 SPIES. NUMBERS 14:6 – 9, “ But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’[a] 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.”
ARE THERE ARE PRICES TO PAY WHEN WE CHOOSE TO WALK WITH GOD?

ARE THERE BENEFITS OR GAIN TO THE PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD?

CAN THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE PRICES YOU HAVE TO PAY?

KINDLY WATCH OUT FOR THE PART 2 WITH ANSWERS TO ALL THE ABOVE QUESTIONS, REMAIN BLESSED.

PASTOR ADEBAYO GBADEBO
PASTOR IN CHARGE,
THE REDEEMED CHRISTHIAN CHURCH OF GOD, THAILAND

THINK OUT OF THE BOX.

PROVERBS 18:16

A man’s gift makes room for him,

And brings him before great men.

One major fact that I will like us to know is that people will never make you great. It is your gift that will make you great.

In Genesis 41:14 – 15, “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.  15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”

King Pharaoh had a dream that no one can interpret . The dream troubles the King so much that he desperately needed someone to interpret it. Then the Chief Butler who was once in the prison with Joseph remembers him for his gift of interpreting dreams.  So, he told the King. I knew of someone but he is in the prison. When the King heard the Chief Butler, he sent for Joseph in the Prison immediately because the King needed that gift that Joseph has.

Joseph moves from the Prison to the Palace simply because everywhere he find himself, he keeps on efficiently serving his gift to the people around him. The situation and the place Joseph found himself never influenced him or changed him from walking in GOD’s righteousness, obedience to GOD’s word and being diligent in all that he does.

Brothers and Sisters, GOD hates laziness. When you run away from responsibilities or hide from responsibilities, GOD will hide greatness from such person.

Think and act out of the box that the world has confide you today by serving that your gift to the world. Get busy because the only person that everyone will give something to be done to is the busy guys and not the lazy one.

Remain blessed in JESUS name.

Pastor Adebayo Gbadebo

Pastor In Charge,

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Thailand

 

START YOUR JOURNEY TO THE NEXT LEVEL .

 2 KINGS 2 : 1- 15,And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?”  And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.”
But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.
5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?”
So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.

LOOKING AT OUR TEXT ABOVE, WE CAN SEE THAT OUR MAJOR CHARACTER TODAY – ELISHA MADE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL WHILE ALL THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS BEING ON LOOKERS REMAIN AT THE SAME LOW LEVEL.
FOR YOU TO MAKE THE JOURNEY TO THE NEXT LEVEL A POSSIBILITY. CERTAIN CHARACTERS EXHIBITED BY ELISHA MUST BE FULFILLING. SUCH AS;

FIRST, YOU MUST HAVE A DREAM TO BE AT THE NEXT LEVEL. ELISHA HAD A VERY CLEAR DREAM OF WHAT HE WANT TO BE SO WHEN HIS MASTER, ELIJAH ASKED HIM WHAT MAY I DO FOR YOU, BEFORE I AM TAKING AWAY FROM YOU?
ELISHA ANSWERED, PLEASE LET A DOUBLE PORTION OF YOUR SPIRIT BE UPON ME.
ELISHA DID NOT ONLY DREAM TO BE LIKE HIS MASTER BUT DREAM TO BE BIGGER THAN HIS MASTER. THAT IS THE REASON HE ASKED FOR DOUBLE PORTION OF THE SPIRIT UPON HIS MASTER ELIJAH.
FROM TODAY, START TO DREAM, DREAM VERY BIG WITH A GREAT VISION FOR YOUR LIFE AND NEXT LEVEL SHALL BE YOUR INHERITANCE.
SECOND, BE READY TO BE SEPERATED AND NOT FOLLOW THE CROWD. THE SOS OF THE PROPHETS IN 2 KINGS 2:15 TOLD ELISHA ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO HIS MASTER – ELIJAH BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY AMBITION OR PERCEPTION. THEY ARE RATHER COMFORTABLE TO BE FOLLOWERS, I MEAN THEY ARE MORE COMFORTABLE TO BE THE TAIL AND NOT THE HEAD. ELISHA IGNORED THE CROWD AND FOLLOWED HIS MASTER – ELIJAH IN SEPERATION WITH AN AMBITION OF MOVING TO THE NEXT LEAD AS THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL.
MAKE ADECISION TO BE DIFFERENT LIVING A HOLY, RIGHTEOUSLY LIFE, SEEKING GOD IN TRUTH AND IN SPIRIT WITH ABSOLUTE TRUST IN THE LORD. STOP PLEASING MEN AND DISPLEASING GOD IN ALL YOUR WAYS.
THIRD, PERSISTENT AND NO DOUBT, NO COMPLAIN ARE ALL THE MAJOR KEYS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR JOURNEY TO THE NEXT LEVEL A SUCCESS. ELISHA NEVER DOUBT NOR COMPLAIN THROUGHOUT THE SUDDEN JOURNEY THAT HIS MASTER ELIJAH TOLD HIM THAT THE LORD WANT HIM TO GO. ALL THE WAY FROM GILGA TO BETHEL TO JERICHO TO JORDAN, ELISHA FOLLOWED HIM PATIENTLY WITHOUT MURMURING NOR COMPLAINS. DOUBTS AND COMPLAINS ARE TWO STRONGS HINDERANCES TO THE NEXT LEVEL. STAY CLEAR AND HOLD FIRMLY TO GOD PROMISES AND VERY SOON YOU SHALL BE CELEBRATING AT THE NEXT LEVEL.

REMAIN BLESSED. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOU JOINING ME AT THE NEXT LEVEL AS YOU MAKE A DECISION TO WALK WITH GOD IN A NEWNESS OF MIND, GIVING YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST TODAY AND START TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX THAT THE WORLD AS KEPT YOU WITHIN FROM TODAY.

Pastor Adebayo Gbadebo

Pastor In Charge,

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Thailand