THEME: EXPECTING A BEITER TOMORROW?
MEMORISE:
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. 1Corinthians 2:9
READ: 1 Kings 19:19-21
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
MESSAGE:
Some people do not get the best from God because they hold on to what they think is good and miss out on something better. Elisha was rich; he was the son of one of the wealthiest farmers of his era. By today’s valuation, his father could be said to have had twelve tractors working on his large farmland. Any farmer who has twelve tractors, without doubt, can be classified as a multimillionaire. Elisha was comfortable; however, God had something greater for him.
Don’t be among those who settle for the minimum level of prosperity while the maximum is begging for possession. God wants to take you to the highest level of wealth attainable. Elisha thought he was wealthy, but he did not know that a day would come when kings would serve him and call him ” Father!” He thought he was going to die a rich farmer but God had a better plan for him. God has a glorious plan for you too. Presidents will serve you before you leave this world.
Elisha was wise. When he encountered God, he traded his level of achievement for a higher one by allowing God to have His way in his life. Elisha surrendered; he gave up sugar to receive honey. On the day the mantle of Elijah fell upon him, his life changed. God brought Elisha to the realm of ultimate greatness. He knew then that to receive ultimate greatness from God, he needed to surrender what he was holding on to. Beloved, you must offer God what appears to be your best at the moment, so that He can give you what is better than your best. Peter and the disciples did the same in Mark 10:28, and were eventually rewarded:
“…Lo, we have left and have followed thee.”
How will God give you the best He has in store for you? What wi11 God do to make you rich beyond your wildest imagination? I don’t really know. However, one thing I know is that God can do anything just to bless you. Whatever He has promised He will definitely fulfil. If you are expecting a better tomorrow, be prepared to give up and surrender your best to God today. He will surely reciprocate by giving you something better than your best.
ACTION POINT:
Cry unto God today and ask Him to intervene in your situation.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 1-2.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 24: Take My Life, And Let It Be.
1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.