By Yaguo Ide
(Sunday 4th October, 2009)
[For a printable version click here.]
QUOTABLE NOTES:
I am asking God to help ensure that every move I make is a reality in my every day experience. I don’t want to just sing, speak a word or read the scriptures for the sake of it. When I sing a song, I want to be sure I believe in what I am confessing in the words of the song.
Take the song “YOU ARE THE LORD, LET YOUR NAME BE GLORIFIED”. I wonder in my coming this morning to church, is it my intention to glorify the name of the Lord? The things that I have set out to do in the days to come, are they set out and arranged to the end that His name may be glorified? As I begin to sing the song I see areas where I have wronged and disgraced the name of the Lord. When the issue between David and Bathsheba occurred, the Lord said that David gave occasion for the name of the Lord to be blasphemed. I am asking the Lord that in my attitudes and actions, I will not give occasion for the name of the Lord to be blasphemed.
As I read the scriptures, I understand more that God is a God of details. We were praying for a sister the other day anointing her with oil, and I saw two pictures.
The first was the idea of oil being the ingredient that causes the different ingredients in the dough when knead to become one. The constituent of a little piece of bread is equivalent to all that is in a whole loaf. I picture God mixing His word in our hearts, as we read the scriptures, as you pray, the word of God begins to be mingled; God begins to mix the word (the oil) with your heart to the end that you become a part of God. Wherever you are, although you are a small piece, your constituents are just like that of the big loaf of bread.
The second picture was that of cloth being woven. The scriptures speak of gold being used like a thread. Cloth is colourful. Now some of the colors are not part of the dress, some times the colors are painted or dyed on the dress, but there are some thread that are actually used to weave the dress giving it its color. Weaving is a serious and intricate work compared to painting. I see God weaving His nature into us. PRAISE THE LORD. The needle can be painful sometimes but God is weaving carefully. You know, blind men can’t weave because it is a skill that requires one to open their eyes to get it right. It is a work that entails details. I am glad that God is the one in charge of the weaving that goes on in my heart. I am glad that the name of the Lord can be glorified in my life. As we sing the songs, let us see our selves in the songs, so our hearts can begin to open up in true worship and praise.
THE LORD IS GOOD
2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 22
Brethren, we must not fail to read the scriptures; for each day we read, we get something new. Is this not wonderful? You can imagine how many times I have read the bible in all my years, still yet, I find something new. Take for example, I have read the story of Ahitophel many times over, but I was reading it again the other day and saw something new. Now the common understanding we have of this story is that David prayed that the counsel of Ahitophel be turned to foolishness. I never realized that Ahitophel planned to go into battle just to kill David and no one else, so as to leave the people no choice but to surrender automatically to Absalom. Is it not strange, in spite of having read that passage over and over, I had never seen it that way? We also see the intricate working of iniquity; how that a man could be in the house of David eating and drinking with him yet secretly conniving (with David’s son) to over throw him. God had blessed Ahitophel with wisdom. In fact when he gave counsel, it was as if God had spoken, yet this man subscribed to be the one that will go and kill David. May God help our hearts and deliver us from the bounds of iniquity.
Let us look at 2 Samuel 22. It is not that I have a deep revelation to share with you from this chapter, but it is just sweet and exciting to hear David describe God in the words of this psalm.
2Sa 22:1 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: v2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; v3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence
Let us tell our hearts to agree with this verse, let it not be David alone trusting God but let us also say dear Lord in you will I trust (for besides Him there is no savior). In fact if you get to the point where you believe God can not save you, I believe then it is better to die. Death at that point should be viewed as salvation. Remember the three Hebrew brothers who came to this conclusion. Let us also take note of the fact that it is God that saves us from violence. Brethren hold this confession closely especially in the face of the militancy and violence that prevail in these times.
v4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. v5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; v6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; v7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
Times come when the waves of death compass us brethren. We should ask God to give us the ability to call upon His name in our time of distress. Many a time when we are distressed, we forget about God and begin to look for help elsewhere. May God condition my heart that in my distress, my first port of call will be the Name of the Lord.
v8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. v9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
The heavens shook because one man cried to God. Praise GOD. Imagine your small prayer. I don’t have full understanding of what the smoke means but am glad because it sounds very good to me that my prayer can cause smoke to be released from God and the enemies of my soul will be discomfited.
v10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. v11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. v12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. v13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. v14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. v15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. v16 And the channels of the sea appeared; the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. v17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
This is beyond poetry brethren. Yes I have passed through a few waters and the Lord indeed has drawn us out of many waters. Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivers us out of all our troubles. The Lord is faithful to have supplied us our daily needs. And He has given us joy.
v18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
When David was told that Ahitophel had joined the rebellion, David knew that it would take only the intervention of God to save him, because he was well aware that he was no match for the counsel that comes from Ahitophel. It was then he asked God to turn Ahitophel’s counsel to foolishness and God honoured it. Though Ahitophel’s counsel was actually the counsel that could have given Absalom victory, God turned it around and caused them to reject his wise counsel. This is why we should be careful which counsel we follow. A counsel can be so good and perfect and could give a good answer if followed, but it can end you in hell. This situation is much like the situation of the Israelites in the wilderness, who got what they wanted but the Lord multiplied leanness to their soul. One thing you should know is that the devil can do good business with you but you can be sure that he will come for your soul.
V19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. V20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. V21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me V22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. V23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.V24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity V25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
May God give us the moral standing to boast like David about our righteousness. This is not the same as being proud. David was testifying of the fact that he was doing his best.
V26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. V27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the forward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. V28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. V29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
The afflicted will be saved. God is referring to us, Hallelujah. May every darkness in our souls be enlightened this morning.
V30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
Many a time the enemies lay ambush for us. The enemy is usually waiting, He says in his heart, you have escaped me all these years but I know I will get you when you come for thus and thus, you will bow to me during one burial rite or the other. This is much like the scenario between Esau and Jacob when the birth right was taken. Esau’s attitude at that time was: go with the birth right but when our father dies and you come for the burial, we will find out who is the first son. Does that not sound familiar? Have you not been told that thus and thus will happen just because you do not follow them in their vain customs and traditions? We must continue to obey God and nothing will happen to us. Is it not written in the scriptures, who can harm thee if thou followeth that which is good? What ever walls there are, by God we will leap over them. AMEN
V31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
HALLELUJAH! The ways of our God is perfect. When God does a thing, nothing can be added or removed from it to make it better. This He does so that men may fear before Him. If it is God’s word brethren; receive it, for it is perfect. I know you have also tried the Word of the Lord and found it to be true. What ever you need, God will give it to you. God is good brethren, the Lord does take care of His people.
V32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? V33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. V34 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high place V35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. V36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great V37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. 38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
Praise the Lord. God has made my feet wide so when I step, my feet are strong on the ground.
V39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. V40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. V41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. V42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. V43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. V44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. V45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. V46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. V47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. V48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, V49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. V50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
Are the scriptures not sweet to read brethren? Look at verse v47 again. Just to say that I am fully loaded because God is my rock.
THE LORD IS OUR DEFENCE
When unbelievers complain about their problems, we should not join them. Though the nations wax worst and worst according to the scriptures, we should know that our case is different and like David, we ought to be singing amongst the heathen. Some time ago I was wondering with God why I should be praying for the nations, when the word of God says that there will be much more trouble. God gave me understanding and I realized that the prayer I pray is for the deliverance of His people. There will be trouble, but as you stay on the Lord, you will be delivered. And not just you, but as many as you want to be delivered. Jericho was set for judgment. There was nothing any one could have done to deliver Jericho. The missiles for its destruction had already been released. But praise God that there was one woman called Rahab. The picture I have of Rahab is that of a woman who must have gone out to evangelize, coupled I believe with prayer and fasting. She convinced as many of her relations who believed her to repent, and become born again and she brought them to her house in fellowship. All the others who did not believe her ended up being destroyed. This world is under judgment but God is going to save us in grand style. The solution is not to run away from the problem. Like our dear Bro Cecil said at one time “ YOUR PLACE OF SAFETY IS WHERE GOD ASKS YOU TO STAY” Remember the scripture that says, two shall be in a place and one shall be taken and the other left. The same bed, the same situation, the same stress, the same condition, the same NEPA failure, yet one will be saved and the other taken for judgment. THE SOLUTION IS TO HEAR FROM GOD AND WALK WITH THE LORD.
V51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
Praise God, we are that seed whom God has purposed to show mercy, Amen. I just rejoice at the goodness of God. Look into your heart brethren; you will not have any reason to doubt the goodness of God. God is taking care of you. Each day he watches over us. LORD WE THANK YOU.
PAYS TO REMEMBER…
THE LORD IS OUR DEFENCE
There is a joyful song in my heart; it is from Psalms 89 v 15 to 18. It is one of those songs God’s Spirit gives. When the Spirit gives a song and you sing it, you know it because it strikes a cord in your soul. It is a word of victory; it declares that the people that hear it are blessed.
IT GOES LIKE THIS :
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
v16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. v17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. v18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
THE INTERPRETATION IS THIS: It means that the people that have insight into what God is saying now, will be able to walk in the light of God’s countenance and in the favor of God. They will rejoice in the name of God all the day long and in God’s righteousness they will be established. Nothing will shake them and the Lord becomes their defense, He becomes their fortification, He becomes their all.
…… Bro Ebere (Laka convention in Sierra Leone 2009)