Ministering: Pastor Shola Awobajo.
Text: Judges 1:1-4.
” 1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 2 And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him. 4 And Judah went up; and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.“ KJV
God always delivers the land into the hand of Judah (Praise). Our theme in IGA for this month is “Glory Restored”. The restoration Mephibosheth experienced was a sudden restoration, he had no idea King David was looking for him to bless. God is the God of total restoration, who is always seeking for opportunity to add joy to His people. As the Almighty, He does not need eternity to do that which is eternal. God can do more in a split second than any mortal can do in a 1,000 years.
Our above text is a pointer to God’s way of restoration – “Praise” (Judah). Praise is usually the default weaponry God uses to deliver the enemy into His people’s hands. Jericho crumbled through praise. There is a mystery behind God’s Restoration, for it always wipes out the past painful memories.
The Bible is filled with stories of God restoring all Who genuinely sought and waited for Him. When the God of restoration showed up for Hannah, she gave an uncommon eulogy to the Lord, God of Israel in 1 Samuel 2. The God we have come to see this morning is the God of restoration, unto Whom nothing is impossible. He made a barren woman like Sarah conceive and give birth. There is none Holy like our God, neither is there any Rock like our Him. There is joy unspeakable anytime God restores anyone; a new song cannot but just proceed from their mouth.
God is a God of order, He has a protocol for all His operations. He commanded that Judah (Praise) should lead Israel in the battle against the Canaanites. He said in Psalm 100, that we should enter His Gates with Thanksgiving, … Ps. 67:5-7 tells us the Earth will yield its increase to you every time you offer praise to God. God dwells in the Praises of His people. David never lost any battle because he was a praise warrior. Ps. 149 tells us praise is a weapon that never fails against the enemy. Anytime praise appears, all the enemies flee and disappear (Ps. 114:1-6). Problems and issues cannot stand before Praise. Gen. 49:9.
The Children of Judah – 1 Chronicles 4:1 makes us to understand that Judah has 5 children – Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. Perez means “breakthrough”; Hezron means “surrounded by wall” (protection); Carmi means “growth or expansion”; Hur means “Purity”; and Shobal means “multiple blessings”. This means wherever Judah goes, his children follow him.
In closing, Praise makes you, a man or woman of exploits; a person who cannot be defeated. Praise opens massive doors of opportunities for you. Hab. 3:17-18 – Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
God bless you!
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