Generosity Knows No Bound, Evans Olang

1Samuel 30:1-31, “26 Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD”

The story of David always fascinates me; he was no strangers to hardship. He had a call of God in his life; it took years of learning experience in the sea of life as he waited for the promise. He depended on God, knowing God was in control in good and bad times. His experience shaped his character, kept him humble, and taught him how to be generous.

Don’t Choke On The Blessing, Part 4of4, Pastor Phil Sessa

Luke 15:28–30 “28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’”

In Don’t Choke on the Blessing part 3, we looked at the younger son and how he choked on the blessing given to him. He eventually came to his senses, humbled himself, and repented to God and his father. However, another character in the same parable upon seeing the younger son repent also choked on the blessing. That’s right, the older son too choked on the blessing,

Don’t Choke On The Blessing, Part 3of4, Pastor Phil Sessa

Luke 15:11-12, “Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Lk 15:13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.”

In this series, “Don’t choke on the blessing,” we have looked at how Abram didn’t choke on the blessing, but how the children of Israel did. Now let’s take a look at perhaps the most famous parable ever, the prodigal son.

Don’t Choke On The Blessing, Part 2of4, Pastor Phil Sessa

Numbers 11:3–34. “33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food”

One might not imagine something as seemingly minute as a lack of contentment to have a great impact. However when Israel was in the desert having come out of Egypt, it wasn’t too long before Israel would choke on the blessing that God gave to them through their discontentment.

Don’t Choke On The Blessing, Part 1of 4, Pastor Phil Sessa

Genesis 13: 1 – 4 “So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.”

Are you content with what God has given you? Solomon wrote, “Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man”, Proverbs 27:20.

Who Is Standing On Your Way? Part 4of4, Evans Olang

Numbers 22:1-41, “The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”

If you will not humble yourself, God will. Let’s see what the Lord has for us as we finish. Vs. 34. “And Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD; “I have sinned; … Now therefore; if it displeases You; I will turn back.”; 35, “Then the Angel of the LORD said to Balaam; “Go with the men; but only the word that I speak to you; that you shall speak.” We said God is a God of second chances, here we have a man who acknowledges his sins, how selfish, stubborn and arrogant he had been

Who Is Standing On Your Way? Part 3of4, Evans Olang

Numbers 22:1-41, “The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”

What we’ve been sharing on has some real day to day practical lessons, and the more I read this story, the more it’s becoming clear in understanding what God is doing. Three chapters in Numbers touch on Balaam dealing with God thereafter you don’t hear of Balaam again until much later when he is killed. One lesson we want to get out of today’s word is, “If you won’t humble yourself, God will”. I would rather humble myself than have God do it.

Who Is Standing On Your Way? Part 2of4, Evans Olang

Numbers 22:1-41, “The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”

As mentioned in the last message, temptations are not evil, what is done with them can be. I also mentioned the fact that we always struggle to know whether we are led of the Spirit or the flesh. Prophet Samuel in 1Samuel 16 almost made a big mistake when God asked him to go to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king. He picked the wrong man who looked more of a king type.

Who Is Standing On Your Way? Part 1of4, Evans Olang

Numbers 22:1-41, “The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”

I constantly struggle to know the will of God in a situation and not miss it. I also struggle to know whether I am acting in the flesh or I am led of the Spirit. There are times I am not sure whether what is standing on my way is of the Devil or of God. One time when prophet Elijah was waiting for God, there was great earthquake which would be a sign of God, God was not in earthquake, I believe it was followed by thunder but still He wasn’t in that, then finally a still small voice and that was of God. May be it’s just me but at times I find it hard to know when God is moving, I might see the results in the end, but I missed the opportunity to see Him move. I thank Him for His word, the best way to know Him, to know His ways and His will for my life.