TOPIC: EXERCISING YOUR SPIRITUAL AND LEGAL RIGHT
Bible Reading: Psalm 44-46; Acts 25
“For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.” Acts 25:11 (KJV)
God has given us brain to be used for our own good and the benefit of others. As Christians we should champion the use of God given talents and gifts. This was exhibited well by Apostle Paul when he was faced with a mob that was after him, he saw two divisions and decided to align with one of them knowing that that will win him some support. The bible says in Acts 23:6 (KJV), “But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” This achieved his purpose as the bible states in Acts 23:7 (KJV), “And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.”
This was using the brain that God gave him without compromising his faith. It also amounts to knowing your rights both as a citizen and as a believer and exercising those rights. Apostle Paul again exercised his right when he insisted on being judged by Ceaser instead of being taken to Jerusalem to please the Jews as Porcius Festus liked to do. Acts 25:9( KJV) says, “But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?” Hear Paul’s defence in Acts 25:11( KJV), “For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.”
Many Christians tend to abandon their brain and gifts given to them by God and expect God to do everything for them. God has given you those gifts for your use and expects you to use them to the fullest. That’s why you see Apostle Paul used his legal background to the fullest in his evangelism and it helped him to achieve a lot. How well do you use your talents and even rights. It’s high time you woke up to your rights and explore them to the fullest. 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” God will not do for you, what he has empowered you to do for yourself. Wake up and claim your rights.
Prayer point: Examine your lifestyle and identify areas where you have not been demanding or exploiting your rights and decide to make a change from today.
Pastor Joel Ezeugo