TEXT: ZECHARIAH 2:8-9
"For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you; for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me".
PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT:
God's Divine presence and protection is guaranteed for all His beloved Children, such as you're. In all their journeys, he is certainly always with them, and does not permit anyone to touch them and do them any harm (1 Chronicles16:20-22).
INTRODUCTION:
God designed every human being to be in community, to have friends, and to be in relationships from the beginning (Genesis 2:18). He never created man to be disengaged from association. Again, God hates any kind of cheating against His elects.The reason being that His elects are engraved and endowed with His divine immunity ' touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm". Glory to God! Imaging the case of Abraham/Sarah and Abimelech the king of Gerar (Genesis 20:1-18). Abraham was too special to be abandoned, cheated and deprived of his right and privileges.
DIVISIONS:
1. Abandon any factor that factorises an abandonment. Such factors could be in form of worries, complaints, disputation, indolence, negative formations that maybe inimical to your survival in the community of the saints (1Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:30-33, Galatians 5:19)
2.Trust God in the face of abandonment (Deut. 3:18-22, Philippians 4:6-7). Until you throw away the garment of care, worries you're wearing, you maybe weighed down.
3. Learn to seriously take God by His word. His words are Yea and Amen. He had already said that He will not forsake you, and definitely He will not (Hebrews 13:5, Joel 2:27, Deut. 31:8, 11Timothy 4:16). Though, Apostle Paul was deserted at a point in time, yet, God was with him. You may be surrounded by unfriendly friends, inconsistent fellows, yet you're not abandoned, God is with you. Hallelujah!
4. Let God dwell with you always (John 1:14,15:4-5, Leviticus 26:11-12). God's tabernacle will always be with you. Amen!
5. In the face of any attempt of abandonment, remember the persuasive word of Apostle Paul in Romans 8:38-39, that nothing shall separate you from the love of God. That's the truth and nothing but the whole truth.
6. Remember that God cannot lie. Whatever He says He will do, that He will do brethren (Titus 1:2 , Numbers 23:29)
7. You're too special to be abandoned because you're the CHOSEN of the Lord God (1Peter 2:4, Psalm 34:17-20), therefore, He will always hear and answer your cry. Just learn how to cry - Jeremiah33:3, Psalm50:15.
8. Depend on God's grace, not on self strength, self-defense, self righteousness, not even on your spiritual gifts. Just grace alone is our pride (Ephesians 2:8-9, 11 Corinthians 12:9, Romans:6 and 11Tim. 2:1).
9. Know that you're not forgotten and abandoned if you continue in Jesus Christ and in doing His will. He can then hear your cry, answer, come down to you and heal your land (11 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 49:15, 54:10). Brethren, I want you to know very clearly that with our God who made heaven and the earth there is mutability of obstacles, but not with Divine constancy (John 13:1,14:18, Joshua 1:5).
APPLICATION and CONCLUSION: Brethren, God who has brought us thus far can not afford to abandon us. He is faithful, kind, loving, firm and consistent. His promises are Yea and Amen (1Corinthians 1:20). Surely, He will not cast us off, nor forsake us, for we are His valuable inheritance (Psalm 94:14).
PRAYER:
I stand in the capacity of the covenant of my calling as a Pastor with God's Divine presence by anointing upon me to declare and decree that whoever and whatever that stand up to talk you down to a level of inferiority complex so as to reduce your originality, should fail, falter and fall in the name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Arise, and shine for your light has come. Can't you see His glory risen upon you? It is risen upon you. Enjoy the Bliss of the day in Jesus mighty name. AMEN!!!
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This is the glorious message from the Living God through his called and chosen servant, Pastor Dr Jude O.D Ekele, JP,Cert,Dip., B.A Ed, B.A, M.A, D.Min, of The Apostolic church Nigeria, Ojo Alaba International Area Superintendent, Lagos.
Email:judeekele88@gmail.com
Tel: 07039321915.