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
THINK OUT OF THE BOX. 