PHIAA Cagayan De Oro Chapter

Thank you for the fellowship and encouragement as always!🙏

“𝗛𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄.“ That statement does not apply to everybody who died.
Tell people the TRUTH if you love them. Everybody does not go to heaven. Everybody is not resting in peace. A lot of folks are in hell because they did not repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior when they were alive. The Bible says there is no Peace for the wicked. (Isaiah 48:22)
Yes Hell is Real and people go there everyday.
We can REST IN PEACE when we die, if we:
REPENT and turn back to GOD.
ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST as our personal LORD and SAVIOR. BELIEVE on His DEATH on the cross and on HIS RESURRECTION.
Be ye saved while we are still alive.❤️
Now is the time for salvation.

When Genghis Khan laid siege to Bukhara, he could not take it by storm, so he wrote to the inhabitants of the city: “He who is on our side is safe.” The inhabitants of Bukhara were divided into two groups. The first of them refused to obey Genghis Khan, while the second agreed. Genghis Khan wrote to those who agreed to submit to him: "If you help fight those of you who refused, we will entrust your city to you."

So they followed his order and war broke out between the two groups. In the end, the “supporters of Genghis Khan” won, but the big shock was that the conquerors took up arms and began to kill them. And then Genghis Khan uttered the words: “If they were true, they would not have betrayed their brothers for us, when we were strangers to them"

Moral: He who betrays once, betrays him twice.”

Arab historian Ibn al-Athir (1160-1234).

In 2005 Kevin Berthia went to the Golden Gate Bridge to end his life.
He ended up talking about his life with Officer Kevin Briggs for 92 minutes while he was on the edge of the bridge.
10 years later they meet on the same bridge in much better circumstances.
Good words and good people can change everything.

Matthew 7: 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

To hear Christ is not just hearing Him but to follow His every commands. Our profession of faith in Christ will ultimately be tested before God. Those who have trusted Christ and have proven faith by their obedience will have nothing to fear. Founded on the rock their house will stand but those who have professed to trust Christ, but have not obeyed God will be condemned.

Mental exercise:

Mr Singh walks into a bank London and asks for the loan officer. He says he's going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow £5000. The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for the loan, so Mr Singh hands over the keys to a new Rolls Royce, which costs quarter of a million pounds.

“The car is parked on the street in front of the bank,” says Mr Singh, “and I have all the necessary papers.”

The bank officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. After Mr Singh leaves, the loan officer, the bank's president and all their colleagues enjoy a good laugh at the man for using a £250,000 Rolls Royce as collateral against a £5,000 loan.

One of the employees drives the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parks it there. Two weeks later, Mr Singh returns, repays the £5000 and the interest, which comes to £15.41.

The loan officer says, "Sir, I must tell you, we’re all a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and discovered that you’re a multimillionaire. Why would you bother to borrow £5,000?"

The man replies, "Where else in London can I park my car for two weeks for only £15.41?"

Pat Robertson, Christian televangelist and one-time presidential candidate, has died at the age of 93 | CNN Pat Robertson, the prominent televangelist who founded the Christian Broadcasting Network, made the Christian right a powerful political force and unsuccessfully ran for president in 1988, died on Thursday, the network said in a news release.

𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖❓
𝗖𝗲𝗯𝘂 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ Oldest City in the Philippines
𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ Largest City in the Philippines
𝗧𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗺 ↦ Music Capital of the South
𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗹 ↦ Phil. Island Garden City
𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲 ↦ Banana Capital
𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗶 ↦ Coconut City of the South
𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗼𝘀 ↦ Clay Capital of Mindanao
𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮 ↦ Banana Capital of Davao
𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 ↦ City at the foot of Mt Apo
𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ Durian Capital, Cacao Capital
𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗹 ↦ Ilonggo City of the South
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ Tuna Capital
𝗕𝘂𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗼𝗻 ↦ Pineapple Capital
𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆 ↦ Summer Capital of the South
𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 ↦ Fruit Basket and King City of the South
𝗖𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗼 ↦ City of Golden Friendship
𝗜𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻 ↦ Oil Palm Capital of the Philippines
𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻 ↦ Island Born of Fire
𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗮𝗶, 𝗧𝗮𝘄𝗶 𝗧𝗮𝘄𝗶 ↦ Venice of the South
𝗖𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗼 ↦ Land of Mightiest Mountain
𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿 ↦ Cradle of Muslim Art
𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗼 ↦ Conference Capital of Mindanao
𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 ↦ Mystical Province of Love
𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲 ↦ Surfing Capital
𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲 ↦ Land of Beauty and Bounty
𝗢𝗿𝗼𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗮 ↦ City of Good Life
𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲 ↦ Province of South's Twin City
𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 ↦ Seat of Muslim Mindanao
𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝗰𝗰 ↦ Christmas Capital of Mindanao
𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲 ↦ Land of Antiquated Finds
𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗻 ↦ Timber City of the South
𝗚𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗴 ↦ City of Good Luck
𝗗𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻 ↦ Shrine and Historic City of the South
𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 ↦ Little Hong Kong of the South
𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ Asias Latin City, Sardines Capital, City of Flowers
𝗦𝘂𝗹𝘂 ↦ Land of Exotic Fruits
𝗜𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 ↦ industrial City of the South
𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴 ↦ The Phil. Orchid City
𝗟𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻, 𝗕𝘂𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗼𝗻 ↦ Vegetable Basket of Mindanao

𝗔𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻 ↦ Oldest province in the Philippines
𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 ↦ Province where the mountain meets the sea
𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼 ↦ City in the Sky
𝗔𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 ↦ Land of Golden Sunrise
𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻, 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗼 ↦ Banana Capital of Panay
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗿 ↦ Band Capital of the Philippines
𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ Summer Capital/ City of Pines
𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗮𝗻 ↦ History Hub of Central Luzon
𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘀 ↦ Diving and Shipping Capital
𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀 ↦ Land of True Insulars
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗱 ↦ City of Smiles
𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻 ↦ Shipyard of Antiquity
𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘁 ↦ Salad Bowl of the Philippines
𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻 ↦ King City of the East
𝗕𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹 ↦ Calamay Capital of the Philippines
𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗻 ↦ Manila's Gateway to the North
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗯𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗴 ↦ City of Waterfalls
𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮, 𝗥𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗹 ↦ Bibingka Capital
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗮 ↦ Hot Spring Capital
𝗖𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗿 ↦ Wakeboarding Capital
𝗖𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 ↦ Cradle of Phil. Revolution
𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗻 ↦ City of Captivating Contrast
𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀 ↦ Land of the Howling Wind
𝗖𝗮𝘂𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻, 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗮 ↦ Mushroom City of the North
𝗖𝗲𝗯𝘂 ↦ Gateway to a Thousand Journeys
𝗗𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘁𝗲 ↦ City of Gentle People
𝗗𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗻 ↦ Bangus Capital
𝗗𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗹, 𝗦𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗴𝗼𝗻 ↦ World's Whale Shark Capital
𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿 ↦ Gateway to Phil. Discovery
𝗘𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿, 𝗠𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝗿 ↦ City of Divine Mercy
𝗘𝗹 𝗡𝗶𝗱𝗼 ↦ Heaven on Earth
𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀 ↦ Mango County of Visayas
𝗚𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰, 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯. 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲 ↦ Pebble Capital
𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗼 ↦ Province with most number of barangays
𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ The First Queen City of the South, City where the Past is always present
𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗿 ↦ Heritage Haven of the Far North
𝗜𝗺𝘂𝘀 ↦ The Philippine Flag Capital
𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗮 ↦ Rice Granary of the North
𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮 ↦ White Rafting Capital of the North
𝗟𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 ↦ Surfing Capital of the North
𝗟𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗻𝗮 ↦ The Silicon Valley
𝗟𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱, 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘁 ↦ Strawberry Capital
𝗟𝗮𝘀 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘀 ↦ Salt Center of Metro Manila
𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗽𝗶 ↦ City of Fun and Adventure, ATV capital
𝗟𝗶𝗽𝗮, 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘀 ↦ City of Pride
𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗻 ↦ The Most Romantic Place
𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮, 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘇𝗼𝗻 ↦ Biofuel & Biopalm City
𝗠𝗮𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗦. 𝗟𝗲𝘆𝘁𝗲 ↦ The Religious City
𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗶 ↦ Manhattan of the Philippines
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗮 ↦ Shoe Capital of the Philippines
𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 ↦ Great Wild West of Phil.
𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮 ↦ Ever Distinguished Loyal City
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗾𝘂𝗲 ↦ Heart of the Philippines
𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘂𝗲 ↦ Furniture Capital
𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘂𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗴 ↦ Shopping Capital
𝗠𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗼, 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗼 ↦ Municipality with most number of barangays, Onion Capital of Visayas
𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗼, 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗼 ↦ Athens of the Philippines
𝗠𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗹𝘂𝗽𝗮 ↦ The Emerald City
𝗡𝗮𝗴𝗮 ↦ Bicols Queen City
𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗮𝘀 ↦ Fishing Capital of Greater Manila
𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀 𝗢𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 ↦ Sugar Bowl
𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀 𝗢𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 ↦ Province with most number of cities
𝗡𝗲𝗴. 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 ↦ Whale and Dolphin Haven
𝗡𝘂𝗲𝘃𝗮 𝗘𝗰𝗶𝗷𝗮 ↦ Rice Granary of the Philippines
𝗡𝘂𝗲𝘃𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝘇𝗰𝗮𝘆𝗮 ↦ Watershed Haven of Cagayan Valley
𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗼 ↦ Harbor Gateway to the South
𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 ↦ Largest Province in the Philippines
𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 ↦ Philippines' Last Frontier
𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 ↦ Culinary Capital of the Philippines
𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻 ↦ Saltmaking Capital
𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀 ↦ Balut Capital
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗲 ↦ Fashion Capital
𝗣𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘆 ↦ Travel Capital
𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶 ↦ Sweet City at the Heart of Panay
𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗻, 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗼 ↦ Christmas Capital of Visayas
𝗣𝘂𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮 ↦ Mini Boracay
𝗣𝘂𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀𝗮 ↦ EcoTourism Capital
𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ City of Stars and New Horizons
𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗼 ↦ Forest Heartland of Cagayan Valley
𝗥𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗹 ↦ Cradle of Philippine Arts
𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻 ↦ Marble Capital
𝗥𝗼𝘅𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ Seafood Capital of the Philippines
𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻, 𝗢𝗰𝗰. 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗼 ↦ Largest Municipality in the Philippines
𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿 ↦ Spelunking Capital
𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝗮𝗻 ↦ Tiangge Capital
𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼 ↦ Lantern Capital
𝗦𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗷𝗼𝗿 ↦ Island of Fire
𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗰 ↦ Melting Pot of Central Luzon
𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↦ City of Hope
𝗧𝗮𝗴𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻 ↦ City of Peace and Friendship
𝗧𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗴 ↦ The ProvinSyudad
𝗧𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗼 ↦ Premier Ybanag City
𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘇𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗮 ↦ The Only Divided City
𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘇𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗮 ↦ Vibrant City of Discipline
𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀↦ Chromite Capital

Credits: Box Ticketing Office

*OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL*
DATE: Mon, April 24, 2023
TOPIC: *More Than Victory*
MEMORISE:
_*Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.*_ (Romans 8:37, KJV)
READ:*2 Chronicles 20:1-25(KJV)*_...................
[18] And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.
[19] And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. [20] And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. [21] And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
[22] And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. [23] For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. [24] And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. [25] And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
MESSAGE:
God is so generous that when He wants to give you victory, He makes you more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). He doesn't just give you victory, He gives it abundantly. David said in Psalm 23:5 that God did not only give him victory over his enemies, He also prepared a table for him right in their presence. Now that is a different level of victory.
In our Bible reading for today, three kings came against Jehoshaphat, but God used them to destroy one another and then all their wealth was transferred to Jehoshaphat. Without fighting at all, Jehoshaphat and his people enjoyed victory and gained so much spoil that it took three days to transport it all to their country. This is in line with God's promise in Deuteronomy 28:7:
*The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.*
The Almighty God says that because He has decided to help you, those who are incensed against you shall perish and become as nothing (Isaiah 41:10-13). The Lord says He shall fight for you while you just hold your peace (Exodus 14:14). He says further in Colossians 2:14-15:
*Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.*
You should be rejoicing if you are truly a child of God. Those who don't know Jesus Christ don't know what they are missing. The One inside you is greater than he that is in the world. To qualify as one of those who God loves and abides with, simply obey Him (John 14:23). If you want to experience victory over your enemies without a fight, obey all His commandments.
PRAYER POINT:
*Father, please give me the grace to obey all Your commandments, in Jesus' Name.*
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
*2 Kings 17-18.*
AUTHOR:
*Pastor E.A. Adeboye*

1 Samuel 2:7-8 tells us that God can make one fellow poor and another rich, He can bring one down and raise another. He can lift a beggar out of the dust and keep on promoting him until he is sitting amongst princes. Psalm 75:7 says further, "But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another."
What does God look out for in the people He promotes? The first thing, according to our memory verse, is a willingness to do His will. Once He finds out that you are the kind of fellow who always wants to do His will, then He will mark you out for promotion. If He sees how passionate you are about lifting His Name above every other name, He will lift you. This is the kind of heart that David had; it was this passion that made him confront Goliath when he heard the giant defiling the Name of the Lord. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? (1 Samuel 17:26)
In 1 Samuel 17:45-47, David said that the fight belonged to God. He wasn't fighting for his own accolades; he was fighting for the glory of God. How passionate are you about the will of God being done in your life and around you?
Once in a while, a fellow could start out pursuing the Lord's will, so He promotes him or her, but then along the line, the person could get so carried away with power that he or she is no longer pursuing the Lord's will. The Lord responds by demoting such a fellow immediately and disgracefully, as we see in the story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:23.
Today, when people talk about King Saul, they use him as a bad example. You can hardly find any good thing to say about him. That is the lot of those who, after being promoted by God, begin to do their own will rather than His.

REFLECTION:
Within your sphere of influence, do you pursue God’s will or your own agenda?
*Joshua 1-4.*