Take Care

_{We have been ushered onto a season of favor and extraordinary happenings, thus the need for believers to believe what God has said and surge forth in faith, in order to capture and experience the divine move of God. We are a chosen generation, a peculiar people, a holy and a blessed people, called forth to His cause.}

_{1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)}

_{But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.}

_{We have been remembered of God; He loves us, and cares for us and therefore we must be very careful in all our actions, thoughts, utterances and deeds. We need to take care because we are not an exception since there are many who were chosen but by being careless, they missed out on God.}

_{2 Kings 5:25 (KJV)}

_{But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.}

_{Gehazi could have received Elisha’s mantle, had he been a little careful, just as Elisha had the mantle of double portion from Elijah. Gehazi missed out on God by being careless in his deeds.}

_{Moses was so close to God but because of being a little careless he missed out on the Promised Land. Moses had been asked by God to speak to the rock but he instead hit it twice and as a result he missed out on stepping into the Promised Land.}

_{Numbers 20:11-12 (KJV)}

_{And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.}

_{Saul did not destroy all the Amalekites as ordered by the Lord, and his carelessness led to his dethronement and ultimately an Amalekite bragged of killing him.}

_{2 Samuel 1:8-10 (KJV)}

_{And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.}

_{1 Samuel 15:9-11 (KJV)}

_{But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.}

_{On the other hand, Joseph was very careful in his work and deeds even as he is quoted on having been given authority over everything in Potiphar’s house but his wife. And this led to his promotion to premiership in Egypt.}

_{People speak carelessly and without control whatsoever. Every careless statement that parents, spouses and employers utter has some counter effect. A small careless word can kindle a fire and burn families and work places. Careless utterances and statements can be compared to careless driving, which statistically is killing many people every day.}

_{Genesis 25:27-34 (KJV)}

_{And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.}

_{The above scripture verses depict of Esau who came from a hunting spree famished. Jacob, his brother, cunningly takes advantage of his hunger and asks for the birthright in exchange for a meal which he had prepared.}

_{The Bible records on how Rebecca was given to Isaac; in a divine way, yet for 20 years, they never had a child. They started with God and continued trusting Him even without the fruit of the womb for a period of 20 years. If Isaac had not been careful, he could have said that it was not the plan of God for them to be married, but the Bible speaks of Isaac praying for Rebecca until she conceived twins. What is started by God, He maintains and sustains.}

_{It may not matter how long one has been waiting and trusting in God. Be a little more patient. The Lord who promised to be with you is still with you. Sometimes we pass through fires, but after the fire, there is promotion. Do not run away, be patient and let the Lord fight for you since after the fire of the lack of a child, Isaac and Rebecca were promoted with twins.}

_{When Rebecca conceived, some jostling started in her womb. She prayed and asked God to intervene and the Lord told her of two kingdoms within her and that the eldest would serve the youngest. The battle between the two, Jacob and Esau, had started long before, even in the womb. During birth, Jacob was still holding onto his brother’s heel and God had decided in His wisdom that the second born (Jacob) was worth the inheritance.}

_{Romans 9:10-15 (KJV)}

_{And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.}

_{God’s decision is final, who are we to judge? If it was not for grace, we were a forgotten people, lost without direction and purpose yet we can celebrate sonship today. It is by His grace that we are saved and sustained.}

_{Psalm 18:18 (KJV)}

_{They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.}

_{When Esau was at his wits end and very weak, his brother Jacob took advantage, instead of helping him he schemed against him. Even when the enemy finds you at your weakest end, the Lord is faithful and will give you strength to overcome.}

_{Rebecca knew (from what God had told her) that Esau would not be heir despite being the first born and so she became so close to Jacob. Isaac didn’t know about it.}

_{Factors that made Esau miss out on his inheritance:}

• _{Lack of Faith - Esau didn’t have faith in his birthright, which is being careless. He didn’t consider issues and blessings that surrounded his birthright package. He took his birthright title for granted and as a result he lost as much as history records. Not to have faith is to be sinful.}

• <sub>Exaggeration - Esau exaggerated his hunger condition since he was not at the point of death from hunger. In fact he never approached his parents with the need for food. People exaggerate issues for their own interests and the consequences can be drastic.
  
  1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)
  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.</sub>

• _{Being Irrational - There is always a way out. God opens up a door for every issue and problem that comes our way. Esau’s issue was very illogical and was not worthy his permanent birth-rights exchange for a temporary bowl of pottage. He traded a permanent birthright because of a temporary issue.}

_{Esau was at a position of receiving the Abrahamic promise and that of Isaac yet missed the opportunity for being careless. He missed the opportunity of becoming a priest. He despised all this and so he historically got forgotten. The firstborn birthright is tied to our faith in God.}

_{There are things coming to trade our faith and therefore we need to be cautious.}

_{Never think of letting go of this great faith. This faith is precious and cannot be bought with money.}

_{2 Peter 1:1}

_{Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ...}

_{One minute of madness can destroy an eternity. A minute of craziness can destroy a whole eternity, especially in this season of favour.}

_{We need to be careful with every utterance. We have a great calling that the Lord has given us. We ought to remain focused since we are in the world, but not of this world.}

_Blessings.

_{-- Pastor Karani Kaugi.}

 07/09/14 Sunday Service Sermon, Teaching Transformation Ministry.) 

Pastor Karani Kaugi is a pastor at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.