Dearly Beloved,

WHEN YOU FAITHFULLY SERVE THE LORD...

"After these events, in which King Hezekiah served the LORD
faithfully, Sennacherib, the emperor of Assyria, invaded Judah. He
besieged the fortified cities and gave orders for his army to break
their way through the walls" (2 Chronicles 32:1, TEV)

King Hezekiah of Judah was one of the good kings that did well in
following the ways of the Lord. He served God faithfully and brought
the people back to God. He made them to also faithfully serve Him and
observe the Law in an unprecedented way in the history of the kingdom
of Judah (see 2 Chronicles 29—31). Nevertheless, in spite of his
faithfulness in serving God, a powerful enemy, King Sennacherib of
Assyria, rose against his kingdom and wanted to conquer him (2
Chronicles 32:1). King Hezekiah, however, trusted in his God and
encouraged his subjects to trust in God. God did not only save him and
his kingdom from the enemy, but He also humiliated the enemy (2
Chronicles 32:20-22). Hezekiah later became renowned for his greatness
because he served God faithfully (2 Chronicles 32:23).

There are many such situations whereby persecutions, sufferings,
difficulties and the like arise because of being faithful to God.
Faithful people normally face such hardships because of their
faithfulness to God. "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life
in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). However, God
knows how He rescues His faithful from the hardship and gives them
victory over their adversaries (see 2 Peter 2:9; Psalm 34:15-17). The
only prerequisite is total trust in Him. No matter the opposition, the
faithful will triumph at the end.

Have you been serving God faithfully and it seems that you are being
rewarded with opposition and hardship? Continue your faithfulness.
Trust totally in Him. You will soon triumph over your enemies. The
enemies will be humiliated over your life in Jesus' name. Amen.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).



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Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
+234 805 515 9591
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will
have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted
in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST
AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).