THE FEAR OF GOD

 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  

Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.

If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Prov 9:10-12

Beginning of something is the basics. For example we can say the beginning of learning is learning ABCD.... and 1,2,3...

Unless you learn this first, you will never be able to learn anything else in any other subject. 

We have to grow in wisdom if we are to be effective in our lives on earth, but we have to start from the basics, we have to learn the fear of God first of all.

When we learn the fear of God, God will give us wisdom in every situation or circumstance we face in life. 

Do you want God to give you wisdom in everything you face in life; on how best you can be effective for His glory, on what opportunities to take and which ones to leave,....then, you must learn the fear of God first. 

There are two types of wisdom, a heavenly and demonic wisdom.

For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, shows no favorism and sincere.

James 1:14-17

Wisdom that God gives has seven pillars. Prov 9:1

The seven pillars are mentioned in Jam 3:17 which results in;

1. Bringing purity 

2. Brings Peace

3. Always Gentle

4. Open to listen and reason with the others

5. Full of mercy and good fruits. It does not lead one to be a faultfinder or accuser or judge others but quick to do good.

6. Does not show favourism to friends or family or those of higher rank in society. Treats all men equal.

7. Always sincere. There is no hypocrisy.

If you want to walk in purity, fear God.

If you want to leave in peace with everyone, fear God.

If you want to deal gently with others even those who fall, fear God.

If you don't want to be a dictator, one who forces his opinion on others and who is conceited that my way must be followed and never questioned; fear God. In this you can even make yourself a god if you get offended when your ego is hurt, you easily get offended and get hurt by others and keep on meditating on what others have done or not done, or said to you because you are a fool. Fear God and you will have wisdom.

Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools. Ecc 7:9

If want to be fair to everyone and never show favourism to any, fear God.

If you want to be free from hypocrisy, fear God.

God will always give you all the wisdom you need for every situation you'll ever face in life if you will learn to fear God.

The fear of God is the beginning of all Christian education.

Before you learn any other thing about Christianity, before you learn about rapture, or tribulation, or second coming of Christ, or about the seven Trumpets, or the seven plagues or anything else you can learn in the bible learn the fear of God first of all.

Joseph did not have a bible but his father taught him the fear of God, that is why he resisted the temptation by potiphers wife to commit sexual sin though no one was watching. He knew God was watching. Gen 39:1-16

Job did not have a Bible but heard the fear of God and that is why he was upright. Job 1:8.

These old testament saints did not have a bible, could not have fellowships, could not hear an encouragement but they had the fear of God. We who have all that do not have the fear of God; that is why though we are full of bible verses, there are many sins committed in the church by the church leaders and the members.

There is no fear of God left in the church.

The devil has gotten the church sidetracked from the most important thing in the Christian life, to other peripheral things and led them to argue on things that have no eternal value.

What is the most important thing to you.

What are you willing to fight for die for.

If you look at that from a heavenly point of view, how much value will it carry in eternity.

God back to the basics.

The first lesson you must learn is to fear God. Drop every other topic and learn this one first. Learn the fear of God.

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WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU TO FINISH WELL

 FINISHING STRONG

STUDY XI

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. I have kept the faith. 2Tim 4:7

When Paul, came to the end of his life and ministry, He says that he has fought a good fight. 

This explains that as long as we are in this world, we are in a battlefield and we have to be fighting until the end. There is not a single moment we must be relaxing. Majority of people backslide after a great victory or after God has used them in a powerful way. They think that now they can relax and at that same time the devil attacks and overcomes them and lead them astray. We must always be on our guard. We must always be watchful and prayerful. We must never give the devil a foothold. Luke 21:36, Mat 26:41, 1Pet 5:8, Eph 4:27.

Paul says that we don't fight with human beings but with principalities and powers and rulers and wicked authorities in the heavenly places. Eph 6:10-18, we must therefore be always put on the whole armour of God.

I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1Cor 9:27-28

Paul explains that the other fight He does is to discipline his own body. We must exercise self discipline, to make our bodies do what they should do and not what they want to do. Unless we are disciplined, we cannot finish well in our life and ministry.

Paul says that He has also finished the race. The Christian life is compared to a race. Paul says that he does not run aimlessly; 1Cor 9:26. He runs with an aim and with a prescribed direction. He doesn't run just for the sake of running. 

All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 1Cor 9:25

To run, we must be disciplined.

Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 2Tim 2:5.

We see also there are rules to be followed in the race. 

We need self discipline and following the rules if we want to finish the race well otherwise we can be disqualified.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1-2

We are to remove all unnecessary weights and lay aside the sins we easily fall into.

We are to run the race marked out for us.

This means there is a particular path for each person and one must run their own race fixing our eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.

In this race we are not allowed to be distracted by others. When your eyes are in a fixed position, you won't see others whether they are running or not. Your eyes are only seeing Jesus. The evidence that your eyes are fixed on Jesus is that you will not be discouraged or give up your Christian faith no matter what comes. Heb 12:3. If at any time you get discouraged or give up the race or cool down, it's because at that very moment, your eyes are not on Jesus. They are looking at others or the circumstances or looking back at what is past; but as long as your eyes are on Jesus, you will never be discouraged and you will never give up.

Paul says I have kept the faith. He didn't allow anything to distract Him. We also must never allow anything to distract us from Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his [ah]master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Mat 24:45-46

Faithfulness in obeying what God tells you to do is the only thing God wants from you.

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.’ Mat 25:21

It's faithfulness the God looks for. 

I have glorified You down here on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do. John 17:4.

It's faithfully doing the work God gave you that God wants.

Not the work men give you, but the assignment that God gave you.

If you set your mind and heart to be faithful and obedient to God's purpose for your life all the days of your life, you will definitely finish well.

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PRIDE IS YOUR GREATEST ENEMY

 FINISHING STONG

STUDY X

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Prov 16:18

Pride comes before a fall. 

Pride is as a result of comparison to others who are below you in achievements and feeling you are superior to those who haven't as much as you, either in progress achievements, wealth or anything. 

When a person falls, it's an evidence that before the fall, he was proud.

Many begin well but fall along the way. The only reason they fall is because they became proud before the fall.

God is able to keep us from falling. Jude 1:24, but we have to always put our faces and our mouths in the dust before God. Lam 3:29

The devil was once an angel, but he became proud, and that is how he became the devil. Pride can change a saint of God into a devil.

It's good to examine what the devil was proud of because it is still the same thing he injects in the hearts of believers to be proud of so that they can destroy themselves. 

When you become proud the devil doesn't remind you that that is how he became the devil.

The devil was proud of his wisdom and understanding, Ezekiel 28:3-4, of his riches, verse 4-5,17. Riches can be in many forms, can be money, family background, level of education,...., he was proud of success in his business, verse 5,16. He was proud of his perfection, how good he was compared to others, verse 12, he was proud of beauty, verse 12,17, he was proud of his covering, his dress, verse 13,17, he was proud of his anointing, verse 14, he was proud of how far he had walked with God, verse 15.

From Ezekiel 28:1-17, we can conclude that the way for a Christian to become a child of the devil is to be proud, either of his wisdom as compared to others, or his anointing, being more anointed than others, or his perfection, being able to do things better than others, singing or preaching or serving or giving better than others, he can be proud of their beauty, in their face or in character or their many achievements, they can be proud of success in business or career, and can also be proud of how far they have walked with God and their experiences with God.

Pride is the pathway of becoming a devil. If we want to finish well, then humility must be our daily pursuit.

Zephaniah 2:3, speeks to the humble of the earth and tells them to seek more humility.

Are you humble, seek more humility. As your days increases you ought to be more humbler than you were. 

If we are to finish well, we must seek to be more humbler as we grow.

The bible says that God fights against the proud person. When you become proud of anything, God becomes your enemy and Starts fighting you. If God fights you, can you progress? Of course not, if you try to move forward, He pushes you backwards, if you try to rise, He pushes you to the ground. On the other hand, He gives grace to the humble. If you try to move forward, He comes behind you and pushes you forward, if you wants to rise, He pushes you forward. James 4:6, 1Pet 5:5. It's only a humble person who will finish well. It's only a humble person who will enter into everything that God has for them.

A proud person can never receive correction. A proud person is full of self justification. He never admits he was wrong, and even if he does, it's in seeking a reputation for humility. The proud person easily gets hurt when someone doesn't serve them as they think they deserve to be served. 

A proud person has a lot of demands on others. This and that must be done for them. They are very big in their own eyes as compared to others. Hypocrisy is one of the primary marks of a proud man. 

Proud people are quick to see the faults in others and rarely see their own faults. Luke 18:10-14, Prov 9:8, Mathew 7:1-5, Luke 16:15.

To overcome pride, we must learn to acknowledge God always. For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1Cor 4:7 

We must learn to acknowledge that whatever we have, God has given us. We must also learn that Whatever God has given us is to make us a blessing to others and also to serve others.

A The gifts are given to each of us so we can bless others. 1Cor 12:7

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 1Pet 4:10

We also must learn to never compare ourselves or our gifts with others.

The fool is anyone who compares himself with other human beings. 2Cor 10:12.

Jesus Christ is our only standard. He always said follow me to His disciples. We must pattern our lives with His.

We are commanded to run the race fixing our eyes on Him. Heb 12:2. 

Jesus was the humblest man who walked on earth. You become like the company you keep. If you walk with the wise, you become wise, if you keep a bad company, your good morals get destroyed. Prov 13:20, 1Cor 15:33.

In the same way, if you walk with Jesus every day, you will be humble. 

Your company define who you will be. Walk with Jesus, and you will always be humble. Humility is in the mind. Phil 2:3-10. 

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DON'T IGNORE GODS WARNINGS AND KEEP YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR.

 FINISHING STRONG 

STUDY IX

God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. And if you leave God’s paths and go astray, you will hear a voice behind you say, “No, this is the way; walk here. Isaiah 30:21

God always warns His children when they deviate from His path but unfortunately many ignore God's warnings due to pride. God warns us primarily through dreams and through our conscience or through His servants.

God warned Abimelech about Abrahams wife through a dream. Gen 20:3-6

God warned pharaoh of a seven year famine through a dream. Gen 41:22-

God warned king Asa through a prophet. 2Chron 16:7-9

God warned David by a prophet. 2Sam 12:1-7, 24:11-12

God warned Joseph to move away through a dream. Mathew 2:19.

Paul said that people made shipwreck of their faith because of ignoring their conscience. 1Tim 1:19.

God cares so much that He will always warm us, either through a dream, or by a prick in our conscience or through a prophet; but we have a free will and we can choose to ignore God's warnings. We can silence our consciences, we can ignore dreams, we can ignore warnings through His servants, and the fall will be because of our pride. 

Pride comes before a fall.

If you desire to finish well, we must decide that we'll never ignore any warning that God sends to us. We must act on them. Those who finish poorly and backslide are those who ignore God's warnings. 

Learn to keep your conscience clear. Never ignore your dreams, For God speaks to us many times through dreams, never ignore warnings from God's servants. Learn to always humble yourself and learn to love correction whichever way God chooses to send it. 

Learn to always judge yourself every single day of your life. Aim to become a better person at the end of every year that you were at the beginning of the year.

Seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day.

The best thing you can do for those you love deeply is to love Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

The best gift you can give to those you love is a better version of you. You becoming better and better every time.

Learn from and follow those who finish well.

Learn from the mistakes of those who didn't finish well and take a warning for yourself.

Remember that God is more interested in your finishing well that you are. He is more than willing to give everything we need to finish our Christian life well. 

He will give us all the encouragement we need, all the wisdom, all the warnings, all the knowledge, all the counsel, all the health and wealth.

Remember, I can do everything through Christ who gives us strength. Everything includes power to finish well. Everything that God wants us to do, provision for it is available. We only need to seek God for it.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

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SINGLE VISION TO FULFILL GODS PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE

 FINISHING STRONG 

STUDY XIII

The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Luke 11:34-36

Jesus said that He did everything God asked Him to do; John 17:4

He had only one vision. He said He came not to do His own will, but the will of His Father who sent Him. John 6:38. He said that He couldn't do or say anything except what He saw the Father do. He only spoke what His Father told Him. John 5:19.

He said that His only nourishment was in doing God's will. John 4:34

He was not in hurry to do ministry. The first thirty years He lived in the carpentry shop. He didn't preach a single sermon nor performed any miracle. He waited on His Father. God's voice was more important to him than the needs around him. He always sought God's will in everything. He sought God's voice before speaking.

He said follow me. To follow Christ means to watch how he lived and walk in His steps. You have to see Him first, and see the direction He is going for you to be able to follow Him.

He warned Peter not to concentrate or be distracted by John or His calling. He told him, "follow me" when he asked whether John would have an easier life than him.John 21:19-22

You must have a single vision in fulfilling God's purpose for your life.

The safest place in the whole world for you is the centre of God's will for your life. As long as you are there, God will keep you from falling.

It's when we move out of the boundaries of God's will that satan gets hold of us, but if you determine to remain there, there is nothing the devil can do against you.

David only fell in adultery with Bathsheba when He failed to be in Gods appointed place for him that time. Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. BUT DAVID STAYED AT JERUSALEM. 2Sam 11:1

He was supposed to be in the battle as a king but he decided to relax in the palace. 

Today we fight spiritual battles. When you are supposed to be praying but you send others to the prayer meeting but you decide to relax in God's blessings; BEWARE lest the calamity that befell David catches up with you. David was not the last, Be in the place God wants you to be always.

Everyday seek To know and do God's will. Don't sit to congratulate yourself on how far you have reached. David has already written many Psalms which bless us even today, but the time he relaxed, the devil didn't care how much he accomplished in the past before attacking.

We are to follow Jesus who had a single eye for the joy that was set before Him. Heb 12:2

We are to walk in the steps of Him who commited no sin, nor deception found in His mouth, not reviled back but in every circumstance He faced, He committed Himself to God who judges righteously. 1Pet 2:21-23

We are to follow Him who didn't allow publicity to distract Him from His calling. He ran away when people wanted to make Him king. John 6:15. He told people to tell no one about the miracles He performed. Luke 8:56.

Paul said that He only had one thing that He did ... Phil 3:13. 

He said that He only had one goal in life. 2Cor 5:9

David said about one thing He desired.... Psalm 27:4

What about you? You don't need ten secrets to success. You only need one thing.

Jesus told Martha that she only needed one thing, not two or seven or ten. You only need one thing. Sitting at Jesus feet and listening to Him. Luke 10:42.

Everyday seek to sit at Jesus feet and listen to Him and only do what He tells you. Don't be distracted by ministry like Martha. Listen first, then do only what you are told and leave the rest.

God is seeking for one who will wait and watch for His beckoning Hand. One who will work the work He gives in God's manner. One who will not be distracted by the work he is not given, but keep it aside. Such a person will bring great delight to Gods heart. One who will do all of Gods will. One who will study His masters mind.

Be such a person and if you are faithful until the end, you will definitely finish well. 

Will you be one?

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THE SECRET OF FINISHING STRONG

 FINISHING STRONG

STUDY VII

 

As we look closely in the word of God, we realise that there are many people God called and chose them to a particular purpose but they later backslide. We are told that the scriptures are supposed to instruct us and warn us. 1Cor 10:11-12, Rom 15:4We can learn that it's not whether you are anointed or not that matters, but the most important question is how you finish.

We are surrounded by people who were once mightily used by God but it's another story. 

Jesus and Paul are the only two persons who finished well and also told us to follow their example.

Paul said that "I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1Cor 9:27.… He then goes on to give the example of the Israelites in chapter ten, teaching us that though God delivered them from Egypt to take them to Egypt, only two of them entered the land of Canaan. Though many have supposedly"received Christ ", very few enter into everything that God has for them.

If we don't discipline our bodies to do what they should do, not what they want to do; we cannot finish well.

Paul says follow me as I follow Christ. 1Cor 11:1. This is to mean that we are to follow him as long as he is following Christ. If he stops following Christ, we stop following him. If a preacher who was your role model stops following Christ, you stop following the preacher and continue following Christ.

He says "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." 2Cor 11:3. 

The way satan leads us astray is by corrupting our minds towards the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. He makes us to think that serving Christ is more important than your personal devotion to Him. He crowds our lives with religious activities and we have no time for meditation on Christ, Communion with Him and study of His word.

The devil will want us to think that if God blesses us materially, He is definitely pleased with you, but stop and think. Who are the richest people in your town or city or country? Can you honestly say that God is pleased with them? We can see that God can bless you materially even when you are displeasing to Him. 

Interestingly, we can pray and read the bible and not meet Christ, and that would please the devil. We can be devoted to the text of the bible and not Christ; it is our devotion to Christ that is to be utmost in our lives. If we commune with Christ, He will cause our hearts to burn, Luke 24:32. If you listen to a man of God whom God is using, your heart will burn. Your life will be full of peace and rest, without any fear and full of joy.

Above all things, make your devotion to Christ number 1 each day of your life.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We have to fix our eyes on Jesus.

As long as Peter fixed his eyes on Jesus, he walked on water, but when he looked at the storm, he begun sinking but crying out immediately Jesus helped him. Mathew 14:27-32

If we look at the surrounding, we'll sink, if we look at people or circumstances or even our past, either good or evil we'll sink in worldliness, but if we fix our eyes on Jesus we will be overcomers.

Lam 3:51 says that my eyes affect my heart. Where your eyes are looking will affect your walk with God. If you look at circumstances, you will be distressed or depressed. If you look at people, you will be jealous or proud, if you look at past achievements, you will be proud. Don't look right or left, or back, but fix your eyes on Jesus and you will not sink. If temptation comes and you cry out to him to save you, He will. Don't be silent if you are drowning but call of him.

Meditate of the cross constantly and you will develop a deep love and reverence for Christ.

The evidence that your eyes are fixed on Jesus is that you will never give up or get discouraged in our fight against sin in our lives. Heb 12:2-4

As long as he sought God, God made him prosper... 2Chron 26:5b

Keep the fire on the alter always burning by constantly meditating on the cross of Jesus. Discipline your body. Guard you devotion to Christ more than anything else.

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STUDY VI. FINISHING STRONG

 

THE LIFE OF SAUL

Saul was the first king of Israel anointed by Samuel the prophet, after he had gone out to seek for his father's lost donkeys. After searching they decided to go to the prophet in search of direction, and as was the custom, they went with a gift. Samuel told him the donkeys were left and took him aside and anointed him to be the king of Israel. He never mentioned about him being anointed to anyone.

He was told that he would meet a group of prophets and he would prophesy like them and it happened.

God changed him by giving him another heart.

1Sam 9:1-10:16

We see that he was hardworking, had respect for God's prophet and was also humble. 

Saul then called all the Israelites to choose the king publicly before them all. He chose by lot and finally Saul was chosen, but he had hidden himself in the suitcases. God revealed where he was and he was called though not everyone believed in him. 1Sam 10:17-20

The first battle he fought the ammonites and God gave him victory.

They later went to gilgal and renewed the kingdom there and Saul was made king in gilgal. 1Sam 11:1-15

Jonathan and the people attacked the Philistines and Saul charged them to come. The Philistines assembled to fight back and the Israelites were hard pressed and began hiding themselves in caves, thickets, cliffs and pits, some crossed Jordan and they that remained were trembling.

Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.

He later asked for burnt offerings and peace offerings but as soon as he finished offering, Samuel came.1Sam 13:1-11

He had acted out of fear and this costed him his kingdom.

 

Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

1Sam 13:13-14

Never act out of fear. Disobeying Gods clear instructions can cost you your destiny. Saul went beyond his boundaries and offered the offering which was only the work of a priest.

It's good to seek to act within the boundaries of your calling. There is a limit in what God wants you to do. Seek to know the boundaries of your calling and live only within your boundaries unless you want to destroy your life and ministry.

God chose another person in his place but he didn't die at that time but continued serving as king for more than ten years though he was rejected.

Even today there are many whom God has already rejected but they are still on their thrones serving. Many servants of God who once were highly anointed like Saul have been rejected by God due to disobedience and going beyoytne boundaries God has set for them.

Saul only thought about himself and his son. Among his army, only he and his son hard a sword. 1Sam 13:22

A picture of preachers who only wants to God's word but feel threatened when other members read the bible for themselves. Those who want to make others dependent on them; such a pity that majority of those who call themselves never read the bible for themselves but only wait for what will be preached to them on Sundays.

God gave Saul victory over the Philistines in chapter 14. This teaches us that God can give you victory even when he has rejected you because he cares for those who are under you.

God performing a miracle or giving you victory is never a sign that he is with you or he is pleased with you. God does good to everyone, and sends rain and sunshine both to the wicked and the righteous. Mat 5:45

Saul was given an assignment to destroy amalekites and their king but unfortunately he only destroyed the bad things but kept the fattened sheep and bulls and spared the king. 1Sam 15:1-20

God was displeased and said through Samuel:

Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” 1Sam 15:22-23.

He obeyed partially but partial obedience is disobedience.

Saul acknowledged his sin and begged Samuel to honour him before the people but Samuel rejected. His repentance was not sincere. He still wanted people to think that God still was with him when he wasn't. Many whom God has rejected still want the honour and still want to be thought of as one whom God is still with even when they have lost contact with God.

1Sam 15:24-31

In the beginning Saul was small in his own eyes, but he became proud when God lifted Him. 1Sam 15:17

We learn from Saul that we must beware of Pride.

Partial obedience is disobedience. Our obedience must be complete.

We must never act out of fear and we must live within the boundaries of our calling.

The rest of the time Saul lived chasing God's anointed King, David until his death.

What a poor ending.

The fact that God has anointed you for a specific purpose should be the reason you seem God more to finish well. Many who are anointed finish poorly.

In history of the church, there are many who God anointed but they lost contact with God and many of them claim to be Elijah prophesied in Malachi. In almost every generation there is a man who claims to be Elijah after backsliding from his calling.

The end of a matter is better than the beginning.

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STUDY V. FINISHING STRONG

STUDY IV. FINISHING STRONG

 

THE LIFE OF JEHU

Jehu was anointed by Elijah the prophet to be the king of Israel the same time he went and anointed Elisha to be the next prophet. He was the son Of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi. 1Kings 19:13-16. 2Kings 9:1-3

 the young prophet poured the oil over Jehu’s head and said, “...I anoint you king over the Lord’s people, Israel... destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the Lord’s servants who were killed by Jezebel.

The entire family of Ahab must be wiped out. I will destroy every one of his male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel. 2Kings 9:6-8

His commission was clear.

Jehu and his company rode to Jezreel and the king sent two horsemen asking whether there is peace but Jehu asked asked what they had to do with peace.

... And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

Jehu drove furiously, going to do what He was anointed to do.

When God anoints you to do something, you must be passionate about doing what God commissions you to do.

We must never do God's will half-heartedly but with a passion and zeal.

When Jezebel heard Jehu was coming, she applied make on her face to try to seduce Jehu but it didn't work. 9:30. Interestingly, it the first time in the bible a woman applies make up.

Jehu killed all the kings sons.

Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s relatives living in Jezreel and all his important officials, his personal friends, and his priests. So Ahab was left without a single survivor. 2Kings 10:11

Then Jehu said, “Now come with me, and see how devoted I am to the Lord.” So Jehonadab rode along with him. 2Kings 10:16.

Serving the Lord and doing His will must be done in passion and zeal.

How passionate are you when doing what the Lord asks you to do?

When Jehu arrived in Samaria, he killed everyone who was left there from Ahab’s family, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. Vs 17

So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal,

They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day.

In this way, Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel. 2King10:25-28

Jehu did what he was anointed to do but after destroying the house of Ahab Baal worship in Israel, but there was an omission in his assignment.

But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan.

But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin. 2King 10:29-31

He was supposed to destroy the golden calves to remove idolatry from Israel completely but He didn't. He relaxed. He sat down and congratulated himself how he had served God wholeheartedly.

The same thing occurs today, you see many believers after serving God wholeheartedly for years reach a certain period that they relax in their Christian life and Start congratulating themselves. This is the time that many backside.

Even after accomplishing great things for God, you can backslide.

How many great men of God we read of who God used greatly but later on fell into sin? It's because they loose their guard. They start being less watchful. They start thinking that because God has blessed them, then whatever they do God will bless even when God has not spoken to them.

Their past deliverances become the song of the day. 

May the Lord deliver us from such.

The Christian life is one where we have to be watchful until the end.

Don't rely on your past how you used to serve God or how God used you: what about now and tomorrow, thats is more important.

You may have been fresh last year but be stale today.

The manna that fell got worms after one day but the manna that was kept in the ark of the covenant remained fresh for years.

Always remaining in the presence of the Lord is the secret of always remaining fresh.

Maintaining a life of meditation of God's word, Psalm. 1:2-3, and leaning and trusting God and total yieldedness and complete submission to his voice like brach on the vine.. Jerem 17:7, John 15:1-5

Remember not to relax and congratulate yourself, but be careful in your personal walk with God.

Destroy in your life everything that needs to be destroyed. Restore what need to be restored. Resolve what needs to be resolved.

Your omissions may quench your fire.

The fire in the alter of your life must be kept burning in your heart.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY III. FINISHING STRONG

 

THE LIFE OF JEHOSHAPHAT 

Jehoshaphat was one of the kings of Judah. He was the son of King Asa who was one of the godliest kings of Israel. He had a godly heritage.

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal. He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah. 2Chron 17:3-4,6

He sent the Levites to teach the law of the Lord to the Israelites and the fear of the Lord filled the whole land. He helped the Israelites to know God and fear Him

Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter. 2Chron 18:1-34

Ahab as we know was an evil king, but Jehoshaphat didn't care about that. He didn't understand that bad company corrupts good morals.

He visited Ahab and Ahab asked to join him in battle.

Jehoshaphat asked Ahab to inquire of the Lord first. He had discernment to first of all hear what God was saying about the situation.

It's always important to develop that attitude, that before joining a spiritual battle or before undertaking anything, to first enquire from the Lord, to hear what the Lord says about the matter.

Ahab called 400 false prophets who spoke well of Him. Even today, false prophets will always tell you what you want to hear. The false prophets never speak on repentance, or the way of the cross or on sin or on God's judgement or hell.

Jehoshaphat was not convinced about them and asked whether there was no prophet of God. Micaiah was called and prophesied his doom and he was slain in battle.

Jehoshaphat returned and God sent Jehu to warn him.

Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” he asked the king. “Because of what you have done, the Lord is very angry with you. 2Chr 19:2.

The true prophets are not men pleasers but speak the very mind of God straight to your face.

He appointed judges and told them to judge the people in the fear of God.

Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 2Chron 19:9

A message was sent to Jehoshaphat if a great army marching to attack him.

Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 2Chron 20:2-4

He prayed, and reminded God of His covenant  and acknowledged their weakness. Vs 6-12“O Lord God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 

God spoke and instructed them and God fought for them. 

In every battle you read of in the new testament, God always gave different instructions. There is no formula for fighting; we always have to seek God on what to do in every battle.

God always speaks when we seek Him wholeheartedly and desperately concerning any matter.

What is your first response when you face challenges. Learn to always seek God.

Vs 33 says that During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.

This one of the omissions in his life.

Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked.  2Chron 20:35

Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish. Vs 37

The next verse is that he died and was buried.

He started well but ended poorly. 

We can see the reason was that he joined himself with wicked men  and what he was supposed to do but he omitted.

He did many wonderful things for God yet he ended poorly because of the company. The authority God gave him, he didn't use it to remove the pagan shrines from Israel and thus people did not fully commit themselves to the Lord.

Take heed to your company.

Do not be deceived. Bad company corrupts good morals. 1Cor 15:33.

What you omit doing may cost you to end your Christian life poorly.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo