“And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.” (Acts 9:10).
Most of you probably don’t take note of this verse in your Bible. But the Lord rings the bell through this scripture to you, which changes life. Let the Lord speak to you through this verse today. By the way, how many times has the Lord called your name and you weren’t there? You were doing something else.
What would have happened if God would have called Ananias and he was in such a state that the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things were choking the Word, and he hadn’t been able to listen to God? It’s possible that God would have raised up someone else to minister to Saul. I’m not sure how it would have played out, but I’m sure we would not be talking about Ananias today.
How many of you have God spoken to and tried to keep you from making a mistake, and tried to change your life, and tried to do things in your life, but you weren’t there because you were too busy, or you were engrossed in doing ministry for God?
Can I ask you again, “are you there? “
Do you hear the voice of God?
Like Ananias, do you answer, “Behold, I am here, Lord”
Our lifestyles have become so busy. This limits what God can do in our lives. If we want to be an inspiration to other people, we have to be inspired by ourselves. We have to let God speak to us. We can’t give somebody else something we don’t have. And most of us don’t have God actively speaking in our lives because we are too busy to listen to Him or give Him any time.
Have time with God and let him speak to you.
You Are Protected
“For I saith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.” (Zachariah 2:5, KJV).
In a certain village, there was a forest that separated this village into two. One part of the village was on one side of the forest and the other part on the other side. The road that joined this village went through this forest. Now this forest road was impassable at night, from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am. During those hours of the night, there was a notorious gang in this forest that used to attack, injure, steal or kill pass-by. It was a notorious gang and a dangerous one. It was feared more than the legal authorities. They maim and kill at their will.
Then, one day a resident pastor invited a preacher from the northern part of that country who was his friend to come and minister in the church he was pastoring. It happened that the church was on one side of this forest, and the guest house that housed this guest preacher was on the other side of the forest.
Now during the day, the resident pastor and his visitor used the road that went through this forest from the hotel room to the church premises. But in the evening, the resident pastor wanted his visitor to use the road that went round the forest in fear of being attacked by the notorious gang. When his guest inquired why he should not use the same road they used in the morning, he was told that there is a notorious gang that attack and kill people who use that road that goes through the forest during the dark and night hours.
When the guest preacher heard it. He insisted that he will use the same road they used to come to the church premises in the morning. When the revival was over at around 9:30 pm, everybody, including his resident pastor, tried to convince him not to use the road that goes through the forest to no avail. Everybody, including the resident pastor, feared for the life of this guest preacher, but because he insisted, they let him go.
The guest preacher understood that he is protected and untouchable (Deuteronomy. 32:10; Zachariah 2:8). Before he started the journey through this forest, the guest preacher declared that God was a wall of fire and the glory in his midst therefore no evil shall befall him, or plague come near his dwelling (Psalms 91:10; Zachariah 2:5).
As he started his journey through the forest that night, he took the keys to the door of the hotel room in his hand and started to swing it. As he swung the keys they made noise or sound. So he swung the keys throughout his journey to the hotel room. The guest preacher saw nobody. He walked safely and securely to his hotel room.
Early the next morning, there was a loud knock at the guest preacher’s hotel room door. When he opened the door, he was astonished. Twelve bush men, in their regalia and weapons, were standing before the door. He welcomed them in, but they refused to enter. Then, one of the men who seemed to be their leader spoke out. When he spoke out, he wanted to know who this guest preacher was.
He said, “we want to know who you are. We are the notorious and most feared gang that attacked, steal and kill people in this forest during the night for a number of years. But what happened last night has never happened before. As you swung your keys and approached where we were, we set ourselves in array ready to attack you.”
“But. ….. But”, while trembling and shedding tears. “But two metres to where we were, a fire broke out and lit round about you. It was like daylight. Did you see us?” The leader of the gang asked. “No, sir,” replied the guest preacher. “ We thought you saw us. We were afraid, and we were grounded to our position until you passed. After you had gone a hundred metres from where we were, we decided to follow you. We followed you until you entered this gate. One of us climbed the tree and watched that fire that lit around you until it entered this house, and the whole room was as on fire.”
“Please, sir” as all of them knelt down, “ tell us who you are “
The guest preacher laughed and told them that he was saved and a preacher. Therefore, he is protected by God.
To cut the story short, that notorious gang got saved and are now the active members in this local church where thus guest preacher comes to minister. The road nowadays is safe and passable day and night.
You have to remember that you are protected. Believe in the word of God. Act or put it in practice. You may be facing serious attacks; just remember that God is a wall of fire around you and the glory in your midst. Death may be staring at you; just remember you are protected. In any dangerous situation you find yourself in, remember that you are protected by God and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance out of that situation.
Because you are saved. You are a believer. You are a child of God. You are not only a child of God but a beloved child of God. Remember, you are protected. You are protected by God, who is your father. He is a wall of fire around you and the glory in your midst. Glory to God!! Hallelujah!
Prayer & Mediation
Father, I thank you because I am protected. I Thank you because you are a wall of fire around me and the glory in my midst. Therefore, no evil shall befall me, or plague comes near my dwelling in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Contributor
By Gilbert Magomere Ayieko
Minister
