DIVULGENCE FROM PSALMS by Pst. Gbenga Aluko

                                                                           

        

Text: Psalm 40:1-5

Topic: Divulgence from psalms

 

This will be done with the following headings:

Background

He awaited and sought

God responded

God’s attributes/doings

Psalmist’s reaction-the challenge

 

Background

Psalm is a collection of songs and poems written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit by many human authors, some of which are King David, Asaph, Sons of korah, King Solomon, Moses, Heman and Ethnan. According to scholars psalms was canonized (written, compiled and edited as led by the spirit) for about one thousand years (1000).our psalms of reference is said to be prophetic talking about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and was written by kind David.

He awaited and sought

The first thing observed in the referenced psalm is the fact that the psalmist waited and sought the Lord and he did that patiently Vs.1, the writer of this psalm is known to waiting and seeking God psalm 42:1 as the deer pants after the water…However as good and godly it is to wait some verses latter tells us some of the reasons why he waited and why we also wait today:

 Troubles surround me               Vs.12, John 16:33

 My sin pile up so high               Vs.12, Is.1:18, CAC GHB 490

 I can’t see my way out              Vs.12, Prov3:5

 I lost courage                             Vs. 12, 1 Sam.30:6

 Many people try to destroy me   Vs. 14

 Many take delight in my trouble Vs.14

God responded 

He turned and heard my cry Vs.1 psalms 61:1

He lifted me out of the pit of despair vs.2 1 Sam. 2:8

He set my feet on the solid ground Vs.2

He has given me a new song Vs.3 prayer

Many will be amazed and put their trust in Him Vs.3

God’s attributes/doings

You have no equal Vs.5, 1 Sam.2:2 Hannah sang there is none beside thee…

You take no desire in sacrifice/offerings Vs.6 but in a sacrificed life 1 Sam.15:22, Rom.12:1

Psalmist’s reaction-the challenge

Doing God’s will Vs.8,having his instruction written in our heart, telling also about him to people 9-11,telling His justice, faithfulness, saving power, unfailing love.

 

 

 

 

 

Led by the Spirit into the wilderness

 

Text: Luke 4:1-13

Topic: Led by the Spirit into the wilderness

 

The topic will be considered with the following sub headings:

Background

Conceived by the Spirit

Endued with the Spirit

Led to the wilderness

Closing notes

Background

The book of Luke was written by Luke who scholars refers to as a Greek physician, the book is seen as volume one of the two books he wrote the other being Acts of Apostle, and it was also agreed that he wrote based on personal investigation of eyes witness report of the life of Jesus amongst other details and sources, the books were written to Theophilus then but to all the world now.

The early chapters of the book details a little introduction on the book chapter one verses one through four(Luke 1:1-4), the birth of John the Baptist was prophesied, same experience with Jesus but both was by angels, these prophesies came to fulfillment, Jesus was born then taken to the temple, John the Baptist began to prepare the way for Jesus, chapter three from verses twenty one (Luke 3:21 ff )Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist after which a brief genealogy of Jesus was done before the eventual chapter of reference for today (chapter four),it was an experience that happened immediately Jesus was baptized as recorded in our chosen text, may we live to fulfill all divine/heavenly prophecies hanging over us (in all spheres)and on/about all that is ours in Jesus mighty name.  Amen.

Conceived by the Spirit 

Every human that had lived (asides Adam and Eve that were created Gen 1:26-2:22), that is living were/are products of biological relationship between man and woman (no matter how improved/improvised or scientific we have made it these days) this case is uniquely different, as prophesied/revealed by the angel in Luke 1:35, Matt 1:20 which says “the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you”. Mary was engaged to Joseph but by Heaven’s calendar and favour baby Jesus was divinely, miraculously put in her stomach Luke 1:26-27.

To further underscore this is the discreet decision of Joseph to put Mary away with the feeling/thoughts that Mary had a secret sex mate as she was found pregnant with an engagement to him and without sex with him Matt. 1:18-20 but for the divine and angelic intervention the engagement would have been broken silently. Don’t always be looking for escape from all supposed cheatings, go to God remember Jacob in Laban’s house, it is usually very painful but find a way to hear from God please.

Who says our greatness in God, child birth ,ministerial growth pattern, financial blessing, ministerial expansion, promotion at the place of work, business expansion and explosion, travelling abroad or any other thing that our heart desires in line with Gods purpose for our lives must follow a given/specific/humanly formula/model/trend or pattern of people who have gone ahead of us (this is not to encourage laziness of any sort especially those not knowing deeply and keenly the scientific amongst other intricacies of a venture, spiritualizing lack of depth and requisite knowledge maybe with prayers and fasting or even consulting mediums of any sort as the main/only work they do….no no ).

The conception of Jesus wasn’t normal, look unto Jesus, respect and learn from other’s especially those accomplished in arrears you are still working on, follow God whole heartedly/without any reservations, pray to God alone for accomplishment.Heb.12:2, God will use that case to surprise people and start a new model/theory of reference in Jesus mighty name. Amen

Endued by the Spirit

The scripture in John 3:34 clearly tell us that Jesus doesn’t only have the spirit of God but He had it even while in human form without measure, in a degree/at a level no other person/human hadn’t and will not have. After His baptism Luke 3:21 the scriptures says that the heavens opened and the Holy spirit in a bodily form of a dove descended upon Him and He was commended as a son who brings great joy to God. Jesus also received affirmations of being from God at the transfiguration experience as the scriptures says in Luke 9:35 ff, Mark 9:7ff, Matthew 17:5ff. Jesus was not only conceived by the Spirit he was endued while on earth and the source of the Spiritual endowments/strengthening was clearly known in the earlier verses of our text and corroborated via the commendations from God.

Led to the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil

Must Jesus be tempted by the devil? What did he gain from the temptation? Is Jesus really God? Must he be directed to the wilderness?

The wilderness not a village at all where most of us will fight with all we have, can call and can borrow to avert, underscoring the recent ile to teju (fertile land),ibi tima ti ri salary gba (locations where my salary will be constant and maybe fat too, all in the words of our highly revered president at the Inauguration of Sophia Ajayi Regional headquarters and induction of her maiden Regional Superintendent. If we must fulfill mandate in ministry we must do it in God’s way, at His pace, following His process. And all this may not be all palatable/attractive/lucrative, our preacher last week (on SOTS a whats app platform majorly for minister where God’s word is taught weekly) mentioned that God blesses those He had worked on underscoring that God takes people through His process. If you cut corners at any point you have short-circuited God and His provisions for you as you have looked to the hills and will continue to do that except you repent. Jesus stood for something far too important not to be opposed or hampered or disturbed by the devil himself, if we are for Christ and doing something for His course we will be buffeted by the devil, Jesus’ experience is a model for us. God’s spirit directed God’s son to the wilderness to be tempted by God’s enemy-THE DEVIL. Are we better than Jesus?

Closing notes

The fact that you are having it all sweet in ministry is not a sign that God is leading you all the way, Jesus didn’t have all like that, Moses ran from home for forty years, Paul had a thorn in His flesh 2 Cor. 12:7, Jeremiah was named a weeping prophet, all the Apostles died in not a palatable form, if we are in the ministry by God’s calling and for His sake and are still with Him in spirit and truth and He brings a sweet experience lets enjoy it while it last but in abstemiousness.

SHALOM

THE TEETH OF THE STRONG LIONS SHALL BE BROKEN BY PST. GBENGA ALUKO

 

Text: Job 4:7-11

Topic: The Teeth of the strong lion shall be broken

 

We shall have this study with the following sub headings:

·         Background to the study

·         Who made the statement

·         Implications or reference from the statement

·         Conclusion

Background to the study

Jewish tradition has it that Moses was the human vessel used by the Holy Spirit to write the book of Job 2 Tim.3:16, Job was introduced amongst other things as a man who was blameless, (just like Daniel too Dan 6:5) a man with integrity, a man who feared God and stayed away from iniquity Job 1:2.if our lives are placed under the screening of the Holy Spirit what will He have to say about us?

Three of his friends: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zopher travelled down from their destinations with the intention to console and comfort him Job 1vs.11 (but alas two of them ended up doing something else) painfully they even didn’t recognize him initially as he was out of class, colour he was a shadow of himself. (Exactly the opposite of the story that climaxed in John 9:9) They spent seven days with him but couldn’t utter a word for seven days alleging that his suffering was too great for words 2:13.May we not have sufferings too great for words and may we receive grace to bear whatever suffering (whether for our faith, carelessness or cluelessness and others) that we are going through in Jesus mighty name Amen.

Who made the statement

It was Eliphaz one of Jobs three friends who made the statement and he was talking as a response to Jobs statements.

Implications or reference from the statement

·         It was a revelation of Eliphaz’s hidden thoughts about Job, and false thoughts usually leads to wrong accusations and actions Job 4:7-11, 5:3 even when God has a different account and verdict about him Job 1:2,God regretted creating man owing to his evil thought amidst other wicked and evil nature Gen.6:6 no wonder God had to tell him to pray for his friends Job 42:8,this evil tendency and trend hasn’t stopped watch and pray is what Jesus said.

·         It is a statement which means that the wittingly wicked will be punished by God, Prov.11:21.

·         It is a prayer point for our God to come in His justice based dimension and expedite judgment on all the wicked and wicked assaults against our life, careers, business, family, education, ministry and all other spheres of our lives and so shall it be in Jesus mighty name amen.

·         It’s also a statement which also connotes that wicked leaders and leadership will be judged by God even in what is their base/strength and source of power the teeth, as lion is the king of the jungle, applying to al circles of wicked leadership and leader who refuses to repent  psalm 58:1-6

 

Conclusion

The wickedness we don’t stop will eventually stop us both here on earth and from reigning with Christ, there is still a fountain filled with blood from Emmanuel’s vein, stop all forms of wickedness and Jesus will accept and change your life for the better. He loves you and is waiting for you. Shalom