THEY ARE GOD'S ATTRIBUTES AND NOT WEAKNESSES 1

7 THE LORD IS GOOD, A STRONG REFUGE WHEN TROUBLE COMES. HE IS CLOSE TO THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM.
8 BUT HE WILL SWEEP AWAY HIS ENEMIES IN AN OVERWHELMING FLOOD. He will pursue his foes into the darkness of night."
Nahum 1:7,8 (NLT)

• God will not hesitate to correct His children whom He loves.

• God has different attributes: love, goodness, kindness, patience, and gentleness, are some of His attributes.
• The verse number 7 of our text talks about God's goodness; how He is a strong refuge, and close to those who trust in Him. But, in verse number 8, the writer of the passage failed not to equally tell us the fierceness of His anger towards those who stand against Him as His enemies.
• God can be difficult to relate with at times. He might be hard to be pleased. And He could be severe in His dealings with you, If He did love you (Hebrews 12:5,6).

• The truth is:

• To please God, you would have to surrender all. He usually chooses to exalt those who seem to be foolish in the sight of the world:
  "INSTEAD, GOD CHOSE THINGS THE WORLD CONSIDERS FOOLISH IN ORDER TO SHAME THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE WISE. AND HE CHOSE THINGS THAT ARE POWERLESS TO SHAME THOSE WHO ARE POWERFUL" (1 Corinthians 1:27 (NLT).
• God would hardly use a self conceited person. A person who is full of the self is hardly used of God.
• If you are opinionated, dogmatic, or a narrow minded person, God would be hesitant to use you.
• God uses a flexible person, who seems not to be wise in his or her own eyes.
• God usually would break, or humble, whoever He wants to use. He at times could be harsh or strict in breaking and moulding of the vessel He wanted to use.

• God has a taste for excellence. He also is said to be a perfectionist. God would not use a dirty vessel. Any dirty vessel that would be used, had to be purified: 19 NEVERTHELESS THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDS, HAVING THIS SEAL: “THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS,” AND, “LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY.” 20 BUT IN A GREAT HOUSE THERE ARE NOT ONLY VESSELS OF GOLD AND SILVER, BUT ALSO OF WOOD AND CLAY, SOME FOR HONOUR AND SOME FOR DISHONOUR. 21 THEREFORE IF ANYONE CLEANSES HIMSELF FROM THE LATTER, HE WILL BE A VESSEL FOR HONOUR, SANCTIFIED AND USEFUL FOR THE MASTER, PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. 22 FLEE ALSO YOUTHFUL LUSTS; BUT PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, FAITH, LOVE, PEACE WITH THOSE WHO CALL ON THE LORD OUT OF A PURE HEART" (2 Timothy 2:19-21 NKJV).

• God would not use whoever would not submit to His process of cleansing and purification which would be done through the written Word and the Holy Spirit.
• The cooperation of the vessel, the would-be-leader being prepared, is of paramount importance.
• No one uses an unrefined gold—yet to be purified gold; thus, God would have to take the intended vessel through the fire of purification; that such might be a befitting vessel of honour who is sanctified to be useful for the Master, Jesus Christ, and be prepared for every good work.
• God would remove every dross; impurity, waste or impure matter, which might be found in the life of the vessel He intended to use.

• The purification process.

• The purification being spoken about here is not of the flesh. This is done by God through His Word and the Holy Spirit on the inside of the person.
• The purification being done in the old testament was of the flesh, and had no power to purify the conscience:
  9 THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION POINTING TO THE PRESENT TIME. FOR THE GIFTS AND SACRIFICES THAT THE PRIESTS OFFER ARE NOT ABLE TO CLEANSE THE CONSCIENCES OF THE PEOPLE WHO BRING THEM. 10 For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established. 14 JUST THINK HOW MUCH MORE THE BLOOD OF CHRIST WILL PURIFY OUR CONSCIENCES FROM SINFUL DEEDS SO THAT WE CAN WORSHIP THE LIVING GOD. FOR BY THE POWER OF THE ETERNAL SPIRIT, CHRIST OFFERED HIMSELF TO GOD AS A PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS" (Hebrews 9:9,10,14 NLT).
• However, the cooperation of the vessel being prepared cannot be overemphasized; for the successful outcome of the purification process. It is not the sole responsibility of God to change or mould whoever is being prepared for an assignment in His Kingdom, the cooperation and the willingness of the person are necessary, important, and they are required.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare you are healed in Jesus' mighty name.
• Affliction will not rise the second time in your life in Jesus' name.
  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!

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