Dear Friend,
Last Sunday I stood near the offering basket as the children of God came to give to the LORD there God, I watched as they dropped their gifts and went back to sit. For a moment I was lost in deep thought, I had been battling with much difficulty on the subject of tithe and offering before the LORD.
I kept asking the LORD why the windows of heaven weren’t opening and why He wasn’t pouring out blessings like He promised in Malachi 3:10 I was trying to reconcile what was happening in the lives of His children against what He promised in His Word to determine why there was no manifestation of His blessings. Any way that’s a story for another day.
As I finished writing yesterdays letter, the Spirit of the LORD spoke to me just before I got frantic about what would happen to His children after they have returned to Him. He said to me, “There is a condition for everyone who wants to return to the LORD” I thought to myself, why would there be a condition for coming back to the LORD my God, it didn’t make sense but then I have always purposed to carefully obey the voice of the Spirit of God.
I was restless for most of the day because I wanted to know that condition. That’s when the vision became clearer. “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” Joshua 24:23
The reason you walked away in the first place was because you were enticed by the world and its ruler. Now that you have decided to go back to God, you MUST get rid of all the small gods that you used to worship when you were in the world. What qualifies for a god? Anything that takes the place of the LORD your God becomes a god. It is written, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:2-
Every time the children of Israel turned their back on the LORD their God, defeat was eminent. Under this COVID 19 period, defeat is certain for everyone that serves another god besides Jesus. Its common for wives to have their husbands as gods, and likewise husbands. Pastors have equally become gods to the flock and they are the reason the LORD has turned His back on His own children. Perhaps your job became a god to you, to others their children have taken the place of God. The small god you chose to worship is a snare.
Whatever the case, for as long as you want to return to the LORD, “Get rid of the small gods” in your midst. “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14 NIV you returning to the LORD is one thing, the LORD returning to you is another thing. Until you get rid of the small gods in your house and heart, those that you think your life depends on, God will wait for you.
Have you ever wondered why it’s been hard to get a single prayer answered despite your urgent plea for help! Here is the thing, in your early days with Jesus you were excited, you made every promise to the LORD and yes you were quick to walk according to His ways, love was in the air, and then something happened, His blessings started to increase upon your life, slowly you started to forget where He brought you from. This is what He says about that, “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” Hosea 13:6
“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15 return to the LORD, get rid of the other gods in your possession and repent before the LORD your God, only then will He return to you.
During this COVID times remember, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hearBut your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1- having a small god is a sin.
There is a difference between loving something and worshiping. How then does one know when they have crossed the line from loving to worship? When you love that thing with all your heart and make it seem like your life depends on it or you cant live without it. Your heart cannot be shared with another, it is written, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
As you think of returning to God, be sure to get rid of all those other gods in your life, give Him your heart and make a commitment to worship only Him and Him alone.
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15
This is the Word of the LORD.
His servant,
Pastor Mark A Odeke
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36
