BIBLE READING: 1 Kings 20:1-14
Now Ben-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together : thirty – two kings were with him with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria and made war against it. Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, Thus says Ben-Hadad: Your silver and your gold are mine: your loveliest wives and children are mine. And the king of Israel answered and said, My Lord O king, just as you say, I and all that I have are yours. Then the messengers came back and said , Thus speaks Ben-Hadad saying Indeed I have sent to you saying You shall deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children. But I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and it shall be that whatever is pleasant in your eyes they will put in their hands and take it. So the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said notice please and see how this man seek trouble for he went to me for my wives, my children, my silver and my gold and I did not deny him. And all the elders and all the people said to him do not listen or consent. Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, tell my Lord the king, all that you sent for to your servant the first time I will do but this thing I cannot do. And the messengers departed and brought back word to him. Then Ben-Hadad sent to him and said, the gods do so to me and more also if enough dust is left of Samaria for a handful for each of the people who follow me. So the king of Israel answered and said tell him, let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off. And it happened when Ben-Hadad heard this message as he and the kings were drinking at the command post that he said to his servants, get ready and they got ready to attack the city. Suddenly, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel saying Thus says the Lord, : Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today and you shall know that I am the Lord. So Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus says the Lord: By the young leaders of the provinces. Then he said, Who will set the battle in order? And he answered “ You”.
Gone are the days when Prophets fake us with prophecies that they will pray and fast for us while we will be eating and drinking. When the devil is attacking you, he wants to take the best from you. In short, something better than the best from you. King Ben-Hadad asked for everything from King Ahab; 32 nations ( Syria) against 1 nation ( Israel). Ahab says he has given all that he has to Ben-Hadad. Your wife, husband, children, money, silver, gold, business, wealth , career does not belong to Satan. God gave you all these things and nobody can take them away from you. Ahab was expected to co-operate by surrendering his loveliest wives, children, silver, gold right in his presence. Ben-Hadad says that by this time tomorrow, the thirty two kings will search his palace, search his house, take away his servants; even the commander of the army where his power was established. The devil is a coward and does not have the power over you. God has given you the power to overcome the works of the devil. Ephesians 6: 10-12 says “ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” If you cannot stand against the wiles of the devil, he will take your life away from you. God will fight the battle for you. Acts 12:1-5 says “ Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the days of unleavened bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” Verses 6-7 says “ And when Herod was about to bring him out that night, Peter was sleeping bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the prison and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up saying, Arise quickly! And his chains fell off his hands.” King Herod killed James and took Peter too. Angel of the Lord showed up because of prayer. Prayer was not done in the time of James. The devil cannot take you away in Jesus name. Say enough is enough for any harassment or intimidation from your enemies. The devil cannot kill or destroy your life. James 4:7 says “ Therefore submit to God! Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Jesus came down, went back and intercedes. It is only Jesus that has the power to do and undo. You should develop the Spirit of boldness. You need to rise up and fight.—Do it yourself.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF?
- YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN DO IT BETTER:
You can do it better if you do it yourself. You are the only one feeling the level of agony; You know what you are going through. Do not be afraid of the multitude because the Lord has come to destroy them. Isaiah 40:29 says “ He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength.” Jesus gives power to the weak; People you feel are weak will be the one that will fight the battle for you. You need anointing (power) and not ordination; You need the power of God. Nobody can do it better than you. You know the pain level on you and you know what you are going through. An adage says “ He who wears the shoe knows where it pinches.”
- YOU CANNOT DISAPPOINT YOURSELF
You should stop complaining about what people did to you. Some people may have evaluated you and know for sure you cannot do it without them. God wants people to help you and if they stop, God will raise somebody else to help you. Esther 4: 13-14 says “ And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” God has already ordained people to lift you up and if they refuse, punishment from God awaits them. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says “ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your Spirit which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 7:23 says “ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” Do not be a slave to anybody. If you don’t want disappointment, do it yourself. If you want that pain to stop, do it yourself. Psalm 118:10-12 says “ All nations surround me but in the name of the Lord, I will destroy them. They surround me; Yes, they surround me but in the name of the Lord, I will destroy them. They surround me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord, I will destroy them.” You will destroy all that surrounds you. Psalm 63:9 says “ But those who seek my life to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.” Anybody that wants to destroy your life shall go down by the sword. Psalm 56:3 says “ Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Trust God and do not fear. Go and posses your possession in Jesus name.
- THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU POWER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
Luke 10:19 says “ Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the powers of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” God has given you power to make it happen. Some people believe that they will not ascend to a particular level because of background, color or enemies. Nothing can stop the child of God. You should just take your faith to that level. Proverbs 16:7 says “ When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Isaiah 49:25 says “But thus says the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you and I will save your children. God says He will fight the battle for you. Are you really praying for yourself? It is a lie if a Prophet says he will pray for you for 21 days on a mountain. You can do it yourself for 21 days. You will triumph; You will excel; You will pursue your goal; You will achieve your goal; You will make it happen; Receive your victory; Receive the blessing of God; Receive the power of God; Receive deliverance. Say Father Lord, this is my time to excel; time to guarantee my victory; time for my restoration. Say Father Lord, show up in my life; provide my needs today in the name of Jesus. Whatever that is intimidating you will not run away in Jesus name. Amen.
