WHAT SORT OF DELAY?
Mark 11:1-4
- KJV:And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
- KJV:And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
- KJV:And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
- KJV:And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
MEMORISE
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:3).
EXPOSITION
Delay is seen as a setback. In our world, most times, when justice is delayed, it is denied. Delay has always been seen as a tactics and strategy used to deprive or deny an individual of what he/she is entitled to. However, in God’s programme, He operates based on some principles that most of the times, look strange and unrealistic to mere men. His ways are definitely not ours (Isa. 55:9).
There is a school of delay just as we have the waiting room in God’s programme. No one of these schools is an easy one. It is not unexpected to experience pains, afflictions and the likes, but at the end, the pains turn gains and afflictions turn celebrations on the mountain top. Several biblical characters we can learn from, encountered their own God-ordained delays. These were truly delayed, but they were never denied. Talk of Hannah, Sarah, and David to mention a few, all suffered delays but later in their lives, they celebrated God’s faithfulness. You will also not be an exemption.
Yet, there are devil-machinated or orchestrated delays! You must be spiritually sensitive enough to vet and sieve things. You don’t just accept all delays as being from God. Be not ignorant of the devices of the devil (2 cor. 2:11). When God has given the go-ahead, you have the nod to proceed. When God has approved of your time of emergence, don’t let devil’s scheming manipulate it! After Jesus Christ had approved of the loosening of the colt, some people still wanted to stop it! This still happens! You need sensitivity and promptness to diffuse ungodly delays on your way.
Suggested Hymn for Today: CAC GHB 775
Yoruba
1. Okan aare ile kan mbe
L‘ona jinjin s‘aye ese;
Ile t‘ayida ko le de,
Tani ko fe simi nibe.
Duro, roju duro, mase kun
Duro, roju duro, mase kun
Duro, duro, sa roju mase kun.
2. Bi wahala bo o mole,
B‘ipin re l‘aye ba buru,
W‘oke s‘ile ibukun na;
Sa roju duro mase kun:
3. Bi egun ba wa l‘ona re,
Ranti ori t‘a f‘egun de;
B‘ibanuje bo okan re,
Oti ri be f‘Olugbala.
4. Ma sise lo, mase ro pe,
A ko gb‘adura edun re;
Ojo isimi mbo kankan;
Sa roju duro, mase kun!
Amin.
English
1. O weary heart, there is a home,
Beyond the reach of toil and care,
A home where changes never come:
Who would not fain be resting there?
Chorus:
Oh wait, meekly wait, and murmur not!
Oh wait, meekly wait, and murmur not,
Oh wait, oh wait, oh wait, and murmur not!
2. Yet when bowed down beneath the load
By heaven allowed, thine earthly lot;
Look up! Thou’ it reach that blest abode
Wait, meekly wait, and murmur not!
3. If in thy path some thorns are found,
Oh, think who bore them on His brow,’
If grief thy sorrow heart has found,
It reached a holier than thou.
4. Toil on! Nor deem, though sore it be,
One sigh unheard, one pray’r forgot;
The day of rest will dawn for thee
Wait, meekly wait, and murmur not!
Amen.
Prayer points
1. I reject every ungodly delay, in Jesus’ name.
2. I command every Satan-induced delay on my way to give way, in Jesus’ name.
3. Pray that God should settle all spinsters and bachelors in our churches experiencing delays, this year, in Jesus’ name
Extra Reading for Today: Joshua 18:1-21:12
Remain blessed.