And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again… Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. 1 Sam 4:3-5, 9-11.
The mental and emotional disposition of most Christians today can be likened to What happened with the children of Israel in the above scriptures. They had lived outside of basic prescribed principles of life but flowed with an emotional carriage of the fact that the promises of God holds true for them irrespective how they lived and operated.
They were quick to resort to the Ark of God without first asking why they failed in the first instance. Asking WHY and HOW is one thing many Christians have failed to do today. We’re quick to pray, fast, attend an all night, blame a witch, a boss, a relation or our background for our failure without first searching and discovering the WHY of a situation.
Listen! There are incontrovertible laws of life that when consistently flouted positions a person as a colossal failure irrespective of who prayed for or anointed you. These laws can never be substituted with religious activities or spiritual jargons.
The same Hophni and Phinehas that flouted the principles of their assignment coupled with a notorious immoral life were the ones that carried the Ark to battle. The Ark was not less potent in Power but the basic necessities that activates its delivery were absent in the lives of those who carried it.
On the contrary, the Philistines who knew the capability of God and the history of His exploits for the Israelites decided to confront what they feared with:
1. Vision: They had a vision of why they came for battle.
2. Purpose: The purpose of the battle was clearly communicated to all.
3. Decision: A decision for death if necessary to achieve the vision.
4. Courage: A courage to confront their fear.
5. Commitment: Unwavering Commitment to the task at hand.
6. Goal: They had a common goal. They understood and deployed the power of collectivity.
Many a Christian will mystify all his challenges and would rather run from one deliverance house to another in search of solutions than sitting down to evaluate the status of his relationship with God, read a book, plan a course of action, attend a seminar or a required training forgetting that if the foundation is not right nothing worthwhile can stand on it.
Listen! After you’ve gotten God, go in search of other relevant factors if Victory or Success is your expectations. God does not company with irresponsibility and thoughtlessness.
You will not fail!
Your existence shall be felt by your world.
Your life shall be rewarding to God and humanity.
This October shall bring uncommon harvest your way!
See you next week on this platform.
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