WAIT ON THE LORD

 

Wait! It is a simple command but hard to follow. Due to the advancement of technology, we don’t have to wait a long time to get things done. Years ago, it will take two weeks for a letter to be delivered through the post office, today we have the internet, mobile phones, and social media to help us send messages within a short time. People in today’s world do not like to wait. No! They will not wait for minutes for a meal, or stand in a queue for some few minutes, or even wait in line for a bus. We are in a hurry for everything and we just hate to wait.

However, we cannot treat God with this same attitude. We cannot make Him do things in a hurry. When we put our request before Him in prayer, we need to wait for the answers to our requests. Some people call this ‘waiting period’ delay. But God doesn’t delay, we need to learn how to wait. It is a sin to think that God who created the whole world in six days and it beauty will delay when He needs to act.

According to the Nelson’s Bible Dictionary, WAIT: “To remain in readiness or expectation. In Scripture, the word wait normally suggests the anxious, yet confident, expectation by God's people that the Lord will intervene on their behalf. Such waiting may be for answers to prayer (Psalm 25:5), for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4), for salvation (Genesis 49:18), or especially for the coming of the Messiah to bring salvation to His people and to establish His kingdom on earth (Psalm 37:34; Luke 12:36; Romans 8:23; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). Waiting, therefore, is the working out of hope.”

Some believe that “waiting periods” are actually God saying no to their request or that they are been punished.

2 Peter3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but He is longsuffering toward us.”

In some churches, they pray against the spirit of delay. But in the Holy Bible, there is no such thing as a spirit of delay. It is rather the spirit of impatience. We are impatient with God. Answers to our prayers may be hindered by unseen obstacles. Don’t expect God’s answers to come too easily or too quickly. Prayer may be challenged by evil forces, so pray fervently and earnestly (Daniel 10:11-14).

We find many people who had to wait on the Lord, just as believers today must wait patiently for the return Christ’s return.

1. Abraham the father of faith had to wait 25 years for the promised son, Isaac. (Genesis 21:1)
2. Prophet Simeon waited for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. (Luke 2:25-32)
3. Zechariah and Elizabeth waited for several years for the birth of John the Baptist. (Luke 1:5-13).
4. Joseph waited 13 years for his dreams to be fulfilled. (Genesis 42:9)
5. David waited for 13 years to be king of Israel. (2 Samuel 5:1-3).
6. Moses waited on God for 40 days and night. (Exodus 24:12).

 

Wait on the Lord. Trust that God promises to you will be fulfilled in this life and in the life to come. Whatever your petitions may be, marriage, business, job, travel, child birth, finance, health, wisdom, grace, and favor wait on God.

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

 

By: Samuel Mantey

Twitter: @SamuelMantey

Email: Samuelmantey@gmail.com

DANGER IN PLENTY

 

‘When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the LORD’ – Deuteronomy 6:11

 

God had delivered the people of Israel from 430 years of slavery in Egypt. He had anointed Moses to lead the people into the Promised Land, where they will have a new beginning and to worship Him. God gave them many assurances and promises. He even called the Promised Land “a land flowing with milk and honey” meaning a place of plenty food, and money and life is very easy.

 

“So I have come down to deliver them out of the land of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey” – Exodus 3:8

 

Prosperity more than poverty can dull our spiritual vision because it tends to make us self-sufficient. The same thing can happen with our nation, church, companies, and individuals. God told the people while they were in the wilderness that they should be careful when they enter the Promised Land and when they start experiencing the goodness of his promises. Moses warned the people not to forget God when they arrive at the Promised Land and became prosperous.

Prosperity is good but it is often most difficult to follow God when life is easy, we fall prey to temptation and fall away from God.

How can we forget God? When we have more than enough.

In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our own hard work and cleverness have us rich and successful.  It is easy to get so busy managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives.

Here are some notable examples of this truth:

 

1. Adam lived in a perfect world and had a perfect relationship with God. His needs were met and he had everything. But he fell when he disobeyed God’s law.
2. The Israelites had experienced the bountiful blessings when they settled in the Promised Land, when they were filled, they fell into idolatrous practices.
3. King Solomon had it all: power, fame, wealth, and wisdom. But this very abundance was the source of his downfall.
4. The United States and the western civilization have received great wealth and prosperity. But this same grace and blessing have led them to approve same-sex marriages and promote abortion: which leads to downfall.

If you forget the Lord God in times of abundance, you will certainly be destroyed. You will be destroyed if you refuse to obey the Lord your God.

 

A Call to Remember And Obey

You must fear the Lord YOUR God and serve Him.

Deuteronomy 8:10-18

 “When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

 "But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today.  For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good.  He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.' Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”

By: Samuel Mantey

Twitter: @SamuelMantey

Email: samuelmantey@gmail.com

 

TITANIC: flying in the face of God

 "Twelve months later, as King Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said Is not this the great Babylon I have built as my royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" - Daniel 4:29

The following chronology constitutes a short summary of the main highlights of the story of the R.M.S Titanic in the British Inquiry into the disaster in 1912.

1898     - American author Morgan Robertson publishes the novel "Futility" in which a British                               passenger liner "Titan" hits an iceberg and sinks on her maiden voyage without enough                           lifeboats in the  month of April in the North Atlantic. Titanic was yet to be conceived.

1907 -     At a dinner party, Titanic is conceived by J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of White Star Line in                               William Pirrie's London Mansion. Ismay discusses the construction to compete with                                luxury, size, and speed of rival lines.

19011- May,31: Titanic hull successfully launched, witnessed by more than 100,000 people. At the                                time, she is the largest man-made object ever made.

1912- April 5, Good Friday: The Titanic is "dressed" in panoply of flags and pennants for a salute to                     the people of Southampton. Only occasion she is ever dressed.

         - April 10, Wednesday: Sailing Day. Estimated total number on board is 2,227.

          - April 14: Iceberg warning received via the Baltic. Message delivered to Captain Edward Smith.              Smith later gives it to J. Bruce Ismay, who puts it in his pocket.

           - 9:40pm: Iceberg warning received from the Messaba. Message overlooked.

           - 11:40pm: The Titanic moving at 20 1/2 knots. Suddenly, lookout see iceberg dead ahead. But                   the iceberg strikes the ship. it begins to founder. The Ship is doomed.

             - April 15:2:18 am: Many survivors witness the ship break into two. The bow half sinks.

             -2:20am: The Titanic slowly sinks into the sea. Over 1500 souls are lost in the "greatest                                           maritime disaster in history" with only 705 survivors.

1985- September 1: Dr. Robert D. Ballard finally recovers the wreck of Titanic after nearly 73 years in                 the ocean floor.

Titanic 109 years on. The story brings sorrow, grief, and a lot of emotions which doesn't seem to go away. The unsinkable ship made her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York but got hit by an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sinks. This was not the first maritime ship wreck, but this was a special wreck. We've heard from survivors, scientists, government officials, Hollywood etc but the "what if's' leger on.

There is something unique about this ship. The Titanic has made headlines since 1911. Why does it stirs our hearts? Why does she exert such a powerful spell over so many?

"But long ago, the Titanic had ceased to be just another shipwreck."- Dr. Robert D. Ballard, author, The Discovery of the Titanic.

"Is it the element of Greek tragedy that runs through the story - if only she had heeded the warnings ;if only there had been enough lifeboats; if only...if only. Is it the built-in sermon, the irresistible reminder that "pride goeth before a fall"? - Walter Lord, author, A Night to Remember

The built-in sermon is the cause of the downfall of the ship. In the Bible, we read about the rise and fall of the Tower of Babel, Pharaoh of Egypt, and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Men sought to do great things without depending or glorifying God. He often teaches us how weak, and frail we really are. God sunk the Titanic for the same reasons He destroyed the great empires of old. 

The sin of the Titanic:

"Not even God himself could sink this ship" - Employee of the White Star Line at the launch of the Titanic, May 31, 1911

" We place absolute confidence in the Titanic. We believe that the boat is unsinkable." - Philip Franklin, Vice President, White Star Line.

The owners of the Titanic, White Star Line were determined to boast about the construction of the ship. J. Bruce Ismay, Captain Edward Smith, crew members, rich and poor passengers all believed that the ship was unsinkable. In fact, tickets were sold out before the completion of the ship. God was displeased with such arrogant statements and He sent an angel of death to struck the Titanic. Like Pharaoh, God hardened the heart of Captain Smith, making him ignored all 30 warnings he received.

When asked about the Titanic, Captain Edward Smith said, "I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to this vessel. Modern ship building has gone beyond that."

Proverbs 18:12 says, "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty."

Benjamin Hart, a builder from Essex, England, was emigrating to Winnipeg, Canada, with his wife, Esther, and his seven-year old daughter, Eva. Esther thought the idea of the Titanic being "unsinkable" was "flying in the face of God", and tried to persuade her husband to change ships. Convinced that disaster would overcome them all, she slept during the day and kept watch at night.

BECAUSE WE ARE SO SURE. IT SEEMED UNBELIEVABLE!

Sometimes the most ordinary circumstances end in the most extraordinary discoveries. There were no coincident in the events of April 14, 1912. The natural elements points to the fact that there was a Divine involvement in the fate of the Titanic. Let us examine these facts;

1. With 40 years experience at sea, Captain Edward Smith mysteriously ignored all warnings of Icebergs in the North Atlantic.

2. The Iceberg was blue, the most difficult kind to see.

3. The night was moonless- no light to show the iceberg.

4. The sea was unusually calm that night.

5. The Captain of the Californian, a streamer nearby was too tired and asleep to be bored by rockets shots and distress calls for help.

6. J. Bruce Ismay had ordered the number of lifeboats to be reduced from 48 to 16.

7. The hymn "Nearer to God to thee" was the last song sung in the Titanic.

8. The Titanic wreck was buried for 73 years, enough time for bodies and bones to decay.

"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of Heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble."-Daniel 4:37

By : Samuel Mantey

Email: samuelmantey@gmail.com

Twitter: @samuelmantey

O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E

In the Old and New Testament, the word “obey” is related to the idea of hearing. Obedience is therefore the basis for knowing God’s blessing and favor. According to Noah Webster’s dictionary, 1898 to obey is “to do that which is commanded or required, or to forbear doing that which is prohibited.”

God says many times that he doesn’t want our gifts and sacrifices when we give them out of hypocrisy.  God wants us first to love and obey him. To him sacrifices are excuses. God’s love language is obedience.

In the New Testament, the obedience of Christ stands in contrast to the disobedience of Adam. The disobedience of Adam brought death, but the perfect obedience of Christ brought grace, righteousness, and life (Romans 15:12-21).

 

Some scriptures on obedience verses sacrifice;

1 Samuel 15:22 “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

Jeremiah 7:21-23 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Take your burnt offerings and your other sacrifices and eat them yourselves!  When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!”

Hosea 6:6 “I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me^. more than I want burnt offerings.”

Amos 5:22-24 “I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.”

Micah 6:6-8 “What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

 

Matthew 9:13 ““Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’

 

God is pleased when we O B E Y.

A LOVE FOR MONEY

Everyone knows that money can’t buy happiness but millions of people want to be the first person to disprove this fact. Why do they want more money? So they can afford luxuries. So they can buy happiness. In today’s world, money represent power, influence, status, and success. For many people, money is a god. Money is their purpose in this life.


True, money can buy certain comforts and provide some security. Ecclesiastes 10:19, “… and money answers everything.” The Scriptures puts money in its proper place. However, the love of money in this generation has caused many sorrows, shame, disgrace, and destruction. Rich people craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only end in ruin. Poor people lusting for money can be caught up in debts.


Government leaders, businesses, families even Churches get trapped into thinking money can meet all their needs. They throw money at their problems.

This is not teaching that money is evil, instead it is warning against greed, and envy. Scripture recognizes that money is necessary for survival, but it warns against the love of money. The love of money is sinful because we trust money rather than God to solve our problems. This has caused breakdown in marriages, friendships, businesses, government, Churches etc. In fact, any relationship (Husband - Wife; Employer – Employee; Parent – Children; Friend – Friend) base on money is destined to fail. Money is a poor foundation to build any lasting legacy.



1 Timothy 6: 9-10 says, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”



The good Book give examples of people whose lives were ruined because of the love of money;

1. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery for the love of money (Genesis 37: 27-28).
2. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for the love of money (Matthew 27: 3-5).
3. Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, and his descendants were cursed with Naaman’s leprosy because of his desire for money (2 kings 5:25-27).

In 1988, Buddy Post won the Pennsylvania lottery. He won $16.2 million. But he found out, as all people do, that happiness does not come from riches, power, or fame. He stated, “Before I hit the lottery, I was more content. I had no pressure. I didn’t have the worries.”




How to keep away from the love of money

1. Be CONTENT: There is a difference between what we need and what we want. We can choose to be content without having all that we want.  “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. So if we enough food and clothing, let us be content.”- 1 Timothy 6:6-8.  Be thankful and be grateful with what God has given you. Someone will die for the husband you complain about, someone will kill for the job you constantly complain of, someone is praying to be in the same situation you are ungrateful for. Hebrews 13: 5 tells us to “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
2. Be GENEROUS: If you been blessed with wealth, then thank the Lord. Don’t be proud and don’t trust in your money. Use your money to do good. Be rich in good works, and be ready to share. No matter how much money you have, your life should demonstrates that God controls the wealth that has been placed under your care.                                                                                                                                         
3. LOVE GOD: Far more valuable than wealth is obedience to God because it is a heavenly treasure rather than an earthly one. We should do what God wants, regardless of the financial implications. To seek the Kingdom of God above all else means to put God first in your life, to fill your thoughts with his desires and obey him. As you serve God, check your motives - you can’t serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).

Twitter: SamuelMantey

Email: Samuelmantey@gmail.com