NEGLECTING GOD?

 ANCHOR OF LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE for SUNDAY, 11TH  DECEMBER, 2022.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE – General Overseer

Topic: NEGLECTING GOD?

MEMORIZE: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,”. Hebrews 2:3

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Samuel 28:15-18.

"15 Now Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered, "I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do." 16 Then Samuel said: "Why then do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? 17 "And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 "Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day."

EXPOSITION:

Yesterday, we started examining the word “Danger of neglecting God.” We used king Saul as our case study. To neglect means lack of attention and due care. To leave something undone or leave out. Another word for neglect is disregard. 

WHY DO PEOPLE NEGLECT GOD TODAY?

i. Impatient of men in most of the time lead them to neglecting God whom they thought is too slow to respond to their “quick-to-make-money” syndrome. They are full of high expectations but not from God but from the devil.

ii. When they feel offended by God… Some people neglected God and cease trusting Him because they felt that God has offended them. Have you been praying to God over a matter and it seems God is delay, it is not enough reason to quit serving and calling on Him.

ii. When they don’t have confidence in God’s ability to meet their needs. Many people on earth do not believe God can meet all their needs, this is the reason they pray to God for certain things and also turn to devil for other needs of theirs.

iii. When they think enemy has prevailed and nothing can be done to reverse it. This is the category of people who because they have loss their valuable thing like children, spouse, or employment, they concluded that they do not need God in their lives again. At this temptation, they fell off from the love of God – "… they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.” Mark 4:17.

iv. When enemy succeed in winning their heart unto disobedience and rebellion, they neglect God. – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” 1 Timothy 4:1-2.

v. When they are too familiar with spiritual exercise. Those who are too familiar with the sacred things, in most of the times, do not honour it. They took it for granted. Example of them are the two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu– Leviticus 10:1ff. They were consumed by the fire from God. Do not neglect God, it always has deadly end.

HOW DOES ONE NEGLECT GOD.

i. When the things of God is irritating you or you are tired of it, such as prayer, holy life, evangelism and soul winning, giving willingly to the kingdom project, etc.”

ii. When you have no joy in joining the fellowship of the saints. Separating yourself from the fellowship of the saints simply means you neglecting God. 

PRAYER POINTS:

Lord, help me to hold unto you till the end without compromising my trust in You

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DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  2 Timothy 1-4.