ESOCS Devotional 29 April 2021
TEXT: I KINGS 2:1-12
MEMORY VERSE: “And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.” I Kings 3:4 KJV
We will be discussing how to provoke the hand and the presence of God. We shall be studying the man Solomon and how his lifestyle and choices moved God to take notice of him. It is important to state that every one of us can provoke the divine hand of God when we learn the secrets of the fathers. Shortly after Solomon reigned in the stead of his father David, God appeared to him and blessed him with wisdom, wealth, honour, and long life.
Solomon the king offered a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord. When he did, the LORD appeared to him and said, “Ask what I shall give thee.” Notice that the sacrifice of Solomon did not give him any blessing. What it did was to provoke God to appear to him.
When Abraham made a sacrifice to God, it moved God to come to him. Throughout the scriptures, all who sowed seeds provoked God to manifest. However, they had a role to play after God appeared. Seeds and sacrifices are powerful. They invoke the supernatural. Nevertheless, when the supernatural is provoked, we must take advantage of it and place our demands, releasing our faith accordingly.
Like Solomon, your seed will provoke God to appear to you; and when He does, take advantage of His invoked presence and place a demand on heaven. Then sit back and reap your harvest.
If you want to provoke the hand and presence of God as Solomon did, then you must do the following:
Love God: Solomon loved God; his heart was after God and God honoured him. The Bible wants us to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and being. Loving God is key to provoking the hand, presence, and attention.
Walk in the statutes of your father: Solomon walked in the statutes of his father. We must honour our fathers by walking in their statutes. Walking in the statutes and doctrine of God is important in provoking the hand of God. The early church continued because they kept the doctrine and teachings of Jesus Christ, as laid down by the apostles.
Sacrifice offerings to the Lord: The third and final key to moving God into your life for guidance and direction is giving and sacrificing. Solomon sacrificed a thousand offerings at Gibeon and God appeared to him in the night. Noah built an altar and offered sacrifices and God appeared to him. Cornelius gave alms and fasted and God sent an angel. Offering sacrifices moves and provokes God to action.
Many times, God’s people sow seeds and make sacrifices but do not know how to make their seeds work for them. You must love God, walk in His statutes, and offer sacrifices that will provoke God. You must take advantage of the open heavens and lay hold on what you desire. Your offerings will open doors for you.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
CHALLENGES
What are the things you do that can provoke God’s blessing upon you?
PRAYER POINT
Pray for the spirit of giving bountifully to the glory of His name.
FURTHER READING: Genesis 26:1–12; 2 Samuel 24:19-25
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ESOCS Devotional 29 April 2021
