THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 4, No. 17 – Monday, 6th May, 2019
(1 Chron.13:1-14 and 1 Sam.7:1-4)
THE MYSTERY OF THE LARGENESS OF OBED-ODOM AND THE LEANNESS OF ABINADAB
The Holy Bible informs us in the Epistle of Apostle and Saint Paul to the Romans in chapter 15 and in verse 4 that ‘all things written aforetime are for our learning’. Learning in this context imports two notions.
First is the notion of gaining knowledge. Second is the notion of applying any knowledge gained to personal and extended uses. The combination of these two notions is what makes learning an instrument of immense power producing outstanding results.
Where therefore knowledge is gained only but not applied, the result is merely dormancy and powerlessness. Learning paves the way for knowledge, Knowledge in turn illuminates the path for wisdom and understanding.
And through understanding vision is gained and vision is made clearer. The question is how does this analysis run in tandem with the topic of this edition. When the Holy Bible tells stories, it tells true accounts which teaches knowledge.
God, the author of the Holy Bible expects his students and subjects (that is the sons of men) to study that knowledge (2 Tim.2:15). But not only to study knowledge but equally to ‘rightly divide’ that knowledge.
The process of rightly dividing knowledge is the functional process of unravelling the knowledge; that in itself is application (Prov.25:2). More than this, The process of rightly dividing the knowledge of the Holy Bible makes us come to light with wisdom and understanding.
By rightly dividing knowledge therefore, the intellect is illuminated with a given vision to run with. The two texts of this edition tell us about two different men with the same divine encounters but with different results. Without much ado, their encounters spill out deep mystery and surging questions.
In the main, divine facts on the two encounters inform us that the Ark of the Lord was in the house of Obed-Odom for three months. For Abinadab, the Ark was resident in his home for twenty years. Indeed, for Abinadab, his son, Eleazar was consecrated as a priest to oversee the Ark.
Within the space of three months, the Ark had tremendous positive impacts on Obed-Odom , his finances and of course (without question) his overall family. For Abinadab (despite his son’s consecration) the Ark of the Lord did not record a single positive impact for twenty solid years.
What could be the reason for this somewhat differential treatment. Understand dearly beloved that God is not partial and He does not have favourites. But certain mysteries are being taught to us by God in the experiences of these two men for our learning.
Some of these mysteries include the divine facts that:
1.The state of any man’s heart will determine whether that man is an Ark of the Lord, or that man’s heart is a carrier of the Ark of the Lord or that man’s heart is not any of the two.
2.The state of any man’s heart will determine how far his/her prayers and offerings will matter before God.
Prayer is very delicate. If the heart of the one being prayed for is not right with the one offering the prayer, no matter how anointed that prayer is, the likelihood of a swift and a positive response can be quite rare and slow.
If your Ark (church) does not change you, does not add value to your life and does not reform or transform you in any way and such Ark (or church) does not point you in the direction of heaven, then change that Ark (or church).
If your Ark(church) does not change you but God is in that Ark, then it is you who needs to change yourself.
If God is inside your Ark (church) and you experience no change and then you choose to go into another Ark (church), be sure that you will end up worse than the previous Ark. Why? Because you are simply running from your shadow.
A man may be so close to the Ark (or be the prophet’s) right-hand man yet he may never benefit from the booties being made available by the Ark (or his prophet). Why?
He who does not know how to petition and live under the covering of his/her Ark (or God-given prophet) will end up as a Gehazi or Judas who served but earned nothing in the end.
Don’t forget that it was Jehu who in the end inherited Gehazi’s blessings. And it was Matthias who inherited Judas’ Bishoprick office (Acts.1:26)
Miracles are a function of faith and divine mercy. But understand that mercy trumps in the relationship between the two. For faith did not beget mercy. No. Rather, mercy produced faith in us. For while we had no faith and indeed was not yet come into and under the common wealth of Israel, mercy did marvellous things for us. In the same connection, Obed-Odom’s change of situation was by no means an accident. It was a function of divine mercy; the divine mercy which Abinadab could not obtain. But thank God for what the Lord has done which now paves the way to the throne-room of mercy (Heb.4:16).
If one never takes delight in showing mercy and doing things that attract mercy, Oh! such a person should really not expect mercy. For mercy reproduces mercy.
In the spirit realm, nothing can ever happen by mistake. It was not a divine mistake that the Ark went into the house of Obed-Odom and did the astounding and the outstanding. It was equally not an occasion of error that the same Ark found it way into the house of Abinadab and produced no effect. I prophesy upon the reader of this edition that every water of mercy that has dried off from your life shall resume its gushing flow again, in Jesus name. I prophesy again, you shall be anointed this month with fresh oil of gladness. And in the name of the Lord, this week, fresh dew of heaven shall fall upon you.
Sin and the Ark in one personalty is like a perfume bottle dispensing both stench and scenty smell at the same time. The two cannot be called fragrance but abomination.
What is your life dispensing? Partly stench and partly scent? Driving God away with the stench and drawing Him back with some sort of righteous tendencies? That is lukewarmness. Such cannot just work (Rev.3:14-16).
Many men’s discerning abilities have been long stolen by the enemy. This is the reason many do not sense the presence of their angels or recognize the moments of their divine visitation.
Think about Obed-Odom for a moment. This man had information that the Ark of the Lord had just killed Uzzah. Yet without protest, he welcomed the Ark into his house.
Was it because it was a commandment from the king? Absolutely not. Something else was going on in his mind. Afterall, he had a right to protest even against the king.
It is a mystery but equally true that it is possible for a man to have dwelling with the Almighty yet he does not recognize God. God is thus a stranger to such a man. Likewise, it is possible for a man to know God but God does not know him. These are matters of spiritual attitude, recognition and right positioning.
But there is yet more in the somewhat differential results got between Obed-Odom and Abinadab. What distinguished Obed-Odom and Abinadab was the lowly poor spirit of willing stewardship.
Consider the percentage ratio of three months to twenty years. Is there a point of reconciliation? Remember Hebrews 12:15-16. Failing the grace of God is not without consequences.
The grace of God will always be available to every man. This means that God will never fail to make grace available. But is it all men who make the best out of grace? Do not fail grace but rather seek it and let it flow in you and through you.
IN THE END, BEING LEAN IN ALL THINGS INCLUDING OUR FINANCES IS A FUNCTION OF THE LEANNESS OF OUR HANDS, HEART AND TONGUE BEFORE GOD AND TOWARDS MAN. YOUR LARGENESS THEREFORE IS A FUNCTION OF A LARGE HEART OF RIGHT DOINGS WITH AN EXPECTATION OF DIVINE VISITATION VERY SOON. FOR EXPECTATION BEGETS MANIFESTATION.
Question and Answer Section:
Question: Who are the two sons of Moses?
Answer: Gershon and Eleazar.
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ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).
HYMN: The Old Rugged Cross
PRAY NOW:
1. Rededicate your life afresh to God.
2. O God, sharpen my spiritual eyes and discerning mind.
3. Mighty God, make me know the time of my divine visitation.
4. O waters of mercy and O dew of heaven flow upon me afresh.
5. I shall not be a problem to my Ark and O God, let not my Ark be a problem to me.