VENGEANCE IS THE LORD'S

TEXT: PROVERBS 20: 22

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.” (Proverbs 20:22).

The dictionary defines vengeance as the punishing of someone for harming you, your friend or your family. It is an action against someone to punish them for hurting you (dictionary.com).

The scripture made us to know that as human beings living together in a community or a society we cannot do without offending each other. Offence and conflict resolution is part of living. That is why the Bible admonishes us that we should not pay evil with evil, we should live in forgiveness. If you think someone offended you and you want to retaliate or you will not forgive, have it in mind that you are not perfect, you might have offended some in the cause of your relationship with people. This is why we should find excuse for people and let go of any record of wrong you have against them.

“So watch yourselves.” If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.” (Luke 17:3).

Only God can fight a perfect battle- He is the best avenger. Have you been maltreated or cheated unjustly? Try to forgive and move on, let God avenge and vindicate you. It is not in your place to take revenge hence you don’t fall into sin yourself.

The Bible tells us to pray for those that persecute us (Matthew 5: 44). Don’t get me wrong, it is not easy to forgive and let go; it takes the grace of God. To fulfill the commandment of God, you must learn to forgive.

When you avenge yourself you are saying “God is not capable of fighting your battles” you are therefore replacing God in your life.

In “normal circular society where laws and orders are respected and followed, no one is allowed to take laws into his or her hands by punishing any offender. Protocols have to be followed by calling on the law enforcement agents of the society.

Consequently, in the kingdom of God, there are rules and regulations (commandments). If you cannot violate the laws of your society you shouldn’t violate God’s decrees. When God avenges for you, you will marvel at the extent He would go to avenge for you. You will be pleading with God to be lenient in His judgment over your adversaries because He will give them more than their requests!

LET GO AND LET GOD. Shalom.

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ANY EXPECTATION?

TEXT: PROVERBS 23: 18

“For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”

Expectation is defined as a strong belief that something will happen or be the case. The Cambridge dictionary defines expectation as “the feeling of expecting something to happen.”
Having known the definition of expectation, I want you to earnestly answer this question “what are your expectations in life?”

Ephesians 3:20 talks about how our great and mighty God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above what we can ever think or imagine. Praise God!

Whatever your expectation is, the Lord is capable of multiplying it for you and make it measure up far beyond what you are expecting.

On this note, we should be very careful what are expectations are. Are your expectations full of negativity because of the situation at hand? Have you lost hope and has given in to fate because of your present situation?

Is the devil making you to expect the worst that things cannot get better again?

Don’t blame God when the expectation of your heart becomes evident in hundred folds more than you envisaged.

Some people pray for a change in their situation, but in their inner mind they have lost hope and did not believe that the situation can change for the best. Although they still pray and do other spiritual exercises, but they have the mind-set that the situation cannot improve (The devil made them to be expectant of negativity).

On the other hand, some people may be at the lowest ebb of their lives, yet they will be optimistic that things will get better- they are expectant of positive change even in the midst of calamity and confusion.

As the Lord has spoken in Proverbs 23: 18 that” the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut short.” The Lord will honour His word in their lives and bring positive solution to the challenging issues.

Whatever your expectation is, that is what the Lord will work with- He will grant you the desires of your heart.

Although the Lord has the power to do and undo, yet He loves it when we trust Him absolutely. God promised to grant the desire of the righteous (Proverbs 10: 24). If you faithfully believe the promises of God regardless of any situation that is bothering you, all will be well with you (I can testify of this in my life).

When the Israelites complained that they would have preferred to die in Egypt than suffering in the dessert (Numbers 14). The Lord said to them that He would do to them as they have spoken into His ears (Numbers 14: 28).

Guess what? God granted them the desires of their heart and their expectation- they all died in the wilderness!

Conversely, Abraham showed his faith and his expectation in God when he was told to use Isaac as sacrifice. The boy asked the father “Where is the animal for the sacrifice?” The father replied him that the Lord shall provide, and the Lord surely did! His expectation was not cut off as the Lord promised him.

On the final note brother and sisters, what is your expectation from God? I have good news for you today, no matter what the situation is; keep hope alive, be expectant of positive change and the Lord will show Himself in your favour. Be hopeful, let your expectation be positive expectations because God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ever think or imagine. May the peace of the Lord rest and abide with you, may He calm every storm in your life in Jesus name. Amen.

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PEOPLE PLEASER?

TEXT:  1 THESSALONIANS 2: 3-6

“³ For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. ⁴ ON THE CONTRARY, WE SPEAK AS THOSE APPROVED BY GOD TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PLEASE PEOPLE BUT GOD, WHO TESTS OUR HEARTS. ⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. ⁶ We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.”

We are in the era where people want to do things that please them without thinking if it’s morally right or wrong. The scripture is coming to fulfilment with the signs of end time visible around us.

We are in the dispensation where immoral behaviour, evil, wickedness, perversion, debauchery, lies, deception and so on are the order of the day.

However, as children of God, we are called to stand out- we are not to conform to these negative manifestation happening around us. We are to be examples of Christ (to show the right way of living- we are the salt and the light of the world).

The slogan of “If you cannot beat them you join them” is not for us believers. Rather, our slogan should be “I will stand for what is right no matter what it will cost me.”

Let us look at our anchor text (1 Thessalonians 2: 3-6) I will point out some key points from there- Apostle Paul wrote “For the APPEAL we make does NOT spring from ERROR or IMPURE MOTIVE, or are we trying to TRICK you… apostle Paul was bold to utter these statement because he was confident that he had not deviated from what the Lord sent him to do- he did not allow himself to be influenced by the people- he never watered down his message of the gospel to make the people “feel good and comfortable.”

Paul guarded his heart so that his motive and focus will be to do what God sent him- which is to preach the gospel of Christ. 

These days, we see some ministers of God on the pulpit teaching ERROR and HERESY because their motive of becoming ministers of God is wrong and impure. Some ministers teach error and heresy so that their congregation can accept and be happy with them in order to be able to bring “bountiful” tithe and offering!

Some ministers of God deliberately conceal the true gospel from their members so that these members will be tricked into believing ONLY in their pastors as their MESSIAH.

As genuine ministers of God, we are indebted to preaching and teaching the true word of God even if it hurts. We are not called to please man but God. Remember that when you are making effort to please man, you will displease God. Which one would you prefer?  Would you choose man over God?

Let your appeal (preaching/ teaching) be without error, speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

Apostle Paul went further for more clarification… “We are not trying to please man but God, who tests our hearts.

As a minister of God, if you are trying to fit into what makes your congregation to be comfortable by preaching error and heresy, you will be uncomfortable with God!

If you water down your message or conceal the consequences of sinning from your members because you don’t want to lose them, would you prefer to lose eternity? Think of this!

Another keynote from apostle Paul’s writing is in verse five of our text which says “You know we never used FLATTERY nor did we put on a MASK TO COVER UP GREED…” Some ministers of God are very wise in the game of flattery. They prepare messages to flatter their congregation- they sweet talk them and make them believe that everything is okay with their sinful way of life. These so called men of God hide under the mask of the gospel to cover their greed and love for money. They rip off their members with the “price tags” placed on their “anointing.” They commercialise their so called anointing, they know how to do “spiritual jamboree” that would make their members to ascribe all the praise and honour that is meant for God to be given to them. Revelation 22:12 says “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”

As ministers of God we don’t need praises from men but from God.

For men to praise you; you must please them and displease God.

The encouragement of today is that you should not live your life to please man- do not water down the truth of the gospel so that you will be accepted by man.

There is no wisdom in craving for the acceptance of man at the expense of God’s acceptance. It is not wise to please people and displease God.

Do not speak in error to gain the approval of men- rather speak like men approved by God.

Do not flatter your members because you do not want to lose them because the price of losing eternity is greater!

GET UP AND WALK!!!

JOHN 5: 1-15

“Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals.  Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. ³ Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.  ⁵ One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

⁷ “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

⁸ Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” ⁹ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, ¹⁰ and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

¹¹ But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”

¹² So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

¹³ The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

¹⁴ Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” ¹⁵ The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.”

At a point during the cause of our lives we are faced with situations that are overwhelming. We find ourselves in a place where it seems we are stagnated, we are not making progress. We feel that we need help and assistance which is not forthcoming.

There are periods when we struggle to breakout of hardship and unpleasant situations, we tried all possible means but all into no avail.

Many looks for help from friends and families but help refused to come from them, because the families and friends need help themselves.

Many times we look for help in the wrong direction- and when we don’t get our desired result because we look in the wrong direction, we become frustrated and we give in to fate without making effort or trying harder.

The disappointment that many people faced in life has made them to be “handicapped” and become “crippled” to every good things of life. they have chosen stagnation over progress, and failure over fruitfulness.

In our text, the blind man at the pool was expecting help from the people around him to help lower him into the pool so that he could be healed. He felt disappointed when help did not come from them as he expected. The blind man accepted his fate and stayed at the pool for thirty eight years without any effort; before Jesus came to rescue him!

The blind man was helpless and hopeless because he looked in the wrong direction for help.

The word of God for you today is “Do not allow the situation of life to make you become hopeless.” Look in the right direction for help- Jesus is the help of the helpless and the hope of the hopeless. Do not accept the negative situation to overwhelm you.

Jesus is your sure hope and your ever present help in time of trouble. Call upon his name today, he is ready and willing to help you to get up from failure and stagnation, and walk you to your place of breakthrough and abundance. DO NOT EXPLAIN IT AWAY LIKE THE BLIND MAN- DON'T GIVE EXCUSES-DON'T JUSTIFY  YOUR STAGNATION. GET UP AND WALK!

Do not let any problem stagnate you. With Jesus there will always be a way around your problem- Nothing can hold you bound if you don’t allow it- Get up and walk out of stagnation!

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IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS

TEXT: 1 JOHN 1: 5-7

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Christmas season is a very unique season.  The way it is being celebrated is different from other festive season. The lighting all over the streets and the neighbourhood makes Christmas to be different from other celebration.
Jesus Christ is the LIGHT of the world, and in him there is no darkness AT ALL. Light is used as a metaphor in the Bible. It symbolises RIGHTEOUSNESS, BLAMELESS, HOLINESS, GOODNESS, PURITY, KINDNESS, LOVE, and all other fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Light illuminates and make everything visible. Every hidden things becomes visible at the entrance of light.
Darkness on the other hand is the absence of light. Darkness conceals and make things to be gloomy, shady and scary!
Darkness connotes WICKEDNESS, EVIL DOING, SIN, INIQUITY, IMPURITY, IMMORALITY, HATRED, STRIVE, JEALOUSY, LUST and all other works of the flesh.
Light is being used in the scripture as picture of good works. Jesus as the light of the world means that he is good, kind, holy, loving, righteous and caring. Jesus came into the world to illuminate the world with his light through his followers.
As believers, if we are truly his followers, if you truly have genuine fellowship with him, we shouldn't have any dealings with darkness again. This is so because his light supposed to have illuminated in every area of darkness in our lives.
The verse six of the text says " if we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live in truth."
Jesus called us the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, he said we should shine our lights before all men, so that they may see our good deeds and glorify God ( Matthew 5: 16).
You cannot continue in darkness as a follower of Jesus, your way of life must change if you are a genuine follower of Christ. It is the plan of God that every believer must emulate Him by shining forth His light and by becoming like him everyday.
The Christmas season is the period of lightning. Beautiful lights would be seen everywhere to celebrate the birth of our lord Jesus (the light of the world!).
Ironically. Knowingly or unknowingly, the light of the world is being celebrated with beautiful lightings all over the world! ( Even those that argues his birth and his claim as the child of God, puts up lights to celebrate the "Holiday" as they called it). Isn't that wonderful?
My piece of advice or admonition for all believers is that we should not only light the house and the Christmas trees. Rather, we should put on the light of our hearts, and let it illuminate and impart the lives of people around us.
We are the light of the world, no one lights candle and keeps it under the bed. Let your goodness be evident to everyone that comes in contact with you in this season and always.
If we do not have light, we do not know God. Those that knows God are those that walks in His light. Ephesians 5:8 says " for you were once darkness, but now you are LIGHT in the lord. Live as children of light.
Let us continue to shine the light of God by putting away every works of darkness like envy, hatred, sin, wickedness, unholy living, lust and immorality. Let us manifest the light of God by loving people, helping others, showing goodness, live a righteous life, forgive and be blameless before our Lord Jesus.
MAY THE LIGHT OF GOD NEVER DEPART FROM OUR LIVES IN JESUS NAME.AMEN.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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BE PROFITABLE

TEXT: MATTHEW 25:14-30

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶ He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. ¹⁷ So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸ But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²² And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Lord created all His children to be productive and do exploits in His kingdom. You are created to make positive impact in your generation; you are not created to be complacent or unproductive. Why? Because we are created in the likeness of God our father. Our God is never a lazy God, though He has every right to be on His throne without doing anything, yet He devoted His time into smooth running of the universe. God is a busy God that rules in the affairs of all men.

Jesus also worked during his earthly ministry. He went around doing good, healing the sick and casting out demons (Act 10:38).

When Jesus was ascending, he gave us the mandate to continue where he stopped (John 14:12). Therefore, you have no excuse to be idle or unprofitable.

There are potentials embedded in you at creation. The question is; what have you done or what are you doing with your talents?

Our anchor text talked about a parable told by Jesus, that a certain man was going on a journey and he called his servants and gave them some talents. He gave one servant five talents, he gave another two and the last servant was given one talent, each according to their ability.

These servants traded and multiplied their talents, except the servant with one talent. He dug a hole and buried his talent. When the master came back from his journey, he was very delighted with the servants that traded and multiplied their talents. The master commended them and added more for them.

When it was the turn of the unprofitable servant that buried his own talent, he told his master what he did with his own talent and he explained why he did so. The master was very angry with the servant, he scolded the servant and collected the talent back from him and added it with the servant with the five talents. The unprofitable servant was thrown into darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, despite his excuses!

No excuse is genuine to make you useless and unproductive in your life time. The master in the parable can be likened to God. If you make use of the gift that God deposited in you at your creation, you will be blessed abundantly and God will add more value into your life through your gift and talent.

On the other hand, whoever decides to be unprofitable like the servant in the parable, the person will be dealt with by God the same way the master dealt with the servant.

I pray you will not be rejected or cursed by God in Jesus name. On that day that you will give the account of your life, may you be commended and not condemned.

Make every effort to be productive in the kingdom of God; do not waste your existence. The Lord said in His word that any tree that is not bearing good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire (Matthew 7:19).

May we not be part of the wasted generation in Jesus name. Keep bearing good fruit for God as long as you live.

 

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VOID YOURSELF OF PRIDE

TEXT: JAMES 4:6

But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 

Pride is the weapon the devil is using against people of God. Satan does not want to see anybody fulfil his or her God given purpose. He would make all effort to rid them of the glorious future that the Lord has prepared for them. This he would achieve by enduing them with the spirit of pride, the devil wears pride like garment on people.

The bible says “God RESISTS the proud and gives grace to the humble.” If a proud man is resisted by God, tell me how the person will fulfil destiny.

There are many that God have the plan of taking to a height they least expected in life, but after some success stories in their favour, the spirit of pride begin to manifest in them. Not knowing that the success that is making them proud is a tip of iceberg compared to what God has in stock for them.

However, instead of them to keep going higher on the ladder of success, they will be coming down until they are relegated to nothing! Did you just ask why? Because pride is a heavy burden and nobody can run or climb successfully at a faster rate having a load with him or her. That is why Hebrew 12:1 admonish us to throw of everything that hinders and the sin that easily entangles…

The bible warned about pride in several verses of the scripture. Pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 16: 18). King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon suffered from the sin of pride and he lost his kingdom to pride (Daniel 4). When Nebuchadnezzar came back to his senses and exalted God rather than exalting himself for his greatness and wealth, God reinstated him back to his throne.

His statement after he was reinstated showed that he had learnt his lesson that God is capable of subduing any proud heart. “And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (Dan 4:37^b). Without God we can do NOTHING. That is why we should not allow the devil to fill our hearts with the spirit of pride. Apostle Paul knew this, so he wouldn't have to learn humility in the hard way like Nebuchadnezzar.

Paul understood that it is God that promotes and not human wisdom and effort. No wonder he said “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Whatever position you may be occupying, no matter the height you find yourself on the ladder of success, no matter the level of your achievement and greatness. DO NOT forget that it is by the GRACE of God that you achieved everything. Always have it in mind that you cannot do anything without God (John 15:5). Do not let pride disconnect you from God, because the result could be disastrous. I pray you will not lose your destiny to pride in Jesus name. Amen. 

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BY STRENGTH SHALL NO MAN PREVAIL

TEXT: PSALM 127: 1

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

God talk to His children through different means and channels. He relates with you with what you are conversant with, for instance; God can communicate the same message to people in different professions with examples and illustrations in line with their profession. For example, God can use different illustrations to explain a message to a teacher and a doctor. If you love playing golf, His illustration to you will be golf related. God’s illustration will always be from what you know and can relate with, He will not use something that is out of the blues to explain things to you, because He wants you to get the right understanding of what He is talking about. Therefore God has His way of expressing Himself to people by using different illustrations best known to the person He’s communicating with. God’s wisdom is unfathomable!

At my free time, when I feel like taking a break from work, I love to unwind by playing a particular game. The game has different levels, to move to the next level, you have to perform well and score high point. I do not play the game constantly, but only when I needed to have a break from writing or typing. There was a particular level that I got to that requires unlocking a key before I would get to the next level. I tried all I could to unlock this key, yet I was unable to do so, despite my effort and high scores.

I spent weeks (since I don’t play the game often) trying to achieve my purpose, with high scores, yet I was unable to unlock the key despite all effort, and techniques devised. All was to no avail. As I was determined to unlock the key to go to the next level, the Holy Spirit ministered to me using the game!

The Lord used the game to explain to me how human beings struggle to achieve greatness with human efforts and wisdom, with little or nothing to show for it. I was trying all human wisdom and effort to get to the next level, yet my effort was thwarted because I could not unlock the key that will take me to the next level. The Holy Spirit made me to see how human beings struggle to get to the next level of their life, by applying all human strength and wisdom, coupled with the best instrument, tools, and technique. Instead of getting to the next level, they meet with obstacles and walls of limitation.

The Holy Spirit made me to see that human effort is futile without the help of God. You cannot get to the next level of your life without God. It is God that will give you the key that will unlock your passage to the next level. Without this key, progress will be impeded regardless of the effort, tools and techniques. Ask God for the master key that will take you to your next level. I pray that the key that will unlock the door to our will not be stolen by Satan and his cohorts in Jesus name.

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QUERYING GOD?

(JOB 9:15-19)

"For though I was right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. He will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness. If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him?”
God is all sufficient, the all knowing God that cannot be queried or questioned. The scripture says “God does as He pleases (Job 23:13). God can decide to promote the poor and make him sit among princes, and He can demote kings and princes and relegate them to nothing. Nobody can challenge the decision of the Lord Almighty, He cannot be taken to court, and nobody can judge Him because He is the judge of all judges. In fact, He is the chief judge of the universe!

There are some circumstances that had caused people to query where God was when their lives were in shambles. Some can even take it to the extent of saying “if God is truly existing; why are evil things happening to good people? The answer to these questions are not farfetched-   He is God of all flesh, His ways are not our ways, He decides who He wants to have mercy on (Romans 9:15).

Job was a man that did the will of God, he was steadfast and God was boastful of him. Yet the devil with the permission of God; attacked him to test his faith and loyalty in God. Job was upright and yet afflicted by the devil, however, Job did not query God, and instead he pleaded for mercy. “Though I was innocent, I could not answer Him, I could only plead with my judge for mercy.” (Job 9:15).

The lesson here is that no matter what you are going through, don’t query God, and don’t be angry with Him. All you need to do is to plead for His mercy. God cannot be taken to court, He cannot be flogged or beaten, and since you cannot fight God; the best thing to do when life is tough and difficult is to ask for His mercy and wait patiently like Job, and watch God elevating you to a greater height after your trial of faith.

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ENVY NOT THE WEALTH OF THE WICKED.

PSALM 73: 3-5, 16-19

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. (v 3-5).

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! (v 16-19).

The world is full of mysteries that only God can unfold, the world is full of “the good, the bad and the ugly situations.” Many are living in affluence; some are averagely okay while some are living below average. Some people are working tooth and nail to make ends meet; hence, some are acquiring wealth without having to struggle for it.

Many people that are walking in the way of the Lord; people that are living the totality of their lives to please God are struggling to survive hardship. However, those that have sold out their souls to the devil are flourishing and swimming in the river of affluence!

As human beings, we may be wondering why this is so, that is the irony of life that only God can unravel. In curiosity and maybe in anger, we may be asking questions as to why unbelievers should be flourishing in their evil ways, and why believers are wallowing in poverty despite their righteous living.

“Is the earth and its fullness not God’s? What about the cattle on a thousand hills, are they not for God? Did He not promise to supply ALL my needs according to His riches in glory? Did He not promise us the wealth of the Gentiles? Why are Gentiles flourishing while obedient believers are languishing in abject poverty?”

It is normal to feel this way because we are human. That was the predicament of the Psalmist when he wrote Psalm 73. Our God is a good God that promise His children good and expected end (Jere. 29:11). The bible tells us that it is only the blessing of God that make riches without adding sorrow to it (Prov. 10:22). The wicked that are flourishing with wealth amassed from unclean source are placed on the slippery ground (Ps 73:18). Wealth gotten from unclean source will not last, but the sorrow and trouble that the wealth will bring to the owner of the wealth will last forever! Their final destination as explained in our text is destruction, the Lord will cast them down to ruin, and they will be completely swept away by terror!

The success of the wicked will only last for a short period, and they will have their portion in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8)

“Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.” (Proverbs 24:19-20)

Do not envy the success of the wicked; do not run after material things at the expense of your righteous living. Do not race against heavenly things because of earthly things that are perishable. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul (Mark 8:36). The Lord knows the best thing for you, He will fulfil His promises for you, wait upon His promises, ENVY NOT THE WEALTH OF THE WICKED.

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