ELKANAH MY HERO!

And she made a vow,saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life,and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1Samuel 11

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value. Leviticus 27:1-6

But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand.Her husband has nullified them, and the Lordwill release her
Numbers 30:12

We all grew up with the story of how Hannah made a vow and fulfilled it and God saw her faithfulness and gave her 5 more children..

Today's bible reading should tell us that ELKANAH is (as footballers call it) the real GOAT (Greatest Of All Times). Why? How?

The answers are in Leviticus 27 and Numbers 30..... they explained how a husband can accept or refuse the vow of his wife even unto God and how the to redeem a VOW and the value attached to each type of object to be redeemed. Meanwhile an offering cannot be redeemed (vs 28).

Instead of requesting that his wife redeem her vow with money, he told her in 1 Samuel 1 vs 23  that "do what seems best for you".  It today's language, it means " will it make you happy my love? Then okay"

Yes, Hannah made the vow that was to bring the great Prophet Samuel, but Elkanah's refusal (because this is the only child from his beloved wife Hannah) would have aborted his arrival.

Rather, Elkanah's love for his wife and acceptance of her decision to give Samuel to God was what brought the fruitfulness of 5 more children to Hannah.

NOTE:
1. Elkanah's consent took the priesthood from the tribe of Levi to the tribe of Ephraim.

2. Elkanah's consent ensured that God had a replacement when all seeds of Prophet Eli's loins were not God-quality.

Elkanah, the real MVP  (Most Valuable Player).

Elkanah my hero!!!

Prayer
When I get to a junction in my life where I am to make critical decision(s).... Holy Spirit, let Your decision supercede the decision of my heart/head in Jesus name.

Shalom! 

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT 2.0

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;   Ephesians 6 : 12-18

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT 1.0 (see here http://olufunkeayorinde.blogspot.com/2021/08/its-all-your-fault.html ) saw me laying the blame of this falling world at the feet of believers everywhere (including me). I asked us to "be the salt, be the light" so our land can be healed.

This is the sequel to that write-up.

Verse 13 of today's bible passage is something every interceding christian would have experienced a few/many times. There would have been evil reinforcements when you start interceding for others. When you start taking territories from the kingdom of darkness for Christ. Unprovoked attacks, false/true accusations, gang-ups, hatred, etc.

Verse 13 made us understand that there will be "evil day",  despite your prayers, despite your evangelism, depite your faith+works, despite all that is required that you have done,  things will go wrong around us.

Why? Verse 12 points to it..... because there are powers whose wickedness is "in high places". Wickedness of a higher level. They are protecting a territory they were thrown to when they were defeated in heaven and they have only 2 rules in their battle......it's "do or die" and "by hook or crook".

Facing such adversaries, the bible gave us the "rules of engagement" from verse 11 to 18 of chapter 6, the marching order (as soldiers) is to WEAR YOUR ARMOUR, STAND, PRAY AND WATCH.

Don't forget, WEAR YOUR ARMOUR, STAND, PRAY AND WATCH.

Don't be weary, don't be tired, don't turn back. 

Remember John 16:33

Shalom!

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT

 

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

You gave your life to Christ. You got the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You pray and God answers. You follow all the do's and don'ts of God......YET your neighbourhood is run by children of darkness....... It's all your fault.

The bible says "faith without works is nothing". This could mean praying without putting the effort is fruitless.

Do an audit now....you prayed today/yesterday.....analyse what you prayed for.

You prayed for yourself 95% (self, siblings,friends) and prayed for Nigeria and the world 5%.

And you wonder why thieves are disturbing your neighbourhood. The king of Glory has not been invited to take charge. You invited Him into your home ONLY. You will not attend community meetings to make suggestions and pray for the leaders (it's not your thing to go or you don't like the calibre of people there)

It's all your fault.

You wonder why your neighbours are always fighting. But you've not befriend the husband/wife (whichever is your own gender) in order to gently and lovingly introduce him/her to your maker. You are even one of those who have judged and tagged the man/woman as the guilty one.

If they maim/kill themselves. It's all your fault.

Do you pray for your colleagues at work? Are you sincerely concerned about them and when you know 1 or 2 of their pain-points do you put them before God OFTEN?

If they get depressed and kill themselves or brings a gun to work and kill others, it's all your fault.

And it goes on and on.....all around us

The bible calls us the light of the world. It calls us the salt of the earth. Imagine the light just lighting himself and not the whole room or the salt just "salting" himself and not the whole food........that's a valid reason for that light/salt to be trashed.

If God wants our salvation to benefit only our family, we will not leave home nor work outside our family business.

From the story of the rich man and Lazarus..... Luke 16:19-31. That rich man was not cruel to Lazarus. Even his dogs licked Lazarus wounds...meaning they were not aggressive towards Lazarus. He was not so irritated and angry that Lazarus was siting in front of his house that he commands Lazarus to go away. To himself, that rich man count himself to be a good man. He  was good to his family also. He loves them to the extent that they were his concern when he found himself in hell.

But heaven saw that he did not do enough for others.

Let Matthew 25:40 be our point of meditation. "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." If it's Christ, will the rich man just leave him there?

So I call on all armies of the Most High God who have been watching only their homes to arise now and take their neighbourhood,  LGA, State, Nation and the world for the King of Kings.

Heal our land Lord! Use me!

Shalom!

PEACE FOR BABYLON?

 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Psalm 122:6 

 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7.

The 2 passages are an indication that if you pray for prosperity for yourself and not for the place where you God has settled you, your prosperity is a mirage.

Whatever tag you give the place; either a Jerusalem or a Babylon; either a home to you or an exile; desirable or you can't wait to leave there.

It could be the country you live, your rented apartment, job, church, anything! If you don't pray for its prosperity, you won't prosper. That's what God is saying.

This is awakeup call for those who speak negative words at their current country or place of work, let's start praying for it's peace now and remind God of His word in these bible pasages, then God will prosper us.

It is well with us in Jesus name. Amen.

Shalom!