Monthly Archives: August 2021

MEMORISE:

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22

READ: 1 Samuel 15:22-23.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

MESSAGE:
It is needless to reiterate that perfect obedience to God and His word helps us set our priorities right. Sacrifice is good; God expects all His children to present their bodies as living sacrifices- holy and acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1). However, God prefers obedience to sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22 says:
“……Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Obedience is an act of doing and being willing to do what one is told to. In a spiritual sense, obedience is total submission to the written and spoken word of God. Obedience is an express commandment of God. One distinguishing characteristic of all who are great in the service of the Lord is prompt obedience. The Bible is full of stories of men and women who became great for God as a result of their complete and immediate obedience to the word of God. Heroes of obedience include Abraham, Joshua, Ruth, David, Elijah, Elisha and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says:
“ As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.” Psalm 18:44-45

True and perfect obedience comes from a heart of love. It is real and not mere eye service. Boldness is a vital ingredient of perfect obedience. Peter and other disciples boldly confronted the Jewish elders when they chose to preach, saying they would rather please God and displease men.
“But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” Acts 4:19

Are you facing persecution because of your obedience to Christ? Don’t give up! Don’t compromise your stand. Obedience cannot be done halfway. Partial obedience is equal to disobedience. Disobedience is rebellion, which is “as the sin of witchcraft” (1 Samuel 13:23). Partial obedience was the undoing of the first king of Israel- Saul. Obedience starts with knowing the will of God then carrying out His directives promptly and completely.

KEY POINT:
Obedience is better than sacrifice.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 27-28.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: IN CHRIST ALONE.
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

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MEMORISE:
And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Exodus 33:15

READ: Exodus 33:12-17

12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

MESSAGE:
One of the secrets behind the success of Moses as the leader of the Israelites is that he knew the importance of the presence of God in every aspect of life. He cherished God’s presence to the point that he would not make any move without of the certainty of His approval. God told Moses that His presence would be with them (Exodus 33:14-15); this assured him of success, victory, safety and rest of mind.

It is amazing to observe that some so-called children of God feel they can achieve whatever they want to, without God in it. They live carelessly, committing acts which they know are displeasing to God, whereas our Lord Jesus Christ said:
“…..He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

Beloved, we dare not embark on any journey or project without the certainty of the presence of God going with us because such a venture is bound to fail. God’s presence distinguishes an individual out of the multitude.
“And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.” Exodus 33:15-16

The presence of the Lord guarantees safety according to Psalm 91:1. This blessing of divine presence is what Jesus Christ whose name is Emmanuel has wrought for us according to our memory verse of today.

To have God’s presence with us for guaranteed safety, success, breakthrough, victory and life eternal with Him, all we need to do is surrender to the Great Emmanuel. He will keep us now and in the world to come; He will stand by us and never leave nor forsake us.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please let me begin to enjoy Your presence like never before from today, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 25-26.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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