EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES
THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 14 – Sunday, 12th April, 2020
(1 Sam.16:1-13, 18-23, 17:1-58, 18:1-13, Jn.3:14-15)
WHAT IS BEFORE IS ALWAYS GREATER THAN WHAT IS BEHIND
There can be only few results about any man whose past experiences remain undetached from him. If those past experiences are good, then they remain the spring-board upon which his elevation and successful grasp of the future stands.
If the experiences were negative, then the man and his future can be imprisoned in a vortex of impertinence. Worse still, the man’s vision and mind’s eye will remain blurred towards the bright side of life.
In summary, if any great future will become a reality, the frequency of any man’s psychy must be tuned towards the possibility belief system that today though already at its dusk will yet be better than yesterday; that no matter what there will always be a better tomorrow.
Who else could ever believe that a better day awaited David the king, the prophet and the priest other than himself? First, he was the last of eight children. Whilst it can be argued that it does not lie within our power to choose our positions in the family we are born into, and sometimes that choice goes even beyond our parents too, but to be forgotten at the backside of the desert by the same parents was not a characteristic choice that most children would envy.
Whilst one may argue that David was not forgotten but left to carry out his own assignment for the family, it is also arguable that such assignment should not be so enigmatic to such extent that David should have been left out of the family circle and family meeting when a most respected divine emissary was visiting.
By the way, part of the reason for the family meeting was to conduct a divinely-instructed sacrifice with the sons of Jesse in attendance. Was David not one of the sons of Jesse? Why was he forgotten and not informed about the coming of a most senior national prophet?
The truth is, not much was expected from him and about him. David was simply of no or less worth to and by his family circle. In Israel, only the valiant and wise were considered as part of the military. Whilst David’s three eldest brothers-Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah met those criteria, David was viewed as noncontributory, nonentity and inconsequential.
Besides, Was the man David ever seen around town except when on errands? His primary place of solace was with animals in the bush where the prospect of being killed by bear or lion was not just highly probable but which became a possibility in the end.
The man David was equally the easily condemned one. Although he had brought food supplies and welfare greetings from their father Jesse to his brothers who were at the warfront, the best he could get from one of his brothers for his diligent service was condemnation and accusation of ‘pride’.
One who is ever bitter with his past experiences or his present problems cannot see opportunities though they may be so near. One who responds to every criticism and to every yelling cannot get his goals accomplished. One who is constantly distracted by his past will easily be imprisoned by it. Forgiveness and focus are the sole keys that turn-on the ignition of the engines of progress and eventual success.
Consider that having inquired at the first from a man about the reward from the king for killing Goliath, and the rebuke which followed from Eliab his eldest brother, the man David simply remained undeterred and unresigning to depression. Rather, he pressed on with inquiry until the answer for his elevation was gained. What point does this attitude of David score?
By his unrelenting attitude, the attitude of a goal getter and one who had his eyes constantly affixed towards his target was evidently manifested by David. The driving force for the top though left to run errands and to tend animals in the bush remained an instinctive feature in him that could not be frustrated by any externalities.
So, to David at this point, his dream for the palace was about to be hatched into reality. What made David to ascend the throne eventually? First, David used his downturn moment of being forgotten at the backside of the desert wisely by reflecting positively on the bright days to come and not being depressed by the present predicament. Second, David viewed what was before him with the eyes of prominence and pre-eminence more than his provisional past and his present which was merely transitional.
Was the ‘Son of David by the flesh’ any less different? The unequivocal answer is NO. Whilst in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ considered the ‘cup’ being presented to him of great cost. It was a cost that was soon to become history and be replaced by a much greater glory that will remain in everlasting reckon, record and remembrance.
Christ therefore forsook the cost and pain and earned eternal glory that was before Him at the time. This is the reason the resurrection of Christ remains at the cornerstone of Christianity. This is the reason the celebration of Easter remains unforgotten till this day.
In what mood and condition is this edition of The Message Now meeting you? Happy, dandy and gay! Very well, keep on the firing line and keep your mind’s eyes firmly fixed to the fact that the sun will certainly shine on your path at some point.
On the other hand, is this edition meeting you gloomy and on the low? Remember that to submit to discouragement and depression is to sink oneself deeper into that dark, slimmy and deep ocean where satan wishes one to be where the one sent by God can neither see one nor find one.
IN THE END, LIFE IS A CONDIMENT OF CHOICES WHERE ONE CHOICE TAKES ONE ONBOARD FLIGHT ELEVATION TO GREATNESS AND BLISS OR THE OTHER CHOICE TAKES ONE DOWN TO THE ABYSS OF STAGNATION AND NON-ACHIEVEMENT. WHAT NOW IS YOUR CHOICE? ASK DAVID FOR HIS ANSWER. WHILST ASKING DAVID AND PONDERING ON HIS ANSWER, REMEMBER THAT HIS CHOICE TOOK HIM FROM BEING A MERE UNRECOGNISED SHEPHERD BOY TO BECOMING AN ICONIC KING OF ALL ISRAEL.
Question and Answer Section
Question: The great questions again! When was the last time you smiled genuinely and truly from your heart about yourself bearing in mind the bright days to come? when was the last time you heard a force praying within your belly without your consciousness? When was the last time you gave some thing to support God’s work apart from your tithes and offerings? When was the last time you supported any man to fulfill a divine or a personal agenda? When was the last time you put smile on the face of someone?
Answer: Hmmm!.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Counseling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com Alternatively, meet us every Sunday at the address below:
Suit 26, 2nd Floor, Nikky Africana Plaza, 70C Allen Avenue, Opposite UBA/MTN Office, Ikeja, Lagos.
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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: Sweet Is The Promise
PRAY NOW:
1. O God, I give you thanks for your word and for the one whom you have used to deliver this word.
2. O God, I repent for holding onto any negative past.
3. O God, I repent sincerely for failing to look forward to a brighter day with faith in You.
4. O mighty God, please give faith again to trust you.
5. I sack all management committee of darkness inflicting me with discouragement and depression.
6. All invisible wicked forces living in my abode with me and monitoring me about, I sack you with tongues of heavenly fire.
7. I proclaim by the strength of God that my elevation shall happen no matter what.
8. I recall back by mercy and by the right hand of God all destiny-helpers that have left me.
9. O mighty hand of God, connect me to the hand that shall lift me up to the top.
10. My father and my God, give me the grace to think positively always.
Present your personal petitions.
