WALKING IN THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM PART 5 GAL 3: 13 CHRIST REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW BY BECOMING A CURSE FOR US, FOR IT IS WRITTEN: CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO IS HUNG ON A TREE. HE REDEEMED US IN ORDER THAT THE BLESSING GIVEN TO ABRAHAM MIGHT COME TO THE GENTILES THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, SO THAT BY FAITH WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT. GEN 12: 1-5 THE LORD HAD SAID TO ABRAM LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FATHERS HOUSEHOLD AND GO TO THE LAND I WILL SHOW YOU. I WILL MAKE YOU INTO A GREAT NATION; I WILL MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT, AND YOU WILL BE A BLESSING. I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU, AND WHOSOEVER CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE; AND ALL PEOPLES ON EARTH WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH YOU. SO ABRAM LEFT, AS THE LORD HAD TOLD HIM; AND LOT WENT WITH HIM. ABRAM WAS SEVENTY - FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN HE SET OUT FROM HARAN. HE TOOK HIS WIFE SARAI, HIS NEPHEW LOT, ALL THE POSSESSIONS THEY HAD ACQUIRED IN HARAN AND THEY SET OUT FOR THE LAND OF CANAAN AND THEY ARRIVED THERE. ABRAHAM S ENCOUNTERS ON THE JOURNEY PART 2 It is quite a while that our weekly devotion has been off this is due to some technical problems we had in our office. I know that these devotions are really blessing you, I therefore request that you pray for this ministry to grow and touch more lives in Jesus name. In this issue, I will continue from where we stopped to give more insight into what I called the Shechem experience. Pronunciation and vocabulary of a language often change over a period of time; this fact affected the word Shechem, hence it is referred to as follows: Gen 12:6 Sichen; John 4: 5 Sychar; Acts 7:16 Sychem; it is the name of a prince in Gen 34: 2-26. It is interesting that Shechem played very important role in the journey of most people called by God and I believe in our journey we all will have the Shechem experience. PEOPLE THAT PASSED THROUGH SHECHEM IN THEIR JOURNEY WITH
GOD ABRAHAM GEN 12: 6 JACOB AND HIS FAMILY GEN 33: 18 JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS GEN 37: 12 JOSHUA AND THE ISREALITES JOS 24: 25 ABIMELECH JDG 9: 47 REHOBOAM 1KING 12: 1 JEROBOAM 1KING 12: 25 JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES JOHN 4: 5 The importance of Shechem in our life s journey can only be appreciated when we see the impact it had on these great men that passed through it. ABRAHAM. God spoke to Abraham here after a prolong period. He eventually built an altar here unto the Lord signifying his dominion over Shechem. JACOB AND HIS HOUSE HOLD. Jacob s children found pasture for their flock in Schechem. Joseph got lost in Shechem and met a stranger that gave him direction there. Jacob s daughter was raped by Shechem at Shechem. Jacob s sons Simeon and Levi killed Shechem and his father and all their male subjects and rescued their sister in Shechem; signifying their victory over Shechem. Jacob burried all foreign gods and idols found in his house hold in Schechem. JOSHUA AND THE ISREALITES. They buried the exhumed remains of Joseph in Shechem. Shechem became one of the cities of refuge in Isreal; a city where people could run to for protection from the avenger of blood. Jos 21: 21. Shechem became a city where kings were enthroned. Judges 9:2; 1kings 12: 1; 1kings 12: 25. Jesus and His disciples resorted by the well of Jacob in Shechem to refresh themselves from their journey. Through this experience, Jesus conquered Samaria. The people of Samaria came out to meet Jesus here and believe on Him. Going by all of the above it is obvious that Shechem is neither good or bad, it depends on what people make out of Schechem. It takes on the personality of those who pass by there. It is therefore left for us to make the most of our Schechem experiences. PRAYER POINTS Father I ask for the grace to recognise my Shechem experience and utilise it to your glory. Father I ask for the grace to use Shecem as a place for my enthronement, refuge and consecration. Father grant me the grace to conduct myself so that I will not be raped, dethrone and stripped of my honour and dignity in Shechem. FURTHER STUDIES Gen 33: 18-35: 5; John 4
WALKING IN THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM PART 6 GAL 3: 13 CHRIST REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW BY BECOMING A CURSE FOR US, FOR IT IS WRITTEN: CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO IS HUNG ON A TREE. HE REDEEMED US IN ORDER THAT THE BLESSING GIVEN TO ABRAHAM MIGHT COME TO THE GENTILES THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, SO THAT BY FAITH WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT. GEN 12: 1-5 THE LORD HAD SAID TO ABRAM LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FATHERS HOUSEHOLD AND GO TO THE LAND I WILL SHOW YOU. I WILL MAKE YOU INTO A GREAT NATION; I WILL MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT, AND YOU WILL BE A BLESSING. I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU, AND WHOSOEVER CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE; AND ALL PEOPLES ON EARTH WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH YOU. SO ABRAM LEFT, AS THE LORD HAD TOLD HIM; AND LOT WENT WITH HIM. ABRAM WAS SEVENTY - FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN HE SET OUT FROM HARAN. HE TOOK HIS WIFE SARAI, HIS NEPHEW LOT, ALL THE POSSESSIONS THEY HAD ACQUIRED IN HARAN AND THEY SET OUT FOR THE LAND OF CANAAN AND THEY ARRIVED THERE. ABRAHAM S ENCOUNTERS ON THE JOURNEY PART 3 WHAT IS SHECHEM Last week we had a glimpse of people that passed through Shechem as they journey with God on earth; this implying that for us to really walk with God we will surely pass through Shechem. This week, I want to throw light on what Shechem is so that when we visit our own Shechem we will discern it and employ it to God s glory and our advantage. In this our age, most of us will not visit Schechem literally but will have the Shechem experience at various stages of our life. WHAT IS SHECHEM The word Shechem means a ridge, symbolising the summit of a mountain or hill. This implies that Shechem is a place of comfort and refreshment, a place of resort especially
when it is view with the mind of climbing a mountain or hill. Imagine the great relieve and comfort it will be for you to arrive at the summit of a mountain having been climbing for a long time; you might be tempted not to go any further. This is what would have happened to Peter had it been Jesus was not there with them. The comfort and pleasures in Shechem if not properly handled can become an hindrance in our journey with God. Shechem is a place of elation you get to in your journey that holds a great sense of accomplishment but yet you are still far from your final destination. It is a place of great elation at the same time a place of wandering, where one can loose his bearing except one has divine guidance from God. It is a burial place for idols, foreign gods and the dead. A place for casting down every sin and weight that easily befall us. It is a place for renewal of godly covenant, enactment of godly statutes and ordinances for victorious lifestyle. It is a place of refuge from all vulnerability that is peculiar to life journey. Because of Shechem s comfort and recreational capacity, it can be a place where idolatry and rebellion is entrenched in selfish indulgence. All of the above are experiences that one can have during the shechem experience. These are triggered off because of the temporary break through unto a higher level of glory which might lead to complacency if one is not careful. The trials and temptations in Shechem are not as a result of lack, oppression and poverty, but of abundance, prosperity, and freedom. These trials and temptations are commonly refer to as prosperity test. As we pass through our Shechem experience, the ultimate that God wants for us is to emulate Jesus who did not only conquer Shechem, but also subdued Samaria a demon possessed people, through His Shechem experience. PRAYER POINTS Father give me the grace to pass through my shechem and use it toyour glory and my advantage. Father give me the grace to pass my prosperity test in Jesus name. Father I ask for the grace not to be complacent in my Shechem experience but to be fervent in the spirit in Jesus name. FURTHER STUDIES Gen 34; Gen 35: 1-5; John 4
WALKING IN THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM PART 7 GAL 3: 13 CHRIST REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW BY BECOMING A CURSE FOR US, FOR IT IS WRITTEN: CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO IS HUNG ON A TREE. HE REDEEMED US IN ORDER THAT THE BLESSING GIVEN TO ABRAHAM MIGHT COME TO THE GENTILES THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, SO THAT BY FAITH WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT. GEN 12: 1-5 THE LORD HAD SAID TO ABRAM LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FATHERS HOUSEHOLD AND GO TO THE LAND I WILL SHOW YOU. I WILL MAKE YOU INTO A GREAT NATION; I WILL MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT, AND YOU WILL BE A BLESSING. I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU, AND WHOSOEVER CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE; AND ALL PEOPLES ON EARTH WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH YOU. SO ABRAM LEFT, AS THE LORD HAD TOLD HIM; AND LOT WENT WITH HIM. ABRAM WAS SEVENTY - FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN HE SET OUT FROM HARAN. HE TOOK HIS WIFE SARAI, HIS NEPHEW LOT, ALL THE POSSESSIONS THEY HAD ACQUIRED IN HARAN AND THEY SET OUT FOR THE LAND OF CANAAN AND THEY ARRIVED THERE. ABRAHAM S ENCOUNTERS ON THE JOURNEY PART 3 RIGHT USE OF SHECHEM This week we will be looking at how to rightly utilise Shechem to the glory of God and for our progress in life. In Gen 34: 2-26, Shechem was personified as a prince who lusted after Dinah, Jacob s daughter and defiled her. This is what happens when the Shechem experience is not properly handled. During the Shechem experience, you will be admired, and loved; do not play or lie with Shechem it will only lead to corruption and defilement. If you give in to the trials and temptations of Shechem, you will be robbed of your glory. TAKING CLUES FROM JESUS ( John 4 ) In John 4: 6, Jesus sat on the well after getting to Sychar, same as Shechem and
showed us how to rightly utilise our shechem experience. In order to rightly use our shechem experience, Jesus sat on the well meaning that we should put an end to using selfish indulgence to satisfy spiritual hunger. We should always seek encounters with God We should be thirsty for the Living water and be open to His leading. We should seek to restore all our broken relationships. Restore your relationship with God and men. Share your divine encounters with men so as to bring them to God. Reinvent yourself in order to finish your assignment. my meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work, said Jesus. Revive your worship, go back to your first love so as to worship in spirit and in truth. Appraise your vision for clarity and renewal which should lead to greater harvest of people into the kingdom and harvest of wealth for kingdom assignment and your benefits. These are the things Jesus did that made him subdue Shechem and save Samaria. I pray God s grace over you to follow in the steps of Jesus. PRAYER POINTS Father, give me the grace to follow Jesus unto the end. Father, I ask for grace to remain humble and depending on you. Father I ask for the grace to know that what is to come in my life is better than what has being and to be rightly position to accomplish them. FURTHER STUDIES Gen 35: 1-5; Judges 9; 1kings 12; John 4