Tuesday, 22 August 2023

Scarcity to Surplus by Pastor Gbenga Aluko


 

Text: 2 Kings7:8-9,12-18

Scarcity to Surplus

The message will be considered with the following sub headings:

The failed attempt on Elisha

The besiege on Samaria

The prophetic decree

The leaping lepers

The Lord’s intervention

 

The failed attempt on Elisha

Conquering or/and being conquered is not a recent development, it may be decorated/feigned or disguised in today’s parlance but it does exist today, it was a commonplace also in the old testament era, the king Of Syria attempted this on the king of Israel but for Gods servant carrying His grace and deploying same, this was the succour on several instances.2 Kings 6:10. 

The understanding of the rationale behind his failed blitzes necessitated a manhunt for the prophet himself Vs.13, the King of Syria dispatched a high-powered attack against the prophet. The prophet wasn’t perturbed at all as he knows who he represents and he is also aware of His host dispatched to protect him Vs.16, Rom.8:31 he also employed the opportunity to train and pray for his Servant Vs.17. 

God helped him to overpower the attack.Vs.18ff.May God help us overpower/overcome all our attackers in Jesus mighty name. Amen. 

The besiege on Samaria

King of Syria was humiliated by God in the Prophet but he changed his attack strategy and victim instead of changing his mind totally and ceasing fire, he besieged the whole land, just in the similitude of the devil against God and all that are His, 1 Pt.5:8. The devil and his cohorts won’t change their purpose and mission statement for anyone: to steal, to kill and destroy. John 10:10. Submit to God and resist him, he will flee James 4:7.

The king besieged Samaria and this led to a serious dimension of famine that made women to begin to eat their children in turns Vs.26-29, a semblance of this besiege happened also in the scripture to Jericho Joshua 6:1 ff. Besiege could be physical, spiritual and so on may we be liberated from all forms and manners of besieges in Jesus mighty name.

The prophetic decree

The famine was severe, the king became more emotional than rational and attempted to kill who he has turned to for succour and should ordinarily do same even now, forgetting/neglecting/revolting against God’s past rescue through him.6:133ff.

The prophet was stirred by God’s spirit and he declared that there would be surplus next day 7:1ff. You have given authority from God what are you declaring over your life, business, education, career, family etc.

The leaping lepers

They were lepers but didn’t allow that limit their mind and life, they thought within themselves and made a positive/calculated move not minding their situation and not waiting for a pity party 7:3 they exclaimed why sit we here till we die. Even as a believer there is need to continue to add works, positive steps to our believe and prayers. James 2:18.

The Lord’s intervention

The Lord pursued the Syrian army with a noise too loud, huge, much and intimidating for them to handle they immediately fled without taking anything and Scarcity was turned into surplus as declared by God’s mouthpiece.

There is no almighty formula/one means/method fits all with God:

1.Matt.14:13 a short prayer of thanks and blessing and few bread and fishes fed thousands

2.Ps.78:26, Numbers 11:31 wind blew and brought quails that was sufficient for at least a million persons.

3.2 kings 7:6 God intimidated the Syrians and Surplus came.

He is the God of all flesh there is nothing impossible for Him to do, let’s say the following prayers with faith

 

PRAYERS FOR SURPLUS.

1.Gen 4:12 the land was cursed and it doesn’t matter the quality of seed or technology involved the land wont yield anything for someone who was a farmer. My father, my maker any curse against surplus in my life and family the blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth wipes them away in Jesus mighty name, cursed is anyone hung on the tree.

2.Lord let there be a rain of Surplus into my life in the order of Num.11:31

3.My spirit man receive liberty from all bondage, siege of Scarcity, be emboldened by the power and fire of the Holy Ghost.

4.I receive wisdom/ideas/skill/intelligence that will navigate surplus towards me. Mark 6:2, Ex.31:1ff

5.I receive solutions to problems and favour that will navigate Surplus to me Gen.41:38, Ex.3:21.

 

 

 


Saturday, 19 August 2023

Micaiah by Pastor Gbenga Aluko

 


Text:1Kings22:8-18

Topic: Micaiah

The topic will be done with the following sub-headings:

Background

Micaiah

King Jehoshaphat of Judah

Lessons from the Prophet Micaiah’s interaction in 1 kings 22

 

Background 

The Lord gave King Ahab of Israel great victories over king of Syria on two quick occasions in 1 Kings 20: in the Hills Vs.20 and in the valley vs.29. Affirming to the human mind that He is God anywhere and everywhere and disputing the belief of the Syrians that holds otherwise. It may suffice to say that there are two kings reigning over Gods chosen people: King Jehoshaphat of Israel and King Ahab of Judah

The referenced king repaid this grace by disobedience and also exhibiting his affinity/lust/covetousness for land/possessions Vs.34 and God was not happy with him at all Vs.43

As if that was not bad enough, he also coveted the vineyard of Naboth (land again) 1 King 21:1-2. and his unruly, wicked and godless wife plotted and killed Naboth just for his refusal to sell or give his inheritance to Ahab, God became angry with him again.1 Kings 21:21

May god give us wisdom and discipline to avoid all errors of King Ahab even as we lead His people in Jesus mighty name. Amen

Micaiah

According to the scripture he was the son of Imlah, according to scholars he was one of the disciples of Prophet Elijah, not the same as Prophet Micah. God used him greatly to warn the two kings, but more with King Ahab.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah 

He was a king of God’s people but went to visit/associate with the wrong person, the king of Israel:

1.Had an unbridled ambition for conquest and land: return all land and street in Damascus, Vineyard of Naboth, Ramoth Gilead etc.1 king.20:34,21:1-2,22:3

2.he had made God angry on several occasions

3.had over 400+ prophets who were cheap prey for lying spirit.

King Jehoshaphat was in alliance with someone God is angry with and were already plotting his downfall, are we any different?

May God help us to be discerning in our associations in Jesus mighty name.

Lessons from the Prophet Micaiah’s interaction in 1 kings 22 

1.Those who don’t like the truth knows those who speak it and when they speak it.1 kings22:15, John 17:17 study God’s word, believe it, live it, and teach it, it is the only pure truth.

2.Those who speak and live the truth (speaking and living God’s word) may suffer for it: Slap 1king 22:24, imprisonment 1king 22:27, God is with them and rewards them.

3.It doesn’t matter the guile/disguise the wicked cant escape the recompense of their deeds 1 kings 22:20,1kings22:34-35

4.He lied that the prophet doesn’t say anything good to and about him.1kings20:13ff, evil/wicked people forget/undermine/deny the good deeds/acts.

5.be content with who God made you, gifts he gave you, wife He gave you and all other things, you can’t have it all.

Shalom.