Date: 8th February 2023
Topic: Isaiah’s Truths: Lesson 17: Your actions have consequences
Bible Reading: Isaiah 5 (ESV)
Memory verse: Isaiah 5: 5
And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and its shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! How are you doing! How has your week been so far? We are already midway through the week! Wow! The days have been passing us by. Sometimes you wonder what’s going on! Yes! It is by Grace; we are all alive to speak on the wondrous things God has done for us- and all the marvellous things He is about to do!
Once again, we are continuing our Isaiah’s Truths series by discussing “consequences.” Do you know that there nothing like no- consequence living? Especially as children of God? Today, the Holy Spirit, through Isaiah chapter 5 verse 5, explains to us, the consequences of consistently disobeying God.
The month of February, we declared (with the authority of the Holy Spirit) as the month of reflection, transformation and growth. For the past few posts, the Holy Spirit has been drawing our attention to various aspects of our life(s)/ lifestyle(s), that need a makeover. This is one of them. Well, are you ready for all the Holy Spirit has in-store for us today? Let’s get right into it.
As Christians, one of the core principles we know (and believe) is that we serve a very loving and forgiving God. Growing in the faith, one is taught that any time we falter; we must go back to God and ask for forgiveness. He will forgive us, and Christ will present you on a clean slate before the Father! This is not the case all the time. Though we serve a forgiving and loving Father, we serve a Jealous and Just God. There is a limit to everything.
You see, when you consistently turn away from God and/ or you are taking advantage of God’s “kindness,” He unleashes His wrath in anger. Why do you think God gets angry at us sometimes? Well, it is because He has given us everything (and more) to succeed and live a Christ-like life. God has given us all the resources and tools to overcome the enemy and give Glory to His name. However, there are times we keep choosing the enemy or the world or our flesh before God.
Let us explore this scenario! Imagine your earthly parents ask you to take their car to be serviced. They have given you money to pay the mechanic, sent you the Google location of mechanic’s garage and sent the appointment details. Imagine you miss the appointment because you were distracted by social media and movies. Your parents pardon your behaviour and reschedule the appointment to the next day. The next day comes by; once again, you took the car to a party and never made it to the mechanic’s garage. This keeps happening for about a week. Finally, your parents get upset. They ask for the money, and they get the job done by tasking your sibling to take the car.
It does not stop there! Due to your actions, your parents no longer trust you to do anything for them. They punish you by reducing your monthly allowance or giving you more chores, etc. Just like in this scenario, if we ignore God, there are consequences. Our Bible verse for the day highlights this! From the verse, we see that God does not trust us to fulfil our purpose in Christ. He draws away from us! Once God’s presence leaves, you no longer have protection and security against the enemy. The enemy has a clear path to devour you! Trust me, you never want to be in a position whereby you cannot access God’s Grace and Mercy over your life.
My dear brother and sister in Christ, as you go about your day, remember to be intentional for Christ! He sees and knows your heart! Do not let your flesh fool you into taking any decision(s) that will put you against God. In everything, ask the Holy Spirit for direction and guidance. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you! He is available to you anytime, anywhere! That is the beauty of the Holy Spirit.
Today, reflect on your life (and your lifestyle). What aspects of your life are you continuously neglecting God in? What aspects of your life are you allowing your flesh to influence your actions? In this year, it is very important to distinctively show who we pledge our allegiance to! You see, there is no grey area- it is either black or white. You are either for Christ or not for Christ. These are very important steps to take as children of God. Just know who you are and comfortably live in it!
God richly bless you! Thank you, God, for victory!
Have a wonderful day and let God inspire you!
If this is your first-time hearing about Christ, or you have made the decision to make Him the center of your life, kindly say this prayer with all sincerity and truth.
Dear Lord,
I come to you today as a sinner. I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus is your Son, and He came on to this earth to die for my sins. Dear Lord, let your Son come and fill me. Lord, I ask that He cleanses me off my sins. I am ready to stand for you and profess your Name. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
If you repeated this prayer with all the sincerity of your heart, congratulations!! You are now a part of God’s family. You get to enjoy the freedom, salvation, and eternal life! Welcome to the greatest family ever. Heaven is jubilating on your arrival. Your fellow brothers and sisters are also excited to have you on board.
Being a child of God is a wonderful thing. The road might not always be easy, but God is with you each step of the way. Guiding you, helping you and encouraging up. You will never regret this decision; I can assure you of that. Two things I would recommend for you to do are,
1. Get yourself a Bible (in a version you understand) and meditate on it day and night. In Joshua 1:8, we are told that when you meditate on the Word, day and night, you will be prosperous and successful.
2. Find a Bible- believing church to attend and fellowship with other Christians. This would help you grow spiritually.