I want to seize this medium to appeal to everyone that has been graciously called to serve in any capacity in the kingdom
mandate and holding any leadership role, who is fond of compelling
people to make a vow, most especially when it isn't a direct instruction
from God to do so, and to as many as have been brain-washed into
abusing this sacred order to please desist from such attitude. It is one
of the strategies of the devil to enslave and ensnare many Christians
today.
While I'm not trying to rule out the importance and efficacy of this sacred obligation in an attempt to speed up answers to our prayers, it is also very important to juxtapose the implication of it, especially when abused. The Bible says, whatsoever you do in word or deed; do all in the name of Jesus. That is, let your words and actions be in consonance with God's prior counsel or instruction.
The trouble that many Christians subject themselves to by reason of vow is rather too inconceivable of whatever reasons they entangle themselves into it. God did not call us into bondage, but freedom: and whatever can stand to imprison our freedom should be avoided with passion. God is magnanimous and kind-hearted enough to answer our prayers in due time, when we ask in agreement with His purpose and counsel, no matter the gravity of our request.
I'll like to explore the Scripture and expose the mind of with respect to VOW, and at the same time glean a lesson from a Bible figure who has become a victim, and his subsequent outcome.
"And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, if thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering." Judges.11:30-31.
I almost got confused with Jephthah's prayer, following the previous verses, as though, his prayer was in parallel with the Spirit's inspiration, but the punctuation marks available there brought me back on my foot and suggests where his prayer was coming from.
"Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Mannaseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizphe of Gilead he passed over unto the children of ammon." Vs.29.
You'll observe that, Jephthah has been moving in the same pace, and at the same impulse with the Spirit of God into attacking the children of Ammon, but the prayer he prayed in verse.30 looks like the same Spirit of God was encouraging him to do so, whereas it was not. Though the Lord had Already won the battle, and had appointed Jephthah to be the instrument to conferred the victory upon Israel, yet, fear of the Ammonites made him to pray that prayer.
I'm not trying to stress on fear this time around, but necessity demands that I pinpoint it, as to see the need to wrestle with the spirit in our bid to follow Christ and live right with him. Whether Jephthah made that vow or not, it is certain that he would win the battle, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in that arena. Where the Spirit of God is, there is power; there is victory; and certainly, there is jubilation. The only advantage your enemy can have over you in your attempt to defeat him, is to lack the support of God.
Fear, doubt, unbelief, and anxiety made Jephthah to lure himself into that yoke. He committed himself unnecessarily. "...if thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands..." Excuse me! Why didn't he settle that before he left home? It isn't in the battle front the children of God start praying and win their battles, they must have won the battle already on their kneels, right on their secret prayer altar; coming to the battle field suppose to be a victory in expression and in reality or fulfillment. It must be an answer to their secret prayers.
One of the lessons I learnt from the life of Jesus and his earthly ministry is his commitment to a daily prayer altar in a solitary place, and even at a solitary hours before the day break. That is where he received the clue to tackling daily trials, temptations, and criticisms. (Mark.1:35, Isaiah.50:4-9).
Jephthah saw a garrison of the Ammonites; he saw spear, javelin, sword, and other cunningly deviced sophisticated weapons of the Ammonites, couple with their battle kits, and battalions of armies who were at readiness to bring down any flying object, and his courage, faith, strength, and confidence sharply abated. He forgot that, by strength shall no man prevail. Little did he know that, except the Lord help a man, enemies are not what to confront with the arm of flesh. He answered the elders of the children of Gilead with self confidence, self assurance, and self courage; and not in God's strength until he came in contact with tens of thousands of efty and dreadful men who is always seeking to Wipe them out of the land and out of the map. It was then he knew the reason why they called for him, and the grave responsibility saddled to him. He got to know the reason why the Gileadites were willing to jeopardize their leadership position into the hand of an outcast, and resolved into a vow, as though he could bribe God with anything. He saw the need for divine assistance.
That is exactly the problem with many Christians today, the moment we see a desire, need, and challenges that transcend our immediate control, we quickly resolve into a vow which is not correct. We try to place a price on the priceless glory of God, and as a matter of fact share in His glory.
Jephthah made an attempt that place the life and future of his dear daughter in jeopardy. Imagine a girl that had colossal expectation and commitment... Stay blessed...
While I'm not trying to rule out the importance and efficacy of this sacred obligation in an attempt to speed up answers to our prayers, it is also very important to juxtapose the implication of it, especially when abused. The Bible says, whatsoever you do in word or deed; do all in the name of Jesus. That is, let your words and actions be in consonance with God's prior counsel or instruction.
The trouble that many Christians subject themselves to by reason of vow is rather too inconceivable of whatever reasons they entangle themselves into it. God did not call us into bondage, but freedom: and whatever can stand to imprison our freedom should be avoided with passion. God is magnanimous and kind-hearted enough to answer our prayers in due time, when we ask in agreement with His purpose and counsel, no matter the gravity of our request.
I'll like to explore the Scripture and expose the mind of with respect to VOW, and at the same time glean a lesson from a Bible figure who has become a victim, and his subsequent outcome.
"And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, if thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering." Judges.11:30-31.
I almost got confused with Jephthah's prayer, following the previous verses, as though, his prayer was in parallel with the Spirit's inspiration, but the punctuation marks available there brought me back on my foot and suggests where his prayer was coming from.
"Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Mannaseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizphe of Gilead he passed over unto the children of ammon." Vs.29.
You'll observe that, Jephthah has been moving in the same pace, and at the same impulse with the Spirit of God into attacking the children of Ammon, but the prayer he prayed in verse.30 looks like the same Spirit of God was encouraging him to do so, whereas it was not. Though the Lord had Already won the battle, and had appointed Jephthah to be the instrument to conferred the victory upon Israel, yet, fear of the Ammonites made him to pray that prayer.
I'm not trying to stress on fear this time around, but necessity demands that I pinpoint it, as to see the need to wrestle with the spirit in our bid to follow Christ and live right with him. Whether Jephthah made that vow or not, it is certain that he would win the battle, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in that arena. Where the Spirit of God is, there is power; there is victory; and certainly, there is jubilation. The only advantage your enemy can have over you in your attempt to defeat him, is to lack the support of God.
Fear, doubt, unbelief, and anxiety made Jephthah to lure himself into that yoke. He committed himself unnecessarily. "...if thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands..." Excuse me! Why didn't he settle that before he left home? It isn't in the battle front the children of God start praying and win their battles, they must have won the battle already on their kneels, right on their secret prayer altar; coming to the battle field suppose to be a victory in expression and in reality or fulfillment. It must be an answer to their secret prayers.
One of the lessons I learnt from the life of Jesus and his earthly ministry is his commitment to a daily prayer altar in a solitary place, and even at a solitary hours before the day break. That is where he received the clue to tackling daily trials, temptations, and criticisms. (Mark.1:35, Isaiah.50:4-9).
Jephthah saw a garrison of the Ammonites; he saw spear, javelin, sword, and other cunningly deviced sophisticated weapons of the Ammonites, couple with their battle kits, and battalions of armies who were at readiness to bring down any flying object, and his courage, faith, strength, and confidence sharply abated. He forgot that, by strength shall no man prevail. Little did he know that, except the Lord help a man, enemies are not what to confront with the arm of flesh. He answered the elders of the children of Gilead with self confidence, self assurance, and self courage; and not in God's strength until he came in contact with tens of thousands of efty and dreadful men who is always seeking to Wipe them out of the land and out of the map. It was then he knew the reason why they called for him, and the grave responsibility saddled to him. He got to know the reason why the Gileadites were willing to jeopardize their leadership position into the hand of an outcast, and resolved into a vow, as though he could bribe God with anything. He saw the need for divine assistance.
That is exactly the problem with many Christians today, the moment we see a desire, need, and challenges that transcend our immediate control, we quickly resolve into a vow which is not correct. We try to place a price on the priceless glory of God, and as a matter of fact share in His glory.
Jephthah made an attempt that place the life and future of his dear daughter in jeopardy. Imagine a girl that had colossal expectation and commitment... Stay blessed...
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