Topic: Lord has Alternatives
Bible Reading: Psalm 134-137; Romans 11:1-21.
Memory Verse: “Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.” Romans 11:3 (KJV)
God chose and empowered you to deliver His message to the people (John 15:16). So it’s not about you but more about Him. No matter the gifts He has given you either to minister in His church or to perform other assignments in the secular, you should never think it’s based on your ability or intelligence, but about what God wants you to do with the gifts.
Though God expects you to deepen that gift, it is never about you and He is always ready to replace you if you ever feel so indispensable. When Elijah thought he was the only prophet of God remaining in those days and that all others had been killed, he said to God in Romans 11:3 (KJV), “Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.” God responded to him shockingly in Romans 11:4 (KJV), “But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.”
Whatever you do and excell, neither arrogate the power to yourself nor be puffed up because of your achievements, rather put God first if you don’t want to be replaced soon as God does not share His glory with anyone. He says “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8 (KJV) If you choose to misuse the power that is given to you by God, He may allow you to continue to execrsise that authority even while in disobedience for a while thus giving you the impression that you are in charge but be rest assured that you will be cut off except you repent and give all the glory to the Almighty.
There is a testimony of a man of God who was mightily used of God that he raised many dead people but he allowed the achievement to cloud his judgment slowly such that whenever another child of God was ministering and he was invited, he would ask how many dead people had he raised. If he could not trace any notable miracles to him, he won’t attend such ministration. Gradually, the pride became so much that the devil was able to penetrate his life and he became mad! Pride is the pathway for Satan to get into the life of people. Don’t feed your flesh, always remind yourself that God has alternatives and even better ones to replace you if you become arrogant because of your achievements.
Prayer point: Father, whatever I will do that will cause you to replace me, please prevent me from engaging in it in the name of Jesus.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero