“Being open to correction means making ourselves vulnerable, and many people are not willing to do that.” – Pastor Myles Munroe
Psalm 139 :23-24
’23 Search me, 0 God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.’
As we seek God in prayer, sometimes we will download corrections and alignments from God. Many years ago when I first started in the full time ministry, I wanted to climb the ladder of success speedily. One day God showed me a picture of a ladder and I saw myself climbing the ladder two steps at a time. We may get to the top faster but the risk maybe too much. God was correcting me for my impatience and hastiness.
Other times the Holy Spirit may reveal to you that you were talking too much or too boastful in your conversations with others. God may replay what we have done or spoken in order to realign us back. In our times with the Lord we must be open to the Lord God to what he has to communicate to us. There are seasons when He gives us His assurance of love and protection. There are times when he prophesies about our future. I have kept a note book of what God has declared to me some 30 years ago. What is so amazing is that the many things and events He had whispered have come to pass!
REALIGNMENT
1 Samuel 16: 1
‘Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons:”
Sometimes due to our prejudices, insecurities, emotional ties or blind love, we may make wrong judgments and decisions. During these periods, God may have to realign us back to His Word, His Will and His Purpose. Let us take an example of Prophet Samuel who was so emotionally involved with King Saul that Samuel could not discern correctly. God had to chide and rebuke Samuel for mourning for Saul as God had already rejected Saul as King. As for God, King Saul was history and God was eyeing David, a man after God’s heart. God had to realign Samuel back and gave him a new assignment.
We cannot accept what God has already rejected. The sad part was that King Saul was still on the throne. In today’s context, there are
‘King Sauls’ who are still on the throne whom God has rejected. There are pastors and preachers still in the ministry who have passed their expiry dates.
Sin Produces Stench
I was in Yogjakarta recently and was having breakfast at the hotel where I was staying. I normally like the garden view and decided to
stay outdoor to have my meal. It was business as usual until the guy at the next table started smoking.
I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. As I walked away, God spoke to my heart and said that He hated sin just like I hated cigarette smell. In fact I felt that sin is a terrible stench to God. Thank God for the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us and washes us pure and white as snow.
Nathan And David
2 Samuel 12:13-14
‘”Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the LORD has set a king over you.
If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue fallowing the LORD your God.’
At this point of life, King David was at his pinnacle of success. He finally had become king over all Judah and Israel. From the days
of his teenage years till now, David had fought many battles and God was with him. However, in the spring of the year, there was a
battle against the people of Ammon but David stayed in Jerusalem. King David missed his timing and he became restless in the palace.
One evening after a nap, he was wandering on the roof and saw a beautiful woman bathing. David’s lust took hold of him and he committed adultery with Bathsheba. Bathsheba conceived and sent news to David. To cover his sin, David requested Uriah the husband of Bathsheba to return from the heat of the battle to sleep with Bathsheba. However Uriah was a man of great principle and would not sleep with his wife and enjoy the King’s meal while the rest of his comrades were camping in the open fields.
David’s plan failed and he had Uriah, a faithful soldier killed in the battle. Nobody knew David’s wicked deed but what David had done
was really displeasing to God. God spoke to Nathan and sent the prophet to confront David of his sins of adultery and murder.
It is interesting to note that in 2 Samuel 12:14, God revealed that sin will give the enemies of God an advantage to blaspheme. In the spirit realm, whenever a child of God sins, the Devil will use that against God and against the child of God. May we take great heed to this incident of David as an eye opener for all of us to walk in holiness all the days of our lives.
Pr. Christina’s Vision
There was a family in another city where we used to lodge when we went to that city to minister. One day, Christina saw a vision of a
snake coiling around the man of the house. The snake grew bigger and stronger until it choked and killed the man. The interpretation
was clear that the man was playing with sins ( snake is a picture of sin) and finally it would bring his downfall. The wife later shared
with us that her husband was living in adultery. God was speaking to him and unless he repented he might go to hell. We hope the vision would bring repentance and since then, the man of the house no longer welcomed us to his home. Truth hurts but truth sets you free. We suppose that our presence in his home would bring conviction to him.