Seasons & Prayer

2 Kings 13: 14 - 20

Joash did evil during his reign and like his predecessor confined Israel to a difficult time through his choice. Joash was fortunate though – a mighty prophet lived during his time.

Perplexed at the military situation, Joash consulted the prophet and wept at the predicament. Elisha, though sick entertained Joash’s request and sought to make redress. Elisha’s solution was to redress the situation using the grace on his ministry. He called for mundane weapons of war and rather than have the king use them, he insisted they did it together - Joash on the war front but with Elisha’s grace on him.

Once this was done, Elisha proclaimed victory – a certainty!! He then went even further and offered the king an opportunity for complete victory by instructing the king to strike the ground with the same arrows. Joash was undiscerning though – the arrow shot through the window together with Elisha was at the specified “enemy” and victory in battle was assured. The arrows striking the ground were not just at the enemy in battle but the land of the enemy as well.

If Elisha was holding the king’s hand when the arrows struck the ground, 3 times could have been enough, for Elisha had much grace upon his ministry to achieve much with minimal effort. Joash didn’t carry the same portion of grace and would have needed more effort to achieve the same.

Infact, Elisha could have done this if Joash’s initial request included total victory over the Syrians but Joash only requested victory in battle. The second offer was a bonus and a unique opportunity – it depended on how much Joash truly wanted complete victory and an understanding of God’s position in giving such. Joash’s attempt revealed he didn’t and he subsequently missed the opportunity!!

Elisha died afterwards and the opportunity was gone for it was connected to Elisha…. Season changed. There was another way though and it wasn’t depended on anyone outside of self (not even Elisha) ….
1 Chronicles 7: 14
1 Thessalonians 5:17
James 5:16b
Luke 18:1,7

The Good Shepherd - Memory

/*insert bible passage - Good Shepherd*/
The good Shepherd leaves the 99 for the one 1 lost sheep. It’s a demonstration of the Father’s heart – continually thinking of the one that’s gone away. Joy is derived from reversals to good than celebration of already secured – it’s a progressive heart and doesn’t rest on laurels nor dwell on achievements. The lost Sheep, the prodigal son – all have His attention and His focus than others that they may yet return, that His joy may be full.

Where might the lost Sheep have gone?? The Shepherd knows it loves to follow the scent of the greens in the wind – could it have been led astray by promise of pastures away from the Shepherd’s lead?? Is it cold?? It was only sheared this summer and winter is here… how does it fare?? Has it been attacked by wolves and ravaged savagely??

Does it bleat crying out for help and assistance in harsh conditions?? Is it lonely?? Overcome by emotions and it’s solitude… desperate for it’s shepherd?? It’s a wayward Sheep, that’s why it got lost in the first place but must it be abandoned?? Sheep are meek, docile and amiable but this one just keeps it’s head down and goes on it’s on own lead.

The prodigal has tasted the good life but wilfully chose momentary pleasure and lowly living. Must he be abandoned?? Must life go on and their memory discarded?? A consequence of their choice??

But such is not the Father’s heart – though they may be undeserving, yet still they have His attention and concern. Though He is rich in multitude of flock and aptly catered for, yet His attention is focused on them. Happy they may be where they are….. Integrated into another flock or surrounded by similar pleasure seekers – regardless, the Father heart desire is set on them.

The Lost Sheep would be found and the wayward son would certainly return – for the Father’s heart seeks and it calls. Who can resist?? Their memory would not be forgotten and their reconciliation would be to much joy. The present joy or despair while away would only help bring back to Him – there are no substitutes for His love or lead.

The heart of the Father perpetuates their memory even when gone and it’s set on their return. They would be reconciled and their retained memory shall live.

Overcoming..

2 Peter 1: 4
Luke 18: 1 – 8
1 John 1: 9

2 Peter 1:4 shows the corruption in the world is in it through lust and inordinate/ deviant sexuality is one. When men fell, this was the first revealed evidence and other shortfalls such as murder, anger, jealous etc came as an offshoot of it.

A weak defenceless person (particularly to sexual inordinace or deviance) has God as a Defence and Judge. Victory came to the old woman in the parable because regardless of her state – she still went to God and pleaded for His intervention in redressing her situation. She made her case explicitly clear to Him and was undeterred with a seeming lack of response/resolution.

Similarly, we must all walk in God’s Light – total exposure. Confessing explicitly to God in prayer our vilest desires and thoughts is crucial for gaining release from them. The stronghold of the enemy is darkness and the more we hid/ cover up issues, the stronger the hold of the enemy as concealment is an act of darkness. As we walk in God’s Light and allow ourselves to be completely exposed by Him either for good or bad, we would surely be cleansed from bad and encouraged in good.

1 John 1:9 makes it explicitly clear that God is Faithful to cleanse us if we would do this – all that must be done is petition Him and strongly desire change / be undeterred (which persistence in the parable symbolises). Telling God of personal inordinate and/or deviant desires explicitly is VERY important to gaining release from them. Sadly it is also considered unacceptable but possibly this is partly why we face continuing situations – we don't really tell Him about them. We must keep telling God and preserve – He would certainly answer and also without delay, as illustrated in the parable.

There also has to be a desire to want to be free from personal inordinate/ deviant desires else confession is inconsequential. “Coming out of the closet” so as to act on inordinate/ deviant desire is futile – infact rather than being free, there’s bondage.

Inordinate and/or deviant desires can be overcome and this is a way – persistent confession, complete exposure before God while abstaining. It's sad some servants have left gospel service because of weaknesses but the Apostle Paul stands as a example of service inspite of weakness.
We do not serve God on account of out worthiness but rather God’s – He can use the most base person to accomplish the greatest works. The Apostle Paul at his time on earth (and years after entering into ministry) was the least of all the men on earth and this in Truth, but by God’s grace Paul’s ministry continued.

Service - The Kingdom Key

The marriage of the Lamb

The deserving had been called to come and had not heeded the call. Keen for the ceremony to proceed, the Father of the groom extended the invitation to just about anyone who was previously undeserving. Many came in droves but yet there was found one that was yet still unworthy of all the undeserving ones!! The judgement executed revealed the sin…
/*Insert Bible Passage*/

Infact, there are only two possibilities revealed at the judgement – entering into God’s Kingdom or being cast into outer darkness. The distinguishing criteria being service – those that served God by serving their fellow men are received into the Kingdom and those rejected were because they didn’t fulfil this criteria.

Service is a big deal to God, though men may look down on it. The little done in service to others goes a long way. Service is so important that even one done shoddily one or performed by an undeserving person in Christ can also count.

/*Insert other Bible Passage*/
Everyone has a reward according to the quality of the service done but the general reward of Eternal Life is given to all regardless of quality of service.

/*Insert Parable*/

Never neglect service – it’s a big deal!! Everyone should serve.... it's almost mandatory!! Unwavered Godly service – it's the key to the kingdom, it's also the key of David and all who enter through it are eternally secure. Service also epitomises who Jesus is...