Quiet Time

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 32: 24-25 (NIV)  Topic: People say “Thank you” by giving a proud response to their lover.  In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. BUT HEZEKIAH’S HEART WAS PROUD AND HE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE KINDNESS SHOWN HIM; THEREFORE THE LORD’S WRATH WAS ON HIM AND ON JUDAH AND JERUSALEM. 2 Chronicles 32:24-25 (NIV) There are proud responses to good things. God has given you His good things and He expects you to respond like a child. What is the response of a child? A child’s response is a humble response. It is an excited, overjoyed, emotional and ecstatic response to the smallest good thing that is done to you.  Unfortunately, Hezekiah’s response was a proud response and it brought the wrath of God upon him.  What is a proud response? A proud response is when you do not lift your head up to speak. You cannot even turn your neck because it is as though your h...

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:45-48 Topic: People say ‘Thank you’ to God by not being happy.  Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. BECAUSE THOU SERVEDST NOT THE LORD THY GOD WITH JOYFULNESS, AND WITH GLADNESS OF HEART, FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF ALL THINGS; THEREFORE SHALT THOU SERVE THINE ENEMIES which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. Deuteronomy 28:45-48 People say, “Thank you” by not being happy. Not being happy, not being joyful and not being glad are things that God takes note of. When you give something to someone, you look at his face to see his...

Scripture: Psalms 109:1-5 Topic: Wicked men say “Thank you” for your love by becoming your adversaries. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. FOR MY LOVE THEY ARE MY ADVERSARIES: BUT I GIVE MYSELF UNTO PRAYER. AND THEY HAVE REWARDED ME EVIL FOR GOOD, AND HATRED FOR MY LOVE. Psalms 109:1-5 There are those who repay your love by becoming enemies. I have appointed many pastors and bishops. I have appointed, ordained and consecrated several people into the ministry. That was an act of love. It was an act where I demonstrated confidence in these people. I told the world that I believed in them and that they were good people.  Some of these people whom I loved became my adversaries. On one occasion, one of my pastors told his friends that he was now my sworn enemy and he would live and work to destroy m...

Scripture: Psalms 35:11-14 Topic: False witnesses say ‘Thank you’ by accusing the one who cared for them. False witnesses did rise up; They laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. Psalms 35:11-14 Some people say, “Thank you” by accusing you falsely and laying things to your charge. You can be accused about things you have no idea about. You may be accused of handling cocaine when you have never seen cocaine before. It is important that you do not repay good with evil. I remember some people whom I loved greatly. I defended them when they got into difficulty and fought for them when I needed to. But that was not how they repaid me for my good to them. They laid to my c...

Scripture: Proverbs 17:13 Topic: Those Who Repay Good With Evil "He who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house."                                                                                                                              Proverbs 17:13 (NASB) One of the reasons why there is a curse in the earth is because of the way people say, “Thank you”. Indeed, one of the commonest ways for people to say, “Thank you” is for them to pay back good with evil. There are three expected responses when good things are done for you:  1. Say, “Thank you” to show that you are thankful. 2. Do somethin...

Scriptures: Job 14:2, James 4:14, Isaiah 40:7-8  Topic: You must redeem the time because your short life has an even shorter period of significance and fruitfulness. "He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not."                                                                                                                                                                                       ...

Scripture: Job 7:1-3 Topic: You must redeem the time because your life on earth is like a fixed contract. "Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Are not his days also like the days of an hireling? As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me." Job 7:1-3 There is an appointed time for men on this earth. As I write this book, I am aware that my time is fixed. Sometimes I think to myself, “How long will I be here for? When will I go? How will I go out of this world?” These are questions I ask  myself all the time. I think about eternity because I know the date for my entry into eternity is already fixed. Every day takes me closer to that date when my contract for this life will be over. Are you aware that your date of death has already been determined? There are no new circumstances which are ganging up together to eliminate you fro...

Scriptures: Psalm 39:3-6, 12-13 (NASB), Job 14:1 Topic: You must redeem the time because your days will be few and full of trouble. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: "LORD, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah. Surely every man walks about as a phantom; Surely they make an uproar for nothing; He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, A sojourner like all my fathers. "Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may smile again before I depart and am no more. Psalm 39:3-6, 12-13 (NASB) "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble."                     ...

Scripture: Psalm 90:9-12 Topic: You must redeem the time because that is the only wise thing to do with your life. Unfortunately, many people do not treat time and opportunity as a special commodity. Time is something rare and precious, which God gives to all of us. It is the only thing you cannot regain or get back. When it is gone, it is gone forever. God’s admonition to us is to use the time we have on earth to do as much for Him as possible. We must work while it is day. The only wise thing to do with your life is to redeem the time for the work of the Lord. "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.  Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts un...