WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JANUARY 14, 2024
TOPIC: MAINTAIN THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD’S ANOINTED
BY T. O. BANSO
“One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, ‘I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us’” (2 Kings 4:8-10 New International Version).
Maintaining the right relationship with the Lord’s anointed pr servant of God is very important for a child of God. Some people hang around or associate with some servants of God to improve their own image and for recognition by others or for other selfish motives, particularly when these servants of God are well known. Some could even be using their closeness to the servants of God to gain financial benefits from people. Some are close to God’s servants but live a double life. Rather than such people being blessed or receiving impartation, their lives don’t turn out well because they do not have the right relationship with the anointed.
Gehazi was such a person. He served the Prophet Elisha but didn’t end well because he was unfaithful. He got Naaman’s leprosy because his heart was not right. His heart was on material things. He lied to Naaman that Elisha sent him to collect the gift he had earlier rejected from Naaman. Naaman gave him two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. When Gehazi returned, he also lied to Elisha that he didn’t go anywhere.
2 Kings 5:25-27 says, “Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. ‘Where have you been, Gehazi?’ Elisha asked. ‘Your servant didn’t go anywhere,’ Gehazi answered. But Elisha said to him, ‘Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.’ Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and he was leprous, as white as snow” (New International Version).
Instead of receiving impartation, he received leprosy. Instead of becoming a powerful successor to Elisha, he became a storyteller in 2 Kings 8:4-5! There are some people like Gehazi today around some servants of God. They think they can serve God and mammon. This is not possible (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). You can’t pursue God and gold at the same time. You must choose one.
Gehazi did not maintain the right relationship with the Lord’s anointed as Elisha did. Elisha served Elijah faithfully. Before Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha, at Elijah’s request, asked him for and got the double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:9-15). He was not after material gain as his servant, Gehazi, later did.
Cultivate and maintain the right relationship with the Lord’s anointed. Relate with them in a way that you will be blessed, not cursed. This includes honouring the Lord’s anointed, serving them or under them, praying for them, and sowing seeds into their lives.
Some people are excited by the story of Elisha and desire a double portion of the spirit of certain servants of God, whom they have not served faithfully! Elisha became great because he served Elijah faithfully. He served him to the end. He was described in 2 Kings 3:11 as Elisha, “who poured water on the hands of Elijah” (New King James Version). The phrase means Elisha was Elijah’s personal assistant/attendant or servant. Maintain the right relationship with the Lord’s anointed.
Joshua maintained the right relationship with Moses. He was Moses’ servant or assistant (Exodus 24:13; 33:11; Numbers 11:28). Thereafter, the LORD chose him to succeed Moses (Numbers 27:18-23; Joshua 1:1-2). Deuteronomy 34:9a says Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. Joshua, Moses’ former servant, led the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Furthermore, Samuel served Eli the priest. 1 Samuel 2:11 says the child (Samuel) ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest. Similarly, 1 Samuel 2:18 says Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. This same child became a great prophet in Israel. 1 Samuel 3:19 says, “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground” (New International Version). Unfortunately, some people today do not want to serve any servant of God or serve God under any minister of God but covet the power of God they see in their lives!
The widow of Zarephath had the right relationship with the Prophet Elijah. She did what he asked her to do – feed him with her last meal when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine. Consequently, she didn’t lack the supply of food throughout the famine. “Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah” (1 Kings 17:13-16 New International Version).
Praying for the Philippians for their generosity towards him in the ministry, Paul said, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 New King James Version). Many people pray this prayer for themselves today but the Philippians didn’t. Rather, Paul prayed the prayer for them because of their generosity to him in the ministry. They maintained the right relationship with him.
According to Paul, in the early days of the acquaintance of the Philippians with the gospel, when he set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with him in the matter of giving and receiving, except the Philippians. He said when he was in Thessalonica, they sent him aid again and again when he was in need (Philippians 4:15-16). The Philippians maintained the right relationship with him, supporting him in the ministry.
Also, the Shunammite woman, because of her regard and provision for the Prophet Elisha, got a miracle she didn’t ask for. Through Elisha’s ministry, she had a child and when he later died, Elisha restored him to life (2 Kings 4:8-37). Elisha also saved her from suffering during a seven-year famine and her land was restored to her when she returned after the famine (2 Kings 8:1-6).
This woman enjoyed these blessings because she developed the right relationship with the prophet of God. 2 Kings 4:8-10 says, “One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, ‘I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us’” (New International Version).
Maintain the right relationship with the Lord’s anointed. When Jesus got to His hometown, the people didn’t relate to Him correctly. When He began teaching, they were amazed and asked where He got His wisdom and miraculous powers (Matthew 13:54). Instead of having faith in Him, they also asked, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?’ And they took offense at him” (verses 55-57a New International Version). Did you see that? They didn’t position themselves correctly to be blessed. Jesus said to them that only in his hometown and in his own house was a prophet without honour. Therefore, Jesus did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith (verse 58).
Cultivate and maintain the right relationship with the Lord’s anointed. Honour them, serve them or under them faithfully, pray for them, and support them financially and materially. Matthew 10:41 says anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. Don’t relate to the Lord’s anointed according to the flesh or from a human point of view (2 Corinthians 5:16). The anointing you despise or do not honour cannot bless you.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to maintain the right relationship with the Lord’s anointed. I will not relate to the Lord’s anointed according to the flesh or from a human point of view.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
