EVERY WORD OF GOD FOR DAILY LIVING BY: PASTOR PAUL RIKA:
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide
TITLE: WHATEVER GOD ASKS YOU TO GIVE UP, DO IT FOR YOUR PEACE AD ETERNAL LIFE
DATE: WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021
TEXT: Genesis 16:11-12
KEY VERSE: Philippians 3:8 ‘Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.’
When Sarah asked Abraham to send away Hagar and her son Ishmael, it grieved him. But God consented for a reason even though He knew it was painful to Abraham, His friend. Because God knew the future of the child, He told Abraham to get him out of the family. God knew that the child would grow up to become an international troublemaker. He would be causing trouble all over the world. If Abraham allowed him to mingle closely with his children, he would never allow their prosperity; he would never allow their peace; Abraham’s children and children’s children shall suffer great opposition in the hands of Ishmael. God knew that if Ishmael remained in Abraham’s house, His promise concerning Abraham’s life would be frustrated. His works and plans concerning Abraham’s life would be frustrated for as long as Ishmael remained in that family. Abraham didn’t know this at that time but God knew. God knew what would happen in hundreds of years to come. God knew what would happen a thousand years to come five thousand years to come. That was why He instructed Abraham to handle the matter that way to remove the obstacle to His glorious destiny.
It was Abraham’s mistake to have slept with his wife’s maid. God did not promise him a child through another woman. So my brother, my sister, what are these things that are too costly for you to remove or give up? You are working with somebody’s certificate, which means you are living by impersonation. That document is a lie and the Lord is saying you cannot build your foundation upon a lie. You must confess it for heaven’s sake. Don’t say, “God, You have to understand. How will people see it? I can’t go back to school now.” The Lord is not talking about going back to school. He is saying you should confess that fraudulent certificate and withdraw from that service. You need to do it for your peace and eternal life. How did you feel each time you hear that Jesus is coming soon? Were you not almost saying, “God stop, please stop?” God should stop until when? You have no peace in your life, and this you know. Your dreams are showing that you are missing the rapture. You have prayed; you have fasted but there is no answer. Confess that thing for your peace and for your eternal life.
Thought for the day: Nothing is too valuable to give up in this life in order to enter heaven.
Song for the day: Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that would pardon…
Bible reading for the day: Deuteronomy 29-30; Mark 16