YE WHO HAS A EAR!

"When people tell you, “Try out the fortunetellers. Consult the spiritualists. Why not tap into the spirit-world, get in touch with the dead?” Tell them, “No, we’re going to study the Scriptures. ”People who try the other ways get nowhere—a dead end! Frustrated and famished, they try one thing after another. When nothing works out they get angry, cursing first this god and then that one, Lookinwg this way and that, up, down, and sideways—and seeing nothing, A blank wall, an empty hole. They end up in the dark with nothing" (Isaiah 8:19-22,The Message).

Today's Scripture verses from the book of Isaiah taken from The Message translation is a full sermon on its own, requiring little or no amplification. The message has been brought down to earth, and he who has ears to hear should be attentive to what the Spirit is saying to us. I urge you to read that passage again, and then again, and again. Apply every sentence to your life vis-a-vis what you have gone through and what you may be currently going through.

When you have done that with sincerity, you should then be able to come up with some firm decisions. First is a quality decision to stick with the Lord your God, no matter what happens. Trials and tribulations will always come to want to shift your focus away from the Lord. The decision you have taken to stand up for the Lord and be faithful will help you overcome at such times. Just like Joshua, I have made a decision, and I won't back out - As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord and stick to Him for ever.

The second decision that is recommended for us to take is the decision to study the Scriptures. The disciples once wondered if there was anything else worthy of our attention apart from the words of the Lord, the words of eternal life (John 6:68). They took a decision to stick to the words of Jesus and they overcame all the challenges that the enemy threw up at them. The earlier we all realised that the word of God is our only hope for true and permanent deliverance, the better.

Finally, to those who have already looked the other way, a quality decision must be taken to return to The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

As I always say to ministers in our conferences, no matter how far you have gone in the wrong direction, you can never end right. The sensible thing to do is to turn back and face the right direction.

Today, I release strength to you to be able to do this in Jesus Christ's name.