Sunday, 24 May 2020

ARE YOU TAKING CARE OF AN ISHMAEL?

 
 
 
 
 
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! Here is the word for your meditation and prayer!
The title of my message is:" ARE YOU TAKING CARE OF AN ISHMAEL?"
May I hasten to mention that there are things in life we  quickly force ourselves into and end up failing to come out, but remain in that mess for a long time. Quick fixes and short cuts, usual lead people into formidable predicaments.
 
Abraham and his wife Sarah became impatient despite God's promise that they were going to be Father and Mother of many nations. 
God promised to multiply Abraham and make him the father  of many nations even after the birth of Hagar's baby, who was named Ishmael.
 
The Bible says, "When Abraham was ninety -nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and  live habitually before Me and be perfect ( blameless, wholehearted, complete). And I will make My covenant ( solemn pledge) between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly. Then Abraham fell on hid face, and God said to him, As  for Me, behold, My covenant ( solemn pledge ) is with you, and you shall be the father of many nations. Nor shall your name any longer be Abram ( high, exalted father); but your name shall be Abraham ( father of a multitude), for I have made you the father of many nations. " ( Genesis  17:1-5)
 
It had been nearly  twenty years since God first promised a son to Abraham and Sarah.
All this time, Abraham and his family had been taking care of Ishmael, trying to raise him.
Ishmael  was a man of war and was engaged in warfare most of his life.
Hagar and Sarah had been fighting, and Abraham had been caught in the middle. I am sure it was not fun time for any of them.
 
Although it is not recorded in the  Bible, it is easy to imagine what it must have been like around Abraham"s house  during that period.
By this time, Abraham and Sarah were wondering about the child God had promised them.( Genesis 15:1-6, Genesis  18:12-14)
 
I am sure they could not  understand  why it was taking God so long to fulfill His promise to them. I don't think they would have had to wait twenty years if they had not had Ishmael. If they had not become impatient and made their own plan, which resulted in Ishmael's birth, I think the birth of Isaac would have taken place much sooner.                              
 
As did Abraham and Sarah, once we have given birth to an Ishmael, we have to spend many  years taking care of it.
Once we have complicated our lives, it takes a while to clean things up.
Have you ever made a mess that took you longer to get out of than it did to get into?
Have you done some things in your life that you wish you hadn't done?
 
Most of us have, and consequences follow every action.
If you are dealing with the consequences of an Ishmael, it does not mean that God will not bless you. But those consequences may delay receiving God's best for your life.
They may also delay receiving your Isaac. 
 
Wait upon the Lord for your Isaac. ( Isaiah 40:31) 
If you rush for Ishmael, you will delay your Isaac. 
Some of you are in your current position or situation because you rushed for an Ishmael instead of patiently waiting for Isaac's time to be born in your life.
 
The consequences of rushing for things, result in one settling for the wrong things in life. 
It could be marriage, employment, relationship  or even a project, wait to hear from God, than rushing to settle for a half baked cake or an Ishmael.
 
Commit all your plans to God and you will succeed.  ( Proverbs 16:3).
Patience and endurance is what you need before receiving your promise.  ( Hebrews 35-39).
 
Once again if I may ask" Are You Taking Care  of an Ishmael?"
You know your response! Just respond and you will be set free in the name of Jesus.
 
Remember, if you are still taking care of an Ishmael your Isaac will be delayed.     
 
May God richly bless you!
 
 
Evangelist Fanuel Masikati                                  
Email:divinerevelations7@gmail.com
Cell:263778495363.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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