THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 4, No. 14 – Monday, 15th April, 2019
(Psalm 62:1-12)
THE PRICE AND THE PRIZE OF PATIENCE
Today’s Scripture has notes of fundamental messages of all time. All time because the messages touch down directly on human phenomenon; such phenomenon that that touch on human emotions.
Therefore, understand that when emotions override common intellect or divine instructions, the result is always tragic. However, when the duo of patience and divine instructions work hand-in-hand, a comic relief and blissfulness makes the final round.
Aptly put, the price of patience is pain. The prize of same is the pleasure of fulfillment at the end of the day. Richard Baxter could not have been wrong when he quipped that the reverse side of patience being ‘impatience is not only of the devil; it is the devil itself’.
Hmmm! so impatience is not just an attribute of the devil, it is actually the devil in action, WOW!!! Someone has argued that the best message anyone can preach is that message borne out of personal experience.
Quite often on Mondays back in year 2001, brother Lekan Williams and I embarked on prayer and fasting. On one of those moments, I raised a prayer point concerning our marriage.
As soon as I did, the Lord spoke to me very clearly. He said: ‘my problem is not getting you a wife, but your impatience’. What a staggering statement. The Lord knew the future far ahead.
Years rolled on and the Lord came back to me on Sunday September 25 2005, promising a wife with so and so number of children. That promise was not fulfilled until September 25 2012, which was seven years after.
Meanwhile, thinking that God was no longer coming to fulfill that which He promised, I went into a relationship that cost me all my costly and most fashionable property including the first car I ever bought, 1 Rav 4.
I had plans to become a Doctor of Science after my Ph.D in law, but that era of impatience dealt me perhaps an irrecoverable blow. Today, so far, I am yet to become a Doctor of Science because of sheer impatience of a silly stupidity.
Understand dearly beloved that all men go through hardship; sometimes because of divine purposes. Other times owing to satanic visitation. But from whatever spectrum the wind of adversity is coming, it is good to always remember verses 11 and 12 of today Scripture.
They read as follows: ’11 Once hath God spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongeth unto God. 12 Also to you O Lord belongeth mercy; for you render to everyone according to his work’
The verses under review are implicative in many senses. Among the lot, one sense means that while all power and mercy belongs to God, it is the duty of man to seek that power and then attentively listen out for His word of direction which flows from His mercy.
Further, the other sense means that man’s responses during the moments of waiting are ‘works’ in His own sight. These ‘works’ whether bad or good will determine divine response. Isn’t it? For it is written in verse 12: ‘for you render to everyone according to his work’.
Speaking personally again, I can tell you dearly beloved that the weight on me since July 2018 and much more since January 2019 till now, is such that is beyond explanation. But dearly beloved, we must always remember that in quietness is our strength, not in complaining.
We must remember also that human reaction only births further frictions. It is calm and Godly responses that produce divine actions. Remember also that problem time is praise time.
Remember dearly beloved that the period of painful waiting is the time to nurture one’s thoughts with best ingredients. Thoughts are the foundation of words. Thoughts carry enormous power; they are bedrock of imaginations, dreams, words which altogether produces eventual actions. Make therefore your thoughts splendidly rich in times of adversity and during the expiry era of waiting.
Naturally speaking, a man under pressure will act under pressure. But remember to keep your soul calm during the phase of waiting. Remember the Scriptures is replete with the expression ‘and it came to pass’. Every waiting period is a phase. They have come and will pass away.
Finally, be patient in persistent prayer with your husband. Be consistent in the loving correction and fervent prayer for your children. Pastor, be patient with the growing of your flock; all flock are not the same. Listen to your wife always and do not talk back when she is in the spree of anger. Hand over everything to God when you have done your best.
IN THE END, GOD SAYS TO ME TO TELL YOU THAT ‘YOU WILL LAUGH LAST AND LAUGH BEST’.
Question and Answer Section:
Question: Who were the two wives of Elkanah?
Answer: Hannah and Penninah.
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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: Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross
PRAY NOW:
- O God, speed up my time of celebration.
- Let my change come O God.
