TODAY’S MANNAMONDAY, MAY 21, 20I8
TOPIC: LET HIM MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
TEXT: 2 CHRONICLES 15:1-15
I) THE KEY VERSE:
“And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him” (2 Chronicles 15:9)
2) THE TEXT:
(2 CHRONICLES I5: I – I5 KJV)
“15:1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
15:2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
15:3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
15:5 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
15:6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
15:8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.
15:9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
15:10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
15:12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
15:13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
15:14 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15:15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.”
3) THE MESSAGE:
i) It has become very fashionable today for people to follow trends. It appears that there is the fear of being different from the pack.
ii) Most people pick up habits, lifestyle and behaviour, just following what they see others do.
iii) The advent of Information and Communication Technology has made the world to become so shrunk such that vogues get across the world in no time at all.
iv) God sent Prophet Azariah to give King Asa the conditions of enjoying His abiding presence and support.
v) Following the instructions of the Lord, he purged the land of idol worship and gathered the people to the Lord.
vi) The light of difference that glowed through his life attracted others from neighbouring tribes. They saw in practical sense that God was with him.
vii) We cannot win the world by being like the world. Perhaps, the reason many of us are unable to attract and win our neighbours and colleagues over to the Lord is because they are yet to see the difference between our lives and theirs.
viii) The only way we can make the difference in our world that is so filthy and corrupt is by walking so close with God and living by His Word. This will make everyone around take note of this difference and His presence in our lives.
ix) The way we live and go about our daily business should show that we have a meaningful and unique relationship with God and that He is with us.
x) Start today to make that difference.
a) Let God be seen in you.
b) Live as light and salt of the earth.
c) Make the word of God the standard by which you live and conduct all your affairs and not by the popular worldly norms, customs and practices.
xi) When we do these, God will be honoured in our lives and manifested in all that we do for all to see. God in you will make a world of difference. Let him!
4) THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
We cannot win the world by being like the world.
5) BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:
2 SAMUEL
22-23;
PSALM 57
Good morning
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