THE MASTER STRATEGIST 1

"NOW WHEN THEY HAD DEPARTED, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, TAKE THE YOUNG CHILD AND HIS MOTHER, FLEE TO EGYPT, AND STAY THERE UNTIL I BRING YOU WORD; FOR HEROD WILL SEEK THE YOUNG CHILD TO DESTROY HIM.”
Matthew 2:13 (NKJV)

• The angel of God appeared to Joseph to take the baby Jesus and Mary, His mother; and flee to Egypt.

• Could the instruction given to Joseph, to flee to Egypt, be seen as a sign of fear? Did God not have the power or ability to protect the Baby Jesus and the parents?
• God at times may want you to hide from those who might be against you.
  It is not a cowardice to flee, when God says you should, but a trust in the infinite wisdom of God.
• If God says hide, or do not go to a particular place, It does not mean He has no power to protect or fight for you, but He was asking or requiring for your obedience at such a time.
• Jesus the Messiah, God in His incarnate form, who came in the flesh as a baby, is being asked to be fled with or taken to hiding because of those who seek His life—those who wanted to kill Him.
• Does it mean God could not protect Him, the Baby Jesus and the parents? He could. But God works in various ways with reasons that are best known to Him which may not be known to humans.
• God could release thunder and fire on those who seek the life of Baby Jesus (Hebrews 12:29), but most often, He does not work that way.
• The miraculousnesses, or miracles, are normally done or performed like regular course of life. At times, it might not look spectacular or extraordinary.
• Those who seek the life of Baby Jesus were eventually got rid of, but looks like normal course of life. God orchestrated their death one by one without the knowing of anyone that they were being destroyed by God, for the plot they had against the Baby Jesus, in which they were seeking His life (Matthew 2:19,20).
• God wanted to deal with Herod, others who were seeking the life of the Baby. God will deal with those who stand as enemies, those who are against your life, If you cooperate with Him and stay where He said you should.
• All you need in your relationship with God is obedience. The key to Blessings; protection, help, or whatever, in God, is total obedience. Remember, God is faithful and nothing is too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:27).

• When God asked you to flee, but you decided to fight; that is, pray and fast to engage the devil in spiritual warfare, you surely will lose the battle.

• Battling prayers, which some people called, warfare prayers, would not be needed when God has told you what to do.
• There is no point or reason for engaging the enemy, the devil, in a fight through prayers when God has already told you what to do.
• Whatever you do, contrary to God's instruction, would have negative impacts or repercussions. And If God had not said it, or instructed you on what you are doing, you are definitely on your own.
• You are not sent or called to engage the enemy, the devil, in a fight or battle. The primary thing which every Believer or whoever wanted to walk with Him needed to know is, you have to always seek to know His Will on whatever to be done.
• Even if the devil came to challenge you in whatever you are doing, or he waylaid you in the journey you are assigned to embark on; you could only prevail over him If the assignment was commanded by God, and the journey was instructed by Him.

• Some Believers are fighting like someone who is beating the Air (1 Corinthians 9:26). A Believer who fights as someone who beats the air can be a casualty.

• God is a Master strategist, you need instructions from Him to overcome the challenges of life—to win in life.
• If Joseph could not receive from God, about what next to do, he would endager the lives of the Baby, Jesus, and the mother, Mary.
  a. Dream is one of the ways through which God speaks, and that is under the spectacular ways. Visions, trances, angelic visitations, are also in that group.
  b. There is another group which can be called the general ways. In this group, we have the Word of God, that is, God speaking to you while you are reading, or studying, the Bible. There others in the group, such as: inner witnesses, and circumstances.
• God can decide to speak to you through any of the means mentioned above, either through the spectacular ways or the general ways.

• You will not die, but live, to fulfil God's purpose in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' mighty name.
• You will live in health in the precious name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!