Brethren, I bring you Calvary
greetings. Our sermon today is taken from Isaiah 49 vs. 24 and 25. The bible
asks in v. 24 “
shall the prey be taken
from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?” Big question, as we try
to distinguish between what constitute the
prey
and the
lawful captive. Some of
us in our society today are preys to those who wield enormous power. Maybe you have
been engaged in fruitless search for gainful employment for years and under
that condition, the faint hearted might easily become a prey resorting to self-help
for survival. You may also be a lawful captive given a situation where you occupy
an office, possibly an elected one, but stripped of the powers to make crucial
decisions. You are a lawful captive-like
the case between godfathers and godsons. You are a lawful captive when you are
elected into political office and commanded to dance to the pipers tune; your
refusal like the numerous cases we have today is bound to spell doom and
attract reprisal attacks. The “mighty” can be anything including leviathan,
dragon, whatever constitutes a beast, a strong man; powers that subdue, cause
depression, fear, grief and horror. The “mighty”
could be an evil or a violent man, a satanic entity; poisonous, a serpent with
the most gruesome acts of wickedness. So, what about the word “terrible”? This
surpasses the “mighty” in every department of wickedness; we are referring to
principalities, spiritual forces in High places, entities with the most vicious
act of terror. They lack pity and often visit their victims with the most
extreme act of destruction; darkness and sorrow; whenever the “terrible” are in
operation, a whole nation can be held captive; nothing is beyond their
imagination. People are famished and brought to their knees. But that’s where
it stops. Brethren, the bible says we have the capacity to overcome them. There
are leaders today in our society who regard themselves as invincible; they are
charmers and move about as emperors; they have forgotten they are mortals whose
breath can suddenly size. They go about causing misery, sorrow and distress
even in time of peace. Conflicts that can easily be solved are allowed to drag
into bloody confrontation; they have abandoned the people and pursue vendetta
all in bid to satisfy their over stretched ego and maniacal dispositions. They
have forgotten that “authority” and “power” can be used to influence
development instead of “oppression” of the poor. But my message to them is to
have a rethink and fret not in thy power for “not only shall the lawful captive
be set free, even the prey of the terrible shall be delivered”. But you cannot
simply fold your hands; you have to do something; the bible says in 2 Chronicles
15 v. 7, “
be ye strong therefore and let
not your hands be weak; for your work shall be rewarded” Do not allow
yourself to be cowed. Place your trust in God. Again, in Job 39 v. 22, the
bible tells us “
he mocketh at fear and is
not affrighted, neither turneth he back from the sword”. No matter the
fierceness of the situation, do not be afraid; be like the horse that turneth
his back against the sword. No situation
is bad enough to spark grief. In psalm 75 v. 7, we read as follows “
But God is the judge; he putteth down one
and setteth up another”! Praise the Lord. Brethren, fear nothing; stand
your guard. Only God can make and
unmake. Those who boast are ignorant of the laws of nature. God is the only one
that can make rulers and bring others down; it is not through party primary,
elections or politicking. There are situations today where people are trying to
broker peace but those who reason they are immortals are insisting on exacting
a pound of flesh. Psalm 146 v. 4 reminds us thus “
his breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his
thoughts perish”. Brethren, who is threatening you? Simply place your trust
in God; fear no man. The world is in turmoil today because of violent men who
have forsaken God and turned to their own wisdom and knowledge. They plunder
the wealth of their States as elected governors, amass illicit wealth and subject
their people-those who elected them in the first place-to unimaginable misery,
poverty while they roil in affluence, live in filthy mansions, beat their chest
that they have conquered! I will have them know that they indeed exhibit animal
traits! Human beings are taught to be reasonable and act wisely. Yet the
preacher has said “
all is vanity upon
vanity”. Would they hear? In Ecclesiastes 11 v. 5 “
as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do
grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works
of God who maketh all”! Shalom
.
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