DO NOT LOOSE YOUR AUTHORITY (2)

DON'T LOOSE YOUR AUTHORITY 2!

       In order to bring the above instruction to a conclusion, having seen the idea of king Jehoshaphat to avert their unpalatable experience, they had to look for Elisha the son of Shaphat-a man in whom the Spirit of the Lord is dwelling richly and has the word of life with him.

       Elisha eventually helped them out of their bottle neck challenges and presented to them the mind of God until the ugly situation was bottom out, yet, he did not forget to honor and acknowledge the wisdom and presence of Jehoshaphat over and above other kings, because it was in consonance with God's mind for any reliable child of God at such situation. Call me in the day of adversity is the counsel of God for His wayward children at any time, and there is an assurance of deliverance (Jeremiah 33:3, Mathew.7:7-8).

       The amazing part of this scenario is that, at their wit ends, their riches, fame, power and position could not save them, except for divine intervention.

       Beloved, what are you passing through at the moment that seems to suggest another alternative for you contrary to the will of God? Or are you at the point of giving up on life? There is one more thing you can still do to come out of your life threatening situation, and witness yet another glorious days that lie ahead of you. Why can't you go on your kneels and call upon the name of the Lord in prayer? Or like Jehoshaphat, look for a man of God in whom there is God's Spirit to guide and direct you out of you unpleasant situation? God does not have pleasure in the death of a sinner, neither does He want you to remain in your horrible pit. If at all you must die as a mortal being, He want you to die a righteous death. He want you to spend your days in pleasure and your years in affluence, not in problem.

       Our nation and leaders have invited the wrath of God upon our land, and have subjected the general masses into financial drought, due to economic and resources misappropriation and wastage, and now they don't understand how to come out of the implication of what their wickedness have lured them into. But there is one and only way out of this mess, if perhaps we cry to God and His true men for a way out before things get worse.

       Subsequently, while kings have forgotten God, and the citizens walking in their own ways, Elisha maintained a correct standing with God, and guarded his office jealously, hoping that one day the Lord will reward his faithfulness and bring him before the public gaze. He did not allow the situation of the land to suggest any move which may be contrary to God's will or sway him out of the presence of God for him, and sooner than he expected, heaven introduced him to kings as the only option out of their national gloom.

       Jesus knew the gravity and significance of God's Word when He told His disciples to sell everything they have, including their garments and buy a sword. The word of God is liken to sword, and garment is anything that cover our shame or nakedness, and prevent us from open embarrassment or ridicule. This garment may be your job, house, children, ministry, etc. None of them can atone for a cordial and intimate relationship and fellowship with God.

       It is more fulfilling and that serious to be naked and have your relationship with God intact, than to have everything and already a compromise and portrayed of a fake identity.

      Your authority is the presence of God in your life, and you can't retain the presence of God when you are not ready to risk everything to protect it. Had we have men with that consciousness in our churches and offices, our nation would have long recovered his lost glory, and Christ too would have earn more honor and respect from men than what has been His lot from the pulpit ministers of nowadays, and we would have even shut the mouth of hell from swallowing crowd of men for whom Jesus died on daily basis. May God help His church!

     There is more to fear from pastors and prophets now than some so called herbalist and soothsayers. People find it more comfortable to receive prophecy from native doctors than from our faith clinic ministers. When money and materialism has blocked their spiritual eye from seeing the correcting thing, and they have exchanged their beauty for ashes of world glamours. I can't even help shedding tears over this matter. They are always after people's gold than their problem.

     Where are men like Samuel who confidently challenged the people of Israel with his contentious lifestyle and called heaven to bear him witness, and God had to thundered immediately as a signature on his proposal.

    Joseph preferred to be imprisoned than to compromise his godly stand, and his service was eventually needed in the highest seat of the land.

    Though Elisha seems not to be noticed by anyone for his godly lifestyle, but some people are watching, and at the appointed time, highest authority in the land surrendered under his authority. He became their spiritual father. May God grant you understanding!

DO NOT LOOSE YOUR AUTHORITY 1

DON'T LOOSE YOUR AUTHORITY!

"But Jehoshaphat said, 'Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?' So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, 'Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.' And Jehoshaphat said, 'The word of the Lord is with him.' So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him." 2 King.3:11-12.
The destiny of any nation is not so much in the hands of their political leaders as much as it is in the hand of God. He is the one who rules in the affairs of man, and control time and season. He enthrone kings and dethrone them alike. But inasmuch as God will not come down physically to do anything, He has His representatives or delegated authorities by which He carry out His mission at any time.

Now, who are the authorities of God on earth, and what is their seal of authority? This is the one million dollar question the world is missing today, and are punished by the consequence.

The scenario in the above text unveiled the significance and indispensability of God's presence in the life of a man, and His important to our entire life. No wonder Apostle Paul said, all that are gain to me I counted as dung to win Christ. Nothing is too much to loose in order to retain His presence, neither is the whole universe worth loosing the presence of God.

Anyone that lost the presence of God has lost all: his life, dignity, power or authority and relevance. He is lifeless and empty, and does not worth existing anymore except if he make effort to recover it.

The problem facing our world is due to our attitude or reaction toward God and His world. God wires the universe in such a way that everything should flow right from His presence. He does not expect man to exercise authority at will or discharge duties without His prior knowledge. He want to be actively involve, not because He has any personal benefit to derive, but rather out of His share kindness-to ease man of undue stress, complication and confusion. Because He knows the purpose for everything He has made and have the details of the whole universe in His palms. He does not want our works to be subjected to errors or flaw. He know the way through the wilderness of life. In Him was all made, and without Him was made nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John.1:1-4).

No one knows better about a product like the manufacturer or producer; so it would be a display of insanity if you take a product else where apart from the manufacturer or satisfied personnel in that field when it admit faults.

The three kings in the golden text used for this piece left for battle without seeking the counsel of the Lord on the way to go in order to capture their enemies, the needed strategy to adopt, and the kind of preparation the suppose to make. Even the Bible did make record of them observing the usual rite the kings in Israel customarily undertake before going for battle. They have forgotten God, and have removed the old landmark. They have taken for granted and taboo those sacred observation inherited from their fathers which has its root from the Lord, and are walking in their own knowledge, together with the people of the land. They looked down on the ability of their enemies by virtue of their own preparation, but the outcome of their self-reliant effort was quite frustrating and unfortunate. They haven't gotten to the camp of their enemies when they were suing for death, because of the toughness of the journey, as they merry-go-round around a spot a whole week until they have almost exhausted all the strength in them for the battle.

Nevertheless, while the rest of the kings were reading another meaning for their misfortune and blame the unfriendly situation on God, Jehoshaphat raised a suggestion that serve a great lesson for anyone at any age, in any generation to come out of any dilemma or confusing state: "Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?" This my personal interpretation of that frame: "Even though we failed to put God at the fore-front by committing the way to His able and reliable hand at the outset, yet, He remains a compassionate God and willing at the peak of our incoherent situation to lend a helping hand. Why would we just die here and jeopardize our dearly beloved nations and kingdoms. After all He does not despise anyone that come to Him, no matter what! And if at all we have lost our authorities to stand before Him because of our uncaring attitude, we can still find someone who guards his jealously to stand in the gap for us before the situation gets absolutely out of hand." That is what I perceive Jehoshaphat was trying to say with that statement. I hope to continue later...keep enjoying God's grace...God bless you.