Hinderance to greatness

Hindrance to greatness

Isaiah 60 vs 1 says Arise, shine ; for your light has come ! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you .

One of the titles of the Most High God is Father of Lights. James 1 vs 17 says every good gift and every perfect gift is from above , and comes down from the Father of lights , which whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Because the Most High God is the Father of lights , we His children are lights . Matthew 5 vs 14 says you are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. One of God's expectation for His children is that they shine because they are lights .

There are various ways to shine for example we can shine in kindness . In Acts 9 vs 36-42 is the story of Dorcas – a woman who shown in kindness. The bible records that she was full of good works and charitable deeds. We can also shine in our career like Bezalel the son of Uri who shown to the extent that the Most High God personally recommended him for work in Exodus 31 vs 2-3 . We can shine wisdom like Solomon .During the days of Solomon there were few wise men for example Ethan the Ezrahite , Heman , Chalcol, and Darda the sons of Mahol but Solomon shown. The bibles says Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs – 1 Kings 4 vs 32 . It is possible to shine in faith like Abraham . The bible said Abraham not being weak in faith , did not consider his own body , already dead ( since he was about a hundred years old) , and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God – Romans 4 vs 18-19 . We can shine in Humility like Moses . He was so humble the bible records that he was more humble than all men who were on the face of the earth – Numbers 12 vs 3.

We can shine in obedience like Elijah who the Lord asked to go and show himself to King Ahab in 1 Kings 18 vs 1 .King Ahab saw Elijah has a rebel , he even addressed him as the troubler of Israel in 1 Kings 18 vs 13 -18 ;Elijah obeyed without question . We can shine in diligence like Jeroboam who was so hardworking King Solomon noticed him and promoted him over all the labor force of the house of Joseph – 1 Kings 11 vs 28.We can shine in our work places like Daniel who shown to the extent that Darius began to consider setting him over the whole empire in Daniel 6 vs 3. It is possible to shine in integrity like Joseph who had the opportunity to sleep with the wife of his master and ran away -Genesis 39 vs 7-14 . He was so honest he preferred prison to fornicating with his master's wife. We can shine in business like the the great woman of Shunem who when Elisha was trying to show off about his business contacts , simply told him I am fine with my own people – 2 Kings 4 vs 11-14 .We can shine in material possession like Isaac who a whole nation began to envy in Genesis 26 vs 12-14. We can shine in our walk with God like Abraham who the Lord called His friend – James 2 vs 23 . Hannah shown in fulfilling her vow . She told the Lord that if He will give her a son , she will give him back to God -Samuel 1 vs 11 . Because she fulfilled her vow , the Lord decided to bless her with five more children -1 Samuel 2 vs 21.

When we shine we make God proud.In Job 1 vs 8  We see God bragging about Job to satan , He asked him " have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil ?" It is God's plan for you to shine . John 10 vs 10 says a thief comes to steal and destroy but I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.

There are few things which can hinder us from shining. As far as any of these is present in our lives , achieving greatness might be impossible. The following are hindrance to greatness :

• Fear – the fear of tomorrow , the fear of failing ,fear of making mistake , fear of what people will say ,fear of how we are perceived , fear of falling In love , fear of marrying the wrong person to mention a few. 2 Timothy 1 vs 7 says For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Romans 8 vs 15 says For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear , but you received the spirit of adoption by which we cry out , “Abba , Father” . Fear rubs us of opportunities to shine . The reason why only peter walked on water in Matthew 14 vs 26-32 was because the other eleven were afraid of the wind. They lost there only chance to walk on water and the opportunity never came back again. Before God used Moses , he had to address his fears. Moses had a particular phobia for snakes, the Most High purposely asked him to drop his rod and he did and the rod became a snake in Exodus 4 vs 2-4. Immediately Moses saw the snake he fled , the Lord purposely asked him to pick the snake up at the tail(the most dangerous part) , Moses did and the snake turned back into a rod. From that day every from fear in the heart of Moses vanished. Deuteronomy 7 vs 17-19-21 shares some insight on how to handle fear. 1- stop thinking of how to solve the problem ,2-remember your past victories ,remember testimonies you have heard, remember all God has done for you ,3- remember the way God solved your past problems ,4 -the same way He solved your past problems is the same way He will solve the present one , 5-remember the Great and Awesome God is with you. Isaiah 41 vs 10 says “fear not , for I am with you ; be not dismayed , for I am your God. I will strengthen you , Yes , I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”
• Our belief – Proverbs 23 vs 7 for as he thinks in his heart , so is he. We are what we think of our selves. If we see ourselves as failures , we will fail and if we see ourselves as winners we will always win. Self defeating beliefs have rub many of glorious destinies. Gideon was born to be great but could not achieve greatness because of self defeating beliefs. He believed that because his clan was the weakest in Manasseh , and he was the least in his father house so he stood no chance -Judges 6 vs 14 -15 . Romans 12 vs 2 says do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind , that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
• Impatience -many have missed their breakthrough through impatience .We pray and expect results immediately . Many through impatience have tried to help God only to find themselves in bigger mess .Some of us want the rewards of twenty years of  hard work in a day which is impossible. An impatient might rush into things and live to regret it for life .Impatience leads to rash decisions. A pastor was in a rush to travel , Whilst praying the Lord asked him to wait for fifteen minutes but because he could not wait he had an accident which left his wife totally paralyzed for life. Most of the accidents today can be traced to impatience ,everyone is rushing and before you know it there is a collision. One of the reason why God called David a man after his own heart was because David was very patient. The Lord asked David to wait until he heard sounds of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees before attacking the philistine – 1 Chronicles 14 vs 14-17. David did as God advised him and he won the war ,his fame spread throughout the whole land. The Lord brought the fear of David on all nations because of this simple act of patience. Are you still waiting for sounds of the marching in the tops of the mulberry trees or you are tired of waiting and you want to attack the philistine ? James 5 vs 11 says indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful
• quitting easily – as they say quitters do not win and winners do not quit. Any one who wants to achieve greatness must not be a quitter. Many have quit at the edge of success without knowing it , they try the first time , second time ,third time and conclude that they are not destined to have what they have been trying at . We only stand a chance of succeeding when we try .Many men are still single today because they can not handle rejection. Once they get a rejection from a lady they stop trying. The sick man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5 vs 1-18 would have died a sick man if he had quit and left the pool. This man did not quit , he stayed by the pool for thirty-eight years at the end Jesus came by and healed him.
• Unforgiveness can also be a source of hindrance . The condition for forgiveness from God is to first forgive people who have wronged us. Matthew 6 vs 12 says forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. If Joseph had not forgiven his evil brothers he would not have seen his beloved father again -Genesis 43 vs 1-33 . I know of a man who went into business with his best friend . The best friend duped him and he vowed never to forgive him. The friend went to church and the Holy Spirit picked him out , he asked for forgiveness from God and approached this man for forgiveness but he refused .This man started having financially problems ,meanwhile the friend his best friend began to prosper and buy new cars . One day , this man cried God and God advised him to go and forgive his friend who duped him or else he wont bless him .The man forgave his friend and things changed.
• Negative confessions -Proverbs 18 vs 21 says the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruits. With our mouth we can destroy our destiny and we can build our destiny. Matthew 12 vs 37 says For by your words you will be acquitted , and by your words you will be condemned. Numbers 14 vs 28 says so tell them, “as surely as I live , declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say” . When David told Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 vs 46 that he will cut his head , he did not have a sword actually all he had on him was a sling and stones but at the head of the day David took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem. Darius told Daniel in Daniel 6 vs 16 that the God,whom he served continually will deliver him . The next morning when Darius got to the den of lion , Daniel was alive and unhurt. Joel 3 vs 10 says let the weak say “ I am strong” .
• Lack of gratitude – Anyone who wants to shine must first have a heart of gratitude.1 Thessalonians 5 vs 18 says in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Ephesians 5 vs 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything , in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The act of praising God brings victory. When Jesus was faced with the task of feeding five thousand men in Matthew 14 vs 13-21 , instead of moaning and complaining that bible said he gave thanks and broke the bread. Paul and Silas had reasons to worry and moan because they were in chains and was going to be killed the next morning. They began to pray and praise God and their chains fell off - Acts 16 vs 25-27.
• Laziness and procrastination – Proverbs 22 vs 29 says seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Proverbs 27 vs 23 says be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds. Proverbs 28 vs 19 says he that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread : but he that runs after worthlessness will be filled with poverty. Many of us have missed open doors and opportunities to shine through laziness and procrastination. Many have been put in positions to shine but due to carelessness and laziness they have missed the opportunities. Many of us are lazy in prayers and love sleeping. We can not afford to be lazy because the enemy is very hardworking. When the Lord asked satan in Job 1 vs 7 from where he came , he said from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it. If the devil is hardworking we need to be hardworking or else. We need to be watchful especially at night , we should remember Matthew 13 vs 25 when Jesus said that while men slept, his enemy came and sow tares among the wheat and went his way. We should not be too lazy that we will not do night vigils .
• Carelessness – carelessness also hinders God's glory. Many of us are careless spenders , we spend all our resources and do not save . If the Lord opens a door of business to us , it will be impossible to take advantage of it if we have not saved. Many spend all their money on alcohol and cigarette instead of saving to buy a house or buy a plot of land or start business. Many women who occupy decent post instead of investing they begin to buy gold and jewelries, they begin to compete with their friends over how many bags and shoes they have. The world does not care about how many bags we have or how big our box of jewelry is , the world do not care about the number women we have slept with or the cost of wines we drink. They want to see our achievements. Many are careless in eating which leads to overeating. We over eat chocolates and sweets and all this things. Eating unhealthily leads to sickness which could lead to early death , I pray we will not die early in Jesus Name, Amen

Another hindrance to glory is sin. Sin rubs of God's favor . John 3 vs 27 says a man receives nothing except it be given from heaven. If the Lord decides not to help a man who can help such a man ? No one !

The bible said in Romans 3 vs 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 vs 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be save ? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth , Jesus is Lord , and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 vs 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus , I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart . Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

You are free to forward this message . Remember Matthew 10 vs 32 which says whoever confesses me before me , him I will confess before my father who is heaven.