As humans, we have set time for when we want everything to happen for us in life. For example, someone might want to graduate at 20 years; completed their Master’s degree at 21; and their Doctorate degree at 24; get married at 25; have their first child by 26, and become a grandparent before 52 years. All have been planned and set out nicely by them.
While these may all happen; more often than not it does not. One of the sequences may not just click, which may not necessarily be a fault of their own. It is just how life goes. Where there is a break in the chain, we tend to press the panic button by ourselves and engage the gear called ‘rush’.
A person who is rushing to get things done will either cut corners; do things wrong; and may even jeopardize/forfeit the opportunity to have that thing redone if care is not taken (Heb. 12: 16-17).
I had a similar experience when I was young. I thought I would have my first degree before I turned 20, it did not happen. Though I was brilliant in my early years; I had to jump classes to go onto secondary school; because the school felt I was performing beyond my year. When I got to secondary school, it was the same. But when I wrote my final exam in secondary school, things became different. My result was not in any way what I had imagined; to make it worse, I only had a Pass in English, while I needed a minimum of a Credit. It was a kind of failure. It had never happened to me before.
Guess what, panic set in. For the next two years, I resat the English paper, it was always P7. In the 3rd year; I resolved to join the Military; but try the English exam for another time, in a different state. While I was doing the recruitment exercise, I sat the exam again.
I had commenced my military training before the result came out, surprisingly I had a Distinction. The same me that wrote, the same way I had been studying, but different result. I served in the Army for the next 4 years. In the final analysis, I ought to have finished my Doctorate degree when I graduated from university. The good thing is I did become the graduate I wanted; took a long time; yet it happened. It was also timely, as there was where I met my wife, which culminated in the set of children got has given us. Truly, all things work together for good for them that love God and are called according to His purpose.
In 2 Kings 18: 1-18, the bible makes us to know that Hezekiah began to reign over Judah and that he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, as he removed all the idols in the land, he trusted in the God of Israel and kept God’s commandments. So, God was with him and prospered him in all things. He therefore refused to continue to pay the tribute apportioned to him by Assyria as his predecessors did.
As a result of this, Sennacherib, King of Assyria came to attack Judah and overran some of the fenced cities and lay siege on Lachish enroute to Jerusalem. Hezekiah became afraid; started panicking; pleaded for mercy and began negotiating with Sennacherib. Judah was asked to pay 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold (£247,000).
Hezekiah had to strip every silver and gold from the temple and from his palace to give Sennacherib; but that did not appease him either. Sennacherib still sent his officers and some army personnel into Jerusalem. They demanded to speak to King Hezekiah in public; he however sent 3 of his officers to meet them.
Sennacherib’s officers began to threaten Hezekiah’s men and the citizen in loud voice as they spoke in Jewish language instead of the Syrian language, which only a few educated people understood.
They mocked Hezekiah that they could borrow him 2,000 horses to fight, if he could get soldiers to ride them. They said Egypt would not be able to help him. That if he thinks the Jewish God will help him; that would not happen, since Hezekiah had broken down all the altars of the same God. They even claimed that it was the God of Jews that asked the Assyrian to come and destroy Judah (2 Kings 18: 19-36).
At this point, the officers of Judah rent their clothes. Hezekiah also rent his clothes; all the citizens of Jerusalem were distressed. All the while, God was watching. So, Hezekiah sneaked to the temple to pray. He also sent his officers and old priests who covered themselves in sackcloth to Prophet Isaiah to join him in prayers (2 Kings 19: 1-4).
God spoke through Prophet Isaiah as he prophesied that God would send a blast upon Sennarcherib; that he would hear a rumour; that he will return to his land; and that he will fall by the sword in his own land (2 Kings 19: 6-7).
Sennarcherib got distracted away from Judah as he heard that Ethiopia came to attack him. He went away leaving a threat for Judah that he would be back, and that Hezekiah’s God would not save him.
Hezekiah continued to pray. God gave him a word of assurance for victory. When Sennacherib came back as he said, an angel of God went through his camp in the night and slayed 185,000 soldiers. While he saw his army as dead men on the ground in the morning; he ran to Nineveh; and as he was worshipping Nisroch his god, two of his sons slew him.
It might have appeared to Hezekiah that God was taken too long to come to their rescue; yet He came and was timely. The promise of God came to pass at the right time.
There is someone listening to me now, there is a huge battle confronting you. A formidable threat is against you. You have tried to negotiate and that did not work. It even got worse. I am asked to tell you that as the battle came; same it will go.
It will not affect your life nor impact on you negatively in Jesus name.
The story of Hannah was also a good example that God is never in a rush, yet timely. Hannah could probably have been the first wife of Elkannah as her name was mentioned first before Peninnah, but she was barren.
I Sam. 1: 1-2
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
To make matters worse for Hannah, Peninnah was always provoking her sore because of her predicament.
To make the matter a bit harder to bear was that Hannah was following the ordinances of God, indicated as she never missed Shiloh – God’s presence.
What could then be her problem? What could she have done wrong? God has even promised the Jews that none of them will be barren (Dt. 7: 4). Why is her case different? Wy was God treating her this way? Is God partial? Has Peninnah done something fetish to her? Who could be responsible for this? Could it be my mother-in-law? Maybe I should not have married Elkannah.
This are few questions that might be going on in the mind of Hannah. What she did not know was that for everything under the sun, there is a time. Only God determine this.
One day as she was worshipping in Shiloh that she had gone severally; her time and chance came. It was a crucial timeline for heaven; nine months after that, she gave birth to Samuel. She even has other five more children (I Samuel 2: 21). Samuel went on to become the High Priest in Israel. A child of someone who was termed barren.
There is someone listening to me now, you wanted something so much that it has started bothering you.
What you want is good and godly, but it seems you are not just getting it. You have prayed, worshipped and fasted but nothing has come. It has even been used to mock or provoke you to sadness.
Hear the word of the Lord, “Your ‘Samuel’ shall arrive. Your mockers shall be silence. Your years of waiting shall soon be forgotten”.
While David was on the throne of Israel, God had already told him which of his children would reign after him – Solomon (I Chro. 28: 1-10). As time went on, certain events began to unfold which made that God’s promised seemed impossible.
Absalom at a point planned a coup against his own father – David. The coup was massive with the kind of calibre of people involved. Those who were David’s confidants. The king had to vacate the throne and even ran away from Jerusalem with his wives and children and 600 men (2 Sam. 15: 13-16). Solomon the promised ruler too would have had to run with his father. One can only imagine what would be going through David, Bathsheba and Solomon minds at this time. Miraculously, God ended that coup.
Adonijah, another senior son of David tried to seize the throne against God’s promise, even though he knew the mind of God (I Kings 2: 13-25). God raised Prophet Nathan to orchestrate things, such that Adonijah failed.
All the while though, Solomon and his mother would have been thinking what was going on. Has God changed His mind? Has King David changed his mind, without telling us? Has Solomon done something wrong? Is God still punishing Solomon because of the sins of his parents? Could it be that God did not tell David that it would be Solomon that would rule in his place? Maybe David just made it up to make them happy, such that when he is dead, that would be it.
God was however watching and even patient. At the right time, Solomon ascended onto the throne of his father David; it was not late, it was very timely (I Kings 1: 11-53).
There is someone listening to me now, there is a position ordained for you which is been contested for. It appears your competitors have gained more ground than you.
That is reversed now in Jesus name.
Every power/person trying to sit on your throne shall vacate it. They will not have the slightest opportunity to sit on it.
To another person, I am asked to tell you that your seat is still waiting for you. Do not fret. None shall sit on it.
In Acts 12: 1-17, we have the story of how Apostle Peter was locked in the prison by King Herod, after he had killed James – half brother of Jesus. The bible says that Peter was kept in an inner cell; his feet tied to stock and his hands tied to two soldiers. There were 16 soldiers detailed to watch him round the clock and he was locked in an inner cell that one must go through several gates before getting out from the prison walls. Simply put, there was no way for Peter to escape.
Peter might have been expecting God to do something; but when the night before the morning of his execution arrived; he might have thought so his time was up like James. Jesus even had told him in advance that such a day would come for him (John 21: 18-19). The Church of God that was praying for Peter too no longer thought his release was still possible, even though they were still praying.
Peter himself was just sleeping and waiting for whatever would happen by morning. God however had a special plan for him, a gestapo mission from heaven that would confuse his captors and jailors.
Peter left prison. Soldiers were still locked inside; the gates still locked everywhere. Soldiers keeping watch everywhere. Only him gone. The king could not think how that should have happened. It thought it was treason. Sadly, he had all the soldiers executed.
There is someone listening to me, because of the situation you are in, you are thinking maybe its time for you to go. I am asked to tell you that it is not. You are walking free. Your captors will no longer find you where they left you.
Whatever has been used to tie you is loosed now. Somebody’s destiny is loosed now.
A womb is loosed now. Male duct is loosed. Fallopian tubes are loosed. Limbs loosed. Vital organs loosed. Life partners loosed. Brain loosed. Desired grades loosed.
Go and be revealed to the world in Jesus name.
It was still with the same Peter that the temple tax collectors met and asked if Jesus do pay or object to paying. Peter said Jesus did. When Peter came into the house, Jesus could have commanded money to come forth and give it to Peter there and then; even though as the Kings of kings He could decide not to pay; yet in order not to bring disrepute to His earthly ministry, He asked Peter to go to the sea, cast a hook, take the first fish, open its mouth, that here will be four drachma in it. He should take the money and give it to the temple tax collectors as payment for both of them. That suggest to me that the money was not at home with them at the time; but provision was made in time.
There were a lot of sequence in what Jesus asked Peter to do though; instead of just asking cash to appear. Peter would have preferred not to go to the sea. Whatever be the case, the tax was paid in time and no embarrassment ensued.
There is someone listening to me now; something has come up that can lead you into some kind of embarrassment. I am asked to tell you, that embarrassment will be averted. No shame will come upon you. That matter shall be sorted in an amazing way.
I preached not too long ago from John Chapter 11, about how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. While Lazarus was still sick, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come quickly to Bethany and heal him. These people loved Jesus and had made sacrifices to Jesus ministry and Jesus loved them too.
John 11: 2-5
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Jesus however abode 2 more days where he was (Jerusalem), less than 3 kms trip. Jesus then traveled even further away from his present location to Judea. By the time He finally visited Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for 4 days and buried.
One could only imagine the thought, feeling,s and pain of Mary and Martha at this point. They knew Jesus was remarkably close by, as those sent to Him must have confirmed. He got their message and look at when He was coming. 4 days for a 3 kms distance! Unbelievable! They did not hide their mind from Jesus.
John 11: 21 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11: 32 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
If Jesus had come sooner. Lazarus would not have died. True!
Going by their own timetable and timeline of events, Jesus had come a bit too late on the scene. Martha however said something astounding.
John 11: 22 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Lazarus had been buried for 4 days. Maggots and worms must have started decomposing his flesh, yet he rose from the dead at the command of Jesus, as He said, ‘Lazarus, come forth’.
Has God elapsed the time you have given Him to show up? Have things got worsened than when you have been calling on Him to help you? Are things hopeless now? Does the situation now stink? Never mind, the Resurrection and the Life will still visit you.
Your ‘Lazarus’ shall rise again. The decay will come back to life. The loss will be averted.
I can tell you how God had to Elijah on 80 days round trip to Horeb and back in order to reset his destiny having ran away from Jezebel. God could have still empowered him under the juniper tree he was. God was however not in a rush. He had to take him to Horeb (I Kings 19: 1-8).
I can also tell you how Jehoshaphat the Kings of Judah was surrounded by three nations. This brought fear upon the people. Jehoshaphat declared a fast throughout the land and sought the face of God. God could have just dealt with those nations immediately; instead, God asked Judah to march out to go and meet their enemies without any arms. They were just singing to meet their enemies who were many; and who were armed.
As they were going and singing, surprise victory came for them (2 Chro. 20: 1-25).
Also, when the half brothers of Jesus saw that He had supernatural powers to do signs and wonders, they felt they could make merchandise of Him, as even they did not believe He was the Messiah at this point. They told him to go to Jerusalem and expose Himself, rather than hiding in obscurity. The best platform would be the Feast of the Tabernacles in Jerusalem, where people from the nation of Israel would gather (John 7: 1-6).
Even though, Jesus would have wanted crowds and multitudes to believe in His word. He felt the motive of His brothers was wrong. He, therefore, made sure His brothers went ahead of Him and then He went to the Feast quietly. He still found occasion in the synagogue to minister to people (John 7: 7-14).
There is someone listening to me now, know that your showing has an appointed time. It will surely come. Do not let anyone push you, do not be pressured into it, but wait for it. Keep communing with God. He will launch you out in His perfect time.
God is never in a hurry, yet He always arrive at the right time. Have you been waiting for His and still expecting? Can I encourage you to still be expectant, prepared and observant. He will not be late. Whenever He comes, is surely the best time. God bless you.
Prayers
Father, let all Your promises in my life be Yes and Amen.
Father, do not allow any of Your word spoken into my life to fall to the ground. Let it all germinate in my destiny.
Father, grant me patience while I wait for the manifestation of Your promise.
Sermon delivered on May 30, 2021 – https://youtu.be/ugGWEfUZ59c