DEALING WITH DESTINY KILLERS I
MEMORISE: And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. Judges 18:9
READ: Proverbs 6:6 -11
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
MESSAGE
Laziness is one major destiny killer that many people do not pay attention to. You need to realise that the journey to your destiny is divided into times and seasons, and if you miss one because of laziness, you may never be able to recover it. This may ultimately cause a dent in the fulfillment of your destiny. When it is time to make a move, go for it immediately. Don't postpone it. Proverbs 22:13 describes such a fellow accurately. When something needs to be done, do it, whether it is convenient or not. There is no convenience in conquering lands and expanding territories, it is only the courageous and strong that fulfil destiny.
Several years ago, my wife and l, together with one of our sons who was 2 years and four months old at the time, embarked on a journey from Lagos to Otukpo in Benue State, in Nigeria. The journey was for a dual purpose of starting a parish of the Church there and holding a Congress. It was during the rainy season and a major bridge on the way between Ore and Benin had been swept away by the flood. When we get there and found no bridge, we had to sleep in the car that night. The place was so dangerous that we were advised not to step out of the car at all. I remember there was an alternative road, so we turned round to go by that road which had been abandoned, only to discover that bridges along that road had also been swept away. We could have easily turned back and gone home, but we kept going. By the time we had travelled a couple of miles along the abandoned road, the silencer of the car broke off. We picked it, put it in the boot and continue the journey. It was time to go to Otukpo and there was no turning back! Whenever we encountered a stream, one of us would go into it to find out inch by inch, the areas where the car could drive.
In all, we spent three days on that road, but we arrived safely and did what needed to be done. Today In Benue State alone, we have over 500 parishes of The Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Understand your times and seasons and seize opportunities in them when they come.
KEY POINT
Convenience is just an excuse ; when something needs to be done, do it, whether it is convenient or not.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Romans 2-5
HYMN 8: I'M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY
1 I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Chorus
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
2 My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
3 I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
4 I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till rest I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”
