5 hours Ago By Guardian Nigeria
Whenever there is sin, God will always impose a retribution, but if the person quickly retraces his steps and repents and pleads for forgiveness from the Lord, it will be removed. The famine and severe suffering, which the Israelites experienced would have been avoided had Saul not massacred the Gibeonites and if there was no conspiracy of silence. “Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year.
.. And the Lord answered, itis for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
” The word “because” in this verse shows that there was a cause for the famine. Both Old and New Testaments reveal that there are many reasons people go through inexplicable experiences in life. For instance, “the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
” He “fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah Abraham’s wife;” “plagued the people, because they made the calf;” “was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice.” He also “prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works,” and “smote (Herod), because he gave not God the glory.” The list is endless.
Some believers have lost much in their families, businesses and careers because of sinful zeal and partnership. They pray and fast in ignorance, looking for solution without taking care of the root cause of the problem. They are defeated and it seems the Lord has forsaken them.
The scripture says, “fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.” As believers, we would avoid affliction, suffering, famine or calamity if we know the cause of our problems and then ask God for forgiveness. Some so-called believers who make unnecessary comparison between the times of the law and the times of grace should understand that God has not changed.
His administration of justice and attributes remains the same. Many problems – sicknesses, afflictions, poverty, oppressions, demonic attacks and natural disasters – can be avoided if we sincerely examine ourselves to know the cause and then ask God for mercy. Remember, a saint in Babylon is safer than a backslider in Zion.
If we are truly saved and righteous, sanctified and holy, prayerful, watchful and steadfast in labour, yokes and curses will be destroyed us and afflictions will be taken away amid us and we shall enjoy God’s unlimited blessings. Many people often attribute the cause of their problems to others. Some resort to seeking solutions to such problems in ungodly places and from those who do not know the Lord.
To get solutions to your problems, you must rely on God’s word and faithful servants. There must be genuine repentance and unflinching faith in His promises before you can recover all that you have lost. “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
” Decisive and self-sacrificing repentance is what God demands from us today. We must eschew bribery, corruption, cheating, fighting, gossip, immorality, injustice, lying, malice, pride, rebellion, secret sin, self-will, stealing, ungodly ambition, worldliness, among others, and rededicate our lives to the Lord. Only then can we experience an overflow of His blessings in our lives.
“And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” • Further reading (King James Version): 2 Samuel 21:1,2; 2 Kings 8:1; Psalm 74:9; 79:4,5; 89:46,47; Jeremiah 12:4. 2 Samuel 21:1; Genesis 12:17; 20:18; Exodus 32:35; Numbers 22:22; Joshua 7:12,13; 1 Kings 11:9,14; 2 Chronicles 20:37; Psalm 107:17; Isaiah 5:13; Hosea 4:6; Matthew 23:29,33; Luke 1:20; 19:43,44; Acts 12:23; Romans 11:20-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.
2 Chronicles 7:13,14; Job 33:14-28; 36:5-11; Psalm 107:17-20; Joel 2:12,13,18-21,25,26..
