Week 30: July 29th, 2018

 

Topic: The Lord is my portion – Part 1

 

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:19-24

 

Introduction

 

Portion is a part of a whole thing. If you have portion in God, it means that you are part of Almighty God and His eternal kingdom. It can also be described as dividing something into shares to be distributed among many people, which means that if God is your portion, you will receive part of His Spirit that is being distributed among mankind at this end time. The best thing that can happen to anyone is to be part of God and His heavenly kingdom, else you will have your portion in the devil and his destructive kingdom. So, arise and contribute your own quota to the propagation of the Gospel so that you will have gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 

Nowadays, the prophets and the leaders of Christianity have led many people astray because of their own selfish interest, corruption and greed. They have made people to turn their back on the Lord God instead of making Him their portion. The Bible described them by saying that “O Israel your prophets are like foxes in the desert”. The leaders/priests are like jackals digging and hunting for food among the ruins of a city. They are after their bellies and aspirations instead of the work of God Ezekiel 13:4. It is for this reason that I am crying aloud without holding back; I raise my voice like a trumpet and I am declaring to mankind their transgression, and to the Christians their sins Isaiah 58:1. I am not timid, but I am announcing to the world their crime of not making God their portion.

 

When you make God your portion, He also will reciprocate the gesture by making you His portion, which means, you will be among His special people, as it is written “For the Lord’s portions is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance” Deuteronomy 32:9. Do you want to be among the people that belong to the Lord and be His special possession? Then make God your portion. If you want the Lord to take good care of you and make you His chosen share, make Him your portion in the land of the living. Have confidence that your portion is the true God, He is the Holy One of Israel and He is not like handmade gods or deity; For He is the Maker of all things, and the One who formed and fashioned everything. The Christians are the tribe of His inheritance and the Lord of hosts is His name Jeremiah 51:19. Since you know that your God is not an idol but I Am who I Am, then do not hesitate to make Him your portion and be His portion.

 

Never deny God the right to be your portion

 

Do not deny God the entitlement to be your portion during your lifetime because of the eternal benefits that you will derive.

 

Make God your portion: If you do not refuse God to be your portion, then He will have portion in you and likewise you will have portion in Him. For this reason, make the Lord your portion of your inheritance, and your cup of blessing who will support and maintain your lot Psalm 16:5. Since you know that the Lord is all that you have and He gives you all that you need, then do whatever that pleases Him. If you realize that your future is in His hands and He is the One who determines and safeguard your destiny, never disobey Him. Whatever challenges you are passing through, do not reject God to be your portion, but make Him your portion. Even if your flesh and heart fail, still make God the rock and the strength of your heart and your portion forever. If your health fails and your spirit grow weak, let God remains the strength of your heart and all you need forever Psalm 73:26. Whatever the circumstance, make God your portion and choice forever.

 

 Confess God as your portion: Confess with your mouth and declare publicly that the Lord is your refuge and your portion in the land of the living. Announce to the world that the Lord is your place of safety and your choice during your existence, and He will answer your prayer because He knew that you are helpless Psalm 142:5. Once you realize that the Lord is your portion and all that you want in life, let your heart rejoice and always sing this song “The Lord is my portion, says my soul, the Lord is my portion, my heart hopes for His glory”. The song attested to the Bible passage which stated that “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him” Lamentations 3:24. If you admit that the Lord is your portion and all that you need, depend on Him throughout your existence.

 

Make the Lord your portion before it is too late because anyone who rejects the Lord and His teachings will be judged on the last day by what the Lord has said John 12:48. We pray that you will yield today and make the Lord your portion.

 

Reasons why God is not the portion of many people

 

There are several reasons why God is not the portion of countless people in the world today and some of the reasons are the following:

•   Lack of knowledge          •   Pleasure and lusts of this world

•   Customs or traditions      •   Wisdom of this world

•   Idolatry                            •   Disobedience.

 

The Bible cautioned us that we must not do at all what we are doing in the world today, whereby everyone is doing whatever that is right in his/her eyes. If we are knowledgeable, we will know that it is time to stop acting according to our own desires and do what pleases the Lord Deuteronomy 12:8. After repeated warning from the Lord, people are still adamant saying, that it is hopeless and unnecessary to obey the directives of the Lord. Humans are following their own plans and walking after their own devices. Everyone is acting in accordance to the stubbornness of his/her evil heart instead of making the Lord their portion Jeremiah 18: 11-12. Yield today, listen to the Lord and care about what He says. Do not make plans to sin or go against His words. Henceforth, you must neither be stubborn nor do what you want.

 

Many pastors, shepherds and rulers have destroyed the vineyard of the Lord through greediness, corruption and selfish ambitions. They have trampled His portion underfoot and they have made His pleasant portion a desolate waste land Jeremiah 12:10. Are you one of the pastors/shepherds who mislead people because of gifts or bribe? Are you one of the rulers/leaders who promulgate draconian laws because of your selfish interest? Please stop invading and ravaging the Church of the Lord before it is too late.

 

If we observe the present events on earth, we will notice that disaster which is widespread in the world cannot happen unless the Lord has utterly rejected us and He is very angry with us because we have deserted Him and make vanity our portion Lamentations 5:22. It is time for the world to turn to the Lord and make Him their portion.

 

Lack of knowledge: Anyone who reject the words of the Lord and the messenger who brought the news lacks knowledge: such person does not reject human but God who sent the messenger on an errand. Do not reject the instructions of the Lord or be like the people of Israel who asked for a king, which displeases God and prompted Him to say to Samuel “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; For they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” 1 Samuel 8:7. Therefore, be knowledgeable, do not reject the words of the Lord or His messenger, else you are indirectly rejecting the Almighty God who saves you from disasters and distresses accordingly to the Bible passage which stated that “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” Luke 10:16. Be well informed and prove to the world that you are knowledgeable by not rejecting the Lord, but by making Him your portion.

 

The devil has hijacked the souls of numerous people and several people in the world today are saying to God, depart from us because we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways while countless people are conducting themselves in manners which shows that God should not bother them but leave them alone, because they don’t want to know His ways. Many people are exhibiting the behaviours that clearly means God should turn away from them, because they have no pleasure in His teachings Job 21:14. Beware so that your actions and reactions will not tell Almighty God off, or for your performance to mean that you want no part of Him and His ways.

 

Since countless people in the world refused even to think about God, He permits their useless minds to rule over them, and that’s why they do all sorts of indecent things. It is a common occurrence nowadays for people not to think that it is worthwhile to acknowledge God. For this reason, God deliver and abandon them to their defective and corrupt minds to do inappropriate and improper things Romans 1:28. Do not think that it is foolish to acknowledge God and retain His knowledge, because it is essential for you to have a true knowledge of God during your lifetime. Anyone who choose not to pay attention to this message of making the Lord his/her portion may perish by the sword and die without knowledge. Whoever that does not hear and obey this message will die by the sword of God’s destructive judgments, and such people will die in ignorance without true knowledge Job 36:12. Harken to the voice of the Lord, since those who foolishly refuse to obey this instruction of the Lord will be rewarded with a violent spiritual death.

 

Many people throughout the world are in spiritual captivity and the darkness had imprisoned multitude of people due to lack of knowledge. The only solution to escape the confinement of the wicked people is to make God who can defend you, your portion in the land of the living. The scripture says “Therefore My people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge; their honourable men are famished. And their multitude dried up with thirst” Isaiah 5:13. Do you want to overcome your problems and defeat your adversaries? Seek the knowledge of God and make Him your portion according to the Bible passage which stated that “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest of Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” Hosea 4:6. Seek knowledge, and never deny God the right to be your portion so that it will be well with you throughout your existence.

 

 

 

Week 31: August 5th, 2018

 

Topic: The Lord is my portion – Part 2

 

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:19-24

 

We shall continue our discussion by mentioning how the worldly pleasures and the lustful things are making people to reject the Lord God as their portion in the land of the living.

 

Pleasures and lusts of this world

 

Multitude of people in the world today have either sold or mortgage their souls to the devil due to the pleasures and enjoyments of this world. Countless people are captives of the old serpent because of their lustful activities while numerous people who did not make God their portion are in the spiritual bondage of Satan. Many people who thought that they were having great time were actually in the clutches of devil, such people will be entrapped forever by the darkness if they do not change and make God their portions.

 

We must first realize that our God take no pleasure in wickedness and evil doers are not welcome in His presence, unless they repent. The Lord is not a God who enjoys wickedness and evil cannot live with Him Psalm 5:4. Since God does not take pleasure in wickedness, you too must stop taking pleasure in the vanity of this world and make Him your portion. Cease lusting after the meaningless things of this world, else your desire for pleasure will continue to wage spiritual battle within you. As it is written “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” James 4:1. The only antidote to subdue your desire for worldly pleasure is to make God your portion. Focus on God and control your cravings and passions for earthly things. It is for this reason that the scripture stated that “Say to them, ‘As I live’, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’” Ezekiel 33:11. The living God have no pleasure in your death, so repent and turn to Him, then you will live. Make Him your portion and abstain from worldly pleasure, then eternity will be yours. Do not forget, you now have second chance because God do not have pleasure in the death of the wicked people, but He wants them to turn from their evil ways. Return and reconcile with Him, and live according to the Bible passage which stated that “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Says the Lord God, ‘and not the he should turn from his ways and live?’” Ezekiel 18:23. God is waiting for you to stop pursuing the pleasures of this world and make Him your portion. Do not keep God waiting but make haste today before the grace period passes away.

 

The Bible attested that all that is in this world are: The lust of the flesh and the craving for sensual gratification, the greedy longings of the mind together with the lust of the eyes; the boastful pride of life and the assurance in one’s resources together with the confidence in the stability of one’s earthly possessions. None of these come from the Heavenly Father but from the world 1 John 2:16. Since you realize that everything in the world is selfish desires and cravings for physical pleasure together with pride in our achievements and possessions, is it not yet time for you to desert the physical pleasures and make God who can give you eternal pleasure your portion? If you amuse yourself with laughter and gratification, it is futility. If you are having good time and you are in high spirit, it is meaningless. If you are having fun and merriment, it is vanity according to the Bible passage which says, “I said in my heart, ‘Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore, enjoy pleasure’; but surely, this also was vanity” Ecclesiastes 2:1. Satan has deceived uncountable people with the physical pleasure of this world and led them astray, so, seek God instead. Do not forget that having pleasure and enjoying the good things of this life is worthless and it will not last forever, therefore, make God who can make you to be worthy in His heavenly kingdom your portion. Those people who love to get whatever they want and do whatever that will make them to be happy must beware so that Satan will not use the vanity to cause their downfall.

 

Nowadays, numerous people like to enjoy and do pleasurable things on the Sabbath. It is widespread in the world today for people to be having social and sports activities on the Sabbath day instead of going to church to worship the Lord. Many people see the Sabbath day as the day to conduct their immoral hobby or assemble for recreational and entertaining purposes rather than be in the presence of God. Several people have turned the Sabbath to a day of fulfilling their desire for pleasure instead of keeping the statutes of the Lord. We advise such people to start respecting the Sabbath as a joyful day of worship. They must stop doing and saying whatever that pleases them on this special day but do whatever that pleases the Lord. If you are not after the pleasures of this age and you want to prove to the world that God is your portion, then you must keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath; you need to turn away your foot from traveling unduly or embarking on unnecessary travel on the Sabbath.

 

 

You must not pursue your own pleasure on the holy day of the Lord but call it a delight and sacred to the Lord. Honour the Sabbath in everything you do on that day and don’t follow your own desire. You must not do things your own way and you must neither seek your own pleasure nor talk business Isaiah 58:13. It is then that the grace of God will teach you to reject and renounce all ungodliness and worldly pleasures to live a decent and honest life. You will be taught to live a sensible, upright and godly life with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity in this present age Titus 2:11-12. Since you are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures, you should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God, most especially, by making God your portion.

 

Learn from the parable of the sower mentioned in the Bible: the seeds that fell among thorns are the people who hear the message but as they go on their way the seeds are chocked/suffocated by the anxiety, riches and pleasures of this life, so they never produce any mature fruit Luke 8:4-8, 11-14. Do not allow the cares, wealth and enjoyment of this life to chock this message in your life. Harken to the voice of the Lord and make a wise decision by making Him your portion. Since the pleasures and enjoyments of this world will not last but come to an end one day nevertheless, the grace and the glory of the Lord abide forever. As it is written “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” 1 John 2:17. Do you want to remain and live forever? Refrain from pleasures of this world and make God your portion.

 

Beloved, we implore and urge you as sojourners and pilgrims in this world to abstain from the sensual urges and dishonourable desires. We beg you to refrain from evil desires and passions of the flesh that wages war against the soul 1 Peter 2:11. Please avoid or keep away from worldly desires and the fleshly lusts which wage war against your souls. Henceforth, we must no longer spend the rest of our natural life living by human appetites and desires but for the will and purpose of God since we have wasted enough time doing what the unbelievers desire. We have spent enough time already living like the gentiles in shameless, insolent wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts, wild parties, and lawless idolatry 1 Peter 4:2-3. Change today, since you have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy – their immorality and lust, their feasting and orgies, their drunkenness and idol worshipping: Please flee from the pleasures of this world and make God your portion.

 

The wrath of the Lord is coming upon the people who love the pleasures of the world more than God. Those who preferred the pleasures to making God their portions. For this reason, we constantly pray for you that our God may deem and count you worth of your calling to faith. His gracious purpose of goodness together with His power may complete in you every work of faith. We keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call, and for Him to empower you to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do 2 Thessalonians 1:11. We always pray for God to fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power in your life, so that you will not be among the people who will be condemned for enjoying evil and have pleasure in unrighteousness rather than believing in the truth 2 Thessalonians 2:12. We pray that you will not be judged and punished with the people who refused to rely on and adhere to the truth rather than taking pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

Listen to this, you who think that you alone are all-powerful, and no evil will come to your household but all you care about is pleasure. Pay attention to the word of the Lord, you who love pleasures and are given to them, you who dwell safely and sit securely, who says in your mind that calamity will never befall you. Both of these will happen to you at once, on a single day: childlessness and widowhood will envelop you in full measure, despite all your sorceries and terrestrial powers Isaiah 47:8-9. Unless you trust in the truth and have no pleasure in unrighteousness but make God your portion.

 

You pleasure loving people, living at ease and feeling secure. You who says “I am the only one, and there is no other person besides me.” You shall witness disaster of great magnitude, and your magical or terrestrial powers will not save you. Always bear in mind that anyone who lives in pleasure and self-gratification, giving himself/herself up to luxury and self-indulgence is dead while he/she is still lives. Whoever lives for pleasure and self-indulgence is spiritually dead even while he/she still lives 1 Timothy 5:6. Do you want to die spiritually or be a walking corpse? If not, then you must never live only for pleasure or live in the habits of self-indulgence but live for God.

 

 

 

Week 32: August 12th, 2018

 

Topic: The Lord is my portion – Part 3

 

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:19-24

 

We shall continue our discussions by mentioning what the scripture says concerning our customs and traditions. Most importantly, how they have led many people to deny the Lord God the right to be their portions.

 

Customs and traditions

 

We must first realize that the customs of the people are mere delusion and they are exercise in futility. The traditions of nations are nothing, and they are worthless unless it is in conformity with the teachings of the Holy Bible. ‘In a nutshell’, all our customs are vanity even if they have nothing to do with idolatry since they came into existence through the wisdom of men rather than the wisdom of God Jeremiah 10:3. Therefore, do not learn the way of the gentiles or follow the customs of heathen nations so that Satan will not influence you to make him your portion by worshipping the elements or the terrestrial things. As it is written “Thus says the Lord ‘Do not learn the way of the gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the gentiles are dismayed at them.’” Jeremiah 10:2. Don’t you think it is time to forsake Satan and his works?

 

Many nations in the world today are practicing abhorrent customs, so do not imitate the detestable customs of your neighbors. You must neither learn nor practice the abominable traditions of your community or nation according to the Bible passage which stated that “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations” Deuteronomy 18:9. Remember “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil …” says the Bible Exodus  23:2. For this reason, avoid wicked customs; do not give the excuse that since people around you are practicing disgusting customs, you too must join them, but keep the command of the Lord. Do not practice any of the repulsive custom which has been practiced in that geographical location before you begin to live there so that you will not defile yourself by them. Never participate in the detestable customs that were practiced before your arrival in the area/community. Pay attention to the word of God which says “Therefore you shall keep My ordinance so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which are committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God” Leviticus 18:30. Never fail to obey the instructions of the Lord Your God by abstaining from every abominable custom.

 

Nowadays, many Christians are not keeping the laws of the Lord and they are not observing His regulations, instead they are following the laws of the nations around them. Countless Christians are not walking in the statutes of the Lord or executing His judgments, but they are acting according to the customs of the gentiles which surround them Ezekiel 11:12. Yield today, do not fail to obey the decrees and the regulations of God, and stop copying the standards of the nations around you.

 

Many nations are experts at setting aside and nullifying the commandments of God in order to keep their man-made customs. Several nations have a fine way of rejecting and thwarting the commandments of God in order to keep their traditions. Numerous people on earth have ways of invalidating God’s commands in order to set up their traditions. Countless Christians have ways of departing from God’s commandment in order to observe and establish their customs and teachings Mark 7:9. Therefore, many nations in the world are ignoring God’s command to follow their customs. Several countries are nullifying the word of God by their traditions according to the Bible passage which stated that “Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do” Mark 7:13. You must never invalidate the word of God, but do away with the customs that are against the teachings of the Bible. You must neither cancel nor void the commandment of God because of your tradition during your lifetime.

 

Make sure that you are not enslaved through philosophy and foolish deception based on human traditions and the elements of this world rather than Christ. Don’t let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments, which might sound wise, but they are only human teachings which originated from the powers of this world and not from Christ. Beware so that no one takes you captive through pseudo intellectual babble and vain deceit according to human tradition and men’s ideas of the materials things rather than the spiritual things of God Colossians 2:8. Abstain from crude notions of following rudimentary and elemental teachings which is against the teachings of Christ. Be careful so that you will not be captured with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense which comes from human thinking and the spiritual powers of this world (terrestrial powers) rather than from Jesus Christ. Therefore, stand firm and hold tightly without deviating from the traditions and instructions which you were taught by the priests of God, whether by word of mouth or written documents 2 Thessalonians 2:15. You must remain faithful and follow closely the truth that you were taught in the church.

 

Wisdom of this world

 

Multitude of people in the world today did not make God their portions because they think they are wiser than God. Satan had deluded them, so they are confident that they can make things to happen without God or they can even train/teach God the best way to run the affairs of this world.

 

Nowadays, innumerable people are claiming to be wise but they are fools. Many people are professing to be smart but they made simpletons of themselves. The claim of such people to wisdom reveal how foolish they are, as it is written “Professing to be wise, they became fools” Romans 1:22. Such people must realize that the mere fact that they are celebrities and rich does not mean that they are wise. It should dawn on these people that because they are wealthy and occupy exalted position in their community/nation does not mean that they possess the wisdom of God, because it is not all the great men that are wise. The few great men that are wise are those who make God their portions. The Bible testify to this fact by saying “Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice” Job 32:9. Greatness is no guarantee for wisdom while age is not assurance for understanding. People do not become wise merely because they are prominent and distinguished. They don’t understand what justice is merely because they’re old. But you can have both wisdom and understanding free, if you make God your portion according to the Bible passage which says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” James 1:5. Do not think that you are wiser than God but make Him your portion so that you will receive divine wisdom, knowledge and understanding to survive in this sinful/evil world.

 

Be not wise in your own eyes and don’t consider yourself to be wise. Do not be conceited about your own wisdom but fear the Lord and stay away from evil Proverb 3:7. You must neither depend on your wisdom nor be impressed by it, instead fear God and make Him your portion. So, wherever you see anyone who is unteachable but wise in his/her own eyes and full of self-conceit, tell such person that there is more hope for the fools than for the people who think they are wise and smart. The scripture confirms this fact by saying “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” Proverbs 26:12. The most stupid fool is better off than those who think that they are wise when they are not because they will be doomed. Therefore, woe to those who consider themselves wise and judge themselves to be clever. Sorrow is awaiting those who are wise in their own eyes and think of themselves as very clever Isaiah 5:21. Never think of yourself as prudent and shrewd but rely on the wisdom of God and make Him your portion.

 

At this point, we have to realize that the wisdom of this world is absurdity and stupidity with God. The smartness of this world is nonsense as far as God is concerned. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God, as it is written ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’” 1 Corinthians 3:19. Do not forget that what this world considers to be wisdom is nonsense in the sight of God. The scripture says that God catches the so-called wise people in their own shrewdness and the advice of the devious/schemers is quickly thwarted. He traps the wise in their craftiness so that the plan of the deceptive are quickly brought to end. God in His infinite wisdom upsets the plans of the cunning people, and traps the wise in their own schemes so that nothing they do succeeds Job 5:13. You must neither think that you are wiser than God nor think that you are wise in your own eyes, else, God will trap you in your cleverness and thwart your cunning schemes. Since He is ready to destroy the wisdom of the wise, including the philosophy of the philosophers, the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerner. He will frustrate and nullify them, then bring them to nothing according to the Bible passage which says “For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent’” 1 Corinthians 1:19. It is time, make God your portion so that He will not baffle and render useless your intelligence.

 

We must acknowledge that God is very wise and powerful; no human can oppose Him and remain unharmed or have peace. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength, no one can resist Him and succeed or survive. The scripture says “God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?” Job 9:4. No human has ever challenged God successfully or defied Him without getting hurt. Therefore, do not stand up against God so that you will not perish. Bear in your mind that our God is not foolish at all, but for comparative analysis, what seem to be the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom because it is beyond our comprehension and what seem to be the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Indirectly, we can also say that what seem to be the foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, while what seem to be God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength 1 Corinthians 1:25. So who would not fear You, O King of the Nations? For it is appropriate and it is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men and gods of the nations and in all kingdoms, there is none like You. God deserve to be feared and honoured. The title of King of Nations belongs to Him alone because among all the wise people of the earth and in all the kingdoms of the world, there is none like Him Jeremiah 10:7. For this reason, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forevermore! Amen. To the only God, who alone is all wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever! Amen Romans 16:27. All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

 

 

 

Week 33: August 19th, 2018

 

Topic: The Lord is my portion – Part 4

 

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:19-24

 

We shall continue our discussions by mentioning how idolatry has made people to deny God the right to be their portions while embracing and accepting Satan as their portions.

 

Idolatry

 

Idolatry is one of the reasons that is making mankind not to make God their portion because we cannot serve God and at the same time serve the Devil. As it is written that “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” Luke 16:13. Know that you cannot claim that God is your portion if you get involve in idolatry.

 

This age, mankind has taken their quest to the next level by serving the invisible spirits because of their needs and the materials things of this world. People are wining and dining with the demons and the rulers of the unseen world. People are making pact with the fallen angels and the principalities, forgetting that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of the wickedness in heavenly places” Ephesians 6:12. Do you belong to any of the aforementioned categories? If so, you need to repent and retrace your step today before it is too late.

 

It is a common occurrence for people to declare that God is their portion while they still support idolatry directly or indirectly. They will profess that God is their portions but they continue to encourage, finance and participate in idolatry.

 

This world is filled with idols and statues, and people are worshipping the works of their hands instead of God. They are serving the creations instead of the Creator. In the nations across the globe, people are bowing down to idols and humbling themselves before the statues. Several people don’t even care or believe in the power of God, instead they put their hope in the idols and the forces of darkness Isaiah 2:8. Since you know that every nation on earth is filled with idols/statues, do not join the people that are provoking Almighty God to jealousy with their strange gods by denying Him the honour and loyalty that is rightfully and uniquely His. Do not be in the company of those who are rousing God to jealously with strange gods, and making Him angry by worshipping idols Deuteronomy 32:16. Do not provoke the fury of God with abominable things since it is against the commandment of the Lord which says “There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god” Psalm 81:9. Therefore, you must never have a foreign god throughout your lifetime and you must not worship or bow down before any deity during you existence.

 

We must realize that it is senseless to worship idols or pray to helpless gods. People who depend on the statues and keep on praying to a god that cannot save them lack knowledge. As it is written, “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of their carved image, and pray to a god that cannot save” Isaiah 45:20. Do not fool yourself by carrying around idols because they can neither protect nor save you, instead make God your portion in the land of the living. Since idolatry is one of the practices of our sinful nature, and anyone that is practicing it is not acceptable in the presence of God. It is time for you to know that idolatry is one of the works of flesh and whoever that is walking in flesh can neither please God nor walk with Him Galatians 5:19-20. Get rid of your idols and turn your heart to the One and Only Living God.

 

Now is the time for people to put aside the domestic/lesser gods among them and focus their hearts on the Holy One of Israel according to the Bible passage which stated that “‘Now therefore’ he said, ‘put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel’” Joshua 24:23. Today is the day for you to destroy the idols among you and pledge your loyalty to Almighty God who created heaven and earth because if you abandon God, or turn your back on the Lord to worship and serve strange gods, the Lord will turn against you. He will allow/permit terrible things to happen to you, even though He had been good to you before. The scripture says, “If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good” Joshua 24:20. Do not abandon the Lord and serve other gods if you don’t want God to turn against you and destroy you after He has been so good and kind to you. If you worship idols, you will make God to be jealous and angry, then He will send cruel and worthless people to make you to be jealous and angry. Any nation which rouse the jealousy of the Lord by worshipping things that are not God and provoke His anger with their useless idols; God will rouse her jealousy through people who are not recognized and provoke her anger through the gentile nations Deuteronomy 32:21. If you do not want God to enrage you with foolish people, abstain from every form of idolatry and make God your portion.

 

We must acknowledge that idols/deities that did not create the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by the Lord because He will never share His glory with them. As it is written, “Thus you shall say to them: ‘The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens’” Jeremiah 10:11. Since you know that the so-called gods will no longer exist anywhere on earth at the appointed time because they will vanish from the earth and under the heavens. Never be seduced by idolatry, but kill every desire for idolatry in your life. Don’t be controlled by your flesh, put to death and deprive of power, the evil longings of your earthly body with its sensual, self-centered instincts which can make you to partake or participate in idolatry Colossians 3:5. Therefore brethren, flee and keep away from any sort of idolatry,  including loving anything more than God or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul 1 Corinthians 10:14. Brother and sisters in the Lord, stay away from idol worshipping because time is coming and the time is at hand when God alone will be exalted and idols will be gone for good. Human pride will be ended and human arrogance will be destroyed. Idols will completely disappear and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day Isaiah 2:18. Remember that the false gods will be gone and idols will complete disappear and God alone will remain, so make Him your portion.

 

Do not forget that your portion is utterly different from the idols/deities because He alone is the true and Living God. He is the Fashioner and Maker of all things. The Christendom is His special and chosen possession: The Lord of hosts is His name according to the attestation of the scripture which says “The portion of Jacob is not like them, for He is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The Lord of hosts is His name” Jeremiah 10:16. For this reason, declare to the world that your God and portion is not idol.

 

Disobedience

 

Disobedience is one of the easiest ways that Satan is using to lead people into captivity. Whenever you disobey God, you are giving the Devil the opportunity to enslave your soul and claim you as one of his own people. Any act of disobedience will remove the protective covering of the Lord upon you and thereby replacing it with the covering of the darkness which will make them to dominate your life. So, wake up from your spiritual slumbering; do not disobey the instructions of the Lord but make Him your portion today.

 

Today, God is stretching out His hands in compassion to the inhabitants of this world. He is calling the disobedient and gainsaying people to come to Him for salvation. He is announcing to the unyielding and rebellious people to turn to Him for eternal life. He is sending this message to the self-willed and fault-finding people to seek Him and live. He is reaching out to the defiant and contradicting people to return to Him and possess His heavenly kingdom. The Bible says, “But to Israel he says: ‘All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people’” Romans 10:21. Are you stubborn or opposing the word of God? Are you one of the people who arbitrarily disobey the instructions of the Lord? You must yield today and make God your portion.

 

Numerous people are complaining against God and blaming Him for their misfortunes. People in the world are making false accusations against God and condemning Him for their predicaments when their conditions is due to their faults, and they are the architect of their present situations. Despite all these nefarious activities, God is still accommodating us, but for how long? According to the Bible passage which says “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard their complaints which the children of Israel make against Me” Numbers 14:27. How many baseless complaints have you make against the Lord this year? How many groundless accusations have you make against Him since your existence? In what manners have you disobeyed His instructions without remorse? And how long must God put up with you and your complaints about Him?

 

Many people in the world today are confessing to know God but they disown Him by their deeds because they are detestable and disloyal people who have proved themselves unfit to do anything good. People who claim to recognize God are hypocrites who renounce God by their rebellious and loathsome activities, such people are worthless to do anything good according to the scripture which says “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient and disqualified for every good work” Titus 1:16. Are you one of the people who profess to know God which their actions and reactions speak otherwise? Is your lifestyle not contradicting your claim to know God? There is still time to make amends, begin to obey Him and make God your portion.

 

In view of the sins and nefarious activities of the earthlings, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience who fail to listen and keep His commandments, together with those who routinely disregard God’s precepts and obstinately oppose His divine will Colossians 3:6. Since you know that the anger of God will come upon those who do not obey Him, let no one delude you with groundless arguments which encourage you to sin because through these things, the wrath of God will descend upon the sons of disobedience and those who habitually sin. Don’t let anyone trick you with meaningless talk to rebel against the directive of the Lord because God will punish everyone who disobeys Him and says foolish words Ephesians 5:6. Therefore, you must neither be deceived by empty excuses nor be fooled by those who try to excuse various sins, because the wrath of God will come on all who disobey Him.

 

 

 

Week 34: August 26th, 2018

 

Topic: The Lord is my portion – Part 5

 

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:19-24

 

We shall continue our discussions by mentioning the expectations of the Lord from the believers that were written in the Bible.

 

What God expects from you

 

You cannot claim that God is your portion unless you perform what the Lord expects from you. If you fail to carry out the expectations of Lord, then you are deceiving yourself by asserting that God is your portion.

 

Believe and accept that God is your portion: You need to believe and accept that God is your portion, since the scripture says Abraham believed in the Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness and God was pleased with him Genesis 15:6. You too must emulate Abraham by believing in the Lord and accepting God as your portion. Even if you are in an unsatisfactory condition, do not doubt God but hold on tightly to your faith. Remember the statement of Job during his period of tribulation, which says “…Shall we indeed accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity….” Job 2:10. No one can receive blessings from God and not accept the turbulent period. You cannot accept only good from God and not also accept misfortune/disaster. Though Satan may tempt you but do not waver because your faithfulness will prompt God to deliver you.

 

Your actions and reactions must glorify God: God expect every Christian to live a godly life; we must emulate Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives. So, whenever you are going to the Church, you must neither take any alcoholic drink nor smoke cigarette/tobacco. Your hair-do and mode of dressing must be moderate Leviticus 10:9-10. If God directed Aaron and his descendants not to consume intoxicating drink when coming into His presence, then Christians must stay away from wine and alcoholic drinks because it is an abomination, so that people will distinguish between the sacred things of God and the profane things of the world.

 

You must keep yourself holy for the Lord and sanctify yourself among the inhabitants of the world in accordance with the Bible passage which says “Hear me Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place” 2 Chronicles 29:5. Purify yourself by making your deeds free of sins and consecrate the Church of God. It is for this reason that Jesus Christ our Lord offered this prayer to His Father “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth” John 17:17. In order for the prayer of Jesus Christ to come to pass in your life, you must not defile yourself. If you want God to set you apart for His purpose and make you holy by His truth, follow the instructions of the Lord.

 

Your lifestyle and your deeds must glorify God according to the scripture which says “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16. Let people see your noble works and moral excellence so that they will praise and glorify your heavenly Father. Since all nations shall come and kneel down in worship before God; they will also glorify His name and praise His greatness Psalm 86:9. You must excel in good work that will glorify God.

 

Ask for the gifts of Spirit: The Bible says “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” John 4:24. Therefore, it is the duty of the Christians to eagerly pursue and seek to acquire the spiritual gifts of God. They must make spiritual gifts their aim and have great quest to obtain these free gifts. The spiritual endowments must be paramount in their hearts and they should pray fervently for them 1 Corinthians 14:1. For this reason, have burning desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts that will be used for the benefits of the Church. As it is written “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for edification of the Church that you seek to excel” 1 Corinthians 14:12. Your spiritual gifts are neither for profit nor reward, and you must not brag or show off with them. Your gifts must be used to strengthen and build up the Church.

 

Proclaim the name of God: You must neither be ashamed nor shy to proclaim the name of the Lord during your lifetime. It is inevitable for you to proclaim the name of the Lord God and never betray or deny His glorious name. You need to prove to the world that God is your portion by announcing His great name as it is written “You are my portion, O Lord; I have said I would keep Your words” Psalm 119:57. If God is your choice and possession, then do not forget your promise to obey/keep His words by declaring to the world that “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” Psalm 118:17. Never cease to proclaim what the Lord has done for you and declare the illustrious acts of God to win souls into His heavenly kingdom.

 

Duties of the pastors/priests

 

The pastors have led countless people astray and they have ruined many lives because of their aspirations and ambitions. Priests are charging money to give false messages that are insulting to God. Pastors are polluting and degrading the mighty name of God because of bribe or gain according to the scripture which says “And will you profane Me among My people for handful of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?” Ezekiel 13:19. Are you among the priest that are lying to people and misleading them? Are you violating God’s law and profaning His holy things? Do you make distinction between the holy/sacred things and the common things? Have you taught the congregation the differences between the unclean and the clean? Do you ignore the Sabbaths or keep it? As it is written “Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; they have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them” Ezekiel 22:26. God is waiting for these pastors to repent and reconcile with Him. Meanwhile, God is restraining Himself and withdrawing His spiritual hand of wrath from coming upon these priests, because He did not want His holy name to be blasphemed and disgraced among the unbelievers, according to the Bible passage which says “Nevertheless I withdrew My hand and acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the gentiles in whose sight I had brought them out” Ezekiel 20:22. The pastors must change because God will not keep/hold His anger forever. Though God is concern about His holy name which the priests are profaning and degrading everywhere on earth. His action of withdrawing the impending judgment is not for the sake of the priests but for His name’s sake. The judgment of God would have come upon the priests who stubbornly refuse to change from their sinful lifestyle and continue to brag about their worldly achievements, if not for the concern of God that His name must not be blasphemed Ezekiel 36:21-22. The priests should change today before the grace period passes away.

 

The priests must change and turn to God, who in turn will cater for their needs and fulfill His aged promise in their lives. They must remain focus on heavenly things rather than the materials things of this world. They must make God their portions so that He will establish their callings. If and when they “turn over a new leaf” God will fulfill His word written in the Bible in their lives; which says “Then the Lord said to Aaron: ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel’” Numbers 18:20. God will be their portion, since the best thing that can happen to anyone is for God to be their portion and inheritance; because it means that God will provide for their needs in miraculous ways. Furthermore, this promise is not for the founders or general overseers alone, but for every servant/minister of God and the Church workers. As it is written “Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance just as the Lord your God promised him” Deuteronomy 10:9. For this reason, you must never allow your lack or basic necessity of life to nullify this promised in your spiritual journey. You must never sell your anointing or charge money before attending to people.

 

You must never misuse your calling or use it in ways that can make the glorious name of God to be blasphemed through you. You must know that it is the grace of God that made your calling possible, therefore, beware so that you will not defile your offspring which God intend to use for His glory. It is the commandment of God that you must not desecrate your descendant who may be useful instruments for the end time revival. The scripture says “Nor shall he profane his posterity among his people, for I the Lord sanctify him” Leviticus 21:15. You need to know that your atrocities can adversely affect your descendants and the promises/covenants that God had for them because our God is jealous God, who visits the iniquity of fathers upon their children, up to the third and fourth generations of those who hate and reject Him Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 5:9. Since you have the promise of God, stop pursuing the vanity of this world and shun greediness so that the promise will be fulfilled in your life.

 

The priests of God must wake up from their spiritual slumbering and convene great Crusade/Revival to win souls for the Lord, since Satan is waging the final battle at this end time. The pastors must change and discharge their duties of teaching believers the way of the Lord. They must strive to win the Gentiles into the fold of God, and exhibit great leadership quality which is worthy to be emulated by the Christendom. The priests must not fail in their obligation to preach, counsel and teach people the difference between the holy things that are acceptable to the Lord and the sinful things which He abhors Ezekiel 44:23. The pastors must also share with others, the truthful preaching and teaching that they have heard, in order to edify their faith. They must appoint reliable and faithful people who are competent to teach other people in the congregation, for the spiritual growth of the vineyard of the Lord. The priests must work as a team without envying one another or seeking the downfall of one another. They must stand firm on the Rock of Ages in honesty and integrity without any form of sorcery or idolatry 2 Timothy 2:2. We implore the priests/pastors and the elders to “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” 1 Peter 5:2-3.

 

 

 

Week 35: September 2nd, 2018

 

Topic: The Lord is my portion – Part 6

 

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:19-24

 

We shall continue our discussions by mentioning the consequences of not making God your portion in manners that will make people to change their attitudes towards their Creator and worship Him faithfully.

 

The outcomes of not making God your portion

 

Many people are saying that God has turned His back on the inhabitants of the world and Satan (the ruler of this world) is now in control. I want believers to know that God has neither rejected nor disowned His people according to the Bible passage which says “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not!…”Romans 11:1. God will never disown His people (the Christians) inasmuch as they continue to obey His instructions and make Him their portions. However, there are consequences for those who reject Him and refuse to make Him their portions.

 

The following are the outcomes of not making God your portion:

 

·       Those who desert God and make idols or contrary spirits their portions shall perish. He will destroy those who are unfaithful to Him, those who abandon Him to play spiritual harlotry with foreign gods Psalm 73:27. Retrace your steps if you don’t want to perish.

·       Those who fail to make God their portion will be like filthy foam and scum on the surface of water. Their portions and their lands will be cursed so that their vineyard/business will fail to produce dividends because of the curse. Everything they have will be cursed, to the extent that people will not want to work in their vineyard or do business with them Job 24:18. Change and make God your portion so that you will be the favourite of the saints.

·       Just as fire licks up stubble and dry grass shrivel in the flame, so the roots of the disobedient will rot and their flowers wither. Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy one of Israel Isaiah 5:24. Turn to God if you don’t want your roots to be consumed.

·       God will turn His back on all those who wander from His statutes because their deceitfulness is useless. He will reject all deceitful liars because they refuse His teachings Psalm 119:118. Do not disobey the laws of the Lord if you don’t want the heavens to desert you.

·       Those who deny God the right to be their portions will neither see nor inherit the spiritual promise land. They will not enter the promise land or have portions among the people of God Numbers 14:23. Do not test or tempt God if you want to inherit the heavenly/new Jerusalem.

·       God will bring disaster upon the people who rejected His instructions; this is the consequences of their behavior and their way of thinking because they pay no attention to His words. God will bring calamity on the people who rejected His teachings and disobeyed His words as punishment for their schemes Jeremiah 6:19. If you don’t want disaster to come upon you, listen to God and make Him your portion.

·       The portion of any wicked person with God and the heritage that the oppressors will receive from Almighty God is: if such people have many children, they will suffer a violent death through the sword or war and they will never have enough to take care for their needs. Those who survive such people will die of a plague, and no one including their widows will mourn for them. Even if such people have piles of money and amass wealth, they will not enjoy their riches. It is the righteous people who will enjoy such wealth and the innocent people will share their possessions Job 27:13-17. If you want to enjoy your earthly possessions, you need to change and turn to God. You must neither be wicked nor fail to make God your portion if you don’t want strangers to dominate/inherit/share your earthly possessions.

·       God will rain blazing coals and burning Sulphur on the wicked people spiritually, which will jeopardize their journeys. He will punish them with scorching winds that will make their lives unbearable to the extent that the portion of their cups will be burning tempest instead of blessings Psalm 11:6. Act now by making God your portion so that your journey will neither be destabilized nor your life disabled.

·       The wicked people will neither see the spiritual river flowing with honey and milk nor live to enjoy it. Which means, they will not enjoy the fruits of the promise land, the land that flow with honey and milk. Furthermore, the wicked will not enjoy the fruits of their labour. The hard work of the wicked will result in nothing gained. They will give up everything they worked for, and their wealth will bring them no joy, because they will have no chance to enjoy their wealth. They will give back the fruits of their toil without any reward and they will derive no enjoyment from the profit of their businesses Job 20: 17-18. Seek God today, if you don’t want to give back what you earned through hard labour without enjoying it. Make God your portion if you want to obtain joy from the profits of your businesses and possessions.

·       The aforementioned outcomes are the destiny and what will befall anyone who refuse to make God his/her portion according to the scripture which says ‘“This is your lot, the portions of your measures from Me’ says the Lord, ‘Because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood’” Jeremiah 13:25. We pray that you will change today so that all the previously mentioned calamities will not befall you.

 

Benefits of making God your portion

 

There are several benefits which will accrue to anyone who makes God his/her portion. Such benefits are numerous; therefore, they are not limited to what will be discussed. The following are the benefits with which people who make God their portions will be rewarded:

 

·       God will reveal to them the path of eternal life and make them glad by being near/close to Him; they shall sit at His right-hand side rejoicing endlessly. God will show them the path that leads to life, His presence will fill their lives with joy and bring them pleasure forever Psalm 16:11. Never backslide so that God will continue to grant you joy of His presence and the pleasures of living with Him forever.

·       God will straighten the crooked paths of their spiritual journeys and destroy every obstacle that is hindering their progress. God will give them treasures hidden in the darkness and riches stored in secret places Isaiah 45:2-3.

·       They will be fed from the abundance of God’s house and He will permit them to drink from His spiritual river of delights. They will relish and feast on the Lord’s house and His grace shall cause them to drink from the stream of His pleasures Psalm 36:8. Continue to cling to God so that you will be satisfied with the fatness of His abode and drink from His river of goodness.

·       When they pass through deep waters, God will be with them. When they go through rivers of difficulty, they will not drown. When they walk through the fire of oppression, they will not be burned, the flames will not consume them. The spiritual river of the world will neither sweep them away nor drown them, and the spiritual fire of the enemies will neither destroy nor burn them. God will give their adversaries as ransom for their freedom and their foes in exchange for them (or in their place). They will be valued and honoured by the Lord. He will love them and give other people in their place. Other people will be exchanged for them and He will trade other people’s lives for their lives Isaiah 43:1-4.

·       The Lord will favour them and take pleasure in their situations. He will value them and they will be His treasures. God will be delighted in them and He will be pleased with their deeds Psalm 147:11.

·       Strangers will be their servants and foreigners will serve them in various capacities. They will be known as the priests/people of the Lord and the ministers of our God. They will feed on the treasures of the gentiles and boast in their riches. The wealth of the unbelievers will belong to them, the glory of their captors shall be theirs and they will be famous. Instead of their former shame, they will have a double portion, instead of humiliation, they will shout for joy over their portion; instead of dishonor and reproach, they will rejoice in their portion. They will possess double portion of whatever they have forfeited and everlasting joy will be theirs Isaiah 61:5-7.

·       They will be the stone which the builders rejected that has become the chief cornerstone. The people who had deserted those who make God their portions will come back to court their favour Psalm 118:22. You must not relent so that the people who had abandon you will come back to bow down before you.

·       Anyone who strike them, strikes what is precious to the Lord. Anyone who harm them harms God’s special possession. Whoever touch them touches the apple of the Lord’s eyes Zechariah 2:8.

·       God will make them like a spiritual signet ring on His finger and they will be appointed to rule in the name of the Lord, because they are the chosen people Haggai 2:23.

 

Finally, if it seems evil to you to make God your portion, choose for yourself today whom you will make your portion whether the gods or idols that your ancestors had made their portions during their lifetime that can neither defend nor save them or the Living God who can save you and give you eternal life. But as for us and our household, The Ancient of Days will be our portions forever Joshua 24:15.

 

Since no one can amend his/her way in the land of the dead or grave,

we advise you to remember your Creator and reconcile with Him when you have the opportunity because you are a living soul.

 

The Seal: Lamentations 3:24: “The Lord is my portions,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him.”