THE YEAR OF THE SPIRIT – BE POSITIONED

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Text: Gen.26:1-6, 12-15; Ps.23:1-4

INTRODUCTION

David, a successful shepherd, knew the needs of the sheep. These he broadly categorizes in this Psalm into three, which are:-

Feeding
Protection
Guidance

Of the 3 above, the greatest in guidance, because, if a sheep is well guided, it will be protected and well fed, we see these elements play out in Isaac in Gerar, Let us take closer look:

ISAAC IN GERAR
Seven (7) elements I have noticed in the above story will enable us position ourselves properly for God to reach us in this year of the Spirit. I’ll briefly discuss them now:

Divine Guidance (V2,3)

Guidance = leading, direction provided by a guide etc.

3 Instructions were given to him viz:

Do not go to Egypt
Dwell in the land I shall tell thee of
Sojourn in this Land.

From the above, note

God only pays for what He orders
Isaac couldn’t have been blessed in any other place
Every man’s blessings is tied to where God wants him to be.

Contrast Jonah – Jonah 1:3-4

Divine Presence V3
Blessing is a natural sequelle to divine guidance and divine presence.
Jacob – Gen.34:30;35:1-5
Joseph -(a) In Portiphar’s HouseGen.39:2-4

(b) In Prison – Gen.39:20-23
(c) Before Pharaoh-Gen.41:16,25;38-39

Contrast with Cain: Gen.4:13-16

Jonah: Jonah 1:3-4

Obedience V6
Isaac obeyed

As at when he did, there was nothing in the physical to convince him to. But because he trusted God, He obeyed.
Obedience releases the power of God into your life and situation – irrespective of the prevailing circumstance(s)

He worked v12
Acquired Agronomy skill
Deployed His animal Husbandary skill
Managed His human resources well
He worked the land – that was what he had. What do you have? – Deut.2:7, Joh.1:10

Seed v4

He knew the difference between the bread and the seed. –Isa.55:10, IICor.9:10
It is the seed that is multiplied!
Seed – Hebr. “ZERA” – plantings, child, fruitfulness.

People v15- 22
Had very good people skills
Worked with and through people
Because of the kind of person he was his workers were faithful and went the extra mile for him.
Whatever God is going to do for you, He’s going to use people. So, develop good people skill.

Persistence v15-22
You can wear out the enemy through your persistence
The enemy can’t stand it because it is anchored on what you know of God and your faith in Him –Job.13:15, Heb.11:9-10

Conclusion
Only by the Holy Spirit can these be achieved. So get connected.
John 16:7
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Acts 1:8-9
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Luke 24:49
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” NKJV

Dr. Udoh
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