DIVINE VISITATION (FULL)

Genesis 18:3 – and said “my Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass by Your servant.

Bible Reading – Genesis 18:1-33.

If you invite a king to a special function, he can decide to do any of these. Depending on the type of relationship you have with him, he can decide not to visit all if he does not know you or cannot remember who you are. If he knows you casually, he might decide to honor your invitation by sending a message of congratulations using the royal seal and envelope. If you have a good relationship with him, he might honor the invitation by sending one of the princes or chief to represent him. If you are very close to him he will do everything possible to be present at the function.  

If you invite the president or a head of state to your function, his response rests on the type of relationship you have with him. Been the president he can decide to ignore it and not even acknowledge it because he is invited to several thousands of function each month. If you are popular, he might honor the invitation by sending a message of congratulations on a special card and sign it. This card is put in a special envelope you can keep to show your friends. If you are his friend and popular, he might honor your invitation by sending one of his special advisers or presidential aides to represent him but if you a president like him or operate in that realm of power, he will attend your function in person.

The type of response you get has an impact one way or the other. No response simply means no impact. If you receive a message of congratulations from the president or the king, it has an impact. You can put the congratulatory message in a frame and show it to everyone who visits you or cares to listen to you. It is an honor to receive a message of congratulations from the president. If the presidents sends one of his special adviser, this has a bigger impact because you do not have to tell your friends that the presidents delights in you; they can see it for themselves. If you are fortunate and the president or the king attends you function, you are made. During his visit, you have an opportunity to sit with him and ask him for anything you want in most cases contracts or recommendations. Not only that you can also use that opportunity to bring to his notice other things that are bothering you that are within his power as a president to sort for you. There is a lot to gain from this visit because you can actually take pictures with him and put in a frame in your office so everyone that comes to see you can see.

When we talk of divine visitation, we are talking of the Most High God honoring your invitation and visiting you. We are talking of the One who Jeremiah 11:17 calls the Lord of Host. The psalmist refers to Him as The Greatest, Psalms 97:9. Revelations 21:6 calls Him the Alpha and Omega. According to Acts 3:13, He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Psalm 24:8 says He is the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. According to Isaiah 9:6, His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. I refer to Him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When you invite Him to your house, He can decide not to visit at all. Psalms 115:3 says but our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Later we will share few of the reasons why He turns down invitations but just to keep in mind that He is not obliged to honor any invitation.

 He can decide to send His word. Ecclesiastes 8:4 says where the word of a King is, there is power. Jeremiah 23:29 compares His words to a fire that consumes and a hammer that breaks rock into pieces. Hebrews 4:12 says His word is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. When He sends His words things happens. Psalm 33:8-9 says let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him, for He spoke and it was done. He had commanded, and it stood fast.  Psalm 107:20, says He sent His word and healed them. In Matthew 8:5-13, a centurion approached Jesus about his paralyzed servant. Jesus sent his word and the bible records that the servant was healed at the same hour. In Mark 4:36-39 while Jesus was asleep in a boat, there arose a great windstorm and a wave began to beat into the boat. The disciples called Jesus and He spoke just three words ‘peace be still’ and immediately the wind ceased and there was great calm. In John 11:38-45 Jesus stood by the tomb of Lazarus who had been dead for four days and sent His words into the tomb and Lazarus came out.
He can visit through visions and dreams. When He visits through visions and dreams there is revelation and release of Secrets. In Daniel 7:1-28, the Lord visited Daniel through a vision where he saw the future. Proverbs 29:18 says where there is no vision, the people perish. In 2 Chronicles 1:6-12, after Solomon’s thousand burnt offerings, God visited him in the dream to say thank you. This visitation brought expansion in all areas of his life. In Genesis 31:1-24, Jacob left the house of his master with his wives and children, and his master went after him to kill him. In the night the Lord visited Laban in a dream and told him not to harm Jacob. This revelation restored the life of Jacob because he was already a dead man. In Acts 10:10-17, the Lord visited Peter while he was fasting through a vision advising him not to discriminate against the gentiles.

He can also visit through the scriptures. He can direct your attention to a particular bible verse. As you meditate on the bible verse He will begin to minister to you through it. Psalm 119:130 says at the entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Psalm 119:105 says thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. When He visits through a bible verse, He imparts knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Not only that, He gives unshakeable confidence through trials. While you are going through a difficult challenge the Lord might minister to you through a verse e.g. Isaiah 41:10 which 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. Just by reading this passage faith arises and one is able to face any challenge.

He can also visit through an audible voice. In 1 Samuel 9:15-16, the Lord visited Samuel by speaking to him in his ear about Saul’s time of arrival. In 1 Kings 19:11-13, while Elijah was running away from Jezebel, the Lord visited him by speaking to him in still small voice. He can visit by sending His prophets or man of God to you. In 2 Kings 17:7-16, the Lord visited the widow of Zarapheth by sending Elijah to her. By the time Elijah left, the issue of hunger and death was permanently dealt with in that family. In 2 Kings 4:1-37, the Lord visited the great Shunamite woman by sending Elisha. She got what money cannot buy -a child. He also visited again when the boy died and Elisha prayed and the boy came back to life. In Acts 9:36-42, the Lord visited Joppa  by sending Peter to them. Death had snatched Dorcas – a disciple whose ministry was looking after the sick. Peter prayed and the Lord brought her back.

There is also a physical visitation. In Genesis 18:1-33, He physically visited the family of Abraham. He sat down, ate food, chatted with them and left. In Exodus 34:1-9, the Lord visited Moses and spoke to him face to face. One of the most important of all these visits is the physical visitation. When He visits He spends time and does not leave in a haste .Also one has the opportunity to receive a healing touch from Him. Malachi 4:2 says the sun of righteousness shall arise with His healings in His wings. Abraham and Sarah received a healing touch when God visited because after that day, the body of Abraham which was dead came back to life and the womb of Sarah that was as dead as stone conceived. Moses also received this touch because at the age of one-twenty, the bible records that he was in perfect health, Deuteronomy 34:7.

When He physically visits, one also has an opportunity to make any request of choice to Him. Abraham requested that if ten righteous men were found in Gomorrah and Sodom that the Lord should show mercy and the Lord said ok, Genesis 18:21-33. When God visited Moses, he requested that the Lord should go among the children of Israel, Exodus 33:9. One very important thing is that when He visits, His glory rubs on you. Prior to God’s visit, Moses was just an ordinary man who people really did not respect but after the divine visitation no one could look into the face of Moses because his face was shining like the sun, Exodus 34:32-35. The glory of God so much rubbed on Abraham that after the visit, Abraham began to operate in the office of a prophet. The Lord Himself began to refer to Abraham as a prophet, Genesis 20:7.

The question is how can I receive a visitation? To receive a visitation one needs to ask. Matthew 7:7 says ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. John 14:14 says if you ask anything in My name, I will do it. When you ask you must ask in faith. Mark 11:24 says therefore I say unto you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believed that you receive them, and you will have them. Before asking, you need to make sure you love the Lord. He only visits those who love Him. One thing with those who love Him is that they keep his commandment, John 14:15. Those who love Him are not stingy to Him because lovers give gifts to each other, John 3:16. Those who love Him are not shy of Him, they tell their friends and family about Him. Those who love Him, loves to gather with Him. Luke 11:23 says he that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. Those who love Him walk hand in hand with him to win souls.

We mentioned earlier that due to a reason or two He might decide not to honor an invitation. Reason one is incomplete obedience. The Lord prefers no obedience at all to half obedience. Revelations 3:16 says so then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. It is either we are hot for Him or cold, He hates half service. Reason 2 is the presence of sin. This is why we need to go before Him for forgiveness before asking Him to visit us. If you have not giving your life to Christ, if you ask Him to visit He might not even hear because of the presence of sin. So why not give your life to Him so that He can cleanse you from your sins.

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

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