1 SOME time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “DO NOT BE AFRAID, Abram, FOR I will PROTECT YOU, AND YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT."
2 BUT Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, WHAT GOOD ARE ALL YOUR BLESSINGS WHEN I DON'T EVEN HAVE A SON? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.
3 YOU have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4 THEN the LORD said to HIM, “NO, your servant will NOT be your HEIR, FOR YOU WILL HAVE A SON OF YOUR OWN WHO WILL BE YOUR HEIR.”
5 THEN the Lord TOOK Abram outside and said to HIM, “LOOK up into the sky AND count the stars if you can. THAT'S how many DESCENDANTS you will HAVE!”
6 AND ABRAM BELIEVED THE LORD, AND THE LORD COUNTED HIM AS RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH."
Genesis 15:1-6 (NLT)
• The promises of God might be delayed than expected, but it will surely come to fulfilment. God is not unrighteous that He should lie! (Numbers 23:19).
- Abraham waited for twenty-five years to receive what God did promise him—a son from his loins (Genesis 25:1-5).
- We have all experienced disappointments, frustrations, at one time or the other. You also probably have a long awaited promise from God which you are anticipating for.
AND sometimes in our Christian journeys, discouragements may set in. ALL we need to do at such a time is to move closer to God.
• When God reiterated His promises to Abraham. He asked God, what would be the benefits of the Blessings without a son to inherit them.
- When you are troubled in your heart, move closer to God in Prayer. It is not the time to withdraw from the Church:
23 LET US HOLD TIGHTLY WITHOUT WAVERING TO THE HOPE WE AFFIRM, FOR GOD CAN BE TRUSTED TO KEEP HIS PROMISE. 24 LET us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 AND LET US NOT NEGLECT OUR MEETING TOGETHER, as some people do, BUT ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE DAY OF HIS RETURN IS DRAWING NEAR" (Hebrews 10:23,25 NLT). - You can ask from God whatever you could not understand about what is happening in your life, like Abraham did. God would not hesitate to answer you, If you had built a good rapport with Him.
- Abraham was able to talk freely with God because he had a good relationship and fellowship with Him.
- He was not living in Sin and rebellion, thus, he could talk freely with God, and told Him how he felt about having no son of his own.
- Living in sin, hidden or blatant, and rebellion; would hinder your free flow of communication with God. And if you did ask a question, like Abraham did, you might not receive a satisfactory answer.
- I do believe waiting time is necessary for every lifting God is bringing your Way. Waiting time is part of God's package for the promotion due whoever is anticipating a Lifting from Him.
- The reason is best known to God, why Abraham had to wait for twenty-five years before He could release what He did promise him.
- God has a time He scheduled for everything He wanted to do in each individual's life.
• The truth is, God expects chastity.
- He wants you to work on yourself and deal with every carnality—fleshly manifestation:
5 FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH SET THEIR MINDS ON THE THINGS OF THE FLESH, BUT those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD; FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, NOR INDEED CAN BE" (Romans 8:5-7 NKJV). - God wanted Holiness. He wants you to keep yourself pure for Him:
"PURSUE PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLE, AND HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD" (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV).
READ: 1 Peter 1:15,16; 4:1-3
• God wanted perfection, blamelessness:
"WHEN Abram was ninety-nine years old, THE LORD appeared to Abram and said to HIM, “I AM ALMIGHTY GOD; WALK BEFORE ME AND BE BLAMELESS" (Genesis 17:1 NKJV).
- Through the above Bible passage, one could deduce that God was not satisfied with Abraham's level of purity.
HE probably was still struggling with some works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), some character defects, in his life. - An example is, the way he consented to the suggestion of Sarah, about having an issue, a child, through Hagar the Sarah's maid (Genesis 16:1-4).
- God would not want whoever walking with Him, soil his or her garment, by putting their hands in Sin:
5 SO PUT TO DEATH THE SINFUL, EARTHLY THINGS LURKING WITHIN YOU. HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST, And EVIL DESIRES. DON'T BE GREEDY, FOR a greedy person is an IDOLATER, WORSHIPING THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. 6 BECAUSE OF THESE SINS, THE ANGER OF GOD IS COMING" (Colossians 3:5,6 NLT).
READ: Romans 6:14; 1 John 2:15-17 - Could it be, There are some things in your life that God wanted you to drop or correct?
- You might have some sins, character defects, that do not glorify God, in your life, which He wants you to deal with.
PROBABLY you would have to check your life, and ask the Holy Spirit to show or reveal things which you are doing that God is not pleased with—which He does want you to change.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- If there is any sickness in your body as you read this piece, I declare your healing now, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- Hold of the devil is completely broken in your life, and never would it rise again in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED