Don't Allow Sorrow, Part 2

There are two basic causes of sorrow in people's lives.

Yesterday we discussed the first one which is hopeless, today let us consider the second one:

Following Other gods

The second source of sorrow in people's lives is following after other gods.

Any other god you have besides the Almighty God will definitely add sorrow to your life, for it is the blessing of the Lord alone that maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.

Haven't you heard? "Thou shalt have no other god before me." That is God speaking in Exodus 20:3. 

One of such gods is the god of gold.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1 Timothy 6:10–11 
 
When money becomes your god, sorrow becomes your heritage. This is because that thing called money is never enough.

When money becomes your source of joy and excitement, you never have stable joy. It waxes strong today, and wanes tomorrow.

Money compels spending, so every time it reduces, one's joy drops. When it rises, a fake and ephemeral joy rises inside the man.

And when he keeps having such high and low temperature constantly, God's promise of long life is cut short.

Let us consider other enemies of praise.

Don't Be Offended

Offence is the natural tendency in the hour of difficulty and pressure. It is a negative reaction to unpleasant conditions.

Unfortunately, it's a reaction against your helper, thereby rendering you completely helpless.

The offended man says, "Why me? Where is God now? Is His Word still there? Can anyone really count on Him?"

The answer to all offences is patience. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said:

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:15 
 
No matter how good your heart is, patience is needed to enjoy the fullness of God's plan for your life.

You get offended easily, that's why it looks as if things are not working for you.

If the devil tells you, "If God were going to lift you, He should have done it by now."

Tell him, "God is never late. He created the entire would in six days, so whatever deadline is before me now is too much for Him to perfect all that concerns me."

Be determined, like Job, to wait till the time of your change comes from the Lord, for there is no shame to them that wait for God (Isaiah. 49:23).

John, a man of great destiny, died in prison because of offences.

Jesus told us that of all born of women, there was none as great as John the Baptist.

Prophets of old spoke about his great coming, but offence killed him. John sent a message to Jesus from the prison, asking:

... Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Matthew 11:3

That was like doubting Jesus' mission on earth and pointing an accusing finger at Him. 

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see:

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.  Matthew 11:4–6 
 
That was a comprehensive diagnosis of John's problem – "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." 

That is, "Cursed is he who is offended in me!" John was offended and ended up being beheaded! You will not be beheaded!

Jesus said it is impossible for offence not to come, but woe unto him by whom it will come (Matthew.11:6; 18:7).

John was offended and his great destiny was shattered.

But here was Paul and Silas. Just like John, they were equally locked up in prison. Besides, they were also beaten, humiliated and bound in stocks.

But because they refused to be offended, they ended up being dignified! They prayed, sang praises aloud unto God, and the prisoners heard them.

They must have been mocked, but God loosed them, and made them! We are still talking about their testimony today.

Make up your mind never to be offended in God.

If you hurt God, who will help you? If you despise Him, who will lift you? If you raise your shoulders up in pride against Him, who else can do for you what He can?

Many are stranded today because they are offended. Every offended man ends up being beheaded. God is not your equal.

Your vote is not what made Him God. He has been before you ever were. He is your Creator.

That is why Isaiah 45:9 says, "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!" 

Things are working for me, because I refuse to be offended. No matter how great your destiny, it will be terminated (without any help from the devil) by reason of offence.

You have been stranded long enough, now give your destiny motion!

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. Luke 7:23

I have made my choice to remain eternally happy with God and never to look for a fault in Him. I choose to trust in His goodwill and love forever. 

When you are offended, your defences are broken down, and the serpents can bite.

God's mighty hand departed from John, and a little girl said, "For the prize of dancing, I want the head of John." And they brought it for her on a platter!

Refuse to be offended, if you do not want to die in prison. In the midnight of your struggles, don't give in to offences, or you may never be out of them.

Rather, like Paul and Silas, engage in seemingly "foolish" praise, and sing your way out of prison.

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth.

Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Isaiah 45:9–10 
 
Every time you are offended in God, you destroy your destiny. 

Job 9:4 says, "He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?" No one hardens himself against God and not pay for it

Only praise can bring you out of that tight corner you are in.

For having ever queried God before, now tell Him, "Lord, I'm sorry. I celebrate You now, and will celebrate You forever."

Do you know what the Bible says?

Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;

Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in unclothedness, and in want of all things:

and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. Deuteronomy 28:47–48

How can people have abundance and not serve God with joy? It is because they are blind to the abundance of God around them.

They do not see their good health, the free sleep they enjoy, the house they live in, their children who have never needed to be taken to the hospital and the good name they have in the community as abundance.

When you are not offended in God, you are entitled to blessings. As you free yourself from every foolish anger against God, go and enjoy His blessings, in Jesus' name!

You can't afford to be beheaded, so turn from offences!

I discovered what Job's problem was – he always justified himself against God. That was why God removed his defences.

Many are justifying themselves against God by saying, "Lord, I pay my tithe. Everything You commanded, I have done. You're the only One who hasn't done Your own part."

Rejoice evermore! God is always right. Be delivered from all offences, in Jesus' name!

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165 
 
The love of the Word of God delivers from offences. Always find solace in His Word, no matter the situation you are confronted with.

If you have lost anything, He is the reason why you have not lost everything. So praise Him!

David Oyedepo

A Sinner's Prayer for Salvation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, "...whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21).

I am calling on You. I pray and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9-10.

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." I do that now.

I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead.

I am now reborn! I am a Christian—a child of Almighty God! I am saved!

You also said in Your Word, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13).

I'm also asking You to fill me with the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I praise God. I fully expect to speak with other tongues as You give me the utterance (Acts 2:4).

(Begin to praise God for filling you with the Holy Spirit. Speak those words and syllables you receive—not in your own language, but the language given to you by the Holy Spirit. You have to use your own voice. God will not force you to speak.)

Now you are a Spirit-filled believer. Continue with the blessing God has given you and pray in tongues each day. You'll never be the same!

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